Category: Articles

While most media are focused on the IDF’s conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, further south Israeli forces are quietly working to eliminate the continuing threat from Iran’s terror proxies in Gaza.

This weekend the IDF and Shin Bet dismantled a key Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist facility operating in Gaza.

Despite having signed a 20-point ceasefire deal brokered by President Donald Trump last October, Hamas and allied terrorist organizations such as Islamic Jihad have repeatedly violated the agreement. The terrorist organizations have also bluntly stated they will not comply with the terms of the deal calling for Hamas and its allies to lay down their arms.

AFSI Insight
The IDF and Shin Bet’s destruction of an Islamic Jihad explosives factory in Gaza underscores the ongoing threat posed by terror groups that continue to prioritize weapons and attacks over peace and reconstruction. The precision strike demonstrates the importance of proactive Israeli intelligence and military action to prevent future attacks on civilians. It also highlights the stark moral difference between Israel’s efforts to minimize civilian harm and terrorist organizations that operate within civilian areas while preparing for war.

Source:
Precision Strike: IDF, Shin Bet Eliminate Islamic Jihad Explosives Factory in Gaza, by Hana Levi Julian/The Jewish Edition, May 10, 2026

Israel is in “full coordination” with Washington on Iran and is preparing for all possible scenarios, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday as he convened his Security Cabinet.

“We are maintaining continuous contact with our friends in the United States,” said Netanyahu according to his office, adding that he spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump “almost on a daily basis. My people and his people are in daily contact as well, including today. And I will also speak with President Trump later tonight.” There were “no surprises” between them, he said.

Jerusalem and Washington share the goal of removing all enriched nuclear material from Iran and dismantling its enrichment capabilities, he continued.

“President Trump believes he can achieve this one way or another. We, however, are prepared for any scenario, and that is the directive I have given to the IDF and our security agencies,” said Netanyahu. “Israel is stronger than ever; Iran and its proxies are weaker than ever.”

Earlier this week Trump said the United States has had “very good talks” with Iran over the past 24 hours and suggested a deal remains within reach,

AFSI Insight
The most significant insight from the current situation is likely this: The region has not yet transitioned smoothly towards either peace or a return to conflict. It exists in a precarious hybrid state where diplomacy, coercion, proxy warfare, sanctions, and military signaling are concurrently taking place. Netanyahu’s statements aim to uphold deterrence credibility amid this uncertain phase. However, nuclear deterrence alone will not leave Israel where she must be in order to cease hostilities.

Source:
Netanyahu: US, Israel aligned on Iran, by JNS Staff, Amelie Botbol, May. 7, 2026

Until yesterday morning, the common view in Israel was that if the left-wing bloc tried to form a coalition government, it would need to include the Ra’am party in order to reach a majority in the Knesset. However, that option may no longer be acceptable, even for Israeli politicians who are willing to ignore Ra’am’s ties to the vehemently anti-Semitic Muslim Brotherhood.

Judge Merav Ben Ari of the Central District Court in Lod on Tuesday ordered the dissolution of the “Humanitarian Deeds” nonprofit, which is linked to the Ra’am party, and appointed a temporary receiver. This decision followed findings by the Registrar of Nonprofits at the Justice Ministry that the organization cooperated with groups designated as terrorist organizations and transferred funds to them.

The “Choosing Life” Forum of bereaved families and victims of terrorism, which conducted in-depth investigations and filed the complaint that led to the liquidation process stated, “This is a clear victory for bereaved families and for our struggle against supporters of those who murdered our children. We now expect the State Attorney’s Office to open a criminal investigation against the organization’s leaders and bring them to justice for their active assistance to the enemy.”

AFSI Insight
Israel’s security depends not only on confronting threats throughout the country, but also on exposing and shutting down the pipelines that sustain them. The court’s decision to dismantle a Ra’am-affiliated association over alleged terror financing is a stark reminder that financial networks are often the lifeblood of terrorism. This case underscores the urgent need for vigilance, transparency, and uncompromising enforcement when it comes to organizations operating under the guise of humanitarian or political activity.

Source:
Court Dismantles Ra’am-Affiliated Association Over Transfer of Funds to Terrorists, by David Israel/The Jewish Edition, May 6, 2026

Terrorists from the village of al-Mughayyir in the Binyamin region infiltrated grazing areas belonging to a farm near the Allon Road overnight and carried out a large-scale poisoning attack.

A shepherd who arrived in the afternoon to water the flock noticed a suspicious substance in the water and immediately halted the animals from drinking, preventing more extensive harm.

This marks the ninth poisoning incident targeting Jewish shepherds in Judea and Samaria over the past two years. Security sources indicate that this method of attack has been expanding recently as part of the struggle against agricultural communities in the area.

AFSI Insight
This report reveals a calculated form of terror—deliberately poisoning water sources and grazing areas to sabotage the livelihoods, food supply, and safety of Jewish citizens. Unlike random violence, this targets Israeli civilians indirectly through their land and resources, making it harder to detect and deter. These agricultural communities need stronger protection, and perpetrators must face serious consequences. Downplaying these attacks only invites more of this form of terror.

Source:
Poison terror continues: Water cisterns contaminated in Binyamin; sheep harmed, by Israel National News, May 5, 2026

US President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that he is dissatisfied with Iran’s latest proposal to conclude the war, casting doubt on the Islamic Republic’s ability to ever accept a deal.

“They want to make a deal,” Trump said, adding, “I’m not satisfied with it.”

He did not spell out precisely what in Iran’s latest document he could not accept, going on to suggest officials in Tehran may never come around to a negotiated settlement to the war.

“They’ve made strides, but I’m not sure if they ever get there,” Trump said, describing “tremendous discord” among Iran’s leaders.

“The leadership is very disjointed,” he said. “It’s got two to three groups, maybe four, and it’s a very disjointed leadership. And with that being said, they all want to make a deal, but they’re all messed up.”

Trump also stated that his options on Iran boil down to a major military escalation or striking a deal.

AFSI’s take:
Trump’s skepticism is the right call — maximum pressure, not desperation for a deal. Israel has borne the brunt of Iran’s agression for decades. Any agreement that leaves the regime’s enrichment infrastructure, proxy army (Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, etc.), long range ballistic missle supply or breakout capability intact would be a strategic disaster — merely a pause before the next round of aggression. Trump is applying leverage correctly. The goal isn’t “talks for talks’ sake” or another flawed paper deal; it’s denuclearization and deterrence restoration. If Iran won’t meet realistic terms, continued pressure (military and economic) remains the responsible path. Weakness invites war; strength deters it.

Source:
Trump: I’m not satisfied with Iran’s latest deal proposal, by Elad Benari/Israel National News, May 1, 2026

Channel 13 in Israel recently aired a report portraying Bedouin being pushed off their land due to so-called “settler violence,” presented by journalist Baruchi Kara alongside several former senior IDF generals and intelligence chiefs, including Tamir Pardo.

But this was not journalism. It is narrative warfare against the Jewish people. And it is dangerous.

Because beneath the reporting about “settler violence” and Bedouin encampments lies a far more consequential story, one that the media is not telling.

While the Channel 13 media report is framing this as a humanitarian story, it is not. It is a geopolitical operation to steal Israeli land and de-facto create a Palestinian State.

And that brings us to the so-called “hilltop youth.” They are not the story being told. They are the response.

These young Jews are moving onto strategic areas—land that is Israeli state land, illegally grabbed by Bedouins as part of the EU supported Palestinian Authority plan to take away our land—and they are reestablishing a Jewish presence there. Not as an act of rebellion, but as an act of defense.

AFSI’s take:
Avi Abelow asserts in his article that there is an “uncomfortable truth that the report completely ignores: These young people are stepping in because the system failed.” This failure is a direct result of Israel’s neglect of a critical and long-standing issue. The entire outcry regarding “settler violence” has evolved into a narrative manipulation employed by Israel’s adversaries, while genuine security threats and unlawful land seizures remain unaddressed.

Source:
They Ignored the Land Grab. Now They Blame the Jews Fighting Back, by Avi Abelow/Israel Unwired, April 30. 2026

Israeli authorities responded to reports of daily demonstrations over the past several weeks involving Bedouin children from the unauthorized hamlet of Umm al-Khair near the Israeli community of Carmel in the South Hebron Hills of Judea.

Since April 13, when a small Arab elementary school reopened following Israel’s ceasefire with Iran, foreign and local media outlets have been present, documenting claims by Arab residents that children are being prevented from reaching the school due to a fence erected by the area’s Jewish residents.

A Hebron Hills Regional Council spokesperson told JNS the barrier was not erected to block the students, but rather it was put up by local security officials, in coordination with the army, as a defensive measure following repeated attempts by Arab terrorists to infiltrate Moshav Carmel.

AFSI’s take:
The presence of Umm al-Khair, an illegal outpost located within Carmel’s municipal boundaries, creates legitimate security concerns for the local Israeli population. Given that Area C of Judea and Samaria has been under total Israeli administration for the past twenty years, any attempts to challenge this governance represent a violation of Israel’s sovereign rights. Furthermore, Eliram Azoulay, the Head of the Hebron Hills Regional Council, has released footage demonstrating that an alternative path to the school is available and requires less than a two-minute drive. This entire situation is merely a media-driven PR maneuver intended to demonize Israel.

Source:
Judea residents reject claims Arab children being prevented from reaching school, by Josh Hasten/JNS, May 1, 2026

Public figures on Wednesday responded to published off-the-record comments by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, indicating that Jerusalem is not planning to apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria “at least in the coming months,” due to opposition from U.S. President Donald Trump.

MK Ohad Tal responded to Sa’ar’s comments, telling JNS that applying Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria is the morally and biblically correct path and represents the only viable solution to stabilizing the region and ensuring a better future for all—Jews and Arabs alike.

Former Ambassador Yoram Ettinger said Israel’s control of the Judea and Samaria mountain range was a critical line of defense that Americans should understand is not important only for Israel, but “serves as a deterrent against terrorism and war, which is consistent with U.S. interests.”

The Sovereignty Movement emphasized that while Trump is a true friend of Israel, as demonstrated by many of his actions and statements, the responsibility for fateful decisions regarding the future of the State of Israel lies solely with the government of Israel.

Rabbi Tuly Weisz, founder of Israel365 Action, a new party in the World Zionist Organization supporting sovereignty, told JNS that Sa’ar correctly doesn’t want to publicly disrespect Trump, whom he called Israel’s great ally.

Avi Abelow offered that Sa’ar’s remarks highlight that Israel has not effectively framed sovereignty as a shared objective with its most important ally.

AFSI’s take:
Reasonable people who understand the facts about Israel’s biblical and historical rights to the land understand that the application of sovereignty should not be conditioned on outside approval. Though ignoring geopolitical constraints may pose risks to Israel, it doesn’t change the truth about this issue and Israel remains the sole arbiter. If anything, both the discussion and outrage triggered by Sa’ar’s statement signals that the question about applying sovereignty has transitioned from a theoretical consideration to a practical one. It is evolving from a question of ‘if’ to ‘when’—and under what conditions.

Source:
Ire at Israeli FM saying need US OK before Judea and Samaria sovereignty, by Josh Hasten/JNS, April 30, 2026

Brigadier General (res.) Erez Weiner, former operations officer for the Judea and Samaria Division, and Colonel Prof. Gabi Siboni, former commander of the Golani Reconnaissance Unit, launched a direct attack against the term “settler violence.”

In an extensive paper published as research fellows at the ICGS Strategy Center, the two argue that the term is part of a well-funded political campaign designed to generate international pressure on Israel and undermine the standing of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.

The researchers point to what they describe as a deep gap between international reporting and the reality on the ground. According to the paper, United Nations OCHA data include incidents unrelated to violence, such as Jewish visits to the Temple Mount, nature hikes, or state infrastructure work.

AFSI’s take:
Portraying Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria as violent is a tactic employed by Israel’s enemies and detractors to undermine the Jewish Nation State’s legitimacy. It is essential to demand transparency, which includes clear definitions, verifiable sources, and the application of consistent standards in an equitable manner. In the absence of these elements, information shifts away from factual discourse and leans towards conflicting narratives—an approach that exacerbates baseless hatred of Judea, Samaria and Israel.

Source:
Study shows: Left-wing orgs inflate violence data in Judea and Samaria, by Israel National News

A bombing attack was prevented on Tuesday by a resident of Esh Kodesh in the Shiloh area. While en route to the community, the resident noticed a PLO flag suspiciously placed on the community’s back gate.

Thanks to high alertness, the resident took extra caution and noticed an activation cable leading from the flag to an explosive device placed nearby.

The resident immediately contacted the community security coordinator, and within minutes, security forces arrived and closed off the perimeter. Police explosive ordnance disposal experts were dispatched to the scene and neutralized the threat before it could harm anyone.

AFSI’s take:
What is immediately noticeable is the technique employed to conceal an explosive device behind a symbolic item such as a flag. This was not merely an effort to inflict damage—it was also intended to manipulate instinct. The flag served as a tool of terror directed at Israel. The vigilance demonstrated by the Esh Kodesh resident at the individual level was instrumental in saving lives. As the residents warn of a worsening security situation in this area, it’s imperative for Israel to enhance security measures here.

Source:
Booby-trapped PLO flag found near Esh Kodesh, by Israel National News, April 28, 2026