YOM KIPPUR ON 20th of September 2026

 Nadene Goldfoot

Stop! "Lest we forget": Let me remember another YOM KIPPUR  that happened, the Yom Kippur War which was fought from October 6 to October 26, 1973, a 20 day war 53 years ago,  when another coalition of Arab states,  led by Egypt and Syria, launched a surprise attack on Israel on their holiest of holy days, the day they were asking for G-d's forgiveness for any wrongs they may had done, and their decision to be better this next year by improving.  Now, this happened to be a well-known holiday amongst our enemies evidently that knew the whole population of Israel would be davening (Praying) in their synogogues and temple.  What a time to attack!  

Egypt and Syria  attacked Israel on October 6, 1973, primarily to regain the sovereign territories they lost to Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967, they said.  That was a war where the Arabs were all lined up ready to attack and had given plenty of warning.  Israel, knowing they were about to be attacked by this amazing hoard of soldiers, pulled a surprise on them by attacking first. Egypt and Syria were against Israel, with indirect support from the United States (supporting Israel) and the Soviet Union (supporting Arab states).  Israel won the Six-Day War in 1967 and took control of the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt and the Golan Heights from Syria. Arab Goals: Egyptian President Anwar Sadat wanted to regain the lost land and restore Arab pride.

" Despite eventually turning the tide to achieve a decisive military comeback, the overwhelming sentiment among Israelis was shaped by the devastating casualties and the shock of being caught completely unprepared.  Because the war began with a massive, coordinated surprise attack on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, citizens initially feared an existential threat to the state. When the fighting stopped, the sheer scale of the losses—roughly 2,650 Israeli soldiers killed—cast a heavy shadow over the country. 

 The stunning early setbacks shattered public faith in military leadership and the government. The public felt a sense of betrayal and hubris. This widespread anger ultimately mobilized the populace against the governing establishment, leading to massive protests, inquiries, and significant political shifts. Does this sound familiar?  The same attitude was going on today with the October 7, 2023 attack.  

Relief: While victory was achieved in military terms—with Israeli forces pushing back the advancing armies and encircling the Egyptian Third Army—in 1973, it was celebrated primarily as a survival of a disaster rather than a cause for joyful, triumphant celebrations.

 Ultimately, the trauma and strategic shock of the war forced a psychological shift. The Brookings Institution notes that the realization of the war's high cost set the stage for subsequent diplomacy,"Egyptian President Anwar Sadat made his historic visit to Israel from November 19 to November 21, 1977. He delivered his famous speech to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, on November 20, 1977.His visit completely mesmerized the Israeli public. Millions watched his arrival on television, and thousands lined the streets to see his motorcade. This monumental gesture broke decades of hostility and eventually led to the Camp David Accords in 1978 and the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty in 1979. Egypt signed the Egypt–Israel peace treaty on March 26, 1979, in Washington, D.C.  Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, and U.S. President Jimmy Carter (as witness).

Syria has never signed a formal peace treaty with Israel.

Resource:

Wikipedia

Today's Day of Infamy: Syria Elevated

 Nadene Goldfoot                                              

Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa (born 29 October 1982), also known by his former  Abu Mohammad al-Julani is a Syrian politician and former rebel commander who has served as the president of Syria since 2025. 

Today on August 25, 2026, the United States officially removed Syria from its list of State Sponsors of Terrorism after 47 years. This is an oy vey day!!!The president of Syria is the former well-known terrorist, Julani, hated by the citizens of Syria as much as they were hating Assad, their former President-an optometrist, no less.  Yes, Bashar al-Assad was trained as an ophthalmologist (an eye doctor) rather than an optometrist.  Jolani was a terrorist from the get go!!!Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, now known as Ahmed al-Sharaa, spent decades in radical militant networks and was officially designated a global terrorist by the United States in 2013. His background aligns with a well-documented history in extremist organizations.  

2003: Jolani traveled to Iraq to fight against the U.S. invasion shortly after it began.
2006–2011: U.S. forces arrested him in Iraq. He spent more than five years in detention, including time at Camp Bucca. 

2011: Jolani returned to Syria as the civil war started.
The Group: He founded Jabhat al-Nusra, which operated as an official affiliate of Al-Qaeda.
2013: Terrorist Status: The U.S. State Department designated him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2013 and placed a $10 million reward for his capture. Investigations by programs like FRONTLINE detailed his roadmap through these militant groups. 

2016: Jolani publicly announced a split from Al-Qaeda to focus operations inside Syria.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham: He led the Islamist faction known as HTS, which governed the Idlib region.
December 2024: HTS led the rebel offensive that successfully toppled the government of Bashar al-Assad.
Name Change: Following Assad's fall, he largely stopped using the name al-Jolani, reverted to his birth name Ahmed al-Sharaa, and assumed a central role in Syria's interim leadership.
You will never find an honest Syrian agreeing with Donald Trump, but as a naive American, he admired Jolani, "Donald Trump first praised Syria's leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) on May 14, 2025.   While speaking with reporters on Air Force One during a Middle East tour, Trump described al-Sharaa as a "young, attractive, tough guy" with a "very strong past" and stated that he "has got a real shot at pulling it together"
Six months ago, he was on the FBI's terror list. Today, he's shaking hands with Donald Trump. Meet Muhammad al-Jolani — ex-Al-Qaeda commander, ...
President Donald Trump’s administration has shifted U.S. policy to engage with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda-linked militant who took power after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. 
Past Ties: Al-Sharaa previously fought for al-Qaeda in Iraq and led the Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria.
White House Visit: President Trump hosted al-Sharaa for historic talks at the White House, marking the first time a Syrian leader visited the U.S. presidential mansion.
Delisting: The U.S. government removed both HTS and al-Sharaa from its lists of designated terrorists. 
Terrorism Sponsor Removal: The U.S. formally removed Syria's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, a move covered by The Hill and Reuters, to lift major obstacles to foreign investment and aid. 
Support: Proponents argue that normalization and sanctions relief will help rebuild war-torn Syria, bring economic stability, and stop the spread of ISIS. 
Concerns: Critics and some U.S. lawmakers have questioned al-Sharaa's past, citing worries about sectarian violence and human rights under his new government.  Yes, their concern might even go as far as asking the Syrians on the streets how they feel about embracing a terrorist they have to listen to for fear of the prison so many have wound up in.  
I believe Trump admires a person who controls many; and he admires this terrorist in disguise of his old self, al-Sharaa.  This means that Trump might feel he can control Jolani to answer to his beck and call.  Syrians know that nothing will change for them with al-Sharaa/Jolani sitting in the Presidential chair.  
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_al-Sharaa
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The Hill