Reports emerged in the Israeli press over the weekend that senior intelligence officials believe Iran is preparing to hit northern Israel with a barrage of missiles in retaliation for recent Israelis strikes on Iranian military targets in Syria. According to the reports, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Qods Force commander, General Qasem Soleimani, has been given authority to use Hezbollah proxies and other assets in Syria to launch the attack.

Approximately 10,000 Palestinians showed up for last Friday’s riots at several points along the border between the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip and Israel, with one particularly violent demonstration at the Kerem Shalom crossing resulting in infrastructure meant to bring humanitarian aid into the Strip being severely damaged. “This is a cynical act which damages the well-being of the people of Gaza and the humanitarian efforts carried out by Israel and other countries,” the IDF spokesperson stated.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas issued a statement on Friday in response to the widespread backlash against his recent speech which included anti-Semitic canards, saying “If people were offended by my statement in front of the PNC, especially people of the Jewish faith, I apologize to them. I would like to assure everyone that it was not my intention to do so, and to reiterate my full respect for the Jewish faith as well as other monotheistic faiths.” Following the statement, a proposed UN Security Council statement condemning the speech was blocked by a Kuwaiti objection.

The third leg of the “Big Start” to the 2018 Giro D’Italia cycling race came to a celebratory finish in the southern Israeli city of Eilat on Sunday, with race organizers, participants, visitors and sponsors expressing their complete satisfaction with the opening and their hearty appreciation for their Israeli hosts. “I thought we reached the pinnacle Thursday with the team presentations and gala opening party. But the time trial in Jerusalem was simply magical, as the helicopter footage of this historic and splendid city, lined with cheering fans, took it up to another level,” said honorary president of “Big Start” Israel Sylvan Adams.

Jerusalem Mayor Nit Barkat personally oversaw the posting of municipal road signs Monday pointing the way to the “US Embassy” days ahead of an official ceremony marking the move of Washington’s diplomatic address in Israel to the capital city. “This is not a dream. It is reality. I am proud and moved to have hung this morning the first new signs that were prepared for the US Embassy,” Barkat wrote on Twitter.

Pressure applied by Christian evangelical organizations played a significant, if not decisive, role in U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel and to transfer the U.S. embassy to the city. A key personality in this episode is Vice President Mike Pence, who has described himself more than once as a “Christian, Conservative, and Republican – in that order.”

As Israelis face threats on all their borders, the ICEJ is doing our part to help them prepare to face the danger from future attacks and heal from past conflicts by providing bomb shelters and tactical clothing for medical first responder teams as well as counseling for victims of terror. Please help us help them.