2 soldiers dismissed and jailed for smashing statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon

Read more: https://toi.li/F7FFuD

President Trump:

Israel has been a great partner for us. As they say, we are the big brother, they are the little brother, but the little brother helped us a lot. They showed great courage.

After the vandalism storm - and the punishment for the fighters: the IDF transferred a new statue of Jesus to the village community in southern Lebanon.

Photo: IDF Spokesperson

Germany and Italy blocked the proposal led by Spain to end the European Union association agreement with Israel

WATCH: Israel transitions from Memorial Day to Independence Day with torch-lighting ceremony

Read more: https://toi.li/ywdNIu

The US Central Command published on X a greeting in Hebrew to the State of Israel on the occasion of the 78th Independence Day

The Tel Aviv-Jaffa Sports Halls company inaugurated this evening, on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of the State of Israel, a new colorful lighting system at the Bloomfield Municipal Stadium, illuminated in blue and white.

Photo: Bloomfield Stadium

Trump: At Pakistan's request, I am extending the ceasefire until a proper response from Iran, whose leadership is divided. The siege will continue in the meantime.

Happy Yom Ha'atzmaut – Israel’s 78th Independence Day!

On this sacred day, we celebrate the rebirth of the Jewish people in their ancestral homeland – a triumph of courage, faith, and unbreakable will. From the moment David Ben-Gurion declared independence on May 14, 1948, the young State of Israel faced annihilation. Yet today, Israel stands as a thriving democracy, a global innovator, and a force for stability in the Middle East.

From the ashes of exile to the vanguard of human progress.
In 1948, a nation of Holocaust survivors and pioneering idealists faced five Arab armies. Against impossible odds, Israel won the War of Independence, securing its right to exist. In 1967, surrounded by enemies vowing to “drive the Jews into the sea,” Israel launched the lightning Six-Day War and emerged victorious, reuniting Jerusalem and tripling its territory in self-defense. In 1973, on the holiest day of the year, a surprise attack by Egypt and Syria nearly overwhelmed the young state; Israel turned the tide in the Yom Kippur War, proving once again that no coalition could break its spirit. Through the Lebanon campaigns, two Intifadas, and relentless terror from Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and their Iranian backers, Israel has repeatedly defeated those who seek its destruction.

Innovation born of necessity.
What other nation has turned a barren desert into the world’s leading “Start-Up Nation”? Israel invented drip irrigation that feeds millions worldwide, desalination technology that solves water scarcity, and the Iron Dome that shields civilians from thousands of rockets. Its cybersecurity protects banks, hospitals, and governments across the globe. Israeli scientists pioneered breakthroughs in medicine, agriculture, and defense that save lives everywhere. From Waze and Mobileye to world-class cancer treatments and cutting-edge AI, Israel’s ingenuity enriches humanity.

Defeating terror to build a more peaceful Middle East.
Israel has never sought war, but it has never shied away from it when forced to defend its people. By dismantling Hamas’s military machine after the October 7, 2023 massacre, by striking Hezbollah’s leadership and infrastructure, and by eliminating key Iranian terror proxies, Israel has removed the greatest obstacles to regional peace. These decisive actions have created the conditions for the Abraham Accords – historic normalization agreements with the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, and beyond – forging new alliances of prosperity and security. When terrorists are defeated, when hostages are brought home, and when radical regimes are deterred, the Middle East moves closer to the peace that Israel has always sought.

Seventy-eight years ago, a tiny nation rose against the tide of history. Today, it stands tall – democratic, innovative, resilient, and morally clear-eyed. Israel has turned every challenge into strength, every threat into opportunity, and every act of hatred into greater unity.

Am Yisrael Chai!
The people of Israel live – stronger, prouder, and more determined than ever to build a future of security, prosperity, and peace for all who seek it.

Chag Atzma’ut Sameach! 🇮🇱

Iranian television: Iran does not recognise the extension of the ceasefire declared by Trump. It may not commit to it and will act according to its national interests.

***
Trump is now beginning to have a feel of how it is negotiating with terrorists

Beirut to request one-month ceasefire extension at DC talks, says Lebanese official

Read more: https://toi.li/Y68Rlp

A thriving Diaspora is not a failure of Zionism

Israel does not need all Jews to live in the same place. It needs them to be strong, and connected by identity and a sense of shared purpose

Read more: https://toi.li/fJzajJ

Before the ceasefire came into effect in Lebanon: Forces from Brigade 769 raided a Hezbollah staging area in the village of Dabin - where terrorist activity and intelligence indications of attempts to carry out terror plans were identified. Within a few hours, more than 70 targets were attacked and more than 20 terrorists were eliminated in face-to-face and aerial battles.

Photo: IDF Spokesperson

After a day of ceasefire violations by Hezbollah and against the backdrop of events in Iran: the US calls on its citizens to leave Lebanon while flights are still available

During the ceasefire: Fighters from Brigade 300 arrested a terrorist from the Radwan Force unit in Hezbollah, who planned to carry out a terror attack against IDF forces in the immediate timeframe. The terrorist was arrested south of the front defense line during the clearing of the area by the forces.

Photo: IDF Spokesperson

An Iranian source told the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, which is affiliated with Hezbollah, this morning: Tehran informed the Pakistani mediator that the clause related to Lebanon is non-negotiable. In response, the Pakistani mediator conveyed an American position stating that direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel would quickly achieve this goal, and that Washington does not want the Lebanese issue included in talks with Iran.