A Narrow Escape
10/7 and Iran: The Weekly Conquest Week of 10.6.24 – 10.12.24
Welcome to the ZioKnight
Week of October 6, 2024
(From Left to Right) Myself, Avi Medina, Dr. Jessica Liebowitz, Brandeis University President Ron Leibowitz
Avi Medina is a joyous, frequent festival-goer with a knack for videography. The Nova festival was his 8th filming gig. As he was recording at the main stage, rockets started to rain from overhead. The DJ cut the music, the crowd erupted in boos, and Avi yelled through the mic, “sevah adom,” or, in English, “code red.” He daringly escaped the festival, dodging bullets, speeding down the highway, and saving friends.
When he made it home, he called a military friend to suit him up. Then, he returned to the event, not as an attendee, but as a soldier.
It was an honor to host this hero to speak in America during the summer and this past week to mark a year since the 7th. Commemorating the day left me with mixed emotions, as the ensuing conflict is ongoing. I understood why we held such programming but was confused about how I should’ve felt about it.
The palpable emotion Avi’s words conveyed answered my question and rendered precise the amalgamation of mixed emotions I had. I felt dejected in mourning, pride for the courageous soldiers, and hope for the future.
He directed us to refocus our emotions toward action as the war drags on. He recommended we redouble our efforts to stay in touch with friends and family in Israel, go on missions to help in the fields, and donate to meaningful causes. While we are half a world away, Avi reminded us that we share the unbreakable bond of the love of Israel that we should act upon if we care.
Sunday 10.6
Forrest Running in the Film, Forrest Gump
Iran is the chief troublemaker in the modern Middle East, but this war may put an end to their shenanigans. Iran’s provocations and progress towards a nuclear weapon haven’t been responded to substantially due to the looming threat of Hezbollah. Iran has essentially had a gun to Israel’s head, with 150,000 rockets ready for launch in Southern Lebanon. Israel’s actions have been restricted until now due to this threat.
New reporting suggests that Israel destroyed 60% of Hezbollah’s arsenal. The status of Hezbollah’s missile launchers remains unknown. With Iran’s proxy in a trodden state, Israel will have increased flexibility during its future operations against the Islamic Republic. To the IDF, I say “run Forrest run!” [1]
Monday 10.7
Harris Planting a Pomegranate Tree and Trump at the Rebbe’s Grave
Both presidential and vice presidential candidates showed strong support for Israel on 10/7.
Kamala Harris planted a pomegranate tree and “restate[d her] pledge to always ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself.”
Walz visited the Nova Exhibit in LA with a Nova Survivor, Noa Beer. He also reaffirmed his “unwavering commitment to Israel’s security.”
Trump went to the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s grave in Queens, prayed for the hostages’ release, and participated in an event in Florida.
JD Vance Spoke at a gathering on the National Mall in DC saying “we are united in the basic common sense principle that we want the good guys to win and we want the bad guys to lose.” [2][3]
Tuesday 10.8
Biden is urging Netanyahu not to strike Iranian nuclear facilities and discourages Israel from striking Iran’s oil fields. When asked by a reporter how he thinks Israel should respond, he answered “that’s between me and them.” [4][5]
Wednesday 10.9
Ta-Nehisi Coates recently published a book called The Message. A chapter of the book paints Israel as a modern-day apartheid regime modeled after racism in Jim Crow America. Tony Dokoupil, a Jewish CBS news anchor pointed out the radicalism and absence of context in his book, to which Coates responded, “I wrote a 260-page book. It is not a treatise on the entirety of the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians.”
Dokoupil was rebuked for his “tough” questions and for not upholding unbiased reporting standards. The Chairwoman of Paramount Global, CBS’ parent company, rescinded the scolding and commended him for the line of questioning, saying “we have to also provide the opportunity to challenge him on what he says, just like we challenge everybody else.” [6][7]
Thursday 10.10
Iran’s Nuclear Facility
In a clip that was cut from Kamala’s 60 Minutes interview and later released, she labeled Iran as America’s greatest adversary. She said that countering Iran’s nuclear program would be one of her “highest priorities” as president.
When asked how she’d treat Iran if she had knowledge they were on the path toward nuclear weapons, she said she wouldn’t discuss “hypotheticals.”
In a call to Jewish voters before Yom Kippur, she said “diplomacy is my preferred path to that end, but all options are on the table” against Iran’s nuclear program.
In a campaign event last week, Trump highlighted his disagreement with Biden’s recalcitrance about launching a strike on Iran’s nuclear program. He noted that Israel should “hit the nuclear first and worry about the rest later.” [8][9][10]
Friday 10.11
Iran suffered a great deal of losses in conventional warfare through its well-armed proxies. So, it has decided to go global with its terror.
Iran has been contracting gangs to carry out its hits across Europe and America. It called for strikes on embassies, bombings of buses, and executions of the regime’s enemies.
International criminals often charge “as little as $1,000” per hit or will do so for free, with the prospect of climbing the ranks in criminal circles. [11]
Saturday 10.12
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System
Israel notified the US that it narrowed down its targets for retaliation against Iran to military and energy assets. Israel suggested that it is not aiming to target nuclear facilities or conduct targeted assassinations.
The US will send the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System to Israel to strike ballistic missiles out of the air, in the case of an Iranian retaliation. [12][13]