Israel SitRep: February 19, 2025

Today’s Issue: | Alma: IDF Troops Remaining in Lebanon to Prevent Rebuilding of Hezbollah Terror Infrastructure and Ceasefire Violations | Production Begins on Israeli Navy’s New Reshef Warships | Survey: 67 Percent of Israelis Oppose Palestinian State Along ’67 Lines; 75 Percent Favor Gaza Emigration Plan | Israeli Police and Jerusalem Inspectors Raid UNRWA Offices | Latest FDD Analysis

Alma: IDF Troops Remaining in Lebanon to Prevent Rebuilding of Hezbollah Terror Infrastructure and Ceasefire Violations: The Alma Research and Education Center published an analysis of Israel’s deployment in Lebanon after the army withdrew yesterday from the last 11 villages in which it was deployed but remained in five areas. According to Alma, these areas, in sectors stretching from east to west, enable the IDF to have observation posts overlooking parts of Lebanon that could threaten Israeli communities with direct fire or a ground invasion. Alma states that Hezbollah is attempting to rehabilitate its military capabilities and regain Shiite support. Stationing IDF troops in these five locations is also intended to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its terror infrastructure in border areas and to prevent ceasefire violations by the group, which have occurred hundreds of time since the start of the ceasefire on November 27. While the IDF troops stationed in Lebanon may provide Hezbollah with a pretext for attacking the soldiers or launching an attack on Israel, Hezbollah is more likely to foment civilian protests and demonstrations in the five areas to show its Shiite supporters that it is taking action against Israel. Today, the IDF       fired warning shots in the areas of Kafr Kila in southern Lebanon to disperse a group of people who had gathered near the border with Israel.

Production Begins on Israeli Navy’s New Reshef Warships: The Israeli Defense Ministry held a ceremony yesterday to mark the start of production of the new Reshef warships, part of the ministry’s efforts to increase defense-manufacturing independence and promote “blue and white” projects. Under a 2.8 billion shekel ($780 million) agreement signed with Israel Shipyards, the navy will receive five Reshef missile ships to replace the Nirit Sa’ar 4.5-class missile ship, which is being decommissioned after 40 years of service. According to the ministry, the Reshef, a multi-mission ship developed in cooperation with the navy, “combines the best weapons systems and innovative technologies of the Israeli defense industry.” The expected delivery date for the first Reshef ship is in the second half of 2028. According to the ministry, “The project constitutes a significant step in strengthening the independence of Israel’s defense production” after decades in which ships were purchased from abroad.

Survey: 67 Percent of Israelis Oppose Palestinian State Along ’67 Lines; 75 Percent Favor Gaza Emigration Plan: According to a new survey by the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, 67 percent of Israelis — 75 percent of Israeli Jews and 16 percent of Israeli Arabs — oppose a Palestinian state along the 1967 lines. Even if a Palestinian state would enable Israel to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia, 60 percent of Israelis still oppose it. A total of 82 percent of Israelis reject having Hamas remain in Gaza “as a civil body,” including 90 percent of Israeli Jews and 33 percent of Israeli Arabs, while about 88 percent of Israelis — 94 percent of Jews and 46 percent of Arabs — oppose allowing Hamas to remain as a “ruling military body.” Asked about President Trump’s Gaza emigration plan, 75 percent of Israelis were in favor. Among Arabs, 58 percent opposed it. About 60 percent of Israelis — 66 percent of Israeli Jews and 25 percent of Israeli Arabs — oppose having the Palestinian Authority be part of future arrangements in Gaza. The survey, conducted between February 11 and 13 among a representative sampling of more than 700 Israeli Jews and Arabs aged 18 to 65, also asked about an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear program; buffer zones on Israel’s borders with Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria; and concerns about war with Egypt.

Israeli Police and Jerusalem Inspectors Raid UNRWA Offices: On Tuesday, Israeli police and Jerusalem city inspectors raided facilities of UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which was recently banned in Israel. UNRWA’s facilities are still operating in eastern Jerusalem, according to Israel’s Kan News, and according to a statement by Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Aryeh King, “the Israeli government and the Jerusalem Municipality entered a compound owned by the KKL-Jewish National Fund, which UNRWA has been using without permission” — a reference to the UNRWA Kalandiya training center. Israeli authorities closed the organization’s two main Jerusalem offices in the wake of the new law. Senior UNRWA management has left Israel and the West Bank, but UNRWA had continued to operate in eastern Jerusalem.

Latest FDD Analysis:

Today at 8:30am (ET): “FDD Morning Brief,” featuring Jonathan Schanzer and Dan Feferman, FDD Event

“Tehran’s Trump Trap,” Behnam Ben Taleblu, The National Interest

“Lebanon’s Neutrality Must Include Arabs vs. Israel,” Hussain Abdul-Hussain, This is Beirut

“‘Hamas Executed a Mother and Her Two Children in Cold Blood’: Bibas Family Bodies Reportedly Included in Upcoming Hostage Release,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“‘We Can’t Have a Contract That Says Iran or Russia Must Not Bid’: South African Minister Opens Door to Nuclear Cooperation With Tehran and Moscow,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief