08 June 2026 – Iran and Israel trade blows and Mr President, we have every right to defend ourselves. Your updates on The Israel Brief.
09 June 2026 – The Chief Prosecutor of the ICC suspended, more UNRWA ties to Hamas and your updates on The Israel Brief.
10 June 2026 – “Taking too long to negotiate a deal and will now pay a price” – all your updates on The Israel Brief.
11 June 2026 – Twenty Two countries take aim at Iran, your mensches and morons and headlines on The Israel Brief.
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
Things I know and don’t know about a deal with the Islamic Republic.
Since barrages of missiles were fired at Israel Sunday night and again Monday morning this week, from the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Houthis in Yemen, there are some things that are clearer and some things that are less clear. One thing that is certainly clear is that this situation is unsustainable.
It seems clear that in a call to Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Trump insisted that Israel not respond to the Sunday evening barrage on the grounds that:
“The Iranian strikes didn’t hurt anybody,” and
“If Bibi strikes them back its just gonna keep going like the past 47 years, or the last 3000 years.”
I don’t know, I wasn’t alive 3000 years ago – but I do know that the Iran attack on Israel was because the Islamists know Trump is faking it about the “deal” that he’s been saying is close for months. You can imagine him in the role of Meg Ryan (Sally) at the deli in “When Harry Met Sally,” his performance earning complements from patrons at the next table, and Islamists around the world alike. “We are very close to a final deal with Iran; it’s going to be a good deal. I don’t want to blow it up because of what is happening now.”
Billy Crystal (Harry) and the rest of the world look on in disbelief.
Take on Fake. The most iconic fake scene in movies is sadly plating out live in geo-politics in the Gulf.
I know that the Islamic Republic attacked because they successfully linked themselves and a deal with the US to Hezbollah in Lebanon. So, when Israel attacked Hezbollah positions near Beirut, the Islamic Republic used it as a pretext to attack Israel, knowing that they would be goading Israel into a no-win situation as Trump truly believes he’s got a deal at hand. Ever the dealmaker, Trump, likely saw it as a draw, “Each of them had their fun. Israel had its strike and Iran had its strike. We don’t need another one.”
I also know that the Islamic Republic attacked because as a possible peace deal between Israel and Lebanon may be inching closer, it’s bad for their proxy Hezbollah, and terrorists will always use terror to influence from the outside. Indeed, it’s a common Islamic terrorist strategy, literally to try to blow up peace through missiles or suicide attacks.
I know they attacked because they knew by now that Trump thinks he’s so close that he won’t let anyone ruin his “deal”. But he’s been saying that he’s “close” for weeks and weeks. They know that he wants a deal more than they are (ever) prepared to make a deal, so they attacked, calling his bluff.
They attacked literally because Trump’s words about a deal have been the fuel for the missiles they fired. They want no deal, they just want to play Trump, and will use any pretext to attack or otherwise harm Israel. They attacked because their agenda is clear and they are singularly focused on playing the US and the West as they have for “the past 47 years” but probably not “the last 3000 years.”
If there had been any doubt as to whether President Trump was bluffing, and his weeks and weeks of chanting about making a deal with the Islamic Republic were part of some mass deception campaign, that doubt has been late to rest. It is clear that his notion of ending the war and the threat to America and the West by signing “the best deal ever” has never been more mistaken than ever.
Unfortunately, the Islamic Republic saw his hand and played him. They demanded that Lebanon be included, and when Israel responded to a violation of a cease-fire with Hezbollah (nearly 20 Israeli soldiers have been killed during the ceasefire), Iran was given freehand to launch barrages of ballistic missiles at Israel.
Deal Breaker. Historic opportunity is the last thing Hezbollah wanted and tried sabotaging it by firing missiles into northern Israel.
Unlike President Biden, who said “Don’t, don’t” to deter Iran and Hezbollah in 2023, this week, President Trump essentially said “Don’t” to Israel to prevent the appropriate and massive response that should have taken place. This week we know the Islamic Republic knows that Trump is more eager for a deal than actually defeating the Islamic Republic. They know that they can continue to play him before and after a deal if there is one.
I know that there can be no deal with the Islamic Republic and its proxies. I know that in the real estate deals Trump is used to, they end by one party paying for a project and the other selling the land or rights to do the project. It’s a simple transaction. I know that with the Islamic Republic and its proxies, any deal now will mean that we are paying later, and later.
Yes, maybe for 3000 years!
I know that for the past 100 days and more (but probably not 3000 years), anti-Israel agitators have used every deceitful trope anyway to make Israel look like the bad guy, somehow controlling Trump and US policy. Yet the latest escalation and tying Israel‘s hands has made it clear not only was this never true, but in fact, Trump has tied Israel hands.
I know that Israel did retaliate, hitting Iranian sites Monday morning, and that this possibly could give Israel face-saving cover to appease Trump more broadly, while respecting the alliance between Israel and the United States are allies. It does not make sense to cross the president unless absolutely necessary. But the Islamic Republic is not only not an ally, but a dangerous enemy seeking the destruction of the United States. I know that as much as Trump may think he’s “close” to a deal, the Islamic Republic will never do or agree to anything that is not in its long-term interest. Even if that is suicidal. I don’t know if Trump realizes that any deal with the Islamists is itself suicidal.
Iran Deal “round the corner”. Its unsure if anyone knows what’s “around the corner”!
I know that if there is a deal, the Islamic Republic will play along but, before the ink is dry, they will use their decades of practice (47 years to be precise, but not 3000) to undermine that.
I know that to the Islamic Republic and their proxies, as well as to US allies in the region who are trying to assess what Trump is doing, it is clear that he seems desperate to end the war, even at the expense of not achieving the declared goals set out at the beginning of hostilities. This is while insisting that the Islamic Republic never obtains nuclear weapons.
Annoyed, maybe even angered that his deal might be sidetracked, he commented:
“I would say an agreement would be signed on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of this coming week.”
But the Iranians see it as crying wolf, as they suit up in their wolf’s clothing, ready to use Trump’s eagerness to make a deal as a time to pounce. This they have done in closing the Strait of Hormuz, creating a global energy crisis that they are able to tighten under a ‘deal’ down the road.
Blocked Artery. Time to free the global economy from the grip of Iranian Islamic tyranny.
One hundred days after the US and Israel begin a war together to – eliminate Iran’s nuclear weapons program and ballistic missile capabilities
– its support for its terror proxies Hezbollah and Hamas, and
– create facts on the ground that could lead to the fall of the Islamic regime,
Israel was once again under attack and the Islamists clearly playing its hand while Trump was talking about a deal.
NOW I know it’s time to finish the job and win, not talk and talk about a deal.
About the writer:
Jonathan Feldstein - President of the US based non-profit Genesis123 Foundation whose mission is to build bridges between Jews and Christians – is a freelance writer whose articles appear in The Jerusalem Post, Times of Israel, Townhall, NorthJersey.com, Algemeiner Journal, The Jewish Press, major Christian websites and more.
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
How democratically elected leaders are systematically undermining democracy.
By Neville Berman
“Democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” Winston Churchill
Elections are an essential part of democracy, but having elections does not mean that the country is democratic. Let us look at some examples of elections around the world.
Nothing beats the parliamentary elections in North Korea. The media reported that 99.93 % of the electorate voted. 100% of those who voted, reaffirmed Kim Jong Un as their leader. What an amazingly free and fair election result.
President Hafez al-Assad and his son Bashar al-Assad consistently received approval ratings of between 95 – 98% of the votes. The true position became absolutely clear in December 2024 when Bashar al-Assad was forced to flee to Russia where he was granted asylum.
President MuammarGaddafi of Libya said that all his people loved him. Shortly thereafter he was forced to flee. He was found hiding in a ditch and was immediately executed. Obviously not all his people loved him.
Believe it or not, elections were actually held in Afghanistan. Only men over the age of 18 were allowed to vote. An American organization decided to attend the election in order to report if the elections were free and fair. The authorities in Afghanistan refused to allow the organization to be present inside the actual area where voting was going to take place. At one polling station, they stood outside for the entire time that the polling station was open. They counted less than 800 people who came to vote. The official count showed that over 15,000 votes were cast at the polling station. Obviously, elections mean different things in different parts of the world.
From Russia with Love. Thanks to his friendship with Putin, Bashar Assad who won in 2021 a fourth term in office as president with 95.1% of votes now lives in luxurious exile in Moscow having fled Syria in 2024.
Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world. About a decade ago a senior Haiti official had a meeting with the Assistant American Secretary of State in Washington D.C. He asked what America would like to see happen in Haiti. The answer was that America would like to see free and fair elections in which all citizens over the age of 18 are allowed to vote. The official from Haiti agreed that this was essential. He then asked:
“After the vote, who do you want us to announce as the winner.”
Even the Islamic Republic of Iran has elections. Only candidates approved by the Iranian Guardian Council are allowed to become candidates. What a farce. No wonder that in 2024, less than 40% of those eligible to vote, actually voted. Clearly there is huge dissatisfaction at the way the country is governed. The amazing thing about the elections is the speed in which tens of millions of votes are counted. The results of the election are announced within hours of the closing of voting. It seems plausible that the results could be announced even before the voting started.
Every Israeli citizen irrespective of race religion or gender who is over the age of 18, has the right to vote in Israeli parliamentary elections. Israel claims to be the sole democracy in the Middle East. In actual fact, no Israeli political party has ever won a majority of 61 seats out of the 120 seats in the Knesset. What this means is that after every election, a coalition government has to be formed. The price demanded by the smaller parties to join the coalition is normally out of all proportion to the amount of support that they received in the election. Bribery, corruption and extortion are the correct names for what takes place. New ministries with huge budgets are created to satisfy the egos of political hacks who are neither qualified nor experienced enough to handle. In the end a coalition government is formed that costs billions of shekels from the coffers of the country. The present Israeli government is composed of five political parties. The Israeli coalition government is in reality a ‘’reverse democracy” as it is not based on the wishes of the party that won the most votes, but on the demands and policies of the minority parties that agreed to join the coalition provided the price paid to them was sufficient. This arrangement ensures that someone becomes prime minister by manipulation. Dan Bielski, a political commentator in Israel summed up the position succinctly when he stated that “Israeli politicians can commit suicide by jumping from their egos to their IQ’s.”
Vote of ‘Approval’. Iranians cast their votes at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, March 1, 2024 only for candidates approved by the Iranian Guardian Council. Was it any wonder that it was the lowest electoral turnout since the Islamic Republic’s founding in 1979. (Photo: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)
Let us now look at how democratically elected leaders of countries have systematically turned their countries into autocracies. Although the sequence of what takes place may differ from country to country, and some events may not occur, the playbook of how this is done is basically the same all over the world. It usually starts with the election of a leader, who has delusional views that only he can lead the country to recover past greatness, and lead the country to new heights.
Once elected, he immediately starts by assuming greater executive power than the law intended. The separation of powers between and legislative, judicial and executive are slowly but systematically dismantled. People perceived as possibly posing a threat to his leadership such as the top leadership of the military and security forces are removed from their positions of power. Control of the press and TV stations by the government is the next goal. A crackdown on the liberal press and TV channels that the leader believes are acting against the wishes of the majority of the electorate is implemented. If the criticism continues, the newspapers and TV channels are closed down. The independence of the judiciary, that may rule against the government, is one of the things that elected officials cannot stand. At some point in time an attempt is made to change the way that judges are selected and appointed. In some countries, the entire judicial system is overhauled by arresting and holding judges in prison for months without any charges being filed. The civil service is always systematically subverted. This is done by retiring or firing civil servants whose views do not appear to be in line with government policy. Opposition candidates are then prevented from running in elections. This can happen because of “accidents”, or by trumped up legal charges against them. At this stage the judges in the courts understand that their own position is dependent on handing down prison sentences on those accused of committing certain crimes. Once in prison the opposition candidate is charged with additional crimes such as tax evasion and embezzlement. The end result is always long-term imprisonment or the mysterious death of the prisoner while in jail.
The Prime Minister or President always takes credit for everything positive that has occurred, even if he had nothing to do with anything that caused the positive situation. Anything negative that has occurred, is either blamed on the previous government, or the blame is shifted to external forces and enemies. This gives the government an excuse to massively increase the defense budget. This is funded by deficit enlargement. While billions of dollars of government contracts are awarded to well-connected companies, the leader of the country somehow becomes a multi-millionaire or a billionaire. No explanation is given as to how he accumulated his new wealth. At some point during the above process, the constitution of the country is changed to allow the President or Prime Minister to rule for life.
Waging war is another way that leaders of countries hope to gain support. In 1982, Margaret Thatcher became immensely more popular by waging war against the Argentinian takeover of the Falkland Islands. The Falkland Islands are situated nearly 12,900 kilometers from Britain, and have almost zero strategic value. Nevertheless, Thatcher went to war to regain control of the islands. A fleet of Royal Navy ships were dispatched to the Falklands. In total six British ships were sunk including the HMS Sheffield, which was sunk by an Exocet missile. Dozens of aircraft and 24 helicopters never made it back to Britain. 649 Argentinian soldiers and 3 Falklanders were killed in the war. The cost of the war in today’s terms was over a billion sterling and 255 members of the British armed forces were killed. Before the war, the British Prime Minister was behind in the polls. After regaining the Falkland Islands, the British press went absolutely overboard in praising the “Iron Lady”. Margaret Thatcher won the next election by a landslide. The lesson of going to war and winning in the election that follows has been noted by several of today’s leaders.
“Iron Lady”. While the Falkland War elevated British PM Margaret Thatcher to hero status as seen here surrounded by her troops on the island in January 1983, Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges called the Falkland War: “… a fight between two bald men over a comb,” inferring how useless the islands were to both nations.
Israel is not even close to the level of autocracy or dictatorship found in Russia, China, Turkey, North Korea, Afghanistan, and most Middle Eastern countries ruled by military dictatorships or royal families. However, Israel has fulfilled several of the steps outlined above that result in democracy moving towards autocracy. This is a slippery slope that is difficult to reverse.
Contrived Coalitions. In order to entrench his and his party’s position in power, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has no problem including in his coalition the ultra-religious parties who are non-Zionist and aggressively oppose military service of their followers. The PM is seen here in November 21, 2022 shaking hands with MK Yitzchak Goldknopf, leader of the United Torah Judaism party. (Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
The coming Israeli election in October, will be an opportunity for the electorate in Israel, to do what is necessary to ensure that the slippery slope is firmly reversed. Bibi Netanyahu has used every trick in the book to remain in power, and he is prepared to use any means necessary to continue to be the prime minister. The coming election is going to be brutal and unethical. The present political leadership has failed to bring unity to the country. It needs to be replaced.
About the writer:
Accountant Neville Berman had an illustrious sporting career in South Africa, being twice awarded the South African State Presidents Award for Sport and was a three times winner of the South African Maccabi Sportsman of the Year Award. In 1978 he immigrated to the USA to coach the United States men’s field hockey team, whereafter, in 1981 he immigrated to Israel where he practiced as an accountant and then for 20 years was the Admin Manager at the American International School in Even Yehuda, Israel. He is married with two children and one granddaughter.
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
Professor Seymour Fox, one of the most influential figures in modern Jewish education, dean of the School of Education at Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1967–1981), where the School of Education was later named in his honor, was the founder of the Melton Centre for Jewish Education, a major center for Jewish educational research and leadership training.
President of the Mandel Foundation, he was also the architect of the Jerusalem Fellows program (launched in the early 1980s), an elite leadership development fellowship for experienced Jewish educators from abroad. Fellows spent extended periods in Jerusalem studying educational philosophy, Jewish thought, leadership, and institutional change, then returned to leadership roles in their Jewish communities.
Lasting Legacy. Arguably one the most important visionary in Jewish education, Seymour Fox (1929 – 2006) was the founder of the Melton Centre for Jewish Education, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
A visionary, a mover and shaker, a disruptor, a brilliant fundraiser, Seymour co-opted significant leaders and philanthropists to his cause.
I was extremely fortunate to be selected for the Jerusalem Fellows, and being surrounded by the best and the brightest on the program, which took me way out of my ghetto comfort zone on the backwater slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town. Here, I was able to thrive in an environment which empowered me to exponentially sharpen my knowledge base and practice, develop my leadership skills and levels of confidence, establish a cohort of mentors – and essentially, jet-fueled my career.
I thought about the Jerusalem Fellows program, which still impacts Jewish education, after attending an inspirational lecture by Dr. Tal Becker, a vice president at the Shalom Hartman Institute, international lawyer, Israeli peace negotiator, and one of the leading voices in Jewish thought on Israel and global affairs.
My main takeaway from his presentation was that while in the Middle East, post-October 7, Israel may have “won,” whatever that means, we have unfortunately lost the West.
We in Israel and in the Jewish world, besides being hopelessly and tragically unprepared for the traumatic, Holocaust-like massacre of October 7, were also disastrously unprepared for October 8 – and for what continues to this day, unabated: the roller coaster, runaway tsunami of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish hatred that had clearly been orchestrated and choreographed way in advance.
Unprepared and Unresponsive. The reflexive antipathy on the streets across the world following October 7 surprised the Jewish world that was totally unprepared against a rising tide of global antisemitism.
It is backed by millions of dollars invested over many years, in an ongoing, vitriolic, anti-Israel campaign, backed by the legacy media, adding fuel to the cause – which has consequently made it unsafe for Jews around the world.
What is especially sad is that we were reaping the fruits of the golden age of global Jewry: post-Holocaust to October 6, reveling in and being liberated by our newly found freedoms of acceptance and admiration, perhaps the pinnacle being the ultimate status symbol of marrying a Jew!
Jewish people internationally thrived, developing sophisticated health, education, and welfare services in our local communities, but also enthusiastically sharing our good fortune, making huge contributions as entrepreneurs and captains of industry, and being incredibly generous to the larger communities in which we lived – in many cases, being significant philanthropists of note, held in awe.
Jewish leadership globally engaged with and was instrumentally involved in helping to build the State of Israel on many levels – from investing huge sums of money via the organized Jewish community – to sending hundreds of thousands of youngsters on Birthright, an established rite of passage, to visiting frequently and to making aliyah, leading by example.
And yet, it seems, notwithstanding the outstanding leadership and dedication of people of exceptional calibre, that we somehow took our eye off the ball, seemingly unaware of the simmering antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment bubbling just below the surface.
We also played down the impact of more than $1.1 billion donated by Qatar to US colleges and universities in 2025, the single largest foreign source of university funding that year, giving Qataris access to political leaders, academics, policy experts, journalists and business elites. Do the math!
We also did not consider the impact of faculty on students at elite universities in the US and globally, in the post 60’s progressive era who focused, in the main, on Israel as an “oppressor and colonialist state.”
Rid the Jew. “Nothing prepared me” was a common response from Jewish students at US campuses to the sudden post October 7 outbreak of antisemitism. (Photo: Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Neither did we factor in the impact of NGOs in the “human rights” sphere, with millions of dollars at their disposal, who continue to be preoccupied with, and constantly demonizing and delegitimizing, Israel.
Of course, the power of social media, driven by the multiplier, viral effect of algorithmic, visual hatred of Jews, has left us entirely flatfooted.
SECURING ISRAEL’S FUTURE THROUGH LEADERSHIP AND EDUCATION
Consequently, we are constantly in reactive mode, seemingly unable to counter this rolling snowball avalanche of hate, anti-Israel marches around the world, and now, perhaps climaxing with Kristof’s recent hit-piece screed in The New York Times, essentially comparing us with Hamas – and playing down the self-documented brutality of Hamas in their orgy of rape and violence as documented in the Israeli Civil Commission Report: “Silenced No More” (May 2026).
The cumulative effect of this global strategy of destroying Israel has placed us in a precarious situation, with few friends around the world, feeble government responses, and the crumbling of protective guard rails, literally placing Jewish lives in jeopardy.
I would argue that no matter what we do or say, for the foreseeable future, we will be the pariah of the international community.
Returning to Professor Fox and his Jerusalem Fellows model: what is desperately needed is to intensively train the next generation of elite leaders, who are knowledgeable and can be proactive, and respond with facts and figures, who will be influencers and have exceptional writing, social media, and content-producing skills.
Think of Eylon Levy, of people who will have that rare combination of intellectual depth, moral seriousness, public clarity, and persuasive presence to handle any contingency, and who will be able to engage effectively in the intellectual and moral contests of our time as well as take on the establishment. This, after all, is the new battlefield. Think Bari Weiss.
Man on a Mission. Eylon Levy, who served as an official spokesman for the State of Israel at the outbreak of the October 7 emerged as one of the world’s most recognizable advocates for Israel driving billions of impressions across social media.
Imagine bringing 20 exceptional people annually from a diversity of fields of expertise from around the world, over a 10-year period, to spend two years living, conversing, and debating together in Jerusalem. They would create a living, intellectual ecosystem and combustion chamber in real time where excellence becomes contagious, where Fellows are feeding off each other, and while sitting at the feet of and being trained by Tal Becker and Tal Becker clones.
They would be exposed to the best scholars, educators, and practitioners from Israel and around the world, in the Rabbi Jonathan Sacks mold, perhaps the greatest scholar and teacher of our generation – all united by a common mission: to be prepared, as part of a strategic network, to take on the mantle of responsible Jewish leadership in a topsy-turvy, unstable world, which has its sights set on destroying Israel.
Inspiring Example. The writer draws inspiration from the towering philosopher, author, and moral voice of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks (1948–2020) who was unyielding in his articulate public resistance to rising antisemitism and anti-Zionism, and who eloquently stood up to protect Jewish communities across the world.
A fund of at least $100 million is needed to concretely plan for and to set up urgently the equivalent of Rhodes Scholars, in essence, adapting the model of the Jerusalem Fellows into a long-term, elite leadership incubator, to rigorously prepare a new generation for the intellectual, cultural, and media battles ahead. These future leaders will help shape thousands of lives through media, policy, education, scholarship, diplomacy, and institutions.
This initiative should be given the highest priority – if we are to help secure the future of Israel and the Jewish people.
Are we up to this existential challenge?
Feature photo: Leadership Circle. The Mandel Program for Leadership in Jewish Culture aims to promote a rich and diverse, deep and connecting Jewish culture that will impact the future of Israeli society and the Jewish people.
About the writer:
Solly Kaplinski, a graduate of Herzlia School, Habonim, the Jerusalem Fellows and the Universities of Cape Town and South Africa, headed up Jewish Day Schools in Cape Town, Toronto, and Vancouver before making Aliyah with Arleen in 2000. Author of the novella, A World of Pain: A Redemptive Parable?, and 2 volumes on Donors, and Fundraisers – see http://www.journeysintothegentleheart.com, Solly’s professional life in Israel is bookended by working at Yad Vashem and The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. Solly and Arleen’s three daughters, their spouses, and a minyan of grandchildren all live in Israel.
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has recently kicked the genocide case brought by South Africa against Israel further down the road. It has authorised the filing of a second round of written submissions (court pleadings). The first round of pleadings consisted of a memorial and counter memorial. The court was requested by South Africa last month that a second round of pleadings was required because of the complexity of the case and the volume of Israel’s counter-memorial with numerous annexures. Israel also filed objections to the court’s jurisdiction and the admissibility of South Africa’s application.
Article 49 (3) of the rules of the ICJ provides:
“The Reply and Rejoinder, whenever authorized by the Court, shall not merely repeat the parties’ contentions, but shall be directed to bringing out the issues that still divide them.
In a ruling dated 29 May 2026, the ICJ has given South Africa until 22 November 2027, to file its reply and Israel has until 22 May 22, 2029, to submit a rejoinder.
Dr Gilad Noam, a member of Israel’s legal team said in a post on X dated 31 May 2026:
“… it demonstrates that South Africa’s allegations are wholly unfounded and that this is a case that should never have been brought in the first place. This case constitutes a manifest misuse of the Genocide Convention and of the Court itself. Regardless of how long it may take, the only tenable outcome remains the dismissal of South Africa’s claims in their entirety.”
What is the significance of this extension of time limits and the filing of further documents and what does this mean for the future of the case?
Clearly Israel’s counter memorial, its statement of defence has seriously derailed the entire case of genocide brought by South Africa. This is not surprising. The memorial filed by South Africa was filled with tendentious and inaccurate material which cannot stand scrutiny.
South Africa’s Basket Case. Dr. Gilad Noam, Israel’s Deputy Attorney General at the ICJ Ruling in January 2024, recently posted on X that “South Africa’s allegations are wholly unfounded and that this is a case that should never have been brought in the first place.” (Photo: ICJ.)
Legal wisdom has it, that if you cannot make out a decent case in your founding papers, you will be most unlikely to fix it in reply. The odds are that the case against Israel was at its high point in December 2023 when it brought the application for provisional measures but since then it is on a downhill trajectory as it has to embark on damage control to try and rebut Israel’s counter memorial. No doubt it will seek to introduce new material based on events subsequent to filing its original memorial. This is a two-edged sword. Much of the hype and misinformation about starvation, bombardment, violence against civilians, children etc has now been extensively researched by Israel and it is in a far better position to critique the unreliable reports by UN agencies and humanitarian organisations based in Gaza, many based on Hamas and lacking verification and sound methodology. Israel will be afforded the opportunity to offer these critiques in its rejoinder as well as its own careful research. Some of the reports stripping away the genocide case against Israel have already been published, for example the report of 311 pages published in September 2025 by the Sadat Centre for Strategic Studies in association with Bar Ilan University (BESA) entitled:
“Debunking the Genocide Allegations: A Re-examination of the Israel-Hamas War from October 7, 2023 to June 1, 2025”.
Let’s rewind.
On 29 December 2023, South Africa filed an application in the ICJ claiming that Israel was in breach of the Genocide Convention seeking preliminary urgent measures from the court to prevent genocide. This was less than three months after the invasion and atrocities by Hamas in Israel on 7 October 2023. Yet South Africa was able to assemble a fully researched account of Israel’s previous conduct in Gaza in earlier wars and an up-to-date record of the new war.
This application follows a similar approach to the 2019 Rohingya genocide case brought in the ICJ by the Gambia on behalf of the Organisation for Islamic co-operation against Myanmar. On 23 January 2020, the ICJ issued an order for provisional measures ordering Myanmar to prevent genocidal acts against the Rohingya Muslims. Since then, two rounds of memorials were also filed and the case was heard in January 2026. Judgment is expected in about six months. A relatively smooth passage yet at least seven years will have passed before a final outcome.
In the Gaza case, the court issued a provisional ruling on 26 January 2024 which has been widely misunderstood and often wilfully misrepresented. South Africa hailed it as a success and a vindication of its genocide claims. The ruling went down 5 to 2, with judges Julia Sebutinde (Uganda) and Aharon Barak (Israel) dissenting. Former president of the ICJ, Joan Donoghue, clarified that the court decided the Palestinians had a “plausible right” to be protected from genocide and that South Africa had the right to present that claim in the court. She emphasised that, contrary to some reporting, the court did not make a ruling on whether the claim of genocide was plausible, but found that there was a risk of irreparable harm (my emphasis). A far cry from establishing actual genocide in any shape or form.
Playing with Plausibility. The words of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) have been subject to intense scrutiny since South Africa brought its case and has centred around the use of the word “plausible” in the ruling. Then-president of the International Court of Justice Joan Donoghue said the ruling had been misinterpreted.
For those unfamiliar with legal procedures, in proceedings for interim or provisional measures, the threshold of proof is not as high and easier to establish than in a final adjudication. A mere likelihood or plausible risk of harm suffices. In South Africa, this is called a prima facie case. However, in a final hearing, proof of genocide is far more onerous. Proof of genocidal intention is called dolus specialis (special intent) which amounts to evidence which allows no other conclusion. The normal standard of proof of criminal intent is beyond a reasonable doubt. Dolus specialis does not even allow any reasonable doubt. Genocide is the ultimate crime against humanity and this term has been carelessly and promiscuously bandied about in condemnation of Israel by many countries, activists and human rights groups alike without any respect for its true international legal meaning.
The case has progressed as follows:
On 28 March 2024, following a second request for additional measures, the ICJ issued an order for further emergency measures, that Israel must ensure basic food supplies, in order to allay famine and starvation allegedly facing Gaza.
On 24 May 2024 a further order was issued requiring Israel to cease operations in Rafah. The court was divided. The Israeli, German, Ugandan and Romanian judges interpreted the ruling as not requiring a ceasefire in Rafah, and allowing for defensive operations against Hamas including the rescue of hostages. Israel continued its operations as it interpreted the order likewise.
In April 2024, the ICJ requested filing of pleadings in the main case i.e. determination of violation of the Genocide Convention. South Africa submitted its memorial in October 2024, and after being granted an extension of time limits, Israel submitted its counter memorial in March 2026.
There is more.
Between May 2024 and December 2025 several countries joined South Africa against Israel including European countries Ireland and Belgium. Somewhat less countries have stated their support for Israel including the UK and the USA. Canada and Australia remained neutral. It bears mentioning that Ireland intends arguing for an expansion of the concept of ‘genocidal intent’ to include blocking by Israel the supply of food to Gaza. Someone seems to have missed the point that food could also enter Gaza through Egypt. No one is pointing fingers at Egypt.
The Presidency of South Africa issued a statement on 2 June 2026. It noted that a second round of pleadings is common in ICJ cases. It is indeed correct that in the Rohingya genocide case there was indeed a second round where the parties were afforded time limits of 6 months, but what the Presidency fails to explain is why South Africa requested 18 months to file its reply. According to the Presidency –“South Africa’s response is a simple one: self-defence is not a defence to genocide, there is none.”
In South African parlance this called a blaps or howler. Faux pax if you like. Why did the South African legal team plead complexity to the court in asking for a second round of pleadings and extended time limits if Mr Ramaphosa says South Africa’s case is simple.
The Presidency got it breathtakingly wrong. Israel’s case is not simply self defence. It is based on a firm foundation of lawful military action in compliance with humanitarian law and the law of war (jus in bellum) as well as absence of genocidal intent. Astute observers are asking whether South Africa’s case will hold up at all.
Clear Distinction. Following the misuse of the term for political propaganda against Israel, former president of the ICJ, Joan Donoghue, clarified in a BBC interview that the ICJ did not rule that the core claim of genocide was plausible but that the Palestinians in Gaza have “plausible rights to protection from genocide”. (Photo: Biography file, ICJ)
It is unlikely that the ICJ will hear the case any time soon, perhaps an outcome can be expected after 2030 if at all. By then a new government will have been elected in South Africa which might adopt a different foreign policy which is not aligned with the adversaries of Israel. Even if the case is unwisely pursued by South Africa, it will yield insuperable factual and legal hurdles which will ultimately be its nemesis.
About the writer:
Born in Pretoria Lawrence Nowosenetz obtained his BA at University of the Witwatersrand and LLB at the University of South Africa. He has been admitted as an Attorney in South Africa and as an advocate in South Africa. He practiced at the Pretoria and Johannesburg Bar and worked as a human rights and labour lawyer at the Legal Resources Centre a public interest law firm. Lawrence was Awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and completed professional internship in the USA. He was a a labour arbitrator and mediator, part time Senior Commissioner at the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) as well as a panelist at Tokiso Dispute Settlement. He was a member of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies and Pretoria Chairman. He has also served as an Acting Judge of the High Court, South Africa. He now lives in Tel Aviv.
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
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Beaufort Castle became the symbol of the final weary chapter of Israel’s long stay in Lebanon in the First Lebanon War. Now, 26 years after Israel withdrew from the Crusader fortress – it regrettably returns.
While the castle was named bel fort or beau fort – old French for “beautiful fortress” – by the Crusaders, it is not similarly viewed by the Israeli soldiers who would prefer not be (seen here) patrolling its ridge. (Photo: IDF)
ARTICLES
Please note there is a facility to comment beneath each article should you wish to express an opinion on the subject addressed.
(1)
WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?
Any deal that leaves Iran’s Islamic Republic regime intact leaves the threat intact. By Marziyeh Amirizadeh
‘Dealing’ with Iran. With the US showing it wants the deal more than the Iranians, the writer says this emboldens a regime, smelling weakness. A former political prisoner that faced execution in Teheran’s notorious prison, the writer understands firsthand who the US is dealing with and warns – “ACT don’t DEAL”.
The ‘Palestine-Israel question’ has overshadowed the atrocities taking place across Africa. ByKenneth Kgwadi
Death on its Doorstep. Why do atrocities in Africa involving millions of victims across multiple concurrent conflicts – characterized by mass killings, ethnic cleansing, sexual violence, and state-sponsored repression – not receive the same level of global attention afforded to the Palestinian cause?
When international visitors disappear, nearly every segment of the local economy suffers. By Motti Verses
Petra under Pressure. Behind the postcard-perfect image of one of the world’s most celebrated heritage attractions lies one of the Middle East’s most dramatic tourism crises. With the war with Iran, the writer reveals how since his last visit to the ancient city carved into rock (above), the conversation has shifted from expansion to survival.
ONE OF THE SMALLEST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD, ISRAEL CONSUMES THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF ARAB DAILY NEWS COVERAGE
Media Watch: Arab world is watching Israel like never before says Arab journalist. Introduced by David E. Kaplan
Israel Intrigues. Israeli correspondents and spokespeople are common sights today of Arab TV news networks. From what possibly began as “know your enemy”, Israel – “The Good, The Bad and the Ugly” – is today paraded and debated. An Arab journalist explains with warnings for Israel to head.
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
01 June 2026 – Is South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice losing momentum? This and more on The Israel Brief.
02 June 2026 – “You’re f____ crazy!” Who said that and more on The Israel Brief?
03 June 2026 – “I started the Iran War, there would be no Israel without me” – this and more on The Israel Brief.
04 June 2026 – “You should hear some of our other conversations!” Interviews, ceasefires, mensches and morons on The Israel Brief.
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
Media Watch: Arab world is watching Israel like never before says Arab journalist.
Explaining this phenomenon is veteran Arab journalist and author Nazir Majli, widely known for his extensive career as a political correspondent covering Israel and the Middle East for the London-based daily Asharq Al-Awsat. He has served as the publication’s Israel bureau chief, offering analysis and breaking news across both Arabic and international media. Reported in Ynet, Majli questions how Irael seems impervious to the negative impact many of its actions are having on Arabs in the region who were growing to the idea – once an anathema – of closer ties with Israel following the Abraham Accords. He characterizes Israel by its conduct as “a subcontractor for Hamas,” for the self-inflicted harm damage it is causing. Let Majli explain – it is well worth a read.
David E. Kaplan Editor, Lay of the Land
ARAB WORLD WATCHING ISRAELI MEDIA LIKE NEVER BEFORE, BUT ISRAEL IS FAILING TO UNDERSTAND WHY
By Nazir Majli
No country draws the attention of the Arab world more than Israel. Perhaps it began as “know your enemy,” but it did not remain only that. Many Arabs wanted knowledge and answers. For years, they learned about Israel mainly from hostile Arab sources, mobilized media, propaganda and incitement. Many believed that distorted picture until they encountered another truth.
Israel’s achievements in science, technology, security, high-tech and the economy raised more questions and increased the demand for reliable information.
When that demand became real hunger, Arab media faced a major challenge. Major newspapers such as Asharq Al-Awsat and Al-Hayat began employing Arab citizens of Israel as correspondents in the early 1990s. Al Jazeera later joined, followed by Al Arabiya. Today, there is no influential Arab channel or newspaper without a correspondent in Israel. Even Hezbollah-linked Al Mayadeen has commissioned reports from Arab Israeli journalists.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, the Israeli voice has reached the Arab nation live and from the source. Netanyahu’s speeches and those of his ministers have been broadcast live with simultaneous Arabic translation and later quoted in news bulletins. Studio discussions were repeatedly interrupted for statements by Israeli leaders.
Even as Israeli planes bombed universities, schools, mosques and churches, even as thousands of women and children were killed and homes were destroyed in Gaza and in West Bank refugee camps, the voice and image of IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari appeared on screens in Palestinian and Arab homes. Every appearance was broadcast and translated reliably for Arab audiences.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, who before October 7, 2023 was an unfamiliar face in Saudi Arabia is seen here interviewed in June, 2024 by Al Arabiya. Al Arabiya, Saudi Arabia’s alternative to Al Jazeera and has no problem giving repeated airtime to Israel’s army spokesman.(Credit: Still from Al Arabiya IDF Spokesman)
At the same time, while Israel practiced military and self-censorship over IDF operations in Gaza and later Lebanon, and while broadcasters, reporters and commentators in Israeli studios often concealed the harsh consequences, Arab media made sure to carry the other voice — the Israeli one.
It was openness against opacity. Veteran Arab journalists remembered the 1960s, when Israel projected great self-confidence and often told the truth, while Arab media concealed it.
After 50 years of deeper and more authentic Arab familiarity with Israel, there is no longer one united Arab hostility toward Israel. There is an internal Arab conflict over Israel. The Abraham Accords were one of the clearest expressions of that change.
Hamas, inspired by Iran, attacked Israel in an effort to destroy that process. Israel’s harsh, unconventional and destructive response turned it, in effect, into a subcontractor for Hamas, helping it advance that goal and damaging the new Arab current that wanted normalization with Israel.
What had been seen as Israeli wisdom suffered a severe blow after Oct. 7.
The questions I now hear from Arab colleagues, influencers and policy figures have become much harder. Covering Israel for the Arab world has become more difficult. Israeli policy is seen as a gamble with everything on the table. Even those who hate Hamas, Iran and Hezbollah cannot digest Israel’s conduct throughout the war. Many believe this policy is helping the extremist axis.
Top Israeli journalists from Channel 2 are seen here on 3 June, 2026 on Iran’s PRESS TV.
Even friends of President Donald Trump, who strongly supports the Israeli government, do not understand how Netanyahu has placed everything in his hands.
They ask me:
“Don’t you think about the day after? Is there no responsible body analyzing reality, examining scenarios and drawing professional conclusions about the future? How is policy made in Israel? What are the considerations? How do Israelis understand the value of good neighbors? Even if there are military achievements, why not use them for a diplomatic horizon? The first rule of wars is to end them with political achievements. Is Israel waiting for Trump to do that work, too?”
A wealthy, educated woman from Gaza, now a refugee in Egypt and known for opposing Hamas, asked me in despair: “Don’t Israelis have children? Don’t they think about their future? Do you know that my grandson talks about revenge?”
A Syrian intellectual living in Canada, who celebrated the fall of the Assad family’s regime, canceled his plan to return to Syria with his family because of the uncertainty there.
Yonit Levi from Israel’s Channel 12 appears on UAE news channel. For decades, the appearance of Israeli speakers in Arab media was the stuff of science fiction. To the Arab mainstream press, Israel was a monolithic, distant entity, “the Zionist enemy”, whose voice was permitted only through the rigid filters of local propaganda and censorship. However, the last three decades have triggered a dramatic revolution, transforming Israelis from unseen adversaries into regular, and often fiery, participants in Arab public discourse.
“What do the Israelis want from Syria already?” he asked. “A country without an army, extending a hand for peace and ready to cooperate against terrorism — why is it met with such hostility from Israel?”
A senior Egyptian diplomat I met in Tel Aviv told me: “You know how much I hate Iran. But Israel has been exposed. For me, it is the second Iran in the region. What it did in Gaza conveys weakness more than strength. The arrogance of its leaders and the talk of turning Israel into the most powerful force in the region and the world express a sick internal weakness.”
Former Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on Al Arabiya
A senior official in Abu Dhabi, once an enthusiastic supporter of the Abraham Accords, spoke of deep shock.
“What Hamas did was not only carry out a cursed, murderous attack,” he said. “It also pulled Israelis out of judgment and strategic thinking, dragging them into sacrificing future generations to a dark future.”
He recalled Netanyahu’s 2015 comment at the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, when he was asked whether Israel would forever live by the sword and answered, “Yes.”
“Do Israelis understand what that means?” the Abu Dhabi official asked. “What leader promises his people wars for life?”
With pictures like this of Gaza-based Palestinian photographer Mahmud Hams documenting buildings destroyed in Israeli bombardment at the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on November 2, 2023, the writer questions if Israel realizes that such exposure in effect turns the Jewish state into “a subcontractor for Hamas,” damaging the “new Arab current that wanted normalization with Israel.” (Photo: AFP)
The Arab world is watching Israel more closely than ever. But attention is not support. Israel’s words are translated, its leaders are heard and its military briefings are broadcast. Yet everything Israel says is now weighed against what Arab audiences see.
The question is whether Israel understands what it is showing them.”
When international visitors disappear, nearly every segment of the local economy suffers.
By Motti Verses
There are places people want to see, and there are places people dream of seeing. Petra belongs firmly in the second category.
For decades, Jordan’s ancient Nabataean city has appeared on countless lists of destinations every traveler should visit at least once in a lifetime. I have been fortunate to visit Petra several times, and each visit left me equally mesmerized. Hidden beyond dramatic sandstone canyons, surrounded by rose-red cliffs and crowned by monuments carved directly into the rock, Petra offers an experience unlike almost anywhere else on Earth. A rare combination of history, mystery, and natural beauty that has made it one of the world’s most photographed and admired destinations.
Only three years ago, Petra appeared to be enjoying its golden age. In 2023, the UNESCO World Heritage Site welcomed a record-breaking 1.17 million visitors, nearly one million of them international tourists. During my last visit that year, over the Passover holiday, prosperity was visible everywhere. Hotels were full, restaurants were bustling, and the local economy was thriving on an unprecedented scale.
Enthralling Entrance. Tended by local Bedouin handlers, camels are an iconic fixture at the entrance of Petra, the ancient Nabaten capital famous for its magnificent rock-cut architecture. (Photo: Motti verses)
Today, however, behind the postcard-perfect image of one of the world’s most celebrated heritage attractions lies one of the Middle East’s most dramatic tourism crises.
Following the regional conflict and the war with Iran, conversations among hotel managers, business owners and government officials have shifted from growth and expansion to survival. The region’s instability triggered a wave of cancellations, empty hotel rooms, lost jobs and growing uncertainty about the future. Visitor numbers have reportedly fallen by more than 60 percent, transforming one of the Middle East’s greatest tourism success stories into a destination fighting for its economic life.
Petra, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, is far more than an archaeological treasure. Over the years, an entire tourism ecosystem has grown around it – hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, desert camps, transportation companies and thousands of jobs that depend almost entirely on foreign visitors.
Then the crisis arrived.
According to Adnan Al-Sawaeir, Chairman of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority, March 2026 ended with an almost complete collapse of tourism bookings to the city. Reports later indicated that approximately 60 percent of April reservations and 45 percent of May reservations were canceled. By April, nearly 80 percent of hotel rooms in the region remained unsold, devastating an industry that had entered the year with high expectations.
Pressures on Petra. Adnan Al-Sawaeir, Chairman of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority has raised severe concerns of Middle East tensions causing a devastating downturn in Jordanian tourism specifically effecting Petra.(Photo: Petra Development & Tourism Region Authority’s Post)
The statistic that shocked Jordan emerged during last month emergency session of the Jordan Economic Forum in Amman titled “Petra: A Roadmap for Resilience and Adaptation.” During the discussion, Al-Sawaeir revealed that hotel occupancy during the March Eid al-Fitr holiday stood at only about 6 percent. He described Petra as “the tourist destination most affected in Jordan.”
For a city whose economy lives and breathes tourism, the figure was almost unimaginable.
Abdullah Husanat, President of the Petra Hotels Association, summarized the situation in a sentence that quickly became symbolic of the crisis:
“All investments in Petra are currently in intensive care.”
Behind that statement lies a stark reality. According to figures presented at the forum, roughly 83 percent of foreign tourism to the region arrives specifically because of Petra. When international visitors disappear, nearly every segment of the local economy suffers.
The region offers thousands of hotel rooms despite being primarily a one-night destination for many travelers. Among the most prominent properties is the 183-room Mövenpick Resort Petra, widely considered one of the area’s flagship hotels. Other internationally branded properties include Mercure, Marriott and Crowne Plaza, alongside dozens of regional and locally owned hotels.
Desert Delights. Waiting the return of tourists is the idyllic roof-top terrace restaurant at the Mövenpick Resort Petra. (Photo: Movenpick Resort Petra website)
Hotels built to accommodate hundreds of guests each day suddenly found themselves with silent corridors, nearly empty dining rooms and staff waiting for visitors who never arrived. Industry sources report that approximately 32 hotels have closed while around 1,000 tourism workers have lost their jobs.
The irony is that Petra itself has not become dangerous.
International tourism organizations continue to regard the destination as relatively safe, with dedicated tourist police, established visitor infrastructure and well-managed attractions. The problem is perception. For many travelers in Europe, North America and Asia, Jordan has become part of a broader regional narrative associated with instability. When the entire region is perceived as unsafe, organized tour groups cancel, airlines adjust schedules and independent travelers simply choose alternative destinations.
Beauty in the Bottle. During a busy tourism year, up to 1 million of Petra’s famous sand-art bottles – a craft using vibrant colored sands that combines history, creativity, and storytelling – are sold. (Photo: Motti verses)
Jordanian officials increasingly recognize that waiting for international tourists to return cannot be the sole strategy. During recent economic discussions in Amman, two words repeatedly surfaced: resilience and adaptation.
The goal is to create a more sustainable model in which Petra is less dependent on international tourism alone. Proposed solutions include strengthening domestic tourism, attracting new investment, developing alternative sources of income and creating stronger tourism links between Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba and the Dead Sea.
Yet everyone involved in the industry understands that the ultimate solution cannot be found in a new marketing campaign or the opening of another hotel.
The real challenge is restoring confidence.
Petra has survived earthquakes, the collapse of empires and centuries of abandonment. Its magnificent rose-colored monuments still stand proudly among the desert cliffs, just as they have for centuries.
Tantalizing Tourists. Using vibrant colored sands, skilled artisans layer patterns to create stunning miniature landscapes inspired by the deserts of Wadi Rum and beyond. Each bottle is a unique piece of Jordanian heritage, perfect as a souvenir. (Photo: JordanCrafts)
The great question of 2026 is not whether Petra will survive. It is how long it will take for the world to feel confident enough to return and walk once again through the red sandstone canyons of one of the most breathtaking and inspiring destinations on the planet.
Paintings at Petra. One of thousands of tourist paintings of the Nabateans, the industrious ancient Arab civilization, sold in Petra’s many shops that stock more than souvenirs – they stock pieces of history. (Photo: Motti verses)
*Feature photo: Pulsating Petra. Rife with tourists from all over the world, the writer in Petra a few years ago. (Photo: Liat Valter)
About the writer:
The author is a seasoned hotel expert, traveler, writer, and videographer, and formerly served as Head of Public Relations for Hilton Hotels & Resorts in Israel. Today, as a travel writer and hospitality trends analyst, his insights and experiences are regularly featured in leading Israeli media outlets.
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
The ‘Palestine-Israel question’ has overshadowed the atrocities taking place across Africa.
By Kenneth Kgwadi
Most African countries reclaimed their political independence in the late 1950s, with Ghana becoming the first sub-Saharan African country to attain independence, paving the way for several others to follow suit. This ushered in not only joy and euphoria, but also the hope that black self-rule would prioritise the interests of their respective countries, their people, and the broader African continent. However, too many countries have fallen short of this aspiration.
It still does not make sense that the profound and visible atrocities taking place across Africa do not receive the same level of global attention afforded to the Palestinian cause. The suffering on the continent stretches back centuries, from the era of slavery to the present day. Many African countries continue to endure repression at the hands of those who were once regarded as liberators during the struggle for independence.
Pan-African Optimism. Ghana’s independence in 1957 proved a pivotal event signaling the shift away from colonialism on the African continent. Two years after Nkrumah in 1964 pushed a constitutional amendment that makinge Ghana a one-party state and himself the life president, he was overthrown in a military coup.
Thousands of Africans continue to lose their lives to radical Islamist extremism, poverty, crime, poorly managed health outbreaks, civil wars, and state persecution. Yet, despite the scale and persistence of these challenges, such injustices often fail to attract adequate international attention and sustained global concern.
A silent war is taking place on our doorstep in the province of Cabo Delgado, where people from all 17 districts have been displaced out of fear for their lives following the brutal killings perpetrated by Islamic State Mozambique. The group has been terrorising the country since 2017, leaving thousands dead and many more displaced.
Horrendous Hypocrisy. While South Africa feigns concern for the Palestinians in Gaza, it ignores virtually on its doorstep where Islamic State Mozambique (ISM) is responsible for a significant portion of the over 6,500 total fatalities recorded since the Cabo Delgado insurgency began in 2017. Monitoring groups estimate that the group has killed thousands — including at least 2,800 civilians — while displacing over 400,000 people across the region.
Yet the South African public remains largely detached from what is unfolding in Mozambique. At the same time, many complain about the growing influx of Mozambicans into South Africa, despite the fact that many of these migrants are fleeing violence and insecurity while seeking safety and economic opportunities to sustain themselves and their families. The humanitarian crisis in Cabo Delgado serves as a reminder that migration is often a consequence of conflict, instability, and the failure to address the root causes of human suffering in the region.
There is a compelling need to invest in political, strategic, and military interventions to address the crisis in Mozambique, as it directly affects South Africa in several ways. Mozambique is one of Africa’s countries with significant economic potential, yet it remains unable to fully realise that potential because of the ongoing conflict. With its relatively advanced defense capabilities and larger economy, South Africa is well positioned to play a meaningful role in helping to resolve the current tragedy in Mozambique. Such efforts would contribute to creating a more stable and conducive environment for economic development, which could in turn reduce migration pressures between the two countries. A prosperous Mozambique would also become a stronger economic partner, helping to stimulate regional growth and create much-needed employment opportunities.
Playing Politics. Mounting pressures and tensions closer to home, South Africa’s ANC leadership prefers to focus on falsely accusing Israel at international courts.
It remains concerning that South Africa often expends substantial political capital on issues and conflicts taking place thousands of kilometres away, while opportunities exist to use that same influence to improve the socio-political and security conditions of people on the African continent. Greater investment should be directed towards helping to rebuild, industrialise, and develop African countries in order to create a more prosperous and stable continent. Such an approach would contribute more directly to the advancement of African societies than engaging in avoidable diplomatic confrontations with Western nations, which offer limited tangible benefits to the socio-economic development of the continent.
About the writer:
Kenneth Kgwadi is a political scientist, columnist and research fellow at the Middle East Africa Research Institute (MEARI).
While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves. LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).
