Persistent breaches in the security barrier near the Qalandiya checkpoint and the northern Yerushalayim neighborhood of Neve Yaakov have turned the area into a flashpoint, with a sharp rise in unauthorized crossings from Palestinian Authority-controlled areas into Israel.
Israeli security officials say the scope of the problem has expanded dramatically since the outbreak of the war. A security source cited by Yediot Acharonot estimated that roughly 6,000 infiltrations now occur each week through gaps in the fence—double the number recorded prior to the fighting. According to the source, a notable share of terror attacks inside pre-1967 Israel has been linked, directly or indirectly, to these crossings.
The infiltrations are often facilitated by paid intermediaries. Palestinians reportedly pay between 300 and 600 shekels to be guided through breaches that are deliberately cut into the barrier. Once across, a waiting driver transports them deeper into Israeli territory.
In response, security forces have stepped up enforcement along the fence, deploying ambushes around the clock in an effort to intercept those crossing illegally. Since the war began, a temporary directive has been in force allowing forces to open fire at infiltrators breaching the barrier, with instructions to aim at the lower body as a means of stopping crossings and restoring deterrence.
The growing concern over these vulnerabilities is echoed in a newly released State Comptroller’s audit focusing on the Seam Line barrier and crossings in the Jerusalem perimeter. On Tuesday, State Comptroller Matanyahu Engelman published a wide-ranging report that examined long-standing shortcomings in security preparedness, operations, and the implementation of government policy—issues brought into sharper focus by the October 7 massacre and the ongoing Swords of Iron War.
According to the audit, only 61 percent of the several-hundred-kilometer seam line is currently fitted with a physical barrier. In many other sections, wide openings remain, allowing Palestinians to pass without any inspection. Engelman highlighted especially severe gaps, including uninterrupted stretches of 11 kilometers on one route and six kilometers on another where no obstacle exists at all, warning that such conditions pose a serious risk of terrorist infiltration.
The report also faulted authorities for the lack of an organized operating framework at the crossings. Despite a 2005 decision by the Prime Minister to transfer management of the crossings to civilian control, not a single crossing in the Jerusalem perimeter has been civilianized to this day. The audit further criticized the Shin Bet for failing to adequately implement professional recommendations tied to these changes.
Operational problems were also flagged within the Israel Police, which have managed the crossings for roughly two decades without a formal doctrine or permanent command structure. Of the 16 crossings in the sector, only two are headed by commanders officially authorized for the position. Engelman cautioned that this arrangement undermines coordination among the IDF, Israel Police, Border Guard, and civilian security elements, creating dangerous security gaps.
On the ground, the audit found that Border Guard units were frequently reassigned from routine seam line duties to other missions, weakening the overall defensive posture in the area. Inconsistent reporting between the IDF and police regarding infiltration incidents further contributed to what the Comptroller described as a fragmented and insufficient response.
Additional deficiencies cited include aging infrastructure, manpower shortages, inadequate screening equipment, and poor coordination between government ministries. One case highlighted was the prolonged delay in opening the subsidence road at the Qalandiya crossing, which stemmed from unresolved disputes between the Transportation Ministry and the police.
Among Engelman’s recommendations are the immediate closure of open gaps in the barrier, completion of the long-delayed civilianization of the crossings, and the establishment of a clear and binding police operating doctrine. The report also calls for improved intelligence-sharing across all security bodies and a reassessment of the barrier’s route based on updated threat evaluations.
{Matzav.com}
Two Likud Knesset members, Tally Gotliv and Moshe Saada, notified a Knesset security official on Wednesday that their personal cellphones had been compromised. According to Walla! News reporter Yehuda Shlezinger, data taken from the devices was allegedly circulated on the dark web.
The lawmakers said they were alerted to the breach by a former police officer now working in the cyber field, who told them that information extracted from their phones had begun spreading in underground online forums.
The disclosures come after claims last week by the Iranian-linked hacker group Handala, which asserted it had penetrated the personal phone of former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. The group said it had released a trove of material taken from an iPhone 13, including a contacts list, a chat with Avia Sassi, photos, videos, and an audio recording. Among the contacts allegedly exposed, along with phone numbers, were UAE Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and French President Emmanuel Macron. Bennett’s office said the device was examined and found not to have been hacked.
In a statement, Bennett’s office said: “The issue is being handled by security authorities. Israel’s enemies will do everything to prevent me from becoming Prime Minister again. It will not help them. No one will stop me from acting and fighting for the State of Israel and the Jewish people. After further investigation, it appears that while my phone itself was not hacked, access was gained to my Telegram account in various ways. Content from my phone’s contact list, as well as authentic and fake photos and chats (including a photo of me next to Ben Gurion), were circulated. This content was obtained unlawfully, and its distribution constitutes a criminal offense.”
{Matzav.com}
An artificial intelligence–generated clip shared Wednesday by the Prime Minister’s Press Office shows Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu sitting beside U.S. President Donald Trump inside the cockpit of a B-2 bomber.
The post appeared as Netanyahu readies for a trip to the United States, where he is slated to meet with Trump. Their talks are expected to focus on Iran’s efforts to restore capabilities damaged during the fighting, as well as the next stage of President Trump’s Gaza peace initiative.
The video was uploaded with the caption, “On our victory lap. #sixmonths.” It references the six-month mark since Israel’s Operation Rising Lion and the U.S. campaign known as Operation Midnight Hammer, during which American B-2 bombers struck Iranian nuclear facilities.
The Prime Minister’s Press Office launched its Instagram account in October with the goal of reaching a younger audience. The page mixes brief clips from Netanyahu’s speeches and public appearances with lighter content, including casual Q&A segments and meme-style posts.
WATCH:
https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/1210006.mp4{Matzav.com}
Diplomatic maneuvering is underway to shape a possible security arrangement between Israel and Syria, with Russia playing a central but discreet role and doing so with American consent, according to a report by Kan News.
One senior defense official familiar with the contacts said Moscow is seeking to reestablish a military footprint in southern Syria, close to Israel’s border, restoring a posture that existed prior to the collapse of the previous Syrian government.
The same official noted that Russia has already taken steps to rebuild its overall military presence in the country. Ties between Moscow and Damascus are being repaired, and Russian forces have begun redeploying personnel and equipment to the Latakia region in northern Syria, an area that had largely been abandoned after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
While Russia operates behind the scenes, the actual face-to-face meetings have largely taken place in Baku. Azerbaijan has been hosting and facilitating the discussions, with delegations from both Israel and Syria traveling there for talks.
From Israel’s perspective, officials reportedly see advantages in a renewed Russian role in southern Syria, preferring that scenario over deeper military or political entrenchment by Turkey in the same area.
The negotiations, which remain focused on security arrangements rather than full normalization, reflect a complex regional realignment involving Russia, Israel, and Syria, with Washington quietly signaling its approval of Moscow’s mediating role.
{Matzav.com}
New federal filings show the Democratic National Committee ended November with a sharply reduced financial cushion, holding just over $12 million in cash while carrying nearly $16 million in outstanding debt tied largely to a recent loan.
Those figures arrive as Democrats head toward the 2026 midterms under growing internal strain, with party leaders split over whether to release a detailed assessment of the failed 2024 Biden–Harris campaign and how to recalibrate ahead of a fight to reclaim control of Congress.
According to Federal Election Commission disclosures, the DNC reported roughly $12.6 million cash on hand for November, raised $10.7 million during the month, and listed $15.9 million in liabilities. Republicans seized on the filing, charging that Democrats are struggling to keep up with their bills.
By comparison, the Republican National Committee posted $89.9 million in cash on hand for the same period and reported no debts, leaving the DNC only marginally ahead of the GOP in November fundraising totals but dramatically behind in overall financial strength.
The November report also shows the DNC’s reserves shrinking by about $6 million over the course of the month, as expenditures exceeded incoming donations. In October, the committee had taken in $23 million — more than twice its November haul.
The loan contributing to the party’s current debt load was taken out before Democrats scored notable electoral wins in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City. Over the same stretch, the RNC’s cash reserves dipped by less than $1.5 million.
Tensions inside the party sharpened last week after the DNC decided not to make public its post-election analysis of Vice President Kamala Harris’s loss to President Donald Trump. Party chairman Ken Martin said releasing the report now would be “a distraction from its core mission.”
A senior DNC official, speaking anonymously, said the party’s outreach efforts fell short — particularly among voters ages 18 to 30, a group that shifted toward Trump by 11 percentage points. The official added that Democrats failed to calm voter anxiety about crime and illegal immigration and lacked credibility when addressing economic concerns.
Not all Democrats agree with keeping the report under wraps. Senate Chief Deputy Whip Brian Schatz criticized the decision, saying, “I believe the DNC should release the report because 1) that’s what they said they were going to do 2) this is going to be a thing 3) if there’s good analysis we should see it.”
Despite the internal disputes, Democrats currently maintain a nearly four-point edge over Republicans on the generic congressional ballot, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average.
Harris has also signaled interest in seeking the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, after rising to the top of the 2024 ticket without a primary when President Joe Biden ended his campaign just 107 days before Election Day.
Reports indicate the unreleased DNC analysis does not squarely address Biden’s decision to seek reelection at an advanced age. The New York Times reported that issue was largely avoided, while the Bulwark said some Biden or Harris advisers pressed party leaders to keep their names out of the document.
Financial pressures have continued into 2025. FEC records show the DNC spent more than $18 million in the first seven months of the year repaying expenses linked to Harris’ campaign.
The grim fundraising picture coincides with renewed scrutiny of Democratic leadership following remarks by Hunter Biden during a lengthy podcast appearance, where he criticized the administration’s immigration policy and the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. “We don’t want immigrants that are coming here illegally, draining us of resources, and being prioritized above people that are actual, literal heroes, that are still recovering from 21, 20 years of endless war — or anybody else in our society,” he said on “The Shawn Ryan Show.”
Data from the Congressional Budget Office estimate that about 2.4 million immigrants entered the United States each year from 2021 through 2024, while a Goldman Sachs analysis concluded at least 60 percent crossed the border illegally.
Early polling of a hypothetical 2028 race shows Vice President JD Vance trailing Harris by just one point, while other surveys indicate Vance would defeat Democratic contenders such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Republicans argue the numbers reflect deeper problems inside the Democratic Party. RNC spokeswoman Kiersten Pels accused party leadership of mismanagement, saying, “Ken Martin has turned the DNC into a money-losing operation that reflects the failures of the broader Democratic Party.”
She added, “The DNC is drowning in debt, still paying Kamala Harris’ campaign bills, and watching donors flee as leadership bankrolls radical candidates voters don’t want. Ken Martin has run the party into the ground, and Republicans sincerely hope he keeps it up.”
{Matzav.com}
Newly compiled crime figures suggest the United States is experiencing an unprecedented decline in killings, with early indicators pointing to the steepest single-year reduction ever observed.
Independent crime researcher Jeff Asher says fresh national numbers show homicides falling faster than at any point in modern data tracking, reversing the surge seen during the pandemic years.
Asher’s Real-Time Crime Index, a nationwide dataset that aggregates reports from hundreds of police departments and is refreshed frequently, indicates the country is on course for the largest one-year decrease in murders ever recorded.
Federal officials are also striking an optimistic tone. Last month, Kash Patel said the 2025 homicide rate is expected to be the lowest in “modern history,” attributing the shift to a renewed focus across the bureau on violent crime.
Researchers outside the government say the underlying data back that assessment. Because the Real-Time Crime Index is updated well ahead of official federal releases, it offers an early look at national trends while final FBI tallies are still years away.
Figures available through October show killings down by nearly 20 percent compared with the same point in 2024. The index defines murder as intentional, non-negligent killings, excluding accidental deaths and other categories that fall outside standard FBI definitions, a distinction it summarizes as tracking “willful (nonnegligent) killings.”
Asher has cautioned in recent months that nationwide crime estimates are often revised and that official totals can shift over time. Even so, he says the downward trajectory has become so pronounced that the FBI is likely to ultimately report the lowest U.S. murder rate ever when complete 2025 data are finalized, potentially edging below the prior low set in 2014.
The sharp fall in homicides is occurring alongside broader declines in violent crime. Real-Time Crime Index data show reductions across several major categories, including robbery, aggravated assault, and motor vehicle theft, suggesting the change is widespread rather than confined to specific regions or demographics.
Large metropolitan areas appear to be driving much of the improvement. Axios recently noted drops of almost 20 percent in murders in New York City and Memphis, nearly 28 percent in Chicago, and sizable decreases across Los Angeles County.
At the same time, analysts note that a small number of jurisdictions have posted sharp percentage increases, underscoring how year-to-year swings can be volatile for smaller agencies with fewer cases.
The emerging numbers come as Donald Trump has placed fighting violent crime at the center of his second-term agenda, with the administration highlighting tougher enforcement policies and expanded backing for law enforcement nationwide.
{Matzav.com}
