Police and security forces are working to crack down on incitement to violence, especially ahead of the Jerusalem Day flag march next week, Israel Hayom has learned. 

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According to law enforcement officials, terror groups in the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian Authority are using social media to spread fake news about the IDF's Operation Shield and Arrow in an effort to incite Arab Israelis to riot.

"Behind the scenes, there is a national effort to curb and deal with incitement to terrorism," one source said. The terrorists seek to "enflame the region and push Arab Israelis to demonstrate and protest, which is why our mission is to maintain calm." 

The efforts are led by a special team in charge of dealing with incitement to terrorism and violence, which was established by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir shortly after taking office. It includes officers of the police, the State Attorney's Office, and the Shin Bet security agency. 

Since its establishment just a few months ago, it has already identified 372 posts, of which 163 included incitement to terrorism. Sixty-three investigations were launched and 18 individuals were arrested, against five of whom indictments have already been filed. 

Terror groups are essentially looking for a repeat of Operation Guardian of the Walls when the Israeli military not only had to deal with an escalation in Gaza but Israel's mixed cities as well. 

Violent riots by Arab Israelis led to nighttime curfews, such as in the mixed city of Lod, and even lynches against Jews, which led to the death of one Israeli. 

Again, "we see that the intention is to harness Arabs Israelis and take them out to demonstrate or confront the security forces," a senior police officer told Israel Hayom. 

He said efforts to counter fake and inciting information have already proved successful. "This worked well during Ramadan, and our explanatory videos against the terror organizations were distributed throughout the entire Middle East." 

Ben-Gvir also addressed the matter on Thursday, saying, "The war on incitement to terrorism is always important, all the more so on days like this, such as Jerusalem Day, when incitement is increased." 

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The inter-ethnic clashes within Israel during the Gaza operation known as Guardian of the Walls in 2021 "revealed major shortcomings in the Israel Police's conduct to the point that the individual security that every Israeli is entitled to was compromised," the State Comptroller said in a damning report on Wednesday. 

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The report notes that during the operation, the widespread riots within Israel's mixed cities were severe and led to the death of three civilians, as well as the wounding of hundreds of law enforcement officers. According to the statistics provided by the State Comptroller's Office, there were 520 instances of such clashes with a total of some 6,000 Israeli Arab rioters taking part overall. 

Some 3,000 arrests were made, including 240 Jews, the report said. The report further faults the Israel Police in such cities for not classifying violence by Arab rioters as terrorism in the years immediately preceding the events.

The report cites a lack of training and mismanaged resources. It also said the Israel Police failed to properly hold drills for the very scenarios that they envisioned, which were similar to what ultimately unfolded, and were lax in their tactical intelligence gathering operations. 

Another troubling finding suggests that the thousands of calls to the police emergency line in Lod — a hotspot during the operation that saw major clashes – were never addressed.

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Mor Janashvili, a Jewish resident of Acre who was critically wounded by Arab rioters during Operation Guardian of the Walls in May, received a special certificate of appreciation at the Jabotinsky Zionism Conference in Jerusalem on Sunday. The conference was organized by Israel Hayom and the World Betar youth movement in an effort to celebrate the vision and principles of Revisionist Zionist thinker Ze'ev Jabotinsky.

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Israel Hayom Editor-in-Chief Boaz Bismuth and Director General of World Betar Yigal Brand awarded Janashvili the certificate, known as the Jabotinsky Award, during the ceremony at the conference. "This certificate is given to you bearing in mind a quote from Jabotinsky, who said, 'No one can uproot the hope for a better future from his or her heart'," Brand said. "Mor was the target of an unprovoked attack by an Arab mob and was critically wounded; your daily struggle in the wake of this injury and your recovery show what Zionism in the Land of Israel is."

Bismuth also praised Janashvili, saying, "The riots that erupted during the operation shook Israelis to their core and turned on a warning light for all of us. Mor, who was badly beaten in this attack in Acre, has shown in his recovery that he is a hero. He has not been deterred by terrorism and has continued to live in Acre, and by doing this, has shown an exemplary display of Zionism and what it means to live up to the principles of Jabotinsky."

A humbled Janashvili said that he was "overcome with emotion and thank all Israelis for their prayers." He also said that he was honored to have received the certificate and hoped that "the message that comes out of this conference is that Israel will never be silent and won't try to hide what has been unfolding, because we have come to this land to live, not to die."

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The UN Mideast envoy warned Tuesday that without quick and decisive action to address the key drivers of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict the region risks plunging into "another deadly escalation of violence."

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Tor Wennesland told the UN Security Council it was essential that the parties "calm things on the ground," reduce violence across the West Bank, avoid unilateral steps including new settlement construction, and solidify the May ceasefire that ended Operation Guardian of the Walls, which Israel fought against Hamas infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.

In addition, he called for urgent action to tackle the severe fiscal and economic crisis threatening the stability of Palestinian institutions in the West Bank. But he warned: "Even a full and immediate financial package may not be sufficient or come quickly enough – if at all – to help buffer the consequences of the current situation."

Wennesland told reporters afterward there was "broad consensus" among the 15 council members that to prevent a possible imminent conflict "there needs to be a pushback on activities in and around Jerusalem and the West Bank," financial stability for the Palestinian Authority so it can pay salaries, and a halt to settlement activity.

As the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Wennesland represented the United Nations at the first in-person meeting in two years of envoys of the so-called Quartet of Mideast mediators on Nov. 18 in Norway's capital, Oslo.

A statement from the Quartet – the UN, US, Russia and the European Union – urged Israel and the Palestinians to address the ongoing violence, settlements, and "the untenable fiscal crisis within the Palestinian Authority." It welcomed steps announced by Israel "to reach out to the Palestinian Authority and assist with the fiscal crisis" but expressed deep concern at developments in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza.

Wennesland called Tuesday for a coordinated approach to "restore a political horizon that will help stop the endless cycle of crisis management and move back towards meaningful negotiations to end the [Israeli] occupation and resolve the conflict on the basis of UN resolutions, international law and previous agreements."

He said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres supported holding a Quartet meeting at ministerial level to focus on medium and longer-term issues to achieve a two-state solution, and he has spoken to the other members, but "we are not there yet." He added that the envoys are working very hard and are in weekly contact.

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Russia's deputy UN ambassador Dmitry Polyansky also warned of the risks of "large-scale hostilities" like the Israel-Hamas conflict in May and called on the international community to urgently ensure stability on the ground, provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, and create conditions for resuming peace negotiations.

He said the Quartet, which was established in 2002, is the only internationally recognized body to bring the Middle East peace process back on track. It has been criticized for its failure to get either Israel or the Palestinian Authority to change their policies and negotiate an end to their more than three decades-old conflict.

Polyansky said Russia has been pushing for a ministerial meeting of the Quartet which Moscow feels "is overdue, but not everyone from our partners is ready for such a move right now."

US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who recently visited Israel and the West Bank, told the Security Council that the Biden administration still strongly believes in a two-state solution "in which a Jewish and democratic Israel lives in peace alongside a sovereign, viable Palestinian state."

She reiterated US opposition to Israeli settlement expansion, saying "the practice has reached a critical juncture, and it is now undermining even the very viability of a negotiated two-state solution."

Thomas-Greenfield said Israel and the Palestinians "are locked in a spiral of distrust" that is preventing cooperation, and rebuilding "some degree of confidence in each other" is key to advancing toward peace.

She made no mention of the Quartet but said that in her meetings "both sides spoke of the need for confidence-building measures to break down the walls of distrust."

Trust-building needs to be worked out mainly between Israelis and Palestinians, the US ambassador said, but the Security Council can facilitate constructive steps by enforcing its resolutions "to constrain Iran's regional malign activities, nuclear threats, support for terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah."

Thomas-Greenfield said the council could also denounce incitement to violence by terrorist organizations or individuals and promote efforts to improve the lives of ordinary Palestinians by urging Israel to grant more work and building permits and facilitating humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Gaza.

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Hezbollah provided Hamas with intelligence "that influenced the course of the fighting," during the 11-day conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Lebanon-based terrorist organization's deputy secretary-general told local media Thursday.

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In an interview to Al Mayadeen TV, Naim Qassem claimed that Hezbollah and Hamas "knew about the IDF's plans to destroy the metro and tunnel networks and the ground operation deception in the strip through a joint operations room." 

Over a month ago, Ibrahim Al Amin, the editor-in-chief of the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Akhbar newspaper, said in an interview with Hezbollah-run Al-Manar TV station that the terrorist organization had established a joint war room during Operation Guardian of the Walls together with Hamas and Iran's Revolutionary Guards. 

He also said that officers from the three groups coordinated during the fighting in Gaza.

"Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani visited the joint operations room in Beirut twice during the escalations," he said, and added that "Hezbollah transferred weapons and ammunition to Gaza and helped rescue senior Palestinian officials from the area during that period." 

According to Al Amin, the Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah provided Hamas with information on the IDF he said "helped thwart Israeli operations next to the border and in the Gaza Strip" and claimed that had Israel increased fighting efforts in Gaza, Hezbollah and the Quds Force would have joined in the conflict.

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In one of his first interviews since coming out of hiding, Hamas' Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar predicted the ongoing conflict with Israel was not going to end. 

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"The battle between us and Israel will continue forever," he told VICE News.

Echoing the general Palestinian terrorist group's radical approach to any form of reconciliation with the Jewish state, he went on to explain he could not see peace ever being a real possibility because Israel was "occupying our land, displacing our people, confiscating land and attacking sacred places."

Several weeks ago, Sinwar completely disappeared from the public eye during the 11-day flare-up with Israel, which began after Hamas fired rockets on Israeli cities. Throughout Operation Guardian of the Walls – as Israel has called the campaign against Hamas – he was nowhere to be seen, emerging only after the ceasefire had been declared. 

In his interview to Vice News, he explained that Hamas entered the latest round of violence "to deliver a message to the Israelis; just a message," all but confirming he had failed to anticipate the full-fledged hostilities that erupted following the first rocket attack on Israeli cities in mid-May. 

"We just wanted to send a message to the Israelis that we will not allow them to take over Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem, or the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood [in the Israeli capital]," he said. " This is what will define the near future," he said, after being asked if another escalation was just around the corner. 

When he was asked about whether war crimes had been committed by Hamas during the fighting, Sinwar said the terrorist organization was acting in self-defense. 

"Israel – which possesses a complete arsenal of weaponry, state-of-the-art equipment and aircrafts – intentionally bombs and kills our children and women ... That's not the same as those who defend themselves with weapons that look primitive in comparison. If we had the capabilities to launch precision missiles against military targets, we wouldn't go after cities." 

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The Left's critical progressive discourse on Israel is permeating the mainstream of the Democratic Party, Tel Aviv think tank Reut Group warned in its latest report examining the American left's attitudes during the Israel-Gaza conflict.

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"The current progressive discourse outlines how social groups are perceived in a dichotomous manner, or as the virtuous and the oppressor," said Daphna Kauffman, the author of the report.

"In domestic politics, Jews are registered as white oppressors, and so is Israel in a progressive perspective on foreign policy. Especially during Operation Guardian of the Walls, those with anti-Israel views promoted the comparison between the Palestinian struggle and the struggle for black lives in the US," she said.

According to Kauffman, such a comparison resonates among progressives, as does the comparison made by anti-Zionist elements between Israel to apartheid-era South Africa.

As a result, a growing faction of progressives within the Democratic party have called for an end to US support for Israel and an end to the America's special relationship with the Jewish state. They criticize US President Joe Biden's policy which, they claim, treats Israel preferentially rather than as an oppressor.

A partner concept to this is "equity of outcome," which states that "given an assumption that all human beings are equally deserving, and one group enjoys a pervasive advantage in outcome over another, the logical conclusion is that the advantaged group is unfairly taking from the other."

"Usually, this term refers to the level of wealth and economic and social status," Kauffman explained. "However, in Operation Guardian of the Walls, this perception was expressed in the number of casualties, which was an indication that Israel is to blame for the situation. As a result, Israel has been accused of using disproportionate and illegal force."

The rise of this progressive discourse in the Democratic party, argues Kauffman, threatens to make reservations and even hostility towards Israel an inseperable part the Democratic Party.

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Thousands gathered on Sunday for a pro-Israel rally in New York in response to Operation Guardian of the Walls and a series of antisemitic attacks on Israeli and Jewish American communities in the United States.

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The demonstration, "United Against Antisemitism. United Against Terror. United for Us," took place at Ground Zero as well as 14 other cities across the US, among them Miami, Los Angeles, Orlando, Austin, Denver, Houston, and more. It was organized by the Israeli American Council together with 100 other Jewish community organizations.

"We have chosen the World Trade Center site in New York because it is a symbol of the American nation's resilience against terrorism and hatred," IAC co-founder and CEO Shoham Nicolet said. "Throughout the United States and in front of the whole world, we have shown how united we are against terrorism and antisemitism here and in Israel."

Elisha Wiesel, son of Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel; Sarri Ringer, who was wounded in the Davidka Square bus bombing in Jerusalem in 2003; and Ross Todmowski, who lost his sister in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, all spoke at the rally.

In his speech, Wiesel referred to his father's book The Jews of Silence and said, "Once again, too many of us have become Jews of silence. We have fought for every cause except for ourselves. Today is the day we remove the silence and say out loud – we are here, we are not going anywhere."

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In the 11 days of Operation Guardian of the Walls, Israeli forces destroyed some 100 km. (62 miles) of Hamas' "Metro" network of tunnels in the Gaza Strip, IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Hidai Zilberman reported Friday morning, listing the damage done to Hamas' terrorist infrastructure.

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Speaking hours after an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire took effect, Zilberman reported that some 200 Hamas operatives, including 25 high-ranking members, had been targeted and killed in IDF strikes.

Israeli forces also demolished some 340 rocket launching devices and 70 multiple rocket launchers with four to 18 barrels, as well as 35 assets used to launch mortars.

IDF strikes – executed through combined air, artillery, and naval operations – destroyed 10 of Hamas' government offices, 11 premises of its internal security forces, and five banks used by Hamas.

Israel also targeted and destroyed "dozens" of training camps and outposts, command and control center, and nine high-rise buildings that housed infrastructure used by Hamas, Zilberman added.

IDF strikes eliminated dozens of attack tunnels and openings designed to allow Hamas operatives to attack Israeli forces, such as shafts, openings, and structures; and several dozen anti-tank targets, as well as seven drones and UAVs, and two unspecified "maritime threats."

Zilberman also said that two attempts by Hamas operatives to deploy drone-operated parachutes had been thwarted, and said that Israel had damaged Hamas' manufacturing and development capabilities by targeted strikes on key R&D personnel and its manufacturing workshops and weapons and cyber research centers.

As for the performance of Israel's Iron Dome, Zilberman said that over the course of the operation, the system had intercepted 90% of incoming rockets deemed to pose a threat to populated areas.

After the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet voted on Thursday night to accept the ceasefire, Defense Minister Benny Gantz said, "the defense establishment maintains its willingness to defend the citizens of Israel, and the security forces and the IDF are deployed in the field, on all fronts, for defense and offense. The reality on the ground will decide how we continue to operate."

Gantz said that the IDF and Israel's other security forces had secured "military achievements unprecedented in their power, precision, and strategic significance" during Operation Guardian of the Walls.

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The latest Israel-Gaza conflict has led to an explosion of misinformation and hate speech in the media, and pro-Israel volunteers across the globe have stepped up to support the Jewish state and advocate on its behalf. 

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One such volunteer is Michael Oren, former Israeli ambassador to Washington. From the time the conflict began, Oren has been interviewed by dozens of television and radio stations across the world. 

"Explaining things is more difficult this time," he told Israel Hayom. "The Prime Minister's Office's Public Affair Department, which is responsible for public relations, is not functioning. But the problem is that our explanations no longer catch on. The media has changed. We have been saying the same thing for 15 years, and time has come for us to think and speak differently," he said. 

One organization that advocates for Israel all-year-round is the American Jewish Committee. Its representatives and volunteers have given dozens of interviews worldwide, including the United States, Europe, and East Asia. 

"Our goal is to present accurate information about what is happening in Israel, to show our standpoint, thank the countries, the institutions, and the people in different countries who support Israel," AJC Jerusalem Director Avital Leibovich said. 

In some cases, publicity work is done indirectly, such as is the case with Eli Hazan, Foreign Affairs Director at the Likud Party. Hazan has done a few interviews, but he primarily works behind the scenes. Since the beginning of Guardian of the Walls, he has held 75 briefings for leaders worldwide, especially in Europe. The network of connections he has been building throughout the years is bearing fruit. 

"I have hosted more than 1,000 foreign politicians in Israel. They tell me that the things that I showed them during their visit affect their viewpoint. For example, a Swiss member of parliament told me yesterday, 'Based on what you've shown us during [our] visit to Israel, I understand now that the situation is complex. Therefore, do what needs to be done, and we support you."

There are many more such pro-Israel advocates: Yoseph Haddad, CEO of Together-Vouch for Each Other, a public relations activist whose NGO publishes material in Hebrew, Arabic, and English; Arsen Ostrovsky, human rights lawyer and immigrant from Australia, who defends Israel fiercely; the blogger who goes under the name of "Elders of Zion" who works to expose false Palestinian propaganda; the Stand With Us NGO whose mission is to back Israel and fight antisemitism around the world; and many more.

"Our organization works in 23 countries, and we are looking to motivate people who want to protect Israel," said Gabriel Ben Tasgal, who established a pro-Israel advocacy project. 

"Last week, I was interviewed 150 times on TV and radio in countries that I work in, and more than 20 lectures in different communities, including Christian churches that support Israel." 

Ben Tasgal explained that he had felt a shift for the better in the way world media portrayed Israel, especially compared to the 2014 Gaza War.

"There is an enormous difference from the situation back in 2014. One of the reasons for this is when analyzing the Middle East, many media outlets used to interview local experts.

"But now, thanks to technology, these media outlets go straight to the source. They interview lots of Israelis that speak Spanish fluently and share their personal stories. There are many more opportunities to speak and present the Israel side, more than in the past."

According to Ben Tasgal, two facts bode well for Israeli diplomacy right now. 

"The successful vaccination campaign has led to more sympathy toward Israel, and the world is amazed at Israel's technological abilities, and the Iron Dome with intercepts rockets at insane rates."

Perla Lerner, originally from Columbia, has been training Foreign Ministry workers and preparing them for their positions in Spanish-speaking countries for more than 20 years. The last few days have kept her very busy.

"I've been interviewed at least 11 times by [media] in Argentina, Mexico, Panama, and Colombia. I think it was quite successful," she said.

She also believed that there had been a change for the better in the world in terms of how Israel is portrayed.

"I think they understand now abroad that we have the right to defend ourselves. I ask them, 'What would you do if your neighbor was launching [rockets] at you?"

NGO Fuente Latina was founded in 2012 by Middle East expert Leah Soibel. The company's Chief Communications Officer, Rafael Anibal also specializes in media outreach and press relations in Spanish-speaking countries. 

"We try to bring more facts and less ideology," he explained. "Most of the messages that Israel sends to the media is in English, and our goal is to do the same in Spanish."

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