Author: AFSI Staff

Likud ministers sent an urgent letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, urging him to apply Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria. Their appeal followed Netanyahu’s diplomatic visit to the White House, where President Donald Trump suggested that the coming four weeks would be a critical period for deciding on the region.

The ministers’ letter was titled “Implementing Sovereignty in Judea and Samaria – Preventing the Next Massacre.” The initiative was spearheaded by Yesha Council Chairman Yisrael Gantz, Yossi Dagan, and Yesha Council Director General Omer Rahamim.

The ministers asserted that full Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria is not only an expression of Israel’s natural right to its land but also the only way to prevent future atrocities like those of October 7 from occurring in cities such as Afula, Hadera, Kfar Saba, Modi’in, Jerusalem, and Beersheba.

The only unresolved issue that remains about applying sovereignty over Judea and Samaria is this: What are we waiting for? SOVEREIGNTY NOW!

Source:
Likud Ministers to Netanyahu: Time to Apply Sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, by David Israel/Jewish Press, February 10, 2025

 

President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order last Thursday authorizing stringent economic sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC), condemning its actions as “illegitimate and baseless” for targeting the United States and Israel.

The order grants the president broad authority to impose financial and visa restrictions on ICC officials and their family members if they are found to be involved in investigations or prosecutions of US citizens and US allies.

This move follows the ICC’s November decision to issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel has no better friend than that of President Donald J. Trump and we thank him for defending Israel in the very Israel-hating International Criminal Court.

Source:
Trump Sanctions ICC for ‘Illegitimate and Baseless’ Attacks on US, Israel, by David Israel/Jewish Press, February 7, 2025

 

US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday evening held a press conference following their meeting at the White House.

On the key issue of Gaza, the President once again spoke of his plan to relocate Gazans to several sites where they will be “able to live in comfort and peace. The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all the dangerous and unexploded bombs and other weapons, and get rid of the destroyed buildings, create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area.”

Netanyahu told Trump, “I believe that your willingness to puncture conventional thinking, your willingness to think outside the box with fresh ideas, will help us achieve all these goals. You see things others refuse to see. You say things others refuse to say, and after the jaws drop, people scratch their heads and say, ‘You know what? He’s right.’”

Here’s what key voices are saying about President Trump’s plan for Gaza and the application of sovereignty over Judea and Samaria:

“…for the first time, an American president is essentially declaring the end of the Palestinian dream to destroy Israel either through Gaza or through establishing a Palestinian state in the heart of the Land of Israel.” ~Israel Gantz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council and Chairman of the Yesha Council

Israel Ganz: ‘The Palestinian vision is over, Israel must apply sovereignty’, by Israel National News, February 5, 2025

Trump’s statements on Gaza “…are unprecedented and show that he is serious. I don’t remember such a thing in history.” ~Amit Segal, Journalist

Amit Segal: ‘We couldn’t have hoped for anything better’, by Israel National News, February 5, 2025

“President Trump’s statement is clear and moving – both in regard to the encouragement of immigration from Gaza and the strategic importance of the State of Israel.” ~Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council

Yossi Dagan: ‘Now is a rare opportunity to apply sovereignty in Judea and Samaria’, by Israel National News, February 5, 2025

Those screaming about a “forced evacuation” obviously don’t understand the landscape. I know, from many direct conversations, that most people in Gaza wanted to leave even before 10/7, but no one would take them in. Now, the issue is both amplified and academic: there simply is no physical option to remain in Gaza. ~Former Ambassador David Friedman

New Gaza will be a monument to the defeat of radical Islamism, by Ambassador David Friedman/Israel National News, February 5, 2025

We have no reason to believe that President Trump is not serious about his proposal to take over Gaza and create the Riviera of the Middle East, which will surely undergo developments in the weeks to come. Still, tough questions remain to be answered from Arab states’ opposition to relocating Gazans to the enormous cost for American taxpayers and the major challenges on the path to implementing his plan. There are many in the Jewish world who would prefer to see Gaza back in Israeli hands and the Arab community needs to ask tough questions too. The Israeli government is certainly taking this seriously with Defense Minister Israel Katz saying today that the IDF will prepare a detailed plan that will enable the implementation of President Trump’s vision for the immigration of Gazans. Buckle up!

Source:
Trump: The US will take over the Gaza Strip, by Yoni Kempinski, Washington/Israel National News, February 5, 2025

 

On Tuesday, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order to reinstate a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran.

The preamble is clear and direct. Since its inception in 1979 as a revolutionary theocracy, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has declared its hostility to the United States and its allies and partners. Iran remains the world’s leading state sponsor of terror and has aided Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, the Taliban, al-Qa’ida, and other terrorist networks. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is itself a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.

The memorandum defines the US policy towards Iran, and is aimed at far more than stopping the regime from pursuing a nuclear weapon. It also aims to deny Iran nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles; that Iran’s network and campaign of regional aggression be neutralized; that the IRGC and its surrogates be disrupted, degraded, or denied access to the resources that sustain their destabilizing activities; and to counter Iran’s aggressive development of missiles and other asymmetric and conventional weapons capabilities.

Source:
Trump’s Executive Order on Iran is even better than being reported, by Elder of Ziyon, February 5, 2025

 

The Biden administration, weeks before leaving power, funneled more than $3 million in taxpayer cash to the Palestinian Authority Security Forces (PASF), according to a nonpublic notice transmitted to Congress that was reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon. Those funds allowed the PASF to conduct “firearms and ammunition” training—and came after its members carried out scores of attacks against Israelis.

That spending—both past and, potentially, future—is drawing concerns in both Israel and Washington, D.C., given PASF’s deep and longstanding ties to terrorism carried out against Israelis.

Source:
Biden Admin Quietly Funneled $3 Mil to Palestinian Government ‘Security Forces’ for Weapons Training—After Its Members Carried Out Attacks on Israelis, by Adam Kredo/Washington Free Beacon, February 3, 2025

 

Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Zamir, the Defense Ministry director general, was tapped by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz on Saturday to become the next chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces.

A brief statement from the Prime Minister’s Office announced the nomination of Zamir. He is to take up the post on March 6, becoming the IDF’s 24th chief of staff, following the resignation of Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi.

Prominent Israeli American columnist and JNS senior contributing editor Caroline B. Glick is returning to the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem to serve as International Affairs Adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Glick, who worked with Netanyahu over a quarter century ago before becoming a widely read columnist, took up her new position on Sunday, almost three years after the first episode of her record-breaking “The Caroline Glick Show” premiered on JNS TV in 2022.

Maj. Gen. Zamir comes from the Armored Corps division and is no stranger to combat. He appears to be determined to have Israel eliminate Hamas from Gaza and to emerge victorious in all her battles. Caroline Glick has been a clear voice of peace through strength in the handling of Israel’s existential wars. Caroline will be accompanying Prime Minister Netanyahu on his visit to the Trump White House tomorrow (Tuesday).

With these two new appointments we have renewed optimism about the path Israel is on.

Sources:
Eyal Zamir named next IDF chief, set to take over from Herzi Halevi in March, by Emanuel Fabian/Times of Israel, February 1, 2025

JNS senior contributing editor Caroline Glick appointed as adviser to Netanyahu, by Etgar Lefkovits/JNS, February 2, 2025

A new survey has found that the majority of Israelis support formal annexation of Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley.

The survey, carried out to measure support of Jewish sovereignty over all or some of Judea and Samaria, examined the Israeli public’s views regarding sovereignty versus a Palestinian state, sovereignty versus the option of peace with Saudi Arabia, and more.

The resulting data showed that 71 percent of those polled oppose a Palestinian state in light of the Simchat Torah massacre events including twelve percent who supported such a state prior to October 7, 2023.

A total of 68 percent support applying sovereignty in Judea and Samaria (across all sovereignty options), the survey found.

Nadia Matar and Yehudit Katsover, co-chairs of the Sovereignty Movement said their organization was very pleased with the results of the poll. The two co-chairs said the results “reflect the health of the nation and the awakening from the illusion of peace through a Palestinian state. The Israeli public now understands that only sovereignty is the plan that will bring security and regional stability.”

Source:
71% of Israelis oppose Palestinian state; 68% support sovereignty in J&S: poll, by David Isaac/JNS, February 2, 2025

 

President Donald J. Trump insisted last Thursday that Egypt and Jordan would accept displaced Gazans, despite reports that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II both rejected his plan to relocate Gazans from the war-torn Strip. ”

They will do it,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about the Egyptian and Jordanian rejection, and whether he would consider imposing tariffs on either country to pressure them. “They’re going to do it. We do a lot for them, and they’re going to do it.”

Officials from Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia are in talks for an emergency meeting for all the Arab states to publicly oppose Trump’s proposal and exert pressure on him to reconsider his position, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the discussions.

President Donald Trump will be welcoming King Abdullah II of Jordan to the White House this week. Will Trump apply pressure on him to accept his plan to relocate Gazans? Will he get the Arab nations to agree to his proposal? Trump is the master deal maker. We continue to watch this one closely to see how it turns out.

Source:
Trump Escalates Move to Relocate Gazans to Egypt, Jordan: ‘They Will Do It’, by David Israel/Jewish Press, January 31, 2025

 

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Egyptian foreign minister Badr Abdelatty earlier this week. It was reported that “the Secretary of State reinforced the importance of close cooperation to advance the day after the war, in order to ensure that Hamas can no longer control Gaza or threaten Israel.”

Yesterday, President Donald J. Trump presented Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi with the idea of having Egypt and Jordan accepting Gazans into their territory.

“I would like to bring them to an area where they can live without interferences and revolutions … When you look at Gaza, you see that it’s been hell for so many years,” Trump said, adding, “So I think you can get people out of there, who will live in much safer and, maybe much better, and more comfortable areas.”

Secretary of State Rubio’s statement reaffirms the truth that must prevail and as Trump succinctly stated, el-Sisi is “living in a complicated part of the world.” Nothing is getting better in the Middle East and it’s time for out-of-the box thinking to solve the many ongoing problems. Terrorism is the number one issue in this region, and it would be quite the accomplishment to overcome initial objections and convince others in the region to work towards a common goal of allowing all non-terrorists to live in safety and peace. Stay tuned!

Source:
US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to Egypt, ‘Stop Hamas from governing Gaza again’, by Tziki Brandwine/Israel National News, January 29, 2025

 

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon officially informed the members of the UN Security Council Tuesday that “within 48 hours, the State of Israel will cease its cooperation with UNRWA. UNRWA must cease its activities and evacuate all its facilities in Jerusalem.”

Ambassador Danon elaborated, “The legislation prohibits UNRWA from operating within the sovereign territory of the State of Israel and prohibits any contact between Israeli authorities and UNRWA. In addition, the organization is prohibited from maintaining any representative office, service or activity in our territories. Israel will terminate any cooperation, communication or contact with UNRWA or anyone acting on its behalf.”

The Ambassador added, “This decision comes after years of good-faith efforts to compel you to act against Hamas’ infiltration of UNRWA. The decision also reflects a grim reality: that UNRWA has failed morally and professionally and harmed people who were supposed to receive necessary support.”

WATCH: Deputy Mayor Aryeh King celebrates the implementation of the new Israeli law barring UNRWA from operating in Jerusalem in light of the organization’s connections to Hamas, by Hezki Baruch/Israel National News

Source:
Danon tells UNSC: UNRWA has 48 hours to cease all operations in Jerusalem, by Gary Willig/Israel National News, January 28, 2025