Day: December 24, 2024

Lay of the Land Weekly Newsletter- 23 December 2024

Unveiling the contours and contrasts of an ever-changing Middle East landscape Reliable reportage and insightful commentary on the Middle East by seasoned journalists from the region and beyond

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What’s happening in Israel today? See from every Monday – Thursday LOTL’s The Israel Brief broadcasts and on our Facebook page and YouTube by seasoned TV & radio broadcaster, Rolene Marks familiar to Chai FM listeners in South Africa and millions of American listeners to the News/Talk/Sports radio station WINA, broadcasting out of Virginia, USA.

THE ISRAEL BRIEF- 16-19 December 2024
(Click on the blue title)

THE ISRAEL BRIEF- 23-24 December 2024
(Click on the blue title)



FESTIVE GREETINGS

Living through challenging times, Lay of the Land wishes its global readership a Chanukah filled with hope, a Merry Christmas and a 
Happy New Year.

May 2025 bring peace and a return of all the hostages held in Gaza




Lay of the Land photo of the week

OUT OF THE BLUE

An inspired Israeli pilot paints ribbons in the sky in support of the hostages

“Even the sky wants the hostages home,” expresses a resident in central Israel on December 16,2024 after seeing this familiar shaped ribbon – the adopted symbol calling for the release of hostages held in Gaza. (Yossi Aloni/FLASH90)




Articles

Please note there is a facility to comment beneath each article should you wish to express an opinion on the subject addressed.

(1)

QUESTIONABLE COUNTING

An analysis of the death toll in Gaza exposes a shameful negligence of basic standards of global journalism – casualty figures provided by the Hamas-run Ministry of Health simply do “not add up”
By Andrew Fox

Fallacious Figures. Despite cautionary warnings by Israel – ignored by the international media – to not simply accept casualty numbers provided by Hamas, a new report by a UK think tank reveals faulty figures.

QUESTIONABLE COUNTING
(Click on the blue title)



(2)

IT’S EASIER TO WAGE WAR THAN IT IS TO WAGE PEACE

Ten lessons for Israeli/Palestinian peacemaking
By Howard Sackstein

Pursuing Peace. 76 years since the birth of the modern state of Israel has taught what has failed
but not what works in the pursuit of peace. The writer breaks it down in 10 quick lessons.

IT’S EASIER TO WAGE WAR THAN IT IS TO WAGE PEACE
(Click on the blue title)



(3)

HONOURING TERRORISM

Renaming a street after a terrorist is taking South Africa down the wrong road.
By Nkanyezi Ndlovu

Un‘road’worthy. If South Africa ever aspired to play a mediatory role in the Middle East peace process, it has
sure long lost its way, shown by renaming a major city street after a vicious terrorist and plane hijacker.

HONOURING TERRORISM
(Click on the blue title)



(4)

BAD SPORT

The buying of global influence by investing in high-profile sporting events – Counting the Cost of  ‘sportswashing’. 
By Allan Wolman

Lavish Laundering. Endeavoring to mask human rights violations, wealthy Middle East countries like Qatar and
Saudi Arabia profit by ‘washing’ a tarnished image through sport.   

BAD SPORT
(Click on the blue title)



(5)

HANDY TIPS FOR DRIVING IN ISRAEL

“Important tips – with a touch of levity”
By Rolene Marks

Driving one Nuts. “Turn signals will give away your next move. A real Israeli driver never uses them,” is a joke
characterising the Israeli driver. Opting to staying intact, this writer offers some colourful survival tips.

HANDY TIPS FOR DRIVING IN ISRAEL
(Click on the blue title)



(6)

THIS CHANUKAH AND CHRISTMAS WE NEED ‘SUPERSIZED’ MIRACLES

Confronting an evil enemy that sacrifices the welfare of its own to inflict as much pain and anguish on the Jewish people.
By Jonathan Feldstein

Enlightening. This year, as the first day of Chanukah and Christmas coincide, the writer draws from both
festivities the need again for miracles. As we surpass the 444 days that American hostages were
held in Iran – today’s sponsor of Hamas – we question if there are lessons to be leant?

THIS CHANUKAH AND CHRISTMAS WE NEED ‘SUPERSIZED’ MIRACLES
(Click on the blue title)




LOTL Cofounders David E. Kaplan (Editor), Rolene Marks and Yair Chelouche

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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 ISRAEL BRIEF- 23-24 December 2024

23 December 2024 – Houthi missile attack and more on The Israel Brief.



24 December 2024 – Hanna Katzir, former hostage passes away and special Christmas messages 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).