Thousands of Jews, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir among them, entered the Temple Mount holy site in Jerusalem to mark the Tisha B’Av fast on Thursday. Some of them openly prayed, in a continued erosion of what until the past few years had been a longstanding status quo at the site.

A spokesman from Beyadenu, which advocates for Jewish worship on the Temple Mount, said that some 3,000 Jews had come to the site by midday, while hundreds were waiting in line to enter.

Hundreds more were expected to ascend the flashpoint site in the afternoon; he told The Times of Israel.

“Look at what’s happening here — Jews are praying and feel that they are the rightful owners here,” Ben Gvir said in a video filmed at the compound and posted on his Telegram channel.

“Everywhere, people understand that the State of Israel is the sovereign authority. There is still more to do, and with God’s help, we will continue to move forward.”

AFSI Insight
The events of Tisha B’Av on the Temple Mount are a powerful expression of the Jewish people’s enduring connection to their holiest site. Jews should be able to pray freely on the Temple Mount without restrictions or fear. The thousands who ascended the Mount on the day commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples affirms the unbroken bond between the Jewish people, Jerusalem, and the Temple Mount.

AFSI stresses that Tisha B’Av is not only a day of mourning but a reminder of the Jewish people’s resilience and determination to restore and strengthen Jewish sovereignty throughout Israel. Respectful Jewish prayer at Judaism’s holiest site should be recognized as a fundamental religious right and viewed as another step in reaffirming Israel’s historic and national heritage.

Source:
Thousands of Jews visit Temple Mount for Tisha B’Av; some pray openly, by Charlie Summers, Nava Freiberg and AFP, July 23, 2026

An illegal Palestinian Authority compound funded with European Union money was recently discovered in Area C by Regavim, an Israeli NGO focused on land-use issues. E.U. hypocrisy is now very obvious.

The recently discovered recreational compound and public park was built in 2025 on the outskirts of the village of Silat ad-Dhahr in northern Samaria. Part of it is located on Israeli state land in Area C, near the renewed community of Sa Nur, one of four towns evacuated in Samaria during the 2005 Gaza disengagement.

The site fits into a broader pattern of Arab encroachment on open areas to seize Israeli state land and create facts on the ground in preparation for the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state.

“The whole thing is illegal and comes at precisely the same time the EU has sanctioned law-abiding Israeli civil society organizations, including Regavim, without even the pretense that they are guilty of doing anything illegal,” Kahn added.

AFSI Insight
AFSI views this report as further evidence that the battle over Judea and Samaria is not merely a local dispute, but an international campaign to create irreversible facts on the ground. While European officials routinely condemn Israeli communities as “illegal,” they are accused of financing and facilitating unauthorized Palestinian construction in Area C, undermining both Israeli law and the Oslo framework. This double standard weakens Israel’s sovereignty and advances the Palestinian Authority’s long-term strategy of seizing strategic territory without negotiations. AFSI believes Israel must respond with vigorous enforcement against illegal building, full transparency regarding foreign involvement, and the extension of Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria to ensure that Israel—not outside governments—determines the future of its historic heartland.

Source:
EU behind illegal Palestinian building in Judea and Samaria, Israeli NGO says, by David Isaac/JNS, July 22, 2026

Elements of the Trump administration are again considering ways to bring down Iran’s government after renewed fighting and failed diplomacy left Washington without a clear path to ending the conflict, according to the Financial Times.

The discussions do not appear to represent a formally adopted US policy, and President Donald Trump has not announced a decision to pursue regime change. Officials are nevertheless examining economic, political and covert options intended to weaken Tehran from within as the administration questions whether negotiations can permanently restrain Iran.

The renewed interest follows the collapse of a temporary agreement intended to halt the fighting, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and revive negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. American airstrikes have since resumed, while Iran has continued attacking US forces, regional infrastructure and commercial shipping.

AFSI Insight
That the United States is considering strategies to bring about the end of Iran’s Islamist regime signals recognition that the root of the threat is not merely Iran’s nuclear program, but the regime itself. AFSI has long argued that lasting regional stability cannot be achieved while the Ayatollahs continue to fund terrorism, arm proxy militias, and openly pursue America and Israel’s destruction. If the Iranian people are ultimately freed from this oppressive dictatorship, it would represent a major victory for peace, security, and the broader Middle East. AFSI would also stress that any policy must remain focused on protecting Israel’s security and ensuring that Iran can never again threaten the Jewish state or the free world.

Source:
US considering plan to overthrow Iranian regime – report by World Israel News Staff, July 21, 2026

Two Palestinians were arrested on suspicion of involvement in a fire that damaged dozens of homes and vehicles on Saturday in the Samaria community of Chavat Gilad, the Israel Police said on Monday. The fire destroyed 15 homes, 10 businesses and more than 30 structures, damaging infrastructure and forcing the evacuation of approximately 100 families.

“The security forces will continue to act decisively to locate and bring to justice anyone involved in harming public security or property,” it added.

Following hours of firefighting efforts, Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan issued a statement from Chavat Gilad on Saturday night, saying there was a “very strong suspicion” the blaze was the result of arson. He said the fire began after a burning object was thrown from a moving vehicle into a nearby field of dry brush.

AFSI Insight
The news from Chavat Gilad is heartbreaking. Our hearts are especially with our dear friends Ilana Shimon and Yael Shevach, whose homes were destroyed in this devastating fire. For many years, AFSI has stood with the pioneers of Judea and Samaria, and these women have been a source of strength, resilience, and inspiration through both personal tragedy and unwavering dedication to her community.

We express our deepest sorrow over this latest loss and our complete solidarity with Ilana, Yael, and their families and all the residents of Chavat Gilad. No family should have to endure the destruction of their home, and no community should have to live under the constant threat of violence and terror.

We are confident that, with the same courage that has always defined them, the people of Chavat Gilad will rebuild. AFSI stands with them today, as we always have, and remains committed to supporting the brave men and women who are strengthening Israel’s heartland. May all of the residents of Chavat Gilad find comfort, renewed strength, and the knowledge that they are not alone.

The arrests of two Palestinian suspects in connection with the devastating Chavat Gilad fire underscore the need to thoroughly investigate and prosecute acts of suspected arson against Jewish communities. Whether carried out through terrorism or criminal violence, attacks that destroy homes and endanger civilian lives must be met with swift justice and strong security measures. The destruction in Chavat Gilad serves as another reminder of the ongoing threats faced by residents of Judea and Samaria and the importance of ensuring their safety while deterring future attacks.

Source:
Israeli forces arrest two Palestinians in Havat Gilad fire probe, by JNS Staff, July 20, 2026

The IDF declared much of the Gaza border region a closed military zone Sunday as thousands of Israelis prepared to march from Yad Mordechai toward the enclave in support of reestablishing Jewish communities evacuated in 2005.

The demonstration, organized by the Nahala movement, was scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at Yad Mordechai Junction, north of Gaza. Organizers promoted the event as the “March of Thousands” and said its purpose was to press the government to begin renewing Israeli settlement in the Strip before this year’s election.

Nahala has described the march as a step toward “returning home after 21 years” and has focused its immediate campaign on renewed settlement in northern Gaza.

Ahead of the event, Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor signed an order closing a broad section of the western Negev from 8 a.m. Sunday until 8 a.m. Monday.

AFSI Insight
It’s unfortunate that the IDF had to declare the Gaza border area a closed military zone. AFSI sees the Gaza march as a reminder of the failure of the 2005 disengagement and the dangers that followed when Hamas turned Gaza into a terror base. While respecting the IDF’s security restrictions, AFSI believes Israel must retain the freedom to determine Gaza’s future based solely on its security needs and the protection of its citizens. We must also keep in mind that Gaza is part of Israel, both historically and legally. As it was part of the British Mandate for Palestine, under the doctrine of uti possidetis juris, international law recognizes that it became part of Israel when the British declared Israel sovereign over the mandatory territory in 1948.

Source:
Thousands plan to march on Gaza Strip, IDF declares border closed military zone, by World Israel News Staff, July 19, 2026

In 2009, then Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad unveiled a plan to unilaterally establish a Palestinian state by creating “facts on the ground,” despite the Oslo Accords. His program, Palestine: Ending the Occupation, Establishing the State, called for full sovereignty over the “West Bank” and Gaza within the 1967 lines, with Jerusalem as its capital, and outlined how that goal would be achieved. Once Israel realized the overall threat this presented it begin to respond.

Israel’s hilltop communities and farms in Judea and Samaria were founded, with idealistic young couples and youth managing to thwart key aspects of Fayyad’s plan. When the horrors of October 7 turned almost all Israelis against the very thought of a Palestinian Arab State alongside Israel, the government realized the need for the farms and sheep ranches spread over the empty expanses of land. It saw how Hilltop communities would block Arab attempts to create contiguity – all this – in Israel-controlled Area C.

AFSI Insight
The Hilltop Youth are too often mischaracterized and dismissed, while their dedication to settling and protecting the Land of Israel deserves greater recognition. These young men and women building and defending Israel’s hilltops are carrying forward the pioneering Zionist spirit that established the modern Jewish state. While critics frequently portray them as extremists, many are strengthening Israel’s strategic presence in Judea and Samaria through hard work, determination, and an unwavering belief in the Jewish people’s historic rights.

AFSI has long maintained that a strong Jewish presence throughout Judea and Samaria is essential to Israel’s security and future. These communities create facts on the ground that help safeguard Israel’s heartland, deter terrorism, and reinforce the Jewish people’s enduring connection to their ancestral homeland. Rather than condemning these idealistic young pioneers, Israel and all of Am Yisroel should support those who are helping secure the nation’s future.

Source:
Thank G-d for those hilltop youth, by Rochel Sylvetsky/Israel National News, July 17, 2026

The Israeli Cabinet approved a 1.3-billion- shekel ($434 million) plan to establish and develop dozens of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Tuesday.

“Together with [Settlements and National Missions] Minister Orit Strook, we formulated a decision that will enable the rapid establishment of communities through pioneer neighborhoods in the coming days, in parallel with the permanent development process of the communities.”

According to the Cabinet decision, which was adopted on June 14 and first published by Channel 12 News on Tuesday, the government will finance rapid initial construction consisting of prefabricated buildings, including up to 15 homes and two public buildings at each location.

AFSI Insight
AFSI welcomes the Israeli Cabinet’s approval of a $434 million investment plan to strengthen communities throughout Judea and Samaria, viewing it as a major step toward securing Israel’s biblical heartland. We believe that building homes, schools, roads, and public infrastructure is the strongest response to those who seek to weaken Israel’s historic and legal claims to the region. Rather than temporary measures, AFSI sees this investment as reinforcing permanent Jewish presence and advancing Israeli sovereignty. AFSI urges the government to continue translating words into action by expanding communities, supporting residents, and ensuring that Judea and Samaria remain an inseparable part of the State of Israel.

Source:
Israeli Cabinet OKs $434 million plan for building, developing Judea and Samaria towns, by JNS Staff, July 15, 2026

The Government on Tuesday approved the proposal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar to establish a new program called ‘Masa Diplomacy,” a dedicated track within the ‘Masa’ project aimed at equipping young Jewish people from the Diaspora with the tools to advocate for the State of Israel in the international arena.

The launch of the program comes against the backdrop of unprecedented challenges facing Israel in the international sphere, including the rise of anti-Semitism, delegitimization, and the spread of disinformation. The program will provide its participants with knowledge, tools, and skills in the fields of advocacy, public diplomacy, and addressing the challenges of international discourse, alongside strengthening their connection to the State of Israel and the Jewish people.

AFSI Insight
Israel’s decision to launch the Masa Diplomacy program is a welcome acknowledgment that the battle for Israel’s future is being fought not only on the battlefield, but in the arena of public opinion. By training young Diaspora Jews to become informed advocates, Israel is investing in a new generation that can challenge the flood of misinformation, anti-Semitism, and anti-Israel propaganda spreading across campuses, social media, and international institutions. The program aims to strengthen Israel’s global public diplomacy through young Jewish leaders.

AFSI believes this initiative is an important step, but it must be accompanied by a clear and unapologetic presentation of Israel’s historic, legal, and biblical rights to the Land of Israel—including Judea and Samaria. Effective advocacy is rooted in truth, not political expediency. The world must hear Israel’s case from knowledgeable voices who are prepared to confront false narratives with facts, conviction, and moral clarity.

Source:
Facing global hate, Israel launches new public diplomacy program, by Israel National News, July 14, 2026

Channel 14 journalist Tal Meir recently quoted Yair Golan as saying that if his political camp returns to power, it will “prevent further annexation, fight Jewish terrorism, and evacuate the farms and outposts.”

Whether or not these statements are ever carried out, they remind us of a simple truth: as long as Israeli sovereignty has not been applied, the future of the communities in Judea and Samaria remains vulnerable to the outcome of every election.

Over the past four years, new communities have been established, farms have been built, roads have been paved, and enormous resources have been invested in developing Judea and Samaria.

Yet as long as the legal status of the region remains unresolved, every change of government can reopen the debate over their future. This is precisely why sovereignty matters.

AFSI Insight
The growing network of Jewish farms throughout Judea and Samaria has become a strategic frontline in securing Israel’s heartland, but these communities are increasingly under political and legal attack. As Yehudit Katzover and Nadia Matar argue, efforts to dismantle farms and communities would reverse years of pioneering settlement and weaken Israel’s hold on vital territory. Rather than retreating under international pressure, Israel should seize this moment to apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, ensuring permanent protection for these communities and ending the uncertainty created by temporary military administration. Sovereignty is presented not only as a historic right but as the essential safeguard for Israel’s security, agriculture, and future in its ancestral homeland.

Source:
The Farms Are Under Threat – Now Is the Time for Sovereignty, by Yehudit Katzover and Nadia Matar/The Jewish Edition, July 13, 2026

Cabinet Minister Orit Strock outlined to Arutz Sheva – Israel National News her vision for expanding Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, calling for future settlement efforts to extend into Areas A and B as well as Area C.

According to Strock, the current government has reversed the damage caused by the Oslo Accords and the 2005 Disengagement in Area C, but this is only the first stage of the process.

“The entire Land of Israel is ours – not only Area C, but also Areas B and A,” Strock said. “There are 1.3 million dunams of land that are free of any settlement, and we need to take them because they are ours. We need to move into Area A.”

AFSI Insight
Housing and Settlements Minister Orit Strock’s call to expand Jewish building into Areas A and B of Judea and Samaria reflects the growing recognition that the Oslo framework has failed to bring peace or security. AFSI has long maintained that dividing Israel’s biblical heartland created dangerous security realities while undermining Israel’s historic and legal rights.

Strengthening Jewish communities throughout Judea and Samaria is essential to Israel’s security, defensive depth, and national future. AFSI supports policies that replace failed temporary arrangements with lasting Israeli sovereignty and a stronger Jewish presence in the heartland.

Source:
Strock urges: Settle Areas A and B of Judea and Samaria, by Hezki Baruch/Israel National News, July 13, 2026