All News (Page 11)

Israel Police operating in the West Bank have opened investigations into three suspects arrested over the weekend for illegal possession of firearms and other weapons, as well as gazelles, a protected species in Israel, police announced on Sunday.

The suspects were arrested during a military operation during which illegal firearms were seized across the West Bank.

In the village of Shufa, near Tulkarm, Israeli forces acting on previously gathered intelligence found three hunting rifles hidden in a civilian home and an adjacent greenhouse, along with a large amount of ammunition, IDF uniform pants, and two knives. Police arrested the suspect, a Shufa resident in his 40s, at the scene.

Police also found and seized four gazelles being held there, which were later handed over to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority due to their status as protected animals.

Israeli forces arrest two in Nablus region 

In Askar, a refugee camp on the outskirts of Nablus, Israeli forces seized an M-16 rifle and a handgun, both hidden inside a home, and arrested a Nablus resident in his 20s in connection with the find.

In the village of Bizzariya, about 13 km. (8 miles) northwest of Nablus, Israeli forces seized a hunting rifle while responding to a reported shooting. The man suspected of possessing the rifle, a resident of the village in his 20s, was arrested

Share this story:

This post was originally published on here. 

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that negotiations with Iran have made little progress, stressing that Washington is not close to reaching a diplomatic breakthrough with Tehran.

Speaking to reporters ahead of his departure for France to attend a meeting of G7 foreign ministers, Rubio said, “I have no progress to report. There are several countries that continue to engage with Iran and put forward various ideas, but I would not say that we are on the verge of a breakthrough.”

Rubio said President Donald Trump continues to favor a diplomatic solution, but acknowledged that Iranian demands remain a major obstacle to reaching an agreement.

“The president will always prefer to resolve this problem, like any other problem, through diplomatic means. Unfortunately, sometimes that is impossible. If there is an opportunity to do so, we will examine it. At the moment, the talks have not been particularly productive because the Iranian demands are simply unacceptable, and in some cases they are outrageous, ridiculous, and detached from reality,” he added.

Rubio also addressed the possibility of additional US strikes on Iran, saying Washington would act if American forces or shipping in the region came under threat.

“If there is a clear and immediate threat to shipping or to our forces in the region, we have the right to defend ourselves. It all depends on the level of the threat and whether they are acting against us or intend to do so,” he said.

Rubio defends Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran despite political fallout

The secretary of state also defended Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran, despite the potential political consequences of the conflict.

“A nuclear Iran would be unacceptable and dangerous not only to Israel and the Middle East, but to the entire world and the United States. The president confronted a threat that other presidents were unable to confront. Sometimes doing the right thing is not necessarily popular, but it is necessary,” Rubio said.

Rubio declined to comment on whether the war had contributed to Republican losses in the US midterm elections.

Share this story:

This post was originally published on here. 

The Khor Mor gas field, an important energy facility, was attacked Saturday. The attack came less than 24 hours after a report that the Iranian-backed group Kataib Hezbollah had made comments about the gas facility. 

In the past, Iranian-backed groups have targeted the facility. The Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq and its Kurdistan Regional Government have long asked Baghdad for drone defenses to defend the gas field and other sites. Iran has carried out more than 1,000 drone and missile attacks on the Kurdistan Region since February. 

Rudaw media in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, reported that “gas production at the Khor Mor field west of Sulaimani came to a halt late Sunday after an unknown projectile struck the facility’s gas storage unit, causing significant damage, according to a Rudaw reporter on the ground.” Reports and videos online show smoke and fire billowing from the facility and the sky lit up in orange from the flames. Some reports say the facility was struck by a drone.

Rudaw added that “a source from the field confirmed the attack to Rudaw’s Peshawa Bakhtyar but couldn’t determine whether the attack came from an attack drone or a rocket, adding that the strike has caused a ‘massive fire’ in the field.”

Bakhtyar also said that the strike “hit Khor Mor’s warehouse unit, which stores nearly 1.5 thousand tons of cooking gas through 170 oil tankers. The source said the fire was close to being brought under control.” A Telegram channel linked to pro-Iran terrorist groups has said a drone was involved in the attack.

Kataib Hezbollah makes veiled threat, alluding to Khor Mor

Meanwhile, on Sunday, reports noted that Abu Mujahid al-Assaf of Kataib Hezbollah had slammed Iraq’s prime minister Ali al-Zaidi and said, “we do not want to air dirty laundry in public, nor open the files of (Khor Mor) and the incitement to target it for the purpose of extorting the UAE; for whoever’s house is made of glass should not throw stones at people.”

The reference to Khor Mor may have been a threat. Zaidi has vowed to rein in armed groups and confiscate their weapons. Kataib Hezbollah has been in the spotlight amid this attempt to disarm various groups, including the Iranian-backed groups. Zaidi also canceled contracts at Mosul airport because the contracts were linked to “armed groups,” which is usually a euphemism for Iranian-backed terrorist groups in Iraq. 

Kataib Hezbollah has targeted facilities in Iraq in the past and also targeted Saudi Arabia and killed three Americans in Jordan in January 2024. Khor Mor gas field was attacked in December 2025, February 2025 and August 2023.

Share this story:

This post was originally published on here. 

Firefighters in Kiryat Ata, near Haifa, were called to Yitzhak Rabin Road on Sunday after a report of an animal in distress, only to find a cow stuck in the mud up to its neck after several days of heavy rain across the country, the Fire and Rescue Authority said.

Emergency responders quickly determined that the cow had been trapped for some time and realized the situation was more than they could handle alone. They called the municipality, which sent a veterinarian to the scene. A short time later, the cow was pulled out of the mud unharmed, using heavy machinery fitted with specialized straps.

IDF halts Golani Brigade drill after 80 cows wander into firing range in North

It was not the first time this year that cattle in northern Israel ended up somewhere they should not have been. In August, two herds wandered onto a firing range during an IDF training exercise, disrupting and ultimately halting the drill, Israel Police confirmed at the time.

Soldiers from the IDF’s Golani Brigade were training on the range when the cattle appeared, likely using live fire.

Authorities seized and quarantined about 80 cows in the Moshav Dor area, along Israel’s northern Mediterranean coast, north of Caesarea. The operation required a period of intelligence gathering and the cooperation of the Border Police, the Israel Air Force, and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.

Police suspected that the cattle belonged to residents of Muawiya and Ein Ibrahim, two villages next to Umm el-Fahm, near the Golani Brigade training base where the cattle were found.

At the time, the cattle were expected to remain in quarantine until their owners, who were under investigation by the Border Police, paid fines for letting their livestock stray onto an IDF firing range.

Share this story:

This post was originally published on here. 

Nvidia said Sunday it is launching an independent investigation after a media report alleged that CEO Jensen Huang had a close relationship with a Chinese businesswoman who passed information to Beijing.

In a message to Nvidia employees, Huang admitted to being unfaithful to his wife and took “full responsibility” for his actions.

The New York Times reported last month that US authorities were investigating Alice Huang, a former executive of Singapore-based company Megaspeed, which buys AI chips from Nvidia. US authorities have scrutinized Megaspeed over suspicions it helped Beijing gain access to advanced AI chips that are barred from shipment to China.

“The NVIDIA Board is initiating an independent investigation in light of recent reporting that founder and CEO Jensen Huang has been the target of a foreign intelligence effort. A committee of independent directors, assisted by outside independent counsel, will oversee the investigation,” Nvidia said.

The company said on Sunday that, while its board has no reason to believe that either US national security or Nvidia secrets were compromised, its inquiry will examine all available information.

Huang to cooperate with review

Huang fully supports the review and has committed to cooperating with it, it added.

Huang said in a message to employees: “I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry.”

Addressing his colleagues, board, partners, and shareholders, Huang said: “My responsibility is to serve you and be worthy of your trust. I have fallen short of that responsibility. I am fully committed to NVIDIA and will work to earn back your confidence.”

An Nvidia spokesperson said Huang is “committed to continuing to lead NVIDIA as CEO without interruption.”

Top Republican lawmakers in the US House of Representatives have called on Huang to brief Congress this month about the report.

Share this story:

This post was originally published on here. 

It was a rough weekend for Israeli teams in the Euroleague, as both Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv came up short in their respective games. The two sides will meet twice this week in a pair of highly anticipated derbies: first in the Winner Cup final and then in a Euroleague matchup in Cyprus.

Barcelona defeated Hapoel Tel Aviv 93-90 in a tightly contested matchup in Sofia, Bulgaria, as the Reds saw their Euroleague record drop to 6-4 on the season. Dimitrios Itoudis’s team saw Elijah Bryant and Vasilije Micic pour in the points, as the Reds were clearly in the driver’s seat throughout much of the contest.

However, midway through the third quarter, with Hapoel clinging to a 60-53 lead, the visitors, led by Dario Brizuela, went on a 16-0 run to take the lead for good and never looked back as they notched the win. Bryant scored 25 points, and Micic added 24 in the loss, while Brizuela scored 22 points and Justin Robinson also contributed 22 points in the victory.

Hapoel head coach Dimitrios Itoudis reflected on the loss.

“It was a bad outcome for us. We wanted to win, but we played a hungrier team that forced us to give up 16 offensive rebounds. Giving up the nine-point lead so quickly in the third quarter was just too much.”

Sekulic credits team’s defense for victory

Barcelona head coach Aleksander Sekulic spoke about the win.

“The players did a great job on defense, and we wanted to limit their best scorers, as they have a lot of firepower. But we found a way. When we didn’t score, we rebounded and played together. Our defense led to our offense, and we made the opponent nervous. The main thing was our defense in winning the game.”

Vasilije Micic had the hot hand for Hapoel Tel Aviv, while Josh Nebo countered inside for the Reds. Justin Robinson and Kevin Punter both scored for Barcelona, but a 3-pointer by Ish Wainright kept Hapoel in front, 21-19, after 10 minutes of play.

Robinson and Nebo scored to begin the second quarter, while Wainright went from deep again. Blakeney and Micic both scored, Tosan Evbuomwan found points, and Dan Oturu started to become a factor inside. Elijah Bryant scored with ease, but Robinson continued to fill the basket, including a triple as time wound down, to even up the game at halftime, 46-46.

Bryant and Tyrese Martin traded baskets, while the former kept scoring at will. Dario Brizuela began to chalk up the points to put the visitors in front, while Nebo also contributed as the period came to an end with Barcelona in front, 73-64, after 30 minutes of action.

Martin, Robinson, Nebo and Brizuela all scored to get the fourth quarter off and running and give Barcelona a double-digit advantage. Bryant, Micic and Zach LeDay scored to cut the lead to 91-90 with less than half a minute to go, but a deuce by Brizuela and a wild miss at the buzzer by Micic secured the win for Barcelona.

In Serbia, Maccabi Tel Aviv was crushed by Partizan Belgrade 88-67 as its record dropped to 2-8 in Euroleague play, marking its fourth consecutive loss in the competition. The defeat also marked the team’s sixth straight loss across all competitions, leaving Oded Katash’s squad in 18th place in the standings.

Maccabi fell behind early, trailing 23-7 before cutting the deficit and finishing the first quarter down 28-23. However, Partizan regained control as the game progressed, taking a 50-35 lead at halftime while keeping the Yellow-and-Blue to single digits in each of the final three quarters and holding Maccabi’s perimeter shooting to just 5-of-23 (21.7%).

Daniel Theis scored 11 points, Yam Madar added 10, and Jaylen Hoard scored nine in the loss, while Ethan Thompson scored 16 points, Lamar Stevens put in 14, and Antonio Reeves chipped in with 13 in the win.

“The team competed very well, and we played very solid defense,” Partizan head coach Joan Penarroya said. “We controlled the rebounds, played together, and today we didn’t need Carlik Jones to score 25 or 30 points, although he still had an amazing game. For us, it’s very important that he shared the ball in a very mature performance.”

“We’re struggling, and we’re playing without confidence,” Maccabi head coach Oded Katash said. “We were poor offensively and got off to a bad start. When you don’t have confidence, you have to keep things simple. We made some adjustments in the second half, but it wasn’t enough. I’m sorry, and I want to apologize to the fans. We have to change this situation quickly.”

Thompson: ‘It’s going to be a long season’

Ethan Thompson shared his thoughts on the win: “I felt we played a pretty complete game, and I am happy with the win. It’s going to be a long season, and we’ll be asked to adjust a lot, so we’ll be required to play in different positions in line with the ‘next man’ attitude.”

Bonzie Colson discussed the areas Maccabi needs to improve, emphasizing the importance of performing better on both ends of the floor.

“It was a tough game. We need to focus on everything, both defensively and offensively. With the derby coming up in the next few days, we have to work hard, improve on both ends of the floor, and continue believing in the system and in each other. We need to find a way to get a win and get better.”

See more Israeli sports coverage at www.sportsrabbi.com/en

Share this story:

This post was originally published on here. 

Israel was prepared over the weekend for the possibility that US President Donald Trump would order a strike on Iran, but no such order was ultimately issued, two sources told The Jerusalem Post.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Israel’s top security officials on Friday afternoon, the sources said.

The US military was also preparing for the possibility that Trump would order a renewed military operation against Iran. In an interview with CNN, Trump said that “the US could destroy 38 Iranian bridges in one hour.”

Meanwhile, mediators continued efforts to broker a deal between Washington and Tehran. Two diplomatic sources told the Post that Trump had given Vice President JD Vance and other senior administration officials “a few days” to reach an agreement.

In the CNN interview, Trump said there was a “very low probability” that he would order the US to return to war with Iran if progress was made in talks between Tehran and Washington.

“It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement,” Trump said. “The answer is highly unlikely [that] it’s going to be necessary… I would if necessary, but we hit them really hard.”

Trump noted that he would prefer not to strike infrastructure, predicting that it could take Tehran up to 10 years to rebuild destroyed bridges.

“I don’t like ripping down bridges. And the hardest thing to build is a bridge. It takes years, and I’m a good builder,” he added.

US military continues to reinforce presence in the Middle East

At the same time, the US military continued to bolster its presence in the region. According to reports, the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and its carrier strike group departed Singapore after a several-day stay and are now heading toward the US Central Command area of responsibility, where they are expected to arrive within several days.

Separately, the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island departed Japan over the weekend and is also heading toward the Middle East.

Goldie Katz contributed to this report.

Share this story:

This post was originally published on here. 

A man was detained after attempting to enter Israel through the Shuafat refugee camp checkpoint in east Jerusalem using the identity of a sex offender on Sunday.

The incident occured when the man, who did not have legal recourse to enter Israel, arrived at the checkpoint and attempted to identify himself using a photo of an identity card on his mobile phone. The identity card was discovered to belong to a sex offender currently under supervision by the Israel Prison Service’s Tzur Unit and does not live in the area.

The Tzur Unit officers were called to the scene to verify the identity of the man who presented the card and realized that he was not the sex offender, but was illegally trying to enter Israeli territory.

Suspect, sex offender met in prison

Upon questioning, authorities discovered that there was a connection between the man and the sex offender. The two had met while previously serving time in prison and met again in Jerusalem in March.

The man was then detained by Israel Police for further investigation.

The commander of the Israel Prison Service’s Tzur Unit, Brig.-Gen. Yehuda Aharoni, said that the incident “demonstrates the vigilance, professionalism, and operational capabilities of the supervision officers of the Israel Prison Service’s Tzur Unit, who work day and night to maintain public safety.”

According to Aharoni, cooperation with security and law enforcement agencies enables the unit to respond to incidents that fall outside its routine supervision activities.

Share this story:

This post was originally published on here. 

Yoaz Hendel, whose party failed to cross the electoral threshold, slammed the possibility that the anti-Netanyahu bloc could reach a compromise with the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties on military conscription; he told 103FM radio on Sunday.

According to Hendel, the parties that promised to look out for those who serve are abandoning their principles, and he will keep up the fight from outside the Knesset.

On Friday, Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman said his party was willing to “be flexible and compromise” on the haredi IDF draft law, as he laid out his conditions for joining a coalition led by Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot.

Hendel, who chairs the Reservists-Economic party, has been watching the news from outside the Knesset with dismay. He spoke with hosts Avishai Grinzaig and Barak Seri.

‘If we don’t do this now, the State of Israel will fall apart’

“I told you I was afraid that if they had to get to 61 [seats, a Knesset majority], they would give up on the draft law. You told me, ‘Forget it, that’s not likely, it won’t happen,’” Hendel told Seri at the start of the interview. “I didn’t believe that an hour after the election, they would abandon the entire worldview I fought for over three years, and they were part of it. In the slogans on the buses, they talk about an alliance of those who serve and about conscription for everyone. I’m afraid that if we don’t do this now, the State of Israel will fall apart.”

“We have no governance in the Negev and the Galilee; we have an Arab sector that sings ‘Biladi, Biladi,’ and on the other side, shtetls that sing about ‘the rule of the heretics,’” he added, referring to an Arabic patriotic song.

“The disgrace has already happened. As far as public perception goes, it has all happened,” Hendel said. “The Change bloc [the anti-Netanyahu bloc], which claimed that the flag of those who serve was what mattered to it, has already given up. Now Netanyahu’s supporters come and say they’re all the same, and that’s true. We should have agreed in advance that whoever doesn’t serve gets nothing, regardless of whether you support Bibi [Netanyahu] or oppose Bibi.”

“Those who failed, and those who threw their vote in the trash, are the people who voted for a party that, an hour after the results were published, says the exact opposite,” the former minister said, when asked about his election failure. “[Avigdor] Liberman and the entire Change bloc [the anti-Netanyahu bloc] said they didn’t need us and that they would take care of the reservists.”

‘My mission is not in the Knesset; it’s outside’

“For three years, I have been fighting to protect this country. 155,000 people voted for me, and that’s not enough to get into the current Knesset, but it’s enough to give this voice a platform,” he added. “Whoever dismisses it will have it come back at them.”

“Both the votes I brought in and the failure to cross the threshold are on me,” Hendel said later in the interview. “I won’t say ‘I told you so.’ My mission is not in the Knesset; it’s outside. It’s to fight so that the State of Israel doesn’t break apart into autonomous enclaves, because otherwise we will leave our children a country with a non-Zionist majority.”

Share this story:

This post was originally published on here. 

Four explosions were heard on Iran‘s Qeshm Island on Sunday evening, according to Iranian state media outlet IRNA.

IRNA reported that a correspondent on the island said that some areas of Qeshm appear to have been struck by projectiles.

The source and nature of the explosions have not yet been confirmed.

On Saturday evening, explosions were also heard on Qeshm Island, in addition to Sirik, Bandar Abbas, and Jask Port. 

Over the weekend, US President Donald Trump confirmed that the US conducted a “minor strike” on Qeshm Island.

A similar, limited strike on Qeshm Island was also carried out on November 3. A US official told The Jerusalem Post at the time that the strike was ordered in response to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attempting to target an American aircraft with a missile launched from the island.

Trump says return to war with Iran ‘highly unlikely’

Trump said on Sunday, however, that it is “highly unlikely” that the US will return to full-blown war with Iran if progress is made in ongoing indirect negotiations.

“It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement,” Trump said during an interview with CNN. “The answer is highly unlikely [that] it’s going to be necessary… I would if necessary, but we hit them really hard.”

Trump emphasized that American military forces are ready to act against Iran if he does decide to order strikes, saying that a third “fully locked and loaded” US aircraft carrier strike group recently arrived in the region.

Share this story:

This post was originally published on here. 

Social comparison is one of the most universal human behaviors.

From early childhood, we learn who we are partly by looking at siblings, classmates, colleagues, friends, neighbors, and others. We compare grades, looks, achievements, careers, homes, vacations, and even happiness.

In many ways, comparison is simply part of how the human mind organizes social reality. It helps us understand where we stand, what we might strive for, and how we relate to others.

But not all comparison is created equal. For some people, comparing becomes a constant, exhausting mental habit, with them always looking at the world for signs of being “less than.” What begins as a normal cognitive process can turn into a source of chronic insecurity, jealousy, emotional pain, and mental exhaustion.

Psychologists often find something deeper beneath the person’s constant comparison behavior: an injured sense of self and fragile self-esteem.

The normal psychology of comparison

In its healthy form, social comparison is adaptive. It helps us look at our abilities and expectations.

A child watching a slightly older sibling ride a bicycle without training wheels may feel inspired to try.

Adults often use comparison to set goals, evaluate progress, strive for better results, or simply understand their place in a community. In a materialistic culture, people often compare homes, vacations, or cars to feel reassured or successful.

These things are all normal; it’s part of the way human beings operate.

Social psychologists identify two elements of normal comparison.

The first is upward comparison – looking at someone who seems better off. This can motivate movement toward personal growth.

I remember when I decided to pursue my doctorate, my best friend followed my path and also decided to do the same. Healthy competition is not a bad thing. It can drive someone to achieve new goals that were never believed to be obtainable.

The second element is downward comparison – looking at someone worse off. During stressful periods, downward comparison can offer temporary reassurance and potentially affect a personal sense of gratefulness for what the individual has.

When comparison turns compulsive

The roots of compulsive comparison are rarely about the other person. It is usually about the person’s self that feels fragile, uncertain, or unworthy. When someone’s inner sense of value has been compromised, comparison becomes a way of checking, again and again, whether they are “good enough.”

But because the underlying emotional injury is never addressed, the comparisons never help. They only intensify the feeling of being unhappy with oneself.

The role of early emotional injury

Where does this fragility come from? Often, it traces back to early relational experiences.

Children who grow up with narcissistic or emotionally inconsistent parents may learn that love is conditional, unpredictable, or linked to performance. They may internalize the belief that their worth depends on external validation.

Compulsive social comparison can also be shaped by peer experiences, being teased or humiliated, excluded, or chronically undervalued during childhood or adolescence. These experiences can leave lasting impressions.

A case in point: Daniel and Esti

Daniel and Esti came to therapy not because of an overt conflict, but because of a constant sense of dissatisfaction that seemed to cloud every achievement.

They had three thriving children, solid careers, and a stable home. Yet they often arrived in my office emotionally drained – not from life’s demands, but from a continual internal pressure of comparing themselves to others.

As therapy unfolded, their histories made the pattern unsurprising.

Daniel grew up with a profoundly narcissistic father, a man whose approval was conditional, unpredictable, and often nonexistent. The more Daniel succeeded, the less he got from his dad.

Esti’s upbringing carried a parallel injury. Esti’s mother was competitive with her, treating her less as a daughter and more as a rival. She was rarely praised, affection was minimal, and she was consistently criticized.

Both Daniel and Esti entered adulthood with a fragile internal sense of worth. They were not able to fully enjoy their achievements, which became temporary Band-Aids against old wounds. Comparison was not simply a habit but a vital, though maladaptive, psychological coping mechanism.

Clinically, individuals like Daniel and Esti often present as outwardly successful but internally unsettled. They live in a state of perpetual evaluation. Wanting more is not the problem. The problem arises when wanting more becomes a substitute for feeling satisfied.

For Daniel and Esti, the therapeutic work involved strengthening their internal sense of security and helping them differentiate when a comparison motivates true aspirations and when a comparison is driven by chronic low self-esteem and anxiety.

As they learned to be more cognizant of their own sense of self-worth, the comparison trap lost its grip. They began to want more in a healthier way, not out of fear but out of possibility.

Reclaiming your sense of worth

If you struggle with compulsive comparison, meaningful change can begin with a few important points:

1. Notice the triggers. Pay attention to when the need to compare is triggered and try to identify the specific environments, relationships, or moments of self-doubt.

2. Develop your internal sense of validation. Focus on your own self-worth, personal values, and aspirations, rather than on external praise and feedback.

3. Focus on your personal growth. Practice gratitude for your own unique path of life, instead of measuring your progress against someone else’s timeline.

4. Seek deeper insight. When the pattern feels deeply rooted or emotionally distressing, consider seeking professional help. It can help you understand the issues and help heal a fragile sense of self-esteem.

Social comparison will always be part of being human. The good news is that when we understand its deeper roots and change our counterproductive beliefs about ourselves, the healing process can begin.

Seeking help for compulsive comparison doesn’t just relieve personal suffering; it provides a healthier model for the next generation.■

The writer is a psychotherapist with over 40 years of experience helping individuals and couples navigate stress, trauma, and complex emotional challenges. Specializing in support for olim and couples managing wartime pressure and extended reserve duty, he maintains a private practice in Ra’anana and provides online therapy globally. drmikegropper@gmail.com

Share this story:

This post was originally published on here. 

South Africa’s municipal election is unlikely to produce an immediate shift in the country’s policy toward Israel, but the African National Congress’s (ANC) declining electoral dominance could make it increasingly difficult for the party to maintain its diplomatic position without facing challenges from its coalition partners, Jason Halfon told The Jerusalem Post.

Halfon is a South African based in Israel who previously held leadership positions in the Democratic Alliance party and is a graduate of its Young Leaders and, more recently, Catalyst programs.

The November 4 local elections saw the ANC suffer significant losses, with its share of the national proportional representation vote falling to approximately 30.9%, down from 45.6% in 2021. The Democratic Alliance (DA) received approximately 24.7%, up from 21.7%, while the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party received approximately 9.8%.

Halfon argued that the results should not be viewed solely in the context of the ANC’s declining popularity, but also as evidence of the growing fragmentation of political power in South Africa.

Seven of South Africa’s eight metropolitan municipalities are heading toward coalition negotiations, with no party securing an outright majority. 

Although the election does not directly affect the composition of South Africa’s national government, the results could have implications for the balance of power within the governing coalition, particularly as parties prepare for the next national elections.

Halfon told the Post that the losses also carry organizational consequences for the ANC itself. Municipal control has long functioned as a key source of party revenue through contributions from public representatives and as a vehicle for local patronage networks. Losing council seats and executive positions reduces both income streams and the party’s ability to direct appointments and procurement, he opined.

Halfon noted that the full impact of these losses is likely to become clearer in the period leading up to the ANC’s 2027 elective conference, when internal mobilization and branch-level resources become decisive.

How ANC losses could shift foreign policy

Municipal councils do not determine South Africa’s diplomatic policy, as the Presidency, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), and the national executive remain the principal centers of foreign-policy decision-making.

Nevertheless, the results could strengthen the political standing of parties seeking to challenge ANC policies, particularly the DA, which participates in the national Government of National Unity (GNU).

Halfon said the DA remains the largest non-ANC party in the GNU and is essential to its parliamentary majority. While alternative partners exist on paper, any sustained turn toward parties that themselves emerged from ANC fractures would risk accelerating further splits. 

This structural position, he argued, creates “latent leverage” that could be exercised through contestation of key appointments, demands for formal coordination on major foreign-policy decisions, and the linking of municipal coalition negotiations to broader governance issues.

For Israel, the question is whether this redistribution of political power could eventually translate into a more pragmatic South African foreign policy.

Halfon thinks it could, but “indirectly, and only over time.”

While foreign policy is not decided in municipal chambers, the “diffusion of power across major councils changes the internal balance inside the GNU,” he explained.

“Single-party dominance of diplomatic posture becomes harder to maintain when coalition partners control significant local executive authority and can link national cooperation to broader governance demands.”

While Halfon said a shift would not produce sudden alignment with Israel, he suggested that the results could eventually encourage a “gradual move toward greater pragmatism.” This could mean prioritizing economic and technological interests such as water management, agriculture, and municipal innovation in South Africa’s relationship with Israel, rather than allowing ideological considerations to dominate diplomatic decision-making.

Halfon noted that South Africa’s large Christian population also gives practical weight to the cost of restricted travel and pilgrimage links.

“These factors create space for recalibration if non-ANC parties consistently use their municipal and national leverage to demand it,” he noted.

South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel

The ANC has historically made support for the Palestinian cause a central part of its foreign policy and political identity.

This position has become particularly well-known since December 2023, when South Africa brought a case against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of violating the Genocide Convention through its military activity in Gaza. Israel has rejected the allegations and challenged the court’s jurisdiction.

The case remains ongoing, with the ICJ setting November 22, 2027, as the deadline for South Africa’s next written submission and May 22, 2029, for Israel’s response. The court has not issued a final ruling on the genocide allegations.

Halfon said the ANC’s support for the Palestinian cause remains “institutionally entrenched,” even though the original framework that once contained it has largely eroded.

“Historically the ANC maintained a more complex position,” he told the Post. “A disproportionate number of South African Jews, drawing on their own experience of persecution, played significant roles in the anti-apartheid struggle. Nelson Mandela explicitly recognized the legitimacy of Zionism as Jewish national self-determination while simultaneously supporting Palestinian aspirations. He saw no necessary contradiction.”

According to Halfon, that balance began to narrow as the ANC transitioned from a liberation movement into South Africa’s governing party.

“Today the position functions less as a carefully weighed principle and more as a source of elite cohesion, international signaling, and domestic distraction,” he continued.

The ANC’s claim of historical solidarity with liberation movements “has become harder to sustain on two practical grounds,” Halfon added.

“First, consistency: Equivalent diplomatic energy and legal activism are not applied to other severe human-rights crises, including the mass internment of Uyghurs or the large-scale killing of Christians in parts of Africa. Selective application weakens the claim that the policy is driven by universal principle.”

“Second, opportunity cost. South Africa faces collapsing municipal infrastructure, unreliable water and power, and high levels of violence. The expenditure of diplomatic capital and state resources on a distant conflict while basic services deteriorate is increasingly difficult to justify to voters who judge parties on local outcomes.”

Halfon argued that, although support for the Palestinian cause remains deeply embedded within the ANC, “its political returns are diminishing relative to its costs.”

The municipal election results could reinforce that pressure by demonstrating that voters want more focus on domestic governance issues, particularly infrastructure, service delivery and public safety. However, they do not necessarily indicate that voters are rejecting the ANC’s position on Israel.

What the results mean for Israel and South Africa’s Jewish community

For Israel and South Africa’s Jewish community, Halfon said the results should primarily be seen as evidence that South African voters are judging parties on local delivery and accountability rather than international signaling.

“For Israel and the local Jewish community, the practical implication is straightforward,” he said. “The era of unchallenged single-party control of diplomatic posture is ending. The quality of the coalitions that emerge, and the willingness of non-ANC parties to treat foreign policy as a legitimate area of negotiation rather than a reserved domain, will determine whether that change produces a more balanced and interest-driven approach.”

“The municipal results themselves do not guarantee that outcome; they only make it possible,” he concluded.

Share this story:

This post was originally published on here. 

Iraq has reached an understanding with the United States to allow Iraqi oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz via a shipping lane near Oman, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said in an interview with Al Jazeera.

He said Iraq’s losses from the Iran war and disruptions to oil exports had reached $60 billion.

Iraq’s oil exports recovered in October after a sharp drop the previous month. Exports rose to about 3.5 million barrels per day from 2.65 million bpd in September, according to Iraqi energy officials.

US asks Iraq to close Iran border crossings

Hussein also said the US Treasury had asked Iraq to close all but two of its border crossings with Iran, as part of Washington’s campaign to increase economic pressure on Tehran.

One of the two crossings that would remain open is in the Kurdistan Region.

Iraq has already closed some crossings with Iran in recent weeks, including the Al-Sheeb crossing in the south, citing the need for security and infrastructure upgrades. Tehran criticized that decision, saying Baghdad had not given advance notice.

Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday that four oil tankers were destroyed after striking naval mines while trying to traverse a route described as prohibited south of the key waterway, and that two other vessels had been seized.

A day later, the IRGC said two oil tankers and a tugboat had caught fire in separate incidents after attempting to use unauthorized routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

On Sunday, Iran’s navy said an oil tanker caught fire after striking a naval mine east of the Strait of Hormuz.

Share this story:

This post was originally published on here. 

Over the last two days, several reports have emerged that claim Syria is sending forces to Saudi Arabia. The reports differ on the number and type of forces involved. This is an important development. It is equally important that rumors or anonymous sources be subjected to skepticism.

Here is what is known so far about the reports of Syria sending forces to support Saudi Arabia.

In October, Reuters reported that Damascus was considering sending military support to Saudi Arabia. This came after Riyadh was increasingly coming under fire from the Iranian-backed Houthis. Iran has been prodding the Houthis since July to prepare for a new campaign. This came in the context of Iranian support that goes back at least to the 2015 Houthi offensive in Yemen and the Saudi intervention that year.

The Houthis captured areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in September. Saudi Arabia has backed the Yemeni government against the Houthis. Saudi Arabia has also supported the new government in Syria. Syria’s new army has experience fighting Iranian-backed proxies because Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other Syrian rebel groups fought Hezbollah and Iranian-backed militias in Syria between 2012 and the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024.

The October report noted that Syria might help Riyadh defensively to protect the Kingdom. The Syrians could also use their skills in discretionary small-unit warfare to aid in operations in Yemen. The next reports at Reuters on November 6 reported more concrete evidence that the Syrians were aiding Riyadh. 

“Syria is aiding Riyadh with military advice and training as Saudi Arabia comes under attack by Yemen’s Houthis, and has sent a limited number of military personnel to the kingdom, two Syrian military sources and a senior US official said,” Reuters reported.

Syrian media site claims country sent military advisers, training teams to Saudi Arabia

Levant24, a Syrian media site, re-reported the Reuters report. “Syria has sent military advisers and training teams to Saudi Arabia as Riyadh confronts escalating attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group, Reuters reported Friday, citing Syrian and US sources. The reported deployment comes days after Damascus and Riyadh signed a defense cooperation agreement covering military training, advisory support and the exchange of expertise.”

Levant24 noted that two Syrian sources had said that “dozens of Syrian military personnel have traveled to Saudi Arabia in recent weeks. They said the personnel are providing advice and training, while suggesting their responsibilities could extend beyond those activities.”

This looks like an advise and assist mission, with training for the Saudis and Yemeni fighters as well. “The goal is to improve their combat capabilities, drawing on the experience Syrian fighters gained during years of conflict.”

Syria has said that the initial deployment was small and is narrowly focused. It is based on the defense agreement with Saudi Arabia, which includes “advisory support, training, and the exchange of expertise.” A Saudi source told Reuters that Riyadh was also aiding Syria to restructure its armed forces. It also noted that the recent November 4 agreement “was signed during Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s visit to Riyadh, where he met Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.”

Aron Lund, an expert on the region at FOI, the Swedish Defence Research Agency, noted in a post on X/Twitter that the report “comes right after the signing of a Syrian-Saudi defense MoU and, interestingly, the Turkish parliament’s ratification of the Mecca Alliance. All previous Syrian mercenary ops were organized by Turkey or Turkish security companies.”

Comes right after the signing of a Syrian-Saudi defense MoU and, interestingly, the Turkish parliament’s ratification of the Mecca Alliance. All previous Syrian mercenary ops were organized by Turkey or Turkish security companies. https://t.co/a7aQ4QaUfs https://t.co/Ek4fCAZi8Q

— Aron Lund (@aronlund) November 7, 2026

Syrian State media SANA was quoted by Al-Arabiya on November 7, noting, “A Syrian diplomatic source told SANA: Military cooperation with Saudi Arabia focuses on training and advisory services.” SANA had added that the current military agreement with Riyadh focuses on exchange of expertise and other discussions that would benefit both countries.

Syrian-Saudi agreement focused on training military forces, building capabilities

The agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was focused on training military forces and building their capabilities, with coordination and visits forthcoming. The concept is to move toward a mutual defense agreement or Syria’s accession to the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, a partnership of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey.

However, Syria appeared to reject reports that said military forces had been sent. The prominent X account Qalaat Al Mudiq, which focuses on Syria, added that “Damascus has finally issued a – carefully worded – statement on growing reports of Syrian military support for Saudi Arabia, while leaving the door open to joining the Mecca Pact.”

Damascus has finally issued a – carefully worded – statement on growing reports of Syrian military support for Saudi Arabia, while leaving the door open to joining the Mecca Pact. The only clear denial concerns sending personnel to Yemen. But even sending advisers to Saudi Arabia would mark a significant shift from Sharaa’s earlier non-alignment stance. The move could however be seen as reciprocity toward Riyadh – a major backer of Syria’s recovery & key player in the US sanctions relief in 2025. The $403 million in loans announced days ago further underline Riyadh’s role as an indispensable reconstruction partner for Damascus – while Saudi Arabia is under real security pressure of its own. In return, Syria may be offering something Saudi Arabia needs: experienced advisers – and this might well be where things are heading.

— Qalaat Al Mudiq (@QalaatAlMudiq) November 7, 2026

The report noted that “even sending advisers to Saudi Arabia would mark a significant shift from Sharaa’s earlier non-alignment stance,” noting that Saudi Arabia had provided Damascus with financial support and this could be seen as reciprocating that. “In return, Syria may be offering something Saudi Arabia needs: Experienced advisers – and this might well be where things are heading.”

The next major report on the deployment came from the AFP. It said that “thousands of Syrian troops are set to deploy to Saudi Arabia and Yemen, with some already on the ground, multiple Yemeni officials told AFP, as Riyadh rallies international help to repel the Houthis and bolster the government in Aden.”

This Saturday report claimed that “hundreds of Syrian troops have already been deployed to both sides of the border, according to three separate Yemeni military sources and a defense official, with more to come.”

A source with the Yemen government’s Presidential Leadership Council told AFP that Syria would send as many as 3,000 troops to help fend off the Houthis. The report also claimed that as many as 10,000 troops could be sent. That would be a lot more than advisors for training. “Those already stationed on the Yemeni side of the border at the moment are leading drone operations against the Houthis in the area, one of the military officials told AFP.”

Levent Kemal, a conflict and security correspondent, reacted by noting on X that “the sources cited to AFP have exaggerated the numbers. The first team deployed, between October 20 and 25, consisted of approximately 1000 personnel, including drone operators and logistics personnel. Sending thousands of soldiers would pose a serious problem for Syria.”

The sources cited to AFP have exaggerated the numbers. The first team deployed, between October 20 and 25, consisted of approximately 1000 personnel, including drone operators and logistics personnel. Sending thousands of soldiers would pose a serious problem for Syria.

— Levent Kemal (@leventkemaI) November 7, 2026

Charles Lister, the Director of the Syria program at the Middle East Institute, noted that “reporting from AFP has not accurately reported on #Syria, Saudi and Yemen. Syrian MOD personnel are in Saudi — but they are providing advisory & logistics roles, primarily in drones, transport & ISR [Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance]. They are not combat troops — that was the compromise.”

US Representative Joe Wilson, who has been a major supporter of Syria and the Syrian people, wrote that he is “deeply grateful to Syria for their courageous leadership in providing military assistance to the people of Yemen and Saudi Arabia in their fight against radical Houthi terrorists. Syria has been freed from Iran and will soon help to free Yemen from Iran. All of the peoples of the region must work against Iran and its puppets!”

Share this story:

This post was originally published on here. 

Teva Pharmaceuticals is “disappointed” by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association’s decision to boycott its products, the Israeli company told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday.

The Irish consultants’ representative body passed a motion last week encouraging a boycott of products made by the Teva Pharmaceuticals, and urging members to avoid prescribing, administering, or using Teva Pharmaceuticals’ products “where clinically appropriate and equivalent alternatives are available” and as long as it does not compromise patient safety, continuity of treatment, or clinical outcomes.

A full prescription boycott would affect 12.5% of all prescriptions in Ireland (the amount estimated to be produced by Teva).

The motion, according to the Irish Examiner, said it would support and defend clinicians who choose not to use the products on “ethical grounds.”

Teva told the Post that it is proud to have been producing medicines in Ireland for over 30 years – medicines that patients and healthcare professionals “rely on every day both here and around the world.” 

“Healthcare shouldn’t be politicized, and treatment decisions should be guided by clinical evidence, patient need, and professional judgment,” Teva said.

“Any action that seeks to restrict access to medicines for reasons unrelated to patient care risks undermining the principle that patients should receive the treatment most appropriate for their condition.”

Teva says it remains committed to working constructively with Irish healthcare professionals

While Teva said it respectfully disagrees with the decision, it told the Post it remains committed to working constructively with healthcare professionals across Ireland and to supporting patients through the “consistent supply of high-quality medicines.”

The motion said the position was being taken as Teva Pharmaceuticals faces “significant ethical concern and international scrutiny in the context of the ongoing conflict” in Gaza.

“These concerns have led healthcare professionals in Ireland and internationally to question the continued use and procurement of Teva products where clinically appropriate alternatives are available,” it said.

The motion was proposed by Irish consultant Thomas Donnelly following concerns over Israel’s actions in Gaza.

“As a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, I have treated families from Gaza whose injuries are devastating and will require lifelong management,” Donnelly said, according to the Irish Examiner.

“To then contemplate that products I prescribe or administer could, even indirectly, contribute to further bombardments is unconscionable.

Donnelly: ‘I cannot in good conscience use Teva Pharmaceuticals products’

“Where a clinically appropriate alternative exists, I cannot in good conscience use Teva Pharmaceuticals products, which is why I proposed the motion and I welcome the IHCA’s commitment to defend clinicians who take that position in good faith,” he reportedly said.

Teva Ireland’s own website describes it as one of the largest suppliers of prescription medicines to the HSE and says one in eight prescription packs supplied to Irish pharmacies is a Teva medicine.

Just weeks ago, the UK’s Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Pharmacy also cut ties with Teva UK, the British arm of Teva Pharmaceuticals. Both ended the commercial partnership (sponsorship and exhibition presence, for example) rather than boycotting the products themselves.

Share this story:

This post was originally published on here.