Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Schedule for Sunday (5 July 2026)

Following is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s schedule for Sunday (5 July 2026):

14:00 – Attend cornerstone-laying ceremony for the Atarot Heritage Center, at the Atarot airport.

Coverage is the responsibility of the Heritage Ministry. Correspondents and photographers must register at https://ataro-media.form-wizard.co/ by no later than 09:00 tomorrow (Friday, 3 July 2026).

Entry to the event area from 13:00-13:30.

18:00 – Attend state memorial ceremony for Binyamin Zeev Herzl, on Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem. Open coverage except for stills pool – Yediot Ahronot; entry until 17:00.

Entry to both events is by presentation of a valid GPO card and passport or Israeli ID.

(Communicated by the President’s Spokesperson)

Friday, 3 July 2026 / 18 Tammuz 5786

In Honor of America’s 250th Independence Day: President Isaac Herzog Visits U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem

Ahead of America’s historic 250th Independence Day on Saturday, July 4, President Isaac Herzog visited U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem to deliver a message of congratulations to President Donald J. Trump and the American people.

Upon delivering his letter of congratulations to Ambassador Huckabee, President Herzog said: “I am extremely moved and happy to be here at the American Embassy in Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Israel, at the Embassy which was launched by President Trump in his historic recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

“I want to congratulate the President, the Congress, the leadership, and the people of the United States of America through you, Mr. Ambassador, on 250 years of Independence. American Independence is one of the greatest moments in history, and it has changed the fate of humanity.”

In President Isaac Herzog’s letter to President Donald J. Trump, he wrote: “This landmark Freedom 250 celebration is a moment to honor the incredible triumph of the American spirit. The story of America has inspired humanity the world over. From sea to shining sea, America stands as a beacon of liberty, and as the leader of the free world.

“This is also a time to express our deepest appreciation for the unique and unbreakable partnership between the United States of America and Israel. Our two nations draw from the same wellsprings of the Bible, and we share the same fundamental values of freedom, democracy, and human dignity.

“I thank you for your steadfast commitment to Israel’s security. The people of Israel will never forget your tireless efforts to bring our beloved hostages home. May you continue to lead the Middle East and the world toward peace and security.”

Welcoming President Herzog at the U.S. Embassy, Ambassador Huckabee said: “This is a great time for all Americans to celebrate, but we're not the only ones celebrating America's 250th birthday. We have a very special guest at the US Embassy today, President Isaac Herzog. Thank you, Mr. President. We're honored to have you here and honored to call you a friend.”

https://x.com/isaac_herzog/status/2072983041715114189?s=46

Attached photo credits: Haim Zach (GPO)

Video of President Herzog’s Visit to the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem

https://www.jumbomail.me/j/QlfDO804XkKb6ma/u/76635533506836365433633D?utm_source=jmemail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=sent

Credit: Ziv Sokolov, U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem

Benjamin Lee, benjaminl@president.gov.il, 050-6169572

Prime Minister's Office announcement on Friday, 3 July 2026

[Translated from Hebrew]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump and congratulated him on the occasion of the 250th Independence Day of the United States of America.

The Prime Minister said in the conversation that the U.S. is a guarantor of global freedom, and Israel highly appreciates the close bond between the two nations.

Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump agreed to meet in the U.S. in the near future.

(Communicated by the President’s Spokesperson)

Saturday, 4 July 2026 / 19 Tammuz 5786

President Isaac Herzog's Schedule for Tomorrow (Sunday, 5 July 2026)

1. President Herzog will deliver remarks at the Yitzhak Navon Prize for Cultural Heritage ceremony

At 15:30, President Isaac Herzog will deliver remarks at the ceremony for the Yitzhak Navon Prize for Cultural Heritage at the President's Residence. The prize, awarded by the Ministry of Culture, honors creators and artists whose work has contributed to the development and advancement of culture in Israel.

The event will be open to media coverage, subject to prior registration by tomorrow (Sunday) at 13:00 via email: dover@presidentherzog.com. Media arrival will be permitted until 14:30 with valid identification and a valid GPO press card. Entry will be subject to security screening. The ceremony will also be documented by the GPO, and press materials will be distributed upon conclusion.

2. President Herzog will deliver remarks at the state memorial ceremony for Theodor Herzl

President Herzog will deliver remarks and lay a wreath tomorrow at 18:00, at the state memorial ceremony marking 122 years since the passing of Theodor Herzl, to be held at Mount Herzl.

The ceremony at Mount Herzl will be open to media coverage upon presentation of a valid GPO press card. The ceremony will also be documented by the GPO, and press materials will be distributed upon conclusion.

Benjamin Lee, benjaminl@president.gov.il, 050-6169572

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Decides, Upon Recommendation of NSC Director Shmuel Ben-Ezra, to Appoint Ofir Levi as Deputy Director of the National Security Council

The Government, today (Sunday, 5 July 2026), has approved the proposal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to appoint Col. (Res.) Ofir Levi as Deputy Director of the National Security Council (NSC), following the recommendation of NSC Director Shmuel Ben Ezra. Levi will assume the role, succeeding Gil Reich, who has concluded his term.

The appointment is for a period of 5 years and may be extended for additional periods, provided that the total duration of the appointment does not exceed ten years.

Col. (Res.) Ofir Levi has an extensive military and security background, which includes several senior positions, among them: Head of Doctrine for the Armored Corps, Commander of the 679th Reserve Brigade, and Deputy Commander of the 210th ‘Bashan’ Regional Division (Golan Heights). He has also served as a border defense consultant for Rafael.

Levi holds a Bachelor's degree in Behavioral Sciences with a focus on Organizational Consulting from Ariel University, and a Master's degree in Political Science from the University of Haifa.

Attached photo credit: Yehuda Weinberg

Government Approves NIS 60 Million to Continue the Plan for the Rehabilitation and Support of the Southern Festivals Survivors

The Government, today (Sunday, 5 July 2026), approved the proposal by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which implements the state’s commitment to continue standing alongside the survivors of the southern festivals in the long-term rehabilitation phase. As part of the decision, a plan was approved to continue and strengthen the framework of responses for the survivors of the 7 October 2023 southern festivals, aiming to ensure long-term continuity of care, rehabilitation, and employment for thousands of survivors and their families.

The new plan, totaling approximately NIS 60 million for the years 2026–2028, was formulated under the leadership of the Prime Minister's Office following comprehensive inter-ministerial staff work, data analysis, public participation, and dialogue with survivors, their families, and professionals.

The decision seeks to adapt the government response to the current stage of rehabilitation and recovery, after the initial responses provided following the October 7 terrorist attack helped establish a primary support framework for the survivors.

According to data, approximately 3,600 festival survivors have been recognized as victims of hostile acts. The rates of injury and disability among this population indicate long-term consequences that necessitate ongoing tailored support, treatment, and rehabilitation.

Key Elements of the Decision:

* Establishment of a personal support system for survivors through a ‘single government address’ that will assist in exercising rights, coordinating between elements providing therapeutic care and ensuring continuity of rehabilitation through the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs.

* Expansion of responses and support for the families of survivors, recognizing their central role in the recovery and rehabilitation process.
* Development of dedicated programs for prevention, intervention, and treatment regarding substance abuse among festival survivors.

* Expansion of medical and mental health responses.

* Improvement of accessibility to mental health emergency responses for survivors and their families.

* Strengthening continuity of care by adapting physical and mental health services and managing coordinated treatment.

* Formulation of tailored rehabilitation and employment integration pathways through the Ministry of Labor, the Employment Service, and the National Insurance Institute.

* Continued development of a government digital system to enable coordination among all entities, exercise of rights, data management, and an up-to-date assessment of the situation for decision-making.

Additionally, the Directors-General committee oversight will continue its operations, and a dedicated official has been appointed within the Prime Minister's Office to coordinate the government's work, monitor the implementation of the decision, and ensure the ongoing adaptation of responses to the needs of the survivors and their families.

The plan is designed to ensure that in the coming years after the disaster, survivors of the southern festivals will continue to receive a coordinated, accessible, and tailored government response, as part of the State of Israel's ongoing commitment to accompany them through the process of rehabilitation and returning to normal life

Prime Minister Netanyahu at the Cornerstone-laying Ceremony for the Atarot Heritage Center: "In Atarot, we are restoring former glory. Operation Yonatan' elevated Israel's standing among the nations as a small country with colossal audacity. Its story will be immortalized in the center we will establish here."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, today (Sunday, 5 July 2026), participated in the cornerstone-laying ceremony for the Atarot Heritage Center, along with Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion.

The heritage center is set to be established in the historic terminal building in Atarot, as part of the initiatives marking the 50th anniversary of Operation Yonatan (https://www.idf.il/en/mini-sites/wars-and-operations/operation-entebbe-air-france-flight-139-hijacking-rescue/).

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [translated from Hebrew]:

"My friends, my wife Sara and I are deeply moved by this occasion, as are my brother Iddo and his wife. My family and I are thrilled to be with you in this special place, at this special moment, which can be encapsulated in just a few words: In Atarot, we are restoring former glory.

I always say: In public life, you need to have a compass. A compass dictates a path, an ideology. Ultimately, the compass points toward the desired direction. In our case: North.

I do not mean only the north of our country, where we are determined to restore security, prosperity, and growth. On this occasion, I mean northern Jerusalem, an area of immense importance for the development of the capital, the development of our united capital, Jerusalem, which will never be divided again. This requires a commitment of the heart, but also practical actions. Our government guards Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty with everything we have!

Many of us remember the small airport that operated here in Atarot for decades. I used it many times; it wasn't exactly JFK Airport in New York or Heathrow in London, but nevertheless, planes took off and landed in Atarot.

Since today is also the memorial day for the visionary of our state, Herzl, I want to note that Herzl witnessed the initial blossoms of aviation's development during the very period he was active. Just one year before his passing, the first airplane flew. He even wrote a futuristic story about a 'guided airship.' He envisioned aerial transportation as a symbol for the Jewish state, which would rise and spread its wings before the eyes of all. And that is exactly what happened. Civil and military aviation in Israel have developed by leaps and bounds over the years.

We see this in the War of Redemption, which established our aerial superiority in the skies of the Middle East, an achievement that has earned our Air Force a global reputation. It was recognized before, but after, with the roar of a lion, the entire world knows what kind of aerial might, what heroic pilots, and what ground crews the State of Israel possesses.

Yet, long before the War of Redemption, we had brilliant achievements. We are currently marking 50 years since Operation Yonatan. The heroic IDF operation to rescue our people who were hijacked to Entebbe, Uganda, this operation stunned the entire world. Our fighters stormed the terminal in Entebbe, where the terrorists were holding the hostages. I was told there was an intention to run a mock exercise here, as the tower here is quite similar to the tower at the airport in Entebbe. However, the concern was that because there are people all around, it would expose our plans, which had to be kept strictly secret to ensure the operation's success.

The operation did indeed succeed. Our forces eliminated the hijackers within minutes and freed the hostages. Our eldest brother Yoni, the commander of the General Staff Reconnaissance Unit, the late Lieutenant Colonel Yonatan Netanyahu, fell in action while leading the force. The role of the rescuing fighters in Operation Jonathan will be remembered forever, and in equal measure, the significant contribution of the Air Force to the success of the mission will also be remembered.

The Chief-of-Staff at the time, the Minister of Defense at the time, and also the Prime Minister at the time, Yitzhak Rabin, wanted to hear from two people, from the actual commander of the rescue forces, Yoni. Peres asked him: 'Is it possible?' and he replied: 'Given the element of surprise, it is possible, and I believe we will succeed.' They also wanted to hear from Benny Peled, who was the Commander of the Air Force. He said the exact same thing. And those two individuals, on the ground and in the air, essentially gave the government the confidence to carry out this operation, which had seemed impossible.

Four 'Hercules' aircraft flew the IDF force into the heart of Africa, a distance of nearly 4,000 km from Israel, for over seven hours. Seven hours there, and seven hours back. Our brave pilots landed the planes in Entebbe despite the harsh weather. They did so by surprise, without the Ugandan soldiers guarding the airport realizing what was happening. Parallel to the Hercules planes, two Boeing 707 aircraft flew in the area for coordination, control, and medical care.

Operation Yonatan elevated Israel's standing among the nations, as a small country with colossal audacity: To ensure the victory of light over darkness. The story of the operation, on the ground and high in the skies, will be immortalized in the heritage center we will establish here in Atarot. And I want to emphasize: Just as the heroism of our fighters in the War of Redemption draws from the heroism of our fighters in Entebbe, so the heroism of Entebbe draws from the heroism of previous generations. And so the heroism of future generations will draw from the heroism of our fighters in the War of Redemption. The generation of victory – the generation of heroism.

We also carry the heroes of the settlement in Atarot (https://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/atarot), in the 28 years preceding the establishment of the state, with full national gratitude. The settlers of Atarot invested an immense daily effort: A handful of Jewish defenders facing a large and hostile Arab population. Under the British Mandate, they developed economic sectors: Dairy production, orchards, and quarrying. They stood firm against the repeated attacks of those who sought our lives, who sought their lives, because they wanted to kill them, until all hope was exhausted, and given the evacuation order during the War of Independence, they left the place.

But we returned here in the Six-Day War. I still remember my march during paratrooper basic training, climbing the mountain from the Modi'in area, and arriving here. I looked at this place on the way to the Western Wall and thought, here, we have returned. I tell you, that is what I thought. I thought that we were restoring former glory. And that is exactly what we are doing.

On the lands of the original moshav, the northernmost outpost of Jerusalem, a thriving industrial park has risen, employing thousands of workers, Jews and Arabs alike. And the final word regarding the development of Atarot has not yet been spoken: As Prime Minister of Israel, I had the privilege of approving the establishment of the Har Homa neighborhood, and later the Givat HaMatos neighborhood, in southern Jerusalem. The compass pointed south back then. The Palestinian Authority wanted to push forward from Bethlehem into Jerusalem and bisect the city. So we built Har Homa and Givat HaMatos. We are expanding them today to ensure the integrity of Jerusalem.

We are also developing northern Jerusalem: Atarot and its surroundings. Settlement, heroism, aviation, economy, love for Jerusalem – the new home will ensure that the heritage of past generations will be remembered for generations to come. Together, we will restore former glory to Atarot, which is precious to us all."

Attached photo credits: Amos Ben-Gershom (GPO) / Sara Netanyahu