Middle East Press On: Jews, US, Arab, Gaza, Hamas, Hezbollah, Landmines: New Age Islam's Selection, 15 March 2025
By New Age Islam Edit Desk
15 March 2025
Can Jews Support Trump’s Pro-Israel Policies While Criticizing His US Record?
Raising A Glass To Israel: Wine, War, And The Spirit Of Purim
Arab Leaders Unite On Paper, But Who Will Rebuild Gaza?
Is Iran’s Regime On The Brink? Khamenei’s Dialogue Suggests So
Purim Reminds Us That Hamas, Hezbollah, And Iran Will Meet Their Downfall
Landmines Imperil Camel Herders In Yemen
Syria: Dangling Between The Past, Present And The Future
The Goals Of Israel’s Ongoing Aggression Against Syria
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Can Jews Support Trump’s Pro-Israel Policies While Criticizing His Us Record?
By Joel Leyden
March 15, 2025
US President Donald Trump’s relationship with the Jewish community, Israel, and America is complex and multifaceted.
His actions have certainly had an undeniable impact on the political and geopolitical landscapes, especially in relation to Israel.
However, as a Jew, one must ask: Do we blindly follow him because of his support for Israel and overlook his other actions, or do we judge his record as a whole?
The answer is not simple.
Let’s start with the positives.
Trump, with the assistance of that powerful Jewish philanthropist and mensch Sheldon Adelson, was instrumental in moving the American embassy to Jerusalem – a long-held wish for many Israelis and a victory in US-Israel relations.
His administration made it clear that it recognized Jerusalem as the rightful capital of Israel, a stance that American politicians had hesitated to take for decades.
In addition, Trump’s policies have resulted in unprecedented support for the Israeli Defense Forces, including providing them with the necessary resources to confront threats from Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and other adversaries in the Middle East.
This kind of tangible support is welcomed by Israel as it strengthens the Jewish state’s position and security in the region.
However, to only view Trump through the lens of his pro-Israel actions is to ignore the broader, more troubling impact of his presidency on the United States and, ultimately, on the world.
While his foreign policy on Israel is commendable, his domestic policies have left much to be desired.
His trade wars with China, destructive tariffs on allies such as Canada and Mexico, and attacks on NATO and European partners have undermined the global alliances that the US has spent decades building.
Under his leadership, the US has withdrawn from multilateral agreements and international organizations, diminishing its standing on the world stage.
A weakened America is not good for Israel and can only enhance antisemitism as he supports Israel and attacks everyone else except Russia.
At home, Trump’s approach to domestic policy has been equally divisive.
His actions have been controversial, from slashing funding for social safety nets like Social Security, Medicare, and programs such as SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program], to creating hostile rhetoric toward immigrants and refugees.
Trump’s denouncements of “illegal” immigrants and his characterization of refugees as criminals contradict the values of “welcoming the stranger” and upholding human dignity, deeply rooted in Jewish tradition.
Many Jewish texts emphasize the importance of compassion for the vulnerable, yet, often, Trump’s rhetoric has shown little regard for these values.
On the other hand, Trump’s strong stance against antisemitism is noteworthy. His administration has taken steps to fight rising antisemitic incidents, even signing an executive order to combat discrimination against Jewish students on college campuses.
Trump believes anti-Zionism is antisemitism
Additionally, he supported the notion that anti-Zionism is a form of antisemitism, something that resonated deeply with many Jews who have seen the rise of hostile, pro-Hamas rhetoric against Israel and its supporters.
However, as a Jew who worked within Trump’s orbit and then left it, I cannot ignore the narcissism, the temperamental outbursts, and the recklessness that often characterized his approach to leadership.
I witnessed firsthand the way he operates – his erratic decisions, his disregard for expertise, and his tendency to prioritize his own ego over the collective good.
These are not traits that should be ignored in any leader, especially when his decisions have far-reaching consequences for millions of Americans, including Jews.
Trump’s record, particularly on social services for the disabled, the elderly, and children, must be held to account. He has actively sought to dismantle the very systems that vulnerable populations rely on.
His approach to veterans’ issues, too, has been disappointing, firing those who serve the country and removing benefits for those who have given their lives for the nation.
For Jews, who have historically supported the social safety net and equality, this cannot be ignored. We must not allow our support for Israel to blind us to the damage his policies are doing to the United States.
Jews, in particular, need to divide Trump’s actions and judge them separately.
It’s not about being part of a cult of personality, nor is it about condemning him as a monster. It’s about recognizing that support for Israel does not automatically mean support for Trump’s broader agenda.
We must separate these issues, acknowledging when he acts in the best interest of Israel and confronting him when his policies harm Americans, especially those in vulnerable situations.
The Jewish community should feel empowered to speak out, to voice our support for Israel, but also to demand that Trump respect the core values that many of us hold dear – such as compassion, social justice, and the importance of nurturing the common good. It is possible to support policies that defend Israel while also opposing policies that harm America’s most vulnerable.
As we move forward, Jews must not be afraid to engage critically with Trump. He has shown that his support for Israel is not unconditional, and we must remain vigilant to the fact that his policies could turn against the Jewish state and its interests if it serves his political needs.
We must challenge him when he undermines our values and demand that he follow through on his responsibilities to both the Jewish community and to the broader American public.
This moment calls for critical engagement, not blind loyalty or blanket hatred.
We must stand firm for Israel and fight against antisemitism, but we must also stand for the values that make America truly great. Those include caring for the vulnerable, embracing compassion, and respecting the dignity of every human being, regardless of their background or immigration status.
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-846007
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Raising A Glass To Israel: Wine, War, And The Spirit Of Purim
By David M. Weinberg
March 14, 2025
Even though it is Purim, a Jewish holiday based on the biblical Book of Esther where drinking predominates, I am a bit hesitant to write about wine because of the ongoing war.
My boys are still on the IDF front lines, so many Israeli families have been ravaged by death and injury, and Israeli hostages are still held captive.
In fact, my last full column celebrating the Israeli wine industry (“Drink the fine wines of Israel and defy its detractors”) was published in this newspaper on Friday, October 6, 2023 – the eve of Simchat Torah 5783 and what has become known as the “Black Shabbat” – when Hamas invaded southern Israel and massacred and kidnapped more than a thousand Israelis.
By the next morning, it was inappropriate and even embarrassing to read my soaring, celebratory, enthusiastic poetry about Israeli wine wonders.
Since then, I have dared to write only about meaningful wine projects that memorialize fallen Israeli soldiers with personalized barrels and bottles of wine. (See “Toasting IDF heroes,” February 9, 2024.)
But with the downfall of Haman’s ten modern-day sons – Israel’s enemies in Gaza, Beirut, and Tehran: Al-Aruri, Aqil, Deif, Haniyeh, Issa, Kaouk, Nasrallah, Qubaisi, Shukr, and Sinwar – it is fine to again celebrate Jewish redemption and Zionist renaissance by focusing on good (and kosher) Israeli wine.
At the very least, we can drown our enemies in drink – the Hamans of this world who alas exist also in Western intellectual circles and university campuses, not only in the Middle East.
May even greater Israeli victories in the immediate future blot out the memory of the evil men mentioned above as well as the horrible traumas visited upon our brave nation!
IN MY VIEW, the internationally acclaimed Israeli wine sector is much more than yet another “Start-Up Nation” success. Rather, the Israeli wine world is a deep profession of faith. It is a celebration of the People, Land, and God of Israel reunified.
Wine's unique status in Judaism
Indeed, the fruit of the vine holds unique status in Jewish thought, beyond the elevated status of wine that pertains across civilizations. The reason for this lies in the traverse between Jewish theology and mysticism.
First, the bond between God and the Jewish People is akin to that of the viticulturist and his vine, a relationship of nurturing and enduring love. (See Psalms 80:15 and many more places in scripture.)
Second, Ezekiel prophesized (36:8) that in the days of redemption,the mountains of Israel would be commanded to “shoot forth branches and yield fruit to My People Israel; for they will soon come.” Rabbi Abba subsequently taught in the Babylonian Talmud (Sanhedrin 98a) that “there is no greater revealed sign of redemption than the agricultural re-blooming of the Land of Israel.” So there are Biblical and Zionist echoes in every glass of modern Israeli wine.
Third, the perfumed alcoholic properties of wine can either clarify or cloud one’s judgment. They can catapult one’s consciousness to a pure world where only God’s will reigns supreme (like the world before the rebellion against God in the Garden of Eden) or drag a person into stupor and sin.
In a world where morality and evil are intermingled, and confusion reigns in discerning Godly from earthly, the great challenge is to choose good. “Behold I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Thus, Jews drink wine with lofty goals, especially on Purim when the Amalekite mix of malevolence threatened to obliterate all boundaries of morality and annihilate the Jewish People.
We reject the Shushanite world of wild drunkenness, bloodthirsty passion, and atheistic creed, and instead elevate our thoughts towards a perfected world where God’s presence is overwhelmingly dominant.
This is the unusual Purim concept of ad delo yada, to drink to the point where the arrogance of supposedly superior knowledge – which today is sometimes called “enlightenment” although in extreme it can be Fascist or Marxist – is tempered by mind-bending drink.
The idea is erasure of the insidious gap between good and evil that distances us from God. The idea is an effacement of Amalekite influences and ideologies in our world. Then it is possible to connect to whispers of Divine communion that run all through the universe.
AND SO, we raise a glass (or many glasses) of good wine to say LeChaim, to life; expressing our determination to drive towards the good, articulating our desire to reveal the Divine values embedded in Torah and the eternal ideals latent in Jewish history.
Remember: Judaism is not ascetic. Jewish life is meant to be lived through beauty, bounty, and joy. And if delight is channeled through the right spiritual principles, it can lead to true cleavage with the Almighty.
Halacha, Jewish law, seeks to channel our behavior through correct kavanot – thoughts and intentions. One path to this is mandatory blessings over food, with wine accorded special status.
Wine is the only beverage with a special blessing, boreh pri hagefen: Blessed is God who creates fruit of the vine. Before drinking Israeli wine specifically, an additional blessing can be made (in certain circumstances), known as hatov ve-hametiv: Blessed is God, the Good Lord who does good.
And after drinking Israeli wine (again, specifically Israeli-made wine) there is another special blessing, al haaretz ve-al pri gafna: Blessed is God, the Lord who gives us the Land of Israel and the fruit of its vines.
Properly refracted in this way, pointing to God, wine becomes the preferred drink with which to mark Jewish life-cycle events and holy days, from circumcisions to weddings, and the Sabbath, Purim, and Passover.
Halachic masters have also worked overtime throughout the centuries to insist on “distinctions” when drinking wine, especially to keep Jews and non-Jews from mingling over too much drink, then intermarrying and worshiping foreign gods.
This is the background to Jewish law strictures relating to “kosher” wine, which forbids the consumption of wine produced and poured by non-Jews. (Full explication of halachic sociology in this matter goes far beyond the confines of this article.)
WHICH LEADS me to a Purim and Passover wine suggestion.
Try newer varieties of grape now being grown in Israel like Dolcetto and Barbera, black wine grapes native to Piedmont in northwest Italy.
Tura Winery of Samaria and Teperberg Winery of the Samson Plains recently have vinified fantastic wines from these grapes. The wines are light and fresh, juicy and aromatic, perfectly matched for drinking in hot Israeli summers.
Other early and outstanding Barbera wines are made by the Lueria and Ramat Naftaly wineries of the upper Galilee.
Overall, to get into the Israeli wine industry, move away from core French varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay and toward “Mediterranean” varietals like Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Marselan, Carignan, Sangiovese, Roussanne, and Viognier.
These grapes are typical of the hot climates that pertain in the Rhone Valley and southern France, and Spain and Italy.
Try the Mediterranean-trend wines made by Domaine Netofa, Tulip-MAIA, Kishor, and Jezreel wineries of the lower Galilee; Recanati, Dalton, and Lueria wineries of the upper Galilee; Raziel Winery of the Judean Hills; Vitkin Winery of the Central Plains; and the micro-producers Bazak, Eviatar, Lahat, Maresha, Munitz, Oryah, Shiran, and Telem.
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-846010
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Arab Leaders Unite On Paper, But Who Will Rebuild Gaza?
By Elie Podeh
March 14, 2025
Since the outbreak of the war, several Arab states have played supportive roles – Egypt and Qatar as mediators, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan in providing humanitarian aid to Gaza, and Saudi Arabia through its diplomatic efforts – but as a collective, the Arab League has not been an important actor.
The exception to this was the Arab and Islamic summit hosted by Saudi Arabia in November 2023. However, aside from declarations against Israel and calls for a diplomatic solution based on the two-state approach, with borders along the lines of 1967, this summit did not result in any practical action.
There are two explanations for the weak Arab response. First, there is the continuing decline of the Arab League as an institution for addressing Arab issues.
Since its formation – and that of the Arab Summit, its supreme body – it has experienced many failures, although it has also been credited with some significant achievements, such as thwarting Iraq’s threat to invade Kuwait in 1961, halting the civil war in Lebanon in 1976, and adopting the Arab Peace Initiative, among others.
The second reason is the general reluctance to intervene in Gaza until the war has ended. This is especially relevant to the Gulf states, which can contribute substantial funds toward the rebuilding of Gaza, but will not do so until the fighting is over.
The convening of the emergency summit on March 4 – symbolically called the “Palestine Summit” – was an Arab response to US President Donald Trump’s idea for Palestinian emigration from Gaza. Though the idea is flawed and impracticable, it has forced the Arab states to formulate their own counterproposal.
What Trump did not take into account was that striking at the Arab holy cow – the Palestinian problem – would unite the Arab states, thus forcing the moderate Arab states to fall into line with more extreme positions.
Most of the leaders of the Arab states attended the summit, including the new Syrian president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who was making his first appearance at the supreme Arab institution.
However, the Saudi crown prince and the president of the United Arab Emirates chose to send their foreign ministers, seemingly after they realized which way the wind was blowing. For Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the conference was an opportunity to give a show of Arab leadership.
Hamas is not mentioned
The concluding statement issued by the summit was worded in a rhetoric characteristic of Arab conferences and reflects the lowest common denominator on which Arab consensus could be achieved. Thus, it is hardly surprising that the statement includes condemnations of Israel. On the other hand, Hamas is not mentioned at all.
IGNORING THE negative rhetoric toward Israel, the Arab proposals can be summarized as follows:
A call for the deployment of a UN peacekeeping force not only in the Gaza Strip but also in the West Bank; a reaffirmation of the Arab strategic decision to pursue peace, as outlined in the Arab Peace Initiative, which would guarantee the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people through the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with east Jerusalem as its capital; a total rejection of all acts of violence, terrorism, and extremism; full opposition to any attempt to uproot Palestinians from their land; a warning against annexations in the West Bank that could lead the region into a renewed cycle of violence; adoption of the Egyptian plan for the reconstruction of Gaza (see below); a call to convene, at the earliest possible time, an international conference to discuss reconstruction and raise funds; and a call for the full implementation of the ceasefire, including Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza and the Philadelphi Corridor.
Interestingly, the statement refers to a Palestinian agreement to establish a temporary, local, technocratic administration in Gaza, “under the umbrella of a Palestinian government,” alongside efforts to help restore the Palestinian Authority to Gaza, following necessary reforms within both the PA and the PLO. In the meantime, Egypt’s foreign minister has announced that the individuals who will serve in this administration have already been selected.
Egypt and Jordan, for their part, have pledged to train Palestinian police units in preparation for the PA’s return to Gaza. The statement also calls on Israel to honor the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon, cease its acts of aggression in Syria, and withdraw its forces to the lines outlined in the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.
Iraq and Tunisia, for their part, expressed their reservations about the use of the terms “two-state solution,” “June 4, 1967,” and “east Jerusalem,” thus indicating their disapproval of the 2002 Arab Peace Plan.
Before the summit, the media highlighted the 91-page document outlining the Egyptian reconstruction plan. The total cost of the plan is estimated at $53 billion, to be invested in three stages: $3b. immediately; $20b. in the second phase, which includes debris removal, construction of public and residential buildings, and land improvement; and $30b. in the third phase, which focuses on constructing industrial zones, ports, and an airport.
To raise the necessary funding, Egypt plans to host a conference with the participation of representatives from the international community.
It is worth noting that following Operation Cast Lead in 2014, Cairo hosted a similar conference in which donor countries pledged $3.5b. However, only about half of this amount was actually transferred, due to concerns that, despite the establishment of a mechanism to bypass Hamas, most of the funds would ultimately go toward strengthening the organization and financing its terrorist activities, as was observed in practice.
THE SUMMIT highlighted several paradoxes: First, though a reconstruction plan was adopted, it is unclear where the funding will come from, as no country has committed to allocating funds yet. This is due to the fact that the war has not yet ended, and there is no guarantee that fighting will not resume.
Second, with the exception of assistance with training police forces, no Arab country is willing to intervene in Gaza. In other words, the Arab states view Gaza as a burden for which they have no desire to take responsibility.
Moreover, the statement – which, as noted, does not mention Hamas at all – fails to explain how the organization will be dismantled and removed and how technocrats will be able to take over the management of Gaza.
Additionally, the summit failed to offer Israel any incentive by linking the solution of the Gaza problem to a comprehensive settlement, aside from a vague reference to the Arab Peace Initiative, from which two states have already withdrawn.
Ultimately, the summit did not produce a useful and effective tool in the immediate term for negotiations over Gaza. It did, however, grant vague Arab approval for the removal of Hamas, opening the way for an alternative Palestinian ruling body. This approval will be significant in the longer term, when this question becomes a more realistic one. In the meantime, the path to that outcome remains shrouded in uncertainty.
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-845998
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Is Iran’s Regime On The Brink? Khamenei’s Dialogue Suggests So
By Erfan Fard
March 14, 2025
Former colleagues in Counter Terrorism and analysts at the CIA and Mossad understand that, with 12 years of field research in the Middle East and counterterrorism analysis focused on the Islamic Republic, I grasp the essence and the meaning of an 'urgent briefing.' Today, I direct my public opinion to these two prominent global political figures.
I hope they recognize that diplomatic efforts with Tehran's criminal ayatollahs are ineffective and illusory and pursuing them is merely fanciful and futile. It's time for America and Israel to decisively act and surgically remove this malignancy and infectious tumor, allowing the modern world to see the fall of the most dangerous terrorist regime. in fact, the globe may witness the collapse of the world’s most dangerous terrorist regime and the Islamic caliphate of Shiite mullahs in Tehran.
Today, Tehran's dictator, once again at the podium, rambled and spouted nonsensically. Khamenei asserted, 'we will not negotiate, we will retaliate if attacked, though we do not seek war.' Despite his absurd claims, it's evident from his speech that the Islamic Republic is progressing towards developing a nuclear weapon. The delusional and arrogant dictator has hijacked diplomacy, yet his words betray fear and a display of foolishness.
Who doesn't know that this rogue terrorist regime perpetually sows chaos and stands ready to launch global terrorist operations through its sleeper cells?
Khamenei threatens the US, Israel
In his speech today, Khamenei threatened America and likened himself to Muhammad bin Abdullah at the Battle of Uhud (23 March 625 AD)—a same myths and superstitions used by Islamic caliphates for 1400 years to mask their crimes and barbarism. These tales, both meaningless and valueless to the public, lack any credibility on the global stage.
The dictator of Iran will not change his aggressive and sham behavior; he persists in sophistry and fallacies. He refuses to abandon the instruments of evil and barbarism—missiles, nuclear bomb, and a terrorism network. Deluded, he views the Islamic Republic as formidable, yet in reality, this despised regime is weak and isolated.
Khamenei plays the threat card while covertly signaling flexibility to the White House. Yet, his deep-seated sadism and animosity towards America and Israel are beyond cure. He is a psychotic dictator, detached from the realities of Israel and America, lacking the capability for war and relying solely on threats, empty bluffs, and hostilities as his only leverage.
Khamenei perceives himself at war with the world, considering himself wise and knowledgeable, while viewing the rest of humanity as foolish. He consistently believes in his righteousness, deeming the entire world dishonest and deceptive. His remarks today served as a ludicrous show of power to a select few regime loyalists and were meant for domestic consumption, aiming to galvanize support from regime adherents.
Indeed, Khamenei disregards the fate of Iran's great and oppressed nation. He has sacrificed an entire nation with a civilization of 5,000 years to his reckless games, wickedness, inanity, destructive ideology, and display of barbarism, all while claiming to represent the Iranian people.
Today, Iran is impoverished, bankrupt, fragile, and lawless country. The Iranian people wishes for Khamenei's demise, hoping and praying he meets a fate worse than Gaddafi or Saddam, and they even openly predict a similar downfall for the IRGC commanders and Khamenei's loyalists. However, among the Iranian people, Khamenei is not taken seriously and remains the most despised figure, having occupied his position for 36 years.
In truth, Khamenei is an ignorant, biased, and cowardly dictator who has hijacked Iran, cloaking his actions with the nation’s name. Yet, Iran and its brave people are not defined by the Islamic Republic; they are victims of this rogue regime's occupation.
Khamenei's greatest fears—sorrow, terror, and nightmares—are driven by the potential of internal crises and the ignition of anti-regime public uprisings. These, fueled by economic collapse and national ruin, could finally consign the decrepit 46-year-old regime to the grave.
It might be argued that CIA Director Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Waltz, and Director of American Intelligence Community Gabbard face a more substantial burden: engaging in an intelligence war and conducting targeted infiltration operations. These efforts could include exposing the inefficiencies of Iran's occupying regime, penetrating its intelligence and military establishments, and laying the necessary groundwork for maximum economic pressure and sanctions while blocking financial channels that support Iran’s network of Islamic terrorism and its global isolation.
However, these measures and clandestine operations alone are not highly effective. If a war breaks out and Iran's nuclear and missile facilities, along with its terrorist training centers, are militarily destroyed, both from the perspective of the Iranian people and internationally, Khamenei will be viewed as the primary suspect and the main instigator or culprit.
Khamenei is in a crisis, and merely isolating him offers no benefits. He must be decisively removed from the stage. Khamenei will persist in his hostility toward America until his demise. Therefore, it is imperative that he be removed before the Islamic Republic can leverage its nuclear capabilities further. Naturally, his removal will not be mourned, as he is the supreme leader of the world's Islamic terrorists.
Removing him, akin to figures like Sinwar, bin Laden, Baghdadi, Nasrallah, and Soleimani, won't have significant immediate consequences. It will, however, send a clear message to the networks of Middle Eastern Islamic terrorism, shaking the foundations of their regime. This act will demonstrate to the people of Iran that the resolve of America's global power and Israel's regional dominance is not to be underestimated. Faced with this formidable pressure, the collapse of the regime becomes both conceivable and achievable.
Furthermore, it is crucial to also target key military and intelligence figures within the regime to preempt any potential backlash or sabotage following the dismantlement of Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities.
The coward officials of the Islamic Republic, despite their threats to ignite the region, merely engage in bluster, rhetoric, posturing, and media sensationalism. Khamenei thinks that by projecting a facade of toughness and issuing empty threats and bluffs, he creates deterrence—but it's futile. He shies away from negotiation, fearful of making concessions or retreating. Khamenei’s tactics involve internal repression, anti-American propaganda, hostility towards Israel, delusional threats and baseless bluffs.
In his speech today, his primary concern was signaling to the White House and Israel, emphasizing the regime's need for survival as a precaution for future challenges. Khamenei wanted to tell Trump that the regime's survival is important for the rainy day. I hope Trump and Netanyahu realize that the mullahs, rather than mastering chemistry, physics, or mathematics, have honed their skills in trickery, charlatanism, lying, and deception within Shiite educational institutions. He serves as a useful agent for the Russians but is not a reliable ally or a trustworthy person.
Khamenei's goal is to ensure his regime's survival with the acquiescence of America and Israel. He is aware that should hostilities commence, the Iranian populace will consign this warmongering dictator to the trash heap of history, where he belongs. Indeed, a tumultuous spring and summer loom ahead... "Strike the snake's head, or it will bite..."
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-846092
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Purim Reminds Us That Hamas, Hezbollah, And Iran Will Meet Their Downfall
By Jonathan Lieberman
March 14, 2025
Today is Purim, the festival on which we celebrate the demise of our archenemy Haman, whose burning desire to eliminate all the Jews from a vast empire was thwarted by Queen Esther and her uncle Mordechai together with the hidden hand of God.
The Torah portion of Zachor, which we read annually on the Shabbat before Purim, contains one of the most powerful and eternal mitzvot in the Torah: the commandment to remember Amalek and never forget what they did to us.
“Remember what Amalek did to you on the way, when you were coming out of Egypt. How he happened upon you on the way, and struck those of you who were feeble at the rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God.” (Deuteronomy 25:17-18)
This mitzvah is not merely a call to historical memory – it is a directive for action. Amalek represents the eternal enemy of the Jewish people, those who seek to destroy us without reason, driven by hatred alone.
The commandment to remember Amalek is especially relevant today as Israel finds itself engaged in an existential battle against Hamas, Hezbollah, and their patron, Iran – modern embodiments of Amalek’s cruelty and evil.
The tactics of Amalek: Then and now
The Torah describes Amalek’s attack as particularly despicable. They did not confront Israel in a conventional battle; instead, they ambushed the weak and vulnerable from behind.
They exploited Israel’s exhaustion and lack of preparedness, attacking those least able to defend themselves.
This strategy is eerily similar to the methods employed by Hamas and Hezbollah.
The massacre of October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists slaughtered over a thousand innocent civilians – men, women, children, and the elderly – was a modern-day Amalekite attack. Just as Amalek targeted the weakest among us, so too did Hamas.
They did not challenge Israel on a battlefield; they stormed homes, burned families alive, and took hostages – acts of pure barbarism. Hezbollah, sitting in Lebanon with its arsenal of rockets aimed at Israeli cities, operates under the same spirit of indiscriminate hatred and terror.
And behind them stands Iran, the greatest state sponsor of terror, whose leaders openly call for the annihilation of Israel and work relentlessly to arm our enemies. Like Amalek, they fear no divine morality, only pursuing destruction for its own sake.
The Torah’s response: Eradicate Amalek
The Torah’s response to Amalek is absolute: “You shall erase the memory of Amalek from under the heavens; do not forget.” (Deuteronomy 25:19) This is not a call for vengeance but for justice.
Amalek cannot be appeased or reasoned with. When facing an enemy whose sole mission is to annihilate the Jewish people, there is only one response – total eradication of their power and influence.
Israel’s war against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran is not a war of conquest; it is a war of survival. The Torah does not instruct us to attack those who pose no threat; rather, it mandates the destruction of those who seek our destruction.
This is why the Jewish people have a moral obligation to fight, just as Joshua fought Amalek in the wilderness and as King Saul was commanded to destroy Amalek in the time of the prophets.
Failure to act: A lesson from King Saul
We also recall the tragic story of King Saul, who was commanded by the prophet Samuel to destroy Amalek completely. But Shaul hesitated. He spared King Agag and the best of the Amalekite livestock.
For this failure, Hashem removed the kingship from him, and Amalek’s evil continued – eventually giving rise to Agag’s descendant Haman, the genocidal villain of the Purim story.
This episode teaches us a painful lesson: when we fail to fully eliminate evil, it returns to threaten us again. How many times has Israel withdrawn from territory, only to see it become a base for terror?
How many times has Israel shown restraint, hoping for peace, only to be met with more rockets, kidnappings, and massacres?
The lesson of King Saul is clear – when we have the opportunity to dismantle the forces of Amalek, we must not hesitate.
Moral clarity in war
Some in the international community call for Israel to “show restraint,” to negotiate with terrorists, to make compromises with those who openly seek our destruction. But Purim reminds us that there is no negotiating with Amalek. There is no peace treaty to be made with those who deny our right to exist. We must not be fooled by calls for diplomacy when our enemies have made their intentions clear.
At the same time, we must conduct this war with the ethical framework that has always defined Am Yisrael. Unlike our enemies, who celebrate the murder of civilians, Israel’s fight is one of self-defense, guided by moral principles.
The IDF takes extraordinary measures to minimize civilian casualties, even as our enemies hide behind human shields. This is the difference between Israel and Amalek – one fights for survival, the other for destruction.
The mitzvah of “Remembering Amalek” is not fulfilled merely by reading a few verses from the Torah once a year, or by banging a noisy drum at the mention of Haman’s name. It demands action. How do we fulfill it today?
Support the soldiers: Just as Joshua led the fight against Amalek, so too do our brave soldiers fight today. They need our unwavering support, whether through donations, advocacy, or simple expressions of gratitude.
Fight the battle of truth: The war against Amalek is also a war of narratives. Our enemies spread lies about Israel, portraying the victim as the aggressor. We must counter these lies with truth, educating the world about the justness of our cause.
Strengthen our faith: Amalek represents not only physical enemies but also spiritual doubt. In times of crisis, we must strengthen our faith and commitment, knowing that God guides history and protects His people.
Purim reminds us that Amalek can be defeated. Haman, a descendant of Amalek, sought to wipe out the Jewish people, yet he himself was destroyed, and the Jews emerged victorious. The same will be true today. Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran may plot against us, but they will also meet their downfall, and the nation of Israel will endure.
Am Yisrael Chai.
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-845957
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Landmines Imperil Camel Herders In Yemen
March 14, 2025
A landmine warning sign in Yemen’s Marib province reminds camel herders that their next step could be their last.
After being displaced or confined to smaller areas because of war, the Bedouins hope to reclaim their traditional nomadic way of life. But finding safe land to graze is perilous.
“Grazing was more abundant further south, but those areas are infested with landmines. Whenever one of the animals heads south, a mine explodes under it,” said Ogaim Suhail, a camel herder. Nomads have moved north to escape minefields and combat zones, he said.
Yemen’s Houthis have been at war against a Saudi-led military alliance since 2015. A United Nations peace process has stalled since Israel launched its bombing campaign on Gaza in 2023.
Though there has been no major escalation or changes in the disposition of frontlines for years, the United Nations warns against the possibility of renewed violence.
Meanwhile, landmines laid by the warring parties continue to kill or injure civilians in areas where fighting has ceased, according to a 2024 report by Human Rights Watch.
“Landmines are our first problem in war areas, near the Houthis,” said herder Saleh Al-Qadry.
A report by the local human rights organisation Mwatana documented 537 incidents of landmine use from January 2016 to March 2024.
Abed al-Thawr, an official at the Houthi Defence Ministry, said the Houthis were not responsible for planting mines in Marib province, which he said had been placed there by mercenaries.
The United Nations Development Programme has reported that landmines and explosive remnants of war pose a serious risk to millions of people across Yemen.
Marib, in central Yemen, is one of the provinces most affected, with herders saying they are forced to stay in their tents for fear of landmines, and to keep their camels confined.
“If we release them, they may head towards the landmines and step on them, causing them to explode,” said camel herder Saeed Onaig.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250314-landmines-imperil-camel-herders-in-yemen/
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Syria: Dangling Between The Past, Present And The Future
By Jamal Kanj
March 14, 2025
Following the collapse of the Assad regime, I ended my article in December with the following paragraph: “The new government must represent all Syrians, regardless of religion or ethnicity, ensuring justice and equality for all, while upholding Syria’s historic role at the forefront of resistance against Israel and its local agents.”
I etched those words while sharing the hopes of all Syrians for a better future following the downfall of one of the most corrupt Arab dictatorships. As I elaborated further, history teaches us that the removal of a dictator does not necessarily usher democracy. The tragic examples of Iraq, Egypt and Libya serve as stark reminders of the dangers of post-revolution instability, where the euphoria of change quickly gave way to chaos, repression and bloodshed.
In Syria, the emergence of a new government has not ended the cycle of violence. The news of last week in the Sahel (shoreline) region of mass killings, targeted assassinations and civilian massacres by the new ruling forces have raised alarming questions about the true nature of this so-called “liberation”. The promise of justice and democracy is fading as brutality against ordinary Syrians continues under a different guise.
The incoherent militants who stormed the Sahel following an ambush on the new government forces — allegedly orchestrated by ex-regime military officers — do not represent those who genuinely care for Syria. While those responsible for the killing of government soldiers must be held accountable, so too must those who exacted revenge on defenceless Syrian Alawite and Christian civilians. The central government must conduct transparent investigations not only into these atrocities but also into the leaders who recklessly mobilised disparate military factions into an already inflamed, sectarian-charged region. If these militants had true national integrity, they would have directed their efforts south of Damascus to confront Israeli incursions into Syria.
The lessons of Iraq and Libya cannot be ignored. The removal of Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi did not result in flourishing democracies but instead led to power struggles, sectarian violence and foreign interventions that tore these nations apart. Egypt’s brief experiment with democracy fell into the hand of a military dictator, reinforcing the notion that revolutionary change without institutional stability breeds further authoritarianism. Syria must avoid these pitfalls to ensure that its people do not suffer the same fate.
One of the key failures in these nations was the exclusion and persecution of political opponents following the collapse of the old regimes. In Syria, if the new government pursues a similar path of vengeance and repression, it risks alienating significant portions of the population, igniting further resistance, and prolonging the cycle of violence. National unity can only be achieved through reconciliation, inclusion and a commitment to justice that transcends sectarian and ethnic lines.
The new Syrian government falls into the trap of division by blaming outside agitators (Iran and Hezbollah) before even conducting thorough investigations into recent massacres against Alawites and Christian communities. Such actions only serve to foment sectarian hatred and deflect from the government’s own responsibilities to protect its people. While external forces may have played a role in supporting remnants of the Assad regime, this does not excuse sectarian slaughter or the indiscriminate killing of civilians. If Syria is to emerge as a just and stable state, it must hold those responsible for these atrocities accountable, ensuring that justice is served without bias or political manipulation.
The new leadership must send a clear message that Syria is a nation for all its people. The government must set an example by prosecuting murderers, regardless of their affiliations, to prove its commitment to justice and national unity. Only by demonstrating fairness and accountability can Syria begin to heal from decades of division and bloodshed.
At the same time, Syria’s new leadership must engage in a meaningful dialogue with key regional actors, particularly Iran and the Lebanese resistance. Blaming these forces for internal instability will only exacerbate the divide. Instead, the government should engage with the resistance in Lebanon and Iran to consolidate Arab and Islamic unity against the occupier of Syrian land. Maintaining strong ties with resistance movements in Lebanon, rather than alienating them, is crucial for Syria’s geopolitical positioning. Political and economic cooperation with Iran, and Iraq rather than confrontation, offer a great opportunity for the rebuilding of the new Syria.
The new government cannot claim to represent all Syrians in words alone when, like the previous regime, its power structure remains sectarian and continues to exclude the majority of Syrians. For Syria to move forward, its new leadership must embrace governance that is inclusive of all Syrians — regardless of religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation. Marginalising any group will only sow the seeds of future unrest. Ensuring justice for past atrocities must not come at the expense of indiscriminate revenge, but rather through fair trials and a transparent legal system.
Furthermore, Syria’s historical role as a leader in regional resistance against Israeli aggression must not be compromised. Any government that seeks to align itself with foreign powers at the expense of Syria’s sovereignty and national dignity will lose legitimacy in the eyes of its people. Stability and justice must go hand in hand with an unwavering commitment to the nation’s independence and its role in the broader geopolitical landscape.
The reconciliation efforts with the Kurdish-led movement in north and east of Syria mark a significant step forward. However, it’s incomplete until all Syrians feel a genuine sense of belonging to a shared nation, transcending sectarian or ethnic divisions. Achieving this requires fostering a collective national identity that prioritises unity and inclusivity among all communities. Only then can Syria move toward lasting stability.
Syria’s future remains uncertain, but the path it chooses now will determine whether it slips into perpetual conflict or rises to its leadership role in the Arab world. Syrians must hold their leaders accountable for human rights violations and demand transparency in governance. At the same time, they must stay vigilant, ensuring that their hard-fought revolution does not replace one form of oppression with another.
Ultimately, true liberation is not simply about removing a dictator; it is about building a system that values human rights, justice and equality for all. The killings of civilians under Syria’s new government serve as a grim warning; unless decisive steps are taken to protect all citizens and uphold the rule of law, history may repeat itself, with tragic consequences for generations to come.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250314-syria-dangling-between-the-past-present-and-the-future/
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The Goals Of Israel’s Ongoing Aggression Against Syria
By Aziz Mustafa
March 14, 2025
Israel’s aggressive operations against Syria continue by air and on the ground, imposing new realities at a time Syria’s leadership is preoccupied with internal affairs. This suggests that Israel’s approach to Syria goes beyond mere military strikes but rather aims at reshaping the Middle East, as it had announced at the onset of its aggression against Gaza in October 2023.
The ongoing Israeli attacks on Syria serve several objectives, primarily the redrawing of borders and maintaining military presence in areas Israel has invaded since the fall of Al-Assad. Israel is also working to establish understandings with Washington regarding its incursions into Syrian territory, as part of discussions about the future of foreign presence in the country.
Another key objective is Israel’s effort to learn from its failure to prevent Hamas’ cross border incursion on 7 October and to ensure that such a scenario does not repeat itself on the Syrian front. This includes preventing Syria from becoming a forward base for forces hostile to Israel by targeting the remnants of the Syrian army’s combat capabilities, ending arms smuggling from Syria to Lebanon, and countering Turkiye’s growing influence in Syria. Turkiye, Israel’s biggest and most significant regional adversary, consistently condemns Israeli aggression and warns against potential confrontations, as Ankara increasingly sees Syria as its strategic backyard.
Israel’s latest involvement in Syria came in the form of a military threat under the pretext of “protecting the Druze in Jaramana,” southeast of Damascus. This move reflects Israeli concerns about Syria’s new leadership, which it claims consists of Islamist elements hostile to Israel. Given the current uncertainty, threats along Israel’s northern borders are becoming more pronounced.
Recent Israeli actions towards Syria clearly indicate ambitions to control strategic areas. While this is still in its early stages and direct clashes with Syrian forces have yet to occur, such confrontations could become inevitable, with Israel preparing for a military operation on Syrian soil.
Israel’s increasing involvement in Syria marks a new chapter in the regional power struggle. While Turkiye seeks to secure its borders, treating Syria as a backyard of its national security, Israel is expanding its influence beyond its borders under the pretence of concerns over armed Islamist groups. This makes its latest claim of protecting Syria’s Druze population a significant milestone in the escalating Israeli-Turkish rivalry over Syria, particularly after Iran was sidelined from the conflict following Assad’s downfall.
One of Israel’s most alarming scenarios—one that seems increasingly plausible—is the presence of Turkish military forces inside Syria. This, in Israel’s view, would be a “disaster”, prompting its pre-emptive occupation of buffer zones, the peak of Mount Hermon, and an expansion of its control into Syrian territory, alongside demands for the complete disarmament of southern Syria, particularly in Quneitra, Daraa and Suwayda.
A noteworthy Israeli revelation involves the military secretary to the prime minister being sent to Moscow to request that Russia not hastily withdraw from its bases in Syria, as Israel reportedly prefers a Russian presence over a Turkish influence.
Israel’s aggressive actions against Syria stem from conflicting attitudes toward the recent developments in its northern neighbour. While many Israelis initially viewed Assad’s fall as a victory for Tel Aviv — weakening Hezbollah in Lebanon, striking Hamas in Gaza, and reducing Iranian influence — Israeli assessments quickly shifted. The new Syrian regime is now seen as an enemy, and Israel fears its new rulers.
The swift overthrow of Al-Assad and his regime by the Syrian opposition in just a few days triggered considerable anxiety in Tel Aviv. This led to large-scale pre-emptive strikes that, within three days, destroyed what remained of Syria’s air and naval military capabilities, as well as key military research centres. Israel justified these attacks as efforts to eliminate Assad’s hidden stockpiles of chemical weapons. Additionally, Israel occupied significant areas of the Golan Heights and declared the 1974 Disengagement Agreement null, effectively signalling a de facto declaration of war on the new Syria.
Israeli officials are openly concerned about the ideological similarities between the new Islamist political forces in Syria and Hamas. Though Syria’s new leader, Ahmad Al-Sharaa ‘Al-Jolani’, comes from a more radical Salafi-jihadist background than Hamas, Israel’s experience with the movement has been a harsh lesson.
While Assad’s fall has raised Israeli fears of further instability along its northern border, Israel also sees it as an opportunity to reshape regional dynamics. However, the prospect of anti-Israel forces consolidating power in Syria remains a significant concern, making the situation even more complex.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250314-the-goals-of-israels-ongoing-aggression-against-syria/
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URL: https://www.newageislam.com/middle-east-press/jews-us-arab-gaza-hamas-hezbollah-landmines/d/134875
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