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The Daily Edition

What Matters Most On Tuesday, May 20, 2025

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Leader of The Democrats party Yair Golan heads a faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, May 19, 2025. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)

Left-wing politician dropped from World Jewish Congress confab

Outrage as opposition party leader Golan says Israel ‘killing babies as a hobby’ in Gaza

By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff

Ex-general says Israel becoming ‘pariah state’; PM accuses him of ‘antisemitic blood libel’; IDF chief condemns comment casting doubt on soldiers’ morality; Lapid: ‘Gift to our enemies’

Leader of the Democrats party Yair Golan leads a faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on May 19, 2025. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)

ToI podcastDaily Briefing May 20: Day 592 – Fury as politician claims Israel kills Gazan babies ‘as a hobby’

By Amanda Borschel-Dan and David Horovitz

Pictures of hostages taken to Gaza on October 7, 2023, seen at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, May 19, 2025. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

Live updates (closed)

May 20: Defense officials said to refuse to draw up a partial list of hostages if limited deal reached

Source says Netanyahu mischaracterizing talks: We’re not just waiting for Hamas to say ‘yes’ * Hostage Families Forum accuses government of having ‘no real plan to return the last hostage’

8:40 pm

Source denies PM's characterization of current status of talks: Not just waiting for Hamas to say 'yes'
8:28 pm

British maritime agency says Panama-flagged tanker 'hijacked' off coast of Iran
8:18 pm

Trump announces plans for 'Golden Dome' missile defense system, says it will be ready by end of term

Left to right: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on May 19, 2025. (Miriam Alster/Flash90); Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a visit in Kingston upon Hull, England, March 13, 2025. (Oli Scarff/Pool via AP); France's President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris on May 7, 2025. (Michel Euler/Pool/AFP); Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks during a rally in Toronto, on April 4, 2025. (Peter Power/AFP)

Netanyahu: London, Paris and Ottawa 'offering prize to terror'

UK, France, Canada warn of ‘concrete actions’ if Israel doesn’t halt war, boost aid

By Nava Freiberg, AFP and ToI Staff

Statement calls on Hamas to release hostages, threatens sanctions over West Bank settlement expansion; 22 countries sign separate statement urging full resumption of aid

Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid seen on the Israeli side of the border of the Gaza Strip, before entering the territory, May 19, 2025. (Flash90)

Five trucks of humanitarian aid enter Gaza, says Israel, ending two-month blockade

By Emanuel Fabian, Nurit Yohanan, Agencies and Jacob Magid

Trucks with loaded with humanitarian aid seen before entering the Gaza Strip, on the Israeli side of the border with Gaza, May 19, 2025. (Flash90)

Countries demand aid reach Gazans promptly after Netanyahu announces resumption

By Agencies and ToI Staff

Promoted OfferCafe Be'ivrit

Learning Hebrew is the best way to connect with Israel

Take a free intro lesson to learn how our unique method will help you achieve fluency. Our services are available anywhere in the world, and they’re tailored to fit your schedule.

IDF soldier killed in Strip; Hamas-linked agency raises day’s Gazan death toll to 91

By Emanuel Fabian, ToI Staff and AFP

Army says Sgt. Yosef Yehuda Chirak, 22, was killed by friendly fire in northern Gaza; UN says aid from few trucks that entered Gaza not distributed due to security concerns

Sgt. Yosef Yehuda Chirak (IDF)

US President Donald Trump speaks during a Kennedy Center Board dinner in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 19, 2025. (Jim WATSON / AFP)

US says it wants Gaza war to end, but denies threatening Israel if it doesn’t comply

By Jacob Magid and ToI Staff

US, Palestinian officials quash speculation that aid to Gaza stemmed from US deal with Hamas; Huckabee says report that Trump will ‘abandon’ Israel if war continues is ‘nonsense’

Vice President JD Vance talks to reporters on board of the Air Force Two at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, in Rome, on May 19, 2025, after attending the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. (Jacquelyn Martin / POOL / AFP)

Vance says logistics scotched Israel trip, after report said it was differences over Gaza op

By Jacob Magid and Stav Levaton

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani speaks at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha on May 20, 2025. (Karim JAAFAR / AFP)

Qatar PM says ‘fundamental differences’ between sides have stalled Doha ceasefire talks

By Agencies and ToI Staff

Netanyahu reportedly keeping delegation in Doha to show US that Israel is serious about hostage deal discussions, though team may go home Tuesday; Boehler: We’re ‘closer than we ever were’

Activists hold a sign reading, 'Qatargate, corruption, treason, recusal now,' in protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, outside the Tel Aviv District Court where his criminal trial is taking place, March 24, 2025. (Tomer Neuberg/ Flash90)

QatargateAlleged pro-Qatar influence campaign by PM’s aides continued after Oct. 7 – report

By Jeremy Sharon and ToI Staff

Haviva Ner-David

God of war and peace: A soldier’s mikveh prayer

He marked the shift from reservist to civilian at the Hannaton mikveh, saying: ’May these waters cleanse my thoughts from background noise and bring peace’

Why Israel is primed to make trillions in applied AI

The technology is a perfect fit for a country that blends AI expertise and engineering experience to turn problems into solutions

IDF troops operate in northern Gaza, in a handout photo issued on May 17, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)

Reservists being called up despite recognized mental wounds, including PTSD — report

Haaretz identifies 2 reservists with trauma diagnoses who died by suicide after being called up; report blasts ‘Kafkaesque’ lack of coordination between Defense Ministry and IDF

Lenny Solomon (singing) performs with Shlock Rock at the Young Israel of Oceanside synagogue in 2018 (Courtesy)

In ‘King of Shlock’ documentary, an Orthodox rocker tries to parody like it’s 1999

Short film takes intimate look at the four-decade career of Lenny Solomon, whose niche cover act Shlock Rock became an iconic staple for religious American Jews in the 80s and 90s

Israeli director’s movie at Cannes shines light on lives of migrant domestic workers

By AFP and ToI Staff

Egyptian director skewers President Sissi in political thriller at Cannes festival

By AFP

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a memorial in Tehran, Iran, May 20, 2025 for late president Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash last year. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

Iran’s Khamenei says nuclear talks with US unlikely to ‘lead to any outcome’

By Ramin Khanizadeh

Ayatollah says American negotiators should ‘refrain from speaking nonsense’ after Witkoff says Tehran will not be allowed to enrich uranium

Defense Minister Israel Katz seen in the Knesset in Jerusalem, on March 26, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Two Israelis suspected of collecting intel for Iran near defense minister’s home

By Stav Levaton and Charlie Summers

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at a press conference in Tehran, Iran, December 30, 2024. (AP/Vahid Salemi)

Araghchi reveals Iran’s relief that Israel wasn’t behind Raisi’s helicopter crash

David Michaels, director of UN and Intercommunal Affairs at B'nai B'rith International, meets Pope Leo XIV at a special audience for religious leaders in the Vatican on May 19, 2025. (Courtesy)

Meeting Jewish leaders, Pope Leo acknowledges challenges, reaffirms dialogue

By Rossella Tercatin

‘Because of the Jewish roots of Christianity, all Christians have a special relationship with Judaism,’ the pope says, addressing religious leaders at the Vatican

Interview

Jessica Steinberg

Andrey Kozlov drew in Hamas captivity. Now he’s painting his story

Kozlov was rescued by the IDF in June 2024; he hopes to exhibit his artwork in New York and Israel

Freed hostage Andrey Kozlov poses in New York in May 2025 with the artwork he created over the last few months, after his rescue from Hamas captivity in June 2024 (Courtesy)

Yael (right) and Adi Alexander, parents of freed Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, in Tel Aviv, May 19, 2025. (AP/Maya Alleruzzo)

Comforted by American foods, family and friends, Edan Alexander begins long recovery

By AP

Matan Zangauker was taken captive by Hamas terrorists to Gaza, on October 7, 2023. (Courtesy)

Matan Zangauker’s mother says troops found note written by son in Gaza tunnel

A Delta flight takes off at Ben Gurion International Airport, outside of Tel Aviv, October 25, 2021. (Yossi Aloni/FLASH90)

Delta Airlines resumes flights to Israel, Lufthansa extends suspension

By Sharon Wrobel

US carrier says it has conducted an ‘extensive security assessment’ while German group cites ‘current situation’ as reason for not returning on May 25 as planned

Irish budget airline Ryanair Chief executive Michael O'Leary holds a press conference in Lisbon on February 5, 2025. (PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP)

Ryanair says it’s sick of Tel Aviv disruptions, may take off for other destinations

By Reuters and ToI Staff

(L) Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman at the Knesset on May 16, 2022 and (R) Israel's Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef in Jerusalem on September 22, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

Liberman files police complaint against ex-chief rabbi for encouraging draft dodging

Yisrael Beytenu party head accuses former Sephardic chief rabbi Yitzhak Yosef and other leading rabbis of violating the law by urging yeshiva students to ignore enlistment orders

(Clockwise from top left): The Democrats chief Yair Golan, Yesh Atid chief and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, Blue and White chief Benny Gantz and Yisrael Beytenu chief Avigdor Liberman hold a joint press conference at the Knesset in Jerusalem, November 6, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Liberman urges opposition parties to draft own version of Haredi enlistment bill

Likud MK Amit Halevi attends a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting in Jerusalem on July 18, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Likud MK booted from Knesset panel after voting against extending reservist call-ups

MK Amit Halevi becomes second lawmaker from ruling party to be removed from key committee as dissent within coalition mounts amid strain on reservists 19 months into war

Likud MK Moshe Saada leads a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting at the Knesset on May 19, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Likud MK revives bill handing justice minister control over probes into cops, prosecutors

By Charlie Summers

Student seen at the Hebrew University campus in Jerusalem, May 28, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Bill allowing gender segregation in graduate courses passes 1st Knesset vote

Mohsen Mahdawi, center, holds a photo of Mahmoud Khalil while posing for a photo with demonstrators outside the gates of Columbia University after graduating, Monday, May 19, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Jake Offenhartz)

Freed from ICE custody, Palestinian activist graduates from Columbia to cheers

By Jake Offenhartz

Mahdawi Mahdawi joins post-commencement ceremony vigil outside university’s gates, raising photograph of his classmate Mahmoud Khalil, who remains in federal custody

Pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel protesters gather at Harvard University to show their support for Palestinians in Gaza at a rally in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on October 14, 2023. (Joseph Prezioso / AFP)

US terminates $60 million in Harvard grants, saying it failed to address antisemitism

By Reuters and ToI Staff

Ms. Rachel, the hit children's video educator and singer-songwriter, in a clip from one of her videos. (Screenshot via YouTube/ JTA)

Social media star educator Ms. Rachel draws ire over appeals for Gazan children

By AFP and ToI Staff

More Headlines

Argentina's President Javier Milei waves as he arrives for his speech at the Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 23, 2025. (AP Photo/ Markus Schreiber)

Argentine President Milei to visit Israel in June, with focus on ties and hostages

By Nava Freiberg and ToI Staff

Banking supervisor Daniel Hahiashvili speaks at a press conference in Tel Aviv on May 19, 2025. (Sharon Wrobel/Times of Israel)

Israeli regulator calls for more competition as large banks cash in on hefty loan fees

By Sharon Wrobel

A photo of the antisemitic fliers distributed in Squirrel Hill. (Corey O'Connor/X via JTA)

Antisemitic fliers thrown from car in Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh

By Grace Gilson

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, left, and Economy Minister Nir Barkat, right, ink an agreement to build business ties between New York and Israel, in New York City, May 19, 2025. (Luke Tress/ Times of Israel)

New York City mayor announces business council to build economic ties with Israel

Jerusalemite Akiva Cohen harasses and threatens an Arab family picnicking on Jordan River, in video captured May 3, 2025. (Screenshot via X, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

Jerusalemite indicted for racist attack on Arab family picnicking by Jordan River

By Charlie Summers

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, left, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands after a press statement at the Carmelite Monastery in the Buda Castle in Budapest, Hungary, April 3, 2025. (AP/Denes Erdos)

Hungarian parliament ratifies decision to leave International Criminal Court

By AFP

Rabbi Charley Baginsky, Paul Langsford, Dr. Ed Kessler MBE, Karen Newman and Rabbi Josh Levy announce the formation of Progressive Judaism, in a photo provided by the new organization, May 18, 2025. (Zoe Norfolk)

UK’s liberal Jewish streams merge into unified ‘Progressive’ movement

Charles Kushner, nominee for US Ambassador to France, looks on as US President Donald Trump meets with US ambassadors in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 25, 2025. (Mandel NGAN / AFP)

Trump’s in-law Charles Kushner confirmed as US ambassador to France

By AP

Illustrative: A man rolls and sells cigarettes on a street in Khan Younis, on the southern Gaza Strip on August 15, 2024. (Bashar TALEB / AFP)

3 Israelis indicted for smuggling drugs and cigarettes into Gaza via drones

By Charlie Summers and AFP

Leader of the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians party George Simion speaks to supporters after first exit polls were announced, in the second round of the presidential election in Bucharest, Romania, on May 18, 2025. (Mihai Barbu / AFP)

Politician whose party called Holocaust ‘minor topic’ loses Romania presidential bid

By Grace Gilson

Scene of a deadly shooting at Jaffa Port on May 19, 2025. (Israel Police)

Man shot dead in Jaffa Port in suspected crime feud

Rep. Kathy Manning, a North Carolina Democrat, speaks during a press conference with other House Democrats on June 27, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Samuel Corum / Getty Images via AFP)

Kathy Manning to lead Democratic Majority for Israel board of directors

By Grace Gilson

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