Friday, August 14, 2026

What You Need to Know:

PM Netanyahu once again finds himself at what appears to be a major difference in position with US President Trump regarding the latter’s Gaza Peace Plan. The 20-point plan to end the conflict in Gaza, which the prime minister agreed to in principle, contained guarantees that are not included in the 15-point roadmap released by the Board of Peace on July 31. The roadmap envisions a phased disarmament happening in conjunction with Israeli withdrawal from Gaza along with the establishment of a Palestinian state, something which had only received a brief and conditional mention in the 20-point Peace Plan. In response, PM Netanyahu said, “I am standing firm on our security interests—we will not withdraw from our current lines until Hamas is completely disarmed.” He added that IDF soldiers had been instructed “to do everything necessary to defend themselves, to defend our territory, to defend our citizens.” He further stated, “We will not establish a Palestinian terror state here that we know is aimed at destroying the Jewish nation-state.” 

Danny Danon, Israeli ambassador to the UN, has the unenviable task of defending his nation on the world stage of the United Nations. This week, he spoke eloquently before the UN Security Council (UNSC) in defense of Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria. Lately these communities are being called “obstacles to peace,” and the Israeli ambassador boldly called out the UNSC’s behavior, accusing them of applying a double standard to violence in the area.

Dig Deeper:

Inside Story: Why Israel Rejected the Board of Peace Plan for Gaza   

“We Are not Going Anywhere” Danon Defends West Bank Settlements at the UN

What You Need to Know:

Iran: While Israelis continue to watch from the sidelines, interactions between the United States and Iran, primarily over the Strait of Hormuz, continue. We have yet to hear the shrill Red Alert sirens, but the calm is a tentative, tenuous one. The nation has not let its guard down, and the IDF remains at the ready.

Hezbollah/Lebanon: Direct talks between Israel and Lebanon began in April of this year and have produced some movement forward, including a security pilot program where the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has agreed to disarm Hezbollah in three villages. An Israeli official told the Jerusalem Post that the LAF “has entered the area and even uncovered weapons and ammunition caches, but said that ‘it is still not enough.’” The IDF continues to maintain pressure against Hezbollah forces remaining in areas under their security control, including several dozen who are trapped in an underground complex under the Ali Taher ridge. PM Netanyahu acknowledged that “in recent days, Israel has acted forcefully in Lebanon, eliminating terrorists, including on the Ali Taher ridge.” The next round of diplomatic talks are set for September.

Judea and Samaria: The past few weeks have seen increased violence in Judea and Samaria, both on the part of Palestinians, who have used of terror arson to destroy Jewish communities, as well as the actions of a small, radical fringe group of Jewish residents who have responded with violence against Palestinian homes. Although accounts reported in the media often reflect one side of the story, that does not negate the seriousness of the situation and the need for prayer.

Dig Deeper:

Israeli Defense Officials Weigh Gaza Buffer, Iran Threat and US Pressure    

IDF Tightens Siege on Hezbollah Terrorists Trapped in Underground Complex    

Ambassador Huckabee Condemns “Horrific Terror” in West Bank   

Two Palestinians Arrested on Suspicion of Starting Gilad Farm Fire   

What You Need to Know:

As the Board of Peace for Gaza becomes more active, there have been mixed reactions in Israel. One noticeable change affects the IDF troops stationed in Gaza. Although the rules have not changed in cases of a direct and imminent threat, when that threat involves terrorists beyond the Yellow Line, authorization is required before action can be taken. Though the soldiers are not at risk, one officer told Ynetnews: “I assume they will begin rebuilding things they wanted to rebuild and could not during the days of the strikes. The terrorists do not disappear. They are trying to adapt to the new situation.”

In response to growing uncertainty in the region, the Israeli Navy held its largest drill in nearly three years. Taking place in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, a wide range of scenarios were covered that incorporated lessons learned during the fight against Iran and its terror proxies.

The IDF is truly a “people’s army” that reflects the diversity of the nation. New recruits in the latest draft included sabras (those born in Israel) and more than 2,500 olim (immigrants). While only 392 of the immigrants were “new,” the countries where the remaining 2,127 were born spans the globe, reflecting just how far the Jewish community was scattered during the years of their exile. The Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) reports, “The largest numbers of immigrant recruits are from Russia (512), the United States (489), Ukraine (410), Ethiopia (259) and France (192).” Relationships are formed in the army that will last a lifetime.

Dig Deeper:

Even Armed Terrorists Require Approval before Troops Engage: Gaza Restrictions

Israeli Navy Conducts Largest Drill Since October 7   

Russia and the US Lead Roster of Olim Recruits in Latest IDF Draft   

What You Need to Know:

There are approximately 500,000 Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria, an area often referred to as the “West Bank,” a political term that refers to land “west of the Jordan River.” It was under Jordanian control from 1948 until 1967, when Israel reclaimed the territory. The Israelis who live there today face many challenges, ranging from hostile Arab villages on their doorstep to accusations from the global community that they have stolen the land. The dangers are real, but they are determined to remain (Gen. 13:14–17).

Summers are dry and hot in Israel, and the danger of fire is very real. Sadly, there have been many deadly terror arson attacks in the biblical heartland. Three years ago, a group of volunteers organized in order to provide rapid response. Today there are between 500 and 600 members of that firefighting force. Eitan, one of those volunteers, recently shared with JNS that many of the fires are set in areas inaccessible to fire trucks and must be fought on foot. In the past month alone, there have been seven terror arson fires.

When Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, four communities in northern Samaria were also dismantled. This week, 22 families returned to build a new community. Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, told Ynetnews: “…they tried to uproot us from the four communities in northern Samaria, believing that the people of Israel could be severed from their land. Today we are proving the opposite. Not only have we returned to northern Samaria, we are rebuilding it bigger, stronger and more prosperous.”

Dig Deeper:

They See Smoke, Grab their Gear and Run   

New Settlement Established: Correcting a Historic Injustice

To Know Israel, You Have to Experience It  

What You Need to Know:

“Settler violence” are two words which are regularly used to inflame public opinion against Jewish residents of Israel’s biblical heartland. The Press Service of Israel (TPS) has recently released results of a study that calls into question the “facts and figures” used by international media. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which publishes those “facts and figures,” uses a broad definition of “settler violence.” Based on OCHA statistics, misleading headlines indicate that most, if not all, violent acts show the Palestinians as victims. When TPS compared OCHA accounts with IDF reports, it found only a fraction of the attacks were begun by Jews. Israel does not deny these Jewish-initiated acts of violence, and it investigates each incident thoroughly and prosecutes the guilty—whether they are Jewish or Arab.

In the last few years, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has helped the Palestinian Authority in its attempt to rewrite the history of Judea and Samaria, Israel’s biblical heartland. In 2018, UNESCO declared Jerusalem “exclusively Muslim” in an attempt to erase the city’s Jewish roots, which predate Islam by centuries. Hebron’s Cave of the Patriarchs has been designated as a “State of Palestine” heritage site, and another 22 Jewish sites are on the table at this time.  

During the war, Israel was consistently blamed for starving, malnourished Gazan children. However, the results of a new study, led by UNICEF, shows there is less malnutrition in Gaza today than before the war. The Jerusalem Post quoted Israel’s Foreign Ministry, “Malnutrition is not only significantly below the critical values—it is exceptionally low in regional comparison.”

Dig Deeper:

Special Report: UN Data Counts Palestinian Terror as Settler Violence

A New UNICEF-led Study Challenges Gaza Famine Claims    

UNESCO Joins Palestinians in Rewriting History in Judea & Samaria (Opinion) 

What You Need to Know:

Israelis are often world travelers, but in these days of rising antisemitism, the world is becoming increasingly dangerous. Last week, an Israeli mother and her daughter were violently attacked as they visited a tourist attraction on the island of Koh Phangan in Thailand. Both were taken to the hospital, where they underwent surgeries. Two recent incidents in the Philippines, one at the Manila airport and another at a café on the island of Siargao, involved antisemitic insults against Israeli travelers followed by physical confrontations. Finally, pro-Palestinian groups declared Sunday, August 9, a “Day of Action” across the nation of Greece, a popular and affordable destination for Israeli families taking their summer holidays. An Israeli advisory cautioned citizens, “It is recommended to keep Israeli and Jewish identifying symbols discreet and to avoid posting your location in real time on social media.” Thankfully there were no major disruptions or antisemitic attacks that day.

The last three years have seen a rise in antisemitism around the globe. In countries with large Jewish populations, the members of those communities are seeing a change in their daily lives as a result. The Jerusalem Post reported that “one in three individuals [in the US] said they were targets of antisemitism and over half of Jews have changed their behavior out of fear.” Antisemitism affects the lives of Jews on both a personal and corporate basis, but it also is having an impact on Israel itself. The political climate in the United States, Israel’s most steadfast ally until now, is changing as a result of increased antisemitism.

Dig Deeper:  

Israeli Mother & Daughter Assaulted in Thailand in Suspected Antisemitic Attack

Fight Breaks Out in Manila Airport over Antisemitic Insults

Diaspora Ministry Warns of ‘Day of Action,’ Pro-Palestinian Protests across Greece

Rubicon of Antisemitism Crossed in the West; Israel Will Face New Dangers too (Opinion)

What You Need to Know:

Colombia’s newly elected president, Abelardo de la Espriella, took two bold steps on his first day in office: he recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara and withdrew recognition of the self-proclaimed rival government there. And he restored full diplomatic and economic relations with Israel, which his predecessor had severed in 2024 because of the war in Gaza. In taking these steps, he is moving Colombia into a new beginning where its problems with water security and agricultural productivity may find solutions as Colombia, Israel and Morocco develop mutually beneficial partnerships.

Nefesh B’Nefesh, an organization that is focused on Jewish aliyah (immigration) from the US and Canada, achieved a milestone this month: their 100,000th immigrant. Parents Jeffrey and Atara told JNS they made the move so that they and their three children could “experience Jewish history as it unfolds, to be part of the story of Am Yisrael… through both moments of joy and moments of challenge.”

The Jewish people cherish life, so it should come as no surprise that charred trunks of ancient olive trees damaged in a wildfire last year are being rehabilitated. Although the damage to the trees was extreme, forestry experts discovered living root collars hidden inside and so began a process that is turning pieces of the stumps into miniature olive bonsai trees. Dr. Ori Fragman-Sapir told the Jerusalem Post, “The renewed sprouting of these ancient olive stumps reminds us of the vitality, remarkable regenerative power, and resilience of trees…”

Dig Deeper:

Colombia's New President Rsstores Israel's Ties - on Day One

We’re Leading, not Leaving—Family of 10,000th Immigrant Makes Aliyah   

Ancient Olive Trees Damaged in Wildfires Given New Life