Israel News for January 15, 2016

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Terror Attacks
An IDF officer was lightly wounded near Nablus yesterday when a Palestinian terrorist stabbed him. The terrorist was shot and killed. Earlier in the day a terrorist attempted to stab soldiers near Hebron and was shot and killed.There were no Israeli casualties.

For further reading click here.

PM Supports Shaked
PM Netanyahu publicly threw his support behind a controversial law proposed by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked known as the “NGO transparency bill”.

The law states that if a nongovernmental organization receives more than half its funding from a foreign government, the NGO must disclose that fact and its representatives must wear tags that reflect that when they appear in the Knesset. Almost all of the NGOs that receive foreign government funding are left-wing.

The law has been criticized by the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Dan Shapiro, as well as by the ambassadors of Germany, Britain, France, Holland and the European union.

The bill was approved by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation a few weeks ago, which in theory obligates the coalition to support it. It is now being discussed by the Knesset.

The PM compared the bill to a law enacted by the U.S. Congress in January 2015. That law says that if representatives of an NGO that receives money from a foreign country are appearing at a congressional hearing, they must submit a written declaration about their foreign funding before the hearing. The American law, Netanyahu said, is far more stringent than the Israeli proposal, because it applies even if the NGO receives only one dollar from a foreign government, whereas the Israeli law would apply only to groups that obtain more than half their funding from foreign governments.

In a statement to the foreign media the PM said, “I fail to understand how greater transparency is undemocratic. … It is the most obvious request in every democracy. Transparency is the heart of democracy. When you hear about the use and abuse of NGOs here – transparency is the least we want and is much warranted and it is common sense. Israel is being held to a different standard here.”

Israel held to a higher standard? Impossible!

For further reading click here.

One More Thing
During the same talk with the foreign media, Netanyahu lashed out against Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom for saying that Israel may be guilty of the extrajudicial killing of Palestinians. He said, “What the Swedish FM said is outrageous, it’s immoral it’s unjust. It is definitely wrong and it singles out Israel in an absurd way… and it’s stupid.”

The PM also made some comparisons, saying, “People are defending themselves against assailants wielding knives, who are about to stab them to death, and they shoot them, and that’s extrajudicial killings?”

“So why is San Bernardino not extrajudicial killings? And, the other day in Paris, a knife-wielding terrorist was shot to death. Is that extrajudicial killings? Does the Swedish foreign minister suggest that there be examinations of what happened in Paris or in the United States?

No ambiguity here. But do you think the PM’s remarks will change the way the Swedes view Israel?

For further reading click here.

PM vs. Brazil
PM Netanyahu is standing firm in his appointment of Dani Danon as Israel’s Ambassador to Brazil despite Brazil’s refusal to accept Danon’s credentials, which they must do for the ambassador to officially take his position. The reason for their refusal is because of Danon’s past position as head of the Yesha council, which represents the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria — which Brazil considers to be occupied territory according to international law.

There were recent reports that Foreign Ministry officials had retracted their pro-Danon stance and were ready to relent and appoint a different ambassador, but the PM’s latest position seems to contradict that.

This could develop into a real breakdown in relations between the two countries, which wouldn’t be beneficial for either side. Let’s hope they figure out a solution asap.

For further reading click here.

Refugee Camp Apathy
According to a Walla report, many Palestinians living in refugee camps in the West Bank are refusing to join the current wave of terror, claiming that they have nothing to gain from it. They feel the only result will be a return of Israeli soldiers and Shin Bet to their camps. Ironically, this “wave of terror” is one of the calmest periods over the last decade in the refugee camps, which were a hotbed of violence during the second Intifada (2000-4).

One Palestinian resident of Jenin described the current wave of violence as, “a passing fad”. He explained that they did not gain anything from the second intifada, they just paid a heavy price so there is no reason to join the current wave of violence and send their kids out with knives.

According to the report many in the refugee camps share his sentiments and do not believe that the recent wave of terror will continue much longer or that it will make a difference. They feel no allegiance to the Palestinian authority and do not see the this wave of terror as their struggle.

For further reading click here.

Shopping Peace
In a 200 million shekel project, Israeli business mogul and owner of supermarket chain Rami Levi, is set to build the first Palestinian Israeli mall. The 20,000 square meter mall is to be located in the Palestinian town of A-Ram, which is located northeast of Jerusalem and is estimated to have around 50,000 inhabitants.

The plan is to have Palestinian chain stores next to Israeli chain stores, with both Palestinians and Israelis shopping side by side. The security situation does not bother Rami Levy who said, “we will serve everyone regardless of race or nationality.” He also promised equal employment opportunities regardless of race, nationality or religion.

For further reading click here.

Israel News for January 13, 2016

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Gaza Airstrike
According to an IDF spokesperson, the Israel Air Force launched an airstrike today against a terror cell that was planting a bomb and preparing to attack Israeli troops near Gaza border fence. The operation was carried out in coordination with the Shin Bet. Officials in Gaza reported that one person was killed and three were wounded in the attack. Hamas has threatened to retaliate for the attack.

For further reading click here.

Methodist Divestment
The United Methodist Church, the largest Protestant denomination in the US with 13 million members, has banned five Israeli banks from its pension fund in what it claims is a broad review meant to weed out companies that profit from abuse of human rights.

According to its website the fund, called the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits, excluded Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi, First International Bank of Israel, Israel Discount Bank, and Mizrahi Tefahot Bank.

The pension board identified Israel and the Palestinian territories among more than a dozen “high risk” countries or regions with “a prolonged and systematic pattern of human rights abuses.” Other countries on the list include Saudi Arabia, the Central African Republic and North Korea.

The banks had been among several companies targeted by United Methodist Kairos Response, a coalition of church members who advocate for divestment from companies with business in what they consider to be the Israeli occupied territories.

The pension board’s decision came at a time when divestment is gaining momentum among liberal Protestants as a tool to pressure Israel over its policies toward Palestinians. Last year, the United Church of Christ voted to divest from companies with business in the Israeli-occupied territories. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.) took a similar vote in 2014.

On the “bright side”, the fund remains invested in 18 Israeli companies, and the total divestment from the banks equals only a few million dollars in a fund worth over 20 billion. But it’s the thought that counts, and the direction the Methodists are taking is not a positive one for Israel.

Senior officials in Israel’s Foreign Ministry said they are still examining the decision, but added that Israel will make quiet efforts to convince the leaders of the church to change or soften the measure ahead of the Methodist General Conference in May.

For further reading click here.

Swedes Again
Looks like the Swedes are at it again. Yesterday, Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom called for an investigation to determine if Israel was guilty of unlawful killings of Palestinians during recent violence there.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry called the statements “irresponsible and delusional,” adding that Wallstrom is, “giving support to terror and thus encouraging violence.”

Opposition leader Isaac Herzog also blasted the Swedish foreign minister, accusing her of supporting terror. He wrote on his Facebook page, “It’s interesting that Sweden didn’t respond likely when Paris police killed the terrorists as needed. And it would be interesting to know if she would respond likely when the terrorists commit appalling attacks in her country. Would she demand, even then, to pet them on the head because they had a difficult childhood?”

This isn’t the first time Wallstrom has castigated Israel. After the Paris terror attack she told a TV interviewer that Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians was to blame for Islamic radicalization.

With all the refugees pouring into Sweden, perhaps she’ll get some first hand insight into the true causes of Islamic radicalization and terror, real soon.

For further reading click here.

Terrorist Buried
The body of Tel Aviv terrorist Nashat Milhelm was finally released by police to his family, who pledged to hold a quiet funeral. Forty people attended his funeral last night in his hometown of Arara. May he receive the Divine punishment he deserves.

For further reading click here.

Suspects Indicted
In October an Eritrean migrant worker was mistaken for a terrorist and lynched in the Beersheba central bus station, during a terror attack. Yesterday, four men were indicted on charges of aggravated assault, an offense punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The men are: IDF soldlier Yaakov Shamba, Israel Prison Service officer Ronen Cohen, Eviatar Damari and David Moyal.

For further reading click here.

Gaza Suit
Three U.S. citizens and one Belgian national filed suit against Israel in U.S. federal court in Washington on Monday. The plaintiffs are seeking compensation from Israel for injuries they sustained during the Israeli commando raid on the “Gaza Flotilla”. The flotilla unsuccessfully attempted to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza in May of 2010. Nine Turks and one American of Turkish descent were killed in the raid.

The plaintiffs were aboard the U.S.-flagged Challenger 1, which was carrying media equipment and 17 passengers and crew members. According to their attorneys, American plaintiffs David Schermerhorn, Mary Ann Wright, Huwaida Arraf, a dual U.S.-
Israeli citizen, and Belgian national Margriet Deknopper suffered injuries that included partial loss of sight when a stun grenade exploded inches from one of them and a broken nose when another was hit by a rubber bullet.

The lawsuit is unlikely to turn out successfully for the plaintiffs. Under U.S. law, the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act generally bars lawsuits against foreign governments, except for certain circumstances, including terrorist acts against Americans by U.S.-designated state sponsors of terrorism. The plaintiffs are claiming that Israel breached US territory, and therefore is liable.

For further reading click here.

Jewish Apple
Israelis just got another reason to own an iPhone, and her name is Siri. Despite the Hebrew sounding name, Apple’s iPhone female voice assistant couldn’t speak Hebrew. But that’s gonna change. Siri will soon be fluent in the holy tongue. She probably won’t be considered Jewish by the rabbinical courts, but she’ll be able to help you through those tough, hands-free moments…in Hebrew. Maybe she’ll convert?

Ezra Nawi

Israel News for January 12, 2016

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Terror Attack
A Palestinian attempted to stab Israeli soldiers today outside the village of Beit Anoun near Hebron. The terrorist was shot and killed. No soldiers were harmed.

Also today, terrorists fired at soldiers manning the Abu Dis checkpoint, northeast of Bethlehem. According to an IDF report, the terrorists arrived at the checkpoint by car and shot at nearby soldiers, before driving off. IDF forces are combing the area in an effort to locate them.

For further reading click here.

Undercover Informer
You probably never thought that real estate was a dangerous business to be in. But if you’re a Palestinian living under the Palestinian Authority, selling property to Jews could cost you your life.

The PA’s Preventive Security Service, which is the Authority’s counterintelligence service, identifies Palestinians who sell land to Jews, beats and then kills them. The security service finds out about these sales through a network of informants. One of those informants was Ezra Nawi, an Israeli left wing activist.

In an investigative TV program aired by Channel 2, Nawi is seen on a hidden camera boasting about how he passes photos and phone numbers of Palestinians who sell property to Jews to the PA security service.

The footage was obtained by a right wing organization that employed a group of Israelis who posed as far-left activists in order to infiltrate Israeli human rights NGOs working in the West Bank.

Police arrested Nawi at Ben Gurion Airport yesterday as he attempted to leave the country. He will be investigated by the special investigative unit of the Judea and Samaria police on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a crime.

For further reading click here.

No Body
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said yesterday that Israel will not return the body of Nashat Melhelm, the Tel Aviv terrorist, to his family for burial until it is sure that his funeral will not turn into a show of support for terrorism. He said, “As long as the family meets the demands the Israel Police have made to ensure that the terrorist’s funeral will not be turned into a show of support for terrorism and incitement to additional attacks, then the body will be released.”

Eight people remain under arrest on suspicion of either directly assisting Melhem or for not reporting his location to police.

For further reading click here.

Shaked Responds
In an unusual move, the US government has expressed its displeasure with a law being promoted by Israel’s Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked that requires that NGO’s reveal their funding sources. The law is generally seen by opponents as targeting left wing groups that receive a large portion of their funding from European governments and EU sponsored groups.

US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro met with Shaked on Sunday to discuss the so-called “NGO transparency bill. Yesterday, the U.S. embassy issued a highly irregular statement regarding the Shapiro-Shaked meeting stating,“The Ambassador noted that Israel is a strong and vibrant democracy, which gives substantial voice to all points of view and promotes a thriving, transparent civil society. He reiterated the United States’ view that such a free and functioning civil society is an essential element of a healthy democracy, and that governments must protect free expression and peaceful dissent and create an atmosphere where all voices can be heard.” The assertion here is that the new law will impede that “free expression and peaceful dissent.”

Shaked rejected any American criticism and spoke out against any external intervention into Israel’s internal affairs. She said, “I met the American ambassador and was under the impression that the American administration’s interest and concern is sincere. But there is no cause for concern. Israel is a strong democracy and as such there is no need for other nations to intervene in internal legislation. Our door is open to dialogue with friends.”

For further reading click here.

Tree and Lizards
As we approach the holiday of Tu Bishvat, which marks the new year for trees in the Jewish calendar, the tradition of planting trees in the Israel might need to be rethought, at least in part.

The Jewish National Fund (JNF), the organization in the forefront of tree planting in Israel to reforest the country, has come under attack for its work in the northern Negev.

According to a study conducted by HaMaarag, Israel’s National Nature Assessment Program, which operates under the auspices of the Israel Academy of Science and Humanities, some local reptile species are being endangered by the new forests. One of those creatures is the Be’er Sheva fringe-fingered lizard, a species that exists nowhere else in the world. Along with other species of Negev wildlife, the lizard is being pushed out of its natural habitat by the runoff waters created by the trees as well as by predatory birds who can now observe them from the trees.

The Environmental Protection Ministry, the Israel Parks and Nature Authority and the JNF also participate in the study. Solutions to the problem are being discussed.

For further reading click here.

Israel News for January 11, 2016

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Close Call
Police today deployed large forces and set up numerous checkpoints in the Ashkelon, Ashdod and Sderot areas in the south after receiving intelligence of an impending terror attack by a Palestinian woman from Beit Sira in the West Bank. Police arrested a man in Kibbutz Erez, near the Gaza border, who she was allegedly in contact with. After interrogating him police determined that the woman had not succeeded in getting past the barrier separating the West Bank from the rest of the country. The alert was lifted.

In an unrelated incident today, a Palestinian who attempted to stab soldiers at a checkpoint near Jenin in Samaria was shot and wounded. No soldiers were hurt.

For further reading click here.

Terrorist Funeral
Police are refusing to release the body of the Tel Aviv terrorist, who was shot and killed on Friday, to his family for burial, fearing that radicals will turn the funeral into a pro-terror demonstration, which is against the family’s wishes. Police want to avoid a repetition of a terrorist funeral last week in the northeastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Shuafat, in which hundreds of armed Hamas terrorists marched and fired automatic weapons in the air, as thousands of people chanted and waved knives and machetes.

Regarding the investigation into the Tel Aviv attack, police have arrested a relative of the terrorist from his hometown of Arara for aiding him in fleeing from Tel Aviv. Police suspect that there may have been as many as twenty people in the town who either helped or knew the terrorist’s location but did not report him to authorities. The investigation continues.

For further reading click here.

Arson or Accident
A fire broke out last night in a building that houses the office of human rights group B’Tselem, in Jerusalem. B’Tselem’s offices were empty when the fire broke out. At first the fire department said that they suspected arson as the cause of the fire. That triggered statements by B’tzelem and Peace Now blaming the right wing and the government for inciting against the left. Upon further investigation, the fire department today believes that the fire was caused by an electrical failure in the office electrical system. The investigation is still ongoing.

For further reading click here.

Deri Returns
Yesterday the cabinet unanimously approved the appointment of Aryeh Deri, the leader of the Shas Ultra-Orthodox Sephardic party, as Minister of the Interior. The position is the same one that Deri held 22 years ago before he was forced to resign over corruption charges. He was subsequently found guilty of bribery and served 22 months in prison.

Yesh Atid leader MK Yair Lapid had proposed a bill last May, which would have barred anyone convicted of a serious criminal offense from serving as an MK, cabinet minister or mayor. However, the coalition voted the bill down.

Deri had been serving as Minister of Economy until several months ago, when he resigned to allow PM Netanyahu to take over the portfolio and approve the natural gas deal. He then became Minister of Galilee and Negev Development.

The Prime Minister congratulated Deri and said that he is faced with two main tasks – preventing illegal migrants from entering Israel and deporting those already in the country, as well as changing the borders of local councils in order to distribute municipal taxes in a more just manner.

For further reading click here.

Fare Cut
The cabinet today approved a bill proposed by Minister of Finance Moshe Kahlon and Minister of the Development of the Negev and Galilee Aryeh Deri to reduce public transportation fares by the amount of VAT. In other words, the rates will be cut by 17%. The state will subsidize the cut by transferring NIS 650 million annually to the public transportation operators. In addition, the bill will prevent future changes in fares resulting from changes in VAT.

Prime Minister Netanyahu commented on the fares cut, saying, “After we cut electricity and water prices and introduced reform in food, we are now lowering public transportation prices, which also has clear social significance. Those using public transportation tend to be more economically disadvantaged – this is a significant relief for them.”
Deri added, “Cutting VAT on public transportation means fulfilling the commitment I took on myself in the election campaign, and will save poor families and those without cars thousands of shekels. This is a major reduction that will be brought up for quick passage by the Knesset in order to make sure that it is not canceled in the coming years.”

For further reading click here.

Israel News for January 8, 2016

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Terror Attempts
Three Palestinians tried to stab soldiers at the Gush Etzion junction yesterday. They were shot and killed before causing any injuries. Another Palestinian who attempted to stab a soldier near Hebron was also shot and killed before causing any harm.

For further reading click here.

Hamas Busted
Security forces announced that they had arrested six members of a Hamas terror cell in December. The arrested were residents of Hebron and Jerusalem and were planning to kidnap and murder an Israeli and use his body as a bargaining chip for the release of terrorist prisoners. Investigators revealed that the terrorists had begun advanced preparations for the attack, including a hideout for the body of the kidnapped victims. Two of the terrorists were also planning to plant a bomb under the podium at one of PM Netanyahu’s speeches.

For further reading click here.

Terror Declaration
While security forces continue the manhunt for the terrorist who murdered three and wounded eight in Tel Aviv last week, the government has still not officially classified the attack as a terror attack. That’s unacceptable to the family of Shimon Ruimi, who was killed in the attack while participating in a birthday celebration at the cafe where the terror occurred.

Ruimi’s mother, Iris, and other family members expressed their anger and frustration at the situation to President Reuven Rivlin, who came to pay a condolence call at the family residence yesterday. Iris said, “My son was murdered simply because he was a Jew; he came to celebrate with friends. I thought it would automatically be called a terrorist attack. There are facts here – an Arab killed a Jew.” Rivlin was sympathetic, but couldn’t give the Ruimi’s the declaration they were seeking.

It seems as though the police will need to apprehend the attacker to conclusively determine his motive before officially declaring him a terrorist.

For further reading click here.

High Court
The High Court of Justice accepted a petition filed by women’s groups against the president of the Rabbinical Court and the Religious Services Ministry. The groups had requested a change in the requirements to become a Rabbinical Court director, which included the possession of a rabbinical ordination recognized by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel even though the position is strictly administrative. Since women cannot receive ordination, they were excluded from the position. That, the petitioners claimed, was discrimination.

The High Court gave the Justice Ministry 30 days to create new requirements that will allow women to be equally considered for the court director position.

For further reading click here.

Food Waste
Leket Israel, an organization that rescues food that would otherwise go to waste and distributes it to the poor, issued its first “Food Waste and Rescue in Israel” report.

The report found that food waste in Israel totals 2.5 million tons annually, amounting to 35% of the domestic food production. The financial value of the food wasted in Israel for 2015 stood at NIS 18 billion, which is 1.6% of Israel’s GDP. Broken down, the figures come to NIS 616 per month per household. About 75% of the food wasted is fruits and vegetables.

About half of the food wasted could be rescued, which means that is was still fit for consumption. Rescued food in Israel totals 1.3 million tons annually, a value of NIS 8 billion.

The report claims that every shekel invested in food rescue provides NIS 3.6 worth of food for the needy, making food rescue cheaper than the alternative support, subsidies, or allowances by as much as 75%. Food rescue also provides significant environmental benefits.

Leket Israel CEO Gidi Kroch said, “the central motive for food rescue is not charity or tzedakah, but an financial alternative to food production, that is worthwhile for the market. That is, alongside the important contribution to reducing inequality in the market.”

Kroch added, “According to the figures, there is no doubt that food rescue should have a higher priority than the alternatives. To fully fund the gap in food consumption among the food insecure population without food rescue would cost NIS 3 billion per year.”

“Food rescue allows for an equal social goal, at a much lower cost of NIS 840 million annually. Essentially, food rescue can reduce the food security gap while saving 75% of the costs.”

For further reading click here.

Send Stories
If you find an Israel related story that you think we might miss but that you feel needs to be shared with the world, or at least with our readers, please send it to us. We’re always on the lookout for interesting and inspiring stories that might not have made it to the headlines.

cairo terror attack

Israel News for January 7, 2016

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Pyramid Terror
Earlier today, two masked gunmen attacked tourists boarding a bus in Cairo, on route to the pyramids. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said that there were two Israeli Arabs among the tourists. Sky News Arabic reported that the bus was full with Israeli tourists from Arab towns. Reports on the actual incident varied, with some claiming gunfire and other fireworks. No casualties were reported and the gunmen were apprehended by Egyptian security forces.

For further reading click here.

Manhunt Continues
As the search for the Tel Aviv terrorist continues into its seventh day, police now believe that he escaped to the West Bank, most likely through a hole in the security fence. The Shin Bet is continuing to interrogate members of the terrorist’s family.

For further reading click here.

Diplomatic Closures
The Foreign Ministry will be closing five of its 106 foreign representations as a cost saving measure. The Israeli Consulate in Philadelphia will be shut down, along with the embassies in Belarus and El Salvador and the consulate in Marseilles, France. Israel’s roving ambassador to the Caribbean nations, who is stationed in NY, will also be cut. The Foreign Ministry said it will allocate the freed up funds to strengthen existing representations.

For further reading click here.

Police Embraced
Yifat Ben-Ari, the widow of the Jerusalem man who was accidentally shot and killed when two female Border Police officers opened fire on a terrorist who was stabbing Israelis near the Jaffa Gate, met with Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan and the two female officers yesterday.

Yifat embraced the officers and said, “I am not angry at you. You did exactly what you needed to do to save lives. I consider you my daughters. I want you to start anew and not look back, but forward. What happened to you could have happened to my daughters or anyone else.”

The meeting ended with Yifat, her two daughters and the police women embracing.

For further reading click here.

Stabbing Test
A reporter for Channel 1 News was filming a report on protective vests meant to stop stabbing attacks, when he decided to test one out for himself. Unfortunately, the test didn’t go so well and the reporter was stabbed. He was given first aid by employees of the vest manufacturer, FMS Enterprises Migun Ltd. He was then taken to the hospital where his wound was stitched up. He was sent home.

The manufacturer issued the following statement, “The knife did not penetrate the vest. The reporter moved during the demonstration, and the “stabber” missed the vest. The reporter was stabbed slightly above the vest. Our material has been tested in laboratories all over the world, and was found to have met the most stringent standards – far beyond the stabbing ability of a human being.”

The good news is that the incident was captured on film and will make for some exciting TV. Not sure what it will do for the reporter’s career.

Watch the video here.

Lawyers Blindsided
Lawyers who make aliyah to Israel need to pass a Hebrew proficiency exam in order to be allowed to practice in Israel. The exam has always contained three sections. The first section required writing an essay, in Hebrew, which has traditionally proved extremely difficult for many candidates, since it requires a high level of language proficiency. The second section required explaining 5 terms, something that even less proficient Hebrew speakers could manage to memorize. The same goes for section three, which required candidates to draft a standard lease document.

While many foreign lawyers still failed this kind of exam, many, even with mediocre Hebrew, eventually passed by virtue of scoring high on the second two sections which were known in advance.

This year, the legal test takers got a surprise. The second section of the exam was changed to an essay question and the lease agreement was substituted with an employment agreement. To make matters worse, the preparatory class that was given for the exam was based on the old format. Needless to say, the lawyers were not happy. Almost all of the 50 lawyers who took the exam left feeling that they had failed. The results are released in a month. Some of the lawyers said that they would probably go back to their countries of origin, given the career challenges thrown in their way.

Canadian born MK Sharon Haskel (Likud) slammed the Bar Association for making the change to the exam without warning the new olim, which flies in the face of “the value of integrating olim into Israeli society and the work force.”

Having a few more lawyers in Israel won’t hurt anyone, right?

For further reading click here.

Veggie Haul
In an attempt to keep Israeli salad and other veggies affordable for the average Israeli, Minister of Finance Moshe Kahlon signed an order yesterday permitting the import of 60,000 tons of various vegetables, all duty free. The extreme weather patterns in recent months have wreaked havoc with local produce, which has driven up prices.

Under Kahlon’s order, potatoes, onions, carrots, horseradish, cabbage, lettuce, cucumbers, celery, tomatoes, parsley, and peppers can be imported all year without paying customs duties. Import restrictions will be even further reduced during the High Holiday period and Passover.

Kahlon said, “We won’t allow the shortage during the recent holiday period to repeat itself on Passover. Israelis deserve a regular supply of vegetables at fair prices during the entire year.”

Now Israeli salad lovers can breathe a little easier. Hey, what about fruit?

For further reading click here.

Big News
Netflix has announced that it is coming to Israel. Finally. The service will only be available in English (and Arabic) for the time being, but that shouldn’t deter Israelis from watching. Think about all the time that’s going to be wasted. On the bright side, this might be the factor that sways many potential American olim to finally make the move. Enjoy!

Israel News for January 6, 2016

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Tragic Accident
First-Lt. Yishai Rosales, 23, from Beit Meir, was killed by shrapnel when a mortar round was fired in the wrong direction at the Tze’elim IDF training base during a course for company and battalion commanders. Rosales was a platoon commander in the ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda Battalion (Nahal Haredi).

For further reading click here.

Spy Convicted
Corporal Elad Sela, who served in the Etzion Regional Brigade of the IDF, was convicted by a military court of passing secret information to right wing extremists. The court found him guilty of searching through classified computer files to look for information on “price tag” suspects from the Bat Ayin settlement in Gush Etzion, where he lives, and to alert them regarding planned raids against them by security forces.

The court sentenced Sela to 45 months in prison along with an additional suspended sentence and a demotion to the rank of private.

In a statement the IDF said, “Leaks such as this must be eradicated from the army and those who breach the trust given to them by the army and who harm security interests must be punished severely.”

Sela is married and the father of two.

For further reading click here.

Israel Folds
Last week we reported that Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely was adamant that Israel would stand behind Dani Dayan, its appointed ambassador to Brazil, even though the Brazilian government refused to approve Dayan because of his history as a leader in the settlement movement.

Well, it looks like Hotovely has had second thoughts. Foreign Ministry officials are now advising the government to choose a different ambassador to Brazil. Next week Brazil’s ambassador to Israel will reportedly be summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a discussion, during which the gravity with which Israel views the non-approval of Dayan’s appointment will be made clear to him. A senior Foreign Ministry official said that only after all options have been exhausted, including initiating a phone call between PM Netanyahu and Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff, will they “calculate a new move”.

One of the options being considered is to nominate Dayan as ambassador to another country and to send a new ambassador to Brazil. Dayan’s name has already been mentioned as a possible candidate for the position of Israel’s Consul General in New York or Los Angeles.

You can’t win ‘em all.

For further reading click here.

Bad Facebook
Shurat HaDin, an Israeli based civil rights NGO, set out to test whether Facebook applies double standards when it comes to incitement. On December 29, 2015, the NGO launched “The Big Facebook Experiment” by publishing two nearly identical Facebook pages: “Stop Palestinians” and “Stop Israel.” Over the next few days they posted hateful content on both pages, and then reported the content to Facebook.

For example, the pro-Palestinian page promised to “demolish the Zionist invader,” and called for revenge against the “Zionist enemy that threatens Al-Aqsa.” A call to rise up against Israel was portrayed in a cartoon featuring a Star of David bearing crocodile with the Temple Mount compound perched beneath the roof of its mouth and a knife nested against its snout – an accompanying post to the illustration called for “death to all the Jews.”

Meanwhile, on the pro-Israel page, a post calling for war against the “Palestinian enemy” claimed that “more and more soldiers in the IDF know that there is a need to destroy the Arab enemy.” Another post featured a collage of a handful of so-called “price tag” attacks and an accompanying caption calling for “death to all the Arabs.”

The anti-Palestinian page was shut down by Facebook, on the same day that it was reported, for “containing credible threat of violence” which “violated our [Facebook’s] community standards.” The anti-Israeli page was not shut down, despite its identical hateful content. Facebook claimed that this page was “not in violation of Facebook’s rules.”

In October Shurat Hadin filed a lawsuit against Facebook on behalf of 20,000 Israelis to stop allowing Palestinian terrorists to incite violent attacks against Israeli citizens on the social network’s platform.

According to the NGO, “Facebook actively assists the inciters to find people who are interested in acting on their hateful messages by offering friend, group and event suggestions and targeting advertising based on people’s online ‘likes’ and internet browsing history.” Additionally, Facebook often gives incitement pages the freedom to operate and continue operation despite reports of hateful content, under the claim that they do not violate its “community standards.”

Druze News
Yesterday, Israel’s National Council for Building and Planning approved PM Netanyahu’s initiative to establish a new Druze town in the north of the country. The town, which will be located near Tiberias, will be the first new Druze town to be built by the state since 1948 and the first time in 130 years that a new Druze community will be established in the territory of what is now Israel.

The PM said, “I view the building of this new town as a very important initiative that will bring progress to the Druze sector.”

There are currently 18 Druze towns recognized by the state – four in the Golan and 14 in the Galilee. Except for those in Golan, the Druze serve in the IDF, primarily in combat units and with distinction.

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Israel News for January 5, 2016

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Manhunt Continues
As the search for Nashat Melhem, the Israeli Arab terrorist who killed three and wounded eight in Tel Aviv on Friday, continues into its fifth day, police are now suspecting that he managed to escape to Northern Israel or the West Bank. To do that they believe that he had help, which is why they are focusing their investigation on Melhem’s family.

Yesterday police arrested Melhem’s father, Mohammed, along with five other relatives and friends. Melhem’s brother is already being held in custody.

Speaking to reporters outside of the Haifa Magistrate’s Court, Mohammed Melhem called on his son to contact him and to surrender to authorities. It was Melhem’s father who first contacted police after seeing his son’s picture on television. “It’s important to me now that they reach my son and arrest him, because he’s still armed, and just like he murdered two people he could murder more,” he said on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Police Chief Roni Alsheikh told residents of northern Tel Aviv that they can reduce their tension level, but he did not give any more details into the investigation, claiming that doing so would hinder police efforts.

In an unrelated event, police arrested a 20 year old Palestinian man from East Jerusalem in Hertzliya yesterday. The man had told his father that he would carry out a terror attack in the city.

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Bomb Attack
A large roadside bomb exploded near an IDF force at the Lebanese border near the Shebaa Farms area on Monday afternoon. The explosion targeted an IDF Caterpillar D9 armored bulldozer and another armored vehicle. No soldiers were hurt.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack, which they say was committed by the “Samir Kuntar Brigades,” named after the notorious terrorist who was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike in Syria last month.

Hezbollah leader Nasrallah had vowed revenge for the attack, and this bomb blast could be related to his pledge. But it’s unlikely that this casualty free attack will satiate his vengeance appetite.

In response to the bomb attack, the IDF fired over fifty artillery shells at Hezbollah positions in Southern Lebanon. The Lebanese reported no casualties.

The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, urged both sides to avoid an escalation, saying it had stepped up patrols on the ground after the incident.

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Demolitions
Security forces entered the Jabel Mukaber neighborhood of East Jerusalem yesterday to demolish the homes of two terrorists.

One of the terrorists was a Bezek employee responsible for ramming into pedestrians at a bus stop in Jerusalem and then murdering 60-year-old Rabbi Yeshayahu Krishevsky and wounding several others with an axe before being shot and killed by a security guard. He was the cousin of the two terrorists who committed the Har Nof synagogue terror attack. Security forces ended up sealing off his home rather than demolishing it, since it is located on the third floor of a building and destroying it would compromise the rest of the structure.

The other terrorist boarded a Jerusalem bus with an accomplice and began shooting and stabbing people. He killed three and wounded several others before being shot and killed by security forces. His home was demolished.

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Flight Chaos
The Israeli-Arab conflict spilled over into Greece yesterday, when Israelis on board a Greek airliner flying from Athens to Tel Aviv demanded that two Arab Israelis be removed from the plane. A small number of Israeli passengers refused to be seated for take-off, delaying the flight for over an hour and a half until the crew finally relented and convinced the Arab travelers to deplane and take a different flight. The specific reason for the Israeli protest is unclear, other than a general fear of Arab terrorism.

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Off Course
The Israeli navy might need to review how it guards the nation’s coastline. Yesterday, a Chinese sailor turned up lying facedown on a beach near Jisr az-Zarqa, just north of Caesarea. The town happens to be the only Arab town on the Israeli coastline.

It turns out that the Chinese man set sail from Greece and was apparently blown off course by heavy winds. The man was in good health and had a good stock of food and water in his sailboat.

After hearing his story, the Arabs that discovered the man on the beach were surprised that he was able to get past the Israeli navy. Let’s hope they don’t get any ideas. Go navy!

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search for TA terrorist

Israel News for January 4, 2016

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New Attacks
There were three terror attacks yesterday. A 20 yr. old female soldier was shot and wounded near the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. Shortly after, a Palestinian attacked a man with a knife at a bus stop in the Armon Hanetziv neighborhood of Jerusalem. The man was not injured and the assailant fled but was later captured by police. Later that evening, a soldier was shot in the leg by an assailant from a distance, in the South Hebron Hills. The IDF is searching for the shooter.

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Search Continues
Police continue to search for the Arab Israeli terrorist who killed two and injured eight in a shooting attack in Tel Aviv on Friday. The search is now primarily confined to the northern Tel Aviv neighborhood of Ramat Aviv, where the terrorist worked as a delivery man and knows the streets and some of the residents. Police believe that he got into a cab at some point after the shooting and then proceeded to kill the cab driver, also an Arab Israeli, before continuing on foot.

Police have also reached out to the Palestinian Authority for help in apprehending the terrorist, in the event that they have intelligence information or that he might have escaped into their territory. The PA is cooperating.

Schools in Tel Aviv remain open and the majority of children are attending, although security has been tightened.

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Two Funerals
The two victims of Friday’s terror attack in Tel Aviv were laid to rest yesterday.

In Karmiel, over 2,000 people attended the funeral of Alon Bakal, 26, the manager at the Hasimta bar on Tel Aviv’s Dizengoff Street where the attack occurred.

Bakal served in an elite unit of the Golani Brigade during his IDF service. He had recently graduated from law school in Netanya and moved to Tel Aviv, where he had been due to start working at a law office. Deputy Interior Minister Yaron Mazuz and Yesh Atid Chairman Knesset Member Yair Lapid were among the mourners.

In Ofakim, a large crowd attended the funeral of Shimon Ruimi, 30. Among the mourners were Science and Technology Minister Ofir Akunis and Ofakim Mayor Itzik Danino.

Ruimi’s aunt, Mor Peretz, eulogized him as “the child of life, our hero, righteous and smart.” She added, “You were killed by an evil person because you were a Jew. May God avenge you.”

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PM Warns Arabs
A while back we reported on efforts by a special unit of the police to crack down on guns in Arab Israeli communities. Over the weekend, PM Netanyahu called on increased law enforcement in Arab areas in the wake of Friday’s terror attack committed by an Israeli Arab. He said that the times of lax law enforcement in Arab areas is over.

The PM said that he, along with Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan and Police Inspector General Roni Alsheich, put together a plan to dramatically increase law enforcement services in Arab areas throughout the country, including building more police stations and recruiting more police officers.

He said, “We will demand loyalty to the laws of the state from everyone. One cannot say ‘I am Israeli in my rights and Palestinian in my responsibilities.’ Whoever wants to be Israeli, must be Israeli all the way, with rights and responsibilities, and the first and foremost responsibility is to follow the laws of the state.”

Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid also called for increased efforts to collect illegal firearms.

He said, “We have to take care of the problem of guns in the Arab population.There are massive quantities of weapons going around… and the time has come to take care of it. We cannot continue ignoring it.”

Lapid said law enforcement should be doubled in Arab areas, including increasing police stations, in order to collect the illegal guns. Lapid also wrote on Facebook that all citizens with gun licenses should not leave their homes without their firearms.

Many other public officials also have encouraged civilians who have gun permits to carry their weapons with them wherever they go.

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Duma Indictment
After a four month long investigation into the deadly arson attack against a Palestinian family in Duma, which claimed the lives of an 18 month old and his parents, the Central District Attorney’s Office filed indictments against two Jewish suspects with the Lod District Court yesterday.

Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein and head State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan personally approved the indictments filed by prosecutors Rahel Avisar and Yael Atzmon.

Amir Ben Uliel, a 21 yr. old from Jerusalem, was charged with three murder charges and a variety of other charges and could face multiple life sentences. A 17 year old was also indicted on one count of conspiring to commit a nationalistically motivated crime, but his name remains under a gag order since he is a minor. He had planned the attack with Uliel but, at the last minute, failed to show up to carry out the attack.

Police say that the suspects were part of a radical group dubbed the “Revolt Group.” The group’s main objective is to cause chaos in Israel that would lead to the fall of the government and to the crowning of a king. The group seeks to do that by undermining Jewish-Arab relations, as well as Israel’s standing in the world.

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Egypt Returns
Egypt’s new ambassador to Israel arrived in the country on Friday. Egypt withdrew its ambassador from Israel in November 2012 to protest the Israeli offensive against Gaza, Operation Pillar of Defense. At the time, Egypt was led by Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

PM Netanyahu said, “I welcome his arrival and the re-stationing here of an Egyptian ambassador to Israel, something that will enable us to further strengthen relations with this important and key Arab country.”

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Video of terrorist starting attack in Tel Aviv

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The man in the video buying groceries puts down his bag towards the end of the video, removes an Uzi submachine gun and begins firing at people on the street.