Politics · Israel

Euphoria Mixed with Sadness and Worry

Summarizing Cindy Scarr in Mishpacha · Published Tuesday, October 21, 2025

JL;DR SUMMARY As Israel witnessed the emotional return of 20 hostages on Hoshana Rabbah, there was a mix of relief and sorrow among the populace, aware of the high cost of lost lives and ongoing tension with Hamas. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Places mentioned

Israel

"Despite President Trump proclaiming repeatedly in his Knesset speech that the war is over, that is far from the case."

Gaza City, Northern District, Israel

"The key to securing Hamass acquiescence to the hostage release appears to have been pressure from its principal funder, Qatar, coupled with the ongoing Israeli assault in the Gaza City."

Doha, Qatar

"With respect to the former, Israels attempt to take out the senior leadership of Hamas, in Qatars capital city of Doha, appears to have been crucial."

Saudi Arabia

"On a positive note, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain warned the Trump administration, following Hamass Gaza killing spree, that the Trump plan cannot succeed as long as Hamas remains part of the equation."

United Arab Emirates

Bahrain

Egypt

"Control of Gazas borders ensures that Israel can prevent Hamas from rearming via the underground tunnels along the length of the Egyptian border and enables it to inspect all humanitarian aid coming into the Strip for weapons or materials to rebuild destroyed tunnels."

Lebanon

"At worst, the current ceasefire should put Israel in a position roughly parallel to that on the Lebanese border with respect to Hezbollah."

Syria

"Moreover, that claim ignores the dramatic changes in the security of Israels citizens over the last year of fighting: Hezbollah still exists, but its ability to threaten Israel has been sharply reduced and it has been pushed away from Israels northern border; Assad has been removed from power in Syria, and as a consequence the country no longer serves as a transit point for Iranian arms to Hezbollah."

Iran

"Assad has been removed from power in Syria, and as a consequence the country no longer serves as a transit point for Iranian arms to Hezbollah."

China

"And while Iran remains determined to obtain nuclear weapons, and is already receiving Chinese assistance in rebuilding its air defenses and nuclear installations, its nuclear program has been set back at least two years, and likely much more, by Israels 12-day war on Iran and the American bombing of the Fordow nuclear reactor."

Turkey

"There is a reason that Turkey and Qatar have long provided refuge to senior Hamas officials, as well as the bulk of Hamass funding."

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

"Meanwhile, haters of Israel have gone on with their violent pro-Palestinian protests in Barcelona, London, and New York City, even with the cessation of hostilities and the beginning of the ceasefire they have long claimed to seek."

London, England, United Kingdom

New York City, New York, United States