Strasbourg gunman cried ‘Allahu Akbar’ during fatal attack, says prosecutor By Agencies Suspected shooter who killed three named as Cherif Chekatt, who has a long criminal record in both France and Germany; authorities say he was radicalized in prison

Citing France attack, Trump demands funding for border wall By TOI staff and Agencies   5 detained in Christmas market attack in France By Agencies

After 30 years, once-crumbling Crusader fortress set to open again By Melanie Lidman Huge hilltop site near Rosh Haayin, first mentioned by Josephus, was largely built before 12th century; remains from First Temple Period were found under Crusader floor

Hosting Italy’s deputy PM, Netanyahu urges stronger action against Hezbollah By Raphael Ahren Salvini doubles down on dubbing Lebanese group ‘terrorists,’ despite having been criticized at home for use of the term

Far-right Italian minister slams EU for ‘unbalanced’ stance on Israel By Raphael Ahren   US denied Israeli request to slap sanctions on Lebanon, official reportedly says By TOI staff   PM warns Hezbollah of ‘unimaginable blows’ if anti-tunnel operation attacked By Judah Ari Gross and TOI staff

Conservative Movement leader gets death threats at Western Wall By TOI staff Yizhar Hess files complaint with police after ultra-Orthodox men tell him he should be murdered for supporting Women of the Wall

Rabbi arrested at California interfaith border protest for migrants By JTA

Condition of mother gunned down in terror attack improves, baby still critical By TOI staff Hospital says Shira Ish-Ran no longer on respirator or sedated, communicating with those around her; injured husband doing well

Seriously wounded victim of Ofra terror attack reunited with husband By JTA and TOI staff

Hoy hoy hoy Ben Sales This Santa Claus is an Orthodox Jew Rick Rosenthal — a full-time, professional St. Nick — sees no contradiction between his beliefs and serving as a spiritual figure who provides comfort to young and old

Ultra-Orthodox deputy mayor calls for removing Christmas tree from Ashdod mall By TOI staff and JTA   A lot of the bread in the US will no longer be kosher By Ben Sales

Live updates (closed) IDF forces raid family home of Palestinian suspect in Ofra attack — reports By Tamar Pileggi Mayor of Kobar village says Israeli troops operating in hometown of Salih Barghouti, arrested earlier in shootout north of Ramallah

Anti-tumor DaRT could point the way to new arsenal in battle against cancer By Federico Maccioni Tel Aviv-based startup Alpha Tau Medical says its can demolish cancerous masses by injecting them with radioactive material in a simple needle procedure

Tunisia arrests two Bosnians in 2016 killing of Hamas drone expert By TOI staff Gaza-based terror group has blamed Israel’s Mossad for the assassination of Mohammed al-Zoari, one of its top scientists

Gazan child succumbs to shrapnel wounds from IDF bullet, Hamas official says By Adam Rasgon   Rights group says new video shows no rioting before troops killed Palestinian By TOI staff

Top Ops

Gitit Levy-Paz The new (literary) engagement with Israel Is American Jewry estranged from Israel? Recent novels by Krauss, Safran Foer, and Englander prove just the opposite   Yedidia Z. Stern If you’re happy and you know it, you must be a religious Zionist It’s time for the most optimistic group in Israeli society to stop acting as if the courts are persecuting them

Israel media review If Israel builds it, will they come? 8 things to know for December 12 By Joshua Davidovich A minister is planning a diplomatic quarter in Jerusalem, but it’s not clear who will populate it; and a poll and maps raise worries about peace prospects and Iran

At Zippori pool where Judah Hanasi may have bathed, a rare tiny pagan bull found By Amanda Borschel-Dan

Can we handle the uncomfortable truths unearthed in WWII’s Oneg Shabbat archive? By Matt Lebovic

Analysis Ron Kampeas 3 takeaways from Jared Kushner’s interview with Fox news on Middle East peace US president’s son-in-law and adviser sounded less hopeful than he may have intended about the prospect of a deal between Israel and the Palestinians

Trump invokes ‘Israel’s wall’ in tense exchange over border security By JTA and TOI staff

More Headlines

Women protest in major cities against violence; two arrested in Tel Aviv By Stuart Winer and TOI staff   Woman slain in Acre amid national outrage over domestic violence By TOI staff   Police arrest four Jewish teens for ‘price tag’ attack in northern Israel By Jacob Magid   Far-right group plasters West Bank with posters urging Abbas’s assassination By Jacob Magid   The whole love / Wilco singer Jeff Tweedy tells the story of his conversion to Judaism By JTA   Anglers reeling as authorities try to keep illegal fishing at bay By Melanie Lidman   Rabbis force Brooklyn kosher eateries to blackball lesbian Jewish entertainer By JTA   Evelyn Berezin, who brought first word processor to market, dies at 93 By JTA   Nazi-themed posters hung at New York college campus By JTA   Defense Ministry ombudsman says IDF ground forces unprepared for war By TOI staff   Why the arrest of a Chinese tech mogul matters for Iran — and Israel By Ron Kampeas   Israeli firm said using US lobbyists to help Congo regime skirt new sanctions By TOI staff