Author: AFSI Staff

Earlier this week on Monday Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited the Gilboa and Emek HaMaayanot regional councils to conduct a situation assessment with IDF officials and council leaders. The topic: strengthening security in the towns against various threats, with an emphasis on shooting from the Jenin area.

Gallant emphasized the importance of cooperation between local authorities and the IDF. At the end of the tour, Gallant updated the council leaders that the Ministry of Defense would contribute to local security by purchasing drones, arming the civilian security squads with advanced weapons, establishing rapid response teams, and repairing the fences and security routes.

While Israel continues to fight a major war to defend its very existence, it’s important to remember there are many “little wars” occurring in areas like northern Samaria that necessitate increased security.

Source:
Gallant in Samaria: ‘Countering Iranian arms smuggling with civilian security squads’, by Hezki Baruch/Israel National News, June 17, 2024

The Israeli army warned that a full-scale war with Hezbollah appears imminent, as the Lebanese terror group has escalated its attacks against Israel over the past week.

“Hezbollah’s increasing aggression is bringing us to the brink of what could be a wider escalation, one that could have devastating consequences for Lebanon and the entire region,” IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said, speaking in English for a message that was intended for an international audience. Hagari also said that Hezbollah is “jeopardizing the future of Lebanon so that it can be a shield for Hamas.”

International actors, including the Biden administration and French government, are pushing a diplomatic solution which would see Hezbollah retreat north of the Litani River and allow some 80,000 residents of northern Israel displaced by the Hezbollah attacks to return home. Regardless of whether a viable diplomatic solution is found, “one way or another we will ensure the safe and secure return of Israelis to their homes in northern Israel. That is not up for negotiation,” Hagari said.

Hagari says that the IDF will never allow another October 7 to happen again. Does that mean a war with Iran’s proxy Hezbollah is inevitable or can they dismantle it to the extent that it will no longer function? In the end, the problem always turns back to the main source of terrorist activity – Iran.

Source:
IDF: We’re ‘on the brink’ of major war with Hezbollah, by World Israel News Staff, June 17, 2024

Israeli lawmakers are set to launch a new parliamentary caucus focused on rebuilding Israeli civilian communities in the Gaza Strip after the Hamas terrorist group is defeated.

The “Caucus for the Return to Settlement in the Gaza Strip,” headed by Knesset members Limor Son Har-Melech (Otzma Yehudit Party) and Zvi Sukkot (Religious Zionism), will be officially launched on Tuesday in the presence of lawmakers, government and security officials, as well as representatives of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.

“Only settlement will bring security. Only when Jewish children are playing in the Strip will the Nukhba terrorists realize that they have lost,” Sukkot said.

According to Sukkot, who also heads the Knesset Subcommittee for Judea and Samaria, the re-establishment of towns uprooted in 2005 will help advance the release of the hostages held by Hamas.“

Source:
Israeli lawmakers launch Gaza resettlement caucus, by JNS, June 17, 2024

The Security Cabinet assembled on Sunday night, with the ministers discussing a series of punitive sanctions against the Palestinian Authority (PA), as revealed by Channel 12 News.

Minister Bezalel Smotrich brought a proposal before the political-security cabinet to take the following steps: legalizing four villages in Judea and Samaria, denying visas and transit documents from senior officials of the PA, imposing sanctions against countries that unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state, and carrying out enforcement actions against the illegal Arab building in the agreed nature reserve zone in the Judean Desert.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed that all the proposals be submitted to a vote at the next Security Cabinet meeting.

Source:
Cabinet discusses punitive measures promoted by Smotrich against the Palestinians, by Israel National News, June 16, 2024

The recent demonstration of Hezbollah’s capabilities, which have intensified in recent weeks, still represents only a small fraction of the Iran-backed terror group’s aerial arsenal. The IDF believes this arsenal includes an array of precision munitions supplied mainly by Iran over the past decade, or weapons that have undergone upgrade and modifications based on lessons learned in the conflict.

The IDF is most concerned about the terror group’s precision missiles, and accordingly, the Air Defense Command has expanded dramatically. A new Iron Dome battalion was established with soldiers brought on from other units; there has been a roughly 50% increase in dedicated recruitments in recent military induction cycles, and more radars have been deployed in the north — the most sought-after resource due to many instances where detecting drones and activating sirens has been difficult. One such example was the fatal incident in Hurfeish last week, where one reserve officer was killed and others wounded.

With that in mind, the IDF is preparing to defend against ‘swarms’ of Hezbollah drones and barrages of hundreds of missiles. The Military estimates Hezbollah has yet to present its full aerial arsenal since the war began; efforts are underway to ensure a defense against extremely challenging scenarios.

Magen David Adom is contemplating what emergency response will look like in the face of extensive power outages caused by either a military-style attack or a major natural disaster, as both Israel and Hezbollah ramp up their forces in preparation for an increasingly likely Third Lebanon War.

Sources:
IDF prepares to defend against ‘swarms’ of Hezbollah drones, barrages of hundreds of missiles, by Yoav Zitun/Ynetnews, June 11, 2024

MDA Prepares for Power Outages, Plans ‘Doomsday Protocols’ Ahead of War with Hezbollah, by Hana Levi Julian/Jewish Press, June 10, 2024

If ruling regimes such as Hamas do not want their civilians killed during hostage rescue operations, they should not start unprovoked wars, then complain when they are hit back. They also should not take hostages, then hide them among the civilian population. It is not complicated.

The Palestinian families can hold only themselves accountable for the scores of Gazans who died during the rescue operation. Those families were not coerced or threatened into keeping the hostages inside their homes. The exact opposite is true: They were delighted to help Hamas because they support the terrorist group.

A report in The Wall Street Journal earlier this week cites messages it says have been sent by Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar throughout the war expressing the necessity of civilian bloodshed. The report says the messages have been sent to Hamas compatriots as well as mediators and shared with the WSJ by a variety of people. One such message, said to be sent to Hamas leaders in Doha, says mass civilian losses, similar to those seen in the Algerian War of Independence, “are necessary sacrifices.”

This is another level of truth that the enemies of Israel must face if Israel is to be kept safe. Gaza civilians, encouraged by an evil madman, are a willing part of the terrorist problem that seeks to destroy Israel. We thank the Wall Street Journal for reporting on this. Now let’s see news outlets worldwide do the right thing and follow suit.

Sources:
Palestinian ‘Civilians’: Complicit in Hamas Crimes, by Bassam Tawil, June 10, 2024

Report: Sinwar’s messages during war exalt civilian deaths as ‘necessary sacrifices’, by Times of Israel, June 11, 2024

Americans for a Safe Israel/AFSI is ecstatic that the Israel Defense Forces heroically rescued four innocent Israeli hostages. “Rescued,” not released, is the correct word here, as so much of the mainstream media is inaccurately reporting.

On Saturday morning, in a joint IDF, ISA and Israel Police (Yamam) complex, special, daytime operation in Nuseirat, the four Israeli hostages rescued were: Noa Argamani (25), Almog Meir Jan (21), Andrey Kozlov (27), and Shlomi Ziv (40). All were kidnapped by the Hamas terrorist organization from the ‘Nova’ music festival on October 7th.

AFSI extends a hearty congratulations to the many brave Israel Defense Forces units who participated in this dangerous yet incredible rescue operation. At the same time, we are very saddened that anti-terror officer and Chief Inspector Arnon Zmora, 36, was critically injured by Hamas and/or Gazan “civilian” fire, while rescuing and protecting the hostages, and later died from his injuries.

This successful operation disappointed many on the left: those who hold irrational ideas about how the IDF should run this war and those who want to condemn Israel’s every move to bolster their own agenda. The US sees this successful rescue as having complicated a ceasefire “deal.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to visit Israeli officials today to pressure them to accept their “deal.” At the helm of this twisted thinking is Joe Biden who is desperate for votes this November – so desperate that he will cave to Hamas’s demands to end the war and agree to a Palestinian state. His selfish goals are dangerous to America and only hurt Israel.

The continuation of the ground offensive in the entire Gaza Strip resulted in the rescue of these four hostages. The IDF will move forward in Rafah until Israel achieves total victory and ALL of the rest of the hostages are rescued.

Source:
Four hostages rescued from Gaza, Yamam officer killed, by Israel National News, June 8, 2024

Civil Administration inspectors escorted by hundreds of policemen arrived at the hill of Maoz Esther in Binyamin on Monday morning. They used heavy equipment to uproot the orchard of fruit trees that was planted by the late Ahuvya Sandak, who was killed in a police chase in 2020, and others, five years ago.

Large police forces were deployed throughout the nearby community of Kochav Hashar to prevent the arrival of residents who wanted to protest against the destruction.

The destruction was carried out after the State informed the High Court, in a petition submitted by Arabs from the neighboring village, that it would uproot the orchard within 180 days, subject to operational considerations.

Givat Maoz Esther resident lamented, “The fact that Arabs murder Jews and then inherit their land echoes here this morning very loudly. The fact that in the midst of a comprehensive war, huge forces are still being stationed to attack Jewish communities shows the complete loss of direction that Israel has found itself in.”

Source:
Hundreds of police officers uproot orchard in Binyamin, planted by late Ahuvya Sandak, by Israel National News, June 10, 2024

In years past, Israel’s defense ministry’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) was mostly in charge of going after “illegal outposts,” as part of a 50+ year effort to curb Jewish community developments and encourage Arab expansion in Judea and Samaria.

This week a luxury resort complex built illegally by PA Arabs east of Duma village in Binyamin was demolished, including its three dining areas and swimming pools. The illegal resort is in Area C, which is under full Israeli control, both civilian and military, and so requires a construction permit. It didn’t have one.

“Any enforcement like this creates deterrence and curbs the rampant construction,” says Moshe Shmueli, Judea and Samaria coordinator for Regavim. “The Civil Administration was forced to do what it refused to do for years, and we welcome it.

Source:
It’s Not your Daddy’s Civil Administration: COGAT Demolishes Illegal Arab Vacation Resort, by David Israel/Jewish Press, June 7, 2024

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday morning visited the IDF Gibor base in Kiryat Shmona, where he was briefed by 769th Brigade Commander Avraham Marciano and Northern Command Home Front coordinator Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Alon Friedman.

In their briefing, the commanders discussed the operational situation, recent events in the sector, management of the defensive battle and actions being taken to defend the communities and residents in the north. Brigade and Northern Command actions against the Hezbollah terrorists and infrastructure in Lebanon were also presented.

During his visit, Netanyahu said, “Today I am on the northern border with our heroic fighters and commanders, as well as with our firefighters. Yesterday the ground burned here, and I am pleased that you have extinguished it, but ground also burned in Lebanon.

“We are prepared for very intense action in the north. One way or another, we will restore security to the north.”

Israel is in a very difficult position as it fights in both the north and south, in Judea and Samaria, and defends against terrorist attacks everywhere in between. This, plus all the international pressure hanging over Israel, makes it critical that she stay focused on the goals for this war.

Source:
Netanyahu in Kiryat Shmona: ‘We are prepared for very intense action in the north’, by Hezki Baruch/Israel National News, June 5, 2024