Today, a major police operation unfolded in Liverpool in south west Sydney, where heavily armed tactical officers intercepted multiple vehicles and detained several men after intelligence suggested a violent act may have been imminent, police said.

Officers from the New South Wales Police Tactical Operations Unit rammed a white hatchback with Victorian plates at the intersection of George Street and Campbell Street, triggering a crash before pulling occupants from the vehicle and handcuffing them at gunpoint. Eyewitness video showed camouflage clad officers carrying rifles surrounding the men on the street.

Witnesses described several of the detainees as bearded men who appeared to be of Middle Eastern background, though police have not released identities or confirmed ethnic details.

Police said 7 men were taken into custody and are assisting with inquiries, though early reports cited at least 5 detainees from 1 or 2 vehicles, with some detained separately nearby. Nearby businesses and a primary school were briefly locked down as a precaution.

NSW Police said tactical units were deployed after receiving information that a violent act was possibly being planned. Some media reports suggested the men were heading toward Bondi Beach and may have been armed, though police have not confirmed whether weapons were found.

The operation came just 4 days after the December 14, 2025 terrorist attack at Bondi Beach, where a father and son inspired by Islamic State ideology killed 15 people and injured dozens during a Hanukkah celebration. Police stressed there is no known link between the Liverpool operation and the Bondi attack.

As of now, no charges have been laid, and police have assured there is no ongoing threat to public safety. The coming days will likely reveal more about the detainees' backgrounds and the specifics of the intelligence that led up to this operation.

A viral video is circulating of Tucker Carlson giving an interview in Qatar, where he argues that Israel is an insignificant ally to the United States while the GCC and Qatar are infinitely more important.

In his framing, Israel is “a completely insignificant country” with “no resources” and “9 million people,” adding that “the only reason it has any significance is because we provide a security guarantee.” Carlson questioned, “Do we have to defend Israel?” and asserted there is “no overriding strategic interest in Israel for the United States,” asking, “What are we getting out of this? Nothing. It’s only cost.” By contrast, he highlighted the Gulf states as offering “very obvious benefits to the United States,” describing those ties as “much more important than the relationship with Israel… infinitely more important.” He concluded that “Qatar’s relationship with the U.S. is so much more important than with Israel.” During the same event, Carlson spoke very positively about Qatar, even announcing plans to buy a home there.

Critics argue that Carlson overlooks key aspects of Israel's strategic value, which extend beyond population size or natural resources. Most people think of it in dollars and cents, but money is not the only currency, and is arguably not even the most valuable.

Many analysts point to Israel's role in countering Iranian influence in the region, often without requiring direct U.S. military involvement, thereby contributing to the stability of global energy markets and protecting key oil routes. Israel also serves as a high tech and defense partner, collaborating on joint research, cyber capabilities, missile defense systems like Iron Dome, and battle tested technologies that enhance U.S. military readiness……areas where Qatar does not provide comparable contributions. 

On intelligence sharing, estimates suggest Israel's contributions to the U.S. equate to $50 billion to $80 billion annually in value, far exceeding the $3.8 billion in yearly U.S. aid, by offering real time insights that prevent attacks and inform strategy in ways not replicable elsewhere. 

Carlson's "America First" stance, which often critiques foreign entanglements and influence in U.S. affairs, reveals a potential tension when applied here.

While he has questioned foreign sway in American politics and policy, he praises Qatar despite its documented support for the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist movements across the region. This raises questions about consistency, as Qatar has hosted Hamas leaders and engaged with groups like Hezbollah, potentially complicating U.S. interests in counterterrorism.

There is also irony in highlighting Israel's costs while downplaying Qatar's role in drawing the U.S. into regional conflicts, such as through its involvement in the Arab Spring and support for regime changes that led to American interventions.

Carlson also claims there are more Christians living in Qatar than in Israel. Critics note that he did not mention that most Christians in Qatar are not citizens but foreign laborers, largely from the Philippines, employed under temporary work arrangements with limited legal protections and no path to citizenship.

Qatar maintains a significant financial presence in the United States, channeling funds into various institutions.
Between 1986 and 2024, Qatar donated over $6.3 billion to American universities, establishing branch campuses and influencing academic programs. In recent years, it has contributed upward of $9.1 million to think tanks and engaged in lobbying efforts, including registrations to counter accusations of funding terrorism. Overall investments across U.S. sectors are estimated at around $40 billion. This footprint prompts inquiry into why such influence is less scrutinized when portraying Qatar as a superior partner. 

Here is something to consider: Is value measured solely in immediate economic returns and investments, or does it encompass intelligence sharing, military cooperation, and long term regional leverage? And why does Qatar often evade the scrutiny typically applied to foreign influence in "America First" discussions?

Hezbollah is required to end its armed presence and disarm south of the Litani River by December 31, 2025, under the terms of a U.S. backed plan tied to the 2024 ceasefire framework and subsequent Lebanese government commitments. With less than two weeks remaining as of December 18, compliance remains incomplete.Israel has repeatedly stated it will not tolerate Hezbollah's military infrastructure in the south beyond this date, signaling readiness to enforce the terms through direct action if necessary, potentially involving a large-scale operation to dismantle remaining sites.

Yesterday, the Lebanese Armed Forces acted on intelligence provided by Israel via the U.S. led ceasefire monitoring mechanism….deploying engineering equipment to excavate a site in the southern village of Touline.

Lebanese sources confirmed the discovery of a Hezbollah tunnel at the location.This incident stands out as uncommon. The Lebanese army has historically shown limited willingness or capacity to confront Hezbollah directly, often due to political constraints and the group's deep integration into Lebanese society and security structures.

Sustained coordination of this kind could provide a viable path to enforcement without full-scale conflict: Israel supplies targeted intelligence, the Lebanese army asserts state sovereignty by dismantling sites, and Hezbollah's southern footprint erodes incrementally.

Yet a single tunnel discovery does not signal comprehensive progress. Hezbollah's network includes extensive infrastructure….tunnels, weapons caches, and operational sites, much of it embedded in civilian areas and protected by political influence.

In parallel, Israel conducted multiple airstrikes and drone operations across southern and eastern Lebanon today (December 18), targeting what it described as Hezbollah military compounds, weapons storage, and operatives.These actions underscore Israel's dual approach: testing Lebanese enforcement mechanisms while maintaining pressure through unilateral strikes to prevent rearmament. Military activity is intensifying as diplomatic options narrow ahead of the deadline.

The Israel/Lebanon frontier south of the Litani is approaching a critical juncture. Either Hezbollah substantially withdraws and disarms in the south, with verifiable Lebanese army enforcement, or Israel shifts to direct enforcement.The margin for a managed resolution is shrinking rapidly.

The coming days will likely determine whether the deadline holds as a turning point or triggers a broader confrontation. This front demands close attention.

Is Israeli economically isolated? People say Israel is standing on it’s own, on an Island of it’s own making…Yet evidence and worldwide investments tell a different story.

We have 3 massive investments from an Arab state, Europe country and the U.S. Let’s dive in.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced approval of a $35 billion natural gas export agreement with Egypt, described as the largest energy deal in Israel's history.

The contract, signed in August but finalized after months of negotiations, commits up to 130 billion cubic meters from the Leviathan field….operated by Chevron alongside NewMed Energy and Ratio Energies….to Egypt from 2026 through 2040.

The United States played a key role in advancing the deal, viewing interconnected energy infrastructure as a mechanism for post-Gaza war stability in the region.

This multi decade commitment involves significant field expansion, including a massive upgrade to boost production capacity by around 30%, and new pipelines such as the $610 million, 65-kilometer Nitzana route capable of transporting up to 600 million cubic feet per day.

Upon completion in 2028, these enhancements will potentially double Israel's export capacity to Egypt to over 2.2 billion cubic feet daily.

For Israel, the deal is projected to generate approximately NIS 58 billion ($18 billion) in state revenues through taxes and royalties, with annual inflows starting at NIS 500 million in early years and rising to NIS 6 billion by 2033.

Another big investment happened by tech giant NVIDIA. NVIDIA officially confirmed plans for a major new campus in northern Israel, in Kiryat Tivon near Haifa.

The facility is projected to span approximately 160,000 square meters…making it Israel's largest high tech campus by far….and can accommodate up to 10,000 employees. NVIDIA's decision reflects a calculated business assessment of Israel's concentration of engineering talent and contributions to AI and chip development. Israel already serves as the company's largest R&D hub outside the United States, with ongoing expansions including a massive internal data center.

One final large investment came from Germany. Germany this week approved a $3.1–3.5 billion expansion to its Arrow 3 missile defense purchase from Israel, elevating the total contract to approximately $6.5–6.7 billion and establishing it as Israel's largest defense export.

The Arrow 3, combat proven many times over, provides Germany with exo atmospheric interception capability to combat ballistic missile threats. Threats from who? We don not yet know. Europe's installment of Israeli systems showcases and proves their operational reliability and relevance to contemporary missile and drone challenges, positioning Israel as a key provider rather than solely a recipient of security technology.