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Dear A.,


An Israeli civilian who worked for the Israeli Defense Ministry was killed in Lebanon yesterday in a Hezbollah attack.


44-year-old Amer Hujirat was
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killed in a drone attack while operating heavy engineering machinery to help demolish Hezbollah infrastructure. His 19-year-old son was injured in the attack.


This is the latest in a series of Hezbollah attacks, as the terror group increasingly uses explosive-laden drones to target Israeli forces.


Also yesterday, the IDF struck Hezbollah infrastructure, including rocket launchers and weapons depots, in areas of southern Lebanon north of the Israeli-held security zone.


Today, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir
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said that the IDF "will not tolerate" Hezbollah's ongoing attacks.


"We will not tolerate attacks and fire on our communities, and we will not leave until long-term security for the northern communities is ensured," Zamir said.


"You continue to fight, to remove direct and indirect threats from the northern communities, to thwart terror infrastructure, to locate and kill terrorists," he added in remarks to IDF troops while visiting the area. "Any threat, anywhere, to our communities or our forces, including beyond the Yellow Line and north of the Litani [River], will be removed. Your mission and duty are to act with freedom of action and remove any threat."


Despite the ceasefire agreement in place, Hezbollah has only escalated its attacks on Israeli troops.


Meanwhile, the Lebanese government and Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have failed to counter Hezbollah or stop the terror group from using Lebanon's territory to launch attacks.


Lebanese President Joseph Aoun
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said today that he is waiting on the United States to set a date for the start of direct negotiations with Israel,
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adding that "If Israel believes that through its violations and the destruction of border villages, it can achieve security, then it is mistaken, because it has tried that before and it did not lead to any result. The only thing that can protect the borders is when the Lebanese state, in all its strength, is present throughout the south and up to the international borders."


An Israeli official, speaking to The Jerusalem Post on Monday,
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said that "there have been no arrests, no attempts to prevent attacks on our soldiers, and no effort to stop the rocket fire," by the Lebanese government since the ceasefire went into effect.


Last week, Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS)
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said that "Congress should not support the LAF unless it acts to disarm Hezbollah completely — and immediately." Since 2006, the United States has invested more than $3 billion into the LAF.

The United States must increase the pressure on Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah and continue to support Israel's freedom of action to defend against Hezbollah attacks.


Below are more key news updates. Continue to follow our
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social media channels to stay informed in real-time.

Jake Braunstein

Senior Director, Policy Communications

House Appropriations Committee advances critical pro-Israel policies

Last night, the House Appropriations Committee passed important pro-Israel provisions in its annual National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs appropriations bill, including:
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$3.3 billion in security assistance for Israel without cuts or new political conditions, fulfilling year nine of the U.S.-Israel memorandum of understanding.


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$37.5 million for the Nita Lowey Partnership for Peace Act, a program designed to foster economic cooperation and people-to-people peacebuilding in the region.


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A prohibition on U.S. funding for anti-Israel bodies, including UNRWA, the ICC, ICJ, and the UNHRC’s Commission of Inquiry (COI) against Israel — a clear demonstration of American opposition to these international organizations that abuse their platforms to demonize the Jewish state.
The pro-Israel provisions in this bill further reinforce the bipartisan and ironclad support for the U.S.-Israel partnership in Congress, strengthening Israel while bolstering the U.S. economy and creating jobs here at home.

We thank the Republican and Democratic leaders on the committee for passing this bill, and encourage the full House and Senate to quickly pass these important pro-Israel provisions.

U.S. increases pressure on Iran as blockade remains in place


The Treasury Department yesterday issued new sanctions targeting "35 entities and individuals that oversee Iran’s shadow banking architecture" enabling "Iran’s armed forces—including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—to access the international financial system to receive payment for illicit oil sales, purchase sensitive components for missiles and other weapons systems, and transfer money to Iran’s terrorist proxies."


"Iran’s shadow banking system serves as a critical financial lifeline for its armed forces, enabling activities that disrupt global trade and fuel violence across the Middle East,"
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said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.


Meanwhile, President Trump
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reportedly plans to maintain the blockade against Iran until the regime agrees to a deal that ends its nuclear weapons program.

Axios also reported that CENTCOM is preparing for a "short and powerful" wave of strikes on Iran, including on infrastructure targets, to force the regime back to the negotiating table.

NEW AIPAC MEMO
The 10-Year U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding



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Security assistance to Israel advances America’s interests and values, helps enable our democratic ally to defend itself and strengthens the ironclad relationship between the United States and the Jewish state.


Congress must fulfill America’s commitment by providing full security assistance and missile defense funding to Israel for the remainder of the MOU.

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READ MORE





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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