Wishing Everyone a Peaceful Shabbat

Let's each try to take care of ourselves and our loved ones in this difficult time

Quick News Update and Prayers for Healing for all of us

It’s been a tough week and Israel’s streets are full of angry people. Many articles have been written this week about whether Israel’s Prime Minister is blocking a hostage deal, and whether he is the right leader for Israel right now, even if he’s right about the Philadelphi corridor.

Memes and posts and articles have tried all week to express how heartbroken and angry we are after the murder of six hostages over last Shabbat. We are not OK. But all we can do is carry on as we must, doing what needs to be done each day.

A spokesman for the US Administration claims that a deal is “90% agreed”. On today’s Times of Israel Daily Briefing US Correspondent Jacob Magid says this means that in fact the the main issues remain in dispute. The US Administration is said to be frustrated with Bibi, but still mainly blaming Hamas for the failure to reach an agreement to free hostages. Whatever the faults of Bibi’s position, Magid points out that Hamas’ brutal murder of hostages that were supposed to be returned as part of the deal, seems like it would be a huge “obstacle” to finalizing the agreement.

Staggeringly, even after killing six hostages, Hamas is apparently demanding that more prisoners be released in the first phase. On Israel’s side, the question of the Philadelphi corridor comes down to language in the agreement that says Israel must withdraw from populated areas. Bibi is arguing that the Philadelphi corridor is not such a populated area.

May the week ahead bring better news, freedom for our hostages, and victories over our enemies. May the brave soldiers of the IDF return safely from their mission and may Israelis going about their lives be spared from terror and violence.

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