Please find in the column of Jewish Life and Israel, the section, News from Israel, which is written by our Israeli based correspondent, Carolyne Davis
When I first started this website, I gave an undertaking not to get political. This became less and less possible after October 7th. I believe today is a date which should be remembered as much as October 7th. for I believe that yesterday we saw that Hamas are ready to carry on their activities against Israel, which means that the arrival at the White House of Donald Trump could be very significant.
The dilemma fa cing Bibi and the Insraeli Government is this. Do they carry on the Ceasefire into Phase 2, so that another 33 or more hostages will be released, or do they restart the fighting?
Every Hamas/Palestinian prisoner released is a potential soldier for Hamas. Hamas have already proclaimed that they would repeat October 7th. Why would Israel settle for that despite the situation of those remaining Hostages?
However in Donald Trump there is a very strong personality and who has previously shown sympathy for Israel. I believe, he, and he alone can bring enough pressure to bare on the Palestinians - Gaza and West Bank, and their supporters to create the atmosphere for a proper ceasefire with guarantees from Hamas that they will not try to repeat October 7th or something similar.
If not there will be more tragedy for Israel and continuing war, which Israel does not want.
Currently I believe that only Trump could reach out to Russia, Turkey and through them to Iran to come to some sort of peace accord. If he can do that, he would also have the right relationship with Israel to create the right circumstances.
Let us pray that happens,