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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THE ISRAEL BRIEF – 13–16 October 2025
(Click on the blue title)
Lay of the Land’s Photo-Pick of the week
“THEY’RE COMING HOME”
With the announcement of the return of hostages and the end of the Gaza war, Israelis explode with unrestrained jubilation.
ARTICLES
Please note there is a facility to comment beneath each article should you wish to express an opinion on the subject addressed.
(1)
IT’S HUNTING SEASON AND JEWS ARE THE PREY
Reichman University’s Counter Terrorism Conference offered insights on identifying threats and emerging trends.
By David E. Kaplan
two words were projected in bold on the lecture hall screen that sent shivers. What does ’Stochastic terrorism’
mean and how can it be countered? Jewish lives around the world depend on the answer.
IT’S HUNTING SEASON AND JEWS ARE THE PREY
(Click on the blue title)
(2)
DONATION SPARKS COMMUNAL CONTROVERSY
Divisions within South Africa’s Jewish community on Israel reflect global drivers.
By Marika Sboros
presents her family foundation’s donation to Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, who shared a platform under a banner proclaiming,
“We are all Hamas” and said, “…the Zionists were too clever… They control the world with money.”
DONATION SPARKS COMMUNAL CONTROVERSY
(Click on the blue title)
(3)
CAN WE BREATHE NOW?
A reflection during the agonizing interlude between deal signing and return of our hostages.
By Jonathan Feldstein
hostages and the end of the war in Gaza, the writer reflects on internal and external issues
and questions how the future may unfold.
CAN WE BREATHE NOW?
(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).
