14 Days: Israel's rampage

ISRAEL’S RAMPAGE 

Iran’s S-300 air defense in Isfahan, which protects its Natanz nuclear site, was destroyed without detection by long-range missiles fired from outside Iranian air space early on April 19 in what appeared to be Israel’s response to an Iranian attack six days earlier. According to the Kan national broadcaster, the alleged Israeli attack employed a locally developed air-to-surface missile named The Rampage. Although there was no official confirmation from Israel, in line with its policy of ambiguity, according to former IDF intelligence chief Amos Yadlin: “Israel found a creative way to restore deterrence on the one hand and avoid escalation on the other.” However, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir tweeted “Dardaleh!” Hebrew slang for “a weak response,” sparking criticism from opposition leader Yair Lapid, who said, “In an unforgivable tweet of one word, Ben-Gvir managed to sneer and shame Israel from Tehran to Washington.”

GAZA WAR 

Amid reports that a new hostage deal was imminent, the IDF was preparing to deploy two reserve brigades for an operation against Hamas in Rafah.  On April 29, the IDF announced the deaths of Master Sgt. (res.) Ido Aviv, 28, and Master Sgt. (res.) Kalkidan Meharim, 37, in fighting in central Gaza. Sgt. First Class Salm Alkreshat, 42, a Bedouin tracker married and the father of 12, fell in in battle in northern Gaza on April 22.

HEZBOLLAH STRIKES 

The IDF attacked multiple Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon after Hezbollah fired drones and anti-tank missiles at northern Israel on April 17, fatally wounding Maj. (res.) Dor Zimel, 27, and wounding 17 others, including 14 soldiers. Zimel, who was buried in Even Yehuda, had been set to marry his fiancée, Shir, in June. The IDF killed Hassin Ali Ezkol and Muhammad Attiya, key members of Hezbollah’s aerial defense unit, in targeted strikes in Lebanon,

TULKARM CLASHES 

IDF and Border Police troops killed 14 Palestinians during a raid in the Tulkarm area on April 20, while an ambulance driver was killed as he went to pick up wounded from a separate attack by settlers. The IDF said that in the 40-hour operation, 10 terrorists were killed, nine soldiers sustained light to moderate wounds in clashes, and eight wanted Palestinians were arrested.

HOSTAGE VIDEOS 

Hamas published videos in April showing signs of life from hostages Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, Keith Siegel, 64, and Omri Miran, 47. In the videos, all three appealed for action to secure their release. Hersh’s parents Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg said in response that while they were relieved to see him alive, they were concerned about his health and that of the other hostages after more than 200 days in captivity.

BEN-GVIR HURT 

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was lightly injured in a traffic accident in Ramle when his driver ran a red light and their car overturned after being hit by another vehicle on April 28.  Ben-Gvir had driven to Ramle to visit the scene of a terror stabbing attack in which an 18-year-old woman was seriously wounded. An armed civilian shot dead the terrorist, police said.

US AID 

US President Joe Biden on April 24 signed a $95 billion war aid package to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan after it was passed by the Senate and House of Representatives. The Senate voted 80-19 in favor of the package, which includes $26 billion in defense aid to Israel. “The overwhelming bipartisan support for Israel is a striking testament to the fact that Israel has no closer ally than America, and America has no closer ally than Israel,” President Isaac Herzog tweeted.

CAMPUS PROTESTS 

Massive anti-Israel protests caused chaos on US campuses including Columbia and USC in April. At Columbia, where an encampment against the war in Gaza came to symbolize the protest movement, demonstrators broke windows at Hamilton Hall on the Manhattan campus early on April 30 after the university began to suspend students who defied a deadline to evacuate the camp.

SPORTS CHAMPS 

Israeli judokas shined at the European Judo Championships in Zagreb on April 27, with Raz Hershko , 25, clinching the gold medal in the over 78 kg category and Inbar Lanir, 24, securing a bronze in the under 78 kg category. In Paris, Yarin Shriki, a Nova music festival survivor, won gold at the Jiu Jitsu 2024 Grand Prix on April 29.

JERUSALEM BIENNALE 

The Jerusalem Biennale returned this year, despite the war, and ran until the end of Passover, although some exhibitions are continuing beyond the holiday. The 32 exhibitions in more than 20 venues around the capital made it the largest platform for contemporary Jewish art in the world. Among the exhibitions, many of which emphasize women artists, is “All of Esther’s Numbers” by Tobia Rava; “The Doe of Dawn” at the Bible Lands Museum; “Threading” at the Museum of Italian Art; and “A Palace in Time” at the Heichal Shlomo Museum.