News Digest — 11/20/24
Netanyahu In Gaza: ‘Hamas Will No Longer Be Here, We’ll Hurt Anyone Who Harms Hostages’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, and ISA Chief Ronen Bar visited the Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza on Tuesday evening (19th).
Netanyahu and Katz received a regional overview from the Commander of the 99th Division Brigadier General Yoav Brunner and Southern Command Commander Major General Yaron Finkelman from one of the observation points in the area of the corridor. Later, they had a conversation with the commanders of the reservist brigades on the coast of Gaza. The brigade commanders reviewed their soldiers’ operational activities and the achievements and challenges in combat. The Prime Minister said at the end of the visit,” I am here on the beach of Gaza with the ministers and commanders and our heroic soldiers, who are doing a wonderful job. Here, in the center of Gaza and in all parts of the Strip, they have achieved excellent results in our important goal – Hamas will not control Gaza. We are eliminating its military capabilities in a very impressive way. We are moving on to its governing capabilities as well. Hamas will not be in Gaza.”
“We are also making an effort from this place and everywhere to locate our hostages and return them. We are not giving up on it. We will continue to do this, until we get them all – both the living and the dead. I want to say to those who hold our hostages: whoever dares to harm our hostages – his blood is on his head. We will pursue you, and we will get you,” he added.
Netanyahu emphasized, “I also say to those who want to get out of this maze: Whoever brings us a hostage will find a safe way for himself and his family to get out. We will give a reward of five million dollars for each hostage. Choose. The choice is yours, but the result will be the same result. We will bring them all back. I say again: Our soldiers and commanders are doing a wonderful job here. I would especially like to mention the reservists and their families, who give them enormous support, round after round, and they achieve wonderful results for the people of Israel. I salute you! The people of Israel salute you!
5 Wounded By Hezbollah Rocket Barrages On Israel As US Envoy Arrives In Lebanon
At least five people were wounded after rockets fired by Hezbollah hit central and northern Israel on Tuesday morning (19th), as the United States special envoy arrived in Lebanon to make a final push for a ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese terror group.
Hezbollah launched rockets at central Israel for the second time in less than a day, setting off sirens in Herzliya, Kfar Saba, Ra’anana, Hadera, Netanya, and numerous other towns north of Tel Aviv shortly before 9 a.m.
According to Magen David Adom (MDA) medics, four people were lightly wounded in the attack on central Israel. Windows in a building were shattered by a nearby rocket impact. An exact location of the strike was not given.
In a separate attack on the north, one person was lightly wounded after a Hezbollah rocket struck a home in the city of Karmiel, first responders said.
According to the IDF, five rockets were launched in the attack on central Israel, and 25 rockets were launched in the attack on the north.
On Monday (18th) Hezbollah launched over 100 rockets at northern Israel, killing a woman and wounding dozens of others.
Fragments of an intercepted missile launched by Hezbollah at central Israel on Monday night (18th) caused heavy damage in the Ramat Gan suburb of Tel Aviv and wounded six people.
Russia Deploying Army Forces On Israeli Border
Russia’s military has deployed ground forces along the Israeli border, Syria has claimed, establishing a number of “observation points” opposite the Israel frontier.
On Monday (18th), Syrian state media outlet SANA reported that the Russian army is expanding its presence in southwestern Syria, and the Russian forces are establishing nine observation points on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, adjacent to the Israeli border in the Quneitra area, and along the Jordanian frontier outside Daraa.
Deputy Commander of the Russian forces operating in Syria, General Alexander Rodionov, said in a press statement that the new deployment was part of the Russian army’s existing mission in Syria.
“The forces, in coordination with the Syrian Arab Army, established nine observation points along the disengagement force zone, whose mission is to carry out surveillance operations by air and land,” Rodionov said.
“Everything that is reported in some media outlets other than that is false,” Rodionov continued, denying claims that Russian forces had been withdrawn from Syria and that the deployments along the Israel frontier were part of a new mission in Syria.
Rodionov noted that Russian forces have been deployed in Syria since 2015, and arrived at the request of the Bashar Assad regime.
Russian forces were dispatched to Syria, beginning in September 2015, to bolster the Assad government during the Syrian civil war, with the declared aim of combating Islamist groups, including the Islamic State in Syria (ISIS) organization.
A Syrian army officer whose identity was not disclosed told SANA that Russia’s deployment near the Israeli border “increases stability and security,” and “helps residents return to their land and lead their normal lives in their villages after being liberated from terrorism.”
Italy Admits Rockets That Hit UN Forces Were From Hezbollah, Not Israel
Italy’s defense minister admits Hezbollah staged an attack on itself when a UN Interim Force (UNIFIL) at a Lebanon base was hit by rocket fire that it initially blamed on Israel, Barron’s reported on Tuesday (19th).
Last week, Italy said an unexploded artillery shell hit the base of UNIFIL, putting the blame on the IDF.
According to Barron’s, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto had initially said to Brussels that the IDF had staged the attack on the UN base in Lebanon.
Israel’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar had promised Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani an “immediate investigation” into the shell incident.
However, an IDF review determined that Hezbollah was responsible for firing the rocket that hit the UNIFIL post, the military said.
According to UNIFIL, the strikes hit areas where no peacekeepers were present, and no serious injuries were reported.
On Tuesday morning (19th), multiple UN Interim Force bases were hit by rocket fire and then again in the afternoon; one in the region of Ramyeh, another near Chamaa, and additional locations were hit later, UNIFIL said.
According to the IDF assessment, the rockets were fired from the area of Deir Aames, part of a barrage fired at Israel at 9:50 a.m. by Hezbollah.
UNIFIL agreed with the IDF report that these strikes were from Hezbollah, saying the rockets “fired were most likely by non-state actors within Lebanon.”
Court Orders PA To Pay $12.3 Million To Intifada Victims
In a precedent-setting decision, the Jerusalem District Court has ordered the Palestinian Authority to pay approximately $12.3 million in compensation to three siblings whose family members were killed in the 2001 Sbarro restaurant bombing in Jerusalem. The ruling marks the first implementation of a new Israeli law mandating punitive damages for terror victims.
Sixteen people were killed in the Sbarro attack, including five members of the Schijveschuurder family: Mordechai, 43; Tzira, 41; Ra’aya, 14; Yitzhak, 4; and Hemda, 2 (two parents and three minors). Two other daughters were injured in the attack. Three brothers who were not with the family at the time, identified the bodies.
Judge Arnon Darel split the proceedings, addressing the murder of the three siblings first. The remaining matters pending before the court concern the murder of the two parents and the personal damages suffered by the three surviving siblings who experienced severe psychological trauma.
While Israel’s Supreme Court had previously established the Palestinian Authority’s responsibility for terror attacks, it initiated about two years ago a Supreme Court ruling, which determined its responsibility for terror attacks even when it was not the initiating party, due to payments made to families of terrorists, However, the majority opinion rejected the argument that it should pay punitive damages for its “pay-for-slay” policy.
In March 2024, the Knesset reversed this position by legislating that any entity rewarding terror would pay $2.7 million in punitive damages for each person killed and $1.35 million in punitive damages for each person injured. No rulings have been issued based on this law until now, and the Palestinian Authority (PA) has argued that it is unconstitutional and void.
The plaintiffs were represented by attorneys Dr. Asaf Posner, Nathaniel Posner, and Gilad Lesser from the Dr. Asaf Posner law firm. For the first time, Jerusalem District Court Judge Arnon Darel is implementing the law and requiring the Palestinian Authority to pay $2.7 million for each victim. Additionally, Judge Darel ordered the Palestinian Authority to pay for “classic” damages, including pain and suffering, shortened life expectancy, and lost wages during the lost years, amounting to an additional $5.4 million, plus attorney fees and expenses.
Following the current lawsuit, attachment orders were issued several months ago, freezing funds that Israel holds for the Palestinian Authority. The Plaintiff’s attorneys have approached state authorities demanding immediate transfer of the money to the plaintiffs, whose case has been pending in court for 20 years.
Dr. Asaf Posner noted this was a first step, welcoming the court’s application of the Knesset’s legislation meant to exact a significant price from the Palestinian Authority for rewarding acts of terror. He expressed hopes that now, with an explicit law in place, terror victims would receive swift justice going forward.
Yoseph Haddad: Taking Pride In Being Arab Israeli – Hannah Brown
Arab Israeli Yoseph Haddad is one of Israel’s most vocal supporters, both at home and abroad. His basic message is: He is proud to be Arab and proud to be Israeli, and that there is no contradiction between these two identities; that Israel should fight hard against its enemies; and that Arab Israelis should support their country, and Israeli Jews should embrace Arab Israeli citizens.
Haddad posts many times a day and has a combined following on social media platforms of close to two million. He has established a nonprofit foundation, Together Vouch for Each Other, which encourages Arab Israelis to connect to and feel part of Israeli society, volunteer for the IDF or National Service, and help solve problems in Arab society in Israel.
In an interview, he said, “You can see that more Arab Israelis are saying, ‘Hey, we’re proud to be Arabs, we’re also proud to be Israelis. This is our country, and we want to be here.’” Haddad comes from a Christian Arab family in Haifa. He volunteered for the IDF and was wounded during the Second Lebanon War in 2006.
He was chosen to light a torch at the Independence Day ceremony this year, a privilege granted to Israelis who are considered outstanding citizens. Two other Arab Israelis also lit torches: Youssef Elziadna, a Bedouin minibus driver at the Nova festival who saved 30 people, and Nasreem Youssef, a Druze who helped in police interrogations of the terrorists on October 7.
(Jerusalem Post)
