Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

Articles written by Akiva Van Koningsveld & Amelie Botbol


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  • IDF preparing plans for renewed fighting in Gaza Strip, Smotrich tells JNS

    Akiva Van Koningsveld and Amelie Botbol|Nov 14, 2025

    (JNS) — The Israel Defense Forces is preparing plans for “a renewed occupation of Gaza and the dismantling of Hamas,” Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a member of Jerusalem’s Security Cabinet, told JNS on Monday. “We will be ready,” Smotrich said, speaking with JNS following a faction meeting of his Religious Zionism Party at the Knesset. “Now we have no hostages there and there are far fewer restrictions: fast, sharp, resolute,” he said. President Donald Trump “often used the word ‘violent,’ so I like that word,” Smotrich conti...

  • Jerusalem won't accept Turkish armed forces in Gaza, says Israeli FM

    Akiva Van Koningsveld and Amelie Botbol|Nov 14, 2025

    (JNS) — Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar reiterated on Monday that Jerusalem will not accept the inclusion of Turkish armed forces in President Donald Trump’s International Stabilization Force for the Gaza Strip. “Countries that want or are ready to send armed forces should be at least fair to Israel,” Sa’ar declared at a news conference in Budapest, speaking alongside his Hungarian counterpart, according to Reuters. “Turkey, led by [President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan, led a hostile approach against Israel,” the top diplomat stated. “So it...

  • IDF chief orders army to prep 'significant' counter-terror operations in Judea and Samaria

    Akiva Van Koningsveld and Amelie Botbol|Feb 7, 2025

    (JNS) — Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi ordered the military on Monday to prepare for counter-terror operations in Judea and Samaria amid an uptick in terror following the ceasefire in Gaza. “In addition to the intense defensive preparations in the Gaza Strip, we must be prepared for significant operations in Judea and Samaria in the coming days in order to get ahead of and catch the terrorists before they reach our citizens,” Halevi stated following a situational assessment. Halevi’s remarks came hours after one IDF...

  • Smotrich: US guaranteed Israel's right to resume fighting in Gaza

    Akiva Van Koningsveld and Amelie Botbol|Jan 31, 2025

    (JNS) — The U.S. has provided Israel with a written guarantee that Jerusalem can resume its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip if negotiations for the second and third phases of the ceasefire agreement fail, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich told JNS on Tuesday. U.S. President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden have provided Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with an official missive confirming that “the State of Israel will be able to return to the war on day 43” if talks fail during the 42-day first phase of the a...