Friday, September 12, 2025

What You Need to Know:

In a word, Israel’s leaders have been weathering intense diplomatic challenges this past week. Already under heavy international pressure to end the war in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government faced an outcry from world leaders regarding the September 10 strike on Hamas leaders based in Qatar. In response, PM Netanyahu issued a stern warning to countries harboring terrorist leaders: “Expel them or bring them to justice. Otherwise, we will do it ourselves.” According to the BBC, Qatar is considering legal action against the prime minister, calling the strike “state-sponsored terrorism” carried out under his direction.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog—in England this week at the invitation of British Jewry—took the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Relations between the two countries have been strained as the UK has strongly criticized Israel’s defensive war in Gaza and has openly announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly. The men described the meeting as “difficult” and “tough.”

On the home front, political parties in the opposition will hold the first of a series of planning meetings next week. Spokesman Yair Lapid, head of the opposition, said the meetings are intended to “deepen coordination and begin formulating the basic guidelines for the next government.” Calls for early elections were narrowly avoided before the Knesset began its three-month summer recess on July 27.

Dig Deeper:

Netanyahu to Qatar: Expel the Terrorists or We Will Do It Ourselves

Report: Qatar Mulling Legal Action against PM Netanyahu

Israeli President in UK, Meets with Prime Minister Starmer 

Leaders of anti-Netanyahu Bloc to Meet Next Week

What You Need to Know:

Jerusalem: On Monday, the city of Jerusalem reeled from its first shooting attack in nearly two years when two terrorists opened fire on a bus, killing six people and wounding 11. Hamas lauded the attack, calling it “a natural response to the crimes of the occupation” and an “escalation of the confrontation.” Commenting on the attack, Prime Minister Netanyahu has vowed to “eliminate out the terrorist nests in Samaria.”

In response, the IDF launched large-scale operations in Samaria aimed at dismantling terrorist activity in the area. The military said it had located and confiscated “terror funds worth tens of thousands of shekels, along with weapons.”  

Lebanon: In an apparent reversal of the news to date, the Lebanese government has now announced that within three months, their army will have completely disarmed Hezbollah. This is in keeping with UN Security Council Resolution 1701 “which requires the complete demilitarization of Hezbollah south of the Litani River,” 18 miles (29 km.) north of the Israeli border. Fulfilling its commitment to keep Israel’s northern communities secure, the IDF continues to strike armed Hezbollah operatives in the area.

Houthis: In response to an increased number of missiles and UAVs launched by the Houthis, including one which hit a terminal at the Ramon Airport near Eilat this week, the IDF struck Houthi targets in Saana on Wednesday. The targets included military camps, the organization’s public relations headquarters and a fuel storage facility.

Dig Deeper:

PM Netanyahu Says, ‘IDF Will Eliminate Terror Nests in Samaria”  

Lebanese FM: Hezbollah Disarmament South of Litani by November

IDF Launches Large-Scale Operation in Samaria

IDF Strikes Targets in Yemen’s Capital

What You Need to Know:

UN President Annalena Baerbock, former German foreign minister, opened the 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday, September 9. This is shaping up to be a difficult and tumultuous session for Israel-related issues as Baerbok included the issue of “starving children in Gaza” in her opening remarks. Pro-Palestinian activist groups are calling for a march to “flood” the UN “for Gaza” on September 23, the date when the General Debate sessions will begin.

France has been spearheading an initiative of support for the declaration of an independent Palestinian state at this year’s UN General Assembly. The United States and Germany do not support the initiative, but it enjoys the backing of most other European countries. Israel’s position is that this action rewards Hamas for their horrendous attack on October 7.

As he has done for the past 18 years, Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to address the General Assembly. Foremost among his challenges will be to defend his nation from accusations that Israel is a “genocide perpetrator.” Instead, his focus must be to adamantly inform his listeners “that the long-term security of the State of Israel and its citizens is a paramount goal” and that unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state is a blatant reward for the terrorism perpetrated upon Israeli citizens by Hamas.

Dig Deeper:

Israel Winning in Gaza, Losing Global Narrative War  

OPINION: How Netanyahu Should Defend Israel at the UN

2025 UN General Assembly Called ‘No Ordinary Session’

What You Need to Know:

Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a final ultimatum to Hamas on Monday saying, “Today, a mighty hurricane storm will strike the skies of Gaza, and the roofs of the terror towers will tremble…release the hostages and lay down your weapons—or Gaza will be destroyed, and you will be annihilated. The IDF continues as planned—and is preparing to expand the maneuver to decide Gaza.”

A significant challenge faced by the IDF is the evacuation of Gaza City’s civilian population. The Jerusalem Post quoted a senior defense official who said that “only up to 80,000 out of over one million Palestinians had evacuated.” This in spite of the fact that the IDF has been warning the city’s residents to evacuate for weeks. Hamas has reportedly prevented many citizens from leaving the city.

For the second time since they were taken captive by Hamas, twins Gali and Ziv Berman and Yosef Haim Ohana celebrated their birthdays apart from their grieving families. The Berman brothers turned 28 while Ohana is now 25 years old. The 48 hostages remaining captive in Gaza have been held in unimaginable conditions over 700 days. Their return remains a top priority for Israel. As PM Netanyahu and others have said many times, “The war in Gaza could end now if Hamas would release all the hostages and lay down their arms.”

Dig Deeper:

IDF Issues Largest Evacuation Order Yet for Gaza City

3 Israeli Hostages Mark Second Birthdays in Captivity On September 10

Three High Rise Buildings Destroyed in Gaza City

What You Need to Know:

It would be hard to find an Israeli who is not somehow experiencing stress and grieving over the events of the past two years. The entire nation feels the sting of unjust accusations and downright hatred in the news and on social media platforms. It is a lonely place when people around the world accuse you of deliberately starving children because they are swayed by false reports. Or imagine taking your family on a long-awaited holiday in Europe, only to have your young children faced with brutal antisemitism that appears in places you hoped would provide a bit of respite from the stress of daily life in Israel.

Consider the thousands of Israelis who are currently undergoing rehabilitation for wounds suffered in the line of duty—severe burns, limb amputations, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and more. The soldiers doing active duty also need prayer as it can be difficult to keep morale high when there are demonstrations in the country against the continued fighting. 

Though not Jewish, the Druze of northern Israel are loyal citizens who are also suffering. Last summer, a Hezbollah rocket hit a soccer pitch in Majdal Shams, killing 12 young children and wounding 38 more. The Israeli Druze community suffered another blow this summer as their relatives in Syria were massacred in the sectarian fighting that took place in southern Syria.

Dig Deeper:

12,000 Israeli Soldiers Entered Rehab since October 7

Hadassah Opens Larger Rehabilitation Center for War Wounded

Mother of Son Killed in Majdal Shams Cares for Syrian Baby Carrying His Name

What You Need to Know:

In a recent article for the Jewish News Syndicate, Ruthie Blum included this thought-provoking quote from late British historian Paul Johnson who wrote: ‘[Antisemitism] is an intellectual disease, a disease of the mind, extremely infectious and massively destructive. Furthermore, in the whole of history, it is hard to point to a single occasion when a wave of antisemitism was provoked by a real Jewish threat (as opposed to an imaginary one).

We can see the truth of Johnson’s 2005 observation as the global increase of antisemitism has been both infectious and destructive. This week, we want to include two hopeful events organized by the Campaign against Antisemitism (CAM).

In response to the demonstrable rise of anti-Jewish hatred in Australia, an emergency summit of mayors, local leaders and community figures was convened to create “actionable plans to combat antisemitism. Richard Marles, Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister, told those in attendance, “We must do everything possible to eradicate antisemitism.”

Across the world, approximately 70,000 Britons took part in a march in London organized by CAM. Chris Philp, a member of the Conservative Party who holds the office of Shadow Home Secretary, spoke at the rally saying, “Jewish students are being abused and persecuted. It is immoral. We’re here to say enough.”

Dig Deeper:

London March Draws Tens of Thousands Amid Antisemitic Surge

Australia Sees Near Daily Antisemitic Incidents; Situation at Boiling Point

To Jihadists, ‘Never Again’ Means Again and Again and Again

What You Need to Know:

As the new school year begins, groups of students are bringing hope and resilience to war-torn communities in the Gaza Envelope. These teens are part of the Adam V’Adama School Network, an educational program that connects Israeli youth to the Land through hands-on work in the fields coupled with the study of traditional subjects like math, science and history. Their “school day begins around 5 a.m. While most teenagers are still asleep, these students are already out in the fields, planting, harvesting, caring for crops.” The program instills a love for the Land, brings hope and joy to those they serve and prepares them for leadership.

Britain’s largest Christian festival recently drew crowds of over 35,000 people to the Wiston Estate, West Sussex. Christians United for Israel (CUFI) reported being overwhelmed as they saw support and love for the Jewish people demonstrated by the attendees. Most encouraging was the openness they saw among the young visitors to their stand. “Even those who expressed misunderstandings about Israel demonstrated a willingness to listen to the truth; some as if hearing it for the first time.” As the CUFI representative said, many of these young people lack a biblical foundation and yet are searching for truth.

Dig Deeper:

Israeli Students Sow Seeds of Hope and Leadership in Israel 

 CUFI: what We Learned from the Big Church Festival