ToI’s weekly deep dive: Unsung heroine’s tale finally told * Terror’s just desserts: TV chef reopens Sderot cafe * Podcast: Reasons for optimism in Israel’s 77th year

[Times of Israel]( [Weekly Deep Dive]( Sunday, May 19, 2024 Memorial Day [An unsung heroine’s 1948 tale of courage and captivity resonates anew after October 7]( By Tal Schneider Rivka Grabovsky’s little-known ordeals, during the War of Independence and as a POW held by Syria, take on added layers as Israelis process a more recent tragedy Op-ed David Horovitz [As Israel turns 76, little to celebrate… except resilience and a unique history]( Israel has never had the luxury of taking its survival for granted, as Oct. 7 proved again. And yet, through millennia, it is always those who try to destroy the Jews who disappear [Op-Ed / When an Israeli showed inspirational courage in the singing of a pop song]( By David Horovitz Memorial Day [Fighting and dying alongside men for decades, female soldiers finally get their due]( By Maya Zanger-Nadis Women Warriors site gathers stories and info about female troops killed in line of duty, as group hopes to memorialize fallen and inspire more integration in combat roles [How ordinary citizens became superhuman on October 7: A new book recounts their tales]( By Sue Surkes [Reporter's notebook / In foil to official state event, those hit hardest by Oct. 7 lead torch-dousing ceremony]( By Canaan Lidor and Charlie Summers [Emerging Independence Day ritual inspires unity and gratitude in shadow of October 7]( By Maya Zanger-Nadis Op-ed David Horovitz [To save and heal Israel, Netanyahu must quit or at least face the electorate]( If he is not prepared to leave public life of his own volition, he should set the date to face the political judgment of the nation that entrusted him with its safety [Op-Ed / Fearing disaster for Israel, Gantz issues an ultimatum, but he doesn’t have the votes]( By David Horovitz [Op-Ed / Gallant tries to force Netanyahu’s hand on Gaza; it probably won’t work]( By Shalom Yerushalmi [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing May 16, Day 223: Gallant (again) delivers an explosive speech. Now what?]( By ToI Staff War with Hamas [UN cuts by more than half the number of women, children ‘identified’ as killed in Gaza]( By Jeremy Sharon New data on Gazan fatalities cited by UN agency separates ‘identified’ deaths in hospitals from some 10,000 alleged deaths based on Hamas ‘media sources’ [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing May 19, Day 226: Bold IDF op recovers bodies of 4 hostages from Gaza]( By ToI Staff [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing May 18, Day 225: US explores sanctions for extremists blocking Gaza aid]( By ToI Staff Law [Rafah offensive is ‘Israeli endgame to destroy Gaza,’ South Africa alleges at ICJ]( By Jeremy Sharon In latest application to world court, Pretoria claims Rafah is Gaza’s last habitable area, says IDF operation there will realize ‘Israel’s declared aim of wiping Gaza from the map’ [Israel pans Gaza ‘distortions’ at World Court, says Pretoria aims to keep Hamas in power]( By Jeremy Sharon [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( Inside story Jacob Magid [The US aims to wrap up Gaza war. How does that square with its goal of toppling Hamas?]( Biden officials envision substantially weakened Hamas remaining in Gaza, but aim to marginalize it further with an Arab-backed PA that can out-govern the terror group [Exclusive / Qatar briefly kicked out Hamas leaders as hostage talks stalled in April — officials]( By Jacob Magid Inside story Canaan Lidor [Misfits or misunderstood? Sanctions threat shines light on IDF’s Haredi fighting unit]( Claims of ideological vigilantism and cruelty invite US moves against Netzah Yehuda, which has integrated thousands from religious world into mainstream society [Diverse backgrounds give way to shared fate as Gaza friendly-fire victims eulogized]( By Canaan Lidor Top Ops Jonathan Dekel-Chen [It wasn’t the Shoah, it was Israel not protecting my son]( The officials who compare October 7th to the Holocaust turn a blind eye to Israel’s very existence, when they should be meeting Israel’s urgent needs instead Jonathan Lord [That’s the sound of Biden learning to speak like an Israeli]( Tired of being ignored, the US president is using the same blunt talk Israelis use – but never expect to hear from the polite American Laurel Herman [When the going gets antisemitic, the tough make soup]( The antisemites who were hiding in plain sight are no longer hiding. And I am left wondering how anyone who loves food could be so hateful Michael Oren [10 necessary steps for the ‘day after’ in Gaza]( They don’t include a hostage deal ’at any price, or reestablish Gaza settlements, but they pave a way through this complex, dangerous situation Obituary [Former MK Yael Dayan, trailblazing feminist and peace activist, dies at 85]( By Amy Spiro [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Stories of civilians and soldiers killed in Hamas's onslaught on Israel]( [Read Here]( ToI podcast [What Matters Now to Haviv Rettig Gur: Reasons for optimism in Israel’s 77th year]( By ToI Staff After somber Memorial and Independence Days, ToI’s senior analyst takes a look ahead and discusses why Israel is ranked 5th in the Happiness Index – and is likely to remain so [Chaplain duo at Soroka hospital treat patients spiritually wounded by October 7]( By Diana Bletter Reporter's notebook [Back from IDF reserves, TV chef reopens beloved Sderot cafe, giving terror just desserts]( By Maya Zanger-Nadis Or Shocron brings a little sweetness back to the war-torn southern city after serving her country for seven months following the Oct. 7 massacre [Local wine firms market libations honoring Israel’s fallen, but some hit sour notes]( By Gavriel Fiske Culture [Short student film is only Israeli entry in this year’s Cannes Film Festival]( By Jessica Steinberg Young director Amit Vaknin fears anti-Israel protests after Tel Aviv film school enters her first film, ‘It’s Not Time for Pop,’ into prestigious competition [Joined in song / Thousands take part in global Hatikvah recording with Israel Philharmonic]( By Jessica Steinberg [Young Israeli filmmaker’s first feature chosen to compete at Tribeca Film Fest]( By Jessica Steinberg [Life’s pain and beauty on show at Tel Aviv’s 26th DocAviv]( By Jessica Steinberg Israel Travels [See Jerusalem’s beautiful art parks, where (almost) no graven images can be found]( By Aviva and Shmuel Bar-Am From the Blogs [How will we know when it’s time to leave?]( By Mishael Zion It’s the taboo question of committed Zionists, but admitting that there’s a red line is the most loyal thing I can do as an Israeli [Weekly Deep Dive]( [facebook]( [twitter]( [instagram]( [View in browser]( [Contact support](mailto:support@timesofisrael.com) [Advertise with us](mailto:advertise@timesofisrael.com) Were you forwarded this email? 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