According to Huckabee, the two governments are in close consultation, yet each must weigh its own national priorities.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Thursday that Jerusalem will ultimately determine for itself whether to resume strikes on Iranian targets, even as security coordination with Washington continues.

In an interview with KAN News, he described the issue as one discussed last week during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with US President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago but emphasized that both allies will reach their own conclusions.

According to Huckabee, the two governments are in close consultation, yet each must weigh its own national priorities.

“What they will do, what the United States will do, and what Israel will do will be decisions that each nation makes independently,” he said, adding that Israel’s choices will focus exclusively on its security interests.

Huckabee’s comments followed renewed attention on Iran after nationwide unrest shook the Islamic Republic.

He connected that moment to global concerns after October 7. “When you think about the number of terrible things that have happened… and that the central planning for it came from Iran, then let’s hope this will be the year in which the Iranian people say: ‘We’ve had enough,’” he said.

Asked about possible US involvement in events unfolding inside Iran, Huckabee said the administration is watching but is not contemplating intervention.

“Everyone is watching to see what the Iranian people are doing… and the protests are growing, and that is significant,” he added.

Shifting to Gaza, Huckabee said movement toward Phase II of the ceasefire plan has been slow.

Hamas terrorists claimed they renewed searches for the remains of St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili after weeks of limited activity, even though returning his body and disarming are key elements of the process.

“Hamas cannot continue to delay its disarmament. They will have no future there,” Huckabee said. He noted the Trump plan contains 20 separate points, some of which could advance even if others lag.

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Graveyard ceremonies to be cancelled, replaced by candlelight vigil by IDF soldiers and reading of Kaddish (the mourner’s prayer).

By Lauren Marcus, World Israel News

Memorial Day in Israel, a somber occasion marked by widely attended public memorials at military graveyards throughout the country, is set to look dramatically different this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Tuesday, Defense Minister Naftali Bennett announced new policies for 2020’s Memorial Day ceremonies.

“In order to safeguard public health while still honoring our national traditions, the Defense Minister has instructed the Ministry of Defense and the IDF’s Manpower Directorate that the main ceremonies at the Western Wall plaza (on Memorial Day Eve) and Mount Herzl (Memorial Day) will be held without an audience and instead will be broadcast live,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

“Additionally, local ceremonies in the 52 military cemeteries across the country will be cancelled and replaced by an IDF soldier candlelight vigil in which a large memorial candle will be lit, alongside a commemorative flame, a salute by commanders and a military cantor will recite the Kaddish prayer,” the statement continued.

Defense Minister Bennett made the decision based upon the recommendations of Director General of the Ministry of Defense, Maj. Gen. Udi Adam, Director of Manpower Maj. Gen. Moti Almoz, and vice-president and Head of the Families, Memorial and Legacy Department of the Defense Ministry, Aryeh Moalem.

Moalem consulted with the Chairman of Yad Labanim organization and the Chairman of the IDF Widows and Orphans organization.

The restrictions mark a massive shift in the way Memorial Day is observed in Israel.

An average of 1.5 million Israelis attend Memorial Day Eve and Memorial Day ceremonies each year. While local graveyard ceremonies will not take place, the minute-long siren at 8:00 p.m. on Memorial Day Eve and minute-long siren at 11:00 a.m. on Memorial Day will occur as usual.

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Wonder Woman Actress Gal Gadot and supermodel Bar Refaeli lend a hand to encourage Israelis to get the measles vaccine.

By World Israel News Staff

With Israel facing one of its worst measles outbreaks in decades with 1,200 cases reported from the start of 2018 to the start of November, Israeli superstars Gal Gadot and Bar Refaeli decided to lend their fame to Israel’s vaccination efforts.

Wonder Woman actress Gadot posted to her over 10 million followers on November 27 with a picture of herself covering her vaccinated arm with her hand. “We’re all posting pictures with our hands on our vaccinated shoulders. A vaccinated environment is a safe environment. In matters of medicine, listen to doctors.

Gadot included the hashtag #muchusgan – a combination of the Hebrew words for “protected,” “vaccinated” and “kindergarten.” The hashtag is part of a volunteer campaign started in September by Israeli doctors and parents to convince private pre-schools in the country to require vaccinations.

Gadot follows supermodel Bar Refaeli, who posted on November 18 with a photo of herself also holding her arm as if freshly vaccinated.  covering her upper arm. “On Tuesday 11/20, we’re all uploading pictures with our hand on our vaccinated shoulder because a vaccinated environment is a safe environment! #muchusgan.”

The Israeli model then added the hashtag “#מחוסגן,” which is a combination of the Hebrew words for “protected” (מוגן, mugan), “vaccinated” (מחוסן, mechusan), and “kindergarten” (גן, gan). The hashtag is part of a campaign started by doctors and parents encouraging all 13,000 private Israeli preschools to require full vaccinations. On their website, you can register your preschool or school as a vaccinated school.

Measles is a highly contagious disease and one of the leading causes of death worldwide in young children, according to the World Health Organization. It is easily prevented with a vaccine.

In Israel, several religious sects oppose vaccination, and the Health Ministry has stepped up a campaign to increase vaccination rates in unprotected communities in recent months.

On Nov. 1, an 18-month-old baby died of complications of the disease at a Jerusalem hospital, the country’s first death from measles since 2003. The child was not vaccinated.

The outbreak comes as the World Health Organization has reported tens of thousands of measles cases across Europe.

Associated Press contributed to this report.

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