Israel Weekly News Roundup - Dec 20, 2024

5 Things you need to know

Israel at War - Day 441

1. Israel Terminated Diplomatic Ties With Ireland

Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar decided to close Israel’s embassy in Dublin, Ireland, and recall the ambassador. The justification is based on Ireland’s decision to recognize a Palestinian State, contrary to Israel’s strong opposition to the establishment of such a state. In addition, Ireland decided to join South Africa’s suit against Israel at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, claiming that Israel is executing a genocide in Gaza. The Minister of Foreign Affairs has labeled both decisions by the Irish government as antisemitic.

The head of the opposition in Israel, Yair Lapid defined the minister's decision as stupid and argued that exactly when facing such attitudes, Israel needs to strengthen its ties with Ireland, fight back, and invest more resources in opening channels with the Irish government to convey the Israeli side of the picture and the realities on the ground in Israel. It is important to add here, that a few months ago, Norway also announced that it recognized the Palestinian state. Israel's response was to recall the Israeli ambassador back to Jerusalem, but Israel neither closed the embassy nor terminated diplomatic ties with Norway. Ireland rejected the case made by Israel's foreign ministry.

PM Netanyahu and his right-wing government strongly oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state, especially after the October 7th attack, and massacre of more than 1,200 Israelis on that day. Israel's official stance is that establishing a Palestinian state now would be perceived as a reward for the massacre.

2. Reports of a Possible Breakthrough in Ceasefire/Hostage Deal Between Israel and Hamas

Ceasefire/hostage deal talks continued this week in Doha and Cairo, in an attempt to close the gaps between Israel and Hamas. American, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators are working to encourage Israel and Hamas to resolve any contentious issues. According to a Qatari news source, most of the contentious issues in the negotiations for a ceasefire/hostage deal between Israel and Hamas truce have been resolved, including, possibly, the issue of Palestinian prisoners being released in exchange for Israeli hostages.

According to the media, Israel demands that in the first phase of the ceasefire/hostage deal, Hamas release 34 hostages, including women, children, the elderly, female and wounded soldiers. Should the first phase of the deal be implemented, it will last 42 days, and the IDF will withdraw to Gaza's eastern border. Israeli media reported that the points of disagreement between Israel and Hamas on this issue relate to high-profile Palestinian prisoners, including those serving a life sentence. Some hostages’ families expressed their objection to a multi-phase deal that may risk the lives of the hostages that will remain in captivity after the first phase.

Israel's far-right Finance Minister, Smottich, said in a media interview that the emerging deal is a "grave mistake," that will hamper Israeli efforts to fully achieve its security and combat goals.

3. Israel Continues to Destroy Army Bases in Syria to Prevent Any Use by the Rebels

The Israeli air force continued to strike Syrian army bases throughout Syria. Israel fears that the rebel organization, which is affiliated with Al Qaeda, and/or ISIS will commandeer those resources and use them against Israel. In addition, Israel took control of key strategic locations and territories inside Syria, near the border with Israel, to create a buffer zone that will improve its ability to protect Israeli towns and villages in the Golan Heights on the border. The leader of the rebel organization HTS, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, said his organization will not use the material to launch attacks against Israel.

On Tuesday, PM Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz visited the newly occupied area which is the highest local mountain summit. To enable the visit, PM Netanyahu had a dramatic moment at his trial. He asked for a closed-door meeting with the panel of judges, in which he asked not to appear in court on Tuesday, as scheduled, because there is an urgent security matter he needs to address and cannot delay. The urgent matter was his visit to the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, recently occupied by the IDF. PM Netanyahu explained that it was not possible to postpone this visit, because the weather was suitable for his trip to the area. While in the area, PM Netanyahu announced that Israel will continue to control the area as long as it considers it important for the security of Israel.

4. PM Netanyahu Places Responsibility on His Wife in His Trial

For a second week, PM Netanyahu continued to give testimony at his trial. At the center of his testimony is the fact that he places responsibility for receiving most of the very expensive presents, and demands to improve coverage of the family on a popular website, in what are described in the indictment as illegal acts, on the shoulders of his wife Sara. According to him, she was the one who demanded that Hollywood mogul, Arnon Miltchen, provide a constant supply of pink champagne, give pricey jewelry, and other presents, and she was the one who dealt with others regarding positive coverage for the family. According to his words, he was not involved and knew very little about those things. It is important to mention here that PM Netanyahu has been indicted for corruption, bribery, breach of trust, and fraud. It is also important to mention that PM Netanyahu and many of his supporters and followers believe that he was framed, that he is innocent and the case was tailored by the prosecution to oust him from office. This approach to the indictments, created personally by PM Netanyahu, has resulted in strong public negative sentiments against law enforcement in Israel.

5. Palestinian Authority Security Forces Operate in Jenin

Earlier this week, PA security forces entered Jenin refugee camp to take control of key sites held by local militias. They raided the Jenin Brigade operations center, wounding several of its members, in an exchange of heavy gunfire. A PA statement said that “In the past 24 hours, security forces have arrested twelve terror operatives, neutralized a car bomb, and dismantled twelve explosive devices,” adding that security forces will "press forward decisively until the operation’s objectives are achieved."

According to the media, members of the Jenin Brigade were given an ultimatum; to hand over their weapons or face arrest, charges of firearms trafficking and collaboration with foreign entities like Iran and Hamas.

Akram Rajoub, former governor of Jenin, said, in support of the PA’s security forces’ operation in Jenin, and referring to the members of Jenin Brigades: “This is a group of young men, only God knows who armed them and gave them money. They want to dictate to the security forces how to confront Israel and in what way.”

Analysts claim that the PA’s crackdown on Islamic Jihad-affiliated militias in Jenin is part of the PA’s plan to restore stability in the northern part of the West Bank and to position itself as a significant player who could participate in running post-war Gaza. This, is even though public trust and support for the PA is waning.