Friday, August 15, 2025

What You Need to Know:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s longest serving prime minister, has a vision for the nation which he has been doggedly pursuing for years. He has been voted in many times because, in the eyes of Israelis, he stands for security—their security. During the last few years, Israel has been divided internally, which has challenged his leadership skills. Families of the hostages have been demanding that the prime minister abandon the security-related goals he set at the beginning of the war with Gaza in order to appease Hamas and bring their loved ones home. While the return of the hostages remain a key priority and the families pursuing a homecoming for their loves ones is completely understandable, the prime minister knows that Israel’s security will not be served by allowing Hamas to “win” and remain in power.

This week, the prime minister spoke eloquently at the Waldorf Astoria in Jerusalem, at an event sponsored by Newsmax. He opened by thanking Newsmax “for their role in countering misinformation. You’ve helped in the war—the war for truth.” He also discussed the concept of victory. “We’re bringing that word [victory] back because without it, our existence here has no meaning. Either we win or we don’t. I won’t give up on the victory of the Jewish people or our soldiers.”

Dig Deeper:

PM Netanyahu at Press Conference for Foreign Media

Netanyahu Claims Retired Security Officials Have Lost the Concept of Victory

Arab Nations Erupt After PM Netanyahu Appears to Endorse Vision of a Greater Israel

What You Need to Know:

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir stated that the army’s new policy in the area of security is, “no longer containment and waiting, but the use of force in pursuit of contact” on all fronts. He added “that neutralizing the threat also requires striking at its sources,” which could be a veiled threat against Iran, the source of funding for regional terror groups. In addition to the threat that Hezbollah is rearming on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, Judea and Samaria remain an active security concern to identify and prevent terror attacks.

Roughly 50 Palestinians attacked workers on a civilian engineering project in Samaria, causing light injuries to an off-duty IDF soldier and a civilian. The Hebrew-language news reported that the Palestinians were protesting a new Jewish farming outpost that is being established in Judea and Samaria, Israel’s biblical heartland.

Despite repeated retaliatory IDF strikes against the Houthi’s main port late last month targeting fuel tanks and vessels used by the group, the terror group has continued its campaign against Israel. This week saw the launch of a missile on Thursday as well as an unmanned drone on Tuesday. Both were intercepted before they reached Israeli airspace.

Dig Deeper:

IDF Chief of Staff Articulates ‘New Strategic Approach’

Missile from Yemen Shot Down Overnight

Arab Rioters Injure Off-duty Soldier and Civilian in Samaria

“Never Again” Means Putting Israel First

What You Need to Know:

As could be expected, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s recent announcement that Israel planned to take control of Gaza City prompted an outcry of condemnation from multiple countries. The decision goes beyond taking control of an arbitrary population center. After almost two years of war, the IDF controls 75% of Gaza. The remaining 25% is where the 50 remaining Israeli hostages—along with almost all of Gaza’s two million citizens—are located and includes Gaza City, one of the last remaining Hamas “strongholds.” The move was thus perceived as another step toward Israel “fully occupying” Gaza.

The Times of Israel wrote, “United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the Israeli plan a ‘dangerous escalation’ that risks ‘deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians.’”

As an illustration of the division the decision has caused, the Dutch foreign minister said, “Netanyahu’s cabinet is losing Europe—totally. We stand with Israel, but not with the policy of the Israeli government.”

And, like a slap in the face to the nation of Israel, UN Secretary-General Guterres also recently issued a letter putting the country on notice that it may be included in the next annual UN report on sexual violence in conflict zones. The charge stems from “serious concern” over alleged abuses of Palestinian Arabs by Israeli security forces in a number of prisons and detention facilities.

Dig Deeper:

UN Warns Israel of Potential Listing in Sexual Violence Report

World Bank Official Accuses Israel of Inventing Terror Attacks 

UN Security Council to Meet over Gaza; World Condemnation Mounts

What You Need to Know:

Hamas sent a delegation to Cairo this week, reportedly seeking a “comprehensive deal.” However, Prime Minister Netanyahu said that “Jerusalem would only agree to end the war on Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip in exchange for a deal freeing all remaining hostages,” something Hamas has refused to consider.

A report released by Israel’s Health Ministry states that, due to “medical neglect, subhuman conditions that constitute torture and grave violations of humanitarian law,” the lives of the hostages are in immediate danger and “every day that is added increases the risk of irreversible damage.”

Although no action has been taken by the Red Cross in the previous two years, things may be changing. Ynetnews reported that after a group of hostage mothers met with the president of the Red Cross, it appears “the organization is now attempting to intensify efforts for dialogue with Hamas in order to bring food and medicine to the hostages.”

Dig Deeper:

Israel Recognizes Change in Red Cross Approach to Hostages

Netanyahu: No Going Back After Hamas Torpedoed Hostage Deal

Israeli Health Ministry: Hamas Hostages in Imminent Danger

What You Need to Know:

After Israelis have endured 22 months of fighting in Gaza and a terrifying 12-day war with Iran, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone in the nation who has not felt the pressure and yearns for peace. Yet as we prayed last week, perhaps the families of the hostages remaining in Gaza are still the most obviously weary and vulnerable. When the government announced plans to intensify the combat and to “take control of Gaza City,” these families worried that the decision would result in the deaths of their loved ones and are calling for an economic strike on August 17.

A recent Israel National News report revealed the depth of their agony as any parent anywhere would understand. When your son or husband is suffering, you would be willing to do or sacrifice just about anything to alleviate that pain. Join us as we pray for these Israelis who have suffered so much.

Dig Deeper:

Gaza Hostage Families Declare Nationwide Shutdown

What You Need to Know:

The US Justice Department found that George Washington University ignored “a hostile educational environment for Jewish, American­–Israeli and Israeli students and faculty.” The school was “deliberately indifferent” to the well-being of the 4,500 Jewish and Israeli students who attend, and is being called on to answer these charges.

For the second time in less than a week, red paint was used to vandalize property associated with Jews and Israel, this time at the Israeli consulate at the Hague. Police are investigating. In addition, an American couple walking in Venice, Italy was accosted by three individuals who set a dog loose on them, spat at them, sprayed them with water and shouted curses. Their only “crime” was that the man was dressed as an orthodox Jew.

Dig Deeper:

George Washington University Completely Indifferent to Jew-Hatred

Israeli Embassy at The Hague Vandalized and Splashed with Red Paint

American Jewish Couple Threatened, Harassed on the Streets of Venice

What You Need to Know:

This year, 1,000 teens from 80 communities—including Jewish, Arab, Druze and Bedouin towns—brought their entrepreneurial ideas to a competition that was judged by some of Israel’s best known and most successful businessmen. A team of 16-year-olds from Afula took first place with their peer-to-peer educational learning platform. Due to distance learning required during the COVID years to the current war and displacement of many students, team members said, “There are major learning gaps, and we felt the current education system wasn’t meeting our needs. So we built something to fix it.”

More than 1,500 years ago, the Negev desert was once home to thriving vineyards whose high quality wine was exported throughout Europe. After the discovery of ancient grape seeds in a cave, researchers have been able to bring them back to life and this year saw their first harvest. They hope to eventually restore the centuries-old history of wine making in the desert.

Dig Deeper:

Israel Harvests 1500-Year-Old Grape Seeds in the Negev

Israeli Teens Win Entrepreneur of the Year with Peer-to-Peer Learning Platform