🎗️Lonny's War Update- October 434, 2023 - December 13, 2024 🎗️
🎗️Day 434 that 100 of our hostages in Hamas captivity
**There is nothing more important than getting them home! NOTHING!**
“I’ve never met them,But I miss them. I’ve never met them,but I think of them every second. I’ve never met them,but they are my family. BRING THEM HOME NOW!!!”
We’re waiting for you, all of you.
A deal is the only way to bring
all the hostages home- the murdered for burial and the living for rehabilitation.
#BringThemHomeNow #TurnTheHorrorIntoHope
A deal is the only way to bring
all the hostages home- the murdered for burial and the living for rehabilitation.
#BringThemHomeNow #TurnTheHorrorIntoHope
There is no victory until all of the hostages are home!אין נצחון עד שכל החטופים בבית
Red Alerts - Missile, Rocket, Drone (UAV - unmanned aerial vehicles), and Terror Attacks and Death Announcements
*
Hostage Updates
Deri on the Hostages: "We Must Advance Their Release Deal - Hamas is No Longer a Threat"
Shas party chairman Aryeh Deri stated in an interview for the central edition with Avi Mimran on "Kol Chai" Radio: "Our primary mission is to do everything, absolutely everything, to finalize the deal."
Deri called on the Attorney General to resign, saying: "This is not advice to the government; it's advice against the government."
Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri addressed the issue of the hostages today (Thursday) and stated, "We must advance their release deal." Deri made the comments during an interview on the central edition, hosted by Avi Mimran on "Kol Chai" Radio.
"I am among the decision-makers and participate in the closed forums discussing the hostage issue," said Deri. "I'm telling you, there is hardly any more military capability left in Gaza. Our main task is to do absolutely everything to secure a deal for the hostages' release. Try to imagine what they’ve been going through for the past 14 months."
Later in the interview, Deri clarified his earlier comments on the hostage deal: "I didn’t mean at any cost. I said that we can make an immediate deal to release the hostages because Hamas is under a lot of pressure. I meant we need to act quickly. Hamas is pressured; Hamas is no longer a threat."
Deri also sharply criticized the Attorney General, calling for her resignation: "This is not advice to the government; this is advice against the government. She was appointed by the previous government, and Justice Grunis said it’s like appointing a brigadier general to the role of chief of staff. It is unacceptable for an Attorney General who approved agreements on gas with Lebanon in a transitional government to obstruct us in every area. If she truly wanted to protect the public, she should step down."
Regarding the war and regional tensions, Deri said: "We cannot go back to what we endured. Security forces are sacrificing their lives in sanctification of God’s name and, sadly, are being killed. No one imagined that Assad would fall or that Sinwar would die. The whole world has been asking for a year how you haven’t managed to reach Sinwar, and in the end, it was a simple soldier who killed him."
On Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trial, the Shas chairman remarked: "I won’t say what I think about this trial. It’s true there’s the rule of law. But what does 'everyone is equal before the law' mean? Is everyone a prime minister? Does everyone face these challenges?"
Deri also addressed the issue of the draft exemption for Haredim: "We need to act, not talk. Often, talk and declarations only cause damage. Minister Gallant didn’t advance anything to resolve the status of yeshiva students. As soon as the Prime Minister appointed Israel Katz, we’ve been working with him daily."
"Ariel Atias is our representative, along with United Torah Judaism, on the draft issue," Deri continued. "Most of his time is dedicated solely to this matter." Deri assured: "First, we will regulate the status of yeshiva students, and only then will we consider other steps. It cannot be that they would, God forbid, be treated as deserters. It cannot be that someone runs a red light and is arrested." link Anything that Deri says 'on behalf' of the hostages is just blah blah. He said a long time ago that he is favor of a deal and getting the hostages home but he did nothing, absolutely nothing to get that ball moving forward. He had the power to force Netanyahu to make a deal. Just as Smotrich and Ben Gvir threatened Netanyahu that they would bring down the government if he made a deal, Deri could have easily threatened to bring down the government if a deal isn't made. If his spiritual mentor and leader of the Shas Party, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef was still alive, a deal would have been made, but Deri is, after all, just another sleezy politician, a convicted criminal after all. And then he has the ultimate gaul to say "Security forces are sacrificing their lives in sanctification of God’s name and, sadly, are being killed" in one breath and in the next breath talks about the need to pass the law for exemption of yeshiva students so they won't serve and 'sacrifice their lives' like the non yeshiva students. Yet another in a long list of disgraceful members of this corrupt and failed government.
Likud Central Committee Members and Local Leaders to the Prime Minister: "You Have Our Full Support to Pursue a Hostage Deal"
Hundreds of prominent Likud members sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing their support for him should he decide to proceed with a hostage deal. "Consider us a solid wall of support. We bear full responsibility for all Israeli captives, regardless of political affiliation," they wrote.
This letter, signed by notable Likud mayors and members of the party's central committee, emphasizes their backing for the Prime Minister in leading efforts to secure the release of Israeli hostages. The initiative was spearheaded by Dimona Mayor Benny Biton, a well-known Likud figure, who circulated the letter among senior Likud leaders and received hundreds of signatures.
In the letter, the Likud members wrote to Netanyahu:
"We are aware of how much the hostages mean to you and the efforts you are making to bring them back. We do not claim that a past opportunity was missed, but we serve as a voice for the silent and suffering captives, highlighting the urgency of the matter."
They added: "This call is to deepen and solidify the support you will receive from us, members of the Likud movement and the Israeli right, in any deal you decide to pursue. Consider us as a strong wall of support. We have a responsibility to Israeli captives, regardless of political affiliation."
This unusual letter of support contrasts with the opposition and pressure from coalition members such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who oppose negotiations. While public declarations of support from Likud's elected officials have yet to surface, key figures behind the scenes in Israel's largest political party have already voiced their backing for efforts to bring the hostages home through a deal. link. Where have they been for the past 14 months??? Some may say that this is brave and worthy. I say it is the epitome of cowardice that they have been silent on this for 14 months. Some may say that it is better late than never. I say that they are not worthy of serving in public office as they, just like their 'hero' Netanyahu have allowed the hostages to languish and die all this time and they have been partners, silent or otherwise in the poison machine that has made the hostage families 'enemies of the state'. Perhaps, in this case, it is better late than never because we need anything and everything to get Netanyahu to get beyond his own personal self interests and get the hostages home. If this supports his personal self interests to make that decision, then it is better late than never. But once the hostages are home, it is not enough for these Likud leaders to look inside themselves to ask why they allowed this to go on for so long. They, along with the top leadership should all go home and never come back to the public again.
Hostage Updates
Deri on the Hostages: "We Must Advance Their Release Deal - Hamas is No Longer a Threat"
Shas party chairman Aryeh Deri stated in an interview for the central edition with Avi Mimran on "Kol Chai" Radio: "Our primary mission is to do everything, absolutely everything, to finalize the deal."
Deri called on the Attorney General to resign, saying: "This is not advice to the government; it's advice against the government."
Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri addressed the issue of the hostages today (Thursday) and stated, "We must advance their release deal." Deri made the comments during an interview on the central edition, hosted by Avi Mimran on "Kol Chai" Radio.
"I am among the decision-makers and participate in the closed forums discussing the hostage issue," said Deri. "I'm telling you, there is hardly any more military capability left in Gaza. Our main task is to do absolutely everything to secure a deal for the hostages' release. Try to imagine what they’ve been going through for the past 14 months."
Later in the interview, Deri clarified his earlier comments on the hostage deal: "I didn’t mean at any cost. I said that we can make an immediate deal to release the hostages because Hamas is under a lot of pressure. I meant we need to act quickly. Hamas is pressured; Hamas is no longer a threat."
Deri also sharply criticized the Attorney General, calling for her resignation: "This is not advice to the government; this is advice against the government. She was appointed by the previous government, and Justice Grunis said it’s like appointing a brigadier general to the role of chief of staff. It is unacceptable for an Attorney General who approved agreements on gas with Lebanon in a transitional government to obstruct us in every area. If she truly wanted to protect the public, she should step down."
Regarding the war and regional tensions, Deri said: "We cannot go back to what we endured. Security forces are sacrificing their lives in sanctification of God’s name and, sadly, are being killed. No one imagined that Assad would fall or that Sinwar would die. The whole world has been asking for a year how you haven’t managed to reach Sinwar, and in the end, it was a simple soldier who killed him."
On Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trial, the Shas chairman remarked: "I won’t say what I think about this trial. It’s true there’s the rule of law. But what does 'everyone is equal before the law' mean? Is everyone a prime minister? Does everyone face these challenges?"
Deri also addressed the issue of the draft exemption for Haredim: "We need to act, not talk. Often, talk and declarations only cause damage. Minister Gallant didn’t advance anything to resolve the status of yeshiva students. As soon as the Prime Minister appointed Israel Katz, we’ve been working with him daily."
"Ariel Atias is our representative, along with United Torah Judaism, on the draft issue," Deri continued. "Most of his time is dedicated solely to this matter." Deri assured: "First, we will regulate the status of yeshiva students, and only then will we consider other steps. It cannot be that they would, God forbid, be treated as deserters. It cannot be that someone runs a red light and is arrested." link Anything that Deri says 'on behalf' of the hostages is just blah blah. He said a long time ago that he is favor of a deal and getting the hostages home but he did nothing, absolutely nothing to get that ball moving forward. He had the power to force Netanyahu to make a deal. Just as Smotrich and Ben Gvir threatened Netanyahu that they would bring down the government if he made a deal, Deri could have easily threatened to bring down the government if a deal isn't made. If his spiritual mentor and leader of the Shas Party, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef was still alive, a deal would have been made, but Deri is, after all, just another sleezy politician, a convicted criminal after all. And then he has the ultimate gaul to say "Security forces are sacrificing their lives in sanctification of God’s name and, sadly, are being killed" in one breath and in the next breath talks about the need to pass the law for exemption of yeshiva students so they won't serve and 'sacrifice their lives' like the non yeshiva students. Yet another in a long list of disgraceful members of this corrupt and failed government.
Likud Central Committee Members and Local Leaders to the Prime Minister: "You Have Our Full Support to Pursue a Hostage Deal"
Hundreds of prominent Likud members sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing their support for him should he decide to proceed with a hostage deal. "Consider us a solid wall of support. We bear full responsibility for all Israeli captives, regardless of political affiliation," they wrote.
This letter, signed by notable Likud mayors and members of the party's central committee, emphasizes their backing for the Prime Minister in leading efforts to secure the release of Israeli hostages. The initiative was spearheaded by Dimona Mayor Benny Biton, a well-known Likud figure, who circulated the letter among senior Likud leaders and received hundreds of signatures.
In the letter, the Likud members wrote to Netanyahu:
"We are aware of how much the hostages mean to you and the efforts you are making to bring them back. We do not claim that a past opportunity was missed, but we serve as a voice for the silent and suffering captives, highlighting the urgency of the matter."
They added: "This call is to deepen and solidify the support you will receive from us, members of the Likud movement and the Israeli right, in any deal you decide to pursue. Consider us as a strong wall of support. We have a responsibility to Israeli captives, regardless of political affiliation."This unusual letter of support contrasts with the opposition and pressure from coalition members such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who oppose negotiations. While public declarations of support from Likud's elected officials have yet to surface, key figures behind the scenes in Israel's largest political party have already voiced their backing for efforts to bring the hostages home through a deal. link. Where have they been for the past 14 months??? Some may say that this is brave and worthy. I say it is the epitome of cowardice that they have been silent on this for 14 months. Some may say that it is better late than never. I say that they are not worthy of serving in public office as they, just like their 'hero' Netanyahu have allowed the hostages to languish and die all this time and they have been partners, silent or otherwise in the poison machine that has made the hostage families 'enemies of the state'. Perhaps, in this case, it is better late than never because we need anything and everything to get Netanyahu to get beyond his own personal self interests and get the hostages home. If this supports his personal self interests to make that decision, then it is better late than never. But once the hostages are home, it is not enough for these Likud leaders to look inside themselves to ask why they allowed this to go on for so long. They, along with the top leadership should all go home and never come back to the public again.
Gaza and the South
- IDF says its airstrike took out commander in Hamas weapons manufacturing division
An Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip this week eliminated a top commander in Hamas’s weapons manufacturing division, the IDF and Shin Bet say.
According to the military, the strike against a Hamas commander center embedded within the al-Hurriya school in Gaza City, killed the commander, Ammar Daloul, and several other operatives including one who participated in the October 7 onslaught.
Daloul served as a department head in Hamas’s manufacturing division and a company commander in the terror group’s Zeitoun Battalion, according to the IDF.
The military says the strike also killed Hamas terrorists Jihad Yassin, a company commander in the Zeitoun Battalion; Yahya Masoud Muhammad Ashqar, who infiltrated Israeli territory and participated in the October 7 onslaught; Kamal Saber Salim Arafat; Muhammad Muhammad Akram Aaraj; Loay Farid Faiz Hussein Ali, a platoon commander; Imad Aouni Ibrahim Rayan; and Raed Samir Masoud Harazayn, a member of Hamas’s internal security forces.
Before carrying out the strike, the IDF says it took steps to mitigate civilian harm.
13 reportedly killed in strikes IDF said targeted Hamas fighters trying to divert aid
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says 13 Palestinians were killed in a pair of airstrikes that the Israel Defense Forces conducted earlier today targeting humanitarian aid convoys.
The Israeli military said in a statement the two airstrikes aimed to ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian aid and accused Hamas members of planning to prevent the aid from reaching Gaza civilians who need it.
The statement said the Hamas members aimed to hijack the aid “in support of continuing terrorist activity.”
Twenty-three more Palestinians were killed in other Israeli military operations throughout Gaza over the past day, the Hamas-run health ministry says.
IDF says troops found rocket launchers in northern Gaza aimed at Israeli communities
Several rocket launchers were found by troops of the Kfir Brigade during operations in northern Gaza’s Beit Lahiya, the military says.
Rocket launchers found by IDF troops in northern Gaza's Beit Lahiya, in a handout photo issued on December 13, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)According to the IDF, the launchers were aimed at Israeli border communities.
Meanwhile, in southern Gaza’s Rafah, a drone strike killed a group of gunmen moving toward troops of the Nahal Brigade operating in the area, the IDF adds.
Abu Mazen's Unusual Directive to Palestinian Security Commanders – and Israel's Warning
N12 has learned that after militants in Jenin stole Palestinian Authority (PA) trucks last week and held a military-style parade, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) issued an urgent directive to the PA security forces: "Handle this." Meanwhile, Israel has warned the PA: "Take action, or we will be forced to intervene ourselves."
Following the theft of PA vehicles in Jenin last Wednesday night, Abu Mazen viewed the incident as crossing a red line and escalating tensions, sources in Ramallah told N12. He instructed the security commanders: "Deal with this—enough is enough. Do not leave Jenin until this matter is resolved."
Despite the PA leadership’s decision to take charge, their on-the-ground response has been sluggish, prompting a new wave of exchanges between senior Israeli and Palestinian officials. A joint operations room has been established at the military command level to address the situation.
In an extraordinary step, all senior PA security commanders have been deployed to Jenin in recent days. The joint operations room is conducting daily situation assessments. Key figures involved include Palestinian Intelligence Chief Majed Faraj, Major General Nidal Abu Dahan, commander of Palestinian National Security, and Palestinian Interior Minister Ziad Hab al-Reeh.
The PA reportedly asked Israel for additional time to address the situation. However, Israel has emphasized the urgency of taking effective action to prevent further escalation.
Abu Mazen Launches an Unprecedented Operational Plan in Jenin Following a Series of Escalating Incidents
In response to a series of exceptional incidents, including gunfire targeting the Mukataa compound and the planting of explosives, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) has decided to implement an extraordinary operational plan in the Jenin area. This plan involves reinforcing PA security forces with personnel from other districts, deploying elite units such as the Palestinian National Security Forces, utilizing armored vehicles, stationing snipers on rooftops, and more. These measures indicate that this situation is of an entirely different magnitude.
Israeli Officials Warn the PA: "Act or We Will Step In"
While the PA has requested additional time from Israel to advance and take tangible action in the Jenin refugee camp, Israel is carefully balancing its strategic priorities. The Israeli defense establishment recognizes the importance of PA security operations but insists on a calculated and sensitive approach given the evolving situation. Israel has been closely monitoring the PA's slow progress in Jenin and fears that insufficient results could backfire.
In closed discussions with PA officials, senior Israeli representatives conveyed a clear message:
"If you show progress and demonstrate seriousness, we can discuss extending the timeline. If not, we will have to step in and act ourselves."
Militant Threats: "We Will Raid PA Headquarters and Remove Your Personnel"
In the town of Qabatiya near Jenin, armed militants convened last night in a show of force, issuing threats against the PA:
"Our rifles were aimed at the occupation, but the PA does not understand these warnings. We are capable of raiding PA security headquarters and removing their personnel if we wish. We are giving the elders a chance to resolve this issue. If it remains unresolved, we will take revenge on the PA forces. If dialogue fails, we are ready to shed blood."
UN Human Rights Office Condemns PA Security Forces’ Actions in Jenin
The United Nations Human Rights Office issued a rare condemnation of PA security activities in Jenin, stating:
"We call on the Palestinian authorities in the West Bank to investigate the conduct of their security forces in the Jenin refugee camp and hold accountable those responsible for serious violations of international human rights law. The actions of the PA security forces in Jenin raise concerns about severe breaches of international human rights law, including unlawful killings through excessive and unnecessary use of force and the possibility of extrajudicial executions."
The UN also noted that the operation disrupted access to education and healthcare and triggered clashes between PA security forces and armed Palestinian men. link
Northern Israel - Lebanon/Hizbollah/Syria
An Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip this week eliminated a top commander in Hamas’s weapons manufacturing division, the IDF and Shin Bet say.
According to the military, the strike against a Hamas commander center embedded within the al-Hurriya school in Gaza City, killed the commander, Ammar Daloul, and several other operatives including one who participated in the October 7 onslaught.
Daloul served as a department head in Hamas’s manufacturing division and a company commander in the terror group’s Zeitoun Battalion, according to the IDF.
The military says the strike also killed Hamas terrorists Jihad Yassin, a company commander in the Zeitoun Battalion; Yahya Masoud Muhammad Ashqar, who infiltrated Israeli territory and participated in the October 7 onslaught; Kamal Saber Salim Arafat; Muhammad Muhammad Akram Aaraj; Loay Farid Faiz Hussein Ali, a platoon commander; Imad Aouni Ibrahim Rayan; and Raed Samir Masoud Harazayn, a member of Hamas’s internal security forces.
Before carrying out the strike, the IDF says it took steps to mitigate civilian harm.
13 reportedly killed in strikes IDF said targeted Hamas fighters trying to divert aid
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says 13 Palestinians were killed in a pair of airstrikes that the Israel Defense Forces conducted earlier today targeting humanitarian aid convoys.
The Israeli military said in a statement the two airstrikes aimed to ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian aid and accused Hamas members of planning to prevent the aid from reaching Gaza civilians who need it.
The statement said the Hamas members aimed to hijack the aid “in support of continuing terrorist activity.”
Twenty-three more Palestinians were killed in other Israeli military operations throughout Gaza over the past day, the Hamas-run health ministry says.
IDF says troops found rocket launchers in northern Gaza aimed at Israeli communities
Several rocket launchers were found by troops of the Kfir Brigade during operations in northern Gaza’s Beit Lahiya, the military says.
Rocket launchers found by IDF troops in northern Gaza's Beit Lahiya, in a handout photo issued on December 13, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)
According to the IDF, the launchers were aimed at Israeli border communities.
Meanwhile, in southern Gaza’s Rafah, a drone strike killed a group of gunmen moving toward troops of the Nahal Brigade operating in the area, the IDF adds.
Abu Mazen's Unusual Directive to Palestinian Security Commanders – and Israel's Warning
N12 has learned that after militants in Jenin stole Palestinian Authority (PA) trucks last week and held a military-style parade, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) issued an urgent directive to the PA security forces: "Handle this." Meanwhile, Israel has warned the PA: "Take action, or we will be forced to intervene ourselves."
Following the theft of PA vehicles in Jenin last Wednesday night, Abu Mazen viewed the incident as crossing a red line and escalating tensions, sources in Ramallah told N12. He instructed the security commanders: "Deal with this—enough is enough. Do not leave Jenin until this matter is resolved."
Despite the PA leadership’s decision to take charge, their on-the-ground response has been sluggish, prompting a new wave of exchanges between senior Israeli and Palestinian officials. A joint operations room has been established at the military command level to address the situation.
In an extraordinary step, all senior PA security commanders have been deployed to Jenin in recent days. The joint operations room is conducting daily situation assessments. Key figures involved include Palestinian Intelligence Chief Majed Faraj, Major General Nidal Abu Dahan, commander of Palestinian National Security, and Palestinian Interior Minister Ziad Hab al-Reeh.
The PA reportedly asked Israel for additional time to address the situation. However, Israel has emphasized the urgency of taking effective action to prevent further escalation.
Abu Mazen Launches an Unprecedented Operational Plan in Jenin Following a Series of Escalating Incidents
In response to a series of exceptional incidents, including gunfire targeting the Mukataa compound and the planting of explosives, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) has decided to implement an extraordinary operational plan in the Jenin area. This plan involves reinforcing PA security forces with personnel from other districts, deploying elite units such as the Palestinian National Security Forces, utilizing armored vehicles, stationing snipers on rooftops, and more. These measures indicate that this situation is of an entirely different magnitude.
Israeli Officials Warn the PA: "Act or We Will Step In"
While the PA has requested additional time from Israel to advance and take tangible action in the Jenin refugee camp, Israel is carefully balancing its strategic priorities. The Israeli defense establishment recognizes the importance of PA security operations but insists on a calculated and sensitive approach given the evolving situation. Israel has been closely monitoring the PA's slow progress in Jenin and fears that insufficient results could backfire.
In closed discussions with PA officials, senior Israeli representatives conveyed a clear message:
"If you show progress and demonstrate seriousness, we can discuss extending the timeline. If not, we will have to step in and act ourselves."
Militant Threats: "We Will Raid PA Headquarters and Remove Your Personnel"
In the town of Qabatiya near Jenin, armed militants convened last night in a show of force, issuing threats against the PA:
"Our rifles were aimed at the occupation, but the PA does not understand these warnings. We are capable of raiding PA security headquarters and removing their personnel if we wish. We are giving the elders a chance to resolve this issue. If it remains unresolved, we will take revenge on the PA forces. If dialogue fails, we are ready to shed blood."
UN Human Rights Office Condemns PA Security Forces’ Actions in Jenin
The United Nations Human Rights Office issued a rare condemnation of PA security activities in Jenin, stating:
"We call on the Palestinian authorities in the West Bank to investigate the conduct of their security forces in the Jenin refugee camp and hold accountable those responsible for serious violations of international human rights law. The actions of the PA security forces in Jenin raise concerns about severe breaches of international human rights law, including unlawful killings through excessive and unnecessary use of force and the possibility of extrajudicial executions."
The UN also noted that the operation disrupted access to education and healthcare and triggered clashes between PA security forces and armed Palestinian men. link
Northern Israel - Lebanon/Hizbollah/Syria
- IDF says it struck Hezbollah operatives spotted violating ceasefire in southern Lebanon
The IDF says it carried out a drone strike earlier today against a group of Hezbollah operatives who were spotted in southern Lebanon in violation of the ceasefire agreement.
According to the military, the operatives posed a threat to Israeli civilians.
“The IDF continues to be committed to the understandings regarding the ceasefire in Lebanon,” the IDF says, adding that it continues to be deployed to southern Lebanon and is operating to “remove any threat to the State of Israel and its citizens.” - Lebanon says 1 killed in Israeli strike on border town that IDF left amid ceasefireAttack on Al Khiam also injured one, says Lebanese health ministry; troops find Hezbollah arms in scan of south Lebanon; Amnesty: 4 Israeli strikes in Lebanon could be war crimes
Lebanon accused Israel on Thursday of killing one person in an airstrike on the border village of Al Khiam, from which the Israel Defense Forces recently withdrew as part of the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.
Lebanese soldiers inspect the damage in the southern Lebanese village of Al Khiam, near the border with Israel, on December 12, 2024. (AFP)The accusation came as the Israeli military said troops had located Hezbollah arms in southern Lebanon.
In a statement, Lebanon’s health ministry said that “the Israeli enemy strike on the town of Al Khiam killed one person and injured another.”
Israel had said earlier that it was targeting Hezbollah operatives violating the late November ceasefire agreement, which gives the IDF 60 days to withdraw from Lebanon.
On Wednesday, the IDF confirmed it had withdrawn from Al Khaim — the first border town Israel ceded since the ceasefire — and the Lebanese army said it had deployed there in coordination with the international peacekeeping force UNIFIL.
Meanwhile, the IDF said Friday that troops operating in southern Lebanon amid the ceasefire were still finding Hezbollah weaponry, with soldiers of the 769th “Hiram” Regional Brigade capturing anti-tank missiles, assault rifles, RPGs, mortars, and other weapons and equipment during a scan of the area.
Hezbollah weapons found by IDF troops in southern Lebanon, in a handout photo issued on December 13, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)The soldiers also located an anti-tank missile launch site previously used by Hezbollah to attack Israeli border towns, the military added.
Amnesty accuses IDF of violating laws of war in Lebanon
Amnesty International, which has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, said Thursday that four Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon “must be investigated as war crimes.”
The strikes, carried out between September and October, were said to have killed at least 49 civilians. Amnesty said its report on the strikes was part of an ongoing investigation into violations of the laws of war in Lebanon.
The rights group said it interviewed survivors and witnesses, examined evidence, and found no military targets near the sites of the four strikes. The IDF gave no warnings and did not respond to Amnesty’s inquiries, the group claimed.
According to Amnesty, the first strike, on September 29, hit the village of al-Ain in northeast Lebanon’s Bekaa valley, killing nine members of the same family; the second strike, on October 14, hit the northern village of Aitou, killing 23 displaced people, including a 5-month-old baby; the third strike, on October 16, hit the municipal headquarters of south Lebanon’s Nabatieh, a Hezbollah stronghold, killing 11 people, including the mayor; the fourth strike, on October 21, hit eastern Lebanon’s Baalbek city, killing six members of the same family.
Rescuers at an emergency services center react as smoke billows during reported Israeli airstrikes in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on October 16, 2024. (Abbas Fakih / AFP)“These four attacks are emblematic of Israel’s shocking disregard for civilian lives in Lebanon and their willingness to flout international law,” said Amnesty International’s Erika Guevara Rosas, Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns.
A fragment from the attack site in Aitou — where Israel was reportedly targeting a senior Hezbollah official — was identified by an Amnesty weapons expert as likely part of an Mk-80 series aerial bomb, weighing at least 500 pounds. These munitions are primarily supplied to Israel by the United States, Amnesty said.
The IDF has said its strikes are intelligence-based and target Hezbollah operatives, and that precautions are taken to keep civilians safe, including evacuation orders and prior warning. The military also stresses that the Iran-backed terror group embeds itself in civilian infrastructure, and has found ammunition belonging to the terror group in civilian homes in south Lebanon.
Unprovoked, Hezbollah-led forces began attacking Israel on a near-daily basis on October 8, 2023, a day after its ally Hamas stormed southern Israel to kill some 1,200 people and take 251 hostages, sparking the war in Gaza.
Fearing a similar Hezbollah onslaught, Israel evacuated residents of border towns. Hezbollah’s persistent rocket fire prevented some 60,000 displaced northerners from returning home.
In a bid to stop the rocket fire, Israel stepped up operations against Hezbollah in late September, all but decimating the terror group’s leadership.
Lebanon accused Israel on Thursday of killing one person in an airstrike on the border village of Al Khiam, from which the Israel Defense Forces recently withdrew as part of the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.
The accusation came as the Israeli military said troops had located Hezbollah arms in southern Lebanon.
In a statement, Lebanon’s health ministry said that “the Israeli enemy strike on the town of Al Khiam killed one person and injured another.”
Israel had said earlier that it was targeting Hezbollah operatives violating the late November ceasefire agreement, which gives the IDF 60 days to withdraw from Lebanon.
On Wednesday, the IDF confirmed it had withdrawn from Al Khaim — the first border town Israel ceded since the ceasefire — and the Lebanese army said it had deployed there in coordination with the international peacekeeping force UNIFIL.
Meanwhile, the IDF said Friday that troops operating in southern Lebanon amid the ceasefire were still finding Hezbollah weaponry, with soldiers of the 769th “Hiram” Regional Brigade capturing anti-tank missiles, assault rifles, RPGs, mortars, and other weapons and equipment during a scan of the area.
Hezbollah weapons found by IDF troops in southern Lebanon, in a handout photo issued on December 13, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)
The soldiers also located an anti-tank missile launch site previously used by Hezbollah to attack Israeli border towns, the military added.
Amnesty accuses IDF of violating laws of war in Lebanon
Amnesty International, which has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, said Thursday that four Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon “must be investigated as war crimes.”
The strikes, carried out between September and October, were said to have killed at least 49 civilians. Amnesty said its report on the strikes was part of an ongoing investigation into violations of the laws of war in Lebanon.
The rights group said it interviewed survivors and witnesses, examined evidence, and found no military targets near the sites of the four strikes. The IDF gave no warnings and did not respond to Amnesty’s inquiries, the group claimed.
According to Amnesty, the first strike, on September 29, hit the village of al-Ain in northeast Lebanon’s Bekaa valley, killing nine members of the same family; the second strike, on October 14, hit the northern village of Aitou, killing 23 displaced people, including a 5-month-old baby; the third strike, on October 16, hit the municipal headquarters of south Lebanon’s Nabatieh, a Hezbollah stronghold, killing 11 people, including the mayor; the fourth strike, on October 21, hit eastern Lebanon’s Baalbek city, killing six members of the same family.
Rescuers at an emergency services center react as smoke billows during reported Israeli airstrikes in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on October 16, 2024. (Abbas Fakih / AFP)
“These four attacks are emblematic of Israel’s shocking disregard for civilian lives in Lebanon and their willingness to flout international law,” said Amnesty International’s Erika Guevara Rosas, Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns.
A fragment from the attack site in Aitou — where Israel was reportedly targeting a senior Hezbollah official — was identified by an Amnesty weapons expert as likely part of an Mk-80 series aerial bomb, weighing at least 500 pounds. These munitions are primarily supplied to Israel by the United States, Amnesty said.
The IDF has said its strikes are intelligence-based and target Hezbollah operatives, and that precautions are taken to keep civilians safe, including evacuation orders and prior warning. The military also stresses that the Iran-backed terror group embeds itself in civilian infrastructure, and has found ammunition belonging to the terror group in civilian homes in south Lebanon.
Unprovoked, Hezbollah-led forces began attacking Israel on a near-daily basis on October 8, 2023, a day after its ally Hamas stormed southern Israel to kill some 1,200 people and take 251 hostages, sparking the war in Gaza.
Fearing a similar Hezbollah onslaught, Israel evacuated residents of border towns. Hezbollah’s persistent rocket fire prevented some 60,000 displaced northerners from returning home.
In a bid to stop the rocket fire, Israel stepped up operations against Hezbollah in late September, all but decimating the terror group’s leadership.
Fearing Islamist rebels, Syrian Druze village calls to be annexed to Israel, calling it the ‘lesser evil’
An unverified video circulating on social media purports to show a member of the Druze community in the southern Syrian village of Hader calling for the community to be annexed to the Israeli side of the Golan Heights.
Although the speech is in Arabic, a version of the video was posted on X with English captions.
Speaking to a large crowd, the man tells them to consider what they want their future to look like following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime earlier this week.
“If we have to choose, we will choose the lesser evil,” he says. “And even if it’s considered evil to ask to be annexed to the [Israeli] Golan, it’s a much lesser evil than the evil coming our way.”
He appears to be referring to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the largest of Syria’s rebel groups, which has its roots in al-Qaeda although it has sought to moderate itself in recent years.
“That evil might take our women, might take our daughters, they might take our houses,” he says, according to the captions.
“Bashar al-Assad left,” he continues. “What do we have left? Nothing.”
“We asked to be annexed to the Golan to preserve our dignity,” he says, adding that he speaks for the Druze community across the surrounding area of the Quneitra Governorate.
“We ask in the name of all the surrounding area to join our people in the Golan, and to live with freedom and dignity like our people are living [in Israel].
He calls for the Syrian Druze to be freed from the “injustice and oppression” that was first imposed on them by the Assad regime, and which they fear will soon be imposed on them again by the Islamist rebel groups.
“How many of us have died?” he asks. “We’ve given enough. We’re not willing to offer anything more.”
Hader, and the villages surrounding it, are located within the buffer zone between Israel and Syria which IDF troops entered on Sunday following the fall of Assad. The majority of Druze do not reside in the Syrian Golan.
According to the last reliable census, taken in 2010 before the outbreak of the civil war, around 48% of Syria’s Druze resided in the Suwayda Governorate, some 90 kilometers from the border with Israel. Another 35% were living in Damascus, and 25,000 were located in the Idlib Governate.
However, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy noted in 2016 that the civil war significantly altered the demographic makeup of Syria, and many Druze fled Damascus for safer parts of the country. video of the Druze calling for a decision to request annexation to Israel (English subtitles)
Fearing Islamist rebels, Syrian Druze village calls to be annexed to Israel, calling it the ‘lesser evil’
An unverified video circulating on social media purports to show a member of the Druze community in the southern Syrian village of Hader calling for the community to be annexed to the Israeli side of the Golan Heights.
Although the speech is in Arabic, a version of the video was posted on X with English captions.
Speaking to a large crowd, the man tells them to consider what they want their future to look like following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime earlier this week.
“If we have to choose, we will choose the lesser evil,” he says. “And even if it’s considered evil to ask to be annexed to the [Israeli] Golan, it’s a much lesser evil than the evil coming our way.”
He appears to be referring to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the largest of Syria’s rebel groups, which has its roots in al-Qaeda although it has sought to moderate itself in recent years.
“That evil might take our women, might take our daughters, they might take our houses,” he says, according to the captions.
“Bashar al-Assad left,” he continues. “What do we have left? Nothing.”
“We asked to be annexed to the Golan to preserve our dignity,” he says, adding that he speaks for the Druze community across the surrounding area of the Quneitra Governorate.
“We ask in the name of all the surrounding area to join our people in the Golan, and to live with freedom and dignity like our people are living [in Israel].
He calls for the Syrian Druze to be freed from the “injustice and oppression” that was first imposed on them by the Assad regime, and which they fear will soon be imposed on them again by the Islamist rebel groups.
“How many of us have died?” he asks. “We’ve given enough. We’re not willing to offer anything more.”
Hader, and the villages surrounding it, are located within the buffer zone between Israel and Syria which IDF troops entered on Sunday following the fall of Assad. The majority of Druze do not reside in the Syrian Golan.
According to the last reliable census, taken in 2010 before the outbreak of the civil war, around 48% of Syria’s Druze resided in the Suwayda Governorate, some 90 kilometers from the border with Israel. Another 35% were living in Damascus, and 25,000 were located in the Idlib Governate.
However, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy noted in 2016 that the civil war significantly altered the demographic makeup of Syria, and many Druze fled Damascus for safer parts of the country. video of the Druze calling for a decision to request annexation to Israel (English subtitles)
West Bank and Jerusalem and Terror attacks within Israel
Politics and the War (general news)
Channel 12’s “Uvda,” a program renowned for investigative reports, says that while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in Sheba Hospital in July 2023 after having his pacemaker fitted, the head of Shin Bet Ronen Bar called him on a secure phone and told him: “I am giving you a strategic warning of war.”
“I can’t say when or how,” Bar reportedly went on, but Israel’s enemies were watching what was happening inside Israel amid the rift over the judicial overhaul, “and they identify weakness.” Bar urged Netanyahu to stop the overhaul legislation.
Also while he was in the hospital, IDF Chief Herzi Halevi, who had been scheduled to meet with him, sent him a letter in which he reportedly stated: “The IDF’s readiness is being rapidly hurt and recovering slowly. This is dangerous. What is happening now in Israel raises the chance that we will be attacked.” Halevi made clear his assessment in the letter, the “Uvda” report says, that the enemy would not forgive itself if it passed up on this opportunity.
The Call to Netanyahu on the Red Phone on the Morning of the Surprise Attack: "We Need to See if We Can Take Down Their Leadership Immediately" | Exclusive to 'Uvda'
Inside Look:
The testimonies, documents, and real-time accounts of what transpired in the Prime Minister’s Office on the morning of October 7th.
- The phone call that became the focus of forgery accusations in the office.
- The shocking statement by Smotrich amidst the shock of the massacre.
- Netanyahu's fears when the possibility of attacking Lebanon was considered.
Here's what happened behind the scenes. Watch the full investigation ahead of the vote on the Reasonableness Clause on July 23, 2023. On that evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was hospitalized at Sheba Medical Center after receiving a pacemaker. Less than 24 hours before the vote, Netanyahu received warnings from the two most senior figures in the security system.
At 8:00 PM, his military secretary, Maj. Gen. Avi Gil, arrived at the hospital, connecting Netanyahu to Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar via the secure "red phone." Bar warned of the potential for war. Gil then handed Netanyahu a sealed envelope containing a document written by the Chief of Staff. In the document, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi warned: "The military’s readiness is rapidly deteriorating and recovering slowly—it’s dangerous. What is happening in Israel now increases the likelihood of an attack. The enemy will not forgive itself for missing this opportunity."
October 7th:
Two and a half months later, on Saturday, October 7, at 6:29 AM, Maj. Gen. Gil made a WhatsApp call to Netanyahu, who was at his home in Caesarea. The military secretary updated Netanyahu about rocket fire across the country. Netanyahu asked, "Why are they firing?" Gil explained that, in his estimation, Hamas had launched a large-scale surprise attack. "I’m gathering a situation assessment, and we’ll talk," Gil concluded.
By 6:40 AM, they were on a secure call via the red phone. Unlike the previous call, this one was recorded. Maj. Gen. Gil updated: "We’re trying to understand what’s happening. The Yamam unit has been deployed to Netiv HaAsara, and the Gaza Division is transitioning to emergency status. There's no doubt—we’re in a different event." At this point, Netanyahu asked: "Can we take down their leadership?"
Gil responded, "We’re in a large operation... give me 15 minutes... I need to confirm there are no ground infiltrations... We’re at war."
Netanyahu, likely for the first of many times that day, questioned how he was not informed earlier: "We have no indications. I’m not seeing anything in the intelligence."
Maj. Gen. Gil confirmed: "We’ve got nothing. We’ll need to ask later how they surprised us."
Netanyahu remained focused: "The first thing to figure out is the scale of the attack and whether we need to call up reserves. We need to convene at IDF headquarters as quickly as possible." He also raised the possibility of kidnappings: "Could this also be intended for abductions?" The military secretary replied: "That’s what we think."
The Prime Minister concluded the call with an instruction: "We need to see if we can take down their leadership immediately. If there’s anything available—start with Sinwar and below."
“They’ll Call for Us to Resign—and They’ll Be Right”
Later that morning, amidst the shock of the massacre in the south, a senior ministers' meeting convened at 12:30 PM. During this meeting, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reportedly made a striking statement he would later not repeat: "We have a few days of legitimacy until the full scale becomes clear. In 48 hours, they’ll call for us to resign because of the failure—and they’ll be right."
The Lebanon Dilemma
Four days later, on October 11, when the option of attacking Lebanon was considered, Netanyahu reportedly told Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in a private conversation: "You know the enemy knows both our home addresses. Where exactly would we go?"
"This Is Criminal"
On February 13, just before a meeting in the Prime Minister's Office, one stenographer informed Maj. Gen. Gil that Chief of Staff Tzachi Braverman had requested the transcript of the October 7 call be pulled and transcribed. "The stenographer showed me the transcript," Gil later told investigators, "and I immediately noticed the listed time—6:29 AM."
"You’re mistaken," he told the stenographer. "That call was at 6:40." The stenographer then closed the door and revealed that Braverman had demanded the call time be altered.
Minutes later, during a meeting in the Prime Minister’s Office, Maj. Gen. Gil took a sheet of official paper and wrote a letter addressed to the Attorney General, recounting the incident and concluding with: "This is unequivocally a forgery. It’s criminal." He placed the letter in an envelope and handed it directly to the Attorney General, who was present at the meeting.
Responses
Prime Minister's Response:
"The response from the Prime Minister continues, as always, with particularly wild accusations. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated:
'The propaganda program Uvda operates without rules but with Ilana Dayan, who is responsible for a long series of defamations and lies against Prime Minister Netanyahu, aimed at harming the right-wing government. Contrary to what is claimed, the Prime Minister received no warning, and no one bothered to update him—neither before the massacre nor on the night of the massacre. Had he indeed been updated, October 7th would have looked completely different.
Contrary to the claims, the Prime Minister’s wife, Sara Netanyahu, does not interfere in senior appointments, certainly not in the appointment of a military secretary. This is an urban legend. Let us remind you that the military secretary in question at the time, Maj. Gen. Avi Gil, was appointed by Bennett and Lapid.'
Contrary to the claims, all heads of the security organizations, including the Chief of Staff, met with the Prime Minister in March 2023 for personal and work meetings, as they have since the government was sworn in. All these meetings are scheduled in the Prime Minister's calendar and documented. Any other claim is false and easy to disprove.
Contrary to the claims, the Chief of Staff did not request a transcript of the call nor forge anything. These matters were clarified thoroughly during the investigation. Unfortunately, the Chief of Staff is unable to elaborate further due to the ongoing investigation.'
The Prime Minister concluded his response:
'Uvda will continue its propaganda and web of lies, while Prime Minister Netanyahu will continue leading Israel to a historic victory.'"
Shin Bet's Response:
"The Shin Bet operates according to its legally defined mission. We do not comment on discussions held in closed meetings with the political leadership and ensure the confidentiality of such discussions."
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's Response:
"The quote is not familiar to the Minister. In those discussions, the Minister demanded an immediate and rapid plan for the destruction of Hamas and an urgent overhaul of the military’s operational concept, including replacing the security establishment leaders directly responsible for the failure. Given the scale of the failure, this is a necessary step with public legitimacy. Minister Smotrich continues to act in this vein today."
IDF Spokesperson's Response:
"The IDF is currently conducting an operational investigation into the events of October 7th and the period leading up to them. These investigations are ongoing, and their conclusions will be presented transparently to the public. Throughout the war, the IDF has been working to achieve the war’s objectives as defined by the political leadership. The IDF has not withheld and does not withhold information from the political leadership and operates under its directives to ensure the security of the State of Israel." link
Channel 12’s “Uvda,” a program renowned for investigative reports, says that while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in Sheba Hospital in July 2023 after having his pacemaker fitted, the head of Shin Bet Ronen Bar called him on a secure phone and told him: “I am giving you a strategic warning of war.”
“I can’t say when or how,” Bar reportedly went on, but Israel’s enemies were watching what was happening inside Israel amid the rift over the judicial overhaul, “and they identify weakness.” Bar urged Netanyahu to stop the overhaul legislation.
Also while he was in the hospital, IDF Chief Herzi Halevi, who had been scheduled to meet with him, sent him a letter in which he reportedly stated: “The IDF’s readiness is being rapidly hurt and recovering slowly. This is dangerous. What is happening now in Israel raises the chance that we will be attacked.” Halevi made clear his assessment in the letter, the “Uvda” report says, that the enemy would not forgive itself if it passed up on this opportunity.
The Call to Netanyahu on the Red Phone on the Morning of the Surprise Attack: "We Need to See if We Can Take Down Their Leadership Immediately" | Exclusive to 'Uvda'
Inside Look:
The testimonies, documents, and real-time accounts of what transpired in the Prime Minister’s Office on the morning of October 7th.
- The phone call that became the focus of forgery accusations in the office.
- The shocking statement by Smotrich amidst the shock of the massacre.
- Netanyahu's fears when the possibility of attacking Lebanon was considered.
Here's what happened behind the scenes. Watch the full investigation ahead of the vote on the Reasonableness Clause on July 23, 2023. On that evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was hospitalized at Sheba Medical Center after receiving a pacemaker. Less than 24 hours before the vote, Netanyahu received warnings from the two most senior figures in the security system.
At 8:00 PM, his military secretary, Maj. Gen. Avi Gil, arrived at the hospital, connecting Netanyahu to Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar via the secure "red phone." Bar warned of the potential for war. Gil then handed Netanyahu a sealed envelope containing a document written by the Chief of Staff. In the document, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi warned: "The military’s readiness is rapidly deteriorating and recovering slowly—it’s dangerous. What is happening in Israel now increases the likelihood of an attack. The enemy will not forgive itself for missing this opportunity."
October 7th:
Two and a half months later, on Saturday, October 7, at 6:29 AM, Maj. Gen. Gil made a WhatsApp call to Netanyahu, who was at his home in Caesarea. The military secretary updated Netanyahu about rocket fire across the country. Netanyahu asked, "Why are they firing?" Gil explained that, in his estimation, Hamas had launched a large-scale surprise attack. "I’m gathering a situation assessment, and we’ll talk," Gil concluded.
By 6:40 AM, they were on a secure call via the red phone. Unlike the previous call, this one was recorded. Maj. Gen. Gil updated: "We’re trying to understand what’s happening. The Yamam unit has been deployed to Netiv HaAsara, and the Gaza Division is transitioning to emergency status. There's no doubt—we’re in a different event." At this point, Netanyahu asked: "Can we take down their leadership?"
Gil responded, "We’re in a large operation... give me 15 minutes... I need to confirm there are no ground infiltrations... We’re at war."
Netanyahu, likely for the first of many times that day, questioned how he was not informed earlier: "We have no indications. I’m not seeing anything in the intelligence."
Maj. Gen. Gil confirmed: "We’ve got nothing. We’ll need to ask later how they surprised us."
Netanyahu remained focused: "The first thing to figure out is the scale of the attack and whether we need to call up reserves. We need to convene at IDF headquarters as quickly as possible." He also raised the possibility of kidnappings: "Could this also be intended for abductions?" The military secretary replied: "That’s what we think."
The Prime Minister concluded the call with an instruction: "We need to see if we can take down their leadership immediately. If there’s anything available—start with Sinwar and below."
“They’ll Call for Us to Resign—and They’ll Be Right”
Later that morning, amidst the shock of the massacre in the south, a senior ministers' meeting convened at 12:30 PM. During this meeting, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reportedly made a striking statement he would later not repeat: "We have a few days of legitimacy until the full scale becomes clear. In 48 hours, they’ll call for us to resign because of the failure—and they’ll be right."
The Lebanon Dilemma
Four days later, on October 11, when the option of attacking Lebanon was considered, Netanyahu reportedly told Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in a private conversation: "You know the enemy knows both our home addresses. Where exactly would we go?"
"This Is Criminal"
On February 13, just before a meeting in the Prime Minister's Office, one stenographer informed Maj. Gen. Gil that Chief of Staff Tzachi Braverman had requested the transcript of the October 7 call be pulled and transcribed. "The stenographer showed me the transcript," Gil later told investigators, "and I immediately noticed the listed time—6:29 AM."
"You’re mistaken," he told the stenographer. "That call was at 6:40." The stenographer then closed the door and revealed that Braverman had demanded the call time be altered.
Minutes later, during a meeting in the Prime Minister’s Office, Maj. Gen. Gil took a sheet of official paper and wrote a letter addressed to the Attorney General, recounting the incident and concluding with: "This is unequivocally a forgery. It’s criminal." He placed the letter in an envelope and handed it directly to the Attorney General, who was present at the meeting.
Responses
Prime Minister's Response:
"The response from the Prime Minister continues, as always, with particularly wild accusations. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated:
'The propaganda program Uvda operates without rules but with Ilana Dayan, who is responsible for a long series of defamations and lies against Prime Minister Netanyahu, aimed at harming the right-wing government. Contrary to what is claimed, the Prime Minister received no warning, and no one bothered to update him—neither before the massacre nor on the night of the massacre. Had he indeed been updated, October 7th would have looked completely different.
Contrary to the claims, the Prime Minister’s wife, Sara Netanyahu, does not interfere in senior appointments, certainly not in the appointment of a military secretary. This is an urban legend. Let us remind you that the military secretary in question at the time, Maj. Gen. Avi Gil, was appointed by Bennett and Lapid.'
Contrary to the claims, all heads of the security organizations, including the Chief of Staff, met with the Prime Minister in March 2023 for personal and work meetings, as they have since the government was sworn in. All these meetings are scheduled in the Prime Minister's calendar and documented. Any other claim is false and easy to disprove.
Contrary to the claims, the Chief of Staff did not request a transcript of the call nor forge anything. These matters were clarified thoroughly during the investigation. Unfortunately, the Chief of Staff is unable to elaborate further due to the ongoing investigation.'
The Prime Minister concluded his response:
'Uvda will continue its propaganda and web of lies, while Prime Minister Netanyahu will continue leading Israel to a historic victory.'"
Shin Bet's Response:
"The Shin Bet operates according to its legally defined mission. We do not comment on discussions held in closed meetings with the political leadership and ensure the confidentiality of such discussions."
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's Response:
"The quote is not familiar to the Minister. In those discussions, the Minister demanded an immediate and rapid plan for the destruction of Hamas and an urgent overhaul of the military’s operational concept, including replacing the security establishment leaders directly responsible for the failure. Given the scale of the failure, this is a necessary step with public legitimacy. Minister Smotrich continues to act in this vein today."
IDF Spokesperson's Response:
"The IDF is currently conducting an operational investigation into the events of October 7th and the period leading up to them. These investigations are ongoing, and their conclusions will be presented transparently to the public. Throughout the war, the IDF has been working to achieve the war’s objectives as defined by the political leadership. The IDF has not withheld and does not withhold information from the political leadership and operates under its directives to ensure the security of the State of Israel." link
Blaming military echelon, Smotrich says he didn’t know what Nukhba unit was before Oct. 7
Minister Bezalel Smotrich says he didn’t know there was such thing as a Nukhba Force before October 7, referring to Hamas’s special forces unit.
The far-right minister blames what he says was the poor relationship between the political and military echelons, which left the former “isolated” and uninformed about Israel’s security challenges.
Press stories about Hamas’s Nukhba unit have gone back years, though.
“I did not know that there was such a thing as the Nukhba unit before October 7, and I am one of the people who invests in my position on the security cabinet and regularly read and review materials. I did not know a quarter of the infrastructure that existed in Lebanon for Hezbollah’s Radwan force. This was not brought to our attention. There are huge information gaps,” he says during an appearance at a conference of the Yesha settler lobby group, claiming the military echelon’s leaders regularly disobey the political leadership. Link Smotrich is lying through his teeth. Former military intelligence senior officers and security personnel have stated very clearly that both Nuchba and Radwan forces and their threats have been in every intelligence report to the cabinet and Knesset security committees for years. The problem, they say is that these same politicians don’t bother to read the reports and instead push their political agendas
- Supreme Court head accuses Netanyahu government of undermining judicial independence
In a combative and confrontational speech, Acting Supreme Court President Isaac Amit lambastes the government and Justice Minister Yariv Levin for what he said was their actions designed to undermine the independence of the judiciary in a public speech at the Israeli Association for Public Law.
His comments come hot on the trail of the High Court’s decision ordering Levin to hold a vote to appoint a new Supreme Court president within a month, after the minister has dragged his feet on implementing an earlier less concrete ruling to the same effect.
In response Levin called the court a dictatorship and failed to say whether he would abide by the order, calling instead to bring back the government’s agenda to neuter the judiciary, thus reviving fears of a full-blown constitutional crisis.
“Precisely in these days, we are witnessing attempts to undermine the strength of the judiciary and to weaken it – to the point of real concern about eroding the institutional independence of the judiciary and the foundations of the separation of powers,” asserts Amit.
The acting head of the judiciary points to Levin’s judicial overhaul agenda which would have given the government control over the judiciary; calls by ministers and MKs to ignore Supreme Court rulings; government efforts to assert control over the appointment of the state ombudsman for judges; Levin’s refusal to meet with Amit and his predecessor for over half a year; Levin’s efforts to curtail judicial positions on benches around the country through the state budget; and Levin’s slow-walking of the appointment process for a new Supreme Court president itself.
“This is the first time in the history of the country that the executive branch has so blatantly interfered in the internal management of the judiciary and the way its resources are allocated,” storms Amit.
“And don’t let the technical terminology fool you: harming the institutional strength of the judiciary is harming the authority of the judiciary, and above all, its responsibility to the entire public,” he continues, adding that “The Judicial Authority will stand strong in the face of the attempts to weaken its institutional resilience”
Responding to Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s claim that the justices of Israel’s top court have turned themselves into “dictatorial rulers” who “trample on the choice of the people,” Opposition Leader Yair Lapid declares that it was Levin himself “who tried to turn Israel into an undemocratic state with his illegal coup.”
Levin, who was “one of the main people responsible for the October 7 disaster, is again breaking the law and dishonoring the Justice Ministry,” Lapid tweets.
“Instead of getting the State of Israel back on track, he is intensifying the chaos and the constitutional crisis,” he continues, adding that for over a year the court has not had a president because “Levin decided to sabotage the work of the judiciary” — something that “must stop immediately.”
Levin attacked the court after it ordered him to hold a vote to appoint a new Supreme Court president within a month.
Blaming military echelon, Smotrich says he didn’t know what Nukhba unit was before Oct. 7
Minister Bezalel Smotrich says he didn’t know there was such thing as a Nukhba Force before October 7, referring to Hamas’s special forces unit.
The far-right minister blames what he says was the poor relationship between the political and military echelons, which left the former “isolated” and uninformed about Israel’s security challenges.
Press stories about Hamas’s Nukhba unit have gone back years, though.
“I did not know that there was such a thing as the Nukhba unit before October 7, and I am one of the people who invests in my position on the security cabinet and regularly read and review materials. I did not know a quarter of the infrastructure that existed in Lebanon for Hezbollah’s Radwan force. This was not brought to our attention. There are huge information gaps,” he says during an appearance at a conference of the Yesha settler lobby group, claiming the military echelon’s leaders regularly disobey the political leadership. Link Smotrich is lying through his teeth. Former military intelligence senior officers and security personnel have stated very clearly that both Nuchba and Radwan forces and their threats have been in every intelligence report to the cabinet and Knesset security committees for years. The problem, they say is that these same politicians don’t bother to read the reports and instead push their political agendas
In a combative and confrontational speech, Acting Supreme Court President Isaac Amit lambastes the government and Justice Minister Yariv Levin for what he said was their actions designed to undermine the independence of the judiciary in a public speech at the Israeli Association for Public Law.
His comments come hot on the trail of the High Court’s decision ordering Levin to hold a vote to appoint a new Supreme Court president within a month, after the minister has dragged his feet on implementing an earlier less concrete ruling to the same effect.
In response Levin called the court a dictatorship and failed to say whether he would abide by the order, calling instead to bring back the government’s agenda to neuter the judiciary, thus reviving fears of a full-blown constitutional crisis.
“Precisely in these days, we are witnessing attempts to undermine the strength of the judiciary and to weaken it – to the point of real concern about eroding the institutional independence of the judiciary and the foundations of the separation of powers,” asserts Amit.
The acting head of the judiciary points to Levin’s judicial overhaul agenda which would have given the government control over the judiciary; calls by ministers and MKs to ignore Supreme Court rulings; government efforts to assert control over the appointment of the state ombudsman for judges; Levin’s refusal to meet with Amit and his predecessor for over half a year; Levin’s efforts to curtail judicial positions on benches around the country through the state budget; and Levin’s slow-walking of the appointment process for a new Supreme Court president itself.
“This is the first time in the history of the country that the executive branch has so blatantly interfered in the internal management of the judiciary and the way its resources are allocated,” storms Amit.
“And don’t let the technical terminology fool you: harming the institutional strength of the judiciary is harming the authority of the judiciary, and above all, its responsibility to the entire public,” he continues, adding that “The Judicial Authority will stand strong in the face of the attempts to weaken its institutional resilience”
Responding to Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s claim that the justices of Israel’s top court have turned themselves into “dictatorial rulers” who “trample on the choice of the people,” Opposition Leader Yair Lapid declares that it was Levin himself “who tried to turn Israel into an undemocratic state with his illegal coup.”
Levin, who was “one of the main people responsible for the October 7 disaster, is again breaking the law and dishonoring the Justice Ministry,” Lapid tweets.
“Instead of getting the State of Israel back on track, he is intensifying the chaos and the constitutional crisis,” he continues, adding that for over a year the court has not had a president because “Levin decided to sabotage the work of the judiciary” — something that “must stop immediately.”
Levin attacked the court after it ordered him to hold a vote to appoint a new Supreme Court president within a month.
- Top IDF lawyer warns against calls to halt investigating soldiers’ wrongdoings during wartime
The IDF’s Military Advocate General Brig. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi warns against calls to halt the investigation and prosecution of soldiers during a time of war, saying it could harm the vast majority of troops who are law-abiding.
Tomer-Yerushalmi has come under threat from far-right activists after the army decided to prosecute the alleged severe abuse of a Palestinian security prisoner by Israeli guards over the summer.
“The necessity to check, investigate and prosecute — even in times of war — is our way of distinguishing between the absolute majority of soldiers, who are normative, law-abiding and imbued with a sense of mission from those who occasionally deviate from the norm,” she says during a panel at the Public Law Association conference.
“The attempt to instill fear in the hearts of law enforcement in the IDF will not succeed and will not deter anyone in the law enforcement system from carrying out their duties in a professional manner out of a commitment to the values of the IDF and the rule of law,” Tomer-Yerushalmi adds.
Defenders of such investigations have argued that they are critical in demonstrating that Israel has an independent judiciary, absent which Israel exposes itself to probes in international tribunals. link Not surprisingly, these same far-right activists are the same people who are directly connected to the extremist, messianic ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich who are the advocates, enablers and protectors of the extreme settlers who attack Palestinians. They want the same treatment of the abhorent and illegal behavior of soldiers as to those of the violent settlers who have the police protecting them as the minister in charge of police is the ciminal minister Ben Gvir.
The IDF’s Military Advocate General Brig. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi warns against calls to halt the investigation and prosecution of soldiers during a time of war, saying it could harm the vast majority of troops who are law-abiding.
Tomer-Yerushalmi has come under threat from far-right activists after the army decided to prosecute the alleged severe abuse of a Palestinian security prisoner by Israeli guards over the summer.
“The necessity to check, investigate and prosecute — even in times of war — is our way of distinguishing between the absolute majority of soldiers, who are normative, law-abiding and imbued with a sense of mission from those who occasionally deviate from the norm,” she says during a panel at the Public Law Association conference.
“The attempt to instill fear in the hearts of law enforcement in the IDF will not succeed and will not deter anyone in the law enforcement system from carrying out their duties in a professional manner out of a commitment to the values of the IDF and the rule of law,” Tomer-Yerushalmi adds.
Defenders of such investigations have argued that they are critical in demonstrating that Israel has an independent judiciary, absent which Israel exposes itself to probes in international tribunals. link Not surprisingly, these same far-right activists are the same people who are directly connected to the extremist, messianic ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich who are the advocates, enablers and protectors of the extreme settlers who attack Palestinians. They want the same treatment of the abhorent and illegal behavior of soldiers as to those of the violent settlers who have the police protecting them as the minister in charge of police is the ciminal minister Ben Gvir.
The Region and the World
- Iran managing to recruit surprising number Jewish Israelis for spying ops
Recruits are initially tasked with carrying out innocuous tasks for money; later missions to assassinate high-profile figures have so far been foiled by security services
Israel’s recent arrests of almost 30 mostly Jewish citizens who allegedly spied for Iran in nine covert cells has caused alarm in the country and points to Tehran’s biggest effort in decades to infiltrate its arch-foe, four Israeli security sources said.
Among the unfulfilled goals of the alleged cells was the assassination of an Israeli nuclear scientist and former military officials, while one group gathered information on military bases and air defenses, the Shin Bet security service has said. Last week, the agency and Israel’s police said a father and son team from a northern Druze village had passed on details of Israeli force movements including in the Golan Heights where they lived.
The arrests follow repeated efforts by Iranian intelligence operatives over the past two years to recruit ordinary Israelis to gather intelligence and carry out attacks in exchange for money, the four serving and former military and security officials said.
The sources asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.
“There is a large phenomenon here,” said Shalom Ben Hanan, a former top Shin Bet official, referring to what he called the surprising number of Jewish citizens who knowingly agreed to work for Iran against the state with intelligence gathering or planning sabotage and attacks.
Shin Bet and the police did not respond to requests for comment. Iran’s foreign ministry did not respond to questions.
In a statement sent to media after the wave of arrests, Iran’s UN mission did not confirm or deny seeking to recruit Israelis and said that “from a logical standpoint” any such efforts by Iranian intelligence services would focus on non-Iranian and non-Muslim individuals to lessen suspicion.
At least two suspects were from the ultra-Orthodox community, police and the Shin Bet have said.
Unlike Iranian espionage operations in previous decades that recruited a high-profile businessman and a former cabinet minister, the new alleged spies were largely people on the fringes of Israeli society, including recent immigrants, an army deserter, and a convicted sex offender, conversations with the sources, court records, and official statements show.
Much of their activity was limited to spraying anti-Netanyahu or anti-government graffiti on walls and damaging cars, Shin Bet has said.
Nonetheless, the scale of the arrests and involvement of so many Jewish Israelis, in addition to Arab citizens, has caused concern in Israel at a time when it remains at war with Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza and when a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah remains fragile.
The Shin Bet on October 21 said the espionage activities were “among the most severe the state of Israel has known.”
The arrests also follow a wave of attempted hits and kidnappings linked to Tehran in Europe and the United States.
The unusual decision to provide detailed public accounts of the alleged plots was a move by Israel’s security services to signal both to Iran and potential saboteurs inside Israel that they would be caught, Ben Hanan said.
“You want to alert the public. And you also want to make an example of people that may also have intentions or plans to cooperate with the enemy,” he said.
Israel has achieved major intelligence successes over the past few years in a shadow war with its regional foe, including allegedly killing a top nuclear scientist. With the recent arrests Israel has “so far” thwarted Tehran’s efforts to respond, one active military official said.
Israel has been in direct conflict with Iran’s proxies since war erupted last year when Hamas-led terrorists rampaged across southern communities on October 7, 2023, slaughtering some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages to Gaza.
Iran has been weakened after Hezbollah initiated a conflict with Israel following Hamas’s October 7 massacre, leading to the elimination of most of the terror group’s leadership and military infrastructure, and after the related fall of Tehran’s ally, former president Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
Iran has launched two ballistic missile attacks against the Jewish state since last April, after the second of which Israel carried out a wave of airstrikes that crippled the Islamic Republic’s air defense systems.
Social media recruits
Iranian intelligence agencies often find potential recruits on social media platforms, Israel Police said in a video released in November warning of ongoing infiltration attempts.
The recruiting efforts are at times direct. One message sent to an Israeli civilian and seen by Reuters promised $15,000 in exchange for information, with an email and number to call.
Iran has also approached expatriate networks of Jews from Caucasus countries living in Canada and the United States, said one of the sources, a former senior official who worked on Israel’s counter-espionage efforts until 2007.
Israeli authorities have said publicly some of the Jewish suspects were originally from Caucasus countries.
Recruited individuals are first assigned innocuous-seeming tasks in return for money, before handlers gradually demand specific intelligence on targets, including about individuals and sensitive military infrastructure, backed by the threat of blackmail, said the former official.
One suspect, Vladislav Viktorson, 30, was arrested on October 14 along with his 18-year-old girlfriend in the city of Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv. He had been jailed in 2015 for sex with minors as young as 14, according to a court indictment from that time.
An acquaintance of Viktorson told Reuters he had told her he had spoken to Iranians using the Telegram messaging app. She said that Viktorson had lied to his handlers about his military experience. The acquaintance declined to be named, citing safety fears.
Igal Dotan, Viktorson’s lawyer, told Reuters he was representing the suspect, adding that the legal process would take time and that his client was being held in tough conditions. Dotan said he could only respond to the current case and had not defended Victorson in earlier trials.
Shin Bet and police said Viktorson knew he was working for Iranian intelligence, carrying out tasks including spraying graffiti, hiding money, posting flyers, and burning cars in the Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv for which he received over $5,000.
According to the investigation made public by the security services, he was found to have subsequently agreed to carry out an assassination of an Israeli personality, throw a grenade into a house, and also look to obtain a sniper rifle, pistols, and fragmentation grenades.
He recruited his girlfriend, who was tasked with recruiting homeless people to photograph demonstrations, the security services said.
Personal Stories Alisia Levin, 34: Identical twin, sports trainer and single mother of 2Murdered by Hamas terrorists while fleeing the Supernova music festival on October 7
Alisia Levin, 34, from Karmiel, was murdered by Hamas terrorists while fleeing the Supernova music festival on October 7.
She attended the rave with her boyfriend, Steven Makarchenko, and the couple left the festival via car. Their car was later found abandoned near Kibbutz Mefalsim, and loved ones searched for any sign of them for several days. After a week, Alisia’s body was located and identified. Steven was also slain during the attack.
Alisia was buried on October 15 in Karmiel. She is survived by her son, Shon, daughter, Daniela, parents Yudmilla and Andrey, sister Yulia and her identical twin Lina.
A certified personal trainer, Alisia loved her career and was known all around the Galilee area for her work. She and her identical twin, also a personal trainer, dreamed of opening their own studio together. In February 2024, Lina turned their dream into a reality, opening up “Twins Fitness” in Alisia’s memory, decorating the studio with images of them together and dedicating it to her.
Alisia was also a doting mom to her two teenage children, whom she raised as a single mother, never letting them feel that anything was lacking in their lives.
“Alisia Levin was a wonderful person,” wrote her friend Eran Bluestein on Facebook. “I spent many hours sweating away at the Crossfit box with her. She always had an infectious smile and was always there to give a supportive nudge or egg me on when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore. She was beautiful and was always so full of life and joy.”
Her friend Liat Damti wrote online that Alisia “was a role model for all of us, a mentor in your soul.” She lived life “with joy and at a high frequency that everything was p-e-r-f-e-c-t. Working out in the first row with you always made me feel how much willpower I have and how much I really want it… My heart is broken, shattered, hurting, bleeding.”
In an Instagram post, Alisia’s identical twin Lina joked that in most of their photos together they weren’t facing each other, “since we both have the same good side,” and would argue over who would give in to the other.
“If only I could give in to you and take one more photo with you, one more memory, one more shared experience,” she wrote. “I miss you so intensely, the memories of you just choke me and are accompanied by pain that burrows into the heart.”
She wrote, “My love, my other half, my twin sister, I love you immensely. Thank you for all the strength, for the ability to keep going in workouts, you are with me in every workout class, allowing me not to give up or to break.”
“Thank you for your incredible kids, who are our kids, every hug from them fills me with unconditional love and I will never give up on them,” she added. “I love them with a full heart as if they were my own — I’ll never replace you as a mother but I will try to give them love that only a mother can.” link
Recruits are initially tasked with carrying out innocuous tasks for money; later missions to assassinate high-profile figures have so far been foiled by security services
Israel’s recent arrests of almost 30 mostly Jewish citizens who allegedly spied for Iran in nine covert cells has caused alarm in the country and points to Tehran’s biggest effort in decades to infiltrate its arch-foe, four Israeli security sources said.
Among the unfulfilled goals of the alleged cells was the assassination of an Israeli nuclear scientist and former military officials, while one group gathered information on military bases and air defenses, the Shin Bet security service has said. Last week, the agency and Israel’s police said a father and son team from a northern Druze village had passed on details of Israeli force movements including in the Golan Heights where they lived.
The arrests follow repeated efforts by Iranian intelligence operatives over the past two years to recruit ordinary Israelis to gather intelligence and carry out attacks in exchange for money, the four serving and former military and security officials said.
The sources asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.
“There is a large phenomenon here,” said Shalom Ben Hanan, a former top Shin Bet official, referring to what he called the surprising number of Jewish citizens who knowingly agreed to work for Iran against the state with intelligence gathering or planning sabotage and attacks.
Shin Bet and the police did not respond to requests for comment. Iran’s foreign ministry did not respond to questions.
In a statement sent to media after the wave of arrests, Iran’s UN mission did not confirm or deny seeking to recruit Israelis and said that “from a logical standpoint” any such efforts by Iranian intelligence services would focus on non-Iranian and non-Muslim individuals to lessen suspicion.
At least two suspects were from the ultra-Orthodox community, police and the Shin Bet have said.
Unlike Iranian espionage operations in previous decades that recruited a high-profile businessman and a former cabinet minister, the new alleged spies were largely people on the fringes of Israeli society, including recent immigrants, an army deserter, and a convicted sex offender, conversations with the sources, court records, and official statements show.
Much of their activity was limited to spraying anti-Netanyahu or anti-government graffiti on walls and damaging cars, Shin Bet has said.
Nonetheless, the scale of the arrests and involvement of so many Jewish Israelis, in addition to Arab citizens, has caused concern in Israel at a time when it remains at war with Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza and when a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah remains fragile.
The Shin Bet on October 21 said the espionage activities were “among the most severe the state of Israel has known.”
The arrests also follow a wave of attempted hits and kidnappings linked to Tehran in Europe and the United States.
The unusual decision to provide detailed public accounts of the alleged plots was a move by Israel’s security services to signal both to Iran and potential saboteurs inside Israel that they would be caught, Ben Hanan said.
“You want to alert the public. And you also want to make an example of people that may also have intentions or plans to cooperate with the enemy,” he said.
Israel has been in direct conflict with Iran’s proxies since war erupted last year when Hamas-led terrorists rampaged across southern communities on October 7, 2023, slaughtering some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages to Gaza.
Iran has been weakened after Hezbollah initiated a conflict with Israel following Hamas’s October 7 massacre, leading to the elimination of most of the terror group’s leadership and military infrastructure, and after the related fall of Tehran’s ally, former president Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
Iran has launched two ballistic missile attacks against the Jewish state since last April, after the second of which Israel carried out a wave of airstrikes that crippled the Islamic Republic’s air defense systems.
Social media recruits
Iranian intelligence agencies often find potential recruits on social media platforms, Israel Police said in a video released in November warning of ongoing infiltration attempts.
The recruiting efforts are at times direct. One message sent to an Israeli civilian and seen by Reuters promised $15,000 in exchange for information, with an email and number to call.
Iran has also approached expatriate networks of Jews from Caucasus countries living in Canada and the United States, said one of the sources, a former senior official who worked on Israel’s counter-espionage efforts until 2007.
Israeli authorities have said publicly some of the Jewish suspects were originally from Caucasus countries.
Recruited individuals are first assigned innocuous-seeming tasks in return for money, before handlers gradually demand specific intelligence on targets, including about individuals and sensitive military infrastructure, backed by the threat of blackmail, said the former official.
One suspect, Vladislav Viktorson, 30, was arrested on October 14 along with his 18-year-old girlfriend in the city of Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv. He had been jailed in 2015 for sex with minors as young as 14, according to a court indictment from that time.
An acquaintance of Viktorson told Reuters he had told her he had spoken to Iranians using the Telegram messaging app. She said that Viktorson had lied to his handlers about his military experience. The acquaintance declined to be named, citing safety fears.
Igal Dotan, Viktorson’s lawyer, told Reuters he was representing the suspect, adding that the legal process would take time and that his client was being held in tough conditions. Dotan said he could only respond to the current case and had not defended Victorson in earlier trials.
Shin Bet and police said Viktorson knew he was working for Iranian intelligence, carrying out tasks including spraying graffiti, hiding money, posting flyers, and burning cars in the Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv for which he received over $5,000.
According to the investigation made public by the security services, he was found to have subsequently agreed to carry out an assassination of an Israeli personality, throw a grenade into a house, and also look to obtain a sniper rifle, pistols, and fragmentation grenades.
He recruited his girlfriend, who was tasked with recruiting homeless people to photograph demonstrations, the security services said.
Alisia Levin, 34, from Karmiel, was murdered by Hamas terrorists while fleeing the Supernova music festival on October 7.
She attended the rave with her boyfriend, Steven Makarchenko, and the couple left the festival via car. Their car was later found abandoned near Kibbutz Mefalsim, and loved ones searched for any sign of them for several days. After a week, Alisia’s body was located and identified. Steven was also slain during the attack.
Alisia was buried on October 15 in Karmiel. She is survived by her son, Shon, daughter, Daniela, parents Yudmilla and Andrey, sister Yulia and her identical twin Lina.
A certified personal trainer, Alisia loved her career and was known all around the Galilee area for her work. She and her identical twin, also a personal trainer, dreamed of opening their own studio together. In February 2024, Lina turned their dream into a reality, opening up “Twins Fitness” in Alisia’s memory, decorating the studio with images of them together and dedicating it to her.
Alisia was also a doting mom to her two teenage children, whom she raised as a single mother, never letting them feel that anything was lacking in their lives.
“Alisia Levin was a wonderful person,” wrote her friend Eran Bluestein on Facebook. “I spent many hours sweating away at the Crossfit box with her. She always had an infectious smile and was always there to give a supportive nudge or egg me on when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore. She was beautiful and was always so full of life and joy.”
Her friend Liat Damti wrote online that Alisia “was a role model for all of us, a mentor in your soul.” She lived life “with joy and at a high frequency that everything was p-e-r-f-e-c-t. Working out in the first row with you always made me feel how much willpower I have and how much I really want it… My heart is broken, shattered, hurting, bleeding.”
In an Instagram post, Alisia’s identical twin Lina joked that in most of their photos together they weren’t facing each other, “since we both have the same good side,” and would argue over who would give in to the other.
“If only I could give in to you and take one more photo with you, one more memory, one more shared experience,” she wrote. “I miss you so intensely, the memories of you just choke me and are accompanied by pain that burrows into the heart.”
She wrote, “My love, my other half, my twin sister, I love you immensely. Thank you for all the strength, for the ability to keep going in workouts, you are with me in every workout class, allowing me not to give up or to break.”
“Thank you for your incredible kids, who are our kids, every hug from them fills me with unconditional love and I will never give up on them,” she added. “I love them with a full heart as if they were my own — I’ll never replace you as a mother but I will try to give them love that only a mother can.” link
Dark Legacy - The Abandonment of October 7th Hostages
Netanyahu’s Legacy is the Abandonment of Public Health,and the Abandonment of Life ItselfProf. Hagai LevineChairman of the Israeli Association of Public Health Physicians, and head of the medical team serving the hostages' families.
In October 2018, Netanyahu surprised us with a rare moment of candor that testifies to his legacy - the abandonment of life and public health. Orna Peretz, a resident of Kiryat Shemona, an admirer of Netanyahu and a supporter of his Likud party, demanded basic health services for outlying communities. Netanyahu shut her down crassly, saying, “You simply don’t interest us, you’re boring us.”That comment reflects his attitude not just toward our health, but toward our lives as well.For that’s the simple truth about Mr. Abandonment: our health doesn’t interest him. Israel’s National Health Insurance Law is based on the principles of “justice, equality and mutual aid.” Netanyahu abandoned these principles for the sake of his political and personal interests. During his long tenure as prime minister, he has caused grave damage to Israel’s public health system. And that damage costs lives.As prime minister, Netanyahu privatized the health system, widening the gaps between the country’s center and its periphery, and undercutting professionalism to benefit foreign interests. For years, he’s been weakening professional staff and essential infrastructure. He abandoned the health of Israel’s children to the epidemics of smoking and obesity by charting an irresponsible policy that benefited big business. He allowed the pollution of air, water, and soil, in the service of gas and energy tycoons. He abandoned Israel to the ravages of the climate crisis, failing to adequately prepare.During the COVID epidemic, Netanyahu led a reckless and ineffective policy of extreme closures that defied professional recommendations and was procedurally flawed. He abandoned the elderly to loneliness and abandoned children to boredom by closing schools for no reason - decisions that will have grave implications for many years to come. Instead of bolstering the epidemiological network, he abandoned the public and its privacy to a stupid tracking system carried out by the Shin Bet security service.The campaign Netanyahu has led to diminish the judicial system and its independence will also batter public health. The weakening of the courts and gatekeepers, the appointment of incompetents, and the obliteration of professionalism, threaten the health system and public health. That attempt at judicial overhaul has weakened Israel. Netanyahu was warned that our enemies would see that as a ripe opportunity to strike, but he ignored those explicit warnings.On October 7th and in its aftermath, his abandonment reached new lows, the horrific consequences of which are well known. More than 1,600 killed in combat or murdered, and more than 250 taken hostage. For over nine months, 120 of these hostages have been abandoned by Netanyahu, relinquished to the cruel hands of their captors. The ongoing abandonment of the hostages, and Netanyahu’s torpedoing of deals that would free them, put his legacy on display in the most tragic way - the abandonment of life itself.The families of the hostages, who require rehabilitation and recognition as victims of terrorism, have been abandoned as well, their needs unmet. But the abandonment doesn’t end there. While Netanyahu’s government is busy handing out money to coalition partners and passing laws that serve vested interests, about 200,000 people in Israel’s north and south have been uprooted from their homes, with no return in sight. Soldiers are being sent to the battlefield with no clear strategy, their businesses and livelihoods are being hurt, and their families are living in a constant state of anxiety. About 10,000 war-wounded are being treated by a starved health system. The difficult conditions have led to a mental health crisis to which Netanyahu is indifferent.Kiryat Shemona and residents of the north and south continue to bore Netanyahu. Displaced and insecure, they are suffering from severe physical and mental health problems. The north is on fire and there’s no strategy or responsible adult at the wheel - because Netanyahu’s legacy is the abandonment of public health, and the abandonment of life itself.
Acronyms and Glossary
ICC - International Criminal Court in the Hague
IJC - International Court of Justice in the Hague
MDA - Magen David Adom - Israel Ambulance Corp
PA - Palestinian Authority - President Mahmud Abbas, aka Abu Mazen
PMO- Prime Minister's Office
UAV - Unmanned Aerial vehicle, Drone. Could be used for surveillance and reconnaissance, or be weaponized with missiles or contain explosives for 'suicide' explosion mission
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