On March 2, 2025, hours after the Israeli government announced the blockade of all food, medicine, fuel, and other humanitarian supplies from entering Gaza, lawmakers in Jerusalem demanded answers—not on the devastating human toll of such a decision, but on how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office was preparing to handle the public relations fallout.

Publicly available government contracts show that Israel’s advertising bureau, which reports to the prime minister’s office, has since embarked on a mass advertising and public messaging effort to deal with the “hunger crisis.” The push includes the use of American influencers and also includes a high-dollar spending spree on paid advertising, yielding tens of millions for Google, YouTube, X, Meta, and other tech platforms.

“There is food in Gaza. Any other claim is a lie,” asserted a propaganda video published by Israel’s foreign ministry to Google’s YouTube video sharing platform in late August and viewed more than 6 million times.

This is one example of a public relations undertaking that is severely overdue. Israel has a lot of work to do in order to make future campaigns successful – and – impactful. Waiting for the enemies to spew their anti-Semitic hate-filled lies first is too late in today’s world of information wars where attacks against Israel have drawn so many in. It’s one thing for Israel to combat the propaganda with facts right after the demonization goes viral. However, the truth from Israel should come out FAST and FIRST in order for Israel to get ahead of the eight ball and win the information wars. Israel must significantly improve its public relations. Proactive, widespread campaigns are crucial to win the information war against rapidly spreading anti-Semitic falsehoods. While somewhat effective at refuting prominent false narratives, Israel needs to disseminate accurate information promptly to prevent misinformation from taking hold and achieving viral reach.

Source:
Google’s $45 Million Contract With Netanyahu’s Office to Spread Israeli Propaganda, by Jack Pouslon and Lee Fang/Dropsite News, September 3, 2025

Israel’s government has approved the construction of more than 3,000 housing units in E! (“East 1”), an area in Judea and Samaria whose geostrategic significance far outstrips its small size. Israel signaled its intention to build there 30 years ago. Previous attempts to realize that intention have failed. The question is: Will this time be any different?

Local government officials JNS spoke with say nearly all the obstacles are removed. Most important, they say the government’s involvement is nearly at an end, at which point the issue becomes a purely municipal matter. Once that happens, there’s no going back.

International pressure is the main reason construction at E1 has not moved forward since it was first proposed in 1994 by then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. The plan enjoys national consensus support. It has been supported by every succeeding prime minister since Rabin.

Once built up, E1 would connect the two cities into a larger metropolis, serving as a countermeasure to Palestinian Authority efforts to surround Jerusalem with its own Arab metropolis, which includes Ramallah, eastern parts of Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

Israeli security analysts have long warned that Jerusalem will become a border town if the surrounding Arab settlement is allowed to continue unhindered. The answer, they say, is E1, which would protect Jerusalem, drive a wedge through the nearly contiguous Arab settlement stretching around it and ensure Jewish territorial contiguity eastward to the Jordan Valley.

Guy Yifrach, mayor of Maale Adumim explained that E1 is moving forward now is because of a friendly U.S. administration, “which understands that the Jewish people have a right to build in their land and that settlement in Judea and Samaria is not a political problem, but rather the solution.”

After 30 years of good intentions to build in E1, we eagerly await for Israel to move forward with building in this area. Israel must remain firm and not cave to international pressures this time.

Source:
E1 building plan: Officials say this time it’s for real, by David Isaac/JNS, September 4, 2025

On Wednesday, the Chairman of the Religious Zionism Party, Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich, together with the heads of the Judea and Samaria councils, the Chairman of the Yesha Council Yisrael Ganz, and the Yesha Council CEO Omer Rahamim, delivered a statement in which they presented the map of sovereignty and the key principles of applying sovereignty over parts of the homeland.

Smotrich said: “In the State of Israel there are many disagreements, but on two things today there is a wide consensus among the people and in the Knesset: absolute opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state in the heart of the land, and full application of Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria. After the October 7th massacre the Knesset has already decided by an overwhelming majority that there is no place for a Palestinian state, and the time has come to translate this understanding into clear policy: no more partition of the land, no more Auschwitz borders, but full Israeli sovereignty that will guarantee the future of the state and once and for all remove the idea of dividing our tiny land.”

Every day that Israel does not take action to declare sovereignty is a continued threat to the safety and security of the residents and the country. We eagerly await the presentation of a bill to go through the approval process in the Knesset. It is time for decisive action! Apply sovereignty NOW!!

Source:
Presenting: The Sovereignty Plan, by Israel National News, September 3, 2025

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir conducted a comprehensive field assessment on Wednesday throughout the Gaza Strip alongside Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asur and senior infantry and armored corps commanders.

“We are escalating combat within the primary theater, throughout the Gaza Strip, while intensifying strikes against the Hamas terror organization,” Chief of Staff Zamir addressed fighters deployed in the field.

According to his assessment, “We initiated the second phase of Operation Gideon’s Chariots to accomplish the war objectives. Securing the return of our hostages constitutes a moral and national obligation. We shall persist in targeting Hamas’ strategic centers until achieving its defeat. We are generating relentless pressure across all locations.”

Source:
IDF chief announces second phase of Operation Gideon’s Chariots, by Lilach Shoval/Israel Hayom, September 3, 2025

Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi on Monday evening called for decisive action against Hamas and the annexation of territory in the Gaza Strip.

“I’m waiting for Netanyahu to take the necessary steps – two kilometers inside the Strip should be under Israeli control,” he said.

In another report, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene a meeting on the possibility of applying sovereignty and taking measures against the Palestinian Authority in response to countries recognizing the Palestinian Authority as a state. The meeting was scheduled for Tuesday; however, the discussion was delayed to Thursday.

Several Israeli officials previously reported that Israel is considering annexation in Judea and Samaria as a possible response to France and other countries recognizing a Palestinian state.

Mayor Davidi’s call for just two kilometers annexed (we prefer to say reclaimed) is a temporary solution but one that should be taken to help assure the safety and sanity of Israelis in the South.

The full application of sovereignty throughout Judea and Samaria is long overdue and hangs over Israel like a weight bearing down hard and must be resolved. Israel’s international foes will call for a vote for a Palestinian State at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly. Whatever the catalyst that gets Israel to declare sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, Israel cannot wait for the ideal set of circumstances. Delaying the application of sovereignty in the hopes of a viable alternative for peace has proved futile. Apply sovereignty NOW.

Sources:
Sderot Mayor calls for decisive action: Annex at least two kilometers inside Gaza Strip, by Israel National News, September 2, 2025

Netanyahu to hold talks over West Bank annexation in response to Palestinian state recognition, by Amichai Stein/Jerusalem Post, September 2, 2025

In keeping with US law, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is revoking and denying visas for the approximately 80 officials of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) ,ahead of the upcoming session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The State Department memo recommends the denial of visas to Palestinian officials set to journey to the UN General Assembly — including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas — and revoke all visas issued prior to July 31.

The PLO and PA were sanctioned by the State Department on the same date for failing to comply with the PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989 (PLOCCA) and the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002 (MEPCA).

“Before they can be taken seriously as partners for peace, the PA and PLO must repudiate terrorism (including their policy of ‘pay for slay’), lawfare campaigns at the ICC and ICJ, and the pursuit of unilateral recognition of statehood,” said State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott in a statement.

There can never be any reward for terrorists. Denying visas to them is not a political maneuver and certainly not punishment. It is justice served, if only on a small scale.

Source:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio bars Palestinian officials from attending UN General Assembly, by Josh Christensen/New York Post, August 29, 2025

Israel on Monday morning inaugurated the first kindergarten in the northern Samaria Jewish community of Homesh, 20 years after its residents were forcefully evicted during the 2005 disengagement.

Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch said the opening signified “new roots of education and future” in Homesh. “This is not only an educational act but a Zionist one, of building and settlement,” he stated, pledging support for schools throughout the Land of Israel.

Monday morning’s ceremony in Homesh coincided with the first day of the new school year in the Jewish state, as more than 2.5 million children returned to classrooms and kindergartens nationwide.

Source:
20 years after disengagement, Israel inaugurates first kindergarten in evacuated Samaria community, by JNS Staff, September 1, 2025

Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat took part in a special event honoring the recognition of new towns in the Binyamin region. Speaking in an interview with Arutz Sheva he emphasized, “Now is the time to apply sovereignty in Judea and Samaria. Now is the time to dismantle the Palestinian Authority.”

Barkat reiterated an alternative vision based on what he referred to as the “Emirates model,” beginning in Hebron. Barkat has detailed the plan in the past, and is currently working on applying it, in collaboration with Binyamin Regional Council governor Israel Ganz and the Israeli government. “This model includes full Israeli recognition of the territories of Judea and Samaria,” said Barkat.

He added that he had been in direct contact with local leaders in Hebron. “When the sheikhs of Hebron say they want nothing to do with the corrupt Palestinian Authority, and they recognize Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people—something the PA has never done—it shows a path forward,” he said. “They oppose terrorism and are ready to cooperate with the State of Israel. They aren’t seeking statehood and have no national aspirations. They simply want to live alongside us peacefully.”.

Barkat emphasizes that the concept of sovereignty has garnered extensive support, resonating deeply with both the political leadership and the general populace across Judea and Samaria. He believes that substantial strides can be made towards its implementation. A crucial turning point in this endeavor will arrive when neighboring Arab nations demonstrate a genuine and unequivocal desire for peace and cooperative engagement with this new initiative. Once such a commitment to peaceful coexistence and collaboration is evident, a significant and foundational portion of the overarching objective will have been successfully realized, paving the way for a more stable and integrated regional future.

Source:
Minister Barkat: ‘Israel must dismantle the PA and declare sovereignty’, by Hezki Baruch/Israel National News, August 27, 2025

Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that the IDF will remain at the peak of Mount Hermon and in the buffer zone, citing threats from Syria and protecting residents of the Golan Heights.

Katz called the decision “necessary to protect the Golan Heights settlements from threats looming from the Syrian side as a central lesson that we’ve learned from October 7.

The IDF took over the peak almost immediately after the collapse of the former president Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024.

Last month, Katz told US Senator Ted Cruz that he “didn’t trust” Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, saying that the allegedly reformed Islamist would use “jihadist groups” against Israel in the future.

We don’t trust al-Sharaa (aka al-Julani) either, especially when there has been no genuine reform or action taken to stop to violent sectarian clashes in Syria. Disguising himself in a fashion-forward business suit and tie and passing himself off as a moderate will not gain legitimacy for him in Israel’s eyes.

Source:
Israel to remain at peak of Mount Hermon and buffer zone in Syria, Defense Minister Katz says, by Jerusalem Post Staff, August 26, 2025

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir paid an unusual visit to Maoz Shaul Farm in western Samaria over the weekend.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich hailed the visit as a sign of the “excellent cooperation” between his office and the IDF.

“The farms lead the way in pioneering settlement in Judea and Samaria, acting as a vital shield for many communities there, as well as for the Sharon region [on the coastal plain] and other parts of the country,” Smotrich tweeted.

Meanwhile, Palestinian aggression against Jewish farmers in Judea and Samaria has been on the rise, according to data collected by authorities. Figures gathered by the Hatzalah Judea and Samaria (Rescuers Without Borders) NGO and published over the weekend showed that farmers and shepherds have been attacked at least 71 times since Jan. 1, 2025.

Source:
Zamir visits unauthorized Samaria farming outpost, by JNS Staff, August 24, 2025