The biggest news over the past week has been about the war in Lebanon and how Israel should or will respond to the missile attack from Iran. If this were any other week, we would probably focus on the media bias and misinformation over these two issues. But we’ve decided instead to give you a taste of the issues that are bubbling under the surface and that does not even receive biased coverage outside of Israel. These are not the “top headlines” in Israel this week, but they have been coming up off-and-on over the past year and Israelis all feel them constantly.

The first and most important issue that we will focus on this week is the hostages. All of the major Israeli news broadcasts make a point to remind us, but their fate has still taken a back seat to the northern front and Iran. The change in focus makes sense - but we all need to keep our eyes on the hostages living and dying in hell as we speak about other issues. And every time you hear or read about the importance of a ceasefire - your blood should chill - because it is the release of 101 hostages that must come first. Just try and imagine that you daughter or son, parent or grandparent is being held, starved and tortured day-in and day-out for a year and everyone calls for the police and FBI to take a break and stop the intensive search for your loved ones because their captures and their families need time to calm down.

Giving credit to Bibi is not easy, but he finally did make a good decision. This doesn’t make up for making Oct. 7 possible or mismanagement of the war in Gaza, but he was Prime Minister on Friday and it was his call to approve the bombing of Hassan Nasrallah’s bomb shelter. So he deserves credit. He also deserves credit for the last minute ruse that allowed Nasrallah and many of his top people to feel safe just a few more hours until the bombs dropped.

So before you to read this newsletter, open a bottle of Champagne or whatever else helps you celebrate and enjoy the moment before we delve into the wrong reasons and their potential costs down the road. And maybe, just maybe… his moment of glory might guide him to make a few more good decisions (but most likely he will once again snatch defeat from the jaws of victory).

In this issue we  focus on how the Israeli perspective differs from what you are seeing in the mainstream media. We will also update you regarding the parallel universe known as Israeli politics. Finally, we will try and remind you about the hostages and ask that you do all you can to keep talking about them.  

This issue deals with the sad truth of what is happening in Israel and how the media bias against Israel only makes things worse for all of us, Israelis and non-Israelis alike. This issue is divided into two sections:

* The main section focuses on what is happening inside Israel - spoiler alert - it is sad and alarming

* The second section focuses on media bias against Israel and its impact on antisemitism in the U.S. and worldwide

In this edition we how the current reality for Israelis and Jews worldwide lies far enough outside the realm of probability that it resembles episodes of the 1959 TV series, The Twilight Zone.

Episode 337 describes many of the events of the past few days that just don't seem real - but are.

• The Twilight Zone of Journalism & Social Media

• Is this Presidential Election Real?

• Israel’s Parallel Universe in The Twilight Zone

Episode 338 describes the events of today up until the sending of this edition.

• Former Shin Bet head, Nadav Aragaman, calls Netanyahu's speech 'hollow'

• Is Justice Minister Yariv Levin above the law?

Episode 339 is a preview of what to look for tomorrow.

This edition accuses both the Netanyahu-Ben Gvir-Smotrich administration in Israel and the Biden-Harris administration in the United States of failure to do enough to free both Israelis and Americans kidnapped by Hamas. In the upcoming presidential election, Kamala Harris needs to prove that she cares more about American citizens held hostage than about world opinion about Israel and the Palestinians. This is not a call to vote for Trump - far from it. But it is a call to force the candidates to show which of them is less dangerous.

This edition focuses on whether Sunday's preemptive airstrike was designed to prevent the outbreak of full-scare war with Hezbollah and Lebanon, or an expensive publicity stunt. We also delve into the following issues:

• whether Kamala Harris will prevent of facilitate the spread of antisemitism in the United States (spoiler - we are not sure but have suggestions about what to watch for)

• the relationship between Netanyahu and hostage families (spoiler - it is not a pretty picture)

• how the current political leadership is undermining Israeli solidarity

This edition focuses on the basics of why you read this newsletter and one single Call to Action.

• Pointing out the misconceptions that many of you have (or had) regarding Israel that are grounded in media bias and the politically correct view that Israel is all about the Palestinians and support for Israel = support for Bibi.

• Update on what is happening - or not happening - to bring the hostages home.

• Putting the dramatic rise in antisemitism into historical perspective so that we do not return to the 1930s and early 1940s.

In this edition, we're focused on the plight of the hostages - just how much time do they have left- and the obstacles placed by Netanyahu and his government in reaching a ceasefire and deal to release them. We've also addressed some of the latest antisemitism in the world, and try to understand why the world press continues to be so bad at its job when it comes to reporting on Israel.