Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spent recent weeks trying to convince President Donald Trump not to rush into a deal with Iran, warning against relying on commitments from the regime in Tehran. That’s according to a detailed Wall Street Journal report revealing sharp disagreements between the two leaders over how to handle Iran’s nuclear program.
Trump and Netanyahu entering the Mar-a-Lago estate, archive | Photo: Amos Ben Gershom, GPO.
According to the report, while Trump pushed to advance understandings with Iran and end the military confrontation, Netanyahu kept presenting him with a series of reservations and concerns. In one conversation, the prime minister asked the American president how he intended to ensure Iran would actually honor its commitments under a future agreement. In other calls, Netanyahu reportedly reminded Trump of Iran’s past deception attempts and warned against trusting its promises.
The report also said Jerusalem was surprised by the ceasefire announcement and the rapid progress toward a deal between Washington and Tehran. Israeli officials had assessed that Trump was leaning toward continued military pressure on Iran, and had even prepared for the possibility of additional strikes against targets in the country.
Photo by: The White House, Arabic Social Media, Shutterstock
According to the report, Netanyahu encouraged the American administration to keep pressuring Iran and not rush to grant it significant relief. Among other things, he expressed support for continuing measures that would damage the Iranian economy and warned that a deal without tight monitoring mechanisms could allow Tehran to advance secretly toward nuclear weapons.
The Wall Street Journal claimed that at one point Netanyahu requested an urgent meeting with Trump after learning the White House was moving toward signing a deal, and that senior Israeli officials received a draft of the understandings for review only days later.
Photo courtesy Shutterstock, IAB Studio
Despite the disagreements, the White House emphasized that relations between Trump and Netanyahu remain close and that cooperation between the countries continues. Still, the report points to significant gaps between Washington and Jerusalem over how to deal with Iran and whether to favor a diplomatic agreement or continued military and economic pressure on the regime in Tehran.
Ben Shapiro, a key figure in conservative media closely aligned with President Donald Trump, launched a sharp public attack today (Thursday) on Vice President JD Vance. In an interview with Fox News, Shapiro didn’t mince words, claiming that the negotiations Vance led over a major memorandum of understanding turned out to be a complete failure.
Ben Shapiro | photo from: the ‘Ben Shapiro Show’
Shapiro, whose voice serves as a key barometer for sentiment among the conservative base, made clear his criticism wasn’t about a single issue but about performance: “This memorandum of understanding looks like a disaster that doesn’t achieve any of the actual goals the administration set out at the beginning,” Shapiro said on air.
The remarks carry extra weight given that Shapiro is considered one of the most steadfast defenders of Trump’s policies. When he chooses to personally attack Vice President Vance, it signals to conservative organizations and voters that the way this project has been managed is unacceptable to them. “The vice president, the lead negotiator on this project, did not serve the president properly,” Shapiro concluded.
U.S. vice president J.D. Vance | photo by: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90
The United States and Iran signed the memorandum of understanding overnight, according to the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, Esmail Baghaei. Despite expectations that a formal signing ceremony would take place in Switzerland, the signing was apparently done digitally. The 60-day negotiation phase will only begin after some of Iran’s frozen assets are unfrozen.
Earlier today, the White House released the full text of the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The document, which includes 14 sections, establishes an immediate and permanent ceasefire between the parties on all fronts—including Lebanon—and calls for negotiations toward a permanent agreement within 60 days.
U.S. President Donald Trump | photo by: The White House
In addition, the memorandum includes an American commitment to lift sanctions and provide extensive economic relief, alongside a renewed and vague Iranian declaration that it will not develop nuclear weapons. And contrary to American denials: the document also includes an economic reconstruction plan worth at least $300 billion to be granted to Iran.
Amid criticism of the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, Middle East expert Yoni Ben Menachem said today (Thursday) in an interview with Tal Meir that Qatar—not Pakistan as publicly portrayed—was the force behind advancing the deal. While Pakistan stood at the forefront of the talks, he said, Qatar worked behind the scenes until the last moment to bring about a signing.
Emir Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani | photo by: Arab media
Ben Menachem added that economic considerations played a significant role in advancing the move, citing the business ties of Jared Kushner, Steve Wynn, and President Donald Trump’s son with Qatar. He emphasized: “There are economic considerations here that overrode security interests, American national security, and Israeli national security.”
He went on to warn about the deal’s implications for Israel, arguing that even at the memorandum of understanding stage, there are particularly problematic clauses. According to him, the three main issues of concern are the situation in Lebanon, the Iranian nuclear issue, and the lifting of sanctions on Tehran—which could lead to billions of dollars flowing to the Iranian regime.
Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader | photo by: Arab media
Meanwhile, the agreement does not require Iran to remove its stockpile of enriched uranium from its territory, but rather stipulates that it will be handled through dilution under International Atomic Energy Agency supervision. Israel views this as a retreat from positions previously presented by Washington and fears that Iran will effectively retain a significant portion of its nuclear capabilities under a future arrangement.
At the same time, Tehran has not hidden its satisfaction with developments. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf claimed that Iran is entering negotiations from a “position of strength,” declaring that “victory on the ground is the basis for negotiations.” According to him, Iran has succeeded in imposing a new reality in the region and now enjoys an improved status in the international arena.
The U.S. Justice Department unveiled an indictment Wednesday against a San Diego resident, Reda Mazen Rida Sabassi, 38, accusing him of operating a fake charity that raised roughly $600,000 under the guise of humanitarian aid to Gaza—and funneling the money to the terror organziation Hamas and for personal use after the October 7th atrocities.
Kibbutz Reim, after the october 7th massacre | photo by: Yossi Zamir/Flash90
According to the indictment, Sabassi faces a string of serious charges including terrorism financing, sanctions evasion, fraud, money laundering, and providing false information. Prosecutors allege he used donation campaigns, social media, and crowdfunding sites to raise money—but actually transferred the funds to Hamas and for his own use.
Justice Department officials said he exploited the October 7th attack to stir sympathy and attract donors, while the money actually funded terrorist activity. According to the indictment, some of the money was already transferred to Hamas, and he attempted to convert additional funds into cryptocurrency to smuggle it through Hamas-linked operatives.
Hamas terrorists during a dropoff of a kidnapped Israeli’s body | photo by: Social media
Prosecutors also allege the defendant didn’t stop at fundraising—he publicly expressed support for Hamas on social media and posted a video showing the October 7th atrocities. The video was reposted on the anniversary of the massacre.
Between December 2023 and February 2024, Sabassi raised roughly $600,000, of which about $116,000 was already transferred to Hamas-linked operatives, and another $382,000 was converted to crypto in an attempt to move it forward. U.S. officials noted that Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization, and this is a serious case of exploiting humanitarian donations to finance terrorist activity. The defendant faces charges carrying potential sentences of decades in prison.
Israel’s Higher Planning Council in the Civil Administration approved 576 new housing units across the West Bank on Wednesday, as part of the government’s policy. Alongside construction plans in various communities, the council also greenlit a new project in Hebron—a roughly 1,000-square-meter building for the Shavei Hevron yeshiva, near Beit Romano.
The approved simulation of the Shavei Hebron yeshiva | Photo: Shavei Hebron Association
The Hebron approval is considered especially significant following Finance Minister and Defense Ministry Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s decision to strip Hebron’s municipality of authority to approve certain planning processes in the area. Following the change, the project was approved directly by Israeli planning institutions without requiring approval from the Palestinian municipality—the first time in decades.
As part of the approved decisions, the community of Mitzpe Yericho in the Binyamin region received approval to deposit a large-scale construction plan including 456 new housing units, designed to enable the community’s expansion and absorption of thousands of additional residents in the future. Additionally, in the Al Matan neighborhood of Karnei Shomron, 120 housing units were given final approval after lengthy planning processes and the removal of objections filed against the plan.
Finance Minister and Defense Ministry Minister Bezalel Smotrich welcomed the move, saying “we continue to build the Land of Israel in practice and implement practical sovereignty in the settlements.” According to him, the expansion of Mitzpe Yericho and the establishment of the new building for Shavei Hevron yeshiva are “important and moving steps” that strengthen Israel’s hold on the ground and the country’s security.
At the direction of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Foreign Ministry Director-General Eden Bar Tal summoned Belarus Ambassador Yuri Yaroshevich for an urgent reprimand Wednesday following recent statements by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that sparked outrage in Jerusalem.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar | Photo: Jonathan Sindel, Flash90
During the meeting, Bar Tal made clear that Israel views Lukashenko’s remarks with utmost severity. The Belarusian leader accused a “Jewish lobby” and drew comparisons between the horrors of the Holocaust and the Israel Defense Forces’ operations against terror organizations in Gaza.
Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Eden Bar Tal | Photo: Jonathan Zindel, Flash90
The Foreign Ministry director-general called the statements antisemitic and infuriating, saying they desecrate the memory of the Holocaust and its victims. He emphasized that Israel categorically rejects any attempt to equate the extermination of the Jewish people during World War II with Israel’s war against jihadist terror.
The uproar erupted after Lukashenko attacked Israel in an interview with Al Arabiya, claiming its actions in Gaza have damaged its international standing. “What Holocaust can the Israelis talk about?” he said, accusing Israel of widespread harm to the civilian population. He also claimed the United States has the ability to force Israel to change its policies and that there is no military solution to Middle East conflicts.
Lukashenko has served as president of Belarus since 1994 and is one of the world’s longest-serving heads of state. In recent years he has faced sharp criticism from Western nations and human rights organizations over allegations of suppressing political opponents and restricting civil liberties.
Israeli officials stressed that invoking conspiracies about a “Jewish lobby” is unacceptable antisemitic language that has no place in international discourse.
Israel’s healthcare system has been grappling with a steady rise in patients needing rehabilitation services. Alongside increased life expectancy and more survivors of complex medical events—including strokes, severe injuries, and complicated surgeries—the Iron Swords War has driven a sharp additional spike in demand for rehabilitation services for war wounded and trauma victims.
Israel’s largest rehabilitation hospital has been announced for the Sde Dov complex in Tel Aviv. The new center, built with an investment of roughly ₪1.1 billion, is expected to include 540 inpatient beds and serve thousands of patients each year.
The new hospital, scheduled to open in 2032, will be built by the Reuth Association in partnership with the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality and the Tel Aviv Foundation. Following a major donation of approximately ₪200 million from the Chosidman family to the project, the center will bear the name, the Chosidman Rehabilitation Hospital.
540 Inpatient Beds and Advanced Treatment Centers
According to plans, the new center will include departments for neurological, orthopedic, and geriatric rehabilitation, alongside dedicated treatment programs for trauma and post-trauma victims. Additionally, physiotherapy and occupational therapy institutes will be established, along with day hospitalization units, a hydrotherapy pool, medical research and development centers, and multidisciplinary programs that will enable a complete treatment continuum from hospitalization through return to the community.
Healthcare officials estimate the new center will ease existing burdens, shorten wait times for rehabilitation, and expand access to advanced treatments for patients from across the country.
Rehabilitation in the Technological Era
One of the central features of the new hospital is the integration of advanced technologies in rehabilitative medicine. Among other things, robotic systems for walking and movement rehabilitation are expected to operate there, virtual reality platforms for cognitive and motor practice, artificial intelligence systems for monitoring and evaluating patient progress, and remote rehabilitation solutions.
According to experts in the field, integrating technologies of this type could improve rehabilitation outcomes, shorten hospitalization duration, and increase patient independence after discharge.
Strategic Investment for Coming Decades
Healthcare officials view the project as a strategic move designed to prepare for the future needs of Israel’s population. The center is expected to serve a wide range of patients, including war wounded, traffic accident victims, stroke patients, patients after complex surgeries, and elderly populations requiring functional rehabilitation.
Professionals estimate that demand for rehabilitation services will continue to rise over the next decade, making the expansion of rehabilitation infrastructure one of the central tasks of the healthcare system.
The establishment of the new rehabilitation hospital at Sde Dov marks one of the largest investments made in Israel in the field of rehabilitation. If plans are completed as scheduled, the new center is expected to transform Israel’s rehabilitation landscape, shorten wait times, and provide advanced care to thousands of patients and their families in the coming years.
A new political movement was announced Monday evening in Netivot that could shake up the balance of power among traditional and religious voters ahead of Israel’s next election. Tens of thousands of followers of the late Rabbi Yoram Abargel, organized under the “Committee of Rabbi Abargel’s Students,” announced the formation of a new party called “Achi” that will run in the upcoming Knesset elections.
Rabbi Yoram Abergel | Photo courtesy: Not available
The party’s launch marks an entry into territory long dominated by Shas, and could lead to a direct battle for the votes of traditional voters, Torah scholars, residents of Israel’s periphery, and other communities identified with the Sephardic Torah world. The party’s founders say it’s designed to serve citizens who feel they aren’t currently represented by any existing party.
Rabbi Yuval Elimelech (53), director of Rabbi Abargel’s educational institutions in Netivot, will head the list. Additional details about other list members and rabbis supporting the move are expected to be released later. At a gathering held Monday evening at the grave of the late Rabbi Yoram Abargel in Netivot, Rabbi Elimelech explained the background for establishing the movement and said: “In the current situation where there are those who don’t find their place and feel that no party represents them, we will be a home for them.”
He added: “The Achi movement will be a home of love for Israel and Jewish identity. Concern for educating Israel’s children is at the top of our priorities. The current reality that we have no representatives obligates us to rise up and act.” According to him, “In the Achi movement, all the tribes of Israel are together—Torah scholars alongside soldiers, yeshiva students alongside working people. The Achi movement will be a home with strength and will be the right bridge to preserve the right-wing bloc.”
The announcement marks an attempt to build a broad political framework that crosses sectors, and positions a new player in the battle for the traditional-religious vote. The central question now is whether Achi will succeed in translating its organizational strength on the ground into significant electoral power—and become a real rival to Shas at the ballot box.
Last night (Tuesday) a report was received of a suspected shooting attack in the Huwara bypass area in Samaria. According to initial reports, an Israeli citizen reported that a passing vehicle, suspected to be a black Skoda, opened fire on him and continued driving away.
According to the information received, the suspect vehicle came from the Tapuah Junction area, fled first towards Ariel and then north on Route 60 towards Kedumim. At this stage, no casualties have been reported as a result of the shooting.
IDF forces were called to the scene and began a hunt for the terrorist. At the same time, an exchange of fire was reported in the Tapuach Junction area. In addition, youths from the area’s communities, including Yitzhar and Kedumim, began demonstrating at the junction following the incident. The IDF Spokesperson’s Office reported that no evidence of shooting was found at the scene. The forces are continuing to search and set up roadblocks.
Israel’s answer to Abbas: After the ‘Palestinian’ Authority tried to claim the Herodium and turn it into a ‘Palestinian’ heritage site, hundreds of citizens, government ministers, and public figures arrived at the archaeological site in Judea and Samaria Tuesday evening for a ceremony centered entirely on Israeli sovereignty. Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said, “They’re trying to steal our history.”
Hundreds of participants—including U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, ministers, ambassadors, and researchers from Israel and around the world—attended the opening event of the International Conference on Israeli Heritage and Antiquities in Judea and Samaria, produced by Matan Israel. For the first time in roughly 2,000 years, the Herodium site once again served as a gathering place for a mass event in the heart of the Judean Desert. The opening ceremony of the international conference, initiated by the Heritage Ministry, took place today.
One of the evening’s highlights was the presentation of the Heritage Award to the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, who participated in the opening event and conference activities. The ambassador’s participation expressed the growing international importance of the conference and the central status of the Land of Israel’s historical and archaeological heritage in public and academic discourse.
International Conference on Israeli Heritage and Antiquities in Judea and Samaria | Photo: Eliya Aviv, C14
The event took place at the Herodium site as part of the Heritage Land Route project—the Heritage Ministry’s national initiative to develop, upgrade, and make heritage sites, biblical locations, and Jewish historical sites in Judea and Samaria accessible—and transformed one of the world’s most important heritage sites into a living space of culture, heritage, and national identity. At the center of the evening was the massive production “Herod vs. Bar Kokhba: The Battle for Eternity,” which brought to life the site’s story and the historical tension between imperialism and sovereignty, between Herod and Bar Kokhba, precisely where the events themselves took place thousands of years ago. Dozens of actors, live music, installations, street performances, and pyrotechnics turned the Herodium into a living city from the ancient world for one night.
The International Conference on Israeli Heritage and Antiquities in Judea and Samaria, led by the Heritage Ministry, brings together researchers, archaeologists, and heritage professionals from Israel and around the world, and serves as a central platform for discussion of antiquities, heritage, and the historical identity of the Land of Israel. The opening event at the Herodium illustrated the Heritage Ministry’s vision to transform Israel’s heritage sites not only into archaeological sites, but into centers of life, culture, tourism, and education—connecting the Jewish people’s glorious past with future generations.
Event producer Matan Israel told C14. “This is one of the most moving and elaborate events we’ve had the privilege to be part of. It’s a great honor for us to produce something like this. Despite the threats and attempts by enemies to take this piece of history out of Jewish hands—the scale of this event demonstrates how serious we are about our connection to these places. These are the roots!”
Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said: “There are those who claim Israel is isolated and that relations with America are troubled. There are those who turn to UNESCO and try to steal our history. Today they’re invited to look at the Herodium, at the international archaeological conference, and at a 2,000-year-old pool that has come back to life. This is our answer, to those who weaken us from within and without—not in words, in deeds.”
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee: “My job is to represent the United States to the Israelis, but it’s also my job to represent the meaning of Israel to the U.S.—your heritage is also our heritage. Without your heritage, there is no heritage for the United States. The only way to cancel Israel’s heritage is to close your eyes and plug your ears, because the history is carved here on every rock.”
Benny Har-Even, Staff Officer for Archaeology: Great things are happening in archaeology in Judea and Samaria. The land continues to reveal the foundational chapters of Jewish history—find after find, the ancient roots keep emerging and being revealed.
Gush Etzion Regional Council Head Yaron Rosenthal: “The Herodium mountain fortress palace is one of the most important and interesting heritage sites in the world. In recent years, together with the Staff Officer for Archaeology and with the Heritage Minister, we are advancing massive development of the pool complex restoration and many more points of interest at this important site with the goal of making it the number one archaeological site in the country.”
International Conference on Israeli Heritage and Antiquities in Judea and Samaria | Photo: Eliya Aviv, C14