U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan arrived in Israel today to meet with Israeli leaders and continue negotiations toward a hostage-ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Sullivan met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and is slated to travel to Qatar and Egypt in the coming days.
Speaking to reporters in Tel Aviv, Sullivan said the sides are “close” and attributed progress in the negotiations to Israel’s military success in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.
“When I go to Doha and Cairo, my goal will be to put us in a position to be able to close this deal this month,” he said. “I wouldn’t be here today if I thought this thing was just waiting until after January 20.”
100 hostages, including seven Americans, remain captive in Gaza after 433 days. America must increase the pressure on Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar to use their leverage over Hamas and pressure the terror group to release the hostages.
IDF destroys 85% of Assad’s anti-aircraft systems
The IDF continues to take action in Syria to destroy advanced weaponry that could fall into the hands of terrorists.
According to the military, Israel’s air force destroyed 85% of the former Assad regime’s air defense systems, totaling 107 separate air defense components and another 47 radars.
The IDF footage below shows Israel’s strikes on Syrian missiles, preventing the weapons from being used by jihadist groups.
The IDF said yesterday that it has achieved air superiority in Syria, after more than a decade of work to try to evade the Assad regime’s air defense systems while striking Iranian weapons transfers.
This air dominance could enable safer passage for Israeli jets to carry out a strike on Iran, according to IDF estimates. Read more here.
The U.S. and Israel must work together to ensure this moment of uncertainty can become a moment of opportunity to weaken our adversaries, strengthen our shared security, and expand peace and normalization across the region.
House passes National Defense Authorization Act with major pro-Israel provisions, bill now heads to Senate
The House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) yesterday, which authorizes the Pentagon to budget more than $627 million for critical pro-Israel programs like Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow.
Israel’s lifesaving defense capabilities were used by the IDF today to shoot down two drones launched by Iran-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen.
I encourage you to read this AIPAC memo for more on the NDAA’s important pro-Israel provisions.
The Senate is expected to vote on the NDAA next week, and then it will go to the president’s desk.
Paraguay moves embassy back to Jerusalem
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña reopened his country’s embassy in Jerusalem during a ceremony on Thursday afternoon, saying Paraguay will continue to stand "with the people of Israel forever."
"For me it is such a privilege to take this decision," Peña said in comments at the ceremony. "Mr. Prime Minister, on behalf of all the Paraguayan people, we were with you, we are with you, we will stay with the people of Israel forever."
The move makes Paraguay the sixth country — after the U.S., Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, and Papua New Guinea — to open its embassy in Jerusalem.
MUST LISTEN
Iran's Next Move - with Raz Zimmt
Dan Senor Call Me Back Podcast
Show notes: Over the past few months, and especially in recent days, we have seen Iran’s decades-old proxy system and strategy collapsing.
To help us understand how Iran is dealing with this crisis, our guest is Raz Zimmt, one of Israel’s top experts on Iran.
The Fall of Assad: A History of Syria Unraveled – with Dr. Michael Oren
Aviva Klompas Boundless Insights Podcast
Show notes: In a sudden and decisive turn, Assad’s regime has fallen—an event few predicted and one with profound consequences for the region. Rebel factions, some with extremist ties, are vying for control, and Syria’s neighbors are jockeying to fill the power vacuum.
How did we get here? What does Assad’s collapse mean for Syria’s future, and how might this moment reshape the Middle East?
The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
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