The Pulse of Israel

Twenty-one years after Israel dismantled 21 thriving Jewish communities in Gaza and expelled nearly 10,000 Jews from their homes, the conversation has come full circle. What was presented in 2005 as a path to peace instead paved the way for our jihadi enemies to turn Gaza into a terror launching pad, with years of rocket fire, and ultimately the horrors of the October 7 massacre.This week, fifteen thousand Israelis marched toward Gaza with a clear message: the time has come to rebuild Jewish communities in Gaza, beginning with northern Gaza. The march reflected a growing belief among many Israelis that lasting security...

When the media talks about Judea and Samaria, the headlines almost always focus on "settler violence." But what if they're ignoring the far bigger story?In this Pulse of Israel video, Avi Abelow explains why the hilltop youth are among the unsung heroes protecting Israel's future, the Jewish people and the frontline for the whole freedom-loving world against jihad. 16, 17, 18 year old, and young families who put their lives on the line to be shepards and hold on to the land of Israel, instead of trying to get famous on TikTok? What an unbelievable generation of youth.Following a devastating...

The heartbreaking murder of Benaya Malat HY"D, the civilian security coordinator of Havat Gilad, should shake every Israeli to the core. Instead, many in Israel's political left and segments of the media rushed to recycle the same tired accusation: "settler violence." The newly released videos tell a very different story.In this Pulse of Israel video, Avi Abelow explains why this tragedy exposes a far deeper crisis than a single terrorist attack. Jewish families hiking near Havat Gilad were attacked by jihadi Arab assailants. Benaya rushed to defend them and, as seen in the videos of the incident...

Could Gadi Eisenkot become Israel's next Prime Minister? In this Pulse of Israel video, Avi Abelow explains why he believes that would be a dangerous mistake.With election season approaching, many in Israel's political and media establishment are promoting former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot as a leading candidate for prime minister. But do his own recent public statements raise serious concerns about his judgment and approach to Israel's security?In this video, Avi examines two controversial interviews that he argues reveal a troubling worldview.First, Eisenkot's comparison of Yoseph Haddad—a proud Israeli Arab, former Golani soldier, an...

The murder of Benaya Malat HY"D is another heartbreaking reminder of the reality facing Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. Benaya, 32, the head of security and agriculture for Havat Gilad, rushed to protect a group of Jewish hikers, including children, who came under attack from neighboring jihadi Muslims.What makes this tragedy even more painful is what the released video appears to show. Rather than immediately opening fire, Benaya and the other armed Jews, including IDF soldiers, attempted to de-escalate the confrontation. Benaya even used his rifle as a defensive tool instead of firing it. During the struggle...

Since the beginning of Israel's war after the October 7 massacre, an extraordinary group of Jewish women in Panama has gathered every single Sunday to recite Tehillim (Psalms) for the people of Israel. In this special Pulse of Israel message, Avi Abelow thanks these inspiring women and explains why their prayers are part of a much larger story unfolding in Israel today.For the first time since the rebirth of the modern Jewish state in 1948, growing numbers of Israelis, including many who never considered themselves religious, are openly recognizing God's role in our national survival. While God performed miracles in...

As Jews around the world mark Tisha B’Av and mourn the destruction of the First and Second Temples, something profound is happening in our time. We in Israel are no longer only remembering destruction. We are living the process of redemption.Just a few years ago, only a small number of Jews were allowed to ascend the Temple Mount at any given time. Jewish prayer and song were strictly forbidden. We were forbidden from drinking from the water fountains on the Temple Mount. Muslim rioters regularly harassed visitors and tried to block any strengthening of the Jewish connection to...

Once again, Jewish communities in Israel came under attack on Shabbat as jihadi arsonists targeted the community of Chavat Gilad in Samaria (Shomron). Families were forced to evacuate during the holy day as flames spread, with reports indicating that around 30 homes and businesses were destroyed. Israeli Police have detained two Palestinian Authority policemen in connection with the incident.In a separate incident, a jihadi woman was caught on camera attempting to ignite fires near a Jewish community in eastern Gush Etzion. Thankfully, that fire was contained before causing any damage to the Jewish community.These attacks are not isolated...

Twenty years after Israel uprooted Jewish communities from Gaza and Northern Samaria, history is taking a dramatic turn.In a landmark agreement signed in the presence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli government and the Samaria Regional Council have launched an 8.5 billion shekel plan to build 12,000 new housing units, along with commercial, industrial, and tourism infrastructure. The broader vision includes 18 new Jewish communities in Northern Samaria—including the rebuilding of the four communities destroyed during the 2005 Disengagement.At our recent Pulse of Israel Conference, we honored Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan with the Brave Leadership of Zion Aw...

The war against Iran has entered a fascinating new stage, with the United States leading the escalation. The days of worrying about President Trump’s memorandum of understanding with Iran, promoted by the Vance-Witkoff wing, appear to be behind us. That deeply flawed arrangement was never going to last.Iran continued attacking commercial shipping and threatening American interests, causing the deal to collapse quickly. Now the United States is striking Iranian infrastructure, air-defense systems, coastal radar, missile and drone sites, logistics centers, naval vessels, Bandar Abbas port facilities, bridges, and the surveillance tower at Chabahar. A renewed American naval bl...

In this powerful talk from his recent speaking trip to Britain, Avi Abelow delivers a hard-hitting explanation of the Red-Green Alliance that few dare to speak about. Why did the October 7 massacre, the worst atrocity against Jews since the Holocaust, not generate widespread sympathy and support for Israel and the Jewish people? Instead, it triggered an immediate explosion of pro-Hamas protests across the West on the very same day.Avi Abelow answers the two questions nobody is asking: How is the decades-old Red-Green Alliance between radical leftists and jihadists systematically destroying Western civilization? And why has it unleashed a...

Did Vice President JD Vance defend President Donald Trump from one of the biggest anti-Israel conspiracy theories, only to unintentionally fuel another?In this video, Avi Abelow breaks down Vance's recent Joe Rogan Experience interview, where he correctly rejected the claim that Israel manipulated or blackmailed President Trump into striking Iran. Trump made his own decision based on America's national security interests, not because of pressure from Israel.But Vance also accused "certain elements" within the Israeli government of conducting a well-funded influence campaign against the proposed U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding. Avi explains why those remarks are...

The Ultra-Orthodox Draft Crisis: Some of the Context the Media Isn't Telling YouShould ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) young men serve in the IDF? Yes. I believe military service in Israel is literally a milchemet mitzvah, both a moral and Torah obligation.So why am I criticizing the public conversation today surrounding the Ultra-Orthodox draft?Because without understanding the full context, Israel will never solve this issue.In this video, I explain why I opposed the recent Haredi draft legislation while also rejecting the one-sided media narrative that fuels anger toward the entire ultra-Orthodox community without explaining how we arrived at this...

Historic News from Israel! Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Samaria Regional Council have signed a landmark framework agreement that marks one of the most significant developments in Judea and Samaria in decades.The agreement includes the construction of 12,000 new housing units, thousands of square meters of commercial, industrial, and hotel space, and an investment of 8.5 billion shekels. It is part of a broader vision to establish 18 new Jewish communities in northern Samaria, including rebuilding the four communities destroyed during the 2005 Gaza and Northern Samaria Disengagement.At our recent Pulse of Israel Conference, we honored Yossi Dagan, head of...

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration released and proudly promoted an official “New York City Immigrant Enclaves” map as part of a Neighborhood Passport tourism initiative. The colorful graphic highlights thirty neighborhoods representing the city’s “thriving international communities,” proudly labeling places such as “Little Palestine” in Bay Ridge, “Little Egypt” in Astoria, “Little Pakistan,” and multiple Chinatowns. Yet it conspicuously erases iconic Jewish neighborhoods, omits Little Italy, skips Irish enclaves, and ignores other historic communities that helped build New York.This isn’t just a tourism map, it’s a clear warning of Mamdani’s vision for the city. Critics rightly...

Do you know that while the mainstream media blames Netanyahu and his government for no October 7 investigation, two major probes were actually underway, only to be deliberately stopped by elements in the IDF and justice system?Important findings remain buried. Nearly three years after the October 7 massacre, Israelis still demand answers: Why no comprehensive public accountability for the worst security failure in Israel’s history?As a former IDF soldier who served in Gaza, Lebanon, and Judea & Samaria, I know basic border defense failed catastrophically. Warnings from female spotters were ignored, forces were pulled back from the fence until 9 a...

I always value the opportunity to speak with my friend, Colonel Richard Kemp, whose decades of military leadership and firsthand experience in global conflicts give him extraordinary insight into the threats facing Israel and the entire freedom-loving world.In this important interview, Col. Kemp analyzes the Iran situation, Israel’s military achievements, the danger of allowing the Islamic Republic time to rebuild, and what must happen next to ensure that Iran can never again threaten Israel with nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and its global network of terrorist proxies.This conversation took place shortly before Iran attacked ships, violating the me...

President Trump went to Turkey to meet Erdogan. Before that meeting, he should understand what Israel is facing.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has become one of Israel's greatest strategic threats. Turkey is a jihadi Muslim Brotherhood led country, while remaining a key member of NATO. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has even called for international sanctions against Israel.As jihadi Iran's influence has been weakened, the Sunni jihadist threat led by Erdogan's Turkey is becoming increasingly dangerous. Israel cannot afford to believe the war is over. The Middle East respects s...

As things look like they are heating up once again with Iran, my conversation with Sebastian Gorka at the ARC Conference in London two weeks ago is more relevant than ever.I asked President Trump’s White House counterterrorism adviser for his message to Israelis and Iranians who are deeply concerned about the memorandum of understanding that President Trump signed with the Islamic Republic of Iran.Is this a dangerous deal? Is the Iranian regime being given time to rebuild? Is America going soft on the world’s leading state sponsor of terror?For Israelis, the concern is obvious. Iran...

For years, Israel's mainstream media declared Benjamin Netanyahu corrupt as an unquestionable fact. Headlines, panels, and commentators conditioned the public to believe conviction was inevitable. But now, explosive developments in the Netanyahu trial are shattering that narrative.In a stunning update, the judges have once again informed prosecutors they face serious difficulties proving the bribery charge in Case 4000. After years of testimony — including Netanyahu's own cross-examination — the court reiterated its earlier 2023 concerns and urged the prosecution to drop the central charge. Yet much of the mainstream media has downplayed this bombshell.Former fierce critic Eldad Yaniv revealed how senior poli...

In this video, Avi Abelow examines the prosecution of Reut Ben Chaim, chairwoman of the Tzav 9 movement, and asks why she faces criminal charges for protesting aid trucks headed toward Gaza while many of the leaders and participants in the Kaplan judicial reform protests faced few legal consequences after blocking major highways, airports, and other critical infrastructure for months.Reut Ben Chaim, a mother of eight, became a symbol for many Israelis who opposed humanitarian aid entering Gaza during the war, arguing that Hamas routinely seized supplies to strengthen its terrorist organization while Israeli hostages remained in captivity. Her...

Lebanon's Christian leaders are openly calling for Israeli annexation and Israeli citizenship. Following the fall of the Assad regime, Druze leaders in southern Syria made similar appeals. What does this reveal about Israel's role in the Middle East—and what should Israel do next?In this video, Avi Abelow explores why persecuted minorities are increasingly looking to Israel, not the United Nations, not Arab governments, and not the international community, for security, freedom, and hope.As Hezbollah tightens its grip on Lebanon and jihadist violence spreads in Syria, many Christian and Druze communities see Israel as the region's only st...

Did Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strategy of "total victory" save Israel—or did his critics nearly lead the country to defeat?In this video, Avi Abelow examines the growing political battle over Israel's war against Hamas, the hostage negotiations, and the competing visions that shaped the conflict. As former hostage coordinator Nitzan Alon criticizes Netanyahu's decisions, the facts on the ground tell a different story: Hamas devastated, Gaza largely under Israeli control, senior Hamas and Hezbollah leaders eliminated, and all the hostages returned home.Why does much of Israel's political left still refuse to acknowledge these achievements? Was maximum mi...

Califormian State Senator and progressive Jewish leader Scott Wiener spent years pushing the left’s agenda. He even accused Israel of “genocide” in Gaza. Yet when the radical activists he courted turned on him, they denounced, heckled, and discarded him anyway.In this powerful video, Avi Abelow exposes the brutal truth every progressive Jew, and their friends and family, needs to hear: ideological surrender will not save you.The anti-Israel movement follows the same pattern as every radical revolution in history. Yesterday’s allies become today’s enemies in the relentless pursuit of ideological purity. From assimilated German Jews who fought...

Can the West still save itself—or is it already too late?In this video, I explain why I believe the greatest long-term threat facing Western democracies is the growing alliance between radical Islamist movements and the progressive Left. From Israel's frontline experience, I argue that protecting a nation's constitutional values, civic culture, and national identity is essential to preserving freedom.I discuss why governments should enforce existing laws against those who incite terrorism or advocate violent overthrow of democratic institutions, and why immigration and citizenship policies should be aligned with a country's constitutional principles and public safety.I al...

In this video, I explain why Netanyahu & Rubio may have just checkmated Vance’s Iran plan.I am not pretending to be happy with the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire framework brokered by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The deal assumes Lebanon will disarm Hezbollah, even though Hezbollah is deeply embedded inside Lebanon’s political, military, and security systems. That is not strategy. That is fantasy.But here is the irony: because Israel reportedly only withdraws from southern Lebanon after Hezbollah is fully disarmed, Israel now has justification to remain there indefinitely. Since Hezbollah will not voluntarily disarm, and Lebanon will...

What is going on? How did Israel move from pressuring Iran’s regime, confronting Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, and vowing to eliminate Hamas after October 7, toward ceasefire talks, Washington diplomacy, and an unfinished war?This video confronts the central question: why has Israel repeatedly been stopped before achieving decisive victory? From Gaza to Lebanon, Israel has often faced international pressure to withdraw, negotiate, and allow enemies to rebuild. This time, President Trump gave Israel more strategic time than previous U.S. administrations, but Israel’s senior command failed to turn that time into a coherent victory strategy.Instead of conq...

In this powerful interview, Avi Abelow sits down with Tim, the founder of Operation Fire Support, a remarkable volunteer initiative he launched in 2019 after learning about the devastating wildfire attacks caused by Hamas terror balloons launched from Gaza into southern Israel.Tim had never been to Israel. He is not Jewish. Yet when he saw Israeli communities under attack through acts of environmental terrorism, he decided to act.Since then, he has traveled to Israel multiple times at his own expense, leaving his family back in Australia, dedicating his time, expertise, and energy to training Israeli firefighters, emergency responders...

I can help make this forceful without presenting broad claims about Muslims as a monolith or treating public religious practice as proof of conquest. Here is a concise, sharper description focused on political ideology, antisemitism, and civic concerns:New York City is entering a dangerous political moment.The election of Zohran Mamdani signals the growing influence of a radical socialist political movement that has repeatedly targeted Israel, normalized anti-Zionist rhetoric, and built alliances with activists whose worldview is hostile to the Jewish state and increasingly hostile to the values that made New York strong.For Jews who grew up...

Historic and symbolic! And…Biblical!!!The other day, I was blessed to be at a historic event where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the renaming of Highway 60 as the Biblical Highway, and it could not be more fitting.This highway runs through the heartland of Judea and Samaria, connecting many of the most important places in the Bible: Hevron, Beit El, Shiloh, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Beer Sheba, and so many other locations where the story of the Jewish people unfolded.What makes this even more special for me is that the idea came from my friend Yishai Fleisher. He suggested it...

In 2017, former Israeli Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ehud Barak delivered a speech that now deserves renewed attention.Years before the judicial reform protests, Barak described a scenario in which senior military and intelligence figures would resist a democratically elected right-wing government, the Supreme Court would block its agenda, and mass protests would physically obstruct the will of Israeli voters.Today, Israel is experiencing a political and social crisis that makes those words impossible to ignore.The public debate is focused on the Ultra-Orthodox draft law, IDF service, and the deep frustration felt by many Israelis carrying the burden...

Hezbollah continues to violate the ceasefire and attack Israel. In recent days, multiple IDF soldiers have been killed.Put aside, for a moment, the deeply troubling statements made recently by President Trump and Vice President Vance regarding Israel. Focus on the fatal flaw built into this entire framework.The deal leaves Iran in control of Lebanon through Hezbollah.The United States says it wants to stop Iranian aggression and bring stability to the region. Yet Hezbollah remains untouched—Iran’s military, political, and terror arm inside Lebanon.Hezbollah is not simply another terrorist organization. It is Iran’s occupation force...

Is Trump's latest Iran ceasefire a brilliant strategy or a dangerous mistake?Before panicking, let's remember one basic reality:Iran is never going to agree to a final deal that permanently gives up its nuclear ambitions.Yes, the reported 60-day ceasefire framework looks terrible. Iran's leaders are celebrating and portraying it as a victory. They want the Muslim world to believe they forced America to back down.Maybe they did.Maybe Trump is playing a deeper game.The truth is that none of us know.But I believe the more important question is not what Trump is doing.The...

Is President Trump's Iran ceasefire deal a path to peace, or a dangerous mistake that could strengthen the Islamic Republic? In this video, Avi Abelow breaks down why he believes the latest Trump-Iran agreement is deeply troubling for both Israel and America, while also explaining why it may contain an unexpected strategic opportunity.For decades, the Iranian regime has mastered the art of deceiving Western leaders while advancing its long-term jihadist ambitions. Has America once again given Tehran the breathing room it needs to survive and rebuild? What message does Trump's public criticism of Israel send to Hezbollah, Hamas...

President Trump’s latest announcement regarding a deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran has many people angry, disappointed, and even feeling betrayed.I know this will surprise some people, but my reaction is different.I want to say thank you.Thank you, President Trump.Not because I think this deal is good. I don't.Not because I trust the Islamic Republic of Iran. I don't.And certainly not because I believe this war is over. It isn't over at all.I am thankful because this moment is forcing Israelis and Jews around the world to confront a truth we...

President Trump has announced another potential deal with Iran, and many people are already reacting with fear, anger, or excitement.My message is simple: Don't panic.Some people misunderstand me. They assume that when I say not to panic, I mean the deal will never happen. That is not what I am saying. I have no idea whether it will happen or not. What I do know is that no agreement will change the fundamental nature of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The regime's jihadi ambitions, its hatred of Israel or the USA, and its desire to spread its...

The other day, I experienced one of those moments that reminds me just how blessed we are to be living in these historic times.I found myself dancing with a 92-year-old veteran resident of Kibbutz Nahal Oz during the first ever Torah scroll dedication ceremony for the kibbutz.Think about that for a moment.Nahal Oz never had a synagogue. Yet after the horrors of October 7th, something awakened. Kibbutz residents who experienced the unimaginable on Oct. 7th, with family and friends massacred and kidnapped into Gaza, felt a deeper connection to their Jewish identity, heritage, and roots. They...

Should the United States end foreign aid to Israel?In this powerful Pulse of Israel interview, Congressman Stutzman explains why he has introduced a groundbreaking resolution in Congress to phase out U.S. foreign aid to Israel and replace it with a new model based on trade, strategic partnership, joint development projects, and mutual national interests.For decades, the U.S.-Israel relationship has been framed around aid packages. Congressman Stutzman argues that it is time to move beyond the outdated donor-recipient model and strengthen the alliance as a true partnership between two sovereign nations. Instead of foreign aid...

In this urgent and honest update from Israel, another Jew was murdered in cold blood. A 35-year-old man was killed and others wounded in a shooting attack near Kochav Yair and Tzur Yitzhak in central Israel. The terrorist, Omar Yassin, was not from Gaza or Judea & Samaria — he was an Arab Muslim *Israeli citizen* from Tayibe.This attack proves once again that the enemy does not distinguish between Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, or settlements. They want all of Israel — “from the river to the sea.” The dangerous illusion that giving away land will bring peace has been shattered yet again.Even mor...

What just happened between Israel and Iran?In this video, Avi Abelow breaks down the surprising one-day confrontation between Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran, why many Israelis believed a much larger war was about to begin, and why the outcome may represent a major strategic victory for Israel even without the dramatic regime change many were hoping to see.After Iran launched missiles at Israel, many expected a prolonged regional war. Instead, within hours, the attacks stopped, schools reopened, and life in Israel quickly returned to normal (in war). But beneath the surface, something significant may have...