Friday, December 12, 2025

What You Need to Know:

Government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian announced that PM Netanyahu will travel to the United States to meet President Trump on December 29, their fifth face-to-face meeting this year. Bedrosian said the meeting will include a discussion of “the future steps and phases and international stabilization force of the ceasefire plan.” The new security arrangement between Israel and Syria, which President Trump is pushing forward, will also likely be a topic of discussion. Negotiations between Jerusalem and Damascus to reach a security deal is currently stalled. Although the prime minister’s office has not confirmed the length of his trip, Hebrew media reports the possibility that it may last until January 4.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that a planning committee of Israel’s Defense Ministry has approved the construction of 764 new homes in three communities in Judea and Samaria, calling the decision “a clear strategic move.” Most of the international community considers any building done by Israel in this area to be illegal.

At the national level, when coalition members voted to approve the 2026 budget, they completed the first step in this important process. The budget, which must now be approved in the Knesset (parliament), reflects a significant increase in defense spending. The budget must be approved by March 31, 2026 or snap elections will be held within the next 90 days. Prime Minister Netanyahu has expressed confidence that early elections will not be required.

Dig Deeper:

Netanyahu to Meet Trump for Fifth Time in 2025

Coalition Approves 2026 State Budget  

Israel Approves Construction of 764 New Homes in Biblical Heartland

What You Need to Know:

Threats to Israel’s security along its northern border with Lebanon and Syria are similar but not identical. In Lebanon, Hezbollah has continued to rearm in violation of the terms of the ceasefire agreement, which took place in November 2024. A weak Lebanese government has been unable to enforce the disarmament of Hezbollah, thus requiring Israel to defend its citizens from an enemy who seeks their annihilation.

The Syrian border presents a slightly different challenge. The IDF has expanded its buffer zone and is stationed at several locations inside southern Syria, holding them until a security agreement can be reached. Terms for such an agreement are under discussion, with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa pressing for Israeli withdrawal from positions on Mt. Hermon, which are strategically important for the defense of communities on the Golan Heights.

In both cases, PM Netanyahu said Israel’s policies are aimed at “preventing the entrenchment of terrorists and hostile activities against us, protecting Druze allies and ensuring that the State of Israel is safe from ground or other attacks.”

The Allenby Crossing between Jordan and Israel was reopened on December 10, after a three-month closure which followed the murder of two Israeli soldiers who were inspecting a truck filled with humanitarian aid for Gaza. Overall, the border between Israel and Jordan has been peaceful in the past decade or two.

Dig Deeper:

IDF Dismantles Hezbollah Tunnel in Southern Lebanon  

Defense Minister Katz: IDF Soldiers Should Remain in Syria  

Allenby Crossing with Jordan Open for First Time since September 18  

What You Need to Know:

During a recent interview with Politico, President Isaac Herzog discussed openly and honestly some of Israel’s global public relations problems. Organizations like the United Nations and the International Court of Justice regularly attack Israel and her leaders, accusing them of committing genocide or being an apartheid state. While the complete interview is available in the “Dig Deeper” section of this prayer focus, here are a few excerpts.

“We are faced by a very aggressive PR [machine], which is also supported by allies of Hamas, which is over-inflated around the world....All I’m asking is for fair reporting, not fake reporting, and not something superficial. You cannot just buy a TikTok message, which you know immediately blames Israel, without understanding what’s behind it. We are operating in self-defense according to international law and we are trying to defend our citizens…There are billions of dollars poured into this brainwashing machine which doesn’t want to tell the real truth. And we may be all alone, but we will keep on saying the truth: We did not seek this war. We did not want this war.” 

Some of the other issues Israel face on the world stage include the absolute refusal of Hamas to give up its weapons or rule of the Gaza Strip and the arrest warrants for its senior leaders, including PM Netanyahu, which make international travel problematic.

Dig Deeper:

Israel Did Not Seek this War   

Hamas Leader: “We Will Not Disarm, Give Up Control in Gaza or Accept International Oversight”

What You Need to Know:

Since the moment David Ben Gurion proclaimed the establishment of the modern state on May 14, 1948, Israel has been forced to defend itself militarily. This week, we are highlighting the three regional commanders who serve under IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who holds the IDF’s highest rank of Rav Aluf.

 Maj. General Rafael David (Rafi) Milo serves as Aluf of the IDF’s Northern Command, which covers a large area from the Golan Heights to the coastal city of Netanya. Soldiers serving along the northern border with Syria and Lebanon have seen increased threats from Hezbollah in Lebanon and various Syrian forces.

Maj. General Yehuda Fox serves as Aluf of the Central Command. This command is responsible for IDF forces located in a very sensitive area, Israel’s biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria, an area that has been designated for a Palestinian state. The Central Command also covers Jerusalem and the foothills stretching down to the coast.

Maj. General Yaniv Asor serves as Aluf of the Southern Command, which is responsible for the Negev, including the Gaza Envelope, Eilat and the Sinai border. Before the 1979 peace treaty, soldiers of the Southern Command fought in five wars with Egypt. Their area continues to be a challenging one militarily as demonstrated by the war with Hamas in Gaza.

Dig Deeper:

Northern:  19-Year-Old IDF Documentarian Captures Historic Syrian Battle  

Central: Defensive Positions along Border with Jordan Reactivated 

Southern:  Uncovering Mega-Tunnel Complex in Gaza

IDF Soldiers Speak with Teens before Enlistment

What You Need to Know:

Over the past two years, Israelis have paid a high price in defense of their nation, exacted in a war against terrorists who are still seeking their annihilation. The Ministry of Defense recently released these statistics: “82,400 injured, 31,000 of whom are combat-related and post-traumatic; 49% soldiers, 13% police officers and 68% of the injured are over 40 years old, 64% are women. There are 612 amputees, 115 of the injured are blind and 1,061 are burn victims.”

Ynetnews recently interviewed three wounded soldiers: Haggai, who lost sight in both eyes; Yonatan, whose hand was severed by friendly fire; and Porat, who suffered a serious head injury. In the article, each describes his daily life after the injury, along with the challenges and small victories he has achieved. Porat, a 39-year-old reservist with five children, suffered a traumatic brain injury when an anti-tank missile pierced his tank in Gaza. He struggles daily to “hold on to who I am,” but had this message for his fellow Israelis: “We are a nation of heroes. The injury isn’t just our personal story; it’s the story of the entire nation. We have to recognize that there are people whose wounds aren’t visible, but they’re still suffering. After this war, there’s a good chance that the person next to you is going through something—and we need to remember that and acknowledge it.”

Dig Deeper:

The Injury Isn’t Our Personal Story, It’s the Story of the Entire Nation  

What You Need to Know:

Stefan Hensel, Germany’s only Jewish antisemitism commissioner, has announced his resignation effective at the end of the year. The responsibilities of the role include documenting antisemitic incidents and serving as a point of contact for the Jewish community. Hensel said he is experiencing a “massive wave of hatred” and “now requires personal security at public events.” He further said that many of Hamburg’s Jews are discussing emigration. On a positive note, the Jewish community has drawn closer together and they have also received “steady signs of solidarity from non-Jewish residents.”

Sweden “has become one of the most complex and challenging places for Jews in Europe,” with violence and demonstrations against the Jewish community taking place well before October 7, 2023. Antisemitism is embedded in the government, as was discovered recently. “Roughly $100 million in public funds, designated for education, welfare services and childcare, were diverted to institutional networks tied to radical Islamic actors.”  

New York City has a Jewish population of 1.4 million, making it the largest of any city outside Israel. Approximately 1,100 of them came together last week in a solidarity rally outside a synagogue that was the target of anti-Israel protesters on November 14. The organizers, UJA–Federation of New York, said, “We held this rally to stand up for our community, our core values and our unwavering support for Israel’s right to exist.”

Dig Deeper:

Germany’s Only Jewish Antisemitism Commissioner Is Resigning

Swedish Funding Scandal Empowered Antisemitic Networks  

Jewish New Yorkers Rally against Jew-Hatred outside Targeted Synagogue

What You Need to Know:

One thousand American pastors spent last week in Israel, comprising the largest group to come since the State of Israel was established in 1948. Organized by the Israeli Foreign Ministry and American evangelical Mike Evans, the group had many firsthand experiences in the Land. Among them was a tour of southern Israel, including Kibbutz Be’eri, one of the hardest hit communities on October 7. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee gave the opening remarks upon their arrival, saying, “I pray that you don’t just go back home and say, ‘Oh, I had a wonderful trip. I took some good pictures.’ I hope you will go back to the US with the fire of God burning in your bones and say it is time to be pro-biblical.”

Costa Rica will open a trade and innovation office in Israel early next year. Israel’s foreign minister said the office, which will have diplomatic status, will be more than a symbol but an important tool to strengthen ties in innovation and technology. Another positive diplomatic sign was the announcement that Bolivia and Israel have reestablished diplomatic ties after 14 years. Finally, while many see Jerusalem as the potential capital of a Palestinian state, US President Donald Trump publicly reaffirmed his decision eight years ago when he called Jerusalem, “the rightful capital that stands at the heart of Israel’s traditions, government and heritage.”

Dig Deeper:

Amb. Huckabee Tells 1,000 Visiting US Pastors “The Bible is pro-Israel”  

Evangelical Pastors Honor Freed Hostages at Nova Site

Costa Rica to Open Trade Office in Jerusalem