DAY 590 OF THE WAR: Israel Wins 2nd Place in 2025 Eurovision Contest; Negotiations Continue in Doha; Humanitarian Aid to Gaza will Resume, Houthis Continue to Fire Missiles at Israel

Tel Aviv Diary, May 18, 2025

It was another night difficult to capture in words. The annual Eurovision Song Contest—featuring original songs from across Europe and beyond—took place last night in Switzerland, transforming the stage into a dazzling kaleidoscope of sound, light, and spectacle. The event took place amid heightened emotions. The Israeli representative had been chosen after months of nationally televised competition. While I caught parts of those broadcasts, my wife and son were devoted followers of the contest.

The Israeli representative, Yuval Rafael, is a survivor of the Nova Music Festival massacre, having escaped death by hiding in a small bomb shelter where others were tragically murdered. Her selection resonated deeply with many viewers but also drew international scrutiny. Several countries objected to Israel’s inclusion in the competition due to the ongoing war, but the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes Eurovision, ultimately dismissed those calls and allowed Israel to participate.

I listened to most of last night’s musical showdown, stepping away only briefly to take Milo out. One standout moment was a powerful performance by Raphael. At 1:00 a.m., I opted to call it a night, choosing not to stay up for the voting results, which were expected to take at least another hour.

Just before 2:00 a.m., my phone buzzed with an alert from Home Front Command, warning that a missile was inbound and that air raid sirens were expected imminently. I quickly got dressed and secured Milo’s collar. My son, still awake and watching Eurovision, surprised me with unexpected, shocking news—Israel was still in the running to win. I was stunned. Just hours earlier, the idea had seemed unthinkable, dismissed by nearly everyone as out of reach.

As we stood waiting for the siren to wail, the final votes were cast: Austria took first place. The result was disappointing, though not entirely—Israel had won the public vote. Under Eurovision rules, the final outcome is determined by combining jury and public votes. While Israel received few points from the international juries, it earned the highest number of votes from the public— by an overwhelming margin.

In truth, an Israeli victory would have posed significant logistical challenges— particularly with the war still ongoing. Securing second place, however, was a huge victory and remarkable achievement for both Yuval and for Israel.

Moments after the Eurovision results were announced, air raid sirens blared, and we made our way to the shelter. Soon, sleepy neighbors—with children in tow—joined us. After the standard ten-minute wait, we returned upstairs and went back to sleep.

The trigger for the alert was yet another missile launched by the Houthis, intercepted midair by Israel’s Arrow anti-missile defense system. The attack came just over 24 hours after the Israeli Air Force struck two ports in Yemen, part of an ongoing effort to impose a de facto blockade. However, the sheer distance makes such an effort hard to sustain, and each strike on Yemeni territory poses a significant logistical and strategic challenge.

HAMAS’S MASSACRE THWARTS REGIONAL INTEGRATION

The Wall Street Journal published an interesting piece today titled "Hamas Wanted to Torpedo Israel-Saudi Deal With October 7 Attacks, Documents Reveal." The article lends new weight to long-circulated assessments about Hamas’s motives. It presents documentation indicating that a key objective of the October 7 assault was to disrupt the emerging normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

For now, that objective appears to have been achieved. The broader question is whether Hamas can sustain this disruption over the long term. Based on the agreements released during President Trump’s visit to the region—the vision of a Middle East increasingly integrated with India—with Israel as a central player—may not materialize.

Still, the future remains open. Israel retains a strong geopolitical position and the potential to serve as a vital corridor between Europe and India via the Gulf. Realizing that potential, however, will depend largely on the course of the Gaza war and the choices Israel makes in the diplomatic arena.

If Israel succeeds in ending the war in Gaza and demonstrates tangible progress on the Palestinian front, it could once again position itself to participate in the broader regional integration process.

HOSTAGE/CEASEFIRE NEGOTIATIONS

This afternoon, two critical questions remain unanswered: What is unfolding in Doha? And what is happening on the ground in Gaza?

In Doha, negotiations continued today, and by all reports, steady progress is being made. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister’s Office released a statement confirming that Israeli negotiators would remain in the Qatari capital to pursue either a partial agreement or a comprehensive deal aimed at securing the release of all hostages and ending the war. The statement immediately sparked speculation that Prime Minister Netanyahu may be shifting toward a broader agreement—possibly in response to mounting pressure from the Trump administration, or out of recognition that the ongoing crisis over the ultra-Orthodox draft exemption law could soon unravel his governing coalition.

The backlash was immediate, especially from the right flank of the coalition. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir declared that the war must not end without “the total defeat of Hamas.”

At this juncture, assessing the true status of the negotiations is nearly impossible. Conflicting reports abound, and outside of Netanyahu’s inner circle, few have any clear sense of when—or whether—he might be willing to jeopardize his coalition in pursuit of a deal to end the war.

GAZA

Meanwhile, in Gaza, reports surfaced this morning that the body of Mohammed Sinwar—brother of former Hamas leader, the late Yahya Sinwar—had been discovered alongside the remains of ten other Hamas operatives, including the commander of the Rafah sector. While the Israeli government has not officially confirmed the report, Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that “all indications point to his death.”

If confirmed, Sinwar’s death could render the debate over exiling Hamas leadership from Gaza largely moot. Few senior leaders remain in Gaza, and possibly only one individual with prior knowledge of the October 7 attack is still alive. At present, it is unclear who is commanding Hamas forces on the ground. The chain of command appears fractured and undefined. There are growing indications that the organization’s leadership in Qatar may now wield greater influence—but in truth, we simply don’t know.

Later this afternoon, the IDF announced that Israeli forces are advancing deeper into Gaza, signaling the beginning of a new phase in the ongoing military campaign.

In an evening briefing, the IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin reported that five divisions have now entered Gaza and are working to take control of additional territory. Defrin emphasized that the military is operating with extreme caution to avoid harming the hostages and noted that the IDF is prepared to halt operations if necessary.

Tonight, Prime Minister Netanyahu, ordered the resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza, despite opposition from several members of the security cabinet. The move is widely seen as a response to mounting pressure from the United States. For now, the aid will be delivered through the same channels used previously, raising concerns that a substantial portion may once again end up in the hands of Hamas.

MOSSAD RECOVERS PERSONAL DOCUMENTS OF LEGENDARY SPY ELI COHEN

In some positive news today, the Mossad announced today that it has recovered personal documents and other materials belonging to Eli Cohen, the legendary Israeli spy who operated in Syria prior to the Six-Day War.

Statement issued by Prime Minister’s Office on behalf of the Mossad (Israel’s Intelligence and Special Operations Agency:

60 Years Since His Execution – In a secret Mossad operation, approximately 2,500 Documents, Photographs, and Personal Items of Mossad Operative Eli Cohen Have Been Brought to Israel.

In a complex and covert operation by the Mossad for Intelligence and Special Operations, in cooperation with a strategic partner service, the official Syrian archive on the late Eli Cohen has been brought to Israel. This archive contains thousands of materials that were held under tight security by Syrian intelligence forces for decades.

The materials were brought to Israel in emotionally and symbolically significant timing, just ahead of the 60th anniversary of Cohen’s execution on May 18, 1965, in the main square of Al-Marjeh in Damascus.

In a special meeting held today, in the presence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad Director David Barnea, several original documents and personal items retrieved from Syria were presented to Nadia Cohen, the widow of Eli Cohen. Among them was the original handwritten will, written by Eli Cohen just hours before his execution—until now, only a copy of it had been publicly seen.

The special archive includes approximately 2,500 documents, photographs, and original personal items, most of which are being revealed for the first time. These materials were collected by Syrian intelligence following Cohen’s capture in January 1965, and include recordings and documentation from his interrogation files and those of his contacts, handwritten letters to his family in Israel, photographs from his covert operations in Syria, and personal belongings taken from his home after his arrest.

The acquisition of these historical materials is the result of a decades-long effort by Mossad’s intelligence, operational, and technological divisions to locate every possible piece of information about Eli Cohen, in an attempt to shed light on his fate and the location of his burial. Over the years, Mossad worked closely with partners in Israel’s and foreign intelligence and security communities, carrying out dozens of operations, including in enemy states.

Among the personal items found were keys to his apartment in Damascus, forged passports and fake documents he used, and numerous photographs from his covert activity in Syria—some showing him with senior Syrian military and government officials. In notebooks and diaries collected from his home by Syrian intelligence, Mossad missions were documented, including orders to track a target and to gather intelligence on Syrian military bases in Quneitra.

Also located was the original sentencing document and execution order. This document shows the court’s decision to allow the head of the Jewish community in Damascus, the late Rabbi Nissim Andabo, to accompany Eli Cohen in accordance with Jewish tradition.

Among the many files discovered in the archive was also a large orange folder titled “Nadia Cohen”. A review of the file reveals that Syrian intelligence closely followed all the efforts made by Mrs. Cohen to secure her husband’s release from Syrian prison, including the many letters she sent to world leaders and to the President of Syria, appealing for his release.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated:

Eli Cohen is a legend. Over time, he has proven to be the greatest intelligence agent in the history of the State of Israel. His bravery and actions contributed to the historic victory in the Six-Day War. The Eli Cohen archive, brought here through a special effort, will educate future generations and reflects our unwavering commitment to bringing home all of our missing, captives, and kidnapped citizens.

Mossad Director David Barnea emphasized:

The acquisition of the archive is a major achievement of the highest moral and ethical value, and another step forward in the investigation to locate the burial site of our man in Damascus. This important mission remains in our sights, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to achieve it. We will continue to work to locate and bring home all of the missing, the fallen, and the kidnapped—those alive, for rehabilitation, and the fallen, for eternal rest in a Jewish grave.

PRESIDENT HERZOG JOINS WORLD LEADERS AT PAPAL INAUGURATION

President Isaac Herzog attended the inaugural Mass of Pope Leo today in St. Peter’s Square. During the visit, he held brief meetings with the newly elected pontiff, as well as, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance

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TRAVEL ACROSS ISRAEL

JERUSALEM— Day 4

We will now make our way to Mt Herzl- beginning with a visit to the Herzl Museum, located at the entrance to the national memorial site in Jerusalem. The museum offers an immersive journey into the life and legacy of Theodor Herzl, the visionary behind modern political Zionism. Through a series of engaging multimedia exhibits, visitors are led through the pivotal moments of Herzl’s life, his writings, and the movement he inspired.

Theodor Herzl was born on May 2, 1860, in Pest, Hungary, into a wealthy and assimilated Jewish family. Although he initially attended a Jewish elementary school, he later enrolled in a secular high school in Pest. In 1878, his family moved to Vienna, where Herzl pursued legal studies, earning his law degree in 1884. However, instead of practicing law, he chose a career in journalism. From 1891 to 1895, he served as the Paris correspondent for the influential Viennese newspaper Neue Freie Presse.

During his time in France, Herzl was deeply disturbed by the rise of antisemitism—most notably the infamous Dreyfus Affair, which he covered as a journalist. The case convinced him that antisemitism was a systemic issue that could not be overcome through assimilation. He came to believe that the only viable solution was the establishment of a Jewish homeland.

After failing to win the support of influential Jewish leaders—including the Rothschild family—Herzl turned directly to the broader Jewish public. In 1896, he published his seminal pamphlet Der Judenstaat (The Jewish State), in which he argued that only the creation of a sovereign Jewish state could resolve the “Jewish question.” He insisted that political legitimacy must be secured before mass Jewish immigration could begin.

Although Der Judenstaat was well-received by many, Herzl faced persistent difficulty in securing the backing of the Jewish elite—particularly influential financiers. Frustrated by the lack of support from the upper echelons, he turned his focus to mobilizing the broader Jewish public. In 1897, he launched the weekly Zionist newspaper Die Welt (The World), providing a platform to spread his vision and galvanize support. That same year, in August, he convened the First Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland—a landmark event that formally inaugurated the Zionist movement and set its political foundations.

From that moment until his death, Herzl devoted himself tirelessly to securing international political support for the Zionist vision. He engaged in high-level diplomacy, meeting with figures such as the Ottoman Sultan, the German Kaiser, and other world leaders in hopes of gaining formal backing for the establishment of a Jewish state. Despite his relentless efforts, these diplomatic overtures yielded few concrete results.

In 1903, the British government proposed an alternative—a Jewish homeland in East Africa, known as “the Uganda Scheme.” The offer sparked intense debate, but the idea was ultimately and decisively rejected by the Sixth Zionist Congress later that year.

Herzl died in Vienna on July 3, 1904, at just 44 years old. Though his life was tragically cut short, his vision endured. In 1949, following the establishment of the State of Israel, Herzl’s remains were brought to Jerusalem and laid to rest on the hill that now bears his name—Mount Herzl. In the years since, Mount Herzl has become Israel’s national cemetery and a powerful symbol of the Zionist dream he helped transform into reality.

Tomorrow, we will walk Mount Herzl’s paths and visit the site where Israel’s founding leaders, soldiers, and visionaries are laid to rest.