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Dear A.,


On Saturday night, Prime Minister Netanyahu delivered an
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address on Gaza and Iran.


On Gaza, Netanyahu said, "We are in a decisive stage of the campaign [against Hamas in Gaza], and this stage calls for patience and determination in order to win."


"Leaving the Hamas regime in place in Gaza would be a huge defeat for Israel and a huge victory for Iran," he added. "We will not conclude the war of redemption before we destroy Hamas in Gaza, return all of our hostages and ensure that the Gaza Strip will never again constitute a threat to Israel."


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Netanyahu's speech came the same day the United States held its second round of talks with Iran over the regime's nuclear program.


On Iran, Netanyahu said, "I am committed to preventing Iran from having nuclear weapons. I will not give in on this; neither will I slacken or retreat on this, not even a millimeter."


The
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second round of talks took place in Rome, with the U.S. delegation again led by White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.


A spokesman for Witkoff
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said in a statement to The Wall Street Journal, "The president has been clear: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon or enrichment program. As we continue to talk, we expect to refine a framework and timetable for working towards a deal that achieves the president’s objectives peacefully."


The first round of "expert level" talks is set for this week.

AIPAC supports time-bound talks to achieve the Trump administration’s stated goal of verifiably and permanently dismantling Iran’s nuclear program. To be effective, these talks must continue to be coupled with the implementation of maximum pressure and a credible threat of military force.

Ambassador Huckabee takes office in Israel

Ambassador Mike Huckabee presented his credentials today to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, formally assuming his role as U.S. ambassador to Israel.


President Herzog
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said Huckabee's "appointment now as ambassador is a powerful symbol of the unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel."


Ambassador Huckabee
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said at the ceremony, "I come to stand today with the State of Israel and the Jewish people because I believe it is not simply a geopolitical position, but a divine position."


"It’s also important for Americans to know that, while we hope to be a good friend of Israel and provide assistance when we can, I never want Americans to think that we Americans are not greatly benefited by our partnership with our ally Israel. We benefit dramatically in the sharing of intelligence, in the sharing of technology and in the sharing of agricultural innovation that Israel has led the world in creating," he added.


Huckabee then met with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, who
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said , "Israel could not have expected a better partner in this role."




Huckabee later
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posted on social media that, "A WHO [World Health Organization] official called upon me to put pressure on Israel to bring more humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. How about we put the pressure where it really belongs – on Hamas."


Watch the video below:


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Turkish FM meets with Hamas

A Hamas delegation visited Turkey yesterday for a
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meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.


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New Op-ed: "J Street Isn’t What It Claims to Be"

In a
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new op-ed , Atlanta-based Jewish community leader and pro-Israel advocate Alli Cardin Medof writes: "J Street Isn’t What It Claims to Be."


"[Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP)] openly calls to end American support for Israel and smears it with toxic accusations of ‘genocide’ and ‘apartheid.’ J Street, on the other hand, isn’t so clear on the surface.


"J Street’s motto, ‘pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy’ resonates with many of my peers. As a lifelong Democrat, I would label myself all three.


"But that’s the problem.


"When you look beyond the tagline and the rhetoric, J Street is not aligned with the pro-Israel community – in fact, they’re aligned with Israel’s loudest opponents. In my conversations with members of Congress and their staff on Capitol Hill, I see the real and harmful work of J Street. Their words and their actions couldn’t be further apart...


"...to J Street, being 'pro-Israel' means undermining and defaming Israel in Congress and on college campuses. It means dictating Israel’s decisions about its vast security challenges from afar. It means empowering her enemies at a time of war while 59 precious hostages still languish in Hamas’ hands. There’s nothing 'pro-Israel, pro-peace, or pro-democracy' about any of that."

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Read and share the full piece here.

Hezbollah smuggler eliminated, rocket attack prevented

The IDF
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confirmed Sunday that it eliminated Hezbollah terrorist Hussein Ali Nasser in an airstrike in Lebanon.


"Nasser operated to smuggle weapons and funds into the State of Lebanon in order to rebuild the Hezbollah terrorist organization's military capabilities," the IDF said, adding that he worked with Iranian operatives to facilitate the transfer of weapons and funds into Lebanon.


Also on Sunday, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)
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announced that it had acted to prevent a rocket attack from Lebanon into Israel, the first such announcement since the November 2024 ceasefire agreement went into effect.


The LAF raided an apartment near Sidon, confiscated rockets and launch pads, and arrested several individuals.

Other notable headlines
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Islamic Jihad terrorist who took part in October 7 assault killed in strike, IDF says

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As troops advance in south Gaza, IDF says it’s seeing cracks emerge in Hamas’s rule

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Putin ratifies Russia-Iran agreement to strengthen military, diplomatic ties


Continue to
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follow AIPAC on social media for the latest updates.

Jake Braunstein

Director of Policy Communications


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Support our work to keep Israel safe.



The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.


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