Live and In Person: The WP in Israel

Einav Zanguaker reunited
 with her son,Matan 

It’s hard to know where to begin this week...or not. So, let’s start with the obvious: I am coming to you live and in person from Herzliya, Israel. There was a wedding involved, and the need for some time away from Minnesota. So while the trip was planned several months ago, the timing could not be more auspicious. I arrived 2 days after the release of the live hostages, and now, I am watching reports of body repatriation slowly move forward. We see pictures of the live hostages reuniting with families and friends, and the burial of those who were kept as gruesome trophies. We are painfully aware that the process of returning to some new normal for all the families will not be easy, smooth, or without serious therapy. These live hostages have been subjected to physical and psychological torture. They have weathered the emotional and bodily abuse we can not dare to imagine. Some were told their families were dead...when in fact they were not...while others were told the opposite. Some believed they would come home to wives and children that had been murdered on October 7th, 2023.  

Danny Miran removes his
son's picture from display at
Ben Gurion Airport

Yet, these incredibly resilient people survived. Their paths forward will be their own journeys. They will learn how the world turned against Israel, Jews, and even the hostages themselves. They'll eventually catch up with the news only to learn the victims had been cast in the roles of the aggressors. But for the members of Be'eri, Nir Oz, and K'far Aza, places that had reasonably good relations with their neighbors in Gaza, places that supported peace outreach and cooperation, learning those neighbors invaded across the border with intimate knowledge of the town layouts in order to kill them all, their roads will be even harder to traverse. The best the rest of us can do is to be active, articulate witnesses to the cruel, bullshit that is Hamas. 

And from the lest we forget department: a guy Mohammed Nazzal spoke to Reuters

DOHA, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Hamas intends to maintain security control in Gaza during an interim period, a senior Hamas official told Reuters, adding he could not commit to the group disarming - positions that reflect the difficulties facing U.S. plans to secure an end to the war.
 
Hamas politburo member Mohammed Nazzal also said the group was ready for a ceasefire of up to five years to rebuild devastated Gaza, with guarantees for what happens afterwards depending on Palestinians being given "horizons and hope" for statehood.
 
Speaking to Reuters in an interview from Doha, where Hamas politicians have long resided, Nazzal defended the group's crackdown in Gaza, where it carried out public executions on Monday. There were always "exceptional measures" during war and those executed were criminals guilty of killing, he said. 

PRESSURE TO DISARM 

While Hamas has broadly expressed these views before, the timing of Nazzal's comments demonstrates the major obstacles obstructing efforts to cement a full end to the war in Gaza, days after the first phase of the ceasefire was agreed.

They point to big gaps between Hamas' positions and U.S. President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza, ahead of negotiations expected to address Hamas' weapons and how Gaza is governed. 

I particularly enjoyed the line:

...a ceasefire of up to five years to rebuild devastated Gaza, with guarantees for what happens afterwards depending on Palestinians being given "horizons and hope"

If you need a translation, allow me to clarify: Hamas remains active in Gaza. The ceasefire will last UP TO five years...which means they can resume their efforts to attack Israel without fear of any condemnation after that time. Horizons and hope = the complete destruction of Israel and the "removal of all Jews and others" from the river to the sea. And executions of their own citizens in the public square. In other words, it's back to business as usual.

So, if you're delusional enough to believe President Felon delivered some kind of lasting peace deal that would guarantee Israel's safety, there's this bridge in Brooklyn I can sell you at a bargain price. 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch..........

Yesterday was No Kings Day and by all counts, it was pretty successful. According to Strength In Numbers, an independent, data-driven analysis of politics, public opinion, and elections to be found on Substack, the numbers are pretty impressive.

Strength In Numbers partnered with independent Atlanta-based science newsroom The Xylom on Oct. 18, 2025, to produce a crowdsourced estimate of turnout for the second “No Kings Day” protests held around the country. This follows our first attempt at crowdsourced crowd-counting for the first protests held in June.

Our median estimate is that 5.2 million people participated in a No Kings Day demonstration somewhere in the country on Saturday, with an upper bound of 8.2 million people. We provide an “estimate” and not a “count” because we are making predictions of turnout in protest sites where official records are still missing.

Our estimate is based on reports from local officials, local organizers, and attendees, and suggests the count from organizers — who report 7 million participants nationwide — may be a bit optimistic (but is not impossible). Still, regardless of whether the precise number is 5, 6, 7, or 8 million, Saturday’s events are very likely the biggest single-day protest event since 1970, surpassing even the 2017 Women’s March demonstrations against Trump.

The protests come as Donald Trump’s approval rating hit a new low last week, and as Democrats look likely to win upcoming races for governor in New Jersey and Virginia.

The photos you can find online are also pretty impressive. As is the spreadsheet they produced. That alone is worth seeing so you can check your own city. Even MAGA strongholds filled their public squares. People are upset and they are, indeed, taking to the streets. Can tiki torches and pitchforks be far behind? 

Of course, our Man-Who-Would-Be-King-in-Chief, had to post the most childish, idiotic video in support of his coronation on Bullshit Social.

Sir Bedbug's version

That said, seems we already have a king...according to JD Vance's official page on via Bluesky . I cannot pretend to fathom what prompted Vice President Bedbug to post such a ridiculous clip. I guess it just wasn't enough that his boss dumped shit all over protesters. Nope; he had to come out in support of this charade. Sir Bedbug certainly has expectations of heirdom, although I cannot understand why. What does he think he's gonna be? Clown Prince? The three stooges are way ahead of him in the lineup. The best he can hope for is evil prime henchman or maybe court jester. Hard to say. 

Look, it keeps coming back to the same thing: when Hamas tells you their final solution is the total annihilation of Israel and its Jewish population, you have to believe them. I mean, how many times do we have to go through this before we do? Same thing with President Felon. He keeps telling us he has non intention of leaving the Oval Office....especially after he decorated it with all that cheesy gold plastic...even if he has to suspend the midterms and/or the Constitution. Ever hear the phrase shadow docket? If you haven't, you soon will. 

The government shut-down is already hitting thousands in their wallets, and not just federal workers. The Speaker's refusal to recall the House is nothing but a hostage maneuver against the most at-risk portions of the population. When are President Felon's loyal minions gonna figure out they're left holding a very empty bag with no meds, no food, no heat, no roof, and no hope? But hey! This is their choice, right? You elect the government you deserve. 

Question: do you think the Nobel committee takes into account what he's doing here? Just wondering if destroying your own economy impacts your deservedness for getting the peace prize. 

The bride and groom

But rather than leave you all on this dreadfully depressing note, I will tell you there is nothing like a modern Israeli wedding for group dancing, screamingly funny skits, and overall good times. The groom's friends did a wonderful send-up of him and I can't remember laughing that hard at any wedding. There were wonderful speeches, heartfelt hugs...and a general sense of relief that the hostages were home. There was something special about families coming together to celebrate knowing other families had been reunited. 

Yes, everything has been impacted by the hostages, and weddings are no exception. This one might have just been that much more lighthearted because this is Israel and for the moment, we are all breathing a little bit easier. No one takes those moments lightly; they are cherished. 

On an odd note: the wedding was held in Yafo, and as luck would have it, the rooftop venue overlooked the Yafo Stairs. The stairs haven't changed a bit.....but I am afraid I have.

   1969                                        2025                        

The Wifely Person's Tip o'the Week

If you happen to be in Tel Aviv and want a great dinner,

visit CLARO;TLV. 

You will not be disappointed@