First Time Here? Readers suggest starting with the expanded Gaza Explainer in #133 and #120.
Tags: 5 Min Read; Vids
Update: After email release, a few language corrections were made.
I have been looking at changing apartments. It's a challenge to find a place that is the right size. Everything seems too large or too small. The rental market feels soft (note, I am not an expert). Prices are on the soft side, at least in Tel Aviv.
Living next to the market is... nice and addictive. That much I don't see changing.
Recent discoveries:
There are now statues of David and Paula Ben Gurion outside the Ben Gurion house in Tel Aviv. I think they are new in the last year or so (watch me be wrong and they've been there decades... but I don't think so, 'cause if I'd seen em, I'd have taken a selfie... therefore, they are new!)
(Even the pigeons are statues…. Photo: K.T.)
Not new but a new discovery: The hand-made fair that runs every Friday a few blocks from my place actually runs... Friday and Tuesday! (Thanks K.T.!)
I bought a leather belt. And earrings for Adina.
Dept of The Invisible
Items invisible in the Western media.
Drugs and Hezbollah
Something that was, barely, news a year ago: Hamas terrorists were jacked up on drugs when they attacked on October 7. Something that hits the news occasionally: Syria and Hezbollah are major drug manufacturers and traffickers. (This was discussed, with references, in #107.)
Regarding Naim Qassem (the new head of Hezbolla), drugs (specifically: Captagon, what Hezbollah traffics in), and Hezbollah's statements and posturing...
A few days ago, Dr. Saleh al-Manshouq, a Lebanese Christian activist, Hezbollah opponent, and university lecturer, made the following remarks:
Below: The Lebanese journalist from the MTV network, Mariam Majdouline speaks out against Hezbollah:
Note her theme: Hezbollah's inability to mount a funeral for Nassralah shows the profundity of their weakness and the falsity of their oft-proclaimed fealty to their own and to Lebanon. (There has yet to be a funeral for Nasrallah—it isn’t even scheduled, though they have the body and a religious obligation to respect it via a funeral.)
Surrenders by Hezbollah Radwan Forces
There has been a steady trickle of videos showing Radwan terrorists surrendering to the IDF. It is said that these have a strong psychological effect in Lebanon, as these militants were part of a movement that promised, falsely, to defend Lebanon and to fight to the death.
I suggest not to watch the below. It is included for documentation purposes. One of the Hezbollah-ites surrendering in this clip is said to be a Radwan regional commander (who then, allegedly, gave over valuable intelligence during questioning that lead to the elimination of a more senior regional commander).
IDF spokesperson in Arabic, Avichay Adraee: Star of Lebanese TV
Dr. Makram Rabah, a Lebanese social activist and university lecturer in political science (a prominent opponent of Hezbollah), says what he thinks about the evacuation warnings from the IDF spokesperson in Arabic, Avichay Adraee.
Below: Part 2 from the same interview:
al-Qusayr, Syria
According to Syrian social media sources, Hezbollah's ammunition depots in al-Qusayr, which were attacked today by Israel at noon, are still burning several hours later.
More on today’s Israeli strikes in al-Qusayr
Sources affiliated with the Syrian opposition report that following the Israeli attacks, there has been significant movement of people fleeing the area, fearing that Israel may continue targeting Hezbollah operatives there.
These sources explain that Hezbollah expelled hundreds of thousands of Sunnis from this area during the Syrian civil war, causing a demographic shift, and making the region a Shiite stronghold.
Those same Syrians now take satisfaction in seeing Hezbollah operatives and their families being forced to flee al-Qusayr, which had been a safe haven for them over the past decade.
The "Black Mark" of Terrorism...
There are reports from Gaza of spontaneous communities keeping out anyone who has weapons, to prevent their spot from becoming a military target. From Lebanon, there are reports of Druze and Christian villages and neighborhoods keeping out Shiites for the same reason. (One report is from the Druze village of Aley, southeast from Beirut.)
Below: Footage of Hezbollah weapons that were being transported exploding at the entrance to the village of Aley, following an Israeli UAV attack on the vehicle.
This was one of the triggers for the confrontation between the local Druze residents and displaced Shiites who moved to the area
1 Min, Arabic w/English subs:
Jabalia
The recent IDF operation in Jabaliya and North Gaza was done differently that most of the war. Over the months, a large number of Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists had blended with the civilian population. This time, the IDF asked the population to move, and people were screened. Likely terrorists were taken for screening (some dozens have just been released back to Gaza). In this clip, an UNRWA employee, whose identity is protected, talks about how Hamas exploited UNRWA humanitarian supplies and vehicles. (Arabic w/English subs)
Postmark
Metula (town in Israel's far north)
Five people were killed today in Metula by a Hezbollah rocket. I believe this is the highest casualty count from any Hezbollah rocket attack this whole war. The dead are an Israeli farmer and four foreign nationals working for him. (The dependence of Israeli agriculture on imported labor is a topic for another day.) Two residents of Shefa-Amr were killed in another Hezbollah rocket attack later in the day.
Israel's Defense Minister
Defense Minister Gallant: Hezbollah has only 20% of its rockets and missiles left.
Lebanon Bunker: The Chief of Staff
This tunnel complex has been shown here before. Here is the Chief of Staff giving a tour. Hebrew w/English subs.
Just North of the Lebanese Border with Israel
The first clip can be run with subtitles and auto-translate for English subtitles:
The bunker had been used for firing rockets at Israeli villages near the border. Weapons storage was as far as 8 meters deep.
Iranian Television
Remember in #143 the clip from Iranian TV about Israel using genies? It doesn't stop there...
From Iranian TV: Israel implanted chips using the COVID-19 vaccines and was thus able to track Hezbollah officials.
Back To Gaza
How much are the smuggled cigarettes from UNICEF operatives worth in the Gaza market?
It was reported today that a thousand packs of Karelia cigarettes - the most popular among Gazans - were found hidden in a UNICEF vehicle (the UN's emergency fund for children). -- See above footage.
A single Karelia cigarette costs at least 150 shekels (~$40) in the Gaza market, meaning a box of 20 cigarettes costs about 3,000 shekels (~$810). Since a pack contains ten boxes, one pack is worth 30,000 shekels (~$8,100).
If a thousand packs were indeed seized today, their total value would be 30 million shekels ($8.1m) in the Gaza market. Even if only 100 packs (a thousand boxes) were seized, that still amounts to at least 3 million shekels ($801k)... much more than what the driver would earn in a lifetime.
Further:
The main reason for this unimaginable price is that Israel prevents the entry of cigarettes into the Gaza Strip. Since taking control of the Rafah crossing about six months ago, Israel controls the entry of all goods into the Gaza Strip. This is also a major incentive for smuggling.
I have written some number of times that Peace through Nicotine is a huge missed opportunity. I wasn't joking then, and I am not joking now.
The narrow thinking around Gaza is shameful. Well, it would be, but narrow thinking is a human norm.
A Military Cemetery, Somewhere in Israel
Sergeant First Class Nazar Itkin, who made Aliyah from Ukraine to Israel, was a Lone Soldier and served in Egoz. Tragically, he fell in battle in southern Lebanon on Erev Rosh Hashanah, two days before his 22nd birthday, while serving his country.
He will be remembered as a tenacious, committed, and loyal person - may his memory be a blessing.
Nazar was mourned both here in Israel and in Ukraine, where the Chief Rabbi, Moshe Azman, expressed his condolences on behalf of his community.
Nazar’s father is fighting to defend Ukraine in its war with Russia.
Another indicator that we are living in WW-III? (Raf can’t think of any other era where fathers and sons were concurrently in battle in different regions… and against the same enemy [in this case, the Iranian-Russian axis])
Relief Area
Alef
Below: A clip by a (Christian) Lebanese woman who is simply asking for a two-hour ceasefire to get her nails done, Botox, fillers, and more...
(This is not a joke, but I can't treat it as "news"...)
Bet
Supporters of the regime in Iran: death to Twitter, death to WhatsApp, death to Instagram and death to Telegram.
Officially these services are largely blocked in Iran... those who want find ways... How many of those protesting have forbidden accounts themselves?
Gimmel
(Flags: Hand=Palestinian; Gun=Iran; Silencer=United Nations)
Dalet
Me after I see a comic about the "context" behind October 7
Hey
If the enemy is anyone who criticizes the leader...
Means you are in a cult.
Something I will say about a people-centric place like Israel: Any shopkeeper who half knows your face will give you $20 or $30 in credit. Credit card not working today? No problem, bring the money later.
Lands different.
To Peace,
Raf
(Thank you A.K., M.T.)