The Israeli Defense Ministry on Tuesday announced the signing of two significant agreements with Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems, valued at $275 million. These deals aim to advance domestic manufacturing independence and enhance local defense production.

The first agreement focuses on the supply of thousands of munitions, while the second involves establishing a facility to produce critical raw materials for Israel’s defense industry.

“We initiated this historic move before the war, but accelerated it during the conflict,” said Eyal Zamir Director General of the Ministry of Defense. “Under both agreements, initial capabilities will soon expand, ultimately achieving full independence in both areas. This is a key lesson from the war that will empower the Israel Defense Forces to continue operating effectively in all theaters.”

We applaud this much needed development. The more Israel takes control of being able to produce its own arms, the less dependent it will be on Uncle Sam, not to mention freeing her from having to appease the US due to political pressures. As Israel increases its ability to produce what it needs it will further its position as an independent and sovereign nation.

Source:
Israel advances domestic defense manufacturing independence, by JNS Staff, January 7, 2025

Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced on Thursday a compromise agreement on a new judicial reform proposal that deals with the composition of the Judicial Selection Committee and the enactment of Basic Laws.

According to the proposed outline, the committee will include three Supreme Court justices, two lawyers (one from the coalition and one from the opposition), two MKs (one from the coalition and one from the opposition), and two ministers. Appointing a judge to the Supreme Court will require the support of at least one coalition member and one opposition member. This means that judges will not be elected by a simple coalition majority, and at the same time, there will be no election of judges by a majority that does not include any representative from the coalition.

In addition, a Basic Law will be passed differentiating the passage of Basic Laws from normal laws. This will prevent the passage of quasi-constitutional legislation in spur-of–the-moment moves. There will be no judicial review of Basic Laws, except for basic laws that violate equality in elections, which can be invalidated by a three-quarters majority of the court’s judges.

If passed, these reforms would only come into effect in the next Knesset after the next elections. While a compromise, it should, we hope, ensure that Israel will not be governed by a juristocracy, but rather by its elected government.

Source:
Ministers Levin and Sa’ar unveil new compromise judicial reform proposal, by Israel National News, January 9, 2024

In an article published by the Wall Street Journal, analyst Amit Segal wrote that US President-elect Donald Trump needs to take two steps, the most urgent of which is to end Hamas’ systematic takeover of the humanitarian aid that Israel sends to Gaza.

Without the ability to steal aid and make use of the starving population, Hamas would be at the greatest risk of collapse, within weeks, he opined.

Segal also called on Trump to allow Israel to annex (we say RECLAIM) parts of the Gaza Strip, since in Middle Eastern culture, there is nothing that hurts more than the loss of land.

The worst result for Hamas, he stressed, would be for the war to end with Israel having more land than it had when the war began.

On all of this we agree with Amit Segal. As of this writing we are 11 days away from US President-elect Donald Trump taking office and it couldn’t come sooner. Trump has threatened to raise all hell if the hostages are not released and he is a strong friend of Israel. We eagerly await positive developments from his administration for Israel on many fronts.

Source:
Amit Segal to Trump: Allow Israel to annex parts of the Gaza Strip, by Israel National News, January 9, 2024

Three people were murdered and six were wounded when terrorists opened fire from a passing vehicle at a bus and a car on Highway 55 between Karnei Shomron and Kedumim in Samaria Monday morning. The fatalities were identified as Master Sgt. Elad Yaakov Winkelstein, a police officer, and sisters-in-law Rachel Cohen and Aliza Raiz.

The IDF stated, “Following the initial report, terrorists opened fire toward a civilian bus and vehicles adjacent to Al Funduq. As a result of the attack, a number of civilians were injured to varying degrees and are currently receiving medical treatment. Israeli Security Forces are pursuing the terrorists, setting up roadblocks and encircling several towns in the area.”

Since October 7, this area of Israel has become a ticking time bomb for terror attacks. It seems inevitable that this latest slaughter will force Israel to initiate a full-scale operation in northern Samaria. However, the only true answer to terrorism throughout the region is the full application of sovereignty over Judea and Samaria. As long as this area remains under civil administration, acts of terror will continue. The sooner sovereignty is applied and enforced; the sooner Israel can eradicate the evil entities that seek to destroy it.

Israel will respond. Today, “The prime minister approved the operations to apprehend the terrorists and bring them to justice,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says after deadly attack.

SOVEREIGNTY NOW!

Sources:
3 murdered, 6 wounded, in shooting attack in Samaria, by Israel National News, January 6, 2024

Netanyahu OKs offensive and defensive actions in Judea and Samaria, by JNS Update Desk, December 6, 2024

Illegal water pipeline infrastructure bearing the logo of the UN Humanitarian Fund has been running through the heart of a protected nature reserve in the Judean Desert in violation of Israeli-Palestinian peace agreements as reported by The Press Service (TPS) of Israel.

“The UN is advancing the establishment of a Palestinian state at any cost, disregarding laws and agreements, and funding illegal construction—even in areas where the Palestinians explicitly agreed not to build,” legal expert Maurice Hirsch told TPS. “This is a glaring example of negligence by Israel in the face of blatant violations,” added Hirsch.

The area, known as the Judean Desert Nature Reserve, was originally designated as Area B, meaning it came under Palestinian Authority administrative jurisdiction and Israeli security responsibility. However, the 41,000-acre reserve, was enshrined as a “no-build” zone under the 1998 Wye River Memorandum.

But recent findings highlight systematic violations, apparently financed through international funding.

“We’re looking at a UN-funded water pipeline project allegedly aimed at assisting marginalized communities, yet it’s located inside a nature reserve—a zone that should be protected from such activities,” said Naomi Kahn of Regavim.

“There’s no need to negotiate with the UN about this illegal activity,” Hirsch told TPS-IL. “These infrastructures should be dismantled immediately. Their actions—falsely claiming these funds are for communities far from the reserve—are blatantly dishonest.”

Source:
UN Accused of Funding Illegal Construction in Israeli Nature Reserve, by Sveta Listratov/TPS, January 6, 2025

UNRWA, the UN agency for the descendants of Palestinian Arab refugees, is preparing to cease its operations in Gaza, Judea, and Samaria, UN officials told the New York Times.

About two months ago, then-Foreign Minister Israel Katz officially announced the cancellation of the 1967 agreement between Israel and UNRWA. This agreement formed the legal basis for relations between the State of Israel and UNRWA. The announcement came after the Knesset passed a law a week earlier that would terminate UNRWA operations in Israel and areas controlled by Israel by a historic majority of 92 MKs.

Source:
Report: UNRWA preparing to cease operations in Gaza, Judea, and Samaria, by Israel National News, January 3, 2024

In recent years, near the archaeological site of the ‘Hasmonean Palaces’ in Area C on state-owned lands, major land invasions have taken place, with the establishment of permanent structures such as villas and a luxurious resort complex. The archaeological site, located in the western Jericho Valley near Nachal Prat (Wadi Qelt), dates back to the Second Temple period and is of unparalleled historical and scientific significance.

At the site now stands an illegal Palestinian holiday resort – complete with an events compound, a swimming pool, and high-end guest rooms. The site has popular accounts on social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, where it invites guests to book events or vacations.

Moshe Shmueli, Regavim’s field coordinator, added: “As we celebrate Hanukkah, this might be the last opportunity to remind ourselves and the world of the grave threat of extinction facing the Hasmonean Palaces, just before ancient history is erased forever. Live on TikTok videos, unashamedly, our unprotected, abandoned national assets – both land and cultural treasures – are being wiped out. The Palestinian takeover is a ruthless, systematic plan that is being marketed as a dream vacation. We must not abandon this strategic area that guards the eastern front of the state.

Source:
Illegally Constructed Palestinian Resort Endangers Hasmonean Palaces, by Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz/Israel365News, January 2, 2025

Israeli security forces conducted a raid on a Jewish farm in the Binyamin region where they evacuated the residents, confiscated equipment, and demolished structures.

According to the residents, the forces arrived at the farm through the village of Burqa, passing near illegally constructed Palestinian structures in Area C.

The demolition occurred just hours after residents of Burqa were recorded attacking a Jewish shepherd, injuring him, only a kilometer away from the now-demolished farm. The attack took place near an illegal Bedouin encampment, which, according to local residents, has been involved in similar incidents in the past.

Local residents sharply criticized security forces following the events. “It is unacceptable that after the attack on a Jewish shepherd, security forces ignore the illegal construction around us, choosing instead to demolish a nearby Jewish farm,” they said. “This action encourages Arab terrorism and endangers the security of the residents.”

Again, we say, sovereignty MUST be asserted over all of Judea and Samaria, of course including but not limited to Area C.

Source:
Farm demolished hours after shepherd was attacked, by Israel National News, January 2, 2025

Last week, the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court held an in-depth discussion – two years after the event – on the seriousness of the offense committed by Temple Mount activist Tom Nisani on Hanukkah 5783 (Dec. 2022). The police indicted Nisani on “entering the checkpoint with sufganiyot,” and “after being asked to get rid of them, staying and arguing with the police. Later, he tried to pass through with stickers and a sign that were forbidden to bring into the Temple Mount.”

During the court hearing last year on December 23, 2022, following the arrest of Tom Nisani, police representative Anan Zaida claimed that “there is a rule prohibiting the bringing of doughnuts into the Temple Mount in order to prevent provocations.”

As a reminder, Beyadenu clearly pointed out that while police were bravely fighting illegal sufganiyot, a huge Hamas banner praising terrorists was unfurled on the Temple Mount. Just a deliberate slap in the face from a court that should be meting out equal justice!!

Source:
Jerusalem Court Tries Activist for Smuggling Contraband Sufganiyot into Temple Mount, by David Israel/Jewish Press, December 31, 2024

On Sunday, Elizabeth Dwoskin reported in the Washington Post, citing two people familiar with the operation, that the use of AI to rapidly refill IDF’s target bank allowed Israel to continue its campaign uninterrupted.

In a June 30, 2023 interview with Ynet, retiring IDF chief of staff Aviv Kochavi revealed that “Among all the technological revolutions, artificial intelligence (AI) is likely to be the most radical, for better or worse. The IDF recognized this field years ago and harnessed it to enhance combat effectiveness.”

Kochavi continued: “One example of this is the Targeting Directorate established three years ago. It is a unit comprising hundreds of officers and soldiers, powered by AI capabilities. It is a machine that processes vast amounts of data faster and more effectively than any human, translating them into actionable targets.”

Following the devastating Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, the IDF launched extensive airstrikes on Gaza, utilizing a meticulously compiled database containing information on home addresses, tunnels, and other infrastructure deemed critical to the terrorist group.

However, as the initial target database began to dwindle, the IDF relied on the advanced artificial intelligence system that had been described by Kochavi which enabled the rapid generation of hundreds of additional targets, helping sustain the war’s relentless pace.

This highlights how a decade-long initiative to integrate advanced AI tools into the core of the Israel Defense Forces’ intelligence operations has played a key role in sustaining the effectiveness of Israel’s 14-month war in Gaza.

Fans and critics of AI will continue to exchange the pros and cons of this machine exhibited intelligence. Let’s think about the potential positive possibilities. What if AI could be used to predict the exact time and place where intentional harmful targeting of Israel’s defense forces and civilians will take place? If AI could help prevent the loss of life it would be the greatest warfare innovation of all time. It may not be that far off.

Source:
Report: IDF Using AI to Target the Enemy in Gaza, by David Israel/Jewish Press, December 30, 2024