UNRWA only sent a fraction of the total Gaza aid, 6.3%. Citizen Spokeswoman, Ruth Wasserman Lande explains that UNRWA is not a real aid agency and isn’t helping Gazans.
December 4, 2024.
Dr. Yossi Mansharof: America’s initial, fatal mistake was President Obama’s reluctance to enforce his own red line on the use of chemical weapons in that conflict. Now the Russians and Iranians are there, as are the Turks, and the West has little to do in Syria.
Published in The Sun, December 02, 2024.
Meir Ben-Shabbat: From Israel’s perspective, the most urgent thing is to ensure that Tehran does not exploit the renewal of the civil war for its own needs, to smuggle weapons, to consolidate forces and capabilities. Beyond that, Israel must ensure that the renewal of fighting in the southern Syrian Golan Heights does not spill over into our territory,” he continued, adding that Israel’s core interest is that Hezbollah, the Shiite militias, and Iranian elements be eliminated from the civil war in Syria.
Israel needs to take advantage of the new reality in Syria to act more decisively and firmly than before to push Iran and its proxies out of this country.
Published in Times of Israel, December 1, 2024.
Arsen Ostrovsky discussing the horrific scenes from the Oxford University debate on Israel, his views on Canada following his recent visit there, where he met with Parliamentarians, Jewish community leaders and students, as well as views on state of antisemitism in the U.S., following the election of Donald Trump.
The interview took place on I24 on December 1, 2024.
Ruth Wasserman Lande: This is not a good deal; it’s a very, very bad deal. The question is, how does one choose between two bad options? Are we going to receive more weapons and much-needed ammunition from the United States of America because of the deal or as a result of the deal? The answer is yes. Will our army get some respite, as the Prime Minister suggested? In a manner of speaking, one could say so, although our military still maintains a very strong presence in southern Lebanon for the next 60 days to ensure that everything proceeds as planned.
The full interview took place on Channel I24 on November 27, 2024.
Ruth Wasserman Lande: Iran has expanded its influence by destabilizing countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen—breaking them down economically, militarily, and socially before asserting control. This ideology is not limited to Israel or the Jewish people; it is a global threat. Iran supports Hezbollah as its Shia arm in Lebanon and Hamas as its Sunni radical Islamist counterpart in Gaza and the West Bank. Both are fueled by radicalism, often supported by Qatar and Turkey under President Erdoğan’s leadership.
Iran’s actions threaten regional and global stability, as well as Israel’s security. Addressing this expansionist threat is critical to ensuring stability and countering the radical Islamist agenda.
Published in LBC News, November 26, 2024.
Ruth Wasserman Lande: There is significant skepticism among the Israeli public regarding the ceasefire because it involves a de facto agreement with a designated terrorist organization like Hamas. Many doubt that Hamas will adhere to the terms of the ceasefire. The IDF has uncovered a massive stockpile of weapons and extensive preparations by Hamas in Gaza, clearly indicating their readiness for the October 7th attacks. This has created widespread fear, particularly among civilians who are hesitant to return to their homes.
The interview took place on Times Radio on November 26, 2024.
Ruth Wasserman Lande: There is a significant concern that Hezbollah will use this time to rearm and escalate tensions once more. The central issue is how to prevent them from rearming, particularly through the smuggling of weapons by Iran, the Islamic Republic, which continues to be a key supporter of Hezbollah. The Prime Minister is likely to explain that the IDF needs to temporarily close one front in order to focus resources and efforts elsewhere—particularly on rescuing hostages and addressing the root causes of the conflict.
The interview took place on Fox News on November 26, 2024.
Meir Ben Shabbat: Reliance on the Lebanese army or other forces has not proven effective in the past, and there’s no reason to believe it will in the future. Israel would have been better served by insisting on a demilitarized zone that remains empty and can be controlled through intelligence and firepower.”
Published in TPS, November 26, 2024.
Prof. Kobi Michael: The IDF headquarters and supreme command must regain control over such violations sooner rather than later,” he said, attributing the incidents to “erosion of discipline” in the army ranks and a lack of oversight from senior commanders.
I hoped that with the formation of the new investigation committee “everyone will be much more cautious from now on.
Published in Inews, November 24, 2024.
