Friday Features – July 11, 2025
Profound issues of war and peace remain unresolved following Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, D.C. But the premier made a few things crystal clear: Hamas will be gone from Gaza, either by negotiation or by force. And the same with Iran’s crippled nuclear and missile programs. Visit JewishNewsWire.com 24/7 to catch-up and keep-up – we have posted over 4,000 linked-headlines since February.
Beyond these top headlines, there are many incredible, in-depth stories you may have missed. Let’s take a look at three: (i) the behind-the-scenes ingenuity of the Israeli Air Force’s technicians that made victory over Iran possible; (ii) how Israel’s economy is now “peerless,” according to Bloomberg’s editor-in-chief emeritus; (iii) and the engagement of former hostages Sasha Troufanov and Sapir Cohen.
1. How Israeli Ingenuity and Technology Prepared an Aging Air Force Fleet for an Historic Victory
Source: Yedioth Ahronoth, by Yoav Zitun
With secret diplomacy, 3D printing, a bit of trickery, and unprecedented CENTCOM support, the Israeli Air Force pulled off a ‘science fiction’ operation in Iran with a worn fleet, global backlash, and little time. With zero losses. Two weeks ago, we basked in the glory of the pilots. Now for the technicians.
- The fleet: Aside from drones and one-and-a-half F-35 squadrons, the IAF operates mostly 40-60 year old jets and helicopters, modernized with Israeli avionics, radars and weapon systems. It even uses ancient Boeing 707s as refueling tankers. Most of this fleet will be replaced in the next few years – but you go to war with what you have.
- Race against time: Toward the end of 2024 technicians started to prepare the fleet, and found most were not mission-ready for deep-strike missions to Iran.
- Covert supply-chain: These aging aircraft needed many replacement parts – no longer in production. “It was an unprecedented global operation in a hostile diplomatic climate,” said an IAF officer. Israel devised cover stories to obtain rare parts from foreign governments, many of them unfriendly, adding them to 3D-printed components made in Israel.
- Indispensable American help: The U.S. led an air and sea supply bridge involving thousands of spare parts. “We asked them to reopen old production lines – and thanks to a new, friendlier tone in Washington, it happened,” said a senior officer. There was near-daily coordination with CENTCOM, particularly with its deputy commander, Vice Admiral Brad Cooper.
- Massive scale: “The Air Force was rearmed over the past year with a decade’s worth of munitions and systems,” one officer noted. “We essentially executed two five-year buildup plans in under a year.”
- Many incredible stories: (i) Major ‘K’ is one of the IAF’s most skilled F-15 technicians. He was born in Iran. (ii) Without the work of ultra-Orthodox F-16 technicians at the Ramat David Airbase, victory over Iran would have been impossible. (iii) Technicians continued working at a small Ramat Gan factory that produces and maintains cooling systems for jets, even though they lost their homes to an Iranian missile.
Read the full story. And there is more: Behind every aircrew stands not only amazing technicians, but also trainers. Consider the immense responsibility placed on the shoulders of women in their twenties, who operate the flight simulators at Hatzor Air Base. “M” reflects: “Instructing 20 aircrews while they pepper you with questions requires skill. Witnessing our preparations come to fruition feels surreal.”
2. Global Investors Have Made Israel’s Currency, Debt and Equity the World’s Top Performers
Just last week, we highlighted Israel’s success in the financial markets. Well, make room for more good news, because Israel is thriving in every way.
- ‘Israel is now peerless in the Middle East and markets’: So says Matthew Winkler, Bloomberg’s editor-in-chief emeritus. “The markets are giving Israel its strongest vote of confidence as a 77-year-old Mideast nation.” Over the past two weeks, the shekel is up 6.6% against the dollar and gaining against more than 100 other currencies. Tel Aviv’s Stock Exchange 35 Index rallied 14%, the most in dollar terms among 92 world indexes. And looking ahead, economists predict Israel’s GDP will expand 4% in 2026, more than twice the average for 34 developed countries, making it the fastest growing economy in the group. Read the full story, in Bloomberg.
- Nvidia doubles down on Israel: On Wednesday, the chip-maker’s market value hit $4 trillion on its AI dominance. Nvidia will also break records with its presence in Israel, investing billions for what could become Israel’s largest high-tech campus, employing thousands more than it already does. It could surpass Intel as Israel’s largest employer. Read the full story, in Calcalist.
- Investments in Israeli startups hit three-year high: Local tech firms have raised $9.3 billion from private investors in the first six months of 2025, up 54% from the second half of 2024. “This is yet another sign that Israeli technology, with its unique characteristics and capabilities, remains a valuable force in the global market,” said Startup Nation CEO Avi Hasson. Read the full story, in Times of Israel.
- Wartime innovation boosts Israeli defense tech growth: Israel’s defense exports hit a record $14.8 billion in 2024, with more growth expected. Western militaries demand new battle-tested technology. In Israel, 20% of reservists work in high-tech – many come straight out of the battlefield and form new companies to solve real problems. For example, reservist Zach Bergerson developed SkyHoop, a wearable devise that warns troops of aerial threats. Read the full story, in Reuters.
- Boycotts? What Boycotts? Spain’s virulently anti-Israel Prime Minister Sanchez vowed to halt military purchases from Israel. Yet, the Spanish government just authorized the acquisition of Israeli defense technology from Elbit Systems, with an initial funding of €350 million. “When one side is purchasing, in the end, they want to buy the best product possible,” said Brig. Gen. Yair Kulas, head of the Defense Ministry’s International Defense Cooperation Directorate. Read the full story, in Israel Hayom.
3. Renewal of the Soul: Former Hostages Sasha Troufanov and Sapir Cohen Get Engaged
- Black Saturday: Sasha brought Sapir to visit his family at Kibbutz Nir-Oz, where they were kidnapped on Oct. 7 along with Sasha’s mother and grandmother. His father was murdered.
- Staggered releases: Sapir was released in the first hostage deal, along with Sasha’s mother and grandmother.
- Selfless love: After Sasha’s release in February, Sapir recounted: “Last night, Sasha told me that during all this time [since he was taken hostage and held in Gaza], he prayed for me to find a man to love, prayed that I wouldn’t wait for him,” she said, her voice shaking. “He didn’t want me waiting for a man he thought would never return home. He didn’t believe he would survive.”
- Meanwhile, former hostage Romi Gonen is going home: She was released from Sheba Medical Center after five months of rehabilitation. “The people of Israel were with me every moment,” she said. “The hostages are still not here, and my heart is with them in Gaza. I pray that we return to being a united people. We only have each other. Am Yisrael Chai.”