UN nuclear watchdog believes most of Iran’s enriched uranium unharmed by war with Israel

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/un-nuclear-watchdog-believes-most-of-irans-enriched-uranium-unharmed-by-war-with-israel

The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog revealed last week that the body believes that most of Iran’s supply of enriched uranium survived the country’s 12-day war with Israel back in June, and is still being kept inside the damaged nuclear facilities.

Rafael Grossi, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung in an interview published on October 18 that the UN body’s findings suggest that “the majority” of Iran’s 60% enriched uranium “remains in the nuclear facilities in Isfahan and Fordo, and some in Natanz.”

He estimated that, in total, Iran has roughly 400 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium still in its possession.

Trump mocks 'No Kings' protests with shocking AI videos

This is how the Americans turned Israel into a banana republic

 https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/hkx3thzrxg

So why did Netanyahu agree to everything he opposed? Why did he sign an agreement that includes, in Clause 19, recognition of the Palestinians’ right to self-determination and statehood? Because contrary to all the delusional statements, the American administration did not give Netanyahu a “free hand” to do as he pleased. On the contrary. They stopped him. They imposed their will. They turned Israel into a banana republic.

The problem isn’t that allied states, especially the U.S., exert pressure— that’s an inherent part of international relations. The problem is that Netanyahu created a dangerous precedent—a complete contradiction between his stated conditions for ending the war and what actually happened. A precedent of coercion met with full compliance. A precedent that has turned Israel into a banana republic.

Hamas isn’t acting like a defeated force, which puts the entire Gaza ceasefire at risk

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-isnt-acting-like-a-defeated-force-which-puts-the-entire-gaza-ceasefire-at-risk

No one seems to have informed Hamas that they have been defeated.

Trump’s 20-point plan, if fully implemented, would indeed spell an unmitigated victory for Israel and likely a fatal blow to any Hamas plans to rule Gaza in the foreseeable future.

Senior Israeli officials mince no words in their rejection of Hamas — and White House — excuses that the terror group is struggling to find or access the remaining bodies. “We know, as a matter of fact, they can easily bring back a significant number of dead hostages and give them back according to the agreement,” said Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the IDF to prepare plans to return to war if Hamas continues to avoid fulfilling its obligations.

Hamas politburo member Mohammed Nazzal told Reuters that Hamas would not commit to disarming, a central component of Trump’s plan. This despite Trump’s threat that the terror group could be dealt with “violently” if it refuses to give up its weapons.

Hamas is not trying to hide its weapons or its determination to violently eliminate any opposition in Gaza. It has carried out public executions, and its operatives have put uniforms back on, riding around Gaza in pickup trucks brandishing rifles.

IDF unleashes series of strikes on Hamas after terror group breaks ceasefire Anyone besides Trump and his Negotiators Surprised?

 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-870957

The IDF began “a series of strikes” against Hamas targets in southern Gaza in response to the terror group violating the ceasefire agreement on Sunday, the military announced.

The military condemned Hamas’s “blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement,” which occurred when the terror group fired an anti-tank missile and opened fire on Israeli soldiers.

Lake Kinneret reaches dangerously low water levels as Israeli authorities decide to pump in water

 https://www.jpost.com/environment-and-climate-change/article-870841

Lake Kinneret's (the Sea of Galilee) water level was measured at 213.19 meters below sea level on Wednesday, one of its lowest points in years. 

Such a low level in mid-October is not unusual; in nine of the past 25 years, the Kinneret’s level on this date was even lower.

A few weeks ago, Fares Talhami, director of the Kinneret and Northern Water Sources Conservation Division at the Water Authority, told Walla that “indeed, in previous drought periods there were lower levels compared to this year, but what is exceptional this year is the intensity of the drought we experienced. We went through a winter with only 40% of the average rainfall in the North, so the Kinneret’s level rose last winter by just 15 centimeters.”

Hamas returns bodies of two hostages as US State Department issues warning against breaking ceasefire

 https://edition.cnn.com/2025/10/18/middleeast/hamas-gaza-israeli-hostage-latam-intl

The truce in Gaza appears to be largely holding as it entered its second week, but has come under pressure from the delayed return of the remaining hostage bodies from Gaza, the initially slow entry of aid into the enclave, and Israel’s continued deadly strikes.

The US State Department said Saturday that “credible reports” indicate that Hamas is planning an “imminent ceasefire violation” against Palestinians in Gaza.

Millions rally against the Trump administration at ‘No Kings’ events across the country

 https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/no-kings-protests-trump-news-10-18-25

• Nationwide protest: Huge crowds marched in major cities and smaller gatherings were held across the country for “No Kings” protests against President Donald Trump’s administration. Organizers said there were nearly 7 million people at than 2,700 events in all 50 states, which police said were mostly peaceful, with many large cities reporting no protest-related incidents or arrests.

A month after international Palestinian state recognition, where is Israel’s response?

 https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bk684hwalg#autoplay

Nearly a month has passed since a group of countries, led by France, recognized a Palestinian state during a session of the UN General Assembly. Even before the recognition, Israeli officials held extensive discussions about how to respond to the diplomatic wave, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised ahead of his recent trip to the United States: “The response to the latest attempt to force upon us a terror state in the heart of our land will be given after my return from the United States. Stand by.”

However, current assessments suggest that the response has been shelved and may not materialize at all, after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly vetoed any Israeli annexation of the West Bank or parts of it—a step that had been floated in Israel as a potential response. The American position has sparked concern in Israel that the lack of an official response could embolden additional countries to recognize a Palestinian state in the near future.

Senior Hamas official: Terror group can’t commit to disarm, is open to 3-5 year truce

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/senior-hamas-official-terror-group-cant-commit-to-disarm-is-open-to-3-5-year-truce

 Hamas intends to maintain security control in Gaza during an interim period, a senior Hamas official told Reuters, adding he could not commit to the terrorist group disarming — positions that reflect the difficulties facing US plans to secure an end to the war.

Hamas politburo member Mohammed Nazzal also said the terror organization was ready for a ceasefire of up to five years to rebuild devastated Gaza, with guarantees for what happens afterwards depending on Palestinians being given “horizons and hope” for statehood.

Speaking to Reuters in an interview from Doha, where Hamas leaders have long resided, Nazzal defended the terror group’s crackdown in Gaza, where it carried out summary public executions on Monday. There were always “exceptional measures” during war and those executed were criminals guilty of killing, he claimed.

Witkoff says he and Kushner ‘felt a little bit betrayed’ by Israeli strike in Qatar

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/witkoff-says-he-and-kushner-felt-a-little-bit-betrayed-by-israeli-strike-in-qatar

US President Donald Trump felt the “Israelis were getting a little bit out of control” after Israel’s botched September 9 strike on Hamas’s leadership in Doha, his son-in-law and top adviser Jared Kushner said in comments broadcast Friday.

The comment came during a joint interview with US special envoy Steve Witkoff on CBS’s 60 Minutes. The interview with the two architects of the Gaza ceasefire-hostage deal will air in full on Sunday.

“I think both Jared and I felt, I just feel we felt a little bit betrayed,” said Witkoff of Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders gathered in the capital of Qatar, a key mediator in the ceasefire negotiations.

MAGA Rages at ‘No Kings’ Protests: ‘Sponsored by Communists’

 https://www.newsweek.com/maga-rages-at-no-kings-protests-sponsored-by-communists-10900155

Prominent figures within President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement have reacted with anger ahead of anti-Trump "No Kings" demonstrations that are taking place across the country on Saturday, with House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, dubbing it the “Hate America rally.”

Over 3,000 demonstrations have been organized as part of "No Kings" on Saturday, which organizers say were called to show that “America has no kings, and the power belongs to the people.”

According to CNN, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy claimed the "No Kings" demonstrations were “part of Antifa,” a loose antifascist coalition that Trump recently designated as a terrorist organization. The outlet also quoted Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as claiming the demonstrations would contain the “most unhinged in the Democratic Party.”  

George Santos Reacts To Prison Release

 https://www.newsweek.com/george-santos-reacts-to-prison-release-10899787

Former Representative George Santos, who was jailed for fraud, has spoken out about President Donald Trump commuting his sentence, saying “the U.S. is back.”

His conviction stemmed from a series of criminal schemes, including submitting false campaign finance documents, misusing donor identities to route funds for personal and campaign use, and providing fraudulent information to the New York State Department of Labor and the House of Representatives.

Santos was sentenced in April 2025 to 87 months in federal prison and began serving his term at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey, in July. His release came less than three months into his sentence.

Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries posted on X: "Donald Trump has time to free serial fraudster George Santos from prison. But he can’t be bothered to address the Republican healthcare crisis crushing working class Americans. The extremists are insulting you every single day."

Good and bad tzadikim

 Netziv (Introduction to Bereishis): Bereishis was called Sefer HaYoshor (the Book of the Upright) by the prophets. The praise of Uprightness is to reinforce G‑d’s judgment in destroying the Second Temple which as a generation of tzadikim and chassidim and those devoted to learning Torah - however they were not Upright in the mundane world. Therefore, because of the baseless hatred in their hearts to each other, they suspected that whomever they saw who did not conduct himself according to their opinion in Yiras Shamayim - must be a heretic. Consequently, this led to much killing and all the evils in the world until the Temple was destroyed. Thus, there was an acknowledgement of the Uprightness of G‑d’s judgment in that He would not tolerate tzadikim like these. Rather He wanted tzadikim who were upright in the world. Because even if the non‑upright tzadikim were motivated by religious consideration - such conduct destroys the world.