The last time I sat in a café in Jerusalem, the conversation at the next table turned, as it always does, to politics. Within ten minutes, three people had produced four opinions, two of which were mutually contradictory and one of which was delivered with such ferocity that the waiter took a step back. Then they paid the bill, kissed each other on both cheeks and left together, still arguing. That, for me, is Israel: a country where nobody agrees about anything, and where everybody cares enormously about everything. Which is precisely why Andrew Fox and I are taking The Brink there for two live shows next month. The timing could hardly be more dramatic. On 27 October, Israelis go to the polls for the first time since October 7, 2023. It is, by common consent, the most consequential election in a generation. Will Benjamin Netanyahu finally fall? Can Gadi Eisenkot cobble together a coalition? Or will the country head straight back to the ballot box, as so many analysts expect? By the time we arrive, the votes will have been counted, the coalition horse-trading will be in full swing and the country will be wrestling with what comes next. We will be right there in the middle of it. On Sunday, 1 November, we will be at the Begin Center in Jerusalem, the institution dedicated to the legacy of one of Israel’s most remarkable prime ministers, for a special collaboration with @havivrettiggur and his podcast Ask Haviv Anything. The following evening, Monday, 2 November, we head to Tel Aviv and the Enav Cultural Centre on Ibn Gabirol Street, where our special guest will be @jconricus, the former IDF spokesman... New post, free to read. Link in first reply

Jonathan Conricus has had the job of explaining Israel’s military operations to the world. We want to ask him what that experience taught him about how the world listens. What do you do when an interviewer’s question rests on an assumption you think is wrong? Jonathan joins Jake Wallis Simons and me for The Brink live in Tel Aviv on 2 November. The evening before, 1 November, we’re in Jerusalem with Haviv Rettig Gur. Come along to hear us take that conversation further. You can book here: thebrinkpodcast.co.uk

Across Europe, an unholy alliance of Islamists and radical Leftists is wreaking havoc in the streets, with Palestinian flags always waving as far as the eye can see at march after march. Europe’s response? Attack Israel as a “genocidal apartheid state.” Despite Europe’s moral cowardice, Jonathan Conricus says Israel is only getting stronger.

Three years after October 7, Israel is still fighting on multiple fronts — Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, the Houthis, and the West Bank. On today’s FDD Morning Brief, @JSchanzer sits down with Lt. Col. (Ret.) @jconricus to assess the state of the war. xitter.cf/i/broadcasts/1AGRnZrOp…

Claiming the IDF can’t be trusted? Hamas itself confirms the findings of The Press Files Hamza Abu Salmiya was presented to the world by the IFJ as a journalist. In The Press Files, the IDF revealed that he was also a Hamas operative, publishing a document recovered in Gaza that showed his military affiliation. Some tried to cast doubt on the evidence: “The documents came from the IDF. They can’t be trusted״ But a few days ago, Hamas’ military wing provided the evidence itself: a mourning poster for Abu Salmiya, along with photos and videos showing him in uniform. Don’t believe us? Don’t need to. Hamas confirmed it themselves. See the evidence for yourself: idf.il/en/mini-sites/the-pre…

Over 75 senior retired 🇺🇸U.S. generals, admirals, and military lawyers have signed a new open letter rejecting claims that Israel committed genocide in Gaza. The signatories include those who have commanded U.S. armed forces in combat, applying the laws of armed conflict. Their conclusion: based on the facts and applicable legal standard, the conduct of Israel’s war against Hamas does not constitute genocide. As the letter states, “Civilian deaths occurring during combat, however tragic, are insufficient, by themselves, to support a finding of genocidal intent.” The standards used to judge military conduct matter precisely because war is tragic and imperfect. “The precedent established today regarding Israel will shape the conditions under which American forces fight tomorrow. Protecting civilians and preserving the ability of our nation to defend itself requires us to defend the truth when the laws of war are being distorted to make false charges of genocide.” This is not an argument for minimizing the suffering of civilians. It is an argument for applying the law faithfully and maintaining the distinctions that matter: between the tragic consequences of war, violations of the laws of armed conflict, and the specific crime of genocide. Read the full open letter here: jinsa.org/open-letter-from-m…

There is something particularly repellent about choosing the anniversary of a massacre to suggest that the victims were actually killed by their own side. Yet this is the allegation being pushed by Zeteo’s Mehdi Hasan, in a new video about the so-called “Hannibal Directive” (which was abolished in 2016). He wants to know “how many people were killed not by Hamas, but by Israeli forces”, and, like a true conspiracy theorist, accuses the media of taking “a vow of silence” on the subject. What a repulsive little move on the anniversary of the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. (Even the UN has failed to support it!) Of course, Hasan does not completely deny that Hamas carried out the attack. He’s too clever for that. But the insinuation that many viewers will take from this piece of nudge-nudge propaganda could hardly be clearer: if the story we were told about October 7 was false, what else are the Jews lying about? As with all the best conspiracy theories – though Hasan, of course, pulls a slight-of-hand in pretending that he’s just doing brave journalism – there is just enough truth buried in the narrative to make it effective propaganda. So let’s look at the evidence... New post. Link in first reply

WATCH: Security expert Lt. Col. (Res.) Jonathan Conricus reflects on the world’s response to what has transpired since the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre | SPECIAL BRIEFING from StandWithUs — OCTOBER 7, THREE YEARS ON @michaeldickson @jconricus For the full show: bit.ly/3VAdNCT

"Abdullah Darwish was never called a journalist by the CPJ," said @mehdirhasan on @piersmorgan - He was listed by CPJ, forced to be removed. - He is still listed by IFJ and Palestine Journalist Syndicate. - The BBC and overall media, called him "a camera man" from Al-Aqsa TV. And "Israel didn't say" he invaded Israel, he is see in video taking part of the massacre.

WATCH: Lt. Col. (Res.) Jonathan Conricus explains how Hamas is still standing in Gaza three years after October 7, 2023, and what needs to be done to change that. | SPECIAL BRIEFING from StandWithUs - OCTOBER 7, THREE YEARS ON @michaeldickson @jconricus To watch the full show: bit.ly/3VAdNCT

🧵On @piersmorgan show @mehdirhasan lied, obscured & misrepresented in a desperate attempt to discredit IDF's list of 170 fake Gaza journalists who were combatants. In one key lie, Hasan claimed Abdullah Darwish was never a CPJ listed journalist, but he was! Links below. 1/

🧵It is amazing how @mehdirhasan and @piersmorgan will turn into pretzels to minimize the list of 170 "journa"-terrorists that the IDF released, because "only 77 out of 191 from CPJ's list overlap" and that for most of the them, there is "no evidence against" them. Mehdi claims to have reviewed the list, which I doubt. And since I actually have, here are the facts, @mehdirhasan. ⤵️ @jconricus tried to explain how CPJ isn't the only list, the fact that CPJ didn't list them, doesn't mean other organizations and the media aren't calling those terrorists "journalists"