DAY 612 OF THE WAR: Navy Intercepts Yacht “Madeline”, Channel 14’s False Claims Spark Uproar, Murder Rate Soars, Ambassador Huckabee Interferes In Israeli Politics

Tel Aviv Diary, June 9, 2025

The Israeli Navy on Sunday intercepted the yacht Madeline as it attempted to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. The vessel, described by Israeli officials as a propaganda stunt, was carrying several high-profile activists, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila, and Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament.

Drawing on lessons from previous maritime confrontations, the Navy conducted the operation with precision and without any the use of force. In a well-coordinated media effort, footage released by the Israeli Foreign Ministry highlighted the calm nature of the interception, including a widely shared image of Thunberg smiling as Israeli soldiers offered her a sandwich.

The operation stands out as one of the rare instances in the past 18 months of a mission executed with deliberate strategic planning, clear strategic thinking, and consideration of international optics—an approach we can only hope will set a precedent for future missions.

The activists are being transported to the Israeli naval base in Ashdod, after which they are expected to be transferred to Ben Gurion Airport for deportation to their home countries. Interestingly, several passengers had recorded video messages in advance, portraying themselves as potential hostages and urging their governments to intervene. In retrospect, that narrative appears to have backfired.

CHANNEL 14 UNDER FIRE FOR FALSE RAFAH CLAIM

A separate controversy erupted last night when Israel’s Channel 14—widely regarded as a hyper-partisan with even looser journalistic standards than its American counterpart, Fox News—aired a sensational and unverified claim. The channel alleged that the deaths of four soldiers in Rafah on Friday were the result of a directive from the IDF’s chief legal advisor, who had purportedly prohibited the demolition of the building they were operating in. This baseless accusation echoed a recurring theme in far-right circles, where military legal advisors are frequently cast as scapegoats for operational failures.

The IDF Chief of Staff swiftly and unequivocally rejected the claim, affirming that it had no basis in fact. Channel 14 later attempted to walk back the report, asserting they were speaking more broadly about military policy in Gaza, not about the specific incident in Rafah. Even that assertion is misleading. In practice, buildings in Gaza are not routinely demolished using aerial bombing, because bulldozers are often more effective and considerably less costly. When intelligence indicates the presence of terrorists in a particular structure, airstrikes are authorized. Otherwise, demolition is typically carried out by ground forces.

This episode is just the latest in a recurring pattern of misinformation propagated by Channel 14. As seen time and again, such distortions often gain traction. The channel’s popularity has grown significantly in recent years—especially during the war—largely due to its consistent delivery of feel-good narratives and uncritical support for the government. Psychologically, the appeal is clear: audiences tend to gravitate toward affirmation over criticism—and Channel 14 has mastered the art of reinforcing that comfort zone.

SEVENTEEN WOMEN KILLED: A GRIM MILESTONE

One area where there’s virtually no debate over the government’s failure is crime. Just last night alone, three people were murdered across Israel. Among the victims was a young man recently discharged from the army, gunned down while riding his scooter—apparently mistaken for a rival by a local gang. In separate incidents in the Galilee, two women were also killed. Their deaths bring the number of women murdered in Israel this year to 17—the same total as all of last year, which was already considered alarmingly high. The data points to a clear trend: violent crime is spiraling out of control.

Several factors contribute to the rise in violent crime. Part of it is undoubtedly a byproduct of the ongoing war: a society under immense stress, widespread trauma, frayed nerves, and a growing number of people suffering from PTSD. However, a major driver is the declining performance of the police—particularly in Arab communities. The previous government had introduced a comprehensive plan to combat violence in these sectors, and early signs suggested it was beginning to yield results. But after taking office, the current government—under the oversight of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir—scrapped the plan and has yet to implement an alternative.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Netanyahu held a conversation with former U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the evolving situation with Iran. Tehran has announced it will issue a counteroffer to the latest American proposal in the coming days, though it has already rejected the current U.S. position in its current form. The likely focus of the call was the potential direction of American policy should negotiations break down.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Air Force remains at a heightened state of readiness in the event that diplomacy fails and military action is deemed necessary. While such an outcome still appears unlikely, Trump’s involvement adds an element of unpredictability to the equation. Tonight, Netanyahu stated after his discussion with Trump that the President had presented Iran with the reasonable proposal and that there would be another round of attacks this weekend.

Today’s Radio Show

HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS

Finally, it’s striking that the hostages haven’t been mentioned until now—and perhaps that’s precisely the problem: they’re not being talked about enough. The situation remains at a standstill, with no progress on a hostage deal and no movement toward ending the war. As the country edges closer to potential elections and the possible collapse of the government, a pressing question looms: What will Netanyahu do about a hostage deal during the interim period between the government’s fall and a new election?

At that stage, the government will have already fallen—there will be nothing left to bring down. The far-right parties will no longer wield the same political leverage over Netanyahu. The real question then becomes: will Netanyahu view a deal with Hamas and an end to the war as a political asset—or a liability? Tragically, the fate of the hostages may hinge on how he chooses to answer that question.

HUCKABEE URGES ULTRA-ORTHODOX TO BACK GOVERNMENT AMID IRAN THREAT

Tonight, reports emerged that U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has been holding meetings with ultra-Orthodox leaders in an effort to dissuade them from toppling the government. According to sources, Huckabee has emphasized the importance of maintaining a stable Israeli government to ensure a united front in confronting the threat from Iran. This direct intervention is totally unprecedented.

ECONOMY

Since COVID-19, Israeli employers must report full salary data to the National Insurance Institute (NII), enabling monthly wage calculations for all salaried workers. This comprehensive data is more accurate than previous Central Bureau of Statistics surveys that counted jobs rather than workers, explaining why NII's average wage (₪14,657/month) exceeds CBS figures (₪13,514/month).

The NII now publishes median wages for the first time. While the average monthly salary is ₪14,657, the median is just ₪10,368—30% lower, meaning half of workers earn less than this amount. The data excludes self-employed individuals but covers all salaried employees whose employers pay social security.