DAY 282 OF THE GAZA WAR: Attempt on Trump Is Big News in Israel, Draft Law, Terror Attack in Central Israel, IDF Chief of Staff Speaks Out

Tel Aviv Diary, July 14, 2024

This morning's headline in Israel was the attempted assassination of Trump, which clearly defined my day. I learned about the shooting just before going to sleep, around 2 AM, only to be awakened at 3 AM by the desk at i24News Hebrew, requesting that I come in to discuss the incident. Riding a scooter through the completely empty streets of Tel Aviv-Jaffa at that hour was a unique occurrence and enabled me to reach Jaffa in record time. By 3:40, I was on air.

Reporting and commenting on breaking news stories over the past eight years has been an interesting, thought-provoking experience, constantly striving to learn something new and find fresh perspectives. Last night, while we waited for additional concrete news to come in, I spoke about previous presidential assassinations in an attempt to fill the time.

Covering the assassination attempt on former President Trump entirely in Hebrew presented its own challenges. During the more than two-plus hours, I was on the air, I believe that an Israeli perspective barely emerged—except for a brief discussion about the Rabin assassination and its lingering presence in Israeli consciousness, more so than either the attempt on President Reagan’s life, or the assassination of JFK, both of which are distant memories.

Both Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Herzog issued statements of concern and support swiftly in the middle of the night. This morning, when some of the politicians here woke up, the statements took on a partisan tone. Several supporters of the current Israeli government suggested that criticisms of Netanyahu could provoke an attempt on his life, drawing a parallel to what happened to Trump. Suddenly, Netanyahu was portrayed as a victim. The head of Republicans in Israel, Marc Zell, took the low road, openly criticizing the Democrats on Israeli radio and specifically blaming President Biden for verbally attacking Trump.

Tonight, I returned to i24News to appear on their Hebrew, English, and Arabic broadcasts. I apologize to those who did not see my email canceling the bi-monthly Zoom call scheduled for today. We will reschedule another session for this coming Sunday. New invitations will be sent out at the end of the week.

TERROR ATTACK

Earlier today, a terrorist ran over four soldiers at the Nir Tzvi Junction, near the IDF’s Tzrifin Base. The incident resulted in severe injuries to an officer and a combat soldier, moderate injuries to a combat soldier, and minor injuries to a cadet in the IDF officer’s course. Israel’s Magav (Border Police) officers rushed to the scene and neutralized the terrorist. The 27-year-old terrorist attacker, unaffiliated with any recognized terrorist organization, hailed from a small village that is part of Jerusalem.

UPDATE ON DRAFT LAW

Today, the government approved an increase in the mandatory length of military service in response to a request from the IDF due to its growing manpower needs. The government voted to extend the required service period from 30 to 36 months through a “temporary order” set to last for five years. The decision also grants the Defense Minister the authority to reduce the service duration for certain positions to a minimum of 32 months. To address variations in service lengths based on Army positions, those serving more than 32 months in combat roles or more than 28 months in non-combat roles will receive additional compensation. It’s important to note that the military service used to be 36 months. However, in recent years, mandatory service length was reduced as the number of draft-age youth grew, and the Army sought to downsize its forces to save money.

The law that the government voted to update today is the same one that has been in the headlines over the past few weeks due to the need to revise the draft law for the Haredi community. The Attorney General opposes amending the draft law to extend the service duration for current soldiers, arguing that it would increase the burden on these soldiers without implementing specific measures to draft the ultra-Orthodox. Today’s law now needs to go to the Knesset, which must approve it.  Despite the government’s majority, passage is not guaranteed.

GAZA

Today, it has remained a day filled with anticipation as we await confirmation on whether yesterday’s assassination attempt resulted in the death of Muhamed Deif. While it is already clear that the strike killed several other high-ranking Hamas members, the IDF believes that it successfully eliminated Deif. However, given the history of numerous failed attempts, the IDF is exercising caution before making a final determination.

POLICE COMMISSIONER FAREWELL CEREMONY

Today, during the farewell ceremony for the outgoing Police Commissioner, President Herzog made the following statement:

The Police do not belong and will not belong to anyone. The Police do not belong to any political side. The Police must belong to all of us. I call upon and request all elected officials to keep the Police out of politics.

The issue of the Police force's independence has been front and center, as many accuse Minister for National Security Ben-Gvir of unduly exerting influence on the Police.

IDF CHIEF OF STAFF SPEAKS WITH ELITE COMBAT TROOPS

The Army Chief of Staff traveled to the Palmachim Air Base, home of the elite Shaldag unit, among the first to respond on October 7th. The recently released investigative report on the attack at Kibbutz Be’eri was critical of some of the unit’s actions. During the war, Shaldag undertook some of the most difficult assignments, and many members gave their lives in the fight. As the report distressed the members of Shaldag, HaLevi felt it necessary to directly address the unit’s concerns.

Good evening; I am coming now from a meeting with commanders and fighters of 'Shaldag,' one of the IDF units that has been fighting for nine months in the war forced upon us by Hamas' murderous attack on October 7. I see the actions of 'Shaldag' fighters and commanders throughout the war and in all arenas. Israeli citizens should know that there is a generation of exemplary fighters and commanders whose heroism will be talked about for a long time.

We are not stopping; we are not ceasing to fight. We are operating throughout the Gaza Strip, employing various combat methods. We have been maneuvering in Rafah for about two months and achieving significant military gains. We are killing more and more terrorists, destroying Hamas' terror infrastructure, and damaging their capabilities. Yesterday, in a joint operation conducted by the IDF and Shin Bet, we attacked a compound in Khan Younis where Muhammad Deif, Commander of Hamas's military wing—the man who planned and ordered the October 7 attack—was hiding. Alongside him, Rafah Salameh, Commander of the Khan Younis Brigade, and other terrorists and accomplices were also killed.

This attack is the result of the operational capabilities we have built, combining advanced intelligence capabilities from the Shin Bet and Aman and the very high-quality planning and execution capabilities of the Air Force. According to the intelligence available to us at the time of the attack, there were no hostages in the compound. According to information obtained after the attack, no hostages were harmed in the attack. It is very important for me to clarify this.

It is still too early to summarize the results of the attack, which Hamas is trying to conceal. We are determined to continue pursuing Hamas leaders, those who planned and carried out the October 7 massacre and dedicated their lives to killing innocent people. Mohammed Deif was afraid to die, so he hid in a way that even affected his ability to command. He hid and sacrificed his men and the civilians around him. We found him; we will find the next ones, too.

These eliminations are just one part of the ongoing and evolving military pressure that the IDF is applying throughout the Gaza Strip. Every day, Hamas suffers many casualties, with ground forces attacking bravely, pilots striking with precision and high quality, and rescuing the wounded from the field, all enveloped in high-quality and up-to-date intelligence. This systematic dismantling of the Hamas terror organization is crucial; it is also very important for creating the conditions for an agreement to return the hostages.

An agreement for the return of the hostages is an urgent moral and ethical imperative to save lives. The IDF is applying all the necessary pressure to create the best conditions for such an agreement, and we have acted this way since the end of the previous agreement. The IDF will know how to comply with any agreement approved by the political echelon and, after a ceasefire, return to the fight with great intensity. The IDF will not cease to act for the release of the hostages, who are enduring great hardship, and we will not give up on continuing to strike Hamas until this goal is achieved and, of course, we will not give up on ensuring the security of the citizens of the State of Israel.

We are engaged in intense combat in the North. Alongside increasing achievements in hitting Hezbollah, we do not forget for a moment the distress of the residents of the North over the past nine months; we constantly feel the pain of those killed and injured by Hezbollah attacks.

In recent days, I visited one of the communities near the border, of course not for the first time. I saw the damage, met with the local leadership, and heard harsh words from them—their hardship translates into our determination in combat and later into real solutions and the safe return of the residents to their homes. We are prepared for the next phase in Lebanon.

Alongside the ongoing combat, these days, we are investigating the events of October 7 and what led up to them. This is a necessary process so that we can learn, correct, and, most importantly, ensure the safe return of the residents of the South to their homes.

Last week, we presented the investigation of the battle in Kibbutz Be'eri to the Kibbutz community and the bereaved families. We presented this investigation first for several reasons—controversial events in this battle kept many awake at night. This is a necessary step in rebuilding trust between the IDF and the communities of the South, and it involves a true, thorough, and professional investigation, as we have done.

The findings of the investigation are tough and painful. Alongside them, we found many acts of heroism and bravery by residents, fighters, and many commanders who defended the kibbutz members with their bodies, risking their lives without limits.

To the fighters who fought on October 7, I have nothing but immense appreciation. I salute them and the heroism they displayed during long hours of combat under very harsh conditions and facing great complexities. In such complex combat, mistakes were made, and decisions were taken, some of which were fateful, from which we are learning and will learn. It is impossible to act in such a reality without making mistakes. I am very proud to be the commander of these fighters and commanders.

Every act of heroism they performed is theirs; in every mistake they made, I share responsibility. We will investigate and present to the public every aspect of the Army's conduct as much as possible—this includes the intelligence concepts, operational concepts, the defensive response, decision-making the night before the attack, and the conduct of senior IDF commanders, including myself. All these are undergoing a deep and thorough investigation.

The claims that someone in the IDF knew what was going to happen that morning and concealed it are utterly baseless. Unfortunately, no soldier or commander in the IDF knew what was about to happen on the morning of October 7. We are thoroughly investigating the warnings that did exist. The purpose of the operational investigation is primarily for learning and correction and is not a substitute for an external review mechanism when established.

It goes without saying that we will fully cooperate with such a mechanism, and the operational investigations can contribute significantly, as they have in past wars. When we complete all the investigations, we will have the whole picture, and then we can summarize all the lessons and draw personal conclusions. These are days of war for our existence here and for our future. We do not have the right to stop for a moment; we have the determination and the endurance.

A SWEET ANECDOTE

Gillian, one of our readers, sent in this story, which I wanted to share with all of you:

In 1981 I was volunteering on Kibbutz Re'im. On a recent drive out I'd seen a perfect Christmas tree I knew we needed for our celebrations. Trouble is I only had a motorbike, a Triumph Bonneville, so I set off with a small saw and some rope. I found the tree, chopped it down — there were hundreds there, this was the smallest. I managed to tie it to the back of the bike and headed off. Then I realized I was low on petrol. It was Shabbat, and the petrol stations were closed.  I decided to risk going to Bee'ri. I turned up, suspicious, a couple of people came out. I explained my situation and asked if I could buy enough petrol to get me back to Re'im. They were quite intrigued by this mad English woman with a tree tied to her motorbike, and quite a crowd had arrived by then. They filled up my petrol tank, refused payment, and I went on my way. They were lovely, generous people, and my heart broke when I heard about October 7th. Several weeks later, a kibbutz member approached me, saying he'd been asked if he knew the mad English woman. He replied he did, the tree was up and fully decorated. Word had got around!

U.S. Central Command Update [July 14]

In the past 24 hours, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed two Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) over the Red Sea and one uncrewed surface vessel (USV) in the Red Sea.

USCENTCOM forces also successfully destroyed one Houthi UAV in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen.

It was determined these systems presented an imminent threat to U.S., coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region. These actions were taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure.

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A PIECE OF HISTORY

Peace with Jordan

On October 26th, 1994, beneath the brutal sun of the Arava desert, 5,000 guests gathered for the ceremony marking the signing of the a final peace agreement between Israel and Jordan. This agreement would officially end the state of war that existed between the two countries since 1948. The main player was King Hussein of Jordan, whose grandfather had been assassinated decades before because he was potentially open to negotiating a peace treaty with Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who had led Israeli troops to victory in 1967 and had conquered the West Bank from Jordan, was joined by US President Bill Clinton, played a crucial role in facilitating the agreement, and attended to witness the fruits of his labor.

The day was rich with symbolism. At the start of the ceremony, one Jordanian and one Israeli, each of whom had lost their grandfathers in the Six-Day War, presented the leaders with flowers. An Islamic scholar, followed by a Rabbi, presented religious messages of peace. With a broad smile on his face, King Hussein stated: “This is Peace with Dignity, this is Peace with Commitment, this is our gift to our people and to generations to come.” Rabin responded, “The time has now come not only to dream of a better future but to realize it.”

At the ceremony was Yehudah Waxman, the father of kidnapped and murdered IDF soldier Nachshon Waxman. When asked by reporters how he felt, Waxman replied: “I welcome every peace initiative, and the signing of the agreement with Jordan is a festive occasion for all of us.” His son, Waxman added, would also have seen this as “a great day.” "I don't want to look back," Mr. Waxman said. "I want to look forward.”