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According to recent media reports, Iran has started enriching uranium to 60% purity at its underground Fordow facility.
This increase in uranium enrichment is reportedly in response to a recent demand by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for increased international cooperation between the Islamic regime and the international nuclear watchdog.
In addition, the Fars News Agency reported that Tehran is also replacing the first-generation IR-1 centrifuges at the Fordow site with the more advanced IR-6 centrifuges. The IR-6 centrifuges can more easily switch between different enrichment levels.
Fordow is the latest Iranian site to enrich uranium at a level of 60%. A nuclear weapon requires uranium enriched at a level of 90%.
In related news, Lieutenant General Aviv Kochavi, the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), was in Washington this week for high-level meetings with members of the Biden administration and senior US security officials to discuss the Iranian threat and to coordinate efforts between the two countries in the face of Iranian belligerence.
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In his premier speech to the 25th Knesset this week, Benjamin Netanyahu, the presumptive Israeli prime minister, emphasized the role of majority rule in Israeli politics.
Speaking before the plenum, Netanyahu told the assembled parliamentarians that “If we can, we’ll reach agreements – that happens frequently. If we can’t reach an agreement, the decision is made by the will of the majority.”
Netanyahu went further on to say that his future government will attempt to reach “as broad agreements as possible, and when we need to we will make responsible and careful decisions…we will preserve Israeli democracy and Israel.”
Following Israel’s national elections earlier this month, Netanyahu’s coalition of religious and right-wing parties won a decisive majority of seats in the Israeli parliament and the Likud leader was given the mandate to form a government by Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
However, the coalition has yet to be finalized due to squabbling between the different coalition parties over certain ministerial positions.
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During his recent visit to the United States, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Aviv Kochavi was awarded the Legion of Merit by the US Armed Forces. The Legion of Merit is the seventh highest decoration given by the American military.
According to an official statement, Kochavi’s award was in recognition of his achievements in “establishing Israel’s position as a leader of groundbreaking operational capabilities in the Middle East.”
Kochavi received his decoration from General Mark Milley, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was acting on behalf of Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin.
During the ceremony, Milley commended Kochavi for deepening ties between the Israeli military and its allies, “capitalizing on the diplomatic initiatives of the Abraham Accords” and helping to ease Israel’s transition from the US European Command to the US Central Command.
Milley concluded by stating that “Lt. Gen. Kochavi’s superior efforts, outstanding leadership, and personal initiative reflect great credit upon himself, the Israel Defense Forces, and his country.”
Lt. Gen. Kochavi is set to step down as the Chief of Staff of the IDF in January 2023 and is set to be replaced by Major General Herzi Halevi.
IDF Chief of the General Staff LTG Aviv Kohavi was awarded the U.S. Armed Forces' Legion of Merit by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, GEN Mark Milley, for deepening the strategic partnership between the State of Israel and the U.S. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/F67LqdWO71
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 21, 2022
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This week marks the beginning of the FIFA World Cup, which is being hosted by Qatar. While the Israeli national soccer team did not qualify for this year’s competition, this does not mean that it is without its share of Israel-related stories. Here are just some that have emerged from the first days of the World Cup:
- Even though Israel and Qatar have no official relationship, Israeli soccer fans were able to fly directly to the games after the two countries agreed to an arrangement where the Cyprus-based TUS Airways would provide direct flights between Tel Aviv and Doha. 1,000 Israelis and Palestinians are expected to travel to the games via these chartered flights.
- Once Israeli fans land in Qatar, will they be able to enjoy some kosher food? According to recent reports, Qatar has reneged on a promise to allow for the serving of hot kosher meals to soccer fans and has also banned public Jewish prayers. At the moment, soccer fans who keep kosher will have access to challah for Shabbat and cold bagel sandwiches.
- During a recent security conference, the head of Israeli Military Intelligence, Major General Aharon Haliva, told participants that Iran is considering an attack at the World Cup as it faces unrest at home. According to Haliva, the only thing holding back the Islamic regime is how Qatar will react to an attack on their soil. Iran’s national side were beaten 6-2 in their opening game against England.
- While covering the World Cup, Israeli journalists are reporting that they are facing some hostility from Arab fans, who they say are “shunning” them and showering them with anti-Israel epithets. Of the Arab visitors who are willing to speak to the Israeli media, most are from countries that have some sort of relationship with the Jewish state.
Recommended Reading
- UK Lawmaker Says No Plans to Move Embassy to Jerusalem (Owen Alterman, i24News)
- Elon Musk Flatters Israel’s Twitter, After it Mocks Kanye West’s Tweet (Jerusalem Post)
- British Comedian David Baddiel Takes His ‘Jews Don’t Count’ Argument to TV (Jacob Judah, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
- 3,000th Palestinian Child Has Heart Operation in Israel Through Save a Child’s Heart (Jack Mukand, Times of Israel)
- What Thomas Friedman Gets Wrong About Israel and Democracy – Opinion (Avital Leibovich, Jerusalem Post)
