IDF units on Israel’s northern border were on high alert Wednesday following an attempt by a Syrian Su-22 attack aircraft to infiltrate Israeli air space the day before. IDF Patriot air defense units hit the Syrian plane, which crashed in Syrian territory, reportedly killing at least one of the crew. An IDF spokesperson said the crew had been warned against violating Israeli airspace but had ignored the warnings. The IDF “will not tolerate violations of the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement between Israel and Syria,” he said.

Turkish President Reccep Tayyip Erdogan issued a statement Tuesday on Israel’s recently passed “Jewish Nation-State Law” declaring it to be evidence that Israel is a “fascist” and “racist” country, adding that “there is no difference between Hitler’s Aryan race obsession and Israel’s mentality. Hitler’s spirit has re-emerged among administrators in Israel.”

U.S. President Donald Trump gave a speech on Tuesday in which he said, among other things, that he’s ready to “make a real deal” with Iran regarding its renegade nuclear program, adding that his plans were for something different than “the deal that was done by the previous administration, which was a disaster.” Defense Minister James Mattis backed up his boss, speaking at a separate event and saying “It’s time for Iran to shape up and show responsibility as a responsible nation. It cannot continue to show irresponsibility as a revolutionary organization that is intent on exporting terrorism, exporting disruption, across the region.”

Jerusalem Affairs Minister Ze’ev Elkin got a boost in his campaign to succeed outgoing Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat on Tuesday when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially endorsed his candidacy. “As a Knesset member, a minister and especially as Jerusalem Affairs Minister, Elkin has taken plenty of action to help our capital,” Netanyahu said. “He has proven that the city is close to his heart and precious to him. I wish him the best of luck.”

A bill making its way through the Irish national parliament, meant to criminalize trade and commerce with Israeli settlement communities in the West Bank, has some officials in Jerusalem concerned. Although the economic impact from the bill, should it become law, would be negligible, the diplomatic and public relations fallout has the potential to give a boost to the effort to Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) Israel.

Iran seems to be wearing out its welcome even in the Arab countries with which it is most closely allied. Both Syria and Iraq are still dependent on Iran, but its goal of Mideast domination may face more obstacles than were apparent a few years ago.

There is an increasing need to provide basic food items for families struggling below the poverty line at the holidays and throughout the year. $100 provides a family with a basket of basic food items.