Category: Israel

Rubio at UN: Gaza Must Be Demilitarized and No Hamas

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a comprehensive statement to correspondents at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, addressing the multifaceted Iranian threat, shifting dynamics in Iraq, and the strategic roadmap for the Gaza Strip. The briefing took place moments after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian concluded his address before the General Assembly, during which he leveled harsh accusations against Washington.

The Gaza Strip | Photo: Arab Networks

Turning first to the Gaza conflict, Rubio asserted that a sustainable resolution can only be achieved through a Gaza Strip completely cleared of Hamas. He expressed Washington’s hope that a structured demilitarization process to extract all weaponry from the Strip will commence in the near future. The Secretary of State added that governance over the coastal enclave following the removal of the murderous terror organization must transition to localized ‘Palestinian’ leadership.

Addressing Tehran, the Secretary of State confirmed that commercial navigation through the southern corridor of the Strait of Hormuz remains fully operational. However, he warned that the Iranian regime and its regional terror proxies continue to represent an acute threat across the entire Middle East, singling out Houthi aggression against Saudi Arabia. Despite explicit threats recently issued by senior Houthi commanders, Rubio declared that the United States will remain steadfast in its defense commitments to Riyadh. While acknowledging measured progress in diplomatic engagements, he made clear that President Donald Trump maintains a comprehensive range of options—including direct military strikes.

Still not ruling out a strike on Iran. President Trump | Photo: The White House

Rubio also weighed in on developments in Iraq, where an initiative to disarm pro-Iranian militias recently commenced. While the militias were originally scheduled for complete disarmament next week, Iraq’s prime minister announced a nine-month postponement, pushing the target deadline to June 30, 2027. Unfazed by Baghdad’s postponement, Rubio maintained a measured tone: “We do not doubt the commitment of Iraq’s prime minister to restrict weapons strictly to state control.”

September 23, 2026
Tel Aviv Deputy Mayor Vows to Block Chabad Synagogue

Tel Aviv Deputy Mayor Reuven Ladiansky launched a sharp verbal assault on Tuesday against local Chabad emissaries who formally submitted an application for an exceptional zoning use permit to establish a synagogue. Ladiansky stated his intention to utilize his municipal authority to torpedo the initiative: “Chabad has already taken over part of the underground parking lot, and now they have submitted a request to the local planning and building committee for an exceptional use permit from parking to a synagogue. This will reach the subcommittee—I sit there, and we will not let this happen.”

In a video shared to his X account, Ladiansky arrived on-site at the commercial center in the Ramat Aviv Gimmel neighborhood of northern Tel Aviv, declaring: “I will not permit a synagogue to be built here. There will be no synagogue, no yeshiva, nothing established in this underground parking garage. We will put an end to Chabad’s attempts to take over spaces throughout Ramat Aviv Gimmel.”

The remarks triggered immediate public outrage across social media platforms, with commentators condemning the deputy mayor’s stance: “This is the Jewish state,” wrote one user, while another noted: “Nobody asks your permission. In the Jewish state, there will be a synagogue wherever Jews wish to pray.” Others added: “How sad and painful to see how low we have descended as a society,” and “Where does this animosity come from? Would you react this way to a mosque? Who is harmed by a small synagogue at the edge of a parking garage for people who want to pray?”

The Local Planning and Building Committee, which has statutory authority to approve rezoning or exceptional use permits, comprises ten municipal council members, including Ladiansky. Consequently, the deputy mayor lacks the legal authority to block or dismiss the permit application unilaterally. Should municipal professional planning officials recommend approving the exceptional use from an engineering and zoning standpoint, Ladiansky cannot block the approval on his own.

Illustration | Photo: Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90

Can He Actually Block the Decision?

Nevertheless, precedent regarding comparable requests indicates that municipal land maintains strictly designated uses; urban planning policy typically disfavors exceptional use approvals that conflict with primary parking infrastructure. Responding to the issue, the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality stated: “Any party is entitled to submit an application for exceptional use to the municipal local committee. Every request is rigorously evaluated by professional planning personnel, and that standard procedure will apply in this case as well.”

September 23, 2026
Man Critically Hurt in Route 443 Ramming; Terrorist Dead

Initial footage from the scene of Wednesday’s vehicular terror attack on Route 443 captured harrowing moments of panic immediately following the impact. In the recording, eyewitnesses can be heard shouting in shock as the incident unfolded: “Did they kill him? Is he lying on the road? My God, this is terrifying!”

The attack on Route 443 | Photo: United Hatzalah

The attack occurred at the Bell Checkpoint along the westbound stretch of Route 443 near Beit Horon. A man approximately 40 years old was struck by the vehicle and sustained critical injuries. Magen David Adom paramedics alongside IDF medical personnel provided advanced life support to the victim on the tarmac while he was unconscious.

Security forces stationed at the post acted swiftly to eliminate the threat. An IDF Spokesperson statement confirmed: “Security forces eliminated the terrorist who executed the attack at the checkpoint. Following the report regarding the vehicular ramming attack at the checkpoint in the Binyamin Brigade sector, forces operating at the scene shot and eliminated the terrorist.”

September 23, 2026
Hezbollah’s Ten Days of Reckoning

From September 17 to September 27, Hezbollah experienced ten days that fundamentally altered the course of the war: from the coordinated detonations of pagers and communication radios, through the systematic destruction of its strategic missile stockpiles and leadership echelon, to the 80 tons of munitions dropped directly onto Hassan Nasrallah’s underground bunker. It was an unprecedented campaign—on par with Operation Focus in the 1967 Six-Day War, and arguably surpassing it.

Photo: Arab networks

Just as the Jewish people observe the Ten Days of Repentance—distinctions aside, of course—Hezbollah endured its own fateful ten days. It commenced on September 17 at 15:30 with the synchronized pager explosions, cascading day after day: walkie-talkies, precision missiles, operational command posts, and the organization’s entire General Staff. The crescendo arrived on September 27, when the IDF delivered 80 tons of ordnance onto the bunker shielding Nasrallah.

It was an astounding operation. It is doubtful any military in the world has ever executed a campaign of such caliber. It stands as one of the most brilliant military operations in modern history, standing shoulder to shoulder with Operation Focus—and perhaps even eclipsing it.

Photo: Shutterstock

Yet today, as we approach the anniversary, archival footage broadcast during those pivotal days is resurfacing. Once again, one can listen to the rhetoric pushed across the panic-mongering, demoralizing, defeatist, and propaganda-laden channels. On the afternoon of the pager attack, and throughout the crucial days that followed, prominent analysts simply failed to comprehend what was unfolding before their eyes.

Listening back to commentators such as Raviv Drucker, Dana Weiss, Amos Gilad, Israel Ziv, Nir Dvori, and others is genuinely staggering. They repeatedly asked: Where is the strategy? What does this achieve? Why do this now, and how does it advance Israel’s position? The exact same doubts and anxieties were broadcast on a continuous loop, precisely while a tectonic historical maneuver was materializing in real time.

Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Only when revisiting those clips today does the immense gulf between on-the-ground reality and the narrative peddled in the television studios become undeniably clear. This is not merely a perspective on those ten days; it reflects what has aired in those studios day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year—for decades.

One day, when a museum documenting the history of Israeli media is built, those broadcasts deserve an honored place. Not only to document what was claimed in real time, but to provide lasting perspective—and to demonstrate how the supreme confidence projected by studio commentators is often entirely detached from reality on the battlefield.

Well done and happy holiday.

September 23, 2026
Ireland Squad Weighs Handshake Snub Against Israel

The diplomatic and sporting spat surrounding the Republic of Ireland national football team intensified on Wednesday morning, threatening to turn upcoming UEFA fixtures into an international controversy. Speaking at a press conference ahead of Ireland’s match against Kosovo, captain Dara O’Shea revealed that the squad will hold an internal meeting on Friday to determine whether to stage a political protest against the Israeli national team in their upcoming Nations League clash. Among the measures actively under consideration is an organized refusal to participate in the traditional pre-match handshake with Israeli players during the opening protocol.

Photo: Victor Velter, Shutterstock

“We’ve already spoken about sitting down together on Friday and discussing it as a squad,” O’Shea stated when pressed about potential protest actions against Israel. “I don’t think we’d be doing our jobs properly if we didn’t focus on the upcoming match first, but on Friday we’ll discuss everything openly. It’s a difficult and unusual situation for us, and we must make a collective decision and respect everyone’s views. We can’t brush it aside. We knew there would be noise surrounding these fixtures, and we’ve tried to stay off social media.”

“The headlines that followed the things I said distracted attention from what matters most,” Hallgrímsson conceded. “Perhaps leadership-wise, it wasn’t smart of me to divert focus in that manner. This is a complex period for us, and we must concentrate on football.”

Republic of Ireland national team fans | Photo: Shutterstock, ErreRoberto

Later in the international window, Israel will face Ireland in two fixtures scheduled for September 27 and October 4, hosted at neutral venues in Debrecen, Hungary, and Bačka Topola, Serbia. The Chief Executive of the Football Association of Ireland previously said the team is playing the fixtures strictly to avoid severe UEFA regulatory sanctions. In Jerusalem, football officials continue to weigh canceling the traditional official delegation dinner and submitting a formal UEFA complaint over illicit political interference in sport.

September 23, 2026
Suspected Car Ramming Thwarted at South Hebron Ranch

A suspected terror attack was thwarted on Wednesday in the South Hebron Hills. The owner of the Dvash MiSela agricultural ranch reported that terrorists attempted to ram him with a vehicle inside the ranch’s grounds. In response to the immediate threat, the ranch owner initiated suspect arrest procedures and opened fire toward the vehicle. One of the assailants was struck by gunfire in the leg. Security forces were alerted to the scene to investigate the incident and secure the perimeter.

September 23, 2026
Shin Bet Busts Shechem Cell Plotting to Kill Ben-Gvir

The Israel Police and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) cleared for publication on Wednesday that, following a complex joint counter-terrorism investigation by the Judea and Samaria District Police Central Investigative Unit and the Shin Bet, severe indictments were filed against a dangerous terror cell based in Shechem. Operating intensely since late 2023, the infrastructure—comprising two ‘Palestinian’ terrorists—worked systematically to build out extensive military capabilities across Judea and Samaria.

As part of their preparations, the cell amassed a diverse weapons arsenal that included M-16 rifles, M-4 carbines, Kalashnikov assault rifles, handguns, a hunting rifle, and substantial quantities of ammunition. In parallel, they recruited additional operatives, conducted live-fire training sessions, and instructed young recruits in operational tactical profiles.

The “Draw-In” Ambush and Explosive Drone Attack

During interrogation, investigators established that in 2024, the operatives resolved to assassinate National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The indictment details that after watching media footage showing the minister inspecting the scene of a previous terror attack, one of the terrorists proposed executing a “draw-in attack”—waiting for Ben-Gvir to arrive at an incident site and ambushing him on-site.

Illustration | Photo: Shutterstock

The plan subsequently evolved into a precision strike utilizing an explosive suicide drone. One operative actively sought to procure specialized drone components from China to assemble the weapon and carry out the assassination. Beyond targeting the minister, the cell actively prepared lethal attacks against Israeli civilians and security personnel utilizing car bombs and explosive drones. In addition, the operatives devised plans to carry out severe shooting ambushes and kidnap IDF soldiers in the sector. After successive detention extensions, the Samaria Military Prosecution filed serious security indictments and moved to remand both defendants in custody until the conclusion of legal proceedings.

Ben-Gvir: “This Is the 11th Attempt on My Life”

Otzma Yehudit Chairman and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir responded Wednesday to the disruption of the Shechem cell, noting that this marked the 11th documented assassination attempt against him. “This is already the eleventh time they have tried to eliminate me, and the Almighty delivers me from their hands,” Ben-Gvir stated. “I have a message for all those enemies: this will not deter me, and it will not frighten me.”

Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90

The minister emphasized that he will continue advancing his hardline security platform: “I will continue to implement tough policies in the security prisons, I will continue to lead the demolition of illegal construction in the Negev, and I will ensure that the death penalty law for terrorists is enforced and applied.”

Addressing prospects of serving in broader security roles, Ben-Gvir added: “They tremble at the very thought of me becoming defense minister, because they know very well: with me there are no compromises and no discounts. What I say, I execute. Just last week, I encountered in prison some of the terrorists who previously tried to assassinate me. I saw them shaking with fear, completely incapable of looking me in the eye. The very same terrorists who tried to terrorize me are the ones trembling with terror today.”

September 23, 2026
Avi Maoz to Liberman: Judea and Samaria Ours Forever

Noam party chairman MK Avi Maoz responded on social media platform X on Wednesday to a controversial initiative by Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman that proposed handing civil and security responsibility for Areas A and B in Judea and Samaria to Jordan. Maoz declared that in the upcoming 26th Knesset, he will lead legislative efforts to apply full Israeli sovereignty over the territory.

Photo: Yonatan Sindel, Flash90

“Avigdor, my friend, I want to remind you of something you well understood when you stood with us in the right-wing bloc: Judea and Samaria are an inseparable part of the Land of Israel, the heritage of our forefathers,” Maoz wrote. “They were ours, they are ours today, and they will remain ours forever. In the next Knesset, we will ensure the passage of a sovereignty law that will make this crystal clear: Judea and Samaria are an integral part of the State of Israel.”

Maoz’s comments follow broad public and political friction sparked by Liberman’s newly outlined strategic platform, which called for transferring administrative governance and security oversight of Areas A and B to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Liberman’s proposal triggered a swift wave of condemnation across the nationalist right. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and “Amcha Yisrael” party chairman Ofer Winter similarly rebuked the proposal, rejecting any relinquishment of authority or transfer of operational jurisdiction to Amman.

September 23, 2026
Travel Guide: Settlers Lodge in Esh Kodesh, East Israel

“When people come out here, they think it’s Yellowstone,” winemaker AY Katsof tells me last week over a glass of his Settlers Winery Queen Jane, a light, rose-style wine. Katsof has given me my choice of the cowboy hats strewn around his bar, filled with his local wine, guitars, and memorabilia from Mandatory Palestine. He established the winery in 2011 with his family, after moving from Los Angeles and serving in the Israeli army. Watch our full interview on the C14 Israel Debrief on Youtube.

Location: Settlers‘ is in the Jewish community of Esh Kodesh, in the Judea (Binyamin) region of Israel, 70km (43 miles) east of Tel Aviv. It’s about an hour drive from Tel Aviv. Accommodations: The property features four guest cabins with balconies, with sweeping views overlooking the local vineyards and hills. My cabin had a jacuzzi on one side of the balcony and a seating area on the other side.

The bar at Settlers Winery in Judea, Israel | Photo credit: Sophia Tupolev

Best time to go: The bar is open on Thursday and Saturday nights – I went on a Thursday night and stayed over until Friday. While the kitchen opens at 9:30pm, the place started to fill up around 11:00pm, with people telling me they were there from Tel Aviv, New York, Petakh Tikva and Raanana, not only from the local area.

The bar at Settlers Winery in Judea, Israel | Photo credit: Sophia Tupolev

Locals and visitors filled the stage singing Hebrew and English songs on guitars, drums, and even a handpan. The party went until around 3:00am, but I managed to get a good night’s sleep in the cabin to the sound of the crickets.

The cabins at Settlers Winery in Judea, Israel | Photo credit: Sophia Tupolev

The cabins are relatively spacious, and can comfortably host a couple. They are set up with a bedroom behind sliding barn doors, and a living room with a kitchenette, a small table for two, and a couple of armchairs. There’s a kettle and instant coffee in the room, but no creamer. The sink has a copper netilat yadayim cup for Jewish ritual handwashing. The cabin also has an empty mini-fridge in the kitchenette, and an open closet with a couple of shelves and hanging space, leading to the bathroom.

A ranger at Settlers Winery in Judea, Israel | Photo credit: Sophia Tupolev

As part of my visit, I got a ride on the ranger (pictured above), into the vineyards overlooking the Jordan Valley where Katsof grows his grapes. On the way we passed IDF reservists, jumping gazelles, and a beautiful sunset.

The view at Settlers Winery in Judea, Israel | Photo credit: Sophia Tupolev

For more on the Settler Winery and Lodge click here. Sophia Tupolev was a guest of the property.

September 23, 2026
Winter Slams Liberman’s Plan for Judea and Samaria

Ofer Winter, head of the Amcha Yisrael party, attacked Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman on Wednesday over his proposal to transfer security and administrative responsibility for Areas A and B in Judea and Samaria to Jordan.

Avigdor Liberman | Photo: Aloni Mor

“Yvette, you’re confused,” Winter opened, criticizing sharply: “I heard about Liberman’s new security plan, that the Jordanians will take security and administrative responsibility in Judea and Samaria. A foreign army will bring forces into our territory? Have we gone crazy?”

Winter linked the proposal to Jordan’s King Abdullah II’s speech at the UN General Assembly last night, in which he sharply criticized Israel, described what is happening in Judea and Samaria as “forced displacement” and a “war crime,” and said that “the expansionist appetite of the Israeli government is now a regional threat.”

Jordan’s King Abdullah | Photo: Shutterstock

The Amcha Yisrael chairman closed with a sharp message against the possibility of transferring security responsibility to a foreign entity: “The statement must be clear: only the IDF will be responsible for Israel’s security between the Jordan and the sea. Anything else is part of a dangerous concept that will bring upon us October 7 – and this time from Judea and Samaria.”

September 23, 2026