Jacob Jaffa

Assistant News Editor

Jacob Jaffa is the JC's Assistant News Editor. His specialist topics include UK and US politics, the far-right and antisemitism in Europe. You can reach him on jjaffa@thejc.com

Latest from Jacob Jaffa

Spain

Spanish national newspaper apologises for saying Maduro judge ‘fair despite being Jewish’

El País was accused of ‘disgusting antisemitism’ for suggesting that Judge Alvin Hellerstein’s religious affiliation could affect his rulings

1 min read

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro (C) and his wife Cilia Flores are escorted to a court appearance in Manhattan, New York City on January 6, 2025 (YouTube/InsideEdition)

US President Trump welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago club on December 29, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida (Getty Images)

US prepared to start Phase Two of Gaza ceasefire before Hamas disarms and returns final hostage

2 min read

Hamas and Red Cross restart search for final hostage Ran Gvili

1 min read

Democrats leader Yair Golan (standing C) welcoming leaders of the anti-judicial reform protests, including Moshe Radman (seated C) and Ami Dror (seated CR), as well as hostage advocated Danny Elgarat (seated L) to the party at the Knesset (Flash90)

Leaders of anti-judicial reform protests join Democrats

1 min read

Sa’ar completes first diplomatic visit to Somaliland after Israel recognition

Somalia condemned the trip as an ‘unauthorised incursion’, but the Israeli foreign minister insisted the move was ‘not directed against anyone’

1 min read

January 7, 2026 13:48

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar (L) with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (R) in Hargeisa, Somaliland on January 6 2025 (X/Gideon Sa'ar)

Netanyahu speaks to former aide Urich for first time in a year as Qatargate restrictions lapse

The former prime ministerial spokesman recently announced his intention to return to government work if he clears his name

2 min read

January 7, 2026 13:09

Jonatan Urich arrives for a court hearing in the Qatargate investigation at the court in Lod, January 6, 2026 (Flash90)

US lays out plan for ‘Zermatt-style’ ski resort in Syria after security deal with Israel

Damascus and Jerusalem have agreed a ‘framework’ for greater cooperation, but Washington reportedly harbours plans for a ‘demilitarised economic zone’ featuring the ‘best ski mountain in the Middle East’

1 min read

January 7, 2026 10:58

The Mount Hermon Observatory on the Golan Heights on September 21, 2025 (Getty Images)

Charedi teen killed in bus ramming during Jerusalem anti-enlistment protest

Charedi politicians claimed that the death of Yosef Eisentahl, 14, was the result of anti-Orthodox ‘incitement’

2 min read

January 7, 2026 10:38

Emergency services at the scene of a bus ramming that killed a Charedi teen and left three others injured during an anti-enlistment protest in Jerusalem on January 6, 2025 (Flash90)

Tel Aviv stock exchange courts New York-listed Israeli companies after Mamdani inauguration

The new mayor’s history of anti-Israel rhetoric seemingly presents an opportunity to grow the Jewish state’s financial sector

1 min read

January 6, 2026 14:17

Zohran Mamdani is sworn in as New York City's 112th mayor by New York Attorney General Letitia James (L) alongside his wife Rama Duwaji (R) in the former City Hall subway station on January 1, 2026 (Getty Images)

Netanyahu backs Ben-Gvir’s push for Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount

Israel’s national security minister has long maintained that prayer, including full prostration, should be allowed at the site, and has even suggested the construction of a synagogue there

1 min read

January 6, 2026 13:46

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir seen after a visit at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City during Tishah b’Av, on August 3, 2025 (Flash90)

West Bank to receive first 4G mobile network after Israel-backed telecom deal

The Gaza Strip will remain on 2G connection, while Israel is now transitioning to full 5G coverage

1 min read

January 6, 2026 11:35

Israeli Minister of Communications Shlomo Karhi (Flash90)

Israel strikes Hamas and Hezbollah ‘weapons production sites’ in Lebanon

The IDF said it targeted weapons storage facilities and ‘military infrastructure’ in the southern regions, including in the country’s third-largest city

1 min read

January 6, 2026 10:20

An Israeli strike on the village of Kfar Hatta, in southern Lebanon on January 5, 2025 (Getty Images)

Israeli Islamist party to accept first Jewish candidates at next elections

‘I would be honoured if they joined’ said Ra’am party leader Mansour Abbas of his Jewish allies in the Knesset

1 min read

January 6, 2026 09:57

Ra'am party leader Mansour Abbas leads a faction meeting at the Knesset on January 5, 2026 (Flash90)

Shas threatens to vote down state budget unless Charedi draft bill passed first

Netanyahu’s coalition has until March 31 to reach a compromise with its Charedi partner or face being forced into fresh elections

1 min read

January 5, 2026 13:44

Shas party leader Aryeh Deri leads a faction meeting at the Knesset on November 24, 2025 (Flash90)

Jewish former Labour councillor pleads guilty to sex offences against teen girl

Liron Velleman, 30, sent the 13-year-old victim explicit images and asked her whether she was a virgin

1 min read

January 5, 2026 13:03

Tehran ‘in survival mode’ as Trump threatens ‘hard hit’ over protestor killings

Ayatollah Khamenei has pledged to put demonstrators ‘in their place’, but pressure is mounting on his regime as an economic crisis and fresh conflict with the US loom large

2 min read

January 5, 2026 11:24

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks after casting his vote for the presidential runoff election on July 5, 2024 in Tehran, Iran (Getty Images)

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Jacob Jaffa

Latest from Jacob Jaffa

Spanish national newspaper apologises for saying Maduro judge ‘fair despite being Jewish’

US prepared to start Phase Two of Gaza ceasefire before Hamas disarms and returns final hostage

Hamas and Red Cross restart search for final hostage Ran Gvili

Leaders of anti-judicial reform protests join Democrats

More from Jacob Jaffa

Sa’ar completes first diplomatic visit to Somaliland after Israel recognition

Netanyahu speaks to former aide Urich for first time in a year as Qatargate restrictions lapse

US lays out plan for ‘Zermatt-style’ ski resort in Syria after security deal with Israel

Charedi teen killed in bus ramming during Jerusalem anti-enlistment protest

Tel Aviv stock exchange courts New York-listed Israeli companies after Mamdani inauguration

Netanyahu backs Ben-Gvir’s push for Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount

West Bank to receive first 4G mobile network after Israel-backed telecom deal

Israel strikes Hamas and Hezbollah ‘weapons production sites’ in Lebanon

Israeli Islamist party to accept first Jewish candidates at next elections

Shas threatens to vote down state budget unless Charedi draft bill passed first

Jewish former Labour councillor pleads guilty to sex offences against teen girl

Tehran ‘in survival mode’ as Trump threatens ‘hard hit’ over protestor killings