Israel Police launched an investigation into the vandalism and break-in at Pardes Hanna-Karkur's Shvilim school on Sunday morning.Several swastikas were graffitied across the windows and tables of an art classroom at the school, in addition to other destruction of property caused in the room.Police are currently collecting evidence and searching for suspects.Advertisement<figure><img alt="Swastikas graffitied in art room destroyed during break-in at Pardes Hanna-Karkur school, September 6, 2026." src="https://images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/c_fill,g_faces:center,h_537,w_822/736598"></figure><h3>No place in education system</h3>"We view with great severity any expression of racism, hatred and violence, and in particular the use of Nazi symbols," the Pardes Hanna-Karkur Local Council said in a Sunday statement condemning the incident. "Such acts have no place in our education system and our community.""We will continue to work resolutely to maintain a safe, respectful and ethical educational space, and we will not tolerate manifestations of hatred, racism and violence of any kind."

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Police launch investigation into swastikas graffitied during break-in at Pardes Hanna-Karkur school

Israeli security agencies have thwarted dozens of plots over the past year, while maintaining heightened vigilance ahead of the Jewish holiday season, a senior National Security Council official told WT ahead of the High Holy Days.Iran and Hezbollah are expanding efforts to carry out terrorist attacks against Israelis and Jews worldwide, with Israeli security officials identifying a growing number of plots and preparations,Iran has devoted increasing resources to promoting terrorism globally, the official said, including through individuals and newly established mechanisms focused specifically on attacks against Israelis and Jews.Advertisement“There are many people who wake up in the morning and their entire mission is to promote attacks against Israelis and Jews around the world,” the official said.The effort involves multiple parts of Iran’s security apparatus, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force and intelligence bodies, the official said. He stressed that the buildup of these capabilities was a long-term process that had intensified over time.“Even if the rounds of fighting have ended, and we know their limitations, in the end the Iranian feeling is not good in the kinetic balance,” he said. “So they move to their ultimate arena” – efforts to carry out terrorist attacks and target Israelis at various levels.<figure><img alt="Protesters wave flags and hold placards during a demonstration organized by the Campaign Against Antisemitism outside Downing Street in London last month, to mark one week since the attack on a synagogue in Manchester." src="https://images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/c_fill,g_faces:center,h_537,w_822/689931"></figure><h3>No country wants terrorism</h3>The official said Israeli strikes inside Iran during the recent fighting had also targeted elements involved in terrorism, including senior figures in Iran’s security establishment.This, he said, had changed Israel’s operational environment.“Unlike in the past, given the circumstances, it is possible to act inside Iran itself, particularly in Tehran,” he said, adding that Israel continued to counter Iranian terrorism worldwide, both independently and with foreign partners.Israeli security agencies have thwarted dozens of terrorist plots over the past year, the official said. Cooperation with foreign governments had also proved critical, including with countries that do not necessarily maintain close political relations with Israel.“No country wants terrorism on its territory,” he said.“There is information, warning intelligence, preparations and alerts,” he said. “All these activities together are directed against all the mechanisms, all the organizations and all the countries.”Israeli authorities had thwarted concrete, “hot” plots during the past year, including cases in which attacks were stopped at the highest levels of warning, the official said.Some operations were disrupted within hours, while others took days or weeks to halt. Preventing an attack, he added, does not necessarily require striking the terrorist cell itself.“There are many ways” to disrupt and stop an attack, he said.The official declined to provide details on specific plots, targets, or prevention methods.Hezbollah also remained a major concern, particularly because of its close strategic relationship with Iran.“There is no status quo with Hezbollah,” the official said.<h3>Hezbollah, Iran suffered significant damage</h3>Hezbollah, like Iran, has suffered significant kinetic damage while failing to inflict anything close to the damage it had sought to cause Israel, he said.“There is a huge gap between what it has absorbed and what it caused us – a gap that is only growing,” the official said.Hezbollah and Iran should therefore be viewed as partners in the same broader campaign, he added. The Lebanese terrorist organization is now receiving greater attention in Israel’s counterterrorism efforts than in previous years.The official also identified Africa as an increasingly important arena in efforts to prevent attacks against Israelis and Jews. Several African countries have weaker security mechanisms, while parts of the continent host established Islamist infrastructure, including local extremist networks and foreign elements.Global jihadist organizations have long maintained infrastructure in parts of Africa, he said, while the Houthis’ position near the Horn of Africa has created an additional potential threat.The Houthis possess both kinetic and other capabilities that could potentially be used in the region, the official said. Israel is particularly concerned by the group’s attention to Israeli activity in countries in the Horn of Africa, including Somaliland.The Houthis view Israeli activity there as both a potential threat to their interests and a potential source of future terrorist targets, he said.Israeli security agencies have increased vigilance ahead of the Jewish holiday season, a period that terrorist organizations have historically sought to exploit because of large gatherings and increased Israeli and Jewish community activity abroad.The official pointed to previous incidents and attempted attacks around Jewish holidays. With the anniversary of the October 7 massacre also falling during the holiday period, Israeli authorities are maintaining a particularly high level of alert, he said.

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Israel prevented many terror threats against Jews abroad over past year, NSC official tells 'Post'

Four Christians, three Jews, four languages, six days, and 111 kilometers from Jaffa Port to Jaffa Gate.That’s how Michigan resident Jody Bernat, 67, summed up the parameters of the modern-day pilgrimage she and her husband, John Belsher, took last spring under the leadership of The Way to Jerusalem (W2J).“We were two Taiwanese women, a gentleman from Catalonia, a man from West Virginia, an Israeli woman, and John and me. With a variety of language barriers and fitness levels, we needed to find a group pace and a way to communicate,” she recalls.Advertisement“Sometimes it was gestures, glances, knowing looks. Sometimes we walked in silence. Often, we sang, and many times we exchanged views on life,” Bernat says.Led by an English-speaking guide, the pilgrims bonded through their shared exploration of the places, people, and cultures they encountered along the route.<figure><img alt="W2J pilgrims ascend Tel Gezer." src="https://images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/c_fill,g_faces:center,h_537,w_822/736367"></figure>“Our stays in Christian monasteries, Arab villages, and Jewish quarters were all part of the landscape that outsiders rarely see or understand in the diverse embrace of this powerfully beautiful land,” Bernat says.“The Ethiopian restaurateur, the man selling flowers on the street, the market bustling as Shabbat approached – all the people living day to day in this region who want to live simply, peacefully, and in harmony,” she continues, describing her impressions.If ancient pilgrimages were about holy sites, religious ritual, forgiveness, and redemption, modern pilgrimages are about personal growth and connection with people and places, say W2J co-founders Yael Tarasiuk-Nevo and Golan Rice, both secular Jewish Israelis who formerly worked in El Al security.“It can be an inner spiritual experience or even a culinary or social experience. It’s different for each type of person. We give a platform for Jews, Christians, Muslims, or non-believers to experience what they want on their pilgrimage to Jerusalem,” Rice says.Tarasiuk-Nevo adds that meeting residents and hearing their stories is key. “Pilgrimage has always been a community journey, even in biblical times. People would journey with you, and others would host you. You’ll have good food, a warm shower, and a comfortable bed at the end of each day of your journey.”<h3>‘We went on faith’</h3>Bernat recalls that the military escalation with Iran earlier in April made getting to Israel complex and expensive. Yet the stress of those difficulties dissolved when they arrived at Jaffa Port.“It was quite profound to see where the [ancient] ships came in with pilgrims like us, making their way to Jerusalem. For a moment, we were voyageurs from centuries past, with the same desires and the same uncertainty of what we would encounter as we embarked on this journey,” Bernat says.“We walked in a calm week – a surprise to all who begged us not to go to a war zone,” she notes. “We went on faith.”Faith was the primary pull for W2J pilgrim Suju Ellen Chen, 55, of Taitung, Taiwan.“I am an Evangelical Christian. Over the past seven years, I have traveled to Israel three times. Twice, I came with church groups during the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot),” Chen says.“In 2023, I came for Shavuot and joined a gathering of intercessors from around the world who had gathered at the Southern Wall to pray for Israel,” she adds.After October 7, Chen yearned to gain a deeper understanding of the region’s modern history and reality but waited until the Gaza conflict simmered down.“Toward the end of 2025, I came across a post by a Taiwanese YouTuber called Israel Mega about W2J’s first international pilgrimage group. I signed up almost without hesitation.”For Chen, the first highlight of the itinerary was Rishon Lezion, where she learned about the influence of the Rothschild family, the origins of Israel’s flag and national anthem, and the stories of the early settlers scrambling for water and other essential resources.“Even before the establishment of the State of Israel, there were people who clearly knew who they were and understood that they were building a home in the Promised Land. This continuity of identity and its connection to the land deeply moved me,” she says.“Every place we visited along the way allowed me to experience Israel personally and to discover a country that is vibrant, resilient, remarkably diverse, and open-hearted,” Chen notes. “We often pray for Israel, but we do not necessarily truly know the people we call ‘our family in Israel.’”According to her, “This pilgrimage allowed me, for the first time, to hear their voices, share their spaces, and begin to see Israel not simply as a place we pray for, but as a people and a land we are called to know.”The shared multifaith encounters of the diverse pilgrims drew them close, Chen continues. “We were so different from one another, yet somehow, we were able to walk this road together without offending or excluding one another.”<h3>The power of modern pilgrimage</h3>This effect is exactly what W2J’s founders hoped to achieve.“In building W2J, we had our own pilgrimage journey,” Tarasiuk-Nevo reflects.In October 2021, Rice completed his first of three pilgrimages along the Camino de Santiago, a European network of walking and cycling routes frequented annually by half a million people for fitness, history, or personal growth. He started writing a book about his experiences.In July 2022, after his final Camino de Santiago trek, he met with his former El Al coworker at a café. Tarasiuk-Nevo, then managing social projects for the Bat Yam Municipality, agreed to help with his book.Their discussion turned to the power of modern pilgrimages.“Why did Golan [Rice], a nonreligious Jew, start to cry along the Camino de Santiago? We tried to understand what this was about,” Tarasiuk-Nevo recalls. “We realized it was the human encounters.”“We are not businesspeople or tourism executives, but we felt a mutual call to start a pilgrimage route to Jerusalem. We just came with a dream that W2J can make a real change,” she says.Funding the project out of pocket, they conducted research and started a closed Facebook group for Israelis to explain their idea and recruit trial participants.“At the beginning, we were aiming for Spanish-speaking people from Europe because they know the Camino de Santiago. But we knew that the local community had to be engaged in this,” explains Tarasiuk-Nevo.“In January 2023, we made the first pilot journey with Israelis,” says Rice. “We started with six people at Jaffa Port and ended with more than 50 at Jaffa Gate because each day more people joined us.”In September, they registered W2J to Jerusalem as a nonprofit association. “The only way this dream will last is if it’s not beholden to any agenda,” Tarasiuk-Nevo notes. “Israel has always been a place of conflict, and that’s our reality. This pilgrimage is above conflict and politics; it gives another point of view.”The first organized group, Pioneer Pilgrimage, took place in May 2025 and was led in Hebrew by a certified tour guide trained by W2J. The second one followed in October 2025. Itzik Albachari, an Israeli participant in the first Pioneer Pilgrimage, coordinates the Hebrew-language treks.<h3>Global Pioneers</h3>Bernat inspired the inaugural English-speaking Global Pioneers pilgrimage in April.She had completed the 500-mile Camino de Santiago across Spain for her 65th birthday and found it empowering, she says.“But in each town we were encouraged to go to Mass in the local churches. As a Conservative, fairly observant American Jew, I had wished there was something that had more of my Jewish history. I thought maybe there might be a Camino de Santiago in Israel. So I searched and came across The Way to Jerusalem. I wrote to [Tarasiuk-Nevo] and asked if it was possible to go on this journey.”With Bernat’s welcome persistence, the founders made it happen despite the linguistic, religious, and cultural differences among their international clientele.“Each pilgrim speaks a different language and eats different food,” Rice says. “Without W2J, they probably wouldn’t meet. Suddenly they’re walking together for seven days to the same places. Yet each translates that place individually. They are very excited by the stories in each place.”“We ask local people along the way to tell their stories. We don’t edit those stories,” Tarasiuk-Nevo adds. “If someone in Rishon Lezion wants to tell the story of Zionism and the first synagogue, if the shawarma vendor in the Ramla Market wishes to tell the story about his family there, we enable them to do so. We work hard to ensure that every encounter will be a good encounter.”When the Global Pioneer group arrived at Jaffa Gate, Rice says, “They were crying because the adventure culminated in one place called Jerusalem. This is a powerful way to bring people together and give them an opportunity to express their journey in any way they want.”Bernat comments that although she lived on a kibbutz for a summer, visited Israel several times with her family, and has children living in Tel Aviv, “I was not expecting to feel the immense heart-and-soul response that overcame me as we marched into Jerusalem with our awesome guide, Alon.”Chen adds, “As I have been reflecting on this journey, I have increasingly realized something very simple: I now have friends in Israel. Real relationships are beginning to grow between us.”<h3>Pilgrimage of light on Hanukkah</h3>Most of the W2J pilgrimages, which are not kosher or Sabbath-observant, are conducted in Hebrew and geared to locals.The next Global Pioneer trek in English is planned for December 5-12, paralleling the eight days of Hanukkah, the festival of lights.Dubbed the First Pilgrimage of Light, this journey from Jaffa Port will culminate in Jerusalem with a nighttime tour of hanukkiot illuminating the windows of the Old City.“A lot of Jews and non-Jews from abroad are excited about this, wanting to share and experience this together, the reality of this holiday in Israel,” Rice says.Details are available on W2J’s website, thewaytojerusalem.org/general-5, or write to mail@thewaytojerusalem.org<h3>W2J Global Pioneer: A travelogue</h3>Below are excerpts from Jody Bernat’s travelogue from her Global Pioneer pilgrimage this past year, April 30-May 5.<h4>Day 1</h4>Our pilgrimage began early this morning in Jaffa. The seven pilgrims and our guide, Alon, walked to Jaffa Port, where original pilgrims once arrived in the Holy Land by sea.Our journey took us through the busy streets of Tel Aviv and briefly through a sandy route to Rishon Lezion. We got our pilgrim credential stamped in several locations. Along the way, we saw a powerfully moving memorial tree garden for the victims of October 7.We visited the Museum of the History of Rishon Lezion, where the Israeli flag was first created, the national anthem was written, and the first all-Hebrew school was launched. We checked into the Raphael House Hotel and made our way to an authentic Ethiopian restaurant where we met up with the creators of the Way to Jerusalem, Yael and Golan.<h4>Day 2</h4>We walked to a synagogue where a cantor sang a prayer for us. It was so beautiful. His great-grandfather was the rabbi there. The lay leader was surprising: Yael’s husband, Gad. We walked on to Be’er Ya’acov and then into Ramle, where we visited an ancient water source, and we all paddled in the water.We came upon a man selling flowers. He offered us cold water and then allowed our guide to put a sticker on his store for the W2J. We walked through a local market that was bustling with people shopping for Shabbat.Day 3We left Ramle and made our way into the countryside. The path was rugged and the scenery beautiful. Golan and Yael organized a wonderful rest stop with drinks and snacks just before we climbed up to the Tel Gezer lookout. This site is where, thousands of years ago, civilizations built upon one another, including King Solomon’s.We are walking history. From here we headed to the Monastery of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows (the Trappist Abbey) in Latrun, where we were greeted by one of the monk-padres, attended Mass (chanted in French), and ate dinner in the courtyard. They made us a special dish that was created for the pope. The women slept in a spacious house next to the church bell – no sleep for me!<h4>Day 4</h4>We left the Trappist Monastery early and climbed up to an old cemetery with a nearby dome that had incredible acoustics. We sang a few songs there. We kept climbing hills for hours and stopped for a picnic hosted by Yael and Golan in the forest.The rest of the day was spent climbing up and up and up into Abu Ghosh, where we visited the Saxum Visitor Center, which depicts religious history.We climbed up some more to the Benedictine monastery. The monks cooked us a fabulous dinner – they are French and have the cuisine touch! Father Olivier came and talked with us about life, love, and being a monk.<h4>Day 5</h4>We attended early morning prayer at the 12th-century Benedictine monastery church. After a quick breakfast, we set off along beautiful pathways, climbing toward Jerusalem. We stopped for a picnic snack with W2J guide Miri and climbed up to an old ruin near Nataf. It’s believed to be perhaps an olive oil production ruin.We continued climbing up to Sataf – panoramic views of the Judean Hills. We had lunch at the amazing café before making our way down the steep ancient stone steps on the Israel National Trail, then began to ascend again to Ein Kerem.At the Franciscan monastery, Yael and Golan greeted us with a gift of limoncello liqueur made by the Benedictine monks. Dinner tonight was by the Italian Franciscan monks. Tomorrow we make our way into Jerusalem.<h4>Day 6</h4>The majority of the morning we walked up and up and then more up on a path toward Jerusalem. Construction blocked the path just before entering the city, causing us to maneuver over big rocks to a memorial for a Righteous among the Nations who saved many Jews when the Nazis marched in.[When] we arrived at the Jaffa Gate, Yael and Golan and a Tourism Ministry representative greeted us. They stamped our credentials, gave us our certificates, and then escorted us to a private tour in the Tower of David.We gathered for an emotional farewell, collected our belongings, and made our way through the market to the Western Wall. A powerful and amazing week of wonder. It was not an easy walk, but one that was worth the long miles and hours on the trail.The experience is profound. One hundred and eleven kilometers from Jaffa Port to Jaffa Gate. We did it!!!

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The way to Jerusalem: A modern-day pilgrimage in the land’s ‘diverse embrace’

The IDF began a wave of strikes in southern Lebanon on Sunday morning following the launch of two drones by Hezbollah terrorists towards troops operating within the security zone, the military announced.During the Hezbollah attack, IDF soldiers opened fire on the drones and downed one of them.No IDF injuries were reported.AdvertisementAhead of the strikes, IDF Arabic Spokesperson Lt. Col. Ella Waweya issued an evacuation order to residents of the southern Lebanese town of Arab Salim on X/Twitter.<figure><img alt="Explosion of infrastructure in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side. August 10, 2026." src="https://images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/c_fill,g_faces:center,h_537,w_822/733704"></figure><h3>IDF strikes Hezbollah facility</h3>"We urge all residents present in the building marked in red on the attached map and the adjacent buildings to evacuate immediately," she wrote. "You are located near a facility belonging to the terrorist organization Hezbollah, which the IDF will act against."Residents were urged to stay at least 300 meters away from the building marked on the map Waweya shared."Remaining in the area of the building marked in red puts you at risk."According to Lebanese media, the building served as a hospital, and at least two people were reportedly killed in the strikes.However, the IDF claims that the building it struck had previously served as a hospital but currently served as Hezbollah's headquarters in the town.

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IDF begins strikes in southern Lebanon following drone attack by Hezbollah

A surprise exercise titled “Dawn 2.0,” meant to test the readiness of the IDF general headquarters and main command centers, began on Sunday, the military announced.Under the direction of IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, the drill is meant to test the heat-of-the-moment readiness and abilities of the IDF to deal with large-scale attacks, as part of the country's preparations to strengthen defense ahead of the holiday period.As part of the exercise, surprise scenarios and multi-scene events will be practiced in all possible “theaters of war,” the military explained. Commanders from all units of the military were called up, forces mobilized, and the IDF's reserve capabilities are being assessed.AdvertisementAccording to the IDF, increased movement of military forces, including aircraft, will be noticeable throughout the country, though it affirmed there is no concern about a security incident.As part of the exercise, the IDF is practicing and assessing the implementation of operational plans, alongside lessons learned from fighting on various fronts and from the events of October 7.<figure><img alt="An Iranian cleric visits the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force Museum in Tehran, Iran, November 12, 2025 (credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA" src="https://images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/c_fill,g_faces:center,h_537,w_822/691078"></figure><h3>Iran reportedly rebuilding 'Axis of Resistance,' Israeli intel. suggests</h3>Operation Dawn 2.0 comes a day after&nbsp;WT reported that Israeli intelligence indicated that Iran is allegedly preparing for a broad, coordinated attack against Israel on several fronts simultaneously, in a scenario resembling a future October 7-style assault.According to the alleged assessments, Iran is seeking to combine its own forces with Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas, the Houthis in Yemen, and pro-Iranian militias in Iraq in a single campaign.Tehran is now allegedly seeking to address that gap precisely, according to recent reports from Arab media. The plan under consideration is intended to enable several fronts to operate against Israel at the same time, making a multi-front campaign part of the strategy from the outset.Signs have also emerged of an Iranian effort to rebuild the "Axis of Resistance" and renew coordination mechanisms between the various fronts.A report published last month said the IDF had identified renewed coordination between Hamas and Hezbollah with Iranian assistance, as part of an effort to increase pressure on Israel simultaneously from the North and South.In addition, according to a published IDF assessment, Hamas and Hezbollah had already begun coordinating an increase in their activities in recent weeks with Iranian assistance.Anna Barsky contributed to this report.

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Dawn 2.0: IDF chief launches exercise testing military readiness ahead of Oct. 7 anniversary

Two people were arrested in Shfaram&nbsp;on suspicion of stealing a shoulder-fired MATADOR missile stolen from the IDF during operations in northern Israel over the weekend, Israel Police announced on Sunday morning.&nbsp;Police said one of the suspects is an illegal resident.Police transferred both suspects to the Galilee Region police station for questioning and expect to bring them before the court to extend their detention.AdvertisementThe missile was seized during a targeted operational activity conducted by the Northern District police, the IDF's anti-terrorist unit, and officers of the military's northern command.&nbsp;Since the start of 2026, police have seized over 610 illegal weapons and arrested countless suspects in the fight against violent crime.<figure><img alt="MATADOR-style shoulder missile seized by Israel Police and IDF in northern Israel, September 6, 2026." src="https://images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/c_fill,g_faces:center,h_537,w_822/736591"></figure><h3>IDF reservist indicted over stolen IDF rifle, drug ring that supplied soldiers</h3>In early August, a reservist and a civilian were indicted over the theft and alleged trafficking of an M16 rifle taken from an IDF base in northern Israel.The investigation also uncovered a suspected network that allegedly sold cocaine and other drugs, including to soldiers inside military bases in northern Israel. An IDF major implicated in the drug investigation is expected to be indicted separately at a later date, according to a joint military and Israel Police statement at the time.The investigation began on June 20, after Military Police received a report that an M16 rifle had been stolen from a base in northern Israel.Investigators arrested a 30-year-old reservist noncommissioned officer from Tiberias later that evening on suspicion that he had stolen the rifle from a soldier serving in his unit.After investigators came to suspect that the weapon had been transferred to criminal elements, the Northern District Police’s central investigative unit opened a joint investigation with the northern unit of the Military Police.

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Two arrested over theft of shoulder-fired MATADOR missile from IDF during Galilee anti-crime op.

An unidentified suspect reportedly opened fire at a police unit in the Kiryat Hasharon area of Netanya on Saturday and was neutralized by officers at the scene, according to a statement from Israel Police.Following the shooting, additional Police forces were called to the area, and the circumstances of the incident are under investigation.At this stage, no injuries have been reported among police officers.AdvertisementPolice added that Central District Commander Deputy Commissioner Amir Cohen was currently making his way to the scene.According to police reports, it remains unclear what led the suspect, who is reportedly currently serving in the military, to open fire at police officers.<figure><img alt="Police and emergency forces at the scene where a man was shot dead after reportedly firing his weapon during an unclear shooting incident in Netanya, central Israel, September 5, 2026." src="https://images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/c_fill,g_faces:center,h_537,w_822/736557"></figure><h3>Herzliya shooting in residential building</h3>On Friday, a 21-year-old resident of Herzliya was arrested on suspicion of involvement in a shooting that occurred in the lobby of a residential building in the city center, according to a police statement.&nbsp;When police officers arrived at the scene, they discovered evidence in the lobby consistent with gunfire.Following their initial investigation, the suspect was located and taken into custody on Friday afternoon.During the arrest, authorities found a scooter without a license plate near the suspect's location, which they believe may have been used in the shooting.The suspect is currently being questioned and is expected to appear in court on Saturday evening for a hearing regarding the police's request to extend his detention.The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting is ongoing.

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Gunman opens fire on police in Netanya, shooter neutralized at scene

BANJA LUKA, Republika Srpska – A new representative office of the Israel Chamber of Commerce was inaugurated in Banja Luka on Thursday night, marking a significant expansion of economic ties between Israel and Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina.Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli attended the opening alongside outgoing non-resident Israeli Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Galit Peleg, Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, Zeljka Cvijanovic, who represents the Serb faction of the Bosnian presidency, and senior Republika Srpska officials. The move comes as Israel and the Serb-majority entity seek to turn increasingly close political relations into greater cooperation in trade, investment, and technology.Speaking exclusively to WT shortly before the ceremony, Dodik said Republika Srpska wanted to raise its relationship with Israel “to the highest possible level,” with the new office intended to provide a permanent point of contact between Israeli and local businesses.Advertisement“We maintain a high degree of understanding and support for Israel and, of course, for the Jewish people as a whole,” Dodik said. “We wholeheartedly want to raise those relations to the highest possible level.”The office, he said, would facilitate contacts not only in business, but also in culture, education, and other areas, creating “a new dynamic” between Israel and Republika Srpska.<figure><img alt="Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli attends the opening of the Israeli Chamber of Commerce in Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia &amp; Herzegovina, last Thursday, in the latest move to grow ties between Israel and the Serb political entity." src="https://images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/c_fill,g_faces:center,h_537,w_822/736559"></figure><h3>Israeli technology expertise to be shared alongside Republika Srpska's opportunities close to EU market</h3>Dodik said that Israeli technology and expertise could be particularly valuable to the region, while Republika Srpska could offer Israeli companies opportunities close to the European Union market.“We intend to organize expert groups that will come here and, based on Israel’s experience, propose to us how we can organize various sectors,” he told the Post. “We want people in Israel to understand that they are welcome here and that they will be protected here – not only personally, but their businesses as well.”He added that the chamber would seek to organize visits by business delegations in both directions.Dodik also revealed that the proposal to establish the office had come from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their meeting in Jerusalem earlier this year.“This was primarily [Netanyahu’s] idea,” Dodik said. “For Israel, perhaps it is a small step, but for us, it is one of the most important things that has happened to us in the last decade.”At Thursday night’s ceremony, Chikli said the office should serve as a practical mechanism for developing business rather than simply as another symbol of the close relationship.“This chamber must not be merely ceremonial – it must work,” Chikli said. “It must become a permanent address for Israeli companies looking for opportunities in Republika Srpska and in the wider region, and it must be a permanent address for companies here that want to enter the Israeli market, find Israeli partners, and gain access to Israeli technology and expertise.”“We are not opening another office; we are opening a door,” he added. “A door for investment, for innovation, for partnership – a door between our people.”Chikli called for Israeli business delegations to visit Banja Luka and for local business leaders to travel to Israel, saying he wanted companies from both sides to move beyond discussions and begin identifying projects and signing agreements.“Israel is determined to strengthen its relationship with its friends, with those who share our values and who are prepared to build the future together,” he said. “And we believe friendship should produce real results.”He described the Republika Srpska leadership as “true friends of Israel and the Jewish people,” saying the opening provided an opportunity to “turn our friendship into action.”Peleg, who is concluding her term as Israel’s non-resident ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, described the inauguration as a fitting conclusion to her posting and recalled the support Israel received in Republika Srpska following the October 7 massacre.Peleg said that, when the embassy sought to hold a commemoration for the victims in October 2024, it was unable to find a venue in Sarajevo willing to host the event. Republika Srpska officials instead offered a theater in East Sarajevo, where the commemoration was ultimately held.“From that moment, we knew that we could commemorate our loved ones and get all the respect,” Peleg said.She said the opening of the chamber was “not only a symbol of our relations,” but a practical step whose work was only beginning. She expressed hope that it would attract investors, entrepreneurs, and businesses from both sides.<h3>Herzog sends message welcoming inauguration</h3>Peleg also delivered a message from President Isaac Herzog, who welcomed the inauguration.“The opening of this office gives practical expression to the friendship that has grown steadily over many years,” Herzog said in the message. “It will provide a permanent platform for expanding cooperation, bringing business leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors together, and translating goodwill into mutually beneficial partnership.”Herzog highlighted advanced industry and manufacturing, agriculture, water management, and health as areas with potential for cooperation, adding that greater exchanges among entrepreneurs, researchers, students, and experts could further strengthen relations.The president said that the Banja Luka office could ultimately serve as a bridge extending beyond Republika Srpska, acting as a catalyst for strengthening Israeli ties with Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Balkans, and the wider region.

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Israel opens first Chamber of Commerce office in Republika Srpska, Bosnia

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee stated that Israel is not planning to force Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip on Saturday, while talking to reporters during a visit to the West Bank town of Turmus Aiya.“I can tell you categorically there is no plan of the Israelis to displace people out of Gaza against their will," he stated. "There is an open-mindedness (that) if people wish to leave, they should have the right to leave.”Huckabee added that “nobody is suggesting that there will be forced displacement. The Israelis are not. The Americans are certainly not. I know of no one who supports that."Advertisement<h3>Huckabee met with families of victims of extremist settler violence</h3>During his visit, Huckabee met the families of US citizens killed by violent settler extremists in attacks on Turmus Aiya.Settler violence in the West Bank has risen sharply in the past years.<figure><img alt="US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee meets residents of Turmus Aiya, a Palestinian town near Ramallah in the West Bank that is home to many American citizens, September 5, 2026." src="https://images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/c_fill,g_faces:center,h_537,w_822/736539"></figure>Several unauthorized settlements have been established around Turmus Aiya, the Palestinian town near Ramallah that Huckabee was visiting on Saturday. Its residents say that harassment by settler extremists is common and that they are unable to stop them from entering the town and damaging their homes."We have many issues that we will address," Nawwaf Zaghoul, the town's mayor, told reporters ahead of the meeting, describing what he said were constant attacks by violent extremists.He said that the town's residents would be asking the ambassador to help secure their safety and security. About 80% of the town's roughly 3,000 residents were Palestinian Americans, he said.<h3>Huckabee supports settlers, calls for extremists to be prosecuted</h3>Huckabee, a Baptist minister and longtime supporter of Israeli settlements, has called for violent settler extremists to be prosecuted, while saying he believes their actions represent a minority of the wider settler community, which numbers around 750,000."We are hoping that (the ambassador) will do something for us regarding these lawless settlers," Turmus Aiya resident Sameer Hazama said ahead of the meeting with the ambassador.Huckabee visited Taiba, one of the only Christian villages remaining in the West Bank, in June 2025 after a church there was vandalized. Huckabee said at the time that the desecration of a place of worship was an act of terror and a crime.Huckabee refers to the West Bank by its biblical name, Judea and Samaria, a term used by the government but not adopted by the US government. He has visited Shiloh, a settlement near Turmus Aiya, at least twice since 2025.

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Huckabee says Israel not planning to force Palestinians out of Gaza Strip during West Bank visit

Responding to an item in last week’s Grapevine about how difficult it is for senior citizens to navigate their way around Jerusalem with all the construction projects that are under way, reader Daniel Rosehill writes:“My wife and I are both in our late thirties – my wife is an architect, so she is much more qualified than I am to pass judgment on urban planning. Neither of us is old. Neither of us has mobility issues. We’re just two olim trying to make our way around the city with a 14-month-old in tow.“‘Kafkaesque’ gets a bit overused in Hebrew, but I think it’s the only word to describe what Jerusalem feels like these days. Anytime I’ve thought to go wandering around the north or south [of the city], including neighborhoods I used to live in, like Talpiot, I’m between aghast and saddened by what the city is becoming.Advertisement“What gets me is that all this light rail project and high-rise construction is being done seemingly at the same time and seemingly without any consideration for those living here. It’s the complete lack of concern from city officials.“How many Jerusalemites want or will have any remote chance of being able to afford to live in one of the endless high-rise towers being marketed enthusiastically to Diaspora communities?“But if you’re going to dig up our streets to make this strange vision for Jerusalem’s future reality, at least have the courtesy to let us know how to get our groceries.“Other issues: zero enforcement around noise abatement. Projects are delayed endlessly, and heavy excavation equipment begins running at 7 a.m. No permit regime, no way for those thinking about buying in a building or living next to one to know when the daily misery might end.“And regarding public transport – I’m delighted to see some of the light rail projects come to fruition, but every time I’ve tried to take one recently, we’ve been accosted by the marauding gangs of inspectors that the city either encourages or turns a blind eye to.“We’re investing in infrastructure as we should, but then doing everything in our power to make the process of using it as off-putting as possible.”<h3>Tourism in Jerusalem</h3>■ DESPITE THE number of tour buses seen around the city, and the groups of tourists who fill the main drags of the Mahaneh Yehuda market on Friday mornings, media reports state that tourism is a long way from recovery.Several airlines that had suspended services to Israel have returned – but not all. Having to take connecting flights is often a deterrent to potential tourists living in places where direct flights were the norm before Oct. 7During the High Holy Days, the Great Synagogue, which in previous years depended heavily on tourist attendance, has in recent years catered to a largely depleted congregation. It will be interesting to see how many tourists fill the Great Synagogue’s seats this coming Rosh Hashanah.&nbsp;Aside from being within a 15-minute walk of at least 10 hotels, ranging in price and amenities from budget to luxury, the Great Synagogue is a gem for people who are fond of choral services.Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services will be led this year by cantors Tzvi Weiss and Nissim Saal, accompanied by the Great Synagogue choir, conducted by Elli Jaffe. There are also some excellent soloists in the choir, who will add to the enjoyment of lovers of cantorial music.&nbsp;<h3>Slihot in the city</h3>■ BUT BEFORE that, there will be several slihot recitals around the city. Among the more atmospheric experiences is “Melodies and Slihot on the Ramparts” of the walls of the Old City, on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 8 and 9, plus a walking tour of the area.A somewhat different program, beginning at 8 p.m., will be held on September 8 at Hebrew Union College, where Shani Ben Or, Ofir Ben Shitrit, Shir Yifrat, Nitai Kalay, Amitai Mann, David Dagami, Dror Teboul, Einav Lahav, and Anastasia Sobolev will provide music. Doron Levin will produce the event, with Akiva Segal as artistic director.Also on September 8 and again on the 15th, singer-guitarist Ehud Banai and poet Yonadav Kaploun will read from the Zohar, the gateway to Kabbalistic literature, at Mishkenot Sha’ananim.<h3>Happy birthday, Rivlin!</h3>■ HAPPY BIRTHDAY to former president Reuven Rivlin, who will celebrate his 87th next week.Rivlin, who was born on September 9, prefers to mark the Hebrew calendar date of his birth, which is 25 Elul. Sometimes the two dates are as much as a month apart, but this year they fall within two days of each other.Rivlin is a multigenerational Jerusalemite whose forebears came from Lithuania in 1809 at the behest of the Vilna Gaon, who believed it was the year in which the Messiah would arrive.Rivlin, known for his well-developed sense of humor, would quip that his family members always went to bed with their shoes on so they could run to greet the Messiah when he came.The extended Rivlin family includes many distinguished figures, primarily in law, academia, and the entertainment industry. Family members are found all over Israel and around the world and now number in the thousands.Two major family reunions took place in Jerusalem in 1980 and 2009, with more than 3,000 participants.<h3>Crowded buses</h3>■ AS OF this week, buses will be much more crowded early in the day and in the afternoon, as thousands of youngsters make their way to and from school.During the vacation period, it was fairly easy to get a seat on the bus, but now it is a lot more difficult, as not all students are willing to give their seats to adults, though there has been a marked improvement.Some of the credit for this must go to American students studying at yeshivot and seminaries for girls, who are often among the first to sacrifice their comfort so that an older person can sit down.greerfc@gmail.com

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Grapevine: Kafka in Jerusalem

Former National Security Council chief Maj.-Gen. (res.) Giora Eiland warned that Israel is facing a difficult diplomatic situation, saying world leaders lack trust in the government and that its conduct is pushing countries away and could harm vital interests, during a Thursday interview with 103FM's Roni Bar-On and Aryeh Eldad.Eiland, a former head of the IDF Operations Directorate and former head of the Planning Directorate, said Israel’s diplomatic challenges stem partly from a lack of trust among world leaders toward the government.He argued that statements made by government officials, combined with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s silence on them, have shaped international perceptions of Israel’s policies.Advertisement"I agree that our diplomatic situation is problematic in almost every arena, including with the US," Eiland said. "A process of trying to align positions is needed here. One of Israel’s problems is that most world leaders simply do not believe the Israeli government on the one hand. On the other hand, they listen very clearly and loudly to what people like Smotrich and Ben-Gvir say. They assume Netanyahu’s silence reflects the true policy of the Israeli government, and there is a lot of criticism over this."Eiland also criticized what he described as Israel’s confrontational approach toward the international community, warning that the country’s conduct is pushing allies and other countries away.<figure><img alt="Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met this evening (Tuesday) in his office with the US Ambassador to Lebanon, Michelle Issa, and the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who are leading the talks between Israel and Lebanon." src="https://images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/c_fill,g_faces:center,h_537,w_822/736132"></figure>"I think this entire conduct is stupid, childish and dangerous," Eiland said, arguing that Israel should focus on dialogue and presenting its arguments rather than trying to prove it is right and others are wrong. "But when the approach is confrontational, condescending and forceful on every issue, the world moves away from us, and that is dangerous." He added that he agrees with former prime minister Naftali Bennett that Israel needs to "listen and conduct different dialogues."<h3>Eiland urges Israel to distinguish between core interests, compromises</h3>Eiland also addressed the need for Israel to prioritize its interests, arguing that the government should distinguish between issues that are vital and those where compromise is possible."Clearly there are interests, but even when it comes to interests, you have to prioritize your own," Eiland said. He pointed to Gaza and the West Bank as examples, saying Israel must remain firm on core security issues in Gaza, while addressing issues in Judea and Samaria that he said harm Israel’s international standing.Regarding the West Bank, Eiland criticized illegal activity by Jewish extremist settlers against Palestinians, which he said is documented by foreign reporters and perceived as the Israeli government "implicitly turning a blind eye," leading to international criticism."Instead of being in a position where you correct things in places that do not contradict your interests, you act in the opposite way, and as a result you erode vital interests that are the exact opposite of that," he explained.<h3>Israel can still influence global opinion through dialogue</h3>Eiland said Israel can still influence international opinion on disputed issues if it presents its arguments clearly and approaches discussions with a willingness to engage."You can convince many people, even on issues that seem far from the approach or interests of the other side, provided that you come with clean intentions and with genuinely security-based arguments," he said, adding that such efforts cannot be achieved "through slogans or wild attacks in the media."Eiland concluded that the international community expects Israel to communicate openly and acknowledge mistakes when necessary. "The main thing the world expects is that we speak honestly, that we do not lie, that we present the real arguments and that we sometimes admit mistakes and change things," he said.

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Former NSC chief Eiland warns Israel’s diplomatic approach is harming vital interests

It’s exhausting watching Gal Gadot sprinting for about 95% of the time during The Runner, her new movie directed by Kevin Macdonald, which just became available to stream on Prime Video from Amazon.The movie is just what the trailer promises: an action-packed thriller featuring Gadot as Maia, a lawyer and single mom in London, who gets a phone call from a man with a scary voice and learns that her son has been kidnapped as she goes for a run in the park before a big trial.The little boy, Noah (Rory Wilmot), is diabetic, and the caller (Damian Lewis, who played Brody on Homeland) says he has messed with her son’s insulin, and she can see for herself through an app on her phone that he has gone into a coma.AdvertisementThe menacing, all-knowing caller threatens to let her son die unless she goes to the hotel suite where her star witness is holed up, waiting to testify in a murder trial, and kills him.Without this witness’s testimony, the murderer will walk free, of course.<figure><img alt="OSHRI COHEN (right) in ‘Hearsay.’" src="https://images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/c_fill,g_faces:center,h_537,w_822/736423"></figure>Maia protests that she can’t kill anyone, and the scary voice says, “Oh, I think you can.”He tells her to run all the way across town to the hotel, and gives her an hour to do the deed.If any actress could convince us that she has a shot at outfoxing this guy, it’s Gadot, who has never looked more intimidatingly fit than she does here.Most of the movie shows her running across the city, bumping into people, narrowly avoiding cars, and giving us glimpses of postcard-perfect London.All the while, the caller keeps up a steady stream of malevolent chitchat as he strips her bare psychologically at her most vulnerable moments, the way mysterious movie villains tend to do.There’s a twist about her background that provides one of the movie’s two or three most predictable moments, which you will probably see coming from a mile off, but much of The Runner gets pretty wild.There are a few especially good action sequences, which are right up there with the car chase through Paris in The Bourne Identity.While Mark Gibson’s script throws in a cliché or two (or three), it’s fun if you watch it with the right mindset.Gadot radiates tension effectively and generally seems more relaxed than she has in any movie since Wonder Woman.The Runner may be enhanced if you see it as a metaphor for the impossible life of a single mother, who tries to please everyone as she races from one obligation to another. Most working mothers will identify with Maia as she becomes progressively more disheveled and desperate as the day goes on and the clock ticks down.Director Macdonald, who won an Oscar for his documentary about the Munich Olympic massacre, One Day in September, and who also made The Last King of Scotland, comes from British-movie royalty, as his grandfather was Emeric Pressburger, a Hungarian Jew who worked in the German and French film industries until he fled to England rather than Hollywood, as many of his contemporaries did.With his writing/directing partner Michael Powell, Pressburger made some of the greatest and most quintessentially British classics of all time, including The Red Shoes, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, and I Know Where I’m Going!Two of his films, One of Our Aircraft is Missing, a World War II military thriller, and A Matter of Life and Death, a World War II romance with supernatural elements, are available to stream in Israel on Apple TV+.Macdonald has always been proud of this legacy and made a documentary about his grandfather, The Making of an Englishman.Macdonald is also known for his music documentaries, such as Whitney, Marley, and One to One: John &amp; Yoko.Two Blondie songs feature prominently in The Runner, one of which, of course, is “Hanging on the Telephone.” Kevin, if you’re reading this, please make a documentary about Blondie and/or Debbie Harry.<h3>New psychological thriller: Hearsay on Hot 3</h3>A TERRIFIC new series, Hearsay, just started running on Thursday nights on Hot 3, and it is also available on Hot VOD and Next TV.It’s a dark, psychological thriller/crime drama, set in Jerusalem, about a troubled police detective who discovers that widespread sexual abuse of children is taking place in an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood.It’s disturbing but gripping, and it’s the best dark drama on Israeli television since Bad Boy.Oshri Cohen, who has always been engaging, has matured as an actor in recent years, and he plays Moshe, a detective who is transferred from youth crimes to a precinct in Geula, a promotion arranged by his father-in-law. But Moshe is not particularly happy about it.He is anxious now that his wife is pregnant with their first son, after having two daughters, and has been wetting the bed.Reluctantly, he begins therapy with a gruff psychologist, played memorably by Menashe Noy, who opens their first session with an old joke: An atheist puts up a mezuzah, and someone asks him why; he replies that he heard it brings good luck even if you don’t believe in it.Moshe does not believe that exploring his psyche will solve any problems, even as he begins having nightmares that intensify.The more he learns about multiple cases of child abuse that may be linked to a Christian pedophile ring, which are being covered up by the rabbinic authorities in the neighborhood who want to handle them on their own, the more he makes enemies and feels threatened wherever he goes.The series was created by Nimrod Eldar, who made an excellent movie a few years ago called The Day After I’m Gone.The cast includes Sasson Gabay as Moshe’s father, Shmil Ben Ari as his uncle, Aleeza Chanowitz as a child psychologist, and Seymor Daniel as his quirky office mate. I binged all the episodes I received from Hot, but if you watch them one episode at a time, the suspense will build slowly.<h3>Looking forward to what Hanoch Daum would say</h3>AFTER THE year we’ve had, I was looking forward to what Hanoch Daum would have to say in the new season of his often funny series Life is a Difficult Age, which features a fictionalized version of his schlubby self, a guy who never found an awkward situation he couldn’t make more awkward.While the promos looked good, the first episode, which premiered on Keshet on Tuesday (and is available online), was a disappointment.The first episode focused on how Daum and his wife, Efrat (played by Alma Zak of Eretz Nehederet), a computer programmer, created an app to help wounded IDF soldiers navigate the bureaucracy to receive all the benefits due to them.It makes sense that the characters would do just that, and the episode brings attention to the wounded soldiers and features many of them, spotlighting some of the issues surrounding their recovery.What this isn’t, of course, is funny, so Daum brings his trademark irreverent humor to the situation. Occasionally, he gets a genuine laugh, but much of it is repetitive, and some of it is truly cringe-inducing.Much is made of him buying basketballs in the rehab center gift shop and forging the autographs of famous basketball and soccer stars on them. It’s not a spoiler that he gets caught, or that one of the real players arrives to give him hell.Are Daum and the series running out of decent jokes and funny situations? We’ll know more next week, after an episode that features his daughter (Neta Roth, a scene-stealing actress).

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What to watch this week: Gal Gadot speeds through The Runner, Hearsay delivers gripping thriller