Major attack against Jews in Samaria was thwarted at the last minute this Shabbat:
Jerusalem Post, 13 Jan 2025, pg 2.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) is behind on its electricity bills for electricity it acquires from the Israel Electric company. The PA is the Arab government in charge of the Arab cities in Judea and Samaria:
Jerusalem Post, 13 Jan 2025, pg 2.
Arab Israelis have representatives in the Congress, the Knesset of Israel (the Parliament). Realizing that the current government could disintegrate if Netanyahu approves a hostage return deal, the Arab party has volunteered to join the coalition in case of such emergency, to keep the coalition above the needed 50% mark (61 seats out of 120 are needed), otherwise, elections are required.
It does not look that way. Netanyahu and his team of negotiators have not changed their terms, despite the lies Hamas has told the media.
Hamas increased their terms
Hamas holds hostages and refuses to provide a list or any proof of life.
These are not strategies used when a party wishes to reach an agreement for peace.
Jerusalem Post, 30 Dec 2024 pg 1
Jerusalem Post, 30 Dec 2024 pg 1
The other side would argue that it’s Netanyahu that lies to prolong the war. Well even if that were true, this public statement still serves to encourage Hamas to come and negotiate better. So the end result would be better in either case if Hamas changes their strategy and actually wishes to end the conflict.
This Shabbat, Israel intercepted one missile from Yemen headed for Jerusalem at 2 am, and then an unusual long-range missile from Gaza at 4 pm headed for Jerusalem.
Jerusalem Post, 29 Dec 2024 pg 9.
It’s been awhile since Gaza fired much, and even more since they used one of their precious and rare long-range missiles.
Israelis have collected fragments of missiles from Lebanon, Gaza, and Yemen, and artist Eli Gross formed them into a 9-branched candlestick to celebrate Hanukkah:
Hamas and Islamic Jihad had stolen police vehicles from the Palestinian Authority. For the past 8 days, ever since the Assad regime fell in Syria, the PA has taken up the fight against Hamas and IJ:
Jerusalem Post, 18 Dec 2024 pg 1
Remember when naysayers used to say “Why is the IDF conducting operations in Arab towns in Judea and Samaria?! Hamas is in Gaza, not there!”
Really?
Those with a clue already knew that Hamas operates in Judea, Samaria (West Bank), Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq…
Einat Wilf, formerly from the Israeli Left, responds to eighteen questions about the war:
https://yewtu.be/watch?v=-jEkWlwH8LQ
Video published description:
December 4, 2024
The true enemy in Israel’s current war, Einat Wilf says, is what she calls “Palestinianism.” Once part of the Israeli left, Einat Wilf is a popular political thinker on Israel, Zionism, and foreign policy. Her 2020 co-authored book, “The War of Return,” outlines what she believes lies at the core of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict: the Palestinian people’s “Right of Return” is what makes this conflict unresolvable. Einat served in Israel’s Knesset from 2010 to 2013 and now lectures and writes widely on contemporary issues. She is the author of seven books and hosts the “We Should All Be Zionists” podcast. She has a BA from Harvard, an MBA from INSEAD in France, and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Cambridge. Now, Einat joins us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including what Palestinianism is, why Israel’s war aims are flawed, and the future of Gaza. This interview was held on Nov. 25. Here are our 18 questions:
1. As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?
2. What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?
3. How do you think Hamas views the outcome and aftermath of October 7—was it a success, in their eyes?
4. What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?
5. Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?
6. Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?
7. What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?
8. Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?
9. Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?
10. Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?
11. If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?
12. Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — even in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism?
13. What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?
14. Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
15. What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict after the war?
16. Is Israel properly handling the Iranian threat?
17. Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?
18. Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?
At 3:20 pm this afternoon, missile air raid sirens sounded here in Samaria and all across the Central area of Israel. I had to run from the pizza shop to take cover in the bomb shelter outside on the other side of the building. We heard the air raid sirens in the town. Here is how the alarms looked on the phone:
Early this morning, we saw these signs in the sky of Israeli Defense Force actions in the air:
According to some news sources reporting on X/Twitter comments, some civilians thought these were “yellow ribbon” symbols in the sky, remembering the hostages, but the Israeli Air Force has stated that these were regular patrols to take down Houthi attack drones from Yemen, which were eventually taken down over the sea.
