News Digest — 12/19/24

IDF Hits Strategic Houthi Sites Hours After Missile Launch On Central Israel

In a significant escalation against Houthi aggression, Israeli Air Force fighter jets conducted an extensive overnight operation Thursday morning (19th) against strategic targets in Yemen’s Hodeidah port and the capital Sanaa, striking locations approximately 1,240 miles from Israel.  The complex operation, which required weeks of planning, involved mid-air refueling capabilities due to the extraordinary distance.  The mission was the first time the IDF also struck the capital Sanaa, as the two previous public strikes on the Iranian-backed terrorists were limited to the northern strategic stronghold of Hodeidah.

Speaking from the Air Force command bunker where he approved the strike plans, Defense Minister Israel Katz delivered an unequivocal message: “We struck strategic targets of the Houthi terrorist organization in Yemen again tonight.  Israel’s long arm will reach you too.  Whoever raises a hand against Israel will have it cut off, whoever hits us will be hit sevenfold.”

The Israel Defense Forces statement detailed that the operation targeted facilities used by Houthi forces for military operations and the transfer of Iranian weaponry to the region.  The precision strikes were coordinated through the Intelligence Directorate and the Israeli Navy.

The operation specifically targeted all port tugboats, effectively paralyzing operations at three Houthi-controlled naval ports, following earlier strikes that had disabled the ports’ crane systems.

Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari provided context in a foreign press briefing, citing recent Houthi provocations: “In the past two weeks alone, the Houthis launched an unmanned aerial vehicle that hit a residential neighborhood in southern Israel, and on Sunday (15th) fired a long-range missile toward central Israel.”  He emphasized that “the regime in Iran funds, arms and directs the Houthis’ terrorist activities.”

According to Yemen’s Al-Yaman channel, this marked the first strike in Yemen since October.  The operation was executed approximately one hour after a ballistic missile launch at 2:37 am.  This missile, the eighth launched from Yemen this month, was successfully intercepted by the Arrow defense system before reaching Israeli airspace.  The interception triggered warning sirens throughout central Israel.  While fragments caused damage to an elementary school in Ramat Efal, no injuries were reported.

(israelhayom.com)

 

Chief Of Staff In Rafah: ‘We’re Pressuring Hamas Every Day To Return The Hostages’

On Wednesday (18th), the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi conducted a situational assessment and tour in the Rafah area of the Gaza Strip.  Halevi was accompanied by the Commanding Officer of the Southern Command, MG Yaron Finkelman; the Commanding Officer of the Gaza Division, BG Barak Hiram; the Commanding Officer of the Nahal Brigade, COL Yair Zuckerman; and other senior commanders.

Halevi told the soldiers in Rafah, “We are dismantling Hamas and targeting its infrastructure and forces so that there will never be another October 7th.  We are exerting pressure on Hamas daily, driving it into greater distress, to ensure the return of the 100 hostages – hopefully alive – and for those who are not, to provide them a proper burial in Israel.  Our goal is also to return Israeli residents to their homes.”

“I tell you this:  the Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip are coming back to life,” Halevi said.  “Residents are returning, and as they do, our responsibility grows even greater – no less.  It is our duty to provide a much stronger security framework so they can feel safe and secure here.”

“You are contributing to the fight against Hamas, the return of the hostages, and the revival of these communities.  Knowing this gives me the boundless strength to keep going, and I believe this is a shared mission for every soldier in the IDF – both active and reserve.  Keep doing your incredible work.  Thank You,” the Chief of Staff concluded.

(israelnationalnews.com)

 

Poll: Over Half Of Arab Israelis Believe War Created A Shared Sense Of Destiny With Jews

Over half (57.8%) of Arab citizens in Israel, including Muslims, Druze, and Christians, believe the multi-front war has created a shared sense of destiny between Jews and Arabs, a survey by the Konrad Adenauer Program for Jewish-Arab Cooperation at TAU’s Moshe Dayan Center revealed Wednesday (18th).

In June 2024, 51.6% of Arab Israelis believed that the war was creating a shared sense of destiny between Jewish and Arab Israelis, indicating an upward trend.  

In contrast, in November 2023, nearly three-quarters (69.8%) of Arab Israelis said that the war had harmed solidarity between Arab and Jewish citizens.

In terms of the relationship between Arab Israelis and the state in the December 2024 survey, over a third (39.4%) of respondents said that their sense of belonging to the state has weakened since Oct. 7.  Only 17.4% said their sense of belonging  to Israel has strengthened due to the war.

The survey additionally revealed that a third (33.9%) of Arab Israelis define their Israeli citizenship as the most important element in their personal identity.  Of those surveyed, 29.2% view their religious affiliation as the most important aspect of their identity, and 26.0% view their Arab identity as the most important.

In comparison to earlier surveys, it is notable that the importance of Israeli citizenship to Arab Israelis has increased during the war.

In terms of “the day after” the war ends, when asked who should govern Gaza, less than half (43.2%) believe that Gaza should be placed in Palestinian hands, marking a decline since June 2024, when 58.5% of respondents supported Palestinian control of Gaza.  One-fifth of those who support Palestinian control of Gaza support control by the Palestinian Authority (PA), 15.8% support local Gazan entities in control, and 5.7% support Hamas maintaining power.

In contrast, nearly half (45.1%) of Arab Israelis think an external non-Palestinian entity should govern Gaza.  One-fifth support an international coalition, 17.9% support Israeli control, and 7.1% support Arab states taking leadership.

“It appears that under the dark shadows cast by the war over all citizens of Israel, in both Arabs and Jews, it is noticed that meaningful bright spots are emerging that could redefine the rules of the game in the post-war era,” Dr. Arik Rudnitzky, project manager of the Konrad Adenauer Program for Jewish-Arab Cooperation at the Dayan Center remarked on the study.

“The upheavals and turbulence in the Middle East in recent months… have boosted the Arab citizens’ appreciation for their Israeli citizenship,” Rudnitzky continued, explaining the new “sense of shared destiny” between Arabs and Jews in Israel.

This does not mean that Arabs in Israel now ignore their Arab and Palestinian national identity,” he added, “but it does form a clear statement from Arab citizens, signaling to both the authorities and the Jewish majority that they will willingly collaborate in the rebuilding of Israeli society and politics in the post-war era.”

The survey, with a +/-4.38% margin of error, was conducted by telephone from December 1 through 8 in Arabic.  Five hundred Arab Israelis over 18 were surveyed.

(jpost.com)

 

Argentina, Israel Marked 75 Years Of Diplomatic Ties In Jerusalem

Israel and Argentina on Monday (16th) marked 75 years of diplomatic relations at a gala event at the Israeli Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, as ties between the two countries reached unprecedented heights under Argentinian President Javier Milei.

The event included a call for the immediate release of the remaining hostages being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, some of whom are Argentinian nationals.

In written remarks read out at the event by the South American country’s ambassador to Israel, the Argentinian leader pledged to continue speaking out against Islamic terrorism targeting the Jewish state, saying “silence is complicity.”

Milei, who has pledged to move his country’s embassy to Jerusalem went on to write: “The foundation of the relationship between Argentina and Israel is the value of freedom and Democracy.  In this regard, I have prioritized our bond with Israel, elevating it to an unprecedented level.”

The South American leader, who took office last year, made one of his first official visits as president, to Israel, where he reiterated his pledge to move the embassy to Jerusalem, visited southern Israeli communities hard-hit in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas massacre and met with Argentinian born Israelis that had been freed from captivity in Gaza.

“Argentina was the first Latin American country to recognize the State of Israel,” noted Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the event.  “Now under the leadership of my dear friend Javier Milei, there is no doubt that ties have become stronger than ever,” he added.

Argentina’s ambassador to Israel, Rabbi Axel Wahnish, said, “Argentina was for 74 years a partner, but now, in its 75th year, under President Milei, Argentina has become a friend to Israel.”

An iconoclast and political outsider, Milei was elected in November 2023 amid a burgeoning economic crisis and skyrocketing inflation that has long beleaguered the large South American country, which is making strides toward recovery under his leadership.

A week after his election victory, he visited the United States for government meetings, stopping at the grave in New York of the late Lubavitcher Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.

It was his third such visit that year.  Since taking over, he has subsequently listed Hamas as a terror organization and called out Iran’s terrorism.

“The future of friendship between Israel and Argentina has never looked brighter,” said Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, whose Argentinian-born father immigrated to Israel 59 years ago, and who was in the audience.

Israel’s top diplomat is scheduled to lead a private-sector delegation to Argentina in March to further economic ties between the two countries.

Knesset Speaker Amit Ohana, who visited Buenos Aires this fall, has invited Milei to address Israel’s parliament in Jerusalem, and he has concurred.

“The bond between Argentina and Israel has never been stronger,” he said, adding, “Times of crisis have a way of bringing heroes into focus.  Milei’s Argentina has emerged as a booming moral voice shaking the world stage.”

(worldisraelnews.com)

 

Israel Allocating $64 Million For Tourism Projects, Including Judea And Samaria

The Israel Ministry of Tourism will allocate approximately $64 million to 55 tourism projects across the country.  This will include $6 million in Judea and Samaria, the highest budget for the region in the last five years, and $18 million in the country’s north.

“On assuming my role as tourism minister, I decided to increase investment in the Judea and Samaria region, the biblical heartland of Israel, with its rich history, stunning landscapes and natural beauty,” Tourism Minister Haim Katz told JNS on Tuesday (17th).

Judea and Samaria are a magnet for Jewish and Christian tourists alike.  With this significant financial investment in tourism projects in the region, the Tourism Ministry is working to improve the visitor experience, to make history accessible and increase the lodging options in the area,” he continued.

“As we work toward the ‘day after the war,’ we are focusing our attention on the faith-based market, which continues to prove loyal to Israel.  We invite you to show your support for Israel by planning your next visit within the coming year,” Katz said. 

The ministry’s allocation is part of a total investment of approximately $114 million in the approved projects, which include an ecological promenade in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, laser shows at the marina in Eilat and the citadel in the Knights’ Halls in Acre, and a walk-on-water experience in Kibbutz Ginosar on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.

In Judea and Samaria projects include accessibility improvements at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, the establishment of an archaeological park in Beit El in the Binyamin region, and the creation of a Psalms Trail segment and park project in Mount Hebron.

“We have distributed the investment across the country,” said Ministry of Tourism Director-General  Dani Shahar. 

 Ninety-eight local authorities responded to the ministry’s  invitation to submit requests for funding.  In recent months, the ministry reviewed 119 applications, representing a total requested investment of approximately $446 million.

“The ministry evaluated the projects based on criteria such as potential to attract visitors from Israel and overseas, proximity to existing or planned accommodations, alignment with ministry and government policies, local authority’s ability to maintain the project, maintenance complexity, and diversification or enhancement of the tourism product,” Shahar said.

”The infrastructures we are creating will offer an unforgettable experience in every place.”

(worldisraelnews.com)

 

Montreal Synagogue Firebombed For Second Time In A Year

A synagogue in Montreal, Canada was damaged in an anti-Semitic arson attack overnight Wednesday (18th), marking the second time in 13 months that the Jewish institution has been targeted.

At around 3 AM on Wednesday morning, (18th) a fire was reported at Congregation Beth Tikvah in the heavily Jewish West Island neighborhood.

According to a New York Post  report. The front window of the synagogue had been smashed.  Police were said to have found “an incendiary device” inside the synagogue, which apparently had been used to start the fire. 

A Montreal police spokesman said in a media statement that witnesses had seen a suspect running away shortly after the explosion.

Despite the damage and ongoing fires, the synagogue refused to turn away worshipers.

“We were able to recite the morning prayers in an abbreviated way,” Rabbi Mordechai Zeitz told the Jewish Telegraph Agency.

“We did not close, even if we had to go outside to avoid the fires on the inside.  But we had the fires of Jewish identity and Jewish pride very much front and center, in front of the charred doors of the synagogue,” he added.

In November 2023, the synagogue was targeted by a similar Molotov cocktail attack.  

This most recent attack serves as a “terrifying reminder that Montreal is increasingly unsafe for Jewish people,” said Henry Topas, Congregation Beth Tikvah cantor and B’nai Brith Canada’s regional director for Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

“This is the result of the failure of leaders at all levels to hold accountable those responsible for the hate and violence that is infesting Canadian society,” Topas added.

“Let’s not mince words: This is a stark reminder of what happens when politicians fail to call out anti-Semitism  and prevent the escalation of violence on our streets,” Federation CIA president and CEO Yair Szlak said.

“We call on Mayor Plante to act immediately to crack down on the unacceptable rise in anti-Semitism in Montreal.  Our community is outraged and so should all of Quebec’s citizens.  We expect the authorities to treat this incident with the highest level of care and consider all likely motives.  Enough is enough!”

(worldisraelnews.com)




News Digest — 12/18/24

Netanyahu On Mount Hermon: ‘IDF Will Remain Here Until Another Arrangement Is Found’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday (17th) visited Mount Hermon with Defense Minister Israel Katz, Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, Northern Command Head Uri Gordin, and Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar.

Netanyahu held a situational assessment on the site, reviewed the IDF’s preparedness in the sector,  and established guidelines for future deployment.  During the assessment, MInister Katz emphasized that the IDF must quickly complete its entrenchment on the ground, including the construction of barricades and defense measures, as well as the regulation of soldiers’ service conditions, in order to fully prepare for the possibility of a prolonged stay in the region.

Netanyahu said the visit brought back memories for him.  “I was here 53 years ago with my soldiers on a Sayeret Matkal patrol.  The place hasn’t changed.  It’s the same place, but its importance to Israel’s security has only been reinforced in recent years, and especially in recent weeks with the dramatic events taking place here below us in Syria.  We will determine the best arrangement that will ensure our security.”  

The Prime Minister added that the IDF would remain at the peak of Mount Hermon “until another arrangement is found that guarantees Israel’s security.”

The Defense Minister said: “We will be here for as long as necessary.  Our presence here at the peak of Mount Hermon strengthens Israel’s security and also adds a dimension of observation and deterrence against Hezbollah’s strongholds in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon, while also serving as a deterrent against the rebels in Damascus, who claim to present a moderate stance, but are among the most extreme Islamic factions.”

He emphasized that “even in the era of long-range weapons, height and visibility have great significance.  We will not allow repeated threats, such as those of October 7, on the borders of Israel.”

The assessment visit to Mount Hermon was held while the Reuters news agency reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu was on his way to Cairo for talks on a hostage deal.  The news agency also reported that a deal for a ceasefire  and the release of hostages is expected to be signed in the coming days.

The Prime Minister’s Spokesperson, Omer Dostri, denied the report about Netanyahu’s visit to Cairo and wrote that “contrary to the wave of rumors – Prime Minister Netanyahu is not in Cairo, and there is nothing new regarding Eli Cohen of blessed memory.”

Earlier in the day, a Hamas source told the Washington Post that the terrorist organization had given up on the demand for a full IDF withdrawal from Gaza and a halt to the war.

According to the source, the new proposal being discussed in the negotiations for the deal includes a 60-day truce and the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian terrorists.

(israelnationalnews.com)

 

Assad, al-Julani, Or Erdogan In Syria? It’s All The Same

Israel is closely monitoring Turkey’s attempt to establish itself in Syria amid concerns that the weakened Iranian axis could be replaced by equally radical elements on Israel’s doorstep.  According to information obtained by Israel Hayom, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been addressing this issue since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, particularly following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent decision to deploy significant forces in Syria.

New data emerging now sheds light on the reason for Israeli vigilance in 2023 alone: the largest number of weapons smuggling attempts into Israel originated from Turkey.

Netanyahu has been forced to address this issue following exceptional findings at border crossings that indicated that parallel to the Iranian smuggling route through Jordan to the West Bank, an equally extensive route operates through Turkey.  Since October 7, Turkey has increasingly aligned itself with Hamas, with its leaders, even providing safe haven for the organization’s continued activities.

Hamas “charity” funds operating freely in Turkey have been collecting money to finance the organization’s terrorism for many years.  The Turkish-global threat intersects again with Israel at this point where Assad’s regime has fallen and Syria has created a vacuum that could invite new-old threats facing the Golan Heights.

While the IDF tactically focuses on eliminating the Assad army’s capabilities, some worry Israel is again missing the strategy: preventing another murderous regime with Nazi ideology from growing on our doorstep – Assad, Abu Mohammad al-Julani, or Erdogan – it’s all the same thing.

Regional sources expressed doubts to Israel regarding rebel leader al-Julani’s recent polished speech and requested Israeli vigilance regarding what’s to come.  Others warning Israel include Syrian Kurds and Druze, who fear falling into the hands of the Turks and al-Julani’s men.

Defense Minister Israel Katz addressed developments in Syria during Monday’s (16th) Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting, saying in the closed session that “The main reason for the Assad regime’s fall is the rebels’ sense that the Iranian axis has significantly weakened, a feeling that prompted them to act.”  Katz added, “We must be prepared for all scenarios and prevent the formation of a tangible threat to Golan residents and to avoid returning to the pre-October 7 reality of invasion threats into Israeli territory.”

Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee member MK Amit Halevi has already approached Netanyahu twice on this matter, requesting to examine the possibility of actively working toward Syria’s redistribution into “cantons,” (territorial sub-divisions) an issue also being examined by top defense officials.  “We currently face a clear danger that Syria will become a regional center of radical Islam and Erdogan’s imperialist ambitions,” Halevi wrote to Netanyahu.  “Therefore, it is crucial that, especially during these days, that Israel’s government initiates an international conference to recognize international borders within Syria and with its neighbors.  This is necessary to ensure state security and prevent the establishment of a neo-Nazi regime in the spirit of extreme Islam.”

(israelhayom.com)

 

Khamenei: After Syrian Developments, Israel Gravely Mistaken, Thinking Uprising Over

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wrote that Israel was “gravely mistaken” about developments in Syria in a Tuesday (17th) message posted to his Hebrew X account.

“The enemies imagine that after the developments in Syria, the uprising is already over.  They are greatly mistaken ,” he wrote.

Last week, Khamenei addressed the situation in Syria in a Hebrew post, noting, “The young Syrians will liberate the territories occupied by the Zionist entity.”

Following the toppling of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s regime by Syrian rebel factions earlier in December, Iran lost much of its influence in the region.  It has indicated its interest in working with the new government in Damascus.

The Islamic Republic has blamed both Israel and the US for the fall of the Syrian regime.

In October, Khamenei launched his Hebrew X account, which was subsequently suspended temporarily with the social media platform citing a violation of rules.

(jpost.com)

  

Report: Revolutionary Guards Control Up To 50% Of Iran’s Oil Exports, Using Income To Fund Proxies

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have tightened their grip on the country’s oil industry and control up to half the exports that generate most of Tehran’s revenue and fund its proxies across the Middle East, according to Western officials, security sources and Iranian insiders.

All aspects of the oil business have come under the growing influence of the Guards, from the shadow fleet of tankers that secretly ship sanctioned crude, to logistics and the front companies selling the oil, mostly to China, according to more than a dozen people interviewed by Reuters.

The extent of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) control over oil exports has not previously been reported.

Despite tough Western sanctions designed to choke Iran’s energy industry, reimposed by former US President Donald Trump in 2018, Iran generates more than $50 billion a year in oil revenue, by far its largest source of foreign currency and its principal connection to the global economy.

Six specialists – Western officials and security experts, as well as Iranian and trading sources – say the Guards control up to 50% of Iran’s oil exports, a sharp increase from 20% three years ago.  The sources declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Three of the estimates were based on intelligence documents about Iranian shipping while others derived their figures from monitoring shipping activity by tankers and companies linked to the IRGC.  Reuters is unable to determine the exact extent of the IRGC’s control.

The IRGC’s growing domination of the oil industry adds to its influence in all areas of Iran’s economy and also makes it harder for Western sanctions to hit home – given the Guards are already designated as a terrorist organization by Washington.

As part of their expansion in the industry, the Guards have muscled in on the territory of state institutions such as the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and its NICO oil trading subsidiary, according to four of the sources.

The IRGC, NIOC, NICO, and Iran’s foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

(timesofisrael.com)

 

Hamas Calls For “Mobilization” To Repel PA Security Forces Amid West Bank Operation

Hamas called on “all movements, factions, tribal gatherings, and human rights organizations to mobilize massively” to repel the ongoing operation carried out by PA security forces in Jenin, in an official statement on Tuesday (17th).

“We emphasize that the continuation of the PA’s security operation indicates that it is turning a deaf ear to all Palestinian voices calling for its cessation and for the protection of the resistance,” the terror group’s statement read, adding that the Palestinian Authority operation “serves only the occupation army and its futile dreams of ending the resistance in the West Bank.”

The large-scale Jenin operation began earlier in December after Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists stole vehicles belonging to the PA.

Clashes have since been reported between terrorists and PA security forces in the area, with terrorists detonating a car bomb in the vicinity of a police station in Jenin.

Earlier this week, it was reported that the US had asked Israel to approve the supply of weapons to the PA’s security forces.

The commander of PIJ’s Jenin Brigade was reportedly killed after PA security forces and terrorists exchanged fire on Saturday (14th) as the security forces attempted to clear the fighters from Jenin, according to Israeli and Arab reports.  The commander was named as Yazid Ja’isa.

According to Kan News, the terrorists reportedly attempted to stop the security forces from entering the Jenin camp.

(jpost.com)

 

How Israel Can Win The War – Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror  (Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security)

• It is important to remember that the war did not break out because Israel wanted it.  The war is Israel’s response to Hamas’ barbaric assault on civilian communities on Oct 7, 2023, and it was Hezbollah that opened fire on northern Israel the day after the attack.

• The outbreak of the war was rooted in Iran’s ambitions and preparations for Israel’s collapse and destruction.  To this end, Iran conceived and implemented the “Ring of Fire” around Israel – a coordinated campaign from all fronts conducted by terror movements built with Iranian support with the aim of destroying Israel.

• The war’s end must make clear to the world, especially the Muslim world, that radical Islamic movements, both Sunni and Shiite, bring disaster to their people and destruction to their believers. Hezbollah is Iran’s most robust proxy;  the greater the damage done to Hezbollah, the more Iran is weakened.

• After Iran on two occasions fired hundreds of missiles at Israel, the actual extent of its military power was revealed, and effectively the Iranian strategy collapsed.  The Israeli operation on October 26th, in which 20 targets in Iran were hit, made clear to the Iranians the price of direct confrontation with Israel and its weakness in the face of the capabilities Israel demonstrated.

• Israel is not operating as in previous wars to achieve “threat postponement” on its borders but based on the understanding that threats must be destroyed (Hamas) or at least drastically reduced in intensity (Hezbollah).

• In Lebanon, no Hezbollah personnel and no Hezbollah infrastructure should remain in the south, which should become a buffer zone mostly without residents and without the presence of any entity threatening Israel.  The IDF will oversee this.  The buffer zone’s purpose is to prevent flat-trajectory fire toward Israeli communities and to push Hezbollah’s ground forces beyond the range of executing a surprise Oct 7-style attack.

• In both Syria and Lebanon, the IDF should employ the same kind of campaign between wars as it did in Syria over the last dozen years to continue degrading Hezbollah’s capabilities and not allow it to rebuild.

The writer was national security adviser to the Israeli prime minister and chairman of Israel’s national Security Council.  

(jiss.org.il)




News Digest — 12/17/24

‘Israel Will Maintain Security Control Over Gaza,’ Defense Minister Katz Clarifies

Defense Minister Israel Katz clarified his position regarding Israel’s involvement in the Gaza Strip following the war, in a Tuesday (17th) post on X.

“In response to various reports – my position regarding Gaza is clear.  After we defeat Hamas’ military and governing power in Gaza, Israel will maintain security control over Gaza with full freedom of action,” Katz noted, affirming this would be in a manner similar to the West Bank.

“We will not allow a return to the reality that existed before October 7,” he added.

Katz’s comments followed a Channel 12 report earlier in the day, which claimed that the defense minister had said before that Israel was not interested in controlling Gaza in the aftermath of the war.

Also Minister Katz reportedly asserted, with regard to the Palestinian Authority (PA), “Israel is protecting the Authority from Iran and Hamas – it must be shifted to the moderate side.”

(jpost.com)

 

Danon To Media: ‘Euphoria In Syria Could Turn To Fear’

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon spoke to Israel National News about the impact of the fall of the Assad regime in Syria internationally, the effort to replace UNRWA  given its ties to the Hamas terror organization, and conversely, the UN’s attempts to strengthen UNRWA.

Addressing Israel’s efforts to secure its northern border and destroy Assad’s military assets, including his chemical weapons stockpiles, to ensure they do not fall into terrorist hands, Danon said, “We are preparing for a discussion at the Security Council.  We have no doubt that the issue will be on the agenda.”  Danon said that multiple countries, including Russia, France and Syria, have already complained about Israel’s actions in Syria.  “They claim that we are invading, taking over and occupying.  These are allegations that we reject.”

“Our position is clear, we have taken defensive measures to ensure that extremist Islamist forces do not take over positions on our border and we are waiting to see whether the government in Syria stabilizes and whether the borders are going to be quiet or not,” he said.

Could the UN or the international community force Israel to withdraw the IDF to the border?  Danon believes it would not be easy to force such a move.  “The world is looking at what is happening in Syria and it is not clear to it who is against whom there.  We have taken actions there, such as neutralizing dangers and damaging infrastructure that have endangered not only Israel,  but also other regional countries, including Turkey, so the world should thank Israel for the actions we have carried out in Syria.”

Preparations for the expected discussion at the UN Security Council include collecting materials, preliminary talks with various parties involved in the Syrian arena, and “presenting  the truth and the  dangers to the world.  There was a sense of relief when Assad’s regime fell, but it must be made clear to the world that those who took over Syria are not Zionists and very quickly this euphoria can be replaced by a sense of danger.  We say such things in a measured manner.  We are a peace-loving nation, but if we are forced to defend our borders, we will do so with courage, determination and strength.” 

Danon said that it is clear to him that “not everyone will accept this, but we have proven in the past year that we are determined, and in recent months I have been dealing with severe attacks here.  This determination has led us to significant achievements.  There are dozens of discussions that we are holding and we are dealing with the discussions that are made against us.  You see where the Middle East was a year ago and where it is today, and all of this is thanks to the decisive and aggressive approach of the State of Israel.

Addressing the UN’s continued support for UNRWA despite the extent to which the organization has been compromised by Hamas, Danon said, “This organization should have passed from the world a long time ago.  It has failed on the professional side, even before we talk about the moral side.  Billions of dollars have been invested and have brought the Palestinians nowhere, neither education nor knowledge, and the level of services is very low.  In the moral sense, when Hamas was allowed to take over the organization in Gaza and do whatever they wanted with it, they had no right to exist.  We have made this very clear, but unfortunately there are senior officials in the UN, including the Secretary-General, who prefer to wage a political struggle instead of talking about replacements.”

The Ambassador noted that even UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini has admitted that replacements for UNRWA could be found, but UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is fighting keeping UNRWA in the picture, despite the fact that “the law passed by the Knesset is very clear.  At the end of January, UNRWA will not be able to operate inside Israel in the way it has operated.”

“We work with other organizations effectively and professionally,” said Danon, referring to the possibility that there will be a demand for Israeli humanitarian management instead of UNRWA.  “We are not saying no to humanitarian aid, but no to UNRWA, which is a tool used by Hamas.  Last week, I read from the UN podium letters that we wrote twenty years ago about Hamas’ involvement in UNRWA, and they did nothing about it.  Therefore the UN will be better served by activating other entities to provide a response.”

(israelnationalnews.com)

 

Israel, Jordan Hold Secret Talks Over Assad’s Chemical Weapons Stockpile

Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad became infamous in 2013 after he attacked his own people with chemical weapons in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta, killing hundreds of civilians and children.

Using chlorine gas and sarin nerve agents, Assad carried out similar attacks again in 2017 and 2018 in the Idlib province, killing hundreds more.

Assad’s escape from Syria last week following rebel advances has raised urgent concerns  about his abandoned chemical weapons stockpiles potentially falling into terrorist hands.

Secret high-level talks between Israel and Jordan have emerged in response to this terrifying threat, according to three Israeli intelligence officials cited by Axios.

Jordan has positioned itself as a key mediator between Israel and Syria’s Hay’at Tahrir ash-Sham, (HTS) the Sunni Islamist opposition group that led the revolution against Assad.

Israel’s Shin Bet security agency and senior IDF officers secretly met Friday (13th) with Ahmad Hushni, the director of Jordanian general intelligence, and top Jordanian military commanders to help secure Assad’s chemical weapons stockpiles and open a dialogue of communications with HTS.

Intelligence officials also raised concerns about Iran exploiting Syria’s instability to smuggle weapons to terrorist factions in Judea and Samaria.

Meanwhile, Israel has taken matters into its own hands by conducting strikes on chemical weapons warehouses and seizing territory in the Golan Heights, including the Syrian military outpost on Mount Hermon.

On Sunday (15th), the IDF announced it has conducted nearly 500 airstrikes on Syrian military targets and destroyed most of Assad’s air force, navy, and air defense systems.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan that the IDF will “temporarily” maintain control of the border area in Syria, while senior Israeli officials indicated that the IDF will retain its presence in Syria’s buffer zone for “several months and maybe longer.”

In response, Syria’s ambassador to the UN, Koussay Aldahhak, sent a letter to the Security Council protesting Israel’s actions.

“At a time When the Syrian Arab Republic is witnessing a new phase in its history in which its people aspire to a state of freedom, equality, social justice, the rule of law, peace and stability, the Israeli occupation army has escalated its ongoing aggression on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic,” Aldahhak said.

“Syria renews its call on the United Nations and the Security Council to assume their responsibilities and take firm measures to compel Israel to immediately cease its ongoing attacks on Syrian territory, ensure that they are not repeated, and withdraw immediately according to the areas agreed upon in the Disengagement Agreement.”

(worldisraelnews.com)

 

Israel Working With Russia To Find Eli Cohen’s Remains In Syria, Say Palestinian Sources

Two Palestinian officials told AFP  on Monday (16th) that Israel, via Russian mediators, was seeking to locate, in Syria, the remains of the famous Israeli spy Eli Cohen and a missing soldier.

Israel for years has been trying to find and repatriate the body of Cohen, and in a 2021 war monitor said Russian forces had been searching the Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp in southern Damascus for his remains, along with those of two Israeli soldiers.

A Palestinian official in Damascus on Monday (16th) said “contact was established with us via mediators in order for us to help find the remains of an Israeli soldier who has been missing since 1982,” without identifying the missing soldier.

“Contacts are also underway to determine the location where the remains of the Israeli agent known as Eli Cohen are buried,” the source added, requesting anonymity as the matter is sensitive.

A Palestinian official outside Syria, also requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said the mediation was being conducted by Russia with Palestinian officials based abroad.

Cohen was tried and hanged for espionage by the Syrians in 1965 after he infiltrated the top levels of the government.

The information Cohen obtained was seen as having played a key role in Israel’s conquest of the Golan heights from Syria in the 1967 Six Day War, and his story was the subject of 2019 Netflix series “The Spy” starring Sacha Baron Cohen.

In 2011, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was working to repatriate Cohen’s remains, three years after the country’s Mossad intelligence agency said it had retrieved a watch belonging to Cohen and brought it back to Israel.  

Syria and Israel have long been bitter foes with no diplomatic relations, but Russia – which was close  to ousted president Bashar al-Assad – has acted as an intermediary between the two.

In 2019, Israel released two Syrian prisoners in a “goodwill gesture” after the remains of soldier Zachary Baumel, missing since 1982, were returned.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the remains had been found by the Russian and Syrian armies, but a Syrian official denied Damascus had knowledge of the repatriation plans or details behind the discovery.

Israeli soldiers fought against Syrian forces in a battle in June 1982 In the Lebanese village of Sultan Yacoub, near the Syrian border.

Baumel and two other soldiers, Zvi Feldman and Yehuda Katz, had since been listed as missing and presumed killed.  The latter two remain missing.

(timesofisrael.com)

 

Written Using Phoenician Alphabet: Stone Fragment Mentioning ‘House Of David’ At NY Museum

(New York Jewish Week) – Last year, New York City’s Jewish Museum imported a new director from the Israel Museum.  Now, it’s bringing the oldest archaeological evidence of the existence of King David from the Jerusalem museum, too.

The Tel Dan Stele, a stone fragment, long held exclusively by the Israel Museum, is on view at the Jewish Museum on the Upper East Side until January 5th.

A 12-by-13 inch chunk of basalt, the Tel Dan Stele is a 9th century BCE stone document acknowledging the military victories of a person whom scholars believe to be KIng Hazael of Aram, an area in contemporary Syria that includes what is today Damascus.  One of those victories was over a descendant of David, the King of ancient Israel.

When it was discovered in northern Israel in 1993, the Tel Dan Stele became the earliest evidence beyond the Bible that King David was a real figure.

“There is no archaeological evidence surviving from the First Temple,” said James Snyder, who took the helm of the Jewish Museum a year ago.  “There is from the Second Temple, and that’s at the Israel Museum.  From the First Temple, what therefore becomes important are these references to this archaeological evidence of the time of the First Temple, and of evidence that reinforces biblical history.”

The Frist Temple, built by David’s son King Solomon in the 10th century BCE, was destroyed during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem in 586 BCE.

“What makes the Tel Dan Stele so important is that it’s the oldest archaeological evidence of the existence of the House of David, which is the sort of touchstone or fountainhead for the unfolding thereafter of Judaism and Christianity,” Snyder added.

In fact, it’s so old that the Aramaic used in the Stele was still being written in the Phoenician alphabet – a language that predates Aramaic.

The ancient inscription refers to the “House of Davie,” in translation saying, “[I killed Jeho]ram son of [Ahab] king of Israel, and [I} killed [Ahaz]iahu son of [Jehoram kin]g of the House of David.”

Before coming to the Jewish Museum, the stele was on display for nearly two months at a biblical archaeology museum in Oklahoma.  It was previously displayed  at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, just blocks from the Jewish Museum, a decade ago.  (A replica is also on display at the Museum of the Bible in Washington DC.

On View at the Jewish Museum, Snyder says the Stele is a treasure for the institution, which he said is increasingly aiming to draw connections between Jewish history and material culture and contemporary art.

Snyder said that the loan of the Stele had been in the works for a few years – beginning while he ran the Israel Museum – but added that it feels particularly timely to have it in the museum after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. 

(israelnationalnews.com)




News Digest — 12/16/24

IDF Downs Houthi Drone Launched From Yemen

An Israeli naval destroyer early on Monday morning (16th) intercepted a drone over the Red Sea that was launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen.

The UAV was downed prior to crossing into Israeli territory, according to the military.  

On Thursday (12th), the Israel Defense Forces intercepted a Houthi drone headed for the city of Eilat.  That UAV likewise did not cross into Israeli airspace.

Earlier this month, a Houthi drone hit a residential high-rise building in the central city of Yavne, northeast of Ashdod.

On Dec. 1, a ballistic missile launched from Yemen triggered sirens in the Judean foothills.  The missile was intercepted before entering Israeli airspace, the IDF said.  Four people were injured running to shelters according to Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency medical service.

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have launched multiple missiles and drones at Israel in support of Hamas since the Gaza-based terror group’s Oct. 7, 2023, invasion of the north western Negev.

In July, a Houthi drone killed a civilian in central Tel Aviv.  In response, Israel struck Yemen’s Hodeidah Port.

On Sept. 29, the Israel Air Force carried out dozens of strikes in the area of Hodeidah.  Jerusalem said the targets included “power plants and a seaport, which were used by the Houthis to transfer Iranian weapons to the region, in addition to military supplies and oil.”

(worldisraelnews.com)

 

‘We’ll Act Against You Anytime, Anywhere:’ Netanyahu’s Warning To Iran, Hezbollah

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (15th) warned Iran and Hezbollah that Israel will continue to act against them to achieve total victory and that he discussed this matter with US President-elect Donald Trump.

“I say to Iran and Hezbollah, to prevent you from harming us, we will continue to act against you as much as required, anytime, anywhere.” Netanyahu said in a speech posted to X. 

Addressing Israel’s actions regarding recent developments in Syria, Netanyahu stressed,”Israel has no interest in confronting Syria.  We will shape our policy based on the reality on the ground.  For decades, Syria was an active enemy of the State of Israel.”

“In recent days, we have taken a series of intensive actions.  Together with Defense Minister Katz, I directed the IDF to thwart potential threats from Syria and prevent terrorist elements from gaining a foothold near our border.”

Netanyahu stated  that Israel’s actions in Syria have been justified through the effects they have had  on Hezbollah’s capabilities.

Netanyahu said, quoting Hezbollah leader  Naim Qassem from a televised speech on Saturday (14th), “Hezbollah has lost its supply route through Syria.”

While reiterating Israel’s preference to avoid conflict, Netanyahu affirmed the nation’s determination to  curb Hezbollah’s rearmament.  “This is an ongoing test for Israel.  We must meet it – and we will meet it,” he said.

Netanyahu described his conversation with Trump as “very friendly, very warm,and very important.”

“We discussed the need to complete Israel’s victory and spoke extensively about the efforts we are making to bring our hostages home.  We are working tirelessly  to bring back our hostages, both the living and the fallen,” Netanyahu said.  “I’ll add that the less we talk about this, the better our chances of success, and with God’s help, we will succeed,” his speech concluded. 

(jpost.com)

 

Netanyahu Government Approves Plan To Expand Settlements In the Golan Heights

Israel’s government unanimously approved Prime Minister Netanyahu’s  plan to encourage demographic growth in the Golan Heights, totaling over NIS 40 million.

Netanyahu’s desire to double the population of the Golan came after Israel’s north suffered over a year of devastation due to the war.

Currently, over 100,000 people have been displaced along the northern border, and the potential for a new conflict with Syria after Assad’s fall has made many concerned that their return home would be delayed.

However, the plan aims to assist the Golan Regional Council in absorbing new residents who will arrive on top of those who will be returning 

Netanyahu argued that this decision would strengthen elements such as education and renewable energy across the Golan and Katzrin communities.

Strengthening the Golan is strengthening the State of Israel, and it is especially important at this time,” Netanyahu said.  “We will continue to hold on to it, make it flourish and settle it.”

Days before this decision, Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz traveled to the Golan to see the Syrian Hermon, which was recently taken by the IDF, marking the first Israeli presence in the land in over 50 years.

“An exciting historical moment,” he wrote in a post on X.

(jpost.com)

 

IDF Chief Responds To Syrian Rebel Leader’s Accusation Of Israeli ‘Aggression’

The IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, during a situational assessment with other officers, sent a message to Syrian rebels that Israel had “no intention of managing Syria.”

The Commanding Officer of the Northern Command, MG Ori Gordin, the Commanding Officer of the 210th Division, BG Yair Palai, and additional commanders from the General Staff Forum were also present at the assessment.

He said, “We are taking action to prevent these terrorist elements from establishing themselves – extremist terrorists will not be allowed to set up camp near the border.  We are not involved in what is happening in Syria, and we have no intention of managing Syria.”

Halevi emphasized that the primary reason for the IDF’s actions in Syria was the protection of Israeli communities in the Golan Heights.

“We are here to defend  the border in the Golan Heights, including the northern Golan Heights and Mount Hermon.  There was once an enemy state in this area, its army has collapsed, and now there is a threat that terrorist elements could reach this region.”

Syrian rebel leader al-Julani said the IDF’s ground incursions into Syria “threaten unjustified escalation in the region.”  He criticized “Israeli aggression” and claimed it violated the 1974 ceasefire agreement.

He also called for “firm and immediate measures” to get Israel out of Syria.

Halevi emphasized that Israel’s military  operations were intended to protect border communities.

“We are firmly intervening in matters that affect the security of Israeli citizens here, in the communities of the Golan Heights behind us.  We are doing so professionally, correctly, and with unwavering determination.”

Halevi continued, “In my view, the preparations along the border – from Mount Hermon to the tri-border area of Israel, Syria, and Jordan – are sound and well executed.  These preparations are designed to bring about significant changes.”

(worldiaelnews.com)

 

Israel To Close Its Embassy In Dublin Due To Ireland’s Extreme Anti-Israel Policy

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced on Sunday (15th) that Israel will be shutting its embassy in Ireland, citing the “extreme anti-Israel policy in the Irish government.”

“The anti-Semitic actions and rhetoric that Ireland is taking against Israel are based on delegitimization and demonization of the Jewish state and on double standards,” said Sa’ar in a statement.  “Ireland has crossed all red lines in its relationship with Israel.”

Ireland has been one of Israel’s most outspoken critics throughout the war in Gaza, which broke out on October 7, 2023, with Hamas’ unprecedented  attack in which 3,000 terrorists murdered some 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, mostly civilians.

Israel recalled its ambassador in May after Ireland became one of three EU countries that said they would unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state.  Ireland has not recalled its envoy to Israel.  In November, the Irish parliament passed a nonbinding motion declaring that “genocide is being perpetrated before our eyes by Israel in Gaza.”

And last week, Ireland’s Cabinet voted to join the case accusing Israel of perpetrating “genocide” during its war with Hamas in Gaza, brought by South Africa at the International Criminal Court  in The Hague last year.

Aside from the Irish government’s views and actions regarding the war, a report published last month by education monitoring group IMPACT-se exposed profound distortions of the Holocaust, Israel, Judaism and Jewish history in textbooks  used in Irish public schools.

Meanwhile, Sa’ar also announced on Sunday (15th) that Israel would open an embassy in Moldova, which already has an embassy in Israel.  The opening is expected to occur in the next year, and Israel is beginning the process of finding a site and appointing an ambassador.

“There are countries that are interested in strengthening their ties with Israel and do not yet have an Israeli embassy,” said Sa’ar.  “We will adjust the Israeli diplomatic structure of our missions while giving weight, among other things, to the approach and actions of the various countries towards Israel in the political arena.”

Moldova’s ambassador in Israel Alex Roitman praised the announcement, writing on X that “it was a natural step to make long ago.”

“I’m convinced a full-fledged Israel diplomatic mission in Chisinau, together with a Moldovan mission in Tel Aviv, will contribute to the goals of widening the bilateral  relation in the fields of  political, economic, and the sectors of medicine, agriculture, military cyber, and more,” he wrote.” 

(timesofisrael.com)

  

What The Headlines Missed About Amnesty International’s Accusation That Israel Commits Genocide – Jonah Goldberg (Los Angeles Times)

• Reporting on Amnesty International’s new report about Israel’s war in Gaza, the New York Times headline read: “Amnesty International Accuses Israel of Genocide in Gaza.”  The Los Angeles Times was similar: “Amnesty International Says Israel  Is Committing Genocide In Gaza. 

• Calling the report unfair would be a profound understatement.  Here’s its first sentence: “On 7 October 2023, Israel embarked on a military offensive on the occupied Gaza Strip.”  In other words, the story begins not with Hamas’ unprecedented terrorist attack on Israeli civilians that day.  Rather, it begins with the Israeli response to the aggression of Hamas.  This is a bit like reporting on America’s “genocide” in Japan by stating, “On April 18, 1942, the United States embarked on a military offensive on the Japanese nation” – leaving out that whole Pearl Harbor thing.

• The genocide Convention of 1948 is very clear about what constitutes actual or attempted genocide: “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.”  But the Palestinian population has grown more than eightfold since Israel’s founding, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, and the population of Gaza has increased 600% since 1960.

• One of the most important words in the UN definition of genocide is “intent.”  If Israel, which even its enemies characterize as supremely competent and lethal, intends genocide, it’s really, really, bad at it.  Indeed, if genocide were the goal, you would think that Israel would stop warning civilians to evacuate areas it’s about to attack and sending Palestinians caravans of aid. 

• On page 101 of Amnesty’s 296-page report, the authors essentially concede that Israel isn’t committing genocide under prevailing interpretations of international law, as they reject “an overly cramped interpretation of international jurisprudence…  that would effectively preclude a finding of genocide in the context of an armed conflict.”

• As Commentary’s Seth Mandel writes, “So Amnesty International dissents from international law.  That’s fine.  Just be up-front about it: Amnesty is not accusing Israel of ‘genocide,’ it is accusing Israel of a different crime which Amnesty has named ‘genocide,’ just so it could use that word.”  Amnesty didn’t want a discussion about the proper definition of genocide.  It wanted headlines alleging that Israel committed the crime – and it got them.

(latimes.com)




News Digest — 12/13/24

Defense Minister: We’ll Remain In The Hermon Area During The Winter Months

Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the IDF to remain in conquered areas of the Hermon during the winter months, saying it is ‘enormously important for security.’

Katz has ordered the IDF to prepare for an extended stay in the conquered Syrian Hermon region, due to the instability in Syria.

The instructions followed a Thursday (12th) security assessment led by Katz and included IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and additional commanders.

Under the new orders, the IDF will remain  in Syria throughout the winter months.

However, due to the inclement weather, the IDF will need to set up appropriate facilities and make special preparations for the soldiers’ stay in the area.

Katz stressed, “due to what is happening in Syria, there is enormous security importance in our hold on to the peak of the Hermon, and we must do everything in order to ensure the IDF’s preparations in the area, so as to allow the soldiers to remain in the area even in inclement weather conditions.”

(israelnationalnews.com)

 

Syria Dissident Leaders Call For ‘Abrahamic Peace’ With Israel 

A group of Syrian dissidents called for “Abrahamic peace” between Syria and Israel following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad.

In a virtual forum held by the Middle East Center, the dissidents, calling themselves the “Syrian Government in Exile,” met with Religious Zionist Party MK Ohad Tal during a panel discussion hosted by Israeli political strategist Tom Wegner, who founded the center.

One of the participants, Jamal Sabbagh, head of the so-called Syrian Government in Exile (SGE) , lauded Israeli policy and efforts to expand “Abrahamic peace” in the Middle East in an apparent reference to the Abraham Accords.

Dr. Ziad Karim, communications director of the SGE, endorsed the Abraham Accords and called for the deepening of ties among Middle Eastern nations, including Israel.

“We are living on an isolated island but in a shared fate,” Karim said, according to the Jerusalem Post.  He warned against allowing the Middle East to become mired in the “swamp of extremism,.”

“The Abrahamic peace is a roadmap to mutual understanding and a future where wisdom embraces humanity above all else,” he said.

SGE foreign affairs chief Amal Sharkasi claimed that prior to the takeover of Syria by Bashar Assad’s father, Hafez, in 1971, Syria had promoted interfaith coexistence, citing the term of Christian prime minister, Fares al-Khouri, and Jewish doctors in Aleppo.

During the virtual meeting, the SGE members claimed the group is “more Hebrew than the Children of Israel” and called for tolerance and mutual respect.

Tal, a member of the Knesset’s powerful Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, emphasized opportunities for collaboration between Israel and Arab states against both Iran and radical Sunni Islamist elements.

Several Iraqi delegates participated in the meeting, including peace activist Abu Musa al-Iraqi, who operates social media accounts under the handle “Virtual Embassy of Iraq to Israel.”

(worldisraelnews.com)

    

Netanyahu To Iranians: ‘All The Money Your Oppressors Wasted On Terror Went Up In Smoke’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu published a video message on Thursday (12th) addressing the people of Iran following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria.

“As we see history unfold before our very eyes, I can only imagine what you’re feeling right now.  Your oppressors spent over 30 billion dollars supporting Assad in Syria.  Today, after only 11 days of fighting his regime collapsed into the dust,” Netanyahu opened.

“Your oppressors spent billions supporting Hamas in Gaza.  Today, their regime lies in ruins.  Your oppressors spent 20 billion dollars supporting Hezbollah in Lebanon.  In a matter of weeks, most of Hezbollah’s leaders, its rockets, and thousands of its terrorists went up in smoke.  It’s the money your oppressors stole from you that truly went up in smoke,” he continued.”You must be furious, imagining the new schools, roads, and hospitals that could have been built with the tens of billions of collars your dictators wasted backing terrorists who lose over, and over, and over again.”

“You know why Iran’s oppressors keep losing?  It’s not only because they’re incompetent and cruel.  It’s because they seek to conquer other nations, to impose fundamentalist tyranny on the Middle East and the entire world.  The only thing Israel seeks is to defend our state.  But in doing so, we’re defending civilization from barbarism.”

Netanyahu added: “The historic events we witness today are a chain reaction – a chain reaction to the pounding of Hamas, the decimation of Hezbollah, the targeting of Nasrallah, the blows we delivered to the Iran regime’s axis of terror.  And all this came as President Trump pointed out this week, ‘because of Israel and its fighting success.’”

He declared: “I want to make clear, Israel wants peace.  We want peace with all those who truly want peace with us.  And I have no doubt that you, the People of Iran, know this.  I know that just as we want peace with you, you want peace with us.  But you suffer under the rule of a regime that subjugates you and threatens us.”

“You know what this regime is truly terrified of?  It’s terrified of you, the People of Iran.  And one day, I know that this will change.  One day Iran will be free,” he predicted.

“Women, Life, Freedom, Zan, Zendegi, Azadi.  That is the future of Iran.  That is the future of peace.  And I have no doubt that we will realize that future together – a lot sooner than people think.  I know and I believe we will transform the Middle East into a beacon of prosperity, progress, and peace,” the Prime Minister concluded.

(israelnationalnews.com)

 

Israeli Strikes In Syria May Pave Way For Targeting Iran’s Nuclear Sites

The IDF said that military actions, including the elimination of 85% of Syrian anti-aircraft missiles, may provide  an opportunity to target Iran’s nuclear program.

Sources in the Israeli Air Force said they were preparing for action against Iran’s nuclear sites and were enlisting the aid of the US.

The IDF announced that it has struck 320 targets and destroyed at least 80% of Syria’s military capabilities to prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorist groups.

More than 350 Israeli fighter jets took part in operation “Bashan’s Arrow” to neutralize military sites once controlled by the Assad regime, which fell to rebel fighters.

Among the targets were advanced military systems such as tanks, fighter jets, helicopters, air defense systems, missile equipped ships, rockets, arms manufacturing facilities, munitions storage sites, Scud missiles, cruise missiles, coastal defense missiles, drones, and various other weaponry.  

In addition the IDF struck at a Scud missile manufacturing site in the Homs area.

An Iranian Secret nuclear weapons research facility in Parchin, located 19 miles southeast of Tehran, was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike on October 26, according to a report from Axios.

The facility housed advanced equipment used for testing explosives necessary to detonate nuclear devices, the report stated, citing three US officials, as well as one current and one former Israeli official.

High-resolution satellite images obtained by the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security showed that the site was completely destroyed in the attack.

Israel and US intelligence agencies first detected activity at the Taleghan 2 facility within the Parchin military complex in early 2024, a site that had remained largely inactive since 2003, when Iran froze its military nuclear program, Axios reported.

According to one unnamed US official quoted in the report, “The Iranians conducted scientific activity that could pave the way for the production of a nuclear weapon.  It was a top-secret operation.  Only a small segment of the Iranian government was aware of it, while most of the government remained in the dark.”

(worldisraelnews.com)

 

The Smell Of Regime Change Is Now In The Tehran Air – Andrew Neil  (Daily Mail-UK)

• The dreams of Middle East Hegemony by the ruling Mullahs of Iran are now in ruins, their genocidal aim of wiping Israel off the map now mission impossible, their ability to supply their murderous proxies across  the region with weapons now crippled.  There is said to be a growing sense of panic in Tehran among the ruling elite.  If Assad can be so easily toppled, what is the chance of their survival?

• In little more thana year, Israel decapitated the high commands of Hamas and Hezbollah, killing thousands of their most battle-hardened fighters.  Iran built them up, at huge expense, to be omnipresent threats to Israel on its very borders, the advanced guard of its mission to engulf Israel with enemies and destroy it.  These threats are no more.

• When Iran’s puppet regime in Damascus started to totter in the face of a renewed rebel onslaught last month, Iran’s diplomats and military personnel scuttled for the exit.  Revolutionary Guard bases had been established on Syrian soil.  These bases and supply chains are now shattered.

• Israel stands vindicated in its uncompromising stance post-October 7.  Palestinians who thought Hanas, Hezbollah and Iran were the routes to a better future have, yet again, made the wrong call.  Iran is now reeling because Israel ignored the foreign policy pressure of its Western allies and their media echo chambers to hold back.

• Washington, London, and Paris all urged Israel to show restraint against Hamas and not to open a second front against Hezbollah.  The New York Times, the BBC and Monde piled on the pressure for Israel to back off by constantly highlighting the humanitarian cost of the conflict, usually with suspect Hamas statistics.  But Israel took only cursory notice, pursued its own interests, and did us all a favor.

• Tehran’s foreign policy is in ruins, its reputation in the mud and its options limited.  The People of Iran have never shared the regime’s anti-Semitism, its obsession with Israel, its imperialist expansion, or its passion for medieval theocracy.  They have watched billions squandered (as everyone can see now) on the likes of Hezbollah.  The ayatollahs have never been more vulnerable.  The smell of regime change is in the Tehran air.

The writer, former editor of the Sunday Times, has presented political programs on the BBC and Britain’s Channel 4.

(dailymail.co.uk)

 

Fall Of Assad Reveals Major Divisions Within Iran’s Armed Forces -Roland Oliphant

Officials of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said commanders were blaming each other “in angry terms”  for the collapse of Assad’s regime and the loss of Iranian influence in the region.  “The atmosphere is like something between almost punching each other, punching the walls,  yelling at each other and kicking rubbish bins.  They are blaming each other, and no one is taking responsibility,” one official from Tehran told the Telegraph.  “The focus for 10 years had been only on keeping [Assad] in power.  And it was not because we were in love with him, it was because we wanted to maintain proximity to Israel and Hezbollah.”

A second IRGC official said that some are blaming Brig.-Gen. Esmail Qaani, the present commander of the Quds Force.  “No one dares to tell him to his face, but… he is the one to hold accountable and fire.  He has done nothing to prevent Iran’s interests from crumbling. Allies of Iran fell one after another, and he was watching from Tehran.”

Asked about the military’s view of Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader whose Oct.7 attack on Israel sparked the war, the first IRGC official said: “I can tell you that he is no longer a celebrity here.”  “The resistance project almost no longer exists.  You don’t need to be an expert to see that we are in our weakest and most vulnerable position in decades and many acknowledge that here.”

Arash Azizi, an Iranian historian, said, “There is a big segment of the Iranian establishment which realizes the gig is up: revolutionary Islamism devoted to confronting America is not going to get them anywhere.  That doesn’t mean they want to be a liberal democracy, but they want to be more like Turkey or India, a big power in pursuit of their own interests.”

Some ordinary Iranian citizens are celebrating the fall of Assad.  One Tehran resident said, “More than 90 % of the people are happy and celebrating it.  The mullahs should know that this is what will happen if they don’t have the people’s support.  The repression of people leads to dictators’ downfall.”  (Telegraph-UK)

(telegraph.co.uk)




News Digest — 12/12/24

Young Boy Killed, Several Bus Passengers Wounded In terror Shooting, Bethlehem Surrounded in Manhunt

A young boy was fatally shot and several people wounded in a terror attack targeting a Jerusalem bound bus in the West Bank late Wednesday night (11th).

The 10-year-old child was brought in critical condition to Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem in nearby Jerusalem, where doctors declared his death early Thursday (12th) following intensive efforts to save him.  He was later named as Yehoshua Aharon Tuvia Simha of the Beitar ILlit settlement – from where the bus departed.

Three others were hurt in the shooting: a woman who suffered moderate wounds and two other people who were lightly hurt.

The bus was shot up by the gunman at a junction by the Palestinian town of al-Khader, the Israel Defense Forces said, before proceeding with the wounded to the Tunnels Checkpoint.

The terrorist remains at large.  The IDF announced troops had set up roadblocks while encircling Bethlehem as part of the manhunt.

The attack came after three Israelis were lightly injured by gunfire the previous night while visiting Joseph’s Tomb in the Palestinian city of Nablus without coordinating with the military, and also followed a car-ramming attack in the southern West Bank over the weekend in which a soldier was seriously wounded.

Violence has risen sharply in the West Bank since the Gaza War started on October 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led terrorists stormed southern Israel to kill some 1,200 people and take 251 hostages.

Since then, 42 people, including Israeli security personnel, have been killed in terror attacks in Israel and the West Bank.  Another six members of the security forces were killed in clashes with Palestinian operatives amid a counterterrorism offensive that has been accompanied by sharp restrictions on Palestinian movement.

Israeli troops have arrested some 5,250 wanted Palestinians across the West Bank as part of the post-October 7 military operations, including more than 2,050 affiliated with Hamas.

According to the Palestinian Authority health ministry, 800 Palestinians have been killed in the same span of time.  The IDF said that the vast majority of them were gunmen killed in exchanges of fire, rioters who clashed with troops or terrorists carrying out attacks.

(timesofisrael.com)

 

PM Netanyahu: Israel Will Continue To Crush The Iran Led Axis Of Evil

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday (11th) welcomed Santiago Pena, President of Paraguay to Israel.

Speaking at the Knesset plenum, Netanyahu began, “Your visit is important, Mister President.  At the height of a war for our very existence, a war which we are waging on seven fronts against those who seek to destroy us, when it may be that an additional front has opened, this visit is deserving of special appreciation.

Turning to Pena, Netanyahu said, “During the war, we were moved from the depths of our hearts, when we heard you say, ‘We will always stand with Israel, no matter what the cost, because that is the right side of history.’  And indeed, it is not always easy to take a moral stand.  We have many things burdening us, we have many who prefer to remain silent.”

“There are many people who are switching sides.  They think, ‘It’s not our conflict.’  But you, Santiago, as a brave leader, are imbued with honesty, determined, proactive, energetic.  You chose not to stand on the side, and history will remember those who stood at Israel’s side during its difficult hour.  We will remember, and the world will remember.”

“Thank you for standing up for the truth, to disprove the false allegations and lies which are leveled at Israel,” Netanyahu said.  “The most recent example is the scandalous, anti-Semitic decision at the Hague Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for Israel’s leaders – and possibly later, also for Israel’s soldiers who protect our country from its enemies.”

“We are the ones defending against the forces of darkness, which carry out war crimes – and we are the ones falsely accused of those crimes.  It’s absurd, it’s an embarrassment.  Thankfully, you, Santiago, have come out bravely against this lie and in support of the truth.  This position must find expression in all international forums.  I can promise you that we will continue to fight forcefully in favor of the truth and parallel to this, we will fight forcefully against those who rise up to exterminate us.”

“Israel will continue to crush the terror proxies of the Iran-led Axis of Evil.  We will protect our existence, ensure our future, and work to forge peaceful relations with anyone who wishes to live with us in peace,” he concluded.

Pena is leading a delegation which includes the head of the country’s congress, its Foreign Minister, Economics Minister, and senior members of its parliament.

Paraguay is one of the friendliest countries to Israel and consistently votes with Israel in international institutions.  Its leaders publicly state their support for Israel, especially following the October 7 massacre.

(israelnationalnews.com)

 

From Magnificence To Destruction: The Story Of Syria’s Jewish Community

Syria’s Jewish community, one of the oldest in the world, is a poignant testament to resilience and cultural richness.  With roots dating back to the Second Temple period, the community flourished for centuries before succumbing to persecution and war, leaving only faint traces of its once-thriving presence.

For centuries, Damascus and Aleppo stood as pillars of Jewish heritage in Syria.  The Jewish quarters in both cities were centers of vibrant communal life, adorned with unique structures such as synagogues, schools, and workshops.  Archaeological findings in these areas uncovered Shabbat lamps, kosher storage facilities, and ritual baths, offering a glimpse into the daily lives of the community.

The city of Dura-Europos provided another window into ancient Jewish life.  Though not a predominantly Jewish city, it housed a spectacular synagogue featuring murals of Biblical stories, including the Exodus and the giving of the Torah.  These murals underscored the cultural interplay between Jewish and non-Jewish residents.

The 20th century brought turmoil, beginning with anti-Jewish sentiment during World War II.  In 1942 riots targeted Damascus’ Jewish quarter, fueled by rumors of Syrian annexation into a future Jewish state.  The aftermath of the UN’s 1947 partition vote brought even greater destruction.  Riots swept through Aleppo and Damascus, leaving synagogues in ruins and many Jews displaced.     

The Al-Manshiyeh synagogue in Damascus became the site of a horrific attack in 1949 when grenades killed 12 worshipers, most of them children. This event marked a tragic turning point for Syria’s Jewish community.

More recently, Syria’s civil war has taken a further toll.  The Eliyahu Hanavi synagogue in Jobar, a site tied to the prophet Elijah, was destroyed in shelling.  Cemeteries, once sacred grounds, have been desecrated, with gravestones vandalized or stolen.

Today, Syria’s Jewish population has dwindled to just a few individuals.  Yet, the descendants of Syrian Jews, particularly in Israel, continue to honor their heritage through unique traditions and prayers.  They hold on to the hope of reuniting their fragmented community, keeping the spirit of Syrian Jewry alive.

(israelhayom.com)

 

House Approves Annual Defense Bill With Funds For US-Israel Cooperation

The US House of Representatives on Wednesday (11th) approved the annual defense bill, allocating nearly $900 billion with substantial funding earmarked  for Israel-related initiatives, JNS reported.

The comprehensive legislation, officially named the “Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025,” contains several key provisions specifically  targeting US-Israel cooperation.

These include $500 million for missile-defense collaboration, $47.5 million for emerging technologies partnership, and $80 million dedicated to anti-tunneling efforts.

A notable provision within the bill prohibits the US Department of Defense from utilizing casualty statistics provided by the Hamas-run Gaza “Ministry of Health.”

“In making assessments of casualties and fatalities during hostilities, the Department of Defense may not cite as authoritative in public communications, fatality figures that are derived by United States-designated terrorist organizations, government entities controlled by United States -designated terrorist organizations, or any sources that rely on figures provided by United States-designated terrorist organizations,” the legislation says.

The US State Department has classified Hamas as a foreign terrorist organization since 1997.  The Pentagon faced criticism after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin referenced Hamas’ statistics during congressional testimony in February, a practice subsequently repeated by other Biden administration officials, including President Joe Biden.

An Associated Press (AP) investigation in June revealed discrepancies in Hamas’ casualty claims, with the United Nations substantially  reducing its estimates of women and children fatalities in May after closer examination of the data.

(israelnationalnews.com)

 

FM Sa’ar Congratulates Switzerland For Designating Hamas As Terror Organization

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar congratulated Switzerland for independently designating Hamas as a terrorist organization through primary legislation in a post on X on Wednesday (11th).

“Switzerland has independently designated Hamas as a terrorist organization through primary legislation with overwhelming support.  I commend Switzerland for this critical step and urge other nations to follow suit.  Hamas is one of the most heinous terror organizations in history – it must be recognized as such worldwide,” Sa’ar posted.

Swiss media reported that movements to ban Hamas as a terror organization began in 2017 when the Swiss parliament initially called for their ban.   The federal Council halted this action by claiming that Switzerland was “using its contacts with Hamas in Gaza to urge them to comply with international humanitarian law.”

Parliament members pushed for a Hamas ban, Swiss media reported Wednesday (11th), noting that they practiced neutrality and had only adopted existing UN bans for sanctioning terrorist organizations, as per local law,

Still, Hamas has not officially been designated on the UN’s terror list, leading the central European country to create new legislation to allow for this designation.  Though Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State were banned, Hamas would need alternative action.

Non-neutral countries banned the terror organization at a quicker speed, with the EU designating Hamas a terror organization in 2003.  Those sanctions expanded after the October 7, 2023 attacks.  Israel banned the group immediately after it was founded, and the US and United Kingdom followed in 1997 and 2001, respectively.

Following a vote in the national Senate, Switzerland’s House of Representatives accepted the proposed Hamas ban on Wednesday afternoon (11th) by 168 votes to 6.

Switzerland, which is known for remaining assertively impartial with diplomatic ties and policies, had given Hamas an opportunity to act as a legitimate governing body.  After Switzerland committed to a contract policy with the terror organization, the Federal Council justified it as a “Swiss commitment that is aimed  at preserving violent extremism.”

This changed for Swiss parliamentarians following the October 7 massacre in Israel.  In the largest pogrom against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, Hamas led a deadly assault on Israeli communities, murdering more than 1,200 and taking 251 hostage.  More than a year later, 100 captives remain in Gaza.

After Hamas made it clear that they had intentions of repeating the brutal assault, Switzerland decided to close the channel for dialogue.  The actions were carried out with violent intent, not for peaceful purposes, Swiss officials ruled.

(jpost.com)

 

‘The Pope Can’t Rewrite The Bible,’ Says Evangelical Leader

An Evangelical Christian has taken aim at a Vatican Nativity scene that portrays Jesus as a Palestinian, accusing the Vatican of historical – and religious – revisionism,

Laurie Cardoza-Moore, president of Proclaiming Justice To The Nations, condemned the Pope’s inauguration earlier this week in Vatican City of a nativity scene that featured baby Jesus lying on a Palestinian Keffiyeh.    

“While Israel is fighting for her very existence on seven fronts, anti-Semites within the Vatican have tried  to steal Christmas,” Cardoza -Moore said Wednesday (11th).

“The Pope’s inauguration of a nativity scene that showed baby Jesus cradled in a Palestinian keffiyeh is an affront to Jesus, the Bible, and the 80 percent of Christians who have fled Bethlehem since the Palestinian Authority took over the city.”

Cardoza-Moore, whose weekly television show Focus on Israel has an audience of over two billion potential viewers worldwide, called the Nativity scene display an attempt by “subversive” elements within the church to “hijack” Christmas for political ends.

“Let’s be clear.  The Pope can’t rewrite the Bible – Jesus was a Jew from Judea, not a Palestinian.  He was born to a Jewish mother in Bethlehem, in Judea – there was no Palestine.”

“Every year, subversive elements within the Church attempt to hijack the holiday and pull the keffiyeh over our eyes – but it will never work.  Instead of paying homage to this blasphemy, the Pope should be publicly supporting the State of Israel in her fight for survival.”

“I would call on all Christians to open their Bible and read.  There is no mention of Arafat, Sinwar, or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.  The Bible was written in Hebrew, and Greek, not Arabic.  It is time that we wake up and listen to the rhetoric coming out of Tehran and their proxies: first they are coming for the Saturday people (the Jews) and then the Sunday people (the Christians).”

“Christians in Israel enjoy full rights under the law.  Many Christians are currently fighting in the Israel Defense Forces, on the front lines.  Meanwhile, Christians in Bethlehem are second-class citizens.  The tiny minority which remains in the Holy City is forced to conform with the Palestinian revisionist narrative  – or else,” she continued.

“Pope Francis would do well to read the Book of Obadiah, where God told the Prophet that in the last days, he would wipe out the descendants of Edom because they stood by while their brother Jacob (Israel) was held in captivity and did nothing.”

“This Christmas let us pray for the peace of Jerusalem.  Let us pray for peace on Earth and not do the bidding of the Palestinian Liberation Organization – a Christian-hating, Jew-hating Nationalist Socialist movement which has done nothing but bring pain and bloodshed  to the people of the Middle East.”

(worldisraelnews.com)