Israelis were in mourning Friday morning following the deaths of 10 students from a pre-military academy who were killed when the bus they were travelling in was caught in a flash flood of the Tzafit stream caused by heavy rains in the Dead Sea region on Thursday evening. The rains, highly unusual in Israel at this time of year, also caused flooding in Jerusalem and other major cities. A video widely shared on social media showed massive quantities of water flowing down Jerusalem’s famed Ben Yehuda street, carrying debris including tables and chairs.

US Secretary of Defense James Mattis told a US Congressional hearing on Thursday that he assesses there to be a high likelihood of direct conflict between Israel and Iran in Syria due to the determination of the Islamic Republic to establish a military presence there designed to threaten the Jewish State. “I can see how it might start, but I am not sure when or where,” Mattis said. He spoke hours before hosting Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman at the Pentagon.

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Soroka-University Medical Center announced this week that they have developed a new method for detecting breast cancer by using breath and urine samples to identify biomarkers, allowing doctors to treat the disease earlier and potentially saving many lives. The research was published in the journal Computers in Biology and Medicine.

Hometown heroes Gefen Primo and Tal Flicker collected bronze medals during the opening day of competition at the European Judo Championships at Tel Aviv’s Convention Center on Thursday. “I was a little nervous ahead of the championships because they are being held in Israel, but as soon as I heard the fans that gave me a big boost,” said Flicker. “It is the best feeling in the world to win in front of your home fans.”

Forces from the Jordanian and US militaries wrapped up “Operation Eager Lion” on Thursday. The annual drills focused on irregular warfare and responses to non-conventional weapons attacks this year. Major Ahmed Alamawi, who was in command of the NBC weapons drill, told reporters that  “We have also incorporated… the biolab for any type of weapon of mass destruction, this one was a chemical type attack this year.”

While Syria used to be an independent state allied with Iran, it is now entirely reliant on Tehran and can no longer act independently. Israel faces a fundamental threat from this northern coalition, and the American security system has been unable to act effectively against it.

The Prophet Ezekiel Calls Anti-Semitism an “Ancient Hatred” and this hatred takes pleasure in the shedding of blood and is driven by demonic forces that want to annihilate the Jewish people. It is directed against the purposes of God. Israel must constantly prepare and adapt to meet this challenge, and ICEJ is here to help.