French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin arrives for a meeting in Paris on strengthening security at Jewish community sites, Oct. 9, 2023. Photo by Bertrand Guay/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.
  • Words count:
    752 words
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  • Publication Date:
    July 23, 2024
Headline
Israelis at Paris Olympics to get reinforced protection
Intro
Far-left La France Insoumise party MP “put a target on the back” of Israeli athletes, using “antisemitic overtones," according to France's interior minister says
text

The Israeli delegation to the Paris Olympics "will be subject to reinforced security," according to French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin.

“A fortnight ago, I proposed to the president of the Republic that the Israeli delegation (Olympic and Paralympic) be fully protected by the French police around the clock," Darmanin told France 2 news.

"We took this decision because we know that Israeli athletes, particularly since the [1972] Munich Games, have been targeted by attacks," he said.

Thomas Portes, an MP for the far-left La France Insoumise (France Unbowed) party, had previously declared at a rally in support of the Palestinian people that “Israeli athletes are not welcome at the Paris Olympics.”

Darmanin said that Portes was “putting a target on the back” of Israeli athletes, using deplorable “antisemitic overtones." Portes "is not attacking the North Korean or Iranian delegation, he is knowingly attacking the Israeli delegation because they are Jewish," said Darmanin.

“I want to express my disgust at that. I want to assure the Israeli athletes of our full protection, like all athletes, but particularly them, also welcoming them,’’ he added.

The Israel Security Agency will also help secure the Israeli athletes at the Olympics.

Portes’s remarks sparked a wave of indignation. On X, Yonathan Arfi, president of Crif, the umbrella representative group for Jewish institutions in France, said that “since October 7, Thomas Portes has been legitimizing Hamas.”

The minister also said that the far-left MP “put a target on the backs of Israeli athletes, who are already the most threatened at the Olympic Games,” recalling that at the 1972 Munich Olympics, 11 Israelis had “been murdered by Palestinian terrorists.”

The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, called for the closure of La France Insoumise. “I request that dissolution proceedings be initiated against LFI and, in the meantime, the withdrawal of all public aid for this party and its members, who have definitively banished themselves from the nation,” he tweeted.

A full-scale security test will take place at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on Wednesday, two days before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

At 9 p.m., a soccer match between the men’s teams of Israel and Mali will kick off. The French Interior Ministry has designated the match as one of the most sensitive moments of the games in terms of security.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog will attend the opening Olympic ceremony on Friday. He will also participate on Wednesday in a memorial commemoration marking 52 years since Palestinian terrorists killed 11 Israeli sportsmen at Munich. He will later watch Israel’s soccer team play against Mali at Parc des Princes.

Palestinians repeat call for Israeli ban at Paris Olympics

The Palestinians on Monday reiterated their call to ban Israeli athletes from competing in the Paris Olympics over the Jewish state's war against Hamas in Gaza, sparked by the terror group's massacre of 1,200 people in southern Israel on Oct. 7.

The Palestine Olympic Committee said on Monday that it had sent a letter to International Olympic Committee (IOC) chief Thomas Bach asking him to bar Israel from the international tournament.

According to the Palestinians, the Israelis are in violation of the Olympic Truce due to the war in Gaza.

The letter said that "Palestinian athletes, particularly those in Gaza, are denied safe passage and have suffered significantly due to ongoing conflict.” It also claimed that “approximately 400 Palestinian athletes have been killed, and the destruction of sports facilities exacerbates the plight of athletes who are already under severe restrictions.”

The letter also cited last week's International Court of Justice non-binding opinion declaring Israeli “occupation” of Judea and Samaria to be “unlawful.”

Israeli delegation arrives in Paris

The Israeli and Palestinian delegations arrived at the French capital on Monday to prepare for the event.

Before departing for France, Israel Olympic Committee President Yael Arad said at Ben Gurion Airport that it was a "victory" for the 88-strong delegation to be heading to the Olympics.

“Our first victory is that we are here and going and that we didn’t give up and have been competing in hundreds of competitions since Oct. 7,” Arad told reporters.

Arad also discussed the increased security for Israeli athletes in Paris.

“It’s no secret that these Olympic Games are a little more difficult for all of us. But we have full confidence in the organization of security,” Arad added.

"We feel like emissaries of the State of Israel," said Arad. "Our athletes are here to accomplish their dreams, but there is an additional dimension, that of a national mission."

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  • Words count:
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  • Publication Date:
    June 24, 2025
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In early January, an Israeli official met with Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer on the eighth floor of the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem. A week later, the same official met with then-IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi on the 14th floor of the General Staff Tower at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv.

From both meetings, the official emerged with a clear realization—Israel had crossed the Rubicon: An attack on Iran was only a matter of time.

Six months later, the synergy between the eighth and 14th floors—the political and military echelons—enabled the launch of a preemptive strike on Friday, June 13. The military option against Iran, which had been on the table for at least a decade, came to fruition with perfect timing and political approval.

As the IDF finalized the details of the impending attack on Iran, planners realized they needed to replicate the Lebanon strategy—a concentrated, surprising blow to throw the enemy off balance, a sort of "Dahieh Doctrine 2.0," referring to the systematic bombardment of the Hezbollah stronghold in Lebanon during the 2006 Second Lebanon War and later.

"The difference is that with Hezbollah, it took 10 days; with Iran, we did it in the opening strike, within one hour," said an official in the know.

Plans for a confrontation with Iran, targeting its nuclear facilities, had been in development within the defense establishment for years, shaping the IDF's force buildup over the past two decades. Yet, in typical Israeli fashion, those plans were discarded at the last moment to make way for a bold, creative and swiftly crafted new strategy.

"In reality, we began the operational planning for the strike in its current form only in October 2024," said an official privy to the details. "That's when we realized the IDF needed to prepare not just for a pinpoint strike in Iran but for an entire campaign."

Until recently, even senior defense officials considered the idea of attacking Iran far-fetched, a plan destined to remain theoretical. However, three months in the fall of 2024 completely changed that perspective.

Three strikes in September—"Operation Pagers," the air campaign to neutralize Hezbollah's rockets, and the successful elimination of the group's leadership, including Hassan Nasrallah, turned Hezbollah into a weakened force.

"We always said Israel doesn't share a border with Iran, but Iran has a border with Israel—Hezbollah, standing at the fences, ready to respond fiercely if we attacked," said a former military official. "Once that border was erased, a new game began."

In October, the Israeli Air Force executed "Operation Days of Repentance," which included widespread strikes on Iran's air defense systems for the first time, fueling the pilots' appetite for more.

In November, Donald Trump's election to a second term in the White House further emboldened strike advocates, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. By December, Israel's top echelons no longer debated whether the strike would happen—only when.

The target validation process

In the early 2020s, the IDF Intelligence Directorate underwent a structural shift, redirecting resources and personnel toward Iran. "What you're seeing now is the result of those years of effort in the Iran arenas of Military Intelligence and the IAF," said a source.

The target validation process on Iran carried out by IDF Intelligence and the IAF focused on three legs of the nuclear program—the missile array, enrichment facilities and the "weapons group" (mounting a nuclear device on a ballistic missile). Accordingly, more and more intelligence on launchers, warehouses and factories in the Iranian missile array was collected.

Missile systems and enrichment facilities presented their own difficulties, but the intelligence community identified the weaponization group as the toughest challenge.

The deeper intelligence efforts delved, the clearer it became that the bottleneck was the scientists themselves. "We realized we needed to focus on the human factor," said the source.

In 2020, physicist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, head of Iran's nuclear program, was assassinated in a sophisticated operation on Iranian soil. "A beautiful operation," said someone familiar with many such missions.

The success of the September 2024 strike on Hezbollah, which destabilized the group and effectively decided the campaign, inspired IDF Intelligence. Weeks later, those working on Iran began discussing replicating the Lebanon strategy in Iran.

"Taking out their entire military leadership in one blow," said a source in the intelligence community.

Unlike the scientist operation, where the target list was narrowed over time, here Intelligence expanded it. What began as a plan to kill one or two senior Iranian officials grew to include the commander of the Revolutionary Guards' air force, the Guards' overall commander, Iran's chief of staff, and his deputy.

"When the idea came up, no one believed it could be pulled off simultaneously," said a knowledgeable source. But Intelligence persisted, forming a dedicated team that worked around the clock. The team's findings were presented to the Intelligence Director chief, Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, and later shared with the IAF.

In recent months, Binder, IAF commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar and Operations Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Oded Basyuk held numerous meetings to synchronize the operation down to the smallest details. Over time, the three generals and their teams grew confident that the ambitious plan could succeed.

Unlike the scientists, targeted in their homes, the "generals operation" was planned for a joint meeting of Iran's security elite. To ensure they gathered in one location, a sophisticated deception operation—details of which will remain classified for years—was executed.

Remarkably, the scientist and generals operations matured almost simultaneously. The small team of three Israeli generals, fully aware of both plans, completed this in the final weeks. The opening strike was ready.

Beyond the "decapitation operation," Israel's war plan included other components. The most discussed recently is air superiority. This, too, was addressed only recently.

As plans to strike enrichment facilities developed, it was clear the IAF needed a clear path to Natanz and Fordow. The Iran branch in the Intelligence Directorate's Research and Analysis Division allocated vast resources to mapping Iran's air defense systems, which were plentiful.

As Iran's air defenses were mapped, Intelligence and IAF concluded they could not only clear the path to nuclear facilities but also to Tehran and beyond. The phrase "air superiority in Iran" began as a whisper and grew into enthusiastic discussion.

Creating the appearance of a US-Israel rift

From late May, two weeks before the strike, a "perception operation" began to lull Iran into believing Israel would not attack soon. Orchestrated by the Prime Minister's Office, it included feeding information to Israeli journalists, particularly those not aligned with Netanyahu. The operation centered on nuclear talks between the White House and Tehran, creating the appearance of a U.S.-Israel rift.

Six months before Oct. 7, 2023, the IAF formed a small team of aircrew, mostly reservists, to plan the path to air superiority. The team received an ever-growing list of Iranian air defense battery locations and critical intelligence from Intelligence Directorate Unit 8200's secret unit.

The air superiority team presented the plan to the Air Force commander, who understood the risks but was willing to lose a few planes to achieve the mission. "The goal was no losses, but the Air Force commander's policy allowed for some losses while continuing the plan," the source said.

"Fortunately, we succeeded far beyond expectations, with no planes lost. I think it worked because the enemy didn't expect Israel to strike like this. They lacked drills that prepared them for the moment."

Skeptics in Intelligence doubted the Air Force's ability to achieve air superiority without losses. "When we started, it seemed impossible," said another source familiar with the operation. "Iran's air defenses are both high-quality and numerous. You need to neutralize them quickly, or Israeli pilots start dying in Iran."

Ultimately, the mission was accomplished in just 36 hours with no losses. On the first night, 30 Iranian air defense batteries and a double-digit number of radar systems were destroyed. "The greatest air superiority operation in history," said someone familiar with the details.

The Mossad joined in recent months, deploying drones operated by local agents in Iran to target additional air defense batteries.

While the scientist and generals operations could have proceeded without air superiority, the Air Force's control of Iran's skies greatly facilitated strikes on Natanz, missile sites and other nuclear facilities. It also enabled extensive hunting of ballistic missile launchers, as dismantling Iran's air defenses allowed more drones to operate freely from Israel to Tehran.

"This means you can strike munitions wholesale, from Tehran westward, drastically reducing missile launches toward Israel," said a knowledgeable source. "Instead of hundreds of missiles on day one, we faced dozens. That's a game-changer, reducing pressure and strain in Israel."

‘Preparations began 20 years ago’

Another component, built meticulously over time, was defense. "You can't attack without defense," said Brig. Gen. (res.) Ran Kochav, former air defense commander and Arrow missile head. "Preparations for war with Iran on the defensive side began 20 years ago. That was the reference threat we trained for, building a multi-layered air defense system and conducting joint exercises with U.S. Central Command."

Indeed, IAF officers confirm that air defense and air superiority are two components that could not have been achieved without full cooperation from Washington.

Which brings us to the last component in Israel's war plan against Iran, "the Americans," said an official well-versed in the war plan. "The plan was indeed built without them, but it was impossible to execute it without getting tailwind from them."

Shortly after Trump's January 2025 inauguration, messages from his circle reached Netanyahu, indicating he would not strongly oppose turning the "military option" operational if nuclear talks with Tehran stalled. Trump reportedly lifted restrictions on intelligence sharing, including access to U.S. satellites and radar systems.

While Trump did not commit to joining the strike, several Israeli officials confirm he was "deep in the inner circle."

"Full coordination," one described it. Trump also participated in the deception operation in the days leading up to the surprise attack.

Before June 13, sources continued to push a narrative to Israeli journalists that a U.S.-Iran nuclear agreement was a done deal and that Trump firmly opposed an Israeli strike. "This information was spoon-fed to journalists, unlike similar cases in the past," said one journalist.

An Israel Hayom investigation found that some misleading messages to the Israeli media came directly from Netanyahu's spokespeople. The Prime Minister's Office did not deny quotes attributed to Trump-Netanyahu talks, aiming to project a U.S.-Israel dispute.

An Israeli official familiar with the office said, "Israel surprised Iran with psychological maneuvers.

"The goal was to make Iran's leadership think there'd be no attack, or if there was, it wouldn't be imminent," he added.

Originally published by Israel Hayom.

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  • Words count:
    1617 words
  • Type of content:
    Analysis
  • Byline:
  • Publication Date:
    June 24, 2025

For decades, and prior to Israel’s war against Iran’s terror-supporting regime, Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal cast a long shadow over the Middle East. Iran’s original plan was to overwhelm Israel’s air defenses with massive rocket salvos from all directions at once, including from Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen and Iran. Had this occurred, Israel would have experienced a level of destruction never before seen in its history. Thankfully, Israel’s military planners and government echelon over the last 20 months pulled off a series of daring and brilliant operations to outwit the terrorists and the mullahs in Iran. 

Now, in just one week, only about half of Iran’s alleged stockpile of over 3,000 missiles remains. It fired hundreds at Israel—the majority of which were intercepted—and the Israeli Air Force has decimated its remaining stockpiles. Israel has targeted not only missile stockpiles, but production facilities and launchers. These strikes have crippled Iran’s air defenses, granting Israel air superiority. Still, the ballistic missile threat persists and Israel must ensure its destruction—as well as the removal of the nuclear threat—before declaring victory.

The United States has now gotten directly involved, with its Saturday-night bombing of the Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites, and particularly targeting Iran’s nuclear facility at Fordow, which required multiple Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs, delivered by B-2 stealth bombers. 

Already last week, U.S. President Donald Trump called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender.”

And as Jonathan Schanzer, executive director at Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told JNS, “Surrendering means surrendering on your adversaries’ terms.” 

“One would think that for the Iranian regime, surrendering on Israeli and American terms would mean the end of the nuclear program, the end of the missile program and the end of the proxies,” he said. 

In his address on Saturday night, Trump said, “Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier.”

After he spoke, he posted on Truth Social, “ANY RETALIATION BY IRAN AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL BE MET WITH FORCE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WAS WITNESSED TONIGHT.”

Iran has responded furiously to U.S. airstrikes, vowing what it called "everlasting consequences," and allegedly called to close the Strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping channel through which around 20% of the world’s daily oil flows.

The United States is calling on Iran to give up on its pursuit of nuclear weapons. 

According to Schanzer, “It’s hard to imagine the regime capitulating to these terms. But it’s also hard to imagine a satisfactory end of conflict without insisting on these terms.”

Ongoing European talks with Iran’s Foreign Minister further heighten Israel’s concerns about being constrained by a potential agreement that overlooks its security needs, especially since the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) excluded missile restrictions.

For this same reason, Israel is also concerned over a possible U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal that does not address Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal or continued development.

Uzi Rubin, a pioneer of Israel’s missile defense systems, told JNS: “For Trump, conventional missiles are an Israeli concern, but not a U.S. concern,” warning that such a deal could leave Israel vulnerable.

Israel knows this and has been targeting Iran’s missile capability since the start of the war on June 13.

Through precise airstrikes and Iran’s expenditure of hundreds of medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) and drones, Israel has reduced Iran’s stockpile to approximately 1,000–2,000 missiles, with an estimated 300–600 MRBMs still capable of reaching Israel.

Since the war began, Iran has launched over 500 MRBMs and 1,000 drones, killing 24 and injuring thousands in Israel, per Israeli health officials.

Tal Inbar, a ballistic missile expert, told JNS that several types of missiles have been used by Iran during the current conflict.

Ballistic missiles can reach supersonic (Mach 1–5) or hypersonic (Mach 5+) speeds, with medium- and long-range missiles traveling at Mach 6–15 during their terminal phase.

Iran’s ballistic missile program, developed since the 1980s' Iran-Iraq War, has long underpinned its regional influence. Prior to the conflict, U.S. intelligence estimated Iran possessed 3,000 to 4,000 missiles, including short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs, 300 kilometers to 1,000 kilometers) and MRBMs (up to 2,000 kilometers). Iran’s strategy relies on coordinated barrages to overwhelm defenses, targeting Israeli cities like Tel Aviv, Haifa, Beersheba and Jerusalem, as well as military sites. 

Iran’s missile barrages on Israel so far have included Emad, Ghadr, Kheibar Shekan and Fattah-1 missiles, some of which have penetrated Israel’s multi-layered defenses.

The Emad and Ghadr are liquid-fueled MRBMs with 500–750 kilogram warheads and satellite navigation.

The Kheibar Shekan is a solid-fueled MRBM with maneuverable reentry vehicles (MaRVs) and control fins, enhancing precision and evasion. On Sunday, Iran claimed it had launched the Kheibar missile at Israel for the first time. 

The Fattah-1, considered a “hypersonic” missile, uses MaRVs for mid-flight adjustments, making interception more challenging. Iran deployed this missile in April and October 2024, as well as in the current war.

These missiles have been central to Iran’s retaliatory strategy, with the heavier Khorramshahr and Sejjil likely held in reserve for potential escalation. 

Despite Israel’s efforts, Iran’s mobile transporter-erector-launchers (TELs), often disguised as civilian vehicles, and underground “missile cities” ensure resilience. TELs are difficult to locate and Israeli planes require extensive refueling to allow them time to locate them—even with the help of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Still, Israeli strikes are said to have destroyed over half of Iran’s long-range launchers, forcing smaller barrages.

Israel’s air defense system, among the world’s most advanced, has intercepted most of Iran’s missiles. The multi-layered system includes the Iron Dome, effective against SRBMs and drones, less so against ballistic missiles; David’s Sling, which targets medium-range threats, including some ballistic missiles; and Arrow 2 and Arrow 3, designed for long-range ballistic missiles, with Arrow 3 being capable of ex-atmospheric interceptions.

In addition, U.S. support, including Navy destroyers with Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) interceptors and a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, has bolstered Israel’s defenses, particularly against large barrages. Allies like Jordan have also intercepted drones and cruise missiles. Despite this, some Kheibar Shekan and Fattah-1 missiles have penetrated, with a notable strike on Soroka Hospital in Beersheba last week, causing damage but no fatalities.

A missile’s precision is measured by its Circular Error Probable (CEP), the radius within which half of all missiles fired are expected to land. A lower CEP indicates higher accuracy. (The Emad and Ghadr missiles have a low CEP, with accuracy of 10–50 meters.)

Jonathan Ruhe, director of foreign policy at JINSA, explained to JNS: “Some of their MRBMs have CEP’s that are in the hundreds of meters... Iran’s missileers certainly were OK with such outcomes when they planned and conducted the launches,” suggesting civilian areas are treated by Iran as large “area targets.”

Ruhe praised Israel’s “astounding” initial operations, likening them to the 1967 Six-Day War, but cautioned that decisive outcomes remain elusive.

Ayatollah Khamenei’s calls for retaliation suggest escalation with heavier missiles like the Khorramshahr or new systems like the Qassem Basir. If MRBMs dwindle, Iran may shift to cruise missiles, SRBMs, or drones, or target U.S. assets.

"This matters less for Israel directly, but the United States and Arab countries are certainly factoring in Iran’s formidable SRBM arsenal, which likely remains fairly intact,” noted Ruhe.

According to Ruhe, “What matters more right now is Israel's relentless pursuit of Iran's mobile launchers that fire these missiles, and its targeting of Iran's force regeneration capacity by hitting production sites.”

In his view, he told JNS, “it seems reasonable to assess that Israel has already taken out half of Iran’s prewar arsenal of 350 or so such launchers, and it’s a top priority to keep attriting these numbers.”

The results of Israel’s success can be seen by the fact that Iran’s missile salvos against Israel “are becoming increasingly smaller,” said Ruhe.

Inbar argued however that only a regime collapse could fully neutralize Iran’s capabilities: “Perhaps the best is the collapse of the regime, of course, but otherwise I don’t see that just from the air kinetically [through bombing], you could annihilate all of Iran’s capabilities.”

The containment phase

Iran’s vast missile arsenal, dispersed across underground bunkers, urban areas and remote regions, will not vanish overnight. Unlike Syria, where Israel has conducted targeted strikes to neutralize specific threats in the aftermath of the Assad regime's collapse, Iran’s sheer size and the scale of its missile program will require a prolonged, resource-intensive effort to secure and dismantle.

Israel may need months to locate and dismantle Iran’s remaining missile capabilities, requiring sustained air superiority and intelligence dominance.

Inbar emphasized: “Iran is more than 70 times the size of Israel... So it is very hard to assess all the capabilities Iran has now.” However, he ruled out ground operations, stating: “The last thing that Israel needs is to enter into an attrition war with Iran.”

The United States will likely play a critical role in the containment phase, given its strategic interest in curbing Iran’s military threat. 

A U.S.-led coalition, possibly with Gulf states, could share intelligence or funding, but political sensitivities may limit cooperation. Sanctions and monitoring of Iran’s supply chains will be critical to prevent rebuilding.

Ruhe told JNS that while it is “truly amazing what Israel has accomplished thus far,” the conflict “could continue for some time.”

“The United States and Israel have strong shared interests to work together and ensure it is as quick and decisive as possible,” he said.

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  • Words count:
    341 words
  • Type of content:
    News
  • Byline:
  • Publication Date:
    June 24, 2025

As international protests condemn Israel's "Operation Rising Lion," a surprising counter-narrative has emerged: Iranian citizens expressing support for the military action that targeted their own government's installations and top officials.

Understanding Iran's power structure

Iran's current regime stems from the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which fundamentally transformed the country's governance.

The revolution ousted Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and brought Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to power as the nation's first supreme leader.

Ali Khamenei now holds this position, maintaining the revolutionary framework established by his predecessor. The supreme leader serves as Iran's highest authority, wielding control over key institutions including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The IRGC operates as Iran's most powerful military force, functioning beyond traditional defense roles to suppress domestic dissent and maintain the regime's control over the Iranian population.

Life under the Islamic Republic

Since 1979, Iran has operated as an Islamic Republic where Sharia law forms part of the constitution and governs daily life. The system enforces strict religious and social codes that permeate all aspects of society.

Women face mandatory hijab requirements, legally obligating them to cover their hair in public spaces. The government bans clothing deemed "immodest" and enforces strict gender segregation in educational institutions and public areas.

The penal code prescribes severe punishments for various offenses, including alcohol consumption, homosexuality, blasphemy, and criticism of the government. These laws reflect the regime's comprehensive approach to social control.

The disconnect between regime and population

The support Iranians have shown for Israel's military action against their government across social media platforms revealed that many seek the downfall of the regime that has oppressed them for nearly four decades.

While some Iranians continue to publicly support the Islamic Republic, extensive comments on Israeli social media accounts and responses from Iranian expatriates who fled the ayatollah regime highlight how the government threatens not only Israel and Western nations, but the Iranian people themselves.

The regime's use of the IRGC to suppress domestic protests has created ongoing tensions between the Islamic regime and citizens seeking political and social freedoms.

Originally published by Israel Hayom.

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  • Words count:
    28 words
  • Type of content:
    Update Desk
  • Publication Date:
    June 23, 2025

Three Israelis were killed on Tuesday morning when an Iranian missile struck a residential building in the southern city of Beersheva, medics said.

This is a developing story.

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  • Words count:
    807 words
  • Type of content:
    Opinion
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  • Publication Date:
    June 23, 2025

“I can easily say I support America’s right to defend itself and also say at the same time I don’t want Israel to fight America’s wars. I want to fund Israeli interests and issues. I want Israelis to be rich and have security in their future. Israelis are exhausted by all of this and rightfully so.”

This statement makes a lot of sense coming from an Israeli lawmaker. Ironically, though, it was none other than U.S. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene who, alongside other public-figure “isolationists” such as Tucker Carlson, flipped the narrative. A war that began long ago between America and Iran has now somehow become Israel’s problem. 

On the surface, Iran and Israel are bitter enemies. Ayatollahs chant “Death to Israel,” fund proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas, and pursue weapons that could threaten the Jewish state’s existence. But a closer examination of the Islamic Republic’s strategic priorities reveals something deeper and more dangerous: Israel is merely a convenient scapegoat, a symbol, a side plot.

The true enemy—the one Iran has been engaged with in a century-long battle of ideology, influence, and imperial friction—is not Israel. It is America.

The history of conflict between Iran and the United States predates the 1979 revolution. During the Cold War, Iran under the Shah was a Western bulwark in the Middle East. The CIA’s 1953 coup against Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, which reinstated the Shah and protected Anglo-American oil interests, marked the beginning of direct American entanglement in Iran’s internal affairs. For the clerics who came to power after the revolution, this was the original sin.

From the moment Ayatollah Khomeini seized power, the Islamic Republic has defined itself through opposition to “the Great Satan.” The 444-day hostage crisis at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran wasn’t merely an act of terrorism.

It was the foundational act of an anti-American regime. Iran’s obsession with undermining the United States has defined every chapter since, from the Iran-Iraq War, where America tilted toward Saddam Hussein, to the present-day nuclear standoff.

And nowhere is this more evident than in the Persian Gulf. This is not a zone of Israeli activity. It is the frontline of Iranian-American confrontation. The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow choke point through which nearly 20% of the world’s oil flows, is Iran’s economic pressure valve and America’s strategic obsession.

The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, headquartered in Bahrain, exists almost solely to ensure the uninterrupted flow of oil and protect American commercial and geopolitical interests. The reason is simple: whoever controls the oil lanes, controls the economy of the modern world.

Iran knows this. It constantly threatens to shut the strait, seizes tankers, arms the Houthis to strike Red Sea traffic, and uses asymmetric naval tactics to harass American ships.

The danger of this balancing act came to a head in 1988 when the USS Samuel B. Roberts, a U.S. Navy frigate, struck an Iranian mine in the Persian Gulf. Ten American sailors were injured; the ship was nearly lost. America’s response was swift and overwhelming: Operation Praying Mantis. 

In the largest U.S. naval engagement since World War II, American forces destroyed Iranian oil platforms used for military operations, sank or damaged several Iranian naval vessels, and made it unmistakably clear that the U.S. was the enforcer of order in the Gulf. 

When Iran lashes out at Israel, it’s not because Israel poses a threat. It’s because Israel is nearby, small and easy to prey on. Iran funds Hamas, trains Hezbollah, and equips Houthis to create chaos that aims to send a message to America about which world power controls the region.

But America is the true enemy of Iran—militarily, economically and culturally. Iran’s goal is not merely to destroy Israel, but to remove America from the Middle East, replace pro-Western regimes and export its revolutionary ideology. 

Yes, the U.S.-Israel alliance is crucial. Shared intelligence, joint defense systems, and moral solidarity are all indispensable. But being an ally doesn’t mean being a punching bag. Just as America acts in its national interest, so too must Israel. Let the superpower fight its own superpower battles. Israel should not become the pawn sacrificed in a global chess match.

Now that America has introduced its B-2 bombers, it’s time for Israel to step back. While allies should always be there, ready to assist one another, the Persian Gulf is not Israel’s front.

Ultimately, callous statements by Marjorie Taylor Greene and Tucker Carlson and their ilk serve no purpose other than to insult the memory of the hundreds of American personnel killed by Iranian-backed forces in Lebanon, Iraq and throughout the Middle East—defending global freedom and prosperity for all. 

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  • Words count:
    187 words
  • Type of content:
    News
  • Publication Date:
    June 23, 2025
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    1 file

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire and an end to the war between the two countries.

Trump said the ceasefire would begin in about six hours, at approximately midnight Eastern time, when both sides would conclude any ongoing military operations.

“It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a complete and total ceasefire,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “During each ceasefire, the other side will remain peaceful and respectful.” 

“On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both countries, Israel and Iran, on having the stamina, courage and intelligence to end what should be called ‘the 12-Day War,’” Trump said. “This is a war that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will.”

“Congratulations, world, it’s time for peace,” he wrote in a second message. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have not yet commented on the ceasefire agreement.

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  • Words count:
    357 words
  • Type of content:
    Update Desk
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  • Publication Date:
    June 23, 2025
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    1 file

New York state agencies are on high alert due to rising tensions between the United States and Iran, though no credible threats to New York exist at this time, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Monday.

Hochul said she held a call with over 100 religious and community leaders to let them know “all the steps we’ve taken since I first became aware of the situation and immediately convened my top security team: counterintelligence, State Police, all of our partners and Homeland Security to talk about what we can do.”

The New York State Thruway Authority, the New York State Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, as well as all trains, airports, water systems, utilities and the New York Power Authority, are on high alert, according to Hochul.

“All of these are actually vulnerabilities, but it’s not something that hasn’t been contemplated,” she stated. “We tabletop exercises. We drill. We have highly professional individuals who are stepping up to do what they’ve been trained to do, and that is to protect our homeland and to protect the people of the State of New York.”

Hochul stated that patrols will increase around houses of worship in the state.

“There are a lot of people feeling scared who have family members in the Middle East,” she stated. “Religious groups, whether it’s the Jewish or Muslim communities—we have the largest groups in the State of New York or anywhere in the country—we are going to continue letting them know that we will defend and fight against hate crimes.”

“Our State Police Hate Crimes Task Force is on high alert, ready to assist anyone who needs help,” she continued.

Hochul urged the public to remain on high alert as a “number of attacks have been thwarted because of vigilant individuals—our civilians who’ve stepped up and reported what they’ve seen.”

“Let us not forget the brave men and women of our armed services who are putting themselves in harm’s way every single day, and pray for them and a speedy de-escalation of this conflict and ultimately peace in the region,” she stated.

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  • Words count:
    459 words
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    News
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  • Publication Date:
    June 23, 2025
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    1 file

Richard Hirschhaut, the Los Angeles regional director of the American Jewish Committee, told JNS on Monday that the AJC group “welcomes” an apology from the  Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, after the department issued a statement referring to the “victims” of the strikes on Iran.

The department, under Robert Luna, the sheriff of Los Angeles County, “has been unwavering in its support and protection of the Jewish community and other vulnerable populations across Los Angeles County,” Hirschhaut said.

“While a mistake was made, it was quickly acknowledged and corrected, with a pledge to review internal protocols to prevent any future recurrence,” he told JNS. “The events of recent weeks demand that we all move forward with a focus upon keeping our communities safe and free from fear and intimidation.”

On Sunday, the day after Washington bombed key Iranian nuclear facilities, the sheriff’s department stated that “our hearts go out to the victims and families impacted by the recent bombings in Iran.”

“While this tragic event occurred overseas, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is closely monitoring the situation alongside our local, state and federal partners,” it said in the since-deleted post.

The department first amended the post by deleting the sentences referencing the “victims” and the “tragic event.” It then removed the whole post and apologized “formally” on Sunday for what it said was an “offensive and inappropriate social media post,” which it said was “unacceptable, made in error and does not reflect the views of Sheriff Robert G. Luna or the department.”

The department added that “as a law enforcement agency, we do not comment on foreign policy or military matters” and that it is launching an “internal review to determine how it was created and published.”

“Steps are being taken to strengthen our social media oversight protocols and ensure that any future communications align with our department’s standards of professionalism, respect and accountability,” it stated.

Jay Town, a former U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, wrote to the department on social media asking, “How exactly was Operation Midnight Hammer a ‘tragic event’ exactly?”

“Also, why did you delete this tweet after you edited it?” he wrote. “Finally, when did you decide to become an embarrassment to the badge?”

Alex Villanueva, former Los Angeles County sheriff, wrote that Luna, the current sheriff, needed to apologize and resign.

StopAntisemitism stated that the department “deleted their outrageous post mourning ‘victims’ of the U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear sites.”

“There were zero casualties. This was not an attack on civilians but a precision strike on the world’s top state sponsor of terror, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” it said. “We hope the investigation yields accountability for this careless and misleading post.”

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  • Words count:
    280 words
  • Type of content:
    Update Desk
  • Publication Date:
    June 23, 2025
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    1 file

The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation on Monday that would try to limit the funding the Taliban receives from foreign governments and charities.

The No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act (H.R. 260) declares it to be the foreign policy of the United States to “oppose the provision of foreign assistance by foreign countries and nongovernmental organizations to the Taliban, particularly those countries and organizations that receive United States-provided foreign assistance.”

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), who introduced the measure, said on the House floor on Monday that Afghans resisting Taliban rule had told him that foreign assistance is being diverted to the regime.

“According to them, nearly all of the cash aid sent to Afghanistan ends up in the hands of the Taliban,” Burchett stated. “Mr. Speaker, they will hate us for free. We do not need to give them hard-earned American tax dollars.”

The legislation requires the Secretary of State to develop a strategy within 180 days to discourage foreign governments and charities from aiding the Taliban, to find ways to support Afghan women and former U.S. military partners and to issue a series of reports to Congress about aid to Afghanistan.

Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.) noted the measure had bipartisan support, but criticized the Trump administration for a lack of transparency about its intentions for Afghanistan.

“There is not a consensus about what the Trump administration is doing on Afghanistan, because they won’t tell us,” Jackson stated. “We urgently need more information and assurances from the Trump administration about their priorities in Afghanistan and now Iran.”

The bill passed the House by voice vote without objection. It will now proceed to the Senate for final passage.

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