Archive for month: November, 2024

News Update

The U.S. today warned Israel that it is violating the terms of the cease-fire agreement with Lebanon. The main violations appear to be the presence of Israeli drones above Beirut. France warned Israel on Sunday. Israel claims that Hezbollah is violating the agreement. Just today, the IDF struck 3 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, including one group of terrorists operating from a church, as well as targets in the Beqaa Valley and along the Lebanese-Syrian border.

Israeli jets ordered an Iranian plane, suspected of carrying weapons for Hezbollah and scheduled to land in Syria, to turn around and head back east while it was in Syrian airspace. In an interview with Sky News Arabia, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Hagari said, “We are closely following what is happening in Syria, and we see the Iranian regime sending reinforcements. Syria belongs to the Syrians, and we will ensure that Iran does not smuggle weapons to Lebanon and Hezbollah.”

The Shin Bet today said it has exposed 200 attempts of cyber attacks targeting Israelis, including public figures, by Iranian operatives. Nine local cells enlisted by Iran to carry out missions on its behalf were uncovered in recent months. For more, click here.

The IDF announced that Hamas hostage Cpt. Omer Neutra, 21, a tank commander in the 77th Battalion of the 7th Brigade, was killed on October 7 and his body is being held in Gaza. Neutra was a lone soldier from New York.

Hamas leaders held talks with Egyptian security officials in Cairo yesterday, regarding a possible ceasefire and hostage release deal. There is some optimism in Israel and the U.S. that a deal could be reached. President-elect Trump has indicated that he would prefer an end to the conflict before his administration takes over.

Sara Netanyahu, the Prime Minister’s wife, met with U.S. President-elect Trump at his Mar-a-Lago Gulf Club on Sunday. She was in Miami for a 20-day visit with her son Yair, who has been living there. For more, click here.

News Update

A 70-year-old woman was seriously injured and an 80-year-old man lightly injured from shrapnel in Nahariya, from a Hezbollah rocket barrage last night. This, as ceasefire negotiations appear to be nearing their conclusion. The IDF said, “The military is currently engaged in combat and will know how to enforce and act in accordance with any decision made by decision-makers.” The Iranian supreme leader has already given his approval to the proposed ceasefire agreement. In the final days prior to a ceasefire, Hezbollah is expected to significantly increase rocket fire against Israel. The IDF is currently carrying out large strikes against Hezbollah in Beirut. Advanced IDF units reached the Litani river yesterday.

A senior Israeli official outlined the primary reasons for Israel’s interest in a ceasefire now:

1. To avoid a UN Security Council resolution combining both the northern front and Gaza. With the Biden administration in its last 2 months, the fear is that it could possibly refrain from vetoing such a resolution.
2. To allow IDF forces to regroup and refresh after months of continuous combat in the south and the north.
3. To severe the connection between Hezbollah and Hamas and prevent any support going to Gaza.

The civilian commission of inquiry into events leading up to and on Oct. 7 2023, released its findings today, declaring that the government failed in its primary mission to protect the citizens of Israel and that the ministers and Prime Minister bare direct responsibility. The report found that the IDF, Shin Bet and other security services “Failed miserably in fulfilling their only mission to defend Israelis.” For more, click here. 

The Defense Ministry announced that it has begun the planning phase of the project to build a security fence along the entire border with Jordan.

News Update

Air Force fighter jets eliminated five Hamas terrorists in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, including Nukhba commanders who participated in the October 7 attack and abducted Israelis.

First sergeant Ron Epshtein, 19, from Nesher, a soldier in the Tzabar Battalion, Givati Brigade, was killed Thursday by an artillery shell in Jabaliya, Gaza. It is not clear whether the shell was fired by Hamas or the IDF.

Despite demands by Lebanon to modify the American proposed ceasefire agreement, Israeli officials estimate that the agreement is likely to be finalized “within days.” For more, click here.

President Biden issued a statement forcefully criticizing the ICC decision to issue arrest warrants against Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Gallant. “The ICC issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous. Let me be clear once again: whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.”

The first countries to announce compliance with the arrest warrants were Jordan, France and the Netherlands, which houses the ICC. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar canceled Dutch Foreign Minister Kasper Waldekamp’s visit to Israel set for Monday. Geert Wilders, the leader of the ruling coalition in the Netherlands and a vocal supporter of Israel, has yet to comment on the ICC decision. Argentina and Hungary, both ICC members, strongly condemned the ICC arrest warrants. The UK is refusing to abide by the ICC ruling. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Canada will abide by the ruling of the ICC.

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced an end to administrative detention orders for Israeli settlers in Judea and Samaria. Administrative detention, commonly used against Palestinian terror suspects, had also been used against Jewish extremists on rare occasions. For more, click here.

News Update

Syrian state media reported that strategic residential buildings and the industrial zone in central Syrian city of Palmyra were struck today, reportedly by Israel. Casualties were reported.

Sergeant First Class (res.) Omer Moshe Gaeldor, 30, Golani Brigade’s 5111th Reconnaissance Battalion, from Jerusalem, was killed Tuesday morning by a Hezbollah explosive drone in southern Lebanon.

Sergeant First Class (res.) Roi Sasson, 21, Nachshon Battalion of the Kfir Brigade, from Mevaseret Tzion, was killed Tuesday in an ambush in Jabaliya, Gaza.

The IDF is establishing new outposts near border communities along the Lebanese border and preparing to station combat units within those communities. IDF forces continue daily operations across the border to “clean” areas within a buffer zone to assure that the area can be clearly monitored and patrolled. A senior military source noted that, under current conditions, residents can begin renovating damaged homes and preparing them for their return. For more, click here. 

The government is reportedly in the process of the establishment of a military administration to rule the Gaza Strip after the war has ended. The administration would provide humanitarian aid, security and basic services. On a recent visit to Gaza, PM Netanyahu said, “Hamas will no longer rule Gaza. We are now targeting their governing capabilities, and our mission is far from over.” For more, click here.

In a Fox News interview US Ambassador to Israel-designate Mike Huckabee said, “But what we’ve had is a schizophrenic policy toward Israel. We’ve put far more pressure with Joe Biden on Israel than we have on Hamas, Hezbollah, and most importantly, the people who write those checks: the Iranians. Why haven’t we put pressure on them?” He also criticized the Biden administration for not putting more pressure to get the hostages released and for promoting a ceasefire, giving Hamas room to breathe.

Minister of Communications Shlomo Karhi and MK Tally Gotliv (both Likud) plan to raise a bill at Sunday’s meeting of the ministerial legislation committee to privatize the Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation, which broadcasts as Kan. The aim of the bill is to privatize Kan by ending its public funding and transferring responsibility for operating its television and radio broadcasts to private owners within two years of the law being passed. For more, click here. 

News Update

A Hezbollah drone made it through Israeli defenses and crashed in Elyakim, in northern Israel, moderately wounding 2 soldiers. Another man, aged 30, was lightly injured in a rocket attack near Haifa today. According to the IDF, daily Hezbollah rocket fire has dropped from 150 to 100, as a result of Israel’s military offensive.

President elect Donald Trump gave his approval to the outline of the agreement being negotiated to bring a cease-fire to the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. The U.S. presented the outline to the Lebanese government, which is negotiating on behalf of Hezbollah, yesterday.

Lieutenant Ivri Dickshtein, 21, a platoon commander in the Golani Brigade’s 51st Battalion, from the settlement of Eli, was killed in combat in southern Lebanon on Thursday. Another officer was seriously wounded in the same incident.

Islamic Jihad posted a new video of hostage Sacha Trufanov, 2 days after releasing the first one. His family has not yet approved publication of the video or its contents.

Elon Musk reportedly met with Iran’s ambassador to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani on Monday in New York. The meeting, which lasted over an hour and was held at a secret location, was described as “positive” and “good news.” Iranian officials told the NY Times that the meeting was an opportunity for Iran to avoid sitting directly with an American official.

Greece is conducting negotiations with Israel to develop its own Iron Dome air defense system for €2 billion, as part of a plan to modernize its military.