🎗️Lonny's War Update- October 448, 2023 - December 27, 2024 🎗️
🎗️Day 448 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
*3:30am- - from Netanya in the north to past Ashdod in the south - ballistic missile from Yemen- intercepted before reaching Israeli borders
IDF: One missile fired from Yemen, intercepted outside Israeli airspace
The IDF says the alerts that sounded across central Israel, sending millions to bomb shelters in the middle of the night, were triggered by a single missile fired from Yemen.
The projectile was intercepted outside Israel’s airspace, and the alarms were activated for fear of falling debris, the military says.
The Magen David Adom ambulance service says 18 people were lightly hurt while rushing to a bomb shelter, and two people suffered acute anxiety attacks.
Areas of red alert of ballistic missile from Yemen
*9:30am- Herzliya-
The IDF says the alerts that sounded across central Israel, sending millions to bomb shelters in the middle of the night, were triggered by a single missile fired from Yemen.
The projectile was intercepted outside Israel’s airspace, and the alarms were activated for fear of falling debris, the military says.
The Magen David Adom ambulance service says 18 people were lightly hurt while rushing to a bomb shelter, and two people suffered acute anxiety attacks.
Police: Terrorist in Herzliya stabbing attack is 28-year-old Palestinian from West Bank
Police say that the assailant who stabbed and killed a woman in her 80s in Herzliya was a 28-year-old Palestinian from the West Bank.
The man was shot on the scene by armed guards and arrested by police. No details have been given on his condition.
Victim of Herzliya terror attack: Ludmila Lipovsky, age 83
Lipovsky resided in the assisted living facility in Herzliya, was waiting outside the building for her daughter when she was stabbed by a terrorist • She was critically wounded and was pronounced dead at Ichilov Hospital • Security guards at the scene neutralized the terrorist, a resident of Tulkarm who had previously been in prison • Security forces are investigating how he managed to enter Israeli territory
May her memory be a blessing
May her memory be a blessing
The Palestinian who stabbed an elderly woman to death in Herzliya this morning was a former Shin Bet informant, the security agency says.
According to the Shin Bet, the suspect was involved in uncovering terror networks in the West Bank, before his cover was blown. He was then transferred to Israel for rehabilitation.
He was shot and detained at the scene of the deadly stabbing. The Shin Bet says it will question the suspect to investigate the circumstances of the terror attack.
An IDF officer was killed during fighting in the northern Gaza Strip earlier today, the military says.
The slain soldier is named as Maj. Hod Shriebman, 27, a platoon commander in the elite Multidomain Unit, from Tzofit.
May his memory be a revolution
Another soldier with the unit was seriously wounded in the same incident, which the military says is under investigation
Hostage Updates
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told aides this week that he will not agree to a hostage deal with Hamas without receiving a list of the names of living abductees, Walla reports, citing two sources familiar with the details.
The report says Netanyahu told a meeting this week — following the return of negotiators from talks in Qatar — that “we can’t get any names out of Hamas and I’m not prepared to enter a deal without knowing what I’m making a deal over and who I’m getting in return.”
According to the Hebrew-language outlet, Netanyahu also said in meetings after the return of negotiators from Doha on Tuesday night that he won’t move forward without knowing who exactly the terror group will release in the first phase of a deal.
Hamas says it cannot provide a comprehensive list before a ceasefire is in place, since some of the hostages are being held by other groups in Gaza. Link If I’ve known for at least 6 months, Netanyahu certainly knows a lot better that Hamas truly dies need a week to search and locate the hostages that they don’t know the whereabouts or status of- living or dead. There are still ways for a deal to be made that would give Hamas a week to provide that list such as conditioning the release of certain Palestinian prisoners upon receiving the list
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told aides this week that he will not agree to a hostage deal with Hamas without receiving a list of the names of living abductees, Walla reports, citing two sources familiar with the details.
The report says Netanyahu told a meeting this week — following the return of negotiators from talks in Qatar — that “we can’t get any names out of Hamas and I’m not prepared to enter a deal without knowing what I’m making a deal over and who I’m getting in return.”
According to the Hebrew-language outlet, Netanyahu also said in meetings after the return of negotiators from Doha on Tuesday night that he won’t move forward without knowing who exactly the terror group will release in the first phase of a deal.
Hamas says it cannot provide a comprehensive list before a ceasefire is in place, since some of the hostages are being held by other groups in Gaza. Link If I’ve known for at least 6 months, Netanyahu certainly knows a lot better that Hamas truly dies need a week to search and locate the hostages that they don’t know the whereabouts or status of- living or dead. There are still ways for a deal to be made that would give Hamas a week to provide that list such as conditioning the release of certain Palestinian prisoners upon receiving the list
Gaza and the South
- A Dose of Realpolitik for Palestinians, Israelis, and others in the Region (Gershon Baskin, December 27, 2024)
The war in Gaza will not end until it is 100% clear that Hamas will no longer rule and control Gaza. The Netanyahu government is fully prepared to sacrifice the Israeli hostages and Israeli soldiers who will continue to be killed in Gaza. The Netanyahu government, and most of the people of Israel care very little about the massive killing of Palestinians in Gaza or the fact that there is an enormous humanitarian disaster in Gaza. The International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court have little impact on Israeli decision making and the power of international law to change Israeli policies is minimal. If we want this war to end, if we want sufficient humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, if we want to see Gaza rebuilt after the war, the Palestinian people and its representatives need to now make decisions and offer solutions that will end the war. There are a number of possibilities – all of them are problematic, but keeping the situation as it is without a solution is a disaster. In all proposed solutions, it is very likely that whoever is in charge in Gaza will have to invite an Arab-led international force to Gaza for a limited period of time to help to stabilize the situation, provide security to the people of Gaza and guarantees that there will be no more attacks from Gaza on Israel.
The following are a few ideas:1. The return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza – the upside is reunification, which most Palestinian want. The downside is that the Palestinian Authority has almost no legitimacy in Gaza. No doubt that the Palestinian Authority’s efforts to fight Islamic Jihad now in Jenin is aimed at demonstrating to the Americans that they are capable of taking over the rule in Gaza and confronting Hamas’s remaining military forces. But will the people of Gaza accept the Palestinian Authority run by Mahmoud Abbas? 2. The appointment by the Palestinian Authority President of an individual who has legitimacy in Gaza, is independent of the Palestinian Authority and capable of creating a representative governing council for Gaza for an interim period. That interim government needs to be capable of creating a security force that can incorporate willing Hamas combatants into its service while willing to confront others in order to collect all unauthorized weapons in Gaza. 3. An International Trusteeship created by Palestinian request to the UN Security Council perhaps on the model of East Timor. (United Nations Administered East Timor refers to the period between 25 October 1999 and 20 May 2002 when East Timor was administered by the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor as a United Nations protectorate.)
There are definitely other possibilities, but if we are taking a hard realistic look at them, the primary condition for changing the situation is Gaza, is that the war must end and Israel must withdraw from Gaza, for that to happen, the hostages must be returned and Hamas must no longer control Gaza. This is in the hands of the Palestinian people. -Gershon Baskin - Dec 27, 2024
The IDF says it has launched a new operation at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza’s Jabalia, after identifying the presence of Hamas operatives in the area.
“The Kamal Adwan Hospital serves as a Hamas terrorist stronghold in northern Gaza, from which terrorists have been operating throughout the war,” the military claims.
The IDF last operated against Hamas at the hospital in October. “It has once again become a key stronghold for terrorist organizations and continues to be used as a hideout for terrorist operatives,” the IDF says.
The military says troops of the 401st Armored Brigade in the last few hours have been conducting “targeted operations in the area while mitigating harm to uninvolved civilians, patients, and medical personnel.”
The IDF says it “facilitated the secure evacuation of civilians, patients, and medical personnel prior to the operation” to mitigate civilian harm. The civilians were taken to other hospitals in Gaza in an effort coordinated by the Defense Ministry’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) with local health officials and international organizations, the military says.
“The IDF and COGAT continue to make extensive efforts to enable patients to continue receiving care in other hospitals by facilitating the evacuation of patients from the Kamal Adwan Hospital, the ongoing transfer of supplies, food, and fuel to the area, and the restoration of operations of hospitals in the area, while maintaining ongoing communication with hospital officials,” the army adds.
The IDF says it has launched a new operation at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza’s Jabalia, after identifying the presence of Hamas operatives in the area.
“The Kamal Adwan Hospital serves as a Hamas terrorist stronghold in northern Gaza, from which terrorists have been operating throughout the war,” the military claims.
The IDF last operated against Hamas at the hospital in October. “It has once again become a key stronghold for terrorist organizations and continues to be used as a hideout for terrorist operatives,” the IDF says.
The military says troops of the 401st Armored Brigade in the last few hours have been conducting “targeted operations in the area while mitigating harm to uninvolved civilians, patients, and medical personnel.”
The IDF says it “facilitated the secure evacuation of civilians, patients, and medical personnel prior to the operation” to mitigate civilian harm. The civilians were taken to other hospitals in Gaza in an effort coordinated by the Defense Ministry’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) with local health officials and international organizations, the military says.
“The IDF and COGAT continue to make extensive efforts to enable patients to continue receiving care in other hospitals by facilitating the evacuation of patients from the Kamal Adwan Hospital, the ongoing transfer of supplies, food, and fuel to the area, and the restoration of operations of hospitals in the area, while maintaining ongoing communication with hospital officials,” the army adds.
Northern Israel - Lebanon/Hizbollah/Syria
Damascus governor: ‘We have no fear toward Israel… there exists a people who want coexistence’
an interview with NPR said to be on behalf of Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, the governor of Damascus says the newly-installed government wants to have good relations with Israel.
Maher Marwan says that Israel’s initial trepidation after the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad was “natural.”
“Israel may have felt fear,” he says. “So it advanced a little, bombed a little, etc.”
We have no fear towards Israel, and our problem is not with Israel,” he says. “There exists a people who want coexistence. They want peace. They don’t want disputes.”
“We want peace, and we cannot be an opponent to Israel or an opponent to anyone,” he says.
Damascus governor: ‘We have no fear toward Israel… there exists a people who want coexistence’
an interview with NPR said to be on behalf of Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, the governor of Damascus says the newly-installed government wants to have good relations with Israel.
Maher Marwan says that Israel’s initial trepidation after the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad was “natural.”
“Israel may have felt fear,” he says. “So it advanced a little, bombed a little, etc.”
We have no fear towards Israel, and our problem is not with Israel,” he says. “There exists a people who want coexistence. They want peace. They don’t want disputes.”
“We want peace, and we cannot be an opponent to Israel or an opponent to anyone,” he says.
IDF says it hit Hezbollah infrastructure used to transfer arms in strikes on Syria-Lebanon border
The IDF confirms launching airstrikes early this morning against what it says was infrastructure used by Hezbollah on the Syria-Lebanon border to transfer arms.
According to the military, Israeli Air Force fighter jets hit sites at the Janta crossing, located in the Beqaa Valley of eastern Lebanon.
“The Hezbollah terror organization uses civilian infrastructure to carry out terror activity and to transfer weapons, which are intended to be used to carry out terror attacks against Israeli citizens,” the military says.
IDF says it hit Hezbollah infrastructure used to transfer arms in strikes on Syria-Lebanon border
The IDF confirms launching airstrikes early this morning against what it says was infrastructure used by Hezbollah on the Syria-Lebanon border to transfer arms.
According to the military, Israeli Air Force fighter jets hit sites at the Janta crossing, located in the Beqaa Valley of eastern Lebanon.
“The Hezbollah terror organization uses civilian infrastructure to carry out terror activity and to transfer weapons, which are intended to be used to carry out terror attacks against Israeli citizens,” the military says.
West Bank and Jerusalem and Terror attacks within Israel
- Israel arrests Palestinian suspected of killing 2 off-duty IDF soldiers in 2007
A Palestinian suspected of carrying out a deadly shooting attack in the West Bank 17 years ago was detained by troops, Israeli defense authorities say.
In a joint statement, the IDF, Israel Police and Shin Bet say that the detained Palestinian, Ali Dandis, is suspected of carrying out the 2007 Nahal Telem shooting, in which two off-duty soldiers, Ahikam Amihai and David Rubin, were killed while on a hike.
Dandis is also suspected of carrying out a shooting attack in 2012, which did not cause any injuries, according to the Shin Bet.
Dandis and another assailant had turned themselves in to the Palestinian Authority security forces following the attack. The PA sentenced them to 15 years in prison.
Dandis was held in a PA jail for several years, and he was detained earlier today in Bethlehem by members of police’s elite Yamam unit, after he was found to be outside of jail, according to the Shin Bet.
A Palestinian suspected of carrying out a deadly shooting attack in the West Bank 17 years ago was detained by troops, Israeli defense authorities say.
In a joint statement, the IDF, Israel Police and Shin Bet say that the detained Palestinian, Ali Dandis, is suspected of carrying out the 2007 Nahal Telem shooting, in which two off-duty soldiers, Ahikam Amihai and David Rubin, were killed while on a hike.
Dandis is also suspected of carrying out a shooting attack in 2012, which did not cause any injuries, according to the Shin Bet.
Dandis and another assailant had turned themselves in to the Palestinian Authority security forces following the attack. The PA sentenced them to 15 years in prison.
Dandis was held in a PA jail for several years, and he was detained earlier today in Bethlehem by members of police’s elite Yamam unit, after he was found to be outside of jail, according to the Shin Bet.
Politics and the War (general news)
The Confession in Closed Rooms That Will Decide Netanyahu's Fate
Netanyahu's Speech in the Knesset Exposes the Gap Between Slogans and Reality—and the Missing Objective in His War Goals
In response to the resolute demands of the families of the October 7th victims, Netanyahu has one political goal. Meanwhile, whispers within the ultra-Orthodox parties signal what might emerge as the outcome of the political crisis. Dafna Liel unpacks the situation.
This week, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived to deliver a speech in the Knesset plenary, members of “Shift 101”—families of the hostages leading a quiet protest—were waiting for him in the gallery. They stood silently in front of him, not uttering a word. This silence starkly emphasized the gap between reality and the spins launched from the Knesset podium.
Protest of kidnapped families during Netanyahu's speech in the plenum
“They mocked the concept of ‘absolute victory’ that I have championed with my colleagues since the beginning of the campaign,” Netanyahu said. “But reality is stronger than your scorn and mockery. Time and again, it has been proven who was right and who was wrong.” He stressed that Israel is in a historic period, striking its enemies and solidifying its strategic strength.
For months, Netanyahu has been advancing the “absolute victory” campaign, and this week, he continued to do so even in front of the hostage families in the Knesset. While the prime minister noted that “the joy is incomplete” without them, he delivered a victory speech focused on the notion that “everyone underestimated him, but he alone was right and prevailed.” Yet, in the very same speech, Netanyahu exposed the gap between slogans and reality as he listed the war’s objectives: returning all the hostages, eliminating Hamas, preventing future threats to Israel, and restoring normal life in the south and north.
The War Goals: Between Vision and Reality
Israel has achieved notable successes in the war and now faces tremendous opportunities created by the fighting. However, boasting about an “absolute victory” is premature—if such terms are even applicable to an event that claimed nearly 1,800 victims. The pain remains immense, and there will be no absolute victory without the return of all the hostages.
Moreover, one fundamental goal seems to be missing from the list Netanyahu presented—a goal that should be self-evident: investigating the gravest disaster in Israel’s history to ensure it never happens again. A government that chose not to seek renewed public trust after October 7 should have been the one to lead such a process. Instead, 870 families, united in the “October Council,” are now forced to fight for the establishment of a state commission of inquiry. Instead of focusing on mourning, commemorating their loved ones, and rebuilding, they find themselves in emergency meetings, engaged in an exhausting struggle for the right to uncover the truth and make amends.
Netanyahu, for his part, continues to push for a political investigation committee, even though he knows such an approach will not be acceptable to most families and cannot replace a genuine inquiry. His goal is different: to buy time, making it increasingly difficult—or even impossible—to uncover the truth.
Returning All the Hostages?
Netanyahu is not willing to end the war—he said so explicitly to the Knesset members. Consequently, only a partial deal is possible. Dozens of hostages will remain behind, including young men who have been waiting for the state to rescue them for over 450 days. The families are pleading for a comprehensive deal, especially given the time elapsed since the last agreement—13 precious months during which many hostages were lost.
Eliminating Hamas?
Although its military capabilities have been significantly weakened, the terror organization still retains civilian control over the Gaza Strip. Those who control the mechanisms and money will eventually rearm. Even the issue of humanitarian mechanisms remains unresolved.
Restoring Normalcy?
In the south and north, the road to recovery is still long. For example, in Moshav Abdon, among the orchards and trees, shelters, sandbags, and concrete walls to protect against anti-tank fire have sprung up. The residents there are collapsing economically, and young people are reluctant to return home.
The families are begging for a comprehensive deal
The road to rehabilitation is still long. Destruction in Kibbutz Menara
And Where Did I Get This Twisted Idea?
From Netanyahu himself, who just two years ago demanded a state commission of inquiry into the spyware affair and warned against each day that passed: “Only a state commission of inquiry can provide answers to the public. Every day without a state commission of inquiry increases the likelihood of investigation tampering and witness coordination.” That was true back then, when dealing with wiretapping, and it is a thousand times truer when addressing the worst massacre in Jewish history since the Holocaust.
Even in the political arena, Netanyahu has objectives and goals, chief among them—passing the budget and securing his tenure until the end of the term. By then, the disaster will seem even more distant, and he will be able to achieve further military and diplomatic successes, particularly concerning Iran and Saudi Arabia.
But this week, the ultra-Orthodox parties had a wake-up call: the new draft law, which once seemed like a done deal, is slipping further out of reach. By the end of this week, it appeared that Defense Minister Israel Katz would struggle to “square the circle” involving the High Court, the ultra-Orthodox parties, and Knesset members demanding equitable conscription.
What Changed the Picture?
Time. Netanyahu and the ultra-Orthodox hoped that time would work in their favor—that the war would end, public pressure would ease, and the removal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant from his position would enable the advancement of legislation supported by the defense establishment. But the opposite happened. The security situation only became more complex—the Syrian front, missile fire from Yemen, escalating tensions in Judea and Samaria, and challenges with Iran.
The IDF needs more soldiers. Initially, it announced a need for 10,000; now it requires 12,000. This year, it could absorb an additional 3,000 soldiers, but without any tricks—the army demands personal criminal sanctions against draft evaders to ensure that the 3,000 truly enlist. The IDF also wants to choose the personnel it needs. The ultra-Orthodox can’t believe this is happening. They had already crafted a law full of deceit and were convinced the IDF would cooperate. Without the military’s support, it will be much harder to win over MK Yuli Edelstein and Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who continues to insist that he did not join the government to legitimize a draft evasion law.
Netanyahu finds himself with a half-full, half-empty glass. On one hand, the draft law is receding, and the ultra-Orthodox are frustrated. On the other hand, his government, it seems, will survive even this crisis. Senior ultra-Orthodox officials admit to us that they will likely support the budget even if the draft law isn’t passed—thus determining the government’s fate and that of its leader.
Although the rebbe of Gur demands the draft law, even if Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf resigns, the government will survive. While there are currently economic sanctions (such as the daycare law, which has yet to take effect), there is no conscription. Who knows what another government might do? And if Netanyahu manages to pass the budget, as it seems he will, he will have at least one definitive victory in hand—over his political rivals and everyone who prematurely predicted his downfall. link
- "In the Crosshairs - Children of Senior Hamas Officials | These Are the Eliminated Ones"
The Confession in Closed Rooms That Will Decide Netanyahu's Fate
Netanyahu's Speech in the Knesset Exposes the Gap Between Slogans and Reality—and the Missing Objective in His War Goals
In response to the resolute demands of the families of the October 7th victims, Netanyahu has one political goal. Meanwhile, whispers within the ultra-Orthodox parties signal what might emerge as the outcome of the political crisis. Dafna Liel unpacks the situation.
This week, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived to deliver a speech in the Knesset plenary, members of “Shift 101”—families of the hostages leading a quiet protest—were waiting for him in the gallery. They stood silently in front of him, not uttering a word. This silence starkly emphasized the gap between reality and the spins launched from the Knesset podium.
“They mocked the concept of ‘absolute victory’ that I have championed with my colleagues since the beginning of the campaign,” Netanyahu said. “But reality is stronger than your scorn and mockery. Time and again, it has been proven who was right and who was wrong.” He stressed that Israel is in a historic period, striking its enemies and solidifying its strategic strength.
For months, Netanyahu has been advancing the “absolute victory” campaign, and this week, he continued to do so even in front of the hostage families in the Knesset. While the prime minister noted that “the joy is incomplete” without them, he delivered a victory speech focused on the notion that “everyone underestimated him, but he alone was right and prevailed.” Yet, in the very same speech, Netanyahu exposed the gap between slogans and reality as he listed the war’s objectives: returning all the hostages, eliminating Hamas, preventing future threats to Israel, and restoring normal life in the south and north.
The War Goals: Between Vision and Reality
Israel has achieved notable successes in the war and now faces tremendous opportunities created by the fighting. However, boasting about an “absolute victory” is premature—if such terms are even applicable to an event that claimed nearly 1,800 victims. The pain remains immense, and there will be no absolute victory without the return of all the hostages.
Moreover, one fundamental goal seems to be missing from the list Netanyahu presented—a goal that should be self-evident: investigating the gravest disaster in Israel’s history to ensure it never happens again. A government that chose not to seek renewed public trust after October 7 should have been the one to lead such a process. Instead, 870 families, united in the “October Council,” are now forced to fight for the establishment of a state commission of inquiry. Instead of focusing on mourning, commemorating their loved ones, and rebuilding, they find themselves in emergency meetings, engaged in an exhausting struggle for the right to uncover the truth and make amends.
Netanyahu, for his part, continues to push for a political investigation committee, even though he knows such an approach will not be acceptable to most families and cannot replace a genuine inquiry. His goal is different: to buy time, making it increasingly difficult—or even impossible—to uncover the truth.
Returning All the Hostages?
Netanyahu is not willing to end the war—he said so explicitly to the Knesset members. Consequently, only a partial deal is possible. Dozens of hostages will remain behind, including young men who have been waiting for the state to rescue them for over 450 days. The families are pleading for a comprehensive deal, especially given the time elapsed since the last agreement—13 precious months during which many hostages were lost.
Eliminating Hamas?
Although its military capabilities have been significantly weakened, the terror organization still retains civilian control over the Gaza Strip. Those who control the mechanisms and money will eventually rearm. Even the issue of humanitarian mechanisms remains unresolved.
Restoring Normalcy?
In the south and north, the road to recovery is still long. For example, in Moshav Abdon, among the orchards and trees, shelters, sandbags, and concrete walls to protect against anti-tank fire have sprung up. The residents there are collapsing economically, and young people are reluctant to return home.
And Where Did I Get This Twisted Idea?
From Netanyahu himself, who just two years ago demanded a state commission of inquiry into the spyware affair and warned against each day that passed: “Only a state commission of inquiry can provide answers to the public. Every day without a state commission of inquiry increases the likelihood of investigation tampering and witness coordination.” That was true back then, when dealing with wiretapping, and it is a thousand times truer when addressing the worst massacre in Jewish history since the Holocaust.
Even in the political arena, Netanyahu has objectives and goals, chief among them—passing the budget and securing his tenure until the end of the term. By then, the disaster will seem even more distant, and he will be able to achieve further military and diplomatic successes, particularly concerning Iran and Saudi Arabia.
But this week, the ultra-Orthodox parties had a wake-up call: the new draft law, which once seemed like a done deal, is slipping further out of reach. By the end of this week, it appeared that Defense Minister Israel Katz would struggle to “square the circle” involving the High Court, the ultra-Orthodox parties, and Knesset members demanding equitable conscription.
What Changed the Picture?
Time. Netanyahu and the ultra-Orthodox hoped that time would work in their favor—that the war would end, public pressure would ease, and the removal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant from his position would enable the advancement of legislation supported by the defense establishment. But the opposite happened. The security situation only became more complex—the Syrian front, missile fire from Yemen, escalating tensions in Judea and Samaria, and challenges with Iran.
The IDF needs more soldiers. Initially, it announced a need for 10,000; now it requires 12,000. This year, it could absorb an additional 3,000 soldiers, but without any tricks—the army demands personal criminal sanctions against draft evaders to ensure that the 3,000 truly enlist. The IDF also wants to choose the personnel it needs. The ultra-Orthodox can’t believe this is happening. They had already crafted a law full of deceit and were convinced the IDF would cooperate. Without the military’s support, it will be much harder to win over MK Yuli Edelstein and Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who continues to insist that he did not join the government to legitimize a draft evasion law.
Netanyahu finds himself with a half-full, half-empty glass. On one hand, the draft law is receding, and the ultra-Orthodox are frustrated. On the other hand, his government, it seems, will survive even this crisis. Senior ultra-Orthodox officials admit to us that they will likely support the budget even if the draft law isn’t passed—thus determining the government’s fate and that of its leader.
Although the rebbe of Gur demands the draft law, even if Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf resigns, the government will survive. While there are currently economic sanctions (such as the daycare law, which has yet to take effect), there is no conscription. Who knows what another government might do? And if Netanyahu manages to pass the budget, as it seems he will, he will have at least one definitive victory in hand—over his political rivals and everyone who prematurely predicted his downfall. link
Since the war began, Israel has eliminated quite a few children of senior Hamas officials, some of whom held significant positions in the terrorist organization - and according to a Saudi report, the focus on them has increased recently. Among those eliminated: Haniyeh's sons and Deif's brother. "Being the son of a leader grants you high social status - even after the war"
The children of Hamas senior officials who remained in the Gaza Strip have been in Israel's crosshairs since the war began, but according to Arab reports, it appears their eliminations have increased recently. "Being the son of a Hamas leader grants you very high social status in the Strip, even after the war, despite citizens' anger towards them," said sources in Gaza who spoke with ynet. "These are people who have money, they know where to hide and how to get lots of food. They know the infrastructure in Gaza well, which Israel hasn't yet reached."
During the war, the IDF has already eliminated several children of Hamas senior officials. The first was on December 28 last year, when Mohammed Issa, son of Marwan Issa, then number 3 in the terrorist organization's leadership in Gaza and deputy head of the military wing, who was also eliminated, was killed. Mohammed Issa suffered from cancer for years, and there were several unsuccessful attempts to evacuate him from Gaza even before the surprise attack so he could receive treatment.
Last April, the IDF successfully carried out a significant elimination of three sons and three grandchildren of then-Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, who has since been eliminated in Tehran. The six were eliminated in an Israeli strike on the Shati refugee camp in western Gaza City.
Two sons of senior Hamas official Fawzi Barhoum, Alaa and Bahaa Barhoum, were also eliminated by the IDF last November. Both were killed in a strike on the Al-Tabaein school in Gaza City, where according to Gaza sources they had arrived to pay salaries to Hamas members.The sons of Haniyeh who have been killed by the IDF
Last August, another son of a Hamas senior official was eliminated - Ismail Nofel, son of Ayman Nofel, commander of the Central Brigade in the terrorist organization's military wing, who was killed in an airstrike in the Nuseirat refugee camp. His father, one of the organization's prominent figures and close to Mohammed Deif, was eliminated at the start of the war.
The Jabalia Operation
According to sources on the ground who spoke with the Saudi newspaper "A-Sharq Al-Awsat," published in London in Arabic, four weeks ago Israel eliminated Taher Randour in a drone strike in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. Taher is the son of the commander of Hamas's Northern Gaza Brigade and head of its rocket array, Ahmed Randour, who was eliminated in a tunnel in Jabalia last November, days after Hamas distributed a warning flyer about hostages being near its senior officials.
Emad Salman, son of Rafat Salman, who was previously considered a senior military wing operative in northern Gaza, was also eliminated by the IDF in Jabalia several weeks ago. His father was eliminated alongside Ahmed Randour.
Along with Ahmed Randour, his deputy Wael Rajab was also eliminated, and two of his sons, Suheib and Hassan, were eliminated during the last two weeks in different IDF strikes in Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia. In IDF strikes in Jabalia, Ahmed Abu Askar was also eliminated, son of Mohammed Abu Askar, head of Hamas's administrative division in the camp. His father was eliminated only a few days ago in Gaza City.
According to sources who spoke with "A-Sharq Al-Awsat," Israel recently also eliminated Mohammed Al-Sharafi, son of Yousef Al-Sharafi, a member of Hamas's political bureau in northern Gaza. Additionally, a few days ago Israel eliminated Ibrahim Harb near the Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City. Ibrahim is the son of Yasser Harb, a member of Hamas's political bureau, who lost three of his sons in three different strikes, two of which were carried out during the recent military operation in the Jabalia refugee camp.
Suheib Al-Bayari, son of one of the prominent leaders of the "Al-Qassam Brigades" in northern Gaza, was also eliminated several weeks ago. Israel is also targeting Muamin Al-Jabari, son of Ahmed Al-Jabari who was eliminated in 2012 and was until then Deif's deputy, but the assassination attempt failed.
According to the Saudi newspaper, Israel has also eliminated one of Deif's brothers in recent months in a strike targeting his home in Khan Yunis. Also, the nephew of eliminated Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, Ibrahim Mohammed Sinwar, was killed in an Israeli strike when he emerged from a tunnel entrance to identify IDF movements while he was with his uncle in Rafah. link
The Region and the World
- Another episode of utter hypocrisy:
Iran, Hamas condemn Israeli airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen
Israeli Air Force F-15 fighter jets prepare for airstrikes against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, December 26, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)
Hamas and Iran both release statements criticizing Israel for carrying out a wave of airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.
“These aggressions are a clear violation of international peace and security and an undeniable crime against the heroic and noble people of Yemen, who have not spared any effort to support the oppressed people of Palestine against the occupation and genocide,” says Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a statement.
In a statement Hamas says that it “condemns the brutal terrorist aggression carried out by the Zionist enemy against our brothers from Yemen, targeting civilian sites including Sanaa Airport and the port of Hodeida.”
Iran, Hamas condemn Israeli airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen
Israeli Air Force F-15 fighter jets prepare for airstrikes against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, December 26, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)
Hamas and Iran both release statements criticizing Israel for carrying out a wave of airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.
“These aggressions are a clear violation of international peace and security and an undeniable crime against the heroic and noble people of Yemen, who have not spared any effort to support the oppressed people of Palestine against the occupation and genocide,” says Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a statement.
In a statement Hamas says that it “condemns the brutal terrorist aggression carried out by the Zionist enemy against our brothers from Yemen, targeting civilian sites including Sanaa Airport and the port of Hodeida.”
UN air crew member hurt in an Israeli air strike on Yemen’s main airport yesterday suffered serious injuries but is now recovering in hospital, a spokesperson for the World Health Organization says.
Israeli warplanes struck Houthi forces in Yemen in response to repeated ballistic missile and drone attacks on Israel which have ramped up in recent weeks.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was in the airport waiting to depart when the aerial bombardment took place and said that a member of his plane’s crew was injured.
The injured man worked for the UN Humanitarian Air Service, the WHO spokesperson says.
The Israeli strikes — a mission that some 25 jets took part in, including refueling, cargo and intelligence-gathering planes — followed days of increasingly bellicose threats from Israeli leaders vowing to decimate the Iran-backed terror group after near-daily attacks, most recently, overnight.
Personal Stories The New Neighborhood for Be’eri Residents in Hatzerim: “It’s Heartwarming to See Our Children Riding Their Bikes on the Sidewalk Again”
Project manager Adi Weiss and architect Bar Carbona, residents of Bari who designed the temporary residences in the premises
UN air crew member hurt in an Israeli air strike on Yemen’s main airport yesterday suffered serious injuries but is now recovering in hospital, a spokesperson for the World Health Organization says.
Israeli warplanes struck Houthi forces in Yemen in response to repeated ballistic missile and drone attacks on Israel which have ramped up in recent weeks.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was in the airport waiting to depart when the aerial bombardment took place and said that a member of his plane’s crew was injured.
The injured man worked for the UN Humanitarian Air Service, the WHO spokesperson says.
The Israeli strikes — a mission that some 25 jets took part in, including refueling, cargo and intelligence-gathering planes — followed days of increasingly bellicose threats from Israeli leaders vowing to decimate the Iran-backed terror group after near-daily attacks, most recently, overnight.
Project manager Adi Weiss and architect Bar Carbona, residents of Bari who designed the temporary residences in the premises
Even during the dramatic evacuation from their homes in Be’eri, amidst the surrounding devastation, project manager Adi Weiss and architect Bar Carbone realized they had nowhere to return to. A week at a hotel was enough for them to begin working on a temporary home for their community, despite the shocking news that their relatives had been murdered. After intense efforts, their life’s project, constructed in Kibbutz Hatzerim, was completed.
Adi Weiss and Bar Carbone are not only talented and professional women but also mothers and survivors of the massacre in Kibbutz Be’eri. Their story, which began in tragedy, has transformed into an inspiring journey of recovery and rebuilding—on every level.
On the morning of October 7, the holiday of Simchat Torah and Kibbutz Be’eri's community celebration day, Adi (39) and Bar (34) woke to a barrage of rockets and alarms. “We understood something very unusual was happening,” recalls Bar, who barricaded herself in a safe room with her partner, Tom, and their baby son, Albi, who had not yet turned one. At the same time, Adi was also locked in a safe room with her three children while her husband, Yuval, rushed out to fight as a member of the emergency response team.
For hours, the two women remained in their safe rooms without food, water, or electricity, as Hamas militants attempted to break down doors and enter. Nearby houses were burned, automatic gunfire echoed, explosions rang out, and shouts in Arabic filled the air. By the end of that horrific day, they were rescued but had lost family members: Bar’s mother-in-law, Galit Carbone, and Adi’s father-in-law and brother-in-law, Mati and Amir Weiss, were brutally murdered. “When I realized they had been killed,” Adi shares, “I tried not to show it to my kids. I played games with them and told them their grandparents’ ‘batteries had run out.’”
That night, as the two women fled through the ruins of the kibbutz, they came to a realization: “We understood there was nowhere to go back to.” Along with the surviving kibbutz members, they were evacuated to the Dead Sea. “Within a week, we grasped that we had no home and had to find a temporary place for us and our community to live,” says Adi. “We still didn’t know who was kidnapped or dead, and neither of us had buried our loved ones yet, but we understood that action was necessary,” adds Bar.
A Shared Destiny
Bar, an architect, and Adi, a project manager in planning, were not close and barely knew each other before the evacuation. At the hotel, they bonded over what they call a “shared destiny” and a singular mission: finding a new home for their community. Today, after successfully completing the project (led by Yaski Architects) and moving the residents into their homes, they share their story and that of the new residential neighborhood.
“We didn’t really know each other before,” says Bar. “It was through planning that we connected. I felt obligated to the kibbutz and my community, using all the knowledge I had.” Adi adds, “This gave us a reason to get up in the morning and cope. It was like psychological therapy for us. From the very first moment, there was a connection; we spent 18 hours a day together.”
They recount, “We activated all the connections we had, reaching out to anyone who could be relevant: the Southern District planner, the head of the Planning Administration, representatives from the Israel Land Authority, and the Ministry of Housing and Construction. We called everyone, saying, ‘You have to help us find a place to live.’”
After rounds of meetings, they discovered that Kibbutz Hatzerim, near Be’er Sheva, had already begun constructing a new neighborhood. Adi says, “From that point on, unintentionally and without planning, we entered the project of our lives. All the experience and connections we had accumulated led us to this moment—to design our ‘temporary kibbutz’ in Hatzerim and to begin rebuilding the beloved and beautiful kibbutz we loved so much, which had been completely destroyed.”
Temporary accommodation but adapted for Bari residents
Against the Clock
Adi and Bar didn’t just lobby; they got directly involved in the planning of the neighborhood to ensure it met Be’eri residents’ needs. They turned their hotel room at the Dead Sea into an office, opened laptops and maps, and immersed themselves in their mission.
“We worked on improving the homes, the conditions, the neighborhood, maximizing public spaces, and living standards,” they explain. “We communicated the project’s progress to the members and regularly visited the site to ensure everything was on track. There were many delays, and we had to keep explaining why they occurred.”
The two women insisted on establishing a dental clinic like the one in the kibbutz, where five people had been murdered. The original clinic is slated for demolition. They influenced the size of the homes, their internal layouts, the external spaces, and the addition of more lawns. They designed a community garden. “We wanted it to feel as homely as possible,” says Adi, “a place for gatherings, events, and coffee.” Bar adds, “We managed to create a sense of home here. After a year in a hotel, we waited for this moment. This is what we needed. It’s not Be’eri, true, but it’s the space we envisioned to help us move forward emotionally.”
A Race Against Time
With their professional experience, the women knew such processes typically take years. “These processes often take a decade,” says Bar. “Here, everything had to happen as quickly as possible. Every day of delay meant another day in a hotel.”
This was not just another project for them; it was, in every sense, their “life project.” The new neighborhood includes 287 homes in five different sizes, six kindergartens, four educational institutions, a dining hall, offices, a medical clinic, a dental clinic, a clothing warehouse, a local store, a playground, and a community garden. For them, the planning was deeply personal. “We weren’t designing for anonymous people; we were designing for our friends, for our community. That was the most complex aspect—our deep personal involvement.”
Adi says, “Slowly, the neighborhood took shape, and suddenly our children are riding bikes on the sidewalks again, and families are having picnics on the grass. It’s emotional to the point of tears.” They conclude, “Now that the neighborhood is stable and everyone has moved into their homes, it’s time to start working on rebuilding Be’eri. But the real recovery can only begin when all the hostages come home.” link
Dark Legacy - The Abandonment of October 7th Hostages
Does One Really Need
to Be a Psychiatrist
to Determine What Kind
of a Person This Is?
Dr. Daphna Shefet
Psychiatrist in the Public Health Services.
As a psychiatrist, I am often asked: Is he a megalomaniac? A psychopath?
Is he paranoid? Professional ethics prevent me from answering these
questions, since it is forbidden to diagnose a person you did not examine.
But the real question is: is that important?
Who is this person? A person who is standing trial for bribery, fraud
and breach of trust. Who incites, is divisive, and sows dissension who
surrounds himself with sycophants, ignoramuses and racists. Who rushes
to take credit for successes, but disowns all failures. Who turns his back
on true friends, those who were there for him in times of need. Who
ignores the bereaved and grieving families, despite being a bereaved
brother himself. Who legalizes draft dodging and the plundering of the
public coffers during wartime. Who refuses to look straight into the
eyes of members of displaced and broken communities, of members of
the media who refuse to tow his line, of the citizens of his nation. Who
stands between the hostages and their freedom.
dark legacy 61
Do you really need to be a psychiatrist to answer the question,
what kind of a person such a person is? A psychological conceptualization
of a person may provide depth and interest for discussion; but, in the
end, a person is the sum of his choices. These are his choices, and this
is the person.
Mr. Abandonment.
The only important question is: who are we? We are one people, despite
deep differences and diverse beliefs. We are also a people that mobilized
as one, absolutely and immediately, to embrace our fellow brothers and
sisters. We are a people that are sad, anxious, and angry, And we are
also a people that are brave, mobilized and loving. We are a people that
has repeatedly chosen a failed leadership. But also a people that seized
command where its leaders failed. A people that has erred, been hurt,
and fallen, but with a yellow ribbon and a dog tag on its heart. We are a
people that experienced a Holocaust, and resurrection, a massacre and
abandonment - and now...?
It is not only a person that is the sum of his choices. A people is also the
sum of all its choices. Let’s choose better leaders, Let’s choose better
ways. Let's choose responsibility, integrity, justice, and solidarity.
Let's choose hope.
Does One Really Need
to Be a Psychiatrist
to Determine What Kind
of a Person This Is?
Dr. Daphna Shefet
Psychiatrist in the Public Health Services.
As a psychiatrist, I am often asked: Is he a megalomaniac? A psychopath? Is he paranoid? Professional ethics prevent me from answering these questions, since it is forbidden to diagnose a person you did not examine.
But the real question is: is that important?
Who is this person? A person who is standing trial for bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Who incites, is divisive, and sows dissension who surrounds himself with sycophants, ignoramuses and racists. Who rushes to take credit for successes, but disowns all failures. Who turns his back on true friends, those who were there for him in times of need. Who ignores the bereaved and grieving families, despite being a bereaved brother himself. Who legalizes draft dodging and the plundering of the public coffers during wartime. Who refuses to look straight into the eyes of members of displaced and broken communities, of members of the media who refuse to tow his line, of the citizens of his nation. Who stands between the hostages and their freedom.
dark legacy 61
Do you really need to be a psychiatrist to answer the question, what kind of a person such a person is? A psychological conceptualization of a person may provide depth and interest for discussion; but, in the end, a person is the sum of his choices. These are his choices, and this is the person.
Mr. Abandonment.
The only important question is: who are we? We are one people, despite deep differences and diverse beliefs. We are also a people that mobilized as one, absolutely and immediately, to embrace our fellow brothers and sisters. We are a people that are sad, anxious, and angry, And we are also a people that are brave, mobilized and loving. We are a people that has repeatedly chosen a failed leadership. But also a people that seized command where its leaders failed. A people that has erred, been hurt, and fallen, but with a yellow ribbon and a dog tag on its heart. We are a people that experienced a Holocaust, and resurrection, a massacre and abandonment - and now...?
It is not only a person that is the sum of his choices. A people is also the sum of all its choices. Let’s choose better leaders, Let’s choose better ways. Let's choose responsibility, integrity, justice, and solidarity.
Let's choose hope.
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
Join my Whatsapp update group https://chat.whatsapp.com/IQ3OtwE6ydxBeBAxWNziB0
Twitter - @LonnyB58 Bluesky - @lonny-b.bsky.social
Twitter - @LonnyB58
Comments
Post a Comment