Friday, February 20, 2026

What You Need to Know:

As it has been for several decades, one of the biggest challenges facing Prime Minister Netanyahu, both on a security level and a diplomatic level, is Iran. The prime minister has been openly skeptical of the current negotiations taking place. At Iran’s insistence, US President Trump agreed to remove two components from the negotiations that are highly important to Israel—Iran’s ballistic missile capability and the axis of terror it has built in the region—leaving just their nuclear program up for negotiation. PM Netanyahu, who is not directly involved in the talks, has been put in the position of having to trust the US president’s negotiating skills in a situation which could have significant impact on Israel and its security.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar represented Israel at the first Board of Peace meeting, held in Washington DC on February 19. Representatives from 28 countries, primarily from the Middle East and Asia, were in attendance, and as a result, the US hopes to announce major donations toward the reconstruction of Gaza. Again, Israel is walking a fine line, as Hamas has adamantly refused to surrender its weapons, one of the conditions that must be met before reconstruction can begin. The withdrawal of IDF troops from the area is another point of contention, with Israel insisting that its security needs require that they remain.

Dig Deeper:

PM Netanyahu Skeptical of Deal with Iran   

FM Sa’ar to Represent Israel at Inaugural Board of Peace Meeting

What You Need to Know:

Iran: After the second meeting between the United States and Iran, reports generally say there is a wide gap between positions of the two nations. President Trump is holding his cards close to his chest, declining to say whether he has decided to take military action against the Iranian regime—though American military might has been steadily arriving in the area. Meanwhile, Israel’s security and emergency services remain on the highest alert as officials believe that in the event of a US attack, Iran will launch missiles at Israel, even if it does not take part in the strike.

Gaza: In the process of demolishing Hamas tunnels in the Rafah area, IDF troops discovered a large cache of weapons, including “assault rifles, an RPG and an explosive device.” In their work, the troops still encounter Hamas terrorists on a regular basis and must remain on high alert. Sadly, Staff Sgt. Ofri Yafe (21) was killed by friendly fire this week, bringing the number of IDF soldiers who have died since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, 2025 to five.

Egyptian border: Israel has been facing increased attempts to breach its southern border with Egypt for the purpose of smuggling weapons. In two separate incidents, the IDF recovered three assault rifles and 10 handguns with 30 magazines. Both weapons caches were located in drones that had been shot down by the IDF.

Dig Deeper:

Israel on High Alert as Officials Assess Iran Situation  

Iran Won’t Accept US “Red Lines” after Geneva Talks  

Large Cache of Weapons Found in Rafah Area  

Another Attempt to Smuggle Weapons from Egypt Foiled 

What You Need to Know:

The UN Secretary-General has come out in opposition of the Israeli government’s changes to land registration in Judea and Samaria, calling the decision “destabilizing and unlawful.” The decision made by the Israeli cabinet has been the subject of much debate this week at the United Nations.

On Wednesday (Feb. 18), Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar addressed the UN Security Council as they met to discuss Israeli–Palestinian peace. He accused the body of an anti-Israel obsession as he responded to remarks made at the UN the previous day, when “85 countries stood here and denied the Jewish people’s right to line in the same places recognized as belonging to a Jewish national home.” Sa’ar declared: “The idea that Jewish communities are an ‘obstacle to peace’ is outrageous. It’s disconnected from the current and past reality in Judea and Samaria.” Israel is increasingly opposed to the two-state solution, which many nations in the world see as the only path to peace in the region.

Last week, Francesca Albanese, the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories, called Israel a “common enemy of humanity,” drawing calls for her dismissal. France, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic are calling on the United Nations to remove Albanese from the position she has held for the last four years. British lawmakers have been urging their government to follow suit.

Dig Deeper:

UN Chief Urges Israel to Reverse “West Bank” Land Registration Measure  

Anti-Israel Obsession at the UN 

European Governments Move to Oust Albanese over anti-Israel Remarks

What You Need to Know:

In an address to reserve brigade commanders on Sunday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said that “2026 will continue to be a year in which we operate at a high operational-offensive tempo, to further weaken the threats and defeat our enemies along the lines of contact.” The head of the IDF acknowledged how important the reserve troops are to ensuring the IDF’s success. Zamir went on to promise that the IDF is working to provide flexibility for these soldiers who have been called away from their jobs and families to serve in the longest war Israel has experienced since the founding of the modern state.

Composed of four battalions, members of the IDF’s Combat Engineering Corps have been taking an active role in defending the nation since the corps was founded in 1947. One of those battalions is the Yahalom (Hebrew for “diamond”) unit. Men of the unit specialize, among other things, in locating and destroying terror tunnels and have played an integral role in Gaza. Other areas of expertise include demolishing and exploding buildings, sabotaging enemy infrastructure, handling explosives and clearing complex minefields. Recently, Israel issued a postage stamp marking 30 years since the establishment of the Yahalom unit. Incorporated into the design are 53 diamonds that represent the number of Yahalom fighters who have fallen in battle.

Dig Deeper:

Military Will Continue High Operational Tempo in 2026  

Commemorative Stamp Marks 30 Years since founding of Yahalom Unit   

Two Yahalom Fighters Killed in Building Collapse in Gaza

What You Need to Know:

While we would like to think that Jerusalem is a city without problems, that is simply not the case. One troubling area is the street scene, where kids—some as young as nine years old—hang out. Drugs, alcohol and violence are readily available to the roughly 5,000 at-risk children who are involved. Danny Brooks, director of Jerusalem's youth advancement division, told Ynetnews: “Drugs circulate freely. Today it’s so simple for them to get whatever they want.” The situation is not hopeless, however. There are a number of nonprofit organizations working with this troubled group of young Israelis. In addition, boarding homes that offer stability and purpose are an option that can turn young lives around.

Jerusalem also has a population of homeless adults. The number could be as low as 60–80 or hover near the 200 mark. Some are very visible as they sleep on sidewalks in the downtown area or push shopping carts piled high with what looks like rags and rubbish but truthfully represents all their earthly possessions. The Homeless Unit of the Jerusalem Municipality just added an ambulance dedicated to this at-risk population which typically does not have the means to seek medical services. The medical team “seeks to reduce barriers to the healthcare system, provide preventive care rather than just emergency treatment, and strengthen the connection between the homeless population and community healthcare.”

Dig Deeper:

Jerusalem’s Street Youth Crisis  

Jerusalem Introduces First Ambulance Exclusively for Care of Homeless

What You Need to Know:

It is no secret that antisemitism is very active in the world today. Here are just a few examples, by country, from the news this week.

France: Although they make up just 0.6% of the total French population, more than half the documented attacks in 2025 targeted Jewish people.” President Macon said antisemitism has grown “despite the resolute efforts of our police officers, gendarmes, judges, teachers and elected officials.”

Qatar: An IMPACT-se report on primary and secondary school textbooks found antisemitic content that legitimized the call for violent jihad (Islamic holy war). Specifically, the textbooks “portray Jews as ‘materialistic, arrogant, deceitful, and hostile to Islam.’ Jews are associated with traits such as lying, scheming, and breaching agreements.”

South Africa: Tennis players from an elite Anglican school refused to walk out onto the court for a match with a Jewish day school, despite the school’s “long-standing commitment to inclusion and respect for all communities.” Their actions contradicted officials who claimed that “Antisemitism has no place in our school.” 

United Kingdom: Matt Lucas, a well-known Jewish comedian, recently encountered a heckler shouting “Free Palestine.” Lucas walked away, but the confrontation “provoked angry reactions in the United Kingdom…because it underlined how the Palestinian cause is being used as justification for antisemitic abuse and discrimination.”

No country is totally free of this irrational mindset that has its roots in rebellion against the Lord Himself. Thankfully we are seeing more people speak out against antisemitism.

Dig Deeper:

Antisemitic Acts Lead France’s anti-Religious Crimes in 2025   

Despite Qatar’s Moderate Image, its Textbooks are Filled with Antisemitism  

South African School Apologizes after Refusing to Play Jewish Day School  

Jewish Actor Harassed in London with “Free Palestine” Comments

What You Need to Know:

A unit from the IDF’s Computer Service Directorate developed a system that is revolutionizing treatment of wounded soldiers. The CPR (Computerized Patient Record) GO system allows doctors and medics on the battleground to access the medical history of a wounded soldier and then digitally enter treatment information provided on the battleground. When the wounded soldier arrives at the hospital, that information is then quickly available, allowing treatment to continue seamlessly. In the words of one IDF physician, “prior to the introduction of CPR GO, there was no documentation and no continuity of care.” 

The Israeli government has been taking steps to clarify the rights of Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria. This week, the Cabinet approved the resumption of land registration across Judea and Samaria for the first time since 1967. This area, known as the biblical heartland of Israel, is where Jewish patriarchs lived. The current government has approved “some 50,000 homes and more than 50 Jewish communities since December 2022. 

For the first time in a decade, a Finnish foreign minister came to Israel on an official visit. Elina Valtonen met with her Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar and President Isaac Herzog. She also visited Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Remembrance Center. She “reaffirmed Finland’s support for regional stability and securing a path toward the two-state solution.” Her trip included a visit with the PA Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Ramallah.

Dig Deeper:

New IDF System Enables Real-time Medical Response in Combat Zones   

Israel Opens Judea and Samaria Land Registration for the First Time since 1967  

Finnish FM Visits Israel for the First Times since 2016