It is an article of faith for me and many others:
Israel would not be here if not for the miracles – the times when Heaven has intervened. One need only review the astounding victories we’ve had in our wars to recognize that Heavenly Hand.
Just days ago, for Yom Yerushalayim, I shared the marvelous video, “When Heaven Altered the Course of History,” about our ability against all odds to recover the Old City of Jerusalem from the Jordanians in 1967.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wlPw3NUeb0
This faith girds us as we face one deplorable difficulty after another.
But still there is pain, and sadness and anger.
What is more, we are advised by the sages not to count on miracles.
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And here indeed is just one miracle that apparently was not meant to happen:
Yesterday (Thursday) we learned of the death of Ravid Chaim, the two-week-old baby boy delivered by emergency C-section when his mother, Tze’ela Gez, was shot dead by a terrorist while on the way to the hospital to deliver him.
Here his father, Hananel Gez, cradles him the day before he died.
The baby’s passing could not have been a surprise to anyone: He was badly injured when his mother was shot. But the doctors labored to save him and for many days he was said to be stable.
The funeral was held in Jerusalem not long after his death. He was buried next to his mother.
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On hearing the news of a death, we say Baruch Dayan Emet, Blessed is the Righteous Judge. We accept that it is in the hands of the Almighty, and not for us to understand. We do not.
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Most Israelis have been both confused and greatly distressed by the route Trump is taking of late with regard to “deals”. Fashioning himself as someone who can make it all happen, he appears convinced that every confrontation with foci of evil can be resolved via negotiations, when in point of fact this is simply not the case.
It’s a refrain heard frequently here now: “He’s throwing us under the bus.” We had expected something different.
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I have written previously and will continue to write about the extreme danger the free world faces with the intent of Islamists to conquer one area after another until they have taken over the world. Negotiating with them is not a tenable solution most of the time – is perhaps never a tenable solution, as they deceive and ignore commitments and are committed to a murderous ideology. The major cases in point today are Iran and Hamas, and in both cases Trump – who prides himself on being able to do this – has indicated intent to avoid or terminate conflict and negotiate resolution to existing problems.
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One of the reasons there is reason to believe that Trump is way over his head in this regard is because of the individual he has chosen to head negotiations: Steve Witkoff a long-time friend of Trump’s and a real estate magnate with no diplomatic experience whatsoever. Successfully negotiating a real estate deal is simply not the same as successfully negotiating an end to Iran’s to nuclear capability. And yet he is being charged with this task.
Wikoff is not only lacking the negotiating skills of a professional diplomat, he is lacking an understanding of the Islamic (or Russian) culture and mindset. Put simply, he is way over his head – something he has demonstrated on several occasions.
It is nothing short of ludicrous that Witkoff is at the head of negotiations with Iran regarding nuclear development, with Hamas on a hostage deal (more below) and with Putin with regard to his war with Ukraine. There should be separate professional negotiators/diplomats for each set of negotiations, each possessing the requisite knowledge.
I read recently that he attended a meeting with Putin without bringing his own translator – he relied upon Putin’s translator Shall we talk about naïve?
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Just days ago, Trump explicitly let Netanyahu know that it would not be the right time to attack Iran because the US was having “very good talks with Iran”: “I told Netanyahu that it would be inappropriate to act now, because we are very close to a solution.”
https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/05/28/trump-confirms-i-warned-netanyahu-against-harming-iran-talks/
Netanyahu has been eager to hit Iranian nuclear installations, to prevent or forestall development of nuclear weapons. His understanding of the situation far, far exceeds that of Trump, and he is being squeezed into a very difficult position.
Ultimately, if Trump is honest about the situation and does not back off on demands just in order to say he was able to strike a deal, he will face the fact that negotiations with Iran will not resolve the issues. But with each day that goes by, Iran is moving ahead.
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As to Israel’s fight against Hamas, Trump voiced great support early on but has lost patience. He likes instant results and now complains that the war is going on too long.
See Jonathan Tobin, editor of JNS on this: “Trump dislikes ‘forever wars,’ but Israel is stuck with one.”
“…the president’s impatience to end a conflict that the Palestinian Arabs won’t stop is creating ‘daylight’ between the two allies.
https://www.jns.org/trump-dislikes-forever-wars-but-israel-is-stuck-with-one/
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Witkoff has advanced a series of proposals for a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. I have refrained from describing them in detail because every few days the proposal was again revised. This week there was yet another “new” proposal and word was out that this might have traction.
Israel accepted this deal and Trump was getting ready to make an announcement, as there were expectations that Hamas would also accept.
But Hamas has not accepted the terms of this deal, charging that it favored Israel too much. Read that it did not require Israel to permanently depart from Gaza, leaving Hamas still armed and standing. Hamas will settle for nothing less in a “deal.”
All of the above is by way of review and background, with a great deal more to come in coming days and weeks. I do not close the door to last minute shifts in the situation.
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Now, before I head into Shabbat preparations, I share an analysis of the latest deal by David Israel of The Jewish Press. This, if you wish to see the details of the plan that was rejected. David pulls no punches.
https://www.jewishpress.com/?p=738108
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My email is working again!
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I ask for prayers for Israel’s wellbeing.
Pray for the wisdom and courage of our leaders.
Pray for the safety of our brave troops.
Pray that the hostages will be brought home.
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©Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by independent journalist Arlene Kushner. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
