DAY 403 OF THE WAR: Four Soldiers Killed in Gaza, Two Fatalities from Rocket Attacks in Nahariya, Herzog and Dermer Visit the US, Ultra-Orthodox Draft Issues

Tel Aviv Diary, November 12, 2024

Next Zoom Briefing: Sunday November 17th: 6 PM Israel, 4 PM GB, 11 AM EST, 8 AM PST

This was another difficult day in Israel. It began with the IDF Spokesperson announcing the names of four soldiers who were killed in Gaza. The fallen were: First Sergeant Ofir Eliyahu (20), from Holon; First Sergeant Nave Yair Asulin (21), from Carmit; First Sergeant Orr Katz (20), from Ma’ale Adumim; and First Sergeant Gary Lalhruaikima Zolat (21), from Afula. All four were in a building in Beit Lahiya when it was hit by an anti-tank missile fired by Hamas, resulting in their deaths.

Beit Lahiya was one of the first areas cleared by Israeli troops at the outset of the ground war. Nevertheless, despite a year of continued military action throughout Gaza, a pressing question remains unanswered: What is Israel’s overarching strategy for this war, and why can’t we end it?

Last night, it was reported that another soldier was killed in Gaza, raising the total to five fatalities in the past 24 hours.

Tonight, a drone launched from the East penetrated deep into the Negev—without being intercepted. No injuries were reported.

ATTACKS IN THE NORTH & TEL AVIV

Throughout the day, multiple rocket barrages were launched from Lebanon into the North. The most severe incident occurred late in the afternoon when a rocket directly hit a carpentry workshop in Nahariya, killing Ziv Belfer, 52, and Shimon Najm, 54, both residents of the city

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Earlier today, a drone struck the playground of a nursery school. Just moments before the attack, the children had been playing outside, but upon hearing distant sirens, the teacher quickly moved them all to the shelter. Shortly after they reached safety, the drone exploded in the playground. In a separate incident, two individuals were injured in a rocket attack near the Kabri Junction, to the East of Nahariya.

Late in the afternoon, residents and workers in the Tel Aviv area were compelled to seek shelter when Hezbollah launched three rockets at the region. Two of the people who joined us in our bomb shelter had abruptly stopped their cars in the middle of the street and rushed to our building for safety. The total number of rockets fired today was a quarter of the number launched yesterday.

LEBANON

The optimism recently expressed about an imminent settlement with Lebanon has now become much more guarded, with several complex issues emerging that appear difficult to resolve.

Over the past two days, the IDF has conducted extensive attacks in the Dahiya district of Beirut. The IDF announced tonight that it has nearly obliterated all of Hezbollah’s rocket manufacturing workshops in that area. It is estimated that Hezbollah now possesses fewer than 100 precision missiles.

HERZOG BIDS BIDEN FAREWELL

President Herzog has been in Washington for the past two days. Yesterday, he addressed the annual meeting of the Jewish Federations and met with several politicians close to President-elect Trump.

Herzog also met with Secretary of State Blinken. Today, President Herzog met with President Biden to express the gratitude of the people of Israel for the support President Biden has provided. The two leaders also discussed efforts to secure the release of the hostages. Here is an excerpt from President Herzog’s speech to the Federations last night:

Dear sisters and brothers, as we come together in Washington D.C., the capital of our greatest ally and friend, 101 Israeli women, children, and men are still missing. They have been at the mercy of Hamas terrorists for over 400 days.

With us here today are the families of: Yair & Eitan Horn, Arbel Yehud, Oded Lifshitz, Romi Gonen, Keith Sigel, Sagui Dekel Hen, Omer Nauta, Itay Chen, Edan Alexander. Their loved ones—our loved ones—have been held hostage for over a year.

Like you, I pray for them daily, I cling to every update, and I fear for their safety. There is no mitzvah greater than redeeming captives, *Pidyon Shvuyim*.

It is our moral directive and urgent necessity to take action! I call on you, American Jewish leaders, to join us in fighting to bring them home!

We must fight with every fiber of our being, using every tool at our disposal to bring them back immediately—every single one! We will not stop because we are all incomplete without them!! [Click here to read: the rest of President Herzog's speech].

DERMER MEETS WITH PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP

Strategic Affairs Minister Dermer has been visiting the United States for the past few days. Reports indicate that Dermer met with President-elect Trump to discuss Israel’s current plans for the period leading up to the inauguration and to gauge Trump’s expectations of Israel during this time of transition. Notably, Dermer’s background in Florida GOP politics could prove advantageous in the upcoming months.

Minister Dermer also held a meeting with Secretary of State Blinken, and the following read out was released after their discussion

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Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met in Washington yesterday with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer. The Secretary and Minister reviewed steps that Israel has taken to improve the dire humanitarian situation inside Gaza in response to the letter sent by the Secretary and Secretary of Defense Austin on October 13. The Minister updated the Secretary on operational changes made by the Israeli Defense Forces and COGAT [Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories], as well as policy decisions taken by the Government of Israel to address the measures included in the letter. The Secretary emphasized the importance of ensuring those changes lead to an actual improvement in the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, including through the delivery of additional assistance to civilians throughout Gaza. The Secretary further reiterated the importance that Israel take every possible step to minimize civilian harm.

The Secretary also underscored the importance of ending the war in Gaza and bringing all of the hostages home. He reiterated that charting a path forward in the post-conflict period that provides governance, security, and reconstruction is the only way to ensure lasting peace and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians. The Secretary and Minister further discussed ongoing efforts to reach a diplomatic resolution in Lebanon that allows both Lebanese and Israeli civilians to return safely to their homes. The Secretary reaffirmed the United States’ ironclad commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and Iran-backed proxy groups.

ULTRA-ORTHODOX DRAFT

Today, State’s Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara released a summary of a meeting held with senior IDF officers and the new Defense Minister. During the meeting, Baharav-Miara reiterated that the 7,000 draft notices ordered by Defense Minister Gallant to be sent to ultra-Orthodox students must be issued next week. Additionally, she stated that 4,800 ultra-Orthodox individuals must be drafted this year, and from next year onward, they must be conscripted like everyone else. The Attorney General also noted that the IDF currently faces a shortfall of 10,000 soldiers, including 7,500 in combat roles.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PROPOSED APPOINTMENTS, TO DATE

President Trump’s initial appointments have been very well received in Israel. It is anticipated that Senator Marco Rubio of Florida will be appointed as Secretary of State; Representative Elise Stefanik as UN Ambassador; and Representative Michael Waltz, also of Florida, as National Security Advisor. All three are known as staunch supporters of Israel. This evening, Trump announced his nomination of former Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to Israel.

ANTISEMITISM IN AMSTERDAM

Despite pathetic attempts to claim that the attacks on Israelis that took place Thursday evening at a Maccabi Tel Aviv vs. Ajax soccer match were not anti-semitic or were provoked by the actions of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, the ongoing violence and antisemitism in Amsterdam over the past two days starkly contradict these claims. Last night, rioters around Amsterdam were heard shouting “cancer Jews,” before setting a train on fire. Today, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof met with the Jewish community and expressed his deep regret, stating that “the scourge of antisemitism has indeed infected our country.”

For additional insights, read: A Worldwide ‘Jew Hunt’, by Bret Stephens, published in today’s New York Times.

REICHMAN TO OPEN MEDICAL SCHOOL

The Council of Higher Education granted final approval today for Reichman University to open a medical school. The school is set to launch in February with an inaugural class of 80 students, each paying 98,000 Shekels tuition annually.

NEW SUBMARINE NAMED

Today, the Israeli Navy held a naming ceremony for its sixth submarine at the “Kiel” shipyard in Germany. The ceremony was led by Admiral David Saar Salama, Commander of the Navy; Zeev Landau, Deputy Director General and Head of the Defense Procurement Directorate (MANHAR) at the Ministry of Defense; and Ron Prosor, Israel’s Ambassador to Germany. Representatives from the Defense Ministry, the Navy, and the German shipyard were also in attendance.

In addition to naming the submarine, the ceremony marked the commencement of the construction process for future IDF submarines of the “Dakar” class, which are expected to be delivered at the start of the next decade. During the event, the submarine was officially named INS (Israeli Navy Ship) "Dragon." The name “Dragon”—a mythical sea creature symbolizing strength, uniqueness, and power—was chosen because it includes the Hebrew letters ד’ ק’ ר’ (D-K-R), thereby commemorating the legacy of the Dakar submarine and its crew—The submarine which mysteriously sank while being transferred to Israel in 1968.

The newly named submarine is scheduled to be delivered to the IDF in 2025, after which it will sail to its home port and join its sister vessels as an operational submarine in the Navy. The INS “Dragon” is a “Dolphin AIP” model with unique systems, including groundbreaking technologies that expand the IDF’s range of capabilities in various arenas

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Navy Commander, Admiral David Saar Salama stated:

INS Dragon will be a cornerstone in ensuring the security of the State of Israel. Invisible and undetectable, it will operate in distant and hidden spaces for extended periods. This submarine is an additional force multiplier for the capabilities and strength of the Navy, the IDF, and the State of Israel—addressing complex challenges at the highest strategic level for Israel.

There are enormous changes taking place in the submarine fleet, Salama continued.

Operational methods are improving, the range of operational capabilities is expanding and intensifying, and integration with security entities is accelerating. All of this places the submarine fleet at the forefront of Israel’s security efforts, as the long arm of the IDF. With the addition of INS Dragon, our extended reach strengthens significantly.

Zeev Landau, Deputy Director General and Head of MANHAR at the Ministry of Defense added:

We are marking not only the launch of the Dragon submarine today but also the close defense ties between Israel and Germany, a relationship built on shared values and a vision for a safer future.

Together, we have created a vessel that will enhance Israel’s naval power and bring powerful and essential capabilities for defending Israel. On behalf of the Ministry of Defense, I congratulate the Navy on marking a new chapter in force building and thank our partners in the German Ministry of Defense and TKMS. We are successfully concluding a central stage in the development and production project and continuing toward the next phases.

Israel’s Ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor concluded, saying:

The submarine launch is an example of the synergy between defense and diplomacy. The geo-strategic situation demands moral clarity—and a long-term strategy. The launch of the submarine is another milestone in the strategic relations between Israel and Germany, as we face similar challenges and share common opportunities.

ISRAEL’S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY CRISIS

The Israeli construction industry is grappling with a labor crisis as attempts to substitute Palestinian workers with foreign laborers have been largely unsuccessful. Only about 30,000 workers from India and Sri Lanka have arrived, a significant decrease from the 80,000 Palestinian workers previously employed. Although 50,000 foreign workers have passed the selection process, they have yet to arrive in Israel.

The Israel Builders Association has withdrawn from worker screening processes, amid a blame game with government ministries over recruitment failures. Moreover, the Renovation Contractors Association's planned screening for 5,000 workers in Sri Lanka was canceled due to travel advisories. Industry groups are now turning to private market recruitment, despite its historical links to human trafficking, which previously prompted a shift to bilateral state agreements. However, significant legal obstacles hinder the expansion of private recruitment.

ISRAEL AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Israel has emerged as a significant player in the global AI industry, with major tech corporations actively acquiring Israeli AI companies at a remarkable rate—one Israeli AI company is purchased for every four American AI companies acquired. This acquisition ratio is particularly noteworthy when compared to non-AI sectors, where it drops to one Israeli company for every eleven American companies.

The Israeli AI sector is experiencing robust growth, with AI-focused companies making up 30% of the country's tech industry (2,170 companies) and attracting 47% of all local high-tech investments. This significant investment concentration surpasses both the United States (34%) and Europe (15%). Since 2014, the Israeli AI sector has shown extraordinary growth of 177%, far outpacing the 12% growth in non-AI companies.

Unlike other global AI hubs, Israeli startups distinguish themselves by focusing on practical AI applications in sectors like healthcare, agriculture, robotics, and cybersecurity. This practical approach has attracted major tech giants such as Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and others, though the sector faces challenges including recent funding declines and the need to expand national AI programs and infrastructure.

BUSINESS

The startup ScaleOps, which develops a platform for real-time automatic management of cloud resources, has completed a $58 million Series-B funding round. The round was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation from existing investors Glilot Capital Partners, NFX, and a new investor—Picture Capital, led by Micky Boodaei and Dan Amiga. This round, completed a year after the previous one due to ScaleOps’s rapid business growth, brings total investment in the company since its founding to $80 million. All of the current funding will go directly to the company. According to the CEO, the company’s valuation has significantly increased in this round, and they anticipate reaching a valuation of over $1 billion in the next round.

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A PIECE OF HISTORY

The end of 2010

As the nine-month settlement freeze accepted by Netanyahu was coming to a close, the Palestinians agreed to resume peace talks. A meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Abbas took place on September 14, 2010, in Sharm el Sheikh. Despite modest expectations leading up to the talks, they turned out to be productive and continued the following day in Jerusalem. Although the discussions were held in a positive atmosphere, the issue of extending the settlement freeze remained unresolved. This marked the last serious attempt to reach any agreements or make significant progress.

Reflecting on the end of 2010, I thought it was pertinent to republish two Tel Aviv Diary entries that I wrote that year, as they remain highly relevant to events today—both in terms of our persistent failures in PR and the seemingly perpetual trial of our Prime Minister.

Israel Seems Tone Deaf • September 29, 2010

The continued unwillingness of Israeli leaders—and the public at large—to consider the public relations implications of their actions continues to astonish me, even after observing it for over 40 years. Those who believe Israel needs to improve its public relations (Hasbara) efforts are, of course, correct.

However, it is not solely the failure of Israeli consulates or the weakness of some Jewish organizations at fault; instead, it is the tone-deafness of the Israeli leadership that remains baffling. The recent performance by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman at the United Nations is merely the latest in a series of questionable actions, following incidents such as the ill-fated capture of the Turkish flotilla and the delayed response to the Goldstone Report.

Allowing Lieberman to stand at the UN and declare that he does not believe peace can be achieved in this generation—and to advocate for the exclusion of Israeli Arabs from Israel’s future—at the very venue where Zionism was once branded as “racism,” is like throwing fuel on the fire of international criticism toward Israel. To make such statements the day after ending the settlement freeze (which the entire world urged Israel to maintain) is, quite simply, indefensible.

I wish we lived in a world where Israel could be truly independent, self-sufficient, and free from the need for external support. But that is not our reality. I have a weekly appearance on a Florida radio show where I often speak about Israel, but today, I purposely avoided discussing Israel. Frankly, there was nothing I could say to defend Israel’s recent actions.

Moshe Katzav’s Conviction • December 30, 2010

I spent considerable time reflecting on the conviction of Israel’s former President, Moshe Katzav, for rape. It is undoubtedly a sad day for Israel, and deeply disappointing to see someone who served as President convicted of such a crime. However, the fact that a former President could be tried and convicted demonstrates that Israeli justice functions. As a father of two daughters, one of whom is about to join the IDF, I am relieved that societal attitudes about appropriate behavior between men in power and women are evolving. I am glad my daughter is joining the IDF of 2011, rather than the IDF of the 1970s when I served.

Katzav’s conviction raises several troubling questions. First, how did he ever become President? Katzav was known only as a minor politician, and rumors about his inappropriate behavior towards women were widespread. Yet, in an election against Shimon Peres, Katzav prevailed. No Likud members who helped Katzav win the presidency are stepping forward to take responsibility for this decision. The second issue highlighted by Katzav’s trial is the extraordinary length of time it takes to bring someone to justice in Israel.

Once accused, it took two and a half years for Katzav’s trial to begin, and another year and a half for it to conclude. The American concept of the right to a “speedy trial” does not exist in Israel, nor does the continuous trial system used in the U.S., where a trial begins and proceeds uninterrupted until it reaches a verdict.

In Israel, trials start, stop, resume, and finally conclude. Instead of a swift verdict, it can take weeks or even months for judges to deliver their decision. In Katzav’s case, he was comfortably at home throughout the delays, which worked to his advantage. In other cases, the system fails defendants; for instance, the driver who killed the son of former Supreme Court Justice Mishael Cheshin in a hit-and-run accident was kept in jail for six months before being released to home confinement—only because a strike by State Prosecutors delayed his trial. In Israel, bail rights are not as robust as in the U.S.

A larger concern is why so many public officials in Israel are under investigation or facing criminal charges. The former Finance Minister is currently in jail for embezzlement. Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is in the middle of several trials. Additionally, we’ve been waiting for two years for the prosecutor’s office to decide on indicting Foreign Minister Lieberman. Disturbingly, it is reported that nearly half of Israel’s mayors are either under investigation or have been indicted. While the Israeli justice system may function, albeit slowly, one must wonder about the ethical standards imparted to future Israeli leaders.