The Deep Reasons for the Failure of Israeli Defense Doctrine

Caroline Glick

https://www.jns.org/why-has-gallant-abandoned-israels-war-goals/

It will take years to undo the damage done by the generals who reduced the size of the IDF and brought the army into complete dependence on the United States.

The heads of the current generation of Israeli security agencies were guided by two main premises.

According to the first of them, with the end of the Cold War, the era of conventional wars ended. Now, in the coming era, everything will be ruled by brains, not brawn, they argued.

The main author of the “small and smart army” doctrine was Ehud Barak, who served as chief of the general staff of the Israel Defense Forces when the Berlin Wall came down. In subsequent years, this idea was actively developed by his followers.

An entire generation of IDF chiefs of staff was formed around this idea of ​​a “small, technologically advanced and lethal army.”

As documented by retired Major General Yitzhak Brik, who served as IDF ombudsman for 10 years, it was under the influence of the Barak Doctrine that the IDF reduced several reservist divisions. He also cut his artillery forces by half. Entire armored brigades were disbanded. Between 2003 and 2017, the reserve was cut by 80%, and the corps of junior officers was literally gutted. The bulk of the IDF budget and almost all US military assistance were redirected to the Air Force, the strategic unit of the “small, technologically advanced and lethal” Israel Defense Forces.

Although Barak's doctrine has repeatedly proven its inconsistency, nothing, alas, has changed.

In 2002, it was not the air force that destroyed terrorist nests in Judea and Samaria. The ground forces did this. The air force also had no effective response to rocket attacks from Hezbollah in the north, or from Hamas in the south.

And without a sufficient number of regional border brigades, Israel’s “peacetime” borders with Jordan in the east and Egypt in the west have become almost highways for arms smugglers.

However, Brick's warnings fell on deaf ears until the "small, smart army" delusion was shattered by the Hamas breakthrough on October 7. Israel's multibillion-dollar "smart fence" was simply bulldozed. Its automatic response system was destroyed by simple grenades. And hundreds of soldiers serving these useless technological marvels were killed or kidnapped.

Everything, literally everything, failed.

Internal correspondence in Hamas: we suffered heavy losses

A series of internal Hamas communications obtained by The Associated Press include messages signed by several senior Hamas figures in Gaza. They are calling on the exiled group's political leadership to accept the ceasefire proposal put forward by US President Joe Biden.

The messages, described by an official familiar with the talks, spoke of heavy casualties Hamas suffered on the battlefield and dire conditions in war-ravaged territory. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to protect the contents of internal Hamas communications.

A person familiar with Western intelligence, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the group's leadership understands its forces have suffered heavy losses, which "has helped Hamas move closer to a ceasefire."

A Middle Eastern official shared details from two internal Hamas messages written by senior officials in Gaza to the group's leadership in Qatar, where Hamas Supreme Leader Ismail Haniyeh is based.

Reports say the war has exhausted Hamas fighters and senior officials are urging Hamas's political wing abroad to accept the deal despite Sinwar's reluctance.

Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha rejected any suggestion of a split within the group. “The position of the movement is united and crystallized within the organizational framework of the leadership,” he said.

An intelligence official showed The Associated Press an Arabic-language transcript of the correspondence but declined to share specific details of how the information was obtained or its original form. He said the messages were made in May and June and came from several senior commanders in the group's military wing in Gaza.

Reports acknowledge that Hamas militants have been killed and that Gaza has been destroyed. They also suggest that Sinwar is either not fully aware of the scale of the fighting or is not fully communicating it to those negotiating outside the territory. It is not known whether Haniyeh or other senior officials in Qatar responded to these requests.

A giant three-story tunnel leading to Egypt has been discovered in Rafah.

https://www.mako.co.il/news-military/2024_q2/Article-602baaed1ec2091026.htm

Israel Hayom reported that the IDF had discovered a huge tunnel, consisting of three modified floors, connecting Egypt with Rafah in Gaza.

Reporter Shirit Avitan Cohen writes that during the IDF offensive in Rafah, a complex and unprecedented network of tunnels was discovered between Egypt and southern Gaza.

At the center of the network of tunnels connecting these areas, a huge tunnel was also discovered, dug to great depths and built on three different levels, which apparently allowed for the parallel transport of huge amounts of equipment, weapons, weapons or anything else.

The IDF had absolutely no information about the effectiveness of the tunnel network between Egypt and Gaza. The army expected to find simple smuggling tunnels, as opposed to the battle and fortification tunnels that had been created in Gaza in preparation for the day of battle. The army is shocked by these finds and the unprecedented complexity of the route.

Most of the Hamas tunnel network is in good working order

https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-assess-much-of-hamas-tunnel-network-still-in-good-functional-state-report/

After nine months of war, much of Hamas' network of tunnels is still in "good operating condition" in many parts of Gaza, and Hamas remains capable of launching raids near and perhaps even across the border with Israel. Channel 12 reported this, citing a recently prepared IDF assessment.

According to the TV channel, Hamas tunnels are in good condition in refugee camps in central Gaza, most of Rafah in the south and Shajayeh in the north.

In Khan Yunis, in the south of the enclave, many of the tunnels that were the target of IDF strikes have been cleaned up, as have factories in the area that produce concrete for tunnel construction.

Although the IDF has focused on fighting Hamas in Rafah in recent weeks, functioning tunnels in the area allow Hamas to get closer to the Israeli border, and only a few routes have been destroyed in the Philadelphia Corridor along Gaza's border with Egypt.

The tunnels in Gaza City are in average to good condition and allow Hamas to move closer to the Israeli border.

Overall, if the war were to end now, "Hamas would still be capable of mounting an invasion close to and perhaps even across the border, although not on the same scale as in the past."

However, the report notes that Israeli military leaders, "given the successes achieved to date" in the war, are still saying that if Hamas can be reached, then "it would be right to stop now to return the hostages."

Senior Israeli defense officials estimated in January that Hamas's network of tunnels in Gaza was between 560 and 720 kilometers long - an astonishing figure given that the enclave's total area is only 362 square kilometers.

Lying or not lying???

Netanyahu: We will continue the war until victory, even if it takes time

Israel will continue the war against Hamas until it achieves all its goals.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once again made this promise at the IDF officer school graduation ceremony.

"We are determined to win," he said.

Netanyahu reiterated Israel's goals: eliminating Hamas's military and governance capabilities in Gaza, returning all abductees home, preventing any future threat to Israel from Gaza, and returning evacuated Israelis to their homes in the south and north of the country.

"There are those who ask how long this campaign will last. We are one step away from defeating Hamas. I say two words: until victory, even if it takes time," he added.

Believe it or not believe it???

Jerusalem Post: There will be no mega-war with Hezbollah

Jerusalem Post war correspondent Yona Jeremy Bob published an article in which he claims that there will not be a “mega-war” with Hezbollah - at least in the near future.

Since the end of winter, it was believed that war between Israel and Hezbollah was inevitable and that this was the only way to return the 60,000 evacuated residents of northern Israel to their homes. After a series of briefings in defense structures at the end of winter, it became clear that there would not be a large-scale war. It may happen in two to five years, but not a few months ago, not now and not in the coming months.

The reason is simple: despite many problems and complaints, neither side wants a big war now. From Israel's perspective, the theoretical goal of the war is to force Hezbollah to remain north of the Litani River, stop rocket attacks and restore deterrence. However, sources told the Jerusalem Post back in the winter that the army had already achieved most of its goals and the costs of addressing insecurity could be too high.

In terms of achievements and ensuring the safety of northern residents, sources said that Israel has already done:

1) considered leaving two full divisions on the northern border indefinitely, which is 50% more than one division until October 7;

2) successfully cleared about 90% of Hezbollah special forces and almost 100% of observation towers in Southern Lebanon;

3) crushed Hamas military forces and urban areas of Gaza, restoring Hezbollah's containment;

4) as a result of all these actions, the deterrence force against Hezbollah is higher today than against Hamas before October 7, killing about 500 Hezbollah fighters and more than half of its commanders in southern Lebanon, compared to less than 30 Israelis in the North.

In other words, the failure of containment in Gaza with Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar does not mean that containment does not and cannot work with Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. The main achievement that Israel has not yet achieved is an end to Hezbollah's shelling of the northern regions, but it is clear that a truce with Hamas will achieve this goal. This is based on facts: during the truce with Hamas from November 23 to 30, Hezbollah independently stopped shelling Israel.

The first weeks of the war may have benefited Hezbollah, as it invested little and lost little. But by December, the IDF began to deal heavy blows to the terrorist organization, moving from light, proportionate responses to disproportionate counterattacks, destroying Hezbollah's commanders and valuable air assets. Hezbollah desperately wants a truce to avoid losing face.

This means that in a truce with Hamas, Israeli officials could urge northern residents to return to their homes, even without a credible agreement with Hezbollah about its intentions in southern Lebanon. The IDF will need to be more active in preventing Hezbollah from returning to southern Lebanon. This will not prevent the return of Hezbollah, but it will significantly improve the security situation, for which much has already been done, the only thing missing is a truce component.

All this can be achieved without a large-scale war with Hezbollah.

Crazy world: Be'eri potatoes in humanitarian aid in Gaza

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GSN2PExW4AAw3lH?format=jpg&name=360x360

Much has been written about the absurdity of the humanitarian aid that Israel delivers to Gaza - since the vast majority of it goes to Hamas terrorists, and in this way Israel actually strengthens the terrorists who fight against it.

Channel 12 journalist Yair Sharki published a photo sent to him by a reservist serving in Rafaih, showing a cargo of potatoes arriving in Gaza. According to the label on the bag, the potatoes were grown in Kibbutz Be'eri, where on October 7, terrorists from the organization that now receives the potatoes killed more than a hundred people and captured several dozen.

Sharkey posted a photo and wrote: “A reservist who left three children at home and went to another combat operation in Rafah sent me evidence from there: a batch of potatoes, on the package with the name of Kibbutz Beeri, on the way to Gaza. Those who eat it are Hamas terrorists who take over the aid coming to Gaza. "Mad World."

General Yitzhak Brik: Herzi Halevi and Yoav Galant are guilty of the disintegration of the IDF

Retired Major General Yitzhak Brik, the most famous and uncompromising critic of the IDF leadership, published material in the Maariv newspaper that can be called an indictment of Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi and the entire Israeli generals.

Below is a brief summary of how Herzi Halevi was involved in the disintegration of the army and its complete unpreparedness for a future war - despite the fact that preparation for such a war is the main responsibility of every Chief of the General Staff.

1.Herzi Halevi did not demand that Air Force bases and airstrips be prepared for attacks using precision missiles and UAVs that could be launched at the bases and prevent aircraft from carrying out their missions or landing.

2. As Chief of the General Staff, Herzi Halevi did not take care of protecting the air force and ground forces bases from terrorists who could easily penetrate them. Today, ammunition and weapons are regularly stolen from these bases, and in times of war they can destroy planes, tanks and other weapons.

3. Herzi Halevi did not bother to increase ground forces and did not plan for their expansion after the reduction of six divisions over the past twenty years. The absence of these forces does not allow victory in Gaza even in one sector. What would happen in a regional war where ground forces would have to fight on six fronts simultaneously? The next pogrom awaits us in Judea and Samaria, from where it will spill out into Israel.

4. Herzi Halevi completely neglected the preparation of the rear for a regional war and the scenario of the destruction of our settlements on the northern border and fires on tens of thousands of dunams from the launch of dozens of missiles and UAVs by Hezbollah. The IDF has no solutions for this. Imagine what would happen in a regional war when Iran and its allies fire thousands of missiles at Israel every day?

5. In his multi-year program, Herzi Halevi invested all American aid for the next ten years, more than $18 billion, into buying additional aircraft that would not be relevant in the wars of the next decade. However, he has invested little in other areas, such as the creation of missile forces, which are much more effective against enemy missiles than aircraft.

6. Herzi Halevi received a terrible legacy: all IDF logistics and maintenance were handed over to civilian companies that would not be able to provide support and maintenance once they crossed the border. As Deputy Chief of the General Staff, he took it upon himself to solve this problem, but did nothing. And as Chief of the General Staff, he continued to ignore the situation. As a result, ground forces will not be able to conduct long-term combat operations without supplies (fuel, ammunition, food, spare parts, etc.) when crossing borders and fighting in enemy territory.

7. Herzi Halevi led the IDF to the most serious personnel crisis in its history. If in normal years 100-120 captains and majors wanted to leave the army every year, then this year 900 captains and majors wanted to leave the army. At the same time, both the quality and quantity of personnel in the regular army are sharply declining. Herzi Halevi also inherited this severe personnel crisis from his predecessors, but instead of solving the problem, he deepened it, putting the army on the brink of collapse.

8. Herzi Halevi deepened the crisis in the vicious organizational culture of the army (lack of discipline, failure to follow orders, lack of control over the implementation of orders and plans, failure to learn from failures and defeats, unreliability in investigations). The culture of lies has expanded significantly during his tenure: non-compliance with orders and instructions, lack of normal routines in units, no continuity in the transfer of command, everyone reinventing the wheel, task performance standards in many units are below any criticism, and this is just the beginning of the list.

9. During Herzi Halevi's tenure, there were no defense plans along all of Israel's borders, and in some areas there were also no offensive plans, such as Gaza.

10. Self-confidence, arrogance and abdication of responsibility characterized the IDF high command under Herzi Halevi before the war, and this led to the most serious failure in the history of the State of Israel: the Hamas attack on the settlements around Gaza. It was only thanks to a great miracle that Hezbollah did not attack us in the north at the same time as Hamas. If Hezbollah had attacked us then, our situation would have been dire. We would have experienced destruction and heavy casualties throughout the country, and only the Americans could have saved us from the third destruction of the Temple.

11. Herzi Halevi's strategic management of the war was also an absolute failure. Although we have wonderful and heroic fighters in the regular and reserve forces, without strategic vision in the management of the war, even the best of our fighters will not be able to compensate for the serious mistakes of the Chief of the General Staff and his generals, as well as the serious crisis of the high command.

12. Herzi Halevi is lying when he claims that he is responsible for the failure and does not intend to draw the appropriate conclusions. He sets a bad example for his subordinates, but he himself expects his soldiers to act in the “spirit of the IDF.” It also damages the core values ​​and norms that generations of commanders grew up with, and today IDF commanders have lost faith in Herzi Halevi.

Herzi Halevi is a bad example of a Chief of the General Staff and a person who has completely lost self-respect - just to survive and hold on to his position. He tried his best to delay the inevitable, and in doing so he brought the army to the brink of collapse.

13. None of the above affects him, he openly neglects us, clung to his power and appoints his friends to the posts of generals and brigadier generals, leading the army and people of Israel to the brink of the abyss. He received unconditional support from his friend, who was in the same sinking boat with him - Defense Minister Yoav Galant.

Video: service employee “films” the sniper who shot Trump

https://twitter.com/i/status/1812300896983756968

Video circulating on social media shows the Secret Service responding to the shooting within seconds and eliminating the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Pennsylvania.

Naked king. The IDF myth exploded loudly

Journalist Einav Schif published devastating material in the Yedioth Ahronot newspaper about the collapse of the IDF myth.

It was as expected as the weather, but the investigation into the Kibbutz Be'eri disaster did not survive even one weekend at the top of the national consciousness. Even those who are still looking into the matter are largely focused on the grim details described in the document, and especially on the issue of the grievance of the Shaldag and Sayeret Matkal special forces, against whom serious charges have been brought.

But what is not controversial is that the investigation confirmed what everyone knew who looked at reality with open eyes and not through the political rose-colored veil, the crooked glasses of the IDF press office and the shameful blindness of vast sectors of the media for which failure didn't change anything. Anyone who has been frightened by the gap between the boastful words at the end of previous operations and what was happening on the ground, read the reports of the government comptroller and soldier's grievance commissioner, or simply asked questions and received propaganda and sweet reports, should have known: the IDF is not what what they tell us. Not even close.

On October 7, this stunning realization hit us all, and especially the residents of the western Negev - with the force of a historic tsunami. But the passage of time and the fact that, except for the chief of military intelligence and the commander of the Gaza division, not a single high-ranking officer translated “responsibility” into action neutralizes a truly critical fact. This failure is something more than the chief of the General Staff, than the district commander, than the division commander, than operational management, and so on. The courage on the battlefield, which was also lacking on October 7, despite the fiasco, obscures the urgent need for an urgent analysis that will not just restore the army, but actually save it from the swamp in which it, and the entire Israeli society, found itself before October 7.

The IDF is not a child. Against. The crisis comes from the fact that he is treated like a child: he is pampered, fattened, his whims are satisfied, his eyes are closed, he is praised disproportionately, and everyone who dares to say something unpleasant is attacked. The IDF did not accomplish any of its objectives on October 7th. An eclipse of this magnitude does not happen because of one late-night conference call, or even because of a mistake by a unit commander under atomic pressure, but because of long-term rotting processes. And yes, also because of an entire social ecosystem that refused to even consider the possibility that the king was naked.

Therefore, the importance of the Beeri investigation is not limited to the analysis of the chain of fatal errors from the morning of October 7 until the restoration of control over the kibbutz. It is also not about defining the connection, or lack thereof, between the high command and the grassroots levels. The story is the resounding collapse of the IDF myth, based on the paradox of a “people's army”, which, it would seem, should be free from the sick organizational culture of the state, such as “combines”, hiding the truth and, of course, the belief that “there will be Fine". Unless the conclusion from the Be'eri investigation is that the IDF has completely collapsed as an organization, and this did not happen by accident, and therefore the correction must be fundamental, all other steps will not matter: we will still return to the same point.

About Jewish blood and humanism

Something strange is happening in our country. We once knew that every attack on Israel would be followed by a proportionate response, and the killing of our people would not go unpunished. As Menachem Begin once said, “Jewish blood will not be shed in vain.” However, long before him the commandment “an eye for an eye, a life for a life” sounded.

At the same time, the Jewish state tried to avoid unnecessary casualties among civilians and came up with a whole warning system for this. The international community still accused us of a “disproportionate reaction,” but Israel

continued to respond blow to blow. And only in recent years has this principle begun to erode.

On October 7, rivers of Jewish blood were shed, as well as Druze, Bedouin, Thai and many others. This bloody stream continues: every week we receive reports of the death of military personnel, terrorist attacks constantly occur,

It becomes known that one of the hostages died in captivity. Yes, the war is going on, but as if on its own, with its own logic, in no way connected with victims, and we have already been told that it will go on for months, and maybe years, and it is unrealistic to destroy the enemy...

Meanwhile, following the commandment “life for life” and Begin’s testament, Israel had to immediately destroy Gaza, without distinguishing between right and wrong. Bring down the full power of your aviation and artillery on it, and not risk the lives of military personnel on the ground. So

All armies did this in all wars, this is what the allies did during World War II - and no one called them to humanity and blamed them for the “disproportionate” bombings of Dresden and Berlin, no one demanded security guarantees for “any

"innocent" civilian population of Germany. Note that we are not talking about inhuman Nazis, but about liberal Western countries that carried out the noble mission of liberating Europe from Hitler - and which today expect from

Israel's humane methods of warfare.

Who should we treat humanely? With the residents of Gaza, in whose houses Israeli captives are still languishing? With those who celebrated the Hamas attack and the murder of Jews on October 7 with dancing and fireworks? If they criticize terrorists now, it is only because they provoked a war with Israel. If there were no war, Gaza would continue to glorify its heroes. Even if there are ten biblical righteous people among the population of the sector, they will pay for

crimes of their government, for silence, tantamount to complicity, for turning a blind eye to the atrocities of Hamas militants for 15 years. And when we ask them to leave the war zone, supply Gaza with electricity, and send dozens of trucks with humanitarian aid there every day, Hamas ambushes our soldiers, dressed in civilian clothes. After that, they accuse the IDF of killing “civilians,” and the world media still cries over the famine in Gaza.

Isn't it time to stop feeling sorry for strangers more than your own? What would we lose, compared to our current losses, if we struck a blow equal in scope to our despair, pain and hatred? One might argue: then the terrorists would not have gone to

exchange, and it would not be possible to free those hostages who returned home under the first deal. Or maybe vice versa - Hamas leaders would become more accommodating if they saw that Israel was serious. In the Arab East they don’t just understand

only one force; strength is something that is understood exceptionally quickly and correctly, so the war could be ended within a few days.

In the same way, a crushing response to Hezbollah’s first salvos—an attack on Beirut or Nasrallah’s bunker—could have pacified the Lebanese extremists. As it turned out recently, Israel knows where the leader of the Party of Allah is hiding, but does not want him

destroy so as not to provoke a new aggravation. But in our realities, it is restraint and indecision that provoke aggravation, and it does not matter that in the democratic world this is called humanism.

Yes, during a massive attack on Gaza, the hostages could have died. But we don’t know how many of them died during the nine months of war under bombs and crossfire, how many died from wounds, hunger, disease, how many will survive when (if) they can be found. there wouldn't be so many casualties in the army.

Would the international community condemn us for our disproportionate response? Bingo! It is unlikely that this condemnation would have had more severe consequences for us than what is happening in the world now at the level of diplomacy and politics, in universities and in

streets. Over the past months, we have become convinced that Israel will always be guilty in the eyes of its haters, even if it releases all terrorists from its prisons and makes all concessions to the Palestinians.

In Israel they often say: “we shouldn’t be like them,” meaning terrorists. Outdated argument! After everything we saw in Beeri, Reim and other places where massacres took place, no one would even think that Jews, Israelis and simply

normal people will be able to compare in atrocities with the “independence fighters” from Gaza. But when the choice is between “being like them” or not being at all, the people of Israel have to choose the first. Speak to villains in a language they understand. To force ourselves to be afraid, because they will never love us here and no one will say thank you for our humanity. When we feed our enemies and put soldiers on trial, when we make excuses that there really were weapons in the attacked hospital, when we release murderers from prison, our haters see this as a sign of weakness and continue their terror with redoubled force. They can only be stopped by fear of retribution, the understanding that not a single drop of Jewish blood will be shed

in vain.

A tough, strong, ruthless reaction to the massacre would be the only true and fair one. It would allow us to end the war faster, reduce the number of victims, protect ourselves from other enemies, heal wounds and start a new page in life

Jewish state. It was necessary to do this on October 8, but now it’s not too late. What prevents us from doing this - humanism or weakness? However, in our situation it is one and the same.

Commander Nahal: Rafah has the most tunnels and missile silos

Correspondent for the newspaper Israel Ha Yom Hanan Greenwood published a report from Rafah.

The last time Greenwood met with Nahal commander Colonel Yair Zuckerman, he commanded the Netzarim Corridor sector in northern Gaza. He now commands the Philadelphia Corridor. General: Both corridors are of strategic importance. "You build more roads than Miri Regev," says Greenberg. The brigade commander smiles, but also admits that Rafah is a completely different matter.

There is not a single intact house left in Rafah. Three refugee camps in the area, stretching for 14 km, were destroyed almost to the ground. Buildings in nearby and distant areas were heavily damaged. Unlike other populated areas where "fire belt" tactics were used, this time the cause is the lethal tactics of militants.

"Hamas has turned the entire city into a giant war zone, mined and dangerous, the militants have descended into underground structures from where they operate. The houses are mined, and small cameras are installed inside them, with the help of which they monitor our forces and try to harm them. We found Such cameras are in the buttons of sofas, on door frames, in mosques, clinics and schools."

The correspondent and the brigade commander drove west to the sea. On the right is the destroyed Rafah, on the left is the wall separating the Gaza Strip from Egypt, and the Egyptian flag flies at the gate. Every few kilometers, posts occupied by soldiers are clearly visible. The IDF is carefully coordinating with the Egyptian side to avoid clashes. Bulldozers and trucks are working nonstop to expand the Philadelphia Corridor. Destroyed Hamas positions are scattered around. Those that haven't collapsed have Israeli flags fluttering in the wind.

No matter how much we talk about the Philadelphia Corridor, the most important thing is what lies beneath it: an unknown number of tunnels, frightening in their scale. “This is the place with the largest number of mines that we found,” says the brigade commander. "There is an underground network here, connected to fortifications from Egypt." It’s like a main highway, the correspondent says, and Commander Nahal nods. "This is truly an underground city. Rafah is the first place where tunnels were used."

The main question is how much time is left for action in Rafah before defeating the terrorist organization. Zuckerman paints a complex picture: “There are not many enemies here on the surface, mostly underground. More than 50% of Rafah is in our hands, but this does not mean that we have destroyed all the militants and destroyed all the infrastructure. I have freedom of action, but that means Is it possible that they won’t fire anti-tank missiles at us? Yesterday they fired three missiles at me and exploded two bombs while I was looking for mines.”

Cold Storage Systems: Present and Prospects for Applications (View from the Middle East Region)

• December 2022
• Refrigeration Technology 111(2)
• DOI:
• 10.17816/RF105654
• License
• CC BY 4.0

Stats overview

• 44.6Research Interest Score
• 0Citations
• 163Recommendations
• 38Reads

It is better to receive notes of protest than telegrams of condolences

Golda Meir

AMAN's internal investigation determined the cause of the October 7 massacre

Nine and a half months after the October 7 invasion, IDF intelligence still has not answered difficult questions, chief among them how its leadership failed to recognize early signs of the terrorist organization Hamas's intentions.

According to a report by Nir Dvori on Channel 12, planning for the Hamas attack began 7 or 8 years ago, but the intelligence agency did not notice early signs of it.

The reason for the blindness of the intelligence system is the belief that Hamas does not want war. AMAN believed in “containment” and that Yahya Sinwar was seeking a “settlement” - improving the economic situation of the Gazans while maintaining the “sovereign status” of Hamas in Gaza. In fact, intelligence officers were in thrall to the concept that Hamas was “unwilling and unable” to go to war against Israel.

Moreover, the internal investigation found that the interpretation that Hamas avoided involvement in two “further rounds of escalation” before October 7 because of a “desire for calm” was completely erroneous. In reality, Hamas was biding its time and planning for war.

The head of AMAN, Aaron Khaliwa, agreed with the conclusions that were drawn during the investigation.

Inequality theorem of N. BERDYAEV 👍

This statement has long been known, but it is not harmful to remember and is very relevant. N. Berdyaev's inequality theorem is a wonderful and truthful formula. It was for such thoughts that we did not study Berdyaev in Soviet times, and many had not even heard of him... As the outstanding Russian philosopher Nikolai Berdyaev noted: “freedom is the right to inequality.”

Equality (if it is understood more broadly than purely formally - legal equality) and freedom are incompatible things. By nature, people are not equal; equality can only be achieved through violence, and this will always be an alignment “at the lower level.”

The only way to make the poor and rich equal is to deprive the rich of his wealth.

You can make the weak equal with the strong only by taking away the strength of the strong.

You can equate the stupid with the smart only by turning intelligence from an advantage into a disadvantage.

A society of universal equality is a society of the poor, weak and stupid, based on violence.

Expert: The decision of the International Court is a legal absurdity

Professor Anna Baefsky, director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust and president of Human Rights Voices, commented to Arutz Sheva-Israel National News on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling, which stated that Israel "illegally occupied Judea and Samaria and annexed Jerusalem."

"The so-called legal 'opinion' is a legal obscenity from start to finish," she said, noting that "the Court is the 'World Court' of the United Nations, a body controlled by the anti-Israel mafia. The members of the Court are elected by the United Nations." "its legal 'experts' include representatives from countries such as China and Somalia."

Read us on Telegram: only the most current and verified news

"The President of the International Court of Justice - the man who read this opinion aloud to the world, dressed in judicial robes with pomp and circumstance - was a Lebanese politician. Nawaf Salam ran for the post of Prime Minister of Lebanon in the last two elections. Previously, he was Lebanon's representative to the Organization The United Nations, a country that does not recognize Israel’s right to exist,” Professor Baefsky continued.

She further noted: "The request for a non-binding 'advisory opinion' of the Court came from the UN General Assembly. The question posed by the crowd was formulated as follows: Israel is guilty of the following violations of international law, so what are the consequences? ("What are the legal consequences of Israel's continued violation the rights of the Palestinian people to..."). There were no violations by the Palestinians on the agenda."

"The court said it would nevertheless reconsider Israel's guilt, proceeded to find Israel guilty generally, and then settled on the consequences. How did it find Israel guilty? Without facts, it said."

“The Court shockingly stated: “There is no need for the Court to make findings of fact in relation to specific incidents alleged to be in violation of international law.” It is enough, they say, that the UN Secretary-General said so. It would be the same Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who has repeatedly invented ways to support Hamas. Back on October 9, 2023, he announced the atrocities on October 7 “did not arise out of nowhere,” Professor Baefsky noted.

"Among the results, this grotesque kangaroo court found Israel guilty of a crime against humanity. It took them less than 250 words to reach this monumental conclusion, designed to create an avalanche of legal and political ramifications that isolates and forever weakens the Jewish State," she said.

"This case also calls for the ethnic cleansing of Jews on any land that the Palestinian Arabs and the UN consider to belong to the Palestinians. "All settlers" must leave, "all Palestinians" must be able to "return", "a wall" (which must end the carnage involving suicide bombers) must be dismantled wherever they say so."

The "Palestinian" territory claimed to be occupied by Israel, including Gaza, Judea and Samaria, is suddenly defined by the Court as consisting of "a single territorial unit, the unity, continuity and integrity of which must be preserved." It is unclear where the Jews remained in this virtually non-existent contiguous Palestinian territory,” Professor Baefsky said.

She also noted: "The Opinion has an entire section called 'Violence against Palestinians'. There is no section on violence against Israelis. In fact, there is no discussion or conclusion about violence, terrorism, rockets, terrorist attacks, suicide bombings, stabbings, rammings." vehicles, shootings, kidnappings and rapes against Israelis in general. The only mention of "gender-based violence" portrays Palestinians as victims. Another disgusting example of the UN's "MeToo_Unless_Ur_A_Jew".

"Opinion" is based on a deadly historical fiction. The conclusion states: "On May 14, 1948, Israel declared its independence with reference to General Assembly resolution 181 (II); then armed conflict broke out between Israel and a number of Arab countries, and the partition plan was not implemented." “‘Erupted’ is a UN euphemism for the attempted destruction of the nascent Jewish state by Arab states and Palestinian Arabs.”

“The conclusion also states: “In 1967, armed conflict (also known as the Six Day War”) broke out between Israel and the neighboring countries of Egypt, Syria and Jordan” and again: “In October 1973, another armed conflict broke out.” Between Egypt, Syria and Israel."

"Erupted" is how the UN has covered up the Arabs' systematic, continuous campaign to destroy the Jewish state since May 14, 1948, both in the halls of the UN and on the ground. This blatant historical revisionism by the UN's top leadership makes a mockery of its subsequent conclusions, built on a mountain of lies," Professor Baefsky said.

“The Opinion is largely based on long-running discussions about Palestinian Arab “self-determination” and related “rights.” There is no mention of Jewish self-determination. The Court states that “a key element of the right to self-determination is the right of a people to freely determine its political status and pursue their economic, social and cultural development." With the exception of Jews. With regard to Jews, the UN determines the political status of Jews in the Jewish state and issues an "opinion" clearly intended to encourage BDS - sanctions, boycotts and global efforts to devalue and destroy such development in case of Israel."

Professor Bayefsky continued: "Moreover, just 75 years after the Holocaust, the UN Court is twisting laws written in response to atrocities committed against Jews to demonize the refuge of the Jewish people today. The Court intended to apply the law and criminalize the Nazi deportation of Jews from their homes to concentration camps." camps - to criminalize the voluntary movement of Jews across the land of Israel. This is not a law, this is a war by another name. This is the face of modern anti-Semitism. Judge Georg Nolte sits in the UN court to apply the law for the Nazis and their ilk to the Jews."

The real consequences of this decision, she explained, are: "The so-called 'peace process' is dead, killed by supposed peace-loving UN judges. From now on, the Palestinians have no incentive to negotiate anything. The outcome of all issues that should have been negotiated (as specified in Oslo and other agreements) - territories, borders, settlements, Jerusalem."

Operation Long Arm. Hodeidah strike proves Iran has something to fear

The portal's military correspondent Amit Buchbut writes that the purpose of the operation in Yemen is clear: if Israel can strike at Hodeidah, it can strike at Tehran.

The Houthis have launched hundreds of drones and missiles of various types toward Israel in the months since the war began, but there was something unusual about the drone that struck Tel Aviv, killing an Israeli citizen and injuring eight others. The Houthis managed to fly the drone along a route that misled the air force, which detected it on its final entry into airspace off the Mediterranean coast. The drone was not classified as a threat to Israel's rear. It is likely that the control system thought that it was a civilian aircraft, or an Egyptian, or an American drone, so it was in no hurry to shoot it down.

The Houthis demonstrated not only ability, but also audacity and creativity, in this long and deadly flight. Because of this, the security establishment likely felt that the threat from Yemen had been taken to a new level with the support of Iran.

As Walla has learned, Benjamin Netanyahu demanded options for a response on Friday. On the morning of July 20, he consulted with security leaders, and when he realized that the recommendations suggested a restrained response, he demanded an aggressive and large-scale attack from the army. Because of the risk, he decided to convene a security cabinet, which approved a powerful attack.

The IDF remains uncertain about the number of aircraft involved in the strike, but the fact that the fighters reached a range of 1,700 km proves the capabilities of air power. The IDF had been preparing for the strike for several months, but the time between the decision and its implementation was short, indicating the high readiness of the Air Force and the Intelligence Agency.

As part of Operation Long Arm, the Air Force demonstrated the IDF's ability to attack “third circle” targets (countries that do not have direct borders with Israel) at a distance of 1,700 km. Fighter aircraft flying at such ranges require significant support from the logistics chain. We are talking about refueling, control, intelligence collection and high readiness of unit 669, as well as maritime support in case of complications and evacuation from enemy territory. The ability to synchronize the actions of all units in this operation was praised.

The name of the operation conveys a message to all of Israel's enemies, most notably Iran, which can now make a simple calculation: if the Air Force strikes the port of Hodeidah in Yemen 1,700 km away, it may well attack targets in Tehran 1,500 km away.

It now remains to be seen what effect the strike in Yemen will have - whether it will lead to containment of the Houthis or an increase in the number of attacks that have so far been thwarted not only by the IDF, but also by US-led coalition forces. The IDF has increased its level of preparedness and vigilance, fearing new threats in the region, including from Yemen.

Eyewitnesses: in Hodeidah there are corpses of killed militants on the streets, no one is putting out the fires

The Saudi newspaper Okaz this morning published new details about the Israeli attack in Yemen. In the port city of Al-Hodeidah, power was cut in several areas as the fire continued to rage without intervention from fire services, witnesses said.

Eyewitnesses also told a newspaper correspondent based in Yemen that all those killed and wounded were members or commanders of the Houthis, despite police claims that they were civilians. During the night, three deaths and more than 80 injuries were reported. The newspaper also warned that there was a danger of the war expanding.

In addition, residents of Al-Hodeidah told the Saudi newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat about fears in Yemen of a fuel crisis as a result of attacks on port facilities and rising prices. They say the Houthis take advantage of such crises to sell fuel at inflated prices by exploiting the country's black market and closing gas stations. The sources added that "the Houthis were unable to control the fire."

Mothers of the victims and soldiers - to the judges of the High Court: aren't you ashamed?

On the morning of July 21, a hearing was held at which a number of far-left organizations, including Gish, the Civil Rights Association and others, filed a petition in favor of providing assistance to Hamas terrorists in Gaza.

Before the debate began, the human rights organization Betzalmo called on Israeli citizens to come to the debate and see with their own eyes the shame and disgrace of caring for the enemy during war.

Dozens of citizens came to the discussion, including parents of the victims and mothers of fighters.

During the hearings, Judge Fogelman repeatedly worried about the welfare of the enemy, while the judges never mentioned the welfare of Israeli citizens or the hostages in Gaza or the safety of the fighters.

At some point, the parents could not restrain themselves and shouted: “What about the kidnappings? What about the citizens of Israel? Shame on you?"

The judges, who found it difficult to hear the truth, left the meeting, and court security guards forcibly removed the protesters.

5,000 drones could be fired at Israel - and it is not ready for it

Military correspondent for the walla portal Amir Bukhbut published critical material about the role of the Israeli Air Force in protecting the country from air threats.

On Thursday, July 19, the Israeli Air Force once again failed to protect the State of Israel. According to the IDF, this failure was due to human error. According to the findings, although the UAV was detected, it was not classified as a threat, no alarm was raised and no attempt was made to intercept it. The Israeli Air Force's response to the incident, which occurred on Thursday, July 18, casts doubt on the size of the UAV and the location of its launch.

It is important to recognize the looming threat of a major war. According to experts, it could involve about 5,000 UAVs and missiles of various types, aimed at the Gush Dan region from different regions of the Middle East.

For more than nine months now, the IDF, and especially the Israeli Air Force, have been on high alert. We are approaching the end of a tense year that has undermined the IDF's ability to fight large-scale, multi-arena, high-intensity warfare.

There is a significant gap between threats and solutions. This is demonstrated by a simple question: What threats has the IDF prepared for over the past decade? The war between Russia and Ukraine offers many conclusions and lessons that need to be quickly implemented. Not all solutions come from procurement and new weapons developments. For example, in the past, Major General Tal Russo opposed the construction of a fence on the Egyptian border, saying: “Every shekel I have, I prefer to invest in offense rather than defense.”

The next threat is here: drones of various types. The emerging threat of drone “swarms” capable of carrying out mass attacks over large areas poses a huge challenge to modern Western armies. Until now, no one has heard that the IDF's long-delayed multi-year plan pays sufficient attention to these threats.

The IDF of 2024 will have to break old concepts and build new strategies. It is critical to develop efforts to counter future threats and overcome legacy ones.

Combat must create a new security reality focused on the return of hostages and preventing the need to split our forces on multiple fronts. Concentrating our efforts in one direction will allow us to strike more powerfully.

Israel, which no one is afraid of

As you know, history never teaches anyone anything. But the Jewish people have shown a special, exceptional inability to learn the lessons of their history.

In 1981, Israel bombed an Iraqi nuclear reactor, ending the nuclear threat from Iraq once and for all. But strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities were limited, and as a result, our most implacable enemies will soon become the owners of atomic weapons.

In 1967, the IDF began a war against the armies of Arab countries without waiting for them to attack. The war lasted only six days and led to the liberation of Jerusalem and the annexation of other territories. Much more difficult was the Yom Kippur War, which was not believed in and which took the country by surprise.

All our experience shows that indecisiveness and especially delay in striking almost always results in tragic consequences. Yet this is precisely the strategy that has dominated Israeli politics in recent decades.

The government turned a blind eye to the shelling of the south for many years, even when rockets had already reached the center of the country. All operations in Gaza were short-lived and rather symbolic. We finally got October 7th. If the current war had happened at least five to ten years earlier, this terrible tragedy could have been avoided, and the operation itself would not have been so long and bloody.

The shelling of Eilat and the seizure of ships by the Yemeni Houthis did not force the government to respond to the threat from Yemen. It was only when the drone fell in the center of Tel Aviv that there was a response.

The situation in the north, where dozens of missiles arrive every day, continues to be ignored. Are they really waiting for October 7th to launch an operation against Hezbollah?

Judging by the attacks that occur from time to time, intelligence knows where enemy bases, missile launchers, oil storage facilities, etc. are located. Why don't we destroy them preventively? Recently, information appeared in the media that Israel could even eliminate the leader of Hezbollah, but does not want to start a new war. But the war starts anyway, sooner or later, but we don’t start it and not on our own terms.

Who is to blame here? Israeli politicians? Undoubtedly. Even those of them who care not only about their careers, but also about the security of the country, believe that with the help of treaties, promises and beliefs, relations between states can be changed. This is a typically Western approach, and until some point everyone knew that it was not suitable for our Palestinians, but for some reason they forgot. Israel relied on the power of the word, which in the East has no price, and on the power of money. They say that our enemies will understand how profitable it is to live in peace, and hatred will stop. Hence the endless injections into the Palestinian territories, the cajoling of Hamas, and the development of trade ties with Turkey, Jordan, and Egypt.

The conquest of the Middle Eastern and world markets has benefited both our and foreign economies, but millions of Muslims still prefer to vegetate in hunger and poverty and die in a holy war with the infidels. Their leaders and ideologists may value prosperity more, but they have their own business - terrorism. The prospect of peaceful coexistence cannot buy them. In extreme cases, they can be intimidated, and not with words, but with actions, and the most reliable thing is to destroy them, like Mohammed Deif, who survived seven assassination attempts, lost his health and family, but did not give up terror.

However, for many years Israel behaved as if we were opposed not by Deif, Sinuar and Nasrallah, but by young punks from the neighboring yard. Defense spending was being cut, the authority of the IDF was falling, commanders were preparing for the last war and making careers, and terror and shelling seemed to be something routine and no more dangerous than speeding on the highway. Hamas was probably the first to understand that Israel was no longer the same and there was no need to be afraid of it, which is why October 7 happened. In addition, in Gaza we were greeted by an unexpected discovery: the group had turned into a real army and, judging by the documents found, was preparing for a real war. Wow, we thought they were building kindergartens there...

Another reason for our failures is the politicization of the army. As you know, every second Israeli general dreams of leading a party, or even a government, but that’s not so bad. What’s worse is that almost every current general associates himself with some political direction or specific movement, and acts in accordance with its ideology. Nothing other than political considerations can explain the army's ignorance of the threat from Gaza. And this is not an isolated miscalculation, but a constant phenomenon.

Previously, we were a country that did not hesitate to respond to any threat, even potential ones. It was this repeatedly confirmed reputation that at one time forced our closest neighbors - Egypt and Jordan - to seek peace. When, after the attack from Gaza, the country, coming to its senses, began to change, it was already too late - Israel’s reputation as a formidable, unforgiving offense was a thing of the past. And are we changing? Even today, people worry more about rising prices than about drones falling on their heads. It is difficult to blame a people who have experienced so many tragedies in their history and only recently felt like other peoples. Only this is a deception - we are not like that, and we will not be able to live in peace any time soon.

The road to peace, which began even before the Oslo agreements, turned out to be a trap and led us to a dead end. With Rabin's light hand, those killed in the terrible terrorist attacks of the 90s were called victims of the peace process, and it never occurred to anyone that a process that requires human sacrifices could not be peaceful.

We continue to walk along this road to nowhere, not wanting to understand that peace would be closer if it relied on strength. This is the reality of our region. However, today Western society is being restructured, abandoning the principle “if only there is no war.” A combat-ready army, strength, and weapons became the determining factors of politics. We once had an advantage in this area, but we have lost it. That is why everyone who is not too lazy is shooting at us - from Iran’s missile forces to the wild Yemeni tribes. It's good that we can still answer.

The strike on Yemen is a big victory for Israel

Harold Road received a doctorate in Islamic history and then worked as a Turkish research assistant for the US Department of Defense. He is now a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute.

Following Israel's recent strike on Houthi targets, White House National Security Adviser John F. Kirby said: "We did not participate in today's Israeli attack on Yemen and did not assist Israel."

This is wonderful news. This shows the Iranians, Arab states and others that Israel is an independent player and not a "client state" of America. It also demonstrates that Israel is willing to go it alone, against American advice and demands.

Read us on Telegram: only the most current and verified news

This shows Sunni Arab countries that Israel is a reliable partner in the fight against the Iranian regime, as Israel will do whatever it takes to defend itself and stop Iran and its proxies. As Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer often says, even if Sunnis cannot have an 800-pound gorilla (USA) to defend against Iranian aggression, a 250-pound gorilla (Israel) has proven to be a reliable alternative.

What else can we learn from Israel's attack on the Shiite Houthis?

First, the distance between Iran and the Israeli target at Hodeidah in Yemen (about 2,000 kilometers) is beyond the range of the F-35 fighter jet. This means that the Israelis had to refuel during the flight.

Since America didn't help them, the Israelis either found a way to do it themselves, or another country (perhaps Saudi Arabia?) could let them refuel in or over their own country, or somewhere else. This is devastating news for Iranians.

The flight distance between Israel and Hodeidah is the same as between Israel and most of Iran. Tehran, for example, is only 1,200 kilometers from Israel. The strike is therefore a serious warning to Iran.

The Iranian government is playing a big game, but given Iranian and Arab culture, when people brag about their abilities, they usually do so out of fear. They hope that their enemy will be stopped. Thus, such boasting is tantamount to saying: "Hold me, because I am afraid that my enemy will destroy me." The Israeli attack and the damage it has caused to the Shiite Houthis could allow Sunni Yemenis, who make up the majority of the country's population and previously ruled the country, to rear their heads and revolt. Suddenly, more videos appeared on X showing Sunnis rebelling against the Houthis and Iran.

Will the Sunnis succeed in overthrowing Houthi-Iranian control of Yemen?

If not now, then quite possibly in the future. In the Middle East, when people feel that their enemy is weak (as Israel demonstrated in its attack), violence soon follows. If I were a Yemeni Shia or a member of the Iranian government, I would be concerned, to say the least. Moreover, the Iranian people are undoubtedly encouraged by the fact that their government was unable to stop the Israeli strike.

However, unfortunately, what Kirby stated shows the weakness of the people of the Middle East. They despise weakness. Israel's successful attacks on Iran and the Houthis in Yemen demonstrate strength.

This is a huge victory for Israel, but not for the Biden administration. Middle Eastern experts will undoubtedly draw appropriate conclusions. Israel has won new respect for its willingness to destroy its enemies.

2 difficult questions

First:

If you met a pregnant woman who already has 8 children, of which

three deaf, two blind, one mentally retarded, and the woman herself

is sick with syphilis - would you advise her to have an abortion?

Before answering this question, read this one:

A new world leader needs to be chosen, and your vote is decisive.

Here is information about the three candidates:

Candidate 1: communicates with dishonest politicians, consults with astrologers, has two wives, smokes non-stop and drinks 8-10 glasses of martinis a day.

Candidate 2: Was expelled from office twice, sleeps until noon, dabbled in opium in college, drinks about a liter of whiskey every night.

Candidate 3: has military decorations, is a vegetarian, does not smoke, drinks beer occasionally and has never cheated on his wife.

Which of the three will you choose?

First candidate: Franklin D. Roosevelt

Second candidate: Winston Churchill

Third candidate: Adolf Hitler

And by the way, about abortion: if your answer is YES, then you just killed Beethoven.

In fact, the conclusion from this text is quite far-reaching:

- there are no patterns in history,

- all forecasts have zero value (outside the scope of application of physical and other laws that satisfy the principle of falsifiability)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falsifiability

Good morning Mr. Menin, to the ill woman I would say abort but I like Beethoven and I will choose Wiston Churchill.

General Ofer Winter: the situation is even worse than before the war

Brigadier General Ofer Winter sharply criticized the way the General Staff and the security system are waging the war against Hamas.

After being banned from speaking at a conference where he intended to call for decisive action, Ofer Winter published his harsh criticism of the army in the army magazine Maarahot.

According to Winter, the Israeli security system's assessment of the strategic challenge facing the State of Israel in the war is flawed.

The methods the security system has chosen to deal with the problem and the operational steps taken by the IDF so far have not only failed to solve the problem, but have left Israel in a much more dire situation than it was when the war began.

According to him, “the unexpected attack by Hamas was regarded as another terrorist incident. Israel does not appear to be seeking a clear and quick solution or the mind-boggling, mind-altering actions that will restore deterrence.”

Winter adds that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is gaining international status as a kind of modern-day Saladin because Israel is negotiating an agreement with him that will return the hostages.

Operation Long Arm demonstrated the capabilities of the F-35

Almost 30 years ago, the Israeli Air Force carried out Operation Wooden Leg to attack the PLO headquarters in Tunisia, located 2,200 kilometers from Israel. This was the largest attack that Israel has carried out in its entire history.

The formation of eight F-15s was assisted by two tanker aircraft to cover the distance, and experts around the world were impressed by Israel's ability to attack with fighters at ranges typically used by bombers, which Israel does not have.

The attack on Houthi targets in Yemen is very similar to that operation, with almost the same range but using different aircraft. In 2024, the Air Force operates a squadron of F-15I Ra'am aircraft, which are more modern and better suited for long-range strike missions than the F-15s used in the Tunisia attack.

This time, the Air Force used a new F-35 aircraft known as the Adir to lead the attack, according to press reports. The 100 F-16I Sufa aircraft operated by the Air Force are even more advanced than the Raam, which entered service 26 years ago. It is likely that Raam and Sufa aircraft were also involved in the operation.

Unlike the F-15 and F-16, the F-35 is a single-engine aircraft with a single pilot rather than a crew of a pilot and navigator, which can help control modern strike munitions. However, it has a number of significant advantages when striking at long range.

The first of these advantages is stealth: the F-35 is very difficult for radars to detect, thanks to its design and the materials it is coated with, which absorb most electromagnetic waves.

An attacking F-35 will be detected much later than an F-15 or F-16, and usually too late to respond. This is also important in relation to Yemen, since the Houthis have already demonstrated that they have anti-aircraft missile systems and have already shot down American drones.

I understand the problem there: But everyone is running for the befit of his country, NOT for Palestine nor Israel. It seems to me there are people and country whose livelihood heavily depend on the bloodshed of Israeli and Palestine.

The best solution: Leave them alone! They are more relative than any outsiders.

Muslim authority - Nasrallah: then don’t say you didn’t know

Muhammad Ali al-Husseini, a Shia cleric of Lebanese origin, published an article in a Saudi newspaper addressed to Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's secretary general, warning of war with Israel.

In an article entitled “Don’t say later that you didn’t know,” al-Husseini, acting secretary general of the Islamic Council of Lebanon, described the situation in the south of the country since the start of the war, destruction and loss, crops burned, with no hope for Lebanon and its citizens.

In his article, he wrote: “If you ask all Lebanese about the war, they will unanimously say: 'Stop, we do not want a war that does not concern us and in which we have no interest or benefit.' I sincerely swear that war is very close , and you are the only one who can stop it and save our country from destruction and citizens from death by making a historic decision to immediately stop hostilities, announce it openly and transfer full responsibility for protecting the border to the Lebanese army."

Al-Husseini warned Nasrallah: “If you do not do this, you will bear full responsibility for everything that the Israeli army does in Lebanon, and for the destruction of Lebanon and all the blood that has been shed. The logic and laws of Islam oblige us not to rush into destruction, and your religious responsibility is very great, not only to oneself, but also to the whole people and the whole country. This is my advice to you.”

Kamala Harris refuses to attend Netanyahu's speech in Congress

Despite Americans' news fixation on the assassination attempt on Donald Trump and Joseph Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race, there is room for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the United States. After all, right now a political drama is playing out - the Democratic Party is turning away from Israel.

Kamala Harris declined to preside during Netanyahu's speech to Congress on Wednesday.

“Withdrawal from Israel would be a grave mistake at any time, but this move, coming in the midst of a war for survival against Iran-backed terrorist groups, represents an outrageous betrayal of an endangered ally.

The hostility comes from the top: Vice President Kamala Harris declined to preside over Netanyahu's speech to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday.

Just days after Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee, her absence takes on heightened significance.

Her office says she had a long-standing commitment to attend a sorority conference in Indiana. That may be true, but her absence is compounded by the fact that her successor is also refusing to attend the speech.

In the absence of the vice president, the duties of the chairman pass to the president pro tempore of the Senate, who is Democrat Patty Murray of Washington.

However, Murray also refused and is said to be boycotting the speech, despite the fact that Netanyahu's invitation was bipartisan."

Today's New York Post published this text.

And the reason for Harris' absence from such a serious event is not so important. She had previously constantly condemned Netanyahu for the war in Gaza.

Although Biden supported Israel after the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, Harris has repeatedly criticized the Israeli prime minister.

Video: Tunnel used by trucks to travel from Egypt to Rafah

https://twitter.com/i/status/1820094728307622191

A video has appeared on social media showing a giant tunnel used by Hamas terrorists to receive supplies from Egypt. Trucks can travel through the tunnel.

Iran's Extreme Attack Scenarios: Strikes on Bases, Tel Aviv, Haifa

War correspondent Amir Bukhbut writes that Israel is assessing that Iran is planning and coordinating its response with other members of the "axis of evil."

The planning partners are Hezbollah, which will avenge the assassination of Fuad Shukr in central Beirut, the Houthis in Yemen, who blew up the port of Hodeida, which had one crane left for unloading goods from ships out of four, and caused massive damage to fuel storage facilities, Shiite militias in Syria and Iraq, and the Hamas headquarters abroad, which was badly damaged by the assassination of Salah al-Arouri in central Beirut.

However, despite the constant threats to Israel, it is safe to assume that the Iranians will carefully consider the scale and strength of their military response, as disproportionate attacks, especially after the hint that Haniyeh was killed by an explosive device, could lead to IDF attacks deep in Iran, Lebanon and Yemen.

The last thing the Iranians want, security sources say, is to see the IDF weaken their proxies in the Middle East. Iran’s allies have been supported for years to fulfill several key objectives, including deterring the IDF from attacking Iran’s nuclear project and weakening its forces over time through rounds of fighting. A disproportionate strike could trigger a disproportionate IDF response against various targets.

The security system is preparing for several extreme scenarios, including an unprecedented attack on IDF bases with drones, rockets and shells, attacks on targets from the border areas to Haifa and even Tel Aviv, as well as strikes on national infrastructure.

For each of these scenarios, the IDF has a defensive and offensive response. The IDF has some of the best active defense systems in the world - Iron Dome, Sharvit Ksamim and the Arrow-2 and Arrow-2 systems. Most of the country's citizens have bomb shelters to protect themselves from rockets and shells. For an attack, the IDF has powerful and precise firepower. The Israeli Air Force is on high alert, combined with the capabilities of the Navy.

The commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), General Michael Kurilla, will arrive in Israel today for the final coordination and assessment of options for responding to an "axis of evil" attack on the Israeli rear, similar to the Iranian night attack in April this year. That night, US-led coalition and IDF forces worked together to repel the attack before it even reached Israeli airspace.

The US-led coalition's involvement significantly strengthens Israel's home front defenses. The Home Front Command also stresses that there is no change in instructions.

Why the IDF hid the "truck tunnel" on the border with Egypt

Channel 14 military correspondent Noam Amir reported on the scandalous incident with the discovery of a giant smuggling tunnel through which cargo can be brought from Egypt by truck.

Yesterday, the "magic tunnel" under the Philadelphia Corridor was accidentally revealed. This discovery was not supposed to become public knowledge, they wanted to hide it. This tunnel was found a long time ago. Amir says: "Believe me, in 10 years of working as a military correspondent, I know how such tunnels should be shown to the public, they invite journalists and photographers, organize large events with the participation of division commanders and the IDF press service."

But they did not want to show this tunnel to the public. It happened by accident: one of the soldiers took a photo of it and sent it to journalist Amit Segal, who published it. The IDF Spokesperson's Office found itself in a difficult situation and was forced to release the photo. It is astonishing how different the photos presented by the IDF are from the real photos. There was an Egyptian military position above the tunnel, which the IDF carefully cropped out of the photo so as not to offend Egyptian sensibilities.

This tunnel was used to smuggle huge quantities of weapons. The army was astonished by how many weapons were found in Gaza. Old rockets, including Hezbollah's, were dismantled and equipped with satellite guidance systems, allowing the terrorists to carry out precision strikes over long distances.

It is impossible to imagine that anyone in the IDF could think of a scenario in which there would be no military presence in the Philadelphi Corridor. Building such a tunnel takes a long time, and smuggling through it was carried out under the noses of the Egyptians. Egypt knew about this and kept quiet, playing its game.

For many years, the IDF has shown respect for the Egyptians, kept quiet about what was happening, and allowed them to do many things outside the peace treaty restrictions - the details of which are classified. Even last night, the censors were worried, fearing that they might hurt Egyptian feelings and cause big problems.

In reality, the tunnel system worked smoothly, smuggling in cars and trucks, there is no denying that. The IDF must rethink its strategy and understand that it cannot rely on old concepts and strategies. This blindness to the real threat is unacceptable.

We cannot ignore obvious mistakes and think that everything will be fine. It is important to understand that without the presence in Rafah, we would never have discovered these tunnels. This is just one of many examples. There are 20 more tunnels in the Philadelphi Corridor, and no one in the army is ready to say how many of them lead to Egypt.

Amir says: “I personally saw tunnels for smuggling both people and weapons. The army is hiding the truth from the public to protect relations with Egypt, but it is important that the public knows the truth.”

"If you want to build a country where its sons and daughters will return, if you want to build a country where people will leave only during the holiday season, if you want to build a country that will not have a sense of fear for the future, then take just two steps:

1. Equate corruption with treason, and corrupt officials with traitors, up to the seventh generation...

2. Make three professions the highest paid and respected. These are the military, teachers and doctors...

And most importantly - work, work and work, because no one but you will protect you, no one will feed you but you, and your country is needed only by you and no one else.

When this becomes not just words and a simple slogan, but becomes a way of life, then you have achieved your goal..."

Golda Meir.

IRGC Guards Planted Bomb Under Haniyeh's Bed

The Jewish Chronicle reports that Israel is indeed responsible for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week.

The newspaper claims that the explosive device planted under his bed was planted by two Iranians recruited by Mossad from the Ansar al-Mahd security unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps - the same men who were supposed to guard the building and its guests.

The Iranians themselves realized this after the murder, when security footage from the day of the murder showed the guards moving down the hallway to the room where Haniyeh was planning to stay, unlocking the door with a key and entering the room.

Three minutes later, the guards (who had been offered a six-figure sum each, as well as immediate relocation to a northern European country) were filmed calmly leaving the room, walking down the stairs to the main entrance of the building, leaving, and then getting into a black car. A guard at the checkpoint in the parking lot recognized them and opened the gate without asking any questions. An hour later, they were smuggled out of Iran by Mossad.

It was reported that the device was placed in Haniyeh's room weeks or months before the explosion. This is incorrect. Security cameras show that the device was placed on the day of the explosion, at 16:23 - about nine hours before it was activated when Haniyeh entered his room. The explosion, which was triggered remotely by a robot, occurred after midnight, exactly at 01:37 local time.

To prevent possible detection, the Mossad planted the explosive in the form of a flat brick, 7.5 cm wide and 15 cm long, which was attached to the bottom of the bed. To avoid harming innocent civilians, they used a bomb known for its accuracy, which was aimed only at Haniyeh's room. As a result, only one specific part of the building was damaged.

At 01:20, all the invited guests arrived at the residence. After exchanging farewell hugs and handshakes, Haniyeh entered his room, with his bodyguard standing outside the door to ensure his safety. About 10 minutes later, the lights were turned off and a pastoral silence descended on the guesthouse. At that moment, the bomb operator detonated an explosion that shook the entire building. Haniyeh was killed instantly. His bodyguard, Waseem Abu Shaaban, was seriously wounded and later died after bleeding profusely. When Mossad checked his identity before the operation, they realized that the bodyguard was also a wanted terrorist - a high-ranking member of Hamas's military wing and one of the terrorist group that infiltrated Israel through a tunnel in 2014 and killed five IDF soldiers.

Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine: We are not interested in a big war

Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Brodsky commented on the explosive situation in the Middle East.

He made the corresponding statement in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.

"Today, our main threat is not the Arab countries, it is primarily Iran and Iranian proxies in the Middle East. This is Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis - this is a new threat that has appeared relatively recently, and this is a threat of terrorism not only against Israel itself, but also against Israelis, and this can happen in various parts of the world," he said.

According to Brodsky, Iran has been organizing or trying to organize terrorist attacks against Israelis over the past decades and is doing everything to destroy Israel.

"We take the threats coming from Iran seriously, and have done so for quite some time. And Iran has long since taken action. Now, perhaps, we have reached a certain culmination of this situation. We are not interested in a major war in the Middle East. We hope that Iran and Hezbollah are also not interested, because they will certainly pay a very high price for a full-scale attack on Israel," the diplomat added. Brodsky promised that this price will be paid not only by Hezbollah, but also by Lebanon, since the country is responsible for the threat that comes against Israel.

"Rafah Metro": IDF finds new tunnels every day

Channel 12 TV political correspondent Amit Segal published photos of several tunnels of various sizes that the IDF has discovered in the Rafah area in recent days.

Several new tunnels have been discovered in recent days along the Philadelphi Corridor, on the border between Egypt and Gaza. The photos speak for themselves. The photos show two large tunnels built of concrete that allow for the movement of large numbers of people or large-scale smuggling operations.

Another tunnel that was discovered was dug in the sandy soil of the Rafah area and was likely used to move people. It is not yet clear whether the tunnels cross the Philadelphi Corridor and penetrate into Egyptian territory.

In any case, it is clear that the terrorist infrastructure in the Rafah area, especially along the Philadelphi Corridor, is much larger than the security establishment had anticipated and will take many months to fully deal with.

Well done, Boris!

Your preprint reached 10 recommendations

Preprint: Harnessing Water from the Desert: Innovations in Sustainable Water Production for Arid Regions

Achieved on August 11, 2024

Boris, increase your impact even more.

Time Bomb: Hezbollah's Massive Arsenal

The Washington Post has published an article detailing Hezbollah's massive arsenal.

Hezbollah's arsenal includes guided and unguided rockets, anti-tank artillery, ballistic missiles, and anti-ship missiles, as well as drones loaded with explosives that allow them to reach deep into Israeli territory. Hezbollah has vowed to avenge the assassination of its top commander, Fuad Shukr, by Israel. Its patron, Iran, has also threatened to strike in retaliation for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

Any attack could escalate Israel, Lebanon, and other parts of the region into a full-scale war. During the 10-month border conflict with Israel, Hezbollah has carried out so-called saturation attacks to expose gaps in Israel’s air defenses and has shown off new weapons in response to the assassinations of senior commanders in Lebanon.

Hezbollah, a militia and political party that emerged from Lebanon’s civil war to become one of the most powerful forces in the Middle East, has been preparing for this moment since 2006, when Israel last invaded Lebanon. The group has received large shipments of missiles and drones from Iran and has also begun to manufacture its own weapons in recent years. Hezbollah prides itself on its air defense capabilities, which most armed groups in the region lack.

Analysts estimate that Hezbollah has between 130,000 and 150,000 rockets and shells, more than four times the arsenal Hamas had before the Gaza war. Hezbollah claims to have more than 100,000 fighters, far exceeding even the highest estimates of Hamas's fighting force before the war.

Most of Hezbollah's weapons stockpile are low-grade, unguided munitions that could threaten Israel's air defenses if launched in large numbers. Even more dangerous to Israel are the precision-guided munitions that the group claims to have in its arsenal.

Hezbollah is extremely secretive about its arsenal, and weapons experts can only guess at its true power. Most of the information known to the public comes from statements by the group itself and its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who claims that his fighters have used only "a small fraction of our weapons" in attacks on northern Israel since October 8.

The IDF is creating defense lines in the Golan Heights. The rules for opening fire have changed

The Ynet portal published an article about preparations for military action in the Golan Heights. The Golan Heights have changed beyond recognition and are returning to 50 years ago. After censorship, the following is allowed to be published:

1. The IDF is creating defense lines in the Golan Heights, occupying abandoned positions from the 1970s, installing and restoring old engineering barriers such as anti-tank ditches and rubble heaps.

2. Thousands of pro-Iranian militia activists are "bored" tens of kilometers from the border, waiting for orders to move west in their pickups.

3. The Syrian army is warned and restrained by the IDF, but it allows terrorists to establish combat and observation positions in villages near the border. The IDF identifies and destroys such positions immediately, which can be seen in the exclusive footage in the article.

4. The rules of engagement have also changed: fighters have the right to shoot at "shepherds" crossing the demilitarized zone.

5. The IDF organizes patrols visible beyond the fence system, but on Israeli territory (a zone from hundreds of meters to several kilometers wide). Patrols have become a daily norm, not a weekly one. Tanks, D9s and infantry are advancing to the last section of the eastern line.

6. There have been more deadly strikes (!) from Hezbollah in the Golan Heights over the past 10 months than in the Galilee, and the Northern Command combined these zones before October 7. Therefore, artillery batteries have been deployed and cooperation with the Air Force has been strengthened.

7. A drone unit has also been created in the 210th Division to gather information and carry out attacks, and the results of their work are a major change in the fight against the enemy.

8. While there are no restrictions on tourists, farmers or settlements evacuated from the Golan, tourism activity in the region, which has fallen into disrepair, has almost completely ceased and uncertainty reigns.

IDF Command Clashes Over 'Hamas Oxygen Pipe'

Defense Minister Yoav Galant and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi support the retreat from the Philadelphi Corridor as part of the hostage deal, arguing that “it is always possible to return” – but senior military officials are critical of the decision, arguing that it poses a danger to Israel’s future.

According to sources in the Southern Command and the Engineer Corps, a veritable underground smuggling city has been discovered beneath the Philadelphi Corridor – a 14-kilometer-long corridor. The Engineer Corps reports that the area contains numerous smuggling tunnels, including more than 50 tunnels in the 605th Engineer Battalion alone, and that the number is expected to increase.

Criticism of Galant and Halevy centers on their support for handing over the Philadelphi Corridor to Hamas as part of the deal, arguing that “it is always possible to go back.” Military sources see this decision as a serious threat to Israel’s security, especially given that the Philadelphi Corridor is Hamas’ “oxygen pipe.” There is a fear that losing control of this section would give Hamas a quick advantage, allowing it to regain its strength.

There are also suspicions about the true intentions of Egypt, which is also involved in the tunnels and weapons transfers. Critics argue that the trust placed in Egyptian efforts is misplaced. There is a fear that Hamas could regain its position through the funds passing through Sinai, which could jeopardize Israel’s security.

An IDF source emphasizes that giving up the Philadelphi Corridor would create a bigger scandal than Hezbollah’s return to the northern border, and criticizes Galant and Halevy’s approach as particularly dangerous in the current circumstances.

Israeli military refuses to learn from Ukrainians! Why? THEY ARE AWARE and NEGLECTING!!!

Israel to deploy Vulcan drone interception system

Since the start of the war, Hezbollah has used hundreds of drones against Israel, some of which have caused casualties and damage. Now, Israeli security officials are considering whether old technology could be the answer to new threats. Israel is considering deploying Vulcan automatic cannons near the border to combat the drone threat.

The Vulcan cannons were removed from IDF service decades ago and have been stored in warehouses since then. If the solution is successful and further security developments go according to plan, the cannons could be brought back and become a key element in solving the problem of drone infiltration from Lebanon.

The low altitude and small size of the drones pose a serious challenge to air defenses. "The latest incident at the Mevo'ot HaHermon junction could have been prevented with a different technology and at a much lower cost," says Benny Ben-Muvhar, head of the Mevo'ot HaHermon Regional Council. "There are rumors of new developments that are currently being tested, and so we need to continue to advance these projects."

"We, the residents, need to be given a solution as quickly as possible so that this threat does not bother us," adds Uri Kelner, head of the Golan Regional Council. "A drone flying over settlements and roads and exploding in Israel - this should not be a reality. The IDF and the Defense Ministry must come up with a substantial solution."

The Vulcan cannon interception system is not yet considered operational, but it is already being tested in the north. It is the result of months of complex work by the Defense Ministry, defense companies and civilian enterprises.

IDF Prepares to Launch Direct Strike on Iran

The Israel Air Force continues to step up preparations for a possible attack from Iran, KAN reports. According to IDF sources, the air defense system's combat readiness level is currently at its peak.

The preparations include both defensive and offensive readiness in the event of a large-scale attack from Iran. In recent days, the IAF has been conducting "war games" exercises that also include long-range attack scenarios similar to the strike on the port of Hodeida against the Houthis in Yemen last month.

Security officials are aware that Iran has more serious defense systems, including air defenses and radars, than the Houthis. Earlier this week, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy approved operational plans and a list of targets for the IAF.

KAN correspondent Itai Blumenthal reports that "dozens of aircraft, fully armed and fueled, are standing at bases awaiting orders."

Israel – Russia: The Doors Are Closing

Visits to Moscow by Hamas and Hezbollah envoys, aid to the Yemeni Houthis, anti-Israeli resolutions and demands for sanctions at the UN, crocodile tears shed by Russian media over the suffering of the residents of Gaza, and finally, arms supplies to Iran... In a matter of years, Russia has transformed from a partner and ally of Israel into an adversary with whom we may soon find ourselves on opposite sides of the barricades, not only politically but also militarily.

It is generally accepted that the cooling began because Israel sided with Ukraine, but in reality it was inevitable. Given the position that Moscow has taken towards the West and especially the United States, Jerusalem would not have been able to maintain neutrality, although both Netanyahu and Bennett tried very hard to sit on two chairs. Now it seems that the temporary warming between our countries in the recent past was the result of mutual misconceptions about each other.

Israel, as is well known, has never rejected an outstretched hand, and our leadership hoped that contacts with the US and Russia would allow it to play the role of mediator between the superpowers. In addition, military coordination on Syria was important to us. Putin, for his part, hoped to drive a wedge between Israel and the US and draw it into his orbit. He probably saw similarities between his imperial ambitions and the policy of "occupying Palestinian territories." As in the case of Russia, the Jewish state was accepted into the family of civilized nations with reservations, on condition of "good behavior," which could also contribute to the rapprochement of the two countries. In addition, the Kremlin had plans to influence Israeli policy through the large diaspora of repatriates from Russia.

All these expectations could partly be justified in peacetime, but not in wartime. There is no time for balancing; you can either be an ally or an enemy. This concerns not only Israel and Russia, but also the entire polarized world, which is on the brink of World War III.

The main confrontation, as always, is between Moscow and Washington. Russian propaganda constantly emphasizes that the collective West, led by the United States, is fighting against them in Ukraine. Radical groups are fed by the Kremlin primarily because America is one of their main enemies. As for the other sworn enemy of all Muslim terrorism - the "Zionist entity", Russia, as they say, has nothing personal here. Putin has no complaints specifically against Israel, except that our country is in the hostile camp.

They have been saying for a long time that the conflict in the Middle East is distracting the world's attention from the war in Ukraine. It is convenient for Moscow to accuse Israel of genocide and aggression, and the West of a dual approach. But the Kremlin does not need this conflict to grow to uncontrollable proportions, because then Russia risks completely losing control in the region. And this is where the conflict of interests begins.

Putin finds it vitally important to get the weapons he receives from Iran, primarily UAVs. In return, Tehran demands modern air defense, missiles, and Su-35 aircraft for a possible war with Israel – a war that Russia is not interested in. It can be assumed that the requests addressed to Iran for a restrained response to the elimination of Haniyeh are quite sincere. But to what extent will the ayatollahs listen to them? Despite the rapprochement between Moscow and Tehran, each of them is pursuing its own goals. And if Iran decides to attack Israel and use the weapons it received from Russia, it will do so. If some of these weapons fall into the hands of Hezbollah, the Kremlin will not be able to prevent this, even if it wants to.

How can Israel respond? With strikes on Russian and Russian-controlled targets in Syria and the supply of lethal weapons to Ukraine. Moscow, in turn, will increase its assistance to groups hostile to Israel. The confrontation will reach a new level, and yet it is difficult to expect a direct clash between the two armies – even the Soviet Union did not dare to do this.

Politics is a different matter, where the damage can be no less painful. The invitation to Moscow of Mahmoud Abbas shows that the Kremlin is not abandoning its efforts to implement the “two-state” principle and is ready to use all its Middle Eastern connections to achieve this. The problem for us is that here, as in the demand for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, it finds full support from the West and the Arab world. Combined pressure on Israel could lead to sanctions and even complete isolation, especially if the Democrats win the US elections. It is significant that at the formal level, almost nothing has changed in the relations between the two countries. Israel has not imposed sanctions against Russia, cooperation in various areas continues, a visa-free regime and air travel are in effect. It seems that our leadership is leaving the door ajar for a return to the former friendship. But it is quite obvious that with Moscow’s current political course, it will soon close.

Hamas has overtaken Russia:

184 tunnels have been discovered in the Philadelphia Corridor area - and that's not the end!!!!!!!

Channel 12 observer Amit Segal publishes alarming figures about the tunnels discovered in Rafah.

9 tunnels lead to Egyptian territory, some of which can be used by trucks. These are tunnels that were opened from the Egyptian side

“184 (!) tunnel routes have been discovered in the Philadelphia Corridor area - and that's not all!”, Segal writes.

Wave of indignation on social media: "Most Israelis feel like Eyal Golan"

Attorney General Amit Eisman's "recommendation" to open a criminal case against the famous Israeli singer Eyal Golan for "inciting the murder of Gazans" has generated a wave of indignation on social media and among representatives of the right-wing press.

Network users recall that immediately after October 7, a variety of people, including leftists, including influential people, including those who consider themselves "thought leaders" - such as Yaron London and Ben Caspit, called for the same thing that Golan called for - "wiping Gaza off the face of the Earth."

The most weighty attitude to Eisman's idea was expressed by Ron Ethan in the publication "Makor Rishon". In a piece titled “Most Israelis Feel Like Eyal Golan,” he writes:

"The Attorney General’s recommendation to open an investigation against Eyal Golan on suspicion of incitement is not only legally unfounded - it is also astonishingly emotionally disconnected from the Israeli public.

On October 7, the State of Israel experienced the most terrible day in its history. It was the bloodiest day since the Nazis ceased to exist. Our “neighbors” went on a rampage of slaughter, rape and pillage, sparing no man, woman, child or infant, mocking, burning and kidnapping people from their homes, celebrating their barbaric “achievement” in an orgasmic outburst of collective joy.

Expecting extreme hatred toward the people of Gaza in return is not only natural, but also justified. A people who have lived through what we lived through on October 7 has not only the right, but also the duty to hate the evil that rose up against them, and to desire its destruction. Statements about the destruction of Gaza at that time were not the preserve of the marginalized, but of almost all of Israeli society. It was impossible to expect anything else from it. It is unfair to demand that people feel differently.

The people of Be'eri dreamed of seeing the sea from their kibbutz after the war. The Internet was filled with invitations for summer parties on a Gaza beach cleared of people. Members of the Knesset, and not only those on the right, began to seriously discuss the transfer. Expressions like "wipe Gaza off the face of the earth" and statements like "either us or them" were heard from everywhere, even from high-ranking officials. Condemnation of all those who, like Eyal Golan, spoke out in the first days after the massacre will leave very few Israelis above suspicion.

Someone who has seen Gazans dragging away beaten and wounded Israelis, celebrating with the naked bodies of the raped, enjoying images of bloodied and burned children's rooms, and yet has remained cool and calculating, without hatred in his heart, is not a morally upright person, but rather one who is disconnected from the suffering of his people and severely emotionally crippled. Someone who, in a few months, can begin to investigate statements that might otherwise be considered excessive, proves that our suffering is not his suffering.

The context of these investigations is clear - there are people in the Justice Ministry who hope that if they investigate "inflammatory" statements by Israelis with the help of Israeli law enforcement, perhaps the hypocritical prosecutors in The Hague will leave us alone.

This is absurd. The State of Israel cannot hope to protect the principle of complementarity unless it becomes the long arm of The Hague. Anything less than that will not satisfy the ever-growing appetite of international law to expel the State of Israel from the family of moral nations. That morality is not for us. And whoever serves the perverted morality of The Hague does not serve us.

With all due respect for the illusions of complementarity among Israeli law enforcement agencies, and there is little respect, it is time to let them know that they should calm down after what we have all been through. Victim-blaming is too mild a term to describe their behavior in this case. If they think they are protecting us, they should stop.

In the Middle East, where hundreds of millions seek to kill Jews at every opportunity, and where one terrorist organization has succeeded in doing so in an unprecedented manner, it is impossible for us to be the ones subjected to moral instruction by the authorities of our Jewish State. We have enough problems without hypocritical investigations against a people who have endured massacres. Leave us alone."