7:45 PM on Sept. Sept 12th @ Temple Emanuel of the Pascack Valley, Woodcliff Lake, NJ.
GAZA
The IDF Spokesman issued the following statement on the Army’s operations today in Gaza:
Israeli Air Force fighter jets, guided by the Shin Bet and the Gaza Division, attacked a compound used by Hamas terrorists near the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City.
The strike eliminated eight Hamas terrorists from the Daraj Tuffah Battalion, including Ahmad Fawzi Naser Muhammad Wadiya, the commander of the Nukhba company in the battalion and an operative in Hamas's paraglider unit. On October 7, Wadiya infiltrated Netiv HaAsara using a paraglider and led the massacre in the settlement.
Wadiya was the terrorist who drank a cola inside the Taasa family's home, in front of the surviving children of Gil Taasa, who the terrorists murdered. Another terrorist killed in the strike specialized in combat engineering, sniping, and anti-tank operations. He was responsible for supplying explosives to breach the border fence in the battalion's sector during the terrorist attack on 7 October.
The strike on the terrorists was conducted outside the hospital. Precautionary measures were taken before the strike to minimize the risk of harming civilians, including using appropriate munitions for the type of attack, precise targeting, and additional intelligence information.
Today, the IDF eliminated a total of 9 terrorists in aerial strikes.
GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY BLOCK INQUIRY ON OCTOBER 7TH
Prime Minister Netanyahu has refused to allow the establishment of a National Commission of Inquiry. In the meantime, State Comptroller Matanyahu Engelman strongly criticized Israel's political and military leaders for their failure to take responsibility for the October 7 Hamas attack. In a speech at the Israel Bar Association Conference, Engelman sharply criticized Israel’s current leadership for obstructing investigations into the massacre and failing to uphold the principle of accountability. Engelman particularly denounced the IDF leadership and the Prime Minister's Office for hindering his examination of the military’s actions before, during, and after the attack. Engelman accused them of creating obstacles that impede essential inquiries.
TEL AVIV DIARY UPDATES: MY VIEWS
One Tel Aviv Diary reader accused me of merely parroting a leftist stance prevalent in Israel and echoing what much of the world has been saying about Israel. Therefore, I want to clarify the stance of this newsletter and my personal views, which, while not always perfectly aligned, do influence each other.
First, I will always do my best to report the news as accurately and directly as possible. I almost always provide translations of the IDF Spokesperson’s reports on military developments, which I believe offer accurate depictions of events. Are they comprehensive? Probably not, and they certainly don’t reflect the Palestinian perspective or focus on Palestinian casualties, which I don’t see as my role. There is substantial foreign press coverage that includes information, often fed to them by Hamas, which is either false or misleading. This isn’t to say everything they report is incorrect—there are undoubtedly elements of truth in various conflicting reports. However, I will continue to rely on Israeli sources for information.
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Regarding Israeli politics, I have a clear view: I believe Prime Minister Netanyahu is the worst Prime Minister in our history. Netanyahu’s decision to run for office again while on trial for corruption was inappropriate, at best. The fact that Netanyahu has neither accepted responsibility for his actions, nor resigned, nor even agreed to schedule early elections to return the mandate—especially 11 months after the most tragic event in Israeli history, for which he bears significant responsibility—is unconscionable.
Now, to address some hard truths … From a strict security standpoint, it would be preferable not to have to negotiate for the release of our hostages—not because of the requirement to withdraw from Gaza, but because it would necessitate the release of terrorists who have committed unspeakable crimes and have been duly convicted for them. The concern is not as much about potentially releasing “the next Sinwar” (though that is a possibility). The far greater worry is that terrorists might believe they can attack us, be imprisoned, and ultimately be released in a future deal. This perception could make potential terrorists more willing to commit heinous acts, even though most are killed during such incidents.
However, the issue of our current war in Gaza cannot be viewed solely through a security lens. The number of surviving hostages is dwindling. These hostages are not elite soldiers who embarked on some perilous mission behind enemy lines, fully cognizant of the risks. Instead, the hostages abducted by Hamas 333 days ago are mostly civilians taken from their homes and beds, along with female soldiers whose role was to monitor screens away from the front lines. As Israelis, as Jews, and as humans, we have an obligation to make extraordinary efforts and take on tremendous risks to bring the hostages home— the survivors for rehabilitation and the deceased for proper burial. The fact that nearly 11 months have passed, during which many have died, will forever be a stain on our collective conscience.
Now, let's clarify a few facts: I am going to repeat some points I’ve made before, in order to lay out the facts regarding the Philadelphi corridor clearly. First, smuggling in the area of the Philadelphi corridor dates back to the 19th century. Rafah, which has both an Egyptian and Palestinian side, has a history of smuggling that extends to the pre-mandate years and even during the Ottoman period. Despite our patrols of the Philadelphi corridor before withdrawing from Gaza in 2005, smuggling persisted, and we lost soldiers in the process. Persistent smuggling surrounding the Philadelphi corridor contributed to the ongoing rocket attacks on Sderot.
If the Philadelphi corridor was so strategically crucial, why did we wait eight months into the war to seize it? Long-time readers of this diary may recall that I have always argued we should have prioritized this area from the start of our ground operation—not so much to prevent arms from entering, but from a basic strategic standpoint. We should have trapped our enemy and eliminated them, instead of pushing them back. However, that’s a discussion for another time.
Another very important point, which relates to the first, is that Hamas builds extremely long, tunnels. Simply holding the Philadelphi corridor will not be effective since they can build tunnels underneath it, as they have always done. It is also important to note that all of the tunnels under the Egyptian border were sealed off on the Egyptian side. Furthermore, the IDF revealed that 80% of the weapons used against us in Gaza were weapons actually produced in Gaza and not smuggled in.
There is another important factor that must be considered. Israelis, and to a somewhat lesser extent, world Jewry, remain understandably traumatized by the events of October 7th. However, this trauma may be distorting our perspective. Every argument regarding the state of the nation concludes with the declaration, "We can never allow October 7th to happen again." What’s often overlooked is the fact that the horrific disaster that happened on October 7th will unlikely happen again. The October 7 massacre happened because we were grossly unprepared—the catastrophic nightmare was perpetrated against our civilians because no one was guarding the border. Such a monumental lapse in preparedness will never happen again. Certainly, other threats will emerge over time; it took 50 years for the intelligence failures of 1973 to be repeated. While we do have enemies—some of whom, like Iran, may pose existential threats—an immediate threat from Gaza is improbable.
So, last night, Netanyahu delivered a speech, adopting a hardened negotiating stance. At this point, there's a slight possibility that his approach may succeed, and Hamas might agree to our terms. While this outcome is certainly possible, it is a huge gamble with the lives of people whose time is rapidly running out. Gilad Shalit was kept hidden and safe for five years while we were not in Gaza; now, every single hostage is in immediate danger of death. After last night, most observers believe that Netanyahu’s speech ended any prospects of reaching an agreement in the near future.
MKS GANTZ & EIZENKOT RESPOND TO NETANYAHU’S REMARKS
Tonight, former Defense Minister Gantz and former Chief of Staff Eisenkot held a joint press conference in which they refuted most of Netanyahu's points in his press conference last night. Both having served on the War Cabinet, they asserted that Netanyahu's decisions were driven by political motives rather than the military's needs or the imperative to free the hostages.
US JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
The United States Justice Department just announced the unsealing of an indictment against the leadership of Hamas for the October 7th Massacre. The U.S. has jurisdiction over the case since many of those murdered and kidnapped were U.S. citizens. “The charges unsealed today are just one part of our effort to target every aspect of Hamas’ operations,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a video statement. “These actions will not be our last.”
HERSH GOLDBERG-POLIN
I would like to quote an excerpt from today’s installment of Daniel Gordis's newsletter [Israel From the Inside]. It's worth noting that Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s family belongs to the same Jerusalem community as Gordis.
Some will say what we lost was the very last pretense that there’s anything we can do (or anything we will do) to get the hostages back—so what we lost, yet again, was the belief in our ability to defend ourselves. Or, for some (but certainly not all), the belief that we have it within us to do the right thing and to get the remaining hostages home.
Some will say that what we lost even the pretense that some (again, some, not all) of the leaders of this country even care that much.
Some will say that it’s deeper than that. They will say that as long as the agony of his captivity endured, as long as Rachel and Jon Goldberg-Polin, along with their daughters, fought indefatigably for the return of their beloved son and brother, we were blessed (for the most horrifying reasons) to see the very best of what Israel can be. Dignified, passionate, determined. Zionism that is genuine (they moved here, after all). A profound Zionism that also has a place for acknowledging the pain of all the innocent victims—not just us. Deep religiosity animated not by hate, but by boundless love.
Because of his extraordinary parents, who have touched more hearts and souls than any contemporary Jewish or Israeli religious figure one could possibly point to, Hersh came to symbolize those qualities for millions of people. With the news of his death, we were reminded how few are the voices in the Jewish world who reflect those values. So when he died, some hope we have for ourselves, some piece of our sense of who we can be when we are at our best, died as well.
In the past week or two there have been signs that certain government factions are attempting to revive their proposed Judicial reform. I will write more about this topic and provide a detailed explanation in the upcoming week. However, today, President Herzog issued a statement about the possible reintroduction of this contentious topic:
I hear the voices and initiatives of those who want to take us back months to the same arena where it all began. I sense the dangerous fumes in the air, and I warn against them here, asking sincerely: Is this what Israeli society needs right now?! Is this what thousands of bereaved families need?! Is this what tens of thousands of families, who can't sleep at night out of worry for their loved ones on the front lines, or because they have been displaced, or, heaven forbid, because their loved ones are kidnapped and held by ruthless murderers, are asking for?! Is this what the physically and emotionally wounded are crying out for?! I state unequivocally: No! No to actions that will further divide us. No to unnecessary upheaval for the nation and the state. No to irresponsible steps that will only bring us more harm. I warn anyone considering or acting to promote such moves – and demand: Stop. Don't you dare. Let us recover and heal after this terrible calamity.
ECONOMY
On Tuesday, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich presented his plans for the 2025 state budget, announcing a relatively low deficit target of up to 4% of GDP, around half of the current deficit. To achieve this ambitious target, Smotrich has put together a list of measures to reduce the deficit by approximately 35 billion shekels. However, officials within the Ministry of Finance already warn that approximately 10 billion shekels of Smotrich’s proposed adjustments are uncertain.
Key elements of Smotrich's plan include:
Confiscation of Palestinian Authority funds: Smotrich included a budget source of about 3 billion shekels, expected to come from the confiscation of Palestinian Authority funds. This approach was attempted in the 2024 budget but failed due to legal and diplomatic complexities, and circumstances are not expected to change in 2025.
Freezing public sector wages: Smotrich proposes freezing wages for hundreds of thousands of public sector workers, potentially saving 5-8 billion shekels. However, this plan is likely to face strong opposition from the Histadrut, the National Labor Federation.
Freezing aid payments: The plan includes freezing all payments to recipients of aid such as old age payments and payments for people in poverty, without increasing these payments based on inflation. A similar freeze is proposed for the minimum wage.
VAT increase: The plan incorporates the already approved 1% increase in VAT for next year.
No significant budget cuts: The plan does not include any significant cuts in budget or coalition funding.
Additional notes:
The plan's implementation is uncertain, with doubts about whether it will be sufficient even if passed.
The Finance Ministry is expected to face significant challenges in implementing these measures.
The plan's reliance on uncertain sources of funding, such as the Palestinian Authority funds, raises questions about its feasibility.
Given the controversial nature of some proposals and the opposition they're likely to face, it remains to be seen how much of this plan will actually be implemented in the 2025 budget. The problem with Finance Minister Smotrich’s presentation is that it is much too vague. Smotrich also ruled out cuts to coalition partners that, while politically challenging, might be economically justified.
U.S. CENTCOM UPDATE [September 1st and September 2nd]
In the past 24 hours, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed two missile systems in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen.
It was determined these systems presented an imminent threat to U.S. and 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 for U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels.
On the morning of Sep. 2, the Iranian-backed Houthis attacked two crude oil tankers, the Panama flagged/owned, Greek operated MV BLUE LAGOON I and the Saudi flagged, owned, and operated MV AMJAD, with two ballistic missiles and a one-way attack uncrewed aerial system, hitting both vessels. Both vessels are laden with crude oil. The MV AMJAD is carrying approximately two million barrels of oil, almost twice the amount onboard the Greek-owned MV DELTA SOUNION, which the Houthis attacked on Aug. 21. Currently, salvage efforts are underway in the Southern Red Sea for the disabled MV DELTA SOUNION, which is still on fire and threatens the possibility of a major environmental disaster.
These reckless acts of terrorism by the Houthis continue to destabilize regional and global commerce, as well as put the lives of civilian mariners and maritime ecosystems at risk.
U.S. Central Command will continue to work with international partners and allies to protect commerce and mitigate potential impacts to the environment despite the irresponsible and careless actions of the Iranian-backed Houthis.
On July 31, 2002, a devastating bombing occurred at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Mount Scopus campus, in the bustling Frank Sinatra International Student Center cafeteria. The attack, carried out by the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, resulted in the deaths of nine people, including five visiting American students, and left approximately 100 others injured. Occurring during the summer exam period, the Hebrew U. cafeteria was filled with students and staff, including many international students. A witness described the chaotic scene with blood-spattered students emerging from the wreckage, while the air was thick with the smell of smoke and burnt flesh.
Hamas claimed responsibility for the bombing, stating it was retaliation for the Israeli targeted killing of their military chief, Salah Shehadeh. The attack drew widespread condemnation, including from the Palestinian Authority, the United Nations, and various countries around the world. Despite the global outrage, Hamas supporters in Gaza City celebrated the bombing, with leaders vowing more attacks. A masked Hamas speaker at a rally attended by thousands declared that the bombing was just one in a series of planned operations.
The device, hidden in an innocent-looking bag packed with shrapnel, was professionally assembled and placed in the cafeteria. Despite stringent security protocols, the bomber managed to evade detection and deposit the bomb in the crowded area. The explosion caused significant destruction, gutting the cafeteria and causing severe injuries. Most of the victims aged between 18 and 30. This terror attack marked a grim day for Israel and the international community, as it targeted a place of learning and cultural exchange.
In February 2015, a U.S. jury found the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Liberation Organization liable for supporting and funding terror attacks, including the Hebrew University bombing, ordering them to pay $218.5 million in damages to the victims. This legal decision highlighted the ongoing ramifications of the attack, both legally and in terms of international relations. The victims of the bombing, including those who died later from their injuries, are remembered as innocent lives lost in a brutal act of terrorism.
"If the Philadelphi corridor was so strategically crucial, why did we wait eight months into the war to seize it? Long-time readers of this diary may recall that I have always argued we should have prioritized this area from the start of our ground operation—not so much to prevent arms from entering, but from a basic strategic standpoint. We should have trapped our enemy and eliminated them, instead of pushing them back." PRECISELY....
"If the Philadelphi corridor was so strategically crucial, why did we wait eight months into the war to seize it? Long-time readers of this diary may recall that I have always argued we should have prioritized this area from the start of our ground operation—not so much to prevent arms from entering, but from a basic strategic standpoint. We should have trapped our enemy and eliminated them, instead of pushing them back." PRECISELY....