@nerizilber.bsky.social
Journalist. Analyst. Bylines @ Financial Times Advisor @ Israel Policy Forum Host @ Israel Policy Pod www.nerizilber.com
Netanyahu gambles Israel’s far-right coalition on Gaza hostage deal on.ft.com/3KGuDup
10.10.2025 04:41 — 👍 25 🔁 7 💬 1 📌 3
The Israeli government approved the US-brokered deal for a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza early on Friday morning local time after several hours of deliberations. on.ft.com/3IZMgET
09.10.2025 22:54 — 👍 19 🔁 7 💬 4 📌 0
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner set to join Israel-Hamas talks in Egypt on.ft.com/3KGwv6j
08.10.2025 09:33 — 👍 14 🔁 9 💬 13 📌 10
ICYMI: Video briefing assessing Trump's 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza with Rachel Brandenburg, Michael Koplow, and @nerizilber.bsky.social.
Recording available now: youtu.be/6jANo5uxPn4?...
Good morning, Asia. While you were sleeping, one of our most-read stories was on the hurried diplomacy and backroom arm-twisting that shaped the White House plan on.ft.com/4mEGq9N
01.10.2025 01:57 — 👍 15 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 1
How Donald Trump’s Gaza deal came together ft.trib.al/sqgN9Mo
30.09.2025 16:20 — 👍 10 🔁 4 💬 14 📌 2
A Watershed White House Visit? | Webinar today at 3pm ET
With Rachel Brandenburg and Michael Koplow
Moderated by @nerizilber.bsky.social
Register here: israelpolicyforum.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Breaking news: Far-right political allies of Benjamin Netanyahu have attacked the Israeli premier for accepting a US-backed Gaza peace plan, with finance minister Bezalel Smotrich describing the deal as a 'resounding diplomatic failure' that would 'end in tears'. on.ft.com/4gK7CCK
30.09.2025 09:13 — 👍 60 🔁 25 💬 1 📌 4
A Watershed White House Visit? | Webinar tomorrow (9/30) at 3pm ET
With Rachel Brandenburg and Michael Koplow
Moderated by @nerizilber.bsky.social
Register here: israelpolicyforum.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
On this #IsraelPolicyPod, @nerizilber.bsky.social, Michael Koplow, and Shira Efron discuss last week's strike on the Hamas headquarters in Doha, the start of the Israeli offensive into Gaza City, the fate of the Israeli hostages, and more. israelpolicyforum.org/2025/09/18/q...
18.09.2025 18:50 — 👍 5 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 16/ So Netanyahu put in jeopardy his most important political & diplomatic asset (Trump) by not even informing him ahead of time about striking in Qatar & at least getting a ‘yellow light’ from the US for the unprecedented move?
Extremely unlikely. To say the least. FIN.
5/ Politics + Diplomacy:
Current moment for Bibi precarious, no matter public/hardline posture. Majority of his public oppose the govt & continuing Gaza war. Entire world – incl close allies – increasingly fed up w Israel
Bibi had/has 1 major thing going for him: Donald J Trump
4/ Operationally, ctd:
More: We’re meant to believe US military informed White Housw, and White House – instead of calling Israel to halt attack – called Qatar instead (maybe right before, maybe right after)?
3/ Operationally:
WH line is they were notified by US military of Israel attack (not by Israel ahead of time)
We’re meant to believe US military based in Qatar saw attack & made no moves to intercept incoming missiles? CENTCOM covers all of Mideast. Israel deconflicts with it on long-range missions
2/ Individuals ctd, Trump:
POTUS initially responded with mixed messages, but so far no real major dressing down of Bibi publicly
In past: Zelensky berated for not wearing suit. Modi & India on the outs. Trump himself slammed Bibi on last day of Iran war. Is he actually angry?
1/ Let’s start w individuals:
- New CENTCOM chief Adm. Cooper made *his first visit* to Israel this past wknd
- Ron Dermer was literally in DC on Tue, day of attack (and in US for days prior)
- Bibi made 2 public appearances w/ Mike Huckabee immediately after attack, all smiles
Trump admin trying to make clear – via statements & leaks – that it had nothing to do with Israel’s strike on Qatar this week. Trump distancing himself. Netanyahu “wasn’t wise” in doing it, US tried to warn Qatar ahead of time, won’t happen again etc.
Is this at all credible? 🧵
🎧Latest #IsraelPolicyPod (recorded before this week's Qatar strike) w/ Nimrod Novik & Ibrahim Dalalsha on:
- Israeli policy in the West Bank
- Perilous state of the PA
- Upcoming Palestinian statehood bid
- Gaza War state of play
- Israel-Egypt ties + more israelpolicyforum.org/2025/09/09/t...
The attack on Doha — which has been home to Hamas’s political office for more than a decade and hosted Israeli negotiators for the Gaza talks — makes it the sixth Middle East capital to be hit by Israeli missiles this year.
10.09.2025 18:18 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Israel unbound: was Qatar a strike too far?
As the Middle East reels from yesterday's strike on Hamas in Doha, Israel's aggressive post-October 7 military doctrine comes under even greater scrutiny.
Andrew England + Me on.ft.com/4ng5dSZ
On this #IsraelPolicyPod, @nerizilber.bsky.social, Nimrod Novik, and Ibrahim Dalalsha discuss the Israeli government's policies towards the West Bank, economic and political instability inside the PA, and the upcoming Palestinian statehood recognition bid. israelpolicyforum.org/2025/09/09/t...
09.09.2025 17:03 — 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0Analysts are highly skeptical
“There won’t be an Iwo Jima or Reichstag flag moment,” said Amos Harel, the defence analyst for the Haaretz daily and the author of a forthcoming book on the war. “There will not be a specific moment of Hamas’s ‘defeat’, and Netanyahu knows this.”
“We’re going all the way,” Netanyahu said, arguing that an assault on the enclave’s capital and largest city — home to 1mn people — would finally break Hamas as both a military and governing force. “The moment you collapse the centre of gravity . . . then Hamas will collapse.”
03.09.2025 04:00 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
The Battle for Gaza City
Expectations that Netanyahu will back down from offensive fade as IDF mobilises reservists and plans strategy, despite opposing the move. Much of the world & families of Israeli hostages have also condemned the looming operation. on.ft.com/3JADwVY
Israel readies for assault on Gaza's largest city
on.ft.com/4g3QpUx @nerizilber.bsky.social
🎧Latest #IsraelPolicyPod w/ Michael Koplow + Shira Efron on:
—Looming IDF offensive into Gaza City
—Prospects for a new/old ceasefire deal
—Mass demos in Israel on Sunday for a deal
—Humanitarian situation inside Gaza
—Where is Donald Trump in all this + more israelpolicyforum.org/2025/08/19/g...
🎧Latest #IsraelPolicyPod w/ Michael Milshtein on:
—Israel’s new Gaza war plan
—Forces & time required to take Gaza City
—Will it work?
—IDF’s opposition/alternatives
—Strategic drift/fantasies
—Prospects for new ceasefire deal + more israelpolicyforum.org/2025/08/13/n...
Israelis reckon with growing global isolation on.ft.com/45m0mJe
15.08.2025 08:47 — 👍 47 🔁 15 💬 4 📌 4
On this #IsraelPolicyPod, @nerizilber.bsky.social and Michael Milshtein discuss the Gaza City takeover plan, the number of Israeli forces and time needed to prepare for such an operation, what is left of Hamas to destroy, and the prospects for a ceasefire deal. israelpolicyforum.org/2025/08/13/n...
13.08.2025 17:37 — 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Netanyahu’s Gaza war plan will fail, warns Israel’s finance minister on.ft.com/3UZVnaZ
10.08.2025 11:52 — 👍 33 🔁 7 💬 2 📌 3
