News Digest — 11/15/24
IAF Strikes PIJ Headquarters Embedded In Syria’s Damascus
IAF fighter jets struck commander centers and Terrorist infrastructure belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist group in Syria’s Damascus, the military confirmed on Thursday afternoon (14th).
Fifteen people were killed and 16 injured in Israeli attacks on a number of residential buildings in suburbs of the Syrian capital Damascus on Thursday (14th), state news agency SANA reported, citing a Syrian military source.
One building was located in the Damascus suburb of Mazzeh and another in Qudsaya, west of the capital.
Israeli army radio said the targets of the attack in Damascus were assets and the headquarters of the Palestinian terrorist group Islamic Jihad.
An IDF Spokesperson confirmed later on Thursday (14th) that IAF fighter jets struck military buildings and headquarters of the Islamic Jihad terror organization in Syria. The PIJ terror group was credited with assisting Hezbollah in its efforts to target the State of Israel under Iranian direction.
The military further accused the Syrian regime of protecting the terror group.
Commanders in Lebanon’s Hezbollah armed group and Iran’s Revolutionary Guards based in Syria have been known to reside in Mazzeh, according to residents who fled after recent strikes that killed some key figures from the groups.
Mazzeh’s high-rise blocks have been used by the authorities in the past to house leaders of Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Israel has been carrying out strikes against Iran-linked targets in Syria for years but has ramped up such raids since last year’s Oct. 7 attack by Palestinian group Hamas on Israeli territory that sparked the Gaza war.
Since Hamas’ massacre of 1,200 people in southern Israel, the Jewish state has faced attacks from numerous Iran-backed terror groups in the region, including Hezbollah, the Houthis, and militia groups in Iraq and Syria.
What An “American First” Policy Means For Israel – Dr. Raphael BenLevi
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s approach to the world is embodied by the phrase “America First.” Due to the historical baggage of this phrase, many have interpreted it as identifying him with the isolationist trend in the U.S. foreign policy that seeks to turn its back on allies around the world.
However, a leading institute in developing a platform for the second Trump administration called the “American First Policy Institute” emphasizes that their approach is not a call for the U.S. to withdraw from its role as the leader of the free world. Rather, “America First” means building a powerful military while being highly selective regarding its use, in order to keep U.S. troops out of unnecessary and unending wars.
It is also a call to work with allies hand-in-hand, while requiring them to carry their full weight of their own security needs. A prominent voice on grand strategy in Trump;s circle, Elbridge Colby, emphasized this week that the U.S. is interested in strong allies who stand on their own two feet and do not expect the U.S. to risk its soldiers to protect them.
Applying this thinking to the Middle East, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance has made it clear that the American First approach sees a strong Israel acting alongside strong Gulf states as a counterweight to Iran.
The writer is a fellow at the Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy. (Makor Rishon-Israel hayom)
Bipartisan Bill To Bar Hamas Supporters From US Advances To Senate
Two senators from both sides of the aisle introduced legislation on Wednesday (13th) to bar Hamas sympathizers from entering the United States.
While federal law already bars terrorists from entering the country, the No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act, introduced by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), cuts through any ambiguity by barring any “representatives, officials, members or spokespersons” of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and anyone found involved in the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre in Israel.
It would also make them ineligible for any relief under current immigration statutes.
“Since January 2021, the Biden-Harris administration has released nearly 100 dangerous individuals on the terrorist watchlist into the country, as well as illegal immigrants from U.S. adversaries like Iran,” Blackburn said in a statement.
“This common-sense, bipartisan bill would ensure that no migrant tied to Hamas and the horrific terrorist attack on October 7 is allowed to enter our country or receive immigration benefits on the taxpayer’s dime.”
Unsurprisingly, the two no votes came from anti-Israel “Squad” members Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich), who called the bill “redundant” and biased against Arabs.
“H.R. 6679 is unnecessary because it is redundant with already existing federal law. It’s just another GOP messaging bill being used to incite anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Muslim hatred that makes communities like ours unsafe,” Tlaib said.
As it did in the House, the historic motion is likely to pass in the Senate, sending it to either President Joe Biden or President-elect Donald Trump’s desk for approval or veto.
Ayatollah Khamenei Committed A Major Strategic Blunder – Neville Teller
It is Iran that seeks to destroy Israel, not the other way around. For 45 years, since the Islamic Republic of Iran’s founding in 1979, the Iranian regime had pursued its self-imposed mission of the destruction of Israel and its people through funding, arming, and supporting groups and militias prepared to attack the Jewish state.
On April 13, 2024, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei decided that the time had arrived to change tactics and launched Iran’s first direct onslaught on Israel – an aerial assault that involved hundreds of drones, and cruise and ballistic missiles.
Khamenei committed a major strategic blunder. His anticipated military and propaganda triumph turned into a humiliation. His failure was to underestimate the effectiveness of Israel’s security and armed forces. Within a week, Israel had responded with airstrikes on Iranian military sites in Syria and Iran. Israel also pursued its hunt for Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.
Khamemei then opted for a second, bigger, and more focused attempt, using 200 advanced Fattah-1 and Kheibar Shekan missiles, targeting military and intelligence locations. This second Iranian attack, on Oct. 1, was only marginally more damaging than the first. Most missiles were intercepted by Israel and US defense systems. Israel responded on October 25 in a manner that respected President Biden’s wishes, with heavy airstrikes on Iranian military targets.
Khamenei has affirmed repeatedly that the very purpose of his revolution was to destroy Wester-style democracy and its way of life and to impose Shi’ite Islam on the whole world. He identified the US and Israel as his prime targets. Whether the West wishes to acknowledge it or not, in combating Iran, Israel is fighting for the free world as a whole.
The writer is the Middle East correspondent for Eurasia Review.
Jewish Students In Ireland Are Changing Schools To Escape Harassment As A New Report Exposes Bias In School Textbooks, The Jewish Chronicle Reveals
The findings emerge from an extensive study by the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (Impact-se), which identified multiple instances of problematic content in Irish educational materials.
Ireland’s Chief Rabbi told the Jewish Chronicle that some students now express fear about their Jewish identity. The Jewish Representative Council of Ireland (JRC) confirmed this assessment, noting that several young Jewish students have transferred schools due to hostile environments.
Maurice Cohen, JRCI chair, has repeatedly sought meetings with Minister for Education Norma Foley to discuss these concerns. The education department responded to the Jewish Chronicle, stating: “There is no evidence of anti-Semitism being taught in Irish schools.”
“There has been a marked increase in incidents, with deeply hurtful remarks ranging from Holocaust denial to comments about the Israeli-Gaza conflict,” Cohen told the Jewish Chronicle. He criticized the government’s response to rising anti-Semitism and problematic textbook content as “nothing short of scandalous and shocking.”
The 40-page Impact-se report examined numerous Irish textbooks designed for students aged 12 to 16. The Irish government dismissed the findings, telling the Jewish Chronicle: “The Department of Education is confident that Irish students are being taught in a fair and balanced way by high-quality Irish teachers in a variety of subjects, including the history of the Jewish people and Judaism.”
In “Call to Action,” a civics textbook from Gill Education, students are presented with various activities focused on the Palestinian perspective. The book features climate activist Greta Thunberg on its cover and includes exercises asking students to consider potential futures for Palestinian children.
Another text, Inspire-Wisdom of the World, published by Educate.ie, claims Jesus was born in a country called “Palestine.” The book states, ”Today this area, between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea, is also known as the Holy Land.” Impact-se noted that “Historical references to Jesus living in ‘Palestine’ without appropriate content can contribute to narratives that challenge Israel’s legitimacy and undermine the Jewish historical connection to the land.”
The same book presents religions differently, stating “Judaism believes that violence and war are sometimes necessary to promote justice,” while discussing Islam as “in favor of peace and against violence,” and Christianity’s aim as “to promote a world in which peace and justice are enjoyed by everyone.”
In Veritas’ “Grow in Love,” a 2019 edition depicted people who “do not like Jesus” wearing a tallit (Jewish prayer shawl). Following criticism, Veritas updated the textbook in 2024, removing the tallit image. In another Veritas publication,” Faith Seeking Understanding, Christianity: Origins and Contemporary Expressions,” the parable of the Good Samaritan is illustrated with the image of a boy wearing a Palestinian scarf protesting Israel.
Chief Rabbi Yoni Wieder reported that students have told him “they feel afraid because they are Jewish, or that they avoid talking about being Jewish in front of their non-Jewish peers.” Rabbi Wieder, who has London roots, told the Jewish Chronicle: “The anti-Israel narrative in Ireland has become so distorted and widespread that it creates a context in which anti-Semitism can thrive.”
The Irish Department of Education explained to the Jewish Chronicle: “Apart from a small number of prescribed texts at post-primary level, determined by the NCCA, it is the responsibility of each individual school to select the resources that it will use to support its implementation of the curriculum. The content of textbooks is decided by each publisher.”
Marcus Sheff, Impact-se chief executive, told the Jewish Chronicle: “As our report makes clear, there is content in Irish textbooks that is deeply concerning. When aspects of the Holocaust are minimized and when Judaism is portrayed as being less peaceful than other great religions, it should raise a clear red flag for the Irish authorities. The good news is that where there is willingness, these issues can be tackled and rectified. We hope that both textbook publishers and members of the Irish government will be open to making much-needed changes.”
Scientists Harness Electric Fields To Forecast Extreme Weather
Israeli researchers on Thursday (14th) unveiled a groundbreaking approach to predicting severe weather events by monitoring atmospheric electric fields.
The ability to track electric field variations in real-time could provide meteorologists with valuable early warnings for extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall, flash floods, or intense storms, and inform long-term climate adaptation strategies.
By studying the Negev Desert in southern Israel, an area known for its unpredictable climate, researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Reichmann University found that as these systems passed through, there were substantial increases in the potential Gradient of the electric field, rising from typical fair-weather values of 100-200 volts per meter to several thousands volts per meter.
The study, led by Dr. Roy Yaniv from the Institute of Earth Sciences at Hebrew University of Jerusalem in collaboration with Prof. Yoav Yair of Reichmann University, was recently published in the peer-reviewed Atmospheric Research Journal.
The study focused on “wet” Cyprus Lows – a type of low pressure weather system commonly associated with rainstorms in the Negev.
Sharp spikes in the electric field coincided with the passage of convective clouds, which are often linked to intense rainfall.
The data revealed that different cloud types produced distinct electric field patterns, offering new clues about the structure and intensity of storms.
Additionally, the study also found that factors such as the electrical charge of rain droplets and cloud structure could significantly impact the electric field, further refining the ability to predict weather patterns.
The research demonstrates how electric field variations can serve as indicators of shifting weather patterns, allowing us to anticipate severe weather events in real-time,” said Yaniv.
“The ability to identify these changes early is especially crucial in vulnerable regions like Israel, where even minor shifts in climate conditions can lead to major local impacts.”
The ability to track electric field variations in real time could provide meteorologists with valuable early warnings for extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall, flash floods, or intense storms.
This could be especially useful in desert and semi-arid regions where traditional weather forecasting methods are less effective due to rapid changes in weather patterns.
As we are having more unpredictable and extreme weather patterns, monitoring electric fields could potentially help governments better understand shifting weather dynamics.
