Free Republic

Israelis overwhelmingly view the war with Iran and the subsequent deal between Tehran and the United States in a negative light, with 92.1 percent of Israelis believing the Islamic Republic to have won, according to a survey published Sunday. The poll of 3,644 respondents, conducted between June 17 and 20 by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in collaboration with the Agam Institute, paints a stark picture of public sentiment following the US-Iran deal. The survey found that even among voters who support the right-wing bloc led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 93.1% believed Iran had won. Furthermore, 82.9% of respondents...

It would seem that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accomplished what his predecessors could only have dreamed of: U.S. and Israeli fighter jets flying tandem over Tehran, Israeli officers ensconced in U.S. Central Command’s Florida headquarters. Since the days of David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s leaders have sought backing from the world’s preeminent superpower, which they hoped would guarantee their state’s survival into perpetuity. None could have imagined the level of cooperation currently on display. If one were to wake up the Old Man, as Ben-Gurion was known, from his otherworldly slumber in the sands of Sde Boker, he would surely...

Mr. President. My name is Danny (Daniel) Zaken, and I am a proud Israeli citizen who has worked in journalism and covered developments in the region and around the world, including our country's relations with the great US, for many years. And from where I sit, near Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the people of Israel since the days of the kingdoms of David and Solomon, I say to you: You made a colossal mistake. You failed by signing a surrender agreement with a murderous and cruel terror regime. You severely harmed American interests and the democratic and human values...

[Translated from Hebrew by Twitter.] For every tear of an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers must weep. All of Lebanon must burn! With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not forfeit. All of Lebanon must burn. Our supreme duty is to protect the citizens of Israel and the soldiers of the IDF, and this commitment takes precedence over every other consideration. I told the Prime Minister, even in our private meetings: For every tear of an Israeli...

I'm pretty much a hawk on Iran and certainly don't trust them to hold their part of any deal. Putting that aside for a moment... Note, numbered paragraphs below are not meant to correspond to MOU numbering. 1 - Why do we even need a deal? If, for whatever reason, the US doesn't want to fight anymore, we can stop and leave without ceremony. Let them wonder if we'll hit them again. They know what prompted our attack. The US doesn't owe them a written apology. Iran misbehaved, we b*tch slapped them, so now -Bye! What's wrong with that? Worried...

Well, to be clear, it appears that many of the sanctions have already been lifted, as Iranian oil shipments are flowing out of the Strait of Hormuz. The blockade, it appears, is already over, even before the official signing we expect on Friday. The lifting of sanctions on oil-related exports appears to be point #10 in the leaked but unconfirmed Memorandum of Understanding. 🚨 The Iranian television is broadcasting from the Strait of Hormuz. and claims: At least 3 oil tankers carrying 5 million barrels of crude oil have passed through the Strait of Hormuz in recent hours. pic.twitter.com/13txRGNFEv— Raylan...

Dear friends and family, We’re now entering the fifth week of the war, and you’re probably asking how are we feeling. Is the early‑war euphoria still there? How is the sense of national resilience doing? It’s hard to describe, but the dominant feeling is fatigue. There’s a well‑known phrase among the Jewish people—Am Yisrael Chai, “The Nation of Israel Lives.” Lately, a meme has been circulating in social media: “The Nation of Israel Lives… but it is DYING for some sleep.” That pretty much captures the mood. Iran has been firing about 10–15 missiles a day for weeks. Typically, it’s...

Ukraine has received only about 600 advanced interceptor missiles for the MIM-104 Patriot air defense system during the entire course of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainian officials told The New York Times. Dmytro Lytvyn, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said Kyiv had received roughly that number of interceptor missiles over four years of war. Ukraine has repeatedly urged Western partners to provide additional Patriot systems and interceptor missiles as Russia continues to launch large-scale missile strikes targeting cities and critical infrastructure. The Patriot system remains among the few air defense platforms capable of reliably intercepting advanced ballistic missiles, including...

Summary U.S. hopes to ramp up pressure on Maduro government Covert operations expected to be first step, sources say U.S. options include overthrowing Maduro Human rights groups condemn U.S. strikes as illegal extrajudicial killings WASHINGTON, Nov 22 (Reuters) - The United States is poised to launch a new phase of Venezuela-related operations in the coming days, four U.S. officials told Reuters, as the Trump administration escalates pressure on President Nicolas Maduro's government. Reuters was not able to establish the exact timing or scope of the new operations, nor whether U.S. President Donald Trump had made a final decision to act....

It has become a tired adage, but nonetheless true. The world’s poorest countries will suffer the most from climate change despite being least responsible for it. Leaders in the Caribbean and from vulnerable island states around the world have been repeating this for years. And they have been asking the world’s rich countries, whose greenhouse gas emissions over generations have fueled warmer seas and bigger storms, to help them prepare. With Hurricane Melissa scouring Jamaica with vicious intensity before setting its sights on Cuba and the Bahamas, it is likely that many of the affected countries will once again be...

Hamas intends to maintain security control in Gaza during an interim period, a senior Hamas official told Reuters, adding he could not commit to the group disarming - positions that reflect the difficulties facing US plans to secure an end to the war. Hamas politburo member Mohammed Nazzal also said the group was ready for a ceasefire of up to five years to rebuild devastated Gaza, with guarantees for what happens afterwards depending on Palestinians being given "horizons and hope" for statehood. Speaking to Reuters in an interview from Doha, where Hamas politicians have long resided, Nazzal defended the group's...

Iran used to be a very sophisticated country...and then, in 1979, the Mullahs moved in. While Tehran is still a fairly modern city, the moment you step out of it, you enter the backwaters of what almost fifty years of Islamic extremism will do to a nation. Add in the Mullah’s genocidal goals for Israel, and the fact that they’ve been fomenting terrorism worldwide for their entire existence, and you have a country that badly needs a powerful intervention. Donald Trump began that intervention when, partnering with Israel, he completely destroyed Iran’s military. The Israelis wiped out Iran’s defensive abilities,...

UNITED NATIONS — Europe alone is not responsible for helping Ukraine bring an end to its war with Russia, EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas warned Thursday. That is particularly true when considering President Donald Trump’s pledge to halt the fighting, she said in an interview on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. “He was the one who promised to stop the killing,” Kallas said. “So it can’t be on us.” Her comments come as Ukraine and its allies try to divine the meaning of Trump’s sudden about-face on the war between Kyiv and Moscow. In a Truth Social post...

President Trump has made it among his highest priorities to restore peace anywhere and everywhere—including the war between Russia and Ukraine. At the UN Security Council I made clear: This war needs to end. If it does not, the President will take the steps necessary to impose costs for continued aggression.

A meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is being planned, with a broad agenda on the table, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in response to a related question, according to Report. "It is being planned; the agenda is extensive," he said. "The meeting itself is important."

US President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York after blasting world leaders during his speech. Speaking to reporters before the bilateral talks, Trump hailed Zelenskyy as a courageous leader. "He’s a brave man, and he’s putting up one hell of a fight," Trump said. "We have about 30 meetings scheduled today, but this is an important one -- and we have great respect for the fight that Ukraine is putting up. It is pretty amazing."

US President Donald Trump admitted Tuesday that his past relationship with Russia President Vladimir Putin failed to influence Russia's war in Ukraine. Speaking at a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron during the 80th UN General Assembly, Trump said he once believed his personal connection with the Russian leader could ease tensions but "unfortunately, that relationship didn't mean anything." He criticized Moscow for prolonging the conflict, noting that after more than three years of fighting, "thousands are being killed weekly with no progress." Trump also praised France's role in helping address other regional disputes, saying Macron’s support had been...

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he believes Ukraine, with the support of the European Union and NATO, can win back all of the territory Russia has taken since its invasion. -snip- In the post, Trump criticized Russia's prosecution of the war, saying it had been fighting "aimlessly" in a war that a "real military power" would have won in "less than a week." "Putin and Russia are in BIG Economic trouble, and this is the time for Ukraine to act," the post continues.

Europe is preparing to occupy the tiny nation of Moldova with the first group of Nato troops ready for a "landing" in Ukraine's Odessa, Russian news agency Sputnik reported on Tuesday, citing the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR). Moldovan authorities, meanwhile, have arrested 74 people in connection with an alleged Moscow-backed plot to stage a mass uprising in the former soviet European nation. Is Moldova becoming the latest flashpoint in Europe's battle with Russia? The raids come ahead of Moldova's September 28 elections, amid claims of rigging, Russian backing for a party, and Putin's alleged plot to "hijack the polls"....

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter NATO territory, shortly after nations in the Western military alliance condemned Moscow for violating Estonian airspace. "Yes I do," Trump told reporters when asked about whether he would support such moves. Trump made the comments to reporters before a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. More to follow...