Saturday
Yom Shabbat
29 Cheshvan 5785
November 30 2024
UPDATE 11:00 AM ISRAEL TIME
On the Ground in Judea and Samaria
As we reported yesterday in breaking news yesterday, a Palestinian terrorist opened fire with a machine gun at a bus at the Gitti Avishar Junction near Ariel in Samaria:
8 Israelis were wounded: 3 critically, 1 seriously, 4 moderately. The terrorist–who apparently was an imam from a nearby mosque was shot and killed by soldiers stationed at the junction; the terrorist imam had been in Israeli prison for terror-related offenses, but had been released:
The War in the North
*The government has announced a tentative plan to return Israeli residents to their homes consisting of a grant of 60,000 shekels to be given to each family beginning on February 1. After February, the grant given to those who wait to return will be reduced by 20% each month.
*However, the war in southern Lebanon continues despite the ceasefire. The IAF destroyed two missile launchers yesterday that were being moved into a position to fire on Israel.
*This morning, the IAF intercepted an aerial “target” approaching Israel from the east.
*In another interception today an Israeli Navy missile boat intercepted a UAV (drone) approaching Israel from the Mediterranean.
*In activity on the ground this morning, the IDF continued search for Hezbollah terrorists and weapons. A large amount of guns and ammunition were discovered in a mosque.
*On the Syrian border, the IAF destroyed border crossings between Syria and Lebanon in Homs area. This action as well as the sudden reemergence of Syrian rebels in Syria led to a urgent meeting of the Cabinet last night.
A brief description of what is happening in Syria. To begin with, the opposing sides:
The Sunni rebels are composed of Al-Qaeda and ISIS and are notably supported by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
Bashir Assad’s government forces consist of largely of Alawite Syrians, Russians, and Shi’ite Iranians. When we write “Iranians”, we also include Iranian proxy Shi’ite terrorists in Iraq and Yemen.
In short, there are no good guys on either side–but it is interesting how the attention in the region has suddenly and dramatically shifted away from Israel. All of those involved in the Syrian conflict hate Israel, but they seem to hate each other even more. At its heart, the events in Syria are founded in the hatred between Sunnis and Shi’ites.
Where is the fighting taking place?
At the moment, the “rebels” have overrun the economic center of Syria which is located in Aleppo. It’s fall in the past 24 hours is a major blow to Assad, and is why the Iranians and Russians are rushing forces to the scene to try to recapture Aleppo and other assets captured by the rebels.
Not only is the fall of Aleppo and the apparent burgeoning success of the Sunni rebels a problem for Syria and Assad, it is one more block in the crumbling of the Iranian Shi’ite axis which once consisted of Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Yemen.
One Final Ominous Note
The rebel surge into Aleppo has also led to their capture of the Syrian chemical warfare center. In the past few days, IDF forces have uncovered gas masks and other chemical weapons equipment in southern Lebanon.
On this ominous note, we wish all of our soldiers and you dear readers
SHABBAT SHALOM!
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.