DAY 503 IN CAPTIVITY • DAY 33 OF THE CEASEFIRE: A Very Sad Day As Four Deceased Hostages Are Returned, Major Terror Attack in Tel Aviv Suburbs Thwarted
Tel Aviv Diary, February 20, 2025
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Our Next ZOOM BRIEFING will take place on Sunday, February 23rd
6PM Israel Time • 4PM GB • 11AM EST • 8AM PST
Invitations will go out on Sunday morning
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Breaking News: Four bombs were discovered on buses tonight. The first three detonated, completely destroying the buses but causing no deaths or injuries, since they were empty at the time. Three of these buses were located in Bat Yam and two in Holon. The bombs, which were relatively crude, and equipped with timers, each contained 5 kilograms of explosives. One of the unexploded bombs had a note attached, declaring it a “gift from Tulkarem.”
A Hamas terror group in Tulkarem has claimed responsibility for the attack. It is suspected that the bombs were set to go off at 9:00 AM when the buses would have been crowded with passengers, although this has not yet been confirmed. As of late this evening, buses and trains are still being searched, but no suspects have been apprehended.
Today began as … Black clouds darkened the sky, while rain battered the country, as if the heavens themselves were mourning on this somber day. This has been a year marked by successive tragedies, each day presenting its own measure of grief and sorrow. Yet, this particular moment stood uniquely apart in the depth of its profound sadness. The morning found me at Hostage Square, where hundreds gathered in collective silence, their stillness punctuated only by mournful music wafting through the square.
The main Israeli channels deliberately chose to broadcast from the square, turning away from Hamas's macabre spectacle. The militant group had staged a ceremony displaying disturbing images of the deceased, with coffins bearing the stark inscription “taken prisoner on October 7th.” In a calculated move that underscored the psychological warfare aspect of the conflict, Hamas had also brought children to witness the display
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What stood out as particularly notable was how this ceremony marked a turning point for some. After months of documented atrocities, this final act of manipulating the dead hostages crossed a threshold for many observers. This disgusting show prompted United Nations Rights Chief Volker Turk to release the following statement:
Under international law, any handover of the remains of deceased must comply with the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, ensuring respect for the dignity of the deceased and their families.
Initially, the International Red Cross refused to participate in the Hamas ceremony. However, they reversed their decision after Hamas threatened not to return the bodies unless they complied. Subsequently, the Red Cross released the following statement:
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) today returned the remains of hostages who should have been reunited with their loved ones in life, not in death.
Our role today was to fulfill a critical humanitarian mission, ensuring that families can mourn with dignity. They deserve the right to grieve and honor their loved ones with a proper burial.
These operations should take place privately, out of respect for both the deceased and the bereaved.
We have made it unequivocally clear: any release—whether of living hostages or those who are no longer with us—must be conducted with dignity and privacy.
The IRC remains committed to the role entrusted to us under the ceasefire agreement.
The international media coverage exercised disciplined restraint in their coverage, avoiding the orchestrated display by Hamas and instead focusing on the tragedy of the Bibas family. In a rare instance of a unified narrative during this conflict, the typical practice of presenting a false equivalence was notably absent
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Upon reaching IDF forces, the deceased were honored with a small ceremony, in which the Chief Rabbi of the IDF recited Psalms. Then, their remains placed in coffins draped with Israeli flags before departing Gaza.
The subsequent convoy proceeded northward to the Abu Kabir pathology center in Jaffa. Despite the inclement weather, thousands of Israelis, carrying flags, lined the route—a collective gesture of respect and, perhaps, an implicit acknowledgment of institutional failures related to the October 7th massacre and the subsequent months of captivity.
By evening, authorities had confirmed the identification of Oded Lifshitz among the deceased, though confirmation for the Bibas family remains pending. Israeli television networks maintained continuous coverage, weaving together images of the lost with somber musical interludes—a multimedia testament to the year's accumulated tragedies.
DERMER AND WITKOFF MEET
Minister Ron Dermer, in charge of hostage negotiations, met with Steve Witkoff today. Witkoff stated this afternoon, “The second stage of the negotiations will be difficult, but in the end, with hard work, we will succeed.” Currently, Israel’s demands include the departure of Hamas leadership from Gaza, the demilitarization of Gaza, and Israel maintaining security control over the region. Whether these stipulations reflect Israel's demands or are simply what Netanyahu has communicated to Smotrich and other right-wing Knesset members remains unclear.
I cannot count the number of times in the past few days I have heard hostage families and others express relief, saying, “Thank God we have Trump working for the release of the hostages since we do not trust Netanyahu.” I, too, am thankful for the involvement of Trump and Witkoff so far. However, my concern lies with Trump’s recent statement claiming that Ukraine started the war with Russia, inaccurately asserted that Zelensky has a 4% approval rating (when it is actually 54%), and labeling Zelensky a dictator—and that is just for starters. So, we should not place all of our trust in the Trump, even though we don’t have many alternatives.
MORE GRAPHS on American Jewish Opinion
TRAVEL NEWS
Air Canada announced today that it will resume flights to Israel on June 8th, offering four weekly flights between Tel Aviv and Toronto. Starting in August, the airline will also begin weekly service to Montreal.
BUSINESS
Guidde, a company specializing in AI-powered video documentation, has secured an additional $15 million in Series A funding, bringing its total funding to $30 million. This latest investment was led by Qualcomm Ventures, with continued support from Norwest Venture Partners, Entrée Capital, Honeystone Ventures, and Tiferes Ventures. The funding aligns with the launch of Guidde Broadcast, a new AI-driven video platform designed to personalize and automate digital adoption for enterprises. Over the past year, Guidde has experienced a fourfold revenue increase and now serves over 100,000 users across 2,000 organizations, including major global brands like American Eagle Outfitters, Carta, Siemens Energy, and Nasdaq.
Guidde’s generative AI platform enables employees to create video-based training and documentation for any software or process in seconds. The company employs more than 50 people, with most based in Ramat Gan, Israel, and about a third in the U.S. Founded by Yoav Einav (CEO) and Dan Sahar (Chief Product Officer), Guidde aims to revolutionize digital adoption through AI. According to Einav, “We’re entering a new era where AI autonomously drives digital adoption.” Guidde Broadcast seamlessly integrates AI-powered video training within applications, analyzing user behavior, roles, and location to deliver tailored training content in real time. This innovation eliminates barriers between learning and doing, making software adoption more intuitive and efficient.
WIX
Wix has completed its first full year of operating profitability, with revenue reaching $1.76 billion—a 13% growth rate. Unlike previous years, this growth is now profitable, with Wix increasing its revenue share from partners and business customers, a higher-margin segment. However, price increases for website and online store solutions led to a decline in premium users, ending the year with 6.2 million subscribers, 72,000 fewer than in 2023. Wix reported a GAAP operating profit of $100 million in 2024, a significant turnaround from a $24 million loss in 2023. Net income soared to $138 million (up from $33 million), driven in part by $1.1 billion in cash reserves generating financing income. Operating cash flow doubled to $500 million, and fourth-quarter profits hit a record $48 million, compared to just $2 million the previous year.
Looking ahead, AI integration is expected to be a major focus, though Wix has not yet included AI-driven revenue in its 2025 forecast. While other Israeli tech firms, such as Monday.com and Fiverr, have already unveiled AI strategies that boosted their stock prices, Wix remains in the testing and rollout phase for its AI-powered features. The company expects AI’s impact to accelerate in the second half of 2025, leading to stronger growth. For now, Wix maintains a conservative 13% annual growth projection, targeting $2 billion in revenue by year-end. Cash flow is expected to rise to $600 million, with first-quarter revenue forecasted between $469 million and $473 million. Despite the cautious outlook, investors have responded positively, with Wix’s stock surging 80% over the past year, bringing its market value to $12 billion.
Sawmills
To combat the skyrocketing costs of monitoring complex software systems, Sawmills, a developer of a telemetry management platform, has raised $10 million in seed funding. Companies are grappling with an average $2 million annual spend on monitoring due to exploding data volumes and declining data quality. Sawmills' platform solves this by providing precise control over data flow into monitoring tools, identifying inefficiencies and opportunities for cost reduction. This investment, led by Team8 with participation from Mayfield and Alumni Ventures, will fuel Sawmills' mission to bring much-needed efficiency to the critical, yet costly, practice of software telemetry management.
Augury
Augury, a pioneer in AI-driven predictive maintenance for industrial machinery, has secured a substantial $75 million in a Series-F funding round, solidifying its position as a leading "ZIRPicorn" success story with a valuation of approximately $1 billion. This funding, led by Lightrock and supported by a roster of returning investors including SE Ventures, Comera, Insight Partners, Qualcomm Ventures, Schneider Electric, and Eclipse, underscores the company's remarkable fivefold revenue growth since its previous funding round in 2021. This financial milestone not only validates Augury’s innovative approach but also sets it apart from many companies that achieved unicorn status during the low-interest rate boom but have since struggled to maintain their valuations. Augury's technology, which utilizes sensors to monitor critical machine parameters like vibration, temperature, and sound, and then leverages AI to predict failures and optimize performance, is clearly resonating with industrial giants seeking to minimize costly downtime.
Founded in 2011 by Saar Yoskovitz and Gal Shaul, Augury has amassed a total of $361 million in funding, enabling it to expand its reach and enhance its technological capabilities. A pivotal moment in its growth trajectory was the 2022 acquisition of Seebo, a move that broadened Augury’s focus from mechanical failures to include process inefficiencies. Although the integration of Seebo presented challenges, Augury's commitment to advancing AI-driven predictive maintenance remains unwavering. The company's unique business model, which involves providing sensors for free and charging clients an annual subscription for its analytics services, has proven successful in attracting major global clients like PepsiCo, Colgate-Palmolive, and Nestlé. This strategy, coupled with its AI-powered analytics that eliminate the need for manual data interpretation, allows Augury to compete effectively with traditional industrial giants such as SKF, ABB, and Emerson, which are now also moving towards automation.
Looking ahead, Augury is strategically positioned for further growth and expansion. With a workforce of around 300 employees, distributed between Israel and New York, the company is leveraging AI advancements to scale operations efficiently. Augury's focus on automating repair instructions and even autonomously ordering replacement parts signifies its commitment to pushing the boundaries of predictive maintenance. The company is actively expanding its presence in Europe and South America, aiming to increase its footprint in multinational factories. By continuing to refine its AI-powered analytics and enhancing its software capabilities, Augury is poised to revolutionize industrial maintenance, offering clients unparalleled insights and efficiency in managing their critical machinery.
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TRAVEL ACROSS ISRAEL
Kibbutz Ramat Yochanan
Today, we’ll take a brief detour to visit Kibbutz Ramat Yohanan. Founded in 1931, this kibbutz is named in honor of Jan Smuts, a South African leader and Zionist supporter. Kibbutz Ramat Yohanan is located just north of Haifa.
In 1921, inspired by Kibbutz Degania Alef and educated at Mikveh Israel Agricultural School, a group of young Galician immigrants formed a collective to establish a new settlement in Palestine. With the support of PICA in 1924, they trained in Metula and, named themselves “Kibbutz HaTzafon.” They worked across several locations, including Goldberg Farm, Ein Ganim, and Nahalat Ya'akov near Kfar Hasidim.
In 1931, Kibbutz HaTzafon merged with the Carmel Group, Gilead, and AZI, and settled on land near Al-Majdal purchased by Yehoshua Hankin. Initially named “Ramat HaTzafon,” the settlement was renamed Ramat Yohanan in 1935. The Jewish National Fund (JNF) initially named the settlement “Usha”, in honor of the ancient Jewish town that once stood nearby.
The community struggled in its early years, relying on forestation work and external employment, with water transported by wagon from Kfar Ata. In 1940, a major ideological split occurred between members affiliated with Mapai and Hashomer Hatzair, leading to an exchange of members between Ramat Yohanan and Beit Alpha.
During Israel’s War of Independence (1948), the kibbutz was the site of the Battle of Ramat Yohanan, where Haganah forces fought against the Druze battalion of the Arab Liberation Army. In this battle, Moshe Dayan's brother was killed. After the clash, the Druze and the Haganah reached an agreement not to engage in further hostilities against each other.
Today, Kibbutz Ramat Yohanan stands out as a dynamic community with a thriving agricultural and industrial economy. At the heart of its economic success is Palram, a global leader in thermoplastic materials, established in 1963 and boasting annual revenues of $460 million as of 2023.
The kibbutz's diverse economic activities extend beyond manufacturing. In partnership with Shavei Zion, it operates a dairy farm with 450 cows. It engages in extensive crop farming across 10,000 dunams in collaboration with Usha and Kfar HaMaccabi, and manages 1,000 dunams of avocado, citrus, and lychee orchards, partly in partnership with Harduf.
Additionally, the kibbutz runs chicken coops for broiler production and maintains a herd of 100 beef cattle over 2,600 dunams. Complementing its agricultural ventures, a carpentry shop on the premises produces high-quality furniture and kitchen units, showcasing the kibbutz’s commitment to diverse and sustainable economic growth.
Visiting the kibbutz allows you to take a guided tour along the Ramat Yohanan Heritage Trail. During this tour, you will have the opportunity to visit:
The Central Underground Weapons Cache (Slik) – Built in the 1940s, and used by the Haganah, this cache remained a closely guarded secret until after the Six-Day War, at which point its weapons were handed over to the IDF. Today, it serves as a heritage site.
The Ancient Well – Originally a Bedouin water source, this site was cleaned and restored by the early settlers.
The Water Tower (1935) – This site served as a lookout post during the British Mandate and the War of Independence.
Guard Posts – Three reinforced concrete guard posts from the pre-state defensive era still stand, one of which has been restored for visitors.
Additionally, the heritage trail features a museum that documents the history of the kibbutz and the battle that took place there.
Kibbutz Ramat Yohanan currently boasts a population of 1,068.
Here’s more about Ramat Yochanan’s flagship manufacturing enterprise…
Palram stands as a global leader in the manufacturing of extruded thermoplastic sheets and panel systems. The company's expertise is transforming raw materials, primarily polycarbonate and PVC, into versatile plastic sheets serving numerous industrial and consumer applications.
The company's product portfolio spans multiple sectors, demonstrating the remarkable versatility of their manufacturing capabilities. Palram's solutions are integral to modern building practices in the construction industry, providing essential materials for roofing, wall cladding, and skylights. Their agricultural division supports global food production through the development of advanced greenhouse systems, enabling controlled growing environments in various climates.
Beyond these core sectors, Palram's products play a crucial role in the signage and advertising industry, offering durable and attractive display solutions. The company has also established a strong presence in the security sector, where its materials provide protective solutions for various applications. Additionally, Palram caters to the growing DIY market, offering products that enable homeowners to complete improvement projects with professional-grade materials.
Further expanding their market reach, Palram manufactures finished products designed for home, outdoor, and commercial spaces, demonstrating their evolution from a raw materials producer to a comprehensive solutions provider in the thermoplastic industry.