Israel in Focus

The IDF continues with its airstrikes across Gaza with additional high level Hamas members being killed over the weekend. The IDF is also slowly increasing the scope of the ground operation with areas of Rafah and Northern Gaza being surrounded by troops who have begun clearing them of any terrorist activity. In the north of Israel, as a response to rockets fired at Metula, the IDF struck numerous Hezbollah targets across Lebanon as well as an assassination attempt on a high up figure in a car in Tyre. His fate is unknown. The USA has requested Israel doesn’t attack the Houthis in Yemen and leaves the airstrikes to the American Central Command, which launches numerous rounds of airstrikes each day. This is despite the numerous ballistic missiles that have been fired at Israel in the last week.

A major upgrade has been announced for the Iron Dome, hopefully giving it more capability to handle mass rocket attacks as well as drones. The Iron Beam, a laser air defense system designed to take the weight off the Iron Dome and reduce the cost of air defense, will be delivered to the IDF later this year. The hope is it will be operational by the start of 2026.

The High Court has ordered the government to explain it’s decision to fire Ronen Bar, the head of the internal security service, and until that is done and the court decides if it is legal he will remain in his position. The government also met today (Sunday 23/03) and voted unanimously to begin the process of firing the Attorney General Gila Baharav, this will also likely have to go through the High Court as well. Netanyahu was not allowed to attend the meeting and the vote due to a conflict of interest. Protests continue across the country over these two decisions and threats of strikes and refusal to pay taxes among other actions have been made by leading left wing politicians including Yair Lapid and Yair Golan.

The polls continue to show Naftali Bennett as the favorite for next prime minister should he return to politics, yet he has not made any official statement regarding the matter. With the vote for the budget coming up and Netanyahu yet to have a definite majority to pass it, we could see Bennett forced into action.

Last week History was made when Google bought Israeli company WIX for over $33 Billion, a huge milestone for Israeli start-ups. Around 10% will be going to the State in taxes.