DAY 320 OF THE WAR: Katzrin Struck By Multiple Rockets, Biden and Netanyahu Speak, IDF Intelligence Chief Steps Down, EL AL Freezes Prices on Four Routes

Tel Aviv Diary, August 21, 2024

Last night, the Israeli Air Force struck major arms storage facilities deep inside Lebanon once again. The resulting significant secondary explosions indicate that the attack successfully hit key targets, effectively destroying a portion of Hezbollah’s extensive missile arsenal.

This morning, in response, Hezbollah launched 50 rockets at the Golan Heights, primarily targeting the city of Katzrin. Unfortunately, a significant number of rockets successfully hit Katzrin, destroying one house and damaging three others. Regrettably, one Israeli was injured in the attack. Despite the substantial damage, this appears to be a tradeoff that Israel is prepared to accept in order to continue working to diminish Hezbollah's arms arsenal.

Later in the day, Israel carried out an aerial assassination targeting Khalil Makdah, a Palestinian Fatah official working out of Lebanon. Israel contends Makdah was responsible for coordinating with Iran to smuggle arms into the West Bank.

Late this afternoon, Hezbollah launched additional attacks on Northern Galilee. We can expect an escalation in the intensity of attacks from both sides.

GAZA

The war continues in Gaza today, with three IDF brigades operating in the Netzarim corridor, one in Rafah and one in Khan Younis. Defense Minister Gallant said that Israel has found 150 tunnels in Rafah and that they have all been blocked. Gallant went on to say:

The most important thing is to remember the objectives of the war and to achieve them. Hamas’s Rafah Brigade has been defeated, and most of the tunnels on the Philadelphi Route are trenches that were dug up with engineering equipment above ground and then covered with dirt.

Gallant’s comments were clearly aimed at Prime Minister Netanyahu, suggesting that Israel is now in a position to withdraw from the Philadelphi corridor.

BIDEN & NETANYAHU

President Biden and Vice President Harris spoke with Netanyahu tonight, aiming to persuade him to show more flexibility regarding the necessity of maintaining IDF troop presence at the Philadelphi corridor. Reports indicate that the Egyptians are very angry at the Israeli negotiator, accusing Israel of reneging on some of its promises concerning the corridor.

While Netanyahu appears reluctant to reach an agreement, the same appears to be true of Sinwar, who also seems unwilling to strike a deal that would release all hostages, viewing them as crucial for his survival. An interesting report tonight from veteran Israeli journalist and correspondent on Arab affairs for the “Yedioth Ahronoth” newspaper, Smadar Perry, sheds more light on the situation. Perry reports:

A senior official in Egypt, who spoke with American figures, emphasized that any deal must ‘ensure Sinwar's life and safety,’ meaning that Israel must commit not to assassinate Sinwar from the moment the deal takes effect. Sinwar, the Egyptian official clarified, is conveying brief and clear messages, aware that they will be relayed through many hands—Palestinian, American, and Egyptian—and he expects that they will reach senior officials in Israel.

IDF INTELLIGENCE CHIEF STEPS DOWN

Tonight, a change of command ceremony took place for the commander of Israeli Intelligence, who took personal responsibility for the events of October 7th and stepped down. The ceremony was held in the shadow of the ongoing war, raising several questions. Firstly, there are concerns about the appropriateness of IDF Chief of Staff Halevi—who many believe should have already resigned being the one to appoint the next chief of Intelligence, General Shlomi Binder. Secondly, questions arise about whether Binder, who was in charge of the IDF’s Operations division, should also bear some responsibility for the events of October 7th. At the ceremony, Halevi asserted that Binder's actions on that day were investigated, and he was found to have acted appropriately. However, the details of these investigations have not yet been disclosed to the public.

In his farewell speech at the ceremony, outgoing Military Intelligence Chief Aharon Haliva reiterated his responsibility for the events of October 7th. He admitted that he and the Intelligence Division failed in their most important mission, i.e., to provide warning of the impending war. Haliva extended an apology and asked for forgiveness from all the families of those who were killed on October 7th and from the country as a whole.

In his acceptance speech, incoming Military Intelligence Chief General Shlomi Binder shared the following remarks:

I am taking command of the division this evening with a deep sense of reverence. The painful failure that led to the war and the unbearable price we have paid will forever be etched in my bones. However, we must not relent, and we must not give up.