The six parliamentarians in the delegation include Liberal MPs Fares Al-Soud, Iqra Khalid, Aslam Rana, Gurbux Saini, and Sameer Zuberi, alongside NDP MP Jenny Kwan. Prior to the trip, Kwan told CBC News she suspected the group might face entry refusal given the deterioration in relations between Ottawa and Jerusalem over the past two years.

The visit is sponsored by The Canadian Muslim Vote, a registered non-profit. According to the Israeli Embassy in Canada, the group receives the majority of its funding from "Islamic Relief Canada," a branch of "Islamic Relief Worldwide," which appears on Israel's list of terror-designated entities. The MPs were scheduled to visit Judea and Samaria to meet with Palestinian families and hear about how they are supposedly being maligned by Jewish settlers, as well as to meet with Palestinian Authority officials to discuss democratic reforms. According to local Canadian reports, a similar visit was organized in early 2024 for a different group of Liberal and socialist NDP lawmakers, but tensions between Canada and Israel have since worsened. Relations ran aground following Canada's official recognition of a Palestinian state about three months ago.

In a statement to CBC News, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) confirmed that "several foreign nationals who arrived at the Allenby Bridge crossing without prior coordination" were barred from entering. "Following checks by security officials, in coordination with the Israeli Foreign Ministry and the Population and Immigration Authority, the decision was made to prevent their entry into the Judea and Samaria region for security reasons," the statement read.

MP Kwan, however, insisted the delegation had coordinated with Israeli authorities through Canadian government channels, while two other lawmakers alleged "aggressive" treatment by Israeli border officials. "At no point did we try to hide the information. We were completely forthright," Kwan said in an interview with CBC News.

She explained that the MPs hold special diplomatic passports and were not provided with the standard entry refusal form – and consequently were not asked to sign it. She added that she does not accept the justification Israel provided for the refusal.

"I reject outright the claim that civil society organizations engaged in humanitarian work on the ground constitute a security threat, and I also reject the idea that members of parliament, who are performing their duties, somehow constitute a security threat," she said. Kwan noted that before attempting to enter, the delegation visited a refugee camp in Jordan and spoke with families about their experiences. She remarked that she had not yet heard how the Canadian government intends to respond, but added: "One must ask – what exactly is the Israeli government trying to hide?"

MP Iqra Khalid of Ontario, a member of Prime Minister Mark Carney's party, told CBC News she was part of the delegation and was pushed several times by Israeli border inspectors.

She recounted noticing an Israeli official interrogating another delegation member and approaching to ensure her colleague was not in danger. According to Khalid, one officer ordered her to step back, after which another officer approached her. "He was yelling and screaming at my face, telling me to go away, and he pushed me back into the wall," Khalid said. "At that point, I said, 'Please don't touch me,' and he said, 'I will touch you as much as I want,' and pushed me again."

Khalid noted that other representatives intervened "and took me away from that situation before it escalated" before it could escalate. "I was shocked by the aggressive and hostile behavior," she added.

Global Affairs Minister Anita Anand released a statement on X regarding the incident. "Today a private delegation of Canadians – which included Members of Parliament – was denied entry to the West Bank at an Israeli border crossing," Anand wrote. "Global Affairs is in contact with the delegation and we have expressed Canada's objections regarding the mistreatment of these Canadians while attempting to cross."

Speaking with CBC News, Islamic Relief Canada CEO Tufail Hussain said Israel's accusations were "false and reckless."

"Islamic Relief Canada is a Canadian-registered humanitarian charity operating under Canadian law, with rigorous compliance controls and extensive independent auditing," Hussain said.

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IsraAID activated domestic emergency operations immediately following the October 7 violence, the organization reported. The agency has sustained assistance delivery to at-risk Israeli populations for 26 months since, according to IsraAID. The Taipei office has joined international and charitable contributions to support multiple intervention streams: partnership with "255" establishing tailored support architectures for freed captives and family members; "Nitzanim Shel Ofir," a community-originated youth activation program at Kibbutz Kfar Aza; expressive arts therapy at Kibbutz Beeri, plus additional undertakings, the organization stated.

During her November 27 tour of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, the head of the Taipei office, Representative Abby Lee said the following, according to IsraAID:

"We are pleased to join the efforts of IsraAID in the reconnection, empowerment and rehabilitation projects in Kfar Aza, Beeri and with hostages and their extended families... I hope that the projects we are partnering on with IsraAID will help young leaders to reconnect to their communities and cultivate a sense of togetherness."

IsraAID Chief Executive Yotam Polizer expressed appreciation, saying it was "a powerful statement of solidarity."

IsraAID's intervention philosophy emphasizes extended presence in affected regions, working to amplify indigenous resilience mechanisms for sustainable futures, the organization stated. Alliances like the Taipei office collaboration enable persistent influence with crisis-impacted communities across national and international contexts, the announcement concluded.

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An Israeli official told Israel Hayom that the visit took place but played down its importance. According to the Israeli official, Wu met with two Knesset members from the Opposition and the Coalition. However, the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem boycotted the visit as part of its policy of non-confrontation with Beijing on the sensitive issue of Taiwan.

China's embassy in Israel issued the following statement in response to the visit: "The one-China principle is the consensus of the international community and a basic norm of international relations. It is also the prerequisite and foundation for establishing and developing diplomatic ties between China and countries around the world, including Israel. The China-Israel Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations clearly states that 'the Government of the State of Israel recognizes that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China.' The Taiwan question concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and constitutes an inviolable red line at the very core of China's core interests. The Chinese side firmly objects to any form of official exchanges with the Taiwan authorities, which seriously violate the one-China principle. We once again urge the Israeli side to faithfully abide by the one-China principle, correct the erroneous actions and stop sending any wrong signals to separatist forces advocating Taiwan independence, so as to uphold the overall interests of China-Israel relations through concrete actions."

Beijing's pressure campaign severely restricts Taiwan's official diplomatic connections. The Chinese government treats the island as its provincial territory rather than a sovereign nation. Jerusalem, mirroring most countries globally, extends formal recognition exclusively to Beijing while withholding it from Taipei – making trips by high-ranking Taiwanese diplomats to states like Israel exceedingly rare. Several MKs have visited Taipei in recent months and also participated in an event hosted by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office to celebrate what it calls Taiwan's national day. But Israel does not recognize the government in Taipei and has stuck to its One China Policy in which it considers the mainland as the sole representative of the Chinese people, despite the ties it has at lower levels with the island.

Taiwan nevertheless regards Israel as a vital democratic partner and demonstrated strong solidarity with Jerusalem after Hamas terrorists attacked southern Israel in October 2023, triggering the subsequent Gaza war that intensified bilateral engagement, according to Reuters.

Speaking on anonymity terms given the issue's sensitivity, the sources informed Reuters that Wu's Israel journey occurred in recent weeks, with two sources specifying this month. The sources withheld specifics about Wu's meeting schedule or agenda items, including potential discussions about Taiwan's newly unveiled T-Dome multilayered air defense network – which President Lai Ching-te presented in October and partially emulates Israeli air defense technology – Reuters reported.

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry declined commenting on Wu's Israel visit. The ministry issued a statement declaring "Taiwan and Israel share the values of freedom and democracy, and will continue to pragmatically ⁠promote mutually beneficial exchanges and cooperation" in trade, technology, culture and other domains while embracing additional "mutually beneficial forms of cooperation", the report concluded.

During an interview with Israel Hayom earlier this year China's ambassador to Israel, Xiao Junzheng, was asked what his country's response would be if the island declared independence. He made it clear Beijing would not let it slide, saying this will inevitably lead to "war".

"When our two countries established diplomatic ties in 1992, the Israeli government acknowledged that there's one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate representative of the whole of China," he said, adding with particular emphasis: "The Chinese government has already passed the Anti-Secession National Law. According to this law, if the so-called Taiwan government announced or declared independence, wow, the war will be unavoidable. The war is unavoidable. If they declare independence, yes."

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Sources disclosed to the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat on Tuesday that US-mediated discussions between Damascus and Jerusalem in recent months produced "a written security agreement" slated for signing on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September. Syria's de facto president, Ahmed al-Sharaa (also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani), attended that assembly. Nevertheless, according to the sources, Netanyahu declined to sign the written accord.

The sources emphasized that conditions in southern Syria have become deeply troubling, with Damascus anticipating that Washington will leverage its influence over Israel to curtail the escalation in the region. The officials stated that the expectation is "to restore the status quo ante," given that "President Trump possesses the capability to persuade Israel to halt the escalation across southern Syria." Syrian leadership has insisted over the past year that Israel retreat from territories captured since December 2024, thereby honoring the Separation of Forces Agreement (the 1974 accord following the Yom Kippur war that established a UN-monitored zone on the Golan Heights).

Within this framework, senior Syrian officials were quoted in the report asserting that Israel has carried more than 1,000 air strikes in Syria, alongside more than 400 ground incursions in the southern provinces since December 2024, when al-Sharaa took office.

The Saudi newspaper further reported that Israeli-controlled territory in Syria since the Assad regime's collapse a year ago exceeds 460 square kilometers (178 square miles). The account alleged that nine military installations and observation posts have been erected within this area. This is in addition to Israel's seizure of the Mount Hermon summit, which provides surveillance capabilities over Syrian and Lebanese terrain.

Earlier, the Reuters news agency reported that multiple stringent US sanctions imposed during the Assad era could be revoked within weeks. Their removal has been incorporated into comprehensive defense policy legislation poised for passage in the US Congress in coming days. Since the Assad regime's downfall, Washington has already lifted a substantial portion of the sanctions. These measures are anticipated to bolster the Syrian economy under al-Sharaa's administration.

The Prime Minister's Office dismissed the report outright, saying: "Total fake news. There were contacts and meetings under US auspices, but matters never reached the point of agreements and understandings with Syria."

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Meanwhile, Netanyahu's new inner circle held a meeting on Monday with US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz. Sources close to the prime minister point to significant personnel shifts within Netanyahu's inner circle, clearly visible in the new roster of attendees.

Additionally, the Prime Minister's Office foreign press spokesperson, Shosh Bedrosian, added, "During the meeting with Waltz, the Israeli team conveyed to Waltz that Israel did not appreciate Ambassador Tom Barak's recent comments from Doha yesterday." Barak said yesterday in a jab that "Israel can call itself a democracy." The meeting was attended by spokesperson Ziv Agmon, foreign policy advisor Dr. Ophir Falk, and Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon, who traveled to New York specifically for the meeting. Also present were Acting Foreign Ministry Director-General Gil Reich; entrepreneur Michael Eisenberg, who has criticized government policy in various areas in the past and whose presence at the meeting, according to Israeli sources, came at the Americans' request; foreign policy advisor Caroline Glick; and Foreign Ministry official Yoni Eshpar.

Notably absent from the meeting was longtime Chief of Staff Tzachi Braverman, considered a central figure in Netanyahu's close circle for years. His absence came against the backdrop of his anticipated appointment as Israel's ambassador to London.

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The ministry aims to bolster pro-Israel sentiment among sympathetic American audiences. Officials acknowledged that some evangelical support has eroded in recent years, making direct engagement increasingly important.

Each participant is considered a leading figure in their community and on social media or in other media platforms. The ministry hopes that the thousand visitors will share their experiences widely once back in the US, potentially reaching millions.

Another objective is to counter efforts by Qatar, which has invested heavily in evangelical circles in an attempt to improve its image. Qatar has poured billions of dollars into US universities over the years and has carried out intensive influence campaigns. According to officials in Jerusalem, these efforts have begun penetrating conservative American circles, including recent trips that brought American influencers to Qatar.

The ministry is describing the massive delegation as the "doomsday weapon" of Israel's public diplomacy.

The initiative is being carried out in cooperation with Friends of Zion (FOZ) in honor of the tenth anniversary of the Friends of Zion Museum, along with Dr. Mike Evans, a former adviser to President Donald Trump and FOZ's founder.

Some events for the visiting religious leaders begin today. The official opening ceremony, with all one thousand participants, Foreign Minister Sa'ar, the Knesset speaker and US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, is scheduled for Wednesday. Hostage survivor Omer Shem Tov will speak about his experience and receive the Hineni Award for his advocacy work, together with his family's efforts in international outreach.

The delegation will also visit Mount Herzl for a meeting with a senior military figure and bereaved families whose loved ones are buried there. Another event includes a mass prayer gathering with all one thousand visitors on the southern steps of the Western Wall, followed by a meeting with the rabbi of the Western Wall in the plaza, where participants will place notes bearing the names of victims of the October 7 massacre and pray for their families.

Another historical site on the itinerary is Ancient Shiloh in the Binyamin region, where they will meet Israel Ganz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council.

They will also visit the Nova festival site for a gathering with hostage survivors Emily Damari, Tal Shoham, Moran Stella Yanai, and Aviva and Keith Siegel, all of whom will receive the Hineni Award for their contributions to international advocacy. The delegation's formal program concludes Sunday.

Dan Oren, head of the Foreign Ministry's department for civil society engagement, said the ministry views the FOZ initiative and Dr. Evans' leadership as an important and welcome effort to bring influential communities to Israel. "We are working to deepen ties with Christian communities in general, and with the evangelical community in particular," he said.

He added that a delegation of one thousand religious leaders is "an event of exceptional significance" both because of its scale and because it provides an opportunity to present firsthand the story of the State of Israel and its citizens since October 7. "Direct encounters", he said, "help convey Israel's resilience and the spirit of renewal that characterizes the country during this challenging period."

Dr. Evans emphasized: "Israel is fighting an ideological war that it cannot win without evangelical support. Israelis make up only 0.12% of the world's population while evangelicals make up 9.7%," he said. He warned that "progressive leftists and populist right-wing groups are uniting in attempts to harm Israel's supporters and that extreme and radical elements are funding campaigns aimed at shifting public opinion, piece by piece."

He said "This strategy relies on anti-Israel narratives that create moral ambiguity, amplified by artificial intelligence responses that generate the illusion of mass support." Evans noted that Israel's ninth president, Shimon Peres, who served as FOZ's founding international chairman, told him decades ago that the wars of the twenty-first century would be ideological, economic, media-driven and fought through proxies.

"That is exactly why I have mobilized these evangelical leaders," Evans said.

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The wording of the resolution has been debated in recent weeks among the countries shaping Gaza's future, led by the US, Israel and Egypt. Israel Hayom obtained the current version of the draft, which contains ten clauses. Clause 7, the most significant from Israel's perspective, lays out for the first time how Hamas will be disarmed. According to the text, Palestinian forces, coordinated with Israel and Egypt, together with the ISF, will carry out the task.

The draft states that the international stabilization force (ISF) will work with Israel and Egypt, without harming existing agreements between them, alongside a recently trained and vetted Palestinian police force, to help secure the border areas; stabilize Gaza's security environment by ensuring the disarmament of the Gaza Strip, including the destruction of military, terrorist and offensive infrastructure and preventing its reconstruction, as well as the permanent disarmament of non-state armed groups.

Clause 6 emphasizes that a Palestinian administration will be established in Gaza, but it will not include national or political components.

The draft states that this will involve establishing a transitional administration, including oversight and support for a non-political technocratic Palestinian committee made up of qualified Gazans, under the auspices of the Arab League, responsible for the day-to-day functioning of Gaza's civil service and administration.

The resolution dedicates several clauses to international support for Gaza and calls on countries around the world to contribute financially to the reconstruction of the Strip. However, UNRWA is not included among the organizations expected to take part in rebuilding Gaza, and the resolution clarifies that any organization whose staff cooperate with terrorism will be removed.

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Olabi noted negotiations continue, and their nature remains primarily security-focused, based on the agreement signed after the Yom Kippur War. "The focus of the talks is mainly on border checkpoints, the number of forces on each side, and similar matters," the ambassador was quoted as saying by the Syrian news site Al-Watan.

"The discussions address several issues and concerns of both sides. If Israel has security concerns, they can be addressed. If other issues are not security-related, they require a different approach," the ambassador said, apparently referring to the Druze issue in the Druze Mountain region, who were attacked by the Damascus regime.

The ambassador described Syrian President al-Sharaa's visit to Washington as a "historic opportunity" and stated that his country aims to establish "a space of peace, security, and stability on its southern border."

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According to diplomatic sources, bin Salman plans to present the Trump administration with a series of proposals addressing open regional issues, including the Palestinian issue, where Riyadh insists on the need for recognition of a "Palestinian state."

The sources also said bin Salman plans to propose reviving negotiations between Iran and the US, which have remained frozen since the 12-day war in June, during which the US struck Iranian nuclear facilities despite international efforts to renew dialogue.

The newspaper also reported that the crown prince and his team are developing a new strategy aimed at "reorganizing the Middle East." According to the sources, the plan includes strengthening relations with Tehran and preventing further military escalation between Iran and Israel. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is trying to persuade Iran to reach compromises in the Yemen, Lebanon, and Iraq arenas, a move that sources say could reduce the likelihood of further regional escalation.

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Members of the media raise their hands to ask U.S. Vice President JD Vance questions, in Kiryat Gat, Israel, October 21, 2025. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

He said his vice presidential responsibilities stem from Trump's trust, with the role being "very dependent on the president of the United States" and his accomplishments possible "because the president trusts me and he's empowered me with a lot of responsibilities." Vance praised Trump as someone who "is such a unique person unbelievably people have no idea," noting he "really sleeps less and still has more energy than anybody that I know that's 40 years younger than he is" – "trust me I've seen it from the inside he has unbelievable energy." Trump "has unbelievable instincts" and "automatically understands when somebody is trying to get one over on him," Vance explained.

Trump privately discussed a 2028 "dream ticket" pairing Vance with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, his "best friend in the administration." Vance considers this "premature," maintaining focus on current work with the belief that "if we take care of business the politics will take care of itself."

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