A significant diplomatic achievement for Israel and Judea and Samaria: Legislators from Utah, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Idaho, Iowa, and Oklahoma announced over the weekend that they intend to promote bills in their states requiring the use of “Judea and Samaria” instead of “West Bank” in official documents.

This move is part of a broader effort led by Yossi Dagan, the head of the Samaria Regional Council, to advance Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria and to strengthen U.S. recognition of the Jewish connection to the region, which is known as the cradle of the Bible.

Dagan explained: “This is nothing less than a revolution. We are advancing the law together because it represents historical justice — the shared mission is to bring sovereignty to Judea and Samaria, the land of the Bible.”

Source:
8 states promote law to say ‘Judea and Samaria’ instead of ‘West Bank, by Israel National News, July 20, 2025

Israeli authorities last Thursday signed a planning contract for Bar Kochva, a new community in Judea that will connect Gush Etzion to Jerusalem, situated between Sde Boaz and Har Gilo.

The signing follows a Cabinet decision a year ago to establish the community and comes months after the first mobile home neighborhood was set up on the site.

Yaron Rosenthal, head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council said this new community will restore Israeli sovereignty to a historic ridge that stood abandoned for generations.” He added, “Bar Kochva will redefine the area and stand as a symbol of Zionism, resilience and rooted presence in the land. We are privileged to witness this moment. ”

The new community, also known as “Neve Ori,” in memory of 19-year-old Ori Ansbacher, a Gush resident who was murdered in 2019 by an Arab terrorist. We hope that this development together with the movement for Sovereignty will lead to a “Greater Jerusalem” that includes Gush Etzion.

Source:
Bar Kochva: Community in Judea to connect Gush Etzion to Jerusalem, by JNS Staff, July 18, 2025

In an unprecedented move, Israel has significantly altered the long-standing status quo at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. Authority was transferred from the Palestinian-run Hebron Municipality to the Kiryat Arba-Hebron Religious Council. The decision, executed by the Civil Administration, aims to enable major structural upgrades at the holy site.

This marks the first major change to the site’s governance since the 1994 Shamgar Committee recommendations and reflects a long-standing Israeli desire to improve infrastructure and accessibility for Jewish worshippers. Chief among the proposed renovations is the construction of a permanent roof over the “Jacob’s Courtyard,” where Jewish prayers are held nearly year-round, and the installation of an advanced fire safety system. These plans have long been delayed due to Palestinian opposition, despite the safety concerns involved. For example, in emergencies, access to security camera footage required coordination with the Islamic Waqf, which until now had controlled the site.

The Cave of Machpelah is the world’s most ancient Jewish site and the second holiest place for the Jewish people. The cave and the adjoining field were purchased—at full market price—by Abraham some 3,700 years ago. The AFSI Chizuk Mission has visited Ma’arat HaMachpelah in Hebron on virtually every bi-annual trip we’ve made to Israel. We are very relieved to learn that it is now back in the hands of Israeli governance. Now the cave will receive proper ongoing maintenance along with badly needed renovations and upgrades so that it can adequately accommodate ALL people who wish to pray there.

Source:
Israel assumes control over Cave of the Patriarchs, by Hanan Greenwood/Israel Hayom, July 16, 2025

The Knesset has summoned representatives of the defense establishment, the Justice Ministry and the Settlements and National Missions Ministry to discuss the practical implications of applying sovereignty to Judea and Samaria.

Lawmaker Zvi Sukkot of the Religious Zionism Party will lead the hearing and said, “The time has come to decide the future of the State of Israel. This is an opportunity that must not be missed. Implementing sovereignty will, God willingly, determine the future of Judea and Samaria and the future of the entire State of Israel.”

The professed purpose of the hearing is to advance sovereignty over Judea and Samaria “immediately,” according to the report.

That advancing the application of sovereignty over Judea and Samaria is being discussed is a great thing and a step in the right direction. On the other hand, that the application of sovereignty has to be discussed to begin with drags on the process of what doesn’t need to be debated in the first place. Until the time comes when there is no question or internal debate as to Israel’s legal rights to Judea and Samaria, politics dictates that Israel go through this sham dress rehearsal.

Source:
Knesset to hold hearing on Judea and Samaria sovereignty, by JNS Staff, July 15, 2025

All three members of the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the “Occupied Palestinian Territory” have resigned, sparking renewed debate over the body’s credibility and longstanding accusations of anti-Israel bias.

The resignations came in a series of letters submitted earlier this month and surfaced publicly on Monday. Navi Pillay, the 83-year-old South African jurist who chaired the commission, cited “age, medical issues, and the weight of several other commitments.” Australian human rights expert Chris Sidoti called it “an appropriate time to reconstitute the commission,” and Miloon Kothari of India simply said it had been “an honor” to serve. Their departure, while not abrupt, signals a turning point for a body that critics have long claimed was fundamentally compromised in its approach.

Established in 2021 by the UN Human Rights Council, the commission was tasked with investigating alleged violations of international law by Israel and Palestinian actors. But its findings have overwhelmingly targeted Israel, prompting condemnation from Jerusalem, Jewish organizations worldwide, and even several Western governments. The body was unprecedented in its mandate, with no set end date, and was the council’s highest level of inquiry.

This is welcomed news indeed. Now let’s see a real gut rehabilitation of the UN Human Rights Council and the rest of the UN’s biased Israel hating agency.

Source:
All Members of UN Israel Inquiry Resign Amid Ongoing Bias Allegations, by Pesach Benson/TPS-IL, July 15, 2025

The Wall Street Journal reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US President Donald Trump that Israel would resume attacking Iran if the country resumes its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

According to the report, President Trump replied that he preferred a diplomatic solution but did not directly oppose the idea.

Despite the success of the 12-Day War there can be no true victory while there is a need to keep a close watch on the Islamic Republic in Iran and its potential to attack again. Israel must maintain a consistent policy of neutralizing perceived existential threats, particularly Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Israel must always maintain her fierce armed forces and acute vigilance.

Source:
Netanyahu tells Trump he will attack Iran again, by Israel National News, July 14, 2025

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