Peloni:  The inherent corruption which comes from long standing members of congress remaining as the gatekeepers of a nation’s governing order is a serious concern, and I think that Michel Benchimol provides a strong argument in support of term limits to prevent such corruption taking root.  I ponder, however, where we would be today had Israel not had the leadership, experience and connections which came from PM Netanyahu running the ship of state in Israel as the world applied every effort to shut down Israel’s right to respond following October 7.  To be certain, his counterparts in the opposition which he brought in to support the govt made ever effort to end the war prematurely in support of the American Biden administration’s pro-Iran policy.  Of course, had Netanyahu not held that position, some other leader of the National camp would have risen to do the same.  Nonetheless, the question which remains in my mind is whether another leader would have had the presence and influence to withstand Biden’s every attempt, even stating that he [Bibi] would fight with his fingernails if needed when threatened by an arms embargo from the US.  It would be interesting to read the comments of others on this topic.

Without term limits, power hardens and democracy suffocates. Renewal must be built into the system, not left to chance.

Michel Benchimol

There is something quietly corrosive happening inside modern democracies: power is no longer rotating—it is settling. What was designed to be temporary has become permanent. In the United States, this is most visible in Congress—where members of the House and Senate often serve for decades—and, in an even more entrenched form, within the Supreme Court, where justices hold lifetime appointments. Institutions built for representation and balance are drifting toward preservation. This is not how democratic systems fail dramatically; it’s how they weaken gradually—through comfort, continuity, and the slow disappearance of renewal.

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Peloni:  Failure to achieve regime change in Iran will only serve to reinforce Iran’s ability to pursue its stated objectives of dominating the world, conquering America and destroying Israel.  No amount of supervision will change this, as they will simply wait out til those in America who are enervated to prevent a nuclear Iran fade from power and a more complacent set of leaders come to power in the US.  Notably, with VP Vance waiting in the wings to potentially become the new face of power in the US, the Iranians will not need to wait very long.  Trump has an opportunity to end the threat of a nuclear Iran, but it will require regime change in Iran, not coerced negotiated promises from ideologues in the IRGC for this opportunity to be realized.  Gen. Yossi Kuperwasser is right about having the upper hand with Iran.  It is time to use that hand to end the terrorist regime there, once and for all.

The United States and Israel must not repeat the mistakes of 2015. Critical objectives must be met by agreement or by renewed fighting, because in spite of the heavy damage inflicted on it, the Iranian regime has remained in power and continues to function.

Gen. (ret.) Yossi Kuperwasser | Apr 23, 2026

When I was a member of the Israeli team that met with the Obama administration ahead of 2015 nuclear negotiations with Tehran, we warned the U.S. team not to allow Iran to continue enriching uranium, since that would ultimately give rise to a nuclear crisis posing an existential danger to Israel and the West. Instead, Washington and the five other world powers negotiating with Iran 11 years ago capitulated to demands that Tehran continue enriching uranium. Even the minimal restrictions agreed to on paper were due to lapse by 2030 – making the Iran nuclear deal less a solution to a foreseeable global threat than a safe path for Iran to develop a large arsenal of nuclear weapons.

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Peloni

Khalil al-Hayya in 2022. Photo by Tasnim News Agency, CC BY 4.0, Wikipedia

In a World Israel News article, David Rosenberg reports about an important shift taking place in Qatar where the ruling Muslim Brotherhood regime is evicting their Muslim Brotherhood Hamas tenants as disclosed in a Palestinian media report.

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Peloni:  The elections are a long way into the future, and many things will change from now to then, and the impact on the election from the outcome of the war to the development of new or merged parties, on both sides, will have a bearing, but the real opportunity for the Bennett-Lapid union would seem to be in gaining the third leg of this stool, which is of course the joining of Gadi Eisenkot to their ranks.  Will Bennett step aside to allow room for Eisenkot at the top?  It seems he will have to do so, but the real question is whether Eisenkot might not be better off running alone, without Bennett and Lapid.

Of particular note, the fact that Bennett and Lapid agree only to support the vilification of ‘settler violence’ while failing to adopt either a pro-sovereignty or anti-Two State Solution position in the post-October 7 political atmosphere, indicates this merger was either announced prematurely, or they in fact intend to maintain the status quo, while focusing on supporting the canard of ‘Settler Violence’ [see HERE, HERE, and HERE].  Notably, the Myth of Settler Violence has been explained many times, yet it seems even Bennett is immune to grasping the falsehood concocted in this blood libel.  Of course, such blindness to reality serves the interests of Western govts who are keen on delegitimizing Israel’s sovereignty while also vilifying the Israel’s sovereignty movement, and also failing to solidify Israel’s ownership to the land as enshrined in the San Remo Declaration and enshrined in international law under the League of Nations Mandate for Palestine.  If this is to be the platform of the ‘Together’ party, it is a shameful, and will hopefully prove to be a tone deaf retreat from Israeli sovereignty in the coming election by this reunion of the Lapid-Bennet gambit.  But as I said, the elections are a long way from now, so time will tell.

Two leaders emphasize shared positions, putting away differences for sake of unity

All Israel News Staff | Published: April 27, 2026

Lapid and Bennett. Screengrab via Youtube

After former prime ministers Naftali Bennet and Yair Lapid announced they would run together in the upcoming elections on Sunday, the first polls showed somewhat disappointing results for their joint party called “Beyachad,” meaning Together.

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Peloni:  Norah O’Donnell provides clarity surrounding the role played by the American Left in raising tensions while using inciteful rhetoric, and she does so while cover a story relating the consequence of such irresponsible rhetoric.  In truth, while Trump fairly describes her conduct as ‘a disgrace’, her inability to shift roles actually serves as something of a public service.

Harold Hutchison | Media Reporter | Daily Caller | April 26, 2026

Screengrab via Rumble

President Donald Trump clashed with “60 Minutes” contributing correspondent Norah O’Donnell during a Sunday interview after she read portions of the alleged would-be assassin’s manifesto.

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People see through their lies.

J.B. Shurk | Am Thinker | April 26, 2026

 Image via PickPik.

Perhaps I’m being too optimistic, but I think fewer people are buying into the hardcore cult propaganda that Marxist-globalists rain down on the world every day.

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Peloni:  Trump should go all the way to regime change.  Nothing else will provide the world with the security of not facing a revitalized Mullah regime in the future.

Mark Dubowitz & Miad Maleki | Apr 26, 2026

Photo by Thomas Bormans on Unsplash

The clock is ticking in Washington and Tehran.

With midterm elections approaching, pressure is building on President Donald Trump — from the left and the isolationist right — to wind down the war against Iran.

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Peloni:  The pretense of peace is forcing unnecessary battle casualties rather than peaceful cooperation.   Such costs do not aid either Israel or Lebanon, but of course, the break in the war against Hezbollah was not really about bringing peace in Southern Lebanon, but was instead offered as a concession to the Iranians for their cooperation in entering negotiations.  Days later, Hezbollah continues to attack Israel, and Iran continues to offer threats and marginal peace concessions, as Trump continues to simultaneously talk about peace in Lebanon and peace in Iran, neither of which appear to be close at hand.

IDF soldier killed as Israeli troops are under incessant drone attacks despite ceasefire

All Israel News Staff | Published: April 27, 2026

Helicopter under drone attack as evacuation of wounded takes place in Southern Lebanon over the weekend.  Screengrab via X.

Israel has warned the United States that it might escalate its strikes on Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, risking the fragile ceasefire, if the terror group continues its relentless attacks on Israeli troops and towns that killed at least one soldier and wounded several others on Sunday.

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Peloni:  Years ago when I first heard of the remarkable tale of Abdol Hossein Sardari, I was shocked to learn that he was not counted among the Righteous Gentiles by Yad Vashem, despite being afforded this recognition by the Simon Wiesenthal Center and other organizations.  As a blockbuster film came to be made surrounding the exploits of the acknowledge Righteous Gentile Oskar Schindler, the Iranian counsel who was responsible for saving twice the number of lives saved by Schindler, is still not afforded this honor today. Sardari was born into the life of politics and royalty as a member of the distinguished Qajar dynasty which ruled Iran prior to the rise of the Shah in the 1920’s, and his mother was herself the niece of the ruling Shah during Sadari’s youth.  So Sadari was raised in an environment of some wealth and entitlement.  In this role, Sadari accompanied his brother-in-law who was to serve as Iran’s French Ambassador near the outbreak of WWII.  When Paris fell to the Nazis, the embassy was quickly moved to Vichy, but Sadari remained in Paris to handle the consulate affairs there.  It was in this role that he gained unfettered access to the state documents there.

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By Lawrence Peck | Pennmike.com | April 13, 2026

By Republic of Korea – Flickr, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikipedia

Just days before this year’s solemn Holocaust Remembrance Day, Korea’s leftist President Lee Jae-myung apparently calculated that it was a good time to engage in his usual practice of glaring double standards and hypocrisy by disrespecting the memory of victims of the Holocaust and to insult Israel, Jews, and others around the world. Lee did this by spreading what is known in Western nations as a “blood libel” against Israel, by recklessly re-posting the false claims of an extremist account on the social media platform “X.”

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Peloni & David Fieldstone

Mark Levin. Screengrab via Rumble

Video Loads Below

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Peloni:  This remains a potent possibility as Trump’s patience with the regime seems somewhat indefinite, even while leaving the blockade on Iranian shipping in place.  The question of whether regime collapse would outlast the regime’s willingness to accept terms and thereby survive to reign down madness upon the world once again would seem to argue that the regime will in fact survive this test of wills.

Despite the end of Operation Roaring Lion, Tehran continues to issue military threats and project strength. But beneath the surface, a deepening economic and social crisis could turn any agreement into a lifeline for the regime, rather than an end to the war.

by  Prof. Eyal Zisser | April 26, 2026

The declaration of a ceasefire, which has for now brought Operation Roaring Lion to an end, was met in Israel, and among many in the US, with a sour feeling. The Iranian regime did not collapse, as some in Washington and Jerusalem had hoped, and it even continued to rain missiles down on us. By all indications, the number of missiles it still has may be enough for many more weeks of fighting. The fire could indeed resume at any moment, but it is clear that the US administration is focused on reaching a permanent agreement that will end the war.

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By Pamela Geller | April 26, 2026

Image via Truth Social

Fox News reporter: The shooters manifesto said he wanted to target administration officials.

A bloodbath was averted. The Democrat party should be designated a terrorist organization.

Investigators also found extensive anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric across his social media accounts.

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Arlene Bridges Samuels | April 23, 2026

Image via IWM.org

American pilots, both Jewish and Christian, share a remarkable history of partnership with Israel that reaches back to the nation’s founding on May 14, 1948. On that historic evening in Tel Aviv, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion read the Declaration of Independence as jubilant crowds filled the streets with celebration.

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Peloni:  See more HERE.

Well, it would seem that former PM Bennett, who once claimed to be ten steps to the Right of Bibi, is now linking his future to the sinking hopes of Lapid under the party name of “Together”.  I am only surprised that the name of their party is not “Together Again” in reference to a re-do of their previous gambit to do whatever was needed to unseat Bibi from power, something which they seem to hope to do once again…Together.  Of course, they are leaving space for Gadi Eisenkot to join, but it seems that that the Ra’am leader, who recently stated his divorce from the Muslim Brotherhood, has had no such invite being afforded to him…but after the election, no doubt he too will be offered a seat at Bennett’s table so that the reunion of the govt of Spare Parts will be reunited once more…Together.   Does this gambit of reviving the anti-Bibi cabal have the potential of restoring a Left-Arab coalition to power in the first post October 7 national election?  Time will tell of course, but the problem for the Right lies more with those who support the Right under the leadership of the candidate whom the people cast the greatest number of votes, be that Bibi or some one else.  In other words, any candidates for Knesset which provide a greater import to disposing Bibi than to promoting the Right wing nationalist agenda is clearly not a candidate of the Right.  The coming election will be a difficult and chaotic affair, even more than usual, but it seems there will be little support lost by those who would vote for the Right as Bennett strikes his colors and openly joins the Left to maximize the effort to defeat the nationalist camp.  As Smotrich noted, the Left can handle their votes however they like.

Notably, on hearing of the merger between Bennett and Lapid, Bibi posted the simple comment that: “They will do it again,” and of course, he is quite correct.  The absolutely mean to do it again, and perhaps that is the true inference of naming their new party ‘Together’.

Former PMs Naftali Bennett (@naftalibennett) and Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) announce merger of their parties under Bennett's leadership.

With the move, Bennett officially abandons the right wing by merging with Lapid's Yesh Atid party. After failing to pull votes from Netanyahu's… pic.twitter.com/RuvtVwhtj5

— C14 News Israel | EN (@c14israel) April 26, 2026

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Peloni:  It continues to be intolerable that this Jihadist in a suit is being given full US support while continuing to prove that he is either unable or unwilling to control his throngs of minority hating Jihadists.  The centralization of power in Syria falls along the lines of rhetoric invoked by Amb. Tom Barrack who asserts that strong totalitarianships are to be preferred over govts espoused by the people governing them.  Syria has been the litmus test which seems to continuously prove Barrack’s rather distasteful claim false.  Washington should never have fully embraced the policy of supporting Jolani without setting benchmarks.  The Syrian minorities continue to pay the price for this mistake, and with regards to the Syrian Druze, this mistake directly undermines Israeli interests.

The jury is still out on Ahmed al-Sharaa. And it is not a theoretical question, because developments inside Syria matter far beyond its borders. 

Stephen M. Flatow | Apr 25, 2026

Abu Muhammad al-Jolani. Photo by Kremlin.ru, CC BY 4.0, Wikiepdia

Syria’s new leadership under Ahmed al-Sharaa would be given room to consolidate power in exchange for something basic: restraint, stability, and protection of minorities.

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Peloni:  This political ruse is being used to support the Western claim that the PA has been reformed and is democratically based.  The relevance of this shell game, no matter the outcome of this election, is to validate US involvement in the American Equity also known as the Palestinian Authority in the future governance of Gaza, when in fact the PA is a terrorist institution whose every iterations should be proscribed as such.  While Hamas is prohibited from being included in these elections, it is notable that the same standard is not enforced to keep members of Abbas’ faction from being eligible as well.  The PA’s role in terrorist funding and its many members who have been involved in terrorist attacks is well known and documented.  This institution should be fully defunded, its members should be targeted for prosecution of war crimes, and every tie between the US and this vile institution should be severed.  Instead, they are being given a new lease on life, and will soon this terrorist institution will be deemed ‘eligible’ to extend their weaponized ideology to Gaza where they will seamlessly be able to take over from Hamas, if Hamas is itself ever removed from power there.

The elections will be closely watched to see the trends. If things go well, this could boost the plans for change in Gaza.

By SETH J. FRANTZMAN | APRIL 25, 2026

Image by landrachuk – Pixabay, CC0, Wikipedia

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Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger | “Second Thought: a US-Israel Initiative” | April 26, 2026

*500,000 Arabs (away for over a year) are included in the census, contrary to global norms. 325,000 were included in the 1997 census. 400,000 in 2005, according to the Palestinian Election Commission. 100,000 overseas births added to the census in 1995-2014, according to the Palestinian Undersecretary of Interior. The number grows steadily due to births.

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