April 29 - May 20

Newsletter to Congress:

Top Five - April 29 - May 20:

1. Israel launched Operation Gideon’s Chariots, renewing ground operations in Gaza. The government says this is to pressure Hamas into negotiations, yet critics highlight the risk to hostages and civilians, and the lack of a clear strategy.

2. A key Netanyahu aide admitted receiving money from Qatar, raising national security concerns about Qatari intelligence activities in Israel.

3. President Trump’s decision to skip Israel on his Middle East trip drew little reaction but sparked concern, as his moves to exclude Israel from regional deals are seen by some as sidelining Israeli interests.

4. Two Israeli civilians working at the U.S. Embassy were shot by a man shouting “Free Palestine.” Israeli ministers blame left-wing political rhetoric, particularly from The Democrats chair Yair Golan, for fueling anti-Israel violence.

5. The Supreme Court ruled that PM Netanyahu cannot fire Shin Bet head Ronen Bar due to a conflict of interest. Coalition Whip called the government to ignore the court’s decision.

Resuming the Fighting (during April and May)

At the beginning of the month, Israel renewed its ground maneuver in Gaza by launching Operation Gideon’s Chariots. According to the government, the renewal came in response to Hamas’s refusal to agree to a ceasefire and the release of hostages. The government claims that increased military pressure will force Hamas back to the negotiating table and prevent it from rearming.

At the same time, Israel continued negotiations with Hamas over a hostage deal, but it appears the negotiation team did not receive a full mandate from Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Despite this, there is significant internal criticism in Israel over the renewed fighting, with the primary concern being the risk it poses to the lives of the hostages. Additionally, figures on the Israeli left - led by The Democrats party chair Yair Golan - spoke out sharply against the extensive harm being caused to civilians in Gaza, which they argue is futile and serves the government’s extremist agendas.

Finally, there is criticism that, despite the objectives the government set for the operation, it lacks concrete plans for how to achieve them. Combined with statements by ministers calling for the conquest of Gaza and the de-prioritization of the hostages’ release as the war’s top goal, many Israelis do not view the return to war positively and continue to call for a ceasefire agreement.

As part of preparations for the maneuver, the IDF announced a large-scale reserve call-up - a move that has sparked anger among reservists in Israel, who are collapsing under the burden, and has intensified criticism of the government for continuing to push a draft exemption law for the ultra-Orthodox.

Democrats Chair Yair Golan. Claimed that "A normal country does not kill babies as a hobby", referring to statements by coalition member to fight indiscriminately in Gaza.

Qatargate

WhatsApp messages revealed in the "Qatargate" affair reinforce suspicions of deep involvement by officials in the Prime Minister’s Office - Ellie Feldstein and Jonathan Urich - as well as by Netanyahu himself, although no developments have yet been reported in the investigation of his role in the case.

Additionally, Jonathan Urich admitted to receiving money from the Qatari government - claiming that Qatar is not an enemy state and that he is not a public servant, but rather employed directly by the Likud Party.

Furthermore, a central suspicion now being investigated is that Qatari intelligence has been operating deep inside Israel for some time, engaging with many senior officials, and may even be running agents in Israel via its intelligence organizations.

Reactions to Trump’s Visit

President Trump’s visit to the Middle East was met with superficial indifference in Israel. While the media highlighted the president’s decision to “skip” Israel on his trip, the government and security establishment refrained from making public statements on the matter.

The government and its supporters - known for backing President Trump - were quick to defend his decisions to reach an agreement with the Houthis that excludes Israel and to normalize the new regime in Syria. However, most remained silent in light of what is perceived as “leaving Israel behind,” especially amid growing demands by the administration to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Shooting in DC

A Chicago man gunned down two Israeli civilians who worked at the U.S. Embassy in Washington, shouting “Free Palestine.” Israeli ministers blamed The Democrats chair Yair Golan, claiming that his warnings about Israeli actions killing civilians in Gaza incite violence against Israelis and Jews.

Shin Bet Chief Firing

The Israeli Supreme Court ruled that the firing of Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet, is illegal, since Netanyahu - whose advisors are under investigation for receiving money from Qatar - is in a conflict of interest. The coalition whip called on the government to ignore the Supreme Court ruling.