Israel News for 4-12-2024
News Update
Iran reportedly communicated to the US via Oman that it will measure its response to the Israeli attack on its embassy in Damascus in order to avoid an escalation that could lead to a full regional war. Iran also indicated that it will use its proxies to respond. I wrote an article in the Times of Israel explaining why Iran doesn’t want a major escalation leading to war now. To read it, click here.
A senior U.S. official informed Saudi Al-Arabiya channel, “The United States will participate in a response if Tehran escalates the situation inappropriately.” Qatar and Kuwait have informed the United States they will not permit the use of bases in their countries for attacks against Iran.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reportedly told Defense Minister Yoav Gallant that Israel should have informed the U.S. of its plans for the strike agains the Iranians in Damascus, to give the US time to protect its troops from retaliatory actions
The IDF and Mossad have reportedly approved operational plans to attack Iran if Israel comes under attack from Iranian soil. The Prime Minister is meeting with security chiefs today. US intelligence reports indicate that Iran could launch its attack against Israel within the next 24 to 48 hours.
The European parliament yesterday voted to condemn UNRWA and the Palestinian Authority for their schoolbooks and learning material, claiming that they led to the October 7 massacre by Hamas and the war in Gaza. The resolution called for the EU to freeze its funding of Palestinian education until the books are “free from antisemitism and incitement to violence,” and added that the funding must be conditioned on full compliance with UNISCO standards of peace and tolerance. This is the fifth year in a row that the EU has voted to specifically condemn the Palestinian education and its misuse of EU funds in order to teach violence and antisemitism, in its review of how tax payer funds are being invested.
For a complete list of the soldiers killed in the Gaza ground offensive, click here.
