Day 364 — Friday, October 4

Day 364 — Friday, October 4

Sergeant Daniel Aviv Haim Sofer, 19, and Corporal Tal Dror, 19, were killed in a drone attack from Iraq in northern Israel on Thursday, the IDF announced Friday evening. 

Sgt. Haim Sofer, from Ashkelon, was a cadet in a specialized communications officer course in Battalion 13 in the Golani Brigade. 

Cpl. Dror, from Jerusalem, was a communications soldier in the 13th Battalion in the Golani Brigade. 

In the incident where the two soldiers fell, an additional soldier and a non-commissioned officer from the 13th Battalion were severely wounded and were evacuated to a hospital for treatment. 

There are additional reports by Israeli media claiming that up to 21 soldiers were lightly wounded in the same drone attack.

A day earlier, the IDF announced that Captain Ben Zion Pelach, 21, from Nitzanei Oz, fell in battle in southern Lebanon. Pelach was a soldier in Battalion 202 of the Paratroopers Brigade.

The IDF began its invasion of Lebanon on Tuesday following a year of back-and-forth rockets and missiles between Israel and Hezbollah. 

Jerusalem Post

Day 364 — Friday, October 4

Israel reportedly targeted the presumed successor to Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in a heavy airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs around midnight Thursday, just under a week after the head of the Iran-backed terror group was killed in an Israeli attack.

Both the Axios news site and The New York Times identified Hashem Safieddine as the target of the strike, with the latter outlet citing three Israeli officials saying he was attending a meeting with other senior Hezbollah leaders in an underground bunker.

It was unclear if Safieddine was harmed in the strike, which the Israel Defense Forces has yet to comment on. There was also no immediate reaction from Hezbollah.

As head of the executive council, Safieddine oversees Hezbollah’s political affairs. He also sits on the Jihad Council, which manages the group’s military operations.

Safieddine, whom the US State Department designated as a terrorist in 2017, is a cousin of Nasrallah and like him is a cleric who wears the black turban denoting ostensible descent from Islam’s prophet Mohammed. Safieddine’s family ties and physical resemblance to Nasrallah, as well as his religious status as a descendant of Mohammed, would all count in his favor to succeed the slain arch-terrorist.

He was reportedly targeted amid renewed air raids in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold known as Dahiyeh after Israel ordered people to leave their homes in parts of the district.

AFP footage showed giant balls of flame rising from the targeted site with thick smoke billowing and flares shooting out.

Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) said “more than 10 consecutive strikes have been recorded so far, in one of the strongest raids on the southern suburbs of Beirut since the start of the Israeli war on Lebanon.”

The strikes echoed to mountain regions outside Beirut, the NNA said.
Earlier Thursday, IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Col. Avichay Adraee had issued an “urgent warning” for residents of the south Beirut area of Burj al-Barajneh to evacuate along with maps of the area. He later issued the evacuation order for Hadath.

“You are located near facilities and interests belonging to Hezbollah, and the IDF will work against them in the near future,” he said in a statement on X.

Times Of Israel

Day 363 — Thursday, October 3

Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday declared UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “persona non grata” in Israel and banned him from entering the country.

“Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel, as almost every country in the world has done, does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil,” said Katz.

“This is a Secretary-General who has yet to denounce the massacre and sexual atrocities committed by Hamas murderers on October 7, nor has he led any efforts to declare them a terrorist organization,” he added.

“A Secretary-General who gives backing to terrorists, rapists, and murderers from Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and now Iran—the mothership of global terror—will be remembered as a stain on the history of the UN.”

“Israel will continue to defend its citizens and uphold its national dignity, with or without António Guterres,” Katz concluded.

Hours after Katz’s announcement, Guterres condemned Iran’s missile attack against Israel.

“As should have been obvious yesterday in the context of the condemnation I expressed,” Secretary-General Guterres told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, “I again strongly condemn yesterday’s massive missile attacks by Iran on Israel.”

Guterres has not stopped short of criticizing Israel since the start of the war in Gaza. In October of last year, the UN Secretary-General said that Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7 “did not happen in a vacuum” and appeared to blame Israel for the attack.

Arutz Sheva

Day 363 — Thursday, October 3

The IDF announced the first fatalities of Israel’s ground operation in Lebanon on Wednesday after eight soldiers were killed during battles against Hezbollah operatives in the south of the country.

The slain troops were named as:

• Cpt. Eitan Itzhak Oster, 22, a team commander in the Egoz Commando Unit, from Modi’in.
• Cpt. Harel Etinger, 23, a team commander in the Egoz Commando Unit, from Eli.
• Cpt. Itai Ariel Giat, 23, of the Yahalom Combat Engineering Unit, from Shoham.
• Sgt. First Class Noam Barzilay, 22, of the Egoz Commando Unit, from Kohav Yair.
• Sgt. First Class Or Mantzur, 21, of the Egoz Commando Unit, from Beit Aryeh.
• Sgt. First Class Nazar Itkin, 21, of the Egoz Commando Unit, from Kiryat Ata.
• Staff Sgt. Almken Terefe, 21, of the Golani Brigade’s reconnaissance unit, from Jerusalem.
• Staff Sgt. Ido Broyer, 21, of the Golani Brigade’s reconnaissance unit, from Nes Tziona.

The six Egoz commandos were all killed during a gun battle with Hezbollah operatives in a southern Lebanon village. Another officer and four soldiers were seriously wounded in the same incident.

During the extraction of the casualties following the gun battle in a building, Hezbollah operatives fired mortars at the soldiers, wounding further troops.

The two soldiers of the Golani recon unit were killed in a separate incident, in which another soldier was seriously wounded.

In a third incident, a combat medic with the Golani Brigade’s 51st Battalion was seriously wounded.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent his condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers in a video statement shortly after the IDF announced their deaths.

“I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to the families of our heroes who fell today in Lebanon, may God avenge them, and may their memories be a blessing,” he began.

“We are in the middle of a tough war against Iran’s axis of evil, which seeks to destroy us. This will not happen,” Netanyahu continued, “because we will stand together, and with God’s help — we will win together.”

“We will rescue our hostages in the south, we will return our residents in the north, we will guarantee Israel’s eternity,” he added, referring to the official goals of the war.

An IDF probe into the deadly battle in which the six Egoz commandos were killed found that they began an offensive against a village near the border early this morning, where Hezbollah had infrastructure that the army was seeking to dismantle.

The troops had entered a building in the village, where they then encountered a group of Hezbollah operatives and exchanged fire with them.

Moments later, a series of other encounters began in the surrounding area, with dozens of Hezbollah operatives opening fire, firing anti-tank missiles, and launching mortars at the soldiers.

An Israeli Air Force drone carried out strikes and tanks shelled sites in the area amid the incident, and the wounded troops were all extracted and taken for medical treatment.

In all, six Egoz soldiers were killed and another five were seriously wounded. Several others were also taken to hospitals for more minor injuries.

The IDF assessed that the troops, airstrikes, and tank shelling, killed more than 20 Hezbollah operatives in the area.

Following the extraction of the wounded and at the end of the battle, the military said it gained control over the area where the fighting took place.

The IDF has been operating inside Lebanon since Monday night, when the 98th Division crossed over the border to demolish the terror group’s infrastructure with the aim of safely returning the tens of thousands of displaced Israelis to their homes in the north of the country.

It said on Wednesday that the 36th Division was also being deployed to Lebanon to assist the 98th with the “limited, localized and targeted raids” against Hezbollah targets and infrastructure, and shared footage of its entry into Lebanon overnight.

Times Of Israel

Day 363 — Thursday, October 3

On Friday morning, September 27, I saw Bible prophecy being fulfilled before my very eyes as I watched Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on television address the General Assembly of the United Nations. It happened as he approached the podium to deliver his address. As he walked forward, two-thirds of the delegates got up from their seats and walked out. Netanyahu was left with an almost empty auditorium to speak to.

The specific Bible prophecy this event reminded me of was written by the Hebrew prophet Zechariah 2,500 years ago. Speaking of the end times, he prophesied that God will “make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.” (Zechariah 12: 3, emphasis added)

Although the United States delegation to the UN was one of the few that remained in their seats, it has become obvious that America’s support of Israel is severely waning. For example, when Netanyahu spoke to Congress in March of 2015, 58 Democrats boycotted the session. When he returned to speak to Congress in July of this year, 128 Democrats refused to attend (100 House members and 28 Senators).

Also, even though President Biden has spoken out strongly in support of Israel, his lack of action has spoken louder than his words. He has refused to send military aid that Congress has approved. And he keeps demanding a cease-fire instead of encouraging Israel to finish off both Hamas and Hezbollah. Israel is determined to defeat its monstrous enemies. Biden wants to appease them.

For over 40 years, I have been teaching that in the end times — in accordance with Bible prophecy — all the nations of the world will turn against Israel. In response, American Christians have reacted in disbelief, arguing that our nation would never turn against Israel. But today, the streets of our largest cities and the campuses of our major universities are filled with violent anti-Semitic protestors demanding that our nation abandon Israel in support of two of the world’s most vicious terrorist organizations.

How can this be explained?

Day 362 — Wednesday, October 2

A readout of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address at the start of the Security Cabinet meeting on Oct. 1 (translated from Hebrew):

“Citizens of Israel, at the start of my remarks, I send condolences to the families of those who were murdered in the abhorrent terrorist attack in Jaffa and my best wishes for a quick recovery to the wounded.

As in the missile attack, there was also a murderous guiding hand behind this terrorist attack—it came from Tehran.

This evening, Iran again attacked Israel with hundreds of missiles. This attack failed. It was thwarted thanks to Israel’s air-defense array, which is the most advanced in the world. I commend the IDF for the impressive achievement. It was also thwarted thanks to your alertness and responsibility, citizens of Israel. I also thank the US for its support in our defensive effort.

This evening, Iran made a big mistake—and it will pay for it. The regime in Tehran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and to exact a price from our enemies.

[Yahya] Sinwar and [Mohammed] Deif did not understand this; neither did Nasrallah or Mohsen. Apparently, there are those in Tehran who do not understand this either.

They will.

We will keep to the rule we have determined: Whoever attacks us, we attack them.

This is true wherever we fight the axis of evil. It is true in Judea and Samaria. It is true in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen and Syria—and it is also true in Iran. We are fighting the axis of evil everywhere, including in southern Lebanon and Gaza, where our heroic soldiers are active.

Today, more than ever, the forces of light in the world must unite and work together against the ayatollah’s dark regime, which is the source of terror and evil in our region. They must stand alongside Israel. The choice has never been more clear, between tyranny and freedom, between the blessing and the curse.

On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, I say to you, citizens of Israel: Israel has the momentum and the axis of evil is in retreat. We will do whatever needs to be done to continue this trend. To achieve all of our war objectives, especially the return of all of our hostages, and ensure our existence and our future.

A good and safe year to you all.”

JNS

Day 362 — Wednesday, October 2

On Tuesday evening, a horrific shooting attack took place in Jaffa as two terrorists unleashed a deadly assault on the light rail along Jerusalem Boulevard, claiming the lives of seven residents. Security forces subsequently neutralized both perpetrators. Both attackers are Palestinians from the Hebron area. It was unclear how they entered Israel, and why they were allowed to board the light rail with weapons before firing on bystanders on the platform.

Rom Ela, an emergency medical technician with United Hatzalah first responder organization, provided details of the unfolding situation: “We initially received reports of injured individuals near the train station on Jerusalem Boulevard.

Bystanders then informed us of additional casualties on nearby streets, prompting our teams to expand their response to multiple locations. Some of the victims we treated were unconscious. As of now, we’ve operated across four different streets.” Six people were pronounced dead shortly after the incident, while another one died early Wednesday morning.

Hanan Peretz, head of  division in the police, recounted at the scene of the attack: “Several teams arrived at the location and spotted a terrorist with a long weapon, possibly an assault rifle. As he fled, he was aiming the weapon, but was subsequently neutralized. The inspectors at the scene prevented harm to additional individuals.”

Shai Peretz, an eyewitness to the attack, described the harrowing scene: “I saw a tall, thin man with a gunfiring in every direction at anyone who appeared in front of him. He shot two women and another man who was passing by on a bicycle. The man was hit and fell to the ground. We need to conduct a thorough review here.”

Israel Hayom

Day 362 — Wednesday, October 2

What a day in God’s land. In case you missed it, the Iranian regime directly attacked Israel, launching some 181 ballistic missiles at the world’s one and only Jewish state. It’s being said that this is the largest ballistic missile attack ever in world history.

You might hearken back to the April 2024 attack that Iran conducted against Israel, during which over 300 projectiles were fired, and wonder why today is considered “unprecedented.” However, that barrage consisted of a mixture of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones. Today’s attack was strictly 181 ballistic missiles that blanketed every inch of Israel. Although it had fewer projectiles, the attack consisted of more lethal weapons.

They also travel at a much greater distance. A few of my colleagues were surprised at the speed of this attack. If you remember, the April 13th attack by Iran involved waiting hours for some of these cruise missiles and drones to reach from Iran to Israel. It was a slow-moving train, and most of them were intercepted before they even entered Israeli airspace. In fact, some 99% were intercepted, in a miraculous display of missile defense. Ballistic missiles travel in roughly twelve minutes. That’s all, folks. Twelve minutes is all you have to prepare when ballistic missiles travel from Iran to Israel.

While the numbers are still coming in, we do know that not every one of today’s ballistic missiles were intercepted. At least eight or nine got through certainly; many fell in open spaces.

The United States says that they helped Israel, as they did in April, intercept these incoming ballistic missiles. That’s a good thing, but don’t expect anything more than a defensive posture from the United States under the current leadership—or lack thereof. There will be every effort, prepare yourselves, for the Biden-Harris Administration to attempt to restrain Israel at every turn.

In April, when those missiles were intercepted, Joe Biden told Benjamin Netanyahu to just take the win and not strike back. Undoubtedly, that is the message from the Biden Administration once again. According to the White House, Biden and Harris were in the Situation Room monitoring the unfolding attack in real time.

Currently, the Iranian regime says the attack is over, and Israeli officials have given the okay for the people of Israel to leave their bomb shelters.

That being said, five hours from now, you may have a case, God forbid, where Iran fires another wave. Not long from now, we may also see Israel in the midst of responding to this unprecedented Iranian assault.

Day 362 — Wednesday, October 2

Israel vowed on Tuesday night to have a “significant” response to the Islamic Republic of Iran firing nearly 200 ballistic missiles at the country.

The damage from the attack remains unclear, although it appears that the only person who was killed was a Palestinian who was hit in Judea and Samaria by a piece of shrapnel falling to the ground. Some missiles did hit targets in Israel, but many appear to have been intercepted by the Iron Dome.

An Israeli official told CNN that the country had a “significant response” planned for Iran and that the damage Iran has suffered, including to its terrorist proxy groups, is “only a promo” for what Israel has in store for the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.

Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a public statement that the attack would have “consequences” and that Israel already has plans in place that it will execute “at the place and time we decide.”

Three U.S. destroyers positioned in the eastern Mediterranean Sea — the USS Arleigh Burke, USS Cole, and USS Bulkeley — engaged in shooting down Iranian ballistic missiles during the attack, a U.S. official told reporters.

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who has been disastrous for U.S. foreign policy, claimed that there would be “consequences — severe consequences — for this attack, and we will work with Israel to make that the case.”

Jordan also helped to shoot down missiles that were fired at Israel, according to CNN. The Jordanian military said in a statement that its forces have been put “on high alert to confront any attempts that threaten the security and stability of the kingdom.”

“The General Command is closely monitoring the developments occurring in the region and has taken necessary precautionary measures to build and support front-line units on the border fronts to protect the homeland,” a Jordanian official told the network.

Daily Wire

Day 361 — Tuesday, October 1

The Iranian regime fired around 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday evening in a missile assault of unprecedented scope, claiming to retaliate for the Israeli killings of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, and IRGC officer Abbas Nilforoushan.

Around 7:30 p.m., the IDF announced that a missile attack on Israel had begun. The IDF Home Front Command activated rocket alert sirens across almost the whole of the country and sent phone alerts to millions of Israelis instructing them to enter safe rooms.

According to Army Radio, some 1,864 sirens blared across the country.

Shortly after, around 180 ballistic surface-to-surface missiles arrived in Israel’s airspace, most of which were shot down by the IDF’s air defenses.

The Magen David Adom rescue service reported that the only casualties were three lightly wounded Israelis. Palestinian sources claimed that a worker from Gaza was killed in the area of Jericho by falling shrapnel from a missile interception.

IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari gave the all-clear around 8:30 p.m., adding that ‘only a few’ impacts were identified in central and southern Israel.

“At this point we are still assessing the situation. They carried out quite a few interceptions and there are a few hits. We do not detect any additional threats to the airspace, so we have given instructions to leave the protected areas,” Hagari said.

Shortly after, Israeli media reported that the country’s airspace was reopened, after flights had been diverted to Cyprus the previous hour.

An Israeli source told media outlets that “there will be a strong reaction, what Iran has received so far is only one percent [of what it will receive].”

Iran’s embassy to the U.N. claimed the assault was a “legal, rational, and legitimate response to the terrorist acts of the Zionist regime.”

“Should the Zionist regime dare to respond or commit further acts of malevolence, a subsequent and crushing response will ensue. Regional states and the Zionists’ supporters are advised to part ways with the regime.”

All Israel News

Day 361 — Tuesday, October 1

Hezbollah deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem said on Monday that his organization is ready for any potential ground operation by Israeli troops, in the first speech by an official of the terror group since its leader was killed.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah was assassinated on Friday by Israel, the climax of a series of airstrikes over the week that eliminated much of the terror group’s command structure.

“We will face any possibility and we are ready if the Israelis decide to enter by land and the resistance forces are ready for a ground engagement,” Qassem said in prerecorded remarks.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Israeli special forces have already launched small raids into Lebanon in recent months, including sending troops into Hezbollah tunnels along the border ahead of a wider offensive.

“Despite the losses of its commanders, the attacks against civilians throughout Lebanon, and great sacrifices, we will not budge from our position,” Qassem said in a speech from an undisclosed location in Beirut. “We will continue to support Gaza and to defend Lebanon.”

Qassem, who appeared to be sweating profusely throughout his speech, asserted that Hezbollah will continue in the footsteps of Nasrallah, who led it since 1992.

He also said Hezbollah will elect a new secretary-general as soon as possible, using an internal process, highlighting that for every commander and every official, there are replacements.

Alongside Nasrallah, more than 20 Hezbollah operatives were killed in the massive airstrike in Beirut, the Israel Defense Forces said Sunday, including Ali Karaki, the commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front, and several of the terror leader’s advisers.

It is expected that Hashem Safieddine, Nasrallah’s cousin and head of Hezbollah’s executive council, will be picked as the new leader.

Since October 8, Hezbollah-led forces have attacked Israeli communities and military posts along the border on a near-daily basis, with the group saying it is doing so to support Gaza during the war there.

Since Israel escalated its airstrikes against Hezbollah on Monday, more than 630 people have been killed in Lebanon, according to the country’s health ministry. Thousands of pagers detonated on their Hezbollah owners last week, putting a reported 1,500 fighters from the terror group out of commission, in an attack blamed on Israel.

Times Of Israel

Day 361 — Tuesday, October 1

Israel’s attack on Hezbollah shocked the world. Why? Both the US State Department and the United Nations seemed appalled that Israel would attack an enemy that has fired close to 10,000 missiles at its citizens since October 7th of last year. What’s surprising about that? Do they think Jews should gently acquiesce when led from ghettos to gas chambers? Should the world’s only Jewish state be the one nation not allowed to defend itself? Such thinking is distorted, bizarre, and bigoted. It is antisemitic to the core.

Much of the world considers Hezbollah a terrorist organization. It has carried out attacks on Israel since it was founded by Iran in 1992. Those attacks increased over the last year, mostly as an aid to Hamas and its terror war on Israel. Every time Israel does anything to slow down the ongoing attacks against itself, news reports include something like this. “Experts fear this could lead to a wider war in the Middle East.” But the view from Israel is that it is already in the bullseye of a regional war.

The Hamas war on Israel has been ongoing for decades. According to its own charter, Hamas was formed for the purpose of destroying Israel. Until recently, it controlled Gaza. Because billionaire Hamas leaders regularly diverted global aid into their own pockets, Gaza remained one of the poorest regions on earth. The poverty Hamas leaders caused led to more aid for Gaza — and more graft for Hamas leaders.

Gaza borders Israel, the Mediterranean Sea, and Egypt. By sea and from Egypt, Hamas was able to bring terror supplies into Gaza with which to attack Israel. Until recently, it had a vast tunnel system for moving terror supplies into the area and into Israel. They put all this into motion on October 7th of last year.

From the south, Houthis continue to fire sophisticated, long-range Iranian ballistic missiles — at Israel and at American Navy ships. The Houthis are a Shiite Muslim terror group working in Yemen which sits at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula.

From the immediate east, Israel contends daily with the Palestinian Authority which governs Judea and Samaria (an area often known as the West Bank). This organization teaches terrorism as a way of life to their young, and they reward terrorists and the families of “martyrs” with handsome lifetime financial rewards.

Day 360 — Monday, September 30

The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed on Tuesday morning the beginning of a “limited” ground operation in Lebanon, following security cabinet approval to begin the next phase of the war.

“In accordance with the decision of the political echelon, a few hours ago, the IDF began limited, localized, and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence against Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon,” the IDF said in a statement. “These targets are located in villages close to the border and pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel.”

“The IDF is operating according to a methodical plan set out by the General Staff and the Northern Command which IDF soldiers have trained and prepared for in recent months,” they continued. “The Israeli Air Force and IDF Artillery are supporting the ground forces with precise strikes on military targets in the area.”

“Operation ‘Northern Arrows’ will continue according to the situational assessment and in parallel to combat in Gaza and in other arenas,” the IDF highlighted. “The IDF is continuing to operate to achieve the goals of the war and is doing everything necessary to defend the citizens of Israel and return the citizens of northern Israel to their homes.”

According to the Times of Israel, Lebanese troops retreated to at least 3 miles from the border in anticipation of Israel’s ground operation on Monday.

Harbinger’s Staff

Day 360 — Monday, September 30

Israeli troops and tanks were last night seen gathering in the north, on their border with southern Lebanon, in apparent preparation for a ground invasion. 

The last time Israel launched a ground offensive of Lebanon was in 2006, when 34 days of intense cross-border fighting with Hezbollah ended in a stalemate.

The United States has issued an 11th-hour appeal to both sides for restraint, with US president Joe Biden warning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that an all-out war in the Middle East must be avoided.

Israel [stated] that more than 20 senior Hezbollah members including Ali Karaki – who was in charge of the southern front – were assassinated in the attack on Friday alongside Nasrallah.

Reuters reported Nasrallah’s body was found yesterday, and videos circulating on social media purport to show his body being retrieved.

Hezbollah – the Iran-backed terror group in Lebanon – confirmed that Nasrallah, who led it for 32 years, was killed in Friday’s strike. Hashem Safieddine is expected to take over as the leader.

Several foreign embassies have now begun to evacuate non-essential staff as the country braces for the possibility of an all-out war.

Daily Mail

Day 360 — Monday, September 30

Individuals who posted ‘From the River to the Sea‘ on social media will be denied German citizenship, according to stipulations in the new citizenship law, as cited by German channel NDR (North German Radio and Television) and the Federal Interior Ministry this week.

People who are employed in Germany can work to obtain citizenship after five years, compared to the eight years previously required in the law. While the law came to pass on June 27 of this year, the requirements have been tightened, especially regarding “Racism, antisemitism or any other form of misanthropy rule out naturalization,” according to the German Federal Ministry of the Interior.

One of the requirements for citizenship, clause 10.1.1.1.3.1, concerns “Germany’s special historical responsibility for the National Socialist injustice and its consequences, especially for the protection of Jewish life.”

This clause stipulated that an individual who contravenes Germany’s legal commitment to the protection of Jews may not be eligible for citizenship. 

This clause included denial of the fact or extent of the genocide of the Jews of Europe by Nazi Germany (the Holocaust) and accusing Jews or the State of Israel of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.

It also included the following statements, “From the River to the Sea,” possibly with the addition “Palestine will be free,” “Let’s go bomb Tel Aviv,” “Death to Israel,” and “Israel, child murderer.”

The use of maps in which the territory of the State of Israel is replaced with the colors of the Palestinian flag was also considered in contravention of the law.

The above can be considered grounds for exclusion from citizenship, as, according to NDR, people are considered incompatible with a commitment to the German constitution if they violate Germany’s special historical responsibility towards Jewish life.

This stipulation includes liking, sharing, or commenting on such slogans on social networks. 

The Federal Ministry of the Interior said that, when such slogans are uttered, the context in which they are said should be taken into account. For example, if “statements such as ‘From the River to the Sea‘ coincide with an explicit call for violent actions against the State of Israel,” this should be questioned in a citizenship interview. 

While NDR stated that German states have autonomy over naturalization under their authority, a spokesperson explained to the dpa said that “The practice of recent years has shown, however, that the states are guided by the Federal Ministry of the Interior’s application instructions, so that the legal regulations on nationality law are applied uniformly.”

In March, it was reported that Germany’s citizenship test would now include questions on the Holocaust, Judaism, and Israel to filter out people with antisemitic views, according to a report by Der Spiegel.

“If you don’t share our values, you can’t get a German passport. We have drawn a crystal clear red line here,” Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told Der Spiegel.

“Antisemitism, racism, and other forms of contempt for humanity preclude naturalization.”

In August, a protester who chanted “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” at a Berlin rally was fined €600 by a German court.

Jerusalem Post

Day 359 — Sunday, September 29

Israeli Air Force fighter jets carried out dozens of airstrikes on Houthi terrorist targets in the area of Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah on Sunday afternoon, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed in a statement.

“In a large-scale operation, dozens of Air Force aircraft, including fighter jets, refueling and intelligence planes, under the direction of the Military Intelligence Directorate, attacked military targets of the Houthi terrorist regime in the areas of Ras Issa and Hodeidah in Yemen,” the IDF said.

“The targets included power plants and a seaport, which were used by the Houthis to transfer Iranian weapons to the region, in addition to military supplies and oil,” according to the military statement.

“The attack was carried out in response to the latest attacks carried out by the Houthi regime against the State of Israel,” it added. “the Houthis have been operating under the direction and funding of Iran, and in cooperation with Iraqi militias, in order to attack the State of Israel, undermine regional stability and disrupt global freedom of navigation.”

“‘I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till I destroyed them’ (Psalms, chapter 18, verse 38),” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement following the attack.

”I followed the attack against the Houthis from the control room of the Air Force. The message is clear—for us, no place is too far,” he added.

Unnamed senior officials in Jerusalem told Israel’s Channel 12 that the damage following the airstrikes was “enormous,” adding that it will take the Houthis “a long time” to recover from the unprecedented attack.

“The purpose of the attack is to exact a heavy price for the attacks by the Houthis. If they continue to attack Israel, the attacks will increase,” an Israeli official told the country’s Ynet outlet. “The message to Iran is that Israel can attack with tremendous power even at a distance of 2,000 kilometers [≈1,200 miles]. It can do it simultaneously in several arenas.

“Today, we attacked in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen,” the official said.

The leader of the Houthis, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, on Saturday night claimed that a surface-to-surface missile it had launched at central Israel hours earlier was timed to coincide with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s return to the Jewish state from the United States.

The IDF announced that the military’s aerial defense array had downed the Houthi terrorist missile “outside of the country’s borders.”

In a televised speech, the Houthi leader also vowed that the targeted killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut on Friday would “not be in vain.”

Yemen’s Houthi militia, an Iranian proxy force, has launched numerous attacks on the Jewish state in support of Hamas in the wake of the Palestinian terrorist group’s Oct. 7 invasion of southern Israel.

JNS

Day 359 — Sunday, September 29

Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah terror chief Hassan Nasrallah in a Friday sortie will reshape the Middle East’s power structures, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday, warning Iran that Israel’s military could strike wherever in the region it needs.

Netanyahu’s first public comments since a massive Israeli airstrike killed Hezbollah’s leader in his southern Beirut headquarters on Friday, came as fighter jets continued to pound Hezbollah targets, announcing a blockade aimed at stymying Iranian weapons shipments into Lebanon and threatening a possible broadening of strikes after nearly week of intensified fighting.

Despite suffering heavy losses from days of intense airstrikes on its weapons stores and leadership, Hezbollah continued to flex its extensive rocket arsenal throughout Saturday, firing at least 100 rockets into Israel, including what appeared to be the group’s first attack targeting Jerusalem.

Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah terror chief Hassan Nasrallah in a Friday sortie will reshape the Middle East’s power structures, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday, warning Iran that Israel’s military could strike wherever in the region it needs.

Netanyahu’s first public comments since a massive Israeli airstrike killed Hezbollah’s leader in his southern Beirut headquarters on Friday, came as fighter jets continued to pound Hezbollah targets, announcing a blockade aimed at stymying Iranian weapons shipments into Lebanon and threatening a possible broadening of strikes after nearly week of intensified fighting.

Despite suffering heavy losses from days of intense airstrikes on its weapons stores and leadership, Hezbollah continued to flex its extensive rocket arsenal throughout Saturday, firing at least 100 rockets into Israel, including what appeared to be the group’s first attack targeting Jerusalem.

“Nasrallah wasn’t just another terrorist. He was the terrorist,” he said. “Eliminating Nasrallah was an essential condition for achieving the goals that we have set out — returning the residents of the north safely to their homes and changing the balance of power in the region for years.”

“As long as Nasrallah was alive, he would have quickly rehabilitated Hezbollah’s capabilities,” Netanyahu added.

With Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei moving to a secure location, the Israeli premier also appeared to issue a direct challenge to Tehran, which had supplied Hezbollah with funds, weapons and know-how, building it into a formidable branch of the Islamic Republic on Israel’s northern border.

“Those who strike at us, we will strike at them,” Netanyahu said. “There is nowhere in Iran or the Middle East beyond the reach of the long arm of Israel, and today you know how true that is.”

Nasrallah, long seen as a top assassination target of Israel, had spent over a decade avoiding public appearances to remain out of harms way, but on Friday evening, Israeli warplanes carried out a large strike on the Hezbollah stronghold of Dahiyeh south of Beirut, killing Nasrallah, along with several other top commanders, in the group’s headquarters.

According to The New York Times, an analysis of a video released by the Israel Defense Forces of jets taking off for the strike showed them carrying at least 15 2,000-pound bombs, including US-made BLU-109 munitions armed with JDAM kits, indicating Israel had used ground-penetrating weapons known as bunker-busters in the strike.

Netanyahu said he decided to order the strike after coming to the conclusion that Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah until that point were not sufficient. According to reports, Israel had been tracking Nasrallah’s whereabouts for months, but Netanyahu only approved the operation on Friday, amid fears that Israel could lose the opportunity it had to take him out.

According to the army, more than 3,500 munitions have been dropped by Israeli Air Force fighter jets on Hezbollah sites in the past week, taking out many of their rocket, missile, and drone capabilities, along with intelligence sites.

Israel said it carried out over 140 strikes in Lebanon late Friday and Saturday, including facilities where rockets were being manufactured or assembled in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley, a Hezbollah bastion on the Syrian border. It also announced that a strike on Beirut a day earlier had destroyed dozens of anti-ship missiles, siloed at six warehouses and primed to be used within minutes.

Times Of Israel

Day 358 — Saturday, September 28

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was killed in the IDF’s strike on Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut on Friday, the IDF announced Saturday morning.

The IDF also killed Ali Karaki, Hezbollah’s commander of the southern front, as well as other Hezbollah commanders.

Israel’s air force struck Hezbollah’s central headquarters using precise intelligence from the intelligence wing and defense system. The headquarters were based underground, under a residential building in Dahieh in the Lebanese capital.

As Hezbollah’s chief for 32 years, Nasrallah was responsible for the murder of countless Israeli civilians and soldiers and for the planning and execution of terrorist activities around the world in which civilians were murdered.

Nasrallah was the main decision-maker and the strategic leader of Hezbollah.

Jerusalem Post

Day 358 — Saturday, September 28

After nearly a year since the outbreak of the war, and in the height of the conflict with Hezbollah, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke today (Friday) at the UN General Assembly. In his speech, he addressed the continuation of the fighting in Lebanon and the Iranian threat.

“On October 7th, terrorists invaded Israel and inflicted the worst atrocities imaginable. We will not rest until the remaining hostages are brought home,” he declared.

“I have with me family members of the hostages. I promise all families, we will return your loved ones home. We will not stop until this is accomplished.”

“We are facing the curse of Iran or the blessing of Jew and Arab,” Netanyahu stated, while displaying maps of two possible futures in the Middle East – one showing normalization with Arab countries, the other showing continued war against Iran and its allies. “Israel seeks peace, Israel makes peace, and Israel will make peace again.”

“Iran funds terror networks on five continents. For too long, the world has appeased Iran. That appeasement must end now.”

“I call on the Security Council to stop support for Iran, we must ensure that Iran never gets nuclear weapons. Iran’s militia have targeted us as well. Residents of Judea and Samaria have also attacked Israel.”

My message to Tehran: “If you strike us, we will strike you. We will reach everywhere in the Middle East.”

United States President Joe Biden had addressed the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, which was opened in New York for the 79th time, discussing his vision for the future of the United States and the conflict in Israel.

“The nations of the world must not ignore the horrors that were committed on October 7,” he said.

“Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and slaughtered 1,200 people, including people who were dancing at a party, and committed acts of rape and sexual violence. I met with families of the hostages who are enduring unimaginable suffering.”

“Terrorists steal food that we allow into Gaza, then they hype the prices, and that’s how they stay in power. Hamas has got to go.”

“This war can come to an end now – Hamas has to surrender, lay down its arms and release all the hostages!”

“On the day after the massacre, Hezbollah attacked Israel causing thousands of Israelis to be displaced. This has been going on for almost a year. The US would not accept this for even a day.”

“Hezbollah has fired rockets and missiles from private homes, schools and hospitals. Israel has no choice and Israel has every right to stop this. And that is exactly what we are going to do.”

“Peace with Saudi Arabia would enable partnerships in many, many fields, a true pivot of history, historical reconciliation between Mecca and Jerusalem.”

“One of the best ways to foil Iran’s plans is to achieve this peace – also with the US and others who choose peace.”

“I believe this can materialize and much sooner than we believe. This is an opportunity that we and the world cannot let go by.”

“What choice would the world make – stand with a democracy and peace or a country that supports terror?”

“Even in this hall – evil is portrayed as good and good is portrayed as evil. This is an absurdity – that all that we do – bringing food into Gaza – and we are portrayed as evil. No army has done what Israel has done to protect civilians.”

“I spoke from this podium, as Ambassador to the UN, in 1984 – 40 years ago. Then I spoke against a proposal to expel Israel from the UN. Now I am talking against the same proposal – not by Hamas, but by Mahmoud Abbas, who is supposed to be our peace partner.”

“During that speech, I told everyone – check your fanaticism at the door. And today I say the same. For the Palestinians this home of darkness is their home court.”

“The ICC does not consider Israel the democracy that it is. The real criminals are in Gaza, Iran, Yemen.”

“Those who stand with the side of evil, should be ashamed of yourselves. Israel will win this battle – because we don’t have a choice. After generations where we were slaughtered and nobody stood up for us – we are now defending ourselves.”

“The torch of Israel will shine forever. Am Yisrael Chai.”

Arutz Sheva

Day 358 — Saturday, September 28

Following the strike on Beirut on Friday, IDF Spokesperson R.-Adm. Daniel Hagari announced that the IDF would soon strike Hezbollah infrastructure built under civilian buildings in Dahiya.

The IDF would be targeting storage areas for coastal missile array that had been sent from Iran. This was due to the experience of the Second Lebanon War, in which anti-ship missiles killed several sailors.

During the presentation, he illustrated weapons storage locations under the civilian apartments in Beirut.

Hagari also announced that the IAF had begun restricting access to Beirut airport to block the importation of weapons.

“IAF jets are now patrolling the area of ​​Beirut’s airport. Until now, the State of Lebanon acted responsibly and did not allow the transfer of weapons through the civilian airport. We announce – we will not allow weapons to land at the airport in Beirut.”

“We will not allow militarized planes to use a civilian airport. This is a civilian airport for civilian use, and it must be protected as such.”

“I will update you throughout the night and tomorrow whenever necessary,” he said before signing off.

Jerusalem Post

Day 364 — Friday, October 4

Sergeant Daniel Aviv Haim Sofer, 19, and Corporal Tal Dror, 19, were killed in a drone attack from Iraq in northern Israel on Thursday, the IDF announced Friday evening. 

Sgt. Haim Sofer, from Ashkelon, was a cadet in a specialized communications officer course in Battalion 13 in the Golani Brigade. 

Cpl. Dror, from Jerusalem, was a communications soldier in the 13th Battalion in the Golani Brigade. 

In the incident where the two soldiers fell, an additional soldier and a non-commissioned officer from the 13th Battalion were severely wounded and were evacuated to a hospital for treatment. 

There are additional reports by Israeli media claiming that up to 21 soldiers were lightly wounded in the same drone attack.

A day earlier, the IDF announced that Captain Ben Zion Pelach, 21, from Nitzanei Oz, fell in battle in southern Lebanon. Pelach was a soldier in Battalion 202 of the Paratroopers Brigade.

The IDF began its invasion of Lebanon on Tuesday following a year of back-and-forth rockets and missiles between Israel and Hezbollah. 

Jerusalem Post

Day 364 — Friday, October 4

Israel reportedly targeted the presumed successor to Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in a heavy airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs around midnight Thursday, just under a week after the head of the Iran-backed terror group was killed in an Israeli attack.

Both the Axios news site and The New York Times identified Hashem Safieddine as the target of the strike, with the latter outlet citing three Israeli officials saying he was attending a meeting with other senior Hezbollah leaders in an underground bunker.

It was unclear if Safieddine was harmed in the strike, which the Israel Defense Forces has yet to comment on. There was also no immediate reaction from Hezbollah.

As head of the executive council, Safieddine oversees Hezbollah’s political affairs. He also sits on the Jihad Council, which manages the group’s military operations.

Safieddine, whom the US State Department designated as a terrorist in 2017, is a cousin of Nasrallah and like him is a cleric who wears the black turban denoting ostensible descent from Islam’s prophet Mohammed. Safieddine’s family ties and physical resemblance to Nasrallah, as well as his religious status as a descendant of Mohammed, would all count in his favor to succeed the slain arch-terrorist.

He was reportedly targeted amid renewed air raids in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold known as Dahiyeh after Israel ordered people to leave their homes in parts of the district.

AFP footage showed giant balls of flame rising from the targeted site with thick smoke billowing and flares shooting out.

Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) said “more than 10 consecutive strikes have been recorded so far, in one of the strongest raids on the southern suburbs of Beirut since the start of the Israeli war on Lebanon.”

The strikes echoed to mountain regions outside Beirut, the NNA said.

Earlier Thursday, IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Col. Avichay Adraee had issued an “urgent warning” for residents of the south Beirut area of Burj al-Barajneh to evacuate along with maps of the area. He later issued the evacuation order for Hadath.

“You are located near facilities and interests belonging to Hezbollah, and the IDF will work against them in the near future,” he said in a statement on X.

Times Of Israel

Day 363 — Thursday, October 3

Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday declared UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “persona non grata” in Israel and banned him from entering the country.

“Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel, as almost every country in the world has done, does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil,” said Katz.

“This is a Secretary-General who has yet to denounce the massacre and sexual atrocities committed by Hamas murderers on October 7, nor has he led any efforts to declare them a terrorist organization,” he added.

“A Secretary-General who gives backing to terrorists, rapists, and murderers from Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and now Iran—the mothership of global terror—will be remembered as a stain on the history of the UN.”

“Israel will continue to defend its citizens and uphold its national dignity, with or without António Guterres,” Katz concluded.

Hours after Katz’s announcement, Guterres condemned Iran’s missile attack against Israel.

“As should have been obvious yesterday in the context of the condemnation I expressed,” Secretary-General Guterres told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, “I again strongly condemn yesterday’s massive missile attacks by Iran on Israel.”

Guterres has not stopped short of criticizing Israel since the start of the war in Gaza. In October of last year, the UN Secretary-General said that Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7 “did not happen in a vacuum” and appeared to blame Israel for the attack.

Arutz Sheva

Day 363 — Thursday, October 3

The IDF announced the first fatalities of Israel’s ground operation in Lebanon on Wednesday after eight soldiers were killed during battles against Hezbollah operatives in the south of the country.

The slain troops were named as:

• Cpt. Eitan Itzhak Oster, 22, a team commander in the Egoz Commando Unit, from Modi’in.
• Cpt. Harel Etinger, 23, a team commander in the Egoz Commando Unit, from Eli.
• Cpt. Itai Ariel Giat, 23, of the Yahalom Combat Engineering Unit, from Shoham.
• Sgt. First Class Noam Barzilay, 22, of the Egoz Commando Unit, from Kohav Yair.
• Sgt. First Class Or Mantzur, 21, of the Egoz Commando Unit, from Beit Aryeh.
• Sgt. First Class Nazar Itkin, 21, of the Egoz Commando Unit, from Kiryat Ata.
• Staff Sgt. Almken Terefe, 21, of the Golani Brigade’s reconnaissance unit, from Jerusalem.
• Staff Sgt. Ido Broyer, 21, of the Golani Brigade’s reconnaissance unit, from Nes Tziona.

The six Egoz commandos were all killed during a gun battle with Hezbollah operatives in a southern Lebanon village. Another officer and four soldiers were seriously wounded in the same incident.

During the extraction of the casualties following the gun battle in a building, Hezbollah operatives fired mortars at the soldiers, wounding further troops.

The two soldiers of the Golani recon unit were killed in a separate incident, in which another soldier was seriously wounded.

In a third incident, a combat medic with the Golani Brigade’s 51st Battalion was seriously wounded.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent his condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers in a video statement shortly after the IDF announced their deaths.

“I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to the families of our heroes who fell today in Lebanon, may God avenge them, and may their memories be a blessing,” he began.

“We are in the middle of a tough war against Iran’s axis of evil, which seeks to destroy us. This will not happen,” Netanyahu continued, “because we will stand together, and with God’s help — we will win together.”

“We will rescue our hostages in the south, we will return our residents in the north, we will guarantee Israel’s eternity,” he added, referring to the official goals of the war.

An IDF probe into the deadly battle in which the six Egoz commandos were killed found that they began an offensive against a village near the border early this morning, where Hezbollah had infrastructure that the army was seeking to dismantle.

The troops had entered a building in the village, where they then encountered a group of Hezbollah operatives and exchanged fire with them.

Moments later, a series of other encounters began in the surrounding area, with dozens of Hezbollah operatives opening fire, firing anti-tank missiles, and launching mortars at the soldiers.

An Israeli Air Force drone carried out strikes and tanks shelled sites in the area amid the incident, and the wounded troops were all extracted and taken for medical treatment.

In all, six Egoz soldiers were killed and another five were seriously wounded. Several others were also taken to hospitals for more minor injuries.

The IDF assessed that the troops, airstrikes, and tank shelling, killed more than 20 Hezbollah operatives in the area.

Following the extraction of the wounded and at the end of the battle, the military said it gained control over the area where the fighting took place.

The IDF has been operating inside Lebanon since Monday night, when the 98th Division crossed over the border to demolish the terror group’s infrastructure with the aim of safely returning the tens of thousands of displaced Israelis to their homes in the north of the country.

It said on Wednesday that the 36th Division was also being deployed to Lebanon to assist the 98th with the “limited, localized and targeted raids” against Hezbollah targets and infrastructure, and shared footage of its entry into Lebanon overnight.

Times Of Israel

Day 363 — Thursday, October 3

On Friday morning, September 27, I saw Bible prophecy being fulfilled before my very eyes as I watched Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on television address the General Assembly of the United Nations. It happened as he approached the podium to deliver his address. As he walked forward, two-thirds of the delegates got up from their seats and walked out. Netanyahu was left with an almost empty auditorium to speak to.

The specific Bible prophecy this event reminded me of was written by the Hebrew prophet Zechariah 2,500 years ago. Speaking of the end times, he prophesied that God will “make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.” (Zechariah 12: 3, emphasis added)

Although the United States delegation to the UN was one of the few that remained in their seats, it has become obvious that America’s support of Israel is severely waning. For example, when Netanyahu spoke to Congress in March of 2015, 58 Democrats boycotted the session. When he returned to speak to Congress in July of this year, 128 Democrats refused to attend (100 House members and 28 Senators).

Also, even though President Biden has spoken out strongly in support of Israel, his lack of action has spoken louder than his words. He has refused to send military aid that Congress has approved. And he keeps demanding a cease-fire instead of encouraging Israel to finish off both Hamas and Hezbollah. Israel is determined to defeat its monstrous enemies. Biden wants to appease them.

For over 40 years, I have been teaching that in the end times — in accordance with Bible prophecy — all the nations of the world will turn against Israel. In response, American Christians have reacted in disbelief, arguing that our nation would never turn against Israel. But today, the streets of our largest cities and the campuses of our major universities are filled with violent anti-Semitic protestors demanding that our nation abandon Israel in support of two of the world’s most vicious terrorist organizations.

How can this be explained?

Day 362 — Wednesday, October 2

A readout of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address at the start of the Security Cabinet meeting on Oct. 1 (translated from Hebrew):

“Citizens of Israel, at the start of my remarks, I send condolences to the families of those who were murdered in the abhorrent terrorist attack in Jaffa and my best wishes for a quick recovery to the wounded.

As in the missile attack, there was also a murderous guiding hand behind this terrorist attack—it came from Tehran.

This evening, Iran again attacked Israel with hundreds of missiles. This attack failed. It was thwarted thanks to Israel’s air-defense array, which is the most advanced in the world. I commend the IDF for the impressive achievement. It was also thwarted thanks to your alertness and responsibility, citizens of Israel. I also thank the US for its support in our defensive effort.

This evening, Iran made a big mistake—and it will pay for it. The regime in Tehran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and to exact a price from our enemies.

[Yahya] Sinwar and [Mohammed] Deif did not understand this; neither did Nasrallah or Mohsen. Apparently, there are those in Tehran who do not understand this either.

They will.

We will keep to the rule we have determined: Whoever attacks us, we attack them.

This is true wherever we fight the axis of evil. It is true in Judea and Samaria. It is true in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen and Syria—and it is also true in Iran. We are fighting the axis of evil everywhere, including in southern Lebanon and Gaza, where our heroic soldiers are active.

Today, more than ever, the forces of light in the world must unite and work together against the ayatollah’s dark regime, which is the source of terror and evil in our region. They must stand alongside Israel. The choice has never been more clear, between tyranny and freedom, between the blessing and the curse.

On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, I say to you, citizens of Israel: Israel has the momentum and the axis of evil is in retreat. We will do whatever needs to be done to continue this trend. To achieve all of our war objectives, especially the return of all of our hostages, and ensure our existence and our future.

A good and safe year to you all.”

JNS

Day 362 — Wednesday, October 2

On Tuesday evening, a horrific shooting attack took place in Jaffa as two terrorists unleashed a deadly assault on the light rail along Jerusalem Boulevard, claiming the lives of seven residents. Security forces subsequently neutralized both perpetrators. Both attackers are Palestinians from the Hebron area. It was unclear how they entered Israel, and why they were allowed to board the light rail with weapons before firing on bystanders on the platform.

Rom Ela, an emergency medical technician with United Hatzalah first responder organization, provided details of the unfolding situation: “We initially received reports of injured individuals near the train station on Jerusalem Boulevard.

Bystanders then informed us of additional casualties on nearby streets, prompting our teams to expand their response to multiple locations. Some of the victims we treated were unconscious. As of now, we’ve operated across four different streets.” Six people were pronounced dead shortly after the incident, while another one died early Wednesday morning.

Hanan Peretz, head of  division in the police, recounted at the scene of the attack: “Several teams arrived at the location and spotted a terrorist with a long weapon, possibly an assault rifle. As he fled, he was aiming the weapon, but was subsequently neutralized. The inspectors at the scene prevented harm to additional individuals.”

Shai Peretz, an eyewitness to the attack, described the harrowing scene: “I saw a tall, thin man with a gunfiring in every direction at anyone who appeared in front of him. He shot two women and another man who was passing by on a bicycle. The man was hit and fell to the ground. We need to conduct a thorough review here.”

Israel Hayom

Day 362 — Wednesday, October 2

What a day in God’s land. In case you missed it, the Iranian regime directly attacked Israel, launching some 181 ballistic missiles at the world’s one and only Jewish state. It’s being said that this is the largest ballistic missile attack ever in world history.

You might hearken back to the April 2024 attack that Iran conducted against Israel, during which over 300 projectiles were fired, and wonder why today is considered “unprecedented.” However, that barrage consisted of a mixture of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones. Today’s attack was strictly 181 ballistic missiles that blanketed every inch of Israel. Although it had fewer projectiles, the attack consisted of more lethal weapons.

They also travel at a much greater distance. A few of my colleagues were surprised at the speed of this attack. If you remember, the April 13th attack by Iran involved waiting hours for some of these cruise missiles and drones to reach from Iran to Israel. It was a slow-moving train, and most of them were intercepted before they even entered Israeli airspace. In fact, some 99% were intercepted, in a miraculous display of missile defense. Ballistic missiles travel in roughly twelve minutes. That’s all, folks. Twelve minutes is all you have to prepare when ballistic missiles travel from Iran to Israel.

While the numbers are still coming in, we do know that not every one of today’s ballistic missiles were intercepted. At least eight or nine got through certainly; many fell in open spaces.

The United States says that they helped Israel, as they did in April, intercept these incoming ballistic missiles. That’s a good thing, but don’t expect anything more than a defensive posture from the United States under the current leadership—or lack thereof. There will be every effort, prepare yourselves, for the Biden-Harris Administration to attempt to restrain Israel at every turn.

In April, when those missiles were intercepted, Joe Biden told Benjamin Netanyahu to just take the win and not strike back. Undoubtedly, that is the message from the Biden Administration once again. According to the White House, Biden and Harris were in the Situation Room monitoring the unfolding attack in real time.

Currently, the Iranian regime says the attack is over, and Israeli officials have given the okay for the people of Israel to leave their bomb shelters.

That being said, five hours from now, you may have a case, God forbid, where Iran fires another wave. Not long from now, we may also see Israel in the midst of responding to this unprecedented Iranian assault.

Day 362 — Wednesday, October 2

Israel vowed on Tuesday night to have a “significant” response to the Islamic Republic of Iran firing nearly 200 ballistic missiles at the country.

The damage from the attack remains unclear, although it appears that the only person who was killed was a Palestinian who was hit in Judea and Samaria by a piece of shrapnel falling to the ground. Some missiles did hit targets in Israel, but many appear to have been intercepted by the Iron Dome.

An Israeli official told CNN that the country had a “significant response” planned for Iran and that the damage Iran has suffered, including to its terrorist proxy groups, is “only a promo” for what Israel has in store for the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.

Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a public statement that the attack would have “consequences” and that Israel already has plans in place that it will execute “at the place and time we decide.”

Three U.S. destroyers positioned in the eastern Mediterranean Sea — the USS Arleigh Burke, USS Cole, and USS Bulkeley — engaged in shooting down Iranian ballistic missiles during the attack, a U.S. official told reporters.

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who has been disastrous for U.S. foreign policy, claimed that there would be “consequences — severe consequences — for this attack, and we will work with Israel to make that the case.”

Jordan also helped to shoot down missiles that were fired at Israel, according to CNN. The Jordanian military said in a statement that its forces have been put “on high alert to confront any attempts that threaten the security and stability of the kingdom.”

“The General Command is closely monitoring the developments occurring in the region and has taken necessary precautionary measures to build and support front-line units on the border fronts to protect the homeland,” a Jordanian official told the network.

Daily Wire

Day 361 — Tuesday, October 1

The Iranian regime fired around 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday evening in a missile assault of unprecedented scope, claiming to retaliate for the Israeli killings of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, and IRGC officer Abbas Nilforoushan.

Around 7:30 p.m., the IDF announced that a missile attack on Israel had begun. The IDF Home Front Command activated rocket alert sirens across almost the whole of the country and sent phone alerts to millions of Israelis instructing them to enter safe rooms.

According to Army Radio, some 1,864 sirens blared across the country.

Shortly after, around 180 ballistic surface-to-surface missiles arrived in Israel’s airspace, most of which were shot down by the IDF’s air defenses.

The Magen David Adom rescue service reported that the only casualties were three lightly wounded Israelis. Palestinian sources claimed that a worker from Gaza was killed in the area of Jericho by falling shrapnel from a missile interception.

IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari gave the all-clear around 8:30 p.m., adding that ‘only a few’ impacts were identified in central and southern Israel.

“At this point we are still assessing the situation. They carried out quite a few interceptions and there are a few hits. We do not detect any additional threats to the airspace, so we have given instructions to leave the protected areas,” Hagari said.

Shortly after, Israeli media reported that the country’s airspace was reopened, after flights had been diverted to Cyprus the previous hour.

An Israeli source told media outlets that “there will be a strong reaction, what Iran has received so far is only one percent [of what it will receive].”

Iran’s embassy to the U.N. claimed the assault was a “legal, rational, and legitimate response to the terrorist acts of the Zionist regime.”

“Should the Zionist regime dare to respond or commit further acts of malevolence, a subsequent and crushing response will ensue. Regional states and the Zionists’ supporters are advised to part ways with the regime.”

All Israel News

Day 361 — Tuesday, October 1

Hezbollah deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem said on Monday that his organization is ready for any potential ground operation by Israeli troops, in the first speech by an official of the terror group since its leader was killed.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah was assassinated on Friday by Israel, the climax of a series of airstrikes over the week that eliminated much of the terror group’s command structure.

“We will face any possibility and we are ready if the Israelis decide to enter by land and the resistance forces are ready for a ground engagement,” Qassem said in prerecorded remarks.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Israeli special forces have already launched small raids into Lebanon in recent months, including sending troops into Hezbollah tunnels along the border ahead of a wider offensive.

“Despite the losses of its commanders, the attacks against civilians throughout Lebanon, and great sacrifices, we will not budge from our position,” Qassem said in a speech from an undisclosed location in Beirut. “We will continue to support Gaza and to defend Lebanon.”

Qassem, who appeared to be sweating profusely throughout his speech, asserted that Hezbollah will continue in the footsteps of Nasrallah, who led it since 1992.

He also said Hezbollah will elect a new secretary-general as soon as possible, using an internal process, highlighting that for every commander and every official, there are replacements.

Alongside Nasrallah, more than 20 Hezbollah operatives were killed in the massive airstrike in Beirut, the Israel Defense Forces said Sunday, including Ali Karaki, the commander of Hezbollah’s Southern Front, and several of the terror leader’s advisers.

It is expected that Hashem Safieddine, Nasrallah’s cousin and head of Hezbollah’s executive council, will be picked as the new leader.

Since October 8, Hezbollah-led forces have attacked Israeli communities and military posts along the border on a near-daily basis, with the group saying it is doing so to support Gaza during the war there.

Since Israel escalated its airstrikes against Hezbollah on Monday, more than 630 people have been killed in Lebanon, according to the country’s health ministry. Thousands of pagers detonated on their Hezbollah owners last week, putting a reported 1,500 fighters from the terror group out of commission, in an attack blamed on Israel.

Times Of Israel

Day 361 — Tuesday, October 1

Israel’s attack on Hezbollah shocked the world. Why? Both the US State Department and the United Nations seemed appalled that Israel would attack an enemy that has fired close to 10,000 missiles at its citizens since October 7th of last year. What’s surprising about that? Do they think Jews should gently acquiesce when led from ghettos to gas chambers? Should the world’s only Jewish state be the one nation not allowed to defend itself? Such thinking is distorted, bizarre, and bigoted. It is antisemitic to the core.

Much of the world considers Hezbollah a terrorist organization. It has carried out attacks on Israel since it was founded by Iran in 1992. Those attacks increased over the last year, mostly as an aid to Hamas and its terror war on Israel. Every time Israel does anything to slow down the ongoing attacks against itself, news reports include something like this. “Experts fear this could lead to a wider war in the Middle East.” But the view from Israel is that it is already in the bullseye of a regional war.

The Hamas war on Israel has been ongoing for decades. According to its own charter, Hamas was formed for the purpose of destroying Israel. Until recently, it controlled Gaza. Because billionaire Hamas leaders regularly diverted global aid into their own pockets, Gaza remained one of the poorest regions on earth. The poverty Hamas leaders caused led to more aid for Gaza — and more graft for Hamas leaders.

Gaza borders Israel, the Mediterranean Sea, and Egypt. By sea and from Egypt, Hamas was able to bring terror supplies into Gaza with which to attack Israel. Until recently, it had a vast tunnel system for moving terror supplies into the area and into Israel. They put all this into motion on October 7th of last year.

From the south, Houthis continue to fire sophisticated, long-range Iranian ballistic missiles — at Israel and at American Navy ships. The Houthis are a Shiite Muslim terror group working in Yemen which sits at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula.

From the immediate east, Israel contends daily with the Palestinian Authority which governs Judea and Samaria (an area often known as the West Bank). This organization teaches terrorism as a way of life to their young, and they reward terrorists and the families of “martyrs” with handsome lifetime financial rewards.

Day 360 — Monday, September 30

The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed on Tuesday morning the beginning of a “limited” ground operation in Lebanon, following security cabinet approval to begin the next phase of the war.

“In accordance with the decision of the political echelon, a few hours ago, the IDF began limited, localized, and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence against Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon,” the IDF said in a statement. “These targets are located in villages close to the border and pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel.”

“The IDF is operating according to a methodical plan set out by the General Staff and the Northern Command which IDF soldiers have trained and prepared for in recent months,” they continued. “The Israeli Air Force and IDF Artillery are supporting the ground forces with precise strikes on military targets in the area.”

“Operation ‘Northern Arrows’ will continue according to the situational assessment and in parallel to combat in Gaza and in other arenas,” the IDF highlighted. “The IDF is continuing to operate to achieve the goals of the war and is doing everything necessary to defend the citizens of Israel and return the citizens of northern Israel to their homes.”

According to the Times of Israel, Lebanese troops retreated to at least 3 miles from the border in anticipation of Israel’s ground operation on Monday.

Harbinger’s Staff

Day 360 — Monday, September 30

Israeli troops and tanks were last night seen gathering in the north, on their border with southern Lebanon, in apparent preparation for a ground invasion. 

The last time Israel launched a ground offensive of Lebanon was in 2006, when 34 days of intense cross-border fighting with Hezbollah ended in a stalemate.

The United States has issued an 11th-hour appeal to both sides for restraint, with US president Joe Biden warning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that an all-out war in the Middle East must be avoided.

Israel [stated] that more than 20 senior Hezbollah members including Ali Karaki – who was in charge of the southern front – were assassinated in the attack on Friday alongside Nasrallah.

Reuters reported Nasrallah’s body was found yesterday, and videos circulating on social media purport to show his body being retrieved.

Hezbollah – the Iran-backed terror group in Lebanon – confirmed that Nasrallah, who led it for 32 years, was killed in Friday’s strike. Hashem Safieddine is expected to take over as the leader.

Several foreign embassies have now begun to evacuate non-essential staff as the country braces for the possibility of an all-out war.

Daily Mail

Day 360 — Monday, September 30

Individuals who posted ‘From the River to the Sea‘ on social media will be denied German citizenship, according to stipulations in the new citizenship law, as cited by German channel NDR (North German Radio and Television) and the Federal Interior Ministry this week.

People who are employed in Germany can work to obtain citizenship after five years, compared to the eight years previously required in the law. While the law came to pass on June 27 of this year, the requirements have been tightened, especially regarding “Racism, antisemitism or any other form of misanthropy rule out naturalization,” according to the German Federal Ministry of the Interior.

One of the requirements for citizenship, clause 10.1.1.1.3.1, concerns “Germany’s special historical responsibility for the National Socialist injustice and its consequences, especially for the protection of Jewish life.”

This clause stipulated that an individual who contravenes Germany’s legal commitment to the protection of Jews may not be eligible for citizenship. 

This clause included denial of the fact or extent of the genocide of the Jews of Europe by Nazi Germany (the Holocaust) and accusing Jews or the State of Israel of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.

It also included the following statements, “From the River to the Sea,” possibly with the addition “Palestine will be free,” “Let’s go bomb Tel Aviv,” “Death to Israel,” and “Israel, child murderer.”

The use of maps in which the territory of the State of Israel is replaced with the colors of the Palestinian flag was also considered in contravention of the law.

The above can be considered grounds for exclusion from citizenship, as, according to NDR, people are considered incompatible with a commitment to the German constitution if they violate Germany’s special historical responsibility towards Jewish life.

This stipulation includes liking, sharing, or commenting on such slogans on social networks. 

The Federal Ministry of the Interior said that, when such slogans are uttered, the context in which they are said should be taken into account. For example, if “statements such as ‘From the River to the Sea‘ coincide with an explicit call for violent actions against the State of Israel,” this should be questioned in a citizenship interview. 

While NDR stated that German states have autonomy over naturalization under their authority, a spokesperson explained to the dpa said that “The practice of recent years has shown, however, that the states are guided by the Federal Ministry of the Interior’s application instructions, so that the legal regulations on nationality law are applied uniformly.”

In March, it was reported that Germany’s citizenship test would now include questions on the Holocaust, Judaism, and Israel to filter out people with antisemitic views, according to a report by Der Spiegel.

“If you don’t share our values, you can’t get a German passport. We have drawn a crystal clear red line here,” Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told Der Spiegel.

“Antisemitism, racism, and other forms of contempt for humanity preclude naturalization.”

In August, a protester who chanted “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” at a Berlin rally was fined €600 by a German court.

Jerusalem Post

Day 359 — Sunday, September 29

Israeli Air Force fighter jets carried out dozens of airstrikes on Houthi terrorist targets in the area of Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah on Sunday afternoon, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed in a statement.

“In a large-scale operation, dozens of Air Force aircraft, including fighter jets, refueling and intelligence planes, under the direction of the Military Intelligence Directorate, attacked military targets of the Houthi terrorist regime in the areas of Ras Issa and Hodeidah in Yemen,” the IDF said.

“The targets included power plants and a seaport, which were used by the Houthis to transfer Iranian weapons to the region, in addition to military supplies and oil,” according to the military statement.

“The attack was carried out in response to the latest attacks carried out by the Houthi regime against the State of Israel,” it added. “the Houthis have been operating under the direction and funding of Iran, and in cooperation with Iraqi militias, in order to attack the State of Israel, undermine regional stability and disrupt global freedom of navigation.”

“‘I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till I destroyed them’ (Psalms, chapter 18, verse 38),” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement following the attack.

”I followed the attack against the Houthis from the control room of the Air Force. The message is clear—for us, no place is too far,” he added.

Unnamed senior officials in Jerusalem told Israel’s Channel 12 that the damage following the airstrikes was “enormous,” adding that it will take the Houthis “a long time” to recover from the unprecedented attack.

“The purpose of the attack is to exact a heavy price for the attacks by the Houthis. If they continue to attack Israel, the attacks will increase,” an Israeli official told the country’s Ynet outlet. “The message to Iran is that Israel can attack with tremendous power even at a distance of 2,000 kilometers [≈1,200 miles]. It can do it simultaneously in several arenas.

“Today, we attacked in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen,” the official said.

The leader of the Houthis, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, on Saturday night claimed that a surface-to-surface missile it had launched at central Israel hours earlier was timed to coincide with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s return to the Jewish state from the United States.

The IDF announced that the military’s aerial defense array had downed the Houthi terrorist missile “outside of the country’s borders.”

In a televised speech, the Houthi leader also vowed that the targeted killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut on Friday would “not be in vain.”

Yemen’s Houthi militia, an Iranian proxy force, has launched numerous attacks on the Jewish state in support of Hamas in the wake of the Palestinian terrorist group’s Oct. 7 invasion of southern Israel.

JNS

Day 359 — Sunday, September 29

Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah terror chief Hassan Nasrallah in a Friday sortie will reshape the Middle East’s power structures, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday, warning Iran that Israel’s military could strike wherever in the region it needs.

Netanyahu’s first public comments since a massive Israeli airstrike killed Hezbollah’s leader in his southern Beirut headquarters on Friday, came as fighter jets continued to pound Hezbollah targets, announcing a blockade aimed at stymying Iranian weapons shipments into Lebanon and threatening a possible broadening of strikes after nearly week of intensified fighting.

Despite suffering heavy losses from days of intense airstrikes on its weapons stores and leadership, Hezbollah continued to flex its extensive rocket arsenal throughout Saturday, firing at least 100 rockets into Israel, including what appeared to be the group’s first attack targeting Jerusalem.

Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah terror chief Hassan Nasrallah in a Friday sortie will reshape the Middle East’s power structures, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday, warning Iran that Israel’s military could strike wherever in the region it needs.

Netanyahu’s first public comments since a massive Israeli airstrike killed Hezbollah’s leader in his southern Beirut headquarters on Friday, came as fighter jets continued to pound Hezbollah targets, announcing a blockade aimed at stymying Iranian weapons shipments into Lebanon and threatening a possible broadening of strikes after nearly week of intensified fighting.

Despite suffering heavy losses from days of intense airstrikes on its weapons stores and leadership, Hezbollah continued to flex its extensive rocket arsenal throughout Saturday, firing at least 100 rockets into Israel, including what appeared to be the group’s first attack targeting Jerusalem.

“Nasrallah wasn’t just another terrorist. He was the terrorist,” he said. “Eliminating Nasrallah was an essential condition for achieving the goals that we have set out — returning the residents of the north safely to their homes and changing the balance of power in the region for years.”

“As long as Nasrallah was alive, he would have quickly rehabilitated Hezbollah’s capabilities,” Netanyahu added.

With Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei moving to a secure location, the Israeli premier also appeared to issue a direct challenge to Tehran, which had supplied Hezbollah with funds, weapons and know-how, building it into a formidable branch of the Islamic Republic on Israel’s northern border.

“Those who strike at us, we will strike at them,” Netanyahu said. “There is nowhere in Iran or the Middle East beyond the reach of the long arm of Israel, and today you know how true that is.”

Nasrallah, long seen as a top assassination target of Israel, had spent over a decade avoiding public appearances to remain out of harms way, but on Friday evening, Israeli warplanes carried out a large strike on the Hezbollah stronghold of Dahiyeh south of Beirut, killing Nasrallah, along with several other top commanders, in the group’s headquarters.

According to The New York Times, an analysis of a video released by the Israel Defense Forces of jets taking off for the strike showed them carrying at least 15 2,000-pound bombs, including US-made BLU-109 munitions armed with JDAM kits, indicating Israel had used ground-penetrating weapons known as bunker-busters in the strike.

Netanyahu said he decided to order the strike after coming to the conclusion that Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah until that point were not sufficient. According to reports, Israel had been tracking Nasrallah’s whereabouts for months, but Netanyahu only approved the operation on Friday, amid fears that Israel could lose the opportunity it had to take him out.

According to the army, more than 3,500 munitions have been dropped by Israeli Air Force fighter jets on Hezbollah sites in the past week, taking out many of their rocket, missile, and drone capabilities, along with intelligence sites.

Israel said it carried out over 140 strikes in Lebanon late Friday and Saturday, including facilities where rockets were being manufactured or assembled in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley, a Hezbollah bastion on the Syrian border. It also announced that a strike on Beirut a day earlier had destroyed dozens of anti-ship missiles, siloed at six warehouses and primed to be used within minutes.

Times Of Israel

Day 358 — Saturday, September 28

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was killed in the IDF’s strike on Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut on Friday, the IDF announced Saturday morning.

The IDF also killed Ali Karaki, Hezbollah’s commander of the southern front, as well as other Hezbollah commanders.

Israel’s air force struck Hezbollah’s central headquarters using precise intelligence from the intelligence wing and defense system. The headquarters were based underground, under a residential building in Dahieh in the Lebanese capital.

As Hezbollah’s chief for 32 years, Nasrallah was responsible for the murder of countless Israeli civilians and soldiers and for the planning and execution of terrorist activities around the world in which civilians were murdered.

Nasrallah was the main decision-maker and the strategic leader of Hezbollah.

Jerusalem Post

Day 358 — Saturday, September 28

After nearly a year since the outbreak of the war, and in the height of the conflict with Hezbollah, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke today (Friday) at the UN General Assembly. In his speech, he addressed the continuation of the fighting in Lebanon and the Iranian threat.

“On October 7th, terrorists invaded Israel and inflicted the worst atrocities imaginable. We will not rest until the remaining hostages are brought home,” he declared.

“I have with me family members of the hostages. I promise all families, we will return your loved ones home. We will not stop until this is accomplished.”

“We are facing the curse of Iran or the blessing of Jew and Arab,” Netanyahu stated, while displaying maps of two possible futures in the Middle East – one showing normalization with Arab countries, the other showing continued war against Iran and its allies. “Israel seeks peace, Israel makes peace, and Israel will make peace again.”

“Iran funds terror networks on five continents. For too long, the world has appeased Iran. That appeasement must end now.”

“I call on the Security Council to stop support for Iran, we must ensure that Iran never gets nuclear weapons. Iran’s militia have targeted us as well. Residents of Judea and Samaria have also attacked Israel.”

My message to Tehran: “If you strike us, we will strike you. We will reach everywhere in the Middle East.”

United States President Joe Biden had addressed the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, which was opened in New York for the 79th time, discussing his vision for the future of the United States and the conflict in Israel.

“The nations of the world must not ignore the horrors that were committed on October 7,” he said.

“Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and slaughtered 1,200 people, including people who were dancing at a party, and committed acts of rape and sexual violence. I met with families of the hostages who are enduring unimaginable suffering.”

“Terrorists steal food that we allow into Gaza, then they hype the prices, and that’s how they stay in power. Hamas has got to go.”

“This war can come to an end now – Hamas has to surrender, lay down its arms and release all the hostages!”

“On the day after the massacre, Hezbollah attacked Israel causing thousands of Israelis to be displaced. This has been going on for almost a year. The US would not accept this for even a day.”

“Hezbollah has fired rockets and missiles from private homes, schools and hospitals. Israel has no choice and Israel has every right to stop this. And that is exactly what we are going to do.”

“Peace with Saudi Arabia would enable partnerships in many, many fields, a true pivot of history, historical reconciliation between Mecca and Jerusalem.”

“One of the best ways to foil Iran’s plans is to achieve this peace – also with the US and others who choose peace.”

“I believe this can materialize and much sooner than we believe. This is an opportunity that we and the world cannot let go by.”

“What choice would the world make – stand with a democracy and peace or a country that supports terror?”

“Even in this hall – evil is portrayed as good and good is portrayed as evil. This is an absurdity – that all that we do – bringing food into Gaza – and we are portrayed as evil. No army has done what Israel has done to protect civilians.”

“I spoke from this podium, as Ambassador to the UN, in 1984 – 40 years ago. Then I spoke against a proposal to expel Israel from the UN. Now I am talking against the same proposal – not by Hamas, but by Mahmoud Abbas, who is supposed to be our peace partner.”

“During that speech, I told everyone – check your fanaticism at the door. And today I say the same. For the Palestinians this home of darkness is their home court.”

“The ICC does not consider Israel the democracy that it is. The real criminals are in Gaza, Iran, Yemen.”

“Those who stand with the side of evil, should be ashamed of yourselves. Israel will win this battle – because we don’t have a choice. After generations where we were slaughtered and nobody stood up for us – we are now defending ourselves.”

“The torch of Israel will shine forever. Am Yisrael Chai.”

Arutz Sheva

Day 358 — Saturday, September 28

Following the strike on Beirut on Friday, IDF Spokesperson R.-Adm. Daniel Hagari announced that the IDF would soon strike Hezbollah infrastructure built under civilian buildings in Dahiya.

The IDF would be targeting storage areas for coastal missile array that had been sent from Iran. This was due to the experience of the Second Lebanon War, in which anti-ship missiles killed several sailors.

During the presentation, he illustrated weapons storage locations under the civilian apartments in Beirut.

Hagari also announced that the IAF had begun restricting access to Beirut airport to block the importation of weapons.

“IAF jets are now patrolling the area of ​​Beirut’s airport. Until now, the State of Lebanon acted responsibly and did not allow the transfer of weapons through the civilian airport. We announce – we will not allow weapons to land at the airport in Beirut.”

“We will not allow militarized planes to use a civilian airport. This is a civilian airport for civilian use, and it must be protected as such.”

“I will update you throughout the night and tomorrow whenever necessary,” he said before signing off.

Jerusalem Post