Make 2026 the Year of Israel

As the world celebrates Christmas and prepares to turn the page on another turbulent year, many Christians are asking a serious question – not a sentimental one: Where does engagement actually matter right now?

In 2026, the answer is Israel.

After two punishing years of war that tested Israel militarily, morally, and spiritually, the country is entering a decisive transition. The fighting has largely subsided. The immediate existential threats have been contained. And the hard work now begins: rebuilding communities, restoring confidence, and shaping what comes next.

For Israel’s friends abroad – including millions of non-Jews who prayed for Israel when it was under fire – this is the moment when support must mature into engagement. Not slogans. Not sympathy. Participation.

There are three concrete ways to do that in the year ahead: showing up, strengthening civil society, and helping Israel rebuild diplomatic bridges in a fractured region.

Visit Israel: Presence Still Matters
For many Christians, visiting Israel is never just tourism. It is a pilgrimage – walking where faith became history. I have worked with countless Christian colleagues over the years, many of whom visited Israel and returned with a story to tell. While each journey is personal, one truth is universal: Israel changes people.

In 2026, visiting Israel carries an added dimension. Tourism was hit twice – first by COVID, then by war. Hotels stood empty. Guides lost livelihoods. Entire local economies in Jerusalem, the Galilee, and the south were frozen.

Every visitor helps restart that ecosystem.

But beyond economics, presence sends a message Israelis notice. Long after the headlines fade, Israelis remember who showed up. A family that comes to pray, to learn, to walk the land, and simply to be present sends a clear signal: You are not alone.

Israel today is safe, vibrant, and open. And for many visitors, the experience does more than deepen faith – it builds lasting bonds with the people who live there.

Support Israeli Civil Society: Strengthen the Backbone

Israel’s resilience has never depended on the government alone. It is sustained by a remarkably strong civil society – nonprofits that move faster, reach deeper, and adapt quicker than bureaucracies ever can.

Since October 2023, these organizations have carried an unprecedented burden: caring for traumatized civilians and soldiers, rebuilding shattered communities, supporting reservists and their families, strengthening education, and expanding healthcare capacity under strain.

For Christian supporters, this is not abstract charity. Contributions translate directly into therapy sessions, classrooms, medical equipment, and rebuilt homes. Israel’s nonprofit sector is professional, transparent, and impact-driven. You can see where your support goes – and what it achieves.

This is not about rescue. It is about partnership.

Build Diplomatic Bridges: Help Shape What Comes Next
The war did not happen in a vacuum, and neither will the peace that follows. Israel’s long-term security will not be secured by force alone, but by integration – regionally and internationally.

Here, Israel’s friends have a role to play.

Over the past decade, we have seen what is possible when quiet diplomacy replaces isolation. The Abraham Accords proved that Israel’s integration into the Middle East is not only possible, but inevitable. Even after October 7, that logic did not disappear – it merely went underground.

Christians who care about Israel should care about this next phase: encouraging normalization, supporting dialogue, and helping rebuild diplomatic bridges between Israel and pragmatic partners in the Arab and Muslim world. This includes advocacy, convening conversations, and reinforcing the idea that Israel is not a temporary actor in the region, but a permanent, constructive one.

Peace is not made by wishful thinking. It is built through sustained engagement, shared interests, and the courage to imagine a future beyond perpetual conflict.
A Year to Rebuild – and to Choose Engagement

The past two years were about survival. About defense. About stopping forces that openly reject coexistence. 2026 must be about rebuilding. Rebuilding communities. Rebuilding trust. Rebuilding partnerships with those willing to stand with Israel not only in war, but in shaping the peace that follows.

Israel is not asking for sympathy. It is asking for engagement. From my experience working with partners around the world, people are ready to engage once they find their personal connection. Visiting Israel. Supporting its civil society. Helping strengthen the diplomatic architecture around it. These are tangible choices.

So as this new civil year begins, make one deliberate decision: Make 2026 the Year of Israel.