Pressed by far-right, PM cancels war cabinet’s post-war Gaza meet * Biden’s angry call * NYT details Hamas weaponization of rape * US Jewish leader: Where are our allies?

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Friday, December 29, 2023 Presented by [Comedy for Koby]( [Under pressure from Smotrich, PM cancels war cabinet meeting on post-war Gaza plan]( By ToI Staff Talks to be held in security cabinet instead, after far-right factions protest their exclusion; Smotrich to Biden: ‘Not a single shekel will go to the Nazi terrorists in Gaza’ [In ‘frustrating’ call, Biden said to tell PM to resolve Palestinian tax funds issue]( By ToI Staff and Jacob Magid [Tlaib calls Netanyahu a ‘genocidal maniac,’ rebukes US lawmakers who meet him]( By ToI Staff Warning: Graphic content [/ One woman found with nails driven into her thighs, groin]( [In harrowing detail, NYT reports on weaponization of rape, sexual violence on Oct. 7]( By ToI Staff Publication uncovers new information, devastating testimony, on systemic targeting of women and girls, use of sexual assault and mutilation during savage Hamas onslaught in Israel [IDF announces soldier killed in north Gaza, as operations expand in Khan Younis]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff Toll of slain troops in ground offensive against Hamas rises to 168; sirens sound in largely evacuated Gaza border towns; soldiers spot Hamas operative in tunnel shaft with RPG [Israeli-American Judith Weinstein confirmed murdered on Oct. 7, body held in Gaza]( By ToI Staff from our sponsor [Standup in Solidarity]( The Koby Mandell Foundation invites you to laugh and support our new programs for bereaved families Live updates [LIVE: IDF hits Hezbollah sites, anti-tank missile squad after attacks from Lebanon]( By ToI Staff Gaza ground operation toll reaches 168 * Troops demolish Hamas infrastructure in homes of terrorists who attacked Kibbutz Nir Oz * Four hurt in car-ramming attack in the West Bank Top Ops Shayna Goldberg [It is my privilege to be raising Israeli children]( The so-called ’Tik-Tok generation’ kids have interests and ideals, and, when called, put down their screens and rush out to do their duty Jason Fredric Gilbert [Gimme shelter]( It’s not the reinforced walls or blast door that protects the people as much as it is their impossible optimism Shana Strauch Schick [Who is fit to lead?]( Even in the Torah, when the expected leader can’t do the job well, he is replaced by those who have the requisite traits he lacks (Vayechi) David Bigman [From Slobodka to Jaffa and back again]( My Torah studies left me optimistic about the future, but since October 7, I find myself returning to the doom and gloom edicts of my youth [Report details Hamas’s secret buildup to Oct 7, terror group’s isolation in its wake]( By ToI Staff Gaza terror leader Yahya Sinwar is said to have used ‘dummy’ commanders as cannon fodder, but now he is under fire for pre-empting Hezbollah and Iran while cutting off his bosses [5 West Bank money exchange firms to be blacklisted over transfers to Hamas, PIJ]( By ToI Staff [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Civilians and soldiers who have fallen since Oct. 7]( [Read Here]( [Bennett reveals details of two direct strikes on Iran in 2022 while he was PM]( By ToI Staff In Wall Street Journal op-ed, he calls for Israel and US to take on Tehran directly, ‘make it pay’ for sowing chaos via Mideast proxies: ‘Evil empire of Iran must be brought down’ [Iran says it executed 4 for ‘collaboration’ with Israel’s Mossad]( By ToI Staff and Agencies [UK, US, France and Germany condemn Iran for accelerating uranium enrichment]( By AFP and ToI Staff [Battalion chief told hostage to approach; when he did, a soldier shot him, probe finds]( By Emanuel Fabian Full investigation into IDF’s mistaken killing of 3 hostages in Gaza finds troops had ‘insufficient awareness’ they could encounter captives, deaths ‘could have been prevented’ [PM meets hostages’ families, hints at progress in talks ‘to bring everyone home’]( By ToI Staff [Brothers saved dozens at Nova, fighting terrorists with commander’s phoned-in advice]( By ToI Staff Daniel and Neria Sharabi defended some 30 rave attendees sheltering behind a tank, using unfamiliar weapons as reserve commander gave instructions over the phone ToI podcast [What Matters Now to US Jewish leader William Daroff: Where are our allies?]( By Amanda Borschel-Dan CEO of Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations describes a ‘second punch in the gut’ by those who misjudge the Oct. 7 tragedy and ‘continue to not get it’ [Day 84 – Reservists demand aid as gov’t delays their retirement]( [listen to the podcast]( Inside Story [Amid worker shortage due to war, Israeli constructors struggle to build]( By Shoshanna Solomon With most Palestinian workers banned from Israel in wake of Oct. 7 onslaught, and thousands of foreign workers gone, the building sector says it’s at a ‘complete standstill’ [Immigration to Israel dropped sharply following Oct. 7 assault — statistics bureau]( By ToI Staff [Investment in Israeli tech firms slumps 56%, hit by political upheaval and Hamas war]( By Sharon Wrobel [IDF launches ‘widespread’ strikes in south Lebanon after barrages of Hezbollah rockets]( By Emanuel Fabian and Agencies Projectiles cause damage in Kiryat Shmona; drone from Lebanon intercepted near Haifa; Hezbollah says missiles in response to overnight killing of operative, 2 relatives [Syrian state media says Israeli airstrikes caused damage]( By AFP and ToI Staff [US announces sanctions against network responsible for financing Houthi rebels]( By Jacob Magid and AP Analysis Jeremy Sharon [High Court ‘reasonableness’ ruling may presage return to tribalism and overhaul fight]( If accurate, a leaked draft indicating justices will strike down government’s controversial legislation will have a deep constitutional impact. It may also strengthen Netanyahu [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( [4 wounded, one in moderate-serious condition, in West Bank car-ramming attack]( By Emanuel Fabian Eyewitnesses say attacker killed; IDF says assailant shot by troops on the scene near military position close to the Adorayim Junction [Two moderately wounded in stabbing attack at checkpoint near Jerusalem]( By Emanuel Fabian [IDF: 688 reservists running in municipal elections ‘most likely’ can’t be released]( By ToI Staff Discussions continue on whether to again postpone elections, originally scheduled for October 31; Smotrich: ‘Numbers leave no room for doubt… I hope the government will postpone’ [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing Dec. 29: Day 84 – Reservists demand aid as gov’t delays their retirement]( By ToI Staff Obituary Ron Kampeas [Herb Kohl, former Jewish senator from Wisconsin and Milwaukee Bucks owner, dies at 88]( He was known for his soft-spoken approach in philanthropy, business and politics, an outlook he said he learned from his Jewish immigrant parents [New museum in Armenia to tell story of Charles Aznavour, French crooner who loved Jews]( By Larry Luxner Tribute to Time Magazine’s entertainer of the 20th century will include accounts of unpublicized WWII heroism, including harboring Jews and members of French underground in Paris More Headlines [High Court rules same-sex adoption must be allowed, in landmark decision]( By Jeremy Sharon [Teen sent to military prison over draft refusal; cited ‘revenge campaign’ in Gaza]( By ToI Staff [After 9 years, soldier who lost dog tag and wallet in 2014 Gaza war gets both back]( By ToI Staff [Lavrov appears to liken Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine]( By ToI Staff [Exposure to polluted air in Israel up to 3.5 times global target levels]( By Sue Surkes [Ben Gvir taps aide Kobi Yaakobi as interim prison service chief, amid coalition rift]( By Michael Horovitz [UTJ minister criticized for lobbying for son’s election the day after Oct. 7 attack]( By Sam Sokol [Turkey said to detain 32 IS-linked suspects, foil attacks on synagogues and churches]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [Cabinet set to vote Sunday on replacing Eli Cohen with Israel Katz as FM]( By Michael Horovitz [Maine bars Trump from state’s presidential primary ballot over Jan 6 ‘insurrection’]( By Nicholas Riccardi and David Sharp [The daily edition]( [facebook]( [twitter]( [instagram]( [View in browser]( [Contact support](mailto:support@timesofisrael.com) [Advertise with us](mailto:advertise@timesofisrael.com) Were you forwarded this email? 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