DAY 431 OF THE WAR: Israel Destroys Syrian Air Force and Navy; Netanyahu Trial Opens; Reverberations from Netanyahu’s Press Conference; Mistakes Cause Needless Deaths
Tel Aviv Diary, December 10, 2024
Israel has strategically acted to neutralize the Syrian Army's military capabilities. Reports indicate that the Israeli Air Force destroyed over 300 targets, systematically targeting and destroying Syria’s entire arsenal of planes, helicopters, tanks, missiles, and other heavy equipment belonging to the Army and Air Force. This effort aims to prevent the emerging Syrian government from utilizing these assets. Israel has tactically chosen this moment, when military equipment is unguarded, to eliminate any potential future threats posed by these resources.
The Israeli Navy has also played a significant role, reportedly sinking nearly the entire Syrian naval fleet, including missile boats docked in the port of Latakia. This comprehensive dismantling of Syrian military capabilities underscores Israel’s apparent policy of preemptive defense, guided by the principle of “better safe than sorry.” These measures occur against a backdrop of uncertainty about what sort of government will emerge in Syria, marked by troubling signs of instability, such as recent public executions of Assad’s associates without trials.
Prime Minister Netanyahu stated today that Israel seeks to establish positive relations with Syria’s future government. However, it is reasonable to question whether destroying Syria’s military assets is the most conducive approach to fostering goodwill between parties. Critics argue that stripping the new government of its ability to maintain national security may not be the most constructive initial step.
The broader implications of Israel’s actions remain unclear. Although the immediate threat posed by Syrian military hardware has been addressed, the long-term impact on regional dynamics and Israel’s relationship with its neighbors is uncertain. Observers suggest that this strategy, while effective in neutralizing potential threats, could complicate future diplomatic efforts.
NETANYAHU ON TRIAL
Today marked the first day of Netanyahu’s testimony in his ongoing corruption trial. To clarify an important aspect regarding the Prime Minister’s decision to testify: under Israeli criminal law, a defendant's decision to refrain from testifying can be considered a negative factor against them. Furthermore, while not legally mandatory, it is customary for the defendant to be the first to testify in their defense. Unlike the American jury system, Israeli trials are adjudicated by judges.
This trial has been ongoing for four years and has only now reached the defense phase, largely due to the significant latitude granted to lawyers in questioning witnesses. For instance, the cross-examination of a single prosecution witness extended beyond a month and a half. Netanyahu is expected to present his account of events for over the course of a month before facing cross-examination, a stage he is reportedly apprehensive about.
Here’s a brief overview of the charges against Netanyahu:
In “Case 1000”, Netanyahu is accused of accepting gifts, such as cigars and champagne, valued at over NIS 100,000, in exchange for favors. Israeli law prohibits accepting such gifts beyond a very modest threshold.
“Case 2000” involves allegations that Netanyahu attempted to secure favorable coverage in Israel’s largest newspaper by offering to limit the weekend edition of Israel Hayom, owned by Sheldon Adelson—a move that would have benefitted its rival publication.
“Case 4000” centers on claims that Netanyahu facilitated a lucrative merger between Bezeq (telecommunications giant) and Yes (satellite TV network), significantly benefiting Bezeq’s owners, in exchange for favorable coverage of himself and his family on the Walla news website.
During his testimony today, Netanyahu sought to justify his actions without delving into significant detail. Regarding the gifts, Netanyahu asserted that his hard work justified some personal indulgences, asking, “Why shouldn’t I enjoy a cigar and my wife some champagne?” Regarding media coverage, Netanyahu claimed that Israel’s media landscape is predominantly left-leaning and contended that all he merely sought coverage that aligned with his ideology. Netanyahu’s defense testimony is expected to continue for at least one month before the prosecution begins its cross-examination.
Of the three cases against Netanyahu currently under litigation, “Case 1000” is considered the strongest. Although supported by substantial evidence, the other two cases involve more complex circumstances.
My take this afternoon in i24News
REVERBERATIONS FOLLOWING NETANYAHU’S LATEST PRESS CONFERENCE
The fallout from Prime Minister Netanyahu’s press conference last night continued to dominate the headlines today. In one controversial remark, Netanyahu expressed opposition to establishing a National Commission of Inquiry into the events of October 7th, claiming that “most of the country has little confidence in such a commission.” However, polls show that over 80% of Israelis support a National Commission of Inquiry over the political commission of inquiry being proposed by Likud. Families who lost loved ones in the October 7th massacre have been the most outspoken in their criticism.
Today, a father who lost two daughters at the Nova music festival shared an emotional letter he wrote to the Likud MK championing the establishment of a political commission of inquiry. During his televised remarks, the father broke down in uncontrollable tears, leaving an entire newsroom speechless, in stunned silence. While a National Commission of Inquiry cannot heal the immense pain or the profound grief, many believe it is an essential step for accountability and the beginning of the healing process, particularly alongside the safe return of hostages.
HALEVI AND BAR VISIT CAIRO
Today, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Shin Bet Head Ronen Bar both visited Cairo. The primary purpose of the visit was to discuss regional developments, but their discussions reportedly also focused on potential negotiations for the release of hostages.
Tonight, there was a ramming attack in B’nei Brak. An Arab Israeli reportedly ran over a pedestrian, who sustained minor injuries. Authorities are treating the incident as a terror attack. However, it seems unusual that a terror attack would result in only light injuries to a single individual in the heart of Bnei Brak.
FINAL DAYS, FATAL ERRORS
The final days of a war, (which we hope are approaching), tend to be the most perilous. Despite efforts to maintain strict discipline, soldiers sometimes become a little lax. This was tragically illustrated yesterday when three Givati soldiers died in an ambush as they boarded a truck to leave an area—a clear violation of the rules in Gaza that mandate travel during daylight hours only in heavily armored vehicles equipped with active defense systems, which was not adhered to in this instance.
There is the further unresolved question regarding how a squad of terrorists managed to enter a supposedly secure area. Today, it was announced that the ten terrorists who attacked the Givati troops yesterday were killed.
INQUIRY INTO YESTERDAY’S DRONE STRIKE ON YAVNE
There was an Air Force inquiry into yesterday's drone incident, which resulted in an explosion at an apartment building in Yavne. Here are the findings of the report:
The Air Force Commander, Major General Tomer Bar, conducted an operational investigation last night (Monday) regarding the UAV strike on a building in the city of Yavne yesterday. The investigation revealed that the hostile aircraft, which was launched from Yemen, was identified as a suspicious target in proximity to other non-hostile aircraft.
A combat helicopter and defense systems prepared to intercept the aircraft. The aircraft was not intercepted due to concerns it might be a civilian aircraft and due to lack of continuous tracking. It was also determined that the failure to activate alerts was a mistake, which resulted from the aircraft not being classified as hostile.
The Air Force Commander accepted the investigation's recommendations and concluded that the Air Force failed in this incident and did not provide protection and warning to Israeli citizens.
The Major General determined that this was a complex incident in a civilian area, and that the alert policy should be expansive even when there is no clear classification of aircraft as hostile.
ECONOMY
Based on the latest OECD statistics, Israelis are severely underprepared for what the modern world will demand of them. The data paints a concerning picture—Israel ranked near the bottom (27th out of 31 countries) in the OECD's 2022-2023 PIAAC Skills Survey, with a troublingly high percentage of adults showing only basic competency in reading, math, and problem-solving.
The numbers are stark. In literacy, Israel scored well below the OECD average (244 vs 260 points) with 36% of Israeli adults only able to handle the simplest texts—far worse than the OECD average of 26%. The math scores tell a similar story, with Israel at 246 points and 34% at basic levels, compared to the OECD's 25%.
However, what's most concerning is how badly Israel is doing in tech-related problem-solving — absolutely crucial skills in today's AI-driven world. With a score of 236 (vs OECD's 251) and only 3% showing advanced capabilities, there's a real risk of falling behind.
The gaps within Israeli society make matters even worse. Jewish Israelis significantly outperform Arab Israelis, with the literacy gap actually widening to 60 points. Ultra-Orthodox men particularly struggle with math compared to their non-Orthodox counterparts. And despite Israel's reputation for higher education, many graduates lack practical skills—34% are actually overqualified for their jobs, showing a serious mismatch between education and workforce needs.
If Israel doesn't address these fundamental skills gaps soon, it could seriously impact both economic growth and social cohesion as technology continues to reshape our world.
BUSINESS
Elbit Systems Ltd. announced today that it was awarded two contracts with an aggregate value of approximately $175 million for the supply of EW (Electronic Warfare) and DIRCM (Directed Infrared Countermeasure) Self-Protection Suites to a NATO European country. The contracts will be performed over a period of five years.
Under the contracts, Elbit Systems will deliver its Self-Protection Suites for installation on the country's Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft and Airbus H225M helicopters. Additionally, the C-390 contract includes an agreement with another European country, providing for the delivery of the Advanced EW suite for installation on its Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft.
The state-of-the-art EW and DIRCM Self-Protection Suite, to be installed on both platforms, provides enhanced defense capabilities by autonomously detecting, analyzing, and countering a wide range of threats. The suite includes Elbit Systems' advanced Digital Radar Warning Receiver, IR Missile Warning System (MWS), Laser Warning System (LWS), Countermeasure Dispenser System (CMDS), and the MUSIC™ family DIRCM System. Additionally, as part of the C-390 contract, Elbit Systems will provide its SPEAR Advanced ECM (AECM) Pod, which can be easily installed and transferred between aircraft on the flight line.
“With our EW Self-Protection Suites installed on over 30 aircraft types and deployed across multiple countries, including several NATO members, Elbit Systems is recognized as a global leader in Electronic Warfare and DIRCM technology.” said Oren Sabag, General Manager of Elbit Systems ISTAR & EW.
“These new contracts further reinforce our global position in the area of airborne Self-Protection Suites.” He added, “Our advanced modular design allows continuous updates, ensuring adaptation to evolving threats and providing a rapid response to enhance the safety of both aircrews and platforms.”
Astrix Security
The cybersecurity startup Astrix Security announced today (Tuesday) that it has raised $45 million in a Series-B funding round. The round was led by Anthology, a partnership between the venture capital fund Menlo Ventures and the AI company Anthropic. Other participants included Workday Ventures and Astrix’s existing investors, including Bessemer Venture Partners, F2 Venture Capital, and CRV. With this round, Astrix has raised a total of $85 million since its founding.
Founded in 2021 by Alon Jackson (CEO) and Idan Gur (CTO), alumni of the elite Israeli intelligence units Havatzalot and 8200, Astrix specializes in protecting organizations from attacks through non-human identities. The company employs approximately 80 people in Israel and abroad
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Astrix operates in the Identity and Access Management (IAM) space. Major players like Okta, CyberArk, and SailPoint focus on managing permissions for human employees. In contrast, Astrix specializes in non-human identities. Since its last funding round, Astrix has quintupled its sales and now serves major companies like Workday, Priceline, Figma, and NetApp.
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A PIECE OF HISTORY
Israel and the United States Sign an M.O.U.
In September 2016, the United States and Israel signed a Memorandum of Understanding (M.O.U.) that set a record as the largest military aid package ever committed by the U.S. to another country. The agreement, spanning ten years, allocates $38 billion to Israel, including $33 billion in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and $5 billion for missile defense systems like Iron Dome. Both President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu hailed the deal as a major milestone in U.S.-Israel relations, emphasizing its strategic significance in ensuring Israel’s security amidst regional threats.
While the agreement marks a notable commitment, it has drawn significant criticism from some quarters, including former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Critics point out that, adjusted for inflation, the deal does not increase Israel's purchasing power compared to the previous M.O.U. Additionally, the agreement includes restrictive terms not seen in prior aid packages: Israel pledged not to request additional funding from Congress and to return any supplemental funds Congress might allocate independently, effectively removing a longstanding channel for additional military support.
The elimination of a provision allowing Israel to spend 25% of the aid on its domestic defense industry has also sparked controversy. Historically, this exception supported Israel’s local arms manufacturing sector, but the new M.O.U. phases it out, requiring all funds to be spent on U.S.–manufactured systems. Critics argue that this change will either strain Israel’s defense budget or force cuts to domestic programs to maintain vital security projects. The decision underscores a significant shift in U.S.-Israel aid dynamics, with broader implications for Israel’s defense industry. (This provision was gradually lifted but caused significant harm to Israeli Defense Companies).
Observers have linked the more restrictive terms to strained U.S.-Israel relations during Netanyahu's tenure, particularly his decision to oppose the Obama administration's Iran nuclear deal by addressing the U.S. Congress. Critics view this move as jeopardizing bipartisan support for Israel in Washington. In a scathing op-ed, Barak argued that Netanyahu’s approach diminished Israel’s ability to negotiate a more favorable deal and weakened its strategic partnership with the U.S.
Despite these criticisms, the agreement was framed as a testament to the enduring alliance between the U.S. and Israel, transcending political and personal differences. For Obama, it reaffirmed the executive branch's control over foreign aid allocations, curtailing Congressional intervention on Israel’s behalf. For Netanyahu, it provided a substantial, albeit contentious, security commitment in a challenging geopolitical environment.
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