The Green Israel Forum warned on Monday of serious health risks following a wave of fires whose smoke has blanketed the Tel Aviv and central Israel regions.

According to the forum, the fires originate in illegal Palestinian Authority garbage dumps amid what it calls a longstanding issue of neglected landfill management. “This is environmental terrorism that is systematically occurring under the closed eyes of the international community,” said Erez Kalif, CEO of the Green Israel Forum.

“These wildfires do not stop at the Green Line – they penetrate the lungs of all Israeli citizens,” Kalif warned. “Israeli residents must not continue to pay with their health for environmental failures across the border,” Kalif added.

We would like to point out that there is no “border” within Israel. Additionally, fires were set not only in Judea and Samaria but also in Jerusalem. The Green Israel Forum needs to get its facts straight! No one living in Israel or anywhere else should be subjected to environmental terrorism.

Source:
‘Environmental terrorism’: Fires from PA landfills threaten health across central Israel, by Pesach Benson/TPS-IL via World Israel News, May 12, 2025

The United Nations obstructed an investigation by the American government into the ties between UNRWA employees in Gaza and the Hamas terrorist organization, according to a USAID report released last month.

The report, titled “USAID OIG’s Investigative Work to Prevent UNRWA Staff Associated With Hamas From Circulating to Other U.S. Government-Funded Aid Organizations,” documented how the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) redacted the names of UNRWA employees who had been investigated for alleged ties to Hamas, rendering the documents provided useless for the investigation.

Eitan Fischberger, the journalist who first reported the USAID report, stated that “the United Nations appears to have gone out of its way to obstruct” USAID’s investigation.

While this is not a surprise, it’s stunning how one story after another comes out about the UN’s corrupt ways. We don’t expect good of any kind to come from the United Nations. It is a corrupt Israel-hating agency, and it is our duty to report on their shameful actions.

Source:
UN obstructed US investigation into UNRWA ties to Hamas, by Israel National News, May 9, 2025

In the wake of Israel’s massive attack Tuesday on Sana’a International Airport — along with several power stations and a concrete factory — Iran was warned that it, too, will bear the consequences of the missile attacks on Israel by its Yemeni proxy, the Houthis.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday following the Israeli airstrikes that whoever harms the Jewish State will themselves be struck.

“I have said many times that whoever attacks the State of Israel – his blood is on his head,” Netanyahu said.

“Yesterday I said that the attack by the Houthi will be answered not with ‘a blow and we are done’ – but with ‘blows’. So yesterday we dealt a blow, a heavy blow to the port of Hodeidah. Today our planes attacked the airport in Sana’a, the airport that enables the terrorist army and the air entry into the terrorist state, which enables the firing of missiles against us.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz also issued a statement, reiterating a statement he made following the Houthi missile attack that struck Ben Gurion International Airport.

“Whoever harms us – we will harm them sevenfold,” Katz said. He added a warning to Iran as well.

“This is also a warning message to the head of the Iranian octopus: ‘You bear direct responsibility for every attack by the Houthi octopus arm against the State of Israel and you will also bear the full consequences,’” Katz said.

Source:
Israel Warns Iran Will Also Bear ‘Full Consequences’ for Houthi Attacks, by Hana Levi Julian/Jewish Press, May 7, 2025

The Constitution Committee chaired by MK Simcha Rothman on Monday held a tense initial hearing on a bill proposing an 80% tax on donations to NGOs from foreign political entities and a ban on court access for NGOs that lack the right of standing and receive the majority of their funding from such sources.

The bill’s explanatory notes state: “The purpose of this bill is to reduce the indirect influence of foreign governments and political entities on the State of Israel. This influence is reflected, among other things, in direct financial support for NGOs in Israel that act as agents of change on behalf of these entities. Such a phenomenon exceeds the bounds of the democratic framework and undermines the sovereignty and independence of the state where it occurs.”

During the discussion, Chairman Rothman stated, “In times of war, foreign countries inject massive sums into Israeli society to steer the state toward surrender or to promote the rights of terrorists. This must be stopped. We must ensure that Israeli citizens preserve their freedom of expression and are not drowned out by a megaphone funded by a foreign government.”

Source:
Rothman Weighs 80% Tax on $360 Million in Foreign Donations to NGOs, by David Israel/Jewish Press, May 6, 2025

Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed the Makor Rishon and Ofra community Settlement Conference held in honor of the community’s 50th anniversary.

“Every time anew during my many visits across Israel, and certainly in Judea and Samaria, and certainly when I fly over the country in helicopters, I understand even more that the settlement movement is an important, formidable, and prosperous movement. How much the settlements are Israel’s defensive wall in every sense of the word,” Herzog declared.

Source:
President Herzog: ‘Settlements are Israel’s defensive wall’, by Israel National News, May 6, 2025

A ballistic missile fired from Yemen struck near Israel’s Ben-Gurion International Airport on Sunday morning, lightly to moderately wounding six people, and disrupting takeoffs and arrivals.

The attack triggered air-raid sirens across central Israel, including in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and the Shfela/Judaean Foothills. Several attempts were made to intercept the missile, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

The U.S.-made THAAD system attempted to intercept the missile but failed, as did Israel’s Arrow system, Channel 14 military correspondent Hillel Bitton Rosen reported. Authorities are investigating whether the blast near Terminal 3 was caused by a direct hit, missile fragments or interceptor debris. Police bomb squads and security forces remain on scene.

Magen David Adom updated its casualty figures on Sunday afternoon, reporting that six people were treated and transported to hospitals: a man in his 50s in light to moderate condition with limb injuries; two women, ages 54 and 38, in light condition due to blast-related trauma; a 64-year-old man lightly wounded by flying debris; and two women, aged 22 and 34, who were hurt while running for shelter.

In a statement on Sunday afternoon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that “there will be blows” in response to the attack. “We are acting against them,” Netanyahu said of previous IDF military operations against the Houthis in Yemen. “We have acted in the past, and we will act in the future. I cannot detail everything. The U.S., in coordination with us, is also acting against them. It’s not a one-and-done, but there will be blows,” vowed the Israeli premier.

Source:
Houthi missile hits Ben-Gurion Airport, wounding six, disrupting flights, by Joshua Marks/JNS, May 4, 2025

After a seven-hour discussion, the Security Cabinet early Monday morning unanimously approved the plans to expand combat operations in Gaza.

The discussion focused on new operational plans aimed at increasing pressure on Hamas, including a large-scale ground maneuver and entry into areas of the Gaza Strip, where IDF forces are expected to remain for an extended period.

Additionally, a principled framework for the distribution of future humanitarian aid to Gaza was approved, despite opposition from National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. According to the approved framework, aid will be transferred in the future through an international fund that will oversee preventing its transfer to Hamas.

An Israeli official said after the discussion, “As long as Hamas does not release our hostages, we will significantly deepen our military operations.” He added, “This is what will happen unless Hamas agrees at the last moment to a deal and releases the hostages.”

Source:
Cabinet unanimously approves expansion of military operations in Gaza, by Israel National News, May 5, 2025

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir on Thursday spoke at Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s ceremony honoring outstanding soldiers. He discussed the ongoing fighting against the Hamas terror group in Gaza.

Addressing IDF readiness to strike a blow to Hamas, Zamir said, “If necessary, we will do so soon, with determination and confidence in the righteousness of our path.”

Concluding his speech, Zamir said, “Our sovereignty and independence were not given to us as a gift. They were bought with blood and struggle, and they require us to defend them at all costs. The Hamas terrorists still hold fifty-nine of our brothers and sisters. But they too know, their safety is not forever! The IDF is ready and prepared to strike them a decisive blow. We will use all the strength at our disposal, increase the pace of operations, and intensify their power. If necessary, we will do so soon, with determination and confidence in the righteousness of our path.”

Source:
Chief of Staff warns: ‘IDF ready and prepared to deal Hamas a decisive blow’, by Israel National News, May 1, 2025

A large wildfire in the Jerusalem Hills fanned by strong winds and dry conditions forced authorities to cancel for the first time Israel’s traditional Independence Day torch-lighting ceremony. Several communities were evacuated, and firefighting crews were deployed to battle the blaze.

“Unfortunately, as the hours pass, the weather forecast for Mount Herzl during the hours of the ceremony does not allow for the ceremony to take place,” said Minister of Transport, National Infrastructure and Road Safety Miri Regev, who is in charge of organizing the ceremony. Instead the dress rehearsal that was recorded in advance on Monday was broadcast.

This latest crisis comes just a week after major fires that lasted more than 21 hours and burned more than 10,000 dunams (10 sq. km) of forest land in the Beit Shemesh and Jerusalem Hills areas, including Eshtaol, Beit Meir, Mesilat Zion, and Shaar Hagai.

Despite the intensity of both fires, authorities stressed that there is no indication of arson or negligence. On the other hand, Arabic social media posts are calling to ‘Burn the occupation’s forests and settlements’. Police are investigating the source of the posts.

If this is arson, it must be investigated and the source eliminated!

Source:
Wildfire Forces First-Ever Cancellation of Israel’s Independence Day Torch-Lighting Ceremony, by Pesach Benson/TPS-IL, April 30, 2025

The IDF is preparing for a significant step up in the ground maneuver in the Gaza Strip, Kan News reported Tuesday.

The decision by the defense establishment and the political leadership was made in light of the lack of progress in negotiations for the hostages’ release.

According to the report, thousands of reservists have already been alerted that they will soon be recruited. Most belong to several infantry and armor brigades that will begin operational operations soon. This is not an emergency call-up.

Source:
Thousands of reservists alerted: IDF preparing to step up war in Gaza, by Israel National News, April 29, 2025