In the heart of a region where every handshake and headline carries the weight of history, Jared Kushner's arrival in Israel signals a pivotal moment of dialogue on Gaza's future, while President Trump's unprecedented invitation to Syria's leader at the White House hints at seismic shifts in global alliances. But here's where it gets controversial—diplomacy is colliding with deep-seated conflicts, and not everyone is cheering. Dive in if you're curious about how these events might redefine power dynamics in the Middle East.
Live Updates
November 10, 2025
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November 10, 2025
Lior Rudaeff, who tragically lost his life on October 7 and whose remains were finally brought back from Gaza over the weekend, is being laid to rest today (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-11-10/ty-article-live/jared-kushner-lands-in-israel-for-talks-on-gaza-with-netanyahu-official-says/0000019a-6b74-dd82-a59a-fbf45a140000?liveBlogItemId=97145731#97145731)
Huge crowds have flocked to the Gaza border settlement of Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak to honor Lior Rudaeff, a brave soul killed during the October 7 attacks. His body, held in Gaza for over two years, was returned as part of the truce agreement with Hamas.
Rudaeff's remains (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-11-08/ty-article/.premium/body-of-gaza-hostage-returned-to-israel-identified-as-lior-rudaeff-pms-office-says/0000019a-6231-d22e-a39b-6ef9c55d0000) were transferred to Israel by Islamic Jihad late Friday. At the time of his death, he was 61 and part of the emergency response team that battled numerous intruders who breached the kibbutz on that fateful day. His spouse, Yaffa, endured over 14 hours hiding in a bomb shelter and made it through, while their son, Ben, escaped safely from the Nova music festival.
Still, four hostages who didn't survive remain held in Gaza.
RECAP: IDF Announces Major Military Drill in West Bank; Syrian President Al-Sharaa Set for Inaugural White House Visit (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-11-10/ty-article-live/jared-kushner-lands-in-israel-for-talks-on-gaza-with-netanyahu-official-says/0000019a-6b74-dd82-a59a-fbf45a140000?liveBlogItemId=129016491#129016491)
Here's a rundown of the top developments from Monday regarding Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank:
■ The Israeli Defense Forces have kicked off a significant military training operation this morning, lasting three days across the West Bank, with increased activity from troops and aerial units.
■ Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is scheduled for his maiden trip to the White House to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump. Syria is on the verge of joining a U.S.-backed coalition against the Islamic State, potentially being formalized during this encounter.
■ According to the Lebanese News Agency, an Israeli drone attack in southern Lebanon's Al-Baisariyah town claimed one life.
■ Dov Lando, the spiritual head of the ultra-Orthodox Ashkenazi faction Degel Hatorah, has directed its lawmakers to oppose the 'Death Penalty For Terrorists (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-11-03/ty-article/.premium/israeli-knesset-advances-death-penalty-bill-for-terrorists-with-netanyahus-support/0000019a-48f8-d054-affa-79fd85310000)' legislation, which is up for its initial reading and vote in the Knesset plenary today.
■ Turkey is striving to secure the safe exit of roughly 200 Gaza fighters stuck in tunnels there, following its role in recovering Lt. Hadar Goldin's remains (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-11-09/ty-article/.premium/hamas-says-it-will-return-hadar-goldins-body-idf-officer-killed-held-in-gaza-since-2014/0000019a-6823-dd4f-a9db-6aa315ac0000), eleven years after his death in battle, as stated by a high-ranking Turkish diplomat late Sunday.
Defense Minister Announces New Military Advocate General Itay Offir to Start in Two Weeks (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-11-10/ty-article-live/jared-kushner-lands-in-israel-for-talks-on-gaza-with-netanyahu-official-says/0000019a-6b74-dd82-a59a-fbf45a140000?liveBlogItemId=169029216#169029216)
Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz has confirmed the selection of Itay Offir as the new Military Advocate General, who previously served as the Defense Ministry's legal counsel.
Offir is stepping in to replace Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi after her exit amid allegations of involvement in leaking footage that appeared to depict soldiers mistreating a Palestinian prisoner from Gaza at the Sde Teiman base.
Per Katz's statement, Offir will assume his duties in two weeks, on November 24.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested more details from Katz about this choice, spurred by backlash from Likud party members.
Offir underwent training via the Wexner Foundation, which has drawn fire from Likud figures for allegedly leaning left. Communications Minister and Likud MK Shlomo Karhi once labeled the foundation (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2020-07-15/ty-article/.premium/likud-lawmaker-accuses-wexner-foundationing-of-poisoning-the-minds-of-beneficiarie/0000017f-ef72-d8a1-a5ff-fffab3980000) as spreading 'anti-democratic poison that will infect the thinking of our highest-ranking public officials.'
Before his role at the defense ministry, Offir was a partner at Tadmor & Co. law firm, where Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara provided external legal advice before her appointment.
And this is the part most people miss—how political affiliations can quietly influence key government roles, potentially undermining impartiality. For deeper insights into this appointment, check out this piece (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-11-04/ty-article/.premium/defense-minister-taps-idf-legal-chief-after-predecessor-resigns-over-abuse-video-leak/0000019a-4f37-db4c-a5fb-cfbfb2b20000).
Justice Ministry Legal Adviser Concealed Connections Between Her Brother and Minister Levin | Investigation (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-11-10/ty-article-live/jared-kushner-lands-in-israel-for-talks-on-gaza-with-netanyahu-official-says/0000019a-6b74-dd82-a59a-fbf45a140000?liveBlogItemId=632168687#632168687)
The Justice Ministry's legal advisor failed to disclose her brother's close ties to Justice Minister Yariv Levin during her background check before taking the job.
Concerns about Levin's relationship with advisor Yael Kotick first surfaced in 2023 when the minister tried to appoint her as deputy director general—a position that's politically appointed and doesn't need formal vetting. Insider reports from the Justice Ministry indicate Kotick personally linked the move to her family's connections with Levin in private talks.
However, last year, she applied for the legal advisor role, a standard civil service post that involves scrutiny by a professional panel. She reportedly omitted her brother's links to Levin from the committee and her conflict-of-interest paperwork, per a participant in the review.
To grasp the full story, read the complete report (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-11-10/ty-article/.premium/justice-ministry-legal-adviser-concealed-brothers-ties-to-minister-levin/0000019a-6a20-dece-a1fe-7fe501250000).
UN Nuclear Watchdog's Inspectors Visit Iranian Sites Last Week, According to Iranian Foreign Ministry (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-11-10/ty-article-live/jared-kushner-lands-in-israel-for-talks-on-gaza-with-netanyahu-official-says/0000019a-6b74-dd82-a59a-fbf45a140000?liveBlogItemId=873222803#873222803)
Last week, inspectors from the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) toured nuclear facilities in Iran, as confirmed by a spokesperson from Iran's Foreign Ministry to state media on Monday.
'While we're committed to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), we're honoring our obligations, and IAEA teams recently inspected multiple sites, such as the Tehran Research Reactor,' stated Foreign Ministry representative Esmaeil Baghaei. This transparency is crucial for building trust internationally, though some observers question if it's enough in a region rife with nuclear tensions.
French President to Welcome Palestinian Authority Chief Tomorrow (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-11-10/ty-article-live/jared-kushner-lands-in-israel-for-talks-on-gaza-with-netanyahu-official-says/0000019a-6b74-dd82-a59a-fbf45a140000?liveBlogItemId=443097324#443097324)
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to receive Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at the Élysée Palace on Tuesday, according to a statement from Macron's office.
France recognized Palestine as a state (https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/2025-09-23/ty-article/.premium/france-recognizes-palestinian-state-other-countries-expected-to-follow-suit/00000199-7306-df8f-afbd-f74fefe50000) back in September, a move that could inspire similar steps elsewhere and stir debates on international legitimacy.
Likud MK Tally Gotliv Calls Police Commissioner 'An Idiot' Over Handling of Former IDF Legal Chief Probe (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-11-10/ty-article-live/jared-kushner-lands-in-israel-for-talks-on-gaza-with-netanyahu-official-says/0000019a-6b74-dd82-a59a-fbf45a140000?liveBlogItemId=1968856407#1968856407)
Right-wing Likud MK Tally Gotliv slammed Police Commissioner Dani Levy for his approach to investigating ex-Military Advocate General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, who greenlit the release of video showing alleged mistreatment of a Gaza detainee (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-02-19/ty-article/.premium/five-israeli-army-reservists-charged-with-abusing-gazan-detainee-at-sde-teiman/00000195-1dd6-df7d-a5dd-bdd7e5d10000) in Israeli custody.
'There's no constitutional upheaval or anything close,' Gotliv remarked on the ultra-Orthodox radio show Kol Berama. 'We've just got a clueless commissioner, excuse my bluntness. Someone who doesn't grasp or comprehend the legal landscape.'
Addressing Levy directly, Gotliv demanded he summon Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-11-07/ty-article/.premium/ag-police-reject-govt-pick-to-lead-idf-leak-probe-as-he-demands-access-to-materials/0000019a-5ea2-d2eb-afda-dea345b70000) for questioning—or else he's driven by 'irrelevant and unethical motives.' This fiery criticism highlights a divisive debate: is this a legitimate call for accountability, or an overreach into police independence?
Trump to Receive Syria's Al-Sharaa in Historic First White House Visit by Syrian Leader (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-11-10/ty-article-live/jared-kushner-lands-in-israel-for-talks-on-gaza-with-netanyahu-official-says/0000019a-6b74-dd82-a59a-fbf45a140000?liveBlogItemId=2126926467#2126926467)
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's summit with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House today marks a remarkable turnaround for the once-rebel leader who ousted a long-standing dictator and is now working to lift Syria's global pariah status.
This is the first time a Syrian head of state has stepped foot in the White House, coming six months after Trump's initial meeting with al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia and shortly after the U.S. removed him from its list of 'Specially Designated Global Terrorists.'
Expect security matters to dominate the agenda.
The U.S. is facilitating negotiations between Syria and Israel for a potential defense agreement, with reports indicating plans for an American military footprint at a Damascus airfield.
Additionally, Syria may officially enter a U.S.-headed alliance against the Islamic State during today's meeting. But here's where it gets controversial—is welcoming a former al-Qaeda affiliate into coalition talks a pragmatic step toward stability, or a risky gamble that could backfire on global security?
In the News
'If Only We Had Listened to Them': The Goldin Family's 'Noble Fight' Concludes After 11 Years (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-11-10/ty-article/.premium/if-only-we-had-listened-to-them-the-goldin-familys-noble-fight-ends-after-11-years/0000019a-6c86-d66b-adba-fe86dd0b0000)
Justice Ministry Legal Adviser Hid Political Links Between Her Brother and Justice Minister (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-11-10/ty-article/.premium/justice-ministry-legal-adviser-concealed-brothers-ties-to-minister-levin/0000019a-6a20-dece-a1fe-7fe501250000)
Under Ben-Gvir, 96% of Police Incitement Probes Targeted Arabs (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-11-10/ty-article/.premium/israeli-police-data-nearly-all-incitement-investigations-under-ben-gvir-targeted-arabs/0000019a-6a4b-d0d1-a9bb-fb6ba4550000)
Jared Kushner in Israel to Meet Netanyahu on Gaza; Trump to Host Syrian Leader (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-11-10/ty-article-live/jared-kushner-lands-in-israel-for-talks-on-gaza-with-netanyahu-official-says/0000019a-6b74-dd82-a59a-fbf45a140000)
Ben-Gvir Is Israel's Minister of Sadism (https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2025-11-10/ty-article-opinion/.premium/ben-gvir-is-israels-minister-of-sadism/0000019a-69f0-dd82-a59a-f9f02cf40000)
ICYMI
'But No One Came': Unspoken Bravery, Suffering, and Isolation at Kibbutz Alumim on October 7 (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-10-27/ty-article-magazine/.premium/but-no-one-came-untold-heroism-anguish-and-abandonment-at-kibbutz-alumim-on-october-7/00000199-b057-dcde-a5bf-b37f082d0000)
Heartbroken, These Israelis Relocated to Greece – But the Conflict Persisted (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-10-24/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/heartbroken-these-israelis-moved-to-greece-but-the-war-wouldnt-let-them-be/0000019a-148f-de9d-adbe-fcef2f160000)
Opinion
Why I Left the Pro-Palestine Movement (https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2025-10-26/ty-article-opinion/.premium/why-i-left-the-pro-palestine-movement/0000019a-2041-d582-a39e-7af51a7e0000)
Archaeologists Amazed by Opulent Assyrian-Era Burial Site in Northern Israel (https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/2025-10-24/ty-article-magazine/archaeologists-stunned-by-lavish-assyrian-period-tomb-in-northern-israel/0000019a-1618-d582-a39e-5efceef30000)
Erased: Israeli Settlers' Ruthless Campaign Against Palestinian Villages in the West Bank (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-10-23/ty-article-static/.premium/erased-israeli-settlers-brutal-war-on-palestinian-communities-in-the-west-bank/00000199-4787-d6e0-a7fb-cfcfd0400000)
The Gaza Conflict Has Created a Deep Ethical Divide Between American Jews and Israel (https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2025-10-23/ty-article-opinion/.premium/the-gaza-war-opened-a-moral-chasm-between-american-jews-and-israel/0000019a-1010-d77b-a3ff-37f10a120000)
What do you think about Syria potentially joining a U.S.-led anti-ISIS effort—does it signal a fresh start or potential danger? Do you agree with Gotliv's harsh words on the police commissioner, or is there merit in protecting judicial independence? Share your opinions in the comments below; let's discuss!
