Israel's Illegal Immigrants Problem

 Nadene Goldfoot

"A 37 year old terrorist, who entered Israel illegally from his village in Samaria, rammed his car into a 68 year old man in Beit She'an (in northern Israel), killing him," evidently on purpose.

Palestinians generally require specific permits from Israeli authorities to enter Israel legally for work or other exceptional humanitarian reasons, and these permits are often limited in number. For those without permits, illegal entry methods include: 

• Breaching the barrier: Individuals often use ropes or makeshift aids to climb over sections of the Israeli West Bank barrier where there are breaches or known weak points.
• ** circumventing checkpoints**: While there are official checkpoints, many illegal entrants bypass these by finding unsecured routes, particularly in rural or less monitored areas along the "seam line" separating the West Bank from pre-1967 Israel.
• Smuggling: Smugglers are also involved in facilitating the movement of people across the border. 

Israeli officials report that thousands of Palestinians attempt to enter Israel illegally each month using these methods. Security forces work to thwart these attempts, with arrests of large groups being a regular occurrence. 

The map above shows Samaria, in Hebrew-Shomron), the northern land and Judea the southern including Jerusalem. ; which had been the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel that was founded in about 880 BCE by King Omri of Israel; built on a hill bought from Shemer (I Kings 16:24).  The site was 7 miles NW of Shechem, now Nablus, and was on an isolated elevation dominating a wide countryside consisting of 25 acres. The name, Samaria, is also applied to the entire northern region of the central Highlands of Eretz Yisrael. 

The Assyrians, led by King Shalmaneser V and completed by Sargon II, conquered Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, around 722 BCE after a three-year siege, leading to the deportation of many Israelites and the settlement of foreigners in the region, creating the people known as Samaritans.   

It was later passed to the Neo-Babylonian Empire, then the Persians, and was rebuilt by Herod the Great as Sebastia. 

 The Second Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE (Common Era), specifically on the 9th of Av (around August 30th) during the First Jewish-Roman War, marking a catastrophic event that ended the Second Temple period and reshaped Jewish history. Roman forces under General Titus besieged the city and set fire to the Temple after months of fighting. 

Jews got control of the biblical region of Samaria (referred to by Israel as Judea and Samaria) back after the 1967 Six-Day War, when Israel captured it from Jordan, restoring Jewish authority over the area for the first time since the Second Temple's destruction, leading to the re-establishment of Jewish communities there.

 A short time later our 37 year old terrorist rammed into a 16 year old, lightly injuring him. 

The terrorist then drove onto Highway 71 toward the Ein Harod area, where he rammed a vehicle carrying a 19-year-old woman near Kibbutz Tel Yosef. The woman, Aviv Maor of Kibbutz Ein Harod Ihud, managed to flee her car, but the terrorist chased her and stabbed her to death.                                       

The terrorist then drove toward Afula, where he was stopped near the city and neutralized by a security guard.  Afula is located in the Jezreel Valley (also known as the Valley of Megiddo) in the Northern District of Israel, in the region historically known as the Lower Galilee, not in Samaria or Judea. It is often referred to as the "Capital of the Valley" due to its central location. While Afula is geographically separate from the regions of Judea and Samaria, it is close to the administrative border with the northern West Bank (Samaria region), which has made it a target of terrorist attacks in the past.

Afula, Israel, had a population of approximately 64,578 in 2023, though recent estimates for 2025 place it around 54,250, with figures varying slightly depending on the source and date. It's a diverse city in the Jezreel Valley, known as the "Capital of the Jezreel Valley," with a predominantly Jewish population alongside Arab residents and immigrants from places like Ethiopia, the former Soviet Union, and Latin America.

Resource:

israelAM

https://bible.ucg.org/bible-commentary/2-Kings/Fall-of-Samaria;-Rest-of-Israel-deported/

Judah In Its Own Cardiac Failure With Cure Held Back Today

 Nadene Goldfoot                                             

   After King Solomon (961-920 BCE)  died, Israel divided in two; Judah and Israel.  

Today's Israel cabinet discussed the advancing of sovereignty over Judea and Samaria once again.  In recent decades, the Palestinian Authority (PA) has controlled parts of the West Bank, and the militant group Hamas has run the Gaza Strip. You should know how that has turned out; something not to be repeated.  Meanwhile, Israel has exercised power over both areas in different ways.

Members of Israel's parliament (the Knesset) advanced bills on October 22, 2025, that call for the formal annexation of the occupied West Bank, referred to as Judea and Samaria by the Israeli government. The annexation plan was initially put forward by right-wing lawmakers and involves applying Israeli law over the territory. 

Vice President Vance was extremely bothered when he heard of this.  He said he would not allow it to happen in so many words.  It's the timing that bothers some Israelis politicians

the timing is bad.  Yet the timing is as bad to the

 Israelis whobrought it up when they did. Netanyahu is left in the middle of upset politicians on both sides.   Israel actually voted on this, leaving Vance feeling insulted! 

 An Israeli Knesset vote took place on July 23, 2025, concerning a symbolic motion calling for the annexation of Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley—the Israeli terms for the occupied West Bank. The results of the vote were: For annexation: 71 lawmakers  Against annexation: 13 lawmakers

The recent symbolic motion in Israel's parliament, the Knesset, mentioned above was a non-binding vote calling for the annexation of the occupied West Bank. Although it has no immediate legal effect, it serves as a political statement and a call to action to apply Israeli sovereignty to the area. This non-binding vote passed with a large majority, but it does not formally authorize any annexation actions.  This is the cure for Judah and Samaria's death to those concerned.  

After some 3,500 years or so, Judah is almost dead, hardly remembered, replaced by WEST BANK,  unknown to people on planet earth.  As one of its homo sapiens, I'm here to tell you that Judah was the homeland of the Jewish people of today!  Since there are only approximately 15.8 million Jews worldwide, making up about 0.2% of the total global population. This figure is still lower than the pre-Holocaust estimate of 16.6 million in 1939.  Thus, we are only two-tenths of one % of the world population! 6 million were murdered openly, a government program done on purpose by Nazis from 1939 to 1945.                                        

     Palestine in 1920, the expectation as the Jewish Homeland, made of 46,513 sq. miles.  

• Excluding occupied territories: Approximately 8,019 to 8,522 square miles is a commonly cited figure for Israel's area within its pre-1967 borders, also known as the Green Line. This number may also vary based on how internal water bodies are accounted for.  Actually, Israel is about 1/10th of the size first promised.  Prince Abdullah of Trans-Jordan got most of it.  

  

Sources: Satellite image on left courtesy of NASA, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Southeast_mediterranean_annotated_geography.jpg. Map in the center courtesy of Kordas, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1947-UN-Partition-Plan-1949-Armistice-Comparison-es.svg. Map on right courtesy of CIA World Factbook.

• 
  

Jews have since finally received back their ancient land once called Israel; not by war but by buying back land that the Ottoman Empire had lost to the Allies of the 2nd World War, and then finally, with letters like the Balfour Doctrine, been given the nod that England would be giving up their 30 year mandate on land, then called Palestine  (named by the Romans in 135 CE after a battle with a Jewish general who gained Jerusalem back from them after they had taken the land in 70 CE for 3 years from 132-135). With that, Jews were given back their land on the same day;  May 14, 1948. 

    A part of the land is the most important part and called Judah.  Our history is of the 12 brothers of Jacob being given the land through the pick of lots, and  Judah's 4th son got this piece of land and were happy with it.  On that the first Temple of Solomon was built. Judah's land was one of the largest and finally absorbed the inheritance of Simeon  in the Negev desert.  

Jerusalem's area is the SE extending to the Dead Sea, composed of the desert of Judah, made of steep falling eastern slop of the Judean hills.  Some 60 miles N to S by 15 miles East to West, it falls from 3,000 ft above sea-level to 1,300 ft below.  It is cut by deep gorges and includes the biblical desert of Ziph, Jeruel, En Gedi, and Tekoa.  It has caves which were the refuge of mystics, fugitives and rebels, as well as the hiding plae of the Dead Sea Scrolls, etc.  

 A capitol was eventually needed and created called Samaria (Shomron).  David belonged to this tribe.  He became an important king  from about 1000-960 BCE.  

Jordan dubbed the name, 'West Bank" for Judea and Samaria."Jordan named the area "West Bank" after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War when it took control of the territory west of the Jordan River. The official annexation of this territory, which included East Jerusalem, was completed in 1950, and the name was used to differentiate it from Jordan's original territory, which was east of the river and called the "East Bank" or "Transjordan"

When King Solomon, David's son died, king Omri (no relation), a ranking soldier,  bought the land for it in 880 BCE from Shemer(told about in I Kings 16:24) in the Bible.  This city was made of 25 acres.  Samaria withstood the siege of the Syrians but fell in 721 BCE to Sargon II of Assyria who resettled it with Cutheans who mixed in with the remnants of the former population and were ancestors of the Samaritans.  It became a Macadonian colony in 331 BCE. 

 Samaria as a city decayed in Byzantine times and shrank to a village in the Arab period.  By then the entire northern region of the central highlands of Palestine was referred to as Samaria.

The kingdom of Judah had as its first king, the son of Solomon who was Rehoboam who ruled from 933 to 917 BCE.  It's last Jewish ruler was King Zedekiah, ruling from 597-586 BCE.  Judah had had 20 kings ruling it during that period.  

Then Rome ended it in 70 CE.  Other conquerors have taken it.  The last was the Ottoman Empire who held Palestine from  1516/1517 to 1917/1918, after conquering the region from the Mamluk Sultanate. This period of Ottoman rule lasted for approximately four centuries, though it was briefly interrupted by a nine-year occupation by Egypt between 1831 and 1840. The empire's rule ended during World War I when the British occupied the region. That 30 year rule ended on May 14, 1948.                     

Is Trump today's emperor taking the land once again?  When Vespasian was declared Emperor on 1 July 69 AD, Titus was left in charge of ending the Jewish rebellion. In 70 AD, he besieged and captured Jerusalem, and destroyed the city and the Second Temple. For this achievement Titus was awarded a triumph; the Arch of Titus commemorates his victory and still stands today.  

Then again, King Herod the Great had a lot to say about Jerusalem.  Herod I or (c. 72 – c. 4 BCE) was a Roman Jewish client king of the Herodian kingdom of Judea. He is known for his colossal building projects. Among these works are the rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the expansion of its base—the Western Wall being part of it. Many of the crucial details of his life are recorded in the works of the 1st century CE Roman–Jewish historian Josephus. Jerusalem was considered part of the  Herodian kingdom and was a client state of the Roman Republic, later Roman Empire, ruled from 37 to 4 BCE by Herod the Great, who was appointed "King of the Jews"...It was another Herod, his son, Herod II Archelaus. whose father was Herod the Great in 4 BC, and ruled over one-half of the territorial dominion of his father. Archelaus was removed by the Roman emperor Augustus..so No, Herod the Great was only a king, not an emperor.  .

 

Annexation By USA and Israel- Necessary Moves

Nadene Goldfoot
                                                                             

The USA has used annexation many times for good reasons.  Texas is as good an example as any.  Texas was annexed by the United States in 1845 and became the 28th state. Until 1836, Texas had been part of Mexico, but in that year a group of settlers from the United States who lived in Mexican Texas declared independence. ... 

The annexation of Texas contributed to the coming of the Mexican-American War (1846-1848).  And who had been the ruler in Mexico at one time?  Wasn't he a Frenchman?  Good Grief! 

 Yes, later In 1862, French Emperor Napoleon III maneuvered to establish a French client state in Mexico, and eventually installed Maximilian of Habsburg, Archduke of Austria, as Emperor of Mexico.

United States territory can include occupied territory, which is a geographic area that claims sovereignty, but is being forcibly subjugated to the authority of the United States of America. United States territory can also include disputed territory, which is a geographic area claimed by the United States of America and one (or more) rival governments.

In the United States, all local governments are considered "creatures of the state" according to Dillon's Rule, which resulted from the work of John Forrest Dillon on the law of municipal corporations. Dillon's Rule implies, among other things, that the boundaries of any jurisdiction falling under state government can be modified by state government action. 

For this reason, examples of municipal annexation are distinct from annexations involving sovereign states.

Under the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907, United States territory can include areas occupied by and controlled by the United States Armed Forces. When de facto military control is maintained and exercised, occupation (and thus possession) extends to that territory. Military personnel in control of the territory have a responsibility to provide for the basic needs of individuals under their control (which includes food, clothing, shelter, medical attention, law maintenance, and social order). To prevent systematic abuse of puppet governments by the occupation forces, they must enforce laws that were in place in the territory prior to the occupation.

Europe went through many wars.  My grandmother's home town in Lithuania was Lazdijai, sitting on the border with Poland.  After her birth in 1884, it was taken over by Poland.  Was that an annexation or just a take-over?  
                                                                         

Jews were promised a Jewish Homeland by the League of Nations and the United Nations, yet they witnessed the loss of 80% of their promised land being given to a Saudi Prince Abdullah who was a prince without a country to rule, and could be an excellent trader with England.  Israel was left with 20% and then witnessed Judea, Samaria and East Jerusalem being given to the Palestinian Arabs at the last minute.  The Jewish Homeland was cut apart again in the oddest of shapes ever!  Some cities only a few miles from Jerusalem are not in the right zone to be a part of the 8,000 sq miles Jews were left with.  It's a crazy situation but the state has just celebrated their 73rd birthday 4 years ago.  Update  to 10/6/25 and it's 77 years old.  We've just come to a decisive moment with Hamas;  peace or war.  

Yet is this move to annex so very different from Israel's position?  Judea and Samaria were divided into sectors A, B, and C with Israel law over B and C, and A was left for the Arabs.  Arabs have been creeping into the large area C and building illegally.  Evidently A has been left which may become the Arab Palestine-an area they claim will be devoid of all Jews.  This position has rule of B and C to come from the IDF, not a municipal force.  That's one of the problems.  

The process of annexation need not be subversive.  Israel probably should have annexed territory that had been part of their ancient history going back 3,000 years and more, when they had the right to do so at the end of the Six Day War when they were attacked by many countries and came out of it as the winner, surprising all!  (A problem existing is that the UN, with influence like Jack Falk, refuse to accept Israel's existence in the first place, so never accept an annexation by Israel such as the Golan Heights, as much needed for defense and which benefited the population very much.)  

Now they have the green light to go ahead with the USA government in agreement of such a move.  Israel has annexed earlier such places as the  without much ado.  Today, after 53 years, those with jealous hearts  are up in arms about it like the UN, EU, etc.  

Those living in these places would rather be Israeli citizens.  Will Israel take the step?  Netanyahu has been promising that he would.  If he does, he will show himself to be a very brave person to buck all the negativity floating around.  
He's got himself in a quandary being he is sitting as one of two Prime Ministers these days, so it isn't dependent on him alone but the whole Knesset situation. 
                                    

Israeli soldiers looking toward Syria from an observation point in the Golan Heights last year. Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967.Credit...Lior Mizrahi/Getty Images

 In 1980–81 Israel annexed East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.  

As a geopolitical region, the Golan Heights is the area captured from Syria and occupied by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War, territory which has been administered as part of Israel since 1981. This region includes the western two-thirds of the geological Golan Heights and the Israeli-occupied part of Mount Hermon.

Arabs in the Golan had been constantly shelling Israel from above, and the attack in 1967 by the Arab nations turned out that Israel won, and in doing so Israel actually gained territory back that had been given away by the British in their 80% of the Jewish Homeland package to Abdullah.  

 Neither Israel's annexation nor Palestine's claim over East Jerusalem has been internationally recognized. This is no surprise as the UN has been attacking only Israel unjustly and ignoring all other matters and countries, no matter what they have been doing.  (I don't mean to sound like a rotten kid, but this has actually been the situation.  Just read what the USA Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, has witnessed.)
                                                                       

East Jerusalem,
not like Portland with trees in all neighborhoods
East Jerusalem is the sector of Jerusalem that was occupied by Jordan during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, as opposed to the western sector of the city, West Jerusalem, which was occupied by Israel

 
Jerusalem is now a unified city, no longer divided. 

The Jerusalem City Council was established in 1863 during the rule of the Ottoman Empire. From 1948 to 1967 two municipalities operated in the city: an Israeli municipality provided services to the western neighborhoods of the city and a Jordanian municipality to its eastern parts.

By 1840, the Jewish community constituted the largest single religious group in the city. From the 1880s onward, the Jews constituted the majority within the city. However, it was only in 1937, under the British Mandate, that the first Jewish mayor was appointed. Since 1948 every mayor has been Jewish.
Moshe Lion has been the present mayor since 2018.   

The Golan Heights was annexed with the Golan Heights Law.  On March 25, 2019, the United States finally recognized the Golan Heights as sovereign Israeli territory while the UN reaffirmed that the "..status of Golan has not changed".

While the Israeli public at large, and especially the law's critics, viewed it as an annexation, the law avoids the use of the word. Prime Minister Menachem Begin responded to Amnon Rubinstein's criticism by saying, "You use the word 'annexation.' I do not use it," and noting that similar wording was used in a 1967 law authorizing the government to apply Israeli law to any part of the Land of Israel. 

Update:  https://www.thenational.ae/world/europe/eu-conference-looks-to-boost-opposition-to-israel-s-annexation-of-palestinian-land-1.1027913

The eu is on the wrong side of the issue again--still.

the land belongs to the israeli's period. and the best thing for the palestinians is to let israel have it and tend it and care for it as they have never done anyway and benefit by israel's right claim and right use of that land. 

Shame shame again on the eu for standing directly in the way of real peace-real solutions!

  Andre'

Resource:
https://jewishfactsfromportland.blogspot.com/2013/01/judea-samaria-areas-b-c-who-lives-there.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipal_annexation_in_the_United_States
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/the-early-republic/age-of-jackson/a/annexing-texas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli-occupied_territories
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golan_Heights_Law
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golan_Heights
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_territorial_acquisitions