(Day 858) Swords of Iron – “IDF May Solo Strike”

How bad is antisemitism? It’s bad—and it’s rising fast worldwide. Even in the United States, long considered one of the safest places for Jewish people, we’re seeing alarming signs. The Pentagon cut ties with a Harvard military program over concerns about antisemitism. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made it clear: there is no place for antisemitism in the U.S. military.

According to the AJC, 91% of American Jews say they feel less safe following recent antisemitic attacks. That’s staggering. And now even AI platforms are amplifying old antisemitic tropes—conspiracies that once lived on the fringes are spreading faster through new technology, fueling deception and hostility.

Here in our region, it’s antisemitism on steroids. Terrorists approach the Yellow Line, emerge from tunnels, and pose imminent threats, which our forces then must eliminate. In the south, troops remain deployed under the ceasefire framework to remove any danger to our people. Meanwhile, Iran’s leadership continues its openly hostile rhetoric. The U.S. has signaled retaliation, and President Trump has said, “We’re going to deal with this.” What happens next with Iran remains uncertain.

On Judea and Samaria, Israel has moved to repeal outdated Jordanian laws from 1956, allowing normal business activity without branding people as “illegal occupiers.” For Israel it’s our heartland—the Promised Land. While President Trump has expressed opposition to formal Israeli sovereignty there, business continues. Industrial zones like Barkan employ thousands of Arabs and Jews side by side under the banner of “peace through economics.”

As for Gaza, Hamas is testing resolve—probing borders, sending civilians toward flashpoints to gauge reactions and push ceasefire limits. That’s their pattern. In Syria, Israeli forces are positioned to prevent jihadist groups from advancing closer to Israel. Special operations continue, including the recent capture of a Jamaa Islamiya leader in southern Lebanon to prevent that organization from expanding unchecked.

There are also reports of 8,000 Indonesian troops potentially joining a Gaza peace framework—but what would that actually mean? Would they dismantle Hamas? That remains unclear.

Iran continues psychological warfare, even releasing AI-generated threat videos aimed at the United States. Meanwhile, Israeli security officials warn that Iran’s ballistic missile program could soon pose an existential threat, potentially forcing Israel to act alone if red lines are crossed. Prime Minister Netanyahu has gone to meet with President Trump and senior U.S. officials to address these concerns.

Deuteronomy 33:26–29 declares that the eternal God is Israel’s refuge, that He goes before His people and grants them safety. “Happy are you, O Israel, who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help, the sword of your excellency. And your enemies will be found liars..”