Category: Articles

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to criticism from the Board of Peace, emphasizing that Israel remains committed to US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan but insisting that Hamas must disarm before reconstruction of the Gaza Strip can begin.

In a statement, Netanyahu stressed that Israel continues to cooperate closely with the United States and the Board of Peace in efforts to implement the plan.

“The State of Israel is working in close cooperation with the United States and the Board of Peace. Israel is committed to the success of President Trump’s 20-point plan,” Netanyahu stated.

He emphasized that the agreement establishes clear conditions for the reconstruction of Gaza.

“Under the plan, Hamas must disarm and Gaza must be demilitarized before reconstruction begins.”

AFSI Insight
Netanyahu’s statement reinforces a fundamental truth: there can be no lasting peace or reconstruction in Gaza while Hamas remains armed and in power. Hamas has not surrendered a single weapon and continues to exploit humanitarian aid and civilian infrastructure to rebuild its terror capabilities. The international community and the Board of Peace must stop pressuring Israel while ignoring Hamas’s continued violations. Disarming Hamas and ending its terrorist rule must be non-negotiable prerequisites for any future arrangement in Gaza.

Source:
Netanyahu responds to Board of Peace: “Hamas has not surrendered a single weapon”, by Israel National News, November 10, 2026

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/435985

The Palestinian Authority (PA) operates a dedicated ATM network, separate from the regular banking system, to continue transferring payments to terrorists and their families despite Israeli enforcement measures.

That is the claim made by Lt. Col. (res.) Maurice Hirsch, an attorney and researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, in a new study examining how the PA continues to transfer the funds. In an interview with Arutz Sheva-Israel National News, he details the payment system, criticizes Israeli enforcement authorities and outlines measures he says could bring the payments to a halt.

According to Hirsch, the Palestinian Authority has invested millions of shekels in establishing a separate payment system based on ATMs connected exclusively to the Palestinian Postal Bank. “The Palestinian Authority invested millions in developing a system of special ATMs connected only to the Palestinian Postal Bank, rather than to the broader banking system,” he says. He explains that an announcement is issued each month when the funds are deposited, and families receive cards allowing them to withdraw the payments.

AFSI Insight
The Palestinian Authority continues to reward terrorism despite Israeli efforts to stop the payments, establishing a separate ATM network and using money changers to circumvent financial restrictions. These payments, which provide tens of millions of shekels monthly to terrorists and their families, expose the PA’s ongoing commitment to incentivizing violence against Israel. AFSI believes Israel must move beyond symbolic financial deductions and enforce existing laws aggressively by confiscating the funds, seizing the dedicated ATMs, freezing assets, and holding both PA officials and recipients accountable. There must be real consequences for financing terrorism. Rewarding murder cannot be allowed to continue with impunity.

Source:
Dedicated ATMs channel money to terrorists, by Shimon Cohen/Israel National News, November 10, 2026

The Gush Etzion Regional Council is currently advancing the establishment of a large new industrial zone, “Mevo’ot Lachish,” which will cover 3,039 dunams (approximately 750 acres) north of and adjacent to the Tarkumiya Crossing.

The initiative is being led by the Settlement Administration and the Civil Administration, and another milestone has now been reached with IDF Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth signing an order establishing the jurisdictional boundaries of the planned industrial zone.

The Gush Etzion Regional Council views the project as a significant engine of economic growth for the coming decades. It is expected to expand employment and commercial opportunities, strengthen the council’s financial stability, and support population growth in the region.

AFSI Insight
The advancement of the 3,039-dunam Mevo’ot Lachish industrial zone in Gush Etzion is an important victory for strengthening Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria. This project goes beyond economic development: it creates jobs, strengthens local communities, generates substantial revenue, and reinforces Israel’s strategic position near the Tarkumiya Crossing and the security seam line. AFSI welcomes concrete steps that expand Jewish development, establish a stronger foothold on the land, and demonstrate that Judea and Samaria are integral to Israel’s future. Building, developing, and strengthening our communities is the best answer to those seeking to divide the land and establish a Palestinian state.

Source:
3,039 dunams: Major development project advances in Gush Etzion, by Hezki Baruch/Israel National News, November 9, 2026

The IDF has withdrawn the headquarters of its elite 98th Division from southern Judea and Samaria after more than a month of operations. On the surface, this appears to be a routine military redeployment. But given Israel’s increasingly volatile security environment, the decision raises a much larger question: Is the IDF reducing its presence in Judea and Samaria because the immediate threat has diminished, or is it preparing its forces for a more dangerous confrontation elsewhere?

The 98th Division headquarters assumed operational command over the Judea and Etzion regional brigades on September 25, relieving pressure on the Judea and Samaria Division during a period of heightened tensions. Although the division did not deploy its own organic combat units, its headquarters oversaw an intensive campaign against terrorist infrastructure and security threats throughout the southern sector.

According to the IDF, forces operating under its command conducted approximately 1,500 operations, arrested 140 suspects, and confiscated roughly 35 weapons.

These numbers reveal the scale of Israel’s ongoing security challenge in its biblical heartland.

But the deployment also came at a terrible cost. Two IDF soldiers were killed in a shooting attack at a checkpoint outside Hebron, a painful reminder that even heavily secured positions remain vulnerable to determined terrorists.

AFSI Insight
The reported withdrawal of the IDF’s elite 98th Division from Judea and Samaria raises serious questions about Israel’s long-term security strategy. At a time when terrorist threats remain active and Iran-backed networks continue seeking opportunities to destabilize the region, Israel cannot afford to weaken its presence in this strategically vital heartland. Security in Judea and Samaria is directly tied to the safety of Israel’s population centers. Any redeployment must be carefully evaluated to ensure that operational priorities do not come at the expense of sustained counterterrorism efforts and the protection of Israeli communities.

The 98th Division’s withdrawal should not be mistaken for a reduction in the terrorist threat. The IDF reported approximately 1,500 operations, 140 arrests, and 35 weapons seized during its deployment, underscoring the continuing security challenges. Israel must maintain an aggressive, proactive security posture in Judea and Samaria, with the freedom and capability to prevent terrorism rather than simply manage it.

Source:
Why Is Israel Pulling Its Elite 98th Division Out of Judea and Samaria?, by Micha Gege/Israel Unwired, November 8, 2026

The Honenu legal aid organization has contacted the Civil Administration demanding the immediate return of an excavator and tools allegedly taken from a couple living in the community of Gefen Ami in Gush Etzion during an operation by security forces last Wednesday.

According to the organization, the confiscated excavator had previously been used by the IDF for many months during the fighting in the Gaza Strip. Its owner is a reservist who has served more than 800 days since the beginning of the war.

At the center of the affair are Adi and Ma’ati Kolani, residents of the community. Adi works as a renovation contractor and heavy equipment operator. During his reserve service, he participated in regional defense operations in Judea and Samaria, as well as operations in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

AFSI Insight
This incident raises serious concerns about the treatment of Jewish residents who have repeatedly put their lives and resources on the line to defend Israel. Adi Kolani, a reservist who has served more than 800 days and lent his excavator to the IDF for operations in Gaza, now finds himself having his equipment and livelihood confiscated by the very security forces he helped support. AFSI believes that residents of Judea and Samaria who dedicate themselves to protecting their communities should be supported and respected, not subjected to questionable enforcement actions. The authorities must explain their conduct and immediately return the couple’s property.

Source:
Excavator used by IDF confiscated in Gush Etzion, by Israel National News, November 8, 2026

IDF Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth has ordered the military to stop notifying Palestinian Authority security forces before troops enter Palestinian Authority-controlled villages to carry out arrest operations, search for weapons, and conduct security sweeps, according to a report in Makor Rishon.

The decision was made following concerns raised by personnel in the field that information provided to PA security officials was being passed on to terrorists, helping them evade arrest and conceal weapons stockpiles.

According to the report, the IDF has observed an increase in the number of weapons seized during military operations since it stopped providing advance notifications to the Palestinian security forces.

AFSI Insight
The IDF’s decision to stop providing the Palestinian Authority with advance notice of arrest operations is a long-overdue acknowledgment of a dangerous reality: Israel cannot entrust its soldiers’ safety to a security apparatus that may be compromised by terrorist sympathizers or actual terrorists. Advance warnings gave terrorists opportunities to escape, hide weapons, and prepare for Israeli forces. The reported increase in weapons seizures since the practice stopped underscores the danger of misplaced trust. AFSI maintains that Israel’s security must come first. Protecting IDF soldiers and defeating terrorism in Judea and Samaria must take precedence over political considerations and security arrangements with the PA.

Source:
Fearing leaks to terrorists, IDF stops informing PA about arrest operations, by Israel National News, November 6, 2026

Israel should no longer receive billions of dollars in annual American military assistance because its economy is strong enough to stand on its own, U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday, announcing that the funding would end in 2027.

Speaking by phone to Fox News, Trump said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had raised the prospect of ending the aid, and that the two leaders had discussed it for several years.

“Israel is a thriving country, it doesn’t need this. If it did, we would continue,” Trump said. He added that Washington would maintain arms sales to Israel, its closest regional ally, even after the assistance program ends.

The existing agreement provides Israel with $3.8 billion annually in military financing through 2028. Signed in 2016 under then-President Barack Obama, the 10-year arrangement is the largest U.S. military aid commitment to any country.

AFSI Insight
President Trump’s announcement that the United States plans to end its annual military aid to Israel, while abrupt and more immediate than expected, underscores the importance of Israel becoming increasingly self-reliant in defending its sovereignty and national security. While a strong U.S.-Israel strategic partnership remains vital, Israel must never have its security decisions dictated by foreign financial considerations. Civilian aid was ended long ago. This military assistance has primarily benefited American defense industries and served U.S. strategic interests in the Middle East. AFSI believes Israel must maintain the freedom and military strength to defend itself, by itself, while preserving an alliance with America based on shared values and mutual interests. Important context: The existing U.S.-Israel military assistance agreement runs through 2028, and the precise timing and mechanics of Trump’s proposed change remain unclear.

Source:
Trump Announces Plan to End US Military Aid to Israel Next Year, by Pesach Benson/TPS-IL, November 3, 2026

The Committee’s Presidium approved the results with three representatives voting in favor, while Likud and Shas representatives abstained. Earlier in the day, Likud MK Amit Halevi resigned from the Committee in protest over bringing the results to a vote while the foreign-interference investigation remains unresolved.

Justice Noam Sohlberg, chairman of the Central Elections Committee, then formally presented the certified results to President Herzog, opening the constitutional process of consultations with faction representatives before Herzog assigns a mandate to form the next government.

The Committee said it examined the protocols from all 9,069 polling stations and conducted deeper reviews of 350 stations, including voting materials, ballot slips, and voter registers where necessary. It said the review found no evidence that election integrity had been compromised or that the results had been altered.

AFSI Insight
Israel’s electoral integrity and national sovereignty must never be compromised by foreign interference. Serious Shin Bet suspicions of foreign funding and efforts to influence the election demand a thorough, transparent investigation, not political expediency or premature closure. While the election results have been certified, that must not mean the investigation ends or accountability is abandoned. Israel must remain vigilant against hostile foreign actors seeking to manipulate its democratic institutions and undermine its security. Any proven wrongdoing must be exposed and addressed, regardless of political affiliation.

Source:
Herzog Receives Certified Election Results Despite Shin Bet Reports of Serious Suspected Foreign Influence, by the News Desk/The Jewish Edition, November 4, 2026

Hilltop Youth were notified in advance about the evacuation of a hilltop encampment in Samaria, allowing them to prepare to block the forces’ way and start a violent riot.

Galei Tzahal reported on Tuesday that despite recurring incidents, the IDF refuses to answer whether it has opened investigations into how information about planned hilltop evacuations leaked.

On Monday, security forces had to contend for hours with violent riots and roadblocks while attempting to clear a hilltop encampment in Samaria.

AFSI Insight
The advance warning allegedly given to Hilltop activists before the Samaria evacuation raises serious concerns about security breaches within Israel’s military and security establishment. How can the IDF effectively protect Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria when sensitive operational information is repeatedly leaked to those seeking to obstruct its missions? AFSI believes the government must investigate these leaks and hold those responsible accountable. We also strongly believe that the government must stop undermining the Jewish pioneers who strengthen Israel’s presence in its historic heartland. Law and order must be maintained, but enforcement must be fair and must not become another tool for weakening Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.

Source:
Hilltop Youth receive advance warning, organize riots before evacuation, by Israel National News, November 3, 2026

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) could face a gradual shutdown under a proposal to transfer its responsibilities in Gaza to the US-backed Board of Peace and its operations in Judea and Samaria to the Palestinian Authority, according to a report published Sunday by Israel Hayom.

Arab and Western diplomatic sources told the newspaper that UNRWA Acting Commissioner-General Christian Saunders has been advancing the initiative in response to the agency’s worsening financial crisis and Israeli legislation restricting its activities.

The proposal would mark a significant restructuring of international assistance to Palestinians, potentially ending UNRWA’s decades-long role as the principal provider of education, healthcare and social services to millions of Palestinians.

AFSI Insight
The possible permanent closure of UNRWA would be a welcome and long-overdue development. For years, UNRWA has perpetuated the Palestinian refugee narrative, promoted an inherited refugee status across generations, and operated in an environment where employees and facilities have been linked to Hamas and terrorist activity. Its financial crisis should not be viewed merely as a budgetary problem, but as an opportunity to dismantle an institution that has helped sustain the conflict rather than resolve it. Humanitarian assistance should be delivered through transparent, accountable organizations that do not perpetuate hatred, terrorism, or the false promise of a so-called right of return. UNRWA must not be rebranded or rescued under another name. Its closure should be permanent.

The reported plan to transfer UNRWA’s responsibilities in Gaza and Judea and Samaria must not become a cosmetic restructuring that allows the agency’s destructive legacy to continue under new management. The real test is whether the world finally ends UNRWA’s role in perpetuating the Palestinian refugee fiction, the so-called right of return, and an institutional culture that has enabled Hamas and fueled generations of hostility toward Israel. Humanitarian services can and should continue through accountable organizations, but UNRWA must be permanently dismantled—not rescued with a new name or funding source.

Source:
UNRWA may be permanently shut down amid growing deficit – report, by World Israel News Staff, November 2, 2026