Israel is poised at the edge of a new day, for the situations we have been dealing with are shifting rapidly. We see many possibilities unfolding, including some rich with promise.
There are no certainties, and we know that nothing comes easily. There is still pain and struggle before us.
And yet…
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Tens of thousands of reservists have been called up and it is clear that the long-awaited major operation into Gaza City is going to swing into full force this month. This is the operation necessary to finishing Hamas.
At Nachshonim Base yesterday, Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir addressed reservists who had just been called up (emphasis added):
“We are preparing for the continuation of the war; we are going to increase and enhance the strikes of our operation, and that is why we called you. We have already begun the ground operation in Gaza – make no mistake. We are already entering places we have never entered before and operating there with courage, strength, valor, and an extraordinary spirit.
“…We will not stop the war until we defeat this enemy. So rise and succeed – with great appreciation from me, from the entire IDF, and from all Israeli civilians – for what you have done, for the exceptional turnout here, and for what you will yet do.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/414278
Yesterday, Prime Minister Netanyahu also addressed troops via video (emphasis added):
“…We are acting to defeat Hamas, but together we have, so far, done wonders in breaking the Iranian axis, both in Gaza and with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and with the Assad regime that collapsed, and with Iran itself that threatened us with existential threats, which we removed together, and now we are facing the Houthis.”
“But what began in Gaza, must end in Gaza…
“Now we are facing the decisive stage. I believe in you. I rely on you, and the entire people of Israel embraces you. With God’s help, together we will win,”
https://www.jns.org/gaza-city-operation-entering-decisive-stage-netanyahu-tells-idf-troops/
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In addition to the major operation in Gaza now beginning, there is another recent achievement regarding Hamas that is likely to rebound positively for Israel:
On Saturday, Israel eliminated Abu Obeida – whose real name was Hudhayfah Kahlot – in a targeted attack. This man was not “just” another terrorist leader, but the spokesman for Hamas and head of the Hamas propaganda apparatus and psychological terror operations. He kept his face covered in public so that he could not be identified. But he was identified, thanks to our Intelligence efforts.
Journalist Seth Frantzman (pictured below), citing analysts in a piece that appeared today, suggests that this hit may constitute a major blow for Hamas. Alongside their fighting efforts, Hamas maintained a major propaganda machine that worked to delegitimize Israel internationally and weaken our efforts in the field. Obeida had 1,500 propaganda operatives working under him. This fact helps us to understand the virulence of the recent wide-spread anti-Semitism, for the international community to a considerable degree accepted the charges leveled by Hamas. We have been working against a tide of international hostility as we have sought to achieve our very legitimate military goals.
Although Hamas will put a good face on this situation and will most likely appoint a replacement for Obeida without delay, Frantz suggests that the loss of Obeida represents the end of an era.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-866122
This could not have happened at a better time, as Obeida was gearing up to combat our movement into Gaza City with negative propaganda about the damage being caused.
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To achieve the long-sought victory in Gaza would be monumental. As Bibi said, with God’s help.
But consider, as well, what he has enumerated regarding other huge military achievements we have already secured. Iran is no longer the imminent nuclear threat it was until recently (although we will likely have to return to further attack there) and Hezbollah, which had 100,000 rockets and missiles aimed at us, is a mere shadow of its former self. Incredibly, the Lebanese government, which was powerless before Hezbollah for years, is now committed to disarming this terror group. It has not yet done so and may yet fail to do so but the IDF continues to keep watch.
Then there are the Houthis, whom we are challenging with a new seriousness. Last week, in an attack on the capital of Yemen, Sanaa, we eliminated 12 senior Houthi officials including the prime minister, Ahmed al-Rahawi. Now reports are that other Houthi officials are fleeing the capital in fear.
“We knew how to hunt them this time—and we will know how in the future too,” declared Defense Minister Yisrael Katz.
On Monday the Houthis launched a missile at an oil tanker in the Red Sea that had Israeli connections; the vessel was not damaged nor were any crew members injured. Today the Houthis launched two missiles into Israeli air space, morning and evening; they were taken down with no damage done. However, the missile this morning was reported to have a cluster bomb warhead.
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And so, a new day is coming. It is unfolding imperfectly, but the shifts are amazing. Step back and consider where we are now, compared to two years ago.
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Nor are military shifts the end of the story. There are issues being raised with regard to our rights in Judea & Samaria.
In recent days you may well have seen references in some media sources to the possibility that Israel may soon annex Judea & Samaria, while other media sources have alluded to the possible application of sovereignty in Judea & Samaria.
While the net result may be the same, or almost the same, these terms carry different political/ ideological implications. With regard to both our history and modern legalities, the proper term is application of sovereignty. I will return in a future posting to examine in greater detail why this is so.
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What is important to recognize right now is that this is being talked about – and our right to secure sovereignty is being asserted.
There are a number of countries – most significantly France, Canada, the UK , Australia – that have declared intention of recognizing a Palestinian state at the General Assembly of the UN, meeting later this month. This is deeply troubling news, and I will return to discuss this issue in greater detail, as well.
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Back in July, the Knesset plenum, by a majority of 71, voted in favor of a declaration calling upon the government to apply sovereignty in Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley. It was initiated by MKs Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism), Limor Sonn Har Melech (Otzma Yehudit) and Dan Illouz (Likud).
https://main.knesset.gov.il/en/news/pressreleases/pages/press23725r.aspx
At the time, Rothman (pictured) declared: “The time has come to pursue and seek peace from power, not from weakness. Today we are bringing before the Knesset the resolution calling for sovereignty. The resolution is a moral statement and does not apply sovereignty; this is a declaration… But this declaration is of great significance…and calls upon the Government of Israel to take action as soon as possible to turn the vision into reality. Eretz Israel belongs to the people of Israel—yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever.”
At that time, no action was taken by the government in response to this declaration.
Subsequently, there were several Israeli ministers who responded to the stated intention of a handful of nations to recognize a Palestinian state. If indeed this happens at the UN, they declared, Israel will apply sovereignty in Judea & Samaria. Some statements apparently referred to all of Judea & Samaria, while others spoke of application only to some areas. Either way, this came across almost as a threat, with the hope implicit that the countries prepared to recognize the State of Palestine would back down. This would mean, presumably, that there would be no application of sovereignty either.
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But now there is Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who, speaking alongside Yesha Council chairman Israel Gantz, has moved beyond this threat to endorse definitive action. He has unveiled a plan for applying sovereignty over 82% of Judea & Samaria – in areas of Jewish residence; it includes a map of proposed borders.
Arguing that most Arabs in Judea and Samaria support Hamas and aspire to destroy Israel, he declared, “We have no desire to apply sovereignty over enemies…The Arabs of Judea and Samaria will initially manage their affairs through the Palestinian Authority, and later without any collective framework…
“In the coming days we will hear warnings and clichés about igniting the Middle East as a result of sovereignty. These are the same generals and so-called experts who once promised that the Gaza disengagement would be good for security. We are done surrendering to threats and intimidation…I call on Netanyahu to convene the government and make a historic decision to apply sovereignty to all open areas of Judea and Samaria.”
This self-confidence, this unwavering belief in our rights in the land, is heartening. Naturally, there was considerable backlash to this position, in particular from the Arab world.
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One other mention here of a situation that has shifted considerably, with potentially significant ramifications for Israel going forward:
Last Friday, a spokesman announced that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio “is denying and revoking visas from members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian National Authority (PA) ahead of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly.”
This was historically unprecedented and a stunner with major political and PR implications. (There is some question as to whether the US is legally bound via agreements with the UN to allow into the US anyone wanting to attend UN events.) “The Trump Administration has been clear: it is in our national security interests to hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments, and for undermining the prospects for peace.”
This action would undoubtedly undercut the impetus for a Palestinian state at the GA.
But there is more: Last month, the US State Department cabled all US embassies and consulates around the world not to issue visitor visas to all persons carrying passports issued by the PA.
See more on this here:
https://www.jns.org/trump-and-rubio-reject-the-palestinian-victimhood-narrative/
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Please, pray with full hearts, my friends, for the strength and wisdom of our leaders, the safety of our fighting troops, and the rescue of our hostages.
©Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by independent journalist Arlene Kushner. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
