Netanyahu reiterates that there will be war in Lebanon if a diplomatic solution is not found that pushes Hezbollah off of Israel's northern border.

Hezbollah says it will not permit the residents of Israel's northern border region to return home until the war in Gaza is halted.

Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, head of the Maronite Church in Lebanon, has called on Beirut to fulfill UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which stipulates that Hezbollah withdraw north of the Litani River.

He has also called on Hezbollah to stop putting weapons inside and rocket launchers near civilian homes and thus opening them to Israeli military attack.

‼️ Israeli soldiers in two separate cases told the daily newspaper Israel Hayom that they had been denied air support in Gaza in recent days.

Ground forces had asked the Air Force to "soften up" targets before troops entered.

The report blamed these instances on American pressure.

The Biden Administration wants Israel to reduce its bombing of targets in Gaza.

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Perhaps Israel placed too many of its eggs in one basket if it is unable to go to war without American armaments, and thus American permission.

A war against Hezbollah in Lebanon is looking increasingly necessary.

But President Biden doesn't want it, so Israel is hesitant to do what's necessary.

And might not be able to do what's necessary if the US doesn't supply the bombs.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Israelis are unable to return to their homes in the north due to the terrorist threat on the other side of the border.

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Israel Economy Minister Nir Barkat: "Israel is the first nation in history to provide supplies and fuel to its enemy during a time of war."

Hamas New Year’s celebration?

Heavy rocket barrage on central Israel.

Iron Dome interceptions over southern Tel Aviv.

The IDF has decided to release 5 brigades of reservists after two months of fighting in Gaza.

Palestinian media is reporting this as a sign the Gaza war is wrapping up, while Israeli leaders say it will last many months more.

IDF: Since the start of the ground war in Gaza, 11 Israeli soldiers have been killed in accidents, and 18 by friendly fire.

A total of 170 soldiers have been killed in Gaza.

American media reports that the USS Gerald R. Ford will return home from the eastern Mediterranean.

Could be a signal from Washington that...

1️⃣ It now sees war in Lebanon as less likely; and

2️⃣ It expects Israel to refrain from attacking its neighbor to the north.

And what of the 60,000+ Israelis who dare not return to their homes in the north?

Lebanon's Hezbollah is easily as bloodthirsty as Hamas, and has the power to cause far more death and destruction than the Palestinian group did on October 7.

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"Never in my life, not even amidst the terror of ISIS, have I seen such barbarity. Shame on those pretending the massacre didn't happen."

- Sarah Idan, former Miss Iraq, while on a solidarity tour in southern Israel to witness the aftermath of the October 7 attacks.

Sarah today lives in the US, and is running for Congress.

She and her family were forced to flee Iraq after Sarah posed for a selfie with then-Miss Israel Adar Gandelsman at the Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas in 2017.

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‼️ Hezbollah fired several anti-tank missiles at Metulla on Israel's northern border.

Gaza represents everything liberal Western society says it hates:

- It is an ultra-conservative religious society

- It is a racist society

- It is an ultra-sexist society where women do not enjoy equal rights and treatment

- There is absolutely no tolerance for homosexuality or "diversity"

- It is ruled by an authoritarian regime

And yet, liberal Western society supports Gaza against Israel, which is a diverse society with a liberal bend.

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Arab media reports that an Israeli delegation has arrived in Cairo to discuss another ceasefire / hostage release deal in Gaza.

This deal, according to the reports, would see Hamas free 40 Israeli hostages - mostly elderly and sick - in return for Israel releasing hundreds of jailed Palestinian terrorists and a 21-30 day ceasefire.

Israeli leaders and media are very pessimistic regarding this deal, and the vast majority of the public won't like it at all.

Israel this evening is embroiled in political drama, even as soldiers continue fighting Hamas in Gaza.

Eight out of 15 Supreme Court voted for the first time ever to overturn a quasi-constitutional Basic Law recently passed by the Knesset.

The law in question had revoked the court's ability to overturn government decisions it deems "unreasonable," even if they aren't illegal.

Twelve out of 15 justices wrote that the Supreme Court does have the authority to overturn Basic Laws, though several felt it wasn't right to do so in this case.

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Pic of the day.

Palestinian men get a haircut outside the European hospital in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip.

Credit: Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90

After months of fighting, the soldiers of 8717th Battalion (reserves) are going home. Before departing Gaza, they pray and sing together to thank God for His blessing and protection during their maneuvers against the enemy.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant: The perception that we are slowing down or stopping (in Gaza) is wrong. Without a clear victory, we can't continue to exist in the Middle East.