News Digest — 11/12/24
IDF Announces Names Of Four Fallen Soldiers, Killed In Northern Gaza Strip
Staff Sergeant Orr Katz, Staff Sergeant Nave Yair Asulin, Staff Sergeant Gary Lalhruaikima Zolat, and Staff Sergeant Ofir Eliyahu were all killed in battle while fighting in the northern Gaza Strip, the IDF announced on Tuesday morning (12th).
St. Sgt. Katz, 20, from Ma’ale Adumim, was a combat medic.
St. Sgt.Asulin, 21, from Carmit, St. Sgt.Zolat, 21, from Afula, and St. Sgt. Eliyahu,20, from Holon, were fighters.
The four young men’s deaths raise the total of soldiers killed on or since October 7 of last year to 787.
Some 373 of this number were killed since the start of the military’s ground operations in the Gaza Strip on October 27, 2023.
Sa’ar Debuts As Foreign Minister With Focus On Iran
“The most important issue for the future of this region and the security of the State of Israel is to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons,” Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said at a Monday (11th) press conference at an Israel Bonds event headlined by Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon.
“I am sure that we will be able to work together with the US to stabilize the region and to secure its future,” he continued.
According to Sa’ar, preventing a nuclear Iran is currently “the most important issue from the point of view of the State of Israel, and all administrations in the United States.”
“There is some progress in the attempts to reach a settlement in Lebanon,” Sa’ar said, “We are working with the Americans on the issue.”
Sa’ar explained that a settlement can only be reached when Hezbollah exists north of the Litani River, and with no ability to re-arm itself in any way.
“We want to bring our citizens home safely. I hope that the change in the balance of power in Lebanon will bring it into a new era, but that is not our role,” he continued, “Lebanon belongs to the citizens of Lebanon, not to Iran.”
Sa’ar maintained that Israel’s responsibility is to the people of Israel, saying, “The international community can guarantee the future of Lebanon as a free country, as a sovereign country, not as an extension of Iran.”
When asked whether he supports the establishment of a Palestinian state, Sa’ar answered, “in one word: no.”
“The establishment of a Palestinian state today is the establishment of a Hamas state,” he clarified. “We saw that it took a year after we withdrew from the Gaza Strip for Hamas to take control of Gaza. We do not want this to happen in Judea and Samaria. That’s why this position is unrealistic, and we have to be realistic.”
Regarding the pogrom in Amsterdam that took place last week, Sa’ar criticized Netherland’s police, saying it took too long to restore order and that no significant arrests have been made.
“We, for our part, offered the Dutch government and the mayor of Amsterdam to assist in collecting evidence and collecting testimonies from Israeli citizens who returned to Israel, and they accepted our offer,” he said. “In the coming days, we will have to find a way to implement this.”
Iran Turns To Chemical Weapons In War Against Israel
Iran has developed a powerful chemical weapon based on synthetic opioids that can render entire units of soldiers helpless within minutes.
The US and its allies have warned for years that Iran is developing pharmaceutical-based weapons in breach of the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention.
A recent US State Department report revealed that Iran’s Chemistry department at Imam Hossein University attempted to acquire large quantities of medetomidine, a veterinary sedative, from Chinese suppliers in 2014.
The quantity sought – enough for over 10,000 doses – far exceeded any legitimate research needs.
Further confirmation came in September 2023 when Iranian anti-government hackers leaked documents exposing details of an Iranian military university’s development of medetomidine-based grenades, according to the State Department.
Security experts warn that these pharmaceutical-based agents (PBAs) represent a new category of threat, distinct from traditional chemical weapons.
When deployed, PBAs target the central nervous system, rapidly rendering victims unconscious.
Although Israel’s military campaigns in Lebanon have dealt serious blows to Hezbollah and its massive missile stockpile, PBAs remain a viable threat as they can be easily incorporated into hand grenades and mortar shells – weapons Hezbollah still possesses in large quantities.
“Maybe you just use them to incapacitate the border guards and reach the now unprotected civilians,” Matthew Levitt, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute, tells Business Insider. “or, you actually target and incapacitate the soldiers so you can kidnap or capture them.”
“At a time of growing regional instability in the Middle East, largely the result of the militancy of Iranian proxies, the threats posed by Iran’s weaponized PBA program can no longer be overlooked,” says Levitt.
Levying sanctions on Iran’s import of PBAs is also extremely difficult because they overlap with products used for legitimate medical purposes.
The Islamic Republic should know better than anyone the horrific toll of chemical weapons, having suffered over a million casualties from Iraqi nerve gas and mustard gas attacks during the Iran-Iraq war.
Yet Tehran has shown no hesitation to deploy these weapons themselves – first using mustard gas against Iraqi forces in 1987, then employing PBAs against Syrian rebels during their civil war, and most recently through their Iraqi militias who reportedly used chemical agents to suppress civilian protesters in 2019.
The Last Afghan Jew Lands In Israel In Surprise Family Visit
The last known Jew from Afghanistan, Zablon Simantov, traveled to Israel from Turkey, surprising his family, Walla was told this week.
”My younger brother called me on Thursday (7th) around 9-10 p.m. and said, ‘Congratulations, your brother is in Israel,” recounted Benjamin, Simantov’s brother, to Walla. “I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. By Saturday night (9th), we were already on our way to see him at the place where he’s staying in southern Israel.”
Simantov’s arrival in Israel was made possible with the help of the Jewish Agency after a complete rescue operation from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan three years ago, led by Moti Kahana, a well-known activist specializing in evacuations from conflict zones. After leaving Turkey, Simantov is also planning a visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
“We haven’t seen each other for almost 25 years . Now, he’s living here in Israel. He wants to move to central Israel, and no matter what, we will be by his side,” Simantov’s brother added. “We will be with him on Shabbat as well. He promised us he would come to Israel, and it has finally happened.”
Simantov, who is 65 years old, speaks very little Hebrew, though he is fluent in Persian, and is expected to need considerable assistance to adjust to life in Israel.
Moti Kahana, who orchestrated Simantov’s rescue, has been conducting complex evacuation missions in conflict zones worldwide for the past 14 years, including operations in Afghanistan, Yemen, and Syria. As promised, he expressed his commitment to bringing Simantov to the Western Wall soon.
“It wasn’t easy getting him out of Afghanistan. Rabbis approached me, asking me to help rescue the last Jew from there,” Kahana told Walla. They had seen my past work, evacuating Jews from Yemen and Syria.”
“He’s been in Turkey for three years, and this week, he spent his first Shabbat in Israel,” Kahana added.
Kahana concluded, “It took a bit of time, but this week, I plan to take him on a tour of the Western Wall in Jerusalem, just like I do with all my rescues. I’m already working on the next challenge – evacuating one Jew from Yemen and rescuing hostages from Gaza.”
57,000 Acres Of Israeli Forests Destroyed From Hezbollah Rockets
The environmental impact of Hezbollah’s sustained attacks on northern Israel has reached catastrophic levels, with over 57,000 acres of land destroyed by fires.
According to the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), the Upper Galilee and Golan Heights have borne the brunt of the destruction, with nearly 43,500 acres scorched.
The Lower Galilee lost approximately 6,175 acres, while the Western Galilee and Hula Valley suffered burns of 2,223 and 178 acres, respectively.
Particularly hard hit were the Binya and Baal Shem Tov Forests near Safed, the Ramot Naftali Forest along the Lebanese border, and the Hazon Forest in the vicinity of Karmiel.
Wildlife populations have been severely impacted, with birds losing nesting sites and countless arthropods perishing in the flames.
The fires have also ravaged a diverse array of woodland species, from pine, cypress, and cedar to indigenous varieties like oak, Judas trees and carob.
However, the damage extends beyond animal life and vegetation, with significant destruction to infrastructure including parking facilities, observation points, and scenic routes.
“Our foresters, alongside the Israel Fire and Rescue Services, are forced to work under extremely difficult conditions, under the constant threat of both fires and the rockets,” stated KKL-JNF director Shelli Ben Yishai.
“Despite the enormous challenges, we continue to work around the clock to protect our forests, the people of the north, and its unique environment.”
KKL-JNF estimates the ecosystem will require five to seven years to recover naturally.
Since Oct.7, 2023, the IDF estimates that approximately 10,000 Hezbollah rockets and suicide drones have been launched at the Jewish State.
To protect Israel’s ecosystem, the agency operates an advanced monitoring station equipped with aerial drones and sophisticated imaging technology, enabling rangers to spot and respond to fire threats before they spread even further.
Trump Taps Stefanik For UN Post
President-elect Donald Trump has offered Rep. Elise Stefanik the position of next US Ambassador to the UN, marking a significant shift in the diplomatic posting. The Republican congresswoman who accepted the nomination, has established herself as one of Israel’s most vocal supporters in Washington.
“I am honored to nominate Chairwoman Elise Stefanik to serve in my Cabinet as US Ambassador to the United Nations. Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart American first fighter,” Trump told the New York Post.
“I am truly honored to earn President Trump’s nomination to serve in his Cabinet as US Ambassador to the United Nations,” Stefanik responded.
Stefanik’s national profile rose sharply following her masterful interrogation of university presidents who face criticism for their handling of anti-Semitism on campus. A steadfast ally of Trump, she has constantly advocated for stronger US-Israel relations.
During a watershed Congressional hearing in December 2023, as campus anti-Semitism surged in the wake of the Iron Swords War, Stefanik delivered a striking rebuke to presidents of elite universities. The hearing, which became a pivotal moment in the national conversation about anti-Semitism, saw Stefanik challenge the academic leaders over their refusal to categorically declare calls for Jewish genocide as violations of university policies. Her forceful questioning led to widespread calls for the presidents’ resignations.
During her May visit to Israel, which included tours of communities targeted in the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, and an address to the Knesset, Stefanik articulated her position in an interview with Israel Hayom: “ Israel must have complete operational flexibility to eliminate Hamas,“ she declared. “This is a just war – it was Hamas that committed terrorist atrocities against the Israeli people. So this moral equivocation, this equivocation on policy from the Biden administration – there is no room for it.”
“I’m here in Israel to send a message that the American people stand strongly with Israel to eradicate Hamas, to protect Israel’s right to exist and to protect the national security of Israel.”
