Gaza border towns record population growth since Oct. 7 massacre
(JNS) — The population of Israeli villages along the southern border has grown by 3,000 residents since Oct. 7, 2023, even as five communities are still waiting to return home, a Knesset committee was told on Feb. 16.
Aviad Friedman, head of the Tekuma Authority that is responsible for rebuilding the Gaza border towns destroyed in the Hamas-led Oct. 7 massacre, described the population growth as “an exciting Zionist event” during a hearing at the Knesset State Control Committee.
“The number of residents in the region has grown from some 62,000 on the eve of Oct. 7 to about 65,000 today,” the official told lawmakers, adding: “The region remains heterogeneous and diverse, and the communities are the ones that determine their own path.”
He noted that 42 out of the Gaza Envelope’s 47 communities have returned, 28 months after the region was evacuated by the Israel Defense Forces on the first day of the war with Hamas in Gaza.
By the end of 2027, the remaining five communities, totaling up to 3,000 residents, are expected to return home, Friedman told the committee.
State Control Committee Chairman MK Alon Schuster, a lawmaker for the opposition Blue and White Party and a former mayor of the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council in the south, praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for creating the Tekuma Authority during the war.
Israel to aid Ukraine Jews enduring harsh winter
(JNS) — The Israeli government is initiating the delivery of four million shekels ($1.27 million) in aid to Jewish communities in Ukraine, the Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism said on Feb. 19.
Due to extensive damage to energy infrastructure during the Russo-Ukrainian war and harsh winter conditions, much of the Jewish population is facing prolonged power outages, the statement read.
The ministry together with Mosaic United and Jewish philanthropy are leading an initiative to provide the funding to Jews in need in Ukraine as part of the State of Israel’s commitment to stand by Diaspora communities worldwide.
“This assistance includes stays in hotels and guesthouses with continuous electricity and heating, as well as hot meals, focusing on cities experiencing extended power cuts,” the ministry said.
The assistance is being provided through leading Jewish organizations such as Chabad, the Jewish Agency and the Federations, ensuring that thousands of Jews across Ukraine can face the freezing temperatures with less hardship, the ministry added.
“The Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism has mobilized for this mission to help Jewish communities find warm shelter until the end of winter. I am pleased that we have been granted the privilege to do this,” said Avi Cohen Scali, director-general of the ministry.
Israel hits Hezbollah terror sites across Southern Lebanon
(JNS) — The Israel Defense Forces struck Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites across Southern Lebanon overnight Feb. 18, targeting weapons storage facilities, missile launchers and military installations being used to plan attacks against Israel, according to the military.
As Israel braces for retaliation by Hezbollah and the prospect of a wider confrontation with Iran, Jerusalem has made neutralizing missile launchers and weapons depots a central aim of its campaign in Southern Lebanon.
The Iranian regime is pressuring its Lebanese terror proxy to join any future war with Israel and has sent Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Lebanon to shore up support, Ynet reported on Feb. 18, adding that Jerusalem has warned the Shi’ite group it will face a “very painful” blow if it intervenes and is preparing for the possibility that other Iranian terror proxies could also enter the fray.
The sites struck on Feb. 18 violated agreements between Israel and Lebanon, said the IDF, which vowed to continue operations against threats.
Despite a November 2024 ceasefire, Israel has retained a presence in Southern Lebanon and carried out limited strikes against Hezbollah, according to the military to prevent the terror army from rebuilding its military capabilities.
Lebanon’s government last year committed to disarming Hezbollah after a war with Israel in which the Iran-backed terrorist group suffered significant losses.
Trump’s Board of Peace convenes on Gaza as prospect of U.S. war with Iran surges
(JTA) — The Board of Peace convened by President Donald Trump to administer Gaza’s reconstruction is meeting for the first time in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 19.
At the same time, signs are mounting that Trump could launch a long-threatened war on Iran imminently, which would throw the Middle East back into turmoil. U.S. warships are amassing in the region, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a planned trip to the United States this week and Trump met Feb. 18 with his top Iran advisors.
Trump surprised Israel by opening direct negotiations with Iran last year to limit its nuclear program. The ongoing talks, including this week, have reportedly left a wide gap in the two sides’ positions.
“There are many arguments one can make in favor of a strike against Iran,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Feb. 18 while maintaining that Trump would still like to make a deal.
Israeli media is reporting that a war could begin as soon as this weekend; Axios is reporting that U.S. officials view the end of the month as a significant deadline before making a final decision.
Iranian officials have said they would consider all Israeli and U.S. positions as legitimate targets as they respond to any U.S. attack, meaning that Israelis could soon find themselves once again racing to bomb shelters with Iranian missiles incoming.
Swiss broadcaster removes footage of host criticizing Israeli bobsled team during its first Milan runs
(JTA) — A Swiss sportscaster spent the 57 seconds of the Israeli bobsled team’s first run in Milan denouncing Israel and the team’s captain, drawing criticism from U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and casting a shadow over the historic outing.
The team came in last in its first efforts in the Winter Olympics, finishing 26th of 26 teams in two two-men heats on Feb. 16. The four-man event took place Feb. 21-22.
It has been a disappointing showing so far for the team, which is making its first appearance in the Olympics following a years-long journey propelled by A.J. Edelman, an American observant Jew who has sought to do for Israel’s winter sports profile what the unlikely “Cool Runnings” bobsled team did for Jamaica in the 1990s.
The Swiss sportscaster, Sebastian Renna, used the run to detail allegations against Edelman, whom he referred to as “a first-time Olympian and self-described ‘Zionist to the core’ who has posted several messages on social media in support of the genocide in Gaza.” He listed comments allegedly made by Edelman and questioned why he should be allowed to compete given the International Olympic Committee’s rules barring athletes from making political statements.
The Swiss national broadcaster, RTS, issued a statement about the footage, which it removed from its website, on Feb. 17. “Our journalist wanted to question the IOC’s policy regarding the athlete’s statements,” it said. “However, such information, while factual, is inappropriate for sports commentary due to its length. Therefore, we removed the segment from our website last night.”
