News Digest — 8/13/25
Water Crisis In Iran–Netanyahu To Iranians: ‘Take To The Streets, Israel Stands With You’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu published a video message to the People of Iran Tuesday (12th) in which he noted the Iranian government’s responsibility for the country’s severe water crisis and offered Israel’s assistance and expertise in overcoming the crisis.
“Greetings from Jerusalem, To the proud people of Iran,” Netanyahu began. “Your leaders forced the 12-Day War on us, and they lost miserably. They lie through their teeth, but on rare occasions, they tell the truth.”
“A few days ago, the Iranian President said: “We have problems with water, electricity, money, and inflation – where don’t we have a problem? There won’t be any water in the dams by September or October,” he said. “He’s right. Everything is collapsing. In this summer heat, you don’t even have clean, cold water to give your children.”
“Such hypocrisy. Such disdain for the Iranian people. To live like this is not fair to you. It’s not fair to your children,” he said.
Turning to his offer, Netanyahu stated, “But I have very good news: Israel is the #1 recycler of water in the world. We recycle 90% of our waste-water. And we lead the world in desalination. We know exactly what to do so Iran can also have plentiful water.”
“Almost a decade ago, I opened a Telegram channel in Farsi to teach water management to Iranians. 100,000 Iranians joined almost instantly, “ he noted. “The thirst for water in Iran is only matched by the thirst for freedom.”
“So here is the great news,” he said, “The moment your country is free, Israel’s top water experts will flood into every Iranian city bringing cutting-edge technology and know-how. We will help Iran recycle water, we’ll help Iran desalinate water.”
“What would that look like? Just imagine water-skiing again in the Karaj Dam with your families,” he stated. Imagine walking hand-in-hand with your partner next to the bountiful river in Farahzad, which is now completely dried up. Imagine the parched trees in Niavaran and Darband getting as much plentiful water as the trees in IRGC strongholds. Imagine restoring the once stunning Urmia Lake in the northwest of Iran.”
“Well, all of this is not a dream. This can be your reality,” Netanyahu said. “But instead of making this a reality, your dictators impose tyranny and poverty upon you – just as they imposed war on us.”
“For 46 years, you have been denied the most basic human rights. The right to express yourselves freely. To write, speak and sing whatever you please. I have here the books of Iranians, impressive Iranian dissidents who write the truth, and speak the truth. But it’s published outside Iran. Such repression. Such cruelty,” he said.
“You, the descendants of Cyrus the Great, deserve much more,” he told the Iranian people. “You don’t deserve leaders who flee the country while you suffer alone during a difficult war. Neda and Navid could have brought Iran glory and gold. Instead, they are killed and banished. So much money has been burnt to hell.”
Netanyahu recounted how “the tyrants of Tehran preferred sending hundreds of billions of dollars not to you, but to Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis – instead of funding your hospitals, your schools and your roads.”
According to Netanyahu, “It doesn’t have to be this way. I urge you to be bold and brave – to dare to dream, take risks for freedom. For your futures. For your families. It’s worth it! Take to the streets. Demand justice. Demand accountability. Protest tyranny. Build a better future for your families and for all Iranians. Do not let these fanatic mullahs ruin your lives for a minute longer.”
“And know this: You are not alone. I stand with you. Israel stands with you. The entire free world stands with you. The tyrants of Iran – so cruel, so callous, and so cowardly – won’t last long. You know that. History will record that. Soon your country will be free. Water will be plentiful. Your economy will recover and thrive.. Your children will be joyous and carefree again.”
“As our founding father, Theodor Herzl said, (of the Jewish state), ‘If you will it, it is no dream.’ And I say to you, ‘if you will it, a free Iran is no dream.’ Now is the time for action. Now is the time to fight for freedom,” Netanyahu concluded.
Report: Israel In Talks With South Sudan To Receive Gazans
The AP news agency reported Tuesday evening (12th) that Israel is engaging in discussions with South Sudan to explore the possibility of transferring Palestinian Arabs from the Gaza Strip to the East African country, as part of a broader effort to encourage mass migration from Gaza.
According to the report, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aims to realize the vision of the U.S. President Donald Trump, for the voluntary departure of a large portion of Gaza’s population.
The Foreign Minister of South Sudan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem declined to comment on the matter.
Joe Salavik, the founder of an American lobbying firm working with South Sudan, stated that an Israeli delegation is planning a visit to explore the establishment of camps for Palestinian Arabs. He said that Israel is expected to fund these camps.
At the same time, two Egyptian sources confirmed that they are aware of the talks and are working to persuade South Sudan not to accept Palestinian Arabs from Gaza.
According to the report, South Sudan is interested in strengthening ties with Israel and may see this initiative as a way to improve its relations with the Trump administration, including the possibility of lifting sanctions.
Israel Threatens To Halt Arms Sales To Germany After Berlin Stops Weapon Exports To Israel
In response to a move by Berlin on Friday (8th), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to stop exports of weapons to Germany.
On Friday (8th), German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he would stop selling weapons to Israel after Netanyahu announced plans to take control of the Gaza Strip.
The announcement was greeted with shock, since Germany is Israel’s second-largest arms supplier after the United States and one of its most reliable allies.
Netanyahu told i24 TV that European leaders were “surrendering to Islamic minorities” and perhaps had been persuaded by Hamas propaganda surrounding the war.
Netanyahu then threatened to cut off Israeli arms exports to Germany in response to Berlin’s decision to suspend sales of weapons to Israel that could be used in Gaza.
However, Netanyahu stated, “I think we have a relationship of mutual supply with Germany, and I don’t think they’ve forgotten that. So let this pass… They’re under pressure, you can’t stop the pictures, the lies… .”
Last year, Israel completed a record-breaking sale, providing Germany with $ 4. 67 billion worth of anti-missile Arrow projectiles.
Merz announced last week that arms shipments to Israel would end “until further notice” and requested that Israel “comprehensively and sustainably improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.”
While Merz emphasized that Israel “has a right to defend itself against Hamas terror,” the intention to control Gaza caused his change of position.
Germany has stopped short of recognizing a Palestinian state, a gesture France, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom have said they intend to do at the United Nations in September.
Hunger In Gaza Has Many Authors, But Israel Isn’t One oF Them – Marc A Thiessen
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation reports that it has distributed 108 million meals in Gaza since May 26. According to the Israel Defense Forces’ Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Israel has facilitated the delivery of 1.9 million tons of international humanitarian aid to Gaza since the start of the war. Far from deliberate starvation in Gaza, Israel is doing something that no nation has ever done, or ever been expected to do: Feed the population of the aggressor force that attacked it while the war is still going on.
The normal way to get humanitarian relief to civilians in wartime is allow them to leave the conflict zone as refugees. During the civil war in Syria, more than 4.2 million civilians fled that conflict. But Gaza’s neighbors Egypt and Jordan refuse to allow Gaza’s civilian population to flee. The real reason is that they do not want to import Gaza’s problems.
Of course there is a policy of deliberate starvation in Gaza. It is being carried out by Hamas, which last week released photos of two emaciated Israeli hostages. In Hamas tunnels, the terrorists have plenty of food. The only ones starving are the hostages. To lay the blame for the situation in Gaza at Israel’s feet, rather than on Hamas, requires a stunning level of moral blindness. (Washington Post)
Hamas’ Plan To Undermine America’s Arab Allies – Khaled Abu Toameh
Hamas is trying to incite Arabs to revolt against their own governments under the pretext that the Arab leaders have failed to help the Palestinians in Gaza. Recently, senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya called on Arabs to “march toward Palestine by land and sea and besiege the Israeli embassies in Arab countries, especially Egypt and Jordan.”
Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, Hamas officials have been indirectly urging Egyptians and Jordanians to revolt against their governments for not cutting their diplomatic ties with Israel. Fortunately, most Arab countries have refused to join Hamas’ genocidal scheme.
Apparently, the Arab leaders understand the dangers of allowing Hamas, an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, to drag their countries into war with Israel. That is why Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the UAE, and recently, Jordan have banned or outlawed the Muslim Brotherhood.
It’s time for the current US administration not only to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a Foreign Terrorist Organization, but also finally call out Qatar and its Al-Jazeera TV network for promoting Islamist terror groups that target Israel and America’s Arab allies.
The writer, a veteran Israeli journalist, is a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute and the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs.
Israeli Embassy In The Hague Target Of Attack: Red Paint and Smashed Windows
Three individuals arrived at the Israeli Embassy in The Hague on Tuesday (12th) where they splashed red paint on the entrance door and smashed it. The Foreign Ministry said the damage was confined to the building’s facade and that no one was injured.
Local security forces quickly intervened and local police arrested all three suspects. Embassy staff were promptly briefed at the end of the incident.
Just last week, Pto-Palestinian activists vandalized El Al’s offices in Paris, drenching them in red paint and branding the airline a “genocide company.” El Al said the attack was discovered in the morning while the building was empty, posing no threat to staff. “El Al views this incident with the utmost seriousness and is working with authorities in France and Israel to address it under official guidance. The company proudly bears the Israeli flag on its aircraft tails and condemns all forms of violence, especially those rooted in anti-Semitism,” the airline said.
Israel’s Transportation Minister Miri Regev urged: “Citizens of France, wake up. Today it’s El Al, tomorrow it will be Air France. When President Macron makes statements that embolden Hamas, this is the result. I condemn the violent act against El Al and expect French law enforcement to find and deal with the criminals harshly.”
In June, activists from the pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action broke into a British military base and vandalized two refueling aircraft, causing what was reported as E7 million in damages. In response, early last month, the British House of Commons approved Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s proposal to ban the organization’s activities.
