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Tears and the Faithfulness of God

Friday, February 7, 2025

Every week, we post seven to ten news stories from Israel with a suggested prayer focus and scripture for each one, guiding readers how to pray for Israel’s most urgent needs. This Prayer Update is also sent to over 18,000 subscribers every Friday by e-mail. Sign up HERE if you would like to receive this Prayer Update by e-mail.

Trump’s Call to Resettle Gazans Could End the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict

by Alex Traiman ~ JNS

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, on February 4, 2025.

Wednesday, 5 February 2025 | US President Donald Trump, sitting alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, issued a geopolitical earthquake on Tuesday, doubling down on calls to resettle “1.7 or 1.8 million” Palestinians outside of the Gaza Strip.

The calls go beyond any concept of “total victory” that Netanyahu has verbalized and possibly even considered at any point during the current war with Hamas in Gaza. A little more than a week ago, the questions on the table were whether Israel could ever return all of its hostages and who would rule Palestinians living in Gaza on the “day after” the war.

Trump—in the way only he could do—has stated what should have been patently obvious to a normal observer but unspeakable for any world leader: Gaza is completely uninhabitable, and its residents will need to be resettled elsewhere.

If Trump’s suggestions come to pass, it will not only represent a “total victory” beyond even Netanyahu’s wildest imagination but represent the end of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

Migrating nearly 2 million people out of the Gaza Strip will permanently alter the demographic reality between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, removing any parity of numbers between Jews and Palestinian Arabs.

If successful, calls for Israel to permanently cede land for the creation of a Palestinian state within the Jewish biblical homeland will end, and Israel will finally win the conflict. Jews would then be the overwhelming majority and Palestinians a smaller ethnic minority, removing once and for all the phony claims that Israel is an apartheid state.

Trump even hinted that America may support full Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria (commonly known in the international community as the “West Bank”). “We’re discussing that…and people do like the idea. We haven’t taken a position on it yet, but we’ll be making one probably on that very specific topic over the next four weeks.”

If America recognizes Israeli sovereignty in the provinces of Judea and Samaria, then it will permanently slam the door on the failed Oslo Accords and the two-state paradigm that the Palestinians never wanted in the first place.

The president, who worked extremely well with Israel’s prime minister during the 45th administration, has previously succeeded in breaking paradigms in the region with the brokering of the historic Abraham Accords agreements in the fall of 2020.

In his remarks in the Oval Office, Trump stated tersely that he will “never win a Nobel Prize” for his groundbreaking role in brokering the unthinkable agreements.

He is now bringing his unconventional thinking back to the region just days into a new term and looking for an end to the conflict that began when Hamas penetrated Israel’s border on October 7, 2023, murdering 1,200 men, women and children in the south, and kidnapping to Gaza more than 250 others in the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.

Trump acknowledged that many “want to deny that October 7 took place, just as many want to deny the Holocaust took place.”

 ‘Israel Fought Back Bravely’

In the press briefing after the meeting between the two leaders, Trump called the October 7 assault “an all-out attack on the very existence of a Jewish state in the Jewish homeland.” Then he went on to praise Israel’s response to October 7.

“Israel fought back bravely,” he said. The Israelis stood strong and united in the face of an enemy that kidnapped, tortured and slaughtered innocent women and children. I salute the Israeli people for meeting this trial with courage and determination and unflinching resolve.

That did not sound anything like the “balanced” statements of the outgoing Biden administration, who repeated the mantra that “how Israel conducts its war matters.”

Trump stated that the “prime minister and I focused on the future, discussing how we can work together to ensure Hamas is eliminated and ultimately restore peace to a very troubled region.”

His out-of-the-box and simultaneously rational thinking was only made possible by Israel’s stunning military victory against Hamas in Gaza.

While those left of the remaining terrorist operatives continue to steal humanitarian aid and put on phony displays of survival at hostage-release ceremonies, the truth is that Hamas has been decimated.

For that matter, all of Gaza has been decimated. Trump said that “right now, Gaza is a demolition site. Virtually every building is down. They’re living on their fallen concrete that’s very dangerous and very precarious.”

The reason Gaza is in this situation is because of Hamas’s strategy to use the entirety of civilian infrastructure in the coastal enclave as its base of operations. Nearly every residential building, mosque, school and hospital was turned into a weapons storage depot or a tunnel entrance.

To win the war, Israel had no choice but to destroy civilian infrastructure. The IDF methodically moved up and down Gaza, destroying every building being used by Hamas for military purposes.

The IDF accomplished this feat with hands tied behind their backs, being forced to move nearly the entirety of Gaza’s civilian population out of harm’s way and to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid. It has been an incredible military accomplishment that will be studied by militaries around the world for decades to come.

‘The Boundless Courage of Our Soldiers’

Netanyahu listed off many of the war’s accomplishments, including the assassinations of senior terror leaders Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar and Hassan Nasrallah. “We devastated Hamas, we decimated Hezbollah. We destroyed [Syrian President Bashar] Assad’s remaining armaments, and we crippled Iran’s air defenses,” he said.

Hamas and Iran chose war. They didn’t count on Israel winning it.

Netanyahu credited the Israelis who took to the battlefield, saying the war’s accomplishments were met “with the indomitable spirit of our people and the boundless courage of our soldiers.”

While at times throughout the war, Israel appeared to be vulnerable and unsure of its ability to win, that victory is now becoming clearer. “Israel has never been stronger and Iranian terrorists have never been weaker,” Netanyahu said.

With the adversarial Biden administration now in the rearview mirror and with the prime minister standing next to Trump, it’s clear that Israel under Netanyahu’s war leadership has won an irreversible victory in Gaza.

Trump is preparing to take that victory to the next level. He floated “the idea of the United States owning that piece of land” after Palestinians are resettled out of Gaza.

The statement of American ownership is confusing, particularly for Israel, which controlled Gaza before its failed withdrawal from the Strip in 2005. Yet such statements may make the concept of resettlement more palatable to Israel’s Arab neighbors.

Now, it will be up to Trump to back up his words and figure out exactly how to incentivize moving the civilian population of Gaza into Egypt, Jordan or elsewhere.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II is scheduled to visit Trump next week in the White House. If that takes place, it can provide some indication of how likely neighboring Arab states will be to cooperate with such a plan.

If they refuse to, things may get more complicated before they get simpler. But Netanyahu has proven that he can navigate the most difficult of circumstances. And he has faith in Trump’s ability to do what he says, knowing that faith can deliver remarkable results.

“I believe, Mr. President, that your willingness to puncture conventional thinking that his failed time and time again, and today, your willingness to think outside the box with fresh ideas…You cut to the chase; you see things others refuse to see. You say things others refuse to say. And then after the jaws drop, people scratch their heads, and they say, ‘He said what?’ And this is the kind of thinking that enabled us to bring the Abraham Accords.”

Netanyahu believes that “this is the kind of thinking that will reshape the Middle East and bring peace.”

For Netanyahu and Trump, peace comes through strength.

“Israel will end the war by winning,” Netanyahu said. “And Israel’s victory will be America’s victory. We’ll not only win the war working together, we’ll win the peace with your leadership, Mr. President, and our partnership. I believe that we will forge a brilliant future for our region and bring our great alliance to even greater heights.”

Of course, the US–Israel alliance can only shine if both Israel and America take the moral position to support one another and work together to defeat common enemies.

Trump is working to “Make America Great Again.” Netanyahu has a similar mission for the Jewish state.

“The Bible says that the people of Israel shall rise like lions,” Netanyahu said. “And boy, did we rise. Today, the roar of the lion of Judah is heard loudly throughout the Middle East.”

Source: (This article was originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on February 5, 2025. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Avi Ohayon/GPO./jns.org

Prayer Focus
Continue to pray for God’s solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, including the possible relocation of nearly 2 million Gazan civilians. Give thanks that the Lord is still reigning sovereign over the affairs of man and that President Trump’s plan for Gaza, which is shaking the world, has not taken Him by surprise. Pray that Israel’s leaders remain focused on God who is faithful to perform His word and keep His covenant with the Jewish people and the Land of Israel.

Scripture

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.


- Proverbs 3:5–6

Ninety Major Terror Attacks Thwarted as Iran Fuels Unrest in Judea and Samaria

by Ron Ben-Yishai ~ Ynetnews

An Israel Border Police officer during a counter-terrorism operation in Jenin, northern Samaria, February 1, 2025.

Thursday, 6 February 2025 | Over the past month, Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) agents, working alongside the Israel Defense Forces, have thwarted 90 major terrorist attacks, including 75 in Samaria, as security sources warn that Iran is fueling violence in Judea and Samaria.

A security official identified Tehran as a central force escalating tensions by supplying weapons and financial aid to terrorist networks, significantly increasing the security threat, Channel 12 News reported on Wednesday.

The IDF and Shin Bet have expanded “Operation Iron Wall,” now in its 16th day, targeting the “Pentagon of Villages”—the area east of Jenin that includes Tubas, Tammun, Tayasir, Aqabah and Far’a. So far, around 50 terrorists have been killed, and more than 100 wanted suspects arrested.

As part of the latest wave of arrests in Jenin and Tulkarem, security forces targeted financial operatives, including money changers funding terrorist infrastructure such as bomb-making, recruitment and arms procurement.

The ongoing security threat was underscored on Tuesday when a shooting attack on Israeli forces in northern Samaria killed two soldiers and wounded eight others.

Despite the attack, “Iron Wall” continues at full force, with IDF Central Command emphasizing that “this attack only reinforces the operation’s necessity.”

The military has signaled that the operation will expand in the coming days, stating: “This is a very serious incident, and the army must draw many lessons—which it will do. Routine life in the valley continues as usual. There is much the military must learn.”

According to Palestinian reports, the IDF dropped warning leaflets on Wednesday morning in Far’a camp, reading: “Israeli security forces are operating in your area against armed criminals. Iranian agents with foreign interests are happy to see you, the civilians, paying a heavy price. Do not approach Israeli security forces and do not provide them [the terrorists] with assistance or support.”

For the first time since 2000, the IDF deployed Eitan armored personnel carriers in Tammun, signaling an expansion of military presence and operational capabilities. The IDF vows to continue and intensify operations as needed.

Source: (This article was originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on February 6, 2025. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Nasser Ishtayeh/Flash90/jns.org

Prayer Focus
Pray that the Shin Bet, Israel’s intelligence arm, will continue to be successful in uncovering plans for terror attacks in the biblical heartland before they can be carried out—and bring them to naught. Pray for Maj. Gen. Yehuda Fox who leads the IDF’s Central Command which is responsible for this area of the nation. Pray that he will be like King David, the warrior king who looked to God and defeated Israel’s enemies.

Scripture

Therefore David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.” …So David did as God commanded him, and they drove back the army of the Philistines from Gibeon as far as Gezer.


- 1 Chronicles 14:14, 16

Israel Opens Embassy in Moldova

by JNS

Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar recently met with his Danish counterpart, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem (illustrative).

Tuesday, 4 February 2025 | Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar was set to depart for Moldova on Monday night ahead of the opening on Tuesday of the Jewish state’s embassy in Chisinau, his office announced.

Moldova already has an embassy in Israel, and while announcing Jerusalem’s decision to reciprocate in Chisinau, Sa’ar explained in December that “there are countries that are interested in strengthening their ties with Israel and do not yet have an Israeli embassy.”

“We will adjust the Israeli diplomatic structure of our missions while giving weight, among other things, to the approach and actions of the various countries toward Israel in the political arena,” Sa’ar stated.

Last month, the Israeli government appointed Yoram Elron as its envoy to Moldova. Elron previously served as ambassador to Bulgaria (2019-2023) and to Cameroon (2000-2003) and as consul general in Montreal.

Sa’ar on Tuesday will meet with Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Prime Minister Dorin Recean and his Moldovan counterpart, Mihai Popsoi. He is also scheduled to meet with the local Jewish community and will lay a wreath in memory of Holocaust victims.

“Moldova is a true friend of Israel, and the time has come to upgrade relations between our countries. Moldova’s government is supportive of Israel and has demonstrated so by standing by Israel in its time of need,” said Sa’ar ahead of his departure.

The Jewish state “will invest its resources in advancing bilateral relations with countries around the world based on priorities that also account for their position regarding Israel,” concluded Sa’ar’s official remarks.

The decision to open a diplomatic mission in Chisinau was announced at the same time as Jerusalem ordered the Israeli embassy in Dublin shuttered amid Ireland’s hostile stance toward the Jewish state.

Dublin has for years criticized Israel and its policies in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, but the rhetoric escalated since Jerusalem responded to the Hamas onslaught on October 7, 2023, that triggered a multi-front war.

The embassy opening ceremony in Moldova is set to take place on Tuesday afternoon and will be broadcast on the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Facebook page.

Source: (This article was originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on February 3, 2025. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90/jns.org

Prayer Focus
Give thanks for the country of Moldova, which has chosen to stand with Israel in a world that is becoming increasingly hostile to the Jewish people. Pray for a deepening of the relationship between these two countries, asking for openness and transparency in all the communications between them.

Scripture

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.


- Proverbs 17:17

Does Trump’s Warm Embrace Signal a Larger Middle East Peace Plan?

by Ron Ben-Yishai ~ Ynetnews

“Trump’s vision for Gaza: he backs a deal to secure the release of all hostages, followed by an evacuation of the territory and a full-scale regional reconstruction effort (illustrative).”

Wednesday, 5 February 2025 | Don’t let Donald Trump’s freewheeling speaking style mislead you. The US president surprised many alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with his openness, seriousness and command of the issues, making it clear he has a structured plan for the Middle East on the path to what he calls a long-awaited peace.

Despite the warm embrace, he also sent a message to the man sitting beside him in the White House: I won’t be led by the nose.

A central element of Trump’s vision is the clear intention to evacuate Gaza’s residents and rebuild the coastal enclave. This is not an off-the-cuff remark or an idea whispered in his ear. However, it remains unclear whether Trump envisions a future where Gazans never return—or who exactly would populate the reconstructed territory. When asked about Israeli settlements, he said that he does not see them being built.

One striking revelation was Trump’s assertion that additional countries are willing to take in refugees, beyond Egypt and Jordan, and that they have already approached him about it. He hinted that Gulf states—including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates—would fund Gaza’s reconstruction, emphasizing that “not us”—meaning, not the United States—would bear the high costs.

Unlike his first term, Trump appeared well-versed in details and nuances, focused and prepared with a coherent strategy. He framed the solution for Gaza as part of a broader Middle East plan.

From an Israeli perspective, it was significant that Trump said a deal would be completed and the hostages returned. Netanyahu was quick to add the rest of Israel’s war objectives—delivering an implicit message to Washington—that Hamas’ military and governing capabilities must be dismantled, ensuring it can never again threaten Israel.

Behind the Scenes

When asked if the Palestinian Authority [PA] would govern Gaza, Trump responded that he was unsure whether it was capable. On whether Saudi Arabia demands a Palestinian state as part of a broader deal, he said the Saudis are not making such a demand. He also effectively confirmed that removing Hamas from power is part of the plan, saying “there are complicated people there.”

Summing up Trump’s vision for Gaza: he backs a deal to secure the release of all hostages, followed by an evacuation of the territory and a full-scale regional reconstruction effort.

Trump makes no secret of what may be his strongest motivation: setting himself apart from Joe Biden and proving that his predecessor has been ineffective—all while portraying himself as a peacemaker, not just in the Middle East but also between Ukraine and Russia. This context also shapes his remarks on Iran, which he claimed was “broke and weak when I left office” but has since grown stronger under Biden.

Trump emphasized that Iran will not obtain nuclear weapons but did not mention a military option, nor did he say that “all options are on the table”—a stance Israel has been pushing for. Netanyahu, for his part, sought to signal to his domestic coalition that Iran and Saudi Arabia are the primary concerns, while Gaza is secondary. But Trump did not fully align with him, instead engaging with reporters who largely focused their questions on Gaza. He did not highlight normalization efforts with Saudi Arabia as an imminent achievement, suggesting the issue is not yet ripe for completion.

The broader message was clear: While the US may continue supplying Israel with arms, it is not seeking a war with Iran but rather pursuing a diplomatic agreement. There was no green light or tacit approval for an Israeli strike. Ahead of his meeting with Netanyahu, Trump signed a declaration tightening sanctions on Tehran—primarily as a signal to Iran that negotiations would be in its best interest.

Netanyahu appeared visibly less at ease in the Oval Office this time, at least judging by his body language—sitting tensely at the edge of his chair and offering an awkward smile. This was not the Netanyahu who once delivered a history lecture to Barack Obama. He emphasized that a solution would come through joint efforts—both as a compliment to Trump and a jab at Biden.

If Netanyahu had hoped to sway Trump to his advantage, it appears the former president has a different plan—enlisting the Israeli prime minister in support of his sweeping Middle East peace initiative. This explains the warm embrace and the unusual level of respect on display. The extended preparatory meeting the day before, involving US Middle East envoy Steven Witkoff and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, was another indication that Trump’s plan is serious and well thought out.

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on February 5, 2025. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Palestinian News & Information Agency (Wafa) APAimages/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Pray that Prime Minister Netanyahu will look to the Lord and not rely on his own strength when dealing with leaders who may seek to control the situation in a way that does not benefit Israel. Pray that he will remember the truth of God’s sovereignty over all the earth and over all earthly “kings.” Pray that both Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump will have wisdom when it comes to the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran.

Scripture

The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.


- Proverbs 21:1

Iran Secretly Building Nuclear Weapons Using North Korean Designs

by Lior Ben Ari ~ Ynetnews

An Iranian nuclear site is reported to be producing Simorgh missiles inspired by North Korean designs (illustrative).

Monday, 3 February 2025 | Iran has allegedly been covertly developing nuclear weapons with a 1,800‑mile [2896.8 km.] range that could reach Europe using North Korean designs, according to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).

The Telegraph in Britain reported Sunday that details provided by the NCRI indicate that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is expanding its warhead program at two sites disguised as communication satellite launch facilities. The facilities, controlled by Iran’s nuclear weapons division—the Organisation for Advanced Defence Research (SPND)—are reportedly expediting missile production.

Soona Samsami, a US representative of the NCRI, told the Telegraph: “For over two decades, they have used negotiations and the West’s leniency as a means to advance their nuclear weapons program, threatening global peace and stability. Tehran has never been as weak and vulnerable as it is today. The desperate Iranian regime is thus speeding up the development of nuclear weapons. Now is the time to hold the regime accountable for internal killings, regional warmongering and nuclear weapons development.”

According to the report, the first warhead base is located about 22 miles [35.4 km.] from the Iranian city of Shahrud. Experts from the SPND and the IRGC Aerospace Force have been working on a nuclear missile integrated into a Ghaem-100 rocket, capable of traveling 1,800 miles [2896.8 km.]. This range would put targets in Europe—including Greece—and Israel within reach.

The Telegraph noted that three rocket launches have already been successfully carried out, with tests for the more advanced Ghaem-105 rocket slated for the coming months. Past tests were masked as satellite launches to obscure their true purpose.

Satellite imagery reportedly shows a concrete platform used in the experiments, with nearby buildings believed to support related research. Another site, about 43 miles [69.2 km.] southeast of the city of Semnan, is said to be producing Simorgh missiles inspired by North Korean designs, similar to the 18‑meter-tall UNHA‑1 [59 ft.] rocket. Much of the work at this site is conducted underground to evade intelligence surveillance, with six new constructions added since 2005.

To further conceal the work, the regime has named the facility the Imam Khomeini site, ostensibly an homage to its space governing body, while it is reportedly being used for warhead tests. Images distributed by the NCRI showed extensive ground excavation in the northeastern part of the base in 2019, with concrete foundations installed afterward, while older photos revealed the structure covered in dirt.

The NCRI claims that SPND experts have observed an increase in subterranean explosions linked to missile production. Although the press was once allowed on site—where IRGC soldiers in civilian clothing were seen—only a few photos were released, taken by regime workers.

Security at both facilities is stringent. Workers arrive in private vehicles from surrounding cities, including Tehran, and are taken by bus from a checkpoint several miles from the main site by IRGC personnel as an additional security measure.

Iran’s Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology and head of the Iranian Space Organization, Hassan Salaria, said last week that Tehran would unveil a number of Iranian satellites and noted that “by the end of the current Iranian year” two more important satellites would be launched (the Iranian year ends in March, according to the IRNA news agency). He said that Iran has so far launched 24 to 25 satellites into space of various categories. “Currently, we are designing and building satellites that can operate with an imaging accuracy of up to about two meters [6.5 ft.], and this process is gradual,” he explained.

The Iranian Space Agency on Sunday announced that during a ceremony marking National Space Technology Day, three satellites were unveiled: Nabouk 1, Fars 2, and an improved version of Fars 1.

At the same time, as part of the “Achievements of the Iranian Ministry of Defense” exhibition, and in the presence of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, the Atmad ballistic missile, which has a range of 1,700 kilometers [1056.3 mi.], was unveiled on Sunday. The Iranian president said during the visit: “Our defense capabilities are so advanced that they do not allow any country to attack Iran.”

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on February 2, 2025. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Fars Media Corporation/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Give thanks for organizations like NCRI who are actively resisting the current regime in Iran with its plans for global domination through the threat of nuclear weapons. Pray that the information they are providing will result in the uncovering of all sites that are being used to develop nuclear weaponry. Pray that Israeli and Western leaders will know God’s will in terms of striking a military blow against these installations.

Scripture

For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a pit, which they have dug without cause for my life. Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly, and let his net that he has hidden catch himself; into that very destruction let him fall.


- Psalm 35:7–8

Phase 2 Hostage Release Negotiations Begin: These are Israel’s Levers of Pressure

by Itamar Eichner ~ Ynetnews

Sticker calling for the return of the Eliya Cohen at Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square

Monday, 3 February 2025 | Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu landed in Washington Sunday night for a week of meetings ahead of the fifth round of hostage releases on Saturday and looking ahead to phase two of the deal. On Monday the prime minister will meet with Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, in what will mark the opening of negotiations for phase two of the ceasefire and hostage release deal.

Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump is scheduled for Tuesday evening (6:00 p.m. in Washington and 1 a.m. in Israel). The meeting was scheduled to take place a few hours earlier, but was postponed at the request of the White House.

Sources who work with Witkoff said that watching the feature film about the October 7 massacre while he was in Israel seemed to have had a profound effect on him. He is very involved in the issue of the hostages, and his commitment to the issue is profound. Families of hostages asked to join the prime minister’s flight to Washington, but they were refused. Several family members, including Einav Zangauker—the mother of Matan Zangauker—arrived in Washington on commercial flights. Netanyahu is also scheduled to meet with family members of hostages during his visit.

On Wednesday, Netanyahu will visit the Pentagon and meet with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. In addition, Netanyahu will meet with Congressional and Senate leaders, evangelical leaders, and the designated US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, during the week.

After, contrary to the agreements, Arbel Yehoud was not released in either of the first two rounds of hostage releases, Israel decided not to open the Netzarim Corridor to allow the movement of Gazans north. After the images of horror from the release of Arbel and Gadi Mozes, in the third round that was brought forward, the release of terrorists from Israeli prisons was delayed and angry messages were sent to the mediators in Israel.

The question now is what leverage remains to continue the deal—with 79 hostages still in captivity, and 20 of them scheduled to return during Phase 1 of the deal. Those 20 hostages include 15 men (eight over the age of 50 and seven wounded and sick), the three members of the Bibas family, whose lives are in serious danger, and Avraham Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who have been held captive in Gaza for a decade. Eight of those 20 hostages are no longer alive.

Last week, after Hamas’s violation of the agreement, preventing the return of the displaced and the updated agreement, Ynetnews security commentator Ron Ben Yishai wrote that the return of the displaced is not the only significant lever of pressure that Israel has at the present stage. There is the humanitarian aid—the pace of which Israel controls in the Gaza Strip, and if there are blatant violations of the agreement the IDF is still in a position where it can maneuver without difficulty wherever it is needed.

After those horrific images in the southern Gaza Strip during the liberation of Arbel and Gadi, Israel sent a harsh message to Qatar and Egypt, announcing that “it has a great many levers of pressure that it can immediately apply if the scenes are repeated—and not a hair on the head of the hostages will be harmed.”

One of the levers of pressure is the Rafah crossing, which opened on Tuesday to allow the exit of wounded Palestinians—most of them from Hamas. Israel could close it in the event of future violations of the agreement. Hamas wanted very much to open the crossing, and this was also one of the reasons that led it to agree to two phases of releasing hostages within 48 hours.

In a week, on the 22nd day of the deal, Israel is scheduled to withdraw from the center of the Gaza Strip—including the Netzarim Corridor—eastward to the area along the border. Hamas violations could lead to a change.

Another lever of pressure is, of course, the release of the terrorists. For every adult or wounded hostage that Hamas releases Israel will release 30 adult and sick terrorists (who have up to 15 years left in prison). Alongside this, in addition to releasing the terrorists, Israel is also to release 1,000 Gazans who were arrested after the October 7 massacre. Some 111 of them were released on Saturday, and the rest will be released in the following rounds.

The agreement stipulates additional clauses, from which Israel may also withdraw—at least partially—in the event of future violations of the agreement. These clauses include: the beginning of the rehabilitation of infrastructure (electricity, water, sewage, communications and roads) throughout the Gaza Strip, and the entry of an agreed amount of equipment necessary for civil defense; facilitating the entry of supplies for the settlement of the displaced—60,000 caravans and 200,000 tents; and the beginning of the necessary arrangements and plans for the reconstruction of the houses, civilian facilities and civilian infrastructure destroyed during the war in Gaza.

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on February 3, 2025. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: McCoy Brown/bridgesforpeace.com

Prayer Focus
Pray that Israel will be firm and choose to exercise all its options in response to any and all manipulative actions by Hamas. Pray for unity between the members of the coalition government as well as within the Knesset (parliament) as a whole and the country itself.

Scripture

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!


- Psalm 133:1

Israel in ‘Precarious Position’ as China Cozies Up with Iran

by Izzy Salant ~ JNS

President Joe Biden greets President Xi Jinping of China prior to a bilateral meeting on November 16, 2024.

Friday, 31 January 2025 | Israel is in a “precarious position,” as China has demonstrated a “clear inclination” to align with Iran and its proxies after October 7, Zineb Riboua, a research fellow and program manager at the Hudson Institute’s Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East, told JNS.

Beijing opposes not only the Jewish state but also US allies in the region, according to Riboua. “This has been evident both rhetorically and practically,” she said.

“Rhetorically, Beijing has framed the United States as the primary culprit for instability in the Middle East, reinforcing anti-American narratives,” she told JNS. “Practically, by continuing to purchase Iranian oil, China has provided Tehran with critical financial resources, indirectly enabling its network of regional proxies.”

Riboua, who recently published a commentary article about “China’s ambitions in the Middle East and Africa,” told JNS that China’s shift “places Israel in a precarious position, where it must now recognize that China cannot be relied upon as a strategic partner on a wide range of issues.”

“Beijing’s interests in the region are fundamentally transactional, and while it may seek to deepen economic ties with Israel—particularly in the high-tech sector—it does so primarily to serve its own technological ambitions rather than to foster a genuine partnership,” she said.

In the analysis, Riboua wrote, citing US intelligence sources, that China has provided weapons directly to the Houthis in Yemen in exchange for safe passage of Chinese ships. This has, in part, allowed the Houthis to operate even at a limited capacity since Hezbollah’s collapse last year and the regime’s weakened state, according to Riboua. (The Trump administration is taking action to redesignate the Houthis as a terror group.)

Experts told JNS in January 2024 that Israel must decrease its reliance on China before Beijing can disrupt vital infrastructure.

Bilateral commodities trading (excluding diamonds) between China and Israel peaked at US $21 billion in 2022, according to the Institute for National Security Studies, a think tank affiliated with Tel Aviv University.

Riboua told JNS that unlike the United States, “which provides Israel with military, diplomatic and strategic backing, China offers no real security guarantees and does not share Israel’s core geopolitical concerns.”

“It has consistently sided with actors hostile to Israel, whether through its rhetorical alignment with Iran’s anti-Western axis or its economic support that indirectly empowers Israel’s adversaries,” she said. “Any notion that China could serve as a viable alternative to the US as a hegemonic guarantor in the region is illusory.”

But Riboua thinks that China will probably keep intensifying “its efforts to cultivate closer ties with Israel, particularly in areas of advanced technology, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity—sectors where Israel is a global leader.”

“Beijing’s strategic interest in these domains stems not from a commitment to Israel’s security or prosperity, but rather from its broader ambition to compete with the United States in next-generation technologies,” she said.

“This dynamic places Israel in a delicate position, as it must balance the economic opportunities of engagement with China against the geopolitical risks of empowering a state that ultimately seeks to undermine US influence,” she added.

Source: (This article was originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on January 30, 2025. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Oliver Contreras/White House/jns.org

Prayer Focus
Pray for the leaders, both political and in the realm of business, asking that they will look to the Lord for wisdom in their dealings with China—a huge trading partner who is also allying itself with Iran—and the United States, which is an important ally for Israel as well as a trading partner.

Scripture

I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.


- Psalm 4:8

Two IDF Soldiers Killed in Samaria Terror Attack

by Joshua Marks ~ JNS

Israeli soldiers take positions at the scene of a shooting attack, at the Tayasir checkpoint east of Tubas, in northern Samaria on February 4, 2025.

Tuesday, 4 February 2025 | Two Israel Defense Forces soldiers were killed and eight more were wounded when a terrorist opened fire at a military post near the village of Tayasir in northern Samaria on Tuesday morning.

One of the slain soldiers was identified by the military on Tuesday afternoon as IDF Sgt. Maj. (res.) Ofer Yung, 39, a squad commander in the Ephraim Regional Brigade’s 8211th Reserve Battalion, from Tel Aviv.

The name of the other casualty was expected to be cleared for publication later on Tuesday. His family has been notified, according to the military.

According to an initial IDF probe, the terrorist managed to take up a position near the entrance of the military post and fired on troops as they exited. The terrorist was said to have exchanged fire with troops inside the post for several minutes before being killed.

The terrorist, who reportedly had been waiting in the area for hours before carrying out the attack, was said to have been armed with an M-16 rifle and two magazines, and was wearing a tactical vest.

According to the IDF, two of the wounded soldiers were listed as being in serious condition, while the other six victims sustained light wounds.

The death toll among Israeli troops on all fronts since the Hamas-led terror attacks in southern Israel on October 7, 2023 now stands at 844.

The village of Tayasir is located near Tammun, an area where Israeli forces have been conducting a major counter-terrorism operation since January 31, dubbed “Operation Iron Wall.”

On Thursday, IDF Staff Sgt. Liam Hazi, 20, of the Kfir Brigade’s Haruv reconnaissance unit became the operation’s first casualty. Hazi was killed in a firefight with terrorists in Jenin, the military said.

The IDF expanded the operation on Monday and plans to form a new battalion that will remain in northern Samaria once the operation ends.

The IDF has killed more than 50 Palestinian terrorists since the start of the operation on January 21, the military announced on Sunday evening.

At least 35 gunmen were killed during ground operations in the Jenin and Tulkarem areas, while another 15 were killed in airstrikes, according to the IDF. More than 100 wanted terrorists have been detained thus far.

Israeli forces “located and confiscated dozens of weapons, destroyed hundreds of explosive devices and dozens of additional charges that were planted on roads to harm our forces,” the military stated.

On Sunday, the operation was expanded to include Tammun near Nablus. On January 20, one IDF soldier was killed and four others were wounded when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in the town.

Earlier on Sunday, the army said it had destroyed “several buildings in Jenin, in the Menashe Brigade [area of responsibility], which were used as terror infrastructure.”

According to the IDF, security forces destroyed 23 structures in the Jenin area where terrorist infrastructure was located after searching hundreds of buildings in the vicinity. During the sweeps, explosives laboratories, weapons, observation posts and more terror infrastructure was found.

The head of the Jordan Valley Regional Council, David Elhayani, said on the Kan Reshet Bet radio station after Tuesday’s attack that he believes the ongoing military operation in northern Samaria is not enough.

“Anyone who is under the illusion that tomorrow morning, as a result of one operation or another, there will be no more attacks is deceiving themselves and does not understand the reality we live in,” charged Elhayani. “The army is carrying out intense activities and operations unlike anything seen before, but this operation needs to be expanded.”

In a statement released in response to the attack, the Yesha Council of Judea and Samaria communities expressed support for IDF troops and their commanders, praising their efforts to defend Israeli citizens.

“The determined fighting of our heroic warriors pushes the evil terrorists away from the homes of Israeli citizens and prevents scenes similar to those of October 7 from occurring in places like Afula and Netanya, God forbid,” said the council.

“This morning’s attack once again proves that Arab terrorism seeks to harm the State of Israel and IDF soldiers,” the statement continued. “The Israeli government has a duty to decisively defeat Arab terrorism and to announce the application of Israeli sovereignty, which will prevent the establishment of a terror state in the heart of the country.”

Source: (This article was originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on February 4, 2025. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Nasser Ishtayeh/Flash90/jns.org

Prayer Focus
Ask the Lord to comfort the families of Zvika Friedman (43) and Ofer Yung (39) who were serving as reservists when they were gunned down by a terrorist as they came off guard duty. Pray for all the troops who are stationed in the volatile area near Jenin and Tulkarm, asking the Lord to shield them with His protection and give them alertness to all the dangers that exist.

Scripture

O Israel, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield.


- Psalm 115:9–11

Mother of Slain Hostage Talks of ‘Light and Darkness’

by Amelie Botbol ~ JNS

Iris Haim, the mother of Yotam Haim, speaks during a State Memorial Ceremony at Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem for civilians murdered in the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks by Hamas in southern Israel.

Wednesday, 5 February 2025 | “Since Yotam was kidnapped, I started seeing things differently. I see the entire Israeli people and not just specific segments of society,” Iris Haim told JNS on Monday.

Speaking in Limassol, Cyprus, Haim—whose son Yotam was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, and accidentally killed by Israeli forces in Gaza while trying to escape two months later—said: “Now, I feel connected to many more. I have more insights into my Jewish self.”

On Tuesday, she participated in the Yael Foundation’s annual summit on Jewish education, giving a lecture titled, “In Light, Not in Darkness.”

“It’s very important for me to share the story of Yotam, his heroism, everywhere I go. I talk about the education we gave him at home, how to raise children and what in my eyes is right or isn’t,” she said. “It feels like a mission.”

Addressing the worldwide surge of antisemitism, Haim compared the phenomenon to cancer.

“In the human body, there are cancerous cells, waiting to erupt and become malignant tumors and kill its host,” she said. “Similarly, antisemitism is always present. The moment Jews show somewhat of weakness, it resurfaces.” 

‘A Pinch to the Heart’

Since the start of the ceasefire-for-hostages agreement with Hamas on January 19, 13 Israeli captives and five Thais have been released, with 20 more expected to be freed in the coming weeks of the initial stage.

Haim addressed feelings of joy and agony at seeing hostages return, knowing her son won’t. “At first, it was very difficult. Of the first three girls who were released, two were from Yotam’s neighborhood in Kibbutz Kfar Aza,” she said.

“On one hand, it’s a lot of happiness to see them return, and I am hoping for everyone’s return. On the other hand, it’s a lot of pain. We know Yotam won’t return, and while I have a lot of strength in me and can speak of Yotam as a hero, his life ended at the age of 29,” she said.

“It’s a pinch to the heart knowing I won’t see him anymore,” she added. “It’s not just my son; there are a lot of people who were murdered on October 7 and soldiers who fell in battle. It’s difficult for everyone.”

Haim revealed that she has dealt with the pain not through anger or by blaming others, but through working to better herself. Concurrently, she has found solace in meeting with the families of hostages who were killed, as well as families of soldiers who fell in battle.

“It helps a lot. Our sons were murdered; it doesn’t matter how. What matters is that it happened and how to live with it afterwards,” she said.

Haim is now looking to establish a therapeutic home that will provide help to those struggling with mental health, just as Yotam was.

“Yotam was a musician who truly wanted to succeed. It‘s not always possible in Israel. We thought to build this place, which will provide healing to those struggling with mental health, through music, sports and domestic animals. I hope we will succeed in this project,” she said.

“I will continue doing activities towards bringing Jewish hearts together and for unity. My mission since Yotam was murdered is to try and make a positive change,” she concluded.

Source: (This article was originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on February 5, 2025. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Marc Israel Sellem/POOL/jns.org

Prayer Focus
Pray that all who hear Iris Haim speak will catch the same vision she has for unity among the Jewish people as a whole. Pray that she and all those who are involved in the effort to build a therapeutic home in Yotam’s memory will succeed in those efforts. Pray for comfort and healing for all those in Israel who have suffered the experience of the death of their loved ones.

Scripture

My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.


- Proverbs 4:20–23

Rain—a Long-awaited Blessing!

by Janet Aslin ~ Bridges for Peace

Jerusalem Light Rail in Zion Square

Thursday, 6 February 2025 | Not surprisingly, the last 24 hours have seen almost exclusive coverage in the Israeli news media of the “big story,” namely US President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza. But there’s another story that deserves attention as well—the arrival of a winter storm in the Promised Land, which brought much-needed rainfall to the center of the country yesterday.

A little background first. The rainy season in Israel usually begins after Sukkot (late October to early November) and extends through March. Unlike last winter, which saw rain fall on 14 consecutive days during the month of February, this winter has been the driest in nearly a century. The level of the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) has only risen 2 cm (.078 in.), while the water flowing in Jordan River is at its lowest level since 1960.

According to the Times of Israel, which obtained data from Israel Meteorological Service’s Hebrew site, the western Negev in southern Israel—where most of Israel’s vegetables are grown—has received 20–30% of the yearly average thus far. A friend who recently traveled to the area reported seeing stunted growth in the wheat fields due to lack of rainfall. Farmers have been praying for rain.

In the past weeks, rain has been in the forecast several times but at the last minute it did not materialize. So, when it was announced during the weather portion of the Tuesday evening news that there would be significant rain during the night and following day, we rejoiced! The promised rain was only slightly delayed as Wednesday morning dawned clear and dry, with just a few storm clouds on the horizon.

However, by late morning it was raining at last! The storm was concentrated in the center part of the country and included Jerusalem, with the surrounding communities of Mevaseret Zion and Har Adar receiving significantly more rain than the capital city. In fact, when I got off the bus last night near my home in Mevaseret Zion, it was like stepping into a shower. The rain pelted me with such force I could feel it on my shoulder blades! The street was awash in a sheet of water several inches deep.

The rain is to continue today, although the accumulation will not be as much as we saw yesterday. Israel’s dependence on rain is not as evident as it was 20 years ago, before its five large desalination plants were built and it discovered effective ways to recycle gray water for agricultural use.

Still, it is good to give thanks to the Lord for the blessing of rain. We remember the words of Moses as he prepared the Israelites for their entry into the Promised Land: “The land which you go to possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and watered it by foot, as a vegetable garden; but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven” (Deut. 11:10–11).

Israel is a unique land and thankfully, God does not change!

Source: (Bridges for Peace, February 6, 2025)

Photo Credit: Navot Miller/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Give thanks for the recent rainfall in the center of the country while petitioning God— with thanksgiving—to send rain upon the rest of the Land, including the agricultural areas in the south along with northern Israel. Pray that Israel will receive abundant, gentle and soaking latter rains during the spring, which will cause the crops to mature into fruitfulness.

Scripture

Ask the LORD for rain in the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field for everyone.


- Zechariah 10:1

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