Israel Struggles to Read Trump

by Itamar Eichner

After launches from Iran toward the United Arab Emirates, Trump signalled he does not intend to renew fighting despite Iranian attacks.

Officials in Israel are struggling to understand the moves being made by US President Donald Trump, especially his decision to temporarily suspend the operation in the Strait of Hormuz that was meant to break the Iranian blockade.

The official stressed that “it must not be forgotten that apart from the United States, all the partners in the region, including Israel, are very interested in a significant strike that would badly weaken the regime and perhaps, over time, even lead to its fall.” According to the official, “Trump is exhausting the negotiations until the moment he understands he has no choice but to hit the Iranians.”

Meanwhile, the White House believes it is nearing an agreement with Iran on a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and set a framework for more detailed negotiations on the nuclear issue. (Which will never be agreed by Iran.)

Some in Israel see similarities between the US-Iran dialogue and Hamas’ conduct in Gaza. Hamas attacks to a certain extent, then pressures mediators to negotiate as if there is something to discuss.

The central question now is why Trump, who projected strength toward Iran throughout, is suddenly projecting weakness. Some argue this is a tactic of deception and lull. However, it projects weakness and is leading Iran to boast that “the United States failed and Trump retreated.”

The US Declared End of Operation ‘Epic Fury’!

Regime Change Must be Next.

Food for Thought: by Steven Shamrak

Most countries of the world are less than 300 years old. Many of them are occupying lands they have conquered from their neighbours. The majority of these countries feel that they have the right to dictate to Israel, one of the oldest nations in the world, what the land of Jewish people is, by supporting the creation of a state of fake people on our land. Israel must stop paying attention to those anti-Semites, and do what is right for the future of the Jewish people!

Bill to Completely Cancel Oslo Accords

A proposed law to cancel the Oslo Accords, the Hebron Protocol, and the Wye River Memorandum, is submitted by MK Limor Son Har-Melech together with all members of the Otzma Yehudit faction. The explanatory notes to the bill link the agreements to the current security reality, arguing that Oslo created the infrastructure that ultimately led to the October 7 massacre. “The Oslo Accords led to thousands of victims of peace and harmed Israel’s security. After thirty years of terror attacks, withdrawals, and bloodshed, everyone understands that the time has come to stop being afraid and tell the truth: The Oslo Accords did not bring peace, but terrorism; not security, but Jewish blood spilled in streets, communities, and cities across Israel,” said Son Har-Melech. (Unfortunately, Netanyahu delays the bill to repeal the Oslo Accords.)

Why is Turkey still a NATO Member?

Hamas terrorists have been training in small arms use and drone operation in Turkey. Upon completing their training, Hamas intends to deploy these operatives to Lebanon, Jordan, and Judea and Samaria, fronts identified as having potential for future conflict with Israel. Turkey has enjoyed close relations with Hamas and has not been shy about boasting about them. (Isn’t support of terror organisation a good reason to remove Turkey from NATO? So is their deals with Russia for antiaircraft missiles several years ago!)

‘Board’ Unable to Disarm Hamas

The Trump-created Board of Peace (BOP), an international entity tasked with overseeing the rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip following Israel’s war with Hamas, has so far failed to negotiate an agreement that would see Hamas lay down its weapons. Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hamas is required to disarm and relinquish control of the Strip. Senior Hamas leaders like Mashaal and Musa Abu Marzouk have rejected disarmament. (Only Israel can neutralise, disarm, and remove all enemies from Gaza.)

Jonathan Pollard Runs for Knesset

Jonathan Pollard, the former US Navy analyst who served 30 years in an American prison for spying on behalf of Israel, said he will enter Israeli politics and run in the country’s next Knesset election, tentatively scheduled for this October. Pollard expressed support for the annexation of the Gaza Strip and what he called a “full transfer” of Gaza’s population.

Peace “is not Suitable’ for Lebanon

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun clarified his nation’s diplomatic stance, indicating that a high-level summit with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently out of the question. “The timing is not suitable now to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. We must first reach a security agreement and stop the Israeli attacks against us before raising the issue of a meeting,” he said. (Israel is not in war with Lebanon, but with Hezbollah terrorists, who the Lebanese government is unable or unwilling to neutralise.)

Quote of the Week:

“Of course. Everything in Gaza indicates this. To this day, Hamas persecutes people, shoots people, beats people up, collects taxes from people, extorts money from people, arrests people and forces them to pay money… To this day! 70,000-100,000 martyrs, 200,000-300,000 injured people, and 80% of Gaza destroyed, and nobody (in Hamas) cares.” – Mahmoud Al-Habbash, a PA advisor – Nobody in the anti-Semitic world cares! The same is going on under the PA control.

Three-Fronts Ceasefires – Dangerous Limbo

by Lazar Berman

In Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, much has been achieved, but by no means has Israel accomplished all its goals, and Trump’s desperation for a deal is unlikely to help matters much. After being at war with Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran, Israel is now in a ceasefire against all three enemies.

While ceasefires brokered by US President Donald Trump – largely imposed on Israel by President Trump – are officially still in place, they remain extremely precarious.

In Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and other top Israeli officials have been consistent about the aims of war, beyond the return of all the hostages – “that Hamas can no longer act, that it no longer has governance or military capacities. Hamas will be disarmed – either the easy way or the hard way,” Netanyahu said many times.

None of those aims has been achieved. Hamas continues to hold almost half of Gaza’s territory, but more importantly, governs virtually every Gazan.

Hezbollah, hammered by Israeli assassinations and a limited ground invasion, agreed to a humiliating ceasefire in November 2024. Under the terms of that truce, Hezbollah was required to vacate southern Lebanon and be replaced by the Lebanese military, as well as give up its weapons.

Far less capable than Hezbollah, the Lebanese Armed Forces has done some work in clearing some sites of weapons in southern Lebanon, but has not touched the bulk of the group’s arsenal in the rest of the country.

Israel is still fighting Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Yet nothing Israel is doing is putting Hezbollah’s survival as a political force or military organization in danger. And no peace agreement is about to emerge between the Lebanese state and Israel.

Iran’s military and leadership were badly damaged, without a doubt. But US intelligence assesses that Iran likely still has access to around 70 percent of its pre-war ballistic missile stockpiles, and around 60 percent of its missile launchers.

Iran’s nuclear program, hit hard in June 2025, and wasn’t set back in any meaningful fashion this time around. Iran’s 440 kilograms of highly enriched uranium remain in the country, with no agreement or plan to remove it.

Moreover, military capabilities can be rebuilt, especially if – in the context of an agreement with the US – money is flooding into a country (when frozen funds will be released and from sale of oil.)

There are no indications that the regime is facing collapse. It has shown coherence and stability, and now even Netanyahu has stopped talking about the Iranian people rising up. An agreement with Trump would cement the regime’s standing even further.

Read previous Editorials here.