Monday
Yom Shnee
24 Adar 5785
March 24 2025
UPDATE 12:00 PM ISRAEL TIME
A terror attack at the Tishbi Junction near Yokneam in northern Israel at around 9:45 am: the terrorist arrived by car, tried to run over civilians at the bus stop there, got out of his car and stabbed a man that he had hit, and then opened fire on passing vehicles with an M-16.
Two Israelis were wounded: a 75-year-old man who died at the scene, and a man in his 20’s who is moderately wounded. A group of Border Guards who were passing by saw what was happening and killed the terrorist–an Israeli-Arab resident of Ma’ale Iron near Umm al-Fahm.
UPDATE 9:00 AM ISRAEL TIME
The Quote of the Day
Following the largely absurd interview that Steve Witkoff gave Tucker Carlson a few days ago, he was interviewed again on Fox News yesterday. In it, he declared: “I thought there was approval from Hamas for another deal, but they deceived me.” He went on to say that the current escalation in Gaza is because of Hamas.
Your humble servant doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry. After the Carlson interview in which he sang the praises of the evil Qatar and proclaimed that Hamas is not ideological, we suppose it is not surprising that Witkoff was surprised that Hamas deceived him. Nevertheless, it is just one more sign that Witkoff has no idea who he is dealing with when Qatar and Hamas are concerned.
On the Ground in Gaza
Three major IAF eliminations in the last 48 hours:
Ahmed Salman Shimali, the Deputy Commander of Hamas’ Gaza Brigade. Shimali was in charge of operations and was responsible for offensive planning and building the brigade’s strength in preparation for the murderous massacre by the Hamas terrorist organization on October 7.
Jamil Omar Jamil Wadiya, commander of the Shajaiyah Battalion. Wadiya was responsible for using the battalion’s power against IDF forces, and worked to rehabilitate and reorganize the battalion. In addition, Wadiya was involved in anti-tank missile attack on a student bus in April 2011, in which 16-year- old Dan Viflic was murdered.
Ismail Barhoum, the new Hamas prime minister in Gaza who was a member of Hamas’ Political Bureau in Gaza and its governing Shura Council.. Barhoum replaced Issam Da’Allis a week ago after Da’illis was killed. Da’Allis replaced Rawhi Mushtaha who was assassinated a few months ago. Barhoum was struck in his hiding place in a Hamas compound inside the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
From the IDF Spokesman:
“In recent days, the IDF and Shin Bet have attacked hundreds of terrorist and terrorist targets throughout the Gaza Strip, using fighter jets and aircraft, with the aim of damaging the military capabilities of the Hamas terrorist organization and removing a threat to the citizens of Israel and IDF forces.”
Specific IDF developments:
*Having just completed operations in southern Lebanon, Division 36 has redeployed to Gaza joining Division 252 (central Gaza), Division 143 (southern Gaza-Rafah), the Golani Brigade, and Tank Brigade 188. The addition of Division 36 is significant because it is considered an elite combat unit.
*IDF troops began operating in the area of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza.
*IDF forces completed the encirclement of the ‘Tel Sultan’ neighborhood in Rafah in southern Gaza.
In sum, the IDF is ramping up pressure on Hamas in all sectors of Gaza.
On the Ground in Lebanon
A major Hezbollah terrorist–as yet unidentified was struck and eliminated by the IDF in the area of Ayta ash Shab in southern Lebanon.
There is the increasing feeling that words to the contrary, the new Lebanese government is content to see the IDF continuing its strikes on Hezbollah personnel and assets. Since the war began, 3,851 Hebollah terrorists have been killed including virtually all of the Hezbollah membership and more than 9,000 have been wounded. Since the beginning of the current ceasefire, more than 100 Hezbollah terrorists have been killed and 120 Hezbollah assets destroyed.
On the Ground in Yemen
The U.S. continues hitting Yemen. Yesterday, the White House confirmed that “key members of the Houthi leadership have been killed, including experts in missile launching, communications centers, headquarters, weapons factories, and drones.”
The statement continued: “The goal is not just to destroy weapons depots and launchers, but to damage the entire chain. From development, through transportation, to the launchers themselves and everyone connected to them. It’s a long process, but we’re not in a hurry.”
On the Ground in Judea and Samaria
*Palestinian terrorists attacked Israelis with Molotovs half a kilometer east of Nili. No Israelis were wounded; the terrorists escaped.
*Palestinian terrorists attacked Israelis with “rocks” on Highway 60 again near Turmos’aya. No Israelis were wounded; the terrorists escaped.
*Elements of the Border Guards and IDF captured terrorists who attacked Israelis on Mt. Gilo with Molotovs last week.
On the Israel Political Scene
Last night, the government unanimously voted “no confidence” in the Attorney General/legal advisor Gali Baharav Miara supposedly starting the process of dismissing her.
As we have noted, this is an utterly futile gesture.
The process of dismissal involves three steps:
—putting together a committee to make a formal recommendation of dismissal
—having another government vote
—receiving a ruling from the Israel High Court of Justice
The above three steps could take months, if they happen at all. No matter what happens in the first two steps, we can all be sure that the Court will throw out any decision to dismiss her.
And so it goes this sunny morning in Israel . . . so far . . .
A student from Malawi, who had worked with an Israeli health volunteer in his country battling AIDS, came up to us as we walked down the street in the UC-Davis Picnic Day Parade and wanted to carry the Israeli flag.