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 –23–26 March 2026
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STOP PRESS
Over the weekend we heard the sad news that Steven Gruzd, a contributing writer from South Africa to our media platform was murdered in Johannesburg following a kidnapping.
Head of the African Governance and Diplomacy Programme at the South African Institute of International Affairs, his articles have appeared in Lay of the Land, his most recent COULD WE GO FROM GAZA’S LAST HOSTAGE TO COEXISTENCE? where he typically – academically and intellectually – sought out routes for reconciliation.
That was his nature and leaves a void in the areas he addressed with idealism and passion.
A respected and loved member of South Africa’s Jewish community, Steven will be sorely missed.
Lay of the Land extends condolences to his wife Mandy, his two daughters and extended family.
Baruch dayan ha-emet
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PASSOVER 2026 – THE FESTIVAL OF FREEDOM IN WARTIME
Chag Pesach Sameach
If one year ago, we prayed for freedom of our hostages in Gaza, this week, Lay of the Land, in wishing its readers a Happy Passover, prays for the freedom for Jews to live in peace in Israel and throughout the world plagued today by rampant and violent antisemitism.
Lay of the Land’s Photo Pick of the Week
SLEEPLESS IN ISRAEL
Day and night, missiles rain down on Israel’s civilian population
ARTICLES
Please note there is a facility to comment beneath each article should you wish to express an opinion on the subject addressed.
(1)
NBA LEGENDS SLAMDUNK HATRED
Project Max and Legends of Basketball Announce Strategic Partnership to Combat Hate Through the Power of Sports.
By Rolene Marks
NBA LEGENDS SLAMDUNK HATRED
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SOUTH AFRICA’S ‘SOUNDS OF SILENCE’
While quick to accuse Israel, South Africa’s is silent when close associate, Iran, commits ‘Crimes Against Humanity’.
By Peter Bailey
years of its existence and pursuing nuclear means to achieve this purpose, South Africa
is silent but loud in its support for the malevolent Islamic state.
SOUTH AFRICA’S ‘SOUNDS OF SILENCE’
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THE 17,000 DAY WAR
Iran’s war with the US and Israel started not in 2026 but in 1979 – and has never stopped.
By Jonathan Feldstein
remain feisty and philosophical with the Jewish state ranking 8th in the 2025/2036 global
happiness survey. Amidst war, a local photographer captures daily life in Tel Aviv.
THE 17,000 DAY WAR
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POET’S CORNER
THE WINDOW + A NATION OF HOPE
Two poems by a former South African and recent oleh
Zev Raphael Landau
What began as a war on the Jewish state on October 7, 2023 has spread to a war on Jews everywhere. With those choosing to express their thoughts in poetry rather than prose, Lay of the Land is providing here the space for such expression.
POET’S CORNER
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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).
