New footage shows Israeli forces fatally shooting two Palestinians in the West Bank who appeared to have surrendered during an ongoing military operation in Jenin. The Israeli military claimed the men were wanted individuals associated with a “terror network,” and the incident is under review. The Palestinian Authority condemned the killings as a “war crime,” while Israel’s national security minister fully supported the officers involved. The raid is part of a larger Israeli campaign in the northern West Bank, which has seen a spike in violence since the Hamas attack in October 2023.
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Israel has approved a plan to bring the remaining 5,800 members of the Bnei Menashe community from India to Israel by 2030, marking the largest organized immigration effort for this group. The Jewish Agency for Israel will oversee the entire immigration process, including eligibility, flights, and absorption, with an estimated cost of 90 million shekels. A team of rabbis will begin interviewing potential immigrants soon, and new arrivals are expected to be settled in northern Israeli towns. This initiative aims to strengthen Jewish unity and complete the Aliyah of the Bnei Menashe, who trace their roots to one of the lost tribes of Israel.
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During an Oval Office meeting, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani accused Israel of genocide in Gaza. The statement was made during a discussion with US President Donald Trump. Trump avoided directly addressing a question about potential intervention if Mamdani attempted to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York.
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President Trump announced plans to approve the sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, a significant move preceding Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the White House. This potential arms deal aims to strengthen ties with Riyadh as the US seeks to encourage Saudi Arabia to establish official relations with Israel. The decision raises concerns about maintaining Israel’s military edge in the region, a long-standing US policy, with some Israeli officials opposing the sale. If the deal goes through, Saudi Arabia would become the first Arab country to receive the advanced F-35, a program the US has previously offered to the UAE.
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A Russian military convoy, including over 15 pieces of equipment, has arrived in the Syrian province of Quneitra, near the border with Israel and the buffer zone, as reported by 9tv. This deployment is likely connected to ongoing discussions regarding a security agreement in southern Syria, potentially involving the resumption of Russian military police patrols. The Syrian government hopes these patrols will curb Israeli military activities in the region, particularly after Israel’s occupation of parts of southern Syria. Notably, this move follows Russia’s earlier resumption of patrols in Syria and Israel’s previous attempts to influence the United States regarding Russia’s military presence in the country.
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Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly speculated whether a foreign government is influencing Donald Trump to withhold the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Greene specifically questioned whether Israel or another country was pressuring Trump, citing the Epstein files’ connection to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and her lack of donations from AIPAC. She defended this line of inquiry, emphasizing that she was asking an important question that many Americans have regarding the Epstein files. Greene also defended Tucker Carlson’s interview with white supremacist Nick Fuentes and suggested that CNN should also interview Fuentes.
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In an unprecedented move, former US President Donald Trump wrote to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, urging him to pardon Benjamin Netanyahu of corruption charges. Trump argued that the case was a “political, unjustified prosecution” and that Netanyahu should be allowed to unite Israel. This call for a pardon follows previous criticisms of the charges against Netanyahu, including comments made to the Knesset last month and a declaration of the trial being a “witch hunt”. President Herzog responded by stating that any pardon request must follow established procedures, highlighting the need for a formal request.
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UNICEF says Israel is currently blocking the delivery of one million syringes needed to vaccinate children in Gaza. It’s a stark reality, and it immediately raises questions, especially considering the urgent need for medical supplies in the area. Why would such a seemingly innocuous item be prevented from entering Gaza?
The explanation given by UNICEF is that both the syringes and other essential items like refrigerators are considered “dual-use” items by Israel. Now, I have to be honest, I’m scratching my head a bit here. The idea that a syringe, a device designed specifically for injecting medicine, could have some other, malicious purpose is difficult to grasp.… Continue reading
The Israeli parliament has approved the first reading of a bill proposing the death penalty for individuals deemed terrorists, which is likely to primarily impact Palestinians convicted of attacks on Israelis. This bill, spearheaded by the far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, has garnered condemnation from the Palestinian Authority and human rights groups. Another controversial bill allowing the Israeli government to close foreign media outlets without court approval also passed its first reading. This proposed legislation follows a period in which the state of Israel exchanged Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages, thus removing any leverage Hamas may have in the future.
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The Water Authority has initiated a groundbreaking project, becoming the first in the world to replenish a freshwater lake, the Sea of Galilee, with desalinated seawater. This initiative, launched on October 23rd, aims to combat the dropping water levels of the lake, Israel’s primary freshwater reservoir, and is expected to raise the lake’s level by approximately 0.5 centimeters monthly. The desalinated water is channeled through the seasonal Tsalmon Stream, reactivating the dried-out spring and is expected to maintain flow for at least six months. While tests suggest minimal harm to the ecosystem, concerns remain regarding potential dilution of the lake’s salinity, and officials will assess the project’s impact based on rainfall and available desalinated water surplus.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood