Military Intelligence Warns Netanyahu of Israel’s Waning Deterrence Power

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and Justice Minister Yariv Levin (L) attend a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, 02 April 2023. (EPA)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and Justice Minister Yariv Levin (L) attend a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, 02 April 2023. (EPA)
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Military Intelligence Warns Netanyahu of Israel’s Waning Deterrence Power

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and Justice Minister Yariv Levin (L) attend a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, 02 April 2023. (EPA)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and Justice Minister Yariv Levin (L) attend a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, 02 April 2023. (EPA)

Israel's strategic position has experienced a “serious decline” in recent months, according to a warning from the research department at the Military Intelligence Directorate in the Israeli Defense Forces (Aman).

The decline is attributed to a significant rift within the Jewish community resulting from the government's plan to overthrow the governance system and overhaul the judiciary.

These policies are impacting the military and Israeli-US relations, but have also seen intensified Israeli airstrikes on Syria.

Israel’s enemies have taken note of its weakened state, particularly in relation to the “distance between Tel Aviv and Washington,” said Aman’s report.

The report highlighted Iran as the primary beneficiary, given that Israel is unable to confront its nuclear program or engage it in battle without US support.

However, other actors may also be taking advantage of the situation.

Aman’s research department prepared an official memorandum warning of the serious decline in Israel’s deterrence power.

The memorandum was submitted to the Israeli army and political-security leadership, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi, reported Israel Hayom on Tuesday.

The Aman report stated that “the deterioration of Israel's strategic situation is reflected in all elements of the axis hostile to Israel, led by Iran.”

“Evidence of this appears in the successive meetings between Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad to coordinate positions,” claimed the report.

“Iranian officials are conducting similar contacts, and it is likely that Iran has increased its pressure on various parties in the axis to carry out armed operations in Israel,” it added.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that “consecutive Israeli attacks on Syria in recent days are an attempt to restore Israel’s deterrence power and reinforce the balance of fear against Iran and Hezbollah.”



54 Migrants Rescued from Mediterranean Oil Platform

FILED - 31 May 2025, France, Gravelines: A group of people thought to be migrants onboard a small boat leaving the beach at Gravelines, France, attempting to reach the UK by crossing the English Channel. Photo: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire/dpa
FILED - 31 May 2025, France, Gravelines: A group of people thought to be migrants onboard a small boat leaving the beach at Gravelines, France, attempting to reach the UK by crossing the English Channel. Photo: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire/dpa
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54 Migrants Rescued from Mediterranean Oil Platform

FILED - 31 May 2025, France, Gravelines: A group of people thought to be migrants onboard a small boat leaving the beach at Gravelines, France, attempting to reach the UK by crossing the English Channel. Photo: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire/dpa
FILED - 31 May 2025, France, Gravelines: A group of people thought to be migrants onboard a small boat leaving the beach at Gravelines, France, attempting to reach the UK by crossing the English Channel. Photo: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire/dpa

Over 50 migrants were headed to the Italian island of Lampedusa Sunday after a charity ship rescued them from an abandoned oil platform in the Mediterranean, where one woman gave birth.

The vessel Astral, operated by the Spain-based NGO Open Arms, rescued the 54 people overnight, the group said in a statement.

The migrants had been trapped on the oil platform for three days after their rubber boat shipwrecked following their departure from Libya on Tuesday, Open Arms said.

On Friday, one of the migrants gave birth to a boy, while another woman had given birth days before. Two other young children were among the group, Open Arms said, according to AFP.

Later Sunday, the charity said that, following the rescue of those on the oil platform, the Astral came upon another 109 people, including four people in the water.

That group, which included 10 children, had also departed from Libya, it said.
Open Arms said they provided life jackets to the migrants before they were rescued by another charity ship, the Louise Michel, which is sponsored by street artist Banksy.

The Louise Michel, a former French navy vessel, was transporting the migrants to a safe port in Sicily, Open Arms said.

It is not unusual for migrants crossing the Mediterranean on leaky and overcrowded boats to seek refuge on offshore oil platforms.

As of June 1, some 23,000 migrants had reached Italy by sea this year, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).