Iran’s Araghchi says diplomacy can get back on track if US recognizes pressure does not work

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said putting diplomacy back on track was not impossible but hinged on the United States understanding that pressure does not work.

In a post on X, Araqchi said he had held what he described as "creative discussions" with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, adding that Washington should build trust, speak respectfully, acknowledge Iran’s rights, and uphold its commitments.

Had creative discussions with H.E. the PM/FM of Qatar.

Putting diplomacy back on track isn't impossible. It hinges on U.S. understanding of one simple fact: pressure doesn't work. The U.S. should build trust, speak respectfully, acknowledge our rights, and uphold commitments. pic.twitter.com/9yQ2pOXe5R

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) August 28, 2026   (Ed note: And of course the Islamic Republic will continue to hang, beat, rape and flog its people to death, at will. Come on, man!)   (Source)

Iran sentences woman detained during January protests to death 9 hours ago

A court in Iran has sentenced Leila Abolhassani, a 43-year-old mother of two teenage daughters detained during the January protests in the central city of Shahin Shahr, to death on charges of “waging war against God,” a source familiar with her case told Iran International. The source said Abolhassani was only filming a supermarket fire when she was arrested on the evening of January 8. Branch 5 of Isfahan’s Revolutionary Court nevertheless sentenced her to death on charges of participating in setting fire to the store. Abolhassani, who worked as a nail technician, was transferred following her arrest to Dowlatabad Prison in Isfahan, where she has been held for more than seven months. Her case was referred to Iran’s Supreme Court following an appeal against the sentence and remains under review, the source said.

She faces execution if the Supreme Court upholds the ruling. Abolhassani’s case follows reports of death sentences against two other men detained during January’s nationwide protests. Earlier in the week, US-based rights group HRANA reported that Amir Mohammad Mojallal Choubari, 22, and Hossein Nazari, 25, were sentenced to death in separate cases. Last Sunday, Iran executed Majid Adineh, another January protest detainee, after the Supreme Court upheld his death sentence. Adineh was arrested on January 9 in Mohammadshahr, near Karaj. A Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death and ordered the confiscation of all his property over accusations of taking “operational action” for Israel, the United States and hostile groups.

Earlier this month, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said on that Iran was using capital punishment to “instill fear among the population and suppress dissent,” urging authorities to halt executions and move toward abolishing the death penalty. He called the persistent lack of fair-trial and due-process guarantees “deeply troubling,” citing reports of confessions obtained under torture and cases in which executions followed within weeks of arrest.

The US-based Abdorrahman Boroumand Center said Wednesday it had documented 950 executions in Iran since the beginning of 2026, including at least 20 women and 30 protesters. It recorded 45 executions in August so far. The rights group said Iran’s use of the death penalty took place within a judicial system marked by unfair proceedings, a lack of transparency and political interference, with fair-trial protections systematically violated.     (Source)

Trump seeks to sanction Tehran into submission rather than renew MOU, sources say

US President Donald Trump has lost interest in renewing June’s interim agreement with Iran and prefers to exert economic pressure to secure more favorable terms for ending the war, according to sources who spoke Thursday with The Times of Israel. Trump himself told reporters his new sanctions against Iran could extend to Chinese banks that do business with it, and said there were no talks at all between the US and Iran right now, even as Tehran’s top diplomat hosted his Qatari counterpart, a key mediator, to discuss the Strait of Hormuz.

Former Mossad chief David Barnea, an architect of the US-Israeli war against Iran, meanwhile hailed Trump’s new sanctions but said there would be no choice but to “intensify the economic, diplomatic and operational actions” against the Iranian regime until it falls. The sanctions, which US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent presented on Monday, target Iran’s digital assets and technology, gold, aviation and shipping sectors. Potential secondary sanctions would affect entities in the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and Europe that transport Iranian oil.

A US official who spoke with The Times of Israel said Trump thinks sanctions will lead the Iranian regime to capitulate to more favorable terms on curbing its nuclear program and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Confirming elements of an earlier Wall Street Journal report, a senior diplomat from one of the mediating countries also said Trump was no longer interested in reviving the June memorandum of understanding, which fell apart within days over disagreements about the strategic waterway.

While mediators Qatar and Pakistan have sought to restore the MOU or negotiate a similar agreement, Trump has informed them he was no longer prepared to accept those terms because the Iranians have “burned” him too many times at the last minute, the diplomat said. The US would need to be willing to wait out Iran for an extended period for Trump’s plan to work, the diplomat added, expressing doubt in the administration’s ability to wait that long, given the war’s unpopularity among American citizens. (Read More)

Massive Gas Station Lines Rock Iran as ‘Operation Economic Outcast’ Takes Hold

Massive lines at gas stations across Iran were spotted on Tuesday after the United States announced “Operation Economic Outcast,” an escalated campaign of economic sanctions and physical isolation against the regime in Tehran. Al Arabiya spoke to Tehran residents who were apprehensive about the impact of the new sanctions, although some repeated the regime’s mantra about the “resilience” of Iranians as they contemplated gas shortages, soaring unemployment, and astronomical inflation rates.

The Iranians quoted by Al Arabiya notably used their real names, suggesting their contacts with the press were approved by the regime. “Naturally, sanctions affect people’s lives. People are being hurt, both those who are financially well-off and those who are financially weak. Yes, these sanctions are having an effect, but naturally, our people are resilient. These sanctions have been in place for 47 years,” said a realtor named Mehdi Yazdian. “I personally am not afraid of war at all because this is our land, but I think that this war will be more economic and will cause people to feel a lot of pressure, and now maybe there will be protests again,” said an English teacher named Kia Farahani.

The regime remained defiant, with Economy Minister Ali Mandanizadeh claiming its planners had long anticipated the dramatic escalation of sanctions outlined by Bessent on Tuesday. “We’ve been waiting for these plans for a long time, and the government is and was ready and has a two-year plan to manage these events,” said Madanizadeh. Tehran-based economist Saeed Laylaz appeared to lose an argument with himself while talking to Al Arabiya, beginning with a confident declaration that the U.S. “has nothing that it can do that had not been done before,” but then wondering if the regime was truly prepared to handle another stiff blow to its faltering economy.

“I have doubts about the internal governance of the Iranian economy and whether the government is fully capable or prepared to deal with Iran’s internal issues, including, for example, fighting corruption, fighting bank imbalances, fighting inflation, timely financial, monetary and economic policies,” he said. The National on Tuesday saw “signs of panic-buying in Tehran,” while government spokespersons struggled to reassure the public that “no decision has been made so far” to increase gas prices – although there could be some uncomfortable “structural reforms” to come. (Read More)

Katz threatens: Ultimatum has ended, every launch will be met with force

Defense Minister announces that the ultimatum has expired and makes clear: Every launch of balloons or kites from Gaza will be considered an act of terrorism and met with force.

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Thursday that the ultimatum issued by Israel following the launching of balloons and kites from the Gaza Strip toward communities in the Negev has expired. He made the remarks during a situational assessment with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the head of the Operations Directorate, the commander of the Home Front Command, and other senior defense officials.

“The ultimatum we issued following the launching of balloons and kites from the Gaza Strip toward communities in the Negev has expired," Katz said. According to him, Israel will now regard every launch as “an act of terrorism in every respect." The Defense Minister warned that any additional incident would be met with a broad response. “From now on, every launch will be met with a powerful response against those responsible, the organizers and the perpetrators, as well as against the launch sites and the infrastructure they use," he said.

Katz added that, in accordance with the directives of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his own instructions, the IDF would use all necessary means against the launch sites. He said these measures could also include evacuating the population from an area or neighborhood from which launches are carried out. "The IDF will use all necessary means, including evacuating the population from an area or neighborhood from which launches are carried out, in order to deal with the centers of terrorism," the Defense Minister said.

Concluding his remarks, Katz made clear that Israel would not allow a return to the methods that characterized the period before October 7. “We will not allow Hamas or any other element to return to the methods of harassment and threats against the communities of the south as occurred before October 7, and anyone who does so will pay a heavy price." (Source)

IDF destroys Hamas ambush position meters from Gaza hospital

Terrorists eliminated as IDF strikes Hamas position near Kamal Adwan Hospital and a school, where weapons were stored and attacks were being planned.

The IDF on Tuesday struck in the Jabaliya area in Gaza, destroying a structure used as an ambush position by terrorists from Hamas’ military wing, as well as for storing various types of weapons. Recently, Hamas terrorists planned to advance attacks against IDF troops and have attempted to rehabilitate the military capability of the terrorist organization from the same structure.

Several terrorists were eliminated in the strike in order to remove the threat. "The ambush position was approximately 50 meters from the Yellow Line and posed a threat to IDF troops operating in the area in accordance with the agreement," a statement from the IDF noted. "The structure was struck in order to remove the threat." The position was approximately 70 meters from Kamal Adwan Hospital and approximately 170 meters from a school. The IDF emphasized,

"This is another example of Hamas’ systematic use of civilian and humanitarian infrastructure, in violation of the ceasefire agreement and international law." "Prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate the risk to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance. "Security forces in the Southern Command are deployed in the area in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and will continue to operate to remove any immediate threat." (Source)

Sinwar’s bodyguard eliminated: IDF takes out two October 7 Nukhba terrorists

Two Hamas terrorists who invaded the Re’im camp on October 7, including Yahya Sinwar’s bodyguard, eliminated after planning new attacks.

The IDF on Sunday struck in the Khan Yunis area in southern Gaza, eliminating Hazem Mousa, a Nukhba terrorist from Hamas’ military wing who infiltrated the Re’im camp during the October 7th Massacre. In an additional strike on Monday, the IDF and ISA struck in the Khan Yunis area and eliminated Razek Sahil Suleiman Abu Shahma, a Nukhba terrorist who also infiltrated the Re’im camp during the October 7th Massacre and served as Yahya Sinwar’s bodyguard.

"Recently, the terrorists continued to advance terror attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians while also attempting to rebuild Hamas’ capabilities, all in violation of the ceasefire agreement," the IDF revealed in a statement following the strikes. "They were struck in order to remove the threat they posed."

"Prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance." The IDF added, "IDF troops under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue to operate to remove any threat." (Source)

PSALM 83

This book reveals a vastly overlooked ancient prophecy written over 3000 years ago. It predicts a concluding confederate invasion of Israel by the Arab countries that presently share common borders with the Jewish state. This coalition of countries is depicted on the red arrows upon the book cover image. The terrorist organizations within those territories, like ISIS, Hezbollah and Hamas, will probably also be involved in this final battle. Their confederate mandate is clear:. They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more." (Psalm 83:4).

While many of today's top Bible experts are predicting that Russia, Iran, Turkey, Libya, and several other countries are going to invade Israel according to the prophecy in Ezekiel 38, this timely book explains how Psalm 83 is an entirely different prophecy that occurs prior. Discover how Israel defeats their ancient Arab enemies, and why Americans need to stand beside Israel in this coming war! This book is an updated version of Isralestine, The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East, which was written by the same author. This updated version includes over 17 new chapters and appendices.   (CLICK HERE)

Lebanese army failing to curb Hezbollah activity in south, Israeli officials tell US

"There is no real friction between the Lebanese Army and Hezbollah. Hezbollah would not want anyone to collect its weapons or destroy its infrastructure," a senior security official said.

Israel has conveyed a message to the United States through security channels that a pilot program in southern Lebanon, which began being implemented following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Beirut and Jerusalem, has failed, Walla reported Thursday. Israel provided information regarding the Lebanese Army’s activities and expressed, in no uncertain terms, its dissatisfaction with the army’s operations against Hezbollah terror infrastructure and operatives in the area. 

 
Lebanese army continues to cooperate with Hezbollah

According to security officials, "The Lebanese Army is not destroying terror infrastructure based on the coordinates provided to it by the IDF, while at the same time requesting more coordinates, even though it is not doing anything about it." The IDF has criticized the Lebanese Army’s performance, claiming that it is not acting effectively against Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon. According to assessments, Iran, which previously provided significant support to the organization, is currently focused on its own survival struggles and is not rushing to come to Hezbollah’s aid.

According to assessments by senior IDF officials, Lebanese Army Chief of Staff Rudolf Haykal continues to cooperate with Hezbollah, fears confrontation with commanders of the Shi’ite organization in southern Lebanon, and is ineffective in carrying out searches, locating terror infrastructure and finding weapons. "There is no real friction between the Lebanese Army and Hezbollah. Hezbollah would not want anyone to collect its weapons or destroy its infrastructure," a senior security official said. (Read More)

For second night in a row, IDF said to shell Syrian hill some 10 KMs from the border

Israeli forces fired two artillery shells at a hill near the IDF’s southern Syria buffer zone this evening, according to local media. The Sham TV outlet reports that the hill near the town of Beit Jinn, located around 10 kilometres from the Israeli border, was targeted with two shells, a day after the same location was hit by three shells. There are no reports of injuries or damage by the shelling.

Israeli artillery shelling in southern Syria is not uncommon with the IDF remaining deployed to nine posts in the country since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024.

Contrary to reports in Hebrew media, tonight’s shelling — not airstrikes — did not take place near the capital Damascus. Beit Jinn is, however, located in the Damascus Countryside Governate, which may have led to the misreporting.  (Ed note: Always keep one eye on the state of Syria.)  (Source)

Egypt's Tank Army vs. Modern Drone Warfare

Egypt maintains the Arab world's largest armored force with thousands of tanks, but lessons from Ukraine reveal critical vulnerabilities to low-cost drones that challenge traditional military doctrine. Egypt commands the Arab world's most formidable armored force—thousands of heavy tanks positioned along its borders, extensive infrastructure across the Sinai Peninsula, and a massive armor deployment that reinforces Cairo's regional standing. Yet in an era where inexpensive drones can destroy costly tanks in seconds, the rules of engagement have fundamentally shifted.

Cairo continues to embrace a distinctly traditional doctrine of "critical mass." Its enormous armored force serves multiple strategic purposes: deterring threats along borders with Libya and Sudan, maintaining regional power status, and controlling critical assets like the Suez Canal. Domestic production capabilities support this approach, assembly and upgrading of substantial portions of Abrams tanks at the military's Factory 200, logistical resilience that reduces absolute dependence on American supply during crises, and construction of extensive infrastructure throughout Sinai.

Despite decades of stable peace with Israel, Israeli defense officials continue monitoring these developments closely. Satellite imagery reveals bunkers carved into mountains, extended runways for fighter jets, advanced Chinese air defense systems, and forces numbering tens of thousands of troops. 

Israel's Response: Quality Over Quantity

Israel has never attempted to compete in numbers. Israeli military doctrine consistently relies on qualitative superiority, air supremacy and complete control of airspace, precise real-time intelligence, decentralized communication systems for network-centric warfare, and advanced active protection like the Trophy system that renders an adversary's numerical advantage less relevant. In a theoretical direct confrontation scenario, the Israeli Air Force and precision strike capabilities would be expected to offset the numerical advantage.

Nevertheless, the mere existence of such an enormous armored fleet requires Israel to maintain high readiness levels and track every change in Sinai infrastructure. The advanced KC-46 "Gideon" refueling aircraft that arrived in recent months dramatically expand the IDF's operational envelope, enabling fighter jets to remain airborne for extended hours and at vast distances. (Read More)

IDF chief raises alert level in Judea and Samaria ahead of holidays

Zamir placed the headquarters of an additional active-duty division on heightened readiness and ordered units and battalions prepared for immediate activation in the sector.  

Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir on Thursday ordered the alert level raised in Judea and Samaria ahead of the Jewish holidays, citing tensions in the area and directing the military to prepare additional forces for rapid reinforcement. Zamir placed the headquarters of an additional active-duty division on heightened readiness and ordered units and battalions prepared for immediate activation in the sector, according to the IDF. He also said the military would maintain full multi-front readiness during the holiday period, with no operational stand-downs or reductions in troop levels.

Israeli security forces apprehended on Sunday the terrorist who carried out a stabbing attack near al-Auja, north of Jericho in the Jordan Valley, the IDF said. The 24-year-old Israeli victim sustained moderate injuries and was evacuated to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem after receiving treatment at the scene. The military in late July apprehended more than 200 wanted Palestinians in Judea and Samaria and seized funds purposed for terrorism worth tens of thousands of shekels. Also in July, two Israelis were killed and six wounded in a terrorist shooting attack near Havat Gilad in Samaria after a group of Israelis hiking in the area was attacked by Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday night that the Land of Israel “will remain ours,” speaking at an event marking his government’s achievements in Judea and Samaria, according to his office. “Today, many of our brothers and sisters around the world understand: this is our land,” he told Judea and Samaria leaders at the event, in remarks translated from Hebrew. “And when I say our land, every Jewish man and every Jewish woman, the door is open, we are waiting for you,” he continued. “In the State of Israel, in the heart of the Land of Israel.” Those at the event, Netanyahu added, were “preparing the ground for a very large aliyah [immigration wave] that will come.”

The outgoing government has established and regularized 104 communities and 160 farms, Netanyahu said, adding that more were on the way. Part of the work was done under the Biden administration and part under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, said Netanyahu. “It isn’t easy, it’s never easy. The Land of Israel is acquired through suffering,” he said. “Sometimes also through smiles, sometimes also through arguments, but it is being acquired by us. We are not giving up, we have a vision, this is our land, and it will remain ours.” (Source)

Dr. Bill Salus: Trump and the Coming Mideast Wars

REVEALING END TIME PROPHECIES YOU MAY HAVE NEVER HEARD! A MUST WATCH!

It’s hard to escape the never-ending, desperate march to peace in the Middle East. It seems like the 2,500-year-old prophecies of the Bible are about to take center stage and turn the world upside down. Will we see the rapture of the church soon? Or will the Russian/Iranian attack on Israel in Ezekiel 38 come first?

How about the destruction of Damascus in Isaiah 17? Or nuclear Iran’s fate in the Jeremiah 49 prophecy of Elam?

Middle East politics grows more confusing every day as multiple nations fight for control . . . the USA, Russia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, China . . . where do all of the players fit into the end times puzzle? Can we know the timeline of events?

Meanwhile, our President has chosen sides and seems to be Israel’s best friend. Is the “Deal of the Century” fast approaching? Or will the sudden disappearance of millions of Christians send Planet Earth into an unprecedented time of worldwide chaos and panic? In this informative video Gary Stearman and Dr. Bill Salus delve into the oft-confusing world of Bible prophecy and help us see the big picture.

Israel's next front? The PA's covert buildup of a 60000-strong army

The Palestinian security apparatus is now equipped with armored vehicles and sniper rifles in breach of the Oslo Accords. Footage from Jericho shows Palestinian forces firing RPGs and heavy machine guns in combat drills. What is the PA preparing for?

Open-source intelligence gathered by the Behind the Scenes OSINT Cell reveals the Palestinian Authority (PA) has stockpiled significant weaponry and resources for a potential all-out war. The documented arsenal includes anti-tank weapons and widespread use of RPG-7 launchers during training exercises and military parades in Jericho. The National Security Battalions have heavily utilized PKM heavy machine guns – chain-driven weapons with a 7.62 millimeter (0.3 inches) caliber – to generate continuous, devastating firepower. Operatives have also converted standard M16, M4, and AK-47 assault rifles into long-range sniper rifles equipped with telescopic sights for pinpoint accuracy from a distance. 

Palestinian forces possess armored vehicles and vast quantities of explosives, directly violating the Oslo Accords (the 1990s peace agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, which established the PA). The treaties explicitly prohibit these forces from manufacturing or holding offensive explosive materials. However, this 60,000-strong Palestinian police force now operates effectively as a small army equipped with advanced weaponry and heavy armor.

The OSINT researchers warn this structural overhaul and massive weapons procurement have shifted the Palestinian Authority's operational doctrine, creating a major strategic threat to Israel. The Police Academy and the Jericho training center have upgraded their curriculums to match rigorous infantry warfare standards. This newly implemented training features hot breaching tactics and complex urban warfare scenarios. Palestinian Authority officer courses now include detailed studies of Israeli community and military base defense systems. The trainees learn specific methods to breach and overcome these security arrays. While security coordination persists at the uppermost leadership echelons, the rank-and-file field operatives are undergoing rapid radicalization. (Read More)

__________________________

Dr. Bill Salus comments: 

The Palestinians appear in Psalm 83 under the title of the “TENTS OF EDOM.” This identifies them as refugees. The historic Edomites have a large ethnical representation in today’s West Bank Palestinians. The biblical interpretation of tent-dwellers likely classifies them as refugees.

In the Psalm their non-state plight is a main motivating factor for the formation of an Arab confederacy that seeks to wipe Israel off the map and replace it with another Arab state called Palestine.

“They take crafty counsel against thy people (the Jews), and consult together against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; That the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent; Against thee do they make a covenant: The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagarenes;  Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre: Assyria also is joined with them; they have helped the children of Lot... Who said, Let us take to ourselves in possession The habitations of God (the Promised Land of  Israel).” (Psalm 83:3-8, 12 ASV; emphasis added)

For more information about the people groups identities, specific prophetic details and final outcome of this future war prophecy watch the short trailer below.

IDF launches strikes on southern Lebanon following Hezbollah's explosive drone attacks on soldiers

The IDF launched a wave of strikes against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon on Thursday after the terror group launched two explosive drones toward IDF soldiers operating in southern Lebanon, the military stated. "The IDF struck Hezbollah infrastructure in the Nabatiya area," the military confirmed.

"As part of the strikes, the IDF struck Hezbollah weapon storage facilities that were established in order to harm Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers," the military added.

During Hezbollah's attack overnight between Wednesday and Thursday, IDF soldiers opened fire, downing one of the drones, while contact was lost with the second drone. No IDF injuries were reported from either drone attack. (Ed note: The city of Nabatieh sits roughly 11 kilometers (7 miles) from the southern border, just north of the Litani River.) (Source)

Israel now has the power to respond to action against it with diplomatic consequences - editorial

“Our message is clear,” Sa’ar wrote. “Those who act against Israel will have no foothold in the region. Israel will not allow measures to be taken against it without a response.”

Diplomatic consequences. It’s a phrase used often by critical American Jews unhappy with the direction Israel has taken and yearning for the sandal-wearing, orange-growing, labor-union-dominated country of old: “This is not your grandmother’s Israel.” No, it is not – and not only because the country has moved decidedly to the Right over the last 40 years.

Israel has changed in other ways as well. It is no longer a poor country with a small population and little to offer the world beyond the Uzi and Jaffa oranges. It is a regional military and technological power with a population that would rank 13th in the European Union and a GDP per capita that would rank ninth. 

Why does this matter? Because Israel today has options that the Israel of your grandmother’s era did not. When another country takes steps inimical to its interests, it need not simply protest, absorb the blow, and move on. It can impose a cost. Take the Netherlands. Beginning on September 22, the Dutch government will ban imports coming from beyond the Green Line. On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar responded by expelling Dutch representatives from the US-led Gaza coordination center in Kiryat Gat, which oversees ceasefire monitoring, humanitarian activity, and planning for Gaza’s postwar administration.

“Our message is clear,” Sa’ar wrote. “Those who act against Israel will have no foothold in the region. Israel will not allow measures to be taken against it without a response.”

...Access is an asset. Influence is an asset. Participation in shaping Gaza’s future is an asset. Israel is entitled to use those assets as leverage against governments that believe they can penalize it with impunity. This is not diplomatic petulance. It is statecraft. Countries routinely link behavior in one sphere to consequences in another. In the past, Israel has generally been reluctant to do so. That attitude is changing. (Ed note: One can clearly see as the Jew begins to stand on his own two feet that he will no longer take direction for what happens in his own country from the US, UN, EU and BOP. That is very important for the coming End Time Prophecies.) (Read More)

Moscow reportedly eyeing direct attack on Britain

Intelligence assessments cited by the "Daily Mail" indicate Russian leadership feels compelled to respond to Britain's escalating military backing of Ukraine. "Russia will want to make a statement, through actions rather than words." Prime Minister Andy Burnham has received direct warnings that the United Kingdom faces severe Russian retaliation due to Downing Street's unwavering military backing of Ukraine, according to the Daily Mail. Intelligence officials have instructed the head of government to maintain readiness for a "direct response" originating from Vladimir Putin

Government insiders disclosed that the Kremlin intends to target British territory after miscalculating Mr. Burnham's resolute commitment to Kyiv. Moscow initially anticipated that the new administration at No. 10 would prove softer than its predecessor, the Daily Mail noted. However, those presidential expectations dissolved as the prime minister moved swiftly to fortify military cooperation with Ukraine by exchanging battlefield artificial intelligence and missile schematics with Moscow's adversaries, the Daily Mail reported. Pressures are likewise mounting inside Russian ruling circles urging leadership to counter Britain's expanding involvement in the war, according to the Daily Mail.

This alarming security briefing coincided with an emergency diplomatic mission to Moscow conducted Tuesday by John Ratcliffe, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the Daily Mail stated. Reports indicated the American intelligence chief cautioned Russian authorities against escalating the European conflict through nuclear weapon utilization or strikes against Kyiv's Western partners, the Daily Mail reported. This "just don't do it" directive stemmed from US intelligence assessments indicating Russian forces are primed for immediate, dramatic escalation after battlefield momentum stalled once more, the Daily Mail noted. British security leadership remained on high alert Tuesday evening regarding potential Kremlin assaults directed at either Mr. Burnham or critical national defense sites, the Daily Mail reported.

A senior official communicated to the Daily Mail: "How long do we keep poking the bear before it bites?" The insider further remarked, "An attack on the UK's defence and security infrastructure is inevitable, based on our high-profile support for Ukraine." The source added, "Ourselves and the French are front and centre, and Burnham's visit to Kyiv and his forthright stance will have been noticed at the Kremlin." The official noted, "There had been some optimism in Moscow that he would be softer than Starmer on Ukraine." The source concluded, "That was not the case. Russia will want to make a statement, through actions rather than words. (Ed note: So now we know why John Ratcliffe, the CIA Director, suddenly took off for Moscow.) (Read More)

CIA Chief's Moscow Ultimatum on Iran, NATO

In a rare secret visit to Moscow, CIA Director John Ratcliffe warned Russian officials against any military action targeting NATO member states and demanded an immediate halt to military assistance for Iran, as Washington prepares unprecedented sanctions. CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a highly unusual secret trip to Moscow this week, American media outlets revealed Thursday night, underscoring Washington's deep concern about potential Russian military moves against NATO territory and Moscow's growing partnership with Tehran.

According to reports published in The Wall Street Journal and Politico, Ratcliffe conducted his first official visit to the Russian capital on Tuesday. The primary objective was to deliver a direct warning to senior Russian officials against testing NATO's resolve in the coming years, a message that reflects American intelligence assessments of possible Russian provocations. The visit comes amid heightened U.S. anxiety about two interconnected threats: the possibility of limited Russian military action against a NATO member state, and the deepening Moscow-Tehran axis that American officials view as destabilizing to the Middle East. American officials told the newspapers that intelligence assessments suggest Russia may attempt a limited strike—ranging from a devastating cyberattack to a small-scale ground incursion, most likely targeting one of the Baltic states.

This shift in threat assessment stems from concerns within the Kremlin about shrinking room for maneuver in Ukraine, combined with domestic pressure within Russia to demonstrate a significant military achievement. Beyond the security warning, Ratcliffe presented Moscow with an unambiguous demand to drastically reduce military and economic support for Iran. This ultimatum arrives as the United States prepares to impose what officials describe as unprecedented sanctions on any nation providing assistance to Tehran. According to sources familiar with the discussions, the CIA director told Russian counterparts they must immediately cease transferring weapons and defense technology to Iran's regime, and cautioned them against "overreacting" to the planned American economic sanctions. (Read More)

Iran flogs two women detained in January protests

Iranian authorities flogged two women detained during January’s protests 31 times each before transferring them to prison to serve custodial sentences, according to rights groups. Neda Dadehjani and Setayesh (Behnoush) Sarabi were summoned to a court in Qorveh on Saturday, August 22, where they were flogged before being transferred to the women’s ward of Sanandaj Central Prison, according to the Geneva-based Hana Human Rights Organization and Kurdish rights outlet Kolbar News. A criminal court in Qorveh had sentenced each woman to one year in prison, 31 lashes and two years of exile in Nikshahr, in southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province, after convicting them of “disrupting public peace and order.” 

In a separate proceeding, the Qorveh Revolutionary Court sentenced each to another two years in prison for “assembly and collusion to commit a crime against internal security. The two women were first arrested by security forces during the January 2026 protests in Qorveh. Kolbar News said Dadehjani and Sarabi had applied to serve their prison terms under electronic monitoring but received no response before being summoned to court. Dadehjani is an artist, puppeteer, costume designer and theater makeup artist. Hana condemned the flogging as “state torture and a tool for intimidating society” and called for the women’s release and access to independent medical care.

The group also questioned the enforcement of the flogging alongside the prison sentences, arguing that it was inconsistent with Article 134 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code, which governs multiple convictions and sentences. The cases come amid a broader crackdown following the January protests, during which courts have handed down prison terms, flogging, exile and death sentences. Other people detained in connection with the protests have also received flogging sentences in recent weeks, according to rights groups. Iran’s judiciary has used flogging against artists and activists in previous years, including singer Mehdi Yarrahi and campaigner Roya Heshmati, whose sentences were carried out. (Ed note: And President Trump wants to negotiate?)  (Source)

Iran Rejects Nuclear Site Inspections

Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, dismissed the possibility of international monitoring of nuclear facilities and accused watchdog agencies of serving American and Israeli interests. Mohammad Eslami, who heads Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, has ruled out allowing international oversight of the country's nuclear program, arguing that Iran's current security situation makes such monitoring impossible. He further characterized international inspection bodies as instruments of the United States and Israel.

Eslami stated that "Iran is still in a state of war, its nuclear sites are not secured for inspections." He added that even after hostilities end, any future arrangement would require the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN body responsible for monitoring nuclear programs worldwide, to accept Iranian terms. "The IAEA must accept our oversight procedures, even after the war. The protocols must be established in coordination with Iran. This time, no free hand will be given," he said.

The Iranian official also attacked monitoring agencies directly, linking their silence to what he described as threats from Washington. "Trump continues to threaten to bomb Iranian nuclear sites. The silence of the monitoring bodies shows they are a tool in the hands of the United States and Israel," Eslami claimed. (Source)

Iran Claims Hormuz Control Agreement

Revolutionary Guards announce deal with Oman on dividing control of strategic waterway, asserting 'full sovereignty' over shipping route despite U.S. opposition. A spokesman for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement claiming that Tehran and Muscat have reached understandings on dividing shipping lanes and control of the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement contradicts American and regional demands for the unconditional reopening of the strategic waterway.

According to Revolutionary Guards sources, Iran and Oman have arrived at a series of agreements, though Oman has not publicly or officially confirmed the details. Among the reported understandings is a plan for both countries to collect fees and payments in exchange for allowing nations and companies to use the strait. Earlier reports indicated that Iran had previously demanded absolute control over all traffic entering and exiting the strait, requiring complete coordination of all vessels moving through the waterway with Tehran's security apparatus.

Such demands, if implemented, would likely provoke the anger of President Trump, who has made clear he will not accept fees on movement through Hormuz. Apparently anticipating this response, the Revolutionary Guards announced that if the agreement is not respected by the United States, "the strait will remain closed." An IRGC spokesman explained: "Iran exposed the strategic vulnerability of the United States during the 'Ramadan War,' we revealed the failure of its advanced technology and missile stockpiles. The U.S. must accept our decision." (Ed note: Did you notice that it is the IRGC making the announcement and not the Iranian government?)  (Source)

 

Board of Peace envoy knocks Israel’s ‘unacceptable’ Gaza policy as disarmament plan stalls

The Board of Peace’s Gaza envoy briefed the UN Security Council on the status of the US-run body’s efforts to rebuild Gaza on Wednesday, touting Hamas’s acceptance of a disarmament plan while effectively acknowledging that progress has since stalled amid Israel’s rejection of the proposal. Nickolay Mladenov took particular issue with Israeli restrictions on shelter supplies for Palestinians living in squalid conditions in the Strip, while also calling out Jerusalem’s policy of continued strikes in Gaza, arguing that they have not, and will not, lead to Hamas’s disarmament.

At the same time, he criticized the terror group for not fulfilling its own commitments under the disarmament plan, which required both sides to halt all military activities. An Arab diplomat from one of the mediating countries told The Times of Israel earlier this month that the Board of Peace has been leaning on Hamas to cease deploying armed and uniformed men on the streets of Gaza. Those shows of force have intensified since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s public rejection of the disarmament plan, which would see Israel gradually withdraw from Gaza.

Netanyahu argued that the proposal accepted by Hamas on July 30 won’t actually lead to Hamas’s disarmament and declared that Jerusalem will therefore not adhere to its required phased pullouts from the Strip. Mladenov told the Security Council that Israel is not being asked to accept the disarmament roadmap, but rather to reaffirm the commitments that it made as part of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan, which Netanyahu accepted in September ahead of a ceasefire the following month.

“While Israel has reaffirmed that framework, important questions of implementation still remain open,” Mladenov said, effectively acknowledging that Israel has not kept all of those commitments, which require ending military operations and surging humanitarian aid into the Strip. Hamas’s acceptance of the disarmament was meant to trigger a 14-day period during which the sides would put together a timeline for the phased disarmament and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. (Ed note: Have you ever noticed how the UN, EU, US and now the Board of Peace seem to always lean on Israel to make changes, and not Hamas? And the question remains, why hasn't Hamas yet fully disarmed, and why is it Israel's fault that the people in the Gaza Strip are without goods? Hamas is still armed and fully in charge in Gaza.) (Read More)

Trump sends Saudi nuclear deal to Congress but says Riyadh must recognize Israel

US President Donald Trump maintained that Saudi Arabia must join the Abraham Accords for a deal to come through, a US administration official told Reuters.

US President Donald Trump has sent Congress a proposed agreement with Saudi Arabia on civil nuclear energy while insisting the pact will only be approved if the kingdom normalizes relations with Israel, a US administration official told Reuters on Tuesday. The agreement, which was reached in July and would allow US companies to export civilian nuclear technology to the kingdom, was sent to Congress on Monday, according to the US official, who declined to be identified. The Saudi embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It was unclear how Trump expects sending the nuclear deal to Congress, which has 90 session days to consider it, to advance his objectives. "The president's position has not changed that the agreement will only move forward if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords," the US official said in an email, referring to US-brokered agreements between Israel and Arab and Muslim-majority nations to normalize relations.

Those accords, reached in 2020 and 2021, were between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. Days after agreeing to the Saudi nuclear deal in July, Trump, who worked on a similar pact during his first term, set normalization as a condition for it to go into effect. Former president ​Joe Biden also pushed for a nuclear deal and wanted to tie it to the accords. Diplomats thought Riyadh was close to normalizing relations with Israel in 2023, but the start of the Israel-Hamas War in October 2023 changed the landscape. Saudi Arabia has demanded an irreversible path to a Palestinian state before ​recognizing Israel.  (Ed note: Inquiring minds want to know, will the Arabians swallow their pride to get that nuclear deal?)    (Read More)

Saudi Arabia Rejects Trump's Nuclear Deal Condition, Reaffirms Palestinian Statehood Demand

Saudi Arabia rejects Trump's attempt to link civilian nuclear deal to Israel normalization, reaffirming Palestinian statehood remains non-negotiable condition. Saudi Arabia has pushed back firmly against U.S. President Donald Trump's attempt to make a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement contingent on the kingdom normalizing relations with Israel, signaling that Riyadh will not be pressured into abandoning its Palestinian statehood condition.

Trump submitted the proposed Saudi nuclear agreement to Congress on Monday, and according to administration officials, the pact will only go into effect if Saudi Arabianormalizes relations with Israel. Trump claimed the deal "will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords." The Saudi response was swift and unambiguous. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement emphasizing that the kingdom's position remains "firm and unwavering," reaffirming that it will not normalize relations with Israel without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

A Non-Negotiable Position

Sources close to the Saudi royal family told Channel 12 that the civilian nuclear program and Israeli normalization must be treated as separate issues. According to the sources, the nuclear agreement is part of broader U.S.-Saudi partnership and should not be leveraged to extract political concessions on the Israeli question. More pointedly, Saudi officials indicated that the Gaza war fundamentally altered the regional calculus, causing Riyadh to establish more stringent requirements for any future normalization agreement and to put US-brokered Israeli normalization talks on hold.

Saudi sources said that with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "current far-right government," and absent substantive change on Palestinian issues, normalization remains off the agenda. Saudi Arabia intends to wait and see what government forms in Israel and what position it takes on Palestinian statehood before resuming any discussions.

A Long-Standing Saudi Condition

Saudi Arabia's demand for Palestinian statehood predates recent developments. The kingdom first raised the prospect of normal relations with Israel in 2002, when Crown Prince Abdullah proposed full Arab normalization if Israel withdrew from the territories it occupied since the Six-Day War. That position, now known as the Arab Peace Initiative and adopted by the Arab League, has defined Saudi diplomacy for over two decades.

The 2002 Arab Peace Initiative established Saudi leadership in Arab diplomacy but also created a rigid benchmark that subsequent Israeli governments have found difficult to meet. These historical positions continue to influence Saudi public discourse and official statements. (Ed note: Oh, oh. What happened to the Deal Maker's deal? As President Trump tries to put pressure on Arabia, they in turn, show their true colors about keeping the pressure on Israel.)  (Read More)

US offers to lift Iran sanctions if Tehran reopens Strait of Hormuz, stops proxy attacks - report

The Strait of Hormuz has been severely affected in recent months, with shipping traffic through the waterway sharply declining amid Iranian threats and restrictions.

The United States offered Iran sanctions relief and an end to the naval blockade imposed on it in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and halting attacks carried out by its proxies in the region, Saudi state-owned Al-Hadath reported on Tuesday. According to a senior source who spoke with Al Hadath and Saudi channel Al Arabiya, the US delivered the proposal to Tehran through Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, during his visit to Iran.

The report said Munir carried a US proposal based on a memorandum of understanding previously discussed between Washington and Tehran. Under the proposal, the United States would be willing to end the blockade and lift sanctions if Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz and brought an end to the activities of its proxies.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary, Mohsen Rezaee, told Munir that Tehran would continue internal consultations and respond soon. The report follows a one-day visit to Tehran by Munir and Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, as part of Islamabad’s efforts to advance a potential agreement between the United States and Iran. During the visit, Munir met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Rezaei, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni. (Read More)

Bessent: Iran’s Leadership ‘Panicking’ Under Trump Economic Offensive — Vows to Sever ‘Every Economic Lifeline’

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declared Tuesday that Iran’s leadership is already “panicking” under President Donald Trump’s mounting economic offensive — pointing to stark warnings from Tehran’s own president and parliament speaker about the country’s deteriorating economy while vowing to continue severing the regime’s financial lifelines until it “stands alone.” “Iran’s leadership is admitting what the world can now see: the pressure is working,” Bessent wrote on X, one day after the administration launched Operation Economic Outcast. Bessent highlighted recent remarks made before Monday’s rollout from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who acknowledged the country’s mounting economic shortages while declaring that “the war must come to an end at some point.”

He also highlighted an even starker warning from Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf about whether Iran could sustain its military strength while its economy and living conditions continued to deteriorate. “No matter how much military power we have, if people are hungry and we don’t have financial circulation, economic growth and domestic production, we will not endure,” Ghalibaf said.

Bessent pointed to the statements as evidence that Trump’s pressure campaign was already biting before Washington dramatically widened its economic offensive Monday with what officials have called an “Economic D-Day” designed to isolate Tehran and choke off the revenue streams sustaining the regime .Operation Economic Outcast initially targeted more than 60 individuals, entities, and vessels tied to Iranian oil revenue, weapons and missile procurement, and cyber operations, while widening secondary-sanctions exposure across five sectors Tehran exploits abroad: digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, and shipping. (Read More)

Iran security chief hints at nuclear doctrine shift after US attacks

Iran’s top security official has suggested Tehran could reconsider its longstanding rejection of nuclear weapons, arguing that US attacks on Iran have strengthened the case for acquiring an atomic bomb as a deterrent. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Washington had demonstrated that adherence to the global nuclear non-proliferation system offered countries little protection from military attack. “The whole world is saying, ‘Wait a minute. So the NPT has no effect?’” Rezaei said in an interview broadcast by Iranian state television. “When America is waging such a war, people naturally ask: Why shouldn’t we pursue nuclear weapons ourselves?”

Rezaei, a former commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Guards, stopped short of saying Iran had decided to build a nuclear weapon. But his remarks were unusually explicit for one of the Islamic Republic’s most senior security officials. Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful and has rejected the development and use of atomic weapons. Rezaei argued that Iran had subjected itself to extensive international monitoring, joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and ultimately accepted the 2015 nuclear agreement, known as the JCPOA. “The level of safeguards and inspections carried out in Iran over the past two decades has been unprecedented anywhere else in the world,” he said. Yet Iran and its nuclear facilities were ultimately attacked, Rezaei said, arguing that this had changed the calculation around nuclear deterrence.

“Why shouldn’t we develop a nuclear weapon so that nobody can attack us?” he said, describing the question he said countries were now asking.

US President Donald Trump’s war on Iran has made nuclear weapons more attractive worldwide by demonstrating that neither the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty nor membership in the International Atomic Energy Agency offers protection, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security… pic.twitter.com/RNSSxOulAI— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) August 23, 2026

The comments come at an especially volatile moment in the US-Iran confrontation, with diplomacy following the war and subsequent ceasefire largely stalled and Washington shifting its focus towards intensified economic pressure. Trump has announced what he described as a sweeping new economic campaign against Iran, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington would impose the “toughest sanctions in history. ”US officials have presented the pressure campaign as a way of forcing Tehran towards an agreement while reducing the need for another large-scale military offensive. Iranian officials have rejected the threats, while maintaining that Tehran remains open to diplomacy. (Read More)

Settlers filmed attacking activists, reporters in front of IDF troops; none arrested

Israeli settlers were filmed on Tuesday attacking a group of left-wing activists and journalists in front of IDF soldiers in the southern West Bank before being allowed to flee the area without a single arrest being made. The activists from several Israeli rights groups were in the Bethlehem-area Palestinian village of Jannatah to help residents put up a fence around several homes on the outskirts of the town that has come under repeated attack by settlers. Also on site were a group of journalists from the French AFP news agency who were working on a story about Israeli activists conducting such solidarity visits to Palestinian villages facing settler violence.

But shortly after their arrival, the activists and journalists were surrounded by masked settlers, who struck them with clubs, hurled stones at them and pepper-sprayed them. The settlers, many of them children, threw stones at the journalists and activists. One AFP journalist ducked a stone, but then a child settler struck him in the chin with a stick, causing minor bleeding, he said. Footage showed soldiers attempting to break up the altercation with little success. Jewish ritual fringes, known as tzitzit, are seen peeking out from underneath the shirts of the masked attackers.

According to Rabbis for Human Rights, the “Jewish terrorists” pepper-sprayed the activists, beat a 70-year-old activist, and smashed the windows and slashed the tires of four cars. Five people were treated for injuries, the Palestine Red Crescent Society said, with AFP journalists reporting seeing at least one Israeli activist taken in a Palestinian ambulance. In another clip, a soldier can be seen holding the camera of a journalist who documented the settler attack, demanding that he leave the area.

While IDF soldiers have the authority to apprehend Israeli suspects in the field before handing them over to police, troops rarely do so. Activists said they called police to the scene but that the officers only arrived well after the assailants had fled. Police defended their conduct, saying they arrived at the scene upon being called and opened an investigation into the incident. (Read More)

In rare warning, Board of Peace tells Israel to limit Gaza fire to ‘genuine’ threats

An official from the US-backed Board of Peace made a rare call on Tuesday for Israel to comply with the ceasefire in Gaza and limit strikes to “immediate” threats, even as IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir vowed that targeted killings of October 7 terrorists will continue until they are all “eliminated.” The Board of Peace official also said that “all militant activity” in Gaza, including kite flying, must stop, two days after Israel threatened a forceful response if the Hamas terror group revives a tactic of launching incendiary kites over the border.

“All militant activity in Gaza must stop, including the flying of kites. We have conveyed this message directly through the established mechanism,” an official of the Board of Peace — tasked with implementing the October 2025 ceasefire in Gaza — told multiple outlets. “Israel, too, must comply with the ceasefire; military action cannot extend beyond responding to genuine and imminent threats,” the official added. The statement from the Board of Peace came after Israel appealed to the organization over the spike in kites flown from Gaza in recent days. But the response marked a rare admonition of Israel by the Board, which has largely refrained from publicly criticizing Israeli military activity in Gaza in recent months.

But Zamir said during a visit to Gaza on Tuesday that Israel’s hunt for terrorists involved in the October 7, 2023, onslaught will continue in the Gaza Strip. “We will not allow our enemies along the borders, with an emphasis on Gaza and Lebanon, to rebuild their strength,” Zamir said. “We will not allow terror infrastructure to become established. We will take every opportunity to eliminate threats as they emerge.” Zamir continued that “the pursuit of the October 7 terrorists continues. Anyone who took part in the massacre will live under pursuit until they are eliminated.”

“This is a high-priority mission to which the [Southern] Command and the entire IDF are committed,” he added. Zamir also met with female surveillance soldiers on the border with the Gaza Strip, commending their efforts as “important.” “You are our eyes on the front, the first to identify infiltration threats and activate forces,” he said, according to remarks published by the army, during a visit to the 414th Combat Intelligence Collection Unit at the Re’im Base. He added that the surveillance soldiers’ identifications and assessments “are important, and one of the lessons of October 7 is that we must listen carefully to every female and male soldier as part of assessments and the decision-making process.” (Read More)

Hamas kites: First step in psychological warfare

Dr. Schleifer, expert in psychological warfare, says the seemingly innocent kites launched from Gaza are the beginning of a planned and systematic Hamas effort to condition Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu describes the decision to treat the kites that have been launched from Gaza as a genuine physical threat. Dr. Ron Schleifer, an expert in psychological warfare, views the phenomenon as Hamas psychological warfare against Israel. Dr. Schleifer opens by saying that the prime minister is right to take the kite threat seriously. He says there is encouragement to be drawn from this serious approach, noting that until now, the tendency among military Intelligence researchers was to regard phenomena such as the kites as marginal and not a threat to Israel-and certainly not something that justified confronting the US president. 

Schleifer explains that launching kites toward Israel is part of what he calls an “offensive strategy that operates in tiny steps." He says, “Hamas cannot currently use its weapons for obvious reasons. It is at a disadvantage, so it is turning to psychological warfare, which can be more damaging than fire. It causes the other side-Israel-to doubt and deliberate over whether to act, whether a response is justified or not, while the initiative remains in its hands. This is a conditioning technique." He adds that “in all revolutionary warfare, of which psychological warfare is a part, the enemy is conditioned so that it does not feel that anything significant is happening until it is too late. This requires sacrifice and patience, both of which Hamas has in abundance." So how does the conditioning strategy work, step by step?

“It begins with kites flown by children, meaning we cannot hurt them. Hamas identifies our moral considerations as a point of strength for itself. The kites cross the boundary, and the children simply go to retrieve a kite that has fallen, thereby crossing the line again while Israel cannot do anything. Later, the mother will come to take the child away. The soldier, female observer and sniper will watch them and do nothing. This conditions us to accept that women can cross, and afterward it will be a sheep that escapes, then the shepherd, and so on." (Read More)