Israel News for 9-17-2024
News Update
Israel’s security cabinet yesterday officially adopted the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes as a goal of the current conflict. U.S. Middle East envoy Amos Hochstein was in Israel yesterday and met with President Herzog, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant in an attempt to avoid a potential full-scale Israeli military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jacob Lew urged Israel to avoid a war in Lebanon. Defense Minister Gallant said the window for a diplomatic solution to the war against Hezbollah is closing. At a security meeting last week Netanyahu said, “The situation in the north cannot continue. We need to change the balance and we must return the residents home. This will not be done without changing the balance against Hezbollah. The IDF should prepare for a broad campaign in Lebanon.”
The Shin Bet has announced it has thwarted a Hezbollah-planned attack against a former senior Israeli security official. The attack was set to be carried out in the coming days using a Claymore-type explosive device.
US Secretary of State Anthony headed to Egypt last night to try to find a solution that will calm Israel’s concerns regarding arms smuggling in the Philadelphi corridor. Israel’s presence there is thought to be one of the main obstacles to reaching a potential hostage agreement with Hamas.
The IDF is set to present a 3 stage plan to the government to bolster security on the Jordanian border. The first stage will involve the deployment of hundreds of means of surveillance, such as radars and cameras. Then, Israel will place forces that can reach any location quickly in the case of infiltration or smuggling. The IDF will also upgrade its local aerial capabilities and the neglected engineering barrier at the border. The IDF will also establish a new regional division, the Eastern Brigade, which will be responsible for the Jordanian border.
Israel returned to Jordan the body of the Jordanian terrorist who killed 3 Israelis on the Allenby Bridge crossing last week. The decision to return the body to Jordan followed heavy pressure from the Jordanians and was made in order to “maintain the quality of security relations between the countries.”
Israel’s stock market and the shekel dropped on reports that Prime Minister Netanyahu was going to dismiss Defense Minister Gallant and replace him with Gideon Sa’ar, head of the opposition New Hope party, whose 4 seats would strengthen the current government. The assumption is that replacing Gallant with Sa’ar will make a ceasefire agreement in Gaza unlikely and a war in the north more likely.
