12/31/18

* Israel's population nears 9 million - including 6.6 million Jews More than 6.6 million Jews living in Israel on eve of 2019, along with nearly 1.9 million Arabs.

* Brazil moving its embassy to Jerusalem matter of 'when, not if': Netanyahu Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Brazil's President-elect Jair Bolsonaro told him that it was a matter of "when, not if" he moves his country's embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.

* Top 10 Headlines of 2018: The Palestinians A year of highlights and lowlights in Israel: The Palestinians.

* Israeli Intelligence: Tehran's Influence in the Region - A Growing Threat "Iran could use its growing clout in Iraq to turn the Arab country into a springboard for attacks against Israel."

* 'I Gazed Upon a Hebrew Scroll Not Read for 2,000 Years' In 1946 or 1947 - no one knows for certain - a Bedouin goatherd nicknamed Muhammad the Wolf led his flock around the cliffs lining the northwest edge of the Dead Sea.

* Government said set to approve long-stalled Red Sea-Dead Sea canal project Minister responsible for talks on joint initiative with Jordan says approving plan will 'strengthen the peace' between Jerusalem and Amman.

* Brexit, tariffs, populism could buffet Europe in 2019 2019 is set to be a year of major change for Europe, with big decisions that will affect the continent's economy.

* Report: Russia Threatens Israel With Missile Attack In response to an Israeli airstrike in Syria last Tuesday, Russia threatened to respond to further Israeli action in Syria with surface-to-surface missiles against targets inside Israel.

* Top 10 Headlines of 2018: Settlements A year of highlights and lowlights in Israel: The West Bank and the settlers.

* Biblical Archaeology's Top 10 Discoveries of 2018 Each year, on an almost daily basis, archaeological discoveries help us better understand the Bible and affirm its details about people, events, and culture.

12/29/18

* 1 in 5 non-Christians in France has never heard of the Holocaust, survey finds Ignorance about the Holocaust and revisionism appear strongest among far-right and far-left voters.

* Russia Blames Israel for Endangering Civilian Flights in Damascus Strike Russia blamed Israel on Wednesday for launching an airstrike on Tuesday night near Damascus, threatening civilian flights.

* Christmas is a "Palestinian symbol" and "Jesus was the first Palestinian," says senior Fatah leader For years, the Palestinian Authority and Fatah have presented Jesus as a Palestinian, as part of its fabricating an ancient Palestinian history.

* Russia, Turkey agree to coordinate on Syria after US pullout Russia and Turkey on Saturday agreed to coordinate ground operations in Syria after last week's shock announcement of a US military withdrawal, Moscow's top diplomat said.

* Israel’s Golden Age Of Tourism The Tourism Ministry expects the number of incoming tourists to exceed 4 million; the country must ensure that infrastructure catches up and grows in tandem.

* With U.S. Withdrawing From Syria, Strained Israeli-Russian Relations Take Center Stage After airing out their disagreements at the UN, Jerusalem and Moscow have signaled a willingness to move beyond crisis over beyond downed Russian plane.

* The Mission in Syria Was Mission Creep The aim of defeating ISIS shifted to that of fighting Iran and establishing regime change in Damascus.

* Romania not fit for EU presidency, says EU's Jean-Claude Juncker Romanian President Klaus Iohannis admitted last month his country was not ready to assume the six-month EU presidency.

* UK Welcomes Extremists, Bans Critics of Extremists The British government's idea of who is -- and who is not -- a legitimate asylum seeker becomes stranger by the month.

* Scrap over Manbij opens door for Russia and Assad’s troops to take control of NE. Syria One of Bashar Assad’s best weeks in years – and one of Tayyip Erdogan’s worst – peaked on Friday, Dec. 28.

12/28/18

* Vatican Versus Religious Jews: Tunnel Wars on Mount Zion Rabbi Yosef Berger, the rabbi of King David's Tomb on Mount Zion, informed Breaking Israel News of a truly disturbing situation.

* Netanyahu is still the front-runner for re-election Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has a strong lead in the first poll taken after early Israeli elections were called for April, AP reports.

* Orban: Europe and Islam don't mix With EU parliamentary elections fast approaching, Victor Orban is staking out that a Christian pitch could win over a European electorate.

* Syria to be readmitted to Arab League: report Syria's allied in the Gulf are reportedly working bring Damascus back into the Arab League, over eight years after the country was kicked out for its brutal response to peaceful demonstrations.

* Russia says will host Putin-Erdogan-Rouhani summit early 2019 Moscow will early next year host the leaders of Russia, Iran and Turkey to discuss the Syrian conflict, Russia's deputy foreign minister said Friday, after the United States announced it was withdrawing troops from the country.

* Russia and Syria threaten to fire SA-5 missiles into central Israel if IAF air strikes continue A new Russian threat was received in Israel on Wednesday, Dec. 26: Any more air strikes and Syria's SA-5 air defense missiles will be fired deep into Israel - like the one that shook several towns on Tuesday night in the middle of an IAF attack on Iranian sites in Syria.

* Top Turkish delegation to visit Russia for Syria talks President Erdogan could meet his Russian counterpart Putin depending on the outcome of negotiations between Turkish and Russian officials in Moscow, said AK Party spokesman.

* The Danger of a Widening Iranian Corridor Through Syria The surprise announcement by US President Donald Trump to pull American forces out of Syria has led to concern that Iran can now complete its "land bridge" from Tehran to Beirut.

* Palestinians: The Real "Crimes" As far as Abbas and other Palestinians are concerned, Israel's security measures in response to terrorist attacks are also a "crime."

* Jesus' baptism site was a closed military zone for 50 years. That's about to change. This dusty bank of the Jordan River has long been a place of new beginnings. In the Old Testament, it is written that Joshua crossed over here, leading his band of weary Israelites into the Promised Land.

12/27/18

* Israel Fends Off Terror From All Sides Over the weekend, the IDF fended off rioters from Gaza in the south and an attempt at armed infiltration from Syria in the North, while coping with tunnels from Hezbollah.

* Trump: We give Israel billions, it can defend itself in Syria President says he's told Netanyahu military aid makes up for lack of US troops, amid jitters in Israel that withdrawal will make battling Iranian entrenchment more difficult.

* Hanegbi: We Don't Need Russian Help in Syria, Our Soldiers Work Alone He refused to comment on the AP report that an Israeli official confirmed the state launched airstrikes in Syria overnight on Tuesday.

* Backing Knesset committee, IDF comptroller says army in best shape in years Report notes there are still a number of problems and that improvements must be made to ground forces, but rejects ombudsman's repeated claims that military is unprepared for war.

* Hamas at 31: As Committed as Ever to Israel's Destruction Hamas's 31st anniversary was marked with a string of terror attacks and an official statement by the organization's leader, Ismail Haniyeh, rejecting any recognition of the legitimacy of Jewish statehood.

* Orban: Europe and Islam don't mix With EU parliamentary elections fast approaching, Victor Orban is staking out that a Christian pitch could win over a European electorate.

* Here's 5 ways May's Brexit chaos could play out Theresa May heads into the New Year after the most difficult month of her premiership thanks to the continuing turmoil and uncertainty over Brexit.

* Turkey and EU: Can this Marriage be Saved? In Freedom House's democracy index, Turkey belongs to the group of "not free" countries, performing worse than "partly free" countries including Mali, Nicaragua and Kenya.

* Russia and Syria threaten to fire SA-5 missiles into central Israel if IAF air strikes continue A new Russian threat was received in Israel on Wednesday, Dec. 26: Any more air strikes and Syria's SA-5 air defense missiles will be fired deep into Israel - like the one that shook several towns on Tuesday night in the middle of an IAF attack on Iranian sites in Syria.

* Pew: Two-Thirds of Americans Believe Jesus Was Born to a Virgin A remarkable 66 percent of U.S. adults believe that Jesus was miraculously born to the Virgin Mary, the Pew Research Center announced Tuesday.

12/26/18

* 2018: Top Natural Phenomena Heralding the Messiah When God created the world, the Bible refers to him as "Elohim", the name that Torah scholars associate with judgment and nature.

* Russia accuses Israel of 'gross violation' of Syrian sovereignty Moscow condemns alleged Israeli airstrike on Hezbollah leaders in Damascus.

* Netanyahu: We Stand Firm Against Iran in Syria Despite Trump's Decision Hours after attack near Damascus Netanyahu said Israel acting against Iranian entrenchment in Syria 'during these days'.

* The War in Syria: Turkish forces bolster troops ahead of Syria op Turkish forces have bolstered their troop numbers in northern Syria after Ankara announced it would start a military operation there.

* Christmas is a "Palestinian symbol" and "Jesus was the first Palestinian," says senior Fatah leader For years, the Palestinian Authority and Fatah have presented Jesus as a Palestinian, as part of its fabricating an ancient Palestinian history.

* 'Prepared to counter any threat': Russia's top 10 military events of 2018 The outgoing year of 2018 was marked by large-scale maneuvers, military exercises, launches and advances in terms of military equipment.

* Tending to Israel's Relationship with Russia The defeat of ISIS, the emergence of Russia as the patron of the Assad regime, and President Trump's announcement of the withdrawal of US forces from Syria have affected the policies and alliances of Israel, Iran, the US, and Russia with respect to that country, potentially leading to a wide-scale conflagration.

* Abbas: Palestinians ready to enter peace process based on UN resolutions PA president makes comment after pope says he hopes Israelis and Palestinians will renew dialogue; Israeli official says Jewish state has repeatedly declared willingness to talk.

* US Pullout from Syria: Who Will Fill the Vacuum? "What Turkey is going to do is unleash holy hell on the Kurds. In the eyes of Turkey, they're more of a threat than ISIS. So this decision is a disaster." - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham.

* IDF Raises Alert Level as Hamas Threatens Renewed Attacks Israeli forces shot and killed three Palestinians, including a teenager, in the Gaza Strip during the latest of weekly protests organized by Hamas along the border with Israel on Friday, Palestinian health officials said.

12/25/18

* Thousands celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem with waning Christian Palestinians Community makes up less than 1% of West Bank and Gaza population, according to PA; in past 50 years, thousands have emigrated, Lutheran pastor says

* Holy Land Christian Statistics for Christmas 2018 Just in time for Christmas, the Israel Bureau of Statistics has published figures on Christians living in Israel.

* Ten Things To Know About Christians In Israel Christians in the Holy Land are a very small minority group of 175,000 comprising 2 percent of the population.

* 5 Pro-Christmas Articles by Jews A few years ago, I went out on a limb and wrote an article in favor of Christmas. At the time, it was a big deal.

* Does the Christian Star of Bethlehem Have Its Roots in Judaism? As Christmas approaches, stars, one of the symbols of the Christian holiday, appear. 

* Were there more than Three Kings? Thirty years ago there were 50,000 Christians in south-eastern Turkey speaking a dialect of Aramaic - the language of Christ.

* Thousands at Christmas celebrations in Nazareth Israeli Arab Christians celebrate Christmas in parade that took place in northern city of Nazareth.

* Photo Essay: Christmas In The Holy Land Christian pilgrims and tourists are visiting Christianity’s holiest sites, especially in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth.

* 1,113 apartments approved for construction in Judea and Samaria Plans to build over 1,000 housing units in Gush Etzion approved, a further 400 approved in interim stage.

* Iraqi Christians Celebrate Hopeful Christmas After Defeat Of Isis Across the region, Christmas appeared to come and go without the terrorism of previous years.

12/24/18

* Christians a “no-Cost Target of Genocidal Violence and Hostility” on Christmas in Bethlehem As Christmas approaches in Bethlehem each year, fewer and fewer Christian residents take part – not because the tree in Bethlehem’s Manger Square is any less grand than the year before or because less money is allocated toward the festivities – quite the opposite, actually. 

* PM: Elections possible now that Hezbollah tunnels dealt with Netanyahu says early elections could not be held until Hezbollah terror tunnels were neutralized.

* Outgoing IDF Chief: Iran Wants to Deploy 100,000 Fighters in Syria The Times of Israel reports: Outgoing IDF chief Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot on Sunday defended the military against recent criticism of insufficient action against Palestinian terrorism in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, saying the army’s primary goal in recent years has been thwarting Iran’s efforts to establish a permanent military presence in Syria.

* 'We will continue to act against Iranian entrenchment in Syria' Netanyahu addresses Trump's decision to pull troops from Syria at start of Cabinet meeting. 'I want to reassure those who are concerned.'

* Netanyahu's Coalition Collapses; Israel Heading To Elections On April 9Th "With God's help, we will win," said Netanyahu, who vowed to form the same coalition after the election.

* COMMENTARY: Europe's Troubles are Linked to Jerusalem As Christmas draws near, the gloomy prospects of Brexit proposals are somewhat overshadowing the bright lights of Britain.

* Turkey: Israel must 'end brutal oppression' Erdogan spokesman accuses Netanyahu of 'brutal oppression of Palestinian people' after PM calls on Erdogan not to lecture Israel.

* The Kurds: Betrayed Again by Washington POPULIST Government emerging across the European Union will foil the plans of further European integration Jean-Claude Juncker devised during his leadership of the European Commission, economist Alan Winters claimed.

* Wolfgang Ischinger: European army is necessary amid Russia threat The chairman of the Munich Security Conference discusses NATO, Russia, Khashoggi and Europe's role in a changing world.

* Is populism growing in Europe? Populists are represented in government in eleven European countries. Of the 751 seats in the EU parliament, 151 are already occupied by politicians from parties that want radical reform in the block.

* Does the Christian Star of Bethlehem Have Its Roots in Judaism? As Christmas approaches, stars, one of the symbols of the Christian holiday, appear. 

12/22/18

* Syrian rebels say U.S. troops remain in key garrison near Iraq U.S. troops have not left the strategic Tanf garrison on the Iraq-Jordan border following President Donald Trump’s decision to pull out of Syria, the leader of a Pentagon-backed rebel group there said on Saturday.

* As Trump vows to leave Syria, Kurds fear a power grab by Iran and Russia President Trump’s snap decision to withdraw all U.S. forces from Syria has set off a panic among America’s principal Kurdish allies in Syria and created a mood of impending crisis in the Kurdistan Regional Government of northern Iraq.

* Iran’s Revolutionary Guard launches drill near Strait of Hormuz Paramilitary force answerable to Supreme Leader Khamenei begins annual combat helicopter and drone exercise day after US Navy carrier enters Persian Gulf.

* Kurds Turn to Russia, Assad to Counter Potential Turkish Attack U.S.-allied Syrian Kurds, in the wake of America’s decision this week to withdraw its military forces from Syria, are faced with the prospects of making a pact with the Iranian and Russian-backed regime of Bashar al-Assad to repel a prospective attack by Turkish forces.

* Does the Christian Star of Bethlehem Have Its Roots in Judaism? As Christmas approaches, stars, one of the symbols of the Christian holiday, appear. 

* The US will still “maintain a presence” after troop pullout from NE Syria Following the backlash from President Trump’s decision to withdraw US troops from NE Syria, senior administration officials Friday night, Dec. 21 offered Mid East leaders clarifications for allaying their concerns. DEBKAfile’s sources reveal those messages’ high points.

* Is Lebanese Army Aiding and Abetting Hezbollah? Israel Thinks So Some two weeks after Israel launched “Operation Northern Shield” to eliminate Hezbollah’s cross-border attack tunnels from Lebanon, Israel has said that it will present the U.N. Security Council with damning evidence proving that the Lebanese army has been helping Hezbollah in its excavation efforts in violation of the U.N.’s resolutions.

* The Kurds: Betrayed Again by Washington Time and again, powerful allies on whose support they thought they could rely abandoned them.

* Witchcraft moves to the mainstream in America as Christianity declines - and has Trump in its sights Witchcraft is thriving in the US, with an estimated 1.5 million Americans now identifying as witches - more than the total number of Presbyterians.

* Why Italy Could Join the UK in the Race Out of the EU Italy could follow the UK out of the EU or join them in leaving.

12/21/18

* Trump's Controversial Decision to Pull Out Of Syria Sets World Teetering President Trump made a surprise announcement on Wednesday that he was ordering the 2,000 U.S troops in Syria to withdraw, fulfilling a campaign promise.

* ANALYSIS: Russia Makes Israeli Airstrikes in Syria Virtually Impossible Things heated up on the Israel Lebanon border on Tuesday when soldiers of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) prevented IDF soldiers from erecting a barbed wire fence on the Israeli side of the so-called Blue Line, the UN recognized international border between Israel and Lebanon.

* Iran: Toward a Plan B Is a Plan B possible? No one knows for sure.

* Caroline Glick: Trump's Decision to Pull Forces Out of Syria Has Upsides On its face, Trump's announcement that he is pulling US forces out of Syria seems like an unfriendly act toward Israel. But it isn't.

* The European Union and the Limits of Empire In the last century, governing elites came to see nations - with their separate borders, traditions, and governments - as sources of conflict and war.

* Syria's Kurds say Trump US troop pullout harms anti-IS fight A Kurdish-led alliance in Syria says President Donald Trump's surprise decision to withdraw US troops will allow the Islamic State (IS) group to recover.

* US pullout strengthens Iran 'land bridge' to the Mediterranean Critics say Trump has just gifted Tehran a decades-old strategic goal of a presence across Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, which Israel has vowed to oppose.

* Debate in Tehran: Stay in the JCPOA or Leave It? A heated debate is underway in Tehran over whether or not to remain in the JCPOA following the US withdrawal.

* Does China's Nuclear-Capable Hypersonic Missile Threaten U.S. Deterrence? U.S. officials revealed in August that China had test-fired a hypersonic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and of thwarting missile-defense systems.

* Scoop: Netanyahu rejected Russian plan to work with U.S. on Syria, Iran More than three months ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin's national security adviser Nikolai Patrushev gave his Israeli counterpart a document.

12/20/18

* Israel on High Alert as Trump Pulls US Troops, Diplomats Out of Syria  Israel's defense establishment reacted with surprise and a degree of concern on Thursday to US President Donald Trump's announcement that ISIS had been defeated, and that American forces would therefore be leaving Syria.

* Israel to Increase Its Efforts Against Iran in Syria, Netanyahu Said "We will continue to act in Syria to prevent Iran's effort to militarily entrench itself against us. We are not reducing our efforts, we will increase our efforts," Netanyahu said.

* After the caliphate: Has IS been defeated? The US is to begin withdrawing its troops from Syria, where they are supporting fighters from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance as they close in on the last pocket of eastern Syria controlled by the jihadist group Islamic State.

* 'Triumph for Erdogan' as US announces Syria pull-out Trump's claim that ISIL has been defeated contradicted his own experts' assessments and shocked his Middle East allies.

* The IDF must cut short tunnel operation, get set for repercussions from Trump's stunning Syria withdrawal Israel's leaders - government, military and intelligence - were dumbfounded by US President Donald Trump's decision to pull US troops out of Syria as part of its withdrawal from the Mid-East at large.

* Does a New Dig at Site of Ark Prove Biblical Account of Judean Kingdom is Overblown? A recent dig at the Biblical site of Kiryat Yearim is a piece in the puzzle that may settle a raging feud among archaeologists: was King David a larger-than-life monarch who unified the Northern and Southern Kingdom or was he a local chieftain whose role the Bible exaggerated.

* While China and the US spar over trade, Europe quietly heads for its worst year since the financial crisis 2018 has been, by pretty much every quantifiable measure, a nightmare for investors, but while most attention has been focused on the US and China, Europe has suffered worse.

* Killing 3 innocent Israelis "is a great thing," says Fatah official Last week, a terrorist shot and murdered 2 Israelis and seriously wounded 2 others in a shooting attack next to Givat Assaf, near Ramallah.

* Who Murdered Baby Amiad Yisrael? He was named after he passed away on Wednesday, December 12, 2018. He was only thirty weeks in the womb when his mother and father were gunned down in a drive-by shooting by Palestinian terrorists.

* Watch: The failed 'two-state solution' 'For stability and peace to succeed, it is time we open our minds.'

12/19/18

* On This Day, Gifts and Tithes Bought to the Beit Hamikdash, Presented to Priests The gifts and tithes brought to the Beit Hamikdash and presented to the Kohanim and Levi'im are examples of biblical commandments that apply only in the Land of Israel.

* Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu accuses Lebanese government of 'colluding' with Hezbollah The president called on Lebanon to take action against Hezbollah after discovery of tunnels dug under border.

* Netanyahu: Hizballah tunnels - act of war. Every 3rd S. Lebanese house is a fortress Israel's conflict with Hizballah was sharpened on Wednesday, Dec. 18, by the tunnels' depiction as an "act of war" by Prime Minister-Defense Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

* Brexit: EU reveals no-deal plans The European Commission says it has started to implement its preparations for a no-deal Brexit - in case the UK crashes out of the EU without a plan.

* Does the Christian Star of Bethlehem Have Its Roots in Judaism? As Christmas approaches, stars, one of the symbols of the Christian holiday, appear.

* Arab League wants Australia to reconsider recognising Jerusalem as Israeli and abide by international law The Arab League adopted a resolution calling on Australia and Brazil to "abide by international law" concerning the status of Jerusalem, after reports emerged of plans to move their embassies.

* EU, Russia to Trump: 2-state solution only viable Israeli-Palestinian peace plan Warning comes as Haley hints at Trump's 'Deal of the Century' peace plan: Long, takes advantage of new technology, and has a lot both sides will like and things they won't like.

* Number of yeshiva students surges to record high Nearly 125,000 full-time students registered in Israeli yeshivas in 2017 - nearly one-third more than in 2014.

* Russia vs. Ukraine: More Russians Want the Soviet Union and Communism Back Amid Continued A higher percentage of Russians regret the collapse of the Soviet Union than at any other time since 2004, according to a new survey published Wednesday by the Levada Center, a Russian nonprofit organization.

* Eight EU States Warn Trump Peace Plan Will Fail Unless Based on 1967 Lines "Any peace plan that fails to recognize these internationally agreed parameters would risk being condemned to failure," the said.

12/18/18

* Iran Arrests Over 100 Christians as Warning Not to Evangelize at Christmas Over the past week, Iranian authorities have arrested more than 100 Christians as part of the government's fresh crackdown on those who have left the Islamic faith and embraced Jesus.

* Israeli Air Force flies over Lebanese-Syrian border - first time in 3 months The Israeli Air Force made several passes over the Lebanese-Syrian border on Sunday, Dec. 16, for the first time since the crisis with Moscow erupted in September, DEBKAfile's military sources report.

* UN appeals to the world to fund the PA's "Pay for Slay" policy Yesterday, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) issued a joint statement in which they launched a US$350 million appeal to "address critical humanitarian needs of Palestinians."

* Iran, Turkey, Russia Threaten Israel in Eastern Mediterranean The Russian eastern Mediterranean naval presence is growing. Russia secured for itself the naval base at Tarsus and the air base at Khmeimim in Syria.

* My 4-Year Career Reporting on Messiah and Why I Know It's Happening Four and a half years ago, I was hired by Breaking Israel News to write feature articles about the geula (redemption). It was a subject no other Jewish or Israeli news site covered and nine years of intensive study in yeshiva left me disturbingly unprepared to write about a subject so essential to my religion.

* In 2019, Mideast economic troubles loom as wars wind down As the Middle East ushers in 2019, the decade's ruinous conflicts in Syria, Yemen, Libya and Iraq seem to be winding down after exacting a painful price - many thousands killed, millions uprooted from their homes and entire cities reduced to rubble.

* Russia, Iran and Turkey agree on Syria constitutional body, call for talksThe committee is part of the Sochi agreement and will include 50 members from the regime, 50 opposition members, the rest will be independent.

* Brexit: Dutch PM warns his voters against emulating 'chaos' of Britain's departure from EU One of Theresa May's closest European allies has warned his voters against emulating the "chaos" caused by the UK's decision to leave the European Union.

* Turkey Aiming to Head a Global Islamic Union Governed by Sharia Turkey's Strategic Research Center for Defenders of Justice is planning to organize an "International Islamic Union Congress" every year until 2023, to address the "Islamic confederal state" it aims to establish across the Muslim world.

* Half Recognition There is something absurd about the Australian recognition of the heretofore unknown entity of "west Jerusalem" as Israel's capital, much like Russia's recognition in April 2017.

12/17/18

* Esau and Jacob in the Temple "King David himself prophesied in Psalms that when his descendant arrives to re-establish the kingdom of God, all of the nations will bring gifts to the king," said Rabbi Yosef Berger, the rabbi of King David's Tomb on Mount Zion.

* Netanyahu: Israel Has Missiles That Can Strike Any Target in the Middle East "This is an offensive force that belongs to the State of Israel and is relevant for all our different fronts," the prime minister said.

* Turkey may start new Syria operation at any moment, Erdogan says Turkey may start a new military operation in Syria at any moment, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday, adding that U.S. President Donald Trump had given a positive response to Turkey's plans for an operation east of the Euphrates.

* Will Iran ask Hamas to ignite Gaza front in support of Hezbollah? For a brief moment earlier this month, the possibility of a regional confrontation engaging Israel on two fronts appeared to increase, when Israel launched Operation Northern Shield, an open-ended action to destroy Hezbollah tunnels from Lebanon into northern Israel.

* PM promises Rabbi Lau: Tomb of the Patriarchs will be accessible Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hevron to be made wheelchair accessible in the coming months, PM promises Chief Rabbi.

* Is the Pacific Ring of Fire Getting Ready for the End-of-Days? A volcanic eruption in Indonesia followed by a large earthquake is the most recent event that has caused concern among geologists that we are entering a global period of increased seismic activity.

* Palestinians Signal They Want ALL of Jerusalem Australia's decision on Saturday to officially recognize the western half of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel prompted a number of outbursts, some of them very, very revealing.

* Ukraine Orthodox priests establish independent Church Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has announced the creation of an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church, marking a historic split from Russia.

* "United Nations, Your Silence is Getting Worse": Extremist Persecution of Christians, September 2018 "[T]wo young masked men entered the pharmacy and dragged my father outside. They told him to kneel in the street. They put two guns at my father's head and told him to convert to Islam. But he shook his head. Then they shot him." - Open Doors, August 23, 2018, Egypt.

* BDS Fail: Jerusalem Named World's Fastest-Growing Tourist Destination Jerusalem boasted the world's biggest growth in inbound tourist numbers for 2018, with international arrivals soaring 38 percent this year, nearly doubling since 2016.

12/15/18

* Australia recognises West Jerusalem as Israeli capital Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed that his government will recognise West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

* Australia warns citizens ahead of Jerusalem embassy move Prime Minister Scott Morrison expected to announce controversial decision of recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

* Mashaal calls for guerrilla warfare to ‘liberate West Bank’ and ‘all Palestine’ Former Hamas chief says ‘resistance’ is ‘pinnacle of life’ and defines Palestinians: ‘I resist, therefore I am’

* Far-Right Israeli MPs threaten to topple Netanyahu government over West Bank violence Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition is looking increasingly unstable after far-Right MPs threatened to withdraw their support unless the Israeli prime minister agrees to new security measures amid a spate of violence in the occupied West Bank.

* Deterrence Is Not Everything Israel’s decisions a) to contain Hamas’s continuous provocations rather than use them as a casus belli and b) to refrain from an immediate military response to the discovery of Hezbollah tunnels into Israeli sovereign territory in the northern Galilee highlight the issue of deterrence as a core factor affecting the Israeli image in the region.

* Obama’s War Is Upon Us How the ex-Radical-in-Chief created a security vacuum that Iran rushed to fill.

* ‘May remains in power as nobody wants to do the worst job – Brexit’ Theresa May survived the no-confidence vote buying some time in office, but why did Tories let her stay? 

* Tony Blair is trying to 'DIVIDE' Britain further by pushing for second Brexit referendum because it's too 'complex' to leave EU amid chaos over May's efforts to secure deal Number 10 has dismissed calls by Tony Blair for a second Brexit referendum claiming giving people a vote will further divide the nation.

* French Jewish cemetery desecrated with swastikas A ceremony has taken place at a Jewish cemetery in eastern France where 37 gravestones and a monument to Holocaust victims were sprayed with anti-Semitic graffiti.

* ‘On This Day,’ Queen of Sheba Visits King Solomon in Jerusalem King Shlomo’s reign can be described as the glory days of the Kingdom of Israel. Shlomo creates a kingdom that is characterized by peace and security, wealth and prosperity, wisdom and knowledge, justice and righteousness, spiritual devotion and international recognition.

12/14/18

* Infuriated by Deadly Terror Attacks, Israelis Demand Netanyahu Act, or Resign Hundreds gathered in Paris Square opposite the official Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem this week in protest following a string of deadly Palestinian terror attacks in Samaria.

* After Week of Terror, Should Israel 'Divorce' From the Palestinians? The motivation for the new "divorce" campaign, is a concern that the Knesset is slowly creeping towards annexing the West Bank, a move which would forever alter the Jewish character of Israel.

* 'Hamas is trying to open up a new front in Judea and Samaria' Former head of the Shin Bet security agency's Intelligence Division thinks that Hamas is trying to provoke Israel in every way.

* How Will the Cookie Crumble? A Post-PA Scenario If and when the Palestinian Authority (PA) collapses, Jordan will bear the greatest brunt of the resulting humanitarian crisis.

* Extremist Fatah wing throws support behind latest Hamas terror onslaught Evidence is mounting that the extremist Tanzim wing of the Palestinian Fatah is complicit in the Hamas onslaught of terror in Judea and Samaria, which has claimed 5 Israeli lives and injured 12 in Judea and Samaria in recent weeks.

* The Bad and Good About the U.N. Vote on Hamas Netanyahu came out and spoke once again about how Israel's ties with the world are booming.

* Tony Blair sees another Brexit referendum as most likely outcome Former Prime Minister Tony Blair said a second Brexit referendum is now the most likely outcome because plans to leave the European Union face deadlock in parliament.

* Palestinian leaders have a disturbing idea of 'heroism' Propaganda from Hamas and Fatah, the rulers of Gaza and the West Bank, routinely sings the praises of the "heroes" and "martyrs" who slaughter Israeli civilians in the name of justice for the Palestinian people.

* Ashdod Christmas Tree Battle A shopping mall in Ashdod created a political uproar when it placed a Christmas tree as a holiday ornament.

* Israeli winds of change blowing through the Persian Gulf Israel's warming ties with Gulf emirates should be nurtured further, as each of these nations has close ties with larger Arab states, and we could make use of that bridge to open up new avenues.

12/13/18

* Fatah Calls on Palestinians to Confront IDF, Escalate Situation "Israel's leaders must understand that they are not able to protect their soldiers."

* IDF encircles de-facto Palestinian capital in response to terror attack Israel's military has blocked all entry and exit points to the Palestinian city of Ramallah after two Israelis were killed in an attack in the West Bank.

* 'We Will Not Be Sitting Ducks in a Palestinian Shooting Range,' Settler Leader Says Israel Gantz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council where Givat Asaf is located, said, "Terrorism has lifted its head. We will not sit quietly.

* The Hamas Plan to Take the West Bank Hamas and its allies are openly working and encouraging the eruption of a new anti-Israel uprising in the West Bank, and they have been emboldened by the recent failure of the UN General Assembly to adopt a US-sponsored resolution condemning Hamas and other Palestinian groups for firing rockets at Israel and inciting violence.

* Building Up Israel Is Preparation For Messiah, Teaches Rabbi In Israel In a Torah class, sponsored by Yiboneh and delivered in Jerusalem earlier this week, Orthodox scholar Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz explained that there are alternative scenarios for the messianic figure known in Judaism as Moshiach ben Yosef (Messiah, son of Joseph).

* Hezbollah as Dangerous as Islamic State, Top U.S. Official Warns TEL AVIV - Hezbollah is just as "just as dangerous and just as close" as the Islamic State terror group, and operates within "our own borders," a senior State Department official on Tuesday warned diplomats from twelve countries.

* ANALYSIS: Israel's New Strategy in the War Against Iran With "Operation Northern Shield" entering its second week and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) working to destroy a third Hezbollah attack tunnel underneath the border with Lebanon it has become increasingly clear Israel is waging a psychological war against Iran and its proxies.

* IDF Official: Much of Hezbollah's Arsenal Unable to be Precision-Guided Hezbollah's missile arsenal has been static for years and the organization lacks the industrial ability to convert, upgrade or produce precision weapons, Director of Military Intelligence Maj. Gen. Tamir Heyman said earlier this week.

* Bemused by Brexit? Here's a Guide to the Endgame British Prime Minister Theresa May almost lost her job over the proposed Brexit deal she struck with the European Union.

* Israel says 'understandings' with Russia reached over Syria IDF delegation in Moscow says sides discussed improving deconfliction methods; Kremlin briefed on border operation to thwart Hezbollah tunnels from Lebanon.

12/12/18

* Netanyahu: Hezbollah Will Get 'Unimaginable Blow' if it Attacks The uncovering of the third Hezbollah attack tunnel is part of the process of "systematically dismantling" these weapons.

* Through Strength, Not Weakness, Netanyahu Looks to Normalize With Arab World For decades it has been assumed that Israel must bend over backwards in order to convince the Arab world to make peace with it.

* Israel's shrinking military deterrence emboldens terrorists and hostile forces The Palestinian shooting attack which injured seven Israelis at the Ofra junction on Sunday, Dec. 9 was not an isolated incident. In the north meanwhile, Israel's Operation Northern Shield against Hizballah tunnels has become a cat and mouse game.

* Abbas rival Dahlan calls for one-state solution The former Palestinian Security Services head Mohammed Dahlan says the two-state solution is not likely to be realized.

* UK leader May battles confidence vote, warning Brexit is in peril Prime Minister Theresa May vowed to win a vote of no confidence triggered by angry Brexit supporters in her Conservative Party on Wednesday, saying her ouster would jeopardize Britain's divorce from the European Union.

* France: A Revolt against Europe's Elites? Maybe this is it -- the start of the Western European public's pushback against the elites' disastrous multicultural and globalist project.

* IDI Peace Index: Netanyahu Preferred Candidate to Serve as Israel's Next PM A recently published Peace Index of the Israel Democracy Institute and Tel Aviv University (TAU) reveals that: 46% of Jewish Israelis name Benjamin Netanyahu as their preferred candidate for the next prime minister.

* Australia Reportedly Set to Recognize Jerusalem as Israel's Capital In October, new Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was "open" to moving his country's embassy to Jerusalem.

* After U.S. Move, Israel Eyeing Site for an 'Embassy Quarter' in Jerusalem The Housing and Construction Ministry began examining a site for a neighborhood of embassies in Jerusalem.

* COMMENTARY: Light in the Darkness As we approach the traditional season of Christmas, we (in the Northern Hemisphere) are all too aware of the gathering gloom of midwinter, and are anxious to help dispel the darkness with a multiple array of bright lights.

12/11/18

* PHOTO-SPREAD: Dedication of Altar for Third Temple On Monday, the Sanhedrin hosted the dedication of the altar for the Third Temple, marking the event with a full-dress reenactment of the Korban Tamidi (eternal offering).

* Netanyahu: 'As long as I am prime minister, no Jew will be uprooted' PM and Transportation Minister inaugurate 'Adam Interchange,' aimed at easing heavy traffic north of Jerusalem.

* IDF Discovers Third Tunnel, Hezbollah Releases Photos of Operation IDF announced the discovery of a third Hezbollah tunnel just hours after dozens of close-up pictures and videos of IDF troops were released by Hezbollah.

* Fundamentally Freund: The Maccabees, the Mount and Modern Israel Just a few days before the start of Hanukkah, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan delivered remarks that would have made the Maccabees proud.

* Sorry Indiana Jones, the Ark of the Covenant is not inside this Ethiopian church Over the past few days, several media outlets have reported on a centuries-old claim that the Ark of the Covenant - which allegedly held tablets recording the Ten Commandments - is inside a church in Aksum, Ethiopia, called the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion, and that only the "guardian" of the ark is allowed to see it.

* Hizballah plans Hamas-style mob violence against IDF troops from the Lebanese border On Monday, Dec. 1, Hizballah activists began organizing groups of "demonstrators" in the Shiite villages of South Lebanon for mob assaults from behind the Lebanese border on the IDF teams excavating tunnels.

* Arab League tells Brazil's Bolsonaro Israel embassy move could harm ties The Arab League has told Brazil's right-wing President-elect Jair Bolsonaro that moving Brazil's embassy in Israel to Jerusalem would be a setback for relations with Arab countries, in a letter seen by Reuters on Monday.

* EU offers new Brexit deal clarity, won't renegotiate - Juncker The European Union is willing to give Britain further clarifications on its Brexit deal but will not renegotiate the treaty or its protocol on the Irish border, EU chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker said on Tuesday.

* Volatility, Uncertainty: What Asia Has to Fear from Brexit Turmoil Prime Minister Theresa May's last-ditch move to postpone a vote on her plan for Britain's departure from the European Union has let fly a new round of concern across Asia, with governments, companies and consumers bracing themselves for the fallout from Brexit.

* The latest poll on anti-Semitism in Europe looks bad. Trust me: It's true. Jews in Europe unsurprised by results of grim survey that found some 90% of the local community sense increasing levels of hatred toward them.

12/10/18

* Michael Goodwin: A year after Trump's Jerusalem declaration, it's clear he means business In an age when doomsday predictions are as common as thunderstorms, it can be instructive to look back at events and compare the predictions to what actually happened.

* Why Israel Confronted Hezbollah's Tunnel Threat Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah risk boiling over as Jerusalem seeks to confront Hezbollah's tunnels along the border with Lebanon.

* Why Iran May Go Nuclear The Iranian nuclear saga and its repercussions are once again taking center stage.

* Netanyahu: Israel is Bulwark Against Iranian Take-Over of Middle East Israel will prevent Iran from using cross-border tunnels from Lebanon as a "weapon of aggression" against it, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News on Thursday.

* Revealing the Hidden: Special Hanukkah Dedication of Third Temple Altar  On Monday, the last day of Hanukkah, the Sanhedrin called out to the 70 Nations to join in the consecration of the altar for the Third Temple.

* Theresa May calls off MPs' vote on her Brexit deal Theresa May says she has called off Tuesday's crucial vote on her Brexit deal because it "would be rejected by a significant margin".

* Russia gives Iranian/Hizballah forces in E. Syria first S-300 missile shield The Russian military in Syria transferred an S-300 air defense missile battalion from Masyaf in West Syria to Deir ez-Zour in the east 10 days ago during the G20 summit in Buenos Aires.

* Lebanon's Strategic Symbiosis A new strategic symbiosis has evolved over the past decade between Hezbollah and the Lebanese state, enabling the Islamist group to pursue its massive military buildup with impunity.

* Right Wing Politicians Push for Bill to Legalize Outposts After Terror Attack Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fast track the authorization of Ofra homes.

* 100 Christians snatched in overnight raids on underground Chinese church About 100 worshippers at an unofficial church in southwestern China were snatched from their homes or from the streets in coordinated raids which began on Sunday evening.

* Nine in Ten European Jews Feel Mounting Antisemitism, Study Finds Nearly a third of Jews in 12 EU countries surveyed have experienced antisemitic harassment, 76% of respondents said they had heard comments that Jews have too much power in their country.

12/8/18

* Inside the cloak-and-dagger search for sacred texts In the shadowy world where religion meets archaeology, scientists, collectors, and schemers are racing to find the most precious relics.

* U.N.'S Failure To Condemn Hamas Shows U.S., Israel Have Work Ahead US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said that “we can’t talk about peace in the Middle East until we can agree on a basic condemnation of Hamas and its terrorism.”

* In phone call, Putin tells Netanyahu military cooperation in Syria must improve Russian leader stresses importance of maintaining regional stability after receiving update on IDF operation to uncover and destroy Hezbollah attack tunnels from Lebanon.

* The City of London is raising the odds that Brexit won't actually happen A rising of tide of City of London analysts now see an increased likelihood of the UK deciding not to leave the European Union after all, and simply cancelling Brexit.

* Jerusalem: Holiest sites in the holy city The Holy Land’s capital, Jerusalem, is the spirituality epicenter with countless religious sites sacred to Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

* Hamas: Failure Of Us Resolution Will Boost 'Resistance' Against Israel Hamas, Fatah and other Palestinian factions said that the failure of the UN to support the resolution was a “slap in the face of America” and a “victory for the Palestinian resistance.”

* UN Fails to Officially Condemn Hamas The United Nations has failed to officially condemn Hamas, even after the US and Israel managed to garner a strong majority in the General Assembly for a resolution doing just that.

* After defeat in Iraq, IS fights on in last enclave in Syria A year after it was routed from Iraq in a devastating war that left entire neighborhoods and towns in ruins, the Islamic State group is fighting to hang on to its last enclave in eastern Syria, engaging in deadly battles with U.S.-backed forces.

* Search For Temple Utensils Reveals City of Prophets Jim Barfield’s 12-year search for the Temple utensils revealed an unexpected discovery to an Oklahoma Noahide: a powerful spiritual connection between the mountaintop Temple in Jerusalem and at Qumran, located near to the deepest spot on the planet.

* Can Israel and Jordan cooperate to save the dying Dead Sea? Both countries face critical water shortages, forcing them to come together and make tough choices.

12/7/18

* Resolution condemning Hamas fails at UN, despite majority, unprecedented support US bid for first ever UNGA vote against terror group was doomed after states decided it would need a two-thirds majority; 87 countries voted in favor, 57 opposed it, 33 abstained.

* Hizballah Puts Forces on Alert after Israel Tries Passing the Tunnel Buck to UNIFIL Hizballah places its forces on combat readiness in nine regions of southern Lebanon in response to Israel's demand that UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army dismantle a tunnel.

* Caroline Glick: The Next War Between Hezbollah and Israel Israelis woke up Tuesday morning to the news that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had initiated a new campaign called "Northern Shield."

* How Does Trump's New U.N. Ambassador Stack Up On Israel? Heather Nauert, State Department spokesperson and former Fox News reporter, will be replacing Nikki Haley as the next ambassador to the United Nations.

* 'On This Day,' Hanukkah and the Menorah Made of Pure Gold The menorah, made of "pure gold," was lit with pure olive oil and gave off a radiant light.

* Bennett says Israel will destroy Lebanon if war breaks out As Israel battles Hezbollah's tunnels, Bennett says that Lebanon will pay the price in the next war.

* Fatah: If Hamas is a terrorist organization, so are we Today the UN General Assembly will be voting on a US-proposed resolution to condemn Hamas for firing rockets into Israel and inciting violence.

* EU Adopts Measures Against Antisemitism, World Jewish Congress Cheers A declaration approved Thursday by the Council of the European Union calls on EU member states to take steps to ensure security for Jewish communities, institutions and citizens.

* Convulsions over Brexit and the struggle for the Western Nation Theresa May's Conservative government is at odds with Parliament. The majority of MPs want Britain to remain in the European Union and so are at odds with their Brexit-majority voters.

* BIN Exclusive: Campaign to Construct Messianic Golden Royal Crown Rabbi Yosef Berger, the rabbi of King David's Tomb on Mount Zion, has initiated a special project to create a golden crown to be presented to the messiah-king upon his arrival in Jerusalem.

12/6/18

* Rare interfaith Temple Mount confab highlights a 'Christian awakening' Participants come for the 'conspiracy theories' about where Temple was located, stay for the activism in unusual show of evangelical Christian support for Jewish right-wing cause.

* Netanyahu: Israel may have to operate in Lebanon In briefing to 25 foreign ambassadors in the upper Galilee, Prime Minister Netanyahu says there is 'reasonable possibility' Israel will have to operate in Lebanon to neutralize the threat posed by Hezbollah's terror tunnels.

* Netanyahu pumps up IDF tunnel operation for undermining Hizballah in Beirut. "We may have to operate in Lebanon" Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu invited 25 foreign ambassadors to the northern border on Thursday, Dec.6, for am on-the-spot briefing on the IDF operation against Hizballah tunnels.

* Iran's Rouhani Mulls Blocking Critical Waterway If the United States blocks Iran's oil exports, Iran's president threatened that his nation is prepared to shut the Straits of Hormuz, a critical shipping route and waterway for the world's oil supplies, CNBC reported Tuesday.

* The Coalitions That Could Hold the EU Together The European Union has experienced a series of disasters over the last 10 years, each one of which has posed a major threat to its stability.

* Jerusalem World's Fastest Growing Tourism Destination In mid-November, the number of incoming tourists surpassed last year's record of 3.6 million and the figure now stands at an unprecedented 3.8 million.

* The Iranian Modus Operandi Time and again in recent decades, Iran has used its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to attempt to deprive Israel of calm borders with its neighbors.

* Palestinians: No Difference Between Hamas and Fatah It is supposedly fine for Mahmoud Abbas and his officials to condemn Hamas on a daily basis.

* Putin warns of a new arms race and says if US starts developing banned intermediate-range missiles, so will Russia Vladimir Putin has warned of a new arms race, saying that if the US starts developing banned intermediate-range missiles, so will Moscow.

* COMMENTARY: Dead Sea Comes to Life! A remarkable thing happened to me last week. I was studying the Book of Ezekiel in preparation for a weekend retreat when a friend forwarded a YouTube clip announcing the most incredible news, which is surely another significant sign of the imminent return of Jesus.

12/5/18

* Conference Paves Way for Jewish-Christian Cooperation on Temple Mount The first Temple Jerusalem Convention took place at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center on Wednesday, aimed toward educating Christians about the relevance of the Jewish Temples to their belief.

* Hezbollah's plan to conquer the Galilee The terror organization's leader Nasrallah has spoken about seizing the Israeli Galilee long before the IDF launched Operation Northern Shield on Tuesday.

* ANALYSIS: How Israel and the US are Working to Contain Iran On Tuesday morning, the Israel Defense Forces launched operation 'Northern Shield' on the Israeli side of the border with Lebanon.

* Can Hezbollah and Israel afford to go to war again? Israel's latest operation has led to rumours of another war, but outside of rhetoric, it doesn't look like either side is ready to stomach such a conflict.

* Will a Jewish-Christian Conference About the Temple Mount Set off WWIII? A conference on Wednesday brought together religious Jews and Christians to discuss a topic that had never before been addressed in a multi-faith forum: the past and the future of the Temple Mount as it related to their respective religions.

* Hizballah seizes control of information on the IDF operation against its tunnels On Wednesday, Dec. 5 - Day 2 of IDF's Operation Northern Shield - Hizballah propagandists released a video showing the IDF uncovering a second assault tunnel, after 24 hours of "no comment" on the operation. It was shown as running up to the Western Galilee Moshav Zar'it.

* The Russian-Israeli Crisis over Syria Lacks an Exit Strategy Israeli and Russian interests in Syria are colliding. Russia's new posture is challenging Israel's defensive campaign against Iran, and Moscow and Jerusalem have so far been unable to defuse the crisis.

* Caroline Glick: Israel and the U.S. Have Common Interests in the Middle East Some Israelis were concerned when they read President Donald Trump's recent statements to the media about the reasons for his support of Saudi Arabia.

* 7 Pieces of Fake News About the Latest U.S. Climate Report Bjorn Lomborg is an environmentalist who believes in Climate Change. But he is not an alarmist. Because of that, he is one of the few worth taking seriously.

* Newly discovered caves may hold more Dead Sea Scrolls Though no new manuscripts found so far, archaeologists are hopeful after unearthing objects at Qumran used in the storage of ancient scripts.