Week of May 19, 2026

When the US-Israel war against Iran broke out on February 28, the Israeli airspace closed and Israeli airlines (El Al, Arkia, and Israir) moved their fleets out of the country since the airport was targeted by Iran. Foreign airlines have suspended their flight services to and from Israel into May; many US carriers are not scheduled to return until September.

As a result of the US’s massive military buildup in the Middle East, the US Air Force brought their fighter jets and refueling tankers to Ben Gurion Airport. Many of the refueling tankers are still at Ben Gurion, taking up parking places for Israel’s airlines and not allowing Israel’s civilian aircraft to return to Israel. The parking congestion has meant that El Al leaves their planes in Greece or Cyprus, especially over the Sabbath (from Friday through Saturday), and returns to Ben Gurion after the Sabbath. Currently, El Al can have four overnight parking places at Ben Gurion, which means an arriving Israeli plane needs to reload supplies and clean in Israel in order to quickly depart and free up their position. “There are still American planes that occupy parking spaces at Ben Gurion Airport,” said Shlomi Zafrany, El Al’s vice president for commercial and international relations. “There are operational and economic implications if an Israeli airline that has its base in Israel needs to operate from bases abroad, without any coordination with foreign authorities, and without matching slots.”

Please pray for solutions for both Israeli civilian air traffic and protective US military build-up at Ben Gurion Airport.

Recently, an expo was held in Jerusalem to help prepare young Jewish immigrants to Israel for their mandatory military service. There were hundreds of attendees, many of them lone soldiers—young adults who moved to Israel without any family or support structure. It is difficult enough to adapt to a new language and culture while navigating the enlistment process, time serving, and its bureaucracy, so the expo’s intention was to ease that transition. At the expo, information was given on rights, benefits, housing assistance, and ongoing support services that would help them have a meaningful and successful military service. Applications for aliyah (moving to Israel) have increased by several hundred percent since October 7, 2023 among the younger age group because many of them want a deeper connection with the land as well as a way to serve and integrate into Israel, despite concerns about war. A lone soldier spoke with the group and said that its purpose was to decrease the isolation many young immigrants experience when entering the army without close family support. “It’s difficult enough being here without family, so we help them as much as we can, give them as much assistance so they feel a little bit less alone,” he said.

Please pray for Israel’s soldiers, with and without family, that they would feel healthy, heard, and supported by those around them.

Israel has just confirmed that at the start of Operation Roaring Lion, Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu flew to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to visit Emirati President Shekh Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ). He was met with “royal honors” and former PMO Spokesman Ziv Agmon said, “MBZ, his family, and other dignitaries welcomed us and were happy to see the Israeli prime minister on their soil. MBZ was very respectful of the PM, and personally drove the PM in his personal car from the plane to the palace.” The United Arab Emirates Foreign Ministry has denied any such visit from Israel or by PM Netanyahu.

The two countries signed the Abraham Accords in 2020 and have been diplomatic friends ever since; historic breakthroughs in their relationship have grown since then. It is also reported that the countries worked closely together during Operation Roaring Lion. Mossad chief, David Barnea, and Shin Bet chief, David Zini, also visited the UAE several times to coordinate the war together. Last week, it was reported by US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, that Israel sent the UAE Iron Dome missile defense systems to fight against Iran’s missile attacks.

Recently, our staff in Israel welcomed a small ministry team from the United States called Discover Israel. They wrote, “This Chosen People Ministries team of young adults ages 25–45 were an incredible blessing to those they met while they were touring and serving! Each one wanted to see the land and serve the people, and were brave to not consider canceling during the war with Iran. Instead, their bold message of their love for the Lord and his people spoke volumes; in many places, they were the only tourists, so conversations were had on what brought them to Israel. They spent time with Holocaust survivors over music, food, and conversation (with translation). They spent an evening with soldiers on their base and cooked a delicious barbeque. Conversations about their faith and love for the Lord lasted long into the evening, and the believing soldier who coordinated the evening was able to continue the dialogue after they left! Finally, they celebrated the Sabbath with young adults in Tel Aviv—encouraging them, praying with them, and sharing many stories about life and love for the Lord. The Discover Israel ministry team was a blessing to many, and we are thankful for their desire to come see the sights of the Bible as well as serve the people of Israel!

Please pray for those the team spoke with, to be either encouraged in their faith or challenged to continue exploring Jesus, their Messiah!

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