The Times of Israel - Weekly Highlights

from the blogs

Crush Hamas or free hostages? I choose the hostages

By Yossi Klein Halevi

If they are abandoned, too many Israelis will believe they died for political reasons – with dire consequences for the country

Shawn Zelig Aster

Preventing tomorrow’s hostages

As long as Hamas can attack, Israel must ask how it can prevent future hostage-taking, even if doing so would mean not freeing current hostages

Qanta A. Ahmed

Islamism’s assault on Israel is a crime against all of humanity

The vile murder of 6 Israeli hostages tells us who Hamas is – the heroic rescue of Bedouin captive Farhan al-Qadi tells us who Israel is

I feel them closer when I run

By Tzippy Levy

I want the freedom I take for granted when I run for those who are trapped in small dark places and may never run again

Hugh Taylor

This isn’t a war, really

For Hamas, it’s a publicity stunt, a large-scale suicide mission. And, it’s working out amazingly well for them

Adrian Daniels

Even if Bibi’s right, the country can’t trust him

Netanyahu’s most recent effort to divide the country with suspicion and keep himself in power ignores a cardinal rule of Israel: No soldiers left behind

The government fiddles while Israel burns

By Yehuda Halper

This ruling group of factional interests is too busy with political patronage and fighting the courts to put out the fires

Scott Kahn

Everyone deserves a vacation… right?

Thoughts on the Haredi men who were barbecuing, relaxing, and playing laser tag while hiding behind faux military tents in Yarmut Park

Jonathan Matkowsky

No refuge for Hamas supporters

A recent step by the US Justice Dept. is a warning to Qatar, Turkey and others that supporting a terror organization is against US law

Praying with the hostages at daybreak

By Shira Pasternak Be'eri

’Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who releases the imprisoned… May they all be returned speedily and in our day’

Top Ops

Pamela Peled

Cry, the once-beloved country

We always knew that no matter how we voted, Israel would bring her captives home. That was before this coalition of lunacy came to power

Shayna Abramson

The search for religious meaning and the danger of interpretations

To claim that we know, with 100% certainty, why God acted as He did on October 7 is an act of theological hubris