News Digest — 9/23/26
Danon Blasts Macron: Do Your Homework Before Lecturing Israel
Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon sharply rebuked French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday (22nd) after Macron claimed in his United Nations General Assembly speech that Hamas had never been active in Judea and Samaria.
“Absolutely absurd. French President Emmanuel Macron claimed from the UN podium that Hamas has ‘never been active’ in Judea and Samaria. Just two days ago, a French citizen was murdered there,” Danon said, referring to the killing of Netanel Shukrun in Neve Tzuf on the eve of Yom Kippur.
“Mr. President, do your homework before lecturing Israel. Check the facts,” Danon added.
Danon subsequently shared a video on social media featuring Macron’s remarks alongside footage of terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria and newspaper reports documenting Hamas involvement in several deadly attacks in the area.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office had also condemned Macron’s comments earlier Tuesday (22nd), highlighting Shukrun’s murder.
“The grotesque absurdity of Emmanuel Macron’s statement is staggering. On Sunday (20th), the eve of Yom Kippur, just two days ago, Netanel Sukrun – a FRENCH CITIZEN and father of six – was murdered in his car by a Hamas terrorist in Judea and Samaria: with his final breath, he told his son to run,” the statement read.
“Hamas terrorists carry out attacks against Jews almost every day. They have murdered countless Israeli citizens in Judea and Samaria. Ignorance is NO EXCUSE for erasing their blood,” it added.
Yahar chairman Gadi Eisenkot likewise rejected Macron’s characterization of Hamas’ activity in the region, citing his own experience commanding the Juddea and Samaria Division.
“French President Macron’s statement is radically detached from the reality on the ground. As someone who commanded the Judea and Samaria Division and fought to eradicate Hamas terrorism, I know well about the terrorist organization’s activities in Judea and Samaria and the threat it poses to Israeli civilians, as we witnessed just two days ago in the deadly attack in Binyamin.”
Israel Expands Export Aid As Dutch Ban On Judea And Samaria Goods Takes Effect
A Dutch order banning the import, sale, purchase, and brokerage of goods originating from Israeli businesses in Judea and Samaria went into effect Tuesday (22nd), prompting Israel’s Economy Ministry to expand assistance for potentially affected exporters and seek alternative markets.
The restrictions apply to Dutch citizens and companies, with Dutch importers responsible for proving the origin of goods.
They are expected to primarily affect companies exporting directly from Judea and Samaria, the Golan Heights, and eastern Jerusalem, as well as Israeli companies using components or imports from those areas.
“The Ministry of Economy and Industry is monitoring the changes in the trade policies of some European countries,” Economy Minister Nir Barkat said.
“The administration’s goal is not to leave any exporter alone to deal with the changes in international markets.”
The Netherlands joins Spain in imposing restrictions on goods from beyond the Green Line, while other European countries have announced additional measures.
Britain and 11 other countries recently announced their own ban on imports from Israeli communities that Britain considers illegal under international law.
Israel’s Foreign Trade Administration has established a dedicated team to assist potentially affected exporters and accelerated an expansion of aid programs that can provide eligible companies with grants of up to $66,200 to develop new markets.
More than 25 companies, including date exporters, have already applied for assistance.
UAE sides with 7 other Muslim countries backing the UK trade ban on Judea and Samaria.
Roy Fisher, director of the Ministry of Economy and Ministry’s Foreign Trade Division, said that economic attaches would help exporters identify customers and business partners in alternative markets.
“We will stand by exporters who have been affected by the measures taken in the Netherlands and other countries,” Fisher said.
“Our goal is to help companies maintain their export activities, reduce dependence on markets where barriers are created, and continue to grow in international markets.”
Direct Israeli exports from the affected areas to the Netherlands are estimated at about $75 million annually, or 2.9% of Israel’s goods exports to the country.
Overall bilateral goods trade reached approximately $4.17 billion in 2025, with Israel recording a trade surplus of about $1.06 billion.
Israeli exports of goods and services totaled about $159 billion, of which about $250 million comes from Judea and Samaria, eastern Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights, Fisher told the Press Service of Israel after Britain announced its boycott.
Fisher told TPS-IL the greater concern is not necessarily the direct loss of British or European sales. Rather, he warned that foreign importers could become reluctant to deal with Israeli companies because they are uncertain about the origin of products.
Israel’s economic attaches are seeking opportunities in Australia, Chile, Colombia, and Eastern Europe, while officials are also working with the United States on potential tariff reduction.
Meanwhile, Israeli services exports to the Netherlands rose 34% to approximately $529 million, reflecting growth in high-tech, digital, and other services, the ministry said.
Colombia Officially Withdraws From South Africa’s ICJ Genocide Case Against Israel
Colombia has withdrawn from South Africa’s genocide case against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the court announced Tuesday (22nd).
In a statement, the ICJ said Colombia informed the court that it had decided to withdraw the Declaration of Intervention that it had filed under Article 63 of the Statute of the Court on 5 April 2024 in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel).
Colombia’s Foreign Ministry then confirmed the withdrawal, but said the decision does not change Colombia’s status as a State Party to the convention or the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, nor does it affect the validity, scope or binding force of the international delegations assumed under that instrument.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar already mentioned the matter on Friday (18th), thanking new Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella for the “withdrawal from South Africa’s false and malicious lawsuit against Israel at the ICJ, which was made during the antisemitic Petro era.”
Sa’ar also said he had discussed the matter during a July meeting with his counterpart Omar Bula Escobar in Washington.
“The friendship between Israel and Colombia is stronger than ever,” Sa’ar said.
Israeli Ambassador to Colombia Vivien Aisen echoed the remarks, saying Colombia chose “the right side of history” and made “a brave and responsible decision that we deeply appreciate.”
The move comes as part of a wider effort by the administration of President Abelardo De La Espriella to undo some of the hostilities of the previous president, and restore ties with Israel.
After being sworn in at the start of August 2026, de la Espriella announced the immediate resumption of full diplomatic relations with Israel, underlined by a landmark commitment to move the Colombian embassy to Jerusalem.
Colombia also recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DRCO) has not officially issued a public statement responding to Colombia’s formal withdrawal, but has previously said that it would not cause South Africa to drop its legal challenge.
Argentine Court Orders Eight Suspects To Trial For 1994 Jewish Community Bombing
An Argentine court has formally charged seven Iranians and one Lebanese national with involvement in the 1994 bombing of the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, in a historic legal advancement of the Latin American country’s deadliest terror case, Argentina’s Justice Minister announced on Monday (21st).
The ruling, issued by Federal Judge Daniel Rafecas, targets the prime suspects who remain at large three decades after the attack on the AMIA Jewish community center, which killed 85 people and injured more than 300.
The Argentine court found that the attack, which it described as “a crime against humanity,” was ordered by the highest echelons of the Iranian regime and was carried out by the Lebanese Hezbollah terrorist group, which serves as the Islamic Republic’s proxy.
The eight suspects ordered to stand trial include former Iranian Intelligence Minister Ali Fallahijan, former Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Velayati, and Lebanese Hezbollah operative Salman Raouf Salman.
Iran has refused to extradite the suspects.
The court slapped each of the accused with a $500 million lien, the Buenos Aires Times reported on Monday (21st).
The judge also pointed to a possible connection between the bombing of the Jewish community center and the 1992 attack on the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, which killed 22 people.
Because all the suspects remain at large, Argentina is using a legal mechanism approved under President Javier Milei’s government last year to try the defendants without them being physically present.
“The processing order by the Federal Justice in the AMIA case marks a milestone in the fight against impunity,” Argentinian Justice Minister Juan Bautista Mahiques wrote on X Monday (21st), announcing the move. “A historic step in favor of the 85 victims, their families and all of Argentine society.”
Milei welcomed the announcement, tweeting: “Morality as state policy.”
Argentina has long maintained that senior Iranian officials operating through its Lebanese terrorist proxy Hezbollah played a key role in the attack. But three decades of government probes delayed and marred by corruption, coupled with Iran’s refusal to hand over any of the suspects sought for trial, have not yielded any conviction for the bombing to date.
Argentinian Ambassador to Israel told JNS Tuesday (22nd) that the landmark legal action was “a moment of justice” after three decades of inaction.
“While previous governments signed a memorandum with Iran to cover up the terrorist attacks, we signed a memorandum with Israel in defense of life and democracy and against terrorism and antisemitism,” said Ambassador Axel Wahnish. “Under the leadership of President Javier Milei, Argentina has left the axis of evil behind to align itself with the side of good.”
(jns.org)
How Hamas Controls The Story Coming Out Of Gaza – Khaled Abu Toameh
Palestinian journalist and photographer Motaz Azaiza’s images from Gaza reached millions of people around the world. He was named one of TIME magazine’s “100 Most Influential People.” Azaiza recently revealed how journalists operated under Hamas rule. They were pressured to suppress criticism of Hamas, When Palestinians blamed Israel, the cameras kept rolling. When Palestinians blamed Hamas, the cameras were turned off.
Azaiza said that stepping outside this framework exposes journalists to intense backlash, including organized online campaigns, accusations of treason, and physical intimidation inside Gaza. He also disclosed that he grew up supporting Hamas and that Hamas’ culture of “resistance” was part of his childhood environment. These admissions help explain why the outside world has heard relatively little from Gaza about Hamas’ responsibility for the suffering of Palestinians under its rule.
How much of the story coming out of Gaza has been shaped by what journalists were permitted to show? Journalism conducted under intimidation cannot automatically be treated as independent journalism.
Azaiza also said he filmed Israeli hostages being beaten by Palestinian crowds after they were kidnapped to Gaza. He said he chose not to publish the footage because he feared that publication could allow Israel to identify the people involved.
Azaiza’s account offers a possible explanation for one of the most striking features of the coverage from Gaza: the extraordinary visibility of Palestinian suffering accompanied by comparatively little visibility of Palestinian anger toward Hamas. Azaiza’s interview proves that the process by which information emerged from Gaza was not as independent as many people assume. (Gatestone Institute)
