Israel and Middle East News Update

Wednesday, May 12

Headlines: ● 35 Killed in Gaza, 5 in Israel, as Violence Escalates ● Egypt Concerned Over Israel’s Disinterest in Mediation ● Israel Declares State of Emergency in Lod ● PM Says Israel to Continue Operation, Warns Hamas ● US Top Diplomat Says ‘All Sides Need to de-Escalate’ ● UNSC to Hold Meeting on Recent Escalation ● Ra’Am Hopeful Coalition Talks Can Resume ● Thousands of Pro-Palestinian New Yorkers Protest Israel

Commentary: ● Yedioth Ahronoth: “This is War’’ - By Alex Fishman

● Ma’ariv: “We’ve Created a Monster’’ - By Ben Caspit

S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace 1725 I St NW Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006 The Hon. Robert Wexler, President News Excerpts May 12, 2021 Reuters 35 Killed in Gaza, 5 in Israel, as Violence Escalates Hostilities between Israel and Hamas escalated with 35 Palestinians killed in Gaza and five in Israel. Israel carried out hundreds of air strikes in Gaza as the Islamist group fired multiple rocket barrages at Tel Aviv and Beersheba. Israel said it attacked Hamas targets, including intelligence centers and rocket launch sites. It was the heaviest offensive between Israel and Hamas since a 2014 war in Gaza and prompted international concern that the situation could spiral out of control. The violence followed weeks of tension in during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, with clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters in and around Al-Aqsa Mosque, on the compound revered by Jews as Temple Mount and by Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. These escalated in recent days ahead of a (now postponed) court hearing in a case that could end with Palestinian families evicted from East Jerusalem homes claimed by Jewish settlers. Dig Deeper ‘‘In Photos: Dozens Dead as Israel and Hamas Intensify Aerial Bombardments’’ (Axios)

Ynet News Egypt Concerned Over Israel’s Disinterest in Mediation Israel will intensify its airstrikes in the Gaza Strip despite efforts by Egyptian mediators to bring about an end to violence, a senior political source told Ynet. The source said that "the Egyptians were told that Israel was augmenting its deterrence against Hamas" and that the government has authorized the IDF to target and kill high-ranking military officials in Gaza. The source added that the security cabinet believed that Egypt and the international community will allow Israel to keep responding to the offensive of the Gaza terrorist factions until the beginning of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr this week. The IDF and the Shin Bet announced that a senior commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist group in the Gaza Strip has been assassinated in a joint operation. Dig Deeper ‘‘What is Hamas Trying to Achieve by Fighting Israel?’’ (Jerusalem Post)

Jerusalem Post Israel Declares State of Emergency in Lod Fierce rioting continued in the mixed Jewish-Arab city of Lod and a state of emergency was declared, with Defense Minister Benny Gantz announcing the deployment of several Border Police units to help quell the violence that saw the burning of three synagogues and dozens of cars. Israel Police Chief Kobi Shabtai announced "We have not seen this kind of violence since October 2000," he said in reference to Arab riots that took place at the beginning of what would later become the Second Intifada. Escalations began as hundreds of Arab residents protested in solidarity with Palestinians in east Jerusalem and Gaza by throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails around while marching toward the Jewish neighborhood of Ramat Eskhol. A 33-year-old Lod resident and father of three named Musa Hassuna was shot dead during the riots. Israeli Police arrested two Jewish suspects. 2 Israel Hayom PM Says Israel to Continue Operation, Warns Hamas Prime Minister says an Israeli military operation has dealt a tough blow to Gaza terrorists but added that the fighting will continue for some time. In a nationally televised speech, he said Hamas and the PIJ terrorist groups "have paid, and will pay a heavy price." IDF chief Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi said the IDF attacked more than 500 targets over the first day of Operation Guardian of the Walls (dubbed by Hamas as Operation Sowrd of Jerusalem). "Dozens of terrorists were killed," he said, before adding that "the IDF is deployed along the border and acting in coordination with our air defense disposition to intercept the rockets." The comments by Kochavi and Netanyahu were made after the rocket fire extended to Tel Aviv. A woman in her 50s was killed in Rishon L'Zion and the outgoing volleys set off air raid sirens across central Israel and beyond, and the Ben Gurion International Airport halted flights briefly. One rocket struck a bus in the central city of Holon, just south of Tel Aviv. Dig Deeper ‘‘Gaza: Hamas, Islamic Jihad Vow to Step up Rockets Against Israel’’ (Jerusalem Post)

Times of Israel US Top Diplomat Says ‘All Sides Need to de-Escalate’ Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged both Israel and the Palestinians to lower tensions and pressed for an immediate end to rocket fire by Hamas. “All sides need to de-escalate, reduce tensions, take practical steps to calm things down,” Blinken said as he met his Jordanian counterpart in Washington. Blinken strongly condemned rocket fire by Hamas and backed Israel’s right to respond. He also praised steps taken by Israel over the past day partly in response to concerns led by the US, including rerouting a flashpoint parade meant to celebrate Israel’s reunification of Jerusalem, the postponement of a decision on the eviction of Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah, which has been described as a trigger for the violence. “But it’s imperative for all sides to take steps to de-escalate the situation,” Blinken said. Dig Deeper ‘‘Violence Upends Biden’s Israel-Palestinian Outlook’’ ()

I24 News UNSC to Hold Meeting on Recent Escalation The UN Security Council will hold an urgent meeting on the escalation between Israel and Palestinians, in its second such session in three days, according to diplomatic sources. The closed- door meeting has been requested by Tunisia, Norway and China. The first ended without a joint statement, with the US expressing reluctance to adopt a draft statement proposed by Norway. "We want to see to it that steps, whether they emanate from the Israeli government, the Palestinian Authority or the UN Security Council, serve, not to escalate or provoke, but to de-escalate," State Department spokesman Ned Price said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the escalation must stop. "Israeli security forces must exercise maximum restraint and calibrate their use of force," he said in a statement, adding that "the indiscriminate launching of rockets and mortars towards Israeli population centers is unacceptable." Dig Deeper ‘‘Arab States, Turkey Condemn Israeli Action in Jerusalem, Gaza’’ (Ynet News)

3 Times of Israel Ra’Am Hopeful Coalition Talks Can Resume Coalition talks on forming Israel’s next government remained frozen as the Islamist Ra’am party refused to continue negotiations amid escalating Arab-Jewish violence within Israel and the escalating rocket barrages from Gaza. But sources within the political parties opposed to Prime Minister Netanyahu told Hebrew media they hoped the talks would resume when the violence subsides. Ra’am announced it had suspended coalition talks with the so-called “change bloc,” potentially dooming efforts by the parties to form a government that removes the longtime premier from office. A Ra’am source told the Kan that it was unclear if the party would again hold talks with Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid — who is currently tasked with forming a government — before his mandate to assemble a coalition ends on June 2, as the resumption of negotiations would depend on the scope of the violence. sought to use the situation to pry right-wing anti-Netanyahu parties Yamina and New Hope out of any anti-Netanyahu coalition, sources from those parties noted that more than three weeks remain of the negotiations window, and insisted the talks could go ahead if the violence ends quickly. Unnamed officials close to Ra’am reportedly told media sources that Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas shared that view. Dig Deeper ‘‘Would Escalation with Hamas Benefit Netanyahu?’’ (Al-Monitor)

Times of Israel Thousands of Pro-Palestinian New Yorkers Protest Israel Thousands of pro-Palestinian New Yorkers packed the streets of Midtown Manhattan at a protest against Israel amid ongoing violence coming in and out of the Gaza Strip. The protest, titled “rally to save Palestine,” commenced near the Israeli Consulate in New York, where internal security ordered staff home early to ensure their safety, a spokesman for the mission said. Several dozen pro-Israel demonstrators also rallied nearby and a part of the massive police presence at the scene was used to separate between the two sides as they shouted at each other. Local news outlets said police made a number of arrests, adding that the tense demonstration concluded without any other major incidents. A pro-Israel rally is scheduled for Wednesday evening at Times Square and is expected to bring large crowds. Dig Deeper ‘‘Trump Slams Biden’s ‘Weakness,’ Lack of Support for Israel’’ (Times of Israel)

4 Yedioth Ahronoth – May 12, 2021 This is War By Alex Fishman ● This is war. It isn’t a “round” and it isn’t “days of fighting.” The paralyzed airport, the strike on the strategic Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline, the massive shelling of population centers—this is war between Israel and Hamas. Up until late in the evening yesterday Israel rejected all of the offers that it had received from around the world to begin mediating a cease-fire. Don’t call us, we’ll call you. The IDF decided on additional levels of escalation in the fighting at the General Staff situation assessment meeting that was held yesterday, without deciding on any dates for ending [the fighting]. The generals who emerged from that meeting knew that the greater Tel Aviv area was about to come under bombardment shortly. That wasn’t a guess. It was clear that the decision made by Israel to knock down a series of towers and other central buildings in Gaza City that housed the various terror organizations’ facilities and offices would prompt Hamas to draw its most powerful weapon. The IDF General Staff received authorization at yesterday’s meeting to begin the second phase of the operation. This phase is likely to include elements that aren’t necessarily aerial efforts. ● The IDF used air power on a scale that has never been seen since Hamas took power [in Gaza]. Some 300 aircraft, half of them combat planes, operated in the first day. Those aren’t numbers [that one sees] in a day of fighting, but in a war effort. The first hours were devoted to destroying parts of Hamas’s military buildup. According to data that were collected by Israel, Islamic Jihad’s rocket manufacturing and storage facilities were severely damaged. Hamas took a blow, but it is going to take more time until Defense Minister Gantz will have kept his promise to pare Hamas’s military capabilities back to where they were several years ago. Meanwhile, an unknown number of Hamas activists were killed after being buried in tunnels. The GSS, in cooperation with the Air Force, carried out several targeted killing operations of top commanders in the terrorist organizations. One of the towers in Gaza was struck by a missile that killed five commanders of Islamic Jihad’s rocket array. Even before Hamas fired its long-range rockets at the greater Tel Aviv area, the IAF had set out to destroy the launching pits in which the rockets are housed—rockets that get fired on Israel by remote control. ● Judging by the results on the ground, however, it seems that Hamas’s firing capability [on the greater Tel Aviv area] has not been hurt yet. Hamas has also chalked up several significant achievements. Its command and control systems have not been hurt. Its top military chain of command hasn’t been hurt either. It has control over the pace and quality of the rocket fire. Hamas hasn’t yet used its new weapon: a rocket named “Thunder,” which is capable of penetrating concrete roofs thanks to an especially heavy warhead. It has a limited range, but it is designed to be lethal. Hamas has also been testing for the Iron Dome system’s weaknesses. The decision to fire 200 rockets at Ashkelon using a range of trajectories was designed to circumvent the system. For the time being, the Iron Dome batteries have met [the military’s] expectations, allowing only a handful of rockets to land [and strike effectively].

5 ● Meanwhile, a weakness suffered by the [Palestinian] organizations also became visible: more than 150 of the rockets that were fired landed inside the Gaza Strip. In the coming 24 hours we are likely to see an Israeli aerial effort on a scale similar to the effort in the first day. Israel will probably seek to target the leadership in the Gaza Strip, which is overseeing the war effort from within fortified bunkers. Hitting them is the key to ending the rocket fire. The decision, at least within the military echelon, is: unless the IDF’s achievements significantly outpace Hamas’s achievements, the fighting will only worsen. That is also the military echelon’s recommendation to the political echelon. It is clear to top military officials that it isn’t only Hamas that is looking at the IDF’s performance, but Hizbullah, the Syrians and the Iranians as well. Scoring a significant achievement isn’t just a matter of national pride; it is a strategic necessity.

6 Ma’ariv – May 12, 2021 We’ve Created a Monster By Ben Caspit ● This is the last call to action. For the last decade Israel has pursued a policy of “containment” vis-à-vis Hamas. Israel has nurtured Hamas, allowed it to grow, to gain strength, to improve its abilities and to garner experience. Israel has pushed aside and humiliated the Palestinian Authority, its strategic partner with whom it has signed a long list of agreements, the [partner who has worked together to] maintain long-standing, stable security cooperation. At the same time, Israel has collaborated with Hamas, and Netanyahu has completely ignored his repeated promise to “topple the terror leadership.” Israel discovered that its friendly Gaza pet had grown into a monster. You go to sleep with Hamas, you wake up with Hizbullah. If you don’t wake up in time, you soon find out that our balance of deterrence vis-à- vis Hamas is terrible, and also that we have lost the ability to act freely. Seems to me that we can’t really afford that luxury. ● With half the country in bomb shelters, children crying and parents at wits end, Yair Netanyahu wrote the following on : “Yonit Levy just asked on TV ‘how did Israel come to be held hostage by Hamas’. How?! How, Yonit??! Maybe in large part because of your obscene channel, Channel 2, which served as a cheerleader for the disengagement from Gush Katif, silenced opposition [to it] and people who warned about [the dangers of disengagement] (including my father) and treated the corrupt [then-Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon so it would all go quietly! Remember that? You were there in 2005, no?” In principle, during times of war it is wrong to go into politics. In reality, however, sometimes there is no choice. Yair Netanyahu is a public figure and one of the most influential people in Israel, if not the most influential. He lives entirely on our collective dime, he carries a portable insult launcher around with him. He probably swears in his sleep as well. Last night’s Tweet is evidence of a troubled individual who might just need outside help. ● During the Gaza disengagement Netanyahu Jr. Was precisely 14 years old. Apparently, he has no clue what happened. Let’s jog his memory: The person who voted in favor of disengagement was his father. Not once, not twice. The only person who could have blocked the disengagement was his father. But he didn’t block it. He even declared, during a Knesset argument (filmed and recorded) that he would vote in favor of disengagement “even in an internal poll of Likud members.” And more: After the disengagement, Yair Netanyahu’s father ran for office promising during the campaign that he would send the IDF into Gaza to topple the Hamas leadership immediately upon becoming prime minister (because his adviser, Yisrael Bachar, told him it would give him a spike in the polls). In contrast to the Kadima government, he would let the IDF win [a reference to a popular slogan at the time]. Then, he won the election and did precisely the opposite. Over the past 12 years he has nurtured Hamas. He’s allowed Hamas to gain strength because he wants to “stick it” to Abu Mazen. With his own hands, he has built a second Hizbullah, right next to the Ashkelon border fence.

7 ● So when the strongest power in the Middle East was paralyzed with fear because of a massive barrage of rockets fired at its largest population centers, the prime minister’s son took aim at a television station. And another thing: Why didn’t you watch Channel 20 last night, Yair? If those channels are so obscene, if they are really [nothing more than] local bureaus of Al-Jazeera, why not vote with your remote control? The round of violence we currently find ourselves in is characterized by a tempo that is much, much faster than anything we’re used to: The IDF had only just started to demolish apartment buildings in Gaza City’s Rimal neighborhood before Hamas and Islamic Jihad got to Tel Aviv at the same time. The finger pointing also started earlier than expected. Yesterday, “senior cabinet ministers” were already talking about their disappointment with the IDF, which [they said] had fallen asleep on the job and failed (once again) to anticipate that Hamas would be interested in escalating things. At the same time, the IDF expressed its frustration that the political echelon hadn’t okayed a more aggressive plan [that the military had presented] three weeks ago, and the GSS warned months ago that the IDF and we were becoming addicted to the artificial silence from Gaza. ● This is all senseless. Everybody is both right and wrong. The problem here is not with one aspect of an intelligence assessment, with an operational plan that had been shelved or a warning that had been sounded. The problem is the fact that Israel has no well- planned strategy at all when it comes to Gaza. There is no clear thinking. Israel simply goes with the flow. Qatari money comes in, they flirt with Sinwar and hope for the best. But in the Middle East, people who hope for the best wind up with some very bad things. The Gaza problem must be solved. Israel needs a strategy. Israel needs a brave leader, someone who can present a plan and carry it out. Draining up the Gaza terror swamp will be difficult, filthy work. It will cost many lives. ● But we have no choice. That’s what we did during Operation Defensive Shield because we had no choice. By continuing [to go with the flow] from round-to-round [of fighting] will allow Hamas to continue to grow stronger at a dizzying pace. Eventually, even the Iron Dome system won’t be able to save us. Do we need to re-conquer Gaza? Not necessarily. We cleaned out the casbahs, purged the refugee camps and pulled out. We can try to accomplish this goal without a massive invasion. Naftali Bennett once presented the cabinet with a plan he called “crushing.” It’s an interesting plan, one that employs out-of-the-box thinking. Israel is a country with phenomenal abilities, limitless creativity and means shared by few other countries. All we need is to understand the seriousness of the current moment and the enormity of the danger, to understand the alternative (to waking up too late) and to ignore all the background noise, be that politics or anything else, and do what we need to do.

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