Next Zoom Briefing: Sunday November 17th: 6 PM Israel, 4 PM GB, 11 AM EST, 8 AM PST
The expansion of the war in Lebanon into the second line of villages continues to claim the lives of Israeli soldiers. This evening, it was announced that Lieutenant Ivri Dickshtein (21), from Eli, was killed when his Golani unit was ambushed inside a house in a village in southern Lebanon. Dickshtein was the 794th IDF soldier killed in the war
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I was speaking with some neighbors nearby when the news arrived—one of them a former general. The other neighbor said, “We just have to end this. We need to find a way to break this cycle.” The former general and I exchanged frustrated glances, knowing there was no one who could truly bring it to an end. Today, the news was filled with coverage of the funerals for the six soldiers who were killed yesterday. It’s become painfully clear that prolonging the war will only cost more lives without delivering any meaningful increase in security.
Two months have passed since the beeper operation, which left much of the leadership wounded. We have killed Nassrallah and most of Hezbollah’s senior leadership, destroyed the majority of their rockets, captured and dismantled their military emplacements in all the front-line villages in Southern Lebanon… there is little more for the IDF to achieve in the North.
The IDF Spokesman released the following description of the combat in Lebanon:
Commando Brigade fighters, including soldiers from the Egoz, Maglan, and Duvdevan units, are conducting ground operations at several new locations in southern Lebanon under the command of the 91st Division.
The forces are operating in complex, mountainous terrain within combat zones, some located in the heart of villages, from which the Hezbollah terrorist organization directed numerous firing positions toward northern Israeli towns. These operations involve neutralizing terrorists on the ground and from the air.
During one of the searches, commando fighters discovered a Hezbollah hideout, which included a 32-launcher rocket system aimed at firing toward Israel. Additionally, numerous weapons and combat equipment were found. All items discovered were destroyed and confiscated
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Tonight, a drone was launched from Lebanon and traveled towards Haifa, successfully evading interception. For nearly 30 minutes, residents across northern towns took shelter as the drone continued its flight. The drone ultimately managed to cross the Carmel range and landed near an army base in Elyakim, seriously injuring two soldiers. While the Air Force has improved its ability to intercept drones, the system is still far from foolproof; each time one slips through, it results in damage and casualties.
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AIR FORCE CONTINUES TO STRIKE BEIRUT AND DAMASCUS
Today marked the third consecutive day of heavy strikes on southern Beirut, aimed at destroying as many of Hezbollah’s assets as possible. The Air Force also targeted an Islamic Jihad headquarters building in Damascus, Syria, killing at least 15 people. They claimed responsibility for the attack and even released the video shown below.
CEASEFIRE IN THE WORKS
Unlike yesterday, there is growing optimism today that an agreement may be signed soon. According to reports, we are just waiting for a response from Lebanon. The final draft proposal was sent to the Lebanese side tonight. The big question is whether Hezbollah will agree. It appears they might, but we will know for certain in the coming days.
After two days of widely welcomed nominations, last night, President-elect Trump announced two appointments that caused consternation within the Jewish community and, to a lesser extent, in Israel. Trump’s nomination of Matt Gaetz for Attorney General has sparked controversy due to his history of remarks perceived as antisemitic.
Meanwhile, the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) is raising growing concern in intelligence communities worldwide. Gabbard’s close connections with Russia and her defense of Syrian President Assad are likely to complicate information-sharing with the United States. Moreover, Gabbard’s mixed record on Israel—including support for a bill endorsing the use of boycotts against certain countries—has added to the unease.
Finally, there is apprehension regarding Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense. While the candidate is strongly pro-Israel, some worry that this nominee may lack the gravitas needed to negotiate and finalize a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)—i.e., a ten-year agreement between Israel and the United States, with the previous one signed by the Obama administration before leaving office.
Additionally, reports indicate that President-elect Trump has pledged to release any previously withheld weapons or armaments on his first day in office.
BIDEN MEETS WITH HOSTAGE FAMILIES
President Biden met with the families of US citizen hostages today, assuring them he would do everything he could while still in office. Biden mentioned that he had discussed the matter with President-elect Trump and the two agreed to collaborate on whatever efforts were possible. However, Biden told the families that Prime Minister Netanyahu remains reluctant to strike a deal until Hamas is eliminated, which, he cautioned, might mean “never.”
Amir Tibon, a Haaretz reporter, is a resident of Kibbutz Nahal Oz. Tibon moved to Nahal Oz with his wife after the 2014 Gaza War, and survived the October 7th massacre that claimed the lives of many of his neighbors. His new book, The Gates of Gaza: A Story of Betrayal, Survival, and Hope in Israel’s Borderlands, weaves together three narratives: the founding and development of Nahal Oz, his family’s personal story, and a particular focus on the events of October 7th.
Tibon’s book also recounts the heroic rescue effort undertaken by his father, a retired general who rushed from Tel Aviv as soon as he grasped what was happening, determined to save his son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughters. The book masterfully weaves together three narratives: a timeline of events in Nahal Oz, the story of Gaza, intertwined with the Tibon family’s harrowing experience as they hide in their safe room. Woven throughout is the account of his father’s determined journey, fighting his way to the kibbutz to ultimately rescue them. This is an excellent book that I strongly recommend. The Gates of Gaza is available as a paperback, Kindle, or audiobook formats. It’s worth noting The Gates of Gaza is written in the first person, and the audiobook is narrated by Tibon himself, which lends a particularly personal touch to the experience.
CULTURE IN TEL AVIV
While Tel Aviv Diary has focused almost exclusively on war and related coverage since the conflict began, to a small extent, life does go on. In Tel Aviv, there is a tradition where, once a building is vacated but before it’s demolished, artists transform the space into a temporary, impromptu art gallery. This is the case of the Imperial Hotel on Hayarkon Street. To celebrate a family birthday we visited the Imperial Hotel this week, and below are a few glimpses of what we saw there.
BUSINESS
Cybersixgill
American cyber risk assessment company Bitsight has acquired Israeli threat intelligence provider Cybersixgill for $130 million in cash, as disclosed in an Elron stock exchange filing. Cybersixgill, founded in 2014 by Avi Kashtan and Elad Lavi, has been led by CEO Sharon Wagner since 2019. The company had previously raised $56 million from investors and was valued at approximately $160 million in 2022.
Cybersixgill specializes in scanning deep web and dark web sources to gather intelligence on cyber threats and attackers, serving both defense and civilian clients. Under Wagner's leadership, the company expanded beyond its initial defense sector focus to serve banks and healthcare institutions, growing revenue from $1.5 million to double-digit figures. The company's approximately 80 employees, mostly based in Israel, will join Bitsight
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The acquisition builds on an existing four-year relationship between the companies, with Bitsight previously being a Cybersixgill client. Cybersixgill's product will continue to operate independently, serving its 180 existing clients while being marketed to Bitsight's customer base. This marks Bitsight's second Israeli acquisition, following its purchase of VisibleRisk in 2021, though that operation was later shut down.
Bluespine
Israeli startup Bluespine has raised $7.2 million in Seed funding, backed by Israeli fintech fund Team8. Founded in 2023 by Gal Frischman, David Talinovsky, and Yossi Mansano, the company has offices in Tel Aviv and New York with 18 employees, including 10 developers in Israel.
The company addresses a significant challenge in U.S. employer-provided healthcare, where healthcare insurance is typically the second-largest cost for companies. Bluespine's cloud-based system helps employers monitor and reduce costs from medical claims, particularly focusing on companies that self-insure rather than purchase traditional insurance premiums
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Their technology creates customized rule sets for each employer based on health benefits data, service costs, legislation, and payment rules. The system uses various AI models, including LLMs with RAG implementation, to analyze claims while maintaining strict privacy standards through anonymization and encryption. Notably, the system has helped identify over $1 million in overpayments for one insurance company client, and has assisted major clients like Mattel in preventing payments to ineligible former employees.
Team8's Managing Partner Rakefet Russak-Aminoach sees significant potential in addressing the hundreds of billions spent on excessive medical bills across various sectors. The platform has already demonstrated value to clients even in its early development stages.
2011—A year of upheaval in the Middle East; Bibi Goes to Washington Again
Israel’s historical record of 2011 will primarily be defined by the summer protests that dominated public discourse. However, before these protests emerged, several significant events had already taken place.
The first of these events occurred in Egypt, where long-time leader President Mubarak was compelled to resign following widespread street protests. Unlike other Arab leaders, Mubarak was unwilling to resort to military force to quell the demonstrations. Consequently, on February 11, 2011, he resigned from the Presidency of Egypt. While the succession to power in Egypt remained uncertain initially, it soon became evident that the Muslim Brotherhood, with whom Hamas maintained close ties, had assumed control. This shift raised concerns among Israelis about whether peace with Egypt could be maintained under the Brotherhood’s leadership.
In March 2011, a bomb detonated at a Jerusalem bus stop, resulting in the death of one individual and injuring 30 others. This incident sparked a sense of apprehension among Israelis, fearing the potential for a series of similar attacks. Fortunately, that scenario did not materialize.
Meanwhile, in Syria, as protests erupted around the same time as Mubarak’s resignation, President Assad chose a different response, deploying the military to crush the demonstrators. These protests marked the beginning of the Syrian Civil War, a conflict that would last five years and claim the lives of over half a million Syrians.
In April 2011, Hamas launched multiple rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel. April 10th became historically significant as it marked the first successful interception of an incoming rocket by the Iron Dome defense system, proving its effectiveness in real-time combat.
On May 1st, the United States successfully killed Osama bin Laden. At the same time, Hamas and Fatah were in negotiations to reconcile their differences. They successfully reached a unity agreement on May 4th, 2011.
In May, before departing for Washington, Netanyahu delivered a significant speech to the Knesset in which he outlined his vision for future peace. Netanyahu was scheduled to speak to both AIPAC and Congress during his trip. In his address to the Knesset, he laid out his perspective on achieving peace.
Netanyahu stated that he was prepared to make peace if there were indeed Palestinian partners ready to do the same. He then outlined the following points, which Netanyahu asserted were supported by the overwhelming majority of Israelis:
1) A peace agreement must recognize the partition of the land into Jewish and Arab states;
2) The Palestinian refugee problem needs to be solved within a the boundaries of the future Palestinian state;
3) This agreement must end the conflict; with no future claims;
4) A new Palestinian state must be demilitarized;
5) Settlement blocks must remain;
6) Israel needs to maintain a long term security presence along the Jordan River;
7) Jerusalem must remain the united capital of Israel.
On May 22, 2011, President Obama addressed the annual conference of prominent pro-Israel lobby group, AIPAC. Obama’s speech was divided into two parts. In the first segment, Obama laid out his bona fides as a supporter of Israel, listing all of the ways he supports Israel. The President then spoke about why there was a need to attempt to do something to achieve Middle East peace—even though he stated clearly that he is not sure there is a Palestinian partner.
Finally, Obama clarified his earlier statement regarding a peace agreement based on '67 borders. He explained that the borders would not strictly adhere to the 1967 lines, but would instead reflect demographic changes since then, and would be negotiated by both parties. This clarification countered Netanyahu's firm stance over the past few days that Israel could not revert to the 1967 borders. According to all reports, Obama’s speech was very well received at AIPAC.
President Obama presented Netanyahu with stark choices. He did not resort to threatening the withdrawal of foreign military or economic aid, a tactic used by some of his predecessors. Instead, Obama made it clear how dangerous the diplomatic waters are likely to be for Israel in the coming months. Obama made it clear that if Netanyahu endorsed his views and worked with him, Obama would do his best to defend Israel in those waters, believing this to be Israel’s best path forward. Conversely, if Netanyahu rejected Obama’s approach, Israel would face much greater difficulties in navigating these turbulent diplomatic waters.
The following day, Netanyahu addressed Congress, where he where he explicitly outlined for the first time what he was willing to concede to achieve peace. Netanyahu specifically mentioned settlement blocs and acknowledged that some settlements would ultimately lie beyond Israel's borders. However, in the end, he did not take the initiative to advance these concessions.
