(Galilee, Israel) โ Shalom from beautiful Galilee! What a week it has been here, with some of our beloved deceased hostages returning home, military strikes continuing in Gaza and Lebanon, and our own crazy version of a John Grisham legal thriller playing out within our military and judicial system. One thing I can promise you if you ever come to Israel, it will never be boring.
It all started in early July 2024, when allegations were made against IDF soldiers of brutality against Hamas prisoners. To back up these accusations, a video mysteriously appeared that allegedly showed one of the terrorists being raped by his guards. That video was released to the public causing a huge outcry within Israel and a smug โWe told you those Jews were animalsโ affirmation to the antisemites around the world. Meanwhile, many within the Israeli military and judicial world were left asking two questions: 1) Is this recording real? And 2) Who leaked it?
Investigation into the recording itself uncovered that it was a combining of two different incidents edited to show the alleged event in the worst possible light. Close scrutiny revealed that this wasnโt a sexual assault at all. Instead, the guards were removing a dangerous, sharpened weapon from the only secure, on-person hiding place that a jailed man without pockets has at his disposal. Due to the type of weapon and the fight of the terrorist, some painful damage occurred. So, the answer to the first question was no, this was not a real recording of a sexual assault. This was a doctored recording leaked with a false narrative.
That left question two, who leaked it? The chief military advocate Maj.Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi assured all that she was on the case and would get to the bottom of the mystery, appointing her own deputy to head the investigation. But time passed and no answers were forthcoming. Then, well over a year later, a routine polygraph examination of an underling in the military advocateโs office lifted the shroud of this mystery. The one responsible for the leak was the chief military advocate herself. It was further uncovered that she was just the tip of the iceberg. A WhatsApp group revealed that nine IDF officers also knew about the leak, as did some within the judicial branch of the government.
But wait, it gets crazier. Because of the vast amount of electronic communication involved in this leak and cover-up, the authorities knew they needed to get hold of Tomer-Yerushalmiโs cellphone. It would contain a trove of information necessary to the investigation. But there was a problem. The chief military advocate had disappeared. A massive manhunt was launched all throughout Israel. Finally, her empty car was discovered by the Mediterranean with a suicide note inside. But fear not, she was soon found alive and well, and, conveniently without her cellphone, which she claimed was lost in the water during her alleged suicide attempt.
Not even John Grisham could get away with this wacky of a storyline. Now Tomer-Yerushalmi is in jail, along with the military prosecutor. As I write this, there are hundreds of divers searching the waters looking for her phone. Throughout the judicial branch of Israelโs government, there are those who are shaking in their boots. Tomer-Yerushalmi is only the end of a thread that, when pulled, could unravel the sickness thatโs taken hold of Israelโs military and judiciary. Iโve been talking about this need for judicial reform for several years now, and I pray that this finally is what it takes to cut out the cancer that is killing our government so we can start getting healthy again.
MidEast And Beyond
We are three days away from the one-month mark since Hamas agreed to a 72-hour return of Israelโs hostages. That means that the return ofย the bodies of our seven remaining sonsย is now 25 days late. Iโm not surprised; Iโm just angry. From the moment the agreement was first made, I told you that there is no way Hamas would abide by it. Itโs not in their nature. We will not rest until Dror Or, 48; Hadar Goldin, 23; Joshua Luito Mollel, 21; Lior Rudaeff, 61; Manny Godard, 73; Ran Gvili, 33; and Sudthisak Rinthalak, 43, all come home. I included their names to remind everyone that these are not just bodies. These are seven men who had names and lived real lives, and who have loved ones that have been waiting on them for more than two years. On the positive side, we did have the opportunity in my nation to honor the return of the bodies of Omer Neutra, 22; Col. Asaf Hamami, 40; Sgt. Oz Daniel, 19; and StaffSgt. Itay Chen, 19.
The body of Joshua Luito Mollel was returned overnight. Joshua was a Tanzanian national who was carrying out an agricultural internship at Kibbutz Nahal Oz when he was kidnapped to Gaza, where he was then murdered. Although this 21-year-old was not an Israeli, he solidified himself into our hearts through this ordeal and we mourn him as we do all the others who were lost in this massacre.
Meanwhile, the fighting continues in Gaza as the IDF destroys all the terrorist infrastructure behind the yellow line. There are five pockets behind that yellow line that still contain Hamas terrorists. These were left alone because it was in these locations that the hostages were held. Now the terrorists want free passage out to the other side of the yellow line. Netanyahuโs alternative gives two choices, either surrender or stay underground. There will be no free passage.
The Lebanon Crush
Like a foot stuck in an elevator door, the Lebanese government is feeling a painful squeeze from two sides. On one side are the United States, Israel, and the West saying that Lebanon better do something immediately about disarming Hezbollah. Reports are that the end of this month isย the deadline given by the Trump administration. On the other side is a resurging Hezbollah that is being steadily resupplied by Iran. In fact, the arms shipments arriving from Tehran and the rebuilding Hezbollah is carrying out are outpacing the IDFโs ability to destroy them. Itโs not for Israelโs lack of trying. At least 20 Hezbollah terrorists were eliminated in the last month and strategic sites in the south were hit.
The Middle East Comes to White House
When President Donald Trump welcomes Syriaโs President Ahmad al-Sharaa into the White House this coming week, it will be a first for two reasons. It will be theย first time a Syrian presidentย has ever entered through the doors, and al-Sharaa will also be the first former al-Qaeda leader to grace the executive mansion. And to think, it wasnโt that long ago that the man had a $10 million bounty on his head. If Trump were a dumb man, Iโd be giving myself a face-palm at this news. But because the American president plays the big game, he isnโt always concerned about the small things, like convention, propriety, and tact. He is using the carrot and stick approach with the Syrian leader. The carrot is that al-Sharaa gets legitimacy by walking into Trumpโs house. The stick ensures that Israel is staying right where it is in Golan and along the borders with no hassle from Syria.
This same carrot and stick methodology will be used in a couple weeks when Saudi Arabiaโs Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman visits the White House. This will be another historic visit, and a feather in the caps of both men. What is the carrot? Right now, only Israel has Americaโs state-of-the-art F-35 fighter jets. The Saudis would like some of them in their air force. So, Trump invited MBS over and said, โLetโs talk.โ What is the stick? The Saudis have always held tightly to a two-state solution as a prerequisite for joining the Abraham Accords. But when the House of Saud weighs the troublesome Palestinians against a fleet of shiny new fighters, normalization of relations with Israel becomes a lot more appealing.
Islamโs Quiet Takeover of the US
Heโs young, good-looking, loves to give away free things to entitled people, and, best of all, the man knows how to rap! Of course New Yorkers voted Zohran Mamdani in as the first Muslim mayor of the Big Apple. Who wouldnโt? Many in the rest of the country are saying, โBut heโs a close ally of the Soros clan and heโs a socialist and the city doesnโt have money for all of his promised giveaways and heโs pushed in the past to defund the police and he has ties to the radical Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and he hates Israel and he refuses to condemn Hamas.โ In reply, New Yorkers say, โWell, sure, but did I mention that he raps?โ By the way, this includes at least one-third of NYCโs Jewish voters. Oy vavoy, are you meshugana?
But this is all part of a long-term plan. Islam has never had the military power to take over the West. So, instead they play the long game and wait for us to hand them the keys to our countries. Itโs happening in England. Itโs happening in Sweden. Itโs happening in other countries throughout Europe. In the U.S., Muslims are popping up in leadership in cities and towns across the country. In Virginia, for instance, Ghazala Hashmi, a Muslim woman, was elected as the stateโs lieutenant governor. America is a country that prides itself on religious freedom, so this wouldnโt be a big deal if it werenโt part of a greater Islamist strategy. Sadly, that strategy is working. To all the New York Jews, let me tell you that itโs time to come home to Israel while you still can. As for the city itself, let me quote the post-election words of 50cent, a rapper whose musical career had a bit more of an upward arc than Mamdaniโs โ โRIP NYCโ.
Bleeding Africa
In Sudan, theย Islamist RSF rebels are slaughtering thousands of Christiansย and Muslims, brutalizing and torturing others, and causing starvation amongst hundreds of thousands more. Satellite imagery recently showed at least 500 bodies in one area, and video has surfaced from others where Christians are shoved into a pit, covered with tires and gasoline, then set on fire. Itโs the greatest tragedy in this world that no one knows about. West of Sudan is Nigeria where Islamic terrorists are also slaughtering Christians. Because of the actions of terror group Boko Haram, more people know about their tactics of burning churches, killing adults, and stealing girls to become child brides.ย Nigeria has caught the attention of President Trumpย who is threatening to stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria if the country doesnโt do something to protect its Christians. He has also instructed the US Department of War to prepare itself for possible action. These are situations that must be on everyoneโs daily prayer list.
Typhoon Tino Slams into the Philippines
The death toll has reached over 100 afterย Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) barreled into Cebu Cityย with 130 kph (80mph) winds, gusting to 180 kph (111 mph). In the 24 hours prior to the landfall eight inches of rain fell, overflowing rivers even before the storm arrived. When the typhoon passed it left a devastated landscape. At Behold Israel, we closely monitored the situation as one of our dear staff members lives in Tinoโs path. As soon as she could, she let us know she was unhurt. Before the storm came, we asked her in our staff meeting if the people in her area would be alright. In typical Filipino fashion, she replied, โWeโre a resilient people. Weโll be okay.โ Thereโs no doubt about that. But, if you would, please remember her and all the Filipino people facing this massive clean-up in your prayers.
