News Digest — 1/6/26
Report: Netanyahu Using Putin Channel To Calm Iran
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has enlisted Russian President Vladimir Putin to convey calming messages to Iran, indicating that Israel does not intend to attack it, Kan News reported on Monday (5th), citing diplomatic sources.
According to the report, the messages were recently delivered to Iran, including through phone conversations between Netanyahu and Putin, amid rising tensions between Jerusalem and Tehran.
The prime minister said on Monday (5th), during a Knesset session that Israel had conveyed a message to Iran stating that if Israel is attacked, “the consequences will be severe.”
“[The President Donald] Trump and I will not allow Iran to restore its ballistic missile industry and nuclear program,” Netanyahu said during the session.
He added, “We identify with the struggle of the Iranian people. We may be standing at a crucial moment. If we are attacked, the consequences for Iran will be very serious.”
Kan11 News noted that Israel is still concerned over an Iranian miscalculation that could lead Tehran to strike Israel out of concern that it might be attacked first. In recent days, the political and security leadership has held discussions on various security issues, including the Iranian matter.
On Sunday (4th) Iranian television reported that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) had launched a military exercise involving missile launches and tests of air-defense systems.
According to the report, the exercise was being conducted in several cities, including Tehran and Shiraz.
Two weeks ago, Barak Ravid of Axios reported that Israeli officials had warned the Trump administration that an IRGC missile exercise could be preparations for an attack on Israel.
A day earlier, Iran International reported that Western Intelligence sources had identified “unusual aerial activity by the IRGC’s Aerospace Force.
After Warning Civilians of Strikes, IDF Conducts Attacks On Hezbollah, Hamas targets In Lebanon
After warning of imminent attacks on Hezbollah infrastructure on Monday (5th), the IDF began striking Hezbollah and Hamas terror targets in Lebanon, the military announced.
The IDF later stated the strikes, which were carried out north of Lebanon’s Litani River, followed terrorist attempts to rebuild infrastructure in the area.
The military added that the attacks consisted of four strikes thus far, and that two subterranean Hezbollah structures were among the infrastructure targeted..
The initial announcement warning of the strikes, made by IDF Arabic language spokesperson Col. Avichay Adraee on X, identified locations in the towns of Kfar Hatta and Ain al-Tinah as the targets.
Adraee noted that the action would be taken in response to attempts by Hezbollah to reestablish its activities in the area. It did not mention that Hamas targets were among those that would be hit.
Adraee’s post on X included maps of the imminent strike sites, with the target zones shaded in red.
“We urge the residents of the buildings marked in red in the attached maps, and the buildings adjacent to them: You are located near buildings used by Hezbollah, and for your safety, you are required to evacuate them immediately and stay away from them a distance of at least 100 meters,” Adraee stated.
“Remaining in the area of the marked buildings puts you in danger.”
Earlier Monday (5th), the military confirmed that it had conducted strikes on Sunday (4th), killing two Hezbollah terrorists in al-Jumayimah, southern Lebanon.
The terrorists were acting to re-establish the terror group’s infrastructure in the area, the military noted.
“These actions constituted a blatant violation of the ceasefire understandings between Israel and Lebanon” the military affirmed.
Similar strikes have been conducted in the past two days, with the IDF killing a Hezbollah terrorist in al-Khiyam on Sunday (4th), and striking several terror infrastructure sites, including a Radwan Force training facility and weapons storage facilities on Saturday (3rd).
Following the initial strike in Lebanon on Monday (4th), the IDF announced that it had struck a Hamas terrorist in southern Gaza.
According to the military, the action was taken because the terrorist was planning an imminent attack on Israeli troops in the area.
The IDF noted that the strike, which it emphasized was conducted in accordance with the ongoing ceasefire agreement, was carried out alongside several measures to reduce collateral damage.
Prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence, the IDF said.
The Israeli action in Lebanon comes as Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar met with the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis, in Jerusalem on Sunday (4th) to discuss regional security and Lebanon’s future.
“I reiterated the importance of Hezbollah’s disarmament for both Israel’s security and Lebanon’s future,” Sa’ar wrote on X.
“Efforts have been made in this regard by the Lebanese government and the Lebanese Armed Forces , but they are far from sufficient, among other things, in light of Hezbollah’s efforts to rearm and rebuild with Iranian support,” he added.
Also, the IDF on Sunday night (4th) intercepted a drone smuggling three rifles over the Egyptian border, the military confirmed on Monday (5th).
Soldiers from the Paran Regional Brigade acted on IDF surveillance and its control systems to intercept the drone, and seized three M-16s and cartridges, transferring them to authorities for processing , the military noted.
Abraham Accords Partners, Israel And Morocco Begin New Phase Of Defense Coordination
Iran and Morocco agreed this week on a joint military work plan for 2026, normalizing the next stage of defense coordination during a bilateral military forum held in Tel Aviv, the Israeli Defense Forces said.
The arrangement was finalized at the third meeting of the two countries joint Military Committee, a gathering that coincided with five years since Jerusalem and Rabat normalized relations under the Abraham Accords.
Israeli officials described the session as a practical step toward translating diplomatic ties into sustained security cooperation.
According to the IDF, the Moroccan delegation took part in a series of closed-door professional discussions with senior Israeli officers, alongside briefings and site visits connected to Israel’s defense establishment. The talks were overseen by the IDF Planning Directorate together with the Tevel Division, which manages military relations with foreign partners.
Rather than focusing on tactical coordination, the centerpiece of the visit was a strategic-level forum explaining long-term force development and identifying shared priorities for future cooperation.
The IDF said the panel addressed how both militaries assess evolving threats and align planning concepts, with the goal of improving interoperability and mutual understanding.
In parallel with the working sessions, Moroccan representatives toured IDF units and held meetings linked to Israel’s defense industries and operational directorates.
The IDF said that these visits were intended to give the delegation direct exposure to Israel’s military capabilities, organizational structure, and planning processes.
Israeli officials framed the meeting as part of a steady deepening of ties that has progressed incrementally since normalization.
The IDF said the joint Military Committee has become a central mechanism for managing defense relations between the two countries and for setting multi-year agendas rather than one-off engagements.
In its statement, the IDF characterized Morocco as a “key partner for regional stability,” adding that the latest meeting marked another milestone in expanding security cooperation. While no operational details of the 2026 work plan were released, officials indicated that the framework is intended to guide joint activity, consultations, and exchanges over the coming year.
The Tel Aviv meeting follows previous committee sessions hosted alternately by the two sides and reflects an effort to institutionalize military dialogue as diplomatic relations between Israel and Morocco enter their sixth year.
US Ambassador’s Grandchildren Discover Ancient Coins In Binyamin Region Cave
“Grandpa, look what we found!,” exclaimed the grandchildren of US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee as they excitedly pulled five ancient coins from a recently uncovered hiding cave near the community of Na’ale in Binyamin. The family participated in an archaeological tour initiated by Ruthie Lieberman, political consultant and founder of the Yes! Israel Project, together with Sarah Paley. The tour was guided by Dr. Dvir Raviv of Bar Ilan University, who is leading an archaeological survey of the area.
In the first cave entered, which was already known to the locals, fragments of a jar dating back to the 2nd century CE were discovered, providing evidence that the cave had served as a hiding place for refugees during the Bar Kokhba Revolt. In the second cave, previously unknown to the public, the grandchildren were equipped with a metal detector and discovered five ancient cons, possibly dating to the Bar Kokhba Revolt, the Great revolt of the late Roman period. “It was remarkable to see such a senior figure so eager to connect to the land together with his family,” said Dr. Raviv.
From here, Huckabee, his wife, his daughter, Arkansas governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, her husband, and their children continued to ancient Shiloh. They were accompanied by Eliana Passentin, Director of the Foreign Affairs Desk at the Binyamin region. The ambassador, who has visited the site several times in the past as a guest of YIsrael Ganz, said: “I have a warm place in my heart for Ancient Shiloh. It’s amazing to come to a place that proves miracles can happen, 3,000 years ago and even today.”
Yisrael Ganz, Governor of the Binyamin Region, said: “We were delighted to host Ambassador Huckabee and his family at Binyamin’s archaeological sites, the place where our heritage comes to life, The artifacts they discovered are the best testimony to our historical right to every part of the Land of Israel.”
Ruthie Lieberman added: “This tour is part of a series designed to strengthen the connection between Israel’s supporters in the US and our homeland.”
A true friend of the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, Huckabee has made his visits to Binyamin a tradition. This marks the third time he has returned to Ancient Shiloh, this time with his grandchildren.
Netanyahu To U.S. Jews: “Stand Up To The Scourges Of Anti-Semitism”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Jewish community leaders in Florida on Dec. 31, 2025: “We have changed Jewish history with the establishment of the sovereign Jewish state and the sovereign Jewish army… We restored the capacity of the Jewish people to defend themselves by themselves.”
“It’s the spirit of our forefathers. It’s the spirit of the heroes of Israel. It’s the spirit of the Maccabees that has been reincarnated in the modern state of Israel – the bravery of our soldiers, the resolute stance of our people…Our enemies saw that we would do what is necessary to protect the life of our state and the life of our citizens.”
“For many, they see the wonder of Israel. They see how this small nation, gigantic in talent and in spirit, can take on enemies 10, 20 times their size and win… Israel has come out of this war stronger than ever before, militarily, stronger than ever before economically… That bodes well for the future, because you make alliances with the strong, you make peace with the strong, and we have opened up opportunities for peace that have never existed before.”
“Just as we fight the physical battle on the battlefield and we win, we must also fight the battle for truth. We must also stand up to the scourge of anti-Semitism that endangers not only us, but every society it has infected. It starts with the Jews. It never ends with the Jews.”
“The last thing you should do [with anti-Semitic attacks] is lower your head and seek cover… You should stand up and be counted. You should fight back. You should speak up. You should attack your attackers. You should delegitimize the delegitimizers… Nobody will fight for you more than you fight for yourself. That’s what happens when Israel fights for itself.” (The Prime Minister’s Office)
(gov.il)
The Keffiyeh Crew’s Curious Silence On Iran – Brendan O’Neill (Spectator-UK)
In 2025, the activist class spoke of the Middle East and little else. They culturally appropriated Arab headwear, pouncing about in China-made keffiyehs. They wrapped themselves in the Palestine colors. They frothed day and night about a “murderous regime.” – you know who. And yet now, as Middle Eastern people revolt against their genuinely repressive rulers, they’ve gone silent.
These people love to yap about “resistance.” Yet the minute men and women in Iran rise up in resistance against the oppressive theocracy that subjugates then, they go coy. Their solidarity evaporates. Their flag-waving ends. Where are the solidarity marches? Where are the gatherings outside Iranian embassies to echo the protesters’ cry for an end to the regressive rule of the ayatollahs?
It’s an anti-war uprising too. Protesters are chanting “Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, my life for Iran,” in glorious protest against the regime’s wasteful spending on its anti-Semitic proxy armies of Hamas and Hezbollah. Where are the Western anti-imperialists to cheer this demand for social spending over the squandering of billions on a medieval war of attrition against the world’s only Jewish state.?
This is where we get to the ugly truth of their creepy silence on Iran. When Iranian progressives understand that Hezbollah and Hamas are brutal outfits doing the bidding of a ruthless regime, our active class has a tendency to view them as “resistance” movements. Their Israelophobia has so thoroughly shattered their moral compasses that they bristle at the very suggestion that Iran should stop funding Israel’s hateful foes and instead should focus on improving the lot of the Iranian people.
We end up in the truly perverse situation where the privileged keffiyeh classes of the West instinctively want the Iranian regime to survive – in order that it might continue sicking it to evil Israel – while the young of Iran dream of the regime withering away.
It’s now clear that their cause of madly hating Israel takes precedence over everything else, including offering solidarity to the freedom yearning people of Iran. Your liberty will have to wait guys – you haven’t destroyed the Jewish state yet.
