Author: AFSI Staff

Israeli troops defended United Nations troops from armed rebel forces late Saturday afternoon near the town of Hader, on the Syrian side of the border in the Golan Heights.

“An attack was carried out by armed individuals at a UN post in the Hader area in Syria. The IDF is currently assisting the UN forces in repelling the attack,” the IDF said in a brief statement early Saturday evening.

Yes, you read the above report correctly and don’t need a new pair of eyeglasses. The United Nations, the world body obsessed with hating and demonizing Israel, along with promoting anti-Israel judgements and votes day in and day out is now being protected by the IDF. While we are at a loss for words, we expect nothing less of the IDF, the most moral army in the world. Hey, United Nations, let that sink in.

Source:
Israel Defends UN Forces from Syria Rebels, by Hana Levi Julian/Jewish Press, December 8, 2024

In a significant development for the settlement movement, 24,000 dunams (approximately 5,930 acres) of land in Judea and Samaria have been officially designated as state land, first reported by Eliya Aviv on November 14

The announcement follows a comprehensive planning process spearheaded by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. It is expected to pave the way for major community expansions, infrastructure development, and long-term growth in strategically significant areas.

This announcement is part of a broader strategy to strengthen Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria. Since the Oslo Accords in 1993, only 50,000 dunams were declared state land until last year. The current decision, involving almost half that amount in a single move, underscores the government’s commitment to expansion in this area.

Source
Breaking News:24,000 Dunams in Judea an Samaria Declared State Land, by Jewish Press News Desk, December 5, 2024

The evolving situation in Syria demands scrutiny, especially regarding its repercussions for Israel’s security and the stability of the broader Middle East. Syria has become a focal point for the intensifying Sunni-Shi’ite struggle, a development with profound regional consequences. While the weakening of Iranian influence represents a potential strategic advantage for Israel, it simultaneously introduces heightened instability in a volatile region.

Central to the Syrian conflict is the gradual erosion of President Bashar Assad’s regime, driven by the ascendance of Sunni military factions. This shift directly undermines Tehran’s long-standing strategy of maintaining a Shi’ite axis of power that spans from Iran through Iraq and Syria and into Lebanon. Historically, the Assad regime served as a linchpin for Iranian influence, facilitated in part by Hezbollah’s role in suppressing the Sunni opposition. However, Israel’s decisive blows against Hezbollah in Lebanon have significantly diminished this alliance’s effectiveness. The empowerment of Sunni forces in Syria not only weakens Assad but also disrupts Iran’s broader hegemonic ambitions, with potential reverberations in other Iranian-influenced territories, such as Iraq.

Join AFSI on Wed, Dec. 11 @ 7:30pm to hear Avi Abelow live and in-person! RSVP here.

Source:
Syria’s current conflict and its implications for Israel, by Avi Abelow/JNS, December 5, 2024

Research by the Ad Kan organization has revealed that the upcoming Solidarity Festival at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque (a government-funded institution) plans to screen films promoting military service refusal, anti-IDF content, and disputed Palestinian Arab narratives.

This Saturday, the film “With a Clear Conscience” will be shown, in which filmmaker Uri Barbash follows “five reserve soldiers who refused to serve in the IDF as long as it operates in Judea and Samaria citing moral objections.”

In an urgent letter to Culture Minister Zohar, Ad Kan CEO Gilad Ach demanded the minister’s intervention, stating, “It’s unthinkable that during wartime, we’re seeing screenings of films about draft dodging, the conditions of terrorists in prison, and fictional stories about a 5,000-year-old Palestinian city. The Cinematheque receives Israeli government funding – this funding must be suspended until these inflammatory films are pulled!”

Join AFSI on Monday night, December 9 @ 8:30pm at Chabad of the Beaches in Long Beach, NY to hear Major (Res.) Gilad Ach and Brigadier General (Res.) Ofer Winter discuss “Israel’s Roadmap to Victory.” AFSI is a proud co-sponsor of this program.

Source:
Appeal to Minister Zohar: ‘Stop screening of libelous films against IDF soldiers’, by Hezki Baruch/Israel National News, December 4, 2024

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon held a press briefing on Wednesday.

“Today, in the General Assembly, I will be providing examples of how the PA and UNRWA educated hatred and glorified terrorists. I saw a tweet from UNRWA a few minutes ago that they are actually worried about their reputation. But it’s too late. They should have been taking action against Hamas a while ago. They shouldn’t have allowed UNRWA to be infiltrated by Hamas. Today, when they care about their reputation, I tell them it’s too little, it’s too late. We will not cooperate with UNRWA,” Danon declared.

“Israel will always be committed to peace, but the UN must not be mistaken. We will never waiver in our determination to defend our people, protect our future, and bring all of our hostages back home,” the Ambassador concluded.

Source:
Danon: ‘It’s too late for UNRWA, we won’t cooperate with it’, by Gary Willig/Israel National News, December 4, 2024

Hezbollah fired two missiles at Mount Dov, an area of northern Israel where the borders of Israel, Lebanon and Syria converge on Monday. The barrage was the first since a ceasefire took effect last Wednesday morning.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the barrage, calling it “a warning” to Israel.

The rocket fire came as the United States and France claimed that Israel was violating the ceasefire.

According to Hebrew media reports, the issue is Israeli surveillance flights over Beirut, which Washington and Paris claim breaks the ceasefire.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar responded, saying,” “The opposite is true – Israel is working to enforce the agreement in response to violations by Hezbollah, which require immediate action. For example, when armed Hezbollah terrorists are identified in southern Lebanon or when an attempt is made to transfer weapons.”

Sa’ar warned his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot that Hezbollah must move its forces north of the Litani River or Israel would take further steps.

Hezbollah found any petty excuse to violate the ceasefire and shift the blame to Israel. As long as Hezbollah continues to position itself south of the Litani River, Israel has the right to self defense at all times, including when a ceasefire is violated.

Source:
Hezbollah Fires First Missiles Since Ceasefire Took Effect, by Pesach Benson/TPS, December 2, 2024

Israeli leaders are closely watching the dramatic events unfolding in Syria, where opposition forces launched a surprise offensive on Wednesday, leading to the fall of Aleppo and Hama.

Kurdish forces also began to mobilize over the weekend to defend sections of Aleppo where Kurds are the majority population following the sudden conquest of the city Friday evening by the forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, formerly the Jabhat al-Nusra Islamist group linked to Al Qaeda.

“We are constantly following the developments in Syria. We are determined both to protect the vital interests of the State of Israel, and to preserve the achievements of the war,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a brief statement last week.

Israeli security and defense officials meanwhile are watching the situation closely, while preparing for the possibility that important strategic assets could fall into the hands of Islamist rebel forces.

Source:
Israel Watching Syria Closely as Kurdish Militia Mobilizes, by Hana Levi Julian/Jewish Press, December 1, 2024

A ceasefire agreement between Israel, Lebanon, and Hezbollah appears imminent, with negotiations reportedly nearing resolution and Israeli officials already gearing up for a political battle to sell it to the public on Monday.

The emerging agreement is believed to include a ceasefire, Hezbollah’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon followed by the departure of Israeli troops from Lebanese territory.

“The test of any arrangement will be one – not in words or formulations, but in enforcement,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar tweeted. “Enforcement in two main points: 1. Preventing Hezbollah from descending south from the Litani. 2. Preventing Hezbollah from rebuilding its power and rearming in all of Lebanon.”

Cracks in the governing coalition emerged as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir came out against a ceasefire. “The agreement with Lebanon is a big mistake. A historic missed opportunity to eradicate Hezbollah. I understand all the constraints and reasons, and it is still a grave mistake,” Ben-Gvir said.

Even as Hezbollah appears severely beaten, Israel is not relieved from ongoing self defense in the north. Israel must have freedom of military action to prevent Hezbollah from being able to rearm itself and to keep Southern Lebanon Hezbollah free. Defense is well and good, but we see no reason why Israel’s goal should not be VICTORY. Israel’s citizens need to be able to safely return to their homes. These ceasefire agreements need to be enforced. Who could be trusted to make sure all provisions of the agreement are abided by? We believe that Israel can only trust itself.

Source:
As Hezbollah Ceasefire Emerges, So Does Israeli Public Opposition, by Pesach Benson/TPS, November 25, 2024

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Friday morning that he has decided to stop the use of administrative arrest warrants against Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria.

Minister Katz said, “In a reality where the Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria are subject to serious Palestinian terrorist threats, with the support and backing of the Iranian axis of evil that is working to establish an eastern terrorist front against the State of Israel, and where unjustified international sanctions are being taken against settlers and organizations in the settlements – it is not appropriate for the State of Israel to take such a severe step against settlers.”

MK Zvi Sukkot said in response, “I congratulate the incoming Defense Minister Israel Katz on a decision of unparalleled justice. The settlers in Judea and Samaria are not second-class citizens and practices intended for war against the enemy should be used exclusively for war against the enemy!”

Source:
Defense Minister Katz ends use of administrative detention against Jewish settlers, by Israel National News, November 22, 2024

A Kan News expose’ revealed new details about activist Daniella Weiss’s visit to the Gaza Strip without the knowledge of the IDF Chief of Staff or the commanding officer of the Southern Command.

Last Wednesday afternoon, Weiss, the head of the Nahala organization and one of the leaders of Gush Emunim, entered the Gaza Strip with the help of members of the military despite the area being a closed military zone which civilians are not allowed to enter.

According to the details that were revealed, Weiss and her people toured the Gaza border to scout out locations where the pioneers could enter when the time came. To inspect locations that they would designate as “points of settlement” in the Gaza Strip, the group walked along the border, and at one point, managed to cross it and enter a little bit into Gazan territory.

There is only one word to describe what Daniella Weiss did and that’s BRAVE!

Source:
With soldiers’ help: How settlement movement leader Daniella Weiss entered the Gaza Strip, by Israel National News, November 21, 2024