Day: November 23, 2025

Lay of the Land Weekly Newsletter- 23 November 2025

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 – 17–20 November 2025
(Click on the blue title)



Lay of the Land’s Photo-Pick of the Week

PEOPLE DEMAND REAL ANSWERS NOT FAKE FINDINGS

Thousands protest against government at Habima Square, Tel Aviv on Saturday night, 22 November 2025, demanding a state probe into the failures of the October 7 massacre.

Calling for a State National Enquiry not an in-house government contrivance, the core message articulated was: “The people of Israel deserve answers about how the terrible failure happened and how to prevent it from happening again.”




ARTICLES

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

(1)

IS THE TWO-STATE SOLUTION REALLY A SOLUTION?

Israel cannot be expected to support a Palestinian State that has the destruction of Israel as one of its aims.
By Neville Berman

Puzzling the Pieces. Since 1937, all attempts to establish a Palestinian State living next to Israel have been rejected. Consistently rejecting any presence a Jewish state,  Palestinians are resolved for a single Palestinian State from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea – hence the emphatic cry “FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA”.

IS THE TWO-STATE SOLUTION REALLY A SOLUTION?
(Click on the blue title)



(2)

A PLANE LANDING LANDS SOUTH AFRICA IN EMBARRASSING CONTROVERSY

‘Surprise’ arrival of planeload of Palestinians from Gaza exposes how ‘Gift of the Givers’ is de facto running South Africa’s foreign ministry.
By Kenneth Kgwadi

Reception Committee. While SA government claims being “uninformed”, local Muslim charity appeared more than  “informed” as well as ready to receive the Gazans led by its founder Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman (centre), who falsely tells media: “Israel deliberately did not stamp the passports” of the Gazans  “to exacerbate their suffering.”

A PLANE LANDING LANDS SOUTH AFRICA IN EMBARRASSING CONTROVERSY
(Click on the blue title)



(3)

THE JODHPUR-HAIFA CONNECTION

Touring India’s  “Land of Kings” reveals surprise insights to Israelis on history of their own land.
By Motti Verses

Doorstep Discoveries. What made this writer from Israel salute his hotel doorman in India? Where did their histories enrichingly connect that new found revelations resulted in this iconic expression of understanding , gratitude and respect?

THE JODHPUR-HAIFA CONNECTION
(Click on the blue title)



(4)

BBC NEWS FAILS TO ACCURATELY AND IMPARTIALLY REPORT SOUTH AFRICA PLANE STORY

Another in endless stories on Gaza that BBC presents narrative to besmirch the reputation of Israel.
by Hadar Sela

SUSPECT SOURCE. Neglectfully or deliberately tarnishing the image of Israel, the BBC on the report of the arrival of Gazans in South Africa, quotes local Muslim leader whose views are “Zionists were too clever… They run the world with fear. They control the world with money.”

BBC NEWS FAILS TO ACCURATELY AND IMPARTIALLY REPORT SOUTH AFRICA PLANE STORY
(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).