Friday, March 14, 2025

Judea and Samaria Security on Edge Amid Fragile Gaza Ceasefire, Released Terror Prisoners

by Elisha Ben-Kimon ~ Ynetnews

Tuesday, 11 March 2025 | After months of conflict and heightened tensions, the West Bank [Judea and Samaria] is entering a critical period. While the frequency of terrorist attacks has decreased, the coming weeks are expected to bring a series of developments that could inflame the already fragile security situation.

The recent release of Palestinian prisoners, ongoing Israeli military operations, growing economic distress, and the volatile atmosphere surrounding Ramadan (one of the Five Pillars of Islam when stringent disciplines are observed) all contribute to a complex and unpredictable reality.

Israeli security officials are closely monitoring these converging factors, which could lead to further escalation both in the West Bank and inside Israel. While the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet [Israeli internal security organization] are working to prevent a deterioration, a combination of internal and external pressures may test their ability to maintain stability.

Ramadan Tensions and the Threat of Escalation

With Ramadan already underway, Israeli security officials are bracing for the possibility of violence centered around Al-Aqsa Mosque, a frequent flashpoint during the holy month.

Religious tensions have historically been exploited by terrorist groups to incite violence, and this year is no exception. Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar named the October 7 attack “Al-Aqsa Flood,” framing it as a response to Israeli actions at the site.

The Israeli security cabinet has yet to decide whether to approve a defense establishment recommendation to allow 10,000 Muslim worshippers onto the Temple Mount, as was permitted last year. Any restrictions, confrontations, or incidents at the site could further inflame tensions, particularly against the backdrop of ongoing IDF operations in the West Bank.

The Return of Freed Terrorists to the West Bank

One of the most immediate security concerns is the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners into the West Bank as part of the hostage deal with Hamas. While Israeli officials have acknowledged the necessity of these releases, they have also warned of the consequences.

A senior security official recently estimated that about 80% of those freed are expected to return to terrorism in some form.

This is not merely a question of individuals carrying out attacks. Many of the released prisoners are experienced operatives with the knowledge and networks to reestablish terrorist cells, secure funding and weapons, and recruit new militants.

Compounding the risk, security officials have noted a significant increase in the flow of weapons and funds into the West Bank, making it easier for these individuals to reengage in terror activity.

Israeli security forces, in close coordination with the Palestinian Authority [PA], are monitoring these former prisoners. However, Hamas and other groups continue to receive external support, making it difficult to contain the growing threat. The PA itself has an interest in preventing Hamas from strengthening its presence in the West Bank, but its ability to act remains limited.

Economic Instability Fueling Unrest

The PA is facing severe financial difficulties, adding another layer of instability. At the same time, terrorist organizations are injecting funds into the West Bank, using financial incentives to recruit new operatives.

Ramadan typically brings an economic boost, as many Israeli Arabs visit Palestinian cities to shop and dine. However, security officials report a decline in both visitors and spending, indicating growing financial distress.

The worsening economy is a concern not just for the Palestinian leadership but also for Israeli security officials, who fear that economic frustration could further destabilize the situation.

The issue of Palestinian laborers in Israel also remains unresolved. The security cabinet has yet to formulate a clear policy on work permits, and in the meantime, the number of Palestinians entering Israel illegally is on the rise. Israeli security forces are struggling to monitor and regulate these movements, raising concerns that terrorist groups could exploit the situation to smuggle operatives into Israeli cities.

IDF Operations Shifting the Battlefield

The IDF continues to conduct military operations across the West Bank, particularly in the northern region, where armed groups have gained strength in recent years.

While these operations have led to the arrest or killing of key terrorist figures, they have also had unintended consequences. Many operatives are now relocating to other areas, potentially spreading the threat rather than eliminating it.

Security officials believe that maintaining a strong military presence in the West Bank is essential for reducing attacks and enabling rapid responses to intelligence threats.

However, the extended nature of IDF operations inside refugee camps has driven some terrorist operatives to reposition themselves, with the potential to launch attacks from different locations.

Terrorist organizations see this period as an opportunity to provoke wider unrest, particularly by encouraging lone-wolf attacks inside Israeli cities. Leaders of these groups are hoping that a series of high-profile incidents will trigger broader protests and inspire additional attackers.

Terror Groups Targeting Upcoming Jewish Holidays

Beyond the immediate security concerns, Israeli officials are also looking ahead to key dates on the Israeli calendar that have historically been targeted by terrorist organizations. Jewish holidays and national commemorations, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Passover, are often seen as strategic moments to carry out attacks.

Adding to the uncertainty is the possibility of a US policy announcement regarding Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank, as well as the potential for renewed fighting in Gaza or even along the Lebanese border. With so many volatile factors converging, Israeli security forces face one of their toughest tests in recent months.

The coming weeks will likely determine whether the relative calm in the West Bank holds or if a new wave of violence emerges. The IDF and Shin Bet remain on high alert, knowing that even a single incident could set off a wider escalation.

Source: (Exerpt of an article originally published by Ynetnews on March 10, 2025. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit photographer/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Cry out to the Lord on behalf of the Jewish citizens living in Judea and Samaria, Israel’s biblical heartland, asking Him to be a shield of protection around their vulnerable communities and on the roads, so often the locations where terror attacks occur. Pray for the soldiers of the IDF who are stationed in this area, that they will be well-rested and alert to danger. Last but not least, pray that the Shin Bet will receive accurate intelligence in a timely manner and know how to act on the information they receive.

Scripture

Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty! Your enemies shall submit to you, and you shall tread down their high places.”

- Deuteronomy 33:29

IDF Warns of Soldier Shortage and Extreme Burden on Troops in Coming Years

by Yoav Zitun ~ Ynetnews

Monday, 10 March 2025 | More strain, more missions, and almost no time off—one of the most alarming failures revealed in investigations of the October 7 terror attack was the IDF General Staff’s decision five years ago to reduce the number of combat troops stationed in security outposts on weekends by half. This move was primarily intended to boost motivation for enlisting in combat units.

That decision—recently described by the IDF’s Southern Command as a “mistake”—came at a heavy price on that tragic Saturday, particularly at sparsely defended outposts like Nahal Oz, where 53 soldiers lost their lives. The reversal of this policy is just the beginning of the military’s desperate effort to cope with an extreme, multi-front burden that is only expected to grow in the coming years—not just for reservists but for regular soldiers as well.

The IDF’s Operations Directorate, responsible for force deployment across Israel’s borders and in the West Ban [Judea and Samaria], estimates that Israel is entering a period of manpower shortages not seen since the days of the Security Zone in southern Lebanon, followed shortly by the Second Intifada in the early 2000s. The reason: Israeli policy, shaped by years of deceptive calm, now aims to prevent Hezbollah and Hamas from re-emerging as full-fledged military forces—like they were before the current war. The cost of that effort will be borne by Israeli society.

Concern in the IDF General Staff

Regular soldiers are already feeling the strain. According to senior officers, the grueling deployment schedule is unlikely to change in the coming years: 17 days on duty, followed by a short three- to four-day leave. That means a brief break for combat troops once every two and a half weeks—at best, once a month if there are no escalations, security alerts, or lockdowns. For the past 15 years, combat troops were able to go home once every two weeks.

“The Israeli public, new recruits, active soldiers, and especially their parents should adjust their expectations—they will see much less of their sons and daughters in the coming years,” the IDF warns. “Even if prolonged combat in Gaza does not resume and even if fronts like southern Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank remain ‘calm’ as they are now.”

Military officials add, “We are doing everything we can to ease the burden on reservists, who are completely exhausted. But regular combat troops will bear the brunt. We need thousands of soldiers to man the new outposts established inside Lebanese territory, in the Syrian Golan Heights, and along the Gaza Strip’s buffer zone. On top of that, we have doubled the number of regional battalions stationed around Gaza and the Galilee compared to the pre-war period. This new reality will not change in the coming years, even under the most optimistic scenarios.”

The IDF General Staff—including newly appointed Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir—is deeply concerned about the severe manpower shortage, while political leaders remain indifferent. More than 10,000 soldiers have been removed from IDF service since the war began. According to IDF data, approximately 12,000 soldiers—most of them combat troops—have been killed or wounded since October 7. Additionally, the need for increased border defense and the rapid expansion of armored and engineering brigades have left the IDF with a growing manpower deficit, the burden of which will be felt by both current and future servicemembers through extreme workloads not seen in two decades.

Another factor in the manpower shortage is one of Lt. Gen. Zamir’s first decisions: the creation of a new infantry brigade—the first since the 900th battalions were merged into the Kfir Brigade 20 years ago. The IDF currently has five active-duty infantry brigades in addition to Kfir: Nahal, Paratroopers, Golani and Givati. At least one new engineering battalion will also be established, and tank brigade reconnaissance companies—shut down in the past decade—will be reinstated. These changes will require thousands of additional combat soldiers that the IDF currently lacks, meaning the burden will only increase for existing troops.

To fill these ranks, the IDF is reaching out to older former combat soldiers in the civilian population, attempting to form new reserve brigades with volunteers aged 40 to 60. Despite high motivation, these units remain understaffed and rely on volunteers with varying levels of fitness and other personal constraints.

“We are stretched to the limit, and every IDF combat soldier feels it already,” officials say. “Even in basic training, new recruits are affected by the burden. After just two months of infantry training, some platoons are sent to reinforce active units for a week or two, cutting into their own training. The only way to break this cycle is to add forces at an unprecedented scale. The number of rapid-response units—the forces that must be on standby for major incidents—has tripled or quadrupled, and this will not change.”

Military sources dismissed claims that the newly formed “Hasmonean Brigade” is a meaningful solution. “It’s misleading to present it as a full-fledged ultra-Orthodox combat brigade when, in reality, only one company has been recruited so far. It’s not even a band-aid for the IDF’s combat manpower crisis.”

 Holding Ground Instead of Raids

The challenges are not limited to Gaza, the West Bank, or the northern border. Even soldiers stationed along Israel’s traditionally quieter Arava border, primarily tasked with stopping drug and weapons smuggling from Sinai, describe the hardship of going home just once every two and a half weeks. “Of our four days off, we lose an entire day traveling home. When we ask to swap leave schedules, commanders agree only if the adjustment results in an even longer stretch of service, sometimes requiring us to serve 21 consecutive days before a break.”

One of the IDF Operations Directorate’s strategies for managing the strain is to send entire units on short leave periods of five to seven days, as was done with Givati and Nahal battalions after a month or two of continuous combat in Gaza. While this offers a brief reprieve, it comes only after 50 to 60 days without seeing home, depending on mission intensity.

“Reservists are the first to receive any relief. We’re trying to ensure they don’t serve more than two and a half months in 2025, but many will still be called up for two extended deployments within a year,” IDF sources said.

Uncertainty remains over the IDF’s broader plans for Gaza. The political leadership recently authorized another mass call-up of hundreds of thousands of reservists under the open-ended emergency mobilization order. But many reserve commanders have warned officials about the toll this has taken. “Even with staggered rotations, only 50% to 70% of reservists currently respond to call-ups due to prolonged absences from work, studies, and family life. The strain cannot be eased with money alone.

“For large-scale operations in Gaza, more people might answer the call. But they have already fought there and in Lebanon for months. Family pressures are mounting—everyone is asking, ‘Why can’t someone else do their part?’ This must be factored into future planning, as it will impact force availability for future missions.”

Source: (Excerpt of an article originally published by Ynetnews on March 10, 2025. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Pray for the soldiers of the IDF, both those fulfilling their regular military duty and those in reserve units who have families and full-time jobs. Ask the Lord to give wisdom to Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Israel’s new chief of staff, and all those under his command, especially those in planning units. Pray for the strength and endurance of those soldiers who are being asked to serve longer periods of time between breaks.

Scripture

You therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to punish all the nations; do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors…Indeed, they belch with their mouth; swords are in their lips; for they say, “Who hears?” But You, O LORD, shall laugh at them; You shall have all the nations in derision. I will wait for You, O You his Strength; for God is my defense.

- Psalm 59:5, 7–9

Israeli Startup QuamCore Claims Breakthrough in Scaling Quantum Computers

by Tal Shahaf ~ Ynetnews

Thursday, 13 March 2025 | Israeli startup QuamCore claims to have developed a chip technology capable of powering a quantum computer with one million qubits. For comparison, Google’s recently introduced Willow processor contains 105 qubits, while IBM plans to unveil a 1,000-qubit machine this year.

Emerging to the public on Wednesday, QuamCore is presenting the results of a two-year study that led to the development of a new quantum processor architecture based on superconducting technology.

According to the company, its innovation compresses the number of qubits that would typically require massive computing facilities into a space the size of a few chips. The technology reportedly reduces power consumption, lowers costs and addresses a key industry challenge: computational errors.

For now, the technology exists only on paper. The first chips based on this architecture are expected to enter production soon at one of the world’s major semiconductor manufacturing plants. After production, the company plans to begin real-world testing.

The unveiling comes as QuamCore secures a US $9 million seed funding round led by Viola Ventures, with participation from Earth & Beyond, which invested in the company from its early stages, as well as Surround Ventures, strategic international investors and the Israel Innovation Authority.

“We founded the company with a single goal: solving the scaling problem that prevents quantum computers from being practical and useful,” QuamCore CEO and co-founder Alon Cohen told Ynetnews.

To perform the complex calculations expected of them, quantum computers must overcome computational errors and incorporate large numbers of qubits. “There’s not much you can do with a quantum computer below a million qubits,” he added.

Quantum processors using superconducting technology must operate near absolute zero. To achieve this, they are housed inside cryogenic cooling systems, with hundreds of gold wires connecting the chip—creating the characteristic “chandelier” appearance of quantum computers.

However, this approach hits a scalability limit of about 5,000 qubits, requiring massive cryogenic infrastructure to expand further.

How did QuamCore break past this barrier? Cohen explained that the company addressed a long-standing limitation: the need to position the control system outside the cooling chamber to prevent heat emissions.

Their new approach integrates a novel control system directly within the chamber, eliminating the need for thousands of external wires. This allows for significantly higher qubit density inside a single cryogenic unit.

Cohen claimed the breakthrough reduces computing costs and power consumption by a factor of 1,000, shortens construction time to just a few days and enables quantum computers to be networked together to increase qubit capacity further.

“We understood that real value comes from reaching a million qubits from day one. We’ve found a way to overcome the main bottleneck that has so far prevented this,” he said. “We have a detailed plan for a million-qubit quantum computer with built-in error correction—bringing us significantly closer to practical quantum systems capable of solving real-world problems.”

Founded in 2022, QuamCore’s leadership team includes experts in quantum physics, superconductors and chip development for communication systems.

CEO Alon Cohen, a former IDF intelligence Unit 8200 alumnus, has 25 years of experience in intelligence systems and communication chip development. He previously co-founded EyeC Radar at Mobileye, where he helped develop a 4D imaging system serving as a core sensor for Mobileye’s autonomous driving technology.

CTO Prof. Shai Hacohen-Gourgy is a leading expert in superconducting-based quantum computing with over 15 years of pioneering research in solid-state physics and experimental quantum information. A professor at Israel’s Technion, his work on superconducting circuits and quantum measurement has been published in top scientific journals, including Nature.

Chief scientist Prof. Serge Rosenblum, a researcher at the Weizmann Institute of Science, has over 15 years of experience in quantum technologies. His groundbreaking studies have been published in leading journals such as Science.

“This is a breakthrough that will enable large-scale quantum computing with built-in error correction,” Zvika Orron, a partner at Viola Ventures, said. “Just as transistors replaced vacuum tubes, QuamCore is redefining the future of the field. After extensive evaluation, we are convinced the potential here is unprecedented.”

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on March 12, 2025. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Mwjohnson0/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Give thanks for the creative thinking that enabled this team of Jewish experts to solve a problem that has been limiting the practical use of quantum computers. Pray that as they move from the theoretical stage to the production of these new chips and their testing, that the results will be a blessing to the world.

Scripture

I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

- Genesis 12:2-3

Israeli FM Sa’ar: Hamas not Ready to Disarm

by JNS

Thursday, 13 March 2025 | Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Tuesday dismissed the idea that the Hamas terrorist organization is prepared to lay down its arms.

“I don’t see any indication that Hamas is ready to disarm,” Sa’ar said in an interview with ABC News chief national correspondent Matt Gutman.

Sa’ar emphasized that if Hamas were to disarm, it would significantly alter the current conflict. “That would be a huge development—one that could change the entire equation. But up until now, they have been very clear and decisive that they will not disarm,” he said.

Instead, Sa’ar said Hamas appears to be considering an alternative approach modeled after Hezbollah in Lebanon. “They are looking at a different approach, something similar to the Hezbollah model—allowing someone else to handle the ruins they left behind in the Gaza Strip while they remain the most powerful military force there. Their goal is to continue the war against Israel,” he said.

This, he continued, “is totally unacceptable. For us, there is no way to guarantee our security without the complete disarmament of the Gaza Strip—Hamas, Islamic Jihad, all of them.”

The Israeli government has repeatedly defined the dismantlement of Hamas’s military capabilities as a key war goal.

Source: (This article was originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on March 12, 2025. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90/jns.org

Prayer Focus
Pray that Israel’s leaders will remain steadfast in their commitment to the goal of the complete disarming of all the terror organizations operating in the Gaza Strip. Pray that Israel will be able to present to the world the need to accomplish this goal because these groups are seeking nothing less than the complete annihilation of the Jewish people.

Scripture

His heart is established; he will not be afraid, until he sees his desire upon his enemies.

- Psalm 112:8

Preparing for Iran? US Strategic Bomber Joins Israeli Fighter Jets in Air Drill

by Ynetnews

Friday, 7 March 2025 | The Israeli Air Force and US Air Force conducted a joint aerial exercise this week, aiming to bolster military cooperation and enhance integrated operational capabilities, the IDF said Thursday.

The exercise featured Israeli F-35i and F-15i fighter jets flying alongside a US B-52 strategic bomber, practicing coordination in a range of operational scenarios.

The drills were designed to strengthen connectivity between the two forces and improve their ability to address regional threats, the IDF said in a statement.

The joint exercise was conducted under the framework of cooperation between the IDF and US Central Command (CENTCOM), reflecting the growing strategic partnership between the two militaries, according to the statement.

This exercise comes amid escalating concerns over Iran’s advancing nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that as of February 8, 2025, Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% reached 274.8 kilograms [605.8 lbs.], marking a significant increase of 92.5 kilograms [203.9 lbs.] since November 2024. This level of enrichment is nearing weapons-grade material, intensifying fears that Tehran is approaching nuclear breakout capability.

The inclusion of a US B-52 Stratofortress in the exercise is particularly significant. The long-range heavy bomber, capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons, is a key asset in any potential military strike on Iran’s deeply fortified nuclear facilities.

Iran’s main enrichment sites, including the underground Fordow complex and the Natanz facility, are buried beneath reinforced layers of concrete and rock, making them difficult targets for conventional fighter jets.

The B-52, with its ability to carry Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs)—bunker-busting bombs designed to destroy hardened targets—would be essential in any operation to neutralize Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. These bombs, weighing up to 30,000 pounds [13607.7 kg.], are specifically designed to penetrate deep into fortified structures before detonating.​

In response to regional developments, reports indicated last month that Iran has heightened its defensive measures, placing missile defense systems on high alert due to fears of potential joint military action by Israel and the United States.

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on March 6, 2025. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Emily Farnsworth/ Staff Sgt. Emily Farnsworth/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Continue to pray that the leaders of Iran, with their often stated goal to annihilate the Jewish people and then the Christians, will not be able to complete their plan to develop nuclear weapons. Pray for the air forces of Israel and the United States, that the joint exercises held recently will indeed bolster cooperation and integrate operational capabilities.

Scripture

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

- Ecclesiastes 4:9

Amid Serious Threats, Israel Tries Shaping a New Reality in Syria

by Ron Ben-Yishai ~ Ynetnews

Tuesday, 11 March 2025 | The massacre carried out by Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s forces in the Alawite mountains of western Syria strengthens Israel’s perception that these emerging threats require early preparedness. This is not only due to the jihadist [‘holy’ war waged on unbelievers in Islam] threat posed by those who have seized power and are attempting to present a moderate and stable image, but also because of the understanding that Syria could become a hub of fragile political stability, including the military bases Turkey’s Erdogan seeks to rebuild in line with his vision of a neo-Ottoman empire.

One of the fastest-developing and particularly concerning threats to Israel’s security comes from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad [PIJ], who may seek to operate from Syria against Israeli border communities in the Golan and Upper Galilee. It has been revealed that in the early days when rebel organizations, united under Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS —the Syrian Liberation Organization), took control under al-Sharaa’s leadership, they released senior terrorists from Hamas and PIJ from prisons. These individuals had been imprisoned by Bashar Assad to avoid antagonizing Israel with their planned attacks. Even for the “Butcher of Damascus,” they were too extreme.

Now that they’ve been freed, senior Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives may already be planning attacks. In recent weeks, Israeli airstrikes targeted several weapons depots that these terror organizations managed to hide, even from the Syrian regime. For now, the Palestinian terrorists have not attempted to move southward from the Damascus area toward the Israeli border, but they remain active and are making plans.

Another factor involves the Sunni residents of southern Syria, many of whom are influenced by ISIS and are concentrated in the area of Daraa, where the Sunni rebellion against Assad’s regime began. While Israel maintains dialogue with some of these groups through local Syrian intermediaries in the Golan—who benefited from Israel’s “Good Neighbor” project during the Syrian civil war—these extreme Sunni elements, part of the “Southern War Room,” currently refuse to commit to peaceful relations with Israel.

Meanwhile, Turkey has made no secret of its ambitions to dominate Syria through the Sunni jihadist regime it supports and assists. While Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and al-Sharaa are not directly subordinate to Turkey, they rely on Ankara as their sole logistical channel. As such, they must heed Erdogan’s wishes and avoid acting against him.

For now, it seems Turkey does not intend to fully control Syria but rather to turn it into a political and military proxy by establishing a new Syrian army and bases across the country, including in southern regions just miles from Israel’s border. Israel has no interest in having Turkey on its border in the Golan, especially not a combination of former al-Qaida jihadists and Turkish forces.

Currently, Erdogan is more focused on gaining control over the semi-autonomous Kurdish region in northeastern Syria. However, what prevents him from achieving this militarily is the presence of American troops, supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF], which consist of Kurds and Sunni Arab tribes successfully fighting ISIS.

Another actor concerned about Turkish dominance is Russia, which seeks to maintain its airbase in Hmeimim, south of the Alawite city of Latakia, and its naval base in Tartus, both located on Syria’s western coastline. These bases are essential for Russia to maintain its presence in the eastern Mediterranean and sustain connections with its strongholds in Africa. However, these bases are currently limited, as Syria has prohibited Russia from conducting flights in its airspace or navigating its territorial waters.

There is also concern Turkey may arm and train al-Sharaa’s jihadist forces. Although Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in taking on this role, believing they are better suited than Turkey, Israel argues that there is no rush to support al-Sharaa and his forces. From Israel’s perspective, the central question is whether they truly intend to moderate and abandon their jihadist goals to focus on rebuilding Syria.

In light of these threats, Israel intends to shape a new reality in the area near its border, south of Damascus. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have already stated that Israel will not tolerate armed members of the new regime in Damascus moving southward, nor will it allow the armed Sunni jihadist forces in the south to roam the Syrian Golan.

The area contains many abandoned Syrian military outposts, filled with weapons that could easily be used by hostile elements against Israel. In addition to direct warnings sent to the Damascus regime, Israel seeks to establish a defensive framework of three geographic zones.

The closest zone to Israel is the buffer zone, as determined in the 1974 ceasefire agreements, where Israel maintains an unlimited presence, including on the Syrian Hermon crown. This strategic location allows monitoring of activity not only in the Damascus basin but also in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. This buffer zone, varying in width over several miles, stretches from the summit of the Syrian Hermon to the Jordan–Syria–Israel border triangle near Al-Hama.

Beyond the buffer zone, where IDF troops are permanently stationed, lies the security zone, encompassing many Syrian villages. The IDF enters this area as needed for operational purposes, such as preventing the arming of abandoned weapons depots or responding to the presence of armed groups threatening Israeli border communities. This zone provides observation and fire capabilities over long ranges.

Further beyond the security zone is what Israel refers to as the “influence zone,” delineated in the east by the Damascus-Sweida road (the capital of the Druze region, Jebel al-Druze). This zone spans about 40 miles [64.3 km.] and includes Druze concentrations in Jebel al-Druze, as well as Sunni Arabs interested in ties with Israel. During the civil war, the Druze region effectively became an autonomous area. Israel aims to maintain this status quo even as Syria stabilizes.

Israel views the Druze region and its residents as a group to which it has a commitment, including providing protection and essential supplies. Additionally, Israel is considering allowing Druze residents of Sweida to work in Israel to support themselves, similar to the “Good Fence” policy with Lebanon.

In practice, these three zones already exist: the outposts in the buffer zone have been built, IDF patrols the security zone, and various levels of interaction occur in the influence zone. However, in Syria, nothing is stable. Even Russia shares its concerns with Israel about the clashes between the regime and the Alawites in western Syria.

These conflicts are occurring near Russian bases, where many Alawites are seeking refuge. Israel currently has no intention of intervening, especially since the tensions between the Sunni-jihadist regime in Damascus and the Alawite Assad supporters on the coast arose due to the Alawites’ intent to rebel against the new regime in Damascus—much like the Sunnis once rebelled against the Alawite Assad family.

Israel is observing from the sidelines, enforcing its policies primarily through its air force, and is transparent about its preference for Syria to become a federation. While Israel has no intention of occupying the country, Netanyahu and Katz aim to shape a new demilitarized reality south of Damascus near Israel’s border.

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on March 11, 2025. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Israel Defense Forces/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
As the situation on the ground in Syria is unstable and tenuous, pray for a comprehensive strategy of preparedness on Israel’s part that ensures the security and protection of her northern border. Specifically, pray that Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have clear communication and will arrive at unified decisions regarding the buffer and security zones on the Israel–Syrian border. Pray that threats from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad leaders recently released from Syrian prison will be neutralized.

Scripture

But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?… God understands its way, and He knows its place.

- Job 28:12, 23

UN Report on Children in Conflict Zones Omits Bibas Brothers’ Murder

by Itamar Eichner ~ Ynetnews

Friday, 7 March 2025 | The draft of the UN’s annual report on children in conflict zones, expected to be published in June 2025, continues to demonstrate imbalance and an anti-Israel tone. The report, for example, ignores the youngest Israeli victims of the war—failing to mention the names of Kfir and Ariel Bibas, who were murdered in captivity in Gaza and whose bodies were returned in the last hostage deal. Additionally, the 12 children killed by a Hezbollah rocket in Majdal Shams are not mentioned at all.

The report inflates figures, includes unverified information, and blurs the responsibility of terror organizations for causing harm to children. The draft was shared with Israel for its comments, but Jerusalem was shocked by the UN’s insensitivity and hypocrisy and decided not to cooperate with the report. Among other accusations, the report blames the IDF for using exactly 27 Palestinian children as “human shields,” yet it only vaguely mentions Hamas’s systematic use of civilians as human shields, without verifying specific cases.

The report claims Israeli security forces “kidnapped a Palestinian girl,” while simultaneously omitting the names of Kfir and Ariel Bibas. If that were not enough, the report does not state that the young siblings were murdered by their captors, instead merely saying they “died in captivity.” Furthermore, the report blames Israel for harming children due to the impact of rocket interception fragments during Iranian missile launches toward Israel—without acknowledging the original source of the attack.

On the topic of humanitarian aid, the UN places almost all responsibility on Israel while almost entirely ignoring the fact that Hamas itself damaged the crossings designated for aid transfers and, according to countless testimonies and evidence, also stole aid intended for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip for its own purposes. The report claims that 2,723 requests for aid were denied but downplays the fact that 5,327 requests—nearly twice as many—were approved.

Regarding the number of Palestinian casualties, the report presents thousands of deaths and injuries, many of which are unverified, creating a misleading impression of the scale of events. Responsibility for violations is placed almost entirely on Israel, while Hamas is not held accountable at all, and Hezbollah and Iran are given only marginal mentions in the biased report.

The report also claims the IDF used schools and hospitals for military purposes in 10 different cases, but it mentions only one instance in which Hamas used civilian structures for military purposes—despite the well-documented fact that many “innocent” buildings in Gaza were revealed to be bases for launching terror operations.

The situation is no different in the reports on the northern front. In Lebanon, most of the harm to children is attributed to Israel, while Hezbollah is not mentioned at all as being responsible for any harm. Similarly, in Syria, Israeli actions are included in the total count of casualties, but—there is no mention of the 12 children killed in Majdal Shams.

The UN “verified” 8,555 serious violations against 2,960 children — only 15 of whom were Israeli children, while the rest were Palestinian children

The draft also relies on unverified data that portrays Israel in a negative light while minimizing the severity of violations committed by terror organizations. According to the draft, which was shared with Israel, the UN “verified” 8,555 serious violations against 2,960 children—only 15 of whom were Israeli children, while the rest were Palestinian children.

Most of the cases occurred in Gaza, with thousands in East Jerusalem and the West Bank [Judea and Samaria]. Additionally, 2,788 “serious violations” were verified for 2023 in Gaza, compared to only one “serious violation” in Israel. Furthermore, the UN received reports of the deaths of 4,230 children in Gaza in 2024, for which the verification process is still ongoing.

Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, responded sharply to the biased report, saying: “We will not cooperate with a report that serves as a platform for baseless accusations against Israel. The Secretary-General once again chooses to blatantly ignore the harm done to Israeli children—as far as he’s concerned, our lives are worth less and don’t deserve to be included in this report. We will not let diplomatic terrorism prevail.”

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on March 7, 2025. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Michelle Sahar (מישל סהר)/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Pray that the draft of this imbalanced and anti-Israel report generated by the United Nations will be corrected before it is published in June 2025. Pray that all inflated figures, unverified information and blurred responsibility of terrorist organizations will be revealed and removed from the report. Pray for all the children in the world who are currently exposed to danger because they are living in or near conflict zones.

Scripture

He who speaks truth declares righteousness, but a false witness, deceit. There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health. The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

- Proverbs 12:17–19

Houthis Announce Renewed Assault on Israel

by Lior Ben Ari, Elisha Ben Kimon ~ Ynetnews

Wednesday, 12 March 2025 | Following the expiration of the Houthi ultimatum on Tuesday evening, the spokesman for the Iran-backed militia in Yemen, Yahya Saree, announced that the maritime blockade on Israel would continue “for another month, until the crossings into Gaza are opened for humanitarian aid.” He added, “The Yemeni forces salute the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank [Judea and Samaria], and affirm that they stand alongside the Palestinian resistance.”

Earlier Tuesday, Houthi Defense Minister Mohammed al-Atifi said the group’s forces were “ready and fully prepared to carry out the leadership’s instructions to support Gaza and assist Palestinian fighters.” The Houthi cabinet issued a similar statement, warning it was “prepared for any developments or consequences resulting from Yemen’s support for Gaza and Palestine.”

The Houthi ultimatum specifically threatened to resume attacks on “Israeli ships,” rather than firing missiles or drones at Israeli territory. Still, the Israeli Air Force remains on high alert, although officials said this level of readiness is standard and not the result of a new threat.

Last week, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said naval operations against Israeli ships would resume if humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza did not restart within four days. That deadline passed at midnight Monday. On Tuesday, he reaffirmed the group’s warning, saying Houthi forces were ready to act and that military operations would begin immediately if aid shipments did not resume.

Israeli officials believe Hamas requested the Houthis renew their blockade as a way to pressure Israel not to resume fighting in Gaza. Houthi leaders made similar threats last month, warning they would restart rocket attacks from Yemen if ceasefires in Gaza or Lebanon collapsed.

Israel has been preparing for the possibility that the Houthis will follow through on their threats, which could include both a renewed naval blockade and missile attacks. Officials said Israel is working closely with US Central Command and is expecting a stronger American response than during President Joe Biden’s term. President Donald Trump, in his first month in office, designated the Houthis as a terrorist organization and imposed sanctions on senior Houthi officials.

Israel has struck Houthi targets in Yemen five times during the current war. Despite heavy damage to some of their key assets, the Houthis are threatening a “second round” of attacks. Israel’s most recent strike in Yemen was January 10, just days before the transition of power in Washington.

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on March 11, 2025. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: DayofGrasp/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Pray for confusion and a disruption of communication to occur within the alliance of Iran and its terror proxies, the Houthis and Hamas. Pray for the continued success of the Israeli air force in intercepting long-range missiles fired from Yemen. Pray that the world will recognize and respond to the Houthi’s threat against shipping as one that affects their nations and not just Israeli vessels.

Scripture

Blessed be the LORD my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.

- Psalm 144:1

Trump’s Gaza Plan: Change of Narrative

by Robert Silverman ~ JNS

Tuesday, 11 March 2025 | Washington’s Middle East experts were gathered for dinner in the ballroom of the Ritz Carlton Georgetown, hosted by a prominent think tank. It was May 19, 2019, and they had come to hear Jared Kushner talk about the forthcoming Trump peace plan. Kushner described both an economic vision for the Middle East and a framework for Israeli–Palestinian peace. In the audience, experts were skeptical. A few whispers were heard (“what makes him think it’s a good time for this?”) and, after 45 minutes, hands were clapped, politely.

But little more than a year later, Kushner and team produced the Abraham Accords between Israel and three Arab countries: Morocco, the second most populous Arab country; the UAE, the second largest Arab economy; and Bahrain, the home of the US Fifth Fleet. It was the largest expansion of Middle East peace since the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty. Kushner had promised a shaking up of the status quo. And a major part of the region responded in a surprising, positive way.

In the first month of his second term of office, President Donald Trump outlined a plan for postwar Gaza that dramatically changes the narrative of this conflict. His plan would turn this 25 miles [40.2 km.] of coastline, with its deep water port and thin strip of agricultural hinterland, into a real estate development, in effect seeking to return Gaza to what it had been for nearly two millennia of antiquity, a cosmopolitan port on a strategic land-sea crossroads of the Eastern Mediterranean. Most of the roughly 2.2 million Gazans would be relocated, at least while this development is being constructed, which will take about 20 years.

No More Do-overs

If the Trump plan does no more than put a stop to the old narrative of this conflict, in which the international community acts to restore a status quo ante every time the Palestinians attack Israel, allowing them to reconstitute and attack Israel again, then it will have provided a valuable service.

The depravity of October 7 should have shocked the civilized world into realizing and supporting the fact that Israel will not permit another Palestinian do-over. For me, one video posted on October 7 led to that realization—Gazan civilians (not Hamas in this case, we later found out) holding down a Thai worker in a kibbutz and beheading him with a garden hoe. I knew then a Rubicon had been crossed.

If there was shock around the world after October 7, it soon dissipated. Not even the public celebration in Gaza of murdered Israeli babies could shift the debate. We needed a US president to disabuse those who would, wittingly or otherwise, normalize Hamas and its many supporters.

Normalization of Hamas? That may not be the intention, but that is certainly what would result from a “reformed” Palestinian Authority put in charge of Gaza. This “reformed” Palestinian Authority [PA] is featured in think tank reports and the Biden administration’s last-minute (January 14, 2025) postwar Gaza plan.

Problem: no one elaborates how this “reform” would occur and over what period, and then how the reformed PA would replace Hamas and restore governance in Gaza. Most importantly, no one identifies the Palestinian political movement that would critically support this reformation.

The only intellectually honest take on this “reform” was that of former PA prime minister Salam Fayyad. He wrote that the only reforms that could allow the PA to govern Gaza would involve bringing Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad into the Authority. In other words, the only Palestinian political movement that can control the Gaza street is Hamas and its jihadist [‘holy’ war against unbelievers in Islam] allies.

There are also pro-Hamas elements in the West who gaslight the public. For example, the director of Carnegie Endowment’s Middle East Center, Maha Yahya, wrote recently in Foreign Affairs that the Hamas attack of October 7 was a response to settlement construction on the West Bank and other Israeli “side stepping” to avoid a two-state solution. Sadly for her, Hamas itself undercuts this message: Its leaders have consistently explained the October 7 attack, in the Arabic media and elsewhere, as a first step in the liberation of all of Palestine, leading in turn to other conquests that will ultimately create a global caliphate.

The Trump vision changes the narrative and ignores the delusions and gaslighting that have sustained a decades-long series of wars ending with the current devastation. 

What About the Gazans?

A second benefit of the Trump vision is that it focuses on the practical needs of the Gazan people. The Israeli counter-offensive after October 7 turned built-up urban areas into rubble. Any postwar reconstruction will require years of rubble removal, tunnel demolitions, and new infrastructure and housing. US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff estimates this will take 20 years. In the meantime, the Gazan population should be relocated out of this construction zone, with their consent.

What do Gazans want? One credible poll taken one month before the October 7 attack, by Khalil Shikaki’s Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, shows about one third of Gazans wanted then to emigrate. Perhaps that number has increased as a result of the war. Thousands of those with the means to travel and pay the US $7,000 Egyptian transit visas have moved elsewhere; thousands more have simply moved to Egypt.

The US media regularly features interviews with individuals who say Gaza is their home and they want to stay. But follow-up questions are needed: The majority of Gazans are descendants of refugees from the 1948 war, not originally from Gaza. The last time they had a chance to vote, in 2006, a strong plurality voted for Hamas, the party that promised a return to their pre-1948 homes now inside Israel. If they mean Gaza is their home as a launching pad for another do-over, then they should know that that option is no longer available.

Whether or not Gazans decide to relocate, either permanently or temporarily, is up to the Gazans themselves. But the story shouldn’t end there—if they want to stay, there should be conditions on any international help in rebuilding Gaza. They will have to develop peaceful political alternatives to Hamas. As one Palestinian leader, Samer Sinijlawi, has stated, it is up to the Palestinians after October 7 to convince Israelis that they have decided to live in peace alongside the State of Israel.

And where would the Gazans relocate to? In 1991, after siding with Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait, the 450,000 Palestinian residents of Kuwait were summarily expelled; most resettled in Jordan. But Jordan is firmly opposed to massively adding to its existing demographic tensions between Palestinians and East Bankers. A more likely place of resettlement would be Egypt, the former occupying power of Gaza from 1948-1967, provided there are sufficient financial incentives.

Glimmers of a Deal

US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, when asked about the negative Arab reactions to Trump’s plan, said, “I think it is going to cause the entire region to come [up] with their own solutions.”

The Egyptian government has responded, drafting a plan calling for a five-year, US $53 billion reconstruction of Gaza, which the Arab League adopted on March 4. It is an opening bid, flawed in many ways, including one-sided condemnations of Israel, and it may be overcome by events if as many expect Israel resumes its counter-offensive and re-occupies Gaza in order to further diminish Hamas.

But the Egyptian plan does offer a glimmer of a future possible deal. It departs ever so slightly from the Washington consensus belief in a “reformed” PA overseeing Gaza; instead it calls for a transitional “technocratic” government of Gaza “under the umbrella” of the PA. It also foresees roles for an International Contact Group to support reconstruction and for international peacekeepers (albeit under the United Nations, which has a bad history in both Lebanon and Gaza and is unacceptable to Israel).

A possible way forward hinted at in the Egyptian plan would be a non-UN multi-national mission to deploy to Gaza, following a full Israeli dismantling of Hamas’s military, to provide security, restore public services and replace the Hamas civilian government. Over time, such a mission would oversee economic reconstruction contingent on and linked to Palestinian governance progress. A group of American former officials (disclosure: including me) produced just such a plan for Gaza, based on successful international missions in Bosnia and Kosovo. That plan is consistent with a UAE proposal; it addresses Israel’s focus on reforming Gaza’s educational system and de-radicalizing the population; and it meets American concerns with not putting US troops on the ground (rather they provide organizational leadership, logistical and intelligence support).

A multi-national mission could also be consistent with elements of President Trump’s vision—it would be temporary but of sufficiently long duration to allow for a full reconstruction contingent on governance progress; it could allow for American financial smarts and entrepreneurial ingenuity. Special Envoy Witkoff spoke of 20 years; the international mission in Bosnia is still there 30 years later, though reduced in size.

Gaza was once a jewel of the Mediterranean. Byzantine jurists educated in Gaza participated in the drafting of the Justinian Code, the basis for much of Western law. The word “Gaza” means treasure house in medieval Arabic (and in ancient Egyptian). If we discard the old narrative, and encourage Israelis and Arabs to respond to the alternative Trump vision, we could be on the path to another peace breakthrough in the Middle East.

Source: (This article was originally published by the Jewish News Syndicate on March 10, 2025. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Khalil Kahlout/Flash90/jns.org

Prayer Focus
Proclaim the truth that the Lord is sovereign over the whole world and all those who are living in it—including the Gaza Strip and its citizens. Pray for His will to be done in the resolution of the question of who will govern and what will happen to Gaza when all is said and done. Give thanks for this innovative plan put forward by the Trump administration that has caused neighboring Arab countries to begin thinking of their own solutions.

Scripture

The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.

- Psalm 24:1

Hamas’s ‘Superstar Blogger’ Stole Donations for Gaza

by Sivan Hilaie ~ Ynetnews

Thursday, 13 March 2025 | Gaza-based blogger Salah al-Ja’frawi, who initially rejoiced at the rocket fire from Gaza into Israel on the first day of the war but was later seen weeping in a hospital after Israel’s response, has reportedly amassed a fortune during the conflict. Al-Ja’frawi, known as “Hamas’s social media star” and a recognizable figure even in Israel, raised funds for Gazans—but it now appears that the money may have ended up in his personal account.

Al-Ja’frawi’s latest campaign raised US $4 million for Hamas through an appeal for rebuilding Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. He claimed that the Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah had urged him to launch the campaign quickly, prompting him to use the ministry’s logo, along with that of a Kuwaiti charity—apparently without the latter’s knowledge. As part of the campaign, he set a fundraising target of US $10 million.

However, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah swiftly issued an official statement denying any involvement in fundraising campaigns for Gaza, emphasizing that it was not a partner in any donations or online fundraising efforts conducted by activists. The ministry further warned against the unauthorized use of its name or logo for fundraising purposes on any platform, urging the public to verify information only through its official website.

The revelations have sparked outrage in Gaza. Palestinian activist Mustafa Asfour condemned al-Ja’frawi, stating: “The thief Salah al-Ja’frawi collected more than US $4 million, and the official Palestinian Health Ministry denied any connection to these donations. I told you before—the Health Ministry in Gaza, controlled by Hamas, backed this thief, not the Palestinian Authority. So, dear donors, your money is gone.”

A Gaza resident, Abu Lafi, added: “Salah al-Ja’frawi and Hamas’s Health Ministry in Gaza, together with the Kuwaiti charity, planned to collect money under the name of the official Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah. Kuwait is a respected country, but this must stop.”

A social media activist known as “Abu Hassan” also weighed in: “Before the war, he (al-Ja’frawi) was just ‘working in restaurants,’ and after the war, he became a millionaire with one click—using Gaza’s name! Salah, Those donating to you expected you to help the people of Gaza, not steal the money. He deceived many donors.”

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on March 12, 2025. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Screenshot/saleh_aljafarawi97

Photo License: TikTok

Prayer Focus
Pray that the exposure of this blatant corruption will cause potential donors and Hamas supporters to carefully research before giving. Pray that all hidden secrets will be revealed in the same way that nothing can be hidden from the light of the sun during the daytime.

Scripture

Its rising is from one end of heaven, and its circuit to the other end; and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

- Psalm 19:6