Author: AFSI Staff

The United States and Israel are moving forward with plans to establish four additional concrete plants in the Gaza border area to meet growing demand for sealing Hamas tunnels in the Strip and constructing a massive military base intended to serve the International Stabilization Force (ISF). The enormous quantities of concrete required for both projects have created the need for the additional plants.

The current system is operating amid cash-flow difficulties. The concrete plants shut down every week because of budget problems, dramatically affecting the continuous effort to seal the tunnel routes.

As part of the preparations to transfer responsibility for operating and financing the plants to the United States, workers at the existing concrete facilities have already been informed that, for payroll and management purposes, they will become employees of the US administration overseeing the project.

AFSI Insight
Hamas’ tunnel system has always been far more than an engineering challenge—it is the backbone of a terrorist infrastructure built over decades with international aid, diverted resources, and the cynical exploitation of Gaza’s civilian population. Every tunnel destroyed represents one less avenue for terrorism, kidnapping, weapons smuggling, and attacks against Israeli civilians.

AFSI views this development as a welcome recognition that Hamas cannot simply be contained; its military infrastructure must be eradicated. However, we also emphasize that this effort must not come at the expense of Israel’s freedom to act militarily wherever necessary. Any international involvement should reinforce—not replace—Israel’s sovereign responsibility to defend its citizens.

Sealing the tunnels addresses only one component of the threat. As long as Hamas or any similarly committed terrorist organization remains capable of rebuilding, the underlying danger persists. The lesson of the past two decades is clear: reconstruction without demilitarization merely creates the next battlefield.

For AFSI, the ultimate objective remains unchanged: Gaza must never again serve as a launching pad for terror against Israel. Destroying the tunnel network is a critical step toward that goal, but only if it is accompanied by the complete dismantling of Hamas’ military capabilities and unwavering support for Israel’s security needs.

Source:
US takes control of Gaza tunnel operations, by Danny Zaken and Hodaya Busheri/Israel Hayom, July 29, 2026

The meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump, which ran a little over an hour, ended shortly before 12:30 pm ET with no remarks to the media. No media were allowed into the Oval Office.

The high-stakes meeting began about an hour after its scheduled time, following Trump’s meeting with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. All senior Trump administration officials were on hand, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, War Department Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the Trump-Netanyahu meeting, was “positive and productive.” But she offered no details about the content of the meeting with Israel’s prime minister.

Netanyahu told reporters prior to his departure from Israel that Iran would top the agenda for the meeting.

AFSI Insight
Despite the absence of cameras, a joint press conference, or an official statement, the most significant outcome of the Trump-Netanyahu meeting appears to be what didn’t happen: there was no public rupture in the U.S.-Israel relationship. Reports following the closed-door discussions described the meeting as “positive and productive,” with both leaders reaffirming their shared commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. They also discussed expanding the Abraham Accords and addressing security challenges in Lebanon and Gaza.

For AFSI, the most important takeaway is that Israel’s security concerns remained front and center. Iran continues to be recognized as the primary strategic threat, and both leaders reportedly reiterated their determination to ensure that the Islamic Republic never becomes a nuclear power. At a time when diplomacy with Tehran remains uncertain, maintaining this united objective is critical for Israel’s future.

The meeting also suggests that despite reports of disagreements over tactics and regional diplomacy, the U.S.-Israel alliance remains firmly rooted in shared strategic interests. Quiet diplomacy often produces more meaningful results than public declarations, and AFSI hopes that this private discussion will translate into stronger American support for Israel’s security, greater regional normalization through the Abraham Accords, and continued recognition that Israel—not international pressure—must determine how best to defend its citizens.

Source:
No Cameras, High Stakes: Trump-Netanyahu Meeting Ends Without Public Statement, by Hana Levi Julian/The Jewish Edition, July 28, 2026

A shooting attack took place near Havat Gilad last Friday morning after Arabs attacked Israeli hikers near the village of Tal, took a weapon from a security guard, and opened fire at Israelis.

Benayahu Melet, 32 and a resident of Chavat Gilad, and Yuval Ezra, 27 of Herzliya, have been named as the fatally shot victims of this terror attack. They rushed to save the hikers.

Magen David Adom (MDA) and United Hatzalah said that four people were injured in the attack. MDA paramedics declared a man in his 30s dead at the scene and evacuated two other shooting victims by helicopter, together with an IDF medical team. A man in his 20s was listed in serious condition, and a man in his 20s was in moderate condition.

According to activist Elisha Yered, the hikers’ testimonies indicated the sheikh of the village of Tal, where the attackers came from, was the one who took the weapon and carried out the shooting.

MK Zvi Sukkot proclaimed, “Turn the village of Tal into a pile of ruins. This serious attack is a wake-up call for the security system to change its approach in dealing with terrorism in Judea and Samaria. When the enemy raises its head, we cannot settle for a limited response. We must make them pay a heavy price through a broad operation to eliminate terrorist infrastructure and take control of additional areas in Judea and Samaria.”

AFSI Insight
The horrific terrorist attack near Chavat Gilad, in which two Israelis were murdered, comes on the heels of the devastating fires that recently destroyed homes and upended lives in this resilient community. For the people of Chavat Gilad, there has been little time to recover from one tragedy before another has struck.

AFSI extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and embraces our dear friends in Chavat Gilad, especially those who are still struggling to rebuild after the fires. The courage and determination of this community have inspired us for many years, and we know that even in the face of unimaginable loss, they will remain steadfast.

This latest attack is another painful reminder that the communities of Judea and Samaria live under the constant threat of terrorism simply because Jews choose to live in their ancestral homeland. Chavat Gilad has repeatedly paid a heavy price—including the 2018 murder of Rabbi Raziel Shevach—and yet its residents continue to build, rebuild, and strengthen their community.

AFSI stands in unwavering solidarity with the people of Chavat Gilad. We pray for the recovery of the wounded, comfort for the bereaved, and strength for every family facing these difficult days. The appropriate response to terror is not retreat, but renewed resolve: to protect Israel’s heartland, support its pioneers, and ensure that Jewish life in Judea and Samaria continues to flourish despite those who seek to destroy it.

Source:
Shooting Attack Near Havat Gilad, Two Killed, by David Israel/The Jewish Edition, July 24, 2026

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich last Thursday instructed officials to accelerate the establishment of the planned community of Shalem in Samaria following the stabbing and suspected arson attack that took place several hours earlier near the Derech Avraham Farm.

At the same time, Smotrich directed the Civil Administration to map what he described as illegal Palestinian structures in the area and advance enforcement and demolition proceedings against them, saying the measures were intended to strengthen “governance and security in the area.”

The community of Shalem, which was approved by the security cabinet, is planned for the area between Elon Moreh, Beit Furik and Beit Dajan, near the farm where the attack occurred.

AFSI Insight
AFSI supports Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s decision to accelerate the establishment of the new community of Shalem following the terrorist attack near Derech Avraham Farm. Jewish life in Judea and Samaria must never be driven back by terrorism. Instead, every attack should reinforce Israel’s determination to deepen its presence, strengthen security, and expand lawful Jewish communities in the heartland of the Jewish homeland. The government’s commitment to move from declarations to practical implementation sends a clear message that terror will not dictate Israel’s future.

Stronger enforcement against illegal Palestinian construction in the area and consistent governance is essential to preserving Israel’s security and national rights. AFSI has long maintained that unauthorized building is often part of a broader strategy to establish irreversible facts on the ground and undermine Israel’s strategic position in Judea and Samaria.

We always advocate that the proper Zionist response to terrorism is not retreat, but resilience: rebuilding, expanding Jewish communities, and affirming Israel’s permanent and sovereign connection to Judea and Samaria.

Source:
Smotrich advances new Samaria settlement after attack near Derech Avraham Farm, by Anna Barsky/Jerusalem Post, July 24, 2026

Thousands of Jews, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir among them, entered the Temple Mount holy site in Jerusalem to mark the Tisha B’Av fast on Thursday. Some of them openly prayed, in a continued erosion of what until the past few years had been a longstanding status quo at the site.

A spokesman from Beyadenu, which advocates for Jewish worship on the Temple Mount, said that some 3,000 Jews had come to the site by midday, while hundreds were waiting in line to enter.

Hundreds more were expected to ascend the flashpoint site in the afternoon; he told The Times of Israel.

“Look at what’s happening here — Jews are praying and feel that they are the rightful owners here,” Ben Gvir said in a video filmed at the compound and posted on his Telegram channel.

“Everywhere, people understand that the State of Israel is the sovereign authority. There is still more to do, and with God’s help, we will continue to move forward.”

AFSI Insight
The events of Tisha B’Av on the Temple Mount are a powerful expression of the Jewish people’s enduring connection to their holiest site. Jews should be able to pray freely on the Temple Mount without restrictions or fear. The thousands who ascended the Mount on the day commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples affirms the unbroken bond between the Jewish people, Jerusalem, and the Temple Mount.

AFSI stresses that Tisha B’Av is not only a day of mourning but a reminder of the Jewish people’s resilience and determination to restore and strengthen Jewish sovereignty throughout Israel. Respectful Jewish prayer at Judaism’s holiest site should be recognized as a fundamental religious right and viewed as another step in reaffirming Israel’s historic and national heritage.

Source:
Thousands of Jews visit Temple Mount for Tisha B’Av; some pray openly, by Charlie Summers, Nava Freiberg and AFP, July 23, 2026

An illegal Palestinian Authority compound funded with European Union money was recently discovered in Area C by Regavim, an Israeli NGO focused on land-use issues. E.U. hypocrisy is now very obvious.

The recently discovered recreational compound and public park was built in 2025 on the outskirts of the village of Silat ad-Dhahr in northern Samaria. Part of it is located on Israeli state land in Area C, near the renewed community of Sa Nur, one of four towns evacuated in Samaria during the 2005 Gaza disengagement.

The site fits into a broader pattern of Arab encroachment on open areas to seize Israeli state land and create facts on the ground in preparation for the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state.

“The whole thing is illegal and comes at precisely the same time the EU has sanctioned law-abiding Israeli civil society organizations, including Regavim, without even the pretense that they are guilty of doing anything illegal,” Kahn added.

AFSI Insight
AFSI views this report as further evidence that the battle over Judea and Samaria is not merely a local dispute, but an international campaign to create irreversible facts on the ground. While European officials routinely condemn Israeli communities as “illegal,” they are accused of financing and facilitating unauthorized Palestinian construction in Area C, undermining both Israeli law and the Oslo framework. This double standard weakens Israel’s sovereignty and advances the Palestinian Authority’s long-term strategy of seizing strategic territory without negotiations. AFSI believes Israel must respond with vigorous enforcement against illegal building, full transparency regarding foreign involvement, and the extension of Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria to ensure that Israel—not outside governments—determines the future of its historic heartland.

Source:
EU behind illegal Palestinian building in Judea and Samaria, Israeli NGO says, by David Isaac/JNS, July 22, 2026

Elements of the Trump administration are again considering ways to bring down Iran’s government after renewed fighting and failed diplomacy left Washington without a clear path to ending the conflict, according to the Financial Times.

The discussions do not appear to represent a formally adopted US policy, and President Donald Trump has not announced a decision to pursue regime change. Officials are nevertheless examining economic, political and covert options intended to weaken Tehran from within as the administration questions whether negotiations can permanently restrain Iran.

The renewed interest follows the collapse of a temporary agreement intended to halt the fighting, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and revive negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. American airstrikes have since resumed, while Iran has continued attacking US forces, regional infrastructure and commercial shipping.

AFSI Insight
That the United States is considering strategies to bring about the end of Iran’s Islamist regime signals recognition that the root of the threat is not merely Iran’s nuclear program, but the regime itself. AFSI has long argued that lasting regional stability cannot be achieved while the Ayatollahs continue to fund terrorism, arm proxy militias, and openly pursue America and Israel’s destruction. If the Iranian people are ultimately freed from this oppressive dictatorship, it would represent a major victory for peace, security, and the broader Middle East. AFSI would also stress that any policy must remain focused on protecting Israel’s security and ensuring that Iran can never again threaten the Jewish state or the free world.

Source:
US considering plan to overthrow Iranian regime – report by World Israel News Staff, July 21, 2026

Two Palestinians were arrested on suspicion of involvement in a fire that damaged dozens of homes and vehicles on Saturday in the Samaria community of Chavat Gilad, the Israel Police said on Monday. The fire destroyed 15 homes, 10 businesses and more than 30 structures, damaging infrastructure and forcing the evacuation of approximately 100 families.

“The security forces will continue to act decisively to locate and bring to justice anyone involved in harming public security or property,” it added.

Following hours of firefighting efforts, Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan issued a statement from Chavat Gilad on Saturday night, saying there was a “very strong suspicion” the blaze was the result of arson. He said the fire began after a burning object was thrown from a moving vehicle into a nearby field of dry brush.

AFSI Insight
The news from Chavat Gilad is heartbreaking. Our hearts are especially with our dear friends Ilana Shimon and Yael Shevach, whose homes were destroyed in this devastating fire. For many years, AFSI has stood with the pioneers of Judea and Samaria, and these women have been a source of strength, resilience, and inspiration through both personal tragedy and unwavering dedication to her community.

We express our deepest sorrow over this latest loss and our complete solidarity with Ilana, Yael, and their families and all the residents of Chavat Gilad. No family should have to endure the destruction of their home, and no community should have to live under the constant threat of violence and terror.

We are confident that, with the same courage that has always defined them, the people of Chavat Gilad will rebuild. AFSI stands with them today, as we always have, and remains committed to supporting the brave men and women who are strengthening Israel’s heartland. May all of the residents of Chavat Gilad find comfort, renewed strength, and the knowledge that they are not alone.

The arrests of two Palestinian suspects in connection with the devastating Chavat Gilad fire underscore the need to thoroughly investigate and prosecute acts of suspected arson against Jewish communities. Whether carried out through terrorism or criminal violence, attacks that destroy homes and endanger civilian lives must be met with swift justice and strong security measures. The destruction in Chavat Gilad serves as another reminder of the ongoing threats faced by residents of Judea and Samaria and the importance of ensuring their safety while deterring future attacks.

Source:
Israeli forces arrest two Palestinians in Havat Gilad fire probe, by JNS Staff, July 20, 2026

The IDF declared much of the Gaza border region a closed military zone Sunday as thousands of Israelis prepared to march from Yad Mordechai toward the enclave in support of reestablishing Jewish communities evacuated in 2005.

The demonstration, organized by the Nahala movement, was scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at Yad Mordechai Junction, north of Gaza. Organizers promoted the event as the “March of Thousands” and said its purpose was to press the government to begin renewing Israeli settlement in the Strip before this year’s election.

Nahala has described the march as a step toward “returning home after 21 years” and has focused its immediate campaign on renewed settlement in northern Gaza.

Ahead of the event, Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor signed an order closing a broad section of the western Negev from 8 a.m. Sunday until 8 a.m. Monday.

AFSI Insight
It’s unfortunate that the IDF had to declare the Gaza border area a closed military zone. AFSI sees the Gaza march as a reminder of the failure of the 2005 disengagement and the dangers that followed when Hamas turned Gaza into a terror base. While respecting the IDF’s security restrictions, AFSI believes Israel must retain the freedom to determine Gaza’s future based solely on its security needs and the protection of its citizens. We must also keep in mind that Gaza is part of Israel, both historically and legally. As it was part of the British Mandate for Palestine, under the doctrine of uti possidetis juris, international law recognizes that it became part of Israel when the British declared Israel sovereign over the mandatory territory in 1948.

Source:
Thousands plan to march on Gaza Strip, IDF declares border closed military zone, by World Israel News Staff, July 19, 2026

In 2009, then Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad unveiled a plan to unilaterally establish a Palestinian state by creating “facts on the ground,” despite the Oslo Accords. His program, Palestine: Ending the Occupation, Establishing the State, called for full sovereignty over the “West Bank” and Gaza within the 1967 lines, with Jerusalem as its capital, and outlined how that goal would be achieved. Once Israel realized the overall threat this presented it begin to respond.

Israel’s hilltop communities and farms in Judea and Samaria were founded, with idealistic young couples and youth managing to thwart key aspects of Fayyad’s plan. When the horrors of October 7 turned almost all Israelis against the very thought of a Palestinian Arab State alongside Israel, the government realized the need for the farms and sheep ranches spread over the empty expanses of land. It saw how Hilltop communities would block Arab attempts to create contiguity – all this – in Israel-controlled Area C.

AFSI Insight
The Hilltop Youth are too often mischaracterized and dismissed, while their dedication to settling and protecting the Land of Israel deserves greater recognition. These young men and women building and defending Israel’s hilltops are carrying forward the pioneering Zionist spirit that established the modern Jewish state. While critics frequently portray them as extremists, many are strengthening Israel’s strategic presence in Judea and Samaria through hard work, determination, and an unwavering belief in the Jewish people’s historic rights.

AFSI has long maintained that a strong Jewish presence throughout Judea and Samaria is essential to Israel’s security and future. These communities create facts on the ground that help safeguard Israel’s heartland, deter terrorism, and reinforce the Jewish people’s enduring connection to their ancestral homeland. Rather than condemning these idealistic young pioneers, Israel and all of Am Yisroel should support those who are helping secure the nation’s future.

Source:
Thank G-d for those hilltop youth, by Rochel Sylvetsky/Israel National News, July 17, 2026