Latest news with #Kibbutz
Telegraph
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Thanks to the humbling of Iran, a new reshaped, peaceful Middle East is within our grasp
Several years ago, I stood at the northernmost tip of Israel, just behind the border with Lebanon. A pale-grey concrete wall divided the two countries. Just a few yards away, on the other side, a road snaked into the distance. It turned sharp right, then left, a physical manifestation of the absurdity of the arbitrary lines drawn across the dun-coloured scrubland. A blue road sign was clearly visible, indicating the way to Beirut, and a stream of cars headed up the Lebanese coast. Behind us, in Israel, were the green fields of a border kibbutz. On the other side, the hills were dotted with large, multi-storey villas, shimmering in the heat. For a moment, I imagined that the frontier was open, that it was possible to drive north from Tel Aviv to Tyre, Sidon and then Beirut. Back in the 1960s, the Lebanese capital was a smart, sophisticated city, renowned for its glamorous nightlife and known as the Paris of the Middle East. It's still one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the Levant, and would be a natural tourism partner for Tel Aviv. A few yards behind us was one key reason that has not happened yet. Operatives for Hezbollah, the Shi'ite terrorist organisation that controls much of southern Lebanon, had dug a tunnel under the fence. The tunnel had been discovered a few yards inside Israeli territory and blocked up. There was little doubt that had the Hezbollah operatives succeeded in infiltrating, they would have carried out atrocities such as those committed by Hamas on October 7. Hamas documents captured during the Gaza war, published by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, in Israel, outline a plan for a joint Hamas-Hezbollah onslaught on Israel, together with militias from other Arab states, co-ordinated with Iran. For now, at least, such an attack is much less likely. America's bunker-buster bombs not only destroyed – or severely damaged – Iran's nuclear capabilities, but also its power as regional hegemon. Hezbollah, Iran's client terrorist militia in southern Lebanon, had already been crippled by Israel's audacious 'beeper' operation, which killed or wounded thousands of operatives. Hamas, also a client of Tehran, is still killing Israeli soldiers in Gaza, but will soon be written out of any future peace settlement, its leaders likely exiled and living in hiding for the rest of their lives. As the dust settles over Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz, Iran's nuclear sites, the contours of a new Middle East can be glimpsed. Far in the distance, perhaps, but visible none the less. Much of the Middle East's current woes can be traced back to the 1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement, which carved up the dying Ottoman empire into areas of British and French control. The British zone, for example, included much of Mesopotamia in modern-day Iraq, while France was granted what became Syria and Lebanon. After the Second World War, when the Western powers retreated, unitary nation-states were imposed on multi-ethnic societies with little sense of national identity. Minorities, fearful for their future, took control and instituted reigns of terror. The Assad dynasty in Syria was Alawite. Saddam Hussein in Iraq was a Sunni Muslim. The Kurds, spread across the region, were denied any kind of state. Yet even if the borders of the Arab states are not redrawn, Sykes-Picot and its legacy are not immutable. An autonomous de facto Kurdistan exists in part of north-eastern Iraq, with its own elected parliament and government. Shimon Peres, the late veteran Israeli statesman, once proposed a 'Jordanian option', where Israel, a Palestinian entity and Jordan would form a confederation, with open borders, free movement internally and shared institutions. The European Union, where open borders and free trade have largely rendered old territorial disputes irrelevant, could offer a model for a new Middle East. The Abraham Accords, between Israel and several Arab countries, most notably the United Arab Emirates, provide a foundation for a future regional settlement. The UAE is reportedly already mediating secret talks between Syria and Israel. The way is clearing for a gradual opening of diplomatic and economic relations. Where Syria goes, Lebanon will soon follow. Saudi Arabia's accession to the accords is regarded in Jerusalem as the greatest prize. Normalisation with Israel's immediate neighbours would bring rapid economic benefits for all parties. Shared tourism could bring substantial investment to Jerusalem, Damascus and Beirut. Such a vision, of a Middle East with open borders and modern transport links, where Israel and its neighbours trade freely, may still seem remote. There remains widespread anger in Arab countries about the devastation in Gaza. Islamist movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood, resolutely opposed to any normalisation with the Jewish state, remain influential. In public, Arab leaders have condemned Israel's attack on Iran, even though the theocracy also menaced its neighbours, such as Saudi Arabia. But in private, there is widespread relief that the ayatollahs have been severely weakened, and their client terrorist movements disabled. Before the 1948 war, after Israel declared independence, taxis would go back and forth from Clock Tower Square in Jaffa to Beirut. Nowadays, such a journey still seems fanciful – but less so by the day. The potential rewards of normalisation for Israel and its neighbours are enormous. As Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern political Zionism, wrote of his own plan for a Jewish state: 'If you will it, it is no dream.'
National Post
14-06-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Vivian Bercovici: Is this the end of Iran's vicious regime?
Attack sirens wailed in every corner of Israel at 3 am on Friday morning, including the isolated kibbutz in the south where I live. This was followed immediately by an ear-splitting screech that overrode every Israeli cell phone. It was followed by a message from the Home Front Command. The screech and message were unprecedented. It did the trick and grabbed the attention of this war-weary nation. Article content Article content We were urged to shelter in place. Something about a major attack. I honestly cannot remember the precise wording and it doesn't really matter. The point was sharp and understood. Article content Article content Article content Subsequent messages clarified that Israel had just launched a massive attack on Iran. Retaliation could be swift and devastating. Within seconds of the siren and Home Front message, tens of thousands of reservists received call-up notices to present at their bases immediately. As in. Right now. Article content If you are fortunate to have a safe room in your home, like me, then you seal it shut and ensure that there are adequate supplies of fresh water, food, emergency batteries and the kind of things you will need if locked in there for hours, or days, on end. Article content You check on loved ones. They check on you. And then, you wait. Article content It did not take long for initial reports to pour in. We now know that Israel has unleashed a brilliantly planned attack on the Iranian war leadership and operational capability. Dozens of precision strikes were carried out, assassinating top officials in their apartments, leaving a gaping hole in a building while the rest was largely untouched. It is believed that the top echelons of Iranian military, air force and civilian leadership has been wiped out. The impact on decision making and chain of command is devastating. Scientists who were instrumental in developing and enhancing Iran's nuclear capabilities were also targeted. Within minutes a regime was decimated. Article content Article content These attacks were unceasing. Wave after wave. After the leadership came the military and nuclear sites themselves. The targets span the vast territory of Iran. Many key nuclear sites are ablaze with massive secondary explosions being reported. Thus far there are no reports of radioactive material leaking. Article content Early reports of swarms of drones launched towards Israel from inside Iran and Iraqi territory led to heightened concerns. Most Iranian drones take seven hours to reach Israeli territory but there is a ballistic missile capability that can reach its target within two hours. Several drones reportedly landed in Israel earlier Friday but military authorities requested that people refrain from posting the locations of impact because such knowledge may assist the enemy in calibrating future attacks more precisely. Article content As I write this at 7:45pm, local time in Israel, we are told that missile fire from Yemen has been detected. As with all of the Iranian drones and other weapons aimed at Israel earlier, most will likely be intercepted before reaching their destination.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bodies of two Israeli-American hostages recovered from Gaza in joint military operation
The bodies of two Israeli-American hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 were recovered from southern Gaza during a military operation, according to a statement from Israeli military and the Shin Bet security agency. Judy Weinstein-Haggai, age 70, and Gadi Haggai, age 72, were killed near their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Hamas attack on southern Israel in 2023. 'Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I extend our deepest condolences to the dear families,' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. The prime minister thanked the soldiers and commanders involved in the operation and vowed to return all remaining hostages held in Gaza. 'We will not rest and we will not be silent until all our hostages — both the living and the fallen — are brought home,' he said. A spokesperson for Kibbutz Nir Oz said the bodies of the two hostages had been returned to Israel overnight and would be laid to rest. The couple had four children and seven grandchildren. In a statement the Kibbutz remembered Gadi as 'a sharp-minded man, a gifted wind instrument player since the age of three, deeply connected to the land, a chef and advocate of healthy vegan nutrition and sports.' and Judy as 'a poet, entrepreneur, creative spirit, and devoted advocate for peace and coexistence.' A statement from the family, provided by the Nir Oz spokesperson expressed gratitude for the return of their missing loved ones. 'We are grateful for the closure we have been granted and for the return of our loved ones for burial — they went out for a walk on that Black Saturday morning and never came back. In this emotional moment, we want to thank the IDF and security forces who carried out this complex rescue operation and have been fighting for us for over a year and a half, and to everyone who supported, struggled, prayed, and fought for us and for all the people of Israel,' it said. The family also thanked the US administration, the Israeli government, and the FBI for their 'tireless work and ongoing support.' This is a developing story and will be updated.
France 24
05-06-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Israel recovers the bodies of two hostages held in Gaza in special operation
Israel has recovered the bodies of two hostages taken in the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war in the Gaza Strip, officials said Thursday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the remains of Judith Weinstein and Gad Haggai were recovered and returned to Israel in a special operation by the army and the Shin Bet internal security agency. 'Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the dear families. Our hearts ache for the most terrible loss. May their memory be blessed,' he said in a statement. Kibbutz Nir Oz announced the deaths of Weinstein, 70, and Haggai, 72, in December 2023. The military said they were killed in the October 7 attack and that their bodies were recently recovered from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. The couple were taking an early morning walk near their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on the morning of October 7 when Hamas militants stormed across the border and rampaged through several army bases and farming communities. In the early hours of the morning, Weinstein was able to call emergency services and let them know that both she and her husband had been shot and send a message to her family. Weinstein was born in New York and taught English to children with special needs at Kibbutz Nir Oz, a small community near the Gaza border. The kibbutz said she also taught meditation techniques to children and teenagers who suffered from anxiety as a result of rocket fire from Gaza. Haggai was a retired chef and jazz musician. The couple were survived by two sons and two daughters and seven grandchildren, the kibbutz said. Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the October 7 attack and abducted 251 hostages. They are still holding 56 hostages, around a third of them believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israeli forces have rescued eight living hostages from Gaza and recovered dozens of bodies. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants. The offensive has destroyed large parts of Gaza and displaced around 90 percent of its population of roughly 2 million Palestinians. Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes killed at least 10 people in the battered Palestinian territory on Thursday as the military keeps up an intensified offensive. "Ten martyrs so far resulting from Israeli strikes since dawn," agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP, adding that they had targeted an area where displaced civilians were sheltering in the southern city of Khan Younis and houses in Gaza City and the central town of Deir el-Balah.
