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In-Depth Issues:
Houthi Missile Launched from Yemen Crashes near Israel's Main Airport
( France 24)
A missile launched from Yemen struck near Israel's main international airport on Sunday, authorities said, an attack that briefly halted air traffic and triggered threats of retaliation. The IDF said it had attempted to intercept the missile. Yemen's Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile launched at Israel's Ben Gurion airport on Sunday, the group's military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a televised statement.
Trump: Fewer than 24 Hostages Remain Alive
( JNS)
"Two months ago, we were pretty sure" U.S.-Israeli Hamas captive Edan was alive. But Hamas "toughened up" things, said the President. "Out of 59, you had 24 that were living, and now I understand that it's not even that number," Trump commented.
The president spoke during a National Day of Prayer event at the White House attended by the parents of U.S.-Israeli Hamas captive Edan Alexander. "Edan is the last known living American hostage," Trump said. "We don't know how he's doing, really. We think we know, and hopefully positive," he added. "Two months ago, we were pretty sure. It looked like he was getting out. But they've [Hamas] toughened up a little bit. And it's a terrible thing."
Suspected Iranian Arms Ship Makes Northbound Transit through the Suez Canal
( Maritime Executive)
A sanctioned Iranian cargo vessel, which in the past is believed to have been involved with shipping arms to Syria, has just completed a northerly passage up the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
The Iranian-owned cargo vessel, Elyana, is listed by name and is subject to secondary sanctions by the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). It is linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), which is sanctioned as an entity. In June 2024, the Elyana unloaded cargo in Latakia, in Syria, which had been taken on in Bandar Abbas. While closely aligned with the doomed Assad regime in Syria, the IRGC are known to have used Latakia as a hub for their arms imports destined for Hezbollah and the Syrian regime unloaded cargo in Latakia, in Syria, which had been taken on in Bandar Abbas. While closely aligned with the doomed Assad regime in Syria, the IRGC are known to have used Latakia as a hub for their arms imports destined for Hizbullah and the Syrian regime.
Israeli Air Force Delivers Humanitarian Aid to Druze in Syria via Helicopter
( Jerusalem Post)
An IAF transport helicopter delivered an "exceptional" amount of humanitarian aid to members of the Druze community in Syria's Suwayda District in the southern area of the country in an overnight operation between Friday night and Saturday morning. The district in southern Syria is reportedly 70 kilometers from the Israeli border.
The aid mission was conducted in collaboration with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. The aid included 1,500 food boxes for families living in extreme poverty, according to the IFCJ.
Hours earlier, five Syrian-Druze civilians were evacuated for medical treatment in Israel and were sent to Ziv Medical Center in Safed after sustaining wounds in Syria.
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News Resources - North America and Europe:
- Israel Calls Up Thousands of Reservists, Plans to Expand Gaza Offensive amid Stalled Hostage Talks
- Dana Karni and Mohammed Tawfeeq
Israel's military will mobilize thousands of reservists in the coming days, it said Saturday, in what appears to be an expansion of its offensive in Gaza as talks aimed at securing a ceasefire languish.
The call-up follows reports that the Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir on Friday presented a plan to intensify pressure on Hamas to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz. Netanyahu's Security Cabinet was expected to approve the plan Sunday. (CNN)
- Four Iranians among Five Men Arrested in Counter-Terror Op in Police Sweep
- Jordana Seal
Five men have been arrested by counter-terror police on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack. Four of the detained men are Iranian nationals living in several different parts of England. The nationality of the fifth man is still being established. Officers have been in contact with the potential target, which has not been identified. (Daily Mail - UK)
- U.S. Targets Iran with Fresh Sanctions Ahead of Next Nuclear Talks
- Daphne Psaledakis
The United States imposed sanctions on entities it accused of being involved in the illicit trade of Iranian petroleum and petrochemicals ahead of a new round of U.S.-Iran negotiations as Washington seeks to ramp up pressure on Tehran.
The U.S. State Department said in a statement it was imposing sanctions on seven entities based in the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Iran that it accused of trading Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products. Two vessels were also targeted.
The action is the latest move targeting Tehran since Trump restored his "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran, which includes efforts to drive its oil exports to zero and help prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. (Reuters)
See also
Oman Says Iran-U.S. Nuclear Talks Postponed - Dmytro Hubenko
Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi posted on X (Twitter) on May 1:
"For logistical reasons, we are rescheduling the U.S.-Iran meeting provisionally planned for Saturday, May 3rd," he wrote, adding that new dates will be announced when mutually agreed upon. (Deutsche Welle)
News Resources - Israel, the Mideast, and Asia:
- Israel Strikes near Syrian Presidential Palace in 'Message' to President Sharaa
Israel bombed an area near the presidential palace in Damascus early on Friday in its clearest signal yet of hostility toward the Syrian authorities and a preparedness to ramp up military action in the name of Syria's Druze minority.
Israel's military said it struck an area "adjacent" to Sharaa's palace in Damascus. A Syrian official told Reuters the target was about 100 meters (330 feet) east of the palace's perimeter.
The strike was "a clear message to the Syrian regime: We will not allow (Syrian) forces to deploy south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement. (Gulf Today)
See also
Spiritual Leader Thanks Netanyahu for Protecting Druze, Sending Message to Syria
The spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel, Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday that he was grateful for Israel's actions in support of the Druze community in Syria. The actions were said by Sheikh Tarif to be a deterrent message to the new Syrian regime on Israel's commitment to keeping the Druze community safe. (Jerusalem Post)
- Several Airlines Cancel Flights to Ben-Gurion Airport for 24 Hours
Following the Houthi missile crash at Ben-Gurion Airport due to the failure of Israel's defense systems, several airlines canceled their flights to Israel for 24 hours on Sunday.
Germany's Lufthansa Group announced flight cancellations, including by its subsidiaries Swiss, Brussels Airlines, and others. In addition, American carriers United and Delta -- both of which had only recently resumed flights to Israel -- have also canceled their flights, along with France's Transavia and its Air France, Air Canada, Japan's Nippon Airways, Spain's Air Europa, and British Airways. (Jerusalem Post)
Global Commentary and Think-Tank Analysis (Best of U.S., UK, and Israel):
- Then & Now: Hamas Six Months after the Death of Yahya Sinwar
- Riley Callanan
Yahya Sinwar's death marked a turning point for Hamas, and the leadership role fell to his brother, Mohammed Sinwar, the chief planner behind Gaza's tunnel infrastructure and Hamas's former head of logistics and manpower. Six months into his leadership, the question looms: Where does the group stand today?
Mohammed Sinwar assumed control of the group at a time of growing weakness. The wider regional response his brother had counted on never materialized. Iran is increasingly focused on domestic stability, and Hizbullah is now badly weakened. Israel continues to receive robust military support from the United States.
Now: Eighteen months into Israel's ground campaign in Gaza, Hamas is militarily diminished, organizationally disjointed, and politically weak. "Hamas is less cohesive than it probably has been at any point in the last decade," says Jonathan Panikoff, director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council. "There seem to be major shortages in their military arsenal." Their only remaining leverage, he notes, is the 59 hostages still believed to be held in Gaza.
Public frustration has begun to boil over. As the humanitarian crisis deepens, protests have erupted inside Gaza. Panikoff cautions against overstating the momentum behind the movement: "At the end of the day, it's still Hamas that has the guns and the weapons. Even with protests, it's hard to imagine the people of Gaza being able to mount a meaningful uprising....After a year and a half of fighting, weapons and ammunition are running low. Resupply from Iran is going to be harder than before."
An end of the conflict in Gaza hinges on Hamas relinquishing its arms and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, something that Panikoff says "will probably never be realistic." (Gzero)
- Why Iran Will Not Come to a Deal Quickly
- Lawrence J. Haas
As President Trump explores a nuclear deal with Iran, he would be wise to recognize that Tehran probably comes to the negotiating table less because it fears Washington than because it smells opportunity. That is, the talks could pave the way for Tehran to free itself from the threat of "snap-back" global sanctions this fall while strengthening the regime at home at a time of rising public discontent.
Under Resolution 2231, the UN Secretary Council has only until October to decide whether to impose "snap-back" sanctions against Iran for violating the 2015 deal. And while any party to that agreement -- the five permanent Security Council members plus Germany -- can trigger the snap-back mechanism, America's withdrawal from the deal raises the question of whether it retains the power to do so.
With those dynamics in mind, U.S. negotiators should set a firm deadline of no more than a few weeks to strike a deal that truly serves U.S. interests -- lest they let Iranian negotiators drag out the talks, enabling Tehran to advance its nuclear program further while freeing itself from the threat of economic retaliation. (National Interest)
- Disarming Hizbullah: A Middle East Fantasy?
- Col. (ret.) Dr. Jacques Neriah
Despite international pressure, including from the United States, for quicker disarmament of Hizbullah, the Lebanese government emphasizes preserving civil peace and addressing the issue through dialogue. On the other hand, a fair assessment would be that Hizbullah will not voluntarily lay down its weapons, as it is an extension of Iran's long-term plans for the region and is more beholden to Tehran than to the interests of the Lebanese people.
Given Hizbullah's (and Iran's) firm stance against laying down weapons, the Lebanese government's emphasis on dialogue and national consensus, and the complex regional dynamics, the prospects for Hizbullah's disarmament in the near future seem to be close to null. Aoun will do his utmost to evade a clash with Hizbullah and will accept compromises that seem unacceptable today. (Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs)
- Why Does Antisemitism Persist? Because the World Wants It To
- Clive Gillinson
Why has antisemitism endured among people of vastly different religions, races and ideologies, often adapting to fit each era's prevailing prejudices?
This is one of history's greatest ironies: without antisemitism, Judaism might well not have survived at all. Societies without external threats often see their cultures and traditions fade over time, whereas persecution fosters resilience. The more Jews have been targeted, the stronger their communal identity has become. Without antisemitism, it is quite possible that Jews would no longer exist as an entity. Instead, hatred has kept Jewish identity alive, only compounding the fury of antisemites.
This may be the true nature of antisemitism: it may well not be primarily about the Jews, but about the need for an eternal scapegoat. Maybe antisemitism survives because societies continually need "another" to blame. And Jews, in their stubborn refusal to disappear, have remained the ideal target. The author lives in New York. (Washington Post)
- I Am a Non-Jewish Soldier and I Stand Full Square with Israel
- Colonel Michael Scott
In September 2025, I returned to Israel as part of a senior international delegation. I entered Gaza alongside the IDF. What I witnessed, reaffirmed everything I knew. The IDF is the most educated, ethical, and lawful military force in world history -- operating under scrutiny in a diabolically complex environment. They face not only terrorists with rifles, but terrorists with press and "health ministry" passes -- armed with cameras instead of guns, but every bit as committed to the cause of destruction. To Jewish readers: be proud of your sons and daughters. The author is the founder and chief executive of The 2023 Foundation. (Jewish News - UK)
- Denounced, Cursed, and Ghosted: What Harvard's Antisemitism Report Found
- Maya Sulkin
Harvard University released its long-overdue report on campus antisemitism exactly 10 days after Trump officials demanded to see it. The findings are disturbing.
Nearly 60 percent of Jewish students at Harvard said they had experienced "discrimination, stereotyping, or negative bias on campus due to [their] views on current events," according to the 311-page report. The report said that 73 percent of Jewish students expressed discomfort sharing their political opinions, while 75 percent believed there was an "academic or professional penalty" for expressing their views at Harvard.
The antisemitism report was based on what Harvard described as 50 "listening sessions" with a total of about 500 students, faculty, and staff, as well as 2,295 responses to an online survey, including 477 students, faculty, and staff who identified themselves as Jewish.
Rabbi David Wolpe, who spent a year as a visiting professor at Harvard Divinity School, said that the antisemitism report details numerous "procedural fixes, but I'm not sure that it is possible to bring greater ideological harmony. I'm not sure that there's anything that the report could have done to do [achieve] that." (The Free Press)
See also
Harvard Is Spraying Perfume on a Sewer - David Wolpe (The Free Press)
- Arab Journalists Urge Hamas To Relinquish Power In Gaza, Release The Hostages
In the recent weeks, many articles in the Arab press have been harshly critical of Hamas for clinging to power in Gaza and refusing to surrender its weapons and thereby preventing a deal to release the hostages and effect a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Arguing that Hamas, which initiated the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, is responsible for the devastating consequences in the Gaza Strip and for the suffering of the Gaza residents, the writers called on this movement to acknowledge its defeat, relinquish power, remove its leaders from the Gaza Strip and release all the hostages that remain in its hands so as to advance the Egyptian-Arab plan to rebuild Gaza and save its people. The articles also accused Hamas of failing to further the interests of the Palestinians and of instead serving the extremist ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood and the agenda of Iran. In fact, they claimed that Hamas's conduct only harms the Palestinian cause and sets it back decades, and therefore that this movement must not be part of Gaza's political future. (MEMRI)
Observations:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio Details Iranian Nuclear Requirements
( U.S. State Department) - If Iran wants a peaceful civil nuclear program, meaning they want nuclear power plants like other countries in the world have, there's a way to do it. And that is you build the reactors and you import enriched uranium to fuel those reactors. That's how dozens of countries around the world do it.
- The only countries in the world that enrich uranium are the ones that have nuclear weapons. Iran is claiming they don't want a weapon, but they would be -- what they're basically asking is to be the only non-weapon country in the world that's enriching uranium.
- And the level at which they enrich it is really not relevant per se because, really, if you have the ability to enrich at 3.67 percent, it only takes a few weeks to get to 20 percent and then 60 percent and then the 80 and 90 percent that you need for a weapon.
- And so that really is the path forward here. Iran simply needs to say we've agreed to no longer enrich, we're going to have reactors because we want nuclear energy, and we're going to import enriched uranium. This is an opportunity for them if they take it. This is the best opportunity they're going to have. President Trump is a president of peace. He doesn't want a war. He doesn't want conflict. None of us do. And there's a path forward here. But what cannot happen is to live in a world where Iran has a nuclear weapon....
- If you really want to prevent a nuclear program, okay, and you're not building a nuclear weapon, then you should open all your facilities. One of the failures of the Obama nuclear deal with Iran is that you could not inspect military sites. Well, if you're making nuclear weapons, you would probably make them on a military site. And by the way, it's been known and discovered that in the past Iran has had a secret nuclear program that it did not disclose to the world.
- [Iran would] have to walk away from sponsoring terrorists, they have to walk away from helping the Houthis, they have to walk away from building long-range missiles that have no purpose to exist other than having nuclear weapons, and they have to walk away from enrichment.
- These are not unreasonable requests.
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