News and updates about 103FM

Ex-Navy chief:

Without crushing Hamas, Gaza victory will be meaningless

Maj. Gen. (res.) Eliezer Marom warns Hamas adopting Hezbollah’s model 'puppet government' model, leaving Hamas intact would mean Israel’s efforts would be in vain.

Without crushing Hamas, Gaza victory will be meaningless

Minister Eli Cohen:

Hamas' fear of escalation led to hostage release

Energy Minister Eli Cohen credits IDF pressure and US diplomacy for the expected release of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, warns against temporary truces that allow Hamas to regroup.

Hamas' fear of escalation led to hostage release

Yair Lapid:

If government doesn't obey Supreme Court, everything will end

Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid slams Defense Minister Israel Katz, says he will be 'stained forever if he advances Draft Evasion Law.'

If government doesn't obey Supreme Court, everything will end

Electric Corp. Chairman:

'No electricity supply from Israel to Gaza'

Doron Arbely, chairman of the Israel Electric Corporation, explained Energy Minister Eli Cohen's directive: 'Power line supplying electricity from Israel to desalination plant in Gaza was cut off.'

'No electricity supply from Israel to Gaza'

Director of Moshe Dayan Center:

'Hamas official's regrets are just more of Hamas' antics'

Prof. Uzi Rabi responds to senior Hamas official's comment that in retrospect he would not have supported 10/7 attack: 'Hamas' attempt to convey a new message in light of its distress.'

'Hamas official's regrets are just more of Hamas' antics'

'Hostages are Hamas' insurance policy'

Arab affairs analyst says Hamas is 'flexing its muscles' and does not intend to give up leadership of Gaza easily.

'Hostages are Hamas' insurance policy'

Released hostage's mother:

'Romi Gonen to undergo complex surgery'

Meirav Leshem-Gonen, mother of released hostage Romi Gonen, says the young women who returned from Hamas captivity 'are not okay, to lose 20% of your weight is not okay.'

'Romi Gonen to undergo complex surgery'

Terror victim's sister:

'Tzvi symbolized everything that was good in this nation'

Shlomit, sister of Sergeant major (res.) Tzvi Friedman, killed in Jordan Valley terrorist attack today, says her brother was a sensitive, caring and loving guy.

'Tzvi symbolized everything that was good in this nation'

Oron Shaul's brother:

'Announcement took us totally by surprise'

Aviram Shaul, brother of Oron Shaul, whose body has been held in Gaza since 2014, tells about the rescue of his body in a special IDF mission.

'Announcement took us totally by surprise'

Resident of Gaza Envelope:

'We are living in fear of becoming the next hostages'

Shifra Tzur-Aryeh, a mother of seven and a resident of Kfar Maimon in the Sdot Negev Regional Council, describes their sense of insecurity, following occasional firing from the Gaza Strip.

'We are living in fear of becoming the next hostages'

Must IDF soldiers who served in the war fear traveling abroad?

Adv. Yuval Kaplinsky, former Director of the Department of International Affairs in Israel's State Attorney's Office, comments on the investigation against an IDF soldier visiting Brazil.

Must IDF soldiers who served in the war fear traveling abroad?

MK Avichay Buaron:

'It is impossible to end the war without destroying Hamas'

Likud MK Avichay Buaron expresses his position on the proposed hostage release deal: The fundamental understanding is that the hostage deal cannot be tied to the destruction of Hamas.

'It is impossible to end the war without destroying Hamas'

Smotrich warns:

'Releasing hundreds of terrorists will rehabilitate Hamas'

Minister Bezalel Smotrich explains his opposition to the hostage release deal in its current form: "Releasing hundreds of terrorists who will rehabilitate Hamas' leadership is very bad."

'Releasing hundreds of terrorists will rehabilitate Hamas'

Col. (res.) Hezi Nehama:

'Hamas recovering forces and regaining control on the ground'

Col. (res.) Hezi Nehama, one of the leaders of the 'Officers and Fighters in the Reserves' Forum, says the war in Gaza has reached a state of 'stagnation' and that 'we are paying a heavy price in without purpose.'

'Hamas recovering forces and regaining control on the ground'

Arab affairs correspondent:

'Europe at point of no return'

'Antisemitic incidents in Europe prevent women from walking in certain areas, citizens feel insecure,' says Zvi Yehezkeli on pogrom in Amsterdam.

'Europe at point of no return'

MK Lapid:

'I don't trust Netanyahu, he's a terrible prime minister'

Opposition chief MK Yair Lapid rejects idea of a unity government, claiming that he 'doesn't trust' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and that Netanyahu 'doesn't want' unity.

'I don't trust Netanyahu, he's a terrible prime minister'

Analyst: 'Nasrallah is exhausted'

Analyst Zvi Yechezkeli criticizes Israel's actions in Lebanon, calls Hezbollah's attack on Israel a 'missed opportunity' to create a 'new reality in southern Lebanon.'

Analyst: 'Nasrallah is exhausted'

Security expert:

'End the war? Those who fell will have fallen in vain'

Former National Security Council chief Yaakov Amidror warns that if Israel abandons the Philadelphi Corridor, 'Hamas will reconnect to Sinai.'

'End the war? Those who fell will have fallen in vain'

Former Justice Minister:

Deal proposed today is 'the worst deal imaginable'

New prisoner swap deal would see just 20 living hostages released in exchange for long-term ceasefire, former Justice Minister Haim Ramon warns. 'Offer Hamas to end the war on condition that all the hostages return at once.'

Deal proposed today is 'the worst deal imaginable'

Analyst: Israel needs to operate underground, hurt Hamas' spine

Tzvi Yechezkeli, Arab affairs analyst, says Israeli intelligence almost certainly knows where Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is hiding, reiterates belief that he is surrounded by hostages.

Analyst: Israel needs to operate underground, hurt Hamas' spine

MK Kroizer vs. Min. Goldknopf: ‘Painful and detached statement'

Minister of Housing claimed that the state isn’t really interested in the haredim drafting. MK Kroizer: ‘Sadly, we see that the haredi sector is not connected.’

MK Kroizer vs. Min. Goldknopf: ‘Painful and detached statement'

Analyst:

'Vast majority' of responsibility for October 7 is the IDF's

Military analyst Yossi Yehoshua says October 7 massacre could have been avoided had IDF's General Staff acted differently. 'It is not connected to the identity of the Prime Minister.'

'Vast majority' of responsibility for October 7 is the IDF's

Daughter of hostage:

'Tel Aviv protest does not represent hostages' families'

Yarden Pivko - the daughter of Itzik Galernter, who was abducted by Hamas, claimed: 'There is exploitation by parties unrelated to the abductees.'

'Tel Aviv protest does not represent hostages' families'

Likud MK:

'Why do we not talk about drafting Arabs?'

MK Amit Halevi points out 'the elephant in the room' regarding calls for haredim to enlist.

'Why do we not talk about drafting Arabs?'

MK Matan Kahana:

'Haredim have a chance to solve a years-long problem

'Since October 7, question of enlistment is no longer a social question, but an existential one,' MK Matan Kahana says.

'Haredim have a chance to solve a years-long problem

Lapid:

We'll provide a security net for a hostage deal

Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid says Yesh Atid won't join emergency government, but may provide government with security net for hostage deal - under certain conditions.

We'll provide a security net for a hostage deal

MK Elkin: 'Long ways to go before we defeat Hamas'

MK Ze'ev Elkin stresses: Israel's central goal is to defeat Hamas, so it will no longer be able to rule Gaza - we must not stop on the way there.

MK Elkin: 'Long ways to go before we defeat Hamas'

Minister for Cultural Heritage:

'If the war is stopped; we’re out of the government'

Minister for Cultural Heritage, Amichai Eliyahu, states that his party will not approve a stop in fighting: 'If the war stops, not only will there be no government, there will be no state.'

'If the war is stopped; we’re out of the government'

Leftist from Kibbutz Be'eri:

'We need to remove everyone from Gaza'

Avida Becher, resident of Kibbutz Be'eri who lost his wife and son in the October 7 massacre, says he is 'a bit disappointed' by the fighting: 'We need to clean out the Gaza Strip.'

'We need to remove everyone from Gaza'

Mother of hostage: 'All I want is unity amongst the people'

'They took my heart, I only sleep with a sleeping pill,' mother of hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal tells radio station.

Mother of hostage: 'All I want is unity amongst the people'

Former UN Amb.: 'Increase the force, be less humanitarian'

MK Danny Danon calls on Israel to clarify red line to the US. 'Trucks entering Gaza through Kerem Shalom are a mistake and wrong.'

Former UN Amb.: 'Increase the force, be less humanitarian'

Relative of kidnapped family:

'They will not come back the same people'

Oriyah Yahbas, cousin of Jordan Bibas, who was abducted to Gaza together with wife Shiri & their children, speaks about the prisoner swap.

'They will not come back the same people'

'In the end, we'll need to conquer all of southern Gaza'

HaBithonistim's Amir Avivi doesn't see alternative other than for southern Gaza's population to move to Sinai. 'Egypt must open its border.'

'In the end, we'll need to conquer all of southern Gaza'

Gideon Sa'ar:

Hamas uninterested in releasing hostages

Min. Gideon Sa'ar says war has not yet been decided, Hamas uninterested in releasing hostages.

Hamas uninterested in releasing hostages

Ayelet Shaked:

Supreme Court does not need to interfere in everything

Former Justice Minister warns: 'This is a Basic Law - the Supreme Court does not have a source giving it the authority to intervene.'

Supreme Court does not need to interfere in everything

Saudi-Israel normalization:

UN Amb.: 'We must not allow the Palestinians the right to veto'

Gilad Erdan, Israeli Amb. to the UN, discusses Saudi-Israel normalization, PM Netanyahu's talk with US Pres. Biden.

UN Amb.: 'We must not allow the Palestinians the right to veto'

Public outrage after radio host calls haredim 'cancer'

103FM is facing massive backlash after broadcaster Ron Koffman called the haredi public 'cancer' on air.

Public outrage after radio host calls haredim 'cancer'

Legal expert estimates: Supreme Court will invalidate Basic Law

Prof. Barak Medina estimates Supreme Court will invalidate amendment to reasonableness standard - but it won't change things significantly.

Legal expert estimates: Supreme Court will invalidate Basic Law

Former minister:

'Current protest grants approval to refusal to serve'

Former minister Haim Ramon compares current anti-government protests to protests against Oslo Accords, says current protests 'illegitimate.'

'Current protest grants approval to refusal to serve'

Israeli who landed in Saudi Arabia: 'We were in shock'

Emanuel Carmel, an Israeli on the flight that landed in Saudi Arabia, tells about the unexpected end to her trip.

Israeli who landed in Saudi Arabia: 'We were in shock'

Danny Danon: Our enemies are preparing for the next conflict

'We are at the height of a crisis, we can't ignore that, and there's harm to every system,' Likud's MK Danny Danon says.

Danny Danon: Our enemies are preparing for the next conflict

MK Danny Danon:

'We will respect every decision of the court'

Likud MK: Invalidation of reasonableness law will lead into a significant constitutional crisis.

'We will respect every decision of the court'

Opposition MK:

'No agreement with Saudi Arabia during this government's term'

Coalition 'barely able to control Ben Gvir and his band,' yesh Atid's MK Merav Ben Ari says.

'No agreement with Saudi Arabia during this government's term'

Pro-compromise advocate: 'Justices mustn't listen to the street'

Prof. Yuval Elbashan warns against possibility Supreme Court will invalidate reasonableness standard amendments. 'There will be chaos here.'

Pro-compromise advocate: 'Justices mustn't listen to the street'

Heritage Minister:

'The Supreme Court has no authority to invalidate laws'

Heritage Min. Amichai Eliyahu clarifies: 'Invalidation of Basic Law has not yet been done, it's a very, very dangerous thing.'

'The Supreme Court has no authority to invalidate laws'

IDF preparing for 'significant fighting' within Jenin

Goal is to hit a number of terror centers in Jenin, IDF spokesman says.

IDF preparing for 'significant fighting' within Jenin

Likud MK contradicts Netanyahu:

'Override Clause not off the table'

'Override Clause is not off the table, there are a lot of parameters which have not yet been examined,' Culture Min. Miki Zohar says.

'Override Clause not off the table'

Analyst:

Area is flooded with weapons, price of M-16s has dropped

'We have a really big issue now, and the question is whether it will lead to a regional war,' analyst Zvi Yehezkeli warns.

Area is flooded with weapons, price of M-16s has dropped

MK Matan Kahana:

'Israel needs a unity government that relies on moderates'

MK Kahana expresses concern that the coalition will unilaterally promote legislation of the judicial reform.

'Israel needs a unity government that relies on moderates'

Economist:

'Judicial reform doesn't hurt the economy - the protests do'

Former Finance Min. official says claim judicial reform hurts Israeli economy is 'fairy tale,' notes dollar-shekel rate has remained stable.

'Judicial reform doesn't hurt the economy - the protests do'

Opposition MK: 'Worried the government will last a while'

MK Ze'ev Elkin says despite passage of State budget, government 'will continue to be squabbling and divided.'

Opposition MK: 'Worried the government will last a while'

Likud MK: 'Judicial reform is alive and kicking'

MK Hanoch Milwidsky promises, 'There will be a reform, we hope it passes with agreement from the opposition.'

Likud MK: 'Judicial reform is alive and kicking'

Analyst:

Hamas invests in Islamic Jihad, directs terror attacks

'Hamas is nearly the size of Hezbollah, Hezbollah is already a semi-army,' analyst Zvi Yehezkeli says.

Hamas invests in Islamic Jihad, directs terror attacks

Likud MK:

'Not flustered by polls, elections aren't on the horizon'

'Coalition is stable, previous government didn't take the public into consideration,' MK Boaz Bismuth says.

'Not flustered by polls, elections aren't on the horizon'

MK Ze'ev Elkin:

'Netanyahu wants the judicial reform, it solves his problems'

MK Ze'ev Elkin blasts the coalition: This is no longer the Levin reform, this is the Deri reform.

'Netanyahu wants the judicial reform, it solves his problems'

Former Likud minister:

'A pardon for Deri? He agreed to the punishment'

Former Justice Minister Dan Meridor comments on the possibility that President Herzog will decide to pardon Shas chairman Aryeh Deri.

'A pardon for Deri? He agreed to the punishment'

Mansour Abbas:

'Ben Gvir thinks he is a superman'

Ra'am on the judicial reform: We know what the judicial system looks like in non-democratic countries.

'Ben Gvir thinks he is a superman'

Otzma Yehudit MK:

'Politicians allowed to demand IDF support the soldiers'

MK Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu criticizes IDF Chief of Staff, says it's 'illogical' that an official should lecture elected figures.

'Politicians allowed to demand IDF support the soldiers'

Yesh Atid MK:

'Concerned incoming gov't will cause us to pay very high price'

MK Ram Ben Barak: 'Very concerned' that Israel will have a 'greater escalation' if diplomatic echelon tells professional echelon what to do.

'Concerned incoming gov't will cause us to pay very high price'

Likud MK:

'Our partners understand there's no choice but to form a gov't'

'The direction is positive, we want to complete the negotiations this week, ' Likud MK Miki Zohar says.

'Our partners understand there's no choice but to form a gov't'