Arlene Kushner | September 3, 2026
Director General of the Israel Ministry of Defense Maj. Gen (Res.) Amir Baram(L) and his Greek counterpart, Ioannis Bouras. Image via gov.il
The posting I sent last, which catalogued obscene and vile lessons taught in PA schools after October 7, as well as solid evidence of the dangerous military build-up of the PA, was indeed enough to make one’s blood run cold. This is information everyone certainly needs to have. Nor is what I have already written the end of the story. There is a good deal more I want to address.
It is important, however, to maintain a balance: We also need to mark the good stuff. This is essential if we are to stay sane (no easy task today) and function effectively.
And so, with Shabbat coming in and Rosh Hashana just a week away, I want to do a Good News posting. And yes, there is good news if we open our eyes to see it.
~~~~~~~~~~
“A…$3.48 billion [10.47 billion shekel] defense agreement between Israel and Greece was signed on Monday [August 31], with Israel set to construct a ‘multi-layered’ defense system for the Greek military, Israel’s defense ministry confirmed in a statement.”
“Greece has dubbed the new program ‘Achilles Shield,’ a deal the ministry ranks among the largest in the country’s defense history. Never before has the Israeli Ministry of Defense delivered a single, fully integrated array built to counter threats as varied as ballistic missiles, aircraft, and hostile drones…
“…Israel will also broaden its industrial defense ties with Greece, transferring knowledge and technology to local Greek industry, the ministry said…
“’This project marks another milestone in defense cooperation between Israel and Greece, a key strategic partner in the Eastern Mediterranean,’ the ministry’s statement read. ‘Greece’s choice of Israeli technology as the backbone of its most ambitious air defense buildup program in the past decade reflects the depth of trust built between the two countries.’”(Emphasis added)
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/08/31/israel-greece-achilles-shield-defense-deal/
~~~~~~~~~~
“Greece is moving away from its aging Russian and European systems and entrusting the defense of its skies, from Athens to the popular tourist islands of the Aegean Sea, to three advanced Israeli missile-defense systems. Anyone following today’s threat map understands that this is more than a military procurement deal. It represents a reassessment of the regional balance of power.
“The diplomatic and strategic significance of the agreement extends far beyond the Mediterranean. In recent years, a Sunni alliance has been taking shape among Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, seeking to set the tone in both the Middle East and the Mediterranean basin.
“This emerging Sunni alliance seeks to establish overwhelming influence in the Middle East and the Mediterranean basin, both as a counterweight to the Iranian-led Shiite axis and as a means of reducing Western and Israeli influence in the region…”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman:
President Erdogan welcomes Mohammed bin Salman on June 22, 2022. Screengrab via Youtube.
“Against this axis, close operational and technological cooperation between Jerusalem and Athens provides a powerful counterweight. Together with Cyprus, the third side of this triangle, a significant barrier is emerging to Turkish expansionist ambitions…
“For Israel, the diplomatic and economic value is enormous. A NATO member is choosing to replace Russian systems such as the S-300 and Tor-M1 with Israeli-made defense technology, cementing Israel’s position as a technological superpower precisely at a time of intense diplomatic pressure.
“Achilles’ Shield is not an isolated development. It is another link in a chain of enormous deals that are overturning familiar assumptions. In recent years, an intriguing, almost hypocritical dissonance has emerged in Europe’s relationship with Israel. While loud voices in the political, academic and cultural worlds condemn Israel, promote boycotts and advocate distancing Europe from Jerusalem, existential interests prevail when it comes to security. European leaders understand that in the new geopolitical reality, Israeli technology can make the difference between maintaining sovereignty and losing it.” (Emphasis added)
~~~~~~~~~~
In a joint Shin-Bet and IDF operation, the head of Hamas’s Internal Security apparatus in the Gaza Strip, Mu’in Al-Arabid, was captured on Tuesday (August 31).
“The operation, conducted under Southern Command, lasted several hours and concluded with Al-Arabid’s capture while wounded. He was evacuated to Israel for further security questioning.”
He had been responsible for concealing and moving hostages and hiding senior Hamas members. More recently he was involved in efforts to restore Hamas’s control in Gaza and attempts to deceive Israel regarding the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/432561
When we capture a terrorist leader of this level alive it is a real coup. May the questioning yield solid information. He could have been killed in the operation, but it was understood that taking him out would not have been the most productive way to proceed because of the quality of intelligence that might be secured from him during interrogation.
There were no Israeli casualties during the operation.
The Shin Bet had been tracking Al-Arabid for a considerable period of time and noted points of vulnerability. Special forces moved in when he was walking towards his home outside of Gaza City, shot him, and captured him. During the operation the Israeli Air Force shot from above into the perimeter of the area to prevent any Hamas forces from approaching.
~~~~~~~~~~
On August 21, Israel officially received from the US the second of a fleet of six Boeing KC-46 refueling aircraft, dubbed “Gideon,” at Nevatim Air Force base in the Negev. A state-of-the-art plane, it will provide additional flexibility for air force jets, enabling them to drastically extend their operational range and remain airborne for significantly longer periods during missions.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/08/21/israeli-air-force-receives-second-boeing-kc-46-refueling-jet/
Israel Ministry of Defense
~~~~~~~~~~
“Israel and Venezuela have agreed to renew consular relations following a series of talks between Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar (on the left below) and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Felix Plasencia in recent weeks…marking a significant step in restoring practical ties between the two countries.”
“Under the agreement, Israel and Venezuela will establish a coordination mechanism to facilitate the provision of consular services to citizens of both countries. The mechanism will create an official channel for coordination between Jerusalem and Caracas, despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations since 2009.”
https://worldisraelnews.com/israel-and-venezuela-reopen-official-channels-after-17-years/
This renewed understanding followed assistance provided by Israel after devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24. A delegation was sent headed by staff from Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israel Defense Forces’ Home Front Command. Members of the delegation remained for three weeks after most aid missions had returned home: some 32 Israeli experts supported Venezuelan authorities in the transition to the rehabilitation phase.
Here I want to note that it is a point of special pride that Israel frequently reaches out to help other nations in times of crisis. And this applies even when there are strained relations – or no relations – between Israel and the nation to which we are offering assistance. I can remember instances in which hostile nations would only receive our relief packages if all labelling indicating that it came from Israel had been removed. Or when they refused to accept our relief packages. Colossal fools. But bravo for us.
Eliyah Cohen was taken hostage at the Nova festival on Oct. 7; he was held in captivity, chained and under horrendous conditions. He had been shot in the leg before he was taken and a Hamas doctor extracted the bullet with tweezers without anesthesia.
After 550 days, in February 2025, he was released. Only then did he learn that his girlfriend, Ziv Abud – who was with him at the Nova festival and whom he had planned to marry – was alive. He had seen her unconscious before Hamas took him and the entire time he was in captivity he had believed she was dead. In fact, she and her family had been demonstrating for his release. Once released, he wrote an autobiography describing his captivity, and the two of them campaigned for the release of remaining hostages.
Last year, in October, Eliyah and Ziv became engaged. They married this August. He said he would recite the Shema at the wedding, and he did, along with reciting prayers of gratitude to the Almighty for bringing him through the horror to that day.
Ziv said that their marriage was a great victory over evil. Indeed.
There is some very good news in this post, my friends: there are signs of our growing strength and influence.
But for me, this last is the ultimate in good news stories – and there are others like this one. The bravery and endurance, the determination to move past horrors to blessings. Because of young people such as Eliyah and Ziv, I know that, with the help of the Almighty, our country is going to be all right.
I ask, as I always do, that you please pray. Pray hard for Israel’s strength.
©Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by independent journalist Arlene Kushner. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.