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Jerusalem highlights: July 3-9

BY HAGAY HACOHEN — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 20:11:04 GMT

What's new to do in Israel's capital?

Former hostages return to Entebbe, confronting memory, trauma and history

BY DEBORAH DAHAN/JTA — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:42:47 GMT

“To be abducted in Athens on an Air France plane makes sense,” Gonen said. “But to be abducted at home, in the State of Israel, it was too much.”

October 7 trials: How Israel is preparing for the largest terror prosecution in its history

BY SARAH BEN-NUN — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:42:55 GMT

LEGAL AFFAIRS: Israel now needs to build an entire temporary justice system around a crime that cannot be reduced to a single file, defendant, scene, or legal theory.

WATCH: Haredi IDF soldiers graduate Hashmonaim Brigade's first officer training course

BY TZVI JASPER — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:24:39 GMT

The course maintained full IDF standards, including all the instruction given to cadets at the IDF's Officer's School (Bahad 1), and allowed the graduates to maintain their haredi lifestyle.

Israel Police arrest two following attack on Tel Aviv deputy mayor, activist group

BY MAYA ZANGER-NADIS — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:02:48 GMT

According to police, a number of people gathered around the activists, who had set up a stand, and physically and verbally attacked them.

In unity government push, Netanyahu bets Israel's political boycott is beginning to crack

BY HERB KEINON — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:47:19 GMT

POLITICAL AFFAIRS: PM Netanyahu’s emerging campaign is built around a simple proposition: The political boycott against him is losing its rationale, and a broader coalition is again possible.

'Mazal tov America!': Herzog shares congratulatory message with US amb. Huckabee ahead of July 4

BY MIRIAM SELA-EITAM — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:45:50 GMT

In his letter to Trump, Herzog thanked the American president for his "steadfast commitment to Israel's security. May you continue to lead the Middle East and the world toward peace and security."

Ben-Gurion Airport police arrest Israeli TV celebrity for driving with an invalid license

BY HODAYA RAN AND ALON HACHMON — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:43:25 GMT

The star has participated in, among other shows, Channel 13's reality documentary Goalstar, which involves celebrities playing soccer.

IDF destroys tunnels, kills terrorists, arrests over 60 terror suspects in North, South, West Bank

BY MIRIAM SELA-EITAM — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:26:47 GMT

At the same time, the IDF continues to operate against smuggling attempts through Israel’s eastern and western borders.

Grapevine, July 3, 2026: Presidential terms

BY GREER FAY CASHMAN — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:38:10 GMT

Movers and shakers in Israeli society.

IDF chief awards US Air Defense battery captain, commanders with Certificate of Appreciation

BY MIRIAM SELA-EITAM — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 11:41:01 GMT

It noted that over the past few years, the IDF and US army have "demonstrated a level of partnership, professionalism, and innovation unmatched in modern warfare."

IDF, Shin Bet kill Hamas terror leader who held four hostages in Gaza, incl. Cpt. Daniel Perez

BY JERUSALEM POST STAFF — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 11:11:59 GMT

Muhammad Naim Jandia had been the head of military security for Hamas's Shajaiyah Battalion and had taken part in the kidnapping of Captain Daniel Perez during the massacre.

Israeli pop star Sasson Shaulov lightly wounded in car accident, MDA confirms

BY TZVI JASPER — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:47:40 GMT

Shaulov and his passengers did not need to be taken to the hospital, Magen David Adom stated.

IDF, Shin Bet arrest eight Palestinians suspected of assaulting Israelis in West Bank village

BY MIRIAM SELA-EITAM — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:21:55 GMT

Separately, Israel Police on Thursday arrested a resident of the West Bank town of Tarqumiyah suspected of being involved in the criminally motivated kidnapping of an IDF soldier.

Senior IDF officer: 1,000 days since Oct. 7 changed how Israel fights its enemies

BY AMIR BOHBOT — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:17:54 GMT

"The way we look today at an emerging threat, our approach toward the enemy is different. Today there is no such thing as no response. That thinking is different from before," the officer said.

Israel Police arrest IDF reservist under suspicion of illegal weapon possession, arms trafficking

BY YANIR YAGNA — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 08:58:09 GMT

A special investigative team was established in recent weeks after intelligence raised suspicions that an active reservist was involved in weapons trafficking.

Netanyahu, Likud could win more seats apart than together, but would weaken coalition - poll

BY MOSHE COHEN — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 08:38:57 GMT

Meanwhile, the poll found that the Bennett-Lapid Together Party stopped its slide, stabilizing at 20 seats, and Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar! Party fell one seat, also to 20.

IDF reservist severely wounded during altercation with terrorist near Bint Jbail

BY MIRIAM SELA-EITAM — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 07:28:32 GMT

According to Army Radio, two other soldiers were lightly wounded in the incident but did not need to be evacuated to the hospital for treatment.

Soldiers are 'most important resource,' IDF chief says as haredi draft bill advances in Knesset

BY LEO FEIERBERG BETTER — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 03:33:18 GMT

"It is fitting and proper that they [soldiers] be first in the order of priorities to receive the nation’s appreciation through its decisions and allocation of resources," said Zamir.

Herzog, first lady, visit Kibbutz Kerem Shalom on day 1,000 since October 7 massacre

BY LEO FEIERBERG BETTER — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 02:02:25 GMT

"We will continue to plant, to build, to nurture life, and to choose hope. And so our answer is one and the same: to keep planting, building, nurturing life, and choosing hope,” Herzog said.

IDF Disabled Veterans Organization warns of 'national disaster' amid exclusion in defense budget

BY ARIELLA ROITMAN AND LIAT RON — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 02:00:16 GMT

The warnings came amid debate in 2026 defense spending discussions, in which the Finance Ministry rejected the Defense Ministry's petitions to increase spending by NIS 40 billion.

Israel Police's Counterterrorism Unit, Shin Bet arrest suspects in northern Israel mosque shooting

BY JERUSALEM POST STAFF — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:02:52 GMT

Officers from the Israel Police's Counterterrorism Unit (YAMAM) apprehended the suspect, while Shin Bet provided intelligence support to the forces, the statement said.

Defense Minister Katz, IDF chief Zamir mark 1,000 days since Oct. 7 with warnings to Iranian regime

BY CORINNE BAUM — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 22:26:43 GMT

Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israel had “changed the face of the Middle East” after October 7 and that Israel "emerged a more united people and a stronger, more determined state."

Reporter’s Notebook: The threat along Syrian buffer zone is far from over for Israel

BY AMICHAI STEIN — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 21:37:19 GMT

For now, there appears to be little appetite to withdraw from the buffer zone, largely because of lingering questions over whether Syria’s new president is truly capable of controlling the country.

October 7 remembrance ceremony crowdfunding tops NIS 700,000 on first day of campaign

BY SIDNEY BLASCO — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 20:04:24 GMT

Organizers said this will be the largest publicly funded memorial event in Israel’s history. Approximately 4,905 donors were responsible for over 38% of the total goal.

Hoops and hopes: Maya Zilbershlag leads Israeli basketball to European competitions

BY JOSHUA HALICKMAN — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 19:48:55 GMT

One of Israeli basketball’s top young female talents leads Israel into the U20 Women’s European Championship before beginning her college career at Purdue.

‘Checkout’: New comedy hit, expanded from one of Israel's most popular series

BY HANNAH BROWN — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 18:14:11 GMT

A new comedy feature film titled 'Checkout' has already sold a quarter of a million tickets in just a few days, telling the stories of staff and customers at a fictional supermarket chain in Israel.

IDF probes soldiers after video shows blindfolded Palestinian tied to broomstick in Gaza

BY CORINNE BAUM — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 18:05:12 GMT

The video, which was reportedly filmed by IDF soldiers in Gaza, shows a Palestinian man who is blindfolded and tied to a broomstick with zip ties.

As Arab sector violence soars, Israeli imams complete leadership program to combat crime

BY DANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 18:02:12 GMT

The year-long Imams as Community Leaders program brought Islamic leaders from across the country to study community resilience, conflict resolution, and violence prevention strategies.

Chief Rabbinate Council disputes Tzohar kashrut approval hours after authorization

BY JERUSALEM POST STAFF — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:32:01 GMT

“The approval was granted unlawfully and did not go through the Chief Rabbinate Council as required,” Director General of the Ministry of Religious Services Yehuda Avidan said.