Archive for month: February, 2026

News Update

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee warned his staff, “Anyone who wants to leave should do so today.” The U.S. government issued an advisory authorizing non-essential American embassy staff and their family members to leave Israel, citing potential disruptions in commercial flights and the evolving security situation. Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran in Geneva don’t seem to be getting anywhere.

Israeli Air Force and Defense Ministry personnel received new directives intended to limit predictable patterns in daily routines, including seemingly mundane activities like food orders, to reduce signals that could be picked up by adversaries. This unusual order was reportedly aimed at avoiding inadvertent intelligence leaks.

India and Israel signed a series of agreements Thursday capping Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit, deepening cooperation on defense, cyber, agriculture and advanced technology. Prime Minister Netanyahu called the partnership “strategic and long-term,” while Modi said the two countries would accelerate work toward a free-trade agreement and expand joint research and security initiatives. The visit included an address to the Knesset and meetings with Israeli business leaders.

The Knesset advanced a bill that would place the entire Western Wall plaza under the authority of the Chief Rabbinate, drawing criticism from liberal Jewish groups who argue it would further restrict mixed-gender prayer. Coalition lawmakers say the measure preserves the site’s traditional religious character. The proposal cleared a preliminary reading and will move to committee for further debate.

A former IDF soldier with dual Israeli-Turkish citizenship was released in Turkey following sustained diplomatic pressure from U.S. officials. The woman had faced criminal charges in Turkey before her release.

According to a recent Gallup poll, 41 percent of Americans say they sympathize more with the Palestinians in the Middle East conflict, while 36 percent sympathize more with the Israelis.

News Update

Israeli officials have issued warnings that they would strike Lebanese civilian infrastructure, including an airport, if Hezbollah intervenes in a potential U.S.–Iran conflict. The U.S. is evacuating non-essential embassy personnel from Beirut. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the Knesset saying the country faces “very complex, difficult days” amid rising tensions with Iran and reaffirmed Israeli readiness to respond forcefully to any attack.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Israel tomorrow, and will be given the rare honor of addressing the Knesset. The opposition is boycotting the speech, demanding the presence of Israeli Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit, who was not invited. According to Israel’s ambassador to India, Reuven Ezer, the most significant part of the trip will be signing an “update of the security agreement,” aimed at enabling deeper defense cooperation between the two countries. According to Ezer, “There is a great acceleration in the relationship.” India has become Israel’s largest defense customer, accounting for 34 percent of all exports between 2020 and 2024.

The Knesset voted down Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s order to raise the VAT exemption on personal imports, with opposition and some coalition members joining forces against it. Smotrich vowed to propose new measures.

The Police announced the undercover agents had infiltrated crime gangs in the Negev, posing as criminals for months and leading to the arrest of dozens of suspects in a large-scale weapons crackdown. The Central Unit of the Negev region, operating under the Southern District, conducted a covert investigation over the past year in cooperation with the Border Police. During the operation, undercover agents were embedded within criminal networks operating in southern Israel and in Bedouin communities. Early today, National Guard fighters, alongside Southern District police, Unit 33, the police air unit and additional forces, raided the homes of suspects in Rahat, Lakiya, Hura and other locations across the Negev. Dozens were arrested and are expected to be brought before the Beersheba Magistrate’s Court for remand hearings.

News Update

According to Israeli officials, around 8,500 West Bank residents crossed checkpoints to reach Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque for the first Friday prayers of Ramadan today. Tight restrictions on entry to the Temple Mount were imposed. Tens of thousands gathered inside the Al-Aqsa compound to pray. The IDF reported operations targeting incitement networks in Judea and Samaria, arresting at least 17 individuals alleged to be promoting violence on social media ahead of Ramadan.

U.S. President Trump warned Iran that it faces “bad things” if no nuclear deal is reached within 10–15 days, reiterating a firm ultimatum as international diplomatic pressure ramps up alongside military buildups in the region. Tehran responded that it would “respond decisively” if subjected to military aggression. [The holiday of Purim, which celebrates the fall of another Persian regime, is in 10 days. Hmm…]

Muhoozi Kainerugaba, commander of the Ugandan army and son of the country’s president, announced Thursday on X that a statue of Lt. Col. Yonatan “Yoni” Netanyahu will soon be erected at “the exact spot where he was killed at Entebbe Airport.” He said the gesture is intended to “strengthen blood relations with Israel.” He added, “Yoni is the big brother of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. God bless Uganda and Israel.” Yoni Netanyahu commanded the successful hostage rescue at Entebbe in 1976.

News Update

The Israeli government formally authorized the renewal of land registration in Judea and Samaria for the first time since 1967, with Defense Minister Katz calling the move a “security-governance measure” intended to ensure full operational freedom and enforcement for the state in those areas. Critics say it advances “de-facto annexation” by making it easier for Israelis to claim land.

The IDF continued ground operations targeting Hamas infrastructure in eastern Rafah, reporting that units from the 7th Brigade eliminated six Hamas operatives within tunnel networks as part of ongoing “war between the wars” efforts, despite the ceasefire.

The Israeli cabinet approved establishing a supplementary international airport in the Negev at Tze’elim, amending previous plans and accelerating implementation alongside a parallel northern site. Officials said the move will help relieve pressure on Ben-Gurion Airport, preempt future aviation bottlenecks, and serve as a strategic infrastructure alternative. In addition to the Negev project, the government endorsed a plan to promote two international airports simultaneously — one in the Negev and another in the north at Ramat David — as part of an effort to expand national aviation capacity and regional economic growth.

Israel’s economy showed stronger-than-expected growth for 2025, with overall GDP rising about 3.1 % and per-capita output up nearly 1.7 %, led by a sharp increase in exports in the last quarter of the year despite low private consumption.

Controversy emerged in Europe over comments by UN envoy Francesca Albanese, who described Israel in inflammatory terms at a public event; several European countries called for her removal from the role, accusing her of extreme bias and fostering hatred. (the UN is biased against Israel?! Really??? Ha!)

Israeli NBA star Deni Avdija made history as the first Israeli named to an NBA All-Star Game, starting for Team World and earning praise from fellow players, with LeBron James calling his play “exceptional”. For more, click here.

Israeli-born producer Dana Eden, known for her award-winning work on the drama series Tehran, was found dead in her Athens hotel room while filming the show’s fourth season. Greek authorities are investigating.

News Update

The security cabinet has approved various measures that make it much easier for Jews to buy land in Judea and Samaria. The cabinet canceled a law banning land sales to foreigners and abolished the requirement for special transaction permits. Until now, Jews were prohibited from purchasing land directly and had to do so through locally registered companies. Under the new framework, most barriers to land purchases are removed, with transactions requiring only basic professional registration rather than approval from the Civil Administration. Jewish buyers will now also be able to look up owners in land-owning registries and approach them directly with purchase offers. The government summarized the measures as allowing Jews to “purchase land in Judea and Samaria just as they purchase in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem.”

[Sounds fair. If an Arab wants to sell his property and a Jew wants to buy it, and they both agree to make the transaction, what could be wrong with that? Unless, of course, you believe that Jews should be discriminated against and be prohibited to by real estate??]

Also, planning and construction authority for the Jewish settlement in the city, including at the Cave of the Patriarchs, will be transferred from the Hebron municipality, which is under the Palestinian Authority, to Israeli authorities. Similar steps were approved for Rachel’s Tomb, located within Bethlehem’s municipal boundaries, including the establishment of a dedicated Israeli municipal administration for the site and an adjacent yeshiva.

The measures also authorize Israeli enforcement bodies to act against illegal Palestinian construction even in Area A, a move that until now had been largely restricted to Area B. The policy would allow demolitions and land expropriation in cases involving damage to archaeological or heritage sites.

In a rare joint statement, the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan condemned what they described as “illegal Israeli decisions and steps aimed at imposing illegitimate Israeli sovereignty, entrenching settlements and creating a new legal and administrative reality in the West Bank.” The EU also criticized the move. [So much for fairness and free economies.]

If you’re wondering why we haven’t been publishing IsraelAM regularly over the past month or so, the reason is simple: there just hasn’t been much to report. We think that’s a great thing and hope it continues. But rest assured, as things start to happen, we will continue to tell you about them in this newsletter, so please stay tuned and keep reading!