US Warns Another Iran Attack ‘Very Possible’, Israel Confirms More Planned

PM Netanyahu on Mt. Avital in Israel’s north. Photo courtesy of Haim Zach / GPO

Recent months have seen Iran attack oil shipping, shoot down a US drone and launch a wide-scale attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil industry—and it’s likely that more Iranian violence is coming, the United States and Israel confirmed this weekend. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, Commander of US Central Command, was quoted by Foreign Policy in an interview as saying on Friday that in his view, “it is very possible” that Iran will attack again. Specifically, McKenzie expressed concern about another Iranian large scale attack of drones and missiles similar to the one against the Saudi oil industry.

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the general threat analysis while touring the north of the country not far from Syria—where Iran has sought to build a base of operations. “Pay attention to what General McKenzie, the head of US Central Command, responsible for US forces in the Middle East, said—that Iran is planning more attacks. I can confirm that and I can also confirm to you that we are continuing our plans to thwart this aggression by various means.”

Netanyahu, whose comments were published by his office, highlighted Iran’s efforts to transfer weapons to Syria and “turn Iraq and Yemen into bases for launching rockets and missiles” against Israel. Netanyahu said they are acting to prevent Iran from accomplishing these goals. … Continue Reading

Israel Shoots Down Gaza Drone, Working On ‘Tools to Counter’ UAV Threat

PM Netanyahu holds security discussion. Illustrative. Photo courtesy of Amos Ben-Gershom (Israeli GPO).

The week after the latest major flare-up in the Israel-Gaza conflict, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from Gaza attempted to infiltrate Israeli air space on Saturday, but was shot down by the IDF. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it “an attempted infiltration by a UAV from the Gaza Strip into the State of Israel.”

Noting the drone was “UAV was successfully intercepted,” Netanyahu went on to say the Israelis are already planning for future threats.

“I would like to inform you that the Security Cabinet has held several discussions on the UAV threat. This is a new, developing and significant threat,” said Netanyahu in comments released by his office. “We are developing technological and other tools to defeat and counter this threat.”

The Times of Israel reported that no explosives were found on the drone, the remains of which were captured by Israel. Citing a Channel 12 report an IDF spokesperson did not immediately verify, The Times of Israel said the UAV had crossed into Israeli territory. … Continue Reading

US Revises View on Israeli Settlements: Not Inherently Illegal

PM Netanyahu in Gush Etzion settlement. Illustrative. Photo courtesy of Kobi Gideon / Israeli GPO

The Trump Administration announced a change in the American perspective on the legality of Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria on Monday, reversing the position of the Obama Administration that had called the civilian communities illegal. “The establishment of Israeli civilian settlements in the West Bank is not per se inconsistent with international law,” United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters.

“…We believe that what we’ve done today is we have recognized the reality on the ground… and we have provided… the very space for Israel and the Palestinians to come together to find a political solution to this very, very vexing problem.”

Pompeo, whose comments were published by the State Department, made it clear the US was not commenting on the legality of specific settlements, noting Israel’s court system has repeatedly addressed that issue. For the US, the control of territory in the Biblical heartland—claimed by the Palestinians in what they call the West Bank—is a matter for peace negotiations between the sides.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu celebrated the move. “This policy reflects an historical truth—that the Jewish people are not foreign colonialists in Judea and Samaria. In fact, we are called Jews because we are the people of Judea.”

… Continue Reading

Israeli President Urges Top Political Factions to Form Unity Government

If unity fails, could Gantz still succeed? President Rivlin (center) with Netanyahu and Gantz. Illustrative. Photo courtesy of Haim Zach, Israeli GPO.

With just days remaining for Israel’s Blue and White political party to form a government and a third consecutive round of elections looming on the horizon, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin pleaded for both Blue and White and Likud to form a majority unity government. Rivlin, in comments on Sunday published in an Israeli press release, asked Israel’s mayors to contact their political leaders and tell them, “’Enough! We do not need another round of elections. Do the right thing and come back [to negotiations].’”

Rivlin, whose role appoints a lawmaker to attempt to form a government, went on to say that “I call on both Likud and [Blue and White] to… understand that the people do not want more elections. They have had enough of elections.”

In Israel’s parliamentary system, if no party secures a majority of the 120 seats in the Israeli Knesset (parliament), a coalition of parties must join together to form a government. In the latest round of elections, the second of 2019, not only did Likud and Blue and White fail to form a majority government, their allies also failed to win enough seats for the leading parties to form a natural coalition—leaving the government in limbo. … Continue Reading

Hamas Shatters Quiet with Rocket Attack, Israel Responds

Gaza rockets resumed. Spent Palestinian rocket. Illustrative. By Joshua Spurlock

When one terror group went quiet last week, another one joined the fray as Hamas took up the rocket fire from Islamic Jihad on Friday. The IDF Twitter feed reported that two rockets were fired at the Israeli city of Beersheba at 2 AM on Friday morning, but thankfully both were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. Israel blamed Hamas for the attack and quickly responded.

“I instructed the IDF to immediately attack Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday in comments released by his office. “Again, whoever hurts us, we will hurt them. We are prepared for any scenario and the security forces know exactly which plans they must implement to defend the State of Israel in any arena. We will do everything to ensure the security of Israel.”

The Hamas rocket attack came one day after Islamic Jihad violated their ceasefire with Israel, leading to an Israeli counterattack, Haaretz reported. That capped a furious round of fighting in which Israel assassinated Islamic Jihad senior commander Abu al-Ata and the Palestinian terror group retaliated by launching around 450 rockets at Israel. … Continue Reading

Netanyahu Says Deterrence Strengthened: Terrorists Know We Will Put Attackers ‘in the Crosshairs’

PM Netanyahu holds security discussion. Photo courtesy of Amos Ben-Gershom (Israeli GPO).

Just days after assassinating senior Islamic Jihad commander Abu al-Ata, and despite hundreds of rockets being fired by Islamic Jihad at Israel since then, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel’s action “changes the equation” vis-à-vis terrorists. “The arch-terrorists know that we can put them in the crosshairs and we will put in the crosshairs anyone who tries to attack us,” Netanyahu was quoted by his office as saying on Wednesday. “Moreover, we are not bent on escalation but we will carry out all the necessary actions that we have agreed on in order to continue defending the State of Israel and its citizens.”

Netanyahu, speaking after a meeting with the security cabinet, said the strike that killed Ata was done with “surgical precision.”

“This denies them the feeling that they can act against us, against our civilians, while hiding behind their civilians. This changes the equation because they can all be in the crosshairs,” said Netanyahu. “This is a very major change and it greatly strengthens Israel’s deterrence and its capabilities against the terrorists.”

The confidence comes as Islamic Jihad has retaliated against the killing of the terrorist Ata by launching more than 360 rockets at Israel communities from Tuesday morning until Wednesday evening, with more coming, according to the IDF Twitter feed. And it’s Israeli civilians being targeted again and again. … Continue Reading