And So It Continues. Another War Update from the Middle East. 24 November, 2025

Either Trump and Netanyahu are genius, playing 4D chess; or the entire “Peace Plan” is collapsing; or perhaps…I dare say… G-d is in control this whole time.

The 20 Point Plan has yet to get fully past Step 1. Hamas still is withholding the corpses of three abducted people, two Israelis and a Thailandi day-worker. Three times they have tried to pass off either bodies of Gazans or animal remains as Israeli/human – as if Israel does not perform DNA matching and extensive forensics. Also, Hamas is not only refusing to disarm, but says they are ready to fight again – but more on that later.

The UN Security Council fully backed the Peace Plan in international law last week. There were 13 votes in favor of the text (eventually leading to a Palestinian State, wherever that may be designated) with Russia and China in abstentia. It was immediately rejected by Hamas saying “it fails to meet Palestinian’s rights and demands and seeks to impose on the Gaza Strip an international guardianship mechanism intended to achieve the goals of the occupation.”

There was supposed to be an international security force implemented with the task of keeping the peace between the Israeli occupied part of the Strip between the designated Yellow Line and the Hamas controlled area. They were also to help disarm the terrorists. However, only three countries have stepped up to the plate to tackle the responsibility. Those three countries are: Qatar, Egypt and Turkey.

This is completely unacceptable to Israel. What happened to England, France, Canada, Germany, Italy? Qatar has been a known safe haven for the Hamas and Islamic Jihad upper eschelon and their families who are still living like royalty inside luxury hotels, villas and apartments. The money for terror is largely disseminated by Qatar who seems to have vey deep pockets. It is Qatari funding which is responsible for taking over many Western universities, institutions and think tanks. There goal is to Islamicize the world.

Then there is Turkey. President Erdogan wants nothing more than to reestablish the Islamic caliphate with Turkey as the head. They have a little habit of sending the military into troubled areas as a “peacekeeping, stabilizing force,” setting up extensive military bases and then staying and incorporating the land of their occupation into Turkish sovereign territory. Take Cypress for example. In 1974, they came in to stop an imminent civil war. Today there are over 35,000 Turkish troops in Cypress with the flag of Turkey on the municipal buildings and tallest mountain and a breakaway republic only recognized by Turkey.

In West Africa: after the 2016 coup attempt against President Erdogan, Turkey opened dozens of madrassim, Islamic schools across Western Africa including Senegal, Niger, Benin, Ghana, and Gambia. These schools have promoted a pro-Turkish jihadi ideology. Many have been turned into surveillance centers against the (now majority Muslim) local authorities and population centers. The schools, much like the UN schools in Gaza, are bastions of Islamic radicalization.

Somalia has the honor of hosting Turkey’s largest military base complex outside of its own borders. It has established an extensive naval intelligence unit listening across the Indian Ocean. In Turkeys “Restoring Ottoman Heritage” in the Sudan, they built docks and ports for a large naval force. In Libya, Ankara sent ‘engineering equipment’ with rockets, rocket launchers, RPGs and advance surveillance and weaponized drones to the thugs in that country. It was already destabilized after the Obama/Hilary Clinton debacle. Turkey insists it is just ‘technical gear and engineering equipment.’

Also under the Obama administration, the Muslim Brotherhood bloomed into full power and fruition in Egypt. If you remember, it was an ‘Arab Spring.’ It was a time of great hope for peace and stability in the Middle East. So why is this all so important?

An international “peace force” entering Gaza would be given aid and tools and would be tasked with setting up advance surveillance and cyber infrastructure. It is a well-coordinated strategy. Qatari funding. Turkish building up of fences, cameras, military bases, Egypt which saw under its watchful eye the smuggling of weapons across the border between Egypt and Gaza (Rafah, Philadelphi Corridor and the underground tunnels wide enough for vehicles to pass) provide a recipe for disaster for Israel. Their main goal…. To build up an Islamic entity and eventually wipe out Israel.

Back to Hamas. In several instances last week, terrorists have defiantly (stupidly) crossed over the Yellow Line. In one instance the soldier had an RPG slung across his back. He was immediately eliminated no questions asked. It was a blatant violation as was the operative who crossed over the line and shot at IDF troops. He, too, was instantly eliminated. This past weekend, in two separate incidents, Hamas operatives were seen emerging from a tunnel shaft. 15 were killed as they began to fire on Israeli soldiers. 11 were taken as prisoners of war.

Now, let’s turn our attention to Syria, our neighbor to the northeast. Earlier last week, the new President of Syria visited the White House. I would like to remind you that less than a year ago, his name was Muhammad al Jawlani and he was on the 10 most wanted list ($10 million reward!) for heading alQaeda and involvement with ISIS. He is directly responsible for the deaths of thousands. Today he is in a suit and goes by Pres. Ahmed AlSharaa.

Syrian-Israeli and U.S. negotiations have come to a seeming dead end as AlSharaa demands that Israel concede all of the Golan Heights, our most strategic property. Israel has insisted upon a full peace agreement, not a limited security arrangement. We do know that President Netanyahu, and several members of his Cabinet toured the region aerially last week. Israel has also been active in training 24 Syrian Druze to be firemen, giving them special equipment as well as two fire trucks as well as instruction. Israel has also come to the aid of the persecuted Druze and Christian communities in the southern part of the country.

Now for Lebanon, directly to our North. Hizbulla has been flagrantly violating their ‘Peace Deal’ by majorly ramping up their military fortifications just north of the Litani River in the southern part of the country. Their current Christian run government has been turning a blind eye as reinforcements troops arrive from Iran. Houses and municipal buildings have been once again overtaken by the designated terror network. They have been assembling weapons and smuggling in armaments (rockets, missiles, grenades, guns, drones, rocket launchers, RPGs) as fast as the Israeli jets can seem to find them and blow them up.

Israel has been hitting with surgical precision (I actually hear a whole group of jets thundering over my house now on their way North) more “soft targets” until last week. Two towns were cleared of the population and the known Hizbulla command centers were flattened. Yesterday marked the first time in over five months that Israel’s Air Force struck Beirut. Using excellent intelligence, an apartment complex in the center of the city was targeted. Haitham Ali Tabatbay, the number two in command has been eliminated. He was the military chief of Hizbulla.

The United States had been pursuing him for the past nine years. He had a $5million reward for any information leading to his whereabouts (hey. Does that mean Israel pockets the money?? Just asking for a friend….) Tabatabyebye commanded the elite Radwan Forces and was a chief planner in the upcoming but now cancelled (I hope) 7 October Part Two: Galilee Edition.

So that wraps up my smugness and today’s edition of the heat continues in Israel. Stay tuned for further updates, and hopefully some fun posts as well. Oh, I forgot to mention that Iran has been threatening to send over 2000 armed missiles at once and Hizbulla is vowing a huge retaliation. And to think, I just finished rehanging all my pictures and putting out all my china….

The Heat Continues 9 November, 2025

John and I came back from cool British weather, true sweater weather with leaves turning yellow and crimson and bright orange… to the unabated desert heat. We are having a drought here in Israel and the temperatures are still up. There are no autumnal colors, just the Southern California brown and black of heat scorched fields. Hopefully, there is an end in sight and we will have a change in weather by next week.

On the other hand, things are heating up rather rapidly. A different kind of heat. Who ever said “Peace has come to the Middle East” is full of hot air. Up to our north, in Lebanon, Hizbulla has been building up their military apparatus. Despite what President Aoun says, they have been getting new IRGC recruits from Iran and Syria.

UNIFIL observation forces in Southern Lebanon were supposed to ensure that the Trump-brokered ceasefire was standing. So far all they have one is to have shot down an Israeli surveillance drone. UNIFIL have allowed Hizbulla forces to reenter Southern Lebanon, and have overseen their fortifications.

The Israeli Air Force has been selectively striking at Hizbulla’s current leadership. Last week the municipal buildings in Taybeh and Taur Daaba were taken out after intelligence revealed they were

being used as military infrastructure. The people of the towns were given 18 minutes warning to evacuate before the strikes occurred. The IAF is currently carrying out large scale attacks on supply chains and munitions factories and storage facilities there. It is estimated that over 1500 long range missiles and parts have been snuck into Southern Lebanon through Syria in the past couple months alone.

In the meantime, Syrian President Sharaa, former alQaeda terrorist on the ten most wanted list, is in the United States. He no longer wears his turban and camouflage suit, but has trimmed his beard and wears a suit. Besides meeting with Trump and White House Cabinet members, he’s been filmed enjoying a game of pick-up basketball with Centcom members. I guess this leopard has succeeded in hiding his spots. He has sworn to the U.S. officials that the new, reformed Syria is carrying out operations against the ISIS militants who have been ethnically cleansing Southern Syria of Druze and Christians.

https://youtube.com/shorts/OO3jK_6MvZ8?si=SYKMEbroHhLBS_W_

Down Gaza way, Hamas is still playing games. Weapons have been found to be smuggled intro the Rafah area on the Egyptian border via drone. So the IDF sealed off the area and declared it an active military zone. Any drones coming in from Egypt will now be shot down. We are hearing from the released hostages that Hamas is using every available young person to go underground and manually dig out the tunnels that have been stopped up. 24 hours a day, these kids (most are boys ages 8-13) are being used as slave labor 24 hours a day.

Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad forces (PIJ) are playing games as always. They say they are having problems locating the remains of the six bodies that they have been holding. This past week, several more were returned including two Americans, Omer Neutra and Itay Chen and a Tasmanian Agricultural student who was kidnapped into Gaza and murdered by the civilians there on 7 October.

Last night the body of Captain Hadar Goldin was to be returned. The Red Crescent came to pick up the coffin and return it to the waiting Israeli forces. But let’s backtrack… Hadar Goldin was one of the first soldiers killed (during a ceasefire) in Gaza in 2014. We were still in California and the news came about Hadar and then Max Steinberg, a Lone Soldier from the San Fernando Valley, CA (I knew his parents). Max’s body was retrieved. Hadar’s taken into captivity to be used as leverage against Israel.

Hadar was engaged to be married to a lovely young girl. When he was abducted, his photo was the first to hang on my fridge. His body has been held hostage for almost 13 years now. The Goldin family have traveled the world over to try to put pressure on the international governments and to raise awareness about the plight of their son. And the remains in the coffin yesterday were supposed to be him. But they were not. More games. Now Hamas says it will hand over his body this afternoon. Another card thrown into the pile- the stakes remain the same.

On the brighter side, and speaking of games, last week the Marine Corps Marathon was held in Washington, D.C. (my brother-in-law competes). Let me share with you this story of a young American Israeli hero you might have never heard of.

Mendel Vile’s family left Chicago when he was 7 to move to Israel. They were committed Zionists, believing in the land of Israel rightfully belonging to the indigenous peoples, the Jews. Mendel grew up and became a combat engineer for the IDF. In December, 2023, deep into the Gaza Strip, a Hamas anti-tank missile struck the vehicle he was in. He was only 19 at the time. Several soldiers were killed in the attack. Mendel’s broken, burned body was pulled from the wreckage, shrapnel embedded throughout his body. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition, where he spent 3 months of seemingly endless pain.

“This is it. Is my time over?” he thought in those early days. The medical staff told him to focus on his survival. Friends and family visited him to lift his spirits in a never-ending parade. Daily the nurses told him to be patient, take things slowly. He endured 7 surgeries. Mendel kept repeating one mantra, “One day I will run a marathon.” Of course, in his condition, no one believed him. But he knew HaShem would give him the strength and healing to push forward with his rehabilitation.

Mendel believed beyond all hope. The surgeries were followed by months of grueling physical therapy and rehabilitation just for him to be able to stand on his own. But he was a true warrior. With faith in G-d and his own ability to recover. This week, he finished his race – the Marine Corps Marathon. It was the second he’s run in the past three months. Wrapped in the blue and white of the Israeli flag, he crossed over to personal victory,

Mendel Vile did not run alone. He carried with him on the back of his Jersey, his best friend, Oriya Yaakov, a photo of the buddy that was killed alongside him on that day. As he was running, a young man (wearing a kipa/yarmulka) also trying to finish the race, spotted Mendel. He joined the IDF soldier, who gave him strength to continue. Vile said,”We tried to push each other along. Come on, man, you’re my brother. You’re part of the tribe. Together we are strong. Together we can win. I’ve never been prouder to be an American. An Israeli. a Jew.”

But that’s not the only story. Oh no! Barack Elizor was also a critically wounded IDF soldier back in January,2024. Multiple surgeries and almost two years of intense rehabilitation and physical therapy, Barack just completed the New York Marathon, helping to raise funds for Shalva, an organization for children with special needs.

Not all stories are pleasant. I just finished reading the book Hostage, by Eli Sharabi. A riveting and highly recommended true account of what it was like in the tunnels of Gaza being held a prisoner. Some of the released captives are finding a difficult transition to freedom. Where some have vowed to move on with their lives, stronger in faith and spirit and resolve, others are irreparably (almost) scarred.

This past Thursday night an interview with hostage Ron Braslavski was aired on the Israeli news. It was more than difficult to watch as Ron shared his nightmare. He was held in solitary confinement for two years, starved, whipped, burned and brutally beaten on a daily basis. Through tears and shaking, we heard how PIJ differed from Hamas. More brutal. More degrading. Ron was sexually abused in order to debase him and wipe out his humanity. He was shackled not only hand and foot but tied, naked, by his penis, to the bars of his cage. It was the video of Ron, released in July, that changed the course of the war. For then the world saw the brutality that was taking place inside Gaza.

https://youtube.com/shorts/HArYcaS2S50?si=USdgyRgyarB01vqA

We pray for him and for all the hostages, their loved ones, and the country to be miraculously healed spirit, soul, emotions, mind and body. May they know only love and support. May they find purpose, focus and happier days ahead.

Can a Leopard Change its Spots??? War Stories. Day 649 already. 16 July, 2025

Can the leopard change its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil. Jeremiah 13:23

Several months ago Syrian President Bashar alAssad was deposed by Ahmad alSharaa. The new president has been seen in the most prestigious of political circles and recently met with President Trump in Saudi Arabia. President al Sharaa wants to normalize relations with Israel and enter into the Abraham Accords. He seeks full recognition of the new, more peaceful, reformed Syrian government….or so he says.

But who is alSharaa anyway? And why is any of this important? Going back to his youth, alSharaa was born in Syria on the East side of the Golan Heights mountain range, the border of Israel. It is inhabited mostly by Druze, Christians and Bedouins. In 2003, during the war in Iraq, he joined the rebel forces fighting US troops. He successfully implemented and took part in attacks on US military bases. Captured by the Americans as a terrorist, he spent time in the notorious Abu Ghraib Prison where he became even more radicalized upon meeting the notorious alBagdadi.

In the early 2000s, the radical Islamic extremists of the Islamic State of Iraq (ISIS or Daesh)under al Bagdadi (remember these names? they come back to haunt it seems) grew out an alQaeda splinter group (splitters!) In 2011, the popular peoples’ front uprising (this just sounds more and more like Monty Python, but it’s true) against the Alawhite Regime (Assad) deteriorated into Syria’s long civil war.

al Sharaa, who changed his name to Muhammad alJawlani, was chosen by alBagdadi to lead the Nusra Front, a break off of alQaeda. Splitting off from that, he formed an ISIS faction (remember them? The Jayvee Team?). During a BBC interview in 2014, with face completely covered by his kheffiyeh, his stated goals were “to completely cleanse the country (Syria) of all Alawhite, Shiite, Druze and Christian minorities.”

His rebel group split off again (do you see a pattern of tribal infighting, confusion, intolerance and disagreement here?) now calling themselves Jabhat Fateh alSham (the Syrian Conquest Front). al Sharaa tried to consolidate all the splintered- fighting groups into one larger force. One that would be more effective in vanquishing the Alawhite Assad government in Damascus. By this time he was on one of the most wanted terrorist hit lists in the United States.

Fast forward to 2025 because this just gets so confusing. The jihadist forces finally organized and armed to the hilt with Taliban procured American weapons, took Syria city by city until they reached and surrounded the Presidential Palace in Damascus. Bashar Assad and his family fled to Russia. The government was toppled. The rebels were now in charge. But this would not do on the global scene. What to do?

AlJawlani decided to shed the jihadist look and trade out his warlord persona for a more refined, more Westernized version of himself. He underwent a “radical makeover” cutting his hair and donning a suit and tie. Of course, this plus another name change back to alSharaa made him a completely new person. Not only did he change his clothes and his name, but his whole outlook on governance shifted radically. Gone was the terrorist. Gone was the warlord. Gone was the radical jihadist hell bent on massacring infidels.

In recent interviews, he actually renounced some of the more strict Muslim law,s calling for tolerance and peace. He was standing for the people of Syria and for pluralism. He completely disavowed his involvement with any former terror groups and announced a new springtime for his homeland. “Sectarian extremism must be eliminated. No group can cancel another,” alSharaa stated in a May, 2025 interview with Newsweek. “Everyone must have rights protected by law.”

Thank goodness Israel had the foresight to make precision strikes by air on the many weapons storage warehouses and facilities outside Damascus and throughout Syria. The weapons from the fallen Assad regime (rockets, missiles, RPGs along with guns and ammo) were supplied by Iran and Russia. Also, remember all the American weapons left behind in Afghanistan? Much of the equipment and arms were sold to highest bidders after they were confiscated by the Taliban. A lot of those American made weapons went to Syria. Israel could not let all of this fall into the hands of evil terrorists, so they have been taking out the supply hit by hit all through this year. The IDF also blew up all their planes (Syrian Air Force) and their bases and runways along with the air defense/radar systems.

Just one month ago, President alSharaa met with President Trump in an effort to legitimize himself and his new administration. The U.S. removed the bounty on his head and reported that all talks have been productive. All sanctions against Syria were lifted.

But can a leopard change its spots? Does a rose by any other name smell as sweet? Can a radicalized jihadist change into a suit and transform into a justice loving protector of minorities over night? Will the Western world buy off on this charade? What is really going on in Syria this week?

Reports of how it started are conflicting. Three days ago U.S. Ambassador to Syria and Turkey, Thomas Barrack, stated that there should be no separate Kurdish, Druze, Alawhite or Christian entities in the region. In other words, minorities should submit to alJawlani and his forces, in lieu of autonomy. It could be that shortly after that alJawlani/alSharaa’s army took advantage of Barrack’s words. Some say the Bedouins began to cause riots in the al Sueida province of Syria. Others say it was the new Syrian government forces that invaded. Either way the two groups came together to commit ethnic cleansing and genocide in alSueida.

This remote area about 40 miles east of the Israeli border is home to a Druze and Christian minority. They have lived there for hundreds of years. They have lived quietly and peaceably, avoiding conflict during the Syrian Civil Wars.

Yesterday, I began to receive the most severe and barbarous footage since 7 October. The Syrian now called “pro al-jawlani” fighters looted and burned the Greek Orthodox Church of San Michel in alSurah alKabira, in Sueida. Numerous Christians, men, women and children have been slaughtered. So far the count is at least 30 dead and 54 injured. Another Greek Orthodox Church was also looted and burned.

Syrian jihadist forces massacred an estimated 350 Druze in Syria in the past few days. Using the most brutal tactics of tying up the elders and shaving off their mount aches as a degradation; forcing them to crawl like animals and bark like dogs; beating and kicking them; cutting them with shattered glass bottles and other acts of violence. Women have been taken and gang raped. Young girls are being raped in front of their mothers and then killed. They are then shot or stabbed to death.

The main city is alSweida, which is one of the only two places in Syria where Christians and Druze can live free of Sharia law. The other one is smaller, on the eastern slope of Mt. Hermon on the Golan. Daesh or ISIS tactics are being used in Sueida. It is absolute barbarity.

Israel Defense Minister, Yisrael Katz, stated: “ The time for warnings is over. Damascus will now feel the consequences.” Israel immediately responded. Netanyahu and Katz both publicly committed to defending Syria’s Druze. Since yesterday afternoon, the IDF has been relentlessly striking the Syrian army armored vehicles and trucks carrying RPGs, pushing the,pm back, but many jihadists got through. Supposedly the Syrian government called for a ceasefire, but that is yet to be seen. It seems the opposite, that things are rapidly escalating.

On the Israel side, hundreds of Israeli Druze yesterday broke the border fence, rushing it en masse, pouring into Syria to help their brothers and sisters. Israel is home to over 150,000 Druze who feel deep solidarity with their families across the border. Israel’s Druze have called upon the IDF and the Israeli government to intervene. All Israeli Druze men proudly serve in our armed forces. Jews and Druze have an unshakable bond. “They are doing to us what they did to you on October 7,” cried an Israeli Druze elder in Rameh. “A five year old girl was raped and slaughtered. They are burning young children in front of their parents. There is no mercy.” Another Druze preparing to storm the border said to reporters, “Our people are being slaughtered, Israel must help us! I’m going back to fight myself.”

This was the “mildest “ picture I could post without the threat of being removed.

Syria strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes on its territory, calling the attacks “treacherous aggression” and a violation of its sovereignty. A U.S. Syria envoy says active talks with Druze, Bedouin and Syrian government along with Israel are currently taking place. They. Hope to ease tensions and restore peace. Netanyahu has called for all Israeli Druze to return home and stay out of the conflict.

Here in the North of Israel, the Druze are striking (as in work forces) and protesting along all the major highways. Roadblocks have been set up along all intersections and traffic is at a standstill throughout the Galilee.

Also this afternoon, the IDF confirms targeting the gates of the Syrian regime’s chief of staff headquarters in Damascus. This is a warning to stop the killing of the minorities of Sueida. In the meantime, now thousands of Druze have broken through IDF barriers at the border (the IDF soldiers are really doing nothing to stop them by way of force) in order to fight the jihadists.

AlJazeera (what do we expect), France and other countries are now condemning Israeli aggression and Israel starting yet another conflagration in the. Idle East. France and the UK have called for an immediate end to the clashes in Suweida.

Always twisted so Israel is the villain

Just a half an hour ago as I write this (the news is coming in so fast from so many direct sources, it’s hard to keep up), the Israeli Defense Minister told the Syrian regime “ gestures are over, now expect painful blows. Druze can count on the IDF. To protect your brothers in Syria.”

U.S. envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack has condemned “violence against innocent civilians in Suweida” and calls for “dialogue to achieve a lasting ceasefire.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio says “ the U.S. is very concerned about IDF strikes in Syria.” He has called for an immediate ceasefire from all

Tensions are boiling over on the border. The IDF just reported that dozens of suspects from Syria tried to infiltrate Israeli territory near the town of Hader. Troops and Border Police were quickly deployed to stop the attempted breach and disperse those involved. At the same time, chaos erupted on the Israeli side as more Druze civilians breached the border fence at Majdal Shams, crossing into Syria. The IDF is currently working to bring them back. “This is a serious incident that constitutes a criminal act and endangers both civilians and IDF forces,” the military warned.

The 98th division of the IDF (paratrooper brigade) has just been issued notice ahead of an operation in Syria and to expect several days of fighting against regime forces in order to protect the Druze. Just now, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a national address. “The situation in southwestern Syria is very dangerous. The DF is operating. The Air Force is operating. We are operating to save our Druze brothers and to eliminate the regime’s forces. And now I have a request for you. You are citizens of Israel. Do not cross the border. You are endangering your lives; you can be murdered, you can be kidnapped, and you are harming the efforts of the IDF. Therefore, I ask you to return to your homes and let the IDF operate.”

Why does this matter? Two reasons: Druze are a strategic buffer zone between Israel and deeper parts of Syria. If Sueida falls, Jihadi forces could advance towards the Golan Heights, which would pose a direct threat to Israel. This could potentially destabilize the entire region. It is also about protecting the minority groups and standing up for those who stand for us.

BREAKING 🚨: Syrian media says that a ceasefire has been reached in Sueida, with the government promising to stop their ISIS fighters from slaughtering Christians and Druze. It is reported that Syria plans to annex and incorporate the whole territory under their governmental control and that they now occupy 25% of the Northern and Central parts of the city.

My husband was scouting out many different news outlets for news of the events as they unfolded in Syria. Very few of the articles even mentioned the assaults on the Christian minority. Others had Israel as the aggressor. Several Christian (non-denominational and Catholic) reports of the situation did speak about Christian persecution and murders, but never once mentioned that it was being perpetrated at the hands of Muslims, radical Islamic jihadists whose goal is to ethnically cleanse as in WIPE OUT/ELIMINATE anyone who is not Muslim. The truth needs to get out. The world needs to see, to wake up, to take a stand.

The best coverage without any added propaganda was from One India News. https://youtu.be/V_GU4TVq2d8?si=XT-iVUipmkfOyAkX