ARTICLES

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

Israel’s Knesset has spent the past two years advancing legislation that could reshape the modern debate over sovereignty in Judea and Samaria. The proposed Heritage Authority bill has reignited international tensions, drawing criticism from many of Israel’s detractors and even from some allies. Though the legislation is not yet finalized, the Knesset continues moving steadily toward formal approval.

A May 12 Knesset press release outlined the bill following its first reading, after which it advanced for further review and debate. The legislation would place responsibility for antiquities, archaeology, and heritage sites in Judea and Samaria directly under Israeli oversight. It also proposes establishing a Judea and Samaria Heritage Authority, a civilian agency tasked with excavation, preservation, land acquisition, enforcement, and the protection of archaeological evidence.

To understand why this legislation matters so deeply to Israelis, it is important to revisit the historical background.

The modern dispute stretches back nearly eight decades. In 1947, Jewish leaders accepted the United Nations Partition Plan, Resolution 181, which proposed dividing the land into Jewish and Arab states. Arab leaders rejected the proposal outright. On May 14, 1948, only hours after David Ben-Gurion proclaimed Israel’s independence, surrounding Arab nations launched war against the newborn Jewish state.

Ironically, the United Nations plan had already allocated much of the biblical heartland’s fertile agricultural land and key water resources to the proposed Arab state. Yet even that was not enough to satisfy Arab leadership. As war unfolded, the geographical terminology itself began changing. Judea and Samaria, the historic biblical heartland west of the Jordan River, increasingly became known internationally as the “West Bank.” Over time, this terminology hardened into a diplomatic framework that often ignores Israel’s historical and legal claims to the land.

Biblically, however, the Jewish connection to the land stretches back thousands of years. Modern Israel is not merely a seventy-eight-year-old state. Its history, culture, and spiritual identity trace back more than 3,400 years to God’s covenant with Abraham recorded in Genesis 12.

The Bible itself stands apart among ancient texts for its remarkable preservation, historical continuity, and global influence. Written over approximately fifteen centuries by forty authors across three continents and in three languages, Scripture presents a unified narrative regarding the Jewish people and the land of Israel.

Exodus 19:5 records God’s declaration: “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.”

Jeremiah 31:35-36 further emphasizes God’s enduring covenant with Israel: “This is what the LORD says, He who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night … the LORD Almighty is His name: ‘Only if these decrees vanish from My sight, declares the Lord, will Israel ever cease being a nation before me.’”

Beyond biblical conviction, Israeli leaders also point to urgent operational concerns behind the Heritage Authority legislation.

The Israel Antiquities Authority and international archaeological organizations have documented widespread antiquities theft, site destruction, black market smuggling, and organized looting networks operating throughout Judea and Samaria. Ancient Jewish burial caves, Byzantine churches, Roman fortresses, and biblical sites have suffered irreversible damage.

The Antiquities Theft Prevention Unit warns that archaeological layers preserving thousands of years of history are being destroyed at an unprecedented rate. For Christians as well as Jews, this loss is significant. These sites offer tangible connections to biblical history and to the land where the events of Scripture unfolded.

The proposed legislation seeks to strengthen Israel’s ability to preserve and protect those historical treasures.

International reaction, however, has been swift and critical. The European Union continues to describe Judea and Samaria as “occupied Palestinian territory,” labels Jewish communities there as “settlements,” and insists such communities violate international law. European officials have demanded that Israel reverse course.

Yet the Heritage Authority bill continues advancing through Israel’s legislative process. Alongside it, another major development emerged in 2025 when the Knesset approved a preliminary reading extending Israeli sovereignty to Ma’ale Adumim, one of the largest Jewish cities in Judea and Samaria with approximately 40,000 residents. Many Israelis consider it a suburb of Jerusalem.

For supporters of Israel, these developments are about far more than politics. They represent questions of identity, heritage, historical truth, and biblical conviction.

As global tensions intensify and the debate surrounding Israel grows increasingly polarized, believers are challenged to stand with courage, wisdom, and conviction. In a confused and often hostile world, truth still matters.

Our CBN Israel team welcomes you to join us in prayer this week.

Prayer Points:

• Pray for wisdom and determination among Knesset leaders as they continue deliberations on the Heritage Authority bill.
• Pray that the Knesset’s diverse members, including Jews, Arabs, and Druze, will seek decisions that protect Israel’s history and future.
• Pray for the safety and security of Jewish communities throughout Judea and Samaria amid growing threats and tensions.

Arlene Bridges Samuels is the weekly feature columnist for CBN Israel since 2020. Working on the staff of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) as their SE Regional Outreach Director for nine years, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem USA engaged her as the Leadership Outreach Director part-time for their project American Christian Leaders for Israel (ACLI). Arlene is an author at The Blogs-Times of Israel, is published at AllIsrael.com and The Jerusalem Connection. Her devotionals and articles also appear on her Substack, The Eclectic Evangelical. She serves on the Advisory Board of NewPersia.org and on the advisory committee of RootAndBranchIsrael.com. Having traveled to Israel regularly since 1990, Arlene participates in Israel’s Government Press Office Christian Media Summits alongside members of Christian media from around the world. In 2024, Arlene and her husband Paul co-authored Mental Health Meltdown: Illuminating the Voices of Bipolar and Other Mental Illnesses. In May 2026, The White Rose Society honored Arlene as a non-Jewish individual who stands with the Jewish people.

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

Shavuot is one of Judaism’s three major pilgrimage festivals, along with Passover and Sukkot, when the Israelites were commanded to journey to Jerusalem. This year, the two-day celebration begins at sundown on May 21 in Israel and in synagogues around the world.

The word Shavuot means “weeks.” The festival arrives after a seven-week countdown that begins at Passover and culminates fifty days later with the Feast of Weeks, a joyful harvest celebration that also commemorates God giving the Torah and the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai more than three thousand years ago. The counting of days creates a sense of expectation and spiritual preparation. Christians know this same season as Pentecost, which falls on May 24 this year.

Acts 2 records that approximately fifteen hundred years after the giving of the Torah, another historic event unfolded in Jerusalem during Shavuot. Fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection, the Holy Spirit descended in the Upper Room as Jewish worshippers from many nations filled the city for the festival. What began at Sinai with the written law expanded into a spiritual harvest as the Gospel began spreading outward from Jerusalem to the nations.

The timing is deeply significant. Jewish pilgrims from across the ancient world traveled to Jerusalem for Passover and often remained through the fifty-day count leading to Shavuot, also called Bikkurim, or First Fruits. First century historian Josephus estimated that millions filled Jerusalem during these festival seasons. Acts 2:9-11 lists many of the places represented among the worshippers, including regions that correspond to modern nations such as Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Turkey, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and Crete.

Whether people personally witnessed the events described in Acts or heard reports spreading rapidly through Jerusalem, the impact was extraordinary. Pilgrims eventually returned home carrying news of what had happened. In this way, the Gospel spread geographically through Jewish worshippers who became witnesses. The earliest believers, including the disciples and the Apostle Paul, were Jewish followers of Jesus. The Good News was born in the Holy Land and then opened outward to the Gentile world.

For thousands of years, Jewish festivals have tied generations together through remembrance, worship, and endurance. No matter where Jews lived or what hardships surrounded them, Shabbat and the biblical festivals remained central to Jewish identity.

That determination was vividly displayed again in 1948 during Israel’s War of Independence.

Only weeks after David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the establishment of the modern State of Israel on May 14, 1948, five Arab armies invaded the newborn nation. The Jewish population had barely emerged from the horrors of the Holocaust. Jerusalem faced severe food shortages. Weapons were scarce. Bombings and battles threatened civilians daily.

Yet even amid war, Israelis chose to keep Shavuot.

That year, Shavuot fell on June 12 and became the first major biblical festival celebrated once again in a restored Jewish homeland. The circumstances were overwhelming. The Israel Defense Forces had only just been formed. Electricity was intermittent. Food was rationed. Enemies surrounded the country.

Many wondered whether anyone would survive long enough to celebrate.

Still, communities across Israel refused to abandon the festival.

One kibbutz, Ein Harod, explained its decision simply: “It felt impossible to abandon this holiday. It is so deeply woven into our lives.”

Moshe Erem, a fighter from Kibbutz Beit Alfa near the Syrian border, wrote in his diary, “After night patrol, we danced the hora at dawn. The Syrians shelled the valley, but we danced anyway. This is our answer.”

At Kibbutz Yifat near Nazareth, children carried baskets to fathers and brothers guarding the perimeter. Some baskets held bread or eggs. One six-year-old girl quietly explained, “We brought fruit and bullets.”

David Ben-Gurion wrote in his diary, “Shavuot. The Cabinet met. We must ensure that the people celebrate, even as war rages.”

Golda Meir later reflected, “We had no milk or cheese, but we read the book of Ruth, a story of loyalty, like our soldiers’.”

In Letters from Jerusalem 1947-1948, underground fighter Zippy Porath described the arrival of desperately needed supplies during the siege: “A small convoy of jeeps bearing blessed arms, ammunition, and food came via the hills.” She added, “They’ve broken the siege and lifted our morale high.”

These moments reveal something profound about Israel’s history. Jewish festivals are not merely rituals or traditions. They are declarations of survival, identity, faith, and hope.

Today, wars and threats against Israel continue. Jewish communities worldwide still face rising hatred and violence. Yet Israel continues to observe Shabbat and celebrate the biblical festivals with determination and joy.

Christians may not fully understand God’s prophetic timetable, but Scripture reminds us of His enduring covenant. Zechariah 2:8 declares, “For whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye.” In Hebrew thought, the phrase refers to the pupil of the eye, the most sensitive and fiercely protected part of the body. The image reflects God’s vigilant care over His people.

As Shavuot approaches, let us honor God by standing with Israel in meaningful ways and by recognizing the extraordinary endurance of the Jewish people across generations.

Our CBN Israel team invites you to pray with us this week.

Prayer Points:

• Pray with gratitude for Israel’s endurance and resilience through every generation.
• Pray that Shavuot 2026 will be filled with encouragement, protection, and miracles for Israel.
• Pray for wisdom for President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu as they make critical decisions.
• Pray for the safety and freedom of the Iranian people who continue to suffer under oppression.

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

Mainstream media coverage often leans toward negative narratives, leaving little room for stories of unity and cooperation. Yet a growing movement is taking shape across the United States, driven by rabbis, pastors, and faith leaders who are standing together in support of Israel.

In a time marked by uncertainty and division, many faith communities are seeking reliable information and meaningful ways to respond. Interfaith advocacy is emerging as a fact based and action-oriented effort that combines informed engagement, prayer, and hope. This collaboration reflects a renewed commitment to shared values rooted in Judeo Christian traditions.

A significant example of this momentum was seen recently in Washington, D.C., where 500 rabbis, pastors, and faith leaders from more than 37 states gathered for Israel Advocacy Day. Their presence in the halls of Congress demonstrated a unified voice and a growing commitment to constructive engagement.

This effort brought together a wide range of organizations. Christian participants included the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem USA, American Christian Leaders for Israel, Eagles’ Wings, Israel Christian Nexus, and the Israel Allies Foundation. Jewish organizations included the Jewish Federations of North America, the Orthodox Union, the Rabbinical Council of America, and the Zionist Rabbinic Coalition.

The cooperation between these groups reflects a shift from informal relationships to intentional partnerships. Faith leaders are working together to strengthen understanding, address misinformation, and support policies that reinforce stability and security.

The roots of Israel Advocacy Day can be traced to the aftermath of October 7, 2023, when faith leaders recognized the need for a coordinated response. In a short time, this initiative has developed into a structured platform that engages lawmakers from both major political parties. Participants meet with members of Congress and their staff to discuss issues related to Israel, rising antisemitism, and the protection of religious communities.

Shelley Neese, president of The Jerusalem Connection and coordinator for American Christian Leaders for Israel, has observed this transformation firsthand. She notes that Jewish and Christian leaders are no longer simply acquainted. They are working as allies. This partnership has strengthened communication and encouraged greater clarity in how both communities express their support for Israel.

During Israel Advocacy Day on May 6, mixed delegations of rabbis and pastors held 115 meetings across Capitol Hill. These discussions reflected broader public sentiment, including polling data that shows strong support for Israel among American voters. Faith leaders are helping to ensure that this support remains visible and active in the policy arena.

The advocacy agenda focused on reinforcing bipartisan support for Israel, addressing the rise in antisemitic incidents both in the United States and globally, and strengthening protections for houses of worship and faith-based communities.

The gathering concluded with remarks from public officials and community leaders, including Representative Don Bacon, Israeli Ambassador Yehiel Leiter, U.S. Special Envoy Yehuda Kaploun, and senior legal officials focused on civil rights. Their participation highlighted the importance of continued dialogue between faith communities and government leaders.

The evening before Advocacy Day, hundreds gathered for a gala that reflected both concern and hope. Eric Fingerhut, president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, described the period since October 7 as deeply challenging. Yet he also pointed to the visible unity between Jews and Christians as a source of encouragement. Religious leaders emphasized the importance of expanding these partnerships in the years ahead.

For many Christian organizations, this level of collaboration represents the fulfillment of long-standing efforts to build meaningful relationships with the Jewish community. The breadth of participation from Jewish organizations signals a shared commitment to future cooperation.

Dr. Susan Michael, president of ICEJ USA, emphasized that support for Israel extends beyond any single community. She noted that it matters to millions of Americans. Jordanna McMillan of the Israel Allies Foundation affirmed that Jewish communities are not alone. Bishop Robert Stearns of Eagles’ Wings Ministries added a clear call to action, stating that passive concern is no longer sufficient and that people of faith must respond with purpose and conviction.

In a time when misinformation spreads quickly, this growing alliance offers a different path. It demonstrates that unity, informed advocacy, and shared purpose can shape meaningful outcomes.

Our CBN Israel team welcomes you to join us in prayer.

Prayer Points:

• Pray for each Christian organization involved in this effort.
• Pray for each Jewish organization participating in this growing partnership.
• Pray for continued unity and active advocacy among Christians and Jews.
• Pray for members of Congress to maintain strong and informed support for the United States and Israel relationship.

By Arlene Bridges Samuels

In an age where deception can spread across social media in seconds, truth remains steady and enduring. While harmful narratives about the United States, Israel, and their alliance continue to multiply, there is another reality that deserves attention. Truth must be spoken clearly and confidently. As Isaiah 62:1 declares, “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.”

Even as headlines focus on conflict with Iran, important developments are unfolding that highlight strengthening alliances and meaningful progress. Two such developments offer encouraging news for Israel and its global relationships.

The first is the emergence of the Isaac Accords. In 2025, Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, launched this initiative to deepen ties with Israel, following the framework established by the Abraham Accords. The agreement was formally signed in Jerusalem on April 19 by Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Milei, marking a significant shift in Argentina’s foreign policy.

This moment stands in sharp contrast to Argentina’s past. In the years following World War II, the country provided refuge to thousands of Nazi war criminals, including Adolf Eichmann and Josef Mengele, both central figures in the Holocaust. Today, Argentina has taken a markedly different path. It is now home to the largest Jewish population in Latin America, where Jewish citizens play an active and influential role in society.

The Isaac Accords aim to strengthen cooperation across economic, security, cultural, and diplomatic areas between Israel and Latin American nations. Supported by the Genesis Prize Foundation and the nonprofit American Friends of the Isaac Accords, the initiative promotes shared democratic values and mutual interests.

At the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized the importance of this partnership, noting the role of the United States in supporting free societies. President Milei’s leadership has been widely recognized, including his selection as a recipient of the Genesis Prize for his strong support of Israel.

Milei has also committed to relocating Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem and has reversed his country’s previous voting patterns at the United Nations to align more closely with Israel. He has prioritized investigations into past terrorist attacks in Buenos Aires, including the bombings of the Israeli embassy and the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association in the 1990s. These attacks, carried out by Iran-backed operatives, resulted in over one hundred deaths and hundreds of injuries.

Other countries in the region are following Argentina’s lead. Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Paraguay have designated Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as terrorist organizations. Bolivia has restored diplomatic ties with Israel. Brazil has established a parliamentary caucus focused on strengthening relations with Israel, and Honduras and Chile are exploring similar steps.

These developments also highlight a broader concern. The influence of the Islamic Regime is not limited to the Middle East. Its presence in Latin America has been established over decades through diplomatic and cultural channels. Addressing this influence is increasingly seen as important for regional stability and security.

Another positive change comes from Switzerland. Traditionally known for its neutrality, Switzerland has taken several steps to address terrorism and financial misconduct. Last year, the Swiss parliament banned Hamas and related groups from operating within its borders and strengthened measures to combat terror financing.

These actions represent a shift from longstanding policies that allowed financial secrecy. For years, concerns have been raised about the misuse of funds intended for humanitarian purposes. New regulations aim to increase transparency and cooperation with international partners.

In another significant decision, Switzerland voted against recognizing a Palestinian state, citing the absence of the institutional criteria required for statehood. This position reflects a reassessment of long-standing diplomatic approaches.

Together, these developments from Argentina, Switzerland, and other nations suggest a changing landscape in international relations. They demonstrate that alliances can evolve and that policies can shift toward greater accountability and cooperation.

In a time when negative narratives often dominate, these examples offer a reminder that constructive partnerships and principled decisions are still taking place. Speaking truth with clarity and conviction remains essential.

Our CBN Israel team invites you to join us in prayer.

Prayer Points:

• Pray with gratitude for the development of new international partnerships supporting Israel.
• Pray for President Javier Milei for wisdom, protection, and continued leadership.
• Pray for efforts to counter terrorism and destabilizing influences in Latin America.
• Pray for wisdom and strength for leaders in the United States and Israel.

Arlene Bridges Samuels is the weekly feature columnist for CBN Israel since 2020. Working on the staff of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) as their SE Regional Outreach Director for nine years, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem USA engaged her as the Leadership Outreach Director part-time for their project American Christian Leaders for Israel. Arlene is an author at The Blogs-Times of Israel, is published at AllIsrael.com and The Jerusalem Connection, and has traveled to Israel since 1990. By invitation, she attends Israel’s Government Press Office Christian Media Summits as part of Christian media worldwide. In 2024, Arlene and her husband Paul co-authored Mental Health Meltdown: Illuminating the Voices of Bipolar and Other Mental Illnesses. www.TheMentalHealthMeltdown.com.