ToI must-reads from war’s 9th month: Bedouin hostage’s relative speaks up * Why some Israelis must return to northern border *Op-ed: National service is authentic Judaism

[Times of Israel]( Sunday, July 7, 2024 Reporter's Notebook [In Rafah, IDF focuses on tunnels, with aim of destroying Hamas brigade within a month]( By Emanuel Fabian ToI joins commander of Givati Brigade in Gaza’s southernmost city, where army says the terror group’s operatives have embedded themselves inside booby-trapped buildings and tunnels Op-Ed David Horovitz [Evading national service in the Jewish state is the opposite of authentic Judaism]( Belatedly outlawed by the High Court, the norm under which the Haredi community is excluded from its responsibilities is an indefensible aberration and a betrayal of Jewish values [Explainer / The army must soon begin enlisting ultra-Orthodox men. How will that work?]( By Jeremy Sharon Analysis [Rafah operation and Gaza war are winding down; Israel is no closer to its goals]( By Lazar Berman Netanyahu faces an unclear path to defeating Hamas, getting the hostages back, deterring Hezbollah and staying in power; US goals, and Biden’s future, are in question as well Politics Sam Sokol [Failure of ‘Rabbis Bill’ shatters Haredi trust in PM, putting coalition on thin ice]( After Likud MKs rebel over contentious measure, ultra-Orthodox lawmakers accuse Netanyahu of being unable to keep party in line, doubt he can deliver on IDF draft bill [Op-ed / How Netanyahu’s interview with France’s TF1 widened the Jerusalem-Paris divide]( By Tal Schneider [At Tel Aviv confab, Israel’s embattled peace camp seeks to revive itself post-Oct. 7]( By Charlie Summers ToI podcast [What Matters Now to Haviv Rettig Gur: The rebellion from within Likud]( By ToI Staff ToI’s senior analyst discusses the ruling party’s paralysis in the current coalition even as a new ‘fantasy’ right-wing team rises in the polls Analysis [In war with low-tech foe, startups could prevent costly failings – so why don’t they?]( By Amir Mizroch On Oct. 7, Israel’s $1 billion border fence sensors were blinded by cheap Hamas drones. Companies developing solutions claim they still face resistance from the defense establishment Analysis Jeremy Sharon [New Gaza famine report reveals grim March predictions were vastly exaggerated]( Study appears to emphasize outlying malnutrition results, does not disclose mortality data, leading some experts to question the basis of its new projections [Key food security org finds no famine in Gaza, says previous assumptions wrong]( By Jeremy Sharon [Explainer / As war with Hezbollah looms, concerns over vulnerability of power grid generate unease]( By Sue Surkes Interview [‘We challenge the narrative that Hamas are good Muslims,’ says Bedouin hostages’ relative]( By Gianluca Pacchiani Inside story [Egypt, UAE prepared to participate in postwar Gaza security force — officials]( By Jacob Magid Blinken informs counterparts that Cairo and Abu Dhabi are conditionally on board, as US seeks to recruit other allies before rolling out plans for ‘day-after’ management of Strip [CRM]( Reporter's notebook [Israelis from town 2 miles from Lebanon forced to return home after running out of funds]( By Canaan Lidor After a hotel stay subsidized by a tapped-out Christian organization, Avdon’s 600 residents are refused state housing provided to others within the same distance from border [Reporters Notebook / As their stay at the Dead Sea ends, Be’eri evacuees look to the future, with hope]( By Gavriel Fiske [Reporter's notebook / Modern Robin Hood with a social justice mandate helps returnees on path of renewal]( By Sharon Wrobel [Bottled up by war, Judean hills vintners open anew to let visitors ‘breathe a little’]( By Jessica Steinberg Inside story [The imam’s call: How 2021’s lessons kept Jaffa from sliding into fiery riots on Oct. 8]( By Zvi Smith from the blogs [Please, look now]( By Yael Leibowitz The day You hid Your face from us, God, we found ourselves. Your children ran into fire, not away from it [The daily edition]( [facebook]( [twitter]( [instagram]( [View in browser]( [Contact support](mailto:support@timesofisrael.com) [Advertise with us](mailto:advertise@timesofisrael.com) Were you forwarded this email? [Subscribe here]( [Unsubscribe]( from this List © 2024 The Times Of Israel, All Rights Reserved