The News You Didn’t Hear About This Week: Friday, April 17, 2026

By: David Gerstman April 17, 2026

Famously, the slogan “All the News That’s Fit to Print” graces the front page of every New York Times edition. The slogan was coined at the end of the 19th century by the paper’s publisher, Adolph Ochs. Of course, in the digital era, the slogan is wishful thinking. No paper could realistically cover all the important news stories of the day.

Still, it would be hard to argue that outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN and others adequately cover even those stories they do print. They often devote precious space to emotive or opinionated claims, while omitting highly material and relevant information that sheds important new light.

Below are three important, but underreported, stories from the week bearing on the Middle East, including Israel, that media consumers should know.

1) Newly Elected Hungarian Prime Minister Has ‘Warm’ Call with Netanyahu, Highlights Alliance with Israel

Hungary’s newly elected prime minister, Peter Magyar, held a “warm introductory call” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, The Times of Israel reported Wednesday. Netanyahu congratulated Magyar on his victory over Victor Orban, a longtime ally.

Magyar told Netanyahu that “he intends to continue the close relations between Hungary and Israel.” He also invited Netanyahu to Budapest to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Hungarian revolution later this year.

Separately, at a press conference, Magyar spoke of Hungary’s support for Israel and opposition to antisemitism.

He spoke of the strong ties among Jews, Israel and Hungary, “Hungary is home to a strong Jewish community — one of the largest in Europe — fortunately living in peace and security. Many Hungarian nationals live in Israel, and many Israeli citizens come here.”

Magyar also said that his government would adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward antisemitism.

Though U.S. newspapers frequently reported on the ties between Netanyahu and Orban, they (The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal) haven’t reported on the news of the continued strong ties between Hungary and Israel.

2) Ireland’s National Concert Hall Cancels Magen David Adom Benefit Without Explanation

If Hungary is still supporting Israel, Ireland continues to demonstrate its contempt for the Jewish state.

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) reported Tuesday that Ireland’s National Concert Hall, located in Dublin, canceled an upcoming fundraiser for Magen David Adom (MDA) Ireland. The fundraiser had been scheduled for May 11.

According to the JTA, the event, which had been scheduled since February, was canceled in March purportedly because the site “does not host political events.” The event, which was to feature a performance that would include testimonies from survivors and rescue workers from Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack was later restored. Magen David Adom, recognized since 2006 as an affiliate of the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, is Israel’s national emergency medicine and blood donation service.

However, pro-Palestinian groups protested the reinstatement, claiming that MDA was “complicit in genocide.” Contrary to the claim made by the protesters, MDA is committed to serving all Israelis “regardless of ethnicity, race, or political or religious affiliation.”

The concert hall confirmed to the JTA that “the proposed event with MDA Ireland on 11 May will not proceed.” It did not explain why.

Former cabinet minister and UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan, now the global president of MDA, condemned the cancelation. On X, Erdan wrote, “Ireland’s National Concert Hall’s shocking decision to cancel an @mda event in support of our lifesaving work on the eve of Yom HaShoah is disgraceful and blatantly antisemitic. Ireland’s hostility toward Jews is indefensible.” He called on the hall to reverse the decision—again.

This event once again highlights discrimination against Israel’s emergency medical service. It wasn’t recognized by the International Committee of Red Cross until 2006. When operating abroad, MDA workers must wear a generic Red Crystal symbol (depending on circumstances, with or without the Jewish star inside) to ensure “neutrality.”

One other thing making the cancelation especially egregious is that Hamas killed a number of MDA workers as they carried out their humanitarian duties on Oct. 7. None of these outrages has generated much comment outside of Israel.

3) Terror Linked NGO Shutters its Doors

On Apr. 7, 2026, The Jerusalem Post reported that Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCIP) was ceasing operations. The organization’s director cited “operational challenges resulting from Israel’s targeted criminalization of Palestinian human rights organizations” as the reason for the closure.

But as the Post explained, the “challenges” stemmed from registering. Last March Israel’s foreign ministry instituted a registration requirement for NGOs to operate in Gaza. Many NGOs complied with the reporting requirement, but DCIP refused to oblige. The ministry stated that the registration was needed to prevent terrorists from being involved with NGOs.

Like DCIP, the well-known NGO Doctors without Borders (MSF) refused to register, and was told to leave Gaza when the deadline passed early this year. Earlier this year, MSF stopped working at Nasser Hospital due to the presence of armed terrorists, in effect confirming Israeli fears. (MSF just announced that it will resume work at Nasser hospital, claiming that the situation there has changed.)

Defense for Children International (DCI) was founded in 1979 in Geneva, Switzerland. Its Palestinian affiliate was founded in 1991 and registered with Israel’s interior ministry. Later, in 2003, DCIP registered as an NGO with the Palestinian Authority.

In October 2021, Israel’s Ministry of Defense declared DCIP a terrorist organization, accusing it of being an “arm of the ‘Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine’ terror organization. NGO Monitor reported on the many ties between individuals who are tied both to DCIP and PFLP.

In the American media, Gaza-based NGOs get little scrutiny despite the evidence that they cooperate with Hamas or other terror groups.

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