Summary

Netanyahu, who will return on Monday to the District Court in Tel Aviv, is the most prominent loser of the war (recall the New York Times investigation). At the same time, however, he is close to realizing his plan to take control of the country’s security and law enforcement bodies. Appointing a law-breaking Kahanist to head the police ministry, appointing Zini as head of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), and soon appointing Netanyahu’s military secretary as head of the Mossad (Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations) —on all these he is “checking the box.”

It now appears that even the army is bowing its head. A year after Eyal Zamir’s appointment as Chief of Staff, it turns out he is a loyal servant of the Prime Minister. In his response to the “High Court protests” case, the Home Front Command ignored the fundamental right to protest reserved for citizens in a democratic regime (in places where there are large public shelters), while the police enforced the command’s directives selectively (hundreds of people sat in wine bars and cafes around Habima Square where the demonstration took place).

The Chief of Staff, it seems, did not intervene in the conduct of the Home Front Command, and the impression is that he is indifferent to the erosion of democracy. Thus, the army, through the Home Front Command and a regime-supporting military advocate general, alongside a police force that has become a party militia and gangs of thugs, may be used by the government to disrupt free elections.

Activists from “Looking the Occupation in the Eye” continue protective presence activities in Khirbet a-Tawil and al-Auja.

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Sunday – Police announced they arrested eight suspects, aged 13 to 48, suspected of involvement in a settler attack on the village of Qusra between Saturday and Sunday. According to the police, an M16 rifle was seized. During the nighttime attack, live fire was used, chicken coops were burned, and a local resident was abducted and later dumped in a field severely injured.

The attackers arrived in Ranger vehicles gifted by ministers Smotrich-Struk from an outpost established on the mountain above Qusra, which had already been evacuated twice by the army, unsuccessfully. Its members were active over the past month, including shooting a Palestinian to death, attacking three activists from “Looking the Occupation in the Eye,” and severely injuring two of them.

Two months ago, the High Court ruled that the state must enable the return of residents of Ras Ein al-Auja and ensure their safety. The state was required to update the court within 60 days. In a recent filing, the petitioners stated that the state has done nothing and completely ignored the ruling.

At Ein al-Auja, a nearby nature site, hundreds of settlers gathered after it “returned to Jewish hands,” according to a Facebook post by Elisha Yered. Former Secretary of Mevo’ot Jericho setelement , Yoel Shila, published a post on X that provides a wealth of information about the expulsion from Ras Ein al-Auja. He details the state bodies that invested tens of millions of shekels in the nature reserve and assisted the outpost that was responsible for terrorist activity against the residents of Ras Ein al-Auja. (See the full post below; a detailed article is available on the website.)

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Monday – The outpost opposite Qusra, at Jabal Ein al-Eina, was evacuated overnight by the army. From this outpost, settlers had harassed Qusra residents for months and carried out violent attacks.

Following reports that the political-security cabinet decided—under U.S. pressure—not to allow outposts in Area B, settlers responded by setting vehicles on fire in Qusra.

Settlers also attacked the northern area of al-Lubban al-Sharqiya, south of Nablus, setting fire to five vehicles and spraying racist graffiti.

A report in Haaretz stated that settlers established a new outpost in Area C near the village of al-Aqaba, accompanied by military vehicles.

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Tuesday – According to residents, soldiers searched a Palestinian home in Jiyus near Qalqilya. During the search, 68-year-old Sabriya Shamanseh suffered cardiac arrest. Palestinians claim she was beaten and that soldiers prevented an ambulance from entering. The army stated soldiers were nearby but did not enter the home and provided medical aid once informed. She later died in hospital.

In al-Auja, several families dismantled their homes and left following harassment and theft by settlers from a nearby outpost.

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Wednesday – Staff Sergeant Toval Yosef Lipshitz, a 20-year-old Golani Brigade soldier from Beit She’an, was killed in southern Lebanon. Five other soldiers were injured. Twelve soldiers have been killed in southern Lebanon during the current war.

Settlers invaded the village of Burin, attacked residents, and used pepper spray. One woman required medical treatment.

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Thursday – Media exposure revealed that the political-security cabinet secretly approved the establishment of 34 new settlements in the West Bank during the Iran campaign. The decision was classified to avoid U.S. pressure. This is a record number approved at once.

Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir attended the meeting, raised concerns about manpower shortages, but his position was not accepted.

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Friday – Minister Amichai Chikli published a video from the illegal outpost at Jabal Ein al-Eina. From there, settlers set out and attacked dozens of Palestinian residents in Jalud, Qusra, and the villages of the Qaryut area, killed several people, and violently assaulted three activists from “Looking the Occupation in the Eye.” Chikli stated that Israel should abandon Oslo terminology and expand settlement activity.

Settlers threw a Molotov cocktail into a home in Duma; the family managed to extinguish the fire.

Settlers invaded the village of Yabrud, threw stones, attacked residents, and stole a horse.

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Saturday – A reserve soldier shot and killed Bilal Majed Hamadneh in the village of Deir Jarir near Ramallah. According to the army, Palestinians threw stones, and the soldier fired after warning shots.

Protests against the government, the occupation, and the ongoing war took place around the country, including about 2,000 participants at Habima Square in Tel Aviv. Dozens of police were present, and no clashes occurred.

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Document

Yoel Shilo’s post on X:

During these holiday days, we are all excited to see these images — the Auja is returning to Jewish hands!!!

Since I served as the secretary of the nearby community over the past three years, I would like to lay out several facts that will help you understand that the Auja is Jewish thanks to a tremendous public struggle, with the support of a right-wing government. The claim written by Elisha Yered that the revolution was led by “a small group without government support” is not entirely accurate:

1. The struggle over the Auja began four years ago, initiated by a small group of heroes, led by people from Mevo’ot Yericho and their supporters. One of them now serves in the Knesset — MK Zvi Sukkot from the Religious Zionism party.

2. Over the past four years, the community of Mevo’ot Yericho and the Jericho Region Tourism initiative, in cooperation with the Jordan Valley Regional Council and its tourism and security departments, have held intermediate-holiday events with investments of tens of thousands of shekels — including tours, attractions, and more.

3. As part of the settlement development initiative, the Settlement Administration allocated 10 million shekels for developing the reserve: a permanent ranger, gates, reception infrastructure, electricity, development work, and later paving and widening the access road to the spring….

7. In the past two years, a farm has been established on the ground — on privately owned Jewish land purchased by an investor in partnership with Amana, with an investment of tens of millions. The farm was established with the initiative and support of all settlement bodies in the area and the army, and receives security components from the Ministry of Settlement.

8. The farm has achieved remarkable results in controlling the area, with full backing from the army and from the security coordinator of Mevo’ot Yericho, who received explicit authorization from the brigade commander to operate in the area.

9. The Land Department of the Jordan Valley Regional Council, funded by the Ministry of Settlement, provides full backing to the shepherds and is responsible for many projects in the region.

10. The amazing and heroic shepherds on the ground have significantly strengthened control of the area — they are our “Sayeret Matkal” (elite unit).

11. As part of the settlement initiative led by Minister Smotrich, the first point — the farm established just two years ago — has already been officially recognized as a full-fledged community in the State of Israel, at record speed. Soon you will see a Jewish community on the ground at the Oja, in addition to a new ultra-Orthodox city in the Yitav Valley area.

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Bottom line:

If you ask who is responsible for the “Judaization” of the Auja, the answer is: you — the public, the people of Mevo’ot Yericho and surrounding communities, the council, your visits, the donations, the farms, the shepherds, and no less importantly, the vote you cast at the ballot box.