News Digest — 4/29/24
IDF Chief Of Staff Herzi Halevi Approves Plans For Rafah Operation
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi has approved plans for a major operation in Rafah, the IDF said on Sunday (28th).
Halevi approved plans for the continuation of the war in a meeting on Sunday (28th) with Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman and the other division and brigade commanders of the Southern Command.
The approval comes as Hamas negotiators in Cairo consider an Israeli proposal to postpone such an operation, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved weeks ago in exchange for a ceasefire and the release of some hostages.
Right-wing members of Netanyahu’s cabinet oppose such a deal and have threatened to collapse the coalition if the Prime Minister decides to postpone the operation. Minister Benny Gantz in response has said the government would lose its legitimacy if it rejected a hostage deal in order to invade Rafah.
Amid the ministers’ threats, a senior government official told media Sunday evening (28th): “Preparations for entering Rafah continue. In any deal, if there is one, Israel will not give up the goals of the war.”
Halevi’s approval of the Rafah plans also comes as the International Criminal Court reportedly considers issuing arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Halevi, a decision that could be affected by Israel’s actions in southern Gaza.
Meanwhile, responsibility for the central corridor of the Gaza Strip was given to reservist combat teams from the Yiftach and Carmeli Brigade this week, the IDF said, “who are carrying out targeted raids to eliminate terrorists and locate and destroy infrastructure in the area.”
“The raids are taking place while protecting the corridor in the center of the Gaza Strip and carrying out actions that will allow the transfer of humanitarian aid,” the statement added.
Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman and 99th Division commander Brig. Gen. Barak Hiram held a situation assessment in the field on Friday (26th), the IDF said, adding that new operational plans for continued fighting were approved.
Rafah Operation Must Take Place, Even In Defiance Of U.S. – Meir Ben Shabbat
As signs of an imminent IDF operation in Rafah intensity, there is growing concern that Israel will unnecessarily exercise self-imposed restraint by acting with insufficient force, so as not to upset the U.S. Administration, the Egyptians, or the ICC prosecutor at The Hague.
Meanwhile, Hamas is presumably exploiting the prolonged waiting period and preparing well for the ground operation in this sector, which will undoubtedly pose complex operational challenges for the IDF. Despite the political pressures, Israel’s decision-makers must make it a top priority to attain the objectives with minimal risk to the security of our forces.
The deadlock in negotiations for the release of Israeli captives held by Hamas, coupled with American accusations against the group, has paved the way for Israel to launch the Rafah offensive. The recent de-escalation with Iran allows Israel to shift its focus without forfeiting political gains made, while continuing the fight against Hezbollah and dismantling terrorist networks in the West Bank.
In this operation, the security establishment will be required to achieve the following objectives: Dismantling Hamas’ regional brigade, with its four battalions and eliminating and arresting its commanders and most of its personnel, seizing or destroying its command centers, strategic assets, weapons, and production facilities – both above and below the ground, while eliminating or arresting senior members of Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad who fled from other areas to Rafah and found refuge there. Ending Hamas’ civilian control in this area: striking Hamas’ governing mechanisms, including police and internal security forces, prisons and courts, as well as “civilian” committees for managing emergency affairs.
Also, Israel must take control of smuggling routes and shape a new security reality along the border strip, prevent smuggling from Sinai to the Gaza Strip; advance the release of the captives – either by seizing opportunities during the fighting or through negotiations following increased pressure on Hamas.
The IDF’s starting position for this operation is better than those at the beginning of the campaign in the northern Gaza Strip or the Khan Yunis area. The enemy will now be entering combat with a command echelon that has been depleted, with many fighters dead, injured, or arrested. Second, its stockpile of weapons and ammunition has dwindled. Third, the ability to strike the Israeli home front with rocket fire is rather limited. And Fourth, the IDF will have already replenished its forces, updated its intelligence, and improved its fighters’ operational combat-worthiness through lessons learned from previous stages of fighting.
However, from the enemy’s perspective, the overall picture also has some bright spots. Their force deployment in the combat zone has not only remained intact but also has been reinforced with operatives from other areas. Their logistical preparedness has improved thanks to humanitarian aid entering the Strip, and they are equipped with fuel and food that allow prolonged survival in tunnels.
Additionally, they draw encouragement from the pressures exerted on Israel to minimize casualties and benefit from the involvement of Iran and its proxies, as well as the political support of Turkey and other countries. Above all, they are emboldened by their demonstrated ability to survive the IDF onslaught so far and the fact that even after 200 days of fighting, Hamas continues to be the central power in the Gaza Strip.
The Rafah Operation will not complete the task of decisively defeating Hamas. Even after it is over, much more work and a deeper impact will be needed inside the territory before Hamas’ remaining capabilities are destroyed and a new reality emerges. This was also the case following Operation Defensive Shield, which began exactly 22 years ago. It will not be quick and easy, but it’s necessary and possible.
Meir Ben Shabbat is head of the Misgav Institute for National Security & Zionist Strategy, in Jerusalem. He served as Israel’s national security advisor and head of the National Security Council between 2017 and 2021, and prior to that for 30 years in the General Security Service (the Shin Bet security agency or “Shabak:)
Hezbollah Warns Full Scale War May End Israeli Presence In North ‘Once And For All’
Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary General Naim Qassem warned Saturday (27th) that full-scale war will not bring residents of northern Israel home, but rather end their presence there “once and for all,” as Hezbollah’s attacks on the north and Israel’s strikes in Lebanon continue.
“Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant threatens us that if we don’t stop the attacks, he will attack Lebanon to return the residents of the north to their homes,” he said in a statement quoted in Hebrew media.
“I say to Gallant that this war will not only cause the residents to not return to their homes but will push their return further and further away and is likely to end their presence once and for all,” he added.
At the same time, a senior Israeli military official cited by The Wall Street Journal said Saturday (27th) that intensifying Israeli operations was the only way to end clashes with Hezbollah on the northern border with Lebanon.
“There is a way out and it’s to escalate,” the official argued. “Israel cannot stop right now, it’s dangerous for the whole region.”
Since October 8, Hezbollah-led forces have attacked Israeli communities and military posts along the border on a nearly-daily basis, with the group saying it is doing so to support Gaza.
Israel has threatened to go to war to force Hezbollah away from the border if it does not retreat and continues to threaten northern communities, where some 70,000 people were evacuated to avoid the fighting.
On Saturday evening, Israeli fighter jets struck Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon’s Merkaba alongside other sites in Srebbine, the IDF said.
Meanwhile, Hamas’ al-Qassam brigades took responsibility for a barrage of over 20 rockets that were launched from Lebanon toward the Upper Galilee in Israel’s north, according to the group’s Telegram channel on Monday (29th).
The terrorist group claimed that they targeted an Israeli military position with a salvo of missiles from northern Lebanon.
Israel media reported that around 13 of the launched rockets were intercepted by air defense systems and that the rest fell in open areas. No injuries or damages to property have been reported at this time.
The attack came shortly after the IDF announced that it conducted multiple overnight strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
Among the targets struck were operational infrastructure in the area of Jabal Blat, as well as a number of Hezbollah military structures in the area of Marwahin.
Blinken To Visit Gaza Border, First Senior US Official Since Hamas Attack
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to visit Kibbutz Be’eri and the Kerem Shalom Crossing during his visit to the Gaza border region this week, becoming the first senior US government official to visit the area since the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, Ynet learned on Sunday (28th).
At Blinken’s request, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant will accompany him on the tour and Foreign Minister Israel Katz will join them.
The Secretary of State will arrive in Israel as part of a Middle East tour including a visit to Saudi Arabia. Blinken had previously planned to visit Kerem Shalom during an earlier trip to Israel but was canceled because of planned protests against him.
During the October 7 attack, 100s of terrorists infiltrated Kibbutz Be’eri. More than 100 Kibbutz members were killed, and dozens of soldiers and police officers fell in battle on its grounds.
In addition, 32 kibbutz members were abducted to the Gaza Strip. Some of them were released in the first deal with Hamas in November.
A month after the massacre, the kibbutz announced that its members would temporarily relocate to Kibbutz Hatzerim.
Israeli Farmers Are Plowing On After Oct. 7 Attacks
The Jewish people are truly incredible. After Oct. 7, a direct rocket launched by Hamas destroyed the extensive infrastructure of the Yshuot Chalutza farm, and the invaluable Thai workers left the country. The farm, one-third of a mile from the Egyptian border and 5.5 miles NE of the Gaza Strip, also suffered damage on Oct. 7
97% of the crops on the farm rotted away from the time that everyone evacuated from the area, and there was no one to remove the decaying vegetables.
After a while, hardy, brave men and women from all over the country dropped everything and came to help the farmers. Dentists, opticians, professors, and accountants converged on the farm every day to remove the ruined vegetables and plant new ones.
It warmed the hearts of the farmers that the people of the Land hadn’t forgotten about them. Every day, an assortment of teenagers, adults, men women, religious and secular people labored in the fields doing work they never dreamed they would do to help the land prosper. Although untrained and somewhat unprepared, they helped the farmers everyday without fail.
But as time moved on and the kindhearted volunteers had to return to their daily lives, the farmers struggled for help in their fields. It’s difficult to predict how many people will still help and if the ones who might come will be competent enough to help.
Until the farmers at Yshuot Chalutza receive enough funds to replace the expensive infrastructure destroyed in the attacks, they urgently need some machinery to replace the volunteers’ work. These specialized machines can do the work faster and more reliably than the well-meaning but untrained and unpredictable volunteers.
Their new mission now is to raise the funds needed to purchase practical equipment and machinery. Israelis are tough. They’ve seen the worst of humanity time and time again, and yet they refuse to ever give up on their beloved homeland. They’ll continue to fight evil and put their hearts and souls into harvesting the land.
The vegetables of the Yshuot Chalutza farm are transported all over the country to various Israeli supermarkets. The Ministry of Education also distributes some of their vegetables to children nationwide, as the farm is the official supplier of vegetables for school lunches.
The vegetables of the land are the farmers’ pride and joy, the proof that the land will continue to flourish despite the forces of evil trying to destroy it.
The Fight For Freedom, From Exodus To Gaza – Natan Sharansky
• On the first night of Passover, Jewish families around the world read the Haggadah, which tells the story of our people’s Exodus from Egypt and the beginning of our history as a free people. The conclusion that emerges is that we will always have to fight for our freedom each day and each generation.
• When I attended my first Seder in Moscow 50 years ago, everyone gathered was a product of the Soviet regime. We all began as assimilated Jews, disconnected from and ignorant of our heritage. Yet soon we began to study Hebrew and Jewish traditions in secret. Many of us had KGB “tails,” agents assigned to monitor and report our activities to the authorities. We didn’t know that the end of our story would be as spectacular as the Exodus itself and helped bring down the Iron Curtain allowing millions of Jews to return home to Israel.
• This year when we gathered to read about those who aspired to kill us, we thought about Hamas. We recalled the hostages, who have spent more than six months in captivity, enduring horrors that civilized minds refuse to imagine. We recalled American universities, where professors and students have celebrated the terrorists’ October 7 massacre.
• Yet reviewing our millennia-long journey strengthened our determination and optimism. If we stand strong in defending our rights as free people in our land, our persecutors will be carried away by the floods of history, as Pharaoh’s army and the Soviet empire were before it.
The writer, a former political prisoner in the Soviet Union, former minister in Israeli governments, and former Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, is chairman of the advisory board of the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement.
(wsj.com)
