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17+ min ago (1141+ words) ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 791 In an interview that aired Thursday night on Channel 12, freed hostages Eli Sharabi and Alon Ohel recounted their time in Hamas captivity together, each crediting the other with his survival. "It's a dream come true," Ohel said, of sitting together. Turning to Sharabi, he said: "This is victory, right? This is our victory." Sharabi concurred: "We're lucky, look at this. We're alive. There are those who didn't come out of [Gaza] alive." Ohel and Sharabi were held together with fellow hostages Eliya Cohen and Or Levy for the majority of their time as hostages, having all been kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. They weren't all returned at the same time, however, with Ohel left behind during the January 2025 hostage deal that saw the other three freed. The young pianist, who was abducted from the Nova…...

28+ min ago (225+ words) Defense Minister Israel Katz informed the IDF Chief of Staff that he is disqualifying the promotion recommendation for Col. (res.) German Giltman, one of the leaders of the protest group "Brothers in Arms." The reason: his public call for refusal to serve. "Anyone who encourages refusal will not serve and will not be promoted in the IDF," Katz declared. Katz notified Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir that he will categorically block the decision to appoint and promote Col. (res.) Giltman. "Anyone who preaches or encourages refusal will not serve in the IDF and will not be promoted to any position," Katz said. Last night, the IDF published its list of new appointments approved in a staffing discussion led by Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir. In that meeting, it was agreed that Col. (res.) German Giltman would…...

28+ min ago (36+ words) Real time news brief - Defense Minister blocks promotion of 'Brothers in Arms' officer - Israel National News flashes around the clock are waiting for you on the site Defense Minister blocks promotion of 'Brothers in Arms' officer...

29+ min ago (254+ words) ALBAWABA- A Ukrainian long-range drone struck the Grozny City business center, one of Chechnya's tallest landmarks, early Friday, triggering a major fire, blowing out windows across several floors, and forcing mass evacuations in the heart of the regional capital, according to Russian media. "No fatalities were reported, though multiple people were treated for smoke inhalation as emergency crews cleared the surrounding area. Videos shared on Telegram and X captured flames shooting from the upper levels of the 145-meter tower, which houses key government institutions, including the Chechen Security Council, Audit Chamber, and election commission." Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov condemned the strike as an act of "terrorism," vowing retaliation on his Telegram channel. The Russian Defense Ministry said it intercepted 12 Ukrainian drones overnight, four of them over the North Caucasus, but confirmed one successful impact in Grozny." Kyiv has not issued…...

52+ min ago (208+ words) ALBAWABA- Pakistan's Upper House briefly turned into a political farce when a lone donkey wandered into the Senate chamber mid-session, stunning lawmakers and triggering a wave of laughter as security scrambled to escort the intruder out. "The animal strode calmly across the red carpet, paused near the presiding officer's podium, and appeared wholly unfazed by the chaos it caused. The spectacle, caught on video and instantly viral, unleashed a storm of satire online. Users called the donkey a "welcome improvement" to parliamentary debate, while others joked it was the "first honest participant" in years." Even Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gillani joined the humor, quipping that "even the animals want a say in our laws," earning applause across the room. Security officials have opened an inquiry, reviewing CCTV footage and questioning staff. Early findings point to an unsecured service corridor that…...

59+ min ago (154+ words) For the first time in many weeks, the Religious Zionism party passes the electoral threshold, earning four seats, according to a survey conducted by the Lazar Research Institute for Maariv. The poll indicates that if elections were held today, the results would be: Benny Gantz's party - 22 Yisrael Beytenu - 9 The Democrats - 9 Otzma Yehudit - 8 Yesh Atid - 9 Yisrael! with Eisenkot - 8 United Torah Judaism - 7 Religious Zionism - 4 According to the survey, the coalition bloc rises to 53 seats, while the opposition bloc falls to 57 seats. An additional 10 seats go to Hadash-Ta'al and Ra'am. The poll also reveals that a majority of Israelis support granting a presidential pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: 38% support a pardon without conditions, another 27% support it only in exchange for an admission of guilt and withdrawal from political life, 21% oppose, and 14% express no opinion on the matter....

59+ min ago (42+ words) Real time news brief - Poll: Religious Zionism Party and Likud gain strength - Israel National News flashes around the clock are waiting for you on the site Poll: Religious Zionism Party and Likud gain strength Poll: Religious Zionism Party and Likud gain strength...

1+ hour, 11+ min ago (232+ words) ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 791 Deputy Editor Amanda Borschel-Dan is the host of The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, What Matters Now, Friday Focus and The Reel Schmooze podcasts, and heads up The Times of Israel's features. Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter Welcome to The Times of Israel's Lazar Focus. Each Friday, join host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan and diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. This week, we're joined by Julien Lerisson, the head of delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Israel and the Occupied Territories. Berman reviews the organization's troubling history of failures regarding Jews, specifically during the Holocaust, but also moving forward in its rejection of Israel's national Magen David Adom chapter until two decades ago. We learn about the…...

1+ hour, 19+ min ago (57+ words) Real time news brief - "I have become small:" What does it mean to be the Chosen People? - Israel National News flashes around the clock are waiting for you on the site "I have become small:" What does it mean to be the Chosen People? "I have become small:" What does it mean to be the Chosen People?...

1+ hour, 19+ min ago (898+ words) I do not see a way of rationally explaining the obsessive hatred of Israel and Jews without the faith that Jews are G-d's chosen people to make the world a place of goodness and kindness. The obsession with Israel makes no sense unless you can appreciate the truth that we are G-d's people. We were chosen to serve as a light onto the nations, a Divine flame lit on the cosmic way, hence we trigger the world in unimaginable ways. But when you tell a Jew you are chosen, he says: "Me? Never. I am just a human being." Of course, Jewish chosen-ness cannot be racist because Jews are not a race; there are Jews of every race. What is more, any person of any race, ethnicity, or nationality can become a member of the Jewish people and thereby be…...