It has been another remarkable—and sobering—week in Israel.
The guns are quiet for now. The hostages’ families cling to hope. And world leaders, old friends of Israel, are walking the same streets where Jesus once walked.
As U.S. Vice President JD Vance stood inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the place Christians believe Jesus was crucified and resurrected, the moment seemed to bridge centuries.
While he prayed in Jerusalem, diplomats met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to keep the fragile Gaza cease-fire from unraveling.
Meanwhile, new reports from The Jewish Chronicle reminded readers that not every hostage has come home—and that the pain of October 7 still echoes through Israel’s kibbutzim.
A Pilgrimage in the Holy City
Fox News followed Vice President Vance to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Calling it “the most sacred of places,” he prayed at the site of the crucifixion and resurrection. His visit took place while he worked to reinforce the cease-fire—an act of diplomacy intertwined with faith.
For believers, it was powerful to see an American leader kneeling in Jerusalem, acknowledging the city’s eternal spiritual importance.
U.S.–Israel Cooperation Continues
The Times of Israel reported that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem before Vance’s arrival. They discussed ways to strengthen the truce after new clashes in Gaza. The story highlights the unusual trio—Kushner, Witkoff, and Vance—representing a consistent American commitment to Israel’s peace and security.
Israel’s Sovereignty, America’s Support
In Newsmax, Netanyahu declared that Israel “is not a protectorate of the United States.” His words came ahead of meetings with Vance, assuring Israelis that the presence of international forces in Gaza would never limit Israel’s right to self-defense.
At the same time, another Newsmax piece reported that President Trump warned the U.S. could cut ties if Israel were to annex the West Bank—a sign of how delicate the current balance remains between sovereignty and global diplomacy. (That article appears in Newsmax’s Middle East Peace section under “Trump Warning: US Will Sever Ties If Israel Annexes West Bank.”)
Caution Beneath the Celebration
Not everyone is confident the peace will hold.
The New York Sun warned that Hamas is already regrouping and that optimism from Washington may be disconnected from the realities on the ground.
Vice President Vance’s hopeful words contrast with Israeli officials who see the threat returning just beneath the surface.
Still, columnist Benny Avni offered perspective in another Sun piece, “Israel Could Emerge From Its International Siberia Sooner Than Predicted.”
He argued that the tide of global opinion is already shifting: European nations are reassessing arms embargoes, defense spending is rising, and Israel’s innovation and resilience make isolation impossible for long.
Hostage Families Still Waiting
Tragedy mingled with progress.
The Jewish Chronicle reported that Hamas returned the bodies of Tamir Adar and Arie Zalmanowicz from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Adar died defending his community; Zalmanowicz was an 85-year-old farmer abducted on October 7. Their funerals, led by the IDF’s chief rabbi, drew crowds who sang psalms and promised never to forget.
In another moving report, Kushner and Witkoff told CBS 60 Minutes that Hamas is acting “in good faith” to return more remains—a comment covered by The Jewish Chronicle. Witkoff shared a moment of shared grief with a Hamas negotiator after speaking about their sons’ deaths, while Kushner urged that Israel help Palestinians rebuild if peace is to last.
Media Insight and Analysis
Ben Shapiro offered his own take on Fox News, discussing the fragile truce and the “sticking point” in phase-two negotiations.
Watch the segment here: Fox News Video.
His analysis reminded audiences that the human story—the hostages, the families, the rebuilding—remains at the center of everything.
Faith in the Headlines
From political meetings to sacred spaces, every headline this week carried a single thread: the faithfulness of God’s people and the fragile hope of peace.
Vance’s prayer at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Netanyahu’s defense of sovereignty, and the quiet return of two Israeli heroes’ bodies all point to a truth that Christians and Jews share—God is not absent from history. He still walks the streets of Jerusalem and hears the prayers of His people.
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May those who love you be secure.” — Psalm 122 : 6
Let us keep praying for the hostages’ families, for wisdom among Israel’s leaders, and for lasting peace in the land where faith began.
