Israel News for 5-23-2024
News Update
Rockets and drones continued to be launched against northern Israel. The IDF continues to strike Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. [We all know that this cannot go on indefinitely, with tens of thousands of Israelis unable to return to their homes under fire. But how and when it will end? Will Hezbollah agree to withdraw their forces from the border and cease all hostilities against Israel? That seems extremely unlikely. Then the only other option is a massive Israeli military operation to push them back and destroy their capability to strike Israel. Perhaps after Israel is done with Hamas?]
IDF forces have pushed deeper into Rafah. They are currently fighting terrorists in Rafah’s Brazil neighborhood and Al-Shaboura refugee camp. Troops are also operating in Jabalya (northern Gaza) and in central Gaza.
Troops that retrieved the bodies of Shani Louk and 2 other Israeli hostages from a tunnel in Jabalya also retrieved the jewelry that she was wearing when she was brutally murdered on Oct. 7 at the Nova festival. The jewelry was returned to Shani’s parents. She was buried on Sunday.
The parents of the 5 female IDF lookouts who were taken hostage from the Nahal Oz base on Oct. 7 released a 3 minute video of their abduction. The video was edited from hours of Hamas body cam video. In total, 15 lookouts were murdered at the Nahal Oz base, and seven were abducted to Gaza. Ori Megidish was rescued by IDF forces after 23 days in captivity. Noa Marciano was murdered by Hamas terrorists while in captivity, and her body was returned by the IDF for burial in Israel. Five lookouts have been in Hamas captivity for 229 days: Liri Elbag, Karina Araiv, Agam Berger, Daniela Gilboa, and Naama Levy. The girls in the video display incredible bravery and composure, surrounded by dozens of armed terrorists, some of whom are seen taking a break for their Islamic prayers. We can only hope that all of the terrorist in the video have been eliminated by our soldiers and are getting what they truly deserve in hell. To watch the video, click here.
The War Cabinet has instructed negotiators to resume negotiations for the release of hostages held in Gaza.
After Norway, Ireland and Spain pledged to recognize a Palestinian state, the White House said that the only way to achieve a Two State solution is through direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians and not through unilateral declarations. [The Palestinian Authority deserves some sort of PR award for being able to convince Western democracies to recognize a Palestinian State while they continue to pay salaries and rewards to terrorists, steal hundreds of millions of dollars in aid, celebrate (or at the very least justify) Oct. 7, and demand Jerusalem as their capital and the “liberation” of the land “from the river to the sea.” Is the West truly that blind to reality? Or do they have their own reality that revolves around placating the millions of Muslims living in Europe and seeking to impose Shariya law there?]
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a Congressional hearing that the United States and Saudi Arabia were very close to concluding a set of agreements on nuclear energy, security and defense cooperation, which are part of a wider normalization deal with the Saudis and Israel. He also said, “However, in order for normalization to proceed, Saudi Arabia has made very clear that even with the agreements between us completed, they have to have two things: they have to have calm in Gaza and they have to have a credible pathway to a Palestinian state.”
In my recent videos on Islam, my intention is not to disparage or insult Islam, but only to publicize the views of Islam towards Israel and the Jews. In addition, not all Muslims believe in the traditional orthodox teachings of Islam. Around 3 percent of Muslims are Sufis, who interpret the troubling and violent concepts of the Koran, such as Jihad, as allegorical teachings representing spiritual struggles. Most of these Muslims live in South East Asia, Indonesia, sub Saharan Africa and the Balkans. There are also Muslims who are secular or just not focused on the violent parts of their religion — like many Muslims living in the U.S. and parts of Europe.
Unfortunately, even if you assume that just 20% of the 1.2 billion Muslims in the world subscribe to a traditional and orthodox form of Islam, that leaves 240 million Muslims who believe in a Jihad against the Jews (and Christians) and the destruction of Israel. And most of these radicalized Muslims live in the Middle East. Based on recent surveys, over 80% of Palestinians support Hamas. So, if the Sufis in Indonesia would like a state next door to Israel — that can definitely be discussed. But a Palestinian state supporting the underlying principles of Hamas (and eventually ruled by Hamas) — not possible.
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