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The 26th Knesset is set to be sworn in on Tuesday during its official inaugural ceremony, as coalition negotiations continue following President Isaac Herzog’s decision to grant Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot the mandate to form the next government.

The 26th Knesset will have 47 first-time MKs, who took part in an orientation day on Monday to prepare for their entry into the parliament. Preparations for the swearing-in ceremony also took place throughout the Knesset building.

During the orientation day, the new MKs took part in a practice run of the voting system in the plenum, taking turns casting votes. A red carpet was laid out ahead of Tuesday’s ceremony, and bouquets of flowers were placed throughout the Knesset halls and in the plenum.

The Knesset building itself also underwent changes, with new faction meeting rooms being prepared for the incoming parties. The new seating arrangement in the plenum was also announced, outlining where all the new members of the Knesset will sit and vote on legislation.

Alex Rif, a member of the Yashar Knesset slate and head of the party’s olim integration initiative, told The Jerusalem Post that she was looking forward to working to help olim (new immigrants) as a member of Knesset.

New MKs plan their agendas

As an olah herself, Rif said she was very excited to be sworn into the Knesset and planned to work to help olim during her term.

“I’m just remembering myself as a five-year-old, a new oleh, embarrassed by my Russian and wanting to be Israeli. And 35 years later, I’m becoming a Knesset member,” she told the Post.

Among the things she said she plans to do in the Knesset are to “help new olim learn Hebrew better and have the option of working in Israel, so they can stay here and build a home here.”

During the inaugural ceremony on Tuesday, all 120 MKs will declare their allegiance to the Knesset. The ceremony will include remarks by Herzog, while Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana will lead the session and speak as well.

After the Knesset Speaker delivers his remarks, the Knesset secretary is expected to call the name of each MK, who will rise in turn and declare their allegiance.

Earlier in the afternoon, a ceremony will also take place in the Knesset plaza, attended by MKs and their guests.

New Knesset to be sworn in amid political deadlock

The new Knesset will be sworn in amid an ongoing political deadlock, as both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc and the bloc seeking to replace him lack the 61-seat majority required to form a government. The election results showed that Netanyahu’s bloc secured 53 seats in the next Knesset, while the opposition bloc won 48.

The political deadlock could ultimately lead to another election, although the parties can still reach an agreement through coalition negotiations. Eisenkot has said that “unconventional steps” would be required to form a government and expressed confidence that doing so would be possible.

By law, Eisenkot has 28 days to form a government, starting Sunday, and the president may grant him an extension of up to 14 additional days if necessary.

The opposition bloc has sought to replace Ohana, a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party, immediately after the swearing-in of the new Knesset. This would allow the opposition bloc to gain control over the Knesset’s legislative agenda.

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel has become sufficiently prosperous to purchase American weapons without relying on US financial assistance.

“Israel is now prosperous and rich enough to be able to be a sales country. They can buy weapons from us, but we no longer have to provide the financing,” Rubio said, adding that “it’s something the Israelis themselves have offered us.”

Asked whether Israel was ready to finance its own defense purchases starting in 2027, Rubio replied: “Well, that’s what the president said we’re going to do. So, ultimately, I think they could if they wanted to, yeah, absolutely.”

Rubio further emphasized that Israel had reached a level of economic development that no longer required the same financial support from Washington.

“On the question of financing, I think Israel has clearly graduated beyond that,” he said.

Trump claims Netanyahu proposed ending US aid to Israel

Last week, US President Donald Trump claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had personally proposed ending nearly $4 billion in annual American assistance to Israel.

In a telephone interview with Fox News’ Fox & Friends, Trump said the two leaders had reached an understanding several months ago under which the assistance would end by December 2026. Israel would remain free to purchase American weapons, and could receive additional assistance if necessary.

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Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky renewed his effort Monday to impeach US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, introducing eight articles of impeachment accusing him of violating the Constitution and conducting an unauthorized war against Iran.

In a statement accompanying the resolution, Massie accused Hegseth of conducting military operations in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization, declaring that the defense secretary is “breaking the law and must be held accountable.”

The impeachment articles also accuse Hegseth of violating congressional war powers, disregarding laws intended to minimize civilian casualties, conducting unlawful military operations in Yemen and Venezuela, and retaliating against political critics.

“President Trump should replace Secretary Hegseth now while he can still get a replacement confirmed in the Senate,” Massie said.

The Republican lawmaker warned that the incoming Democratic-controlled Congress would pursue more aggressive investigations and impeachment proceedings against Hegseth.

Massie’s move is expected to force a House vote in the coming days, reviving an impeachment effort initially introduced in September but delayed before the midterm elections.

Trump has repeatedly defended Hegseth, crediting him with the administration’s military campaigns in Iran and Venezuela.

Rubio says Hegseth has ‘done an excellent job’

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked about Hegseth’s performance in the Defense Department following Massie’s announcement, saying that he believes Hegseth did “an excellent job.”

“I think he’s done a great job. I mean, I’ve worked with him every single day on many of these topics. I’ve seen the work he does and the professionalism he brings to it,” Rubio said.

“He’s very smart. He works very hard. He puts a lot of hours into this. And all the policy issues we’ve worked on together, I think he’s done a very good job,” he added.

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Former chief of staff and confidante of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Natan Eshel, has been in close contact with Ra’am party chairman Mansour Abbas to dissuade him from working with Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, N12 News reported Monday.

According to N12, Eshel spoke to Abbas repeatedly before, during, and after the recent Israeli election.

N12 reported that one of the first times Eshel contacted Abbas was to ask whether he would back Eisenkot in a vote over the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) draft law, to which Abbas replied that they would “wait until after the election results and decide accordingly.”

Eshel also repeatedly asked Abbas after the election whether he would support Eisenkot, but never received a reply.

Eshel: ‘No messages were conveyed’

N12 inquired with Eshel about his ties to Abbas. While he initially stated that he had cut off all connections, he later claimed that “No messages were conveyed. I asked some Arabs whether they have even a shred of self-respect and whether they would really support someone who doesn’t want them in the coalition and merely exploits them. And he replied – much like many others – ‘We will do what is best for us.'”

Netanyahu’s Likud party also responded to N12’s request for comment, saying Netanyahu was surprised to hear the report and that Eshel’s actions had not been taken with his knowledge.

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Cyber attacks on space-related assets have spiked in recent years, and the harm they can cause has grown substantially, Israel National Cyber Directorate Director of Guidance and Spectrum Defense Kobi Menashe said on Monday.

Speaking at the Cyber Week Conference at Tel Aviv University, Menashe described an “invisible” cyber war in space, far beyond the eyes of the general public, and with them often not even knowing afterward that some inconvenience they experienced stemmed from a hack in space.

In 2022, Russia carried out the Viasat hack against the satellite internet system of American communications company Viasat, which eventually affected Ukraine’s communications network nationwide, as well as some other European countries like Germany.

Since then, such space hacks have only increased, at the same time that the number of satellites in space continues to jump, said Menashe.

Further, he pointed out that the higher volume of space machinery has lowered the standard of cyber defense security, such that there are both more targets to hack and hacking them is easier than it was before.

In addition, he stated that current satellites tend to communicate and connect with a wide number of other space satellites and nodes, as opposed to one ground station on the Earth’s surface, the way satellite networks used to work.

This means that if even one satellite in a network is hacked, that many more satellites and space nodes can also easily be hacked, causing far more damage at a rapid speed.

Space hacks come in different ways

Menashe said that there are a number of different ways that space hacks can present themselves, from eavesdropping to spooling (where data is temporarily held in a storage area) and replaying (running and stalling data in a loop), to jamming or location spoofing, to protocol exploitation, which can involve abusing the space link communications with problematic commands.

There are also more space-related autonomous operations with less real-time human validation for as long as 48 hours, which allows hacking for longer periods without a real opportunity to even be aware of the cyber attack.

Such space hacks can affect national communications, as well as cars, aircraft, sea vessels, and a wide range of other operations. 1,100 maritime vessels lost maneuvering ability during the early 2026 Iran war.

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Around four in five Britons view Israel as a serious threat to world peace, according to a new survey by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), published last week.

A total of 78% of respondents said they view Israel as a serious threat, compared with 48% 20 years ago. The percentage has also increased a full 10% in the last year.

The number of respondents who said they view the US as a serious threat to world peace was similar to the number for Israel, at 74%. This had doubled in just two years, with the same question receiving 35% in 2024.

The country deemed the highest threat to world peace was Russia (89%), followed by Israel, Iran (75%), the USA, North Korea (66%), China (62%) and Saudi Arabia (34%). Israel has surpassed North Korea in the last year.

Analyzing the trend, NatCen said Israel’s reputation has “seemingly suffered from its involvement in recent Middle East conflict.”

“Two decades ago, a little under half regarded Israel as a serious threat to peace. By the autumn of 2024, by which point Gaza had suffered heavy damage in the wake of Israel’s response to the Hamas incursion on October 7, 2023, nearly three-quarters felt that way. And although that figure subsequently dropped a little in the autumn, to around two-thirds, in the subsequent survey this spring, following the Iran bombing campaign, 78% now saw Israel as a serious threat to global peace.”

“It is, of course, plausible that, rather than simply judging Israel solely on the basis of its own actions, some people in Britain may fear the risk that developments involving Israel could trigger a much broader regional confrontation, as a catalyst for wider geopolitical instability in the Middle East.”

Views on Israel vary across political spectrum

Views on Israel also differed significantly by political affiliation. Conservative and Reform supporters were less likely than Labour, Liberal Democrat, and Green supporters to regard Israel or the US as serious threats, while being more likely to view China, North Korea, and Iran as threats.

The divide was particularly pronounced between Green and Reform supporters. Green voters were 26 percentage points more likely than Reform supporters to view Israel as a serious threat, and 46 points more likely to say the same of the US. Conversely, Reform supporters were more likely to regard China, North Korea, and Iran as threats, with gaps of 29, 30, and 35 points, respectively.

Views vary across age range

Another trend is that younger Britons are more likely than older generations to view the US and Israel as threats to global peace, suggesting a generational shift away from traditional perceptions of Britain’s democratic allies.

“The findings suggest an important communication challenge for the government, which is central to its legitimacy to pursue the national interest,” NatSec wrote. “Public consensus appears strongest where threats are immediate, visible, and easily understood, as in the case of Russia.

“By contrast, where security challenges are gradual, technologically complex, or strategically indirect, as with China, perceptions differ somewhat by age and political outlook. The patterns are even more complex when they pertain to established allies currently pursuing more high-risk foreign policies, such as the United States and Israel.”

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The Trump administration’s Board of Peace on Monday called on Israel to immediately facilitate the entry of winterization and humanitarian supplies into the Gaza Strip, criticizing what it described as insufficient progress in approving essential materials following severe flooding that has affected tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians.

“The situation no longer represents simply a threat posed by the approaching winter, but an immediate humanitarian emergency,” the BoP said in a statement, emphasizing the urgent need for shelter, sanitation, drainage, and other winterization supplies.

“Seasonal flooding that has struck Gaza over the past two days has swamped tens of thousands of tents and makeshift shelters, damaged essential belongings, and left displaced families, who were already living in precarious conditions, exposed to cold and unsafe conditions,” the statement added.

The BoP said it had repeatedly urged the Israeli government to authorize the entry of materials needed for temporary shelters, water and sanitation infrastructure, waste management, drainage, and sewage removal.

“We have specifically urged the Israeli government to abide by its commitments under the Sharm el-Sheikh Humanitarian Protocol,” the statement said.

Current steps being considered by Israel not enough, BoP says

While acknowledging steps being considered by the Israeli government, including through the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the BoP said the response remained insufficient.

“Delays in these approvals and the implementation of the commitments undertaken at Sharm el-Sheikh have exacerbated the consequences of a foreseeable humanitarian challenge,” the statement said.

The BoP also linked delays in humanitarian arrangements to the broader implementation of US President Donald Trump‘s Gaza plan, arguing that they had significantly postponed the start of the weapons decommissioning process and the transfer of governing authority from Hamas to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).

Several days ago, Trump spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and told him that he wanted the Israeli premier to advance the implementation of the 20-point plan he had developed for the Gaza Strip, according to two sources familiar with the details.

BoP accuses Hamas of failing to meet obligations

The BoP statement also delivered a strong message to Hamas, accusing the terror group of failing to meet its obligations under the peace plan and warning that its recent military activity was endangering civilians.

“We likewise call on Hamas’s leadership to abide by its commitments without further delay,” the statement said. “Recent military activity in civilian areas and near Israeli positions endangers civilians and undermines the humanitarian progress of the last year.”

The BoP also called on the United Nations, its agencies, and international donors to coordinate with it to mobilize the resources and operational support needed to address Gaza’s immediate winterization needs and advance the Strip’s recovery.

“The time for assurances without implementation has passed,” the statement concluded, warning that all parties would bear responsibility for failing to meet their commitments.

“The people of Gaza cannot afford continued inaction, nor can the prospects for lasting peace.”

“What needs to be done immediately is to provide emergency assistance to Gaza residents who have been left without shelter and cannot even sleep on the ground, because 70,000 tents made of fabric have been destroyed,” Palestinian-American businessman Dr. Bishara Bahbah told The Jerusalem Post.

Bahbah, who was involved in efforts to secure a hostage deal and served as an intermediary conveying messages between Hamas and the United States, recently approached senior American officials and asked them to work with Israel to ensure that emergency assistance reaches the Gaza Strip.

He added that the Trump administration now appears to be working with Israel to improve the situation.

“There is aid waiting at the border with Egypt, including tents, caravans, and food, and its entry into Gaza needs to be facilitated,” he told the Post.

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DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran were fired from their positions on Monday, following the merger of Warner Bros. Discovery with Paramount Skydance.

The two had been the heads of the major superhero movie production company since 2022, releasing three films which were part of the shared DC universe during this time: 2025’s Superman, and 2026’s Supergirl and Clayface. 

Gunn has previously claimed to be part Jewish, while Safran is an Ashkenazi Jew.

“Four years ago, we set out to unite DC under one creative vision. In that time, we helped restore Superman to the heart of DC, while opening new doors and telling new stories in film and television with Peacemaker, Creature Commandos, Lanterns, and Clayface,” the two shared in a statement.

“We’re excited to return to what drew us to this job in the first place, which is telling the stories we love, including the next chapter of Clark and Lex’s journey in Man of Tomorrow.”

Skydance CEO and chairman David Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz thanked Gunn and Safran in a joint statement.

“James and Peter launched a new era for DC Studios and led it through a period of real transformation, resetting the foundation and building a slate we’re incredibly proud of,” the two stated.

Marvel producer Jeremy Latcham set as new DC Studios head

Gunn and Safran will be replaced by Marvel Studios veteran producer Jeremy Latcham, responsible for numerous films including 2012’s The Avengers and 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming.

“DC’s pantheon of characters is among the most iconic in American popular culture,” Latcham stated. “I’ve had the privilege to help bring some of the most celebrated superhero stories to life on the big screen, and I’m excited and honored for the opportunity to now lead DC Studios into its next era.”

Superman, one of DC’s most famous characters, is one of the earliest examples of the modern perception of a superhero. He was created in 1938 by two Jewish-American immigrants, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and has since become one of America’s most popular cultural icons.

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The IDF confirmed the entry of over 91 thousand tents and over 8,200 trucks carrying winter supplies into the Gaza Strip on Monday, following a Sunday statement by security officials rebuffing Hamas criticism over weather conditions damaging tents.

“While Hamas refuses to disarm and continues to exploit civilian areas and humanitarian aid for terrorist activity, the IDF and COGAT are proactively working to improve the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip ahead of winter,” the IDF stated.

In addition to the tents and winter supplies, the IDF detailed other humanitarian projects being conducted in the Gaza Strip, including efforts to improve water and sanitation infrastructure.

Twelve sewage vacuum trucks for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) had been allowed entry, the IDF said, as well as approval for 7,500 vaccine doses for UNICEF and three mobile clinics for the International Medical Corps (IMC).

The IDF and  the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) have approved over 850 requests covering tens of thousands of trucks with winter supplies entering into Gaza, the IDF stated, but approximately 50% of the equipment had yet to be actually transferred “partly due to logistical and budgetary challenges unrelated to Israel.”

The military also said that it, alongside COGAT, was “reviewing the equipment and advancing alternatives that will address humanitarian needs while minimizing the possibility of its exploitation by Hamas.”

The Gaza Board of Peace (BoP) also described the humanitarian situation in Gaza on Monday, saying that “significant humanitarian progress” had been achieved.

The BoP added, however, that the steps taken by the Israeli government and COGAT were “insufficient,” and called on Israeli leadership to increase the entry of supplies into Gaza.

Statement by the Board of Peace on Recent Flooding and Urgent Winterization Needs in Gaza https://t.co/lWxKhPxGeH

— Board of Peace (@BoardOfPeace) November 9, 2026

At the same time, the BoP also condemned Hamas for endangering civilians through its military actions, and called on its leaders to disarm the group and transfer authority to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).

Security officials reject blame toward Israel over flooding in Gaza

After heavy rains caused flooding and swept away tents in Gaza on Saturday, Hamas blamed Israel for the situation.

Security officials rejected the criticism on Sunday morning, saying that as part of preparations for winter weather, COGAT, BoP, and the UN had already transported a variety of supplies to the enclave.

Meanwhile, security officials asserted that as long as Hamas refuses to disarm and the Gaza Strip is not demilitarized, equipment for the reconstruction of buildings in Gaza and mobile homes will not be allowed in.

Amir Bohbot contributed to this report.

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Pro-Palestine organizations in the UK have planned counterprotests to coincide with Armistice Day on Wednesday.

Armistice Day, observed annually on November 11, marks the armistice signed between the Allies and Germany that ended the fighting on the Western Front during World War I.

The ceasefire took effect at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918 – the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. The date has since become an occasion for the UK and other countries to remember members of the armed forces who died in military conflicts.

🕊️ TRUE REMEMBRANCE IS RESISTANCE. NO SILENCE FOR GENOCIDE. 🇵🇸 This Wednesday, 11th November, while the establishment performs its annual rituals of selective memory, South Manchester will stand at the crossroads to confront living colonial violence. #FreePalestine https://t.co/VWCSJ3v3pS

— GM Friends of Palestine (@GMF_Palestine) November 8, 2026

In the UK, people traditionally observe two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. on November 11. The country also marks Remembrance Sunday, held on the Sunday closest to Armistice Day, when commemorative services take place at war memorials across the country.

Pro-Palestine groups call Armistice Day ‘annual ritual of selective memory’

Despite the event’s national significance, Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine (GMFP), Didsbury for Palestine, Stand With Palestine, and Oldham Peace & Justice have planned several “Hands of Palestine” events for November 11 under the slogan: “True remembrance means demanding justice today.”

The groups referred to Armistice Day as an “annual ritual of selective memory” and said it refuses “to let memory be co-opted while state-sanctioned violence.”

“We do not stand in quiet compliance. We stand to demand an end to genocide, apartheid, and British state complicity.”

The gathering will focus on showing support for pro-Palestine liberation, an immediate arms embargo, and BDS.

They encouraged participants to bring flags, keffiyehs, and placards, and encouraged passing drivers to honk in solidarity.

The Westminster branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, while not directly protesting Armistice Day, has planned a protest in favor of the Zionism is Racism motion outside the offices of the Conservative-run Westminster City Council on Wednesday.

Poppy pin in Palestine colors raises ire ahead of Remembrance Sunday

Pro-Palestine groups have also received significant criticism for choosing to sell Palestine-flag colored versions of Britain’s red poppy pin ahead of Remembrance Sunday (November 8) and Remembrance Day (November 11).

The pin mimics the original poppy pin shape, but with red, black, white, and green. It was created by British-Pakistani NHS pediatrician Dr. Abdul Qader Ismail, and is being sold for £1.78 on eBay, with profits donated to Palestinian organizations, such as Friends of Al-Aqsa.

Lt. Col. (ret.) Stuart Crawford, a British Army veteran and defense analyst, told GB News, “The so-called ‘Palestine Poppy’ is about as far away from remembrance as it’s possible to be. It is unashamedly political, designed to divide rather than unite.”

The Royal British Legion has historically sold over 30 million paper poppies and badges annually, raising funds to support veterans, serving military personnel, and their families. The Royal British Legion was established in 1921 to support members of the British Armed Forces community.

All of the profits from the Poppy Shop go directly to the Royal British Legion’s work. The remembrance poppy design and the specific poppy pins are registered trademarks.

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When US law firm Greenberg Traurig opened its offices in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates around three years ago, it had already been present in Israel for more than a decade.

For Richard Rosenbaum, the firm’s executive chairman, there is no contradiction in operating in countries with vastly different political relationships, including Saudi Arabia, which has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel.

The firm opened its Tel Aviv office in 2012, at a time when, according to Rosenbaum, some international law firms were reluctant to publicly acknowledge their work in Israel. Greenberg Traurig took a different approach.

“We are proud that we’re here,” he told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday. “And it’s something that we don’t hide.”

That openness has not prevented the firm from expanding into the Gulf, where it now has offices in Riyadh, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. However, Rosenbaum stresses that the expansion was driven by business opportunities rather than any ambition to advance regional diplomacy.

Business cooperation between Israel and the Gulf

“When we opened the Riyadh and Dubai offices three years ago, we were sensitive to potential issues, but really, we focus on business.”

“We’re not a political organization. We’re not a religious organization. We’re a business serving clients. And there’s a lot of business that goes on between Israel and the Gulf. For us, as long as our partners in the region are comfortable, we are comfortable.”

When asked whether local companies or investors had shown reluctance to work with a firm that openly maintains an Israeli presence, he said they had not.

“Nobody has raised this as a negative. And we believe it’s a positive.”

In fact, Rosenbaum suggested that business relationships across the region may be more extensive than the public realizes, even in places where formal diplomatic ties remain absent.

“I think, probably, there is more than people realize that goes on,” he said. “But in terms of business, people not only coexist, but fairly actively help each other.”

Greenberg Traurig’s original involvement in Israel, he said, was motivated partly by a desire to support the country during a difficult period, rather than purely by business considerations. The small Israeli firm eventually developed into a full office.

That included introducing clients to financing, transactions, and other business opportunities – an approach that Rosenbaum believes can also help strengthen relationships across today’s markets.

Nevertheless, when asked whether business cooperation could help pave the way toward diplomatic normalization, Rosenbaum was careful not to exaggerate the firm’s influence.

“We’re not here to create world peace. That’s not us,” he said. “The firm is a business, and we help our clients navigate whatever the situation might be, wherever it might be.”

On a personal level, however, he expressed hope that the fighting would eventually end and that relations between Israel and its neighbors would normalize.

“It ultimately is in the best interest and security of our families, our children, and in all these cultures,” he said.

Fighting antisemitism in the US

The firm’s willingness to publicly identify with Israel extends beyond its regional business operations. In the US, Greenberg Traurig has also been involved in legal efforts addressing antisemitism, particularly on college campuses since the October 7 massacre.

“I think it’s pretty clear that antisemitism is an issue that has become more troubling as time has passed,” Rosenbaum said.

“Not every Jew agrees with every action that Israel takes, but we support Israel,” he said, adding that rising antisemitism had reinforced the importance of Israel’s existence for Jews around the world.

Rosenbaum said the firm has supported legal efforts to challenge antisemitism on campuses, including work aimed at uncovering the sources of funding behind some campuses’ protest activities.

Some of that work was done pro bono, while other matters have involved paying clients, he added.

Rosenbaum has also personally supported United Hatzalah, the Israeli emergency medical organization, since October 7.

Despite these efforts, he says that fighting antisemitism is “a challenge” and “is continuing to be a challenge.”

However, Rosenbaum drew a distinction between the broader rise of antisemitism and the situation within the American legal profession.

He told the Post that he has seen relatively little evidence of active antisemitism within major US law firms, and suggested that, in some respects, the profession is more welcoming to Jewish lawyers than it was when he began his career.

“There was more of that when I was young. There were definitely firms when I was young that didn’t have many Jewish partners. In fact, the genesis of Greenberg Traurig has to do with this issue.”

The firm was founded in Miami in 1967 by three Jewish lawyers at a time when Jewish attorneys faced barriers to employment at established law firms, Rosenbaum explained. He recalled that, even when he joined the firm decades later, some social clubs and events in south Florida remained closed to Jews.

This experience, he said, has helped create a corporate culture that values inclusion.

“The original firm, similar to a few very good firms in New York today, was created as an opportunity for people who weren’t getting hired elsewhere,” he said.

Rosenbaum said that approach continues to influence the firm’s leadership and hiring practices, which he described as rooted in the firm’s identity rather than external pressure to meet diversity targets.

“It was not because we wanted to satisfy some quota or because somebody forced us to, whether legally or otherwise. It was because it’s who we are.”

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When US law firm Greenberg Traurig opened its offices in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates around three years ago, it had already been present in Israel for more than a decade.

For Richard Rosenbaum, the firm’s executive chairman, there is no contradiction in operating in countries with vastly different political relationships, including Saudi Arabia, which has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel.

The firm opened its Tel Aviv office in 2012, at a time when, according to Rosenbaum, some international law firms were reluctant to publicly acknowledge their work in Israel. Greenberg Traurig took a different approach.

“We are proud that we’re here,” he told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday. “And it’s something that we don’t hide.”

That openness has not prevented the firm from expanding into the Gulf, where it now has offices in Riyadh, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. However, Rosenbaum stresses that the expansion was driven by business opportunities rather than any ambition to advance regional diplomacy.

Business cooperation between Israel and the Gulf

“When we opened the Riyadh and Dubai offices three years ago, we were sensitive to potential issues, but really, we focus on business.”

“We’re not a political organization. We’re not a religious organization. We’re a business serving clients. And there’s a lot of business that goes on between Israel and the Gulf. For us, as long as our partners in the region are comfortable, we are comfortable.”

When asked whether local companies or investors had shown reluctance to work with a firm that openly maintains an Israeli presence, he said they had not.

“Nobody has raised this as a negative. And we believe it’s a positive.”

In fact, Rosenbaum suggested that business relationships across the region may be more extensive than the public realizes, even in places where formal diplomatic ties remain absent.

“I think, probably, there is more than people realize that goes on,” he said. “But in terms of business, people not only coexist, but fairly actively help each other.”

Greenberg Traurig’s original involvement in Israel, he said, was motivated partly by a desire to support the country during a difficult period, rather than purely by business considerations. The small Israeli firm eventually developed into a full office.

That included introducing clients to financing, transactions, and other business opportunities – an approach that Rosenbaum believes can also help strengthen relationships across today’s markets.

Nevertheless, when asked whether business cooperation could help pave the way toward diplomatic normalization, Rosenbaum was careful not to exaggerate the firm’s influence.

“We’re not here to create world peace. That’s not us,” he said. “The firm is a business, and we help our clients navigate whatever the situation might be, wherever it might be.”

On a personal level, however, he expressed hope that the fighting would eventually end and that relations between Israel and its neighbors would normalize.

“It ultimately is in the best interest and security of our families, our children, and in all these cultures,” he said.

Fighting antisemitism in the US

The firm’s willingness to publicly identify with Israel extends beyond its regional business operations. In the US, Greenberg Traurig has also been involved in legal efforts addressing antisemitism, particularly on college campuses since the October 7 massacre.

“I think it’s pretty clear that antisemitism is an issue that has become more troubling as time has passed,” Rosenbaum said.

“Not every Jew agrees with every action that Israel takes, but we support Israel,” he said, adding that rising antisemitism had reinforced the importance of Israel’s existence for Jews around the world.

Rosenbaum said the firm has supported legal efforts to challenge antisemitism on campuses, including work aimed at uncovering the sources of funding behind some campuses’ protest activities.

Some of that work was done pro bono, while other matters have involved paying clients, he added.

Rosenbaum has also personally supported United Hatzalah, the Israeli emergency medical organization, since October 7.

Despite these efforts, he says that fighting antisemitism is “a challenge” and “is continuing to be a challenge.”

However, Rosenbaum drew a distinction between the broader rise of antisemitism and the situation within the American legal profession.

He told the Post that he has seen relatively little evidence of active antisemitism within major US law firms, and suggested that, in some respects, the profession is more welcoming to Jewish lawyers than it was when he began his career.

“There was more of that when I was young. There were definitely firms when I was young that didn’t have many Jewish partners. In fact, the genesis of Greenberg Traurig has to do with this issue.”

The firm was founded in Miami in 1967 by three Jewish lawyers at a time when Jewish attorneys faced barriers to employment at established law firms, Rosenbaum explained. He recalled that, even when he joined the firm decades later, some social clubs and events in south Florida remained closed to Jews.

This experience, he said, has helped create a corporate culture that values inclusion.

“The original firm, similar to a few very good firms in New York today, was created as an opportunity for people who weren’t getting hired elsewhere,” he said.

Rosenbaum said that approach continues to influence the firm’s leadership and hiring practices, which he described as rooted in the firm’s identity rather than external pressure to meet diversity targets.

“It was not because we wanted to satisfy some quota or because somebody forced us to, whether legally or otherwise. It was because it’s who we are.”

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Actress Selma Blair said her dream was to make aliyah, or immigrate to Israel, and expressed regret over not sending her son to a Jewish day school during an appearance at the Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly in Washington on Monday.

Blair, who attended Hillel Day School in the Detroit area, discussed her own Jewish upbringing and the educational choices she made for her son. She also said she wished her mother were still alive.

She told the audience she was “so honored to show up for this community and so grateful that you would still have me.”

Blair briefly addressed recent headlines surrounding her arrest following an in-flight incident last month, describing the situation as awkward and upsetting. She suggested the public did not yet have a full picture of what had happened.

She said she wanted to share her perspective, adding that it was “not my time to do that.” She expressed hope that people would better understand the situation in the future.

Blair was arrested on October 11 following an alleged altercation aboard a Delta flight from Los Angeles to New York. She subsequently pleaded not guilty to two state assault charges involving a police officer and a nurse. Her representatives said she had experienced a medical emergency. 

Blair spoke about Jewish identity, education

The actress has previously spoken publicly about her Jewish identity and attachment to Israel. At an Anti-Defamation League event in New York on October 1, she recalled learning to read Hebrew before English and described her connection to Israel. 

The General Assembly, running November 8–10, brings together Jewish communal leaders for discussions on antisemitism, Jewish education and the relationship between Israel and Diaspora communities. Monday’s plenary examined Jewish identity and the future of Jewish life in the West after October 7. 

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Mr. US President Donald Trump,

The United States is a superpower. For many decades, it has stood at the pinnacle of the free world. Its standing is founded not merely on its military and economic might, but first and foremost on the values and ideals upon which it was established: democracy, individual liberty, equality, and justice.

These values have made the US not simply a powerful nation, but a source of inspiration for humanity. They have fostered an extraordinary society, home to the world’s leading universities and a driving force behind groundbreaking achievements in science, technology, medicine, culture, defense, and economics. The entire world looks to America, draws inspiration from its values, and seeks its friendship and leadership.

The US enjoys an exceptional geographical and security advantage, protected by two oceans and separated from many of its adversaries. Yet, when the values of the free world faced an existential threat, America chose not to retreat behind its borders.

In both World Wars, America ultimately chose to stand alongside those fighting fascism and Nazism, even if its intervention came later than that of other nations. Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt understood that America’s power was not merely a privilege, but also a historic responsibility. Their decisions and courage helped defeat the forces that threatened to destroy the free world and secured America’s place in history.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the US emerged as the world’s dominant superpower. Yet America, too, made mistakes in its foreign policy, became entangled in prolonged and unnecessary wars, and paid a heavy price. These experiences gave rise to growing calls within American society to turn inward and place domestic interests above all else, under the banner of America First.

But America First does not have to mean America Alone.

Iran presents the free world with a challenge of a fundamentally different nature.

Iran, a country of approximately 90 million people, has been ruled since the Islamic Revolution by a Shi’ite theocratic regime that has made its religious-revolutionary ideology the foundation of its regional and international policies.

For decades, the regime has invested in building a network of terrorist organizations, militias, and military proxies, seeking to expand its influence, destabilize the region, and bring about the destruction of the State of Israel.

Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. It shares with the US the fundamental values of liberty, democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. It is not merely an American strategic ally, but a steadfast partner in the struggle over the future of the free world.

Danger of Iran’s nuclear program

The US has repeatedly declared that it will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. This is not merely a commitment to Israel. Nuclear weapons in the hands of the Iranian regime could endanger the entire Middle East, undermine international security, and threaten every nation that believes in freedom and democracy.

The confrontation with Iran is not simply a struggle for geopolitical influence. It is a struggle over values, the future of the region, and the security of the free world.

Mr. President, you now stand at a historic crossroads. Domestic political pressure, public criticism, and the electoral cost of military action are challenges every American president must face. Presidents Wilson and Roosevelt, too, confronted domestic opposition, public skepticism, and high political costs.

History, however, does not judge leaders solely by election results or their popularity at a given moment. It judges them by the decisions they make at defining moments, by the courage they demonstrate, and by the world they leave behind.

Even if the Iranian regime has suffered severe blows, it has not abandoned its ideological ambitions. As long as it views nuclear weapons as a guarantee of its survival, it may do everything in its power to acquire them.

We must not assume that military defeat or damage to its current capabilities will necessarily lead it to abandon these ambitions. That is precisely why the free world cannot afford to settle for temporary achievements.

A superpower is measured not only by its strength, but also by the responsibility it assumes.

Leadership of the free world does not require America to fight every war or intervene in every conflict. It does, however, require America to recognize threats of historic significance, draw clear red lines against dangerous regimes, and act decisively when the security and values of the free world are at stake.

Mr. President,

You have a historic opportunity before you. You can be remembered not merely as a president who defended America’s interests, but as a leader who used America’s extraordinary power to prevent the Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons and threatening the future of humanity.

This is not a call for war for the sake of war. It is a call to ensure that the achievements of the current campaign are not temporary, and that the world is not left facing an even greater nuclear threat in the future.

The world needs political courage, long-term vision, and difficult decisions. It needs leadership that does not surrender to the pressures of short-term politics, but acts with an understanding of the historic responsibility it bears.

President Roosevelt did not know how history would ultimately remember him when he made his defining decisions. He knew only what had to be done at a time when the world needed his leadership.

Mr. President, you, too, have been given the opportunity to choose how history will remember you.

Will you be remembered as the leader who settled for a temporary military achievement, or as the leader who ensured that the Iranian regime could never fulfill its ambition of acquiring nuclear weapons and holding the world hostage?

This is America’s moment. This is the moment for leadership.

Respectfully,

Vice-Admiral ret. Eliezer (Eli) Marom

The writer was commander of the Israel Navy from 2007-2011.

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This post was originally published on here. 

Actress Selma Blair said her dream was to make aliyah, or immigrate to Israel, and expressed regret over not sending her son to a Jewish day school during an appearance at the Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly in Washington on Monday.

Blair, who attended Hillel Day School in the Detroit area, discussed her own Jewish upbringing and the educational choices she made for her son. She also said she wished her mother were still alive.

She told the audience she was “so honored to show up for this community and so grateful that you would still have me.”

Blair briefly addressed recent headlines surrounding her arrest following an in-flight incident last month, describing the situation as awkward and upsetting. She suggested the public did not yet have a full picture of what had happened.

She said she wanted to share her perspective, adding that it was “not my time to do that.” She expressed hope that people would better understand the situation in the future.

Blair was arrested on October 11 following an alleged altercation aboard a Delta flight from Los Angeles to New York. She subsequently pleaded not guilty to two state assault charges involving a police officer and a nurse. Her representatives said she had experienced a medical emergency. 

Blair spoke about Jewish identity, education

The actress has previously spoken publicly about her Jewish identity and attachment to Israel. At an Anti-Defamation League event in New York on October 1, she recalled learning to read Hebrew before English and described her connection to Israel. 

The General Assembly, running November 8–10, brings together Jewish communal leaders for discussions on antisemitism, Jewish education and the relationship between Israel and Diaspora communities. Monday’s plenary examined Jewish identity and the future of Jewish life in the West after October 7. 

Share this story:

This post was originally published on here.