By Hugh Fitzgerald | Mar 1, 2025

While Israel has had its hands full, and its attention focused, on fighting Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and on “demilitarizing” Syria by destroying all the weaponry that Bashar Assad’s army had accumulated, it has at the same time been monitoring Tehran’s race to acquire nuclear weapons. The news is alarming. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said that since December, there has been a “dramatic increase” in the amount of uranium enriched to 60%, or just below weapons-grade, in Iran. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar now says that despite the new and crippling sanctions on Iran just imposed by the Trump administration, economic collapse may not be enough to halt Iran’s nuclear program, and a “military option” must remain on the table. More on Sa’ar’s warning can be found here: “‘Military option’ on table to halt Tehran’s nuclear threat, Sa’ar warns,” Jerusalem Post, February 26, 2025:

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Peloni:  The regime which Zelensky leads in Ukraine is the product of the US Deep State coup which overthrew the last Ukrainian president which was elected by the entire Ukrainian nation.  The factions and ideologies which have been established in Ukraine as dominant since that time will remain an obstacle to peace, no matter who leads the nation, and is likely why Zelensky has repeatedly acted to try to scuttle Trump’s attempts to make peace thus far, something which should be expected to likely continue.

By Monica Showalter | Am Thinker | Mar, 1, 2025

Is Volodymyr Zelensky somebody’s little puppet?

It was a strange specter to watch the Russian state media’s observation of that in response to the meeting between Zelensky and President Trump, which ended in a shouting match, and Zelensky sent home without his presidential lunch.

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by Majid Rafizadeh  •  Gatestone Institute • March 1, 2025 at 5:00 am

Despite having survived through the presidencies of multiple U.S. leaders — from Jimmy Carter through Joe Biden — the Iranian regime has never softened its hostility. Its leaders and supporters continue to chant “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.” Its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and proxy militias target U.S. interests, and are expanding its influence not only across the Middle East but deeply into Latin America. The exasperating reality is that every attempt at reconciliation or engagement seems only to embolden Iran’s regime further. Pictured: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vows “Death to America” in a televised appearance, in November 2022. (Image source: MEMRI)

• The Islamic of Republic of Iran is a revolutionary state, deeply committed to an ideological mission that transcends conventional diplomacy. Its very core identity is rooted in anti-Americanism, anti-Semitism, and the goal of exporting its revolutionary ideals worldwide.

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Peloni:  This self imposed tragedy was the greatest Ukrainian defeat in the long list of defeats which Ukraine secured over the past more than a decade.  In fact, this catastrophic misstep by Zelensky is potentially if not likely regime changing in its nature.  The Ukrainian Ambassador facepalmed gesticulation during the event really captures the reality which Ukraine faces at this juncture.  As has been explained by Bryen, below and more extensively in his previous essays, Zelensky can not be seen to negotiate with Putin which likely played no small role in this diplomatic implosioin.  Quite a terrible moment for the Ukrainian rank and file whose morale was already at a significant deficit.

and some guesses about what happens next

Remarks from Trump officials take a clear stance on a new era for the U.S.-Israel alliance.

Avi Abelow | Feb 28, 2025

By U.S. Embassy Jerusalem – https://www.flickr.com/photos/46886434@N04/54334316812/, CC BY 2.0

Under the leadership of U.S. President Donald Trump, America and Israel are fully aligned in their shared missions: defeat Islamic terrorism, prevent a nuclear Iran and ensure Israel’s complete victory over Hamas. With his visit to Israel earlier in February and a subsequent meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent a clear message to the world: The U.S.-Israel alliance has never been stronger.

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By Seth Frantzman | February 27, 2025

On the evening of February 25, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out airstrikes in Syria. The strikes came two days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for south Syria to be demilitarized. “The IDF struck military targets in southern Syria, including command centers and multiple sites containing weapons,” the Israeli military said.

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Peloni:  As the US prefers to negotiate with Iran on the topic of their nuclear program, it ignores the wider implication that Iran has mounted its own assault upon America from its southern border.  Adding to this is Iran’s long history of state sponsor of terrorism, and her infamous proxy armies which mount open assaults on the non-combatants as well as defeating America’s role of securing freedom of the sea.  Hence ignoring the reality that any deal struck with Iran will be at best a temporary victory, and more likely a staged tactic towards delay than anything else, Iran represents a whole of society threat to America, and if America persists in preserving the Mullahs rather than irradicating them, this threat will continue to invade and corrupt America to her great regret.

Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger | “Second Thought: a US-Israel Initiative” | February 24, 2025

Iran and Latin America By Alborzagros – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

While attention has been focused on Iran’s nuclear ambition, it is Iran’s conventional power, which has made it the leading global epicenter of war, terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering, including in Latin America and on US soil. Moreover, the aim to end war and terrorism, on the one hand, and Iran’s conventional potency, on the other hand, constitutes an oxymoron. In fact, the existence of the Ayatollahs regime, on the one hand, and any attempt to end war and terrorism, on the other hand is a contradiction in terms.

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Madeline Brooks: Jonathan Pollard and his friend, Rabbi Bar – Hayim, challenge the hold the secular left have on Israeli society and call for religious zionists to bring new life to politics. They want them to shake off the second class status secularists imposed on them for decades, and hope they will boldly bring new leadership to the country. Bibi is described as weak, not deeply principled enough, and giving in to the judiciary’s left wing control. This control, which can overrule democratically chosen legislation, is compared to George Soros’ Open Society’s deliberate destruction of national integrity, replacing democracy with top heavy beurocracy. In addition to civil strife, what could be more serious in a country fumbling to combat enemies on every side?! What is not spelled out, but could have been, is that Israel’s enemies are all waging a religious war against it so what is needed is greater religious strength on Israel’s part. The video ends with the participants agreeing, “We can only succeed if we cling to Hashem and His Torah.” In other videos Pollard clearly spells out the importance of Torah to him.

Peloni: I noticed that Rabbi Bar-Hayim and Pollard continue to overstate the case which might fairly be held against Bibi, even suggesting that he buckled on Judicial Reform at the “first real sign of opposition”, which is clearly not accurate.  He was in fact facing an ongoing US sponsored color revolution, and the considerable threat against the state, not just his govt, was both very real and very great, when he buckled on this topic.  In fact, the USAID and US State Dept objective to destabilize the country led to Hamas believing that their moment for victory was well at hand, demonstrating the complicating features considered while Bibi pulled that legislation from being considered.  While their arguments for the electorate being in need of an upgrade in choosing a leader may be warranted, I would argue that the outspoken bias expressed by Pollard and Rabbi Bar-Hayim against Bibi is quite significant, though more so with the former than the latter.

Peloni:  This is all very good news.

Humanitarian aid will be provided only in certain zones

All Israel News Staff | Published: February 28, 2025

Israel’s leadership is planning to resume the war against Hamas within four to six weeks with a significantly changed strategy, the Washington Free Beacon reported.

A senior Western diplomat told the Times of Israel that Israel is preparing for a return to war.

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By Victor Sharpe

Mosaic from the ancient synagogue in Gaza By Dr. Avishai Teicher, CC BY 2.5

The almost four-thousand-year-old association of Jewish life in Gaza is little remembered in today’s world. Of course, people know of the Biblical story of Samson being blinded by the now extinct Philistines and how he brought down the temple to their gods in Gaza. But very few non-Jews have any idea of the rich Jewish history in the following millennia.

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Peloni:  This was a very interesting conversation.   Pay particular attention to the final aspect of the interview where the topic of trusting Trump is raised, which begins at 57min.  Notably, Gil-White thinks that Trump, like his predecessors is under the control of the intelligence community while Black believes Trump is remodeling the intelligence community so that it will work for the American people, and by extension the Jews and Israel.  Time will tell which is more accurate, weeks & months as Black states, but it would be interesting to read the perspective offered by readers.

My own thoughts are that I remain concerned about Qatar’s influence, as Gil-White suggests, but I find it implausible that the pressure which Trump placed the establishment by calling to permanently move the Gazans out of Gaza would support Gil-White’s broader thesis, that Trump is just play acting to support the Deep State which controls him.  Indeed, the very suggestion of removing the Pal Cleft from the throat of Israel changes everything in the Middle East, and I am anticipating that this is just the beginning of such changes…but again, time will tell.

Peloni:  The open display of such utter incompetence by a key figure of the administration in the early hours of Trump’s second term will come to both marginalize Bondi’s influence over Trump, as well as likely have him grasping that a sharper knife might be needed to carve out the policies which he holds most important.

Sundance | Feb 27, 2025

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Peloni: The imprisoned leader of the PKK has called for the dissolution of the PKK, with the potential of ending the 40yr conflict with Turkey. It may be recalled that the Turkish nationalist Devlet Bahceli made a peace overture last October following the geopolitical earthquake which resulted from the Israeli decimation of Iran’s primary proxy force, Hezbollah, and preceded the fall of the Assad regime. Ocalan’s remark, however, not only recognizes the previous defeat of Iran’s proxy, it presents the potential of a further degradation of Iran’s power projection among the wider Kurdish enclaves situated in Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Turkey itself, all of which will benefit the rising power potential of Erdogan throughout the region.

BREAKING: Öcalan calls for all armed groups to disarm and for the PKK to dissolve itself. Read his full statement here: pic.twitter.com/i5TWrIsL2r

— TurkeyinDepth (@TurkeyinDepth) February 27, 2025

Peloni:  Lapid, ever the proponent of maximized folly and giving Jewish lands and state assets to enemies, proposes to give Egypt control over Gaza,  and eventually to see the PA take over.  It is shocking that anyone, even Lapid, would put forward such a proposal which provides no solutions, while creating untenable liabilities at inconceivable costs.  Some are caught in the Old Conception, while most have moved onto the New Conception, but it does appear that Lapid simply has no conception, whatsoever.

ZOA | Feb 27, 2025

Yair Lapid By DedaSasha – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, 

Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) National President Morton A. Klein and ZOA Director of Research and Special Projects Liz Berney, Esq. released the following statement:

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BREAKING: A hearing on USAID misuse reveals its role in helping Hamas stay in power.

“90% of U.S. aid sent ended up in Hamas-controlled areas. In effect, American assistance kept Hamas afloat until the ceasefire was pushed through weeks ago.” pic.twitter.com/ArfXw1IJqu

— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) February 27, 2025