The Trump administration thanked Israel for taking steps to ensure that Catholic Church officials still had access to Christian sites during Holy Week after a back-and-forth over access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that the Trump administration had intially expressed &#8220;concern&#8221; after the Palm Sunday incident, but said they appreciated steps taken by Israeli police to resolve the conflict.
&#8220;We did express our concerns with Israel, with respect to these holy sites being shut down. We want worshipers to be able to access these holy sites,&#8221; Leavitt said during Monday&#8217;s press briefing. &#8220; Of course, safety is a top priority, but we understand Israel is working on those security measures to reopen the sites throughout Holy Week, and that&#8217;s something that we&#8217;re appreciative of.&#8221;
Earlier on Monday, Catholic Church authorities and Israeli police said Monday they had “resolved” a dispute to allow access to religious sites in Jerusalem. 
The announcement comes after officials representing the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/israel-blocks-catholic-cardinal-from-holy-site-on-palm-sunday-over-safety-concerns?author=Drew+Berkemeyer&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Israel+Blocks+Catholic+Cardinal+From+Holy+Site+On+Palm+Sunday+Over+Safety+Concerns">said</a> police blocked them from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Israeli authorities pointed to safety concerns, noting that shrapnel from Iranian missile attacks had fallen near the church in recent days. 
Israeli police said “a mutual framework has been established for upcoming Easter ceremonies,” adding that events would be scaled back.
“Due to the complex security reality of Operation ‘Roaring Lion,’ ceremonies including the ‘Holy Fire’ will be held in a symbolic, limited format,&#8221; police said. &#8220;This coordination ensures that freedom of worship is maintained alongside our shared, primary duty: the protection of human life.”
Officials added that Iranian missile debris had recently impacted areas within Jerusalem&#8217;s Old City, prompting restrictions. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
An Iranian missile exploded over Jerusalem’s Old City. Its fragments fell on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Armenian Patriarchate, the Jewish Quarter and on the Temple Mount near the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Iranian regime is firing missiles toward Jerusalem’s holy sites,… <a href="https://t.co/8vKyURiGVW">pic.twitter.com/8vKyURiGVW</a>
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) <a href="https://twitter.com/Israel/status/2033586841387970642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land also released a statement saying “that the matters concerning the Holy Week and Easter celebrations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre have been addressed and resolved in coordination with the relevant authorities.”
They added that, given the ongoing war, limits on public gatherings will remain in place, with services &#8220;broadcast live to the faithful in the Holy Land and throughout the world.&#8221;
“It is our hope that appropriate arrangements will continue to be found, enabling prayer to take place in places of worship, particularly in the Holy Places of all religions, in a manner that respects both legitimate safety needs and the religious observances and prayers that are of profound importance to hundreds of millions of believers,&#8221; the statement said.
Photos from earlier this month show shrapnel from Iranian missiles landing near several religious sites in Jerusalem&#8217;s Old City, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Armenian Patriarchate, the Jewish Quarter, and on the Temple Mount. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Here is a photo of the giant shrapnel fragment that fell beside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre earlier today. <a href="https://t.co/Hh3Mq2OyDK">pic.twitter.com/Hh3Mq2OyDK</a>
— Marc Zell &#8211; מארק צל (@GOPIsrael) <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPIsrael/status/2033613530088271914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
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MixCollage-30-Mar-2026-07-53-AM-6693

Trump Admin Weighs In On Access To Christian Sites During Holy Week

Catholic Church

Easter

Israel

Jerusalem

Israeli police prevented senior Catholic leaders from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday, marking what church authorities say is the first time in centuries that the site’s top clerics were barred from celebrating one of Christianity’s most sacred observances.
According to a joint statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Father Francesco Ielpo, the Custos of the Holy Land and official guardian of the church, were stopped en route to the church and turned back by police.
The two clerics were traveling privately and “without any characteristics of a procession or ceremonial act,” the statement said, and were denied entry to the site where they were scheduled to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass. “For the first time in centuries, the Heads of the Church were prevented from celebrating the Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” the statement noted, calling the incident “a grave precedent” that disregards “the sensibilities of billions of people around the world.”
Church authorities emphasized that they had complied with all restrictions imposed since the start of the war, including canceling public gatherings and arranging for services to be broadcast remotely to the faithful worldwide. “Preventing the entry of the Cardinal and the Custos … constitutes a manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate measure,” the statement said, adding that the decision represented “an extreme departure from basic principles of reasonableness, freedom of worship, and respect for the Status Quo.”
The Patriarchate and Custody expressed “profound sorrow” that prayer on one of the most sacred days of the Christian calendar had been prevented in Christianity’s holiest site.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani publicly condemned the move, <a href="https://x.com/Antonio_Tajani/status/2038202709585662223">expressing</a> “heartfelt solidarity” with the Patriarch and Custos — both Italian nationals — and calling the decision “unacceptable.”
“For the first time, the Israeli police denied the leaders of the Catholic Church the possibility of celebrating Palm Sunday Mass in one of the holiest places for millions of believers around the world,” Tajani wrote, adding that Italy had <a href="https://x.com/Antonio_Tajani/status/2038213804081783242">summoned</a> the Israeli ambassador to lodge a formal protest and reaffirm its commitment to defending religious freedom.
Israeli authorities, however, pointed to ongoing wartime conditions and security concerns as justification for the restrictions. In a statement obtained by former Israeli spokesman <a href="https://x.com/eylonalevy/status/2038235514583609854?s=46&amp;t=ghpHusspWPjTMisXwpsMaA">Eylon Levy</a>, police said that all holy sites, including the temple mount and Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City have been closed in accordance with Home Front Command guidelines amid the ongoing conflict.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, police said, lacks adequate protected space, and recently Iranian missile shrapnel has landed nearby. They also cited the difficulty of navigating emergency vehicles through the Old City’s narrow alleyways in the event of a mass casualty incident.
According to the statement, Cardinal Pizzaballa had requested an exception to the restrictions, which authorities declined after explaining the security concerns. “‘Freedom of worship will continue to be upheld, subject to necessary restrictions,’” the police statement read, adding that Israel’s top priority remains “protecting human life.” 
Israeli government officials, for their part, have pointed squarely to escalating security threats as the driving force behind the decision. In a <a href="https://x.com/israelipm/status/2038252865865519479?s=46&amp;t=ghpHusspWPjTMisXwpsMaA">statement</a> released by the Prime Minister’s Office’s official X account, the government said that “over the past several days, Iran has repeatedly targeted the holy sites of all three monotheistic religions in Jerusalem with ballistic missiles,” underscoring the severity of the situation unfolding in the Old City.
The statement noted again that in at least one recent strike, missile fragments landed just meters from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre itself, an incident Israeli officials cited as evidence that even the most sacred sites are no longer insulated from the widening conflict.
“As a result, Israel has temporarily asked worshippers from all faiths not to worship at the holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City to protect them,” the Prime Minister’s Office said, framing the restrictions as a blanket security measure rather than one targeting any single religion or denomination.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the specific decision to block Cardinal Pizzaballa, emphasizing that it was made “out of special concern for his safety,” and insisting that “there was no malicious intent whatsoever, only concern for his safety and that of his party.”
At the same time, the government acknowledged the extraordinary nature of the restriction, particularly given the timing during Holy Week. The Prime Minister’s Office said Israel’s security agencies are now “putting together a plan to enable church leaders to worship at the holy site in the coming days,” suggesting that the restrictions could be adjusted as conditions allow.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry echoed that explanation in a separate statement on <a href="https://x.com/israelmfa/status/2038252596343845310?s=46&amp;t=ghpHusspWPjTMisXwpsMaA">X</a>, stressing that all current limitations in the Old City are “a direct result of Iranian missile fire,” which has struck in the vicinity not only of the Holy Sepulchre, but also the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Western Wall.
“In light of this, and in order to protect the lives of worshippers of all faiths, precautionary instructions have been issued for all holy sites of all religions, and mass gatherings are not possible,” the ministry said. “The concern over a mass-casualty event in the Old City is particularly acute given the area’s density and the difficulty of deploying first responders in such an incident,” the statement said, appealing to the logistical challenges facing security officials.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, however, took issue with that reasoning. While acknowledging the security-driven closure of all holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City he described the specific denial of entry to the Catholic leaders as being perhaps overzealous. “While all Holy sites in the Old City are closed due to safety concerns for mass gatherings &#8230; the action today by the Israel Nat’l Police to deny Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and 3 other priests from entering the Church to offer a blessing on Palm Sunday is an unfortunate overreach already having major repercussions around the world,” Huckabee wrote in a statement on <a href="https://x.com/govmikehuckabee/status/2038267075592872362?s=46&amp;t=o-U3qwC25WnWaylJ0oeG7Q">X</a>. 
<div>He noted that Home Front Command guidelines restrict any gatherings to 50 people or less, a limit the four Catholic representatives were well below. Although Israeli government statements have cited safety reasons for the decision, Huckabee observed that churches, synagogues, and mosques throughout Jerusalem have continued to operate under the same 50-person restriction. “For the Patriarch to be barred from entry to the Church on Palm Sunday for a private ceremony is difficult to understand or justify,” he added.</div>
Despite the restrictions, Israeli authorities indicated that dialogue with Church leadership is ongoing. The Foreign Ministry said police are expected to meet with Cardinal Pizzaballa to “explore solutions that allow for as normal a routine as possible while ensuring public safety,” signaling a potential path forward as tensions remain high.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, located in Jerusalem’s Old City, is revered by Christians as the site of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, making it one of the most sacred places in the world. The decision to bar access on Palm Sunday, the day marking the beginning of Holy Week, has heightened tensions between church authorities and Israeli officials, raising broader questions about the balance between security measures and religious freedom during wartime.

V20251023EH-0297

Israel Blocks Catholic Cardinal From Holy Site On Palm Sunday Over Safety Concerns

Holy Week

Religion

Fragments from an Iranian missile barrage fell across parts of Jerusalem’s holiest sites on Monday, including on the Temple Mount and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and near the Western Wall plaza, according to Israeli police.
Authorities said several interceptions were carried out over the city as Iran launched missiles toward Jerusalem, but fragments — including large ones — from intercepted projectiles and missile debris fell in multiple locations throughout the Old City.
“Today, Iranian missiles rained debris over Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Jewish Quarter,” the police said. “The enemy makes no distinction between religions, synagogues, mosques, or churches.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Today, Iranian missiles rained debris over Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Jewish Quarter.
Police officers are currently on the ground securing the scenes and collecting missile debris which targeted our civilians. What we… <a href="https://t.co/5BNplM0i85">pic.twitter.com/5BNplM0i85</a>
— Israel Police (@israelpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/israelpolice/status/2033599809009983902?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Police said impact sites were identified near the Western Wall plaza at the Temple Mount, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre compound, and in the area of the Jewish Quarter.
Additional fragments were also discovered in central Jerusalem and parts of East Jerusalem.
Israeli police, bomb disposal units, and special forces from the Jerusalem District quickly responded to the scenes, cordoning off affected areas while sappers worked to collect debris and ensure no further risk remained to the public.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
An Iranian missile exploded over Jerusalem’s Old City. Its fragments fell on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Armenian Patriarchate, the Jewish Quarter and on the Temple Mount near the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Iranian regime is firing missiles toward Jerusalem’s holy sites,… <a href="https://t.co/8vKyURiGVW">pic.twitter.com/8vKyURiGVW</a>
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) <a href="https://twitter.com/Israel/status/2033586841387970642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Authorities emphasized that the decision to close holy sites to worshippers and visitors followed a security assessment intended to protect civilians, particularly because the Old City has very limited protected shelters.
One person was lightly hurt after touching a hot fragment, according to Magen David Adom. 
Israel <a href="https://x.com/MofaQatar_EN/status/2031823929657188605">was condemned</a> last week by several Muslim-majority countries after restricting worship on the Temple Mount due to safety concerns from Iranian missile attacks. Other sites were similarly closed, along with schools and many workplaces. 
Eight Islamic countries said Israel’s decision to close the compound — which Muslims call Al-Aqsa Mosque or Al-Haram Al-Sharif — to Muslim worshippers was “discriminatory” and violated international law. The countries that signed on to the statement included Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
The Western Wall is also closed. Schools are closed. Many workplaces are closed. Gatherings of over 50 are banned as the war continues. 
“What we experienced today emphasizes the significance of the Home Front Command life-saving guidelines, which include public closures of holy sites given the very limited protected shelters in the area,” the police said.
Jerusalem’s Old City is home to some of the holiest sites in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, drawing millions of worshippers and tourists each year.

Temple Mount

Iranian Missiles Threaten To Damage Jerusalem’s Holiest Sites As Debris Rains Down

Iranian Missile Debris Falls On Temple Mount, Holy Sepulchre In Jerusalem

Iran

<div>
In a historic milestone for archaeology and faith, the newly opened Pilgrimage Road at the City of David is welcoming visitors for the first time in nearly 2,000 years. This monumental 600-meter thoroughfare, once the spiritual and commercial heart of Second Temple Jerusalem, has been painstakingly uncovered stone by stone. As of January 2026, the final sections of this &#8220;Stepped Street&#8221; will open to the public, allowing modern travelers to walk the exact path their ancestors used during the great festivals of Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot.
</div>
<div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A truly historic moment &#8211; the newly opened Pilgrimage Road at the City of David is welcoming visitors for the first time in nearly 2,000 years.
This stone-paved path once carried pilgrims from the Pool of Siloam up to the Temple Mount for Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot, alive… <a href="https://t.co/U8q2DuGfRU">pic.twitter.com/U8q2DuGfRU</a>
— Embassy of Israel to the USA (@IsraelinUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/IsraelinUSA/status/2016874219703873694?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The road is a marvel of ancient engineering, stretching from the Pool of Siloam in the south to the foot of the Temple Mount in the north. Eight meters wide and paved with massive limestone slabs, it features a unique stepped design — two shallow steps followed by a long landing — specifically crafted to facilitate a slow, meditative ascent for the millions of pilgrims who once thronged its path.
</div>
<div>
While long attributed to Herod the Great, recent coin evidence found beneath the paving stones suggests the road was actually completed around 30–31 CE under Pontius Pilate. This places its activity squarely within the era of Jesus’ ministry, making it the literal surface upon which he and his disciples likely walked after ritual purification at the Pool of Siloam. The New Testament records Jesus performing a famous miracle with a blind man at the pool of Siloam, which sits at the very bottom of this road: John 9:7 states, “And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam. He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.&#8221;
</div>
<div>
Managed by the Ir David (City of David) Foundation, the excavation of the road is a modern engineering triumph. Because the ancient street is buried beneath the modern neighborhood of Silwan, it has been excavated horizontally using high-tech steel supports. This subterranean &#8220;tunnel&#8221; method allows visitors to experience the bustling commercial hub of the past — where remains of shops, market stalls, and even an elevated preaching podium have been found — while the modern city continues to thrive above.
</div>
<div>
The opening of this route fulfills a long-held vision to connect the Pool of Siloam directly to the Western Wall. For visitors, it offers more than a history lesson; it provides a tangible connection to the &#8220;DNA of Jerusalem.&#8221; From the drainage channels where Jewish rebels once hid to the massive stones polished by millions of ancient footsteps, the Pilgrimage Road is the &#8220;opening act&#8221; of a new era of discovery. It stands as a bridge across two millennia, inviting the world to walk the ceremonial way that once served as the primary gateway to the House of God.
</div>

Daily Life In Jerusalem

The DNA Of Jerusalem: Ancient Pilgrimage Road Opens To The World

Jesus Christ

The following is an edited transcript from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-1893-children-terrified-leftist-mob-storms-church-in-minneapolis?elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowHeadline=Recent+Episodes&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel">The Michael Knowles Show</a>.
* * *
A very controversial statement — at least according to the internet — has just come out of Jerusalem. And not just from the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, the chief Catholic prelate there, but from the heads of the other historic churches as well: the Armenian Church, the Syriac Church, the Greek Orthodox Church — all the Apostolic churches of Jerusalem.
Here is what they said. In a statement titled On Unity and the Representation of the Christian Communities in the Holy Land:
<blockquote>The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in the Holy Land affirm before the faithful and before the world that the ﬂock of Christ in this land is entrusted to the Apostolic Churches, which have borne their sacred ministry across centuries with steadfast devotion. </blockquote>
Here is the controversial line:
<blockquote>Recent activities undertaken by local individuals who advance damaging ideologies such as Christian Zionism mislead the public, sow confusion, and harm the unity of our flock. These undertakings have found favor among certain political actors in Israel and beyond, who seek to push a political agenda which may harm the Christian presence in the Holy Land and the wider Middle East.</blockquote>
The statement goes on for several more paragraphs and concludes with: “May the Lord, who is the shepherd and guardian of souls, grant wisdom for the protection of His people and the safeguarding of His witness in the sacred land.” 
It is signed by the patriarchs and heads of the churches in Jerusalem.
So what is this about?
We’ve heard a lot about Zionism — the nationalist ideology that arose in the 19th century and sought to return Jews to the Holy Land, where they had lived millennia earlier, though not in large numbers for quite some time. We’ve also heard about Christian Zionism, which is a specifically Christian theological take on that project.
<h3><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-1893-children-terrified-leftist-mob-storms-church-in-minneapolis?elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowHeadline=Recent+Episodes&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel">WATCH: The Michael Knowles Show</a></h3>
But who exactly are these “local individuals” sowing discord and undermining proper Christian authority?
I had to look into this, because as a Catholic I don’t exactly keep up with every niche Protestant trend. And I think the patriarchs are referring to a man named Robert Stearns, who styles himself “Bishop Robert Stearns.” He is not part of any Apostolic Christian community, but he calls himself a bishop anyway. He is also a vociferous advocate of Christian Zionism.
Here’s a sample of what he recently said:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
“Christian” Zionist Robert Stearns apologizes to Jews at Jerusalem Post conference for 2,000 years of “Christian history” hurting Jewish people.
He says it&#8217;s “irrelevant” if Jesus was the Messiah and claims to be part of a new Christian group “serving Zion.”
Follow: <a href="https://twitter.com/AFpost?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AFpost</a> <a href="https://t.co/aHhMgOfpA3">pic.twitter.com/aHhMgOfpA3</a>
— AF Post (@AFpost) <a href="https://twitter.com/AFpost/status/2011500100624040442?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Credit: @AFpost/X.com
I was trying to be sympathetic here, but this is just ridiculous. It violates the law of non-contradiction — a principle we’ve known about since at least Aristotle. Opposing statements cannot both be true in the same respect.
Christ’s return cannot be both His first coming and His second coming. It’s one or the other. And if you’re a Christian, I’m happy to break it to you: it will be the second coming. You actually have to believe that.
This attempt to be cute or accommodating doesn’t resolve anything. It just empties theology of meaning.
Stearns also claims that the existence of the modern State of Israel is of biblical and prophetic necessity — that it is required for the end times to unfold. I know plenty of people share this view. But here’s the thing: this theology is new. Really new. Less than two centuries old. It is not the traditional Christian position, and it is not the correct one.
Which brings us back to the Jerusalem statement.
Is it shocking? Is it anti-Israel? Is it a break with tradition?
No. Not at all.
In fact, the position expressed by the patriarchs lines up perfectly with long-standing Vatican teaching. Here is something from 1985 — forty years ago, and two decades after the Second Vatican Council. This declaration from the Vatican goes out of its way to speak respectfully of Jews and is in no way anti-Semitic:
<blockquote>The history of Israel did not end in 70 A.D., but continued, especially in the numerous diasporas, which led Israel to carry to the whole world a witness, often heroic, of its fidelity to the one God… while preserving the memory of the land of their forefathers at the heart of their hope.</blockquote>
That reference, by the way, is to the Passover Seder.
Notice what’s happening here. The Vatican is not talking about the Church as the new Israel — which Christians have always believed — but about the historical, earthly Israel of the Jewish people. It acknowledges their witness, their fidelity, and even their attachment to the land.
But then comes the key clarification:
<blockquote>Christians are invited to understand this religious attachment, which finds its roots in biblical tradition, without, however, making their own any particular religious interpretation of this relationship.</blockquote>
And just to make it unmistakable, the Vatican adds:
<blockquote>The existence of the State of Israel and its political options should be envisaged not in a perspective which is in itself religious, but in their reference to the common principles of international law.</blockquote>
Bingo.
That is exactly what the patriarchs of Jerusalem are reaffirming. And they are completely right.
This is why I would not call myself a Zionist, or a Christian Zionist, or any other kind of Zionist. Not because I dislike Jews — I don’t. Not because I oppose the State of Israel — I don’t.
I am broadly supportive of the nation-state of Israel but not because of Zionist religious claims, which I don’t believe are true. I do not believe Jews are entitled to the Holy Land because of a theological premise. As a Christian, I believe the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New Testament. Christ is the New Covenant. The Church is the spiritual Israel. Those Old Testament promises are fulfilled — not suspended, not postponed.
And I also don’t believe that occupying a piece of land 2,000 years ago grants a perpetual title deed. If that were the case, we’d have to hand Mount Rushmore back to the Lakota Sioux. I don’t believe that logic anywhere.
That said, I still broadly support Israel because I don’t like the alternatives. I don’t want Iran running the Holy Land. I don&#8217;t think the Muslims have been particularly protective of the holy sites. The Ottoman Empire is gone. Baldwin’s Kingdom of Jerusalem isn’t coming back anytime soon. The real-world options are limited.
From the standpoint of international law, the Jews were granted territory by the British Empire, recognized by the United Nations, and then defended it through war. Like it or not, under the modern nation-state system, that matters.
But that isn’t Zionism. And it certainly isn’t biblical prophecy.
You can support Israel without subscribing to the relatively novel theology of Christian Zionism. You can like Jews without turning geopolitics into eschatology.
I love the Jews. I grew up in New York. I’m extremely philosemitic. If you told me I had to choose between hanging out with the guys making pastrami sandwiches or the guys making shawarma, I’m choosing pastrami 100 times out of 100. Okay — 999 times out of 1,000.
And you can do that without embracing a theology invented in the 19th century and dressed up as ancient Christianity.
That is clearly what the patriarchs of Jerusalem are saying. And anyone pretending this is antisemitic, radical, or some kind of rupture with tradition is, frankly, completely insane.

Skyline of the Old City in Jerusalem from north, Israel.

Why Christian Zionism Is Not Traditional Christianity

Christianity

Jews

Michael Knowles

Zionism

Vice President JD Vance on Thursday visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, an ancient church in Jerusalem believed to be the site of both the crucifixion and tomb of Jesus Christ, and one of the holiest Christian sites in the world.
&#8220;What an amazing blessing to have visited the site of Christ&#8217;s death and resurrection,&#8221; the vice president said after his visit. &#8220;I am immensely grateful to the Greek, Armenian, and Catholic priests who care for this most sacred of places. May the Prince of Peace have mercy on us, and bless our efforts for peace.&#8221;
Vance, who is Catholic, spent about 90 minutes inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where he went to confession and attended a private mass.
<div id="attachment_990279" style="width: 394px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jd-vance-visits-the-site-of-jesus-christs-death-and-burial-in-jerusalem/g38xmdhwcaaczq2" rel="attachment wp-att-990279"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-990279" class="wp-image-990279 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/G38xMdHWcAACZq2-384x576.jpeg" alt="Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance tour the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, Thursday, October 23, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Emily J. Higgins.)" width="384" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/G38xMdHWcAACZq2-384x576.jpeg 384w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/G38xMdHWcAACZq2-200x300.jpeg 200w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/G38xMdHWcAACZq2-768x1151.jpeg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/G38xMdHWcAACZq2-1025x1536.jpeg 1025w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/G38xMdHWcAACZq2-1360x2040.jpeg 1360w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/G38xMdHWcAACZq2.jpeg 1366w" sizes=" (max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /></a>Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance tour the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, Thursday, October 23, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Emily J. Higgins.)</div>
The church not only holds the &#8220;Tomb of Christ,&#8221; which pilgrims venerate as the site of Jesus Christ&#8217;s burial and resurrection, but also &#8220;Golgatha&#8221; or Calvary, the site of the crucifixion, which pilgrims can climb to via a tall stairwell, the &#8220;Stone of the Anointing,&#8221; where Jesus Christ&#8217;s body is believed to have been prepared for burial, the &#8220;Prison of Christ,&#8221; where Jesus Christ is believed to have been held before he was crucified, the &#8220;Chapel of Adam,&#8221; below Golgatha, believed to be the location where the skull of Adam, documented in the Bible as the father of the human race, was buried.
Constantine the Great <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Holy-Sepulchre">originally built a church on that site</a>, which was dedicated about 336 AD, then burned by the Persians in the year 614 AD, restored by an abbot, destroyed again by an Islamic caliph around 1009, restored by a Byzantine emperor, further rebuilt by Crusaders in the 12th century, and preserved throughout the years until now. The current structure of the church is mostly<a href="https://holysepulchre.com/history"> dated to 1810.</a>
<div id="attachment_990273" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jd-vance-visits-the-site-of-jesus-christs-death-and-burial-in-jerusalem/v20251023eh-0961" rel="attachment wp-att-990273"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-990273" class="wp-image-990273 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/V20251023EH-0961-864x576.jpg" alt="Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance tourChurch of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, Thursday, October 23, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Emily J. Higgins.)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/V20251023EH-0961-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/V20251023EH-0961-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/V20251023EH-0961-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/V20251023EH-0961-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/V20251023EH-0961-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/V20251023EH-0961-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/V20251023EH-0961-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance tour the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, Thursday, October 23, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Emily J. Higgins.)</div>
Vance and his wife visited all the main sites inside the church, according to the vice president&#8217;s print pooler, beginning with the Stone of the Anointing, where a bishop laid out a red pillow for the vice president to kneel on. Vance knelt on the pillow, made the sign of the cross, bowed his head, put his hand on the slab, and prayed. His wife watched as her husband venerated the stone, where the body of Jesus Christ is believed to have been laid out as he was prepared for burial.
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📸 Vice President ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance</a>⁩ exits the Chapel of the Angel in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre <a href="https://t.co/H0wOerkCBa">pic.twitter.com/H0wOerkCBa</a>
— Luke Schroeder (@Luke__Schroeder) <a href="https://twitter.com/Luke__Schroeder/status/1981362288557719723?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
When the Vances went up to Calvary, they each lit a candle. They also lit candles downstairs in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, using a flame that is reportedly transferred by candle from Jesus Christ&#8217;s tomb to that spot every day, meaning that the flame on their candles had been within the tomb.
A bishop who spoke with Vance&#8217;s press pooler, Francesca Chambers of USA Today, shared that he was lighting two white candles from the flame that he intended to send back to the White House. That bishop was the superior of the Armenian side of the church.
&#8220;We are sending these lights to the White House,&#8221; the bishop told Chambers. &#8220;May God bless America, the United States and Armenia and our friendship.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_990275" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jd-vance-visits-the-site-of-jesus-christs-death-and-burial-in-jerusalem/v20251023eh-0297" rel="attachment wp-att-990275"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-990275" class="wp-image-990275 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/V20251023EH-0297-864x576.jpg" alt="Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance tourChurch of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, Thursday, October 23, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Emily J. Higgins.)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/V20251023EH-0297-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/V20251023EH-0297-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/V20251023EH-0297-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/V20251023EH-0297-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/V20251023EH-0297-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/V20251023EH-0297-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/V20251023EH-0297-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance tour the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, Thursday, October 23, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Emily J. Higgins.)</div>
Photos of the visit show Vance standing at the Calvary altar in apparent contemplation, lighting a candle, and speaking with the clergy who were guiding him throughout the Christian site.
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<div class="css-175oi2r r-1adg3ll r-1udh08x">&#8220;You guys have been protecting me from bumping my head,&#8221; he joked to the bishops. &#8220;You could join the Secret Service.&#8221;</div>
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Vance is now on his way back to the United States after his visit to Israel, where he slammed a vote in the Israeli Knesset on the annexation of the West Bank.
“The policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel. That will continue to be our policy,” Vance said before he boarded Air Force Two to return home. “And if people want to take symbolic votes, they can do that. But we certainly weren’t happy about it.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#8217;s office said in a statement that &#8220;the Knesset vote on annexation was a deliberate political provocation by the opposition to sow discord during Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Israel.&#8221;
&#8220;The two bills were sponsored by opposition members of the Knesset,&#8221; Netanyahu&#8217;s office said on Thursday. &#8220;The Likud party and the religious parties (the principal coalition members) did not vote for these bills, except for one disgruntled Likud member who was recently fired from the chairmanship of a Knesset committee. Without Likud support these bills are unlikely to go anywhere.&#8221;

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JD Vance Visits The Site Of Jesus Christ’s Death And Burial In Jerusalem

JD Vance

Usha Vance

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Rabbi Yehudah Glick, a former Israeli Knesset member and prominent advocate for Jewish prayer rights on the Temple Mount, has <a href="https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/414920">announced plans</a> to lead a prayer rally in honor of slain American conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Glick, himself a survivor of a 2014 assassination attempt, views Kirk’s death not only as a personal tragedy but as a symbolic attack on values they both championed — faith, freedom of speech, and biblical truth.
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In an emotional interview with Israel National News, Glick expressed deep sorrow over Kirk’s assassination, calling it “a personal shock” and a reminder of the dangers faced by those who speak openly about their values. Drawing a parallel between his own near-fatal shooting and Kirk’s targeted killing, Glick emphasized that people of faith and conviction are often the ones most vulnerable to extremist violence. “Who are the people that are targeted for assassination? It’s people who believe in freedom of speech, but also have truth and faith that they’re willing to speak about,” he said.
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Glick sees Kirk as more than a political figure — he represents a growing and powerful alliance between evangelical Christians and supporters of Israel. Glick described Kirk as a man who lived by biblical principles, including the sanctity of family and respect for religious tradition. He noted that Kirk had shown reverence for the Temple Mount and advocated for the right of all believers to pray there, regardless of faith.
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In tribute to Kirk’s legacy, Glick is organizing a joint Jewish-Christian prayer rally on the Temple Mount just before Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. He chose this symbolic date to align with themes of renewal, creation, and divine justice. The rally, he explained, will be a spiritual gathering of Jews and Christians “calling out together to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Glick’s goal is not only to honor Kirk but also to strengthen the interfaith alliance that he believes is critical to the future of Israel and the world.
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This move is deeply personal for Glick, whose activism has long centered on religious freedom and mutual respect among faiths. Despite <a href="https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/israel-middle-east/articles/yehuda-glick">surviving an attempt on his life</a> in 2014 — shot four times at close range by a Palestinian assailant who accused him of being an “enemy of Al-Aqsa” — Glick remains committed to nonviolence and dialogue. He rejects the notion that his vision for the Temple Mount excludes Muslims. Instead, he envisions it as a “world center for religious tolerance,” where Jews, Christians, and Muslims can all pray freely. “I respect their right to pray, and I don’t bother their prayer. And I expect them to respect my right to pray with them,” Glick stated.
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(For a comprehensive explanation of the centrality of the Temple Mount for Jews, see <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-temple-mount-is-judaisms-holiest-site-and-it-always-has-been-heres-everything-you-need-to-know">here.</a>)
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Glick’s experience of surviving the assassination attempt — an attack that left him severely wounded and hospitalized for weeks — has only strengthened his determination. He continues to lead efforts for greater Jewish access to the Temple Mount and now sees the momentum shifting. Where once he was a lone voice in the religious community, today thousands of Jews, including prominent rabbis, have joined the movement. Glick also founded the organization HaLiba (“The Heart”) and leads tours of the Temple Mount, promoting a peaceful Jewish presence there.
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He is also deeply involved in humanitarian work through Amitim, an Israeli organization supporting widows and orphans. In light of Kirk’s death, Glick sees renewed urgency in supporting families shattered by violence — whether in Israel or abroad.
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Ultimately, Glick’s decision to lead a prayer rally for Kirk is a culmination of his life’s mission: promoting interfaith unity, freedom of worship, and peace through shared biblical values. By bringing Jews and Christians together at the holiest site in Judaism, Glick hopes to send a message that the values Kirk stood for — faith, family, truth, and freedom — will not be silenced, but elevated through prayer, solidarity, and mutual respect.
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ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN-JERUSALEM-RELIGION-AL AQSA

Rabbi Who Took 4 Bullets For Religious Freedom To Honor Charlie Kirk With Prayer Rally In Jerusalem

Charlie Kirk

Prayer

A brutal terror attack shook northern Jerusalem on Monday morning when two Palestinian gunmen opened fire on a crowded city bus at Ramot Junction. The attack, carried out on Line 62 as the bus reached the junction, left <a href="https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-866707">at least s</a><a href="https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-866707">ix people dead </a><a href="https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-866707">and dozens more wounded</a>. Witnesses and authorities described a chaotic and horrifying scene with multiple casualties and widespread panic.
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At least 15 people were injured in a shooting in the Ramot area of Jerusalem. 2 terrorists were neutralized. <a href="https://t.co/1u0vmWt132">pic.twitter.com/1u0vmWt132</a>
— Amit Segal (@AmitSegal) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmitSegal/status/1964951818288632129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Some media outlets <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/deadly-jerusalem-bus-station-shooting-police/story?id=125353564">reported</a> that the attack took place at a bus stop before passengers boarded.
Among those killed were Yaakov Pinto (25), an immigrant from Spain who had recently married; Rabbi Levi Yitzhak Pash, a yeshiva teacher; Israel Mentzer (28) and Yosef David (43), both residents of Ramot. Later, two other victims, including a woman in her 50s, succumbed to their injuries after being transported to hospitals. At least 21 people were injured, with several in critical or serious condition. The wounded were taken to Shaare Zedek Medical Center and Hadassah-University Hospitals in Ein Kerem and Mount Scopus.
A soldier and several civilians returned fire, killing the two terrorists at the scene. The attackers were later identified as being in their twenties and from Palestinian towns El-Kubeiba and Katanna, near Ramallah. Both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad praised the attack.
Emergency responders described a scene of carnage. Magen David Adom (MDA) paramedics arrived rapidly, finding victims scattered across the road, sidewalks, and near the bus stop. “There was a lot of destruction, shattered glass, and people lying unconscious,” said MDA paramedic Nadav Taib. Multiple paramedics described working on critically wounded victims, including elderly individuals and young adults. MDA and United Hatzalah teams coordinated rapid evacuation efforts, with some victims receiving treatment on-site and others being transported under emergency conditions.
ZAKA volunteer Shimi Grossman <a href="https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-866716">described</a> the area as a “battlefield,” with dozens of terrified civilians pointing out the wounded and multiple bodies near a bullet-ridden bus.
Israeli security forces sealed off Jerusalem, shutting down Highway 1 and launching a full-scale manhunt for any accomplices. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) dispatched four companies to Ramallah and surrounding villages for raids, interrogations, and area lockdowns. Authorities are working under the assumption that the attack might have involved logistical support or planning from others. “The Shin Bet security agency has arrested a resident of East Jerusalem on suspicion of helping carry out this morning’s deadly shooting attack in Jerusalem, Channel 12 reports,” The Times of Israel <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-september-8-2025/">reported</a>.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu <a href="https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-866735">visited the scene</a> shortly after the attack. “We are in an intense war against terror on several fronts,” he declared. He praised the heroism of those who acted quickly, including an ultra-Orthodox soldier from the Hashmonaim Battalion who helped neutralize the attackers. Netanyahu vowed to continue military operations in Gaza, Judea, and Samaria, promising that such attacks would only strengthen Israel’s resolve.
President Isaac Herzog condemned the attack as an act of “absolute evil” and highlighted the bravery of civilians and responders. “In the face of this barbarity, we saw extraordinary acts of heroism,” he said. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, speaking from Budapest, urged the international community to make a clear choice between supporting Israel or siding with jihadist terrorism.
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This is the evil Israel faces. Two terrorists opened fire on a bus in Jerusalem — targeting passengers, bystanders, anyone in reach.
5 murdered. Over a dozen wounded.
The war Israel fights is for all who stand against terror. <a href="https://t.co/bjz1zdkii7">pic.twitter.com/bjz1zdkii7</a>
&mdash; Israel ישראל (@Israel) <a href="https://twitter.com/Israel/status/1964984409343590658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Reuters: Calls it a “suspected” shooting attack in Jerusalem.
BBC: Puts “terrorists” in quotation marks.
Reuters: “The bus was on a street that leads to Jewish settlements.”
You can’t hate legacy media enough. <a href="https://t.co/kNTxas0WeV">pic.twitter.com/kNTxas0WeV</a>
&mdash; The Persian Jewess (@persianjewess) <a href="https://twitter.com/persianjewess/status/1964998097798643938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Did you know the Palestinian Authority (not even Hamas) pays its people to murder Jews?
The PA claims to have curbed the practice earlier this year in order to keep millions in U.S. Foreign Aid flowing, but all they did was add a requirement for families of these terrorists to… <a href="https://t.co/6WxWJi5C4b">https://t.co/6WxWJi5C4b</a>
— Joel Berry (@JoelWBerry) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoelWBerry/status/1965017255365705936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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5 murdered in a terrorist attack in Jerusalem this morning
The man who will financially reward the families of the killers is being treated to a warm welcome by 🇬🇧 PM Starmer today <a href="https://t.co/wXngIUUJnG">pic.twitter.com/wXngIUUJnG</a>
&mdash; Laura Cellier (@laura_i24) <a href="https://twitter.com/laura_i24/status/1964968625313583125?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Palestinian terrorist attacks against Israelis have been common for decades. Among the myriad cases were the 2011 <a href="https://www.idf.il/en/mini-sites/palestinian-terrorism/today-we-remember-the-fogel-family-massacre/">massacre</a> of the Fogel family, whose father, mother, two sons, 11 and 4, as well as their three month-old sister, who was stabbed in her crib, were killed in their home; the abduction and murder of three teenage boys, Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaer, and Naftali Frankel, who were hitchhiking in Gush Etztion in 2014, and before that, of course, the Second Intifada.
According to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Institute_for_Counter-Terrorism">International Institute for Counter-Terrorism</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_casualties_in_the_Second_Intifada">during</a> the Second Intifada, 887 of the 1,137 Israelis killed in attacks from September 2000 to 2005 were civilians.
Just between May 2001 and May 2002, prior to the bombing at Hebrew University, there were these massacres: five Israelis murdered by a suicide bomber at the HaSharon Mall in May 2001; 21 Israelis murdered by a suicide bomber at the Dolphinarium Discotheque in June 2001; 15 Israelis murdered by a suicide bomber at Sbarro’s Pizza in August 2001, including six children and a 31-year-old woman who was the only child of her parents and was five months pregnant; 11 Israelis murdered in a bus bombing on Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem on December 1, 2001; 15 more Israelis murdered the very next day in a Haifa suicide bombing; 11 more Israelis murdered in a bus attack 10 days later in Immanuel; six Israelis murdered in an attack at a bat-mitzvah in January 2002; 11 more Jews killed in an attack on a yeshiva in March 2002, including a five-month-old child; 11 Jews murdered in a bombing at Café Moment in March 2002; 30 Israelis killed as they celebrated Passover in Netanya on March 27, 2002; 16 Israelis murdered in a suicide bombing four days later at the Matza restaurant, and 16 Israelis murdered in Rishon LeZion in May 2002.

Shooting in Jerusalem

Palestinian Terror Attack Kills Six In Jerusalem, Injures Dozens

Palestinians

Terrorism

Terrorists

World

Conservative Argentinian President Javier Milei, a staunch supporter of the state of Israel, announced on Wednesday that Argentina will move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, declaring, “In a world of cowards, Israel bravely defends its right to exist. Argentina will not stand aside; we will support Israel with all our strength.”
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🇦🇷 🇮🇱 BREAKING: Argentina&#39;s President Javier Milei just announced that Argentina will move its embassy to Jerusalem, the capital of Israel.
“Argentina will support Israel with all our force.”
A true friend of Israel and the Jewish people. <a href="https://t.co/5W24PyizEB">pic.twitter.com/5W24PyizEB</a>
&mdash; Vivid.🇮🇱 (@VividProwess) <a href="https://twitter.com/VividProwess/status/1932860383527661714?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&quot;En un mundo de cobardes, Israel defiende con valentía su derecho a existir.. Argentina no se quedará al margen, apoyaremos a Israel con todas nuestras fuerzas&quot;. 🇮🇱🫂🇦🇷 <a href="https://t.co/HsvFw5qisV">https://t.co/HsvFw5qisV</a>
&mdash; Marina (@Marinabiagettii) <a href="https://twitter.com/Marinabiagettii/status/1932886137393078758?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
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“The Argentine embassy will move to Jerusalem during the year 2026,” Milei <a href="https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/409815">announced</a> in the Knesset. “My brothers and sisters, Argentina stands by you in these difficult days. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for much of the international community that is being manipulated by terrorists and turning victims into perpetrators. It is important to understand that we are in the midst of a battle between good and evil, and we began to lose this battle when we began to not distinguish between the two. The international community must urgently reconnect with its moral compass. To decide, one only needs to look at the facts: on the one hand, the barbaric terrorism that only kills and destroys, and on the other, the only stronghold in the region where there is freedom and democracy.&#8221;
&#8220;Javier, you are a true friend,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated. “With this visit, we are bringing our relations to new heights. 12,000 kilometers separate Buenos Aires, Israel, and the Knesset in Jerusalem. This great distance is compensated for by the closeness of our hearts.&#8221;
&#8220;A year and a half ago, you stormed into the presidency of your country,” he noted. “You brought a unique, authentic and decisive leadership style. A sweeping style, and from the very first moment you expressed complete support for Israel. For 20 months, we have been fighting the human monsters who kidnapped, raped, and beheaded on October 7. In the face of this brutal and unprecedented aggression, you said in clear words, ‘We are on your side in the battle against the forces of darkness.’ Thank you for standing by us in the battle against the forces of darkness. You stood on the side of truth and against lies, understanding that this is a just war beyond compare. This is a war of barbarity that threatens the entire world.&#8221;
&#8220;You share our spirit against those who issue outrageous arrest warrants for leaders in Israel. What are you actually saying? You are saying that good is good, evil is evil, and good must eradicate evil. Israeli citizens feel a natural sympathy for Argentina for many reasons. Argentina has always been engraved in our hearts,&#8221; Netanyahu said.
Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana noted that Milei learns weekly with a rabbi, saying, “These, as you’ve said, have given you ‘a moral compass lacking in the modern political world.’ You searched, you deepened, you found your roots. And in doing so, you discovered the truth that connects our people across millennia to our ancient homeland and to our one and only eternal capital.”
“It is no surprise that you have become one of Israel’s most passionate friends and defenders on the world stage,” Ohana continued. “Your words have resonated far and wide and have been received by the people of Israel like cold water to a parched soul — words backed by actions. You have stood against Iran — the regime of evil funding the current war against Israel on seven fronts.”
“By standing with Israel, you have woven yourself and the Argentine people into the eternal story of the Jewish nation. On behalf of the Knesset, representing all citizens of Israel — thank you. Long live the State of Israel; long live Argentina, long live liberty!” Ohana concluded.

TOPSHOT-ISRAEL-ARGENTINA-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY-PARLIAMENT

Milei Moves Embassy To Jerusalem: ‘In A World Of Cowards, Israel Bravely Defends Its Right To Exist’

Argentina

Benjamin Netanyahu

Embassy

Javier Milei

Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s call to shut down the Office of Palestinian Affairs (OPA) and consolidate its operations into the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem is a timely and welcome move that restores clarity and coherence to American diplomacy in the region. The decision not only aligns with U.S. law and longstanding policy, but also reflects a realistic appraisal of the current geopolitical landscape.
The OPA operated as a quasi-independent diplomatic mission to the Palestinian Authority, with its head reporting directly to the State Department rather than to the U.S. Ambassador in Jerusalem. Its presence in the heart of Jerusalem, separate from the embassy, created confusion about America’s stance on the city’s status and appeared to circumvent both Israeli sovereignty and the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, which recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and directs that the U.S. embassy be located there.
This arrangement wasn’t new. The Trump administration closed the OPA in 2019 for precisely these reasons, merging its responsibilities into the newly established U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. That decision was consistent with President Trump’s broader effort to reshape American policy in the Middle East by acknowledging geopolitical realities rather than clinging to outdated diplomatic frameworks.
When the Biden administration reopened the OPA in 2022, it reignited controversy. The move was met with strong opposition from Israel, which declined to grant the office formal diplomatic status. The OPA resumed operations nonetheless, conducting outreach to the Palestinian Authority while sidestepping coordination with the embassy. In one notable instance, the office called for Israeli “restraint” in its response to the October 2023 Hamas attacks, just a day after the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Such unilateral statements only deepened concerns about the office’s role and legitimacy.
Moreover, the OPA’s treatment of American citizens — particularly dual Israeli-American nationals — raised serious questions. Reports that such individuals were denied consular services through the OPA, and instead redirected to other diplomatic channels, suggested a politicized approach to basic diplomatic duties.
If the United States wishes to maintain constructive relations with the Palestinian people, those efforts should be directed either through the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem or through a diplomatic office in Ramallah, where the Palestinian Authority is based. The OPA’s placement in Jerusalem signaled an unresolved stance on the city’s status — a stance that contradicts both American law and policy.
Secretary Rubio’s proposal to close the OPA and fold its functions into the existing embassy structure is a common-sense step that reflects the reality on the ground. It reinforces the U.S.–Israel alliance, upholds American law, and eliminates a source of unnecessary diplomatic friction. It also brings U.S. policy in line with a broader strategic vision — one that prioritizes stability, mutual recognition, and pragmatic engagement over symbolic gestures.
The Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy (JCAP), among others, has long called for this change. Their conversations with members of Congress and the administration emphasized not only the legal inconsistencies of the OPA but also its potential to undermine both Israeli sovereignty and American credibility in the region.
Going forward, additional policy adjustments should follow this logic. Suspending aid and even shutting down UNRWA, reviewing funding for UNESCO and other UN agencies that undermine Israel’s sovereignty, and supporting Israel’s development efforts in Jerusalem are all aligned with a coherent and values-driven U.S. foreign policy. These steps reinforce not only America’s partnership with Israel but also its broader interest in a secure and stable Middle East.
Secretary Rubio’s leadership on this issue marks a step toward restoring diplomatic focus and credibility. In a region long burdened by ambiguity and contradiction, such clarity is both overdue and necessary.
* * *
Chaim Silberstein is the Founder and President of the Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy (JCAP.ngo), where Rabbi Steven Pruzansky, Esq. serves as Senior Research Associate.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
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Rubio’s Closure Of Palestinian Affairs Office Marks A Needed Return To Diplomatic Clarity

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The following is an excerpt taken from the new book &#8220;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/American-Intifada-Israel-Gaza-Antisemitism/dp/1645721043" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/American-Intifada-Israel-Gaza-Antisemitism/dp/1645721043&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746710590956000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3mFFTED3ygh0ikPBCW2jlP">American Intifada: </a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/American-Intifada-Israel-Gaza-Antisemitism/dp/1645721043" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/American-Intifada-Israel-Gaza-Antisemitism/dp/1645721043&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746710590956000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3mFFTED3ygh0ikPBCW2jlP">Israel, the Gaza War and the new Antisemitism</a>,&#8221; by Uri Kaufman. (Republic Book Publishers/Simon &amp; Schuster, April 29, 2025)
* * *
<h3>Bill Clinton, George Mitchell, and a Tale of Two Peace Processes</h3>
Prime Minister Netanyahu assumed office on June 18, 1996, and immediately set out to do the job the Israeli public elected him to do. When forced to choose, Rabin and Peres always made sure the cart was in front of the horse. First, one had to implement the two-state solution, and then Israel would (hopefully) get security. Under Netanyahu, the cart and the horse were put back into their rightful places. First, Israel had to get security, and then he would implement the two-state solution. In Netanyahu’s words, “One of the key goals in my first term as prime minister was to change the Palestinian perception that ‘terrorism pays’ to ‘terrorism doesn’t pay.’ I did this by insisting on security and reciprocity.”<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1">[1]</a>
He was tested almost immediately. On September 24, 1996, Netanyahu gave authorization to unseal the door to a tunnel that ran along the outer rim of Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. The door was nowhere near any mosque and opened into the Christian Quarter of the Old City. But Arafat, a human mushroom cloud, ordered his men to go on the attack using the very guns the Israelis had given them as part of the Oslo Accords, ostensibly to fight terrorism.<a href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2">[2]</a> By the time the mini-war ended, seventeen Israelis and about a hundred Palestinians were dead.<a href="#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3">[3]</a>
Thousands of wars have been fought since mankind became cognizant of territory and the desire to control it — none were started over a door. Admittedly, this wasn’t just any door, just as the Wailing Wall isn’t just any wall. But for its American and Israeli champions, the peace process was supposed to be the forum for settling disputes, not the battlefield.
Clinton Administration officials blamed Netanyahu.
<div id="attachment_917131" style="width: 417px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/American-Intifada-Israel-Gaza-Antisemitism/dp/1645721043"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-917131" class="wp-image-917131 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-07-May-2025-11-37-AM-2988-407x576.jpg" alt="Cover Design: Jim Villaflores. Republic Book Publishers" width="407" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-07-May-2025-11-37-AM-2988-407x576.jpg 407w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-07-May-2025-11-37-AM-2988-212x300.jpg 212w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-07-May-2025-11-37-AM-2988-768x1086.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-07-May-2025-11-37-AM-2988-1086x1536.jpg 1086w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-07-May-2025-11-37-AM-2988-1448x2048.jpg 1448w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/MixCollage-07-May-2025-11-37-AM-2988-scaled.jpg 1810w" sizes=" (max-width: 407px) 100vw, 407px" /></a>Cover Design: Jim Villaflores. Republic Book Publishers</div>
They called for a summit where they demanded that Netanyahu make concessions. When he resisted, Clinton went into a dark rage so loud it could be heard in the next room. In the words of Dennis Ross, “Arafat now knew that Bibi was the desperate one.”<a href="#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4">[4]</a> Violence was thus not only tolerated — it was rewarded.
When a semblance of security was eventually restored, Netanyahu advanced the peace process. He agreed to not one but two interim withdrawals — the Hebron Accords and the Wye River Memorandum — but he steadfastly insisted that progress be conditioned on Arafat fighting terrorism. American officials were outraged. After Netanyahu demanded that Arafat arrest thirteen suspected terrorists, Clinton “exploded,” according to Ross, who wrote bemusedly that he was “struck by [Netanyahu’s] belief that&#8230;he was the victim of mistreatment.”<a href="#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5">[5]</a> On another occasion, Ross writes that the Clinton Administration saw Bibi’s complaints over a bombing as “an excuse to avoid negotiations” and that Bibi was “killing any prospect of peace.”<a href="#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6">[6]</a>
Meanwhile, the stubborn insistence on that which is most basic in a peace process — namely peace — paid off for ordinary Israelis. During the long, seemingly unending terror campaign that defined the Oslo Peace Process, the lowest loss of life occurred during the premiership of Netanyahu. Only one Israeli died per month on his watch. For Peres, the figures were seven and a half times worse.<a href="#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7">[7]</a>
<div id="attachment_917179" style="width: 883px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-917179" class="size-large wp-image-917179" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1147679-873x576.jpg" alt="President Clinton (R) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sit on a deck along the banks of the Wye River at the Wye River Plantation where peace talks continue between Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for the third straight day at the secluded Maryland site October 18, 1998. (photo by White House)" width="873" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1147679-873x576.jpg 873w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1147679-300x198.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1147679-768x507.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-1147679.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 873px) 100vw, 873px" />President Clinton (R) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sit on a deck along the banks of the Wye River in Maryland, October 18, 1998. (photo by White House)</div>
The Wye agreement — which required a sizeable withdrawal from West Bank territory by the Israelis — proved Netanyahu’s commitment to the peace process, at least while Israeli buses and pizzerias weren’t being blown to bits. Signed on October 23, 1998, it caused his right-wing coalition partners to bring down the government and trigger early elections.<a href="#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8">[8]</a> By now, the Israeli public felt safer and, thus, more willing to take chances for peace. On May 17, 1999, Ehud Barak defeated Netanyahu in a historic landslide. At the time, it was the widest margin ever scored by an Israeli challenger over an incumbent.<a href="#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9">[9]</a>
The Israeli peace camp was jubilant. One left-wing activist said it was as if they had been freed from a foreign occupation.<a href="#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10">[10]</a> The great obstacle to peace was removed — now they could finalize a deal with the Palestinians. The cart was finally back in front of the horse.
What happened next was probably inevitable. Barak formed his pro-peace government in July; Palestinian terrorists murdered three Israelis in August.<a href="#_ftn11" name="_ftnref11">[11]</a> Through it all, Washington pressed the Israelis to continue the peace process and all the interim withdrawals that it entailed.<a href="#_ftn12" name="_ftnref12">[12]</a>
To halt the transfer of territory to the Palestinians and end the talks would “give the terrorists what they wanted.” Israel’s intelligence service issued a classified report in late 1999 predicting that Arafat would go to war because Jerusalem would be blamed for it one way or the other.<a href="#_ftn13" name="_ftnref13">[13]</a>
* * *
Uri Kaufman is the author of  &#8220;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/American-Intifada-Israel-Gaza-Antisemitism/dp/1645721043" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/American-Intifada-Israel-Gaza-Antisemitism/dp/1645721043&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746710590956000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3mFFTED3ygh0ikPBCW2jlP">American Intifada: </a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/American-Intifada-Israel-Gaza-Antisemitism/dp/1645721043" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/American-Intifada-Israel-Gaza-Antisemitism/dp/1645721043&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1746710590956000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3mFFTED3ygh0ikPBCW2jlP">Israel, the Gaza War and the new Antisemitism.</a>&#8221; His work has appeared in Foreign Affairs, Newsweek, The Jerusalem Post, The Independent, and numerous other publications. He lives in Lawrence, New York with his wife and four children.
This excerpt is published by permission from Republic Book Publishers/Simon &amp; Schuster.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
* * *
<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
<a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a> See, e.g., The New York Times, February 7, 2023, p. A5; October 26, 2022, p. A4.
<a href="#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2">[2]</a> The New York Times, December 26, 2021, p. 4.
<a href="#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3">[3]</a> “Hamas In Its Own Words,” ADL website, January 10, 2024, https://www.adl.org/resources/blog/hamas-its-own-words.
<a href="#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4">[4]</a> Ambassador Mark A. Green, “Hamas: Words and Deeds&#8230;,” The Wilson Center, October 24, 2023, https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/hamas-words-and-deeds.
<a href="#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5">[5]</a> “The Truth Is Hard” brand campaign for New York Times, Droga5, https://droga5.com/work/the-new-york-times-truth-is-worth-it/.
<a href="#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6">[6]</a> Alessandra Stanley, “A Terrorist, Plain-Spoken and Cold,” The New York Times, April 18, 2010, https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/19/arts/television/19mcveigh.html?searchResultPosition=5.
<a href="#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7">[7]</a> The New York Times, April 20, 2019, p. D6.
<a href="#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8">[8]</a> The New York Times, July 23, 2023, p. 8.
<a href="#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9">[9]</a> Jeremy Scahill et al, “Between the Hammer and the Anvil,” The Intercept, February 28, 2024, https://theintercept.com/2024/02/28/new-york-times-anat-schwartz-october-7/.
<a href="#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10">[10]</a> Dionne Searcey, “They Ordered Her to Be a Suicide Bomber. She Had Another Idea,” The New York Times, March 13, 2020, <a href="https://www.nytimes">https://www.nytimes</a>.com/2020/03/13/world/africa/Nigeria-Boko-Haram-bomber.html.
<a href="#_ftnref11" name="_ftn11">[11]</a> See, e.g., “U.S. Confirms Yemen Killing of Terrorist,” The New York Times, February 7, 2020, p. A7.
<a href="#_ftnref12" name="_ftn12">[12]</a> “CNN anchor Amanpour apologizes for calling terror attack on Dee family a ‘shootout,’” The Times of Israel, May 23, 2023, https://www.timesofisrael.com/cnn-anchor-amanpour-apologizes-for-calling-terror-attack-on-dee-family-a-shootout/.
<a href="#_ftnref13" name="_ftn13">[13]</a> Avnery, Optimi II, p. 64

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