Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Chief of Staff Hertzi Halevi spoke Thursday at the graduation ceremony of the Israel Defense Forces combat officers course and addressed the controversy over the judicial reform that has led to massive peaceful protesting around the country.
Read more: IDF Chief Unhappy Reservists Involving Army In Judicial Reform Protest
After in-depth staff work between the treasury and the Israel Defense Forces, a multi-year plan was agreed upon for the security plan and the IDF within the framework of the state budget. Such a defined budget has not been in place since 2015, due to the constant election cycles that made it difficult to plan a multi-year security budget.
Read more: Multi-Year Budget For IDF Signed For First Time In Eight Years
Six rockets were launched between Wednesday and Thursday, around 04:00 AM, from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory, the Iron Dome system intercepted five of the rockets and another fell in an open field. There were no injuries. Alarms were heard in Ashkelon, Sderot, and Israeli communities surrounding the Gaza Strip less than a day after an Israel Defense Forces operation in Nablus in which 11 people were killed; most of them from the "Lion's Den" terrorist group.
Read more: Escalation: 6 Missiles From Gaza Prompt IDF To Destroy Hamas Weapons Site
Israeli forces entered the old city of Nablus Wednesday morning, where they were focusing on a house where wanted "Lion's Den" operatives have been hiding. The Palestinian Authority reported an exchange of fire between the militant forces and the Israel Defense Forces. The Palestinian Red Crescent announced that close to 20 have been moderately and lightly injured were taken to a hospital as of 10:30 AM IST. (UPDATE: As of 4:00 PM IST, 10 were reportedly killed with over 100 injured in the skirmishes).
Read more: See It: Residents Join Militants In Attacking Israeli Forces In Nablus
Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar met opposition leader Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz, at the same time as his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and called for both sides to push peaceful discourse, following the political storm surrounding the planned reform of the justice system and his fears that a political assassination on behalf of the protesters could be near.
Read more: Shin Ben Chief Warns Coalition & Opposition Leaders Of Political Assassination
