News Digest — 12/19/24
IDF Hits Strategic Houthi Sites Hours After Missile Launch On Central Israel
In a significant escalation against Houthi aggression, Israeli Air Force fighter jets conducted an extensive overnight operation Thursday morning (19th) against strategic targets in Yemen’s Hodeidah port and the capital Sanaa, striking locations approximately 1,240 miles from Israel. The complex operation, which required weeks of planning, involved mid-air refueling capabilities due to the extraordinary distance. The mission was the first time the IDF also struck the capital Sanaa, as the two previous public strikes on the Iranian-backed terrorists were limited to the northern strategic stronghold of Hodeidah.
Speaking from the Air Force command bunker where he approved the strike plans, Defense Minister Israel Katz delivered an unequivocal message: “We struck strategic targets of the Houthi terrorist organization in Yemen again tonight. Israel’s long arm will reach you too. Whoever raises a hand against Israel will have it cut off, whoever hits us will be hit sevenfold.”
The Israel Defense Forces statement detailed that the operation targeted facilities used by Houthi forces for military operations and the transfer of Iranian weaponry to the region. The precision strikes were coordinated through the Intelligence Directorate and the Israeli Navy.
The operation specifically targeted all port tugboats, effectively paralyzing operations at three Houthi-controlled naval ports, following earlier strikes that had disabled the ports’ crane systems.
Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari provided context in a foreign press briefing, citing recent Houthi provocations: “In the past two weeks alone, the Houthis launched an unmanned aerial vehicle that hit a residential neighborhood in southern Israel, and on Sunday (15th) fired a long-range missile toward central Israel.” He emphasized that “the regime in Iran funds, arms and directs the Houthis’ terrorist activities.”
According to Yemen’s Al-Yaman channel, this marked the first strike in Yemen since October. The operation was executed approximately one hour after a ballistic missile launch at 2:37 am. This missile, the eighth launched from Yemen this month, was successfully intercepted by the Arrow defense system before reaching Israeli airspace. The interception triggered warning sirens throughout central Israel. While fragments caused damage to an elementary school in Ramat Efal, no injuries were reported.
Chief Of Staff In Rafah: ‘We’re Pressuring Hamas Every Day To Return The Hostages’
On Wednesday (18th), the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi conducted a situational assessment and tour in the Rafah area of the Gaza Strip. Halevi was accompanied by the Commanding Officer of the Southern Command, MG Yaron Finkelman; the Commanding Officer of the Gaza Division, BG Barak Hiram; the Commanding Officer of the Nahal Brigade, COL Yair Zuckerman; and other senior commanders.
Halevi told the soldiers in Rafah, “We are dismantling Hamas and targeting its infrastructure and forces so that there will never be another October 7th. We are exerting pressure on Hamas daily, driving it into greater distress, to ensure the return of the 100 hostages – hopefully alive – and for those who are not, to provide them a proper burial in Israel. Our goal is also to return Israeli residents to their homes.”
“I tell you this: the Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip are coming back to life,” Halevi said. “Residents are returning, and as they do, our responsibility grows even greater – no less. It is our duty to provide a much stronger security framework so they can feel safe and secure here.”
“You are contributing to the fight against Hamas, the return of the hostages, and the revival of these communities. Knowing this gives me the boundless strength to keep going, and I believe this is a shared mission for every soldier in the IDF – both active and reserve. Keep doing your incredible work. Thank You,” the Chief of Staff concluded.
Poll: Over Half Of Arab Israelis Believe War Created A Shared Sense Of Destiny With Jews
Over half (57.8%) of Arab citizens in Israel, including Muslims, Druze, and Christians, believe the multi-front war has created a shared sense of destiny between Jews and Arabs, a survey by the Konrad Adenauer Program for Jewish-Arab Cooperation at TAU’s Moshe Dayan Center revealed Wednesday (18th).
In June 2024, 51.6% of Arab Israelis believed that the war was creating a shared sense of destiny between Jewish and Arab Israelis, indicating an upward trend.
In contrast, in November 2023, nearly three-quarters (69.8%) of Arab Israelis said that the war had harmed solidarity between Arab and Jewish citizens.
In terms of the relationship between Arab Israelis and the state in the December 2024 survey, over a third (39.4%) of respondents said that their sense of belonging to the state has weakened since Oct. 7. Only 17.4% said their sense of belonging to Israel has strengthened due to the war.
The survey additionally revealed that a third (33.9%) of Arab Israelis define their Israeli citizenship as the most important element in their personal identity. Of those surveyed, 29.2% view their religious affiliation as the most important aspect of their identity, and 26.0% view their Arab identity as the most important.
In comparison to earlier surveys, it is notable that the importance of Israeli citizenship to Arab Israelis has increased during the war.
In terms of “the day after” the war ends, when asked who should govern Gaza, less than half (43.2%) believe that Gaza should be placed in Palestinian hands, marking a decline since June 2024, when 58.5% of respondents supported Palestinian control of Gaza. One-fifth of those who support Palestinian control of Gaza support control by the Palestinian Authority (PA), 15.8% support local Gazan entities in control, and 5.7% support Hamas maintaining power.
In contrast, nearly half (45.1%) of Arab Israelis think an external non-Palestinian entity should govern Gaza. One-fifth support an international coalition, 17.9% support Israeli control, and 7.1% support Arab states taking leadership.
“It appears that under the dark shadows cast by the war over all citizens of Israel, in both Arabs and Jews, it is noticed that meaningful bright spots are emerging that could redefine the rules of the game in the post-war era,” Dr. Arik Rudnitzky, project manager of the Konrad Adenauer Program for Jewish-Arab Cooperation at the Dayan Center remarked on the study.
“The upheavals and turbulence in the Middle East in recent months… have boosted the Arab citizens’ appreciation for their Israeli citizenship,” Rudnitzky continued, explaining the new “sense of shared destiny” between Arabs and Jews in Israel.
This does not mean that Arabs in Israel now ignore their Arab and Palestinian national identity,” he added, “but it does form a clear statement from Arab citizens, signaling to both the authorities and the Jewish majority that they will willingly collaborate in the rebuilding of Israeli society and politics in the post-war era.”
The survey, with a +/-4.38% margin of error, was conducted by telephone from December 1 through 8 in Arabic. Five hundred Arab Israelis over 18 were surveyed.
Argentina, Israel Marked 75 Years Of Diplomatic Ties In Jerusalem
Israel and Argentina on Monday (16th) marked 75 years of diplomatic relations at a gala event at the Israeli Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, as ties between the two countries reached unprecedented heights under Argentinian President Javier Milei.
The event included a call for the immediate release of the remaining hostages being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, some of whom are Argentinian nationals.
In written remarks read out at the event by the South American country’s ambassador to Israel, the Argentinian leader pledged to continue speaking out against Islamic terrorism targeting the Jewish state, saying “silence is complicity.”
Milei, who has pledged to move his country’s embassy to Jerusalem went on to write: “The foundation of the relationship between Argentina and Israel is the value of freedom and Democracy. In this regard, I have prioritized our bond with Israel, elevating it to an unprecedented level.”
The South American leader, who took office last year, made one of his first official visits as president, to Israel, where he reiterated his pledge to move the embassy to Jerusalem, visited southern Israeli communities hard-hit in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas massacre and met with Argentinian born Israelis that had been freed from captivity in Gaza.
“Argentina was the first Latin American country to recognize the State of Israel,” noted Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the event. “Now under the leadership of my dear friend Javier Milei, there is no doubt that ties have become stronger than ever,” he added.
Argentina’s ambassador to Israel, Rabbi Axel Wahnish, said, “Argentina was for 74 years a partner, but now, in its 75th year, under President Milei, Argentina has become a friend to Israel.”
An iconoclast and political outsider, Milei was elected in November 2023 amid a burgeoning economic crisis and skyrocketing inflation that has long beleaguered the large South American country, which is making strides toward recovery under his leadership.
A week after his election victory, he visited the United States for government meetings, stopping at the grave in New York of the late Lubavitcher Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.
It was his third such visit that year. Since taking over, he has subsequently listed Hamas as a terror organization and called out Iran’s terrorism.
“The future of friendship between Israel and Argentina has never looked brighter,” said Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, whose Argentinian-born father immigrated to Israel 59 years ago, and who was in the audience.
Israel’s top diplomat is scheduled to lead a private-sector delegation to Argentina in March to further economic ties between the two countries.
Knesset Speaker Amit Ohana, who visited Buenos Aires this fall, has invited Milei to address Israel’s parliament in Jerusalem, and he has concurred.
“The bond between Argentina and Israel has never been stronger,” he said, adding, “Times of crisis have a way of bringing heroes into focus. Milei’s Argentina has emerged as a booming moral voice shaking the world stage.”
Israel Allocating $64 Million For Tourism Projects, Including Judea And Samaria
The Israel Ministry of Tourism will allocate approximately $64 million to 55 tourism projects across the country. This will include $6 million in Judea and Samaria, the highest budget for the region in the last five years, and $18 million in the country’s north.
“On assuming my role as tourism minister, I decided to increase investment in the Judea and Samaria region, the biblical heartland of Israel, with its rich history, stunning landscapes and natural beauty,” Tourism Minister Haim Katz told JNS on Tuesday (17th).
Judea and Samaria are a magnet for Jewish and Christian tourists alike. With this significant financial investment in tourism projects in the region, the Tourism Ministry is working to improve the visitor experience, to make history accessible and increase the lodging options in the area,” he continued.
“As we work toward the ‘day after the war,’ we are focusing our attention on the faith-based market, which continues to prove loyal to Israel. We invite you to show your support for Israel by planning your next visit within the coming year,” Katz said.
The ministry’s allocation is part of a total investment of approximately $114 million in the approved projects, which include an ecological promenade in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, laser shows at the marina in Eilat and the citadel in the Knights’ Halls in Acre, and a walk-on-water experience in Kibbutz Ginosar on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.
In Judea and Samaria projects include accessibility improvements at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, the establishment of an archaeological park in Beit El in the Binyamin region, and the creation of a Psalms Trail segment and park project in Mount Hebron.
“We have distributed the investment across the country,” said Ministry of Tourism Director-General Dani Shahar.
Ninety-eight local authorities responded to the ministry’s invitation to submit requests for funding. In recent months, the ministry reviewed 119 applications, representing a total requested investment of approximately $446 million.
“The ministry evaluated the projects based on criteria such as potential to attract visitors from Israel and overseas, proximity to existing or planned accommodations, alignment with ministry and government policies, local authority’s ability to maintain the project, maintenance complexity, and diversification or enhancement of the tourism product,” Shahar said.
”The infrastructures we are creating will offer an unforgettable experience in every place.”
Montreal Synagogue Firebombed For Second Time In A Year
A synagogue in Montreal, Canada was damaged in an anti-Semitic arson attack overnight Wednesday (18th), marking the second time in 13 months that the Jewish institution has been targeted.
At around 3 AM on Wednesday morning, (18th) a fire was reported at Congregation Beth Tikvah in the heavily Jewish West Island neighborhood.
According to a New York Post report. The front window of the synagogue had been smashed. Police were said to have found “an incendiary device” inside the synagogue, which apparently had been used to start the fire.
A Montreal police spokesman said in a media statement that witnesses had seen a suspect running away shortly after the explosion.
Despite the damage and ongoing fires, the synagogue refused to turn away worshipers.
“We were able to recite the morning prayers in an abbreviated way,” Rabbi Mordechai Zeitz told the Jewish Telegraph Agency.
“We did not close, even if we had to go outside to avoid the fires on the inside. But we had the fires of Jewish identity and Jewish pride very much front and center, in front of the charred doors of the synagogue,” he added.
In November 2023, the synagogue was targeted by a similar Molotov cocktail attack.
This most recent attack serves as a “terrifying reminder that Montreal is increasingly unsafe for Jewish people,” said Henry Topas, Congregation Beth Tikvah cantor and B’nai Brith Canada’s regional director for Quebec and Atlantic Canada.
“This is the result of the failure of leaders at all levels to hold accountable those responsible for the hate and violence that is infesting Canadian society,” Topas added.
“Let’s not mince words: This is a stark reminder of what happens when politicians fail to call out anti-Semitism and prevent the escalation of violence on our streets,” Federation CIA president and CEO Yair Szlak said.
“We call on Mayor Plante to act immediately to crack down on the unacceptable rise in anti-Semitism in Montreal. Our community is outraged and so should all of Quebec’s citizens. We expect the authorities to treat this incident with the highest level of care and consider all likely motives. Enough is enough!”
