Day: December 14, 2025

Lay of the Land Weekly Newsletter- 14 December 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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THE ISRAEL BRIEF – 08–11 December 2025
(Click on the blue title)



ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Festivity of Light

In a world full of Darkness

It is with great sadness that Lay of the Land wishes its Jewish readers a ‘Happy’ Hanukkah in the light of the mass terror attack on the Jewish community’s festive gathering for Hanukkah on Bondi Beach, Australia. From the stabbing attack in the UK at a Synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur to today’s mass shooting at a Hanukkah lighting of the first candle in Sydney, Australia, Jews today are threatened, hounded and murdered. The message of Hanukkah – resistance and resilience against insurmountable odds – resonates ever so much more today. Our thoughts are with all the families directly affected and the Jewish community of Australia.




ARTICLES

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

(1)

THE GREAT PRETENDER

Behind the polished façade, the “gifts” of Gift of the Givers has a price tag.
By Allan Wolman

Charitable Charlatan. While engineering that his Islamic charity – ‘Gift of the Givers’ – is rewarded with generous media coverage of their presence at disaster scenes across the world, what are the real aims behind the façade of this increasingly powerful and influential political puppeteer?

THE GREAT PRETENDER
(Click on the blue title)



(2)

WHAT LIES BEHIND UCT’S BATTLEFIELD AGAINST ‘PESKY’ JEWS?

No surprise university’s recent Convocation election has been described as“Kristallnacht 2025”!
By Marika Sboros

Cry the Beloved Campus. No surprise UCT’s recent Convocation election became “a battleground with the hallmarks of a
hijacking, purge, even a ‘pogrom’ against Jews.”  A core campaign slogan had nothing to do with academia and
all to do with ensuring that UCT is “never a home for Zionists”. “Zionist” today is codeword for “Jew”.

WHAT LIES BEHIND UCT’S BATTLEFIELD AGAINST ‘PESKY’ JEWS?
(Click on the blue title)



(3)

BETWEEN  AUSCHWITZ AND BE’ERI: COMMUNITIES CAUGHT BETWEEN MEMORY AND RENEWAL

How do traumatized kibbutzniks build a new life amongst the rubble  and remnants of personal horror?
By Gadi Ezra

From ‘Streets’ to ‘Dead Ends’. With rows of kibbutz houses destroyed as well as the lives of its former occupants, are
these horrific remnants to remain as stark memorials like Auschwitz or should they be respectfully removed to make way for rebirth and renewal? Tough decisions lie ahead!

BETWEEN  AUSCHWITZ AND BE’ERI: COMMUNITIES CAUGHT BETWEEN MEMORY AND RENEWAL
(Click on the blue title)



(4)

THE ISRAELI SIDE OF THE STORY NEEDS TO BE HEARD

Fear that independent scrutiny will expose false narratives, Israel’s opponents discourage “See for Yourself” visits to the Jewish state.
By Kenneth Kgwadi

He Came, He Saw, He was Vilified.The recent visit to Israel by a cousin of Nelson Mandela,  King Dalindyebo of the
AbaThembu nation, created a storm of protest on his return to South Africa?  Why?
What are Israel’s opponents in south Africa afraid of – the TRUTH?

THE ISRAELI SIDE OF THE STORY NEEDS TO BE HEARD
(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).