While Israeli society remains divided over critical issues like the conduct of the war, Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership, and haredi military service, there are occasional culture touchstones that seem to bridge these divides—even the all-important divergence between the religious and the secular. One example is the remarkable popularity of Yosef Elitzur’s overtly religious song Tamid Ohev Oti (“He always loves me”). Gila Isaacson tries to explain this runaway success:

The song’s appeal lies somewhere between paradox and prophecy. Its lyrics could have been lifted straight from a siddur (prayer book)—speaking of divine providence, prayer, and spiritual renewal. The kind of content that typically stays within the boundaries of religious radio stations and yeshiva hallways. . . . This song reminds me that in times of national crisis, the markers we use to separate ourselves can become the very threads that bind us together. Whether wearing a kippah or a black hat or no head covering at all, sometimes we all need to believe that everything will be “better and better and better.”

For more than a year, the Iran-backed Houthis have been launching drones and missiles at ships traversing the Red Sea, as well as at Israeli territory, in support of Hamas. This development has drastically curtailed shipping through the Suez Canal and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, driving up trade prices. This week, the Trump administration began an extensive bombing campaign against the Houthis in an effort to reopen that crucial waterway. Burcu Ozcelik highlights another benefit of this action:

The administration has a broader geopolitical agenda—one that includes countering China’s economic leverage, particularly Beijing’s reliance on Iranian oil. By targeting the Houthis, the United States is not only safeguarding vital shipping lanes but also exerting pressure on the Iran-China energy nexus, a key component of Beijing’s strategic posture in the region.

China was the primary destination for up to 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports in 2024, underscoring the deepening economic ties between Beijing and Tehran despite U.S. sanctions. By helping fill Iranian coffers, China aids Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in financing proxies like the Houthis. Since October of last year, notable U.S. Treasury announcements have revealed covert links between China and the Houthis.

Striking the Houthis could trigger broader repercussions—not least by disrupting the flow of Iranian oil to China. While difficult to confirm, it is conceivable and has been reported, that the Houthis may have received financial or other forms of compensation from China (such as Chinese-made military components) in exchange for allowing freedom of passage for China-affiliated vessels in the Red Sea.