DAY 424 OF THE WAR: Ceasefire Observed in Lebanon, Israel Strikes Hezbollah Operative in Damascus, Former Security Chiefs Reflect on the Failures of October 7th, Is Israel Responsible For Gazans?

Tel Aviv Diary, December 3, 2024

Today was a quiet day in the North. Following Israel’s attacks yesterday, there were only minimal violations in Lebanon today, and Israel was not forced to take any significant action. While it’s still too early to be certain, the ceasefire appears to be holding, as its success continues to be in the interest of both parties, with the additional factor of the ongoing civil war in Syria deepening Hezbollah’s need for an end to the fighting.

Earlier today, Israel conducted an aerial assassination in Damascus and has taken full responsibility for the operation. Below is the statement issued by the IDF Spokesman on today’s actions in Syria:

Earlier today, an Israeli Air Force aircraft targeted and eliminated Hezbollah’s envoy to the Syrian army, Salman Nimer Jumaa, in the Damascus area, guided by intelligence from the IDF Intelligence Directorate.

The Syrian regime supports Hezbollah and allows the organization to exploit its territory for the transfer of weapons to the Lebanese front, thereby endangering Syrian and Lebanese civilians. Jumaa was a key figure representing Hezbollah in the Syrian military system for the transfer of weapons.

Jumaa was a veteran Hezbollah operative who, over the years, held various positions in the terror organization, particularly in the Syrian arena.

Among his roles, he served as the intelligence officer in the Al-Khiyam sector, later as the operations officer at Hezbollah’s Damascus headquarters. In recent years, Jumaa was appointed as Hezbollah’s envoy to the Syrian army.

In this role, he acted as a liaison between Hezbollah operatives and Syrian military officials, facilitating the transfer of weapons from Syria to the Hezbollah terror organization, including during the “Iron Swords” war. Additionally, Jumaa maintained close ties with senior Syrian state officials.

Jumaa was a significant and active figure in Syria, and his elimination represents a blow to Hezbollah’s ties and entrenchment in Syria, as well as a step in preventing the organization’s buildup.

GAZA

The IDF continues its operations in Gaza. Meanwhile, the Army has reported that operating from the Netzarim corridor, it has killed several terrorists who took part in the October 7th massacre. They are:

• Abd al-Razak: A Hamas operative who simultaneously served as an engineering operative in the Central Camps Brigade and in the Nukhba unit, which infiltrated Israel on October 7.

• Marzouq al-Khour: A Hamas operative who was part of a group of militants that infiltrated Israel on October 7.

• Maaz al-Khour: A Hamas operative who was part of a group of militants that infiltrated Israel on October 7.

• Abd Abu-Awad Yusri: A Hamas operative who infiltrated Israel on October 7.

• Omar Abu-Abdullah: A Hamas operative who infiltrated Israel on October 7.

• Ahmad Zahid: A Nukhba operative who infiltrated Israel on October 7.

• Maad Abu-Garboua: A Hamas operative who was part of a group of militants that infiltrated Israel on October 7.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE MOVEMENT FOR QUALITY OF GOVERNMENT

Today, I had the opportunity to attend the annual conference of the Movement for Quality Government in Israel— an NGO committed to promoting the values of democracy, transparency, good governance and civic engagement in the Israeli society.

The event took place under the shadow of two pressing issues: the ongoing war and the government’s apparent efforts to amass more power. I haven’t written extensively about the later issue because many of the initiatives are still under committee review, but the first piece of legislation, aimed at weakening the Lawyers’ Association, has passed its initial reading. Tomorrow, I’ll add more on this and the other long list of controversial steps the government has taken.

The conference began with an address by Eliad Shraga, founder and chairman of the organization. Shraga explained that the organization had previously focused on improving governance in the country and advocating for the crafting of a constitution. However, given the current state of affairs, which he described as posing a dangerous threat to the country’s future, the organization felt compelled to take a stand. He declared, “It’s time to stop playing table tennis when the other side is playing rugby.” Shraga made it clear that, in his view, “This government must go,” emphasizing that the coalition would only collapse from within. He expressed hope that that change might begin when students from Ponevezh (considered the leading “Litvak,” Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox yeshiva in Israel) begin receiving draft notices

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Shraga also sharply criticized the disparity in sacrifice toward carrying the country’s security burden, stating, “It’s not acceptable that Netanyahu’s kids are in Miami and London while our kids are in Jabalya.”

The conference was held in collaboration with “Chomat Magen L’Yisrael” (Defensive Wall for Israel), an organization comprised of 169 former generals and heads of the security services. Noam Tibon, a former commander of the IDF Northern Command, and widely known for rescuing his family during the October 7th attack on Nahal Oz, was the next speaker. Tibon recounted how during his tenure as the commander of the Central Command, he ensured that all new soldiers visited Gush Etzion to learn about the events of 1948. Reflecting on the current situation, Tibon stated that if he were the commander of the Southern Command today, he would ensure soldiers visited Nir Oz to see firsthand the consequences of the Army’s absence.

Tibon emphasized how David Ben-Gurion ensured the release of women captured at Gush within eight weeks and the men within eight months. He stressed that the government’s most urgent priority must be to secure the release of all hostages, stating, “We don’t leave anyone behind.”

Carmi Gillon, a former head of the Shabak (General Security Services), spoke about the failures of October 7. He criticized the security and intelligence services for their over-reliance on finding a “golden clue,” pointing out that sometimes such clues don’t exist or are overlooked.

Ronen Bergman of Yedioth Ahronoth spoke next, referencing an article he co-authored just before the October 2023 war, marking the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War. In the article, Bergman argued that the Agranat Commission’s greatest failure was focusing on who made mistakes and identifying specific errors, rather than understanding the underlying reasons why those decisions were made.

Bergman also touched on the longstanding debate over whether the Egyptian Ashraf Marwan was a double agent. He pointed out that even two years ago, when the Mossad published a book about its history, it concluded that Marwan was not a double agent. The reason? Because Israeli intelligence couldn’t believe that the Egyptians were capable of orchestrating such a sophisticated, elaborate ruse.

Bergman argued that this same underestimation is what occurred again this year. He concluded by stating, [Regarding October 7] “The entire intelligence system failed.”

Next, MK Yair Lapid, the leader of the opposition and former Prime Minister, spoke about the current situation as an attempt to undermine democracy using democratic tools. Lapid acknowledged that people are extremely exhausted, but reiterated the necessity of resisting the government's actions, asserting, we cannot afford to be tired; we must resist the government’s actions.

Among the speakers, Yair Lapid received the most negative reception. He was repeatedly interrupted by shouts of, “You’re not doing enough! What are you doing?”

Next was Tzipi Livni, a former government official I greatly admire, having served as both Foreign Minister and Justice Minister, and originally a staunch Likud member. Here's an excerpt of her remarks:

I acknowledge the importance of maintaining the Jewish character and safeguarding the identity of the Jewish people. I want to separate from the Palestinians. I know it’s not simple. I recognize the terror within, but I would prefer to stop not far from here at the station of peace, in the hope that someone will be there with whom we can both secure the character of the State of Israel and achieve peace. However, it’s true that right now, there is no one waiting there.

So what does that mean? That I should change my path? That I should choose a different set of values, a different vision? Because on the other side, the alternative vision is the vision of Greater Eretz Yisrael, where democracy becomes an obstacle. And you know what happens to those who don’t stop at the “station of Shalom” (peace)? They end up at the “station of Halakhah” (religious law) station*. That’s what awaits us, and it’s terrifying. [*Note: The names of railroad stations heading from Jerusalem into Tel Aviv, are “HaShalom”, followed by “Halakhah”]

And this is what we’re seeing now—it’s all connected. Because when we add to everything happening, if we stay in Gaza, and when we add the internal madness, the erosion of all democratic institutions and the rule of law, not only will we struggle in this war despite our resilience, we will face an even greater disaster. The Israel we know and love will not be able to survive. It will become a war zone between the sea and the Jordan, an unending inter-religious conflict. And the world, which is already condemning us—and believe me, I just returned from an international conference and am heading to another one abroad—we are in a position from which it will be very difficult, very difficult to restore Israel to what it was: a respected nation, the start-up democracy we once were and still could be.

What terrifies me is that, until now, this discussion hasn’t even been taking place. Good citizens believe in empty promises, the wordsmiths, and the false prophets who continue to promise some kind of absolute victory. This discourse must happen now, before the public falls into the gap between promises and reality. And when that happens, I fear they will again turn to the populist false prophets, who will promise them, “No, no, trust us, we will use even more force.” But that is not the solution.

The hope and the solution lie in the hands of those who know how to use force when necessary but also know how to leverage military success into a diplomatic process for long-term change. We deserve that. Our children deserve that. Our grandchildren deserve that. And that is what needs to happen in our country.

Next, General Amos Gilead spoke, dismissing the proposed ideas to resettle Gaza as absurd. He asserted that the notion that settlers could serve as a defense is equally nonsensical. Gilead expressed his wish that Israel didn’t have to leave Gaza, but acknowledged that unfortunately, Gaza comes with the challenges of managing an area with 2.3 million residents.

Gilead pointed out that establishing a military administration at this time would be nearly impossible, contrasting today with the situation in 1967, when Gaza's population was just 275,000. 1967, when Israel took control of Gaza, there were 275,000 people living there. Today, such administration would require thousands of troops, billions of dollars, and Israel would have to shoulder the responsibility for rebuilding Gaza. He also criticized the lack of strategic planning regarding the "day after,” even after 14 months of conflict.

Ami Ayalon, another former head of the Shabak (General Security Services), stated that Israeli democracy is imploding. He highlighted a critical issue often avoided in discussions, i.e., the occupation. Ayalon drew connections between the occupation, terrorism, and their detrimental effects on democracy, emphasizing the urgent need to address these issues.

Ayalon referenced James Madison’s 1795 essay, “Political Observations,” in which Madison warned that war poses the greatest threat to democracy:

Of all the enemies to public liberty, war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other.

Ayalon cautioned that there is no definitive end to the war on terror. Terrorism is asymmetrical: its practitioners only need to survive to fight another day, whereas states seek a complete victory that is unattainable against such tactics. He criticized leaders who exploit fear to secure votes, cautioning that fear-based governance is dangerous.

In addition, Ayalon stressed the need for statesmen, asserting that while soldiers know how to make war, statesmen know how to make peace. Regrettably, he lamented, there are no statesmen in the current government or the Knesset. He also expressed what he expects could be a surprising, unexpected source of hope: Donald Trump. Ayalon speculated that Trump, motivated by a passionate personal desire to win a Nobel Prize, might pressure Israel into a peace deal with Saudi Arabia—which would minimally necessitate reaching a framework to make progress toward a future Palestinian State.

The final speaker of the morning session was Amos Yadlin, a former fighter pilot who participated in the bombing of the Iraqi reactor and a former head of IDF military intelligence. Yadlin highlighted what he thought was one of the critical failures regarding October 7— no one questioned the prevailing conceptions. Moreover, Yadlin chastised the intelligence community for not questioning t

he assumption that Hamas did not desire war.

Yadlin explained that both Israel and Hamas considered the 2021 Gaza operation “Guardian of the Walls” as a success. Consequently, Israel did not adequately prepare to defend the Gaza border. There were no troops stationed, no strategic plans developed, and no contingency measures in place for a potential surprise attack.

NADAV EYAL EXPLAINS WHAT ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR GAZA

Nadav Eyal, a leading Israeli journalist, is currently spending the year as a visiting professor at Columbia University. Nadav is a political centrist. He wrote the following tweet in Hebrew, addressing Israeli audiences– who are largely unaware of what is happening in Gaza and fail to comprehend our responsibilities there.

A Few Notes for the Record … I wrote each of these comments separately, but they deserve to be grouped together:

1. There are innocents in Gaza. Every child is innocent. The notion that “all Gazans are guilty” is: a. False. b. Naturally enables horrible acts, which is the most dangerous aspect. c. Foolish.

There’s a direct line connecting this mindset to those who film themselves destroying property for no reason or treat homes as war loot.

2. Israel is responsible for what happens in Gaza. This isn’t about who is to blame for the war (Hamas is). It’s simply the reality: Israel has effectively occupied Gaza and allows Hamas to exist only as a guerrilla force with minimal governing ability. If there is hunger in Gaza, it’s on the Israeli government. If there are outbreaks of disease, it’s on the Israeli government. Children not attending school? Same.

The attempt to shift responsibility onto international organizations won’t work, especially when Israel’s system exudes hostility toward them. If the occupying power—us—wants someone else to take responsibility, it requires a diplomatic initiative: bringing in the Palestinian Authority, international mandates, or other frameworks. But our political leadership prefers a creeping military administration. The fact that it’s “creeping” doesn’t absolve the Israeli government of responsibility for hunger or suffering in Gaza.

3. The debate about ethnic cleansing. It’s not complicated:

• If, at the end of the military operations, the military force allows the population to return to their land, it demonstrates that the initial evacuation during the operation was legal.

• However, if population evacuation is implemented as punishment or as a step to alter the territory—such as establishing settlements on captured land—that is a war crime.

4. Israel has significant interests in a deal. Not only because of the return of hostages but also because the residents of northern Gaza will eventually return to their homes—there will be no avoiding this, legally or internationally. If this can happen while bringing our hostages back, it’s a double advantage.

5. The destruction in Gaza, which I witnessed firsthand, should not bring anyone joy. It’s sheer folly. Gazans will live alongside Israel. The massive damage and high death toll could become a perfect foundation for jihad for the next 500 years. Some may immediately counter: “It would have happened anyway.” Maybe. I don’t know what “would have happened.” History isn’t predetermined, and conflicts do end.

6. From the start of the war, Israel was expected to provide a positive vision for Gaza. Instead, it acted as though this was a Roman military campaign, offering no vision for the future. Even the Americans, when invading Iraq—a disastrous invasion—called their operation “Iraqi Freedom.” The absence of a positive vision has trickled down to field levels, sending the message that there’s no future to think about between Gaza and Israel. Another terrible folly.

Israel urgently needs to present a positive vision:

• Who will govern Gaza and how?

• Achieve a deal that includes the return of hostages and allows the population to return to their land.

Until then, in any case, responsibility lies with Israel.

BUSINESS

Elbit Systems

The Israel Ministry of Defense’s Directorate of Defense Research & Development (DDR&D) announced today that it has completed several contracts with Elbit Systems totaling approximately $40 Million. Under these contracts, Elbit Systems will supply the IDF with advanced drones and autonomous systems to upgrade the operational capabilities of its forces in the field.

The new systems were jointly developed by the IMOD’s DDR&D jointly developed the new systems with the IDF’s Ground Forces and Elbit Systems. They include advanced capabilities and are designed for various missions, including precise intelligence gathering and targeted strikes

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As part of the contracts signed by the IMOD’s Director General, Major General (Res.) Eyal Zamir, Elbit Systems will supply the following advanced models:

Drones designed for intelligence collection, capable of operating within Seek & Strike swarms and intelligence platoons; Mission drones equipped with advanced ISR, terrain dominance, and attack capabilities for combat forces; Mini-drone-based strike solutions for urban missions. Additionally, Elbit Systems will provide resilient communication solutions for unmanned systems. The deal continues the productive cooperation between the IMOD and Elbit Systems, strengthening the IDF's autonomous combat capabilities on the battlefield.

Head of the IMOD’s DDR&D R&D Department, Brigadier General Yehuda Almakias:

The UAS domain enables efficient, precise, and scalable intelligence gathering and strike missions. Since the outbreak of war, these orders have joined many others made by the Ministry of Defense to various companies, including Elbit Systems and other defense industries and startups. These acquisitions ensure that troops can optimally execute their battlefield missions. The DDR&D will continue maintaining Israel's technological battlefield superiority and supporting the current war efforts.

Droxi

Droxi, which developed a software platform to help doctors handle administrative burdens, raised $21 million in a Series A round, completing a total of $25 million in funding within just two years. The current investment round was led by the American investment fund Drive Capital, alongside additional investors including Verissimo, AirAngels, Lurie Consulting, and Elad Litman.

Droxi was founded in 2022 by Rohe Ben-Simon (CTO) and Gadi Shanhar (CEO), both alumni of Unit 8200 and electrical engineers from the Technion. The company employs about 40 people in Israel. A medical error that affected Shanhar’s grandmother inspired them to address the issue of mistakes in medical care. However, after conversations with hundreds of doctors, they realized that errors are merely a symptom of a deeper issue: the endless workload placed on medical staff.

Droxi developed a software product based on data from tens of millions of healthcare professionals that easily provides doctors with the information they need to perform any task. Doctors are not required to search through lengthy menus or input codes for tests and prescriptions, allowing them to focus on medical thinking and communication with patients.

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