Black Community News News and Commentary for Christians
Shalom from Israel! What a wild time it has been recently in this consistently interesting nation. One of the most fascinating occurrences from this past week was a countrywide shift back towards normalcy. This time last year, children in the north of Israel near the borders with Lebanon and Syria, others in the south of the country closer to Gaza, and those of Judea and Samaria didn’t begin school at the beginning of September as they normally did. The war was still strong and the danger too great.
This year was much different. As was scheduled on the academic calendar, schools all over the country opened on Monday, September 1, just as they were scheduled to do. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was joined by Education Minister Yoav Kisch at the Menachem Begin Elementary School in a town overlooking the city of Nazareth. President Isaac Herzog visited several schools, including a Druze school in the Golan Heights. Even U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee joined in the celebration, stopping by the Eshkol Elementary School just a few miles east of Gaza.
Another sign of Israel’s growing peace took place about 40 kilometers away from Ambassador Huckabee’s visit at the Nahal Oz kibbutz. Located along the border with Gaza, for years cement barriers surrounded the community to protect the residents from random shots fired from the Palestinian side of the border. On October 7, 2023, the kibbutz and its adjoining military base were attacked by Hamas terrorists, resulting in the deaths of 53 soldiers and 17 civilians and security officers, with 10 soldiers and eight civilians taken hostage. Three days ago, however, in a demonstration of Israel’s new command over the whole area, the long-standing cement barriers were removed from Nahal Oz. What a remarkable, miraculous turn of events!
“You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’—to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land.” (Ezekiel 38:11-12)
These words were prophetically spoken by God to Gog, of the land of Magog, a nation currently known as Russia. The Lord is telling how He will bring Russia and its allies – Turkey, Iran, and others – down to invade Israel. And how is Israel described? As a place of peace, where people can live without fear or the need to hide behind walls or bars or gates. Not only did the Lord miraculously bring His people back into the land, as He promised He would do in Ezekiel 36-37, but now for the first time in the reestablished State of Israel’s history we no longer have to fear our neighbors. Yes, the leadership of our government has had a hand in it, as has the dogged commitment of the courageous members of the IDF. But if you really want to see who has brought this peace about, you will find that answer in the book of Ezekiel when God says, “Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
MidEast & Beyond
Because we always want to keep our content fresh and user friendly at Behold Israel, we aren’t afraid to occasionally shake things up. With this newsletter, we will strive to make it easier to read by cutting down on the verbiage. I’ll focus primarily on the headline, give a short blurb about the story, and then, with many, I’ll include a link for you to follow if you want more information. Remember, there are two other sources we provide from which you can get in-depth news. First, there are the weekly MidEast & Beyond Updates. And, second, there is my Telegram channel which is constantly being updated throughout the day. That’s three resources that allow you to follow what is happening in the Middle East and the world, and I would encourage you to make use of them. This is especially true over the next 60 days. Based on all that I know, September is likely to bring what can best be described as a political tsunami, followed immediately by a military tidal wave in October. These next two months can quite possibly shape the world to come in a very profound way.
The IDF’s Move toward Gaza City
The IDF is about to begin its ground maneuver in Gaza City, and Israel is encouraging the 800,000 residents of the city to flee south to safety while they still can. Unfortunately, many of the 70,000-80,000 who are attempting to escape are being turned around along the way by Hamas soldiers who don’t want to lose their human shields.
IDF Reservists Answer the Call
A call went out for 40,000 IDF reserve soldiers to report for duty for the final phase of war in Gaza. For many, this was already their third, fourth, or fifth round of service during the past two years. By the time the deadline came, everyone had showed up.
The Truthful Death of a Propaganda Giant
Hudahaifa Kahlout, more commonly known by his nom de guerre Abu Obaidah, was one of the greatest weapons in Hamas’s arsenal. He was the chief propagandist for the terrorist group, operating a team of more than 1500 PSYOP agents. It was Abu Obaidah who was behind Gaza’s fake famine and fake genocide, and he was preparing a new campaign linking the IDF soldiers invading Gaza City to mass executions. Interestingly, it was a call about a fake news story over the weekend regarding the fictitious kidnapping of four IDF soldiers that allowed him to be traced, tracked down, and eliminated.
Trump’s Plan for Post-War Gaza is Huge
Tourism, technology, smart cities, digital tokens for housing – these are all part of the 38-page plan the Trump administration has released for what a post-war Gaza might look like. Citizens who aren’t fans of the new plan would be allowed to emigrate with $5,000 cash, food for a year, and four years of rent money. The new Gaza would depend on $100 billion of private investment and could turn the coastline into a new riviera.
Israeli Minister Plans to Annex Most of the West Bank
Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has drawn up plans for Judea and Samaria that would ultimately annex 82% to Israel. While six major cities would continue to belong to the Palestinians, the remainder would be open to Israeli settlement. It’s unclear where the rest of the government stands on this issue, and some of Israel’s Abraham Accords friends, like the United Arab Emirates, have warned against the move.
Houthis are Collapsing in Yemen
It was a bad week for Yemen. After two years of steady attacks on Israel, the IDF struck back against the Houthis on Thursday in a decisive way. In Operation Drop of Luck, the Israeli military located a villa in which almost the entirety of the Houthi government and leadership were meeting. One bunker buster bomb later, 20 terrorists were killed and dozens more were wounded. Among the dead were the Houthi Prime Minister and at least nine ministers from his cabinet. With the head of the snake removed, the rest of the serpent is flailing. The few leaders who are left are fleeing Sana’a. Just a reminder, these men were a legitimate target. They may have all had their “minister” titles, but they were not a legitimate government. They were simply terrorists who wore suits that were bought and paid for with Iranian money.
Iraq is not off Israel’s Hook
Iraq is looking at the Houthis and getting a little nervous at what might be coming their way. Over 300 rockets and drones were launched from Iraq into Israel during this war. One deadly strike hit the Golan Heights in October 2024, killing two Israeli soldiers. Now, Iran-backed militias in Iraq are bracing for Israel’s response. The atmosphere in Baghdad feels like the eve of the Gulf War: everyone knows a strike is coming, it’s only a matter of time.
The IDF’s Work in Lebanon is Far from Done
Just yesterday, the IDF killed two militants in Lebanon. The day before, the Israeli Air Force targeted a facility used for the production of equipment aiding Hezbollah. It’s time the Lebanese government steps up and finally shuts this terrorist group down.
Iran Makes a “Just in Case” Move of Nuclear Cooling Systems
In preparation for a possible follow-up attack on their nuclear plants by Israel, Iran has dismantled and moved the cooling systems from the Natanz uranium enrichment facility. Probably a wise move. But, Iran shouldn’t get too comfortable. The Mossad has enough assets in the country that we’ll very quickly know wherever the cooling systems end up.
Syria Exports Oil for the First Time in more than a Decade
Syria used to export 380,000 barrels of oil per day in 2010. Then former president Bashar al-Assad’s horrible leadership shot the whole country in their collective foot, sparking a 14-year civil war and closing down the oil exporting business. On Monday, however, the oil business kicked off again when 600,000 barrels left the port of Tartus as part of a deal with B Serve Energy. That should be enough to buy the new terrorist president a few more fancy suits.
Fiji to Open an Embassy in Jerusalem
On September 17, Fiji will become the seventh nation to open an embassy in Jerusalem, the true capital of Israel. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will be on hand for the momentous event. Thanks, Fiji, for doing the right thing. Maybe someday I can come and hold a week-long beach conference on your beautiful island!
The Ministry
It is just over a month before my next book, Exploring Ezekiel, will be released. God wants us to know Him, a fact He makes perfectly clear throughout Ezekiel’s prophetic book. Using incredible visions, practical demonstrations, graphic language, and devastating punishments, the Lord shows who He is in ways a reader cannot soon forget. Then, He puts Israel in an impossible situation that is only survivable through a miraculous intervention. Finally, He sums it all up with a look at His thousand-year reign when He won’t need to describe Himself to us anymore because we’ll be able to see Him face to face. Ezekiel is a wonderful book, and I’d encourage you to preorder your copy of Exploring Ezekiel today.
I’ve got great news for those of you who have felt a longing to see the land of the Scriptures. Registration for our Behold Israel 2026 tours is now open. Five options are available to help you fit this amazing, perspective-changing event into your schedule – February, May, October, November, and December. Not only will you see the traditional sites you’ve only read about in the Bible, you’ll hear deep insights regarding the locations you visit and experience life-changing teachings from the Word of God. Don’t wait long, because the spots always fill up fast. To see where you might fit in, check out our website for details. I look forward to seeing you here in Israel!
And speaking of tours, a disturbing trend is sweeping across America’s universities. Gen Z is being indoctrinated in classrooms that fuel radical, extremist ideologies—and the results are shocking. Recent polls reveal that 60% of those aged 18–24 openly support Hamas over Israel. If you feel compelled to engage in this battle with us, we facilitate a Young Adults Bible Experience Tour every year, and we have a scholarship fund that provides the means to send young people to experience the land of the Bible for themselves and testify to the truth regarding Israel. If the Lord is leading you to partner with us, you can do so HERE.
Time is short to register for the Discovering Daniel conference on Friday, September 26, at Birchman Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. The Saturday conference is already sold out, so don’t wait too long. This will be the first time on US soil that Pastor Barry Stagner and I will teach through the entire amazing book of Daniel in a single day. Register today to join us!
The next weekend, Pastor Barry and I will join Dr. Mark Hitchcock at Abundant Life Church in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, for two days of Awaiting His Return conferences. These are also return visits, and I can’t wait to see everyone again. The dates are October 3 and 4, and there are still places available on both days, so sign up today!
Keep up to date with all the CONNECT viewing options by checking out our Live Online Events page on the website.
• Public Reading of Scripture – Thursday, September 4, 6:00 PM PDT
• Weekly Prayer Meeting, a very special time praying with others from around the world – Friday, September 5, 10:00 AM PDT
• Explore the Bible: Interpreting the Bible Historically, with Dr. Rick Yohn and me – Tuesday, September 9, 10:00 AM PDT
• MidEast & Beyond Update, with Pastor Barry Stagner and me – Wednesday, September 10, 10:00 AM PDT
As I mentioned above, we are always looking for ways to make Behold Israel as relevant, educational, and easy to use as possible. Our goal is to be in the center of God’s will, constantly ready to pivot, change, and adapt whenever and however He wants. Please pray for us as we examine how we do things so that we don’t miss any opportunity that the Lord might present to us to be a better resource to you.
Thank you again for your prayers and your financial gifts to this ministry. May the Lord fill you with His peace and His grace in the week to come.
Awaiting His Return,
Amir Tsarfati
Amir Tsarfati, a Jewish Christian, is the founder and president of Behold Israel, a news site to correct the scarcity in trustworthy reportage on issues and events impacting Israel, and to resolve the uncertainty about who or what to believe.
The views expressed in opinion articles are solely those of the author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by Black Community News.
