News Digest — 1/10/25
Minister Katz To IDF: Plan The Total Destruction Of Hamas If Hostages Are Not Freed
Minister of Defense Israel Katz has instructed the IDF to present him with a plan for the total defeat of Hamas in Gaza if the terror organization does not release the hostages before US President Trump takes office.
The order was given during a situational assessment held by the Minister on Thursday (9th) with IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, Defense Ministry Director-General Ayal Zamir, the IDF Intelligence Directorate Chief and IDF Hostage Coordinator Major General (res.) Nitan Alon.
Katz emphasized that the hostages have been the defense establishment’s top priority since he entered the position, and everything must be done to bring them home.
According to him, Israel cannot be dragged into a war of attrition with Hamas in Gaza while the hostages still languish in the tunnels.
The Minister asked the IDF to take note of what issues may complicate the plan’s execution, including the humanitarian issue and others, and to allow the political echelon to make the needed decisions.
He noted that the political solution for Gaza is irrelevant to the plan and the actions that are needed now, since no player, Arab or otherwise, will take responsibility for civilian life in Gaza until Hamas is completely decimated.
“The commanders and soldiers of the IDF, in active and reserve duties are conducting a heroic war and are doing an amazing job, but together with this, we must change our mode of operation to bring the elimination of Hamas and end the war. We cannot be dragged into a war of attrition which will cost us dearly and not utilize the fruits of victory and the total strategic defeat of Hamas and the end of the war in Gaza,” Katz stated.
Lebanon’s Parliament Chooses Army Commander Aoun As President, Ending 2-Year Deadlock
Lebanon’s parliament voted Thursday (9th) to elect the country’s army commander, Joseph Aoun, as head of state, filling a more than 2-year-long presidential vacuum.
The session was the legislature’s 13th attempt to elect a successor to former Presidential Michel Aoun – no relation to the army commander – whose term ended in October 2022.
The vote came weeks after a tenuous ceasefire agreement halted a 14-month conflict between Israel and the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah and at a time when Lebanon’s leaders are seeking international assistance for reconstruction.
Aoun was wisely seen as the preferred candidate of the United States and Saudi Arabia, whose assistance Lebanon will need to fund any post-war rebuilding.
Aoun secured the post with the second round of voting . A first round of voting showed Aoun as the frontrunner, receiving 71 out of 128 votes but falling short of the two-thirds majority needed to win outright. Of the rest, 37 lawmakers cast blank ballots and 14 voted for “sovereignty and the constitution.”
Parliament speaker Nabih Berri adjourned the session for two hours, after which legislators returned for another round of voting.
In his victory speech, Aoun declared that a “new era in the nation’s history” had begun. He vowed to rebuild areas in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs, which he said were “destroyed by Israel,” and emphasized Lebanon’s sole authority in removing the IDF’s presence from the south.
He also promised to initiate dialogue with Syria to address sovereignty issues and the displaced persons crisis while pledging to uphold Lebanon’s ceasefire agreement with Israel.
Israel conveyed a message to political circles in Beirut indicating it would “support” Aoun’s candidacy for the presidency, signaling the potential for security cooperation.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said at noon, “I congratulate Lebanon on the election of its new president after a prolonged political crisis. I hope this choice will contribute to strengthening stability, a better future for Lebanon and its residents, and will foster good neighborly relations.
Hezbollah – which has been weakened politically and militarily by the war with Israel – previously backed another candidate, Suleiman Frangieh, the leader of a small Christian party in northern Lebanon with close ties to former Syrian President Bashar Assad.
However, on Wednesday (8th), Frangieh announced he had withdrawn from the race and endorsed Aoun, clearing the way for the army chief. Also Wednesday (8th), the Lebanese forces, which lead the main parliamentary bloc opposed to Hezbollah, endorsed Aoun.
Lebanon’s fractious sectarian power-sharing system is prone to deadlock, born for political and procedural reasons. The small crisis-battered Mediterranean country has been through several extended presidential vacancies, with the longest lasting nearly two and a half years between May 2014 and October 2016. It ended when former President Michel Aoun was elected.
The president’s role in Lebanon is limited under the power-sharing system in which the president is always a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim and the speaker of parliament Shiite.
However, only the president has the power to appoint or remove a prime minister and cabinet. The caretaker government that has run Lebanon for the last two years has reduced powers because it was not appointed by a sitting president.
Joseph Aoun has become the fifth former army commander to ascend to Lebanon’s presidency, despite the fact that the country’s constitution prohibits high-ranking public servants, including army commanders, from assuming the presidency during their term or within two years of stepping down.
Although the ban has been waived before, it means that Aoun faces additional procedural hurdles.
Under normal circumstances, a presidential candidate in Lebanon can be elected by a two-thirds majority of the 128-member house in the first round of voting, or by a simple majority in a subsequent round.
Besides Aoun, other contenders included Jihad Azour, a former finance minister who is now the director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund, and Elias al-Baysari, the acting head of Lebanon’s General Security Agency. Al-Baysari announced Thursday (9th) that he was pulling out of the race.
The next government will face daunting challenges apart from implementing the ceasefire agreement that ended the Israel-Hezbollah war as it seeks funds for reconstruction.
Lebanon is six years into an economic and financial crisis that decimated the country’s currency and wiped out the savings of many Lebanese. The cash-stripped state electricity company provides only a few hours of power a day.
The country’s leaders reached a preliminary agreement with the IMF for a bail-out package in 2022 but have made limited progress on reforms required to clinch the deal.
134 Killed In Terror Attacks On Israel In 2024, 1,277 Wounded
More than 18,000 terror attacks were carried out in Israel during 2024, killing 134 people and injuring 1,277, the Israeli government reported on Thursday (9th).
The National Public Diplomacy Directorate, a part of the Prime Minister’s Office, published the statistics in its “Summary Report on Terrorism Against Israel for 2024,” revealing that a total of 18,365 terrorist attacks were reported during last year, leaving 134 dead and 1,277 more injured.
The report drew upon data collected by the IDF, Israel Police, the Israel Security Agency (ISA), and the emergency and rescue authorities.
During 2024, Israel was attacked on seven fronts, including Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, Iraq, Yemen and from within Israel itself.
According to the report, in 2024, about 16,000 rockets were fired and crossed into Israel, of which about 15,000 were launched from Lebanon and some 700 from Gaza.
October 2024 had the greatest number of rockets fired at Israel, with more than 6,900 launches.
A total of 399 hostile UAVs crossed into Israeli territory during 2024.
Rocket fire and UAVs caused significant damage last year, with 71 people killed, 14 of whom were minors, and 892 injured.
In addition, the attacks sparked close to 610 fires, which burned 92,417 acres of land belonging to the Nature and Parks Authority and more than 42,749 acres of grazing land.
An additional 1,900 terrorist incidents were carried out in 2024, including rock-throwing, Molotov cocktails, vehicle rammings, shootings, stabbings, assaults, explosive devices, and throwing objects.
July had the highest number of incidents – 191 attacks. November was the quietest month with 109 attacks. October was the most violent month, in which 37 people were murdered and 394 injured.
The most common type of terrorist attack was rock-throwing, with 1,248 incidents. April had the most rock-throwings, with 130 incidents, and November was the quietest with 76 incidents. The next most common attacks were throwing objects, arson and tire-burning (162), throwing Molotov cocktails (140), Shootings (132), and explosive devices (89).
IDF Prepares For Potential Hamas, PIJ Attacks Funded By Iran In West Bank
IDF troops have been carrying out a large-scale operation in West Bank villages in recent days, targeting Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) battalions funded by Iran.
Iran’s goal is to establish a terror front in the northern West Bank and disrupt Israel with attacks from that region.
Over the past year, the IDF and Shin Bet have countered these battalions, particularly in Tulkarem, where there have been shootings and other assaults.
The IDF’s assessments indicate that most of the attackers involved were motivated by financial incentives rather than ideology.
Through use of intelligence, ambushes, and surveillance, the IDF has been able to neutralize terrorists and reduce the overall threat level.
The IDF is preparing for scenarios such as breaches of the barrier between Israel and the West Bank and potential infiltrations aimed at taking over settlements.
In response, the reserve brigades, known as the “David Brigades,” have been deployed to carry out defensive missions along various borders.
In recent months significant resources have been allocated to fortify the barrier along the West Bank border.
These efforts include reinforcing sections of the physical fence and deploying military forces to secure the area. The IDF has also set up a security zone with radar systems and observation units to enhance surveillance.
Amid rising concerns, residents near the West Bank border have been increasingly anxious following the October 7 attacks and recent statements made by Rafi Saar, Mayor of Kfar Saba.
“The border communities have faced daily threats over the past year, and this cannot be ignored,” Saar said, emphasizing the continued threats faced by border communities.
He cited the recent seizure of an RPG launcher in Jenin as an example of the severity of the threat, and called for immediate government action to ensure the safety of residents.
According to Saar, local authorities have had to independently manage a significant increase in security expenses.
“The Kfar Saba municipality increased its security budget by NIS 8 million this year and allocated an additional NIS 30 million for response team staffing, emergency training, and reinforcing the security in schools,” Saar said. He warned that without substantial government aid, maintaining these measures long-term would be unsustainable.
Following pressure from local authorities, the IDF reinforced its presence in the area, deploying units from the Home Front Command and the Lions of Jordan Battalion to bolster community security.
However, local leaders feel that these reinforcements are only a temporary fix.
“These measures are important, but they must not remain temporary,” Saar said. “We need a long-term plan that provides lasting security for the residents.”
Biblical Map Posted By Israel Foreign Ministry Stirs Diplomatic Storm – Ohad Merlin
The Israel Foreign Ministry uploaded a map to its Arabic-language social media account that showed the biblical boundaries of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judea, which extended into areas east of the Jordan River. The post begins: “Did you know that the Kingdom of Israel was established 3,000 years ago?”
The map was featured in outlets across the Middle East, including al-Arabiya and Al-Jazeera, with the channels connecting it to alleged Israeli schemes to claim territory beyond its current borders. The speaker of the Jordanian Parliament, Ahmad al-Safadi, claimed that the maps “express a criminal mentality and malicious ambitions that cannot be ignored or tolerated.”
However, Luay al-Shareef, a peace activist from the Gulf, commented: “Sound words that are consistent with history, the Quran, the Bible, and archaeology. It is worth noting that millions of Muslims bear the name of the Israelite king and prophet David, son of Yishai, whose historical kingdom’s denial poses a dilemma in the Islamic faith.” (Jerusalem Post)
Can You Cancel A Country? – Prof. Russ Roberts (Substack)
• One of the stranger and more disturbing aspects of the world since October 7, 2023, is the increased support for the Palestinians in the aftermath of the atrocities of that day. Rape and murder and kidnapping are not the usual way to make friends and influence people. Somehow, the atrocities of Oct. 7 invigorated the Palestinian cause rather than shame it.
• The protests aren’t about criticizing or reforming Israel. They’re not about getting Israel to improve the daily life of Palestinians in Gaza. They’re not about pressuring Israel to accept a two-state solution. They are about erasing Israel. They are about a utopian ideal of returning Palestine to the condition it was in, as if the last 76 years hadn’t happened.
• At the root of this idea is the concept of settler colonialism, taught in courses in Harvard, UC-Berkeley, Cornell, Williams, McGill, University of Toronto and others. It views the settling of the U.S, Canada, and Australia by Europeans not just as something that happened in the past. It’s an ongoing sin that demands atonement.
• Israel is a remarkably dishonest example of settler colonialism. Jews have lived in Israel for millennia. We’re the indigenous people so we can’t be settlers. Some of us are white Europeans. But most of those who are white are descendants of Holocaust survivors who were almost murdered for not being white enough. We Jews were instrumental in throwing real colonizers – the British – out of Palestine.
• We didn’t steal land from the Palestinians. We lived here alongside them. We bought land from our Ottoman rulers as well as from our Palestinian neighbors. We accepted the UN Compromise that our Arab neighbors rejected. When we declared a state, our Arab neighbors invaded us. A few hundred thousands of our Palestinian neighbors stayed in their homes. We let them. That population grew into the 2 million Arab-Israeli citizens who are my neighbors today in Israel.
• The existence of Israel does not rise and fall on an academic debate. We’re here. We’re not going anywhere. We have the best army in the Middle East and we finally have the opportunity to pursue justice for those who rape and murder and kidnap our people. More than ever, we understand that a Jewish state is a necessary sanctuary for our people.
The writer, President of Shalem College in Jerusalem, is a Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution.
(listeningtothesirens.substack.com)
