Israel's High Court has temporarily blocked Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar's firing. The Netanyahu government may defy the court by boycotting Bar—one of Israel's most prominent security officials.

The govt's bid to subvert institutions doesn't stop with the court. It's just as much about the Shin Bet.

Trump's AI Gaza promo is a shocking thing for a president to post, and the vision it depicts flies in the face of liberal-democratic norms. But we must take into account the understandable reasons why many will find it compelling.

My latest in @forward.bsky.social: forward.com/opinion/6998...

During a military assessment, head of IDF Military Intelligence (Aman) warned of possible security risks from Trump's Gaza plan. Defense Minister Katz ordered that he be reprimanded.

Israeli security suffers when politics take precedence over professionalism. www.timesofisrael.com/katz-orders-...

Trump's dramatic vision for Gaza more than delivered on Netanyahu's hope of undermining the Gaza ceasefire negotiations. Painfully, those talks are still the only real way to save the living hostages still held by Hamas.

My latest for @forward.bsky.social:
forward.com/opinion/6947...

Very good piece by @alexlederman.bsky.social . The real immediate danger of Trump’s ludicrous Gaza proposal is not that it will ever be implemented (it won’t). It’s that it undermines the ceasefire and hostage deal. forward.com/opinion/6947...

While attention has largely been elsewhere since Oct 7, the West Bank continues to face major upheaval. Events there could significantly impact Israeli and regional security and the Israeli Palestinian arena.

Recent events in the West Bank:

WSJ reports that Hamas has agreed to allow Israeli troops to stay in Gaza temporarily as a ceasefire is implemented and hostages are released. Hamas is a terror group whose intentions can't be taken at face value. But if this report is true, it presents a test for Netanyahu. →

@alexlederman.bsky.social provides an overview of U.S. military aid to Israel, including a breakdown of its components, its history, the role of various government bodies, and restrictions.

Read the explainer here: israelpolicyforum.org/security-ass...

Suddenly, it seems, there is renewed optimism around a hostage deal. Recent developments have put additional pressure on Hamas and Israel to reach an agreement. But success is far from certain, and both sides still have plenty of reasons to stick to their intransigence. 🧵

Over 400 days since Oct. 7—and with 101 Israeli hostages still held in Gaza—the Israeli-Palestinian arena and Israeli politics are facing increasing upheaval. Our team is shedding light on complex policy issues and news developments impacting Israel’s future as secure, Jewish, and democratic. 🧵👇