DAY 440 OF THE WAR: Overnight Houthi Missile Strikes Partially Destroys School; Israel Retaliates Against Houthis, Katz Mandates Military Inquiries by End of January

Tel Aviv Diary, December 19, 2024

In the early hours this morning, at 2:35 AM, just a little over an hour after I went to sleep, I was jolted awake by the blaring sound of air raid sirens. Until the recent ceasefire with Lebanon went into effect, I used to go to sleep with either slippers or sandals placed at the foot of my bed, ready to go. However, this morning, they were not there. In the interest of safety, I ended up rushing down to the shelter with one slipper and one sandal. Frankly, we all moved a bit slower than usual getting down the stairs. Accompanied by Milo, our dog, we entered the shelter and heard an explosion in the distance. Most of the neighbors in our building did not get up in the middle of the night, resulting in only a few others in the shelter.

We soon learned that it was a single ballistic missile from Yemen that had been launched at Israel. Initial reports indicated that the missile had been intercepted, allowing us to return to bed. However, it was not until I woke up the next morning that it become clear the situation was more complex— and that other incidents had occurred overnight.

Initially, it was reported that although the missile had been intercepted, the warhead had not been destroyed and ultimately landed on an elementary school in Ramat Gan, a suburb near Tel Aviv. The missile completely demolished parts of the school. Thankfully, this strike occurred in the middle of the night when the school was empty. Had the missile struck during school hours, the consequences could have been unimaginably tragic. I found myself grateful that the missile hit the unoccupied school rather than the nearby residential buildings, where a safe room would not have provided adequate protection against a direct hit.

Thirty minutes after the Houthi missile struck Israel, a planned IAF assault commenced on targets in northern Yemen. The Israeli planes had departed their bases hours before the Houthi missile hit central Israel. The Israeli Air Force executed two waves of attacks, targeting three ports, where all tugboats, two power plants, and various other pieces of equipment were destroyed. The IAF completed the 1,700-kilometer journey using tankers to supply the necessary fuel for the round-trip mission.

Nobody in Israel believes that these attacks will deter the Houthis from continuing their missile assaults. Despite the Saudis engaging them in combat for three years, they were unable to defeat the Houthis. Moreover, the US and its allies have been trying to prevent the Houthis from blocking the sea lanes for an entire year, also without much success. Theoretically, (according the Houthi claims) reaching a ceasefire deal with Hamas could lead to a cessation of hostilities by the Houthis.

HOUTHIS, AGAIN

As I was heading to the supermarket this afternoon, I suddenly received a bizarre notification that my iPad and a luggage tag were in the middle of the Mediterranean. Just last night I had been admiring how flawlessly my aircraft tracking app was working to identify commercial planes I saw en route to Ben Gurion Airport. My immediate thought about this GPS disruption was that it signaled intelligence warnings of another impending Houthi attack. Shortly after, the IDF confirmed that a drone had been intercepted off the coast of Tel Aviv, without triggering any sirens.

Since the war began, the Houthis have launched 200 ballistic missiles and 170 drones at Israel.

It is evident that normalcy has not yet returned to our lives—whatever that may mean. It shouldn’t, not until all the hostages are returned home. Lowering our guard now would be a mistake, both personally and nationally. As of tonight, with the Houthis threatening to escalate their attacks, I will go to bed tonight with my slippers ready.

WEST BANK

Earlier today, under the guidance of the Shin Bet, the Air Force targeted and destroyed a vehicle in Tulkarem, killing all four occupants, including the local commander of Islamic Jihad. Meanwhile, leaders of Jewish settlements are urging the IDF to replicate the actions taken in Gaza in the West Bank. Thankfully—at least for the moment—no one is listening to them.

The reality is that the IDF’s actions in the West Bank, coupled with what appears to be a fear among Palestinians to act during the war, has resulted in a significant drop in the number of terror attacks in the West Bank this year. In 2024, to date, there have been 254 terror attacks, a significant reduction from the 847 recorded in 2022.

KATZ AGAINST HALEVI

Defense Minister Katz has ordered IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi to complete all investigations into the events of October 7th by the end of January. Until these investigations are completed, he has declared that he will not approve any promotions to the rank of Major General. On the surface, Katz’s decree appears to be a sensible directive; there is no justification for these investigations to take so long. Additionally, it is also reasonable to suspend promotions within the IDF until every action on October 7th, as well as the lead-up to the disastrous catastrophe, has been thoroughly investigated.

However, by issuing this directive, Minister Katz is also signaling that the Chief of Staff should resign once the investigations are complete. While this may be justified, the issue is that, although the army must accept responsibility for its actions, the government is equally culpable for the events and has consistently refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing. Furthermore, the government has also refused to establish a National Commission of Inquiry to understand the factors leading to the worst disaster in Israel’s history, identify the measures necessary to prevent such a tragedy from recurring, and determine who is ultimately bears responsibility for the profound web of failures.

A WORTHWHILE READ

This disturbing article by Yaniv Kubovich, titled, “No Civilians. Everyone’s a Terrorist: IDF Soldiers Expose Arbitrary Killing and Rampant Lawlessness in Gaza’s Netzarim Corridor,” is featured in Haaretz. In the article, Kubovich asserts that the rules of engagement in Gaza are far too loose (an understatement). Based on personal experience serving in Gaza nearly 45 years ago, I can confirm that this was also the case back then. Additionally, I have independent verification that at least some of the claims made in the article are true.

In some ways, today's conditional order from the Supreme Court connects to this broader issue. Human rights organizations filed a lawsuit demanding that security prisoners, (many of whom are terrorists), receive the minimum food necessary to sustain life. The Supreme Court ordered Minister of National Security Ben-Givr one month to explain why the government is not providing enough to meet this essential need. Minister Ben Gvir, along with the Justice Minister Levin, attacked the Supreme Court over this directive. It’s important to clarify that the Court was not advocating for privileges such as television for the prisoners—the court was simply demanding that these prisoners be given enough food to survive. As a society, our moral compass is askew if we no longer uphold the sanctity of life—any life. This stance is not only immoral but also short-sighted.

INCARCERATION WITHOUT THE OPTION OF BAIL

Today, the attorney for the unnamed non-commissioned officer implicated in the classified documents case—accused of allegedly leaking secret documents—requested a pardon from President Herzog. This appeal for clemency was made even before the officer has appeared in court. The last instance of a similar pardon request occurred in the 1980s, when Shin Bet officers were accused of killing a prisoner. The unusual plea for a pardon stems from the fact that the non-commissioned officer has been detained without the option of bail.

This is not an isolated incident. Four individuals charged with firing a flare near the Prime Minister’s residence in Caesarea are also being held without bail. In both instances, this approach seems unjustified. I am opposed to the growing tendency in this country to detain individuals in custody until investigations are completed. Perhaps this stems from my American perspective, where everyone is entitled to a bail hearing within 48 hours—moreover, bail is only denied to those deemed dangerous or a flight risk. In Israel, the same criteria—danger to society or flight risk—are considered, but only after an investigation is completed. In these cases, since the investigations have already concluded, there is no reasonable justification for the prosecution’s continued requests to keep the accused in jail without the possibility of bail.

TRAVEL NEWS

Wizz Air will resume limited operations tomorrow (Friday) offering four weekly flights between Tel Aviv and Larnaca. This development follows Air Europa's recent resumption of services to Israel. LOT Polish Airlines plans to restart flights to Aviv on December 21, with an expansion of services anticipated in January. Aegean Airlines has already resumed flights to Athens and Larnaca, while Bulgaria Air is set to return on December 26.

However, major carriers such as Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, and American airlines continue to suspend services. Air France has extended its suspension until January 9, 2025. The Lufthansa Group, which includes SWISS, Austrian, and Brussels Airlines, will not resume service until January 31, 2025. United Airlines has indefinitely removed Israel from its schedule, and American Airlines won't return until late September 2025.

Long distance carriers Delta and Air Canada, along with Budget carriers Ryanair and EasyJet have canceled flights through March 2025. Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic plans to suspend its services until October 2025. Additionally, Romanian airline BEES has extended its suspension until March 31, 2025, despite earlier plans to resume flights this month.

BUSINESS

Paragon

Early this week, I posted that Paragon was being sold to an American company. Today, the Israeli Defense Ministry announced that it had not approved the sale, stating that any sale of a defense company must receive its approval. For the moment, this sale is on hold.

Antidote Health

Antidote Health, an Israeli startup, is bringing innovation to the U.S. healthcare system through a model that merges health insurance with direct medical care. Following a successful $22 million funding round led by WellTech Ventures, the company is expanding its comprehensive healthcare solution that combines 24/7 virtual care through a mobile app with traditional medical services. The platform leverages AI technology to enhance preventive care and streamline doctor-patient interactions, while handling direct payments to providers for in-person treatments and hospitalizations

.

At the heart of Antidote's approach is its direct employment of physicians, including five family doctors managing thousands of patients each and a network of 270 doctors providing round-the-clock coverage. This structure, inspired by Israeli HMOs but adapted for the U.S. market, aims to eliminate the misaligned incentives that often lead to unnecessary referrals and inflated costs in traditional healthcare settings. According to co-founder Ben Anoush, this model creates a unified interest between healthcare providers, the company, and patients.

Currently operating its full insurance-and-care solution in Ohio and Arizona through Affordable Care Act plans, Antidote is actively expanding its presence across 20 additional states. The company reports significant annual recurring revenue and offers competitive rates averaging $11,000 per household annually, making healthcare more accessible to America's underserved populations. While the model draws inspiration from Israeli HMOs, it operates within the framework of the U.S. private healthcare market, relying on ACA subsidies rather than the comprehensive government support typical of the Israeli system.

Decart

The Israeli startup Decart has raised $32 million in a Series-A funding round led by the venture capital fund Benchmark, with participation from existing investors Sequoia Capital and Zeev Ventures. Decart, founded about a year ago, has now raised a total of $53 million. The company focuses on advancing Foundation Models to create immersive virtual experiences.

Decart was established in 2023 by Leitersdorf, who serves as CEO, and Moshe Shalev, the company’s Chief Product Officer, both alumni of Unit 8200. The company has developed a platform that allows organizations to train massive AI models more efficiently, reducing training and operational costs. Decart currently employs 35 people, most of whom are engineers specializing in artificial intelligence, working from its Tel Aviv offices.

The company’s first product, Oasis, is a real-time AI-powered video game that provides users with fully interactive worlds. Shortly after its launch, Oasis reached millions of users, with the first million joining within just three days.

∞–––––∞–––––∞–––––∞–––––∞–––––∞–––––∞–––––∞–––––∞–––––∞

A PIECE OF HISTORY

Police Recommend Indictment of Netanyahu

On February 13, 2018, the Police recommended that Prime Minister Netanyahu be indicted for corruption, bribery, and breach of trust. That was six years ago, and Netanyahu’s trial is still going on, and will no doubt continue for many more months. At the end of the article I posted, back in 2018, I wrote, “If he is indicted, Netanyahu will have no choice but to resign.” How wrong I was.

Here is the update/essay I wrote at that time:

The Israeli police have formally presented their report on the investigations into two cases in which Prime Minister Netanyahu has allegedly committed crimes. In both cases, the police have stated that an evidentiary basis exists to indict the Prime Minister. The first case, known in Israel as “Case 1000,” alleges that Netanyahu received gifts of cigars, champagne, jewelry, and clothing, totaling over 1,000,000 shekels ($300,000). Netanyahu does not deny receiving these gifts; however, he claims they were merely gifts between friends. Israeli law clearly states that public servants may not receive gifts from anyone other than relatives during their time in public service. The police recommended that Netanyahu be charged not only with “Conduct Unbecoming a Public Servant” but also with bribery. The police claim they have enough evidence that many of those who gave gifts, such as financier Arnon Milchan, received favors in return from the Prime Minister, thus constituting bribery. The police have also recommended indicting Milchan.

The second case, known as “Case 2000,” involves Netanyahu being caught on tape promising financial gain to the publisher of Yediot Ahronot, which was until recently Israel's largest newspaper and is now number two, in return for positive coverage. Netanyahu promised he would ensure that Yisrael Hayom (the newspaper published by his patron, Sheldon Adelson), would stop publishing a Friday edition, thus securing all the lucrative Friday advertising income for Yediot. In this case, the police have recommended that Netanyahu be indicted for bribery. They have also recommended that Arnon “Noni” Mozes, the publisher of Yediot Ahronot, be indicted as the one offering the bribe.

There are two additional cases still being investigated by the police, for which Netanyahu has not yet been interrogated. “Case 3000” involves kickbacks stemming from Israel's decision to order additional submarines from Germany, as well as the decision to award a German shipyard a no-bid contract to build new missile ships for Israel. “Case 4000” concerns various allegations of wrongdoing by the chairman and controlling shareholder of Bezeq, Israel's largest telecommunications firm. The Director-General of the Ministry of Communications was questioned and briefly arrested as a result of this case. This Director-General was appointed by Netanyahu, who was serving as both Prime Minister and Communications Minister during that period, and failed to disclose his close personal relationship with Bezeq Chairman Shaul Elovitch until it was revealed by the press. This case is also still under investigation.

It should be noted that the police recommendations are not binding and the Attorney General is the one who must decide whether or not to indict. The decision to indict took just one month in the case of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1977, who was charged because his wife had failed to close a US bank account after Rabin was no longer serving as Israel’s Ambassador to the US. Rabin resigned. However, in a number of other cases, issuing an indictment has taken years. In this case, even though the Attorney General has been closely monitoring the investigations of Netanyahu, it could take up to a year for the matter to come to a conclusion.

The police recommendations have been expected for several months. Netanyahu’s Likud party attempted to pass a law that would shield him from these recommendations, by prohibiting the police from making any. Although the law was passed, other members of Netanyahu's own coalition would not allow the law to retroactively cover any ongoing investigations.

As it has become apparent that the police would recommend his indictment, Netanyahu has been actively downplaying the significance of the recommendations and has been trying to depict the police as doggedly out to get him. Netanyahu has directly attacked Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh, whom he appointed, and who has long been considered ideologically aligned with Netanyahu—thus making it difficult for Netanyahu to paint him as a "left-wing enemy."

Five minutes after the police made their recommendations public, Netanyahu addressed the people of Israel, saying, "I have worked on behalf of Israel all my life, and I feel it incumbent upon me to continue to do so." He went on to state, "The only reason that motivates me to do all that I do is not cigars, but only the good of the country." Netanyahu complained, "From the moment I became Prime Minister, there has not been a single day when I wasn't attacked — and those attacks were not only directed at me but also at my wife and children, which hurts me, since I love them."

Netanyahu continued asserting, "Every time I have been investigated in the past, it has ultimately been shown that there was absolutely no wrongdoing on my part, and in time, it will be shown in this case that there is nothing, because I know the truth." He went on to attack the police, contending, "This time it is clear the investigators were biased, since the investigators claimed that they themselves were being investigated by me." Netanyahu also claimed, "I never did anything for Milchan in return for cigars."

Netanyahu will now be fighting a two-front war. The first is a battle for public opinion. As long as the public supports him, he will be able to hold his coalition together. If the public turns against him, that task will become much more difficult. The second front will be to convince the Attorney General not to indict him. If he is indicted, Netanyahu will have no choice but to resign. How this situation unfolds over the next few weeks and months will determine Netanyahu’s future.