Israeli officials believe US, Iran at unbridgeable impasse as they near open conflict

Iran and the United States continued to slide rapidly toward military conflict at the weekend, as hopes faded for a diplomatic solution to their standoff over Tehran’s nuclear program and regional actions, officials on both sides and diplomats across the Gulf and Europe said. Israel and Iran’s Gulf neighbors now consider a conflict to be more likely than a settlement, the sources said, with Washington building up one of its biggest military deployments in the region since the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Israel’s government believes Tehran and Washington are at an impasse and is making preparations for possible joint military action with the United States, though no decision has been made yet on whether to carry out such an operation, said a source familiar with the planning. It would be the second time the US and Israel have attacked Iran in less than a year, following US and Israeli airstrikes against military and nuclear facilities last June.

Regional officials say oil-producing Gulf countries are preparing for a possible military confrontation that they fear could spin out of control and destabilize the Middle East. Two Israeli officials told Reuters they believe the gaps between Washington and Tehran are unbridgeable and that the chances of a near‑term military escalation are high. Some regional officials said Tehran was dangerously miscalculating by holding out for concessions, with US President Donald Trump boxed in by his own military buildup — unable to scale it back without losing face if there is no firm commitment from Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions.

“Both sides are sticking to their guns,” said Alan Eyre, a former US diplomat and Iran specialist, adding that nothing meaningful can emerge “unless the US and Iran walk back from their red lines — which I don’t think they will.  “What Trump can’t do is assemble all this military, and then come back with a ‘so‑so’ deal and pull out the military. I think he thinks he’ll lose face,” he said. “If he attacks, it’s going to get ugly quickly.” Two rounds of Iran-US talks have stalled on core issues, from uranium enrichment to missiles and sanctions relief. (Read More)

US moves dozens of F-35, F-15 fighter jets to Jordanian airbase - report

The United States military has moved dozens of fighter jets to a Jordanian air force base, according to satellite imagery and flight tracking data analysed by the New York Times on Friday. More than 60 jets were pictured parked on the Muwaffaq Salti base in central Jordan, which is three times more than the usual number of US attack aircraft present on the base, according to the Times.

According to the Times report, at least 68 cargo planes have additionally landed on the base since Sunday, and several US drones and helicopters were seen in the area. Soldiers were spotted installing new air defenses, systems that the Times theorized would be used to protect the base from potential Iranian strikes.

A live map of US Central Command (CENTCOM) movements, created by Tel Aviv University-affiliated think tank the Institute for National Security Studies, showed that as of Saturday afternoon, 30 F-35 fighter jets and 36 F-15 fighter jets were present at the Muwaffaq Salti base.
Jordanian officials, speaking to the Times on the condition of anonymity, stated that the deployment of US aircraft and equipment is a part of a larger defense agreement with the US.

The officials additionally shared that they hoped negotiations between the US and Iran would lead to a deal and prevent war in the region, as tensions between the two nations intensify. According to an additional Times report on Friday, US troops across the Middle East have been shuffled aroundas the possibility of US strikes on the Iranian regime looms. (Read More)

Board of Peace convenes as Hamas violates ceasefire

“This is not what disarming looks like,” an IDF spokesman says after a string of violations by the Islamist group.

As U.S. President Donald Trump’s international Board of Peace gathered in Washington on Thursday to chart a post-war future for the Gaza Strip, on the ground, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad continued to systematically violate the truce, and Israeli forces engaged in a relentless effort to dismantle entrenched terror infrastructure and counter blatant ceasefire violations.

On Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces announced that several weeks previously, the Northern Gaza Brigade dismantled a kilometer-long underground route that included several terrorist hideouts in Beit Hanoun. The tunnel contained explosives. Meanwhile, the IDF Southern Command, which is responsible for Gaza, said its units continue to operate along the Yellow Line, which separates the 53% of eastern Gaza under Israeli security control from the 47% of the Strip that remains under Hamas’s control, and where most of the Gazan civilians are located.

Meanwhile, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers, the commander of the International Stabilization Force (ISF), said that five countries pledged troops to the future intended peacekeeping force—Indonesia (which has pledged 8,000 troops), Albania, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Morocco, while Egypt would send a deputy ISF commander. The Washington Board of Peace Summit also discussed plans for the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (the would-be technocratic future government), and other efforts. At least two dozen delegations attended the summit, including from observer states. (Read More)

UK Denies US Use of Bases for Iran Strikes as Trump Targets Chagos Deal

The UK has reportedly withheld permission for the US to use RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia for potential strikes on Iran, citing international law. In retaliation, President Trump has withdrawn support for the UK’s Chagos Islands sovereignty deal, calling it a "big mistake." The United Kingdom has not granted approval for the United States to utilize British military bases for potential strikes against Iran, escalating tensions between the allies over President Donald Trump's demands amid ongoing nuclear negotiations with Tehran.

According to a report in The Times today, the UK is withholding permission for bases such as RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, home to US heavy bombers and the joint US-UK facility at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, citing compliance with international law that could hold supporters accountable for wrongful acts. This decision has prompted Trump to withdraw US support for the UK's deal to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a move he criticized as "giving away" a strategic asset. 

In a statement on Truth Social on February 18, 2026, Trump warned: “Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime, An attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly Countries.” (Read More)

IDF strikes Hamas command center in Lebanon; 3 reported dead

The IDF said it struck a Hamas command center in Lebanon used to plan attacks on Israel; Lebanese reports said three people were killed and 12 wounded in Ain al-Hilweh near Sidon, where two missiles hit a building that once housed Palestinian security forces. The IDF said it struck Friday a compound used by Hamas operatives in the area of the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain al-Hilweh near Sidon in southern Lebanon. According to the military, the site had recently been used to prepare attacks against Israeli forces operating in Lebanon and to conduct training aimed at advancing various terror plots against the IDF and the State of Israel. 

Lebanese reports said three people were killed and 12 wounded in the strike. "The infrastructure that was struck was embedded in the heart of a civilian population, cynically exploiting village residents to advance the organization’s terror objectives and using them as human shields,” the IDF said. “The activity of the operatives at the compound constituted a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon and posed a threat to the State of Israel 

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that two missiles hit a building that had previously been used by the Joint Palestinian Security Forces operating in refugee camps in Lebanon and had “recently been rented by a certain party to serve as a kitchen for distributing food portions.” (Ed note: Ain al-Hilweh is less than 2 miles from the city of Sidon.) (Read More)

How the UN funding crisis will worsen in 2026

In late January, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres sent a dramatic letter to UN Member States warning about the “imminent financial collapse” of the United Nations Organization. The letter followed earlier warnings that the UN Secretariat might have to reduce expenditure from the regular budget by 15 percent in 2026. This would mean reducing the workforce by about 2,600 staff.

The situation for many of the UN funds and programmes that rely on voluntary contributions to provide live-saving assistance in conflict regions is even more dire. Funding cuts, non-payment and late payment are just some of the key budgetary challenges facing the UN. By 8 February, the due date for membership contributions to the regular UN budget, only 55 countries had paid. The ongoing funding crisis affecting the Secretariat and the UN agencies – and the millions of people who depend on their support – has reignited the debate on alternative funding instruments.

The crisis of assessed contributions

The UN requires all Member States to contribute to its regular budget. According to the UN Charter, “the expenses of the Organization shall be borne by the Members as apportioned by the General Assembly”. The latest scale for the assessed contributions was established by UN General Assembly Resolution (79/249) on Christmas Day 2024. The key principle for the assessed contributions is that expenses for the UN’s budget should be shared broadly according to capacity to pay. An estimate of each country’s Gross National Income (GNI) is the main indicator to measure that capacity. While this sounds like a fair and easy formula, it also means that the lion’s share of contributions to the UN is collected from only two countries. The world’s two largest economies – the USA and China –contribute 22 percent and 20 percent, respectively.

Non-payment is not an unknown quantity for the UN system. And there is very little that the UN can actually do to sanction defaulters (a key sanction would be to suspend a Member State’s voting rights at the UN General Assembly). In order to map compliance – and name and shame the Member States that don’t comply – the UN is publishing the “Honour Roll” as a regularly updated database. The mapping indicates that, in 2025, only 151 of the 193 Member States paid their regular budget assessments in full, meaning that 42 did not pay up.

While most of these non-payers were small countries, the US default in particular left a big hole in the UN’s purse. The US is responsible for about 95 percent of unpaid contributions owed to the UN. (Ed note: President Trump has indeed halted or delayed funding to the UN. For many years the US tax payer dollar has gone to specific agencies and progams that we do not agree with. Have you ever heard the saying, "Get the US out of the UN, and get the UN out of the US. But wait a minute, what did Michael Corleone say, "Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer." That about says it all.) (Read More)

NUCLEAR SHOWDOWN IN IRAN

Missiles cloud Mideast skies over the Persian Gulf. Iran shuts down the Strait of Hormuz. Arab oil is choked off to world markets. Hezbollah and Hamas launch scores of missiles into Israel.  Global economies begin to collapse. Radioactivity permeates the skies over Bushehr’s nuclear reactor. 

About 2600 years ago the Hebrew prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel issued parallel end times prophecies concerning modern-day Iran. Today the rogue country is becoming a nuclear nation and aggressively advancing its hegemony throughout the greater Middle East. Nuclear Showdown in Iran, The Ancient Prophecy of Elam is a non-fiction thriller taking the reader on a journey of discovery through the eyes of the prophets and the minds of today’s key national players.Can anything good come from the evil that is about to befall us? The ancient prophecy of Elam will reveal what God has ordained, what the prophets saw and what you need to know and do now. (CLICK HERE)

Iran's death penalty crackdown on protesters targets minors, Amnesty International warns

Amnesty International has claimed that minors are among 30 people at risk of execution amid expedited trials connected to Iranian protests that took place in January 2026, according to a report published on Friday. The Amnesty report reveals that among the 30 individuals arrested, eight have been sentenced to death, including one 18-year-old and a 19-year-old. In a statement addressing the pending executions, Amnesty said, “The Iranian authorities must immediately halt all plans to execute eight individuals sentenced to death after being convicted of committing offences during the January 2026 nationwide protests.”

These 30-some individuals, including two 17-year-olds, are currently undergoing or awaiting trial proceedings and are at risk of receiving the death penalty as their trials proceed, according to Amnesty. Their charges include a variety of offenses against the regime, such as arson and connections to the death of a security officer. These proceedings are reportedly tainted by numerous significant violations of the right to a fair trial. Such violations include allegations of confessions obtained through torture, denial of access to legal representation during the investigation phase, and refusal to recognize independent legal counsel appointed by the families of the accused for the trial.

According to Amnesty, some individuals sustained severe beatings while being pressured to confess to the charges against them. One individual was reportedly forced to confess after interrogators placed a gun in his mouth. Amnesty also stated it believes that the actual number of individuals at risk of receiving the death penalty in Iran is much higher than the figures officially reported by the Iranian government. Iranian officials have arrested thousands of protesters in connection with the uprising and have repeatedly threatened to impose ‘the maximum punishment’ (death penalty) without delay. (Read More)

Trump on Iran: They’d better negotiate a fair deal

US President Donald Trump on Friday said that Iran “better negotiate a fair deal", while slamming the regime’s leadership over their crackdown on anti-government protests last month. “You know, the people of Iran are a lot different than the leaders of Iran. And it's a very, very sad situation. 32,000 people were killed over a relatively short period of time," Trump said, marking the first time he has mentioned the death toll in the crackdown. “They were going to hang 800, two weeks ago, some by crane. They lift them up with a tall crane and they play them around the square."

“They were going to hang 837 people and I gave them the word: ‘If you hang one person, even one person, that you're going to be hit right then and there.’ I wasn't waiting two weeks and negotiating, and they gave up the hanging. They didn't hang 837. Supposedly they didn't hang anybody," he added. “I feel very badly for the people of Iran. They've lived in hell," continued Trump.

“I feel very badly for the people of Iran. They've lived in hell," continued Trump. Earlier on Friday, Trump appeared to confirm that he was considering a limited military strike on Iran to coax it into accepting a nuclear deal on his terms. Asked by reporters if he was mulling a limited strike, after The Wall Street Journal reported thison Thursday, Trump paused and smiled before responding, “I guess you can say I am considering it." At the same time, as reporters were ushered out of the room, Trump suggested that he was not going to publicly telegraph his plans regarding Iran. (Source)

GOD'S MIDDLE EAST PEACE PLAN

The plan inscribed below, which was presented by the prophet Jeremiah approximately2600 years ago, was to be fully implemented when Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948. Failure to do so has caused over six decades of conflict in the Middle East!.   

“Thus says the LORD: “Against all My evil neighbors who touch the inheritance which I have caused My people Israel to inherit—behold, I will pluck them [the Arabs] out of their [the Jews] land [Israel] and pluck out the house of Judah from among them [the surrounding Arab nations]. Then it shall be, after I have plucked them out, that I will return and have compassion on them and bring them back, everyone to his heritage and everyone [Jew and Arab] to his [respective] land. And it shall be, if they [the resettled Arabs] will learn carefully the ways of My people, to swear by My name, ‘As the LORD lives,’ as they taught My people to swear by Baal, then they shall be established in the midst of My people. But if they do not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation,” says the LORD.(Jeremiah 12:14-17, NKJV; emphasis added)    

This plan represents the compassionate peaceful political and spiritual solutions to the regional problems of the return of the Jew into the Holy Land. Jeremiah suggests that his God would cause the corridors to open for the Arabs to leave the land destined to become the Jewish state and return to the lands of their ancestry. In addition, He would resettle the Jews out of the surrounding Arab nations, and bring them back into their homeland Israel. As each ethnic group migrated, they would vacate homes and jobs enabling economic opportunities for the returning peoples and in some cases, already existing communities to inhabit. These Jeremiah passages represent the ancient blueprints, divinely designed to insure the successful return of the Jewish people back to the land of their heritage.    

This plan was put into sovereign place after World War I when the Arab countries gained their statehoods. Jeremiah 12:15 says, “I will return and have compassion on them and bring them back, everyone to his heritage and everyone[Jew and Arab] to his [respective] land.” How’s that for a land for peace solution? The remapping of the atlases after World War I makes the political land for peace deals of our time pale in comparison.   

The Middle East conflict that confounds the politicians today has not caught God off guard. The biblical peace plan took into consideration that there would be “evil neighbors”homesteading the holy land. He foreknew they would need be relocated to make way for the return of the Jewish people. Provisions were included in Jeremiah’s prophecy for their future as well. They would be “plucked out” and resettled in their former homelands. A fertile future awaited them, if they entreated their affections to Jehovah, Jeremiah’s God.   

In an apparent fulfillment of the Jeremiah 12:14-17 prophecy, millions of Arabs have been “plucked out” from the territory formerly recognized as Palestine. For almost seventy years, these uprooted Arabs have been unable to relocate into an alternative homeland. These Arabs from Palestine have been reduced to a refugee status because their Arab relatives have mostly shut their national doors on them. These Palestinian Refugees are in the Gaza, West Bank, and in several of the neighboring Arab nations. These refugees serve as a buffer between Israel and the surrounding Arab states.   

These Arab nations have cleverly managed to shift the burden of responsibility for the relocation of these refugees into the lap of the International community, the same community that legislated the re-establishment of the nation Israel as the Jewish State, implemented in 1948. UNRWA the (United Nations Relief and Works Agency), was established May 1, 1950, to find a solution to this refugee problem.   (Ed note: This article was written June 5, 2016 and is still very timely today. A must read.)  (Read More)

The Largest Armada Since Iraq: Trump’s 40,000 Troops Surround the Iranian Coast

The United States has amassed its largest military force since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, positioning a massive fleet and stealth air wing to conduct a multi-week campaign against Iran.

President Trump’s military buildup in the Middle East has now officially surpassed any deployment seen in the last two decades, creating a force of such magnitude that analysts are calling it "The Trump Armada." With over 40,000 combat troops, two massive aircraft carrier strike groups, and a lethal array of stealth aircraft, the United States is now capable of sustaining a high-intensity aerial siege against the Iranian regime for weeks. This unprecedented concentration of firepower is designed to provide the President with total operational flexibility, allowing the US to strike deep into Iranian territory without relying on the permission or bases of neighboring countries that might be hesitant to join the war.

The centerpieces of this naval force are the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald R. Ford, the latter being the largest and most powerful warship ever built. These "mobile airbases" carry thousands of personnel and dozens of advanced fighter jets, including the F-18 and F-35. Supporting these giants are 13 destroyers and cruisers equipped with Aegis radar systems and hundreds of Tomahawk cruise missiles, capable of hitting targets 2,000 kilometers away with surgical precision. These ships are strategically distributed, with units in the Red Sea to protect Israel from Houthi attacks, others in the Mediterranean to intercept Iranian missiles, and a heavy presence in the Persian Gulf ready to launch offensive strikes.

Perhaps the most terrifying element of the sea-based force is the reported presence of a nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine. This "secret warehouse" of firepower can carry more than 200 Tomahawk missiles, allowing it to decimate Iranian command centers before the regime even realizes an attack has begun. Complementing the naval fleet are three High-Speed Combat Ships (LCS) in the Arabian Sea, specifically designed for fast-paced littoral combat near the Iranian coastline to counter the Revolutionary Guard's fast-attack boats. (Ed note: This article is full of great information, but the thing that stands out is the "40,000 Troops." The seagoing Marines involved in this buildup are Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs) deployed with the Navy's amphibious ready groups and carrier strike groups. Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs): These are rapid-response forces capable of amphibious assaults, special operations, and rapid deployment. MEUs are typically embarked on U.S. Navy amphibious assault ships. These men are well trained, can attack the caves located along Iran's seashore, or go inland to get the job done.) (Read More)

'Hundreds of strikes per day': Former CENTCOM deputy says US can wipe out Islamic Regime in hours

A possible first wave of an attack on Iran would focus on strategic missile sites and launchers, the most immediate threats to US forces and Israel, a former CENTCOM official told the Post.

The massive accumulation of US military assets in the Middle East is not merely a show of force but a signal that the United States has the capacity to dismantle the Iranian regime’s power structure in a matter of hours, according to Vice Admiral (Ret.) Bob Harward, former deputy commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM). “One thing he’s illustrated is that [President Donald] Trump does what he says,” Harward told The Jerusalem Post, citing the withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and the US’s stance that it will not tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran. “Now he’s positioned the assets for a military action,” Harward said.

“If he cannot meet the objectives regarding the nuclear and ballistic missile program, he’s willing to go beyond mediation and act.” If the order to strike is given, Harward, who served as deputy commander of CENTCOM until 2013, detailed a hierarchy of targets designed to neuter Iran’s offensive capabilities while sparing the general population. The priority, according to the former commander, would be “bottom-up.” The first wave would target strategic missile locations and launchers – the direct threats to US forces and Israel. The second priority would be neutralizing the remnants of surrogates outside the country that pose a risk of retaliation against Israel. However, the most significant shift in strategy concerns the regime’s internal grip on power. Harward suggested that a campaign would target the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the instruments used to oppress the Iranian people, rather than the national infrastructure.

“You’re not going to look at infrastructure,” Harward explained. “This is to provide the Iranian people a change in government, so I think those types of targets will not be hit. It will be focused only on the things that enable the regime and the IRGC to suppress the people.” Perhaps the most chilling warning for Tehran was Harward’s description of modern American warfare capabilities, which he noted are vastly superior to what was seen in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. “Because of what we’ve learned and what we’ve been able to develop technology-wise – be it command, control, and targeting – it allows your mass of strikes to be more effective,” Harward said. (Read More)

IDF chief says finger 'on the trigger' as Tehran threat looms over Middle East

Iran and Yemen’s Houthis will pay “an immediate and grave price” if they attack Israel in response to a potential US attack, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir and Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday. The IDF’s metaphorical finger was “on the trigger” if its enemies were to make any operational change, Zamir said. Katz cited Israel’s success at assassinating several senior Houthi officials as a down payment on what could be a much more severe response if the terrorist group were to attack Israel in response to an American attack against Iran.

The US would likely attack Iran eventually, but not necessarily in the coming days, despite the spike in global media “noise” surrounding the conflict, people familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Post late Wednesday night. Israel’s impression is that US President Donald Trump hasnot yet decided on his final course of action, even if his disappointment in Iran’s negotiating positions this week made an eventual attack more likely, the sources indicated.

Many of the latest reports are viewed by some Israeli officials as global media noise that is based on the general impression from Trump administration officials coming out of this week’s negotiations as opposed to crossing the threshold. There has also been intense focus on whether Trump’s two-week deadline for Iran to return with a new offer can be compared to the two weeks last June. That turned out to be a fake and was cover for the US attack on the Fordow nuclear facility after only three days of the two-week deadline had passed. (Read More)

Iran tells UN: We will respond decisively to any US aggression

The Islamic Republic of Iran on Thursday submitted an urgent letter to the United Nations Security Council and the UN Secretary-General, condemning what it described as the "persistent threat of the use of force" by the United States. The letter, authored by Iran's Ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, specifically targets recent public statements made by President Donald Trump regarding potential military action against the regime's nuclear facilities.

In the correspondence, Iravani drew "urgent attention" to "the continued threats by officials of the United States to resort to the use of force, including the recent public statement by the President of the United States concerning the use of the Diego Garcia base in connection with a potential military attack against the Islamic Republic of Iran." The Ambassador claimed these threats "constitute a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations and international law and risk plunging the region into a new cycle of crisis and instability."

The Iranian complaint centered on a social media post dated February 18, 2026, in which President Trump allegedly issued an "explicit public threat." According to the letter, the President stated, "... Should Iran decide not to make a deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack ...." Iravani warned that such statements, combined with the "persistent movement and build-up of military equipment and assets by the United States," signal a "real risk of military aggression." He asserted that the consequences of such action "would be catastrophic for the region and would constitute a grave threat to international peace and security." (Source)

Judea and Samaria facing crisis as Oct. 7 shattered status quo, conference panel says

Most participants on a panel at this week’s Conference of Presidents meeting said Judea and Samaria is heading toward a collision.

Among the topics covered at the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations’ 51st Annual Leadership Mission, taking place in Jerusalem this week, were the future of Judea and Samaria and the impact the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre will have on Arab-Israel relations. According to Noa Shusterman, a researcher and the coordinator of the INSS Israel-Palestinian Research Program, who took part in a panel of observers on Tuesday, parties have begun campaigning for the upcoming Israeli elections slated for this October, but there has been no discussion about the Palestinian issue.

Even though an international coalition is being put together to govern the Gaza Strip under Trump’s 20-point plan, that includes talk of a Palestinian state, that this was not spoken about in Israeli discourse means “we’re heading toward a clash,” she said. Mohammad Darawshe, director of Strategy at the Center for Shared Society at Givat Haviva (the national education center of the Kibbutz Federation) and an Arab Israeli, said he doesn’t see willingness on either the Israeli or Palestinian Arab side to move the ball forward. He laid the blame on Oct. 7, which has led to mistrust, fear and a loss of hope. He warned that if the frustration felt on the Arab side is allowed to continue “the next Oct. 7 is around the corner.”

Another panel participant, IDF Lt. Col. (res.) Avi Shalev, who formerly served as head of the Palestinian affairs branch and adviser to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Defense Ministry unit, said Oct. 7 was an “earthquake” that changed everything and will lead to a crisis in Judea and Samaria, pointing to elements that have started to take the law into their own hands. Israel Ganz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council and the chairman of the Yesha Council, said that more than 70% of Israelis don’t want a Palestinian state because it means another terror-run region, such as in Gaza. Israel vacated Gaza in 2005 and received a massacre in return, he said. (Ed note: Now we have come to the heart of a problem that President Trump doesn't understand, the land belongs to the Jew, not the so called "Palestinian.") (Read More)

Exclusive: Judea, Samaria Jewish population grew at twice Israel’s overall rate in 2025

As of Jan. 1, 2026, 541,085 Jews lived in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley, amounting to some 5.32% of the nation’s population.

The Jewish population in Judea and Samaria grew in 2025 at twice the rate of Israel’s overall population, according to a report compiled by former lawmaker Ya’akov Katz and first shared with JNS on Friday. As of Jan. 1, 2026, 541,085 Jews lived in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley, amounting to some 5.32% of the total population of the Jewish state, according to the West Bank Jewish Population Stats Report.

The population grew by 2.2% last year, exactly double the 1.1% growth rate of the nation’s overall population. That figure, culled from Interior Ministry statistics, does not include the some 340,000 Jews living in the eastern part of Jerusalem, which the Palestinians claim despite it being part of Israel’s capital, the report noted. Despite that, it showed a slight slowdown in growth in Judea and Samaria, which Katz attributed to the aging population. Bet El, in the Binyamin region of southern Samaria, for example, had the country’s highest birth rate in 1986, when most of its residents were of childbearing age. Four decades later, many residents there and across Judea and Samaria are in their 60s and 70s, moderating growth.

The Jewish population in Judea and Samaria has grown 13.8% since 2021, when 475,481 Jews lived in the region liberated during the 1967 Six-Day War. Some of the fastest-growing communities over the past year were Avigail and Asael in the South Hebron Hills in Judea, which recorded growth of 720% and 644.8%, respectively, Shacharit in Samaria (600%), Givat HaRoeh in Binyamin (169.4%) and Beit Hogla in the Jordan Valley (111.6%). The largest localities were the Haredi cities of Modi’in Illit (in Samaria) and Beitar Illit (in Judea), with 92,339 and 74,760 residents, respectively, followed by the Judean Desert city of Ma’ale Adumim outside Jerusalem (40,800); Giv’at Ze’ev, also near the capital (25,630); and the Samaria city of Ariel (22,273). (Ed note: Not "the West Bank," it's Judea and Samaria.)  (Read More)

Trump reportedly told US could hit Iran as soon as Saturday, as he mulls potential strikes

US President Donald Trump has been told by his top national security advisers that the American military could launch strikes on Iran as soon as Saturday, CBS News reports, though he has still yet to make a decision on whether to green light an attack.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, the US broadcaster says the timeline for a decision is expected to extend beyond this weekend, adding that the Pentagon is temporarily shifting some personnel out of the Middle East in the coming days as it readies for a potential Iranian counterattack if the US strikes   (Source)

Ayatollah Khamenei Threatens to Sink U.S. Aircraft Carrier

Iran’s “Supreme Leader,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, claimed on Tuesday that his military has weapons capable of sending an American aircraft carrier “to the bottom of the sea” – and will use them if President Donald Trump orders new strikes against Iran’s illegal nuclear weapons program. “The U.S. President has said that for 47 years, the United States hasn’t been able to eliminate the Islamic Republic. That is a good confession. I say: ‘You, too, will not be able to do this,’” Khamenei jeered at Trump, in remarks carried by Iranian state media.

"The Americans constantly say that they’ve sent a warship towards Iran. Of course, a warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware. However, more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea,” the ayatollah said. “The U.S. President keeps saying that they have the strongest military force in the world. The strongest military force in the world may at times be struck so hard that it cannot get up again,” he threatened.

The U.S. Navy currently has one aircraft carrier within striking range of Iran, the USS Abraham Lincoln, the strike group of which includes over 90 aircraft and three guided missile destroyers. A second carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is en route to the Middle East and could arrive on station within three weeks. (Read More)

Iran issues NOTAM over planned rocket launches on Thursday, US FAA says

Iran issued on Wednesday a notice to airmen that it plans rocket launches in areas across its south on Thursday from 3:30 GMT to 13:30 GMT, the US Federal Aviation Administration website showed on Wednesday. Iran held naval drills this week in the Strait of Hormuz and plans to hold a joint naval exercise with Russia on Thursday. The notice was issued amid heightened tensions with the US, which has deployed warships near Iran, as US Vice President JD Vance said Washington was weighing whether to continue diplomatic engagement with Tehran or pursue other options.

The NOTAM system provides pilots, flight crews, and other airspace users with critical safety notices.The announcement came after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt assured that diplomacy is the US President Donald Trump's first option, adding that "He is always thinking about what's in the best interest of the United States of America." Sources told The Jerusalem Post that an attack by the US on Iran is likely to eventually happen, but not necessarily in the coming days, despite the spike in global media “noise” surrounding the conflict.

President Donald Trump has not yet decided on his final course of action, even if his disappointment in Iran’s negotiating positions this week makes an eventual American attack on Tehran more likely. Rather, many of the latest reports are viewed by some Israeli officials as global media noise picking up on the general tone of Trump administration officials coming out of this week’s negotiations, rather than crossing the threshold. Satellite images show that Iran has recently built a concrete shield over a new facility at a sensitive military site and covered it in soil, experts say, advancing work at a location reportedly bombed by Israel in 2024 amid tensions with the US. (Read More)

Iran Pivots to Solid-Fuel Warfare as the West Braces for a Hypersonic Strike

Planners in Washington and Jerusalem are preparing for a synchronized swarm involving Houthis, Iraqi militias, and Hezbollah. all triggered by a central Iranian ‘Surprise Doctrine’. Following an intense internal "post-mortem" into how they underestimated the threat to their nuclear program, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has shifted to a lethal new strategy designed to launch a wide-scale surprise attack before Western intelligence can blink.

As President Trump maintains the U.S. military in a "siege" state of readiness, the intelligence community is tracking a radical re-engineering of the Iranian arsenal: a transition from static, liquid-fueled missiles to highly mobile, solid-fuel systems that can vanish into the landscape and launch in a matter of minutes. Western intelligence reports indicate that Iran has significantly scaled back production of older, static missiles in favor of high-mobility platforms. This shift is designed to ensure that when the "Doomsday" order is given, the launch sites are already moving. 

* Kheibar Shekan: A next-generation missile with a 1,450 km range, specifically designed with maneuvering capabilities to bypass interceptors.

* Sejjil: The cornerstone of the mobile fleet, boasting a 2,000 km range that can strike any point in Israel from almost anywhere inside Iran.

* Russian-Tech Cruise Missiles: Diverse arrays of low-flying cruise missiles, based on Russian technology, designed to hug the terrain and avoid radar detection.


In response to this "Surprise Doctrine," Israel has accelerated upgrades to the David’s Sling (Magic Wand) system, specifically fine-tuning its ability to track high-speed cruise missiles. However, the IDF remains in its highest defensive posture, acknowledging that a surprise attack of this magnitude would force the military to pivot instantly from offense to wide-scale search and rescue at multiple "destruction sites" across the country. (Source)

Trump is striking out on peace

Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, Iran: As the region veers toward war and opportunities are lost, chaos is starting to run the bases.

U.S. President Donald Trump touts the 2020 Abraham Accords as his foreign-policy achievement and criticizes former President Joe Biden for not expanding them. But so far in his second term, Trump is batting .000. He has not built on the accords beyond the largely symbolic case of the non-Middle Eastern country of Kazakhstan. And he squandered the clearest opportunity of all: finishing the Saudi deal that Biden left on the table. Trump entered office with maximum leverage over Riyadh. The Saudis desperately wanted a U.S. security guarantee, advanced arms and nuclear technology. Trump could have demanded normalization with Israel as the price of admission. Instead, he whiffed, giving away the leverage and choosing to sacrifice Israel for the promise of a trillion dollars in Saudi investments in the United States.

Riyadh has now moved on, distracted by domestic economic troubles and falling revenues. As the window narrows, the biggest prize in Arab-Israeli diplomacy remains unclaimed. And what about Trump’s other Gulf “friends”? Has he ever raised normalization with Qatar? Trump calls the emir “one of the great rulers of the world.” He praises Qatar as a “very good ally.” He applauds its role in hostage negotiations. He even handed Doha a security guarantee without the inconvenience of a treaty requiring Senate approval.

Yet no one in the White House seems willing to say aloud what makes Qatari normalization impossible: Qatar bankrolls Hamas, promotes radical Islam and traffics in antisemitism. Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and the real architect of the accords, surely knows that. Trump simply prefers not to mention it. And what about Kuwait? (Ed note: Wow, now that's a hard hitting article. Sounds like Psalm 83 is still very much in play today.)  (Read More)

Israel moves to clarify and register property ownership in Judea, Samaria

"Full land registration will prevent illegal annexation of public land, and bring to a close the decades-long era of endless legal challenges to Jewish homes and communities built in good faith and in accordance with the law," said Regavim's international division director.

The Israeli government on Sunday approved a proposal to resume the process of land registration in Judea and Samaria for the first time since the 1967 Six-Day War. The agenda item was introduced to the Cabinet by Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz. The Regavim movement, an NGO dedicated to the protection of Israel’s national lands, applauded the move.

“Restarting the survey and registration process means Israel will now formally map and record ownership under its current administrative system, without any change to the political status of the territory in question,” said Naomi Kahn, director of Regavim’s International Division. The move does not constitute “creeping annexation” or a “backdoor declaration of sovereignty,” she said. Rather, it is a technical, administrative step to clarify and register property ownership, with no direct political impact. This is because the Cabinet instructed the Israel Defense Forces, which administers Judea and Samaria, to request that the Justice Ministry register the land claims.

This is essentially the same mechanism Israel has been using since 1967 in applying civil law to Israelis living throughout Judea and Samaria. In practical terms, Kahn said the ruling will result in clear determination of ownership—for both Arabs and Jews—that will create legally binding property boundaries for individuals and for publicly owned land. (Read More)

ISRAEL

 

IDF appoints first-ever female naval missile boat commander to lead naval combat ops.

The IDF on Wednesday announced that it has appointed the first-ever female missile boat commander, Lt.-Cmdr. R. Recent years have seen an increase in female naval sailors and officers, but R will be the navy’s most prominent new female representative. According to the IDF, the missile boat in question has been and is expected to be at the forefront of naval combat operations.

It was involved in attacking the Syrian navy, assassinating the political head of Hamas in Gaza, the head of Hezbollah’s aerial threats Unit 127, and a variety of other offensive and defensive operations. R joined the navy’s captains course in 2016 and has since fulfilled a wide range of positions, including being a missile boat deputy commander and the commander of a Dvora-class vessel.

Israel Navy Commander V.-Adm. David Saar Salama praised R, saying she was the right choice for the role based solely on her qualifications, while clearly the IDF wanted to highlight the advancement of women in combat roles. (Source)

Unbridgeable Gaps: Tehran Quietly Admits the Nuclear Deal is Slipping Away

Internal reports from Tehran reveal a growing admission that the gap between US demands and Iranian capabilities is unbridgeable, leaving the nuclear deal on the verge of collapse.

The high stakes diplomatic effort to prevent a regional war has hit a wall as Iranian officials privately admit that the distance between Washington’s requirements and Tehran’s red lines may be impossible to close. Despite public statements from the Iranian Foreign Ministry suggesting a constructive atmosphere, a recent report from the Wall Street Journal indicates a deep sense of internal pessimism within the Iranian government. The Trump administration has reportedly issued a final ultimatum: Iran must begin the total dismantlement of its nuclear program or face "other options" that involve a massive military response. With the US Vice President suggesting that diplomacy may have reached its natural end, the world is now waiting for a two week window to expire, during which Iran must decide if it will offer unprecedented concessions or prepare for the consequences of a failed negotiation.

The gap in expectations became clear following the three hour meeting in Geneva between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US advisors Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. While Araghchi spoke of a "clearer path," Vice President JD Vance told Fox News that the Iranians are still refusing to acknowledge the specific red lines set by President Trump. "The President wants to find a solution, either diplomatically or in other ways," Vance noted, making it clear that the US will not settle for the "sunset clauses" or partial freezes seen in previous agreements like the 2015 JCPOA.

Internal Iranian sources have expressed concern that the White House is no longer interested in a standard "give and take" negotiation. Instead, the US is demanding the complete removal of enriched uranium and the permanent shuttering of underground sites. In Tehran, officials are beginning to realize that Trump’s refusal to budge on these points means that the diplomatic track might be nothing more than a final formality before the transition to a military campaign. (Ed note: Are we at that point? Are both sides getting ready to begin? Watch the Iranian coastline for those underground rockets to go after the US Navy fleet first.)   (Read More)

Massive weeks-long war between US, Iran could begin 'very soon,' Axios reports

The United States is closer to military conflict with Iran than most Americans realize, and a massive weeks-long campaign could "begin very soon," Axios reported on Wednesday.  Such a conflict would likely involve an operation more like a war than the single-day operation in Venezuela conducted last month, the report cited "sources" as saying. Those same sources told Axios that it would likely be a joint US-Israeli campaign with a broader scope than the 12-day war last June.

The second round of talks between the United States and Iran ended on Tuesday, with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meeting Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Although both sides said the meetings resulted in progress, several sources told The Jerusalem Post that significant gaps remain. 

Vice President JD Vance has also addressed the talks in an interview with Fox News, saying that while Trump wants a deal, he could decide that diplomacy has "reached its natural end." "We would very much like, as the President has said, to resolve this through a conversation and a diplomatic negotiation," Vance said, "but the President has all options on the table."  (Read More)

Vance: Nuclear talks showed some progress, but Iran won’t acknowledge Trump’s red lines

Israeli officials said to think negotiations likely doomed, US president determined to strike, as flight trackers show dozens of American fighter jets move toward Mideast in past day

US Vice President JD Vance said some progress was made in the second round of nuclear talks with Tehran in Geneva on Tuesday, even as Hebrew media said Israeli officials think the indirect talks are likely doomed and that US President Donald Trump and his close advisers seek to strike Iran. “In some ways it went well. They agreed to meet afterward,” Vance told Fox News of the Geneva round. “But in other ways, it was very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through.”

Among those red lines is that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon, said Vance, arguing that a nuclear Islamic Republic would lead to an arms race across the world that would be dangerous for America. While Iran claims it is not seeking nuclear arms, “there a number of things that make it clear that they are interested in acquiring a nuclear weapons,” said Vance.

“The president of the United States is very much trying to find a solution here, whether it’s through diplomatic options or through another option, that means the Iranians cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Vance said. “We’re going to keep on working it, but of course, the president reserves the ability to say when he thinks that diplomacy has reached its natural end,” he said. “We hope we don’t get to that point, but if we do, that, will be the president’s call.” (Read More)

US Deploys Tomahawk-Laden Submarine to Iran’s Doorstep

The USS Georgia guided-missile submarine joins the massive US "armada" near Iran. Capable of carrying 154 Tomahawks, the veteran of 2025's Operation Midnight Hammer provides a lethal first-strike option as nuclear talks in Geneva reach a breaking point. The USS Georgia, an Ohio-class guided-missile submarine (SSGN) capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles, is currently operating in the region under U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), positioned between the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf as a deterrent to Iran.

Unlike standard attack submarines, the Georgia is an SSGN, a specialized platform designed for massive conventional saturation. It carries up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles, allowing it to single-handedly overwhelm enemy air defenses. The vessel is equipped to support up to 66 Special Operations Forces (SOF), providing the capability for clandestine raids alongside its missile strikes. Positioned between the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf, the submarine offers a "first-strike" capability that can bypass the drone swarms and missile batteries currently guarding the Iranian coastline.

The submarine represents a covert first-strike capability against Iranian command centers, air defenses, and missile sites. Its presence is not merely symbolic; it is a direct callback to the surgical strikes of June 2025. During Operation Midnight Hammer, the Georgia played a pivotal role in the destruction of Iranian nuclear infrastructure. While B-2 bombers hit Fordow and Natanz, the Georgia launched over 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles into the Isfahan research facility, causing "extremely severe damage" and setting the regime's nuclear ambitions back by years. U.S. officials have not publicly confirmed the exact location of the USS Georgia, as submarine positions are classified, but open-source intelligence and reports indicate its presence in the area to support maritime security and deter potential adversaries. (Source)

Massive Iranian Military Mobilization Reported at Key Nuclear Facilities

Dramatic satellite imagery from ISIS reveals Iran is fortifying nuclear and military sites at Parchin and Natanz with thick concrete and earth layers. As US forces converge on the region, Tehran is moving troops and hardening tunnels to withstand a potential aerial assault. As diplomatic talks in Geneva pause under a cloud of uncertainty, dramatic new reports indicate that Iran has entered a state of maximum alert. Satellite imagery reveals that Tehran is rapidly fortifying its most sensitive strategic and nuclear assets to protect them from a potential US military strike.

An analysis by the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), reported by Channel 12 News, highlights significant activity at the Parchin military base near Tehran, a site long suspected of hosting advanced nuclear and technological development. Over the last three weeks, Iran has been observed covering a key building previously used for nuclear-related purposes with thick layers of earth.

Comparison with previous imagery shows that the vast majority of the facility is now shielded, with its roof heavily reinforced and obscured. The buildup is equally intense at the mysterious military facility currently being carved deep into the mountains near the Natanz nuclear site: Satellite photos show extensive efforts to "harden" and reinforce the tunnels leading into the mountain. (Read More)

Russia's "Doomsday" Plane Lands in Tehran Amid Heightened Tensions

The arrival of a Russian Tu-214PU command post in Tehran signals continued strategic cooperation under the Russia-Iran partnership. The aircraft features encrypted communications and electromagnetic shielding for high-level military coordination. A Russian Tupolev Tu-214PU airborne command post, often referred to as a "Doomsday" plane, landed in Tehran, departing from Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport and arriving at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport.

The aircraft, operated by Russia’s elite “Rossiya” Special Flight Squadron, is designed as a hardened command-and-control center with secure data links, encrypted satellite communications, electromagnetic shielding, and a range exceeding 7,000 kilometers, enabling it to function as a mobile headquarters during crises, including nuclear scenarios. The deployment is seen as a deliberate signal of deepening strategic ties between Moscow and Tehran, potentially involving high-level discussions on military cooperation, intelligence sharing, or contingency planning under their January 2025 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty.

This comes amid escalating regional tensions, with bilateral trade surpassing $5 billion annually, including arms transfers such as Iran's Shahed drones to Russia and potential deliveries of Su-35 jets and S-400 systems to Iran. Social media reports have highlighted the event, raising concerns about further escalation in the Middle East. No official statements from Russian or Iranian authorities have been released regarding the specific purpose of the visit. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. (Source)

Iran Fires Live Missiles in Strait of Hormuz as Talks Begin — IRGC Says U.S. Carriers ‘Can’t Do a Damn Thing’

Iran fired live missiles into the Strait of Hormuz and temporarily disrupted traffic through the strategic oil chokepoint Tuesday as President Donald Trump’s envoys opened high-stakes nuclear talks in Geneva, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei simultaneously warning that American warships could be sent “to the bottom of the sea.”

Iranian state-affiliated outlets reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched missiles from coastal and inland positions during what it called the “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz” exercise, while drone units operated under signal-jamming conditions. The Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly 20 percent of global oil supply passes — is one of the world’s most vital maritime corridors

Rear Adm. Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the IRGC Navy, said Iran stands ready to shut down the waterway if ordered by senior leadership. "The decision to close the Strait of Hormuz rests with the senior leaders,” Tangsiri said, adding that Iran’s forces are prepared to carry out such an order. The missile launches unfolded as Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, met Iranian officials in Geneva for a second round of indirect nuclear negotiations. (Read More)

Khamenei as sides meet: US warships can be sent “to the bottom of the sea"

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei published a series of threatening posts in English on social media on Monday, coinciding with the second round of renewed negotiations between Iran and the US. In his first post, Khamenei addressed statements by the US President regarding American military strength. "The US President keeps saying that they have the strongest military force in the world. The strongest military force in the world may at times be struck so hard that it cannot get up again," he wrote.

In a second post, Khamenei referred to reports of American naval deployments in the region, and threatened: "The Americans constantly say that they’ve sent a warship toward Iran. Of course, a warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware. However, more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea." "The US President has said that for 47 years, the United States hasn’t been able to eliminate the Islamic Republic. That is a good confession. I say, ‘You, too, will not be able to do this,’" Khamenei wrote in another post.

In a fourth post, the Supreme Leader criticized what he described as American interference in Iran’s internal affairs. "A sign of the decline of the corrupt, oppressive US empire is its irrationality, such as interfering in our country’s internal affairs. They say, ‘Limit your missiles to this range.’ What ’s that to do with you?! Without deterrent weaponry, a country will be crushed by the enemy," he stated.  (Ed note: The old man may be right about that comment. However this standoff is settled, Persia will make another appearance in Ezekiel 38/39, and could we now be looking at the prophecy in Jeremiah 49:34-39?)   (Source)

Jordan walks a tightrope as internal threats mount

As it restructures its security apparatus to confront mounting regional threats, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has also adopted an increasingly confrontational foreign policy toward Israel. But what begins as incitement often evolves into a domestic threat. King Abdullah II has recently issued unusual directives to reorganize Jordan's security agencies in light of a new Middle East reality. At the heart of the plan is a new strategy and roadmap designed to structurally transform the kingdom's armed forces within three years.

The goal, Abdullah has made clear, is to enable the military to address present and future threats, including those posed by technological developments. The aim is to ensure that the Jordanian Armed Forces and other security bodies can operate effectively in "diverse operational environments," including against actors using artificial intelligence, cyberattacks and drones. The move may reflect lessons drawn from the wars in Syria and Yemen, where conventional armies struggled against terrorist organizations.

In recent years, public discourse in Jordan has increasingly focused on threats of terrorist infiltration and the establishment of sleeper cells within the kingdom. This comes alongside ongoing weapons and drug smuggling across Jordan's borders using drones. Despite the collapse of Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime, which had been the primary force behind the captagon drug trade, criminal networks continue their smuggling attempts. (Ed note: Is the area of Ammon and Moab no longer happy with the Hashemite royal court?) (Read More)