125 years ago--Pennsylvania Presbyterians criticize Sunday session of Congress

On Monday, March 4, 1901, William McKinley was inaugurated into his second term as President of the United States, with a new Vice President, Theodore Roosevelt, also taking office. To end his first term as President, Mr. McKinley signed a number of bills passed by Congress, including bills for Naval Appropriation and establishment of a National Bureau of Standards; the St. Louis Fair Bill; a bill amending the act authorizing the receipt of United States gold coin in exchange for gold bars; and a bill amending the act making further provision for the civil government of Alaska.

To get the bills passed for Mr. McKinley's signature, the United States Congress was in session on Sunday, March 3, to the displeasure of many, including Presbyterian Church leaders in Pennsylvania. Observance of the Lord's Day was taken more seriously in 1901 than it is today. As reported in the Washington Post, March 4, 1901 (bold, capitals in original):

PRESBYTERIANS THUNDER AT CONGRESS.

----------------

Making Laws on Sunday an "Evil Example to Law-Breakers."

Danville, Pa., March 4.--At a meeting of ministers and elders of Northumberland Presbytery, held here to-day, the following resolution was adopted by a unanimous vote:

"The Presbytery of Northumberland has learned with distress and alarm of the session of the National Congress for the transaction of ordinary business held on the Sabbath day, March 3. This needless disregard of the Lord's day is at once a violation of the civil law, an affront to the Christian conscience of the country, an evil example to lawbreakers in general, a wicked departure from the reverent custom of the fathers of the republic, and an offense to Almighty God, the gracious giver of the day of rest. It is against the general welfare, deserves general reprobation, and we earnestly hope may not prove a precedent for future meetings of our national legislature."

Norristown, Pa., March 4.--The East Pennsylvania Evangelical Conference, in session here to-day, adopted a resolution deprecating the action of the National House of Representatives in holding sessions on Sunday. The preamble states that the Christian feelings of the people have been shocked. The resolution was:

"Resolved, we, the East Pennsylvania Conference, desire hereby to express our emphatic disapproval of this open desecration of the Lord's day, thereby violating the laws of God and our country."

An interesting feature of to-day's session was in the patriotic service held at the noon hour in honor of the inauguration of President McKinley. Bishop Dubbs prayed earnestly for the President, the Vice President, their advisers, Congress, the army and navy, and all in authority, closing with an appeal to God to stop the "bloody war in the Philippines."

70 years ago--Mainline churches look to worldly music in an attempt to attract young people

The use of worldly methods and appeasement of engagement with popular culture in an effort to attract people--especially young people--to church was adopted by mainline churches long before it became fashionable in Evangelicalism. It may seem hard to believe today, but in the mid-1950s, religious broadcasting was dominated by mainline denominations; Thomas Reeves wrote about this is his book The Empty Church: The Suicide of Liberal Christianity (1996). The surveys cited in the following article provide an interesting glimpse into the popular musical tastes of young people in the United States just a few months before Elvis Presley became a national rock and roll celebrity (he was already becoming known in the field of what was then known as country and western music; a poll of disc jockeys published in the November 12 issue of The Billboard named him as the most promising C&W artist, with both sides of his single I Forgot to Remember to Forget/Mystery Train in the top 10 of all three C&W charts).

As reported by June Bundy in The Billboard, December 24, 1955 (bold in original, several errors corrected by blogger):

Churches May Woo Kids by Rockin' 'Em

Council Polls Teen-Ager Taste as Video Program Guide; Age Preferences Vary

NEW YORK, Dec. 17--Altho religious interests have long frowned on the teen-agers' preference for rock and roll music, the rhythm and blues medium may yet be utilized as a means of bringing youngsters into the church.

National Council of Churches of Christ introduced the idea of presenting jazz in a religious TV context on the "Theology of Jazz" portions of its CBS-TV series "Look Up and Live." A recent survey by the Council reveals the show is attracting older teen-agers with such jazz greats as Dave Brubeck, but kids in the 13-year-old age group don't dig modern jazz yet.

Instead, younger teen-agers polled for music preferences on the show almost unanimously vote for r.&b.-type record artists; thus confronting Frank Nichols, producer for the Council's broadcasting and film commission, with something of a dilemma.

Lyric Problem

The lyrics of many r.&b. tunes make it difficult--if not impossible--to work them into the context of a religious show. Nevertheless, Nichols is wrestling with the problem and hopes to work out some kind of solution.

The NCCC has been conducting extensive surveys on several different teen-age levels for some time now, in an effort to determine the most effective ways of reaching youngsters. At the same time, the teen-age market in general has become more and more a focal point of merchandising and marketing surveys made by the radio-TV industry, record companies and manufacturers of teen-age products.

Teen-Age Survey

Teen-age Surveys, Inc., this week, for instance, reported on its fourth continuing survey of teen-agers' views on deejays' radio-TV programs, music records and advertising effectiveness, with results again pointing up the differences in tastes between high school and college students.

Cognizant of the growing awareness of the teen-age market by manufacturers, Cleveland's independent radio station WERE is readying a merchandising service, whereby products aimed at the teen-age market will be tested by the station with special groups of teen-agers assembled for deejays' shows.

The survey efforts of the NCCC have been concentrated on three different channels, with a major advertising agency conducting regular tests on a mixed-age audience utilizing electronic program analysis equipment. Another survey is conducted at Columbia University to tap the college group. Still a third is made in the field and generally aimed at the pre-college group.

Qualifications

To qualify as a testee, the teen-agers polled must be "unchurched," since the primary aim of the show is to make converts.

Past surveys have shown that "Look Up and Live" has registered most effectively with the 17 to 23 age group. Consequently, Nichols now feels that somehow they must apply what they have learned about 13 to 17-year-old tastes (notably the rock and roll craze) to future programming.

Interestingly enough, Nichols notes, the 13-year-olds prefer Frank Sinatra (who is liked by all age groups incidentally) to Eddie Fisher, with the latter's name seldom showing up in their request-answers. Bill Haley, the Crew-Cuts, and the Four Freshmen are others showing up strong on their preference sheet, along with Al Hibbler, Count Basie and Joe Williams.

The 13-year-olds have little or no interest in modern jazz. Several students in this group thought Dave Brubeck was a classical musician, and a couple referred to him as blind, evidently confusing him with George Shearing. Also the 17 to 23-year-old group has little interest in r.&b. They responded much more to Brubeck (who has made two appearances on series including one wherein he commented on segregation and how jazz has broken thru the color lines), Eddie Sauter, Stan Kenton, Wilbur de Paris and other jazz greats.

However, surveys indicate that both the 13 to 17 and 17 to 23 age groups have little interest in straight commercial pop singers, and Nichols has programmed the series accordingly during the last year. At first he planned to include country and western artists from time to time, but, according to the surveys, there is virtually no demand among teen-agers generally for c.&w.

Electronic Count

Most scientific of the NCCC's surveys are those conducted by the electronic program analysis equipment, with each person in the audience reporting his responses thruout the show by pressing one of three levers ("not at all interested," "fairly interested," and "very interested").

When these individual reports are out together in chart form, they form a graph, indicating which segs of the show held the most audience interest. Nichols uses them to determine programming schedules on future shows.

The graphs are so detailed that they accurately chart the decline and rise of audience interest on each musical number, thereby enabling a performer to gauge exactly where the lyric or his larynx faltered.

In line with this, Nichols opines that record companies might well utilize such electronic survey equipment to determine which take on a record session is most effective.

Marian and Jimmy McPartland are scheduled to appear on Part 5 of "Theology of Jazz" on "Look Up and Live" January 1. Nichols is also talking of airing a live remote from a Mitch Miller record session early next year. Singer Merv Griffin is the permanent emcee on the "Look Up and Live" which spotlights various members of the clergy (Reverend Alvin "$64,000 Question" Kershaw, etc.) appearing on a rotating basis.

Other music figures who have appeared on the show during the past year include Jerry Jerome's orchestra, Ellis Larkin, Sonny Greer, Lawrence Brown, Jo Jones and Mahalia Jackson.

See also my posts: Today's Evangelicals, Tomorrow's Liberals--A Warning from 1983 (January 13, 2010)

Ambrose University College's "Jazz Day" provides evidence of increasing worldliness in evangelical schools (March 5, 2014)

50 years ago: United Church in Calgary experiments with modern music (June 15, 2018)

Synagogue in U.S. Virgin Islands rewrites Beatles songs for Purim (March 14, 2020)

This recent prophecy sounds plausible, but has already proven false

But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken?
When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. Deuteronomy 18:20-22

The description of this video from the YouTube channel Near Death Experiences, posted in late November 2025, reads:

Eva Crawford, a dedicated nurse with 12 years of experience, never believed in dramatic spiritual encounters — until she died for 5 minutes on November 26th, 2025, during a routine shift. In those moments, she experienced a near-death experience (NDE) where Jesus Christ revealed urgent warnings about the mark of the beast system and where believers must never be found when it’s fully implemented.

This life-changing NDE opened her eyes to the urgency of the times we are living in and the importance of staying faithful.

Watch till the end to hear how this experience transformed her and why it’s a message everyone needs to hear.

If you're wondering how people are going to be deceived into worshiping the Antichrist, listen to the part of the video starting at about the 3:05 mark, and notice how certain Ms. Crawford is that she was in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ:

I found myself standing in a place of such great beauty that human words feel totally unable to describe it...a presence so holy, so perfect that I immediately understood that I was standing before God Himself. That's when I saw Him approaching, and every part of my spirit knew who it was before my mind could even grasp it. Jesus Christ, the savior I'd believed in but never truly known, walked toward me with eyes that held the kindness of forever and the urgency of a father warning his children of immediate danger. His appearance wasn't like the paintings in church windows or the movies I'd seen. He looked like a man in his 30s, but there was something eternal about Him, as if He held all of history and all of forever inside Himself. When He looked at me, I felt completely known, completely understood, and completely loved despite every mistake and doubt I'd ever carried.

However, He apparently didn't resemble the most recent physical description of the apostle John's encounter with Him in Revelation 1:13-17:

And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

Ms. Crawford may indeed have had a spiritual experience, and her description of how the system of the Beast will be implemented sounds plausible. However, she gave specific dates for the fulfillment of her alleged vision, and we already have evidence that it fails the biblical test of 100% accuracy in the passage from Deuteronomy cited above. Starting at about the 28:03 mark of the video, we hear and read:

I saw the exact order of events that would start the mark system, and it was much closer than anyone imagined. In January 2026, I watched as a coordinated set of computer attacks crippled the global money system. Banks failed overnight, stock markets crashed with no hope of recovery, and digital money became worthless. The confusion was so complete that governments around the world declared emergency rule and stopped normal laws.

But this wasn't a random attack by enemies or terrorist groups. As Jesus allowed me to see behind the scenes of earthly events, I realized this crisis had been carefully planned by the same powers that had spent decades preparing the mark system. The collapse was done on purpose, designed to create such desperation that people would beg for any solution no mater what it cost. "Watch how they offer salvation through technology," Jesus said. And I saw world leaders appearing on every working screen, announcing the emergency start of a new body-based identification system. This wasn't presented as the mark of the beast, but as humanity's rescue from money collapse and social chaos. The lies were expertly done. Children would be protected from being taken through GPS tracking. Elderly patients would never be without their medical records in emergencies. Workers would have instant access to their job benefits and social help. Everyone would be equal in this new system, no matter their race, class or background. But I could see the spiritual truth behind this attractive idea. The moment anyone accepted this mark, once that choice was made. The plan began with the weak populations that Jesus had shown me. Patients in hospitals were told they needed the mark for their safety and the safety of others. Children in schools were marked as part of required health programs. Elderly residents in care facilities received it automatically with their routine medical procedures. Within weeks, the system spread to include all of society. No one could buy food, access transport, receive medical care, or even enter public buildings without the mark. Those who refused were systematically kept out of every part of normal life, labeled as terrorists and threats to public health and safety.

I watched as the four dangerous places Jesus had warned me about became exactly the death traps he had predicted. The cities turned into spy prisons where unmarked individuals were hunted by complex AI systems that could spot faces, track movements, and guess behavior patterns. The medical facilities became enforcement centers where health care workers--many believing they were helping people--gave the mark as standard practice. The churches proved to be the most heartbreaking betrayal of all. I saw pastor after pastor standing before their groups, Bible in hand, explaining why receiving the mark was not only okay, but actually the loving thing to do. They quoted Bible verses about obeying those in charge and caring for the needs of neighbors. They argued that the mark was simply technology, no different from a driver's license or social security number. But what upset me most was seeing how many sincere believers were carried away by these arguments. These weren't people who fought against God or mocked faith. They were true Christians who had trusted their spiritual leaders more than they had built their own relationship with Christ. When their pastors assured them the mark was acceptable, they followed that advice straight into eternal destruction.

It is now February 2026. The events prophesied for January 2026 didn't come to pass, but the statement that true Christians will take the mark of the beast doesn't agree with scripture. Those who take the mark will indeed go into eternal torment (Revelation 14:11), but they won't be true Christians. The tribulation chapters (6-19) of Revelation indicate that the Church will be in Heaven (which implies a pre-Tribulation rapture). Also, the real Lord Jesus Christ said that those who are His sheep will never be lost (John 5:24, 10:28-30, 17:12, 18:9). Since the prophecies allegedly revealed to Eva Crawford didn't take place by the date predicted, and they contradict statements that the real Jesus made about Himself, it's plain that the "Jesus" who allegedly revealed them to her was a false Jesus and a false prophet.

The most deceptive error is that which is mixed with truth. The scenario presented by Eva Crawford is plausible, but you don't have to receive direct revelation from God in order to see the direction in which things are going. Covid 19 in the early 2020s was likely a dry run, and this blogger can't forget the cowardice and servility toward dictatorship on the part of church leaders.

120 years ago--New York clergyman blasts women's vices

This item from the tail end of the Gilded Age, indicating that morality in New York City was already in decline, was published in the Vancouver Daily Province, January 27, 1906 (bold, capitals in original); unfortunately, the microfilm image of the page on which it appeared contained a fold in the page that went undetected when photographed, obscuring part of the article. I'll fix that if I ever come across the entire article.

SOCIETY LEADERS STEEPED IN VICE

---------------

VICE IN NEW YORK

---------------

Women of Four Hundred Are Addicted to Drinking, Gambling, and Cigarette Smoking--Causes of Decrease of Marriage in the Wealthy Classes.

NEW YORK, Jan. 26--Supplementing the sermon which he delivered on Sunday night in the Church of the Epiphany, and which caused widespread discussion, the Rev. Dr. Madison Peters said to a newspaperman today:

"The remarks I have made upon the women of the fashionably rich are not the idle mouthings of a sensationalist nor the vicious attacks of one whose motive is to stir up ugly feeling. Every word I have spoken is the plain statement of facts that any fashionable physician, any clergyman who has moved about in society, and every society man or woman knows and dares not refute.

"I have been into the cafes of the Astor, the Waldorf, Sherry's and other fashionable hotels, and nine women out of ten will order drinks of the same kind that their escorts order, and quite as many of them. I have watched these women, and I have wondered if they realized what those same men thought of them deep down in their hearts.

They think--mark you, I am voicing the sentiments of the man about town when I say it--they think these same young women are all right for a time, but they would not marry such women.

"And this brings naturally to mind the thought why there are in this city to-day thousands of men in their thirtes and forties, men of means or of excellent salaries and incomes, who are not marrried? And why are there so many instances of men marrying, as society puts it beneath them?

Vices of women.

The answer is because so many of the daughters of their own fashionable set are given to drink, cigarette-smoking, gambling (for that is what bridge whist has resolved itself into), and to kindred vices. It is because men of the world and of society realize that such women are not fit to become the mothers of children--not fit to preside at their tables and over their household. All men require purity and integrity in the women they care for, and such qualities are not to be found among women whose lives are spent in frivolous pleasures.

Not many of these men, finding the women of their own circle given over to these vicous habits, go 'beneath it,' and find honest young women, whose names are not in the social register, as their helpmeets.

The cause of these conditions is largely due to the fact that women in society have nothing to do. They are deprived of the attention and society of their husbands; they are without children and housekeeping cares, and they become mere pleasure-seekers, and before they know it they are brought to that state of mind where all of their faculties are engaged in discovering modes of selfish enjoyment.

"If there were more children in the homes of the rich there would be less dissipation. Think of it, on Fifth Avenue from Washington Square to Nine ...during the past year. These ... eloquent

....Only the other day, I was going up in the elevator in one of the most fashionable hotels of the c[ity] when I heard a young woman say to another, and it was then 9 o'clock, 'I haven't done a thing all day but play bridge.'

Idle away time.

"That is only an example of what women do with their time. I am told that the gambling whist habit has become so prevalent that women--dozens and dozens of them--go from house to house, from fashionable hotel to hotel day after day and night after night, reviving themselves by drinks of various sorts. Of course there are those who would criticize a man of the cloth for offending his fashionable pew renters perhaps by telling the truth about these alarming conditions.

"The conditions are all the more grave when one considers that the entire country is influenced by the doings of members of the ultra-fashionable circle of New York. Their every movement is heralded in the society columns, and their amusements are seen as a pattern by other silly women all over the land.

"When Mrs. Astor slums she has a thousand followers; if Mrs. Fish plays bridge the smaller fry will follow suit, and if all of fashionable society drink and smoke, the entire country will feel its vicious influence. That is where the most harm is done."

Ted Cruz denies biblical truth in denying Jewish responsibility for the crucifixion of Jesus

As reported by World Israel News, January 15, 2026:

Republican Senator Ted Cruz lambasted claims by fellow Christians that Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus, calling the accusation historically inaccurate, theologically false, and fundamentally bigoted.

On Wednesday, the senator hosted conservative pundit Ben Ferguson and former Auburn Tigers basketball coach Bruce Pearl on his podcast, “Verdict with Ted Cruz.”

During the discussion, Pearl, who is Jewish, challenged antisemitism based on the claim that Jews killed Jesus, while appearing to affirm that Jews were indeed responsible.

“You could either look at the Jews and say, ‘Well, you all killed Christ…killed our God.’ Okay, well, was it not God’s plan to send his son to die so that you would be brought into covenant with him? Wasn’t that his plan?” Pearl said.

“Does it really matter who killed him?” he continued. “Jesus was Jewish.”

Cruz responded that the claim that Jews killed Jesus is factually incorrect, adding that it also contradicts Christian dogma regarding the death of Jesus.

“The week before Christmas, and Ben will remember this, I sent out a tweet and I said, ‘Two thoughts that drive the anti-Semites crazy in this Christmas season. Number one, our savior Jesus was Jewish in the line of David, and number two, Jews didn’t kill Jesus – I did. You did. He died for our sins’,” Cruz said.

The senator then castigated those blaming Jews for Jesus’ death as “antisemites,” adding that no argument is made to hold Italians responsible, despite the execution being carried out by Romans.

“That’s what the New Testament says, is that he willingly took the cross to die for our sins, and so the sort of antisemites who says Jews killed Jesus, well actually, it was Romans who drove the nails in. Is anyone mad at the Italians? Like that’s just stupid. It’s bad theology, it’s bigotry, and I will admit I was kind of happy with that tweet because it really did drive the anti-Semites crazy.”

Senator Cruz needs to take a closer look at the New Testament. I've already dealt with this subject, so rather than repeat myself, I refer the reader to my posts 50 years ago: Pope Paul VI promulgates Second Vatican Council's Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions (Nostra Aetate) (October 28, 2015) and To deny the Jewish role in the crucifixion of Jesus is to deny the word of God (April 18, 2022).

Samoa plans to open an embassy in Jerusalem in 2026

As reported by Etgar Lefkovits of Jewish News Syndicate, January 7, 2026 (links in original):

The Pacific Island nation of Samoa will open an embassy in Jerusalem this year, the country’s prime minister told Christian leaders this week.

The news comes on the heels of similar moves by fellow Oceania nations, including Fiji, which inaugurated an embassy in Jerusalem in September, and Papua New Guinea, which opened its embassy two years ago, and serves to highlight the strength of faith-based diplomacy.

“I [have] instruct[ed] our foreign affairs to start preparation to open an office of Samoa in Jerusalem this year,” Samoa Prime Minister La’auli Leuatea Schmidt said in an address to the Christian leaders, with the flags of both countries in the background.

He noted that Samoa was following in the footsteps of neighboring Fiji.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17S1ayY99Y/?mibextid=adiEgM

Israel and Samoa, which have maintained bilateral ties since 1972, have strong, growing relations marked by cooperation in health, technology, agriculture, and energy.

The Israeli embassy in Wellington, New Zealand, handles diplomatic relations with the predominantly Christian nation of 220,000 people.

“It is exciting to see another nation give Jerusalem the respect it deserves by deciding to open its embassy in the Israeli capital,” Juergen Buehler, president of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, told JNS on Wednesday.

“Like Fiji, the island nation of Samoa has a large Christian population that wants its leaders to stand with Israel on biblical principles. We are optimistic that more countries will follow suit in the coming year.”

Seven countries currently maintain embassies in Israel’s capital: the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Paraguay, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji.

All other nations that maintain ties with Israel have their embassies in Tel Aviv or its suburbs, due to the political sensitivities of Jerusalem.

President Donald Trump’s decision to move the American embassy to Jerusalem during his first term set the stage for other countries to follow suit.

The ceasefire following the two-year war against Hamas in Gaza, triggered by the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, has renewed a diplomatic push for additional embassy moves to Jerusalem.

Argentina intends to move its embassy to Jerusalem this spring, while both Hungary and the Czech Republic are also mulling such a move.

See also my post Israel had some diplomatic achievements in 2025 (December 31, 2025).

Archaeological discoveries announced in 2025

I've been negligent in recent years when it comes to mentioning archaeological discoveries. It will take too long to reproduce the articles, so this post just includes headlines and links (sometimes more than one article per item). For those interested in biblical archaeology, I recommend the blogs theoarch and Ferrell's Travel Blog.

Byzantine monastery with mosaic inscription from Deuteronomy discovered near Kiryat Gat (January 6, 2025)

Israeli archaeologists solve mystery of missing cave art in the Levant (January 8, 2025)

Ritual Complex Dating to First Temple Period Discovered in Jerusalem’s City of David also Ancient Jewish private ritual bath is unearthed in Jerusalem's City of David (January 27, 2025)

Researchers Uncover Ancient Worship Site Near First Temple in Jerusalem (January 16, 2025)

Roman Boundary Stone Found in Israel Links Talmudic Accounts to Diocletian’s Lost Villages (January 28, 2025)

Ancient Aramaic inscription finally deciphered reveals Jewish name in the heartland of Judea (January 31, 2025)

Archaeological Proof of King David: The Ancient Stone That Confirms His Dynasty (February 3, 2025)

Israeli archaeologists continue search for Pool of Siloam in ancient City of David (February 12, 2025)

American tourist discovers rare ancient Jewish coin from Hasmonean period in Shiloh, Samaria (February 27, 2025)

Archeologists find evidence of Josiah, the last king of Judah (March 12, 2025)

Scientists: “Evidence suggests that the Genesis flood story might have a basis in reality” (March 13, 2025)

Exciting new discovery in Judean Desert from time of Maccabees mystifies archaeologists (March 25, 2025) also Mysterious Pyramid Discovered in Judean Desert Unveils Hellenistic Era Secrets (March 25, 2025)

Excavations under Church of the Holy Sepulchre reveal evidence of ancient garden, supporting Gospel of John (March 25, 2025)

Ancient and Unique Clay Jug Featuring Camel Decorations Unearthed in Yatir Forest Excavations (March 30, 2025)

Archaeologists Confirm Biblical Armageddon Site at Megiddo in Northern Israel (March 31, 2025)

Little girl discovers 3,800-year-old Canaanite seal on family trip near Beit Shemesh, Israel (April 1, 2025) also Israeli preschooler stumbles on 3,800-year-old artifact near Beit Shemesh; Israeli Toddler Uncovers 3,800-Year-Old Scarab at Biblical Site (April 2, 2025); 3-Yr-Old Girl Finds Canaanite Scarab Where David Faced Goliath (April 2, 2025)

Dyeing for royalty: Ancient tools reveal economic power behind biblical Israel (April 17, 2025) also Archaeologists Discover Ancient Facility that May Have Produced Scarlet and Blue Dyes Used in Temples (April 27, 2025); Israeli scholars find ancient manufacturing site of purple dye near Haifa (May 3, 2025)

Historic Stone Capital with Menorah Set for Exhibit Ahead of Independence Day (April 29, 2025) also 1,500-Year-Old Stone Column Element with Menorah Design Unveiled for First Time (April 29, 2025); Rare menorah-carved capital found near Jerusalem is unveiled for Israel's Independence Day (April 30, 2025)

New Israeli Study Shows Ancient Names Reflect Cosmopolitan Biblical Israel (May 13, 2025)

Rare 1,500-Year-Old African Figurines Discovered in the Negev Desert (May 14, 2025) also Archaeological discovery hints at African Christian community in ancient Israel (May 14, 2025)

Tiny treasure discovered in Jerusalem's City of David: Second gold ring found in less than a year (May 21, 2025)

The buried truth: Unearthing Jewish history on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem (May 22, 2025)

From Battleground to Holy Ground: How Archaeology Proves Israel’s Ancient Heritage (May 29, 2025)

Treasured 14th-century Shem Tov Bible finds its way home to Jerusalem (May 30, 2025) also World’s Oldest Known Complete Tanach Returns to Israel (June 3, 2025)

1,700-Year-Old Roman Sarcophagus Depicting Pagan Drinking Contest Discovered in Caesarea also Roman Sarcophagus Discovered in Caesarea Provides Clue to Size of the Ancient City (June 9, 2025)

New evidence for why King Josiah went to meet Pharaoh Necho in Megiddo (June 9, 2025)

New technology gives earlier dates for Dead Sea Scrolls, challenging doubts about book of Daniel (June 27, 2025)

Can the Bible be trusted? A fresh look at the word 'Ebenezer' through the lens of modern research (June 28, 2025) also The dawn of settlement: Uncovering the secrets of ancient Israelite Izbet Sartah and Earliest Hebrew alphabet found at Izbet Sartah reveals surprising Israelite literacy in the Iron Age (July 7, 2025)



1,900-year-old lion-headed bronze discs discovered in Israel likely used in pagan burial rituals (June 29, 2025) also Roman-Era Burial Discs Discovered in Israel Shed Light on Ancient Funeral Customs (June 30, 2025)

Discoveries at Shiloh that back up the Bible: A conversation with archaeologist, Scott Stripling (July 1, 2025) also Excavating Biblical History: New Discoveries at Shiloh and the Search for the Ark’s Gateway (July 25, 2025); Shiloh’s Tabernacle mystery: What the Bible and archaeology reveal (July 26, 2025)

Unearthing the Truth of Salome’s Tomb: New Research Reframes Centuries-Old Christian Tradition (July 7, 2025)

Rare 15th-century Biblical manuscripts shed light on Ethiopian Jewish heritage (July 9, 2025) also 15th Century Manuscripts Reveal Insights into Ethiopian Jewish Traditions (July 15, 2025)

Lost Christian site discovered in Jordan using ancient map of the Holy Land (July 19, 2025)

‘I saw a yellow color’: Volunteer uncovers 2,000-year-old Galilee treasure (July 24, 2025)

Golden Treasures from Jesus’ Time: Discoveries at Sussita Illuminate Biblical History (July 27, 2025)

First ever: 5,500-Year-Old Blade Workshop Found Near Goliath Battleground (July 28, 2025) also Discovery of early Bronze Age workshop sheds light on Canaanite industry (July 28, 2025); Sophisticated 5,500-year-old flint blade workshop unearthed near Kiryat Gat, Israel (July 31, 2025)

Israeli researcher claims finding 'this is from Moses' written in ancient Egyptian mine (July 30, 2025)

Rare First Temple-era seal impression found in Jerusalem (July 30, 2025) also Ancient clay seal with biblical name found near Temple Mount in Jerusalem (August 1, 2025); First Temple Clay Seal Validates Biblical History: May Reference King Josiah’s Servant (August 15, 2025)

Rare first century coin declaring 'For the Redemption of Zion' discovered in Jerusalem (July 31, 2025) also “For the Redemption of Zion” – a rare coin from Year Four of the Great Revolt discovered in Jerusalem (July 31, 2025); Coin minted during the Jewish Revolt uncovered near the Temple Mount (July 31, 2025)



Unearthing Shiloh: Inside the ongoing search for the biblical Tabernacle (August 2, 2025) also Ancient Structure at Shiloh May Have Housed the Ark of the Covenant, Archaeologists Say (August 12, 2025)

Ancient Jewish Sages Were Key Players in Mediterranean Wine Industry, New Study Shows (August 6, 2025)

'Extremely rare' ancient Aramaic inscription discovered in Dead Sea cave (August 10, 2025)

Archaeologists Find Earliest Evidence of Bronze-Making in Land of Israel (August 10, 2025) also New study reveals evidence of 3,000-year-old bronze production site in Samaria (August 15, 2025)

Israeli Archaeologists Uncover World’s Oldest Known Nursing Home (August 18, 2025) also Christian Nursing Home Found in Northern Israel: Uncovering the Earliest Byzantine Elder-Care Institution (August 19, 2025)

New Analysis Suggests 3,800-Year-Old Egyptian Inscription Mentions Moses (August 19, 2025)

Rare Hellenistic Weight Inscribed with Name of Official Seized in Jerusalem (August 20, 2025) also Ancient lead weight of fair-trade official found by Israel's antiquities theft unit (August 20, 2025)

Rare Gold Coin of Egyptian Queen Berenice II Unearthed in the City of David (August 20, 2025) also Ancient gold coin discovered in Jerusalem, shedding light on Second Temple period (August 20, 2025); Small but significant: Ancient Egyptian coin reshapes view of Jerusalem between Temple periods (August 21, 2025)



STUDY: Silver Was Currency in the Land of Israel Long Before Coins Appeared (August 24, 2025)

Ancient Dam Uncovered in the City of David Linked to Kings of Judah (August 26, 2025) also New dating of dam discovered in City of David opens floodgate of questions about Jerusalem’s history (August 26, 2025); Archaeologists Unearth Israel’s Largest Ancient Dam in City of David (August 27, 2025)

Ancient Baptisery, Cathedral Found While Renovating French Shopping Hall (August 28, 2025)

Israeli archaeologists discover 2,000-year-old Hebrew inscription in City of David (August 28, 2025) also Discovered in City of David: A 2,000-Year-Old Receipt Reveals Daily Commerce in Second Temple Jerusalem (August 29, 2025)



Inside Israel’s vast archaeological world (August 30, 2025)



4,000-Year-Old Lamp Wicks Unearthed in Yehud Among Oldest in the World (August 31, 2025) also 4,000-year-old lamp wicks shed light on ancient burial rituals; Israeli archaeologists unearth well-preserved 4,000-year-old lamp wicks (September 2, 2025)



Bethsaida discovery? Israeli archaeologists believe they found Peter’s hometown by Sea of Galilee (August 31, 2025)

Ancient Samaritan Estate With Colorful Mosaics Unearthed in Kafr Qasim (September 2, 2025) also 1,600-year-old Samaritan estate unearthed in central Israel (September 2, 2025); A Glimpse into a Lavish Samaritan Agricultural Estate at Kafr Qasim (September 2, 2025); Archaeologists uncover 'magnificent' Samaritan agricultural estate in central Israel (September 3, 2025)



Israel unveils digital archaeological database with millions of ancient records (September 9, 2025) also Israel Unveils One of the World’s Largest Digital Archaeological Databases (September 12, 2025); Israeli researchers develop computer tool to study Dead Sea Scrolls (September 17, 2025); Vast collection of antiquities now online as Israel launches new archaeological database (September 21, 2025)



New discovery in the City of David changes what we knew about the Pool of Siloam (September 17, 2025)

Rare coin hoard unearthed in Galilee reveals hidden chapter of Jewish revolt against Rome (September 18, 2025) also Ancient coin stash used by Jewish rebels in fight against Rome discovered (September 18, 2025); Hidden Galilee Complex Yields Coins from Last Jewish Revolt Under Rome (September 18, 2025); Ancient Coin Hoard Reveals Last Chapter of Jewish Resistance in Roman Judea and Samaria (September 19, 2025)

Hoard of Gold Coins and Jewelry Discovered During Excavations at Hippos (September 25, 2025) also Trove of ancient gold coins discovered on Golan Heights (September 25, 2025); Archaeologists discover 'one of the largest hoards' of Byzantine era coins found in Israel during Galilee dig (September 25, 2025)

Evidence for the biblical Temple of Solomon: Ancient beams and modern discoveries (September 19, 2025) also A small but unique discovery: Phoenician presence and Solomon’s Temple (September 27, 2025) and Was King Solomon real? Archaeological clues to Israel’s golden age (October 18, 2025)



Cosmic Rays Reveal Hidden Chambers Beneath Ancient Jerusalem (October 1, 2025)

Archaeologists uncover 1,500-year-old synagogue in Golan Heights (October 5, 2025) also Ancient synagogue discovered in the Golan, testifying to Jewish ties to the area (October 5, 2025); Ancient 1,500-Year-Old Synagogue Unearthed in the Golan Reveals Flourishing Jewish Life in Antiquity (October 6, 2025); 1,500-Year-Old Synagogue Unearthed in Golan Heights Reveals Ancient Jewish Presence (October 9, 2025); https://www.facebook.com/reel/786188881066853

For the first time in Jerusalem: an Assyrian inscription from the First Temple period was discovered (October 22, 2025) also First Temple era artifact unearthed in Jerusalem (October 22, 2025); Rare First Temple-era Assyrian inscription found in Jerusalem confirms connection with ancient Judah; Ancient Assyrian Tax Inscription Found Near Temple Mount (October 23, 2025)





Archaeologist says Jordan sites match biblical account of Sodom’s fall (October 26, 2025) also New Archaeological Evidence Points to Sodom and Gomorrah’s Location Near the Dead Sea (October 31, 2025)

Foxes in Bethsaida: Hints of Lamentations Prophecy and Harbinger of Hope for Jews and Christians in the Holy Land (November 3, 2025)

Ancient Winepress and Canaanite Ritual Artifacts Unearthed Near Tel Megiddo Reveal Early Settlement Expansion in Jezreel Valley (November 5, 2025) also ‘Smoking gun’ of ancient wine production unearthed in northern Israel (November 5, 2025); 5,000-Year-Old Winepress and Canaanite Relics Discovered in Northern Israel



New Atlas Reveals Roman Roads 50% More Extensive Than Previously Known (November 12, 2025)

Ancient Silver Goblet from Judean Hills Bears Earliest Known Image of Creation (November 16, 2025)

When Migratory Birds Filled the Carmel Plain: New Study Revives a Biblical Landscape (November 21, 2025)

New Radiocarbon Study Reopens the Door to an Exodus Timeline Rooted in the Days of Pharaoh Ahmose (November 30, 2025)

AI Unlocks 1,000 Years of Jewish History Hidden in Cairo’s Sacred Archives (November 30, 2025)

Israeli archaeologists uncover remains of dramatic mountaintop royal palace (December 4, 2025) also Ancient Fortress Excavation Reveals Hidden Jewish Royal Palace (December 5, 2025)

Ancient Hasmonean Wall Uncovered in Jerusalem: Evidence of Maccabean Power and Mysterious Destruction (December 8, 2025) also Archaeologists uncover huge Hasmonean-era wall in Jerusalem as Hanukkah approaches (December 9, 2025); City of David Excavation Reveals Massive Hasmonean Period Wall (December 9, 2025)



First material evidence of Judah Maccabee’s battlefield discovered near Jerusalem (December 10, 2025) also Hanukkah Discovery Evidence of Judah Maccabee’s 163 BCE Battle Uncovered Near Jerusalem (December 11, 2025); Hanukkah miracle: Israel discovers evidence of Judah Maccabee’s battlefield near Jerusalem (December 11, 2025)

Rare 1,400-year-old menorah pendant found near Western Wall sheds light on Byzantine Jewish life (December 15, 2025) also Ancient menorah pendant discovered under Temple Mount puzzles archaeologists (December 15, 2025); Underground Judaism: Menorah pendant discovery from Byzantine era suggests Jews still worshipped in Jerusalem despite being banned (December 15, 2025); A rare, 1,300-year-old lead pendant decorated with a menorah symbol uncovered by Temple Mount (December 18, 2025)

Rare Hasmonean-era oil lamp discovery near Jerusalem revealed on first night of Hanukkah (December 16, 2025)

2,700 year-old Hebrew clay inscription found in Jerusalem reveals first mention of Bethlehem outside the Bible (December 25, 2025)

Rare gold coins, ring discovered in Judean Wilderness point to Byzantine Christian past (December 26, 2025)

Mikveh from final days of the Second Temple discovered beneath Western Wall Plaza (December 29, 2025) also Second Temple-era mikveh discovered near the Western Wall (December 29, 2025); Road Construction Leads to the Discovery of Rare Cave System in Samaria (December 31, 2025); 2,000-year-old Jewish ritual bath discovered near Second Temple site (January 1, 2026)

Israel had some diplomatic achievements in 2025

While 2025 saw an alarming increase in anti-Israel sentiment in much of the world, Israel also recorded some notable diplomatic achievements, such as the opening of the Fijian and Hungarian embassies in Jerusalem; recognition of the Armenian genocide during World War I; stronger relations with Argentina, Paraguay, Ecuador, and Costa Rica; and restored relations with Bolivia.

As reported by Israfan, February 20, 2025:

Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the inauguration of the new embassy in Jerusalem, Sept. 17, 2025. Credit: Amos Ben Gershom/GPO.

The South Pacific nation of Fiji is set to open an embassy in Jerusalem later this year, Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka announced on Wednesday. The decision, approved by Fiji’s Cabinet on Tuesday, marks a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties with Israel.

“We are absolutely excited about coming to Jerusalem, and we most definitely will be there this year,” Gavoka told JNS in a phone interview. The embassy inauguration, originally planned for last year, was delayed due to the war against Hamas in Gaza.

Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka reaffirmed the decision during a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. Sa’ar welcomed the move, tweeting: “I commend the Republic of Fiji’s government for its historic decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people.”

With Fiji’s decision, the list of countries with embassies in Jerusalem will grow to seven, joining the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Paraguay, and Papua New Guinea. Most other countries with diplomatic ties to Israel maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv or its surrounding areas.

The momentum to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital received a major boost in 2018 when then-U.S. President Donald Trump moved the American embassy to the city. Since then, several nations have followed suit, with more expected to announce similar decisions soon.

Fiji’s move not only underscores its support for Israel but also contributes to the growing international acknowledgment of Jerusalem as the heart of the Jewish state.

As reported by Etgar Lefkovits of Jewish News Syndicate, September 17. 2025:

The South Pacific country of Fiji inaugurated its embassy in Jerusalem on Wednesday, becoming the seventh nation to have its diplomatic mission in the capital of Israel.

”The fact that you have come here and you have put your embassy in Jerusalem, you recognize a truth that everybody should recognize but few governments have done so far: that this has been our capital for 3,000 years since the days of King David,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the inauguration ceremony.

“The special bond with your great nation is deeply revered by the people of Fiji,” said its prime minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, who traveled to the Jewish state from halfway around the world with a delegation of his senior government ministers for the inauguration. “The opening of our embassy is a great testament to the enduring connection between our two peoples.”

Rabuka, who took office three years ago, first announced the move in February. He heads a three-party government that includes the right-wing Christian Sodelpa Party, one of whose leaders’ demands was that Fiji open an embassy in Jerusalem.

“You are paving the path of truth,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar told the Fijian leader at a reception at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressing disbelief at how other nations around the world still try to deny the Jewish people’s biblical roots to the historic city. “You are a true friend of Israel.”

He added that “Jerusalem is the eternal capital and beating heart of the Jewish people. Today, Fiji lays a stone in its ancient walls.”

Rabuka, who also serves as foreign minister, in turn invited Netanyahu to visit the archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Zealand and two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand.

The move also follows a decades-long campaign by an evangelical organization—the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem—through its network of churches across the Southern Pacific.

Six countries have their embassies in Israel’s capital: the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Paraguay and Papua New Guinea.

All other nations that maintain ties with Israel have their embassies in Tel Aviv or its suburbs, due to the political sensitivities of Jerusalem.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to move the American embassy to Jerusalem in May 2018 set the stage for other countries to follow suit. The Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and Israel’s ensuing war against the terrorist group based in the Gaza Strip, have temporarily derailed such moves.

As reported by Jewish News Syndicate, December 19, 2025 (links in original):

Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka (left) and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar meet in Munich, Germany, on Feb. 15, 2025. Photo by Shlomo Amsalem/GPO.

Israel will open an embassy in the South Pacific island nation of Fiji next year, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced on Thursday, saying he informed Fiji’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sitiveni Rabuka of the move during a phone call.

“Fiji is one of Israel’s most consistent supporters, also in the UN arena. In our call today, the PM again said: ‘We will always be with you,’” Sa’ar wrote on X following the call.

Sa’ar said that opening the embassy will deepen relations between the countries, help cultivate their longstanding friendship, and strengthen cooperation in the fields of development, economics, security and more.

“At the same time, Israel’s embassy in Fiji will strengthen Israel’s presence in the entire Pacific region, which is friendly to Israel, and will deepen our ties with other Pacific island nations,” added Sa’ar.

Just spoke with the PM and FM of Fiji @slrabuka, that I met in September during his visit to open Fiji's embassy in Jerusalem.

I informed the PM of my decision to open an Israeli embassy in Fiji in 2026.

Fiji is one of Israel's most consistent supporters, also in the UN arena. In… pic.twitter.com/DJl3LLiRnW

— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) December 18, 2025

Fiji inaugurated its embassy in Jerusalem on Sept. 17, becoming the seventh nation to establish a diplomatic mission in Israel’s capital. Rabuka traveled to the Jewish state with a delegation of senior government ministers for the inauguration ceremony, meeting Sa’ar, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials.

In October, Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel became the first Israeli government official to make a state visit to Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

As reported by Akiva Van Koningsveld of Jewish News Syndicate, August 27, 2025 (links in original):

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday for the first time publicly recognized the genocide carried out against the Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks by Ottoman Turkey in the early 20th century.

Asked by conservative podcaster Patrick Bet David why Jerusalem has yet to recognize the Armenian genocide, Netanyahu said, “In fact, I think we have. I think the Knesset passed a resolution to that effect.”

On Aug. 1, 2016, lawmakers of the Knesset Education, Culture and Sports Committee issued a resolution that recognized the Armenian genocide, urging the government to acknowledge it as such formally.

Pressed on why no prime minister has publicly characterized the World War I-era events as genocide, Netanyahu said, “I just did. Here you go.”

A spokesperson for Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office told JNS on Wednesday that it would not be adding to the comments made by Netanyahu.

BREAKING!

Prime Minister @Netanyahu OFFICIALLY recognizes the Armenian, Assyrian & Greek genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire. pic.twitter.com/fLtsr41YRy

— Patrick Bet-David (@patrickbetdavid) August 26, 2025

In 2018, then-Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan urged Netanyahu to recognize the mass murders of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman government as genocide. While Turkey denies the genocide, over 30 countries have officially recognized the 1915-1917 killings as such.

In the past, Jerusalem’s Foreign Ministry assessed that recognition by the Israeli government would likely to lead to the expulsion of embassy staff in Ankara and the recalling of Turkey’s ambassador from Israel.

However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has become more hostile toward Israel and closer to Hamas since the Palestinian terror organization’s cross-border attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

In March, Erdoğan prayed for the Jewish state’s destruction as he led a prayer service marking the end of Ramadan at a mosque in Istanbul.

“May Allah, for the sake of his name ‘Al-Qahhar,’ destroy and devastate Zionist Israel,” the Islamist Turkish president told attendees. “May we all, witnessing what is happening there [in the Gaza Strip], stay united, strong and resilient as brothers; may Allah keep our unity everlasting.”

Al-Qahhar is one of the names of God in Islam and is often translated from Arabic as “The Conqueror,” “The Vanquisher,” or “The Subduer.”

Last year, the Turkish leader called Netanyahu a “vampire who feeds on blood,” while urging Muslims worldwide to take up arms against Israel.

Erdoğan also told Newsweek that Palestinian terrorists from Gaza were “simply defending their homes, streets and homeland” when they murdered some 1,200 people, primarily civilians, on Oct. 7.

In July 2024, Erdoğan openly threatened to invade the Jewish state. “We must be very strong so that Israel can’t do these things to Palestine. Just as we entered Karabakh, just as we entered Libya, we might do the same to them. There is nothing we cannot do,” he said in a televised address.

As reported by David Isaac of Jewish News Syndicate, November 24, 2025 (bold, links in original):

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar meets with Paraguay Foreign Minister Rubén Darío Ramírez Lezcano in Asunción, Paraguay, Nov. 24, 2025. Credit: MfA.

Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar visited Paraguay on Monday, where he signed a Memorandum of Understanding on security cooperation.

“Paraguay is developing major defense capabilities. Israel’s defense industry has experience and capabilities that we want to share with you,” said Sa’ar during a press conference with Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano.

In honor of the visit, the South American nation held a special session of both houses of Congress.

Sa’ar also met with Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña, whom he described as “one of the most impressive leaders on the international stage today.”

He thanked Peña for moving his country’s embassy to Jerusalem—a promise made by his predecessor in 2018—and for designating Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organization as well as the so-called “political” wings of Hamas and Hezbollah.

Sa’ar, with an Israeli economic delegation in tow, noted that Paraguay boasts a “strong and growing” economy with projected economic growth for 2025 at 5.3%.

“In 2023, bilateral trade between Israel and Paraguay stood at $133 million. In 2024, it grew to over 212 million. 2025 is not yet over. It has already surpassed last year’s numbers,” he said.

“Israelis love Paraguayan meat,” he said. A huge proportion of Paraguay’s exports to Israel is meat.

“My visit today is an expression of our belief in Paraguay’s bright future,” he said. “We already trade in technological and agricultural equipment. We want to deepen our cooperation in water technologies, advanced agriculture, cyber, renewable energy and more.”

Honored to meet the President of Paraguay @SantiPenap in Asunción.

We discussed ways to strengthen bilateral and economic ties as well as the situation in the Middle East and Latin America.

I detailed our economic delegation that accompanied me and we discussed the MOU on… pic.twitter.com/6i4g86zq7d

— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) November 24, 2025

‘One of Israel’s greatest friends’

Sa’ar spoke of Israel’s targeted killing on Sunday of Hezbollah’s chief of staff, saying: “The world is a better place today without Ali Tabatabai.”

The United States had a $5 million bounty on Tabatabai’s head. The Hamas commander led terror attacks against Israel and had recently directed efforts to rebuild Hezbollah’s terror army, Sa’ar said.

“Over the past year, since the ceasefire, Hezbollah has been working to rearm after the heavy blows it suffered from Israel in 2024,” he said.

Sunday’s IDF operation and its previous ones against Hezbollah didn’t violate Lebanon’s sovereignty because “the very existence of Hezbollah” as the most powerful armed force in Lebanon is a violation of Lebanese sovereignty.

“As long as Hezbollah is not disarmed, Lebanon will remain de facto under Iranian occupation,” the foreign minister added.

Sa’ar called on the Lebanese government to implement its decision to dismantle Hezbollah’s arsenal. So far, it has only made minor inroads, he said. “In fact, Hezbollah is rearming more than it is disarming.”

Sa’ar thanked his hosts for their warm welcome in Paraguay’s capital of Asunción, describing Paraguay as “one of Israel’s greatest friends.”

He stated that the ties between the two countries are based on shared values: “Paraguay’s foreign policy has a clear moral dimension: You voted for the establishment of the State of Israel at the United Nations in 1947. You were among the very first countries to recognize Israel.”

As reported by Pesach Benson of Tazpit Press Service, November 26, 2025:

Argentine President Javier Milei (left) greets Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar in Buenos Aires on Nov. 25, 2025. (Photo by Argentine President's Office/TPS-IL)

Israel and Argentina deepened economic cooperation as Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar led a high-level business delegation to Buenos Aires, announcing new trade initiatives and signing agreements aimed at expanding bilateral commerce.

Saar and Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno opened a business forum on Monday with representatives from Israel’s security, cyber, renewable energy, technology, and science sectors.

The event followed a similar forum held a day earlier in Paraguay as part of Saar’s regional tour.

During the Argentina visit, the Manufacturers Association of Israel signed a memorandum of understanding with the Argentine Industrial Union (UIA), laying what both sides described as the groundwork for expanded industrial collaboration.

The agreement aims to promote joint ventures, facilitate market access, and strengthen diplomatic ties.

Saar highlighted Argentina’s shifting economic direction under President Javier Milei, saying the changes create new space for partnership.

“President Milei is re-paving Argentina’s path to greatness,” he said.

“Over the years, failed leaderships have repeatedly damaged the Argentine economy. But today Argentina is on the right track. I believe that when you combine this with Israeli talent and technology and mutual investment opportunities, something significant can happen.”

The foreign minister also announced that Israel will open new economic attaché offices in Buenos Aires in 2026 to support expanding trade activity.

“We want to dramatically increase our investments in Argentina,” Sa’ar explained.

The Israeli trade delegation includes government officials, business leaders, and representatives from the Export Institute and Chamber of Commerce.

The delegation included individuals from the fields of security, cyber, renewable energy, technology, and science and met with their Argentine counterparts to identify areas of cooperation.

“The signing of the memorandum of understanding today is an important step in establishing a long-term business relationship between Israel and Argentina, which is doubly important for strengthening trade with countries that support Israel and have stood by us for the past two years. The innovation and capabilities of Israeli industry will contribute significantly to the development of Argentine industry, while at the same time opening a gateway to a developing market with enormous potential for Israeli companies,” said President of the Israeli Manufacturers Association Dr. Ron Tomer.

On Tuesday, Milei told Sa’ar he intends to open Argentina’s new embassy in Jerusalem in the spring.

The move would make Argentina the eighth country to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, joining Fiji, the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea, and Paraguay.

Milei has been promoting what he calls the “Isaac Accords,” a partnership between Israel and Latin American democracies—particularly Costa Rica, Panama, and Uruguay.

The initiative is modeled after the 2020 Abraham Accords that normalized relations between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and subsequently Sudan, brokered by Donald Trump’s first presidential administration.

As reported by Joshua Marks of Jewish News Syndicate, November 26, 2025 (links in original):

Israel is expecting Argentine President Javier Milei to visit in April or May to open his country’s embassy in Jerusalem, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said on Tuesday.

“We hope to have the president in April or May to open Argentina’s embassy in Jerusalem, D.C.—David’s Capital,” said Sa’ar in an address to the Israel-Argentina Business Forum alongside Argentina’s Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno, who he noted will be visiting the Jewish state in February.

Milei announced during his visit to Israel in June that Argentina will open its embassy in Jerusalem in 2026.

Israel’s top diplomat also announced that Israel will be opening an Economic Attaché Office in Buenos Aires next year, stressing that Israel wants to “dramatically increase” investments in Argentina.

Sa’ar brought a business and economic delegation from Israel to accompany him on his diplomatic and trade trip to Paraguay and Argentina, which aimed at expanding economic cooperation between the countries, according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

The group included senior government officials, company representatives and key economic leaders.

In the address, Sa’ar also said that Jerusalem is keen to boost imports from Argentina, and updated the announcement on establishing direct flights between the two countries made during Milei’s visit in June.

“A government decision was approved. And we are now moving to the operational stage. I hope and I believe it won’t be long and this will boost our economic relations,” said Sa’ar.

Calling it an honor to meet “one of the world’s boldest and most impressive leaders” in Buenos Aires Tuesday during his diplomatic visit to the ally, Sa’ar said in a post on X that the two had discussed their “extraordinary bilateral relations.”

The President of Argentina @JMilei is one of the world's boldest and most impressive leaders.

It was a true honor to meet him in Buenos Aires and discuss our extraordinary bilateral relations.

The economic delegation accompanying me today is an expression of our belief in the… pic.twitter.com/qHWJsB6Rf0

— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) November 25, 2025

”The economic delegation accompanying me today is an expression of our belief in the president’s bold economic reforms and Argentina’s economy under his leadership,” said the Israeli foreign minister.

He concluded his comments by thanking Milei for “standing consistently by Israel on the international stage. Argentina, under President Milei’s leadership, is one of Israel’s best friends in the world. We’ll continue strengthening these extraordinary relations!”

Sa’ar also met on Tuesday with Quirno, thanking him for his “warm hospitality” in the Argentine capital and saying that they “had great discussions on our extraordinary bilateral relations,” including working on the direct flights between Tel Aviv and Buenos Aires.

I thank Argentina's FM @pabloquirno for his warm hospitality in Buenos Aires.

We had great discussions on our extraordinary bilateral relations.

Our economic delegation here today is an expression of our belief in President Milei's economic reforms. We're working to bring… pic.twitter.com/2KEwTZeaty

— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) November 25, 2025

Sa’ar also met with Martin Menem, president of Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies, and members of the chamber.

“I told them that we want to be partners in Argentina’s success story, under President Milei’s leadership. We discussed parliamentary exchanges and deepening our economic cooperation,” he said.

Sa’ar laid a wreath at a monument honoring Argentine national hero General Jose de San Martin in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.

He was scheduled to attend memorial events for victims of the 1992 Israeli Embassy bombing and 1994 AMIA Jewish center attack, both attributed to Hezbollah and which killed 29 and 85 people, respectively.

Sa’ar will also speak at the 90th anniversary celebration of DAIA, Argentina’s umbrella organization for Jewish institutions.

Israel’s top diplomat visited Paraguay on Monday, where he signed a memorandum of understanding on security cooperation.

“Paraguay is developing major defense capabilities. Israel’s defense industry has experience and capabilities that we want to share with you,” said Sa’ar during a press conference with Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano.

In honor of the visit, the South American nation held a special session of both houses of Congress in the capital Asunción, playing Israel’s national anthem, “Hatikva,” in Sa’ar’s presence.

Sa’ar also met with Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña, whom he described as “one of the most impressive leaders on the international stage today.”

He thanked Peña for moving his country’s embassy to Jerusalem—a promise first made by his predecessor in 2018—and for designating Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, as well as the so‑called “political” wings of Hamas and Hezbollah.

As reported by Shula Rosen of United With Israel, December 8, 2025:

A Hungarian flag flies next to the country's new embassy branch in Jerusalem on December 1, 2025. (Lazar Berman/The Times of Israel)

A sign denoting Hungary’s new embassy branch in Jerusalem, December 1, 2025.(Lazar Berman/The Times of Israel)

Hungary is expanding its diplomatic footprint in Jerusalem, raising its flag over a new embassy branch that will begin operating early next year, according to information provided to The Times of Israel.

The site, known as the Hungarian Academy, will function as both a cultural center and an official extension of Hungary’s mission in Israel.

The new branch is located in the Talbiyeh neighborhood, next to the YMCA, and will open once its director arrives in January.

It will join two other European representations already clustered in the same area: the Czech Republic’s embassy branch, which faces the new Hungarian site, and Slovakia’s branch a short distance away.

Hungary’s primary embassy will remain in Tel Aviv, though Budapest has maintained a separate trade office in Jerusalem since 2019.

Only seven countries currently host full embassies in Jerusalem — the US, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and Fiji — making Hungary the first European Union member to open a diplomatic branch in the capital following the US decision in 2017 under President Donald Trump.

The step had been on the table for years but was slowed by the Hamas-led terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023. The move comes as ties between Budapest and Jerusalem remain warm. During Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wartime trip to Hungary last year — his first visit to Europe since the ICC issued arrest warrants for him and then-defense minister Yoav Gallant — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán reiterated that his government would not enforce the order.

Hungary’s Honorary Consul in Israel described the current state of relations as exceptionally close.

“The relations between Hungary and Israel are excellent, and develop every day to an additional level,” David Wiernik told JNS at the time of Netanyahu’s visit, adding that “The recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and the move to Jerusalem, is very important to the State of Israel and is much more than a symbolic move.”

Hungary has signaled repeatedly that it views itself as one of Israel’s strongest partners within the EU, a position reflected in its latest diplomatic expansion.

As reported by Jewish News Syndicate, December 9, 2025:

Israeli Economic Minister Nir Barkat and Costa Rica's minister of foreign trade, Manuel Tovar Rivera, at the signing ceremony for a free trade agreement in Jerusalem, Dec. 8, 2025. Credit: Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Israel and Costa Rica have taken a “leap forward” in bilateral relations with the signing of a free trade agreement encompassing goods, services and investments, Jerusalem’s Foreign Ministry announced on Monday.

The announcement came just days after Costa Rica’s minister of foreign trade, Manuel Tovar Rivera, announced that San José would be opening an office for innovation in trade and investment in Jerusalem in 2026.

Monday’s ceremony was also attended by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat, the MFA stated.

The agreement will immediately eliminate over 90% of tariffs, granting broad access for Israeli industrial and agricultural products to the Costa Rican market. The Jewish state will also reduce import costs on a wide range of goods, from food and medical equipment to industrial tools.

“This agreement opens significant new avenues for both Costa Rica and Israel,” Tovar Rivera said, adding: “It enhances access to high-quality Costa Rican goods and services while creating a mutually beneficial platform for collaboration in high-technology industries, premium agribusiness and specialized services.

Barkat hailed Costa Rica as “a natural trade partner for Israel—an advanced OECD country with a deep commitment to free and open trade.”

He added, “The free trade agreement is expected to strengthen the growth trend in Israeli exports, deepen business cooperation, and help reduce the cost of living in Israel by lowering the costs of imports.”

The announcement that Costa Rica would be opening a trade office was made on Saturday night, in the wake of a meeting in Jerusalem between Sa’ar and Tovar Rivera, and followed similar moves by other countries that do not maintain their embassy in the Jewish state’s capital.

Costa Rica formerly maintained its embassy in Jerusalem but relocated it to Tel Aviv in 2006 due to international pressure and efforts to further its relations with the Arab world.

As reported by Nathan Guttman of All Israel News, December 10, 2025:

FM Sa'ar and Bolivian FM Fernando Armayo at the signing ceremony event in Washington DC, signing a Joint Communiqué to renew diplomatic relations between the two countries. December 10, 2025 Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Shmulik Almani

Israel and Bolivia have renewed full diplomatic relations. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and his Bolivian counterpart, Fernando Aramayo, signed an agreement to re-establish relations at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.

Bolivian Minister of Finance and Economy José Gabriel Espinoza also attended the event.

“The countries look forward to the renewal of ties between their peoples, including a rediscovery of the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Holy Land by Bolivians, and Israelis returning to explore the breathtaking natural beauty, rich cultural traditions, and warm hospitality of Bolivia,” the agreement stated.

“Aware of the historic opportunity to join in a shared effort to promote a more stable, secure, and prosperous future for the benefit of both peoples, they aspire to renew full diplomatic relations, friendship, and cooperation.”

Sa’ar said in his speech, “Today, we are ending a long and unnecessary chapter of disconnect between our two nations. We agreed to restore full diplomatic relations and to appoint ambassadors in the near future. We exchanged mutual invitations for government and private-sector representatives. We will visit each other’s countries to explore new opportunities for cooperation. The two foreign ministries will maintain an ongoing dialogue on bilateral, regional, and multilateral issues."

"Our goal is to strengthen and deepen relations in many areas. Following the cancellation of the visa requirement for Israeli tourists, I know that thousands of Israelis will once again visit this beautiful country every year. This will help strengthen the human bridge between our peoples.”

“Strengthening relations with Latin American countries is a central objective of my foreign policy for 2026,” Sa’ar declared. “I have just visited Argentina and Paraguay. Renewing and rebuilding relations with Bolivia is a cornerstone of this policy. Today, Israel and Bolivia are opening a new chapter in their relations.”

Earlier this week, Sa’ar announced the renewal of relations, stating that Bolivia has undergone a “political change” in the recent elections that made the move possible.

“I spoke with the new president the day after he was elected. Before him, there was a very left-wing government, connected to Iran and other problematic actors, which, among other things, severed relations with the State of Israel. Tomorrow I will meet their foreign minister and we will sign the renewal of relations,” he said.

In the October elections, Rodrigo Paz Pereira, a center-right candidate, won the election after receiving about 54.5% of the vote in the second round against Jorge Quiroga. For the first time in 20 years, a candidate from the left, part of former president Evo Morales’ Movement for Socialism party, did not make it to the decisive round.

Diplomatic relations between Israel and Bolivia were established in the 1950s, but have been severed several times due to Bolivia’s opposition to Israeli military operations. The most recent break occurred at the start of the Gaza War in October 2023, after relations had previously been restored in 2019.

“I see the beginning of change in Latin America. There is a trend of change, and it is very important for the United States, but also for Israel, because those who are friends of the United States are usually friends of Israel as well,” Sa’ar added.

“We will invest major efforts in establishing and deepening our relations in South America. I will also add that the Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica is currently in Jerusalem to sign a free trade agreement. They will open an innovation office with diplomatic status in Jerusalem. Ecuador has done the same. Argentina will open an embassy in Israel this coming spring. Paraguay did so a year ago. There is much progress in many fields, and we will continue this.”

As reported by Jewish News Syndicate, December 17, 2025:

Hebrew University President Tamir Sheafer (left), Ecuador’s Ambassador to Israel María Cristina Cevallos Calero and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. Photo by David Salem/Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ecuador on Tuesday inaugurated its Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Israel, located within the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center in Givat Ram.

The ceremony was attended by Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Ecuadorian Ambassador to Israel María Cristina Cevallos Calero, Hebrew University President Professor Tamir Sheafer and Professor Amnon Dekel, executive director of ASPER-HUJI Innovate.

The new center is slated to spearhead collaborations in entrepreneurship and innovation across government, industry and academia, with student training workshops, the Hebrew University said in a statement.

Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa visited Israel in May to cement the establishment of the Ecuadorian Center.

Cevallos Calero issued a statement, thanking the university and saying: “Innovation is a catalyst. It opens doors that did not exist before, transforms challenges into opportunities, and empowers societies to reimagine the boundaries of what is possible. When supported by a strong entrepreneurial spirit, innovation becomes a powerful engine of economic growth, social development and long-term resilience.”

Sheafer praised the collaboration, saying, “The establishment of the [Ecuadorian Center] sends a clear message: Innovation is a shared language between our societies. … [This initiative] strengthens our role as a global university and demonstrates how close cooperation between academia, industry and government in Ecuador and Israel can translate into real impact on the ground.”

Dekel was quoted as saying that the Ecuadorian Center “is not envisioned as a one-way relationship. We look forward to deep collaboration between researchers, students and innovators from both Ecuador and Israel.”

On Dec. 1, Sa’ar expressed hope that the new center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship would in time lead to the transfer of the Ecuadoran embassy to Israel’s capital.

Speaking at the opening of the center, Sa’ar noted that Guatemala, Paraguay and Honduras had moved their embassies to Jerusalem, and that Argentinean President Javier Milei had announced he would do so in the spring. The opening of Ecuador’s innovation center was “another milestone” in the right direction, Sa’ar added.

Ecuador opened an embassy in Jerusalem in the 1950s, but moved it to Tel Aviv in 1980.

As reported by Etgar Lefkovits of Jewish News Syndicate, December 16, 2025 (links in original):

Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka voices support for moving the embassy to Jerusalem at a Sunday night Chanukah candle lighting ceremony in central Prague, Dec. 14, 2025. Credit: Courtesy of Chabad-Lubavitch.

The Czech Republic is expected to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem next year, an official said Tuesday, further strengthening close bilateral ties dating back to the founding of the Jewish state.

The show of support from one of Israel’s closest European allies comes as Argentina plans to open its embassy in Jerusalem in the spring, and as Hungary is also weighing a similar move.

The Czech Republic’s new foreign minister publicly voiced support on Sunday for relocating the country’s embassy from Tel Aviv to the Israeli capital.

“I personally am very much looking forward… to be present when one of the symbols of solidarity becomes the fact that the Czech Republic finally moves its embassy to Jerusalem,” Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka said at a Chanukah event in central Prague organized by the Chabad movement. “It should have been there a long time ago.”

JNS has learned that Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš is expected to visit Israel early next year and could announce the embassy move during the trip.

Three days after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, massacre, the Czech Parliament unanimously adopted a resolution urging the government to move the country’s embassy to Jerusalem in a bipartisan show of support. The previous government, however, never implemented the move, even as it backed Israel in international legal forums and on the diplomatic stage during the war against Hamas in Gaza.

“We see the Czech Republic as one of our greatest friends in Europe and in the world, and as a natural partner,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar wrote on X Tuesday evening after a congratulatory phone call with his Czech counterpart upon assuming office. “We appreciate the Czech Republic’s close friendship and consistent support, especially throughout the war.”

The historic connection between the two small countries dates back to Israel’s 1948 War of Independence, when Czechoslovakia alone supplied vital arms to the fledgling Jewish state.

Seven countries currently maintain embassies in Israel’s capital: the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Paraguay, Papua New Guinea and Fiji.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to move the American embassy to Jerusalem during his first term set the stage for other countries to follow suit.

As reported by The Algemeiner and World Israel News Staff, December 27, 2025:

Israel on Friday became the first country to officially recognize the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, in a move expected to reshape regional power dynamics as the two governments expand political, security, and economic cooperation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alongside Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi, signed a joint declaration of mutual recognition, formally establishing full diplomatic relations between the two sides.

Somaliland is an unrecognized state in the Horn of Africa, situated on the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden and bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, Ethiopia to the south and west, and Somalia to the east.

In a statement on the newly signed agreement, Netanyahu praised Abdi for “his leadership and commitment to promoting stability and peace” in the region, while also inviting him to make an official visit to Israel.

“The State of Israel plans to immediately expand its relations with the Republic of Somaliland through extensive cooperation in the fields of agriculture, health, technology, and economy,” the Israeli leader wrote in a post on X.

With the newly signed agreement, Saar said plans would also move forward for the appointment of ambassadors and the opening of embassies.

“We will work together to promote the relations between our countries and nations, regional stability, and economic prosperity,” the top Israeli diplomat said.

Despite Netanyahu’s announcement, Trump made clear that the United States would not immediately follow Israel’s move to recognize the African nation, remarking, “Does anyone know what Somaliland is, really?”

The foreign ministers of Somalia, Egypt, Turkey, and Djibouti also denounced Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland, Somalia’s breakaway region, Egypt announced on Friday.

According to a statement from Egypt’s Foreign Ministry issued after a phone call among the four foreign ministers, “The ministers affirmed their total rejection and condemnation of Israel’s recognition of the Somaliland region, stressing their full support for the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia.”

The U.N. Security Council will convene an emergency session on Monday afternoon following Israel’s controversial recognition of Somaliland.

For his part, Abdi announced that Somaliland would also join the Abraham Accords, calling it a “step toward regional and global peace” and affirming his government’s commitment to building partnerships, boosting mutual prosperity, and promoting stability across the Middle East and Africa.

Although no other country has formally recognized Somaliland, several — including the United Kingdom, Ethiopia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Kenya, and Taiwan — have maintained liaison offices, allowing them to engage diplomatically and conduct trade and consular activities without full formal recognition.

Israel’s move has provoked outrage among several regional powers, with the foreign ministers of Somalia, Egypt, Turkey, and Djibouti condemning its recognition of Somaliland as undermining Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

According to experts, the growing Israel-Somaliland partnership could be a “game changer” for Israel, boosting the Jewish state’s ability to counter the Yemen-based Houthi terrorist group while offering strategic and geographic advantages amid shifting regional power dynamics.

Unlike most other states in the region, Somaliland has relative security, regular elections, and a degree of political stability — qualities that make it a valuable partner for international allies and a key player in regional cooperation.

Last month, the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), a prominent Israeli think tank, released a new report arguing that Somaliland’s strategic position along the Red Sea, its closeness to Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, and its willingness to work with pro-Western states make it a key ally for Israel, benefiting both sides amid rising regional volatility.

“Somaliland’s significance lies in its geostrategic location and in its willingness — as a stable, moderate, and reliable state in a volatile region — to work closely with Western countries,” the INSS report said.

“Somaliland’s territory could serve as a forward base for multiple missions: intelligence monitoring of the Houthis and their armament efforts; logistical support for Yemen’s legitimate government in its war against them; and a platform for direct operations against the Houthis,” it continued.

This strategic partnership comes at a critical moment, as Israeli and US officials have warned of rising Islamist terrorist threats across Sub-Saharan Africa, placing the region at the forefront of global concern over jihadist activity.

As reported by Matthew Shea and Lahav Harkov of Jewish Insider, December 29, 2025 (links in original):

Israel’s recognition of Somaliland has stirred unease across parts of the Arab and Muslim world, challenging regional power dynamics as Jerusalem moves first in a strategically sensitive corner of the Horn of Africa.

Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland on Friday, 34 years after the democratic, pro-Western state declared its independence from Somalia. The move puts Israel at odds with a number of Arab and Muslim nations including Qatar, a major power broker in Somalia and a key mediator in regional conflicts, at a time when Washington is seeking to expand the Abraham Accords and manage competing Arab interests in the Horn of Africa.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar signed a document establishing full diplomatic relations between the countries which affirms that they have “shared values, strategic interests and the spirit of mutual respect that binds our peoples,” and that “this relationship will contribute to advancing peace, stability, and prosperity in the Horn of Africa, the Middle East and beyond.”

The Prime Minister’s Office described the recognition as being “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, signed at the initiative of President [Donald] Trump,” and Netanyahu told Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi that he would “communicate to President Trump your willingness and desire to join the Abraham Accords.”

However, Trump has largely dismissed the idea that the U.S. would follow suit at this juncture, saying it is “under study.”

“Does anyone know what Somaliland is, really?” Trump told The New York Post.

Somalia is a member of the Arab League, joining in 1974 as the first non-Arab nation due to strong cultural, religious and historical ties. Somalia also holds a crucial geopolitical location for global trade.

Somalia has served as a proxy battleground for broader regional power struggles, with influential Middle Eastern states supporting different factions and projects.

Qatar has sought to establish itself as a dominant influence and key mediator in Somalia, supporting the central government and pouring resources into the country for over a decade.

On Saturday, the Qatari government released a statement rejecting “the announcement of mutual recognition between the Israeli occupation authorities and the Somaliland region,” and “any attempts aimed at establishing or imposing parallel entities that would undermine the unity of Somalia.” Doha also said in the statement that it would be “more appropriate” for the Jewish state to “recognize the State of Palestine.”

Qatar also released a statement with 21 Arab and Muslim countries — including Jordan, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan and “the State of Palestine” — “stressing their unequivocal rejection of Israel’s recognition of the Somaliland region.”

Recognizing Somaliland is also a way of positioning Israel against Qatar, as Foundation for Defense of Democracies CEO Mark Dubowitz pointed out: “Want another reason to back Somaliland? Qatar — the Muslim Brotherhood’s biggest bankroller — backs the other side.”

An official Somaliland X account posted that “Doha has no business meddling in Somaliland’s affairs while bankrolling Muslim Brotherhood proxies to prop up Mogadishu’s failed regime. … Foreign powers parroting Mogadishu’s line can shove their hypocrisy. Our future is ours—not dictated by Qatar’s Islamist agenda.”

Egypt and Turkey, both close allies of Somalia, have also condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland. Saudi Arabia, a country that holds a more moderate posture toward the Jewish state but has expressed reticence to establish relations with it, is reportedly less likely to normalize ties with Israel due to the recognition of Somaliland, according to Israel’s Channel 12.

The UAE, in contrast, has nurtured a close relationship with Somaliland, a factor that may have encouraged Jerusalem in its move to recognize the African state, though Abu Dhabi has not yet recognized Somaliland, Asher Lubotzky, a researcher at the Israel-Africa Relations Institute, wrote.

Sa’ar said in a statement that relations between the two countries grew over the course of the last year, and that they will exchange ambassadors and open embassies. Israel and Somaliland also plan to cooperate in the fields of agriculture, health and technology, the Prime Minister’s Office stated.

Israeli and Somaliland officials have reportedly held secret meetings over the course of the past several months. The president of Somaliland has met with Netanyahu and Sa’ar, as well as Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, and Netanyahu invited him for another visit.

In a paper published by Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies a month before Israel recognized Somaliland, Lubotzky wrote that the African state’s “security importance for Israel has become even more pronounced over the past two years.”

Somaliland is strategically located for Israel, across the Gulf of Aden from parts of Yemen controlled by the Houthis, who have frequently attacked Israel over the past two years.

“Somaliland could serve as a forward base for a range of missions,” Lubotzky wrote, “intelligence collection and monitoring of the Houthis and their military buildup; logistical support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government in its war against the Houthis; and direct operations, from offensive actions to intercepting Houthi attacks at sea or by UAVs.”

The growing number of countries recognizing a Palestinian state also may have curbed Israel’s former reluctance to recognize secessionist states out of a concern that it could set a precedent for supporting Palestinian statehood, Lubotzky noted.

Earlier this year, reports indicated that Somaliland could be open to accepting Palestinian refugees from Gaza, as President Donald Trump expressed support for relocation from the enclave to enable reconstruction efforts. Recent reports suggest this idea has resurfaced and may factor into any emerging arrangement between Israel and Somaliland.

The European Union released a statement that it “reaffirms the importance of respecting the unity, the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia … This is key for the peace and stability of the entire Horn of Africa region.”

The African Union has declined to formally recognize Somaliland in the past, citing concerns that doing so could set a precedent for secession across the continent and trigger wider instability.

As reported by All Israel News, December 31, 2025 (links in original):

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Israel’s ‍decision to formally recognize the Republic of Somaliland is illegitimate and unacceptable, adding that Israel risks destabilizing the Horn of Africa with the move.

“Preserving the unity and integrity of Somalia in all circumstances holds special importance in our view. Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland is illegitimate and utterly unacceptable to us,” Erdoğan said on Tuesday during a press conference alongside Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

NOW - Turkey's Erdogan condemns Israel's recognition of Somaliland as an illegal act aimed at destabilizing "the entire Horn of Africa." pic.twitter.com/3TCW085JZQ
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) December 30, 2025

Mohamud arrived in Istanbul on Tuesday for talks expected to focus on bilateral ties, military cooperation, economic development, and political unity following Israel’s recognition of Somaliland.

Erdoğan also took the opportunity to lash out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which he has done repeatedly over the past few years, but especially since the start of the Oct. 7 Gaza War.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused Israel of seeking to destabilize the Horn of Africa, saying: “The Netanyahu government, which bears the blood of 71,000 of our Palestinian brothers and sisters on its hands, following its relentless and aggressive assaults on Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, Qatar, and Syria, is now actively attempting to destabilize the entire Horn of Africa region.”

The Israeli announcement of recognition sparked condemnation, mostly from the Muslim and Arab states in the region, led by the Arab League, along with Turkey, Djibouti and several European countries.

Turkey appears largely concerned that Israel’s move could undermine the regional military superiority it has gradually built under Erdoğan.

At the same time, the Turkish leader announced that his country will send an energy drilling ship to the waters off the coast of Somalia in 2026 as part of the strategic cooperation between the countries, which some analysts have called a form of colonialism.

The new Othman coloniser led by Sultan Erdogan has transformed Somalia into the only modern day colony in Africa. From seizing their resources, airports, ports, and blue economy to enslaving Somalians in their own country, Ankara wanted to swallow Somaliland alongside Somalia.… https://t.co/egKi4PnZ0t pic.twitter.com/6u30whSBUB

— HE. AMB. HAGGOOGANE (@HAGGOOGANE) December 30, 2025

The Israeli think tank, the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), compared Somalia to a “client state” of Turkey, writing, “For Turkey, Somalia is a central ally in the Red Sea region, approaching the status of a client state.”

Under Erdoğan, Turkey has invested significantly in Somalia, providing military training, infrastructure support – often carried out by Turkish companies – along with economic and humanitarian aid. Ankara has also established its largest embassy in the world in the capital, Mogadishu.

In 2017, Turkey established "Camp TURKSOM," aimed at training the Somali army to be a national defense force. The base operates within a framework of military cooperation established in 2010.

The Turkey-Somali military cooperation expanded significantly in 2024, with the signing of a 10-year defense and economic cooperation agreement that included the construction of a joint naval base, which will include training by Turkish forces.

While the Israeli government said recognition of Somaliland is intended to strengthen regional stability, deepen the fight against terrorism, and expand political, security, and civilian cooperation with like-minded regional partners, analysts say the move is also aimed at countering efforts by Turkey – along with Qatar – to isolate Israel from countries in the region.

Israel's recognition of Somaliland came shortly after Jerusalem hosted Greece and Cyprus for a joint summit last week. Following the summit, Erdoğan warned the three countries against any actions that would violate Turkey’s “rights” in the region.

In recent years, Israel, Greece and Cyprus have gradually increased cooperation and discussed the possibility of forming a joint military force to combat Turkish aggression.

Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdoğan meets with Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Istanbul, Turkey, December 30, 2025. (Photo: Murat Kula/Turkish Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERS)