ToI’s weekly deep dive: 3rd annual Veterans Games * Israel’s ’scrappy’ Air Force marks 75 * Comedian Dan Ahdoot * Podcast: What Matters Now to public lobbyist Rachel Gur

[Times of Israel]( [Weekly Deep Dive]( Sunday, June 4, 2023 [Wounded vets from Israel and the UK test their mettle at 3rd annual Veterans Games]( By Melanie Lidman The three-day event brings together more than 100 Israeli and British military veterans for an athletic competition, sightseeing, and a chance to bond with comrades-in-arms Op-ed David Horovitz [Echoes of the Judean People’s Front: Monty Python’s in Jerusalem, and it isn’t funny]( When the pro-democracy ‘Safeguarding Our Home’ rallies are overwhelmed and undermined by adjacent, rival-allied ‘Free Palestine’ demonstrators Analysis Lazar Berman [Casting wary eye on IAEA, Israel fears US laying groundwork for new Iran deal]( Jerusalem worries Washington may be bowing to Iranian demands for a new nuclear pact, and is concerned that Saudi normalization may be used to compensate for its objections [Deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia is ‘absolutely possible,’ says ex-Mossad chief]( By Lazar Berman Military [Successful but scrappy: Air Force marks 75 years since its 1st-ever strike mission]( By Emanuel Fabian Surprise attack on Egyptian convoy marching toward Tel Aviv is thought to have changed the course of War of Independence in 1948, despite not hitting its target [50 years after the war / ‘Egypt, Syria are coordinating’: IDF estimates on eve of Yom Kippur War declassified]( By Emanuel Fabian [IDF cyber defense system, three other classified projects win top security prize]( By Emanuel Fabian Law [Tikvah Fund alumni urge group to cut support for think tank behind judicial overhaul]( By Luke Tress In letter, 25 academics ask conservative non-profit to cut ties with Kohelet Policy Forum, saying the organization seeks to ‘subvert Israeli democracy’ [Visiting British Lords warn of potential fracture in Israel’s institutions]( By Lazar Berman [Former Supreme Court justice Yaakov Turkel dies aged 88]( By Jeremy Sharon Top Ops Asaf Malchi [The IDF ‘Israel Service’ plan sounds like a good idea. It’s not.]( Setting up easy enlistment tracks for Haredi and Arab Israelis would be, complicated, costly and harmful Shira Pasternak Be'eri [What I could (and couldn’t) see from the women’s section]( My year of saying Kaddish brought me and my camera into Orthodox synagogues on weekdays. This is what I saw Ely Karmon [Belgium’s shameful, dangerous deal with Iran]( The release of a jailed Iranian terrorist to free an aid worker held captive in Teheran spells the return of ‘hostage diplomacy’ Judy Halper [Jerusalem is precisely the place for a Gay Pride parade]( Proud LGBTQ+ can remind the capital’s inhabitants that acceptance and compassion are not only allowed, they are necessary LGBTQ+ [30,000 march in Jerusalem Pride Parade under tight security but without incident]( By Jeremy Sharon National Security Minister Ben Gvir jeered by participants, who shout ‘Nazis out’ at the far-right minister; marchers also call to protect democracy, hold anti-overhaul banners Diaspora [Porto Jews decry ‘Soviet-style antisemitism’ as lucrative citizenship vetting probed]( By Canaan Lidor Jewish community in coastal Portugal city has flourished, but is now being torn by decision to attack investigation into handling of citizenship process for Jews deemed Sephardic [Inside story / As Jewish leaders debate community’s future in Europe, their kids are already leaving]( By Canaan Lidor [CRM]( ToI podcast [What Matters Now to lobbyist Rachel Gur: Why Israel is so #₪@$! expensive]( By Amanda Borschel-Dan Monopoly isn’t just a board game for Lobby 99’s director of public policy. This week, we hear how a mere handful of powerful companies control prices in almost every sector Interview [Comedy for Koby’s Dan Ahdoot: Why Falafel Phil and over-tipping hold the keys to peace]( By David Horovitz Concert review [Robbie Williams at Tel Aviv show: ‘You have something incredibly f*cking special here’]( By Charlie Summers In energetic, lively concert for audience of tens of thousands, UK pop star touts his Jewish wife, kids and Hebrew tattoo, gushes about Israeli duet partner Noga Erez [Fast friends / Robbie Williams bonds with Noga Erez ahead of Tel Aviv show]( By Jessica Steinberg [Galilee street concert offers respite from locals’ polarization surrounding overhaul]( By Canaan Lidor [Andie MacDowell stars in Israeli film about life choices, based on Cameri play]( By Jessica Steinberg Holocaust [Inspired by ‘Hamilton,’ diverse docudrama based on survivor testimony is touring US]( By Matt Lebovic In under an hour, ‘Survivors’ touches on Nazi racial laws, Kristallnacht, and the Kindertransport rescue. ‘The survivors in the play are warning us,’ says playwright Wendy Kout [Holocaust / Jewish doctors’ secret study of Warsaw ghetto starvation rediscovered 80 years later]( By Matt Lebovic Tech Israel [Switch to greener economy could generate 12,000 jobs, new research says]( By Sue Surkes Growth in sectors such as waste recycling, repair services likely to have a particularly positive impact in Israel, according to paper prepared for annual Eli Hurvitz confab [Israel officially recognizes Energean’s Katlan reservoir as natural gas discovery]( By Sharon Wrobel [Startup guru Vardi warns ‘there will be no high-tech or foreign currency’]( By Sharon Wrobel [Natural Coloring / Israeli research finds cleaning shrimps’ stripes key to better whitening agents]( By Sue Surkes Interview [Check yourself before you hex yourself: An expert’s guide to the evil eye]( By Rich Tenorio On Show [Modern and ancient coexist in $50 million Tower of David renovation]( By Jessica Steinberg Museum in age-old citadel becomes capital’s official gateway to the Old City [Framed differently / Haifa artworks can be seen on the way to work (or school)]( By Jessica Steinberg [In the picture / Creatures large and small draw caricaturist’s attention]( By Jessica Steinberg From The Blogs [When the words came back to me]( By Reyzl Grace What Clara offered was Hebrew lessons in exchange for babysitting. But what she gave me was a place that felt like home [Unsubscribe from this List]( Email not displaying correctly? [View in browser]( © 2023 The Times Of Israel, All Rights Reserved