The Israel Police last week swore in the members of a brand-new first-response unit in a ceremony at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron.

The Judea and Samaria District’s YATAR unit comprises volunteers who reside in district communities, according to police.

The unit was established as a strategic initiative in the aftermath of the Hamas-led invasion of southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, with the goal of providing a quick, professional and effective response to any terror scenario or criminal incident, and to strengthen the personal sense of security for residents, police said.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said, “This isn’t just another Kitat Konenut [community rapid response team], it is a specialized unit whose familiarity with the area, the civilians and the high-risk zones makes it the first line of defense in real time,” said Ben-Gvir.

He added that the unit represents Zionism, the strengthening of sovereignty and governance in Judea and Samaria, and is a significant component in the deep transformation of security in Judea and Samaria which he said he was leading.

We welcome the launch of YATAR. However, if sovereignty were applied throughout Judea and Samaria, civilians would not need to be the first line to patrol and defend their communities.

Source:
Israel Police swears in new volunteer first-response unit in Judea and Samaria, by Josh Hasten/JNS, July 14, 2025

The Irish Parliament is expected to hold a final debate this Tuesday on legislation that would criminalize the import of products manufactured in Judea and Samaria.

In response, Samaria Regional Council Head Yossi Dagan sent a letter to senior officials in the Trump administration and members of Congress, urging the US to impose high tariffs on Ireland should the bill be passed.

Dagan warned that the law rewards Palestinian Authority terrorism and harms peace-seeking residents. He said the legislation is part of the global BDS movement, which the US has repeatedly condemned. “If Ireland passes an official law that boycotts Jews alone, it will crown itself as an antisemitic state,” Dagan wrote. “It would mark the first time since the Holocaust that a European nation enacts legislation specifically targeting Jews. A country that turns antisemitic, contrary to US policy, cannot be ignored by the free world. I call on the United States to impose economic sanctions on any country that supports such antisemitic boycott laws.”

We encourage our readers to contact their lawmakers with Dagan’s message. Follow this link to find your elected officials.

Source:
Samaria Council Head Yossi Dagan urges US to impose high tariffs on Ireland, by Israel National News, July 13, 2025

A new law aimed at preventing the granting of Israeli citizenship or residency status to relatives of terrorists was approved Wednesday in its second and third readings in the Knesset plenum. The legislation received broad support from members of both the coalition and the opposition.

The law disqualifies the possibility of granting “family reunification” to relatives of terrorists, thereby blocking their entry into Israel.

The initiative was the result of a long campaign led by MK Amit Halevi (Likud), together with Merav and Herzl Hajaj, the parents of Lt. Shir Hajaj, who was murdered in a 2017 terrorist attack in the Armon HaNatziv neighborhood of Jerusalem. The law also grants legal authority to deport terrorists’ family members who have already received temporary status in Israel.

Merav and Herzl Hajaj said, “This law was born from deep pain, but it may save lives and prevent further tragedies.

This is another step in dismantling the terrorist infrastructure. The Supreme Court can no longer rule that entry for Palestinians who claim they want to unite with family is acceptable when their real motives to commit terror against Israel are overlooked. We can also hope that it may in some way act as a deterrent for those committing acts of terror.

The photo in this article shows MK Amit Halevi with AFSI Director Judy Freedman Kadish in the Knesset. AFSI’s May Chizuk Mission to Israel had a productive meeting with MK Halevi (and also MK Ohad Tal) at the Knesset.

Source:
Law approved: ‘No more gifts for terrorists’ families’, by Israel National News, July 10, 2025

Following reports of the Jabari clan from Hebron contacting Minister Nir Barkat to establish a local emirate in Hebron and join the Abraham Accords, a storm has erupted in Palestinian Arab media.

Local tribes quickly disassociated themselves from the move, but the spokesperson for the Jewish community in Hebron, Noam Arnon, is convinced that it is an authentic initiative representing the will of the local public.

“In a clan of tens of thousands of people, there are diverse opinions, but the overall spirit is clear – a desire for clan leadership under Israeli sovereignty,” says Arnon. According to him, the movement is impossible without an Israeli sovereign infrastructure: “They have been rebelling against the PA for a long time. This is authentic local leadership that is no longer willing to live under the rule of ‘the corrupt ones’.”

In conclusion, he warns against establishing a Palestinian state: “If we don’t offer our sovereignty, the residents will be left with no way out under corrupt and terrorist rule. This is a historical responsibility that the State of Israel cannot shirk.”

On our Chizuk Mission’s May trip to Israel we ran into and met with our dear friend Noam Arnon when we were all at Ma’arat HaMachpela.

Source:
Noam Arnon: The sane majority in Hebron wants Israeli sovereignty, by Shimon Cohen/Israel National News, by July 8, 2025

A new investigation by the Regavim Movement’s Arab Research Department reveals that the Palestinian Authority has been building a systematic governance apparatus in the heart of Jerusalem for over a decade, in violation of the Oslo Accords and in direct violation of Israel’s legal authority.

The PA’s Ministry for Jerusalem Affairs operates as an official arm of the Palestinian government in Israel’s capital, with an annual budget of tens of millions of Shekels. Among other areas of activity, this ministry runs a compensation system for illegal Arab construction, provides legal representation against Israeli state institutions, and publicly conducts coordination with international organizations.

Meir Deutsch, Director General of Regavim: “The State of Israel enforces the law only sporadically and fails to act systematically or strategically to counter Palestinian plans. As a result, where Israel does not assert control, the PA fills the vacuum, establishing itself as the de facto governing authority, with the encouragement and substantial funding provided by foreign governments and international organizations. The result is the quiet by consistent loss of Israeli governance, the erosion of Israeli sovereignty, and the entrenchment of de facto Palestinian Authority sovereignty.”

Source:
Report: PA plans to establish autonomy in Jerusalem by 2030, by Israel National News, July 10, 2025

Five sheikhs from Hebron have proposed establishing an independent emirate in the city, severing ties with the Palestinian Authority, and joining the Abraham Accords, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

The report states that the five sent a letter to Minister Nir Barkat, who has met with them more than ten times, in which they requested to replace the Palestinian Authority as the governing and policing entity, and to recognize the State of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people.

In their letter, the sheikhs called for negotiations to establish a new arrangement to replace the Oslo Accords, which they said had brought “disaster and death.” They also proposed a formalized process for allowing workers from Hebron to enter Israel and pledged “zero tolerance for terrorism.”

“The Hebron Emirate will recognize the State of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, and the State of Israel will recognize the Hebron Emirate as the representative of the Arab residents of the Hebron district,” the sheikhs proposed.

A senior Israeli official told the newspaper that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports the initiative but is waiting to see how it develops before making a public statement.

“No one in Israel believes in the Palestinian Authority, and you won’t find many Palestinians who do either. The Jabari sheikhs want peace with Israel and to join the Abraham Accords—there’s no reason to say no to them,” Minister Nir Barkat said in response to the report.

We did not see this one coming and certainly appreciate the truth being put forth for the public to read. This proposal is an initiative that draws inspiration from concepts like those of our dear friend, Dr. Mordechai Kedar, who has been advocating for years for tribal-based emirate type governance over a unified Palestinian state. It is a bold departure from traditional Palestinian leadership stances and holds promise as permanent solution to finally end a decades-long problem. It’s also a serious glimpse into how fed up many Arabs are with the Palestinian Authority. Certainly, the Jabari clan has signaled their interest in this type of cooperation for many years. That additional sheikhs proposed this speaks positive volumes. What has terrorism really achieved for the Arabs? Other than endless injury, propaganda and death, not much that we can see. We guess they’re finding out it doesn’t pay off in the long run.

Still, we cannot forget the pogroms of 1929 and the like and wonder if this is truly more of just a “taqiyya” type move, bowing to Israel’s strength until it may one day be overcome. Moving forward, we hope that Israel will trust but verify.

Source:
Hebron sheikhs propose independent emirate, seek ties with Israel and Abraham Accords, by Nitsan Keidar/Israel National News, July 6, 2025

Hebron Arab leaders back joining Abraham Accords, by Avi Abelow/JNS

Significant plans have been put into place to restore Israeli sovereignty over the tomb of Joseph, one of the most important religious sites in Judaism.

Since the Oslo Accords, Arabs attacked and murdered Jewish pilgrims visiting the site so regularly that in 2000, after a soldier was killed in a particularly brutal attack, the IDF withdrew permanent presence and visits became tightly controlled, occurring only monthly at most, and at night.

Return to Yosef – Jews United is a Knesset lobby comprised of politicians, activists, rabbis, and senior security officials. Last week they held a conference that outlined practical plans to overcome the current access issues.

Lobby Chairman Nachi Weiss stated: “Lacking a foothold at Joseph’s Tomb does not ease the security situation, it does the opposite. Terror intensifies in Shechem in the absence of a Jewish presence, and the nations of the world see us abandoning one of the most historically rooted Jewish heritage sites.

The lobby also emphasized that Israel cannot afford to leave Joseph’s Tomb as “the backyard of the country,” and that returning to the site represents the fulfillment of a dream, strong leadership, and loyalty to Jewish identity.

Israel must act now and apply sovereignty to this holy site; for the sake of Israel’s future, for the security of the country and to fully reclaim our historic right to Joseph’s Tomb.

Source:
Plans Put in Place to Restore Sovereignty to Significant Jewish Heritage Site Joseph’s Tomb, by Crystal Jones/TPS-IL, July 3, 2025

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Israel has agreed to the conditions that would pave the way for a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage release deal.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump also urged Hamas to accept the deal: “My Representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza. Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War.”

Trump added, “The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked very hard to help bring Peace, will deliver this final proposal. I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Officials involved in the negotiations say there is a significant chance for an agreement, though disagreements remain between the parties.

A ceasefire is intended to de-escalate immediate violence, but if Hamas takes the deal, it’s but a fraction of the overall problem solved. Long-term solutions like strengthening moderate Palestinian leadership, fostering economic stability, and countering extremist narratives have consistently faced significant hurdles.

Routing out terrorism is the root of the matter but ceasefire after ceasefire is not the answer. A ceasefire will likely enable Hamas to re-group and re-arm. How does this further Israel’s goals – the eradication of Hamas, the elimination terrorist entities in Gaza and the release of all the hostages? President Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are set to meet soon. Perhaps there will be a paradigm shift.

Source:
Trump: Israel agreed to ceasefire terms, Hamas should take this deal, by Israel National News, July 2, 2025

The Supreme Planning Council discussed on Wednesday the promotion of 267 housing units in two Ma’ale Amos and Modi’in Gardens in Judea and Samaria. Of the total units, 150 are expected to be built in Modi’in Gardens.

The planned area is located in Judea and Samaria in an area beyond the fence, in an area near the village of Ni’lin, where the fence was established in 2005.

The plan was approved for deposit in June 2023, and today it is to be discussed for validation. If approved, it will set a precedent for expanding Israeli towns beyond the security fence.

Since last November, the Supreme Planning Council has been holding weekly discussions to promote housing units in Judea and Samaria. Since the beginning of 2025, along with the plans intended for approval this week, the Supreme Planning Council has promoted 19,647 housing units – an all-time record for such a period.

Source:
Historic Precedent: Judea and Samaria plans housing beyond security fence, by Israel National News, July 2, 2025

According to Hakol Hayehudi, a serious incident unfolded a few hours after the start of Shabbat on the Mount Hazor ridge in Binyamin, Samaria. An IDF officer arrived at a newly established Jewish community in the area with the goal of evacuating the residents. Upon exiting his vehicle, the officer reportedly fired live rounds over the heads of those present and threatened to “kill them all.”

The situation quickly escalated, with security forces reportedly deploying large amounts of tear gas and stun grenades directly at the settlers. During the incident, a 14-year-old boy was struck and sustained moderate to serious injuries. He was evacuated to Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem, where he was hospitalized in the intensive care unit with a gunshot wound to his upper body, shoulder fractures, and lung damage caused by the impact.

Yisrael Gantz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council stated, “There is no place for violence of any kind—certainly not against our security forces—and anyone who engaged in violence should be held accountable under the law. This is the unified stance of the entire settlement movement.”

This sad scenario replays itself like a never-ending nightmare and it did not have to happen. The ongoing nature of the tensions, violence, or confrontations in the region clearly mandates the need for sovereignty NOW! Yes, it seems the soldier sounded quite aggressive in his quest to carry out his job. However, we repeat ourselves time and again…. with the application of sovereignty over Judea and Samaria this serious incident could have been avoided.

Source:
Here We Go Again: Israeli Security Forces Shoot Jewish Boy in the Chest in Samaria, by David Israel/Jewish Press, June 29, 2025