Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the United Nations General Assembly on Friday that Israel would continue fighting terror — even if the leaders of western nations caved under pressure from extremists. Before he could begin, several nations — mostly Muslim nations — walked out of the hall, as Israel and its allies gave Netanyahu a sustained standing ovation. Netanyahu began by recounting Israel’s success against Iran and its proxies since the last United Nations General Assembly opening a year ago, when he ordered the pager attacks against Hizbullah operatives in Lebanon before taking the state in New York. He noted that Israel had fought Iran’s proxies throughout the Middle East and triumphed over Iran itself in the 12 Day War, taking out much of its nuclear infrastructure. He addressed the hostages directly, in Hebrew and then in English, noting that Israel had placed loudspeakers near the Gaza border to carry his address, in the hope that they would hear him. “We have not forgotten you, not even for a second,” he said. He added that Israel was also streaming the speech live through mobile phones in Gaza, so that everyone in the territory would hear his message to the hostages, as well as his demand that Hamas release all 48 remaining hostages now. Netanyahu later turned to the nations that had opposed Israel’s war against Hamas, particularly by accusing Israel falsely of “genocide,” or by choosing to recognize a Palestinian state with Hamas still holding hostages. “When the going got tough,” he said, “you caved.” “Israel will not allow you to shove a terror state down our throats … because you don’t have the guts to face down a hostile media and antisemitic mobs demanding Israel’s blood,” he said. U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters yesterday that he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank, a step that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has considered in response to attempts to recognize a Palestinian state. “I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. It’s not going to happen,” Trump told reporters during a press event in the Oval Office, as he signed executive orders on a variety of subjects. Palestinians have...claimed the West Bank as part of what they want to be their state, along with Gaza. But Jews have also settled there, reclaiming old towns and establishing new communities. There is support in Israel for annexing the territory, for security and ideological reasons. President Trump told Arab nations on the sidelines of the United Nations this week that he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank, as a way to win their support for a peace proposal in the war in Gaza. Trump evidently hopes to use annexation as a bargaining chip again, to engineer a further regional accord. Netanyahu is set to address the United Nations on Friday, and will meet with President Trump in the White House on Monday. He may accept the loss of annexation in return for U.S. support in Gaza, where Israel hopes to finish off Hamas in a final military offensive, given that Hamas has refused to release the hostages. Israel’s Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has established a national strategic system to monitor potential risks in food imports. The decision comes amid growing boycott calls against Israel and a growing recognition that the nation must reduce its reliance on imported food products. The effects of climate change have reportedly also been a factor in the creation of the monitoring system. While Israel has domestic food production, it remains heavily dependent on imports. For example, the country imports over 90% of its fish and grains, as well as about 80% of its legumes, peanuts, nuts, and oilseeds. Approximately 60% of all beef consumed in Israel is also imported. Yuval Lipkin, head of the Israeli Food Security Administration, stressed that, “The goal is to prepare for the next crisis before it begins, shifting from a reactive approach to a preventive approach based on data and forecasts.” The ministry plans to draft a national food security plan in the coming days, which will be published on the Agriculture Ministry’s website for public comment. Rabbi Mendel Kessin is an internationally renowned lecturer and educator who has spoken extensively around the world. He began teaching about the end-of-days implications of current events and politics more than a decade ago. Rabbi Kessin recently released a statement condemning the move in the United Nations in which 157 of the 193 member states, or approximately 81% of all UN members, recognized the sovereignty of a “Palestinian state.” “They did this on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, the day of judgement. This would mean the following,” Rabbi Kessin said. “The United Nations is Gog and Magog.” The “Gog and Magog” prophecy, from the biblical Book of Ezekiel, describes an alliance of nations that will invade Israel. Indeed, declaring a Palestinian state inside the borders of Israel is effectively an attempt at invasion that wrests the Promised Land from the Jews. “This had to happen this year, 5785 (תשפ״ה), because it is a Messianic event and it must happen before 5785. This means Moshiach (Messiah) is coming.” “If the UN declares a Palestinian state, then we are about to enter the Messianic era in the new year, 5786,” Rabbi Kessin said. “This is not a coincidence. It is obviously happening.” In a statement, Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades said communication with the captives was severed in the past 48 hours amid heavy fighting in the Sabra and Tel al-Hawa neighborhoods. The terror group demanded that the IDF withdraw south of Street No. 8 and suspend air activity for 24 hours “so that attempts can be made to extract the captives.” The unusually precise reference to the hostages’ reported location marked a first for Hamas.
Netanyahu, Defiant, to United Nations: ‘When the Going Got Tough, You Caved’
Trump Says He Will Not Allow Israel to Annex West Bank:
... annexation is a red line for the Arab world; the Abraham Accords came about after Netanyahu backed off an annexation threat in 2020.
Israel shifts toward food self-reliance amid boycotts and global supply challenges:
Rabbi Mendel Kessin: “UN Declaring Palestinian State is Gog and Magog”
Hamas says it lost contact with two Israeli hostages while hinting at their location: