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The Daily Edition

What Matters Most On Wednesday, April 2, 2025

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Defense Minister Israel Katz (left) and IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen, Tamir Yadai (right) in the Mount Hermon area in southern Syria, March 11, 2025. (Emanuel Fabian/Times of Israel)

Katz says offensive aimed at seizing ‘extensive territory,’ as IDF pounds south Gaza

By Emanuel Fabian and Agencies

Hostage families slams expanded operation, says government ‘sacrificing the hostages’ for ‘territorial gains;’ IDF hits Hamas command center housed in UNRWA clinic, killing at least 8

Screenshot of a social media video showing armed members of the Abu Samra family taking an alleged Hamas member by the arm, who they later executed for killing a a member of their family, Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, April 1, 2025. (Screenshot from X, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

Gazan clan executes alleged Hamas operative who killed one of their relatives

By Jacob Magid and ToI Staff

From left: Jonatan Urich, Eli Feldstein, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Composite: Flash90)

Jerusalem Post editor named as journalist questioned in case

PM aides allegedly took money to promote Qatar as hostage mediator, at Egypt’s expense

By Jeremy Sharon, Charlie Summers and ToI Staff

Urich also suspected of sending Qatar-funded messages to Israeli media claiming they were from a source in Netanyahu’s office; court extends his and Feldstein’s remand

Gil Birger (via Facebook)

Gil Birger revealed as businessman suspected in Qatargate case involving PM’s aides

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with his lawyer Amit Hadad (R) at a hearing in his corruption trial at the Tel Aviv District Court, March 31, 2025 (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

Cops fear obstruction of justice in Qatargate probe as key suspect and PM share lawyer

By Jeremy Sharon, Charlie Summers and ToI Staff

Op-ed: Day 544 of the war

Netanyahu’s aides fronting for Qatar? Sadly, more plausible than the PM’s ‘deep state’ defense

The allegation that the PM’s aides have been working for a country that would not be unhappy to see Israel destroyed is almost too horrendous to contemplate. Except that the PM, rather than urging an expedited probe, is doing his utmost to discredit the investigators

Lawyer Amit Hadad speaks to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the courtroom of Tel Aviv District Court, March 31, 2025. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

pesach yad ezra

Promoted CampaignYad Ezra v'Shulamit

We have 62,241 requests for Passover food assistance

Yad Ezra v’Shulamit needs to feed 328,000 people in Israel for Passover. To help them all, we’ll send 62,241 baskets full of food and grocery vouchers for the holiday.

(R-L) Ofer Golan, Likud campaign manager, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, digital adviser Topaz Luk, and Likud spokesman Jonatan Urich at the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem on March 20, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Live updates (closed)

April 2: Qatari lobbyist reportedly used WhatsApp group to coordinate with Netanyahu aides

Shin Bet rejects PM’s claim that Ronen Bar was a guest at Qatar World Cup in 2022 * Premier reportedly twice asked spy agency to act against political opponents Gantz and Bennett

8:59 pm

Netanyahus board plane to depart for Hungary; PM refrains from giving press statement
8:58 pm

Shin Bet rejects Netanyahu accusation that Ronen Bar was guest at Qatar World Cup
8:38 pm

PM aides Urich, Feldstein to remain behind bars overnight, as police will ask judge to extend remand tomorrow

US President Donald Trump listens to a question from a reporter before signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on March 31, 2025. (Pool via AP)

Trump said considering Iranian offer of indirect nuclear talks; advisers still split

White House hasn’t ruled out Omani mediation, though it prefers direct talks; meanwhile, US building up forces to establish deterrence, option to strike Iran if diplomacy fails

This satellite photo from Planet Labs PBC shows six B-2 stealth bombers parked at Camp Thunder Cove in Diego Garcia on April 2, 2025 (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

More B-2 stealth bombers seen at US base in striking distance of Iran, Yemen

By AP and ToI Staff

Staff from the Western Wall Heritage Foundation remove notes and messages from the Western Wall ahead of the Jewish holiday of Passover on April 2, 2025. (Western Wall Heritage Foundation)

Taking notes

Western Wall cleared of thousands of visitors’ pleas ahead of Passover

By Rossella Tercatin

According to the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, notes include messages sent through its website by people from enemy countries, such as Iran and Yemen

L to R: Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, February 13, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90); Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the District Court in Tel Aviv, before the start of his testimony in the trial against him, March 12, 2025. (Tomer Appelbaum/POOL); Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar at the National Police Academy in Beit Shemesh, on July 14, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

PM appoints Shin Bet deputy as interim chief, even as Bar’s firing remains frozen

By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff

Netanyahu’s office says he is continuing to interview candidates for the role, insists dismissed incumbent will be out of office by April 10

Released hostage Eliya Cohen speaks to Channel 12 in the first interview he has given since his release from Hamas captivity in February, on April 1, 2025. (Screen capture, Channel 12)

Ex-hostage Eliya Cohen: Terrorists killed captive who tried to flee before we entered Gaza

In interview, Cohen describes attack on ‘bunker of death’ from which he was abducted, says captors intentionally starved hostages: ‘You find yourself begging — and they enjoy it’

Amit Soussana (C), attorney and Israeli hostage survivor of the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, is honored by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) and First Lady Melania Trump (L) during the International Women of Courage Awards Ceremony at the State Department in Washington, DC, on April 1, 2025. (Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)

Ex-hostage Amit Soussana receives US’s International Woman of Courage Award

Former hostage Amit Soussana, left, holds her hands over her heart while being applauded after speaking during the International Women of Courage awards ceremony, next to Henriette Da, of Burkina Faso, Georgiana Pascu, of Romania, Major Velena Iga, of Papua New Guinea, and first lady Melania Trump, at the award ceremony, Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at the State Department in Washington. S (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

ToI podcastDaily Briefing Apr. 2: Day 544 – Ex-hostages speak their minds about IDF in Gaza

By Jessica Steinberg and Jacob Magid

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir (left) visits Jerusalem's Temple Mount, April 2, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Ben Gvir again ascends, prays on Temple Mount; Haredi MK slams visit as ‘desecration’

By Sam Sokol and Agencies

National security minister’s visit to flashpoint site immediately after Ramadan’s conclusion stirs ‘unnecessary incitement in Muslim world,’ charges UTJ’s Gafni

Dozens of settlers attack homes in West Bank village; 3 Palestinians reportedly hurt

By Emanuel Fabian and Jeremy Sharon

IDF says troops dispersed ‘violent confrontation’ in Duma after group of Israelis torched property, assaulted residents; defense sources say 5 suspects were briefly held but escaped

Palestinians react as Israeli settlers break into the West Bank village of Duma, where they set several houses on fire, on April 1, 2025. (Screenshot: X, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

Israeli soldiers walking next to buildings destroyed by Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, near the Israeli-Gaza border, in southern Israel, November 21, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Kibbutz Nir Oz and state agree on $95 million budget to rebuild devastated community

Plan, expected to be approved by members’ assembly in coming days, will include building of new neighborhood for first returnees to the community worst-hit on Oct. 7

Avinatan Or: Beacon of light in a dark tunnel

In the fictitious country, Badulina, everyone chooses to be a victim or a king. My student may be in captivity, but he has always been a king. We await his return

Amnon Beeri-Sulitzeanu

Arabs say they want partnership. What about the Jews?

Zionist opposition parties must stop seeing Arab leadership only as a partner of convenience during a temporary crisis

In this April 5, 2018, file photo, people walk through the Princeton University campus in Princeton, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Trump administration freezes dozens of Princeton grants amid antisemitism probe

By Agencies and ToI Staff

Ivy League school vows to ‘cooperate with the government in combating’ Jew hatred while ‘vigorously defending academic freedom and the due process rights of this university’

The Supreme Court in Washington, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

US Supreme Court hears case on whether American terror victims can sue PA and PLO

By AFP

People take part in an anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian rally in Berlin, May 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Citing post-Holocaust doctrine, Germany seeks to deport pro-Palestinian protesters

By JTA and ToI Staff

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (left) meets with Secretary General Mathias Cormann in Jerusalem, April 2, 2025. (Shlomi Amsalem/GPO)

OECD sees Israel economy grow above global average in 2025, warns of high cost of living

By Sharon Wrobel

Israel needs to address infrastructure gaps, improve educational outcomes and labor‑market participation among ultra‑Orthodox and Arabs, organization says

The Eshkol power plant, Israel's largest natural gas powered plant, near the port of Ashdod. (Courtesy)

OECD urges higher carbon tax, especially on natural gas, to boost move to renewables

For illustration: A farmer harvests wheat in the Hula Valley, northern Israel, May 17, 2023. (Ayal Margolin/Flash90)

Israel nixes all US import tariffs, day before Trump set to levy duties on trade allies

By Sharon Wrobel

Jewish musician Mikey Pauker. (Courtesy)

Exclusive

US spiritual hot springs retreat discriminated against Jewish musician, lawsuit says

California case aims to expand Title II civil rights protections for Jews, building on case filed by professional gamer earlier this year

'The Last Dekrepitzer' by National Jewish Book Award winner Howard Langer. (Courtesy/ Barbara Jaffe)

Interview

Fiddling with writing, lawyer pens award-winning book about busking rabbi in NYC

By Cathryn J. Prince

Winning the National Jewish Book Award for his debut novel ‘The Last Dekrepitzer’ at age 74, banjo-playing law prof Howard Langer says it’s not always about writing what you know

Israeli artist Benzi Brofman poses with his mural 'The Process' at the Contemporary Antisemitism London 2025 conference in the city’s JW3 Jewish cultural center, held from March 29 to April 1, 2025. (Lakruwan Rajapaksha

Global academics converge in London ‘safe space’ to dissect post-Oct. 7 antisemitism

By Lianne Kolirin

Four-day conference this week sees scholars, artists and activists from India to Finland come together to share findings about widespread shunning amid Gaza war

More Headlines

Naftali Bennett attends a commemoration ceremony for a slain Israeli soldier at Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, December 25, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/ Flash90)

Former PM Naftali Bennett registers new political party ahead of 2026 elections

A flipped Audi pictured at the scene of a deadly collision in south Brooklyn on March 29, 2025 (X screenshot, used in accordance with clause 27a of the copyright law)

‘Stop super speeders’ bill gains new interest after NY crash kills Jewish mom, 2 kids

By Jackie Hajdenberg

Religious Zionism MK Simcha Rothman leads a vote during a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting at the Knesset, on March 26, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

In April 1 ‘gag,’ judicial overhaul architect proposes ‘memorial day for democracy’

An artist's rendition of the new First Station District plan for Jerusalem (Eden - Jerusalem Economic Development Company)

Jerusalem municipality begins work on massive First Station expansion

Left: US President Donald Trump at Trump National Doral Miami, January 27, 2025. (Mandel Ngan/AFP); Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League joint extraordinary leaders summit in Riyadh, November 11, 2024. (SPA / AFP)

Trump upbeat after speaking to Egypt leader Sissi on Gaza, Yemen

By AFP and ToI Staff

Donald Trump and Randy Fine pose together in 2024. (Courtesy Randy Fine)

Randy Fine wins Florida race, bringing tally of Jewish Republicans in Congress to 4

By JTA and ToI Staff

Hundreds of employees wait in line wrapped around the outside of the Health and Human Services headquarters building, in Washington, April 1, 2025. (Amanda Seitz/AP)

Trump begins mass layoffs at FDA, CDC, other US health agencies

By Leah Douglas, Marisa Taylor and Julie Steenhuysen

In this image provided by Senate Television, Sen, Cory Booker, Democrat-New Jersey speaks on the Senate floor, April 1, 2025. (Senate Television via AP)

In Biblical call against Trump, Cory Booker proclaims, ‘Hineni’ — I am here

By JTA and ToI Staff

US President Donald Trump listens to a question from a reporter before signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, March 31, 2025. (Pool via AP)

Trump preparing executive order to ease rules on weapons exports, sources say

A sticker reading 'Heil Elon' that was placed on a Tesla car owned by a Jewish man in Chicago. (Facebook via JTA)

Chicago Jewish man finds swastika protest against Elon Musk on his Tesla

By Grace Gilson

Police officers stand behind a cordoned off area after a stabbing near Dam Square in central Amsterdam, March 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Delong)

Amsterdam stabbing suspect acted with ‘terrorist intent,’ Dutch authorities say

By AFP

Val Kilmer poses for a portrait, in Nashville, Tennessee, January 9, 2014. (Mark Humphrey/AP)

Val Kilmer, ‘Top Gun’ and Batman star with an intense approach, dies at 65

By Mark Kennedy and ANDREW DALTON

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