Jerusalem Peace (2025)

10/12/2025

Archaeologists uncover huge Hasmonean-era wall in Jerusalem as Hanukkah approaches. Just in time for the Hanukkah holiday, when we remember how the Hasmonean Maccabees fought and gained victory over their Greek oppressors 162 years before the birth of Yeshua (Jesus), a huge section of ancient wall from the Hasmonean era has been found underground.
The Tower of David is an iconic part of Jerusalem’s old city skyline, and has been made into an impressive museum. The Israel Antiques Authority (IAA) have been carrying out excavations at the historic site in preparation for the new “Schulich Wing of Archaeology, Art and Innovation” which will be part of the museum’s "Kishle" complex.In a statement about the discovery, Eilat Lieber, Director of the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum, announced, "We are committed to preserving this impressive and unique sight, and allowing the general public to experience this tangible link to Jerusalem’s past spanning thousands of years. In the new wing, visitors will stand on a transparent floor above these ancient stones, and, together with interpretations of contemporary artists, this wing will bring a new connection to the history and heritage of the city."
The Tower of David Jerusalem Museum will host a special family experience entitled “Hanukkah of Heroes” for the holiday, with a variety of tours and activities throughout the citadel.

03/12/2025

Is Pope Leo Finally Ready to Confront Christian Persecution.
During his visit to Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV delivered a message of peace. However, his remarks might not only have been aimed at encouraging reconciliation between the Muslim and Jewish worlds, but also at quietly urging Muslim leaders to halt Christian persecution and protect vulnerable Christian minorities.
Although his visit was to Lebanon, one of the few Muslim-majority countries in the region not on the top-50 list of places where Christians face the most extreme persecution, according to Open Doors, the trip itself suggests that concern for persecuted Christians may have been part of his broader purpose.
The pope's reminder that "unity, reconciliation, and peace are possible," as he said in a speech at Martyrs' Square, Beirut, though wrapped in diplomatic and poetic language, can still be interpreted as a sign that he is paying closer attention to the Middle East and may now be open to encouraging real change on the ground for the people of his faith.
Christian persecution by Muslims is severe and under-addressed. According to Open Doors, more than 380 million Christians face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith, including millions who face extreme levels.
More than 4,400 Christians were killed for faith-related reasons last year.
Of the top 10 countries in which Christians are persecuted, eight are Muslim-majority, according to Open Doors. Yemen moved up to third place on the watch list due to an increase in anti-Christian violence.
"Pressure on Christians also remained at the maximum," the website said. "Within the context of civil war, Iran-backed Houthi rebels expanded their power, making more of the country increasingly dangerous for Christians. Coupled with further Islamic radicalization, this meant even secret house churches could no longer meet safely."
Despite these situations, global awareness and advocacy, even within the Christian world, remain remarkably weak. Moreover, the Catholic Church often tries to avoid angering Muslim-majority countries where Christians are especially vulnerable. Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai receives a chalice from Pope Leo XIV during a Holy Mass at the Waterfront, during his first foreign trip as pope, in Beirut, Lebanon, December 2, 2025. (Photo: REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir)

26/11/2025

Israel Medical breakthrough uses patients own cells to target blood cancer.
Israeli doctors at Rabin Medical Center in Tel Aviv successfully used patients’ own immune system cells to attack blood cancer cells earlier in November.
Dr. Iuliana Vaxman, head of the Center for Multiple Myeloma and Rare Plasma Cell Disorders at the Davidoff Cancer Center, presented the medical breakthrough which was tested on three patients suffering from myeloma.
“As part of a clinical study, we began administering this treatment, and the early results show a very positive response,” Vaxman said. “This is significant news for these patients. Our goal is to provide comprehensive care within the new center, and the availability of this innovative, locally produced technology at [the] RMC will allow us to achieve that,” she explained.
The CAR-T technology is considered one of the most significant innovations in the field of cancer care. The lab genetically engineers the patient’s T-cells and equips them with CARs, which enables the cells to identify and neutralize cancer cells. These genetically engineered cells are then reinfused in the patient’s body to attack the cancer cells.
Prof. Gal Markel, director of the Davidoff Cancer Center, revealed that the hospital department plans to expand the CAR-T treatment to other types of cancer.
“Soon, we will expand CAR-T development and treatment to include solid tumors, such as liver and lung cancer, and later autoimmune diseases, all produced and administered right here under one roof,” Markel said.
“In a short time, we have established advanced capabilities for developing and manufacturing original therapies using cutting-edge technologies. Combined with our clinical expertise, this positions Rabin Medical Center as a leader in advanced cancer treatment. This remarkable achievement belongs to the Samueli Institute and the dedicated teams of the Davidoff Hematology Division, who worked in full synergy – from production to patient care,” he explained.
Established in 2023, the Samuel Integrative Cancer Pioneering Institute is headed by Avner Paz-Tsuk and follows the strictest international standards for advanced therapy production. While conducted primarily in Israel, the innovative medical treatment project also included international partners. For instance, the retroviral vector, which is responsible for delivering the gene encoding CAR into cells was developed by researchers at the Max Delbrück Center in Berlin.
Despite its small size, Israel has emerged as a global player in advanced medical healthcare and innovative research.

16/11/2025

The book “Hostage” by Eli Sharabi, a survivor of Hamas captivity in Gaza, has been included in TIME Magazine’s list of the "100 Must-Read Books of 2025."
In the list published on Wednesday, the editors and writers of the American magazine stated that they chose books that “moved, inspired conversation, and opened the mind.”
Last month, the English edition of “Hostage” ranked fourth on The New York Times bestseller list.
The English version was published by HarperCollins, the world’s second-largest publishing house, and has received exceptional attention from readers and literary critics across the United States. Ahead of the book’s English release, TIME magazine dedicated a cover story to Sharabi.
“Emotional and full of compassion – Hostage is an instant New York Times bestseller,” Sharabi wrote in a post upon hearing of the achievement.
“Thank you to every reader, supporter, and believer who made this possible. As we celebrate this milestone, we continue to pray and work for the return of all those still held in captivity – they will never be forgotten. In memory of my beloved wife Lianne, my daughters Noya and Yahel, and my brother Yossi.” www.onlinemiddleeastreport.com

15/11/2025

Archaeologists Reveal Unusual Ritual Objects from Ancient Biblical Cult at Armageddon Site
Archaeologists with the Israel Antiquities Authority recently announced the discovery of ritual artifacts and a 5,000-year-old rock-hewn winepress near Tel Megiddo, in Israel’s Jezreel Valley. The finds—unearthed during work adjacent to Highway 66—span from the Early Bronze Age to the Late Bronze Age, illuminating daily life and worship practices associated with the Canaanite city remembered in Scripture as Armageddon (Har Megiddo).

Researchers described intact and intentionally buried objects from about 3,300 years ago, including a miniature shrine model, storage jars, imported juglets, and animal-shaped vessels likely used for libations. The placement and preservation suggest a popular folk cult operating outside the main sacred precinct—perhaps a way for farmers living beyond city walls to bring offerings of wine, oil, or other produce.

04/11/2025

Archaeologists Unearth Hidden Hoard Of 22 Coins Beneath Ancient Galilee Site
Israeli archaeologists and student volunteers uncovered a cache of 22 copper coins stashed within a concealed tunnel system beneath the ancient settlement of Hukok in the Galilee. The hoard, dating to the 4th century CE and linked to the little-known Gallus Revolt, was found during a community excavation intended to prepare the site for public visitation.

Researchers said the discovery sheds light on how residents reused underground complexes first carved during earlier Jewish revolts, hiding valuables in hopes of retrieving them after danger had passed. The find adds historical layers to a region famed for its magnificent synagogue mosaics and provides tangible evidence of resilience during periods of upheaval.

Planned presentations and academic publications are set to follow, with heritage officials highlighting Hukok as a model of community-driven archaeology. The site’s development aims to connect visitors with the lived experiences of past generations while safeguarding fragile artifacts for future study. www.onlinemiddleeastreport.com

29/10/2025

They came back different mother of freed hostages shares how her sons are rebuilding their lives after Hamas captivity.It’s unbelievably fun to return to our previous life,” said Sylvia Cunio, the mother of brothers David and Ariel Cunio, who returned home after two years in Hamas captivity.
Sylvia said she received back sons who are “different” from those who were kidnapped. “I got back more mature sons – both physically and mentally,” she shared. “It’s about getting used to someone relatively new, because they see things differently now. They’re sharper, they’ve learned to survive, and they don’t care about tomorrow. They want to live in the moment.”
That realization, she said, comes from the harsh conditions they were held under. “There, they didn’t have a ‘tomorrow’ or even a ‘next minute,’” she explained. “They want to enjoy life now – even just drinking water, going to the bathroom whenever they want, showering with hot water whenever they want.” That basic freedom, she said, they now experience with renewed intensity.
Speaking about her son Ariel, who was held alone above ground, she said, “On the hot days he was kept in a closed warehouse, with no fan or anything to give him air. He almost died from the heat, like a child forgotten in a car. He begged them to bring him something to breathe.”
She added that he was allowed to shower only “once a month,” and had to use a bucket as a toilet. Her son David, who was held in a tunnel, also suffered harsh conditions. “There was a period when no food was getting into the Strip, and he lost a lot, a lot, a lot of weight. He was thin to begin with – he reached a weight you wouldn’t believe,” she revealed.
David, whose daughters grew up during the two years he was held captive, is now getting to know them again. “The girls talk so freely, and for him that was a joy,” said Sylvia. The entire family, originally from Kibbutz Nir Oz, is now adjusting to city life. “They didn’t know what it meant to live in a city, in an apartment building. They have to get used to it.” www.onlinemiddleeastreport.com

22/10/2025

Emotional reunion between former hostages after their released from captivity last week. Two recently released hostages, Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Evyatar David, were reunited on Saturday with fellow hostages Omer Wenkert and Tal Shoham, who were both released in the February ceasefire deal.
Images and video footage of the reunion were posted to social media. All four were held together in Hamas captivity for several months.Evyatar David, Tal Shoham, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, and Omer Wenkert, reunited on Oct 18, 2025. (Photo: Screenshot/X, used under Section 27A of the Copyright Act) www,onlinemiddleeastreport.com

16/10/2025

Freed Israeli Hostages Noa Argamani and Avinator Or reunite after 2 years, express joy and gratitude. It was one of the most iconic and heartwrenching scenes from the Hamas-led massacre in southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023: Noa Argamani was kidnapped, forced onto a motorbike, and snatched away from her boyfriend, Avinatan Or, who could only watch helplessly.
The expressions on their faces told a thousand words, their anguish and horror felt by the watching world. Now the two are together again for the first time since that terrible day. www.onlinemiddleeastreport.com

07/10/2025

Hundreds gather for historic time of prayer and worship at Tower of David. There was a historic gathering of prayer and worship held at the Tower of David near Jaffa Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem yesterday. The Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem (DPPJ) and drew a large crowd of hundreds that united Jews and Christians. Leaders from both communities addressed those in attendance with strong declarations of God’s promises of peace and unity over Israel’s capital and her people. The vision behind the gathering came from Eagles’ Wings, a global cross-cultural movement led by Bishop Robert Stearns, who began the ministry in the early 1990s.
Government leaders, including Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gideon Sa’ar, attended the event. The Jerusalem Post reported that Sa’ar stated, "I hope that we are the closest to a hostage deal since the deal in January. And I want to thank President Donald Trump for all his efforts regarding this huge mission of bringing all our hostages back home [...]. The Israeli government has a commitment to bring home all the hostages – dead and alive."
Moshe Lion, the mayor of Jerusalem, was also in attendance. He told the crowd, "At the heart of all our prayers is the return of the hostages, the end to the war and the beginning of a new chapter in our region, so we pray to see our loved ones home as speedily as possible."

29/09/2025

Archaeologists Discover One of the largest Hoards of ancient coins found in Israel. Archaeologists from the University of Haifa announced the discovery of a rare cache of Byzantine-era gold coins during excavations in the ancient city of Hippos (Sussita), near the Sea of Galilee.
The excavations at Sussita have been going on for 26 years, under the direction of Dr. Michael Eisenberg and Dr. Arleta Kowalewska of the Zinman Institute of Archaeology and the Department of Archaeology at the University of Haifa.
The large hoard of gold coins was accompanied by articles of gold jewelry, semi-precious stones, pearls, and glass. The archaeologists even found evidence of a coin purse, which likely held the coins in the past in order to protect them.
“This is one of the largest hoards from the Byzantine period discovered on dry land in Israel, and its uniqueness lies in the combination of jewelry and gold coins from the reigns of different emperors,” Eisenberg said. “Remnants of fabric were found on some of the coins – a trace of the cloth pouch in which the hoard had been hidden.” www.onlinemiddleeastreport.com

15/09/2025

Israeli Firm Develops Worlds First Heart Valve Implant Without open-Heart Surgery
Israeli biomedical firm TruLeaf Medical has completed the first phase of a groundbreaking human trial for a catheter-based device that replaces diseased heart valves without open-heart surgery, its parent company Allmed Solutions announced this week. The device, called the RoseDoc docking system, is the first of its kind.
The device was successfully implanted in two patients in India. The trial was the first step in a two-stage catheter-based procedure to replace faulty tricuspid and mitral valves without performing open-heart surgery.
The two patients were suffering from severe, treatment-resistant congestive heart failure caused by leaking tricuspid valves. Neither of them had any viable options left for treatment and were under what is known as a “compassionate care pathway.” According to Allmed Solutions, the procedure was successfully performed in India on Sept. 5.

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