Israel Brief: Sunday, September 14
From Doha to Madrid: Israel’s battles in war, politics, and global perception.
Shalom, and welcome to today’s Israel Brief. The headlines range from Mossad’s debate over striking Hamas leaders in Qatar, to tributes for Charlie Kirk in Israel, to protests abroad disrupting Europe’s most famous cycling race. Meanwhile, new details on Elizabeth Tsurkov’s release, Qatar’s attempt to build an anti-Israel axis, and daily Houthi drone strikes remind us that the battlefield is everywhere: Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, and the court of global opinion.
The War Today
Mossad said to have refused to carry out ground op to kill Hamas leaders in Qatar
Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Doha has drawn sharp debate. Times of Israel reports Mossad opposed a ground op, warning it would derail hostage talks, while Netanyahu pushed for action. Read more →
Dozens of Mossad women penetrated Iran during 12-Day War- exclusive
Jerusalem Post reports that dozens of female Mossad operatives carried out covert missions inside Iran during June’s 12-Day War, providing targeting for Israeli strikes on nuclear and missile sites. Mossad director David Barnea called their role “very substantial,” and the agency now signals it can intervene if Tehran moves its remaining uranium stockpiles toward a bomb. Read more →
As Hamas urges Gazans to stay put, its leaders are trying to flee Strip, says Israel
COGAT chief Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian revealed that senior Hamas figures tried to move their families out of Gaza even as the group ordered civilians to stay put. Read more →
Inside Israel
Government signals willingness to reconsider attorney general’s dismissal
In a late-night filing, the government told the High Court it may reconsider the dismissal of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara if the Grunis Committee can reconvene under strict limits. Ynet reports officials blasted the court’s intervention as undemocratic even while agreeing, under protest, to a fast-track process. The standoff underscores the deep rift over judicial authority during wartime. Read more →
In Israel, public tributes to Charlie Kirk include a street naming, a mural and a missile in Gaza
Israelis are commemorating slain U.S. activist Charlie Kirk with a street in Netanya, a mural in Ashdod, and even inscriptions on IDF munitions. JTA notes that leaders from Netanyahu to Ben-Gvir praised Kirk as a steadfast ally, while U.S. Jews and figures like Bill Ackman pledged support for his family. Read more →
Israel and the World
Security warning to Israelis vacationing abroad ahead of holidays
Israel’s National Security Council warned that terror groups may target Israelis and Jews abroad during the High Holidays and around October 7. i24NEWS reports the alert highlights rising antisemitic violence and urges travelers to check advisories, limit social media sharing, and remain vigilant. Read more →
Anti-Israel Protests Force Early End to Vuelta a Espana Cycle Race
Spain’s Vuelta a España ended in chaos as anti-Israel protesters blocked the Madrid finale, forcing organizers to cut the race short, reports Reuters via Algemeiner. Demonstrators targeted Israel-Premier Tech, the cycling team backed by Israeli ownership, while Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez openly praised the protests. What should have been a sporting celebration became another stage for delegitimizing Israel. Read more →
Briefly Noted
Brig. Gen. (res.) Oren Solomon writes in Israel Hayom that Gaza City is the key to defeating Hamas. Read more →
JTA: French scholar says Jewish humor is dying, but Alex Edelman and Netflix’s Long Story Short suggest otherwise. Read more →
Developments to Watch
Violent protests in Israel – At Karkur Junction, a 53-year-old protester smashed the windshield of a car filled with children. Police arrested him, stressing “vandalism is not part of a legitimate protest.” Outside the Likud conference, demonstrators tried to block ministers from entering until police forcibly dispersed them.
Tsurkov release details – Asharq Al-Awsat reports that the Iraqi government, under U.S. pressure, launched a campaign against the kidnappers holding Israeli-Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov. Exhausted, the militia released her without compensation.
Insane propaganda – A Yale professor accused Israel of “mass human sacrifice” in Gaza to trigger an end-times war. The claim, shared with over 230,000 YouTube subscribers, mirrors Shia Mahdi apocalyptic ideology out of Iran.
Qatar’s summit push – After Israel’s strike in Doha, Qatar, backed by Iran, has called an emergency Arab-Islamic summit to push for an “anti-Israel axis” and even a joint defense pact. Egypt has already flown fighter jets to secure the meeting.
Houthis attempt Ramon Airport strike – A suicide drone launched from Yemen was intercepted near Eilat. These attacks are now daily, sometimes multiple times per day.
Lebanon front – Israel continues striking Hezbollah daily. Today, an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle near Burj Qallawiyah, reportedly killing militants, while airstrikes hit heavy equipment being used to rebuild a Hezbollah facility near Aytaroun.
Europe backlash – Britain’s Royal College of Defence Studies says it will no longer admit Israeli officers starting next year, a stark signal of the diplomatic costs of the Gaza war.
That’s today’s Israel Brief. You’ve seen the war headlines, but also the undercurrents: propaganda masquerading as scholarship, governments edging toward anti-Israel alliances, and Europe signaling new exclusions. Together these threads tell one story — Israel’s fight is military, political, and cultural, all at once.
Thank you for being part of the News Minyan. Each time you open this briefing, you push back against distortion and help keep our narrative rooted in clarity, resilience, and memory.
— Uri Zehavi, Editor of Israel Brief
Let’s continue the conversation: reply in the comments or chat with me on X (@UriZehavi).
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