Ballistic missile from Yemen explodes in Jaffa, 16 injured

 

Millions of Israelis evacuated early Saturday morning to bomb shelters, as sirens sounded in central Israel.

Sixteen people were lightly injured after the Houthi-launched ballistic missile exploded in Jaffa.

According to the IDF, "one projectile launched from Yemen was identified and unsuccessful interception attempts were made. A fallen projectile was identified in the area."

The IDF later confirmed that the projectile had fallen in Tel Aviv-Jaffa. The hit created a crater in a playground between two residential buildings.

"Several lightly injured individuals were evacuated to receive medical treatment, and Home Front Command teams are currently operating with the security forces in the scene," the IDF added.

Magen David Adom (MDA) reported that 16 people were lightly injured by broken glass and evacuated to Wolfson Medical Center in Holon and to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. Another 14 people were injured while running to shelter, and seven others suffered shock. Home Front Command teams, as well as police, MDA, and firefighters, arrived at the scene.

MDA paramedic Yosef Kurdi, who lives in the area, said, "I was at home and I heard a loud explosion. I immediately went to the scene and I heard significant blast hits in buildings near the scene of the strike. Large numbers of MDA teams quickly arrived. We immediately began to search the buildings and injured people began to arrive from their homes."

MDA paramedic Noam Weisboch and EMT Noa Shimoni said, "The scene was complex because the blast hits were in apartments in nearby buildings. At the beginning a number of people lightly injured from broken glass and suffering shock arrived. We searched apartments, treated [victims], and evacuated 16 lightly injured victims from the scene, including a girl of about three, and we also treated shock victims."

"Following an IAF and IDF Home Front Command initial inquiry regarding the incident of a fallen missile fired from Yemen early this morning (Saturday), the incident is still being thoroughly examined. Some of the conclusions have already been implemented regarding interceptions and alerts," a later IDF statement read.

"No further details regarding aerial defense activities and the alert system can be given due to information security considerations. We emphasize that aerial defense is not hermetic and the public must follow the Home Front Command instructions."

Six Airlines Will Restore Service to Israel Starting next Week

 Six airlines will restore their Israel routes by next week. Most airlines canceled flights due to ongoing tensions in the region.

On Friday, Romanian low-cost airline Biz Airlines, which only started flying to Israel in August, will renew flights to Ben-Gurion International Airport after suspending them for several weeks, Israeli business site Globes reported.

Spanish carrier Air Europe and Hungarian airline Wizz Air will also restore flights (Wizz Air will start operating flights first only to Cyprus until mid-January, Globes reported).

Polish airline Lot and Air Baltic will renew Israel flights at the end of this week. Bulgaria Air will again fly to Israel at the start of next week.

Air France announced on Monday that its suspension of Israel flights will remain in effect until Jan. 9. It made its decision after Ben-Gurion Airport sirens warned of an incoming missile from Yemen.

According to Israel Hayom, United Airlines has canceled flights to Israel until further notice, and British Airways and Delta Airlines won’t fly to Israel until the end of March.

American Airlines has canceled flights until March. It has also taken down from its site all flights to and from Israel until the end of the summer of 2025.

Fontainebleau Hotel Had Enough of Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and Turns the Table on Him and Sues Him for Alleged Extortion

 

The Fontainebleau Miami Beach has filed a lawsuit against celebrity Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, accusing him of defamation and extortion. The hotel claims Boteach used AI-generated videos and inflammatory social media posts to falsely accuse it of antisemitism, comparing staff to Nazi collaborators.

The dispute began with a lobby altercation two years ago, after which Boteach allegedly demanded compensation and lifetime hotel perks to avoid launching a public smear campaign. More recently, he claimed the hotel obstructed a police investigation into antisemitic remarks directed at him.

The lawsuit alleges Boteach demanded $1 million for his charity, World Values Network, in exchange for ending his public attacks. Boteach denies wrongdoing, calling it a “David and Goliath battle.”

Zera Shimshon Parshas Va"yeishav

 

Bidens Turn on Former Allies as White House Departure Nears

An exclusive report from the Daily Mail reveals growing tensions within the Democratic Party as the Bidens prepare to leave the White House.

 Leading the charge is First Lady Jill Biden, who reportedly harbors deep resentment toward several prominent figures, including the Obamas, White House staffers, and the national media. However, the most significant target appears to be former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

According to insiders, Jill Biden is said to be encouraging President Joe Biden to retaliate against those she perceives as having undermined them. “Jill views Capitol Hill Democrats, the wider party, and even the Obamas with such resentment that it seems she’s urging Joe to burn bridges, despite his better judgment,” a source told the Daily Mail.

The rift with Pelosi reportedly stems from her role in pressuring Biden to step aside in the 2024 presidential race. The Bidens have not spoken to Pelosi in months, effectively ending a decades-long friendship. At the recent Kennedy Center Honors, Pelosi and her husband, once frequent guests of the presidential box, were notably seated far from the Bidens.

The animosity extends beyond Pelosi. Vice President Kamala Harris was also reportedly snubbed at the event, further highlighting tensions within the administration. Democratic donor and attorney John Morgan suggested Biden’s decision to elevate Harris may have been an act of defiance against internal critics, including Pelosi and Barack Obama.

“Biden faced a palace coup from multiple directions,” Morgan told the Daily Mail. “Pelosi wanted a nomination process, and Obama delayed endorsing Harris for days. It’s clear Biden pushed back against them in his own way.”

As the Bidens’ departure approaches, speculation grows about whether they will air grievances and expose internal party divisions. Critics suggest this could destabilize the Democratic Party, adding fuel to an already tumultuous political landscape

Syrian President Assad’s Alleged Escape Deal with Israel

 

The dramatic fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad, ousted by rebel forces on December 8, has taken a startling turn with allegations that Assad handed over classified military intelligence to Israel before fleeing the country. 

According to a report published by the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet and echoed by global outlets, including Britain’s Daily Mail, Assad shared sensitive information about Syria’s military assets in exchange for a safe escape route, according to a report on Ynet News.

Per Hurriyet, the information provided by Assad included detailed maps of weapons stockpiles, missile launchers, and military hangars across Syria. The Ynet News report emphasized that the precision of Israel’s subsequent airstrikes on Syrian military infrastructure strongly suggests the data was both comprehensive and accurate. The Hurriyet report claimed that Israel guaranteed Assad a secure passage in return for this intelligence, a deal that underscores the fraught and complex dynamics of the Syrian civil war and its regional players.

Ynet News noted Turkish commentator Abdulkadir Selvi’s account, which added crucial context to the unfolding story. Selvi reported that Assad fled Damascus on the morning of December 8, escaping to Moscow via the Russian-operated Khmeimim Air Base. The evacuation was reportedly coordinated by Russia, after attempts to secure asylum in Iran and the UAE failed. According to Ynet News, Selvi claimed Assad had initially sought refuge in Tehran, but Iran refused him, and subsequent negotiations with the UAE also proved fruitless, leaving Russia as Assad’s last resort.

On December 7, as rebel forces closed in on Damascus, a critical summit was convened in Doha, according to Ynet News’ coverage of Selvi’s account. The meeting involved Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Selvi quoted Fidan as saying, “We met with the Russians and the Iranians in Doha and discussed a few topics. I prefer not to say more.” The Ynet News report highlighted this cryptic remark as indicative of the sensitive negotiations surrounding Assad’s fate.

Ynet News also detailed Selvi’s assertion that Assad’s decision to provide Israel with classified military intelligence was driven by a pressing need to secure his own safety. Selvi stated that Assad handed over these documents with precise coordinates of Syrian military assets, ensuring that Israeli strikes would avoid targeting his escape route. “Judging by the precision of Israel’s strikes on Syrian military assets following Assad’s fall, it seems Israel received highly accurate information,” Selvi wrote, as reported by Ynet News.

The implications of these developments are profound. If true, Assad’s alleged deal with Israel marks a stark reversal of his long-standing adversarial stance against the country. The Ynet News report placed an emphasis on how this episode could reshape perceptions of Assad’s legacy, illustrating the lengths to which embattled leaders may go to ensure their survival.

The fallout from these revelations could ripple across the region, affecting not only Syria’s future but also the broader geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East.

50 Ministers & MKs To Herzog: Grant Pardon To Feldstein & Reservist

Fifty Knesset members and ministers signed a letter to President Isaac Herzog asking him to grant pardon to Eli Feldstein and the reservist, Sgt. A., the defendants in the case of the leaked classified documents from the Prime Minister’s Office.

The letter states: “The current reality in Israeli society necessitates extra caution. The intensive and exceptional investigation that the defendants underwent, alongside the ongoing legal proceedings against them poses a real threat to social cohesion at this critical time for the State of Israel. Moreover, the continuation of the proceedings could undermine public trust in the Shin Bet as a state body above all political disputes.”

Earlier, additional Knesset members, including the chairman of the UTJ party chairman, Housing Minister Yitzchak Goldknopf, Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli, and other Knesset members, sent a request to Herzog to respond to the pardon request submitted by A.

Goldknopf wrote: “As a minister in the Israeli government and as one entrusted with the welfare of the citizens of the State of Israel, I request your intervention on this matter. The sergeant, a dedicated officer to the state and the IDF, served his people loyally. Even if he erred in his conduct, he acted out of a genuine desire to do good and certainly did not intend to harm state security. It is known to the President that the sergeant’s mental and physical condition is deteriorating day by day.”

“I ask you to advance his release by granting a pardon while maintaining the necessary balances between security needs and IDF values against humanitarian principles. I sincerely hope that my request to visit the sergeant in detention will become unnecessary as I trust the President will act to secure his immediate release.”

Chikli and MKs Moshe Saada and Dan Illouz are collecting signatures from ministers and Knesset members on a letter of support for the president, stating, “A. has never acted with the intention of harming state security but rather the opposite. The conduct of the State Prosecution and law enforcement system raises feelings of severe injustice, damaging public trust in the law enforcement system.”

Earlier, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri spoke with Herzog and requested a response to Sergeant A.’s request for a pardon. Deri said: “This is a normal soldier who made a mistake and acknowledges it. He poses no danger to the public in any way, and we must put an end to his suffering and prolonged detention.”

The President’s Office stated: “The pardon request of Sgt. A. has been received at the President’s Residence, and an investigation into the matter has begun. It should be emphasized and clarified – the President of the State has full trust in the judicial system – and the request will be examined and evaluated like all requests submitted to the President’s Office.”

(DIN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

 

Rabbi Eli Stefansky from Beit Shemesh Starts Mesechta Sanhedrin in Boro-Park

 

Renowned Daf Yomi Maggid Shiur Rabbi Eli Stefansky held a massive event in Boro Park on Wednesday night, where he started Mesechta Sanhedrin.

Reb Eli’s “Mercaz Daf Yomi” organization has a staggering 19,000 people doing the Daf with his Shiur each day.

Coup to Topple Netanyahu actually happening right now, right under our noses – and we, sadly, are not doing enough to stop it in time.

 

The following article was written by Attorney Avichai Yehosef, who was involved in preparing the defense cases for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of his work at the law firm of Amit Hadad, in cases 1,000 and 2,000. It is a telling indictment of the attempts to make a coup in Israel even during the current war. 

None of us wants to imagine that a coup could ever happen in Israel. We are so unprepared to believe it that when such a coup actually takes place – we refuse to see it.

According to my legal and civic understanding, over the past year, a coup has been occurring in Israel – backed by the military, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), the prosecution, the Supreme Court, the legal advisor to the government, and parts of the media. Anyone who does not notice this brutal coup unfolding before their eyes is either uninformed about the news or does not understand the matter in depth.

In my opinion, attempts at a coup began years ago in the halls of the prosecution and the legal advisor’s office, with the framing of criminal charges against Netanyahu aimed at ousting him.

Hundreds of millions, if not billions, of shekels from taxpayer money were invested in this effort. Massive investigative teams were formed, special means were employed that had never been used against citizens who are not members of criminal or terrorist organizations, and selective enforcement and gross violations of almost all fundamental laws in Israel were carried out.

After this covert coup failed or was delayed too long, (Netanyahu, unlike his predecessors, simply refused to resign after the indictments against him, and was even re-elected as prime minister in general elections), the overt coup began.

In the year leading up to the October 7 disaster, four additional forces began to act against Netanyahu, besides the prosecution and the legal advisor’s office.

The Biggest Scandal in America is the Cover-Up of Biden’s Condition

 

Scott Jennings has argued that the most significant scandal in America today is the four-year concealment of President Biden’s health condition. He claims that the White House has consistently lied to the American public, covering up Biden’s alleged inability to fulfill his presidential duties. Jennings suggests that this deliberate deceit has led to grave questions about who has truly been running the country.

Moreover, Jennings contends that the public should question not only President Biden’s capacity but also those behind him pulling the strings. He argues that if Americans are concerned about the advisers surrounding Donald Trump, they should be equally worried about the shadow figures guiding Biden’s administration, making this an unprecedented political scandal.