Jacob Jaffa

Jacob Jaffa is the JC's Digital 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

Syria

1500 Isis fighters escape prison camps as Syrian forces push north

Army officials and Kurdish leaders have each accused the other of orchestrating the release of terrorists as Damascus seeks to ‘unify’ the nation

2 min read

Charedi Jewish men block a road and clash with police during a protest against the autopsy of toddlers who died earlier in a daycare, in Jerusalem, January 19, 2026 (Flash90)

Police clash with Charedi rioters over autopsies following baby deaths at ‘unlicensed’ nursery

1 min read

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a meeting on the institutional future of New Caledonia at the Elysee Palace in Paris on January 16, 2026 (Getty Images)

Macron declines Board of Peace invitation as signing ceremony set for Davos

2 min read

An Uber ride-sharing car in motion (Getty Images)

Uber poised to return to Israel as Knesset vote set

1 min read

Syrian forces take Raqqa after new ceasefire with Kurdish militias

President al-Sharaa recently signed a declaration guaranteeing the embattled minority equal rights as part of an integration plan

2 min read

January 19, 2026 11:58

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa announces a presidential proclamation extending full legal equality to the Kurdish minority, reinstating the citizenship of stateless Syrian Kurds and enshrining Kurdish as a national language (X/RagipSoylu)

Israel pushes back on Trump’s Board of Peace plan over Qatari and Turkish involvement

Reports suggest the members of the board, set to include Sir Tony Blair and US President Trump, will have to contribute $1 billion to secure a permanent seat

2 min read

January 19, 2026 10:29

US President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu shake hands as they arrive to speak to journalists during a joint press conference at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 29, 2025 (Getty Images)

‘I came back to life’: British-Israeli hostage Emily Damari marks one year of freedom

The 29-year-old recalled the moment she ‘stepped out of that dark nightmare and back into the light’

1 min read

January 19, 2026 09:51

Emily Damari celebrates one year since she was freed from Hamas captivity (Shai Franco)

Hundreds of Tel Aviv residents sue homeowner blocking redevelopment project over how it would impact stray cats

Shirley Hamani claims that building work would force her to ‘abandon’ her feline ‘family members’

1 min read

January 16, 2026 14:13

US sets out four conditions for Iran peace as aircraft carrier en route to Gulf

Washington’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, called on the Islamic Republic to commit to stringent limitations on its nuclear and ballistic programmes

2 min read

January 16, 2026 11:20

Steve Witkoff onstage at the Israeli-American Council's conference in Hollywood, Florida, on January 15, 2025. (YouTube/ErinMolan)

Trump promises ‘comprehensive’ Hamas disarmament in ceasefire Phase Two

The US President was undeterred by the terror group’s public pronouncements that it would refuse to lay down its weapons

1 min read

January 16, 2026 10:41

US President Trump speaks during a meeting with oil and gas executives in the East Room of the White House on January 9, 2026 (Getty Images)

‘The killing has stopped’: Trump seemingly backs off Iran strikes after regime U-turns on protest executions

Senior US officials reportedly called the president’s comments a diplomatic ‘off-ramp’

1 min read

January 15, 2026 14:48

US President Trump takes questions from members of the media during a meeting with oil and gas executives in the East Room of the White House on January 9, 2026, in Washington, DC (Getty Images)

Lebanese foreign minister says Israel ‘has the right’ to continue attacks on Hezbollah in his country

Youssef Rajji’s comments sparked backlash from the terror group’s political supporters and appeared to be at odds with his own government’s claim that the IDF has violated a US-brokered ceasefire

1 min read

January 15, 2026 10:53

Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji (R) shakes hands with the newly appointed US ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, before their meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters, in Beirut on November 17, 2025 (Getty Images)

UK advises against ‘non-essential’ travel to Israel amid ‘regional tension’

The Foreign Office also confirmed the temporary closure of its embassy in Tehran as mass protests leave hundreds dead

1 min read

January 15, 2026 10:23

A Boeing 737-800 operated by Israeli airline El Al at Milan Malpensa Airport (Getty Images)

US confirms start of Gaza ceasefire Phase Two

Washington will push ahead with the next phase of the truce despite Hamas’ failure to disarm and release all of the hostages

2 min read

January 14, 2026 18:29

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff delivers a press conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris on January 6, 2026 (Getty Images)

Six killed in Rafah firefight IDF dubbed ‘blatant violation’ of Gaza ceasefire

The latest clashes come amid reports the US is preparing to push on with Phase Two of the truce despite Hamas’ lack of movement on disarmament or the return of the final hostage

2 min read

January 14, 2026 15:42

The rubble of houses in Rafah on January 20, 2025 (Getty Images)

Israel pulls out of seven international agencies following mass US withdrawal

The Foreign Ministry confirmed it would cut ties with the groups, and that it expected to announce more in the future

1 min read

January 14, 2026 11:53

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar speaks during a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem, September 15, 2025 (Flash90)

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Jacob Jaffa

Latest from Jacob Jaffa

1500 Isis fighters escape prison camps as Syrian forces push north

Police clash with Charedi rioters over autopsies following baby deaths at ‘unlicensed’ nursery

Macron declines Board of Peace invitation as signing ceremony set for Davos

Uber poised to return to Israel as Knesset vote set

More from Jacob Jaffa

Syrian forces take Raqqa after new ceasefire with Kurdish militias

Israel pushes back on Trump’s Board of Peace plan over Qatari and Turkish involvement

‘I came back to life’: British-Israeli hostage Emily Damari marks one year of freedom

Hundreds of Tel Aviv residents sue homeowner blocking redevelopment project over how it would impact stray cats

US sets out four conditions for Iran peace as aircraft carrier en route to Gulf

Trump promises ‘comprehensive’ Hamas disarmament in ceasefire Phase Two

‘The killing has stopped’: Trump seemingly backs off Iran strikes after regime U-turns on protest executions

Lebanese foreign minister says Israel ‘has the right’ to continue attacks on Hezbollah in his country

UK advises against ‘non-essential’ travel to Israel amid ‘regional tension’

US confirms start of Gaza ceasefire Phase Two

Six killed in Rafah firefight IDF dubbed ‘blatant violation’ of Gaza ceasefire

Israel pulls out of seven international agencies following mass US withdrawal