For the first time in a quarter century, Jews will be permitted to enter Kever Yosef in Shechem during daylight hours, following an announcement made Monday by Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz.
Under the updated arrangement, visitors will be allowed to remain inside the compound until 8:00 a.m., replacing the long-standing requirement to exit by 4:00 a.m. The extended window will also make it possible to hold Shacharis at the site. Officials said that the possibility of allowing Jews to stay for even longer periods during the day will be reviewed at a later stage.
Until now, all Jewish access to Kever Yosef has been restricted to nighttime visits only, and solely under the coordination and protection of Israeli security forces.
The move represents a major shift from policy in place since 2000, when the Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva was evacuated from the compound. Since that time, no organized Jewish visits during daylight hours had been permitted.
The Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva welcomed the announcement, issuing a statement that read: “We praise the Defense Minister’s decision, which is correct from a moral, historical, and security standpoint. It is time that Jews be allowed to stay at Kever Yosef in daylight, proudly, and not [only] as thieves in the night. This is the first step towards the full return of Jews to Shechem and to the kever of Yosef Hatzaddik.”
The statement continued with a broader message of hope tied to the weekly Torah reading: “This past Shabbos, we read in the Torah about the reunion between Yosef Hatzaddik and his brothers, and we hope that soon, the entire nation of Israel will be able to reunite, with Kever Yosef under full and permanent Jewish control.”
{Matzav.com}
Israeli intelligence officials say a strategic analysis prepared by Hamas’ intelligence apparatus played a central role in the terror group’s decision-making ahead of the October 7, 2023 massacre, influencing the thinking of its now-deceased leaders, Yahya Sinwar and Mohammad Deif.
The document, which was recovered by Israeli forces during combat operations in the Gaza Strip amid the war, was written less than a month before the attack. It was later released in full by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center.
According to the assessment, Hamas believed Israel had no intention of overthrowing the group’s rule in Gaza. The authors argued that Israeli policy had evolved over time, moving away from decisive military outcomes toward what they described as conflict containment.
The paper stated that “Israel relied for years on a strategy of preemptive strikes, but the strengthening of Hamas and Hezbollah caused it to shift to a pattern of short rounds of limited-intensity fighting.”
The analysis pointed to Israel’s experience in Operation Cast Lead in 2008–2009, asserting that Israel failed to achieve its central aim of dismantling Hamas’ control of Gaza. As a result, the document claimed, Israel adopted imprecise war aims in later confrontations, prioritizing deterrence and conflict management over outright victory and regime change.
The authors also examined the events of Operation Guardian of the Walls in 2021, concluding that Hamas scored what they termed a psychological success by tying the fighting in Gaza to tensions in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria, while also stirring unrest among Arab citizens of Israel.
In addition, the assessment argued that Israel “failed to implement the ‘war between wars’ policy,” and maintained that the prospect of a multi-front conflict represents the most severe test of Israeli military capacity. For that reason, the document asserted, Israel prefers to avoid simultaneous wars and instead engage adversaries in separate theaters.
Building on these conclusions, the paper asserted that “Israel has not abandoned the idea of a preemptive strike, especially following the failure in Operation Guardian of the Walls, but it is not in a position to build a new deterrence equation. Therefore, it focuses on conflict management, risk management, and neutralizing threats. Thus, the recommendation to Hamas leadership is to prepare for a new opening strike that will trigger a new round of fighting, but also to lead an ‘unexpected’ confrontation that will break the recurring pattern and put Israeli leadership in a state of uncertainty.”
Israeli officials say the document was formally presented to the leadership of Hamas’ military wing. Roughly a month later, the terror group launched the October 7 assault, with investigators assessing that the conclusions and recommendations outlined in the paper were among the factors that shaped the decision to carry out the attack.
{Matzav.com}
Two chareidi women in their 20s from central Israel were arrested Sunday at Prague’s international airport on suspicion of attempting to smuggle a large quantity of khat, according to a report by mako.
During a search conducted by customs officials and local police, authorities discovered 96 kilograms of khat hidden in the women’s luggage — 48 kilograms in each suitcase. The seized shipment is estimated to be worth tens of thousands of euros. Following the discovery, the two were taken into custody and transferred to a local detention facility in Czech Republic for questioning.
Preliminary findings indicate that the women were not acting independently. Investigators suspect they were recruited as couriers in an organized smuggling operation. According to the probe, the pair allegedly acted on behalf of an Israeli khat dealer known to police and were tasked with delivering the shipment to local distributors in the Czech Republic.
Law enforcement officials noted that khat smuggled into Prague is typically intended for buyers within African immigrant communities, where the plant is considered highly sought after.
Family members of the detainees, expressing deep concern over their situation, have reached out to Israel’s Foreign Ministry for assistance. The Department for Israelis Abroad said the case is known and is being handled by the Israeli consulate in Prague, which is in contact with local authorities to monitor the women’s condition and provide assistance within the limits of its authority.
Earlier reports recalled a similar case from 136 days ago, when two 19-year-old Israeli men from chareidi families were arrested in Germany at the French border after allegedly attempting to smuggle 50 kilograms of khat in a rented vehicle. One of those detained was Nechemia Epstein, the brother of social media activist Yedidia Epstein. The two were released today, one day before Yedidia’s wedding.
After their release, the two issued a warning to others who may be tempted to engage in khat smuggling. “This was a mistake. We call on everyone not to be tempted to smuggle khat. It is dangerous and can end in a long prison sentence,” they said.
Members of the Jewish community in Germany have also voiced alarm over the phenomenon, warning of severe consequences and damage to the community’s reputation. “From time to time, young chareidi men are arrested with suitcases full of khat, and the punishment can be very harsh. Many times, chareidi youths end up spending very long periods in European prisons,” community representatives said.
{Matzav.com}
