When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political enemies cooked up a scheme to bring his career down through the “improper” receiving of some cigars and bottles of champagne, they thought they had him dead to rights. Nothing left for him to do but to resign and slink away into political ignominy. Instead, Bibi said, “You want a fight? Let’s fight.” Thus began this judicial lawfare fiasco that is currently taking place in Israel.

Unfortunately for the prosecution, the already weak case is now deteriorating by the day. Everyone in the country sees it for what it is, but there are still enough Netanyahu haters amongst the citizens and the power-drunk judicial branch of the government to keep the court case going. Thus, in the midst of a seven-front war, the Prime Minister is forced to spend three days a week in court defending himself against politically motivated drivel. The Left would actually love to see a quick end to the case with a guilty verdict because they see the tide is rapidly turning against them. Too much longer and they’ll be left with nothing.

Netanyahu agrees with them in that he, too, would like to see a quick conclusion to the case. That is why he has requested a pardon from President Isaac Herzog, which in Israel is essentially an end-of-trial request. His entreaty was preceded by both verbal and written requests to Herzog by President Trump, calling for an end to what the American president called a “witch hunt”. Even though ending this legal farce would be the best thing for our country-at-war, it is likely that Herzog will deny it. The president is contemplating his own political comeback and can’t allow himself to let Netanyahu off the hook.

The Bloodiest Ceasefire Continues

In the Palestinian dictionary, I believe the word “ceasefire” is defined as “an agreed to position in which your enemy must halt all hostilities while you are able to continue plotting and attacking while receiving global accolades for your restraint.”

Case in point, yesterday several terrorists emerged from a tunnel hideout, and fired an RPG and some small arms at IDF soldiers. Five soldiers were injured, one severely. The Israeli military is currently ensuring that those terrorists and any friends who happened to be nearby are permanently removed from the playing field.

This is just one incident in a series of Hamas attacks. Just last week, IDF soldiers in Gaza uncovered a fully loaded five-barrel rocket launcher that was intended to be shot across the border into Israel. This cannot go on forever. The IDF is having success in weeding out the remnants of Hamas. This includes removing all the terrorists who were left in Rafah through surrender or elimination.

Despicable Games Played with the Dead

As of the time of this writing, Hamas is still holding the remains of one hostage. On Tuesday, they said they had found “small remains, pieces” of one of the (then two remaining) victims and delivered those. When it was discovered that whatever had been sent had nothing to do with either hostage, the terrorists just shrugged, then snickered behind closed doors. Wednesday, the day I’m writing this, it’s the same thing.

The problem for Israel is that we have shown our hand to the terrorists. We love each other more than we love our own lives. In contrast, they hate us more than they love each other or themselves. When that strength of love and hate meet head on, it is hate that typically gains the most immediate and most graphic of victories. Love’s successes often come to fruition in the long-term and, ultimately, in the eternal. This is why Israel is so vulnerable to the hate-filled enemies who surround them. In Lebanon, Hezbollah is rapidly rearming, and in Syria, Houthis are being smuggled in by Iran. Both of these terrorist groups, along with all the weakened but still active Iranian proxy militias, are currently planning October 7 type attacks because they know that if they can take Israeli hostages, then they will be in the catbird’s seat. This is the reality today in Israel, and the IDF is doing what they can to either prepare for the coming onslaught or to rise up and kill their enemies before they have a chance to attack us.

The remains returned today are that of Thai hostage Susthisak Rinthalak, 42. He was working in agriculture at Kibbutz Be’eri when he was murdered by Hamas on October 7. We join Mr. Rinthalak’s parents and his brother in mourning the loss of this hero. Now, we await the return of the remains of the final hostage, 24-year-old Staff Sergeant Ran Gvili. He was killed the day before his 25th birthday defending Kibbutz Alumim, despite the fact that he was on medical leave at the time. It’s time the terrorists live up to their end of the agreement and complete the return of our hostages.

Lebanon’s Approaching Deadline

Lebanon was given to the end of December to disarm Hezbollah. Instead, we see an impotent government unable to stop the terrorist group, and Hezbollah being rearmed by Iran faster than Israel can destroy the incoming weapons. This is a growing powder keg with the potential to blow apart the country like a warehouse full of ammonium nitrate in the Port of Beirut. Last week, Pope Leo XIV was in country trying to mediate for peace with little success.

US envoy Morgan Ortagus met in Beirut with President Joseph Aoun yesterday, a day after sitting down to talk with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Her goal was to try to make the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon more ceasefirey. Israel’s attitude is, “Yeah, we’re good with no more shooting as long as you can get Hezbollah to quit rearming and building up military infrastructure with the intention of using it on us.” I’d tell you the response of Hezbollah’s leadership, but I don’t speak Persian.

As I mentioned above, Iran has not given up its desire to wipe Israel off the map, and they are surreptitiously gaining ground. Israel sees what is going on and will act when it becomes necessary, despite what Lebanon, Syria, the UN, or the US have to say about it.

Iran’s Downward Slide

Speaking of our friends in Tehran, it seems like there could be a confusion amongst the ayatollahs of where their priorities should lie. Their people are seeing the 41% inflation reported by Iran’s Central Bank last year, although it was likely much higher. They are trying to breathe amidst the massive amount of pollution that’s earned Tehran the title of World’s Most Polluted City. They are frustrated that they can’t turn on their lights because the Karaj Dam has gone off grid due to a huge drop in its water level, a crisis that will soon lead to a halt in the flow of tapwater. Meanwhile, the ayatollahs are saying, “Sure, there are a few problems, but did you see that ballistic missile we just fired into Iraqi Kurdistan? We heard that the Mossad might operate there sometimes. Besides, we’ve got all those proxy militia mouths to feed and guns to load, so how about just taking one for the team?”

For the Iranian leadership, destroying Israel and America is far more important than providing basic necessities to their own people. A time is coming when the Islamists will be ousted from their positions of leadership. I’m just afraid that it likely won’t happen until after their military is destroyed in the Ezekiel 38 war.

You Asked for It, Europe

There’s nothing like a beautiful Christmas market in Europe. The smell of chestnuts roasting, the sound of bells jingling, the twinkle of shiny ornaments hanging in mistletoe trimmed kiosks, the pounding of drums drowning out Christmas carols, the waving of Palestinian flags knocking decades-old baubles from the traditionally adorned central square tree, the blare of “Free, Free Palestine” distorting through bullhorns. Ahh, such a festive time.

You asked for it, Europe, and now you’ve got it. In Toulouse, Vienna, London, Brussels, and many other cities throughout the continent, jihadist sympathizers have surrounded and infiltrated Christmas markets and celebrations with chanting, flag-waving, and verbal and physical attacks. And for you in the United States, if it hasn’t come to your city yet, just wait. This is just a symptom of the growing antisemitism disease that I believe is going to lead to a massive aliyah, or immigration, to Israel in the coming years.

The Israeli government also sees this potential, along with the possibility that an event or series of events could lead to a very rapid, large-scale immigration. To prepare for this, the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, together with the National Emergency Authority, conducted a strategic exercise last week simulating just such a sudden influx. The winds of the world are once again blowing against the Jewish people. However, if you are at all a student of the Bible, this should come as no surprise to you.

Amir Tsarfati is a former Deputy Governor of Jericho, an Israeli tour guide, author, the Founder and President of Behold Israel,and a Contributor to Harbinger’s Daily.