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In the wake of President Trump’s claim to have discussed an end to the war in Ukraine with Russia’s President Putin, many questions and concerns have mounted about what a US-brokered deal might look like, the potential impact on global alliances, and how Ukraine might fare from the deal.

Professor of international relations and director of the National Security Center at the University of Haifa, Benjamin Miller, shared his thoughts with The Media Line, emphasizing the immense difference between Trump's position on the issue and that of the previous administrations’.

“Trump is not that committed to protecting all the interests of Ukraine, especially its territorial integrity and sovereignty. In this sense, Putin might expect a better deal for Russia under Trump than under Biden,” says Miller, adding that Trump is “much more tolerant towards authoritarian leaders, particularly Putin.”

Questions Mount Over Trump’s Claims of Private Talks With Putin on Ukraine War - The Media Line President Donald Trump claims that he has spoken […]

On Saturday, February 8, Lebanon’s presidential office announced the formation of a new government led by Nawaf Salam. Notably absent from the new government, however, is Hezbollah, who are unrepresented in the government for the first time since 2008.

According to Prof. Amatzia Baram, an expert in strategy and the Middle East from the University of Haifa, the Lebanese government’s new composition marks a significant shift in Lebanon’s political landscape - providing the West a rare opportunity to push for dismantling the terror group’s military capabilities and territorial control.

Speaking to The Jerusalem Post, Baram stressed: “What America and the West must push for is a resolution to dismantle Hezbollah’s armed capabilities. This could mark the culmination of a process that Israel initiated with the heavy blow it dealt to Hezbollah.”

Hezbollah's absence from new Lebanese gov't is rare opportunity for West - expert “What America and the West must push for is a resolution to dismantle Hezbollah’s armed capabilities," Baram noted.

A recent study on humanitarian aid to Gaza revealed that around 500,000 tons of diverse food items with sufficient calories were delivered between January and July 2024, challenging the widely accepted claims of food shortages in the strip.

With several of the Israeli hostages recently released from captivity returning home in shocking condition - exhibiting signs of starvation, torture, and more - these findings underscore two crucial points: Hamas is obstructing the equal distribution of humanitarian aid to Gazans, and hostages are being deliberately starved.

Professor Ronit Endevelt, nutritionist at University of Haifa School of Public Health and former director of the Ministry of Health's Nutrition Department, co-authored the study, and had this to say: "...the quantity and quality of food entering [Gaza] was reasonable to good, meaning if the population didn't receive food, it's because distribution wasn't equitable by those controlling the territory, meaning Hamas.”

Find out more via Israel Hayom.

Study finds Hamas starved hostages despite ample Gaza aid Findings show approximately half a million tons of food were transferred from January 2024; "if the population didn't receive food, it's because distribution

In 2015, Prof. Uri Shanas from the Department of Biology and Environment at the University of Haifa-Oranim, established TiME (This Is My Earth) - an organization that aims to combat species extinction and fight climate change by purchasing and preserving critical habitats.

Now, ten years on, the organization - powered entirely by volunteers to ensure membership fees and donations go directly toward land conservation - has acquired more than 12,000 square kilometers of biodiversity hotspots and endangered ecosystems worldwide, including in the Amazon, Peru, Colombia, Kenya, and more.

As a result, TiME is helping to prevent the destruction of habitats that support hundreds of species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and plants - with the added benefit of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by hundreds of thousands of metric tons.

Read more about this amazing organization and how you can get involved via ynet.

Israeli scientist buys land in Amazon to save the planet Prof. Uri Shanas, founder of TiME, says anyone can join fight to protect nature; 'We mobilize the public—even with $1—to buy and preserve critical lands,' he explains; TiME has safeguarded over 12,000 square kilometers of endangered ecosystems worldwide

While witnessing the recent wildfires ravage Los Angeles communities, University of Haifa researcher and PhD candidate in human-computer interaction at the Information Systems Department, Avishag Boker, was reminded of the tragic 2010 Carmel Forest fire in Israel which claimed the life of her father, Brigadier-General Lior Boker, and 43 others.

In an article for The Jerusalem Post, Boker discusses the harsh lessons gained about the critical importance of innovative solutions in preventing and managing natural disasters, and the initiative it inspired: the Lior Boker Innovation Events.

The initiative’s flagship program, an annual hackathon held at Haifa Innovation Labs, has since succeeded in birthing successful life-saving solutions to climate disasters, such as WaterDome, a revolutionary forest fire protection system, and EcoWatch, a comprehensive environmental hazard reporting platform.

Read the full piece for more on how Boker is turning her family’s tragedy into fuel for innovation:

From tragedy to innovation: Israeli ingenuity tackles global wildfire challenges - opinion As I watch the Los Angeles fires unfold, I’m painfully reminded that these challenges are universal. Fire doesn’t recognize borders, and neither should our solutions.

Congratulations to multidisciplinary artist, lecturer, and University of Haifa alumni, Prof. Belu-Simion Fainaru of the Department of Architecture at The NB Haifa School of Design on winning the Israel Prize in the field of Interdisciplinary Design and Art for 2025.

Fainaru is the 21st faculty member to be recognized with an Israel Prize - the most important and prestigious award in the country given by the State of Israel. His work with the Jewish culture and spiritual charge, characters from the fringes of Israeli society, the Holocaust and more.

Through his art and his role as an educator, Fainaru has made a unique contribution to Israeli and international art, founding numerous art projects and initiatives, such as the Pyramid in Haifa, the Mediterranean Biennale, and the Academy of International Liberal Art.

In a historic announcement, Israel's Council for Higher Education today approved the opening of University of Haifa’s Herta and Paul Amir School of Medicine, which is set to welcome its inaugural class later this year and transform healthcare in northern Israel.

The establishment of the new School of Medicine comes in response to Israel’s severe shortage of physicians, a crisis that is particularly acute in northern Israel. As such, one of the school's primary goals is to strengthen healthcare in the North—not only through education and clinical training at Carmel Hospital, but also by offering scholarships and implementing initiatives aimed at retaining graduates as practicing doctors in the region.

With some 90,000 residents of the northern region still evacuees in their own country following the war with Hezbollah, the new School of Medicine reflects University of Haifa’s resolute commitment to leverage informed analysis and research expertise to not only ease the return of communities, but to build a stronger, safer and more prosperous northern Israel.

"This is a historic day for University of Haifa and a moment of celebration for the State of Israel, especially for the residents of the North," said University of Haifa President, Prof. Gur Alroey. "The events of October 7, along with the ongoing attacks on Haifa and the region, have reinforced the urgent need to strengthen Israel’s healthcare system."

Just hours after his January 20 inauguration, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to take the US out of the World Health Organization (WHO) in a move that has caused shock among public health experts in Israel and abroad.

According to Dr. Shelly Kamin-Friedman, a teaching associate at University of Haifa’s Faculty of Health Sciences, Trump has long criticized the WHO for its failures in handling the COVID-19 pandemic and its reluctance to adopt reforms. While Kamin-Friedman doesn’t disagree with his criticisms, she argues that “that doesn’t mean US experts should be pulled out.”

Speaking to The Jerusalem Post, Kamin-Friedman explained that Trump’s policy “is nationalistic in general, not just health,” citing his America First policy which she says fails to recognize that promoting global health is also good for the US, which benefits from the health breakthroughs, research, and innovations from doctors and scientists working for the WHO.

Read on for more:

Trump pulls US from WHO again, sparking concerns for Israeli doctors What Trump’s WHO exit means for Israel’s role in global health.

In a recent interview with The Jerusalem Post, Prof. Ronit Endevelt, a clinical nutritionist from University of Haifa and a nutrition consultant for the , discussed how doctors are evaluating and treating the recently released hostages.

After nearly 500 days of extreme starvation and drastic weight loss, hostages such as Keith Siegel, Yarden Bibas, and Ofer Kalderon returned to Israel in seemingly good condition. However, some hostages have reported being given large amounts of food and, in some cases, medications, which Endevelt says would have contributed to the elevated moods and high energy levels displayed during their release.

Endevelt stressed that these actions can actually pose a life-threatening risk, as “after months of surviving on minimal food intake, suddenly consuming a large amount can trigger refeeding syndrome, which is extremely dangerous and even fatal.”

See the full interview for more.

How are released hostages still standing after prolonged starvation? Doctors weigh how to evaluate and treat the recently released hostages.

We are heartbroken to learn of the tragic death of Sergeant Major (Res.) Avraham Tzvi Tzvika Friedman, who was killed alongside another IDF soldier in a terror shooting attack at the Tayasir checkpoint last Tuesday.

Friedman, a father of six who had volunteered himself for reserve duty and was serving as a soldier in Battalion 8211 in the Ephraim Brigade, was a graduate of University of Haifa’s Department of Israel Studies at the School of Regional and Historical Studies.

We send our condolences to Friedman’s wife, children, and loved ones at this very difficult time. May his memory be a blessing. 🕯️💔

Congratulations to the recent graduates of University of Haifa's Department of Community Mental Health.

As we welcome the release of our hostages under the current ceasefire agreement after almost 500 days of captivity, we are reminded of the immense physical and psychological trauma they have endured, as well as the trauma our soldiers and the Israeli community at large have suffered in the wake of October 7th.

We are proud to celebrate these future community mental health leaders from across Israeli society who will undoubtedly play a vital role in Israel's recovery and healing in the coming months and years.

On , Hila Weisz-Gut, a 34-year-old Israeli researcher, guided a tour of the ‘Oshpitzin Jewish Museum’ in the Polish city of Oświęcim – infamous as the home of Auschwitz, the deadliest N**i Holocaust extermination camp.

Today, Weisz-Gut, who moved to the city a year and a half ago to intern at the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation as part of her master’s program in Holocaust Studies at University of Haifa, is the last Jewish resident keeping the community’s memory alive.

According to Weisz-Gut, a diverse community of 7,500 Jews lived in relative harmony with their Christian neighbors in Oświęcim for nearly 500 years before the war, representing 60% of the population and maintaining 29 synagogues and religious institutions. Today, just one of those synagogues remain – the Chevra Lomdei Mishnayot Synagogue – and makes up one of three buildings within the museum complex.

Read more about the Hila’s work and Oshpitzin via The Times of Israel

In the shadow of Auschwitz, a museum commemorates an ancient Polish Jewish community Before the N**is chose Oswiciem as the site of the infamous death camp, Jews thrived in the city for half a millennium. Now, the last Jewish resident keeps their memory alive

Congratulations to University of Haifa alum, Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Zamir, on his appointment as the next chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Zamir, who completed his master's degree (with distinction) in national security from the University in 2006, is set to take office on March 6, 2025 following the recent resignation of Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi.

On behalf of the AFUH community, we wish Zamir great success in his important and challenging new role.

Today, in recognition of , we are shining a light on the innovative cancer research taking place at University of Haifa.

By studying 'Apoptosis' - an intrinsic self-destruction process in cells that helps to significantly limit the accumulation of damaged and potentially dangerous cells - researchers at University of Haifa's Cell Death and Cancer Research Laboratory recently identified and characterized ARTS - a protein which regulates the levels of several important anti-apoptotic proteins.

The University's Prof. Sarit Larisch and Dr. Dalit Barkan are using the innovative ARTS-based therapy approach to “normalize” premalignant breast cells and prevent cancer progression and overtreatment in early-stage patients.

Cancer Research – Division of the Presidency and External Relations Treating breast cancer patients, diagnosed at a very early stage of the disease, remains a major clinical challenge. Great efforts have been devoted to develop strategies for preventing overtreatment of patients at this critical stage. Researchers at the University of Haifa are using the innovative....

Yesterday we saw the very emotional and long-awaited release of Arbel Yehoud, Gadi Mozes, Agam Berger and five Thai nationals. Here in Israel, emotions run high as we watch, with bated breath, our brethren return home.

Tomorrow, dual American/Israeli citizen, Keith Siegel, along with additional hostages, is slated to be released. The University of Haifa community eagerly awaits their safe return, and offers a special embrace to our student Shir Siegel, Keith’s daughter.

Shir, we will continue to stand by your side, just as we have from day one. May we celebrate your father’s return this time tomorrow.

An alarming new study conducted by University of Haifa’s Prof. Gabriel Weimann is shedding light on the disturbing ways that terrorists are weaponizing AI, using it to further their violent agendas – such as for propaganda or recruitment.

The study, titled Generative AI and Terrorism, reveals that governments and tech companies alike are largely unprepared for the potential risks associated with the increasing use of AI by terrorists, as terror organizations grow more sophisticated in their AI usage.

Read more via JFeed.

Disturbing: Terrorists using AI as their new weapon, Israeli study reveals A new study from Israel has raised alarm bells about the growing threat of artificial intelligence (AI) being used by terrorist groups. The study, titled Generative AI and Terrorism, was conducted by Prof. Gabriel Weimann of the University of Haifa and sheds light on the disturbing ways that extremi...

University of Haifa Middle East expert, Prof. Amatzia Baram, spoke with The Jewish Press about the “historic opportunity for change in Lebanon” following the election of a new, legitimate Lebanese president – former Lebanese Army Chief of Staff, Joseph Aoun.

Prof. Baram describes Aoun as being “an independent president with a lot of prestige” and “not a Hezbollah man,” stressing that there is an Israeli and international interest in strengthening the new president to ensure the further collapse of the terrorist organization.

“We want him to be strong enough and gain enough prestige in Lebanon so that he can promote a law that requires Hezbollah to disarm.”

Lebanon Failed to Deal with Hezbollah so IDF Launched Bombing Raid A warning had been sent to the oversight mechanism for the implementation of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon, and was not addressed.