Rocket from Jenin Fired at Israel, Lands in Palestinian Territory: A rocket was launched on Monday morning, June 26, at Israel from the Jenin area but exploded in Palestinian territory without hitting any Israelis or Israeli locations.
According to the IDF, the rocket did not pose a threat to Israeli communities in the area, though it was unclear if this was because it lacked the range to strike them or because the rocket had other issues.
Israeli security forces arrived at the scene and conducted searches in the area, but did not yet report any arrests. The IDF said that the incident is under review, but did not give much specific information about who carried it out or how similar future incidents would be prevented.
The new situation occurs after last week’s drastic escalation in terror from the Palestinian side, use of force by the IDF, and revenge attacks by Jewish West Bank residents.
It also comes after a recent warning by Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar that Palestinian terrorists were making renewed efforts to acquire rockets in the West Bank and fire them on Israel.
If such terror groups succeeded, it could represent a whole new front for rocket defense, since presently Israel’s rocket defense is deployed to defend against rockets from Lebanon or Gaza. (JPost / VFI News)
“God, we thank You for protecting Israel and that no Israelis were harmed by the rocket. We are humbly grateful for Your love and protection and we pray that terrorists won’t succeed in their malevolent plans.”
The articles included in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Vision for Israel. We try to provide accurate reporting on news pertinent to Israel, the Middle East, the diaspora, and Jewish issues around the world—and we hope that you find it both informative and useful for intercessory prayer.
Top Hamas Official: We Are Determined to Escalate The Attacks in All Areas: Khaled Mashaal, the leader of the Hamas terrorist organization abroad, said on Thursday, June 22, that “the victorious and escalating (armed) resistance in all of our occupied Palestinian lands, and in particular in our West Bank, is what forced the change in the rules of the game against the occupation and its hordes of settlers.”
Mashaal added that “this blessed path”, meaning the terrorist attacks, is the most effective way to realize the legitimate aspirations for the liberation of “Palestine”, the return of the refugees, and the liberation of Jerusalem, since the other paths, a reference to the diplomatic process, only resulted in the loss of land and the expansion of “settlements”.
The Hamas leader further said that the improvement in the quality of the attacks and their professional execution, in a way that caused many losses on the Israeli side and a state of fear among soldiers and “settlers”, indicates the seriousness of the leadership of the Palestinian resistance organizations to escalate the number and quality of the attacks in all sectors.
Mashaal pointed out that “we need to strengthen unity and partnership among the Palestinian organizations in Palestine and abroad, and mobilize the Arab world and the international community against Israel.” (INN / VFI News)
“They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land.” – Psalm 35:20
Israeli Security Guard Injured in West Bank Checkpoint Terror Shooting: A security guard and another man were lightly injured after being shot at the Kalandiya checkpoint in a terror attack near the entrance to Jerusalem early Saturday morning, June 24.
The attacker was shot dead by security forces at the scene. Israeli police forces were called onto the scene, and the two injured were evacuated by medical personnel to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital.
The attacker reportedly arrived at the checkpoint on foot from the West Bank carrying an M-16 rifle and then fired at security forces in the area. Police confiscated the rifle used in the shooting.
The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades took responsibility for the incident, according to Israeli media.
“Tonight at 02:42 a report was received at MDA’s 101 emergency center in the Jerusalem area, about a shooting at the Kalandiya checkpoint,” MDA spokesman Zachi Heller said.
“MDA medics provided medical treatment and evacuated two young men aged 22 and 24 to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in good condition. The terrorist was killed.” (JPost / VFI News)
“God, we pray for the quick recovery of the Israeli men that were attacked on Saturday. We ask that terror will no longer be present in Israel and that terrorists will receive the most severe punishments for their crimes.”
Survey: 48% of Israelis Support Military Operation in Judea and Samaria: Nearly half of Israelis support launching a large-scale military operation in Judea and Samaria following recent deadly terrorist attacks, according to a new poll conducted by Panels Politics Institute Director Dr. Menachem Lazar for Jewish media.
In response to the question of whether following the recent terrorist attacks Israel should launch a large-scale military operation in Judea and Samaria, the answers were: 48% – “yes”, 26% – “no”, and 26% – “I don’t know”.
71% of respondents who voted for parties in the current coalition supported a military operation, while only 9% of coalition voters said no. 20% said that they did not know.
Among respondents who voted for opposition parties, support for a military operation drops to 29%, while 39% oppose such an operation and 32% responded that they do not know.
500 participants took part in the online survey, which has a margin of error of 4.3%. (INN / VFI News)
“God, we ask that You shield us from terror and that our nation is ready to defend itself from anyone that wishes to harm us. We trust that You will properly equip our defense forces and weaken our enemies so that hostilities can be averted.”
Mossad Helped Crack Iran Terror Cell in Cyprus that Planned Attacks Against Jews: The Mossad helped Cyprus crack an Iranian terror cell, according to sources on Sunday, June 25. The spy agency said that it had assisted Cyprus with thwarting Iran’s plot to solve the puzzle of the underlying crimes and method of operation of the terror organization involved.
“Israel praises the thwarting of an Iranian terrorist attack on Cyprus’s territory against Israeli targets,” the Prime Minister’s Office stated.
“Israel acts in a variety of ways everywhere to defend Jews and Israelis, and will continue to act to cut off Iranian terror wherever it raises its head, including in Iran, the chief spreader of terror in the world.”
Earlier Sunday, Cypriot media reported that Cyprus thwarted a planned Iranian terrorist attack on Jews on the island state. That initial report said that the IRGC planned the attack, which was stopped in cooperation between Cyprus and Western partners, which named the US and Israel as among the likely partners.
Jerusalem and Nicosia have worked together to foil Iranian plots to attack Israelis in the past. In 2021, they arrested a Russian-Azerbaijani hitman hired by the IRGC to kill Israeli businessmen in Cyprus. Billionaire Teddy Sagi, among others, was evacuated to Israel at the time. (JPost / VFI News)
“You, Lord, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked. – Psalm 12:7
Israel to Reprimand Ukraine Envoy for Calling Russia War Policy ‘Immoral’: The Foreign Ministry plans to summon Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel Yevgen Kornichuk for a reprimand after the embassy released a strong statement opposing Israel’s policy on the war in his country.
Kornichuk’s statements came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the reasons Israel does not provide military aid to Ukraine in an interview with Israeli media last week. Netanyahu touted Israeli humanitarian aid to Ukraine and said it’s important for Israel to be able to continue coordination with Russia to strike Iranian targets in Syria.
In light of cooperation between Russia and Iran, Netanyahu expressed “concerns that any systems that we give to Ukraine would be used against us because they could fall into Iranian hands and be used against us.”
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said in a briefing that Israel sent an unprecedented amount, NIS 80 million, to Ukraine last year and has an even bigger budget to aid Kyiv this year. In addition, Cohen said that the Israeli missile warning system being tested in Kyiv will save Ukrainian civilians’ lives.
Kornichuk said that Israel “not providing [Ukraine] with weapons is just a decision to please the Russians.” The Ukrainian Embassy to Israel also released a strong statement against Israeli policy to its Facebook page on Sunday, June 25, following instructions from Kyiv.
The statement said there was a “near absence of Israeli humanitarian assistance to Ukraine” in the first half of this year and that Foreign Minister Eli Cohen’s visit to Kyiv in February was “fruitless.” It also specifically criticized Netanyahu’s comments during the interview. (JPost / VFI News)
“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” – Proverbs 12:26
Far-Right Lehava Activists, Israel Police Clash at Christian Event in Jerusalem: Clashes broke out as Israeli Police attempted to prevent Lehava activists from breaking into a Christian concert held in Jerusalem on Thursday evening, June 22, according to a police statement.
One of the activists of the far-right organization was arrested on suspicion of attacking a police officer. Dozens of Orthodox Jews attempted to interrupt the event and rioted, according to the police.
The police stated that it would continue to allow the freedom of expression and protest according to the law, but won’t allow the violation of public order and riots.
The activists were accompanied by Jerusalem deputy mayor Aryeh King and Lehava founder Bentzi Gopstein, according to Israeli media.
Lehava had called for a protest against the “missionary” event several days in advance. The concert’s invitation by the Association for Messianic Jews stated: “We invite you to an unforgettable experience, where we will lift up our voice with one voice and in praise and worship of our lord Jesus Christ to the glory of God the Father.”
“Throughout history, the mission hunted Jewish souls and fought against the people of Israel. The missionary conference was designed to convert Jews from their religion and there is no place for that in Jerusalem. In a democracy, I must come and demonstrate,” Gopstein stated, according to Israeli media. (JPost / VFI News)
Tel Aviv University Scholar Wins Prestigious US Prize for Cancer Research: A Tel Aviv University scholar won a prestigious award for his work in the field of cancer research, the university announced Monday, June 26. Professor Isaac P. Witz, TAU’s Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, was chosen by the prize selection committee of the National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) in the US to receive the prestigious Szent-Györgyi Prize for his groundbreaking scientific contributions.
His research established that humoral immune factors localized in the TME exert pivotal roles in various manifestations of anti-tumor immune responses.
These seminal findings laid the groundwork for certain aspects of contemporary life-saving immunotherapies, ultimately benefiting cancer patients and advancing scientific progress toward finding cures for cancer.
Witz currently serves as Professor Emeritus at Tel Aviv University and heads the Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment & Metastasis Research at The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences.
Witz will receive the award at a ceremony scheduled for October 21, 2023, at The National Press Club in Washington, D.C. (JPost / VFI News)
“He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised.” – Deuteronomy 26:19
The suggestions, opinions, and scripture references made by VFI News writers and editors are based on the best information received.
