Israeli troops continue to operate in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria to eliminate terrorist threats and protect Israeli citizens. Assessing the mission in Syria, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said today that the IDF will remain on the entire area of Mount Hermon during the winter months, to ensure terrorist groups cannot threaten Israel's security.
Below is a photo of Israeli troops operating on the strategic mountain top.
Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog characterized the fall of the Assad regime as "a ripple effect of Israel’s historic success in weakening the Iranian axis."
"They sought our destruction following October 7th, yet 14 months later the tables have turned: Iran is deterred, Hezbollah is significantly degraded and Hamas is defeated," Herzog said. "The lessons to the region are clear: Do not mess with Israel. Do not align yourself with Iran."
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.
Congress took important action this week to strengthen America and Israel’s security. I encourage you to watch and share the 2-minute video below with AIPAC senior lobbyist Deborah Saxon, who explains the major AIPAC-backed provisions passed by the House in the National Defense Authorization Act. We expect the Senate to vote on this critical legislation next week.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Grossi announced this week that Iran is "dramatically" increasing its stockpile of weapons-grade uranium.
He warned that Iran's production capacity is increasing dramatically more than its previous monthly rate of five to seven kilograms of 60 percent-enriched uranium.
The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, one of Iran's key allies, could increase the likelihood that Iran will attempt to create a nuclear weapon.
Israeli officials believe that Israel's success in degrading Iran's terrorist proxies and eliminating the former Assad regime's air defense systems have created a potential opportunity to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The Wall Street Journal reported that President-Elect Donald Trump is weighing options to prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon, including preventative airstrikes.
The incoming administration is also working on a “maximum pressure 2.0” plan, recreating the policy of aggressive sanctions on Iran
Meanwhile, Britain, France and Germany told the U.N. Security Council that they are ready to trigger a snapback of international sanctions on Iran to prevent the regime from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Iran must never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon. The United States must urgently increase the pressure on Iran by fully enforcing economic sanctions, urge our allies to snapback sanctions, and establish a credible threat of military action to deter the regime.
Speaker Johnson meets with hostage families
Today, House Speaker Mike Johnson met with the families of American and Israeli hostages being held by Hamas: Romi Gonen, Naama Levy, Karina Ariev, Keith Siegel, Sagui Dekel Chen, Edan Alexander, Itay Chen, Judi Weinstein Haggai and Gad Haggai.
"I will continue pressing on behalf of the family members of these hostages. Our hearts break for them as we hear the stories of their loved ones and the horrors they are enduring at the hands of these terrorists... We will not give up. We must bring an end to this madness."
U.S. votes against anti-Israel resolutions at United Nations
The U.N. General Assembly passed two anti-Israel resolutions, with the United States opposing both.
The first demanded an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza that is not conditioned on Hamas releasing the hostages.
The second expressed support for UNRWA, which was exposed once again this week for employing terrorists in its schools.
"Both of these resolutions have significant problems," U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood said. "One rewards Hamas and downplays the need to release the hostages, and the other denigrates Israel without providing a path forward to increasing humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians."
Wood called on the General Assembly to adopt a resolution that "increases pressure on Hamas to accept the deal," rather than lambast Israel.
Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon said, "By voting for these resolutions, you are not voting to protect humanitarian values, but to protect an organization that has become a haven for terror."
The United States must continue to support Israel's right to defend itself and work to combat anti-Israel bias at the United Nations.
The House passed the NDAA, authorizing pro-Israel provisions that will help keep America and Israel safe.
24 UNRWA schools in Gaza employed Hamas or Islamic Jihad terrorists as teachers and administrators.
"We don't know what the situation is of 100 kidnapped people who are still there." - Noa Argamani at a U.S. State Department event
Israel is destroying weapons in Syria to prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorists.
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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