That is our task.
The information in my very last posting, which showcases many of Israel’s strengths – strengths found in our extraordinary people – gives us immeasurable hope.
In that posting, I provided a link to the video of the amazing Ari Spitz, who lost his legs in battle and was dancing on his protheses; unfortunately, it was faulty. And so I provide another link for those who could not access this amazing scene:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/2241614292991360
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And now I want to share information about another incredible former hostage: Yosef-Haim Ohana, 25. He was captured on October 7 at the Nova Music festival, after courageous attempts to save others. During captivity he endured incredible suffering.
After 738 days in captivity, he was brought out and then spent six weeks in rehab. This past Sunday, he returned to his hometown of Kiryat Malachi, to a joyous reception.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmmLRMDgQd8
When he got home, he cried, as he said he knew he would. And then he declared that he wanted to lay tfillin and eat his mother’s couscous.
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And this is what Yosef-Haim said:
“There was no chance in the world I would come out of Gaza standing on my own two feet — but look at me. One day I’ll tell everything, and then everyone will understand what miracles we experienced. For all 738 days we were in Gaza, we didn’t know if we would remain alive. Every minute, we didn’t know if we’d live another minute. The Hashgachah pratis [Divine providence] was beyond belief…We felt malachim [angels] guarding us at every step…
“Only prayers and faith protected us.”
https://mishpacha.com/guarded-like-an-esrog/
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And so, this is my message to you, my readers (and to myself). It is easy to become discouraged at the state of affairs in the world. There is so much going on that is outrageous and evil. It is easy to be filled with fury, and discouragement. To lose hope for a better tomorrow.
But Yosef-Haim and others like him model a faith and a perseverance that should inspire us all. We must hold fast to a vision of a better world – understanding that the future is not in our hands but in the hands of the Almighty. It is the task of each of us to do the best we can now to bring that better future, while standing strong for ourselves.
As a friend of mine used to say, “Don’t let the bastards get you.” (I hope she sees this!)
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Having said that, I turn to some recent events of significant note. But I begin by observing once again that matters are exceedingly complex and that a surface view inevitably falls short of the reality.
On repeated occasions now, Israel has run up against Trump’s vision for “peace in the Middle East.” I say “run up against” because he closes his eyes to obstacles of a serious nature. That is, he fails to grasp the full nature of the problems he is seeking to address.
The president demonstrates an enormous eagerness for success, and this has been interpreted by many, yours truly included, as being fueled by his determination to be known as a peacemaker. I do not discount this. It began, as I have recounted before, with Witkoff’s pressure on Netanyahu before Trump’s inauguration to agree to a temporary ceasefire with Hamas. The terms were not as good as Israel might have been able to secure with further effort. But it had to be done immediately, because Trump was set on declaring during his inauguration speech that he had already achieved a solid step towards “peace.” He did not want to begin his second term with a war raging in Gaza. This was as much about Trump’s image as it was about true “peace.”
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But there is another factor that motivates Trump. What he calls “peace” is in fact an attempt at stabilization, which is absolutely not the same thing. He wants it quiet here so that he can focus elsewhere. What looms large for him are growing tensions between the US and China.
Analysts point to two underlying factors for this tension. One is economic, and this is not a new story. There is an on-going trade war, with the imposition by Trump of significant tariffs on Chinese goods, as well as export controls, port fees, visa restrictions, and sanctions. There is, as well, the major issue of where a prospective trade route would run.
The other factor is Taiwan, where the people prize their independence and their democracy. China – which claims Taiwan – is making increased threats of takeover, stating intention to overthrow the current government and establish a regime controlled from Beijing, much as exists in Hong Kong.
According to some reports, Xi Jinping, China’s leader, has ordered China’s military to make itself capable of taking Taiwan by 2027.
At the same time, Trump is pressuring Lai Ching-te, the president of Taiwan, to increase military spending.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/business/dealbook/taiwan-lai-ching-te-china.html
Trump has signed into law the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, which requires the State Department to regularly review and update guidelines governing official U.S. interactions with Taiwan. This is viewed as a statement of support for Taiwan, which cheers it, while Beijing registers displeasure.
A month ago, Trump met with Xi Jinping in S. Korea. In predictable fashion, he said that the Chinese leader was a fantastic guy and the meeting great. Similar enthusiasm was not forthcoming from Xi Jinping. (We are not surprised.)
How much this situation might heat up is not clear; nor is it clear that the US would necessarily come to the aid of Taiwan militarily. (Although I have encountered the prediction of one analyst that there might be war.)
What I provide above is, of course, merely a brief overview. What it is important to know is that, according to credible reports, Chinese – US tensions are being factored into Trump’s consideration of where he must focus. In essence, Trump may be pivoting away from attending to the details of what happens in the Middle East, while encouraging parties here to cool it.
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In the end, however, this does not help us. For the underlying problems in the Middle East that impinge directly on Israel must be addressed.
This is true, first, with regard to Trump’s unrealistic 20-point plan, which calls for demilitarization of Gaza. It is not merely on its way to failure, it has failed because there is no Muslim state that will send troops for the International Stabilization Force. (Israel will not allow either Turkey or Qatar to participate.) This is not even the force to disarm Hamas, but merely to oversee the process. The states that it had anticipated would be participating have taken a look at the fact that Hamas is still standing and armed and are extremely reluctant to send troops.
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As of this writing, there is only one more deceased hostage to be returned to Israel by Hamas or Islamic Jihad. Earlier this week, Islamic Jihad sent a body, but a forensic examination determined that it was not that of a hostage.
Another body was then sent, and this has turned out to be the remains of Sudthisak Rinthalak, 43, an agricultural worker from Thailand who was killed on October 7 on Kibbutz Be’eri, where he had been working, and his body taken. He had been sending his earnings back to his family in Thailand. His remains were treated with all the dignity accorded the Israeli hostages, as it should be.
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Now one more body remains to be returned, that of Dror Or, 48, also of Kibbutz Be’eri. His wife was also killed, and his children taken captive, but released at an earlier time.
There is considerable anxiety on the part of his family that his body will be held by Hamas as a bargaining chip. But Netanyahu has made it clear that nothing less than the release of every last deceased hostage will be acceptable.
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When Or is released, Trump will look to implement the “next stage” of his plan, but as has already become quite clear, this is not going to happen.
Kobi Michael (pictured) and Noa Lazimi, writing in the JPost today (Thursday) suggest that at this point Israel should step back and remain cooperative in order to give Trump the time to draw “the inevitable conclusion” that Hamas is not going to disarm voluntarily or under pressure from Qatar and Turkey.
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-879067
This suggests that Trump is so totally self-deluded, so eager to see peaceful resolution of an intractable situation, that he might actually believe Hamas could be convinced to disarm.
But Hamas’s insistence that it will not surrender its arms has been strong.
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It would be most desirable if Trump, understanding that Hamas will not disarm, were to turn to Netanyahu and say, “Go get them!” But this is not likely to happen, either. As Trump wants stabilization and not fighting, it is actually very unlikely to happen.
What seems far more likely is that Trump will segue to his alternate plan, which involves Israel to the east of the yellow line and Hamas to the west. The plan, as I have described it, involves preparation of the area and then movement of Gazan civilians to the Israeli side. In time this would result in Hamas standing alone, vulnerable without human shields. There have been some reports about preparations already being made for the movement of Gazans to the east, but this is unclear.
In this context, it would be best if Israel were given free rein to hit Hamas whenever there was indication of Hamas infractions of the ceasefire via build-up or preparations for attack (much as we have been doing in Lebanon with Hezbollah). But we do not know that this will happen.
The worst-case scenario then would be if Israel were to be hindered in her ability to hit Hamas. What we would end up with would be a Hamas that was still standing, had worked to recruit and rearm, and was preparing to hit the IDF again.
All of this is speculative, but there are some hard times yet ahead.
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There is yet another aspect to our current situation regarding Trump’s desire for peace/stabilization. And this is with regard to Syria. Here Trump is pushing Israel towards a position that is clearly not in Israel’s best interest.
I lost several hours of research and writing time because my Internet was down. The issue of Syria merits some serious discussion. I will close here and return after Shabbat.
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Please, pray for all of Am Yisrael: for the wisdom and courage of our leaders, the healing of the returned hostages, return of all deceased hostages, and our final victory over Hamas.
©Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by independent journalist Arlene Kushner. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
