The Abandonment of Uncle Sam: Lessons for Israel from Afghanistan

by Emanuel Shilo, Besheva, translated by Hillel Fendel 

The first lesson that Israel must learn from the out-of-control American withdrawal from Afghanistan is sharp and clear: Israel must always be able to defend itself with its own forces. 

We must never be dependent upon American military aid, meaning that we may not converge behind borders that are indefensible without such help. Reliance upon a foreign element, no matter how friendly, has proven more than once throughout history to be a dependence on a broken reed.

New Economic Opportunities in Judea & Samaria

 Originally published by the Yesha Council, myesha.org.il, translated by Hillel Fendel

The municipal authorities in Judea and Samaria (Yesha) are seeing a significant rise in total income from local taxes on businesses, factories and industry. In addition, more private property tax is being paid as increasingly more people come to live in Yesha. 

This indicates a tremendous jump in commerce and industry, an increasing demand for these areas, and a jump in economic activity. 

Tlaib, AOC Name Bet El Inst. as Leading Builder of Judea & Samaria

We received the following email last week after reports that US Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and five other Democrats signed a letter that specifically named Bet El Institutions, calling for the US Treasury to stop granting tax exemptions to American charitable organizations active in Judea and Samaria and eastern Jerusalem.

2 of 3 winners of nationwide competition from Bet El Yeshiva!

Today MK Betzalel Smotrich and the Religious Zionist party hosted the top three winners of the competition for Torah articles written by young religious Zionists. 150 articles were sent to a staff of judges who chose the winners. First and third place winners - Yehuda Lozon and Netanel Ganizi, respectively - are current students at the Bet El Yeshiva! We couldn’t be prouder!

The Thankless Job of Counting Sins

by Emanuel Shiloh, Besheva, translated and adapted by Hillel Fendel

The news cycles spin so fast that many of us appear to have forgotten that Israel's new government is not just the boyish smile of Naftali Bennett, but rather a conglomeration of anti-Zionist and anti-religious interests that is doing genuine damage. 

Though we generally strive, in this newsletter, to emphasize the many positive aspects of life in the recently renewed Jewish homeland, this time we sadly have no choice but to highlight some of the negative – in the hope that it will arouse us to prayer and action to ensure that this unfortunate government is toppled as soon as possible.

In the following article, Emanuel Shilo, editor of the weekly Besheva, explains that in addition to the government's faults, the general media is neglecting its watchdog duties while giving the government a free pass.