Author: AFSI Staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected reports of Israeli weakness or withdrawals on multiple fronts, declaring that Israel remains determined to protect its security interests and will not accept a Palestinian state in either Gaza or Judea and Samaria.

Speaking at the start of the Government meeting, Netanyahu said Iran has refrained from attacking Israel because it knows the consequences of doing so.

“You have surely noticed an interesting point: Iran attacks all the countries in the region, and even outside the region, but there is one country it does not attack – the State of Israel,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu said the comments came amid what he described as “a wave of rumors about Israeli weakness and Israeli withdrawals on all fronts.”

AFSI Insight
AFSI strongly supports Prime Minister Netanyahu’s unequivocal rejection of the 15-point Board of Peace proposal and his refusal to permit the creation of either a “Hamastan” or “Fatahstan.” Israel must not be pressured into accepting arrangements that would leave a terrorist organization—or the Palestinian Authority, whose leadership has failed to demonstrate a genuine commitment to Israel’s security—in control of Gaza or Judea and Samaria.

Most importantly, Netanyahu’s insistence that there will be no IDF withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely and completely disarmed reflects the fundamental lesson of October 7: Israeli security cannot be based on promises, paper agreements, or fictitious disarmament. Israel must retain the freedom and capability to eliminate threats wherever they emerge.

AFSI also welcomes Netanyahu’s clear declaration that a Palestinian state will not be established in Gaza or Judea and Samaria. After decades of failed diplomatic formulas and the continuing Palestinian commitment to terrorism and rejection of Israel, creating another hostile state next to Israel would endanger the Jewish state rather than bring peace. Israel’s security interests must remain non-negotiable—even when standing firm requires disagreeing with its closest allies.

Source:
‘No ‘Fatahstan’ nor ‘Hamastan”: Netanyahu rejects Trump’s Board of Peace 15-point plan, by Hezki Baruch/Israel National News, August 9, 2026

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), around 100 Israeli “settlers” raided four Palestinian communities, attacked residents with knife-tipped sticks, stole roughly 300 sheep, burned three tons of firewood, vandalized homes and vehicles, and injured six Palestinians.

According to military messages, radio communications, and field material reviewed by The Press Service of Israel (TPS-IL), the incident began when Palestinians from Halawa, one of the communities in Masafer Yatta, attacked a Jewish shepherd with rocks, injured him, and stole his flock. Israeli forces later searched the area and recovered the animals, according to a TPS-IL review of military communications.

Over several months, TPS-IL reviewed incidents listed by OCHA in its humanitarian reporting on Judea and Samaria between January and May 2026, comparing the UN agency’s descriptions with Israeli military accounts, public statements, local documentation, media reports, and interviews with Israeli researchers and activists.

AFSI Insight
This report exposes a serious flaw in the UN’s portrayal of violence in Judea and Samaria. OCHA’s broad definition of “settler violence” can include Palestinian attacks on Israelis, disputed incidents, and even nonviolent activity—while these cases are then used to create the misleading impression of widespread Jewish “settler violence.”

AFSI has long warned that international bodies frequently accept Palestinian claims at face value while minimizing or obscuring Palestinian aggression against Jews. The Masafer Yatta case is particularly troubling: an incident recorded by the UN as a large-scale “settler” attack was preceded, according to Israeli military communications reviewed by TPS-IL, by Palestinians attacking a Jewish shepherd and stealing his sheep.

The implications go well beyond statistics. These questionable figures are cited in international discussions about sanctions, diplomacy, and policy toward Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria. AFSI believes that distorted data must not be allowed to drive policies designed to delegitimize Jewish communities or undermine Israel’s rights in its historic homeland.

Bottom line: Before accepting UN statistics about “settler violence,” the underlying incidents, methodology, and competing accounts must be examined. Accuracy—not politically convenient narratives—should determine the international record.

Source
Special Report: UN Data Counts Palestinian Terror as ‘Settler Violence’, by Pesach Benson and Brett Goodman/TPS-IL, August 9, 2026

The most important task facing the Jewish community today is not simply responding to the crisis of the moment. It is building the generation that will be prepared to confront the crises of the future through our educational system.

Our mission is to cultivate a generation of fearless activists. An effective curriculum must treat civic involvement, grassroots advocacy, and direct action as a core component of learning.

Every year, the Jewish community must graduate thousands of young people who are prepared to lead, organize their communities, tell their stories, engage in political campaigns, and stand up against Jew hatred wherever they encounter it.

In this context, students must understand not only the history of the Jewish people, but also the factual record, civic tools, and moral clarity necessary to defend Israel and the US-Israel alliance in an increasingly hostile environment. The message to the young people ought to be: “Learn, lead, do. It’s up to you.”

AFSI Insight
AFSI strongly agrees with Daniel Rosen’s call to build a new generation of informed, confident Jewish activists. The Jewish community cannot remain in a perpetual state of reacting to anti-Israel attacks and antisemitic misinformation. We must educate young people to understand Jewish history, Israel’s rights, and the strategic importance of the U.S.-Israel alliance—and equip them to actively defend these truths.

For AFSI, that means going beyond classroom education. Young Jews need firsthand exposure to Israel, including Judea and Samaria, so they can see the realities on the ground and develop the knowledge and conviction to speak for Israel effectively. Education must lead to action: learn, visit, lead, and defend.

Source:
We Must Build the New Generation of Jewish Activists, by Daniel Rosen/The Algemeiner, August 7, 2026

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel has not accepted the Board of Peace’s proposed roadmap for disarming Hamas, publicly challenging an agreement President Donald Trump had hailed as a major breakthrough toward ending the Gaza conflict.

In a video statement released Tuesday, Netanyahu said the Trump administration believed it might be able to secure Hamas’s disarmament and the broader demilitarization of Gaza but stressed that Jerusalem had not approved the document negotiated with the terror group.

“They sent us a draft. We did not agree. It is not our draft. We sent our comments,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu also declared that the IDF would not withdraw “from our current lines” until “Hamas is completely disarmed,” drawing a distinction between Israel’s position and a roadmap that envisions Israeli withdrawals taking place in stages as Hamas relinquishes its weapons.

AFSI Insight
AFSI welcomes Prime Minister Netanyahu’s rejection of any plan that would require an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza before Hamas is fully disarmed. Israel cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of past withdrawals or entrust its security to international bodies or unenforceable agreements. Lasting peace, which we have our doubts about, can only be achieved by eliminating Hamas’ military capabilities, maintaining Israel’s freedom of action, and ensuring that Gaza can never again serve as a base for terrorism against the Jewish state.

Source:
Netanyahu rejects Board of Peace’s Hamas disarmament plan, rules out Gaza pullback, by World Israel News Staff, August 5, 2026

Jordan convened an emergency meeting of Arab and Muslim foreign ministers on Wednesday over what it describes as an “imminent” threat of an Israeli takeover of the Temple Mount, The Guardian reported.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi warned that attempts to alter the long-standing status quo at the Jerusalem holy site could ignite a religious conflict extending across the Muslim world.

“This is a constant threat, a dangerous threat that we’re trying to counter with every tool that we have possible,” Safadi told The Guardian.

AFSI Insight
Jordan’s call for an emergency summit over an alleged Israeli “takeover” of the Temple Mount reflects the ongoing effort to internationalize and politicize Israel’s sovereign rights in Jerusalem. AFSI rejects claims that Jewish presence or prayer at Judaism’s holiest site constitutes an “occupation” or provocation. The Temple Mount is central to Jewish history and identity, and Israel has consistently protected freedom of worship for all faiths while safeguarding access to the holy sites. Rather than fueling alarmist rhetoric, regional leaders should recognize Israel’s responsible acts which ensure security and uphold the rights of all who revere Jerusalem.

Source:
Jordan calls emergency summit over ‘imminent Israeli takeover’ of Temple Mount, by Ynet Global, August 4, 2026

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hyz1rw1ufe

The Civil Administration’s Enforcement Unit demolished a number of illegal Palestinian Authority structures on Monday near the Derech Avraham farm in Samaria, in the area where farm resident Itamar Cohen was wounded in a terrorist attack approximately a week and a half ago.

Sources close to Minister in the Defense Ministry Bezalel Smotrich emphasized that the demolitions were carried out following his directive to strengthen enforcement against illegal construction in the area.

Minister Smotrich said, “The demolition of the structures that threatened the Derech Avraham farm is a direct continuation of our policy over recent years to fortify and strengthen the settlement movement and the network of agricultural farms and is part of a professional escalation in the enforcement against illegal construction.”

AFSI Insight
The demolition of illegal Palestinian Authority structures threatening the Derech Avraham Farm is a necessary assertion of Israeli sovereignty and a response to ongoing security threats in Judea and Samaria. AFSI supports decisive enforcement against illegal construction that undermines Israel’s security and the viability of Jewish communities. Protecting agricultural farms and strengthening the Jewish presence on the land are essential steps in preventing terrorism and safeguarding Israel’s future.

Source:
After terror attack: Illegal PA structures threatening Derech Avraham Farm demolished, by Hezki Baruch/Israel National News, August 3, 2026

Supreme Court justices on Monday heard petitions filed by human rights organizations on behalf of “Palestinian refugees” challenging the UNRWA laws passed by the Knesset.

Among those attending the hearing were National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and MKs Tally Gotliv, Yulia Malinovsky, and Boaz Bismuth. Outside the courtroom, Bismuth and Gotliv sharply criticized the very fact that the hearing was taking place.

MK Boaz Bismuth, who co-sponsored the UNRWA legislation together with Kobi Samerano, father of deceased hostage Yonatan Samerano, said in an interview with Arutz Sheva – Israel National News that the hearing was “a disgrace.”

MK Tally Gotliv slammed the hearing, telling Arutz Sheva, “I can’t believe I’m coming to a Supreme Court for Terrorists – a Supreme Court for Terrorists, a Supreme Court for Supporters of Terrorism – not a Supreme Court of Justice.”

AFSI Insight
This report underscores the ongoing struggle to hold organizations accountable when they are alleged to have enabled or ignored terrorism. AFSI believes Israel has both the right and the obligation to protect its citizens by preventing any organization with documented ties to terrorist activity from operating within its borders. Rather than weakening Israel’s security measures through judicial intervention, the focus should remain on dismantling the infrastructure that has allowed terrorism to flourish and ensuring that humanitarian assistance is provided through transparent, accountable channels free of terrorist influence.

Source:
UNRWA hearing erupts: ‘Supreme Court for terrorists’, by Hezki Baruch/Israel National News, August 3, 2026

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431164

Hamas has begun distributing rifles to its terrorists throughout Gaza so that the weapons can later be presented as privately owned “personal weapons,” rather than part of the terror organization’s formal military arsenal, Kan News reported Saturday night.

The maneuver appears designed to allow Hamas to claim compliance with international demands for disarmament while ensuring that its weapons remain in the hands of its terrorists.

A Gaza source familiar with the matter left little doubt about the organization’s real intentions.

“Hamas will not disarm. Period,” the source told Kan News.

AFSI Insight
Hamas’s reported distribution of rifles as “personal weapons” demonstrates that its so-called disarmament cannot be taken at face value. Renaming or redistributing weapons does not eliminate the terrorist threat or change Hamas’s intentions. AFSI believes Israel must insist on the complete, verifiable dismantling of Hamas’s military capabilities before considering any concessions or withdrawal, as anything less risks allowing Hamas to rearm and continue threatening Israeli lives. We also believe that all terrorist organizations in the strip be disarmed. This includes PIJ, PFLP, etc. It is our belief that Israel and Jew hatred is so pervasive in the strip that attempts at achieving disarmament will eventually, fail.

Source:
Gaza Disarmament Trick: Hamas Hands Out Rifles to Terrorists as “Personal Weapons”, by The News Desk/The Jewish Edition, August 2, 2026

The Honenu legal aid organization claimed Saturday night that an IDF reconnaissance soldier, who was on leave, was arrested Saturday after responding to assist a shepherd who was attacked near the Alon Road by Arab rioters from the village of al-Mughayyir.

According to Honenu, the incident began shortly before sundown on Friday when dozens of rioters threw stones and launched fireworks at the shepherd. Following the report of the incident, security forces and local farmers, including the soldier, were called to the scene.

The organization said the soldier arrived at the scene but waited for IDF forces and did not open fire. According to Honenu, IDF troops who arrived dispersed the rioters using stun and tear gas grenades, allowing the shepherd to return safely to the farm.

Attorney Nati Rom, representing the soldier on behalf of Honenu, sharply criticized the arrest, saying, “My client, despite being on leave, rushed with his weapon to assist a shepherd in distress, only to find himself under arrest today like a common criminal.”

AFSI Insight
This report raises serious questions about whether those who act to protect Israeli lives are receiving fair treatment under the law. According to the initial reports, the soldier did not fire his weapon and waited for security forces before any action was taken, yet he was detained while the investigation continues.

AFSI believes that Jewish shepherds and communities in Judea and Samaria face ongoing violence and intimidation that demands a strong and decisive security response. Those who answer calls for assistance should not be presumed guilty without clear evidence. While any allegation involving the use of force will be investigated thoroughly and impartially, Israel must also ensure that its soldiers and civilians are not subjected to politically motivated accusations or treated as criminals simply for coming to the aid of fellow Jews. As we saw last week at Chavat Gilad, security teams put their own lives in danger by waiting for IDF forces to arrive. We must ask why an off-duty soldier or Rav Shatz must wait for IDF before taking defensive action.

Source:
Honenu: Soldier who rushed to help shepherd arrested, by Israel National News, August 1, 2026

The negotiations in Egypt, being mediated by Egypt, the United States, and other international actors, are further along than they have been in the past, according to sources with knowledge of the details. At the focus of the discussions are the disarmament of Hamas, the mechanism to administer the Gaza Strip, and security arrangements that will go into effect after the fighting ends.

The Board of Peace stated that the discussions are proceeding, and the road map being discussed includes total disarmament of all weapons, both light and heavy, as well as the dismantlement of tunnels, arms caches, and manufacturing facilities. It further stated that at the conclusion of the process, Hamas will have no part in ruling the enclave, not overtly and not behind the scenes, and that the civil administration will be transferred to a committee that will operate based on the principle of “one authority, one law, and one weapon.”

Sources with knowledge of the negotiation’s details are claiming that the current framework leaves no room for compromise. According to the sources, if the deal is signed, it will demand the full disarmament of all of Hamas’s military capabilities, including light weapons, heavy weapons, tunnels, and manufacturing infrastructure, while creating strict supervision and verification mechanisms. “The direction is positive,” one of the sources stated, “But there are no tricks or compromises.”

AFSI Insight
Reports that Israel and Hamas may be approaching an agreement should be viewed with caution. AFSI has long argued that Israel’s security cannot rest on promises from a terrorist organization whose stated objective remains Israel’s destruction.

If the reported framework truly requires Hamas’s complete disarmament that would represent an essential condition for any lasting change in Gaza. However, AFSI would warn against accepting vague commitments, partial disarmament, or international guarantees in place of verifiable action. Hamas has repeatedly exploited previous ceasefires to rebuild its military capabilities.

AFSI would emphasize that Israel must emerge from this conflict with Hamas removed as both a military and governing force. Anything less risks repeating the cycle of temporary truces followed by renewed terrorism. Israel must retain full freedom to defend itself and prevent Hamas from reestablishing its infrastructure.

For AFSI, the measure of any agreement is straightforward: Does it make Israel safer by ending Hamas’s ability to wage war? If the answer is no, the agreement is unlikely to produce lasting peace.

Above all, we must keep in mind the testimony of the October 7 hostages. Eli Sharabi reported that Palestinian civilians actively participated in his capture and captivity. Upon his abduction into Gaza, a mob of civilians attempted to lynch him before Hamas militants moved him into a mosque. He spent his first 52 days held inside the home of a Hamas-supporting civilian family, where his guards included a local police officer and a falafel stand operator. How does the Board of Peace suggest Israel deal with that?

Perhaps the only the answer is for Israel to reclaim Gaza.

Source:
Israel and Hamas closing in on a deal, by Uzi Baruch/Israel National News, July 30, 2026