Israeli soldiers in Lebanon have found large troves of Russian weapons in Hezbollah areas, surprising security officials who were unaware of the large cache of modern Russian arms Hezbollah had acquired in recent years, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. The report quoted an IDF major who said that 60% to 70% of the weapons that troops found in southern Lebanon in the first days of the ground war were Russian-made. More recently, reservists told the WSJ that they continue to locate large amounts of Russian weapons inside Lebanon. Although the IDF was aware that Hezbollah had some older Russian-made weapons, their withdrawal from the country in 2006 meant that they lacked information from the ground in the almost two decades since then.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a pointed critique of the Biden administration’s policies during a speech in the Knesset on Monday, highlighting disagreements over major decisions in Israel’s ongoing war against Iran and its proxies. Netanyahu alleged that the United States had opposed Israel’s military actions at critical junctures in the conflict. “The US had reservations and suggested that we not enter Gaza,” he said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Sunday that he would not allow Hamas to regain power in Gaza under any circumstances, according to Israel National News. “The only thing that Hamas wants is a deal that ends the war and for the IDF to leave the Strip in order to return to power,” Netanyahu said. “I am not ready to allow that under any circumstance.” Netanyahu reportedly insisted that Hamas interprets Israeli pressure as a sign it can hold out for a more favorable deal. Security officials have warned that this approach could jeopardize the lives of hostages held by the terror group.

Opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Avigdor Lieberman shamelessly besmirched Gedolei Yisrael and tried to incite anger against the Chareidi sector on Monday. Lapid spoke at a meeting of the Yesh Atid and Yisrael Beiteinu parties, saying: “The Israeli government is always trying to scare us and warn us about a civil rebellion. There is already a civil rebellion in Israel. When the Yated Ne’eman calls on the Chareidim to refuse to comply with recruitment orders – that is civil rebellion. When the demonstrators in Bnei Brak and Jerusalem shout ‘We would rather die than enlist,’ while IDF soldiers are dying every day, that is civil rebellion.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and State Attorney Amit Aisman made a rare appearance in the Knesset on Monday and several MKs and bereaved parents utilized the opportunity to tell the Attorney-General exactly what they think of her and demand she resign. Baharav-Miara only appeared in the Knesset after Simcha Rothman, the chairman of the Knesset Constitution Committee, demanded that she does so, as mandated by law. The government has been trying to advance measures against the soaring crime and murder rate in the Arab-Israeli sector but Baharav-Miara refuses to support the government, thwarting it from passing a bill to allow the use of spyware against organized crime unless it uses it against white-collar crimes as well [which would face separate legal issues].

President-elect Donald Trump has confirmed plans to declare a “national emergency” to enable the use of military assets for what he promises will be the largest deportation effort in U.S. history. Responding to reports on Truth Social, Trump enthusiastically affirmed the strategy. Judicial Watch’s Tom Fitton posted, “GOOD NEWS: Reports are the incoming @RealDonaldTrump administration prepared to declare a national emergency and will use military assets to reverse the Biden invasion through a mass deportation program.” Trump replied simply, “TRUE!!!” The president-elect has repeatedly vowed to prioritize the border crisis, with deportations set to begin immediately after he takes office on January 20.

A disturbing incident occurred last weekend in Cyprus when an IDF reservist who completed his reserve duty was targeted by a Cypriot anti-Israel organization after he shared his arrival on the island on social media. The organization called for his arrest, claiming “war crimes,” Yisrael Hayom reported on Monday. Israeli security officials identified the threat and warned the soldier. He was quickly returned to Israel to thwart his arrest. On Sunday, Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued a warning to Israelis in Greece to avoid certain areas, including the area of the Israeli embassy in Athens, as well as Aristotle University in Thessaloniki and the US consulate in the city.

Dozens of Charedi protesters from the kehilla of Rabbi Tzvi Friedman demonstrated Sunday evening on Jabotinsky Street in Bnei Brak against the enforcement of mandatory military service. The protest follows the distribution of thousands of draft orders to yeshiva students starting today. Protesters blocked the intersection and clashed with police. At one point, police declared the demonstration illegal before taking action to disperse the protest. Despite the warning, protesters escalated into violent behavior, shouting inflammatory remarks such as “Nazis” and other derogatory terms at police officers. Mounted police units were deployed to clear the roadway, and officers arrested one individual for disorderly conduct. The demonstration caused significant traffic disruptions in the area.

The Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court on Thursday ordered three suspects accused of firing flares near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private residence to remain in custody for five days. The suspects were arrested following an investigation by police and the Shin Bet security service, who had requested a 12-day detention. The court opted for a shorter duration, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation. A gag order issued by the court prohibits the publication of the suspects’ identities or details about the investigation for the next 30 days. However, reports in Hebrew-language media indicate that the individuals are senior members of the anti-government protest movement.

Three Israelis were arrested overnight Motzei Shabbos for firing flares at the private home of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Caesarea on Motzei Shabbos. The three suspects are anti-government anarchists, including a senior IDF reserve officer who is one of the leaders of the protests against Netanyahu in Caesarea. Ynet reported that according to the investigation, the suspects launched the flares from dunes on the beach near Netanyahu’s home. The flares that were used are designed to be used by naval vessels as distress signals. All three suspects were reportedly well-known anti-Netanyahu activists and will likely face multiple criminal charges, including arson.