Lay of the Land Weekly Newsletter – 31 May 2026

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3 hours ago

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 –25-28 May 2026
(Click on the blue title)

Lay of the Land’s Photo Pick of the Week

SLEEPLESS IN KIRYAT SHMONA

A young woman’s reaction following a missile strike in Kiryat Shmona captures daily life for Israel’s northern communities

Following a bombardment of 15 rockets fired at northern Israel on 30 May, one local resident expressed “*We have reached a choking point; this situation can’t go on. It was a hard night, very hard*….” (Ayal Margolin/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)

THE SILENCE THAT CONDEMNS US ALL

People would far rather believe that pigs can fly and Israel trains dogs to rape Palestinian prisoners than that Hamas-led terrorists randomly mass raped and slaughtered women, children and some men on October 7. Here’s why:
By Marika Sboros

**‘The Day the Music Died’.** When the sounds stopped, the slaughter began. Why is it that when it comes to Jewish
suffering – even women and children – the world responds with disbelief or denial? Will a new independent,
comprehensively documented report break the global silence? This investigative journalist doubts so!

THE SILENCE THAT CONDEMNS US ALL
(Click on the blue title)

(2)

BIG MOVE IN SMALL TOWN – RECOGNITION, RECONCILIATION AND RESTITUTION

Jewish family supports historic move for Cape Town to rename Strand town square honouring family founder to recognition of local Muslim community.
By Ben Friedman

**Taking a Stand in the Strand**. In a historic interfaith gesture in the small coastal town of the Strand in South Africa, the writer’s family has approved the renaming of **Ben Friedman Plain** honouring the family founder to **Strand Muslim Square**. The unfolding and enriching drama has not escaped controversy.

BIG MOVE IN SMALL TOWN – RECOGNITION, RECONCILIATION AND RESTITUTION
(Click on the blue title)

(3)

THE WANDERING JEWS – EXPLORING THE WORLD THROUGH A JEWISH LENS

What stays with our family most vividly over decades of travel is not famous landmarks – but Friday night tables in unfamiliar cities.
By Karen Kallmann

**Jews on the Move**. What began as exploring the world as two young backpackers, this South African couple never stopped, “*even as one child followed another*.” From Africa to Iraq and Iran (above) they exposed themselves over the decades – despite the dangers – to foreign cultures and experiences.

THE WANDERING JEWS – EXPLORING THE WORLD THROUGH A JEWSH LENS
(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).

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