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When It Gets Ugly, Stand Strong!!

Please, read this through and share broadly: exceedingly important information is provided.

We here in Israel are being confronted with a blood libel that takes the form of “settler violence.”  Getting the truth out is exceedingly important and depends on each of you.

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The charge was made on Saturday that during the past week “Jewish settlers” set fire to the 5th century St. George Church and the accompanying cemetery, in the Christian Arab village of Taybeh (located roughly between Judea and Samaria), not for the first time.

What made this particularly disturbing is that US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, himself an  Evangelical pastor who has been the staunchest of friends to Israel, was brought to the site of the church (which was not burned). Accepting the story in its entirety, as told to him by Christian Arab clergy, he expressed great anger, calling what happened a sacrilege, an act of terror and a crime.  His involvement in this issue inevitably attracted more press.  We must hope that as information comes to him he will understand the reality and change his position.  His response highlights the importance of getting the facts out broadly.

 

Jaafar Aashtityeh/AFP

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Gedaliah Blum, cofounder of Heartland Initiative, observed: “Arson blamed on Jews. A ‘burned church’ that doesn’t exist. And yet, even after seeing with his own eyes that the church is fine, Ambassador Mike Huckabee is still echoing the narrative. Is he seeing something we aren’t—or has even our closest ally been misled by Pallywood’s latest hoax?” 

Please see – and extensively share – the video below in which Gedaliah, bolstered by facts, describes the situation:

https://x.com/GedaliahBlum/status/1947288839640490123?t=0Gwv1lHGi5enkcMf7EfjNQ&s=19

JNS

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Elisha Yered provides considerable detail on this (you can automatically translate his post from Hebrew to English):

“No act of Jewish ‘nationalist crime’ was committed, no church was set on fire, and no cemetery was desecrated. Quite the opposite, Christian Arabs from the village of Taybeh set fire to open fields four times in a single week to prevent Jews from grazing there…[cattle farmers from Rimmonim Farm in Binyamin utilized the fields for grazing].

“On 07/07 [for the second time that week], Arabs from the village set a fire that began to spread rapidly. The farm’s residents [Jews] rushed to the scene with motorized blowers and fire beaters—the ultimate tools for dealing with fires in open fields—and managed to control the blaze. At the same time, the flames also spread toward the village, but the farm insisted on fighting to extinguish that fire as well…and they stopped the fire just before it reached the line of houses where, among other things, a church and an ancient cemetery are located.

“Photos of Jewish youths fighting the flames with blowers and beaters were published by Israel-haters and branded as ‘settlers fanning the flames they ignited.’ Widespread condemnations followed, large Christian delegations visited the site, and senior U.S. officials called for bringing the Jewish arsonists to justice…But what’s the big problem? So far, not a single complaint has been filed with the police. I’ll repeat that: The police have been investigating the incident for a week to get to the bottom of the truth and catch the arsonists, a global campaign is underway, and the village, which is supposedly 100 percent convinced that Jews set the fire and even openly fanned the flames, simply refuses to file a complaint with the police. Any guesses why?…”

https://x.com/ElishaYered/status/1947189322182001017?t=dc16-48abhtwGl1LCuZQXg&s=08

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Naomi Kahn, Director of the International Division of Regavim, in an interview with CBN describes the falsehoods inherent in attempts to vilify Israel – a carefully planned program, a narrative, replete with misrepresentations.

She mentions the incident in Taybeh, but a great deal more as well: The entire issue of “settler violence,” the question of who is a “settler,” etc.  And she does it clearly and articulately.  I urge you to take the time to see it. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-nUwDJQIZk

JNS

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In April, Regavim released a major fact-based report: “False Flags and Real Agendas – settler violence, a modern blood libel”.  A year in the research and writing – with Naomi doing the major part of that writing – it explores the massive campaign designed to delegitimize Israel.

If you are serious in your concern about these issues, I strongly encourage you to watch this interview with “The Israel Guys” in which she describes the shocking situations that were uncovered in the course of the research.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tz_APJUhbqw

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I close with a note about the negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza.  In my last post, I indicated that Israel, under pressure from Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, had made an additional concession regarding deployment of the IDF during a ceasefire.  And I wrote at the time that Hamas had accepted these terms.

Alex Brandon/AP

Now it turns out that Hamas has not accepted the terms.

A source familiar with the indirect ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, taking place in Doha, Qatar, has denied reports that Hamas has agreed to the Israeli redeployment maps presented by the Israeli delegation.

“The Palestinian Arab news agency ‘Quds Press’ reported that the source stated the mediators had received the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) redeployment maps from the Israeli delegation, and that they reflect some progress toward Hamas’s position. However, the source emphasized that they still do not meet Hamas’s minimum requirements.”  (Emphasis added)

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411829

At the end of last week, I had reported on what had been put out.  Why the confusion?  Were the negotiators attempting to pressure Hamas into accepting the terms offered by Israel?  Had Hamas accepted and then had a change of mind? 

Who knows?

What is clear is that the stumbling block to a deal is Hamas.  And it is of considerable concern – a concern I have alluded to repeatedly – that there is as yet no agreement on how many terrorists Hamas wants released for each of the hostages they would return.  

https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/07/20/hamas-drags-feet-in-negotiations-the-clause-it-refuses-to-discuss-and-israels-threat/

Over a period of time, the US has repeatedly conceded that indeed Hamas was the stumbling block. And yet, I have no doubt that the Trump administration will continue to apply pressure to Israel to make additional concessions so that the deal will become more palatable to Hamas.  Actually, there is reason to doubt that any proposal would be palatable to Hamas.  But as long as Hamas is recalcitrant, Israel is expected to be forthcoming with more concessions.

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As long as there is no deal, Israel is continuing to fight hard in Gaza.

“For the first time since the war began, IDF forces launched ground maneuvers on Monday in southern Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.

“The force is led by the Golani Brigade Combat Team and includes both engineering and armored forces.

“The ground operation began in the afternoon, after preparatory air and artillery strikes overnight and throughout the morning.”

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/412014

IDF Spokesperson

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At the very same time that we are working to bring down Hamas, Israel is being verbally attacked.  Not only by Hamas, but also now by representatives of the Trump administration.  Apparently we are not toeing the line to the satisfaction of the president:

An Axios report that made the news today (Monday) indicated that White House officials believe that Netanyahu is “out of control” and acting in a way that could undermine Trump’s plans for the Mideast.  Trump’s plans, please note – not Israel’s plans.

“Bibi is acting like a madman.  He bombs everything all of the time,” declared one official.

A second White House official (these officials are never named, but rest assured they are speaking with the sanction of the president here), indicated that “there is growing skepticism inside the Trump administration” regarding Netanyahu’s policies, which are too disruptive.

He wants us to take down a jihadist entity without being “disruptive”?  Oh wait, no, my mistake.  He doesn’t want us to take down the jihadist entity.   He wants a deal.

And then the incredible clincher: “Netanyahu is sometimes like a child who just won’t behave.”

https://www.pressreader.com/israel/jerusalem-post/20250721/281603836502637?srsltid=AfmBOoo0CrS_cL2C5QCcExVVia_NBIV-tPZXzwcvnRe78LtFts_ky4EH

There is no adequate response to this grossly insulting and disrespectful, indeed outrageous comment, other than to say,

Bibi, we are behind you.  Stand strong!

AFP

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I ask for prayers for all of Am Yisrael.

Pray for the wisdom and courage of our leaders.

Pray for the safety of our soldiers as they fight.

Pray for the recovery of all hostages.

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©Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by independent journalist Arlene Kushner. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.

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