Today has been a strange day for Netanyahu in Washington. His scheduled meeting with President Biden was postponed due to Biden’s slow recovery from COVID-19. As a result, Netanyahu had no commitments on his calendar for the day. Last night, Netanyahu met with the families of the hostages who accompanied him on his flight. During that meeting, Noa Argamani, a recently rescued hostage, shared a heartbreaking moment. Argamani told Netanyahu that a breaking point she experienced in captivity was hearing him declare on the radio that the war would be long. Netanyahu responded by asserting that now the time is ripe for an agreement, because of the mounting pressure on Hamas.
The specifics of Netanyahu's speech tomorrow are not yet clear. It is expected that when Netanyahu meets with Biden on Thursday, the President will pressure him to accept the current hostage deal and not create new issues. Latest reports indicate that Biden plans to meet with the families of the hostages together with Netanyahu. Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu separately.
It has now been confirmed that Netanyahu will meet former President Trump in Mar-A-Lago on Friday — which also happens to be Netanyahu’s eldest son’s birthday. There has been quiet speculation in Israel that Netanyahu might somehow arrange to stay in the U.S. for his son's birthday. A more concerning aspect of Netanyahu’s extended stay is that it will require the entire delegation to remain in the U.S. over Shabbat.
THE NORTH
Today has been a combative day in the North. Israel killed two Hezbollah members during the course of the day. In response, there were several barrages into the North, targeting both the Western Galilee and the area around Kiryat Shemona, as well as an attack on the area around Meron. In addition, this afternoon, Education Minister Yoav Kisch announced that schools in the North will not open in September. Students will instead continue their education at alternative sites in the cities and towns where they have been evacuated.
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GAZA
Here’s the IDF Spokesman’s statement regarding today’s combat in Gaza:
During the last 24 hours, the 98th Division forces have been operating both above and below ground in the Khan Younis area.
Task Force 7 led the divisional activity and eliminated several terrorists in encounters with terrorist cells in the early hours of the fighting. The Paratroopers Task Force and the Commando Brigade began scanning and fighting in the area, destroying terrorist infrastructure. Additionally, guided by Air Force aircraft, the Commando Brigade forces eliminated a terrorist cell that posed a threat to Israeli forces
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W.H.O.
The World Health Organization is issuing warnings about the potential spread of polio due to the sanitary conditions in Gaza. According to the Israeli Army, 95% of Gazans have been vaccinated against polio, and Israel has provided hundreds of thousands of additional vaccines to the region.
WEST BANK
The IDF conducted operations in the West Bank last night, focusing primarily in Tulkarem. Their activities in the town continued throughout the night. After the IDF withdrew, some terror leaders emerged, only to be met by an Israeli drone. Six terrorists were killed, including the head of Hamas's military wing in the Tulkarem area and a leader of the Al Aqsa Brigade. However, before celebrating, it’s important to note that this is the seventh time a leader of Hamas’s military wing in Tulkarem has been eliminated. In other words, this indicates a pattern — we kill them, and a new leader replaces the previous one.
Additionally, later this morning, two Defense Ministry employees were injured along the separation fence in the Gilboa area following an IED explosion.
A new report by State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman revealed a 330% surge in shooting attacks along West Bank traffic routes from January 2022 to June 2023, compared to the period between 2019 and 2021. The report also found that 60% of West Bank residents feel unsafe on the roads, with 42% having experienced hostile incidents, primarily involving stone-throwing. Additionally, the audit identified delays in the construction of bypass roads, which could have mitigated many of these security issues.
Notably, the Huwara bypass road in Samaria was finally opened in 2024 after an astonishing approximately 30 years of planning. Criticism was directed at Shai District police for not tracking incident response times and maintaining a low ratio of police to the area covered. Furthermore, most residents prefer to contact the local authority's call center, 1208, over the police during incidents. The IDF also favors this call center for security incidents due to its effectiveness and familiarity with local conditions. Lastly, the cellular communication network in the area only covers 70% of the traffic routes, highlighting a substantial coverage deficit.
ICC
The ICC (International Criminal Court) has agreed to receive briefs on its jurisdiction to issue criminal indictments of Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant. Sixty countries are expected to enter briefs. This submission will significantly prolong the proceedings, and it will be months before a decision is reached.
WEATHER
Yesterday was recorded as the warmest day in world history. The Israeli Meteorological Service released a report detailing the rise in temperatures across Israel.
Here are several alarming statistics:
BET DAGAN (Near Tel Aviv)
Between 1970—1980: 66 days of temperatures over 95°F
Between 1990—2000: 89 days
Between 2015—2024: 138 days
JERUSALEM
Between 1970—1980: 25 days of temperatures over 95°F
Between 1990—2000: 49 days
Between 2015—2024: 132 days
BEERSHEBA
Between 1970—1980: 44 days of temperatures over 100.4°F
Between 1990—2000: 80 days
Between 2015—2024: 181 days
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
The major business headline this morning was WIZ's decision to reject Google's $23 billion acquisition offer. The move was a stunning development and a major risk for Wiz’s founders, but if successful, could produce an even more beneficial outcome for Israel. There has long been a debate over whether Israeli firms should sell to multinational corporations, as many have, or attempt to expand into large international companies themselves. The latter has proven challenging, with few firms achieving such success.
One notable success story is Checkpoint, often regarded as the cornerstone of Israeli cybersecurity firms. Growth in such companies ensures long-term employment and keeps intellectual property within Israel. However, there is a downside for the current government, which had anticipated billions in tax revenue from the capital gains of Israeli founders. The company now plans to go public, selling stock to raise capital and provide liquidity for its employees. Any capital gains taxes collected by the Israeli government from this move will be spread out over many years. It appears that Wiz's founders have opted to expand their company rather than secure immediate wealth. This decision is likely influenced by the fact that the founders have already experienced a successful exit in the past.
Planck
An exit in the InsurTech (insurance technology) sector in Israel: Applied Systems announced the acquisition of the Israeli startup Planck and the establishment of a local development center based on its operations. The acquisition amount was not disclosed. Planck's CEO, Elad Tsur, will be appointed as the Chief AI Officer of Applied Systems, and its 65 employees will be integrated into the company.
Planck was founded in 2016 by Tsur, Amir Cohen, and David Shapiro. It offers an AI-based platform for collecting data and public business information for companies engaged in commercial insurance worldwide. It provides its clients with data-driven insights that help them assess risk levels, advance underwriting processes, and increase premiums.
Energean
Energean announced this morning (Tuesday) that it has made a Final Investment Decision (FID) to develop the Katlan reservoir. The reservoir will be developed in stages by connecting it via a pipeline to Energean's Karish platform. The first gas from Katlan is planned to be produced in the first half of 2027. The gas from the reservoir will serve the company's existing gas contracts.
TechnipFMC will carry out the subsea development work for the reservoir, located at a depth of 1.8 km below sea level. The work will include a 30 km production line and subsea infrastructure for extracting natural gas from four wells. The development cost, estimated at approximately $1.2 billion, includes laying the subsea infrastructure, making modifications to the platform, and drilling the first two production wells (Athena and Zeus), which are estimated to contain around 26 BCM of gas.
CarbonBlue
The CleanTech company, CarbonBlue, has raised $10 million as part of an extension of its seed round. The funding is intended to enable the Haifa-based startup to begin deploying its technology for removing carbon dioxide from the environment. This removal is done through the use of water infrastructure, thereby reducing pollution and global warming. Companies that perform the CDR (carbon dioxide removal) process will be eligible for tax credits as a result of achieving carbon dioxide emissions neutrality. Currently, the Israeli company is establishing an integrated facility with the desalination plant of Kibbutz Ma’agan Michael and is developing similar projects in Europe and North Africa.
The round was led by venture capital funds Ibex Investors and FreshFund, joined by strategic investors Engie New Ventures and ZIM Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of ZIM, the shipping company. Additional investments came from Jibe Ventures, MoreVC, and Secret Chord Ventures.
LINX SECURITY
The Israeli startup Linx Security has raised $27 million in a Series A funding round. The round was led by venture capital funds Index Ventures and Cyberstarts, with participation from prominent investors, including entrepreneurs Mickey Boodaei (Imperva, Trusteer, Transmit), Rakesh Loonkar (Trusteer, Transmit), Assaf Rappaport, and Yinon Costica (Wiz, Adallom), as well as Cerca Partners and Knollwood Investment Advisory. Linx Security develops cybersecurity solutions for identity and identity management. Linx Security currently employs about 25 people in Israel and the USA. To date, the company has raised $33 million.
Linx Security was founded in 2023 by Israel Duanis, who serves as the CEO, and Niv Goldenberg, who serves as the Chief Product Officer (CPO). Both have over 25 years of experience in the cybersecurity field. Duanis and Goldenberg met when they were recruited into the Talpiot program, at the end of which they were both assigned to Unit 8200 and served side by side. Duanis served in the unit for over eight years in key positions within the unit's cyber system. He then managed the security products at Check Point.
In 2017, Duanis founded the startup Fleetonomy, which developed AI-based fleet management solutions and was acquired by Via in 2020. Goldenberg also served in Unit 8200. After his discharge from the IDF, Goldenberg served as a senior product manager at Adallom, and when the company was acquired by Microsoft, he took responsibility for Microsoft's cloud security group in Israel. His last role was CPO at Transmit, during which the company doubled its ARR. Both are graduates of the Talpiot program and hold bachelor's degrees in physics, mathematics, and computer science.
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A PIECE OF HISTORY
YAHAY AYYASH ASSASSINATED, HAMAS TERROR ATTACKS FOLLOW
Yahya Ayyash was the bomb maker responsible for most of the terror attacks carried out by Hamas since the initiation of the Oslo Accord negotiations. Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin had authorized the decision to add Ayyash to the list of terrorists to be eliminated. Ayyash’s elimination occurred on January 5, 1996, following a massive manhunt. Israeli agents were able to compromise one of Ayyash’s fellow Hamas members, who provided him with a cell phone rigged with explosives. Known for constructing the bombs used by Hamas, Ayyash was confirmed to be using the phone when the Shin Bet (Security Services) remotely detonated it, killing him instantly.
Regrettably, the assassination of Ayyash did not stop terror bombings. In February and March of 1996, Israel experienced a devastating series of terror attacks that shook the nation and threatened the fragile peace process. The renewed wave of terror began on February 25th, when Hamas orchestrated two coordinated suicide bombings in Jerusalem and Ashkelon, ending a six-month respite from such attacks. The more severe incident occurred in Jerusalem, where a suicide bomber detonated a pipe bomb on a No. 18 bus near the Central Bus Station, killing 23 people and injuring 48 others. The blast was so powerful that it scattered debris over a wide area and awakened residents across the city. On the same day, another suicide bombing took place in Ashkelon, bringing the total casualty count to 25 dead and 77 injured.
The terror attacks continued relentlessly. Just one week later, on March 3rd, another bombing targeted the same No. 18 bus line in Jerusalem, killing 19 people. Hamas again claimed responsibility for this attack, further escalating tensions in the region. The violence reached a horrifying crescendo on March 4th, the eve of the Jewish holiday of Purim, with the Dizengoff Center suicide bombing in Tel Aviv. Known as the Purim massacre, this attack killed 13 people and injured 130 others. The bomber detonated his 20-kilogram nail bomb in a crowded intersection outside the shopping mall, which was bustling with holiday shoppers, including many children in costume.
In the wake of these attacks, Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasir Arafat reached out to Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres to offer condolences and publicly condemn the bombings. Arafat stated,
This is not a military operation. This is a terrorist operation. I condemn it completely. It is not against only civilians, but against the whole peace process.
Despite this gesture, the series of bombings, which claimed over 60 lives in just nine days, dealt a severe blow to the peace process and left both Israelis and Palestinians grappling with the aftermath of the violence.
