Oslo Accords Drafter: “Israel Never Said It Rejects the Idea of a Palestinian State” Amb. (ret.) Alan Baker, a senior researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA) and one of the drafters of the Oslo Accords, says that any future agreement with the Palestinians cannot be imposed from outside or determined through unilateral recognition. According to Baker, the Oslo Accords themselves did not predetermine a two-state solution, instead leaving final-status issues to negotiations. “Israel never said it rejects the idea of a Palestinian state,” Baker said, emphasizing that any such arrangement must be negotiated and ensure that a Palestinian state does not pose a threat to Israel.

Iran Forces Citizens to Reprove Their Eligibility for Food Assistance – As Even Dairy Products Become a Luxury According to the JCFA Iran Desk, families seeking to increase their government food-purchasing credit are required to register again and undergo a new eligibility assessment, even though some of the necessary information is already held in government databases. Meanwhile, a senior Iranian Health Ministry official estimates that dairy consumption has fallen to approximately one serving per day, compared with a recommended two to three servings. The JCFA Iran Desk notes that when government assistance fails to keep pace with rising prices, even nutritious basic foods gradually become luxuries.

“The Knesset Must Establish Harsher Penalties for Terrorists – Rather Than Leave Everything to Judicial Discretion” Lt. Col. (res.) Adv. @MauriceHirsch4, a senior researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA), calls on Israel’s government and Knesset to learn from Britain’s legislative reforms on terrorism sentencing. According to Hirsch, Israeli law grants judges excessive discretion, repeatedly resulting in sentences that fail to provide sufficient deterrence. In Britain, legislative changes established a tougher sentencing framework for those convicted of terrorism offenses. Hirsch argues that Israel should likewise establish penalties in law that reflect the severity of such crimes, rather than relying solely on statements about the importance of deterrence.

He Stabbed a Woman Repeatedly and Nearly Killed Her – Yet Could Apply for Release After 14 Years Lt. Col. (res.) Adv. @MauriceHirsch4 , a senior researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA), cites the attempted murder of 60-year-old Batya Lebel on Israel’s Memorial Day in 2020. The terrorist repeatedly stabbed her and was convicted of attempted murder as an act of terrorism, yet received a sentence of only 21 years in prison. According to Hirsch, this means he may become eligible to apply for release after 14 years. In Britain, by contrast, even someone who planned and began carrying out a terrorist attack without injuring anyone can be sentenced to life imprisonment.

Iran, Qatar, and China Are Waging a Campaign Against Israel That Extends Beyond the Battlefield Dr. @Dan_Diker, President of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA), argues that Israel must expose not only Iran’s terrorist networks but also the diplomatic, media, and economic infrastructure that enables them to operate. According to Diker, Qatar serves as a center for Hamas financing and propaganda, while China continues to purchase vast quantities of Iranian oil, generating revenues that help finance missiles, proxy groups, and influence operations. “Multidimensional warfare has become a central feature of modern conflict.”

Iranian Hardline Newspaper Warns: Israeli Nuclear Facilities Could Become Targets Amid ongoing diplomatic contacts, the conservative Iranian newspaper Kayhan presented strikes against Israeli nuclear facilities as a possible response to another attack. The JCFA Iran Desk emphasizes that this is not an official statement by the Iranian military, nor does it confirm that Israeli nuclear facilities have been selected as operational targets. Nevertheless, the message allows Tehran to continue discussing a diplomatic arrangement while maintaining the threat of a sharp escalation against Israel.

Even a Zoom Call Could Violate U.S. Sanctions on Iran @EllaRosenberg8, economics expert at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA), warns that providing professional advice remotely to an Iranian entity could constitute a prohibited export of services under U.S. sanctions regulations. In a recently disclosed case, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) reached a settlement of approximately $1.4 million over 39 alleged violations. Among other activities, the party involved participated in 19 online meetings with executives of an Iranian software company, providing advice on management, accounting, assets, and business strategy. The fact that the services were delivered remotely rather than from inside Iran did not eliminate legal liability.

Europe Expands Its Fight Against Money Laundering – But Who Will Protect Citizens’ Rights? @EllaRosenberg8, a researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA) specializing in terrorism financing, explains that the European Union is granting financial intelligence authorities broader powers to combat money laundering involving cryptocurrencies and the digital financial system. However, she stresses that expanded surveillance must be accompanied by independent oversight. Authorities must be able to keep an active investigation hidden from a suspect without receiving a “blank check” to collect information without accountability.

International Relations Expert: “Israel Won on the Battlefield but Is Still Playing Defense on the Information Front” Dr. @Dan_Diker, President of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA), warns that even a military victory over Iran and its proxies will not be enough if Israel continues to lose ground in the diplomatic, legal, and media arenas. According to Diker, three years after October 7, Israel is still responding to allegations only after they have already spread through headlines, parliaments, and university campuses. “Israel must move from defense to offense, from public diplomacy to exposure,” he writes, calling for a permanent national mechanism to combat influence warfare.