Israel News for January 16, 2017

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Paris Summit
The seventy two international leaders attending the Paris conference for peace in the Middle East this weekend, including US Secretary of State John Kerry, released a final statement calling on Israel and the Palestinians to adopt a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders and UN Security Council resolutions and to refrain from unilateral actions.

The statement called on each side, “to refrain from unilateral steps that prejudge the outcome of negotiations on final-status issues, including, inter alia, on Jerusalem, borders, security, refugees and which they will not recognize.” It was also an implied to incoming president Trump not to move the US embassy to Jerusalem.

Great Britain, which had observer status at the conference did not endorse the statement saying, “We have particular reservations about an international conference intended to advance peace between the parties that does not involve them—indeed which is taking place against the wishes of the Israelis—and which is taking place just days before the transition to a new American President when the US will be the ultimate guarantor of any agreement. There are risks therefore that this conference hardens positions at a time when we need to be encouraging the conditions for peace.”

Israeli sources were actually relieved with the final statement. John Kerry called PM Netanyahu yesterday to reassure him that no further UN Security Council actions will be taken as a result of the conference.

For further reading click here.

UN Funding
Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina have introduced legislation in the senate to cut funding to the United Nations until it repeals an anti-settlements resolution passed last month by the Security Council.

The senators released a joint statement saying, “The United States is the largest contributor of funding to the United Nations, providing 22 percent of the U.N. regular budget, the highest of any member state, which gives the U.S. considerable influence over the United Nations. The United States must use this influence to help our allies, in this case Israel, which is crucial to our own national security interests.”

Senate Democrats would likely use the filibuster to block it. Similar legislation will soon be introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.

For further reading click here.

Peace Man
In an interview with the Times of London, Trump said that Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and newly appointed senior White House advisor, will take on the task of negotiating peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Worth a shot.

Inauguration Guests
While the Prime Minister won’t be attending the US presidential inauguration, other Israeli leaders will. Three members of the Samaria leadership, representing the settler movement will be there, bearing gifts of Samarian agricultural produce. The three are Samaria Regional Council Head Yossi Dagan, Efrat Mayor Oded Revivi and Ma’ale Adumim Mayor Benny Kashriel. During his visit, Dagan will meet with senior officials in and connected to the incoming administration.

For further reading click here.

Jewish Bluegrass
What do you get when you combine bluegrass music with tehilim (psalms)? To listen and enjoy, click here.

Israel Books
If you’re searching for book on Israel, Click here. We get a small commission for anything you buy on Amazon for a full 24 hours after you use the link. In other words, if you end up buying a computer and lawnmower, we get the commission on that too. It’s a great way to support us while getting great deals on your shopping. And it doesn’t cost you a cent! So please use this link for all your Amazon shopping.

Israel News for January 13, 2017

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Syria Attack
The Syrian military has accused Israel of launching a missile attack against the Mezzeh military airport on the western edge of Damascus and warned Tel Aviv of repercussions.

Residents of Damascus reported hearing several explosions that shook the capital. The Mezzeh airport compound located on the southwestern edge of the capital had been used to launch attacks on rebel-held areas near Damascus and has come previously under rebel fire. The base allegedly houses Iranian Revolutionary Guard units.

Israel declined to comment on the accusation.

For further reading click here.

Mattis and Jerusalem
President-elect Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense James Mattis was questioned during his senate confirmation hearing yesterday. When asked by South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, “What’s the capital of Israel?” Mattis replied, “The capital of Israel that I go to, sir, is Tel Aviv because that’s where all their government people are.” When Graham pressed him saying, “Do you agree with me that the capital of Israel is Jerusalem?” Mattis responded, “Sir, right now I stick with the US policy.”

Mattis said that he supported a two-state solution and said, “I think ultimately we’re going to have to promote peace between the Palestinian and the Israeli authorities there, and that’s going to take time to build that kind of trust, and we should be a partner in trying to build that resolution between those peoples.”

When asked whether he would support moving the embassy Mattis said, “I would defer to the nominee of Secretary of State on that, sir.”

For further reading click here.

Gaza Aid
As a result of the relative quiet along the Gaza border in recent months, the Defense Ministry has decided to increase humanitarian shipments and open another border crossing with a conveyor system to transfer materials to Gaza. It will also increase the number of workers allowed to enter Israel. The ministry stresses that these measures can be reversed immediately if the situation along the border changes.

For further reading click here.

Meanwhile mass demonstrators erupted in Gaza against Hamas because of a lack of electricity that is severley effecting the population and crippling the economy.

For further reading click here.

Netanyahu and Inauguration
The Prime Minister’s Office has dispelled the rumors that Netanyahu was invited to attend the inauguration of Donal Trump. The PM was not invited and will not attend. Foreign leaders do not usually attend US presidential inaugurations.

For further reading click here.

Gap Year
Speaking to a room full of hundreds of high school seniors at a Bnei Akiva (religious youth group) conference, Education Minister Naftali Bennett advised the students to postpone their military services for at least a year to study Torah in a Yeshiva or another pre-IDF Torah learning center. He said that he regretted his decision not to do so. Bennett also urged students to continue daily Torah study throughout their lives.

For further reading click here.

Israel Books
If you’re searching for book on Israel, Click here. We get a small commission for anything you buy on Amazon for a full 24 hours after you use the link. In other words, if you end up buying a computer and lawnmower, we get the commission on that too. It’s a great way to support us while getting great deals on your shopping. And it doesn’t cost you a cent! So please use this link for all your Amazon shopping.

tillerson Israel

Israel News for January 12, 2017

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Hamas Hacking
It was recently discovered that Hamas managed to hack the personal phones of dozens of IDF soldiers by using fake profiles of attractive Israeli women to initiate virtual relationships with them. Then the “girls” would ask the soldiers to download a specific video chat app. The app, which was a hacking tool, gave Hamas total control over the phone and allowed them to activate the camera and microphone, access contacts, videos and photos, and even Whatsapp conversations and emails—all without the soldier being aware. Hamas also managed to delete the application from the devices, while simultaneously installing more sophisticated monitoring and control applications without leaving a trace.

The investigation into the hacking by the IDF’s Information Security Department and the Shin Bet has revealed that there was minimal damage as almost all of the photos and information stolen was of a personal nature. The IDF is working on procedures to protect soldiers from falling prey to Hamas ruses on social media and to prevent Hamas from infiltrating the close to 3,000 IDF related Facebook groups. Quite a challenge.

While most of the soldiers only received a warning from their commanders, some may be put in military prison for 28 days.

For further reading click here.

Tillerson on Israel
In the course of his Senate confirmation hearing, Rex Tillerson, President-elect Trump’s choice for Secretary of State revealed his views on issues relating to Israel.

Tillerson criticized the recent UN Security Council resolution as being a way of coercing Israel to change its policies. He said, “Israel is, has always been and remains our most important ally in the region. The UN resolution that was passed, in my view, is not helpful. It actually undermines a good set of conditions for talks to continue.” He added, “That will not lead to a solution.”

Tillerson also criticized John Kerry, saying that he found the Secretary of States decision to make a speech devoted to the Middle East conflict in which he focused heavily on Israeli settlement building as “quite troubling”.

He called on the Palestinian leadership to condemn and prevent terror attacks, saying that that was a prerequisite for “any productive discussion around settlements.” He questioned whether Israel could feasibly negotiate with a Palestinian Authority that refuses to recognize its right to exist as a Jewish state.

For further reading click here.

Israel News for January 11, 2017

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Hamas Dealings
The Arab-Israeli newspaper Kul al-Arab has reported that Qatar is mediating between Israel and Hamas in a potential prisoner exchange deal that would secure the release of the bodies of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin and Staff Sergeant Oron Shaul, who were both killed during Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014.

According to the report, the negotiations have not moved forward due to Israel’s refusal to release 60 terrorists held in Israeli prisons. Instead, Israel offered to expel them to Gaza or Qatar, which was rejected by Hamas. Non of the report was confirmed by Israeli officials.

For further reading click here.

Obama Interview
In an interview with Israeli TV program “Uvda”, US President Obama defended his decision not to veto the recent UN Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlement building saying “I believe it was the best move for peace.” He said that Israeli settlement building is making the two-state solution almost impossible to achieve. He said, “Bibi says that he believes in the two-state solution and yet his actions consistently have shown that if he is getting pressured to approve more settlements he will do so regardless of what he says about the importance of the two-state solution.”

For further reading click here.

Ethiopian Blood
Since 1977 Ethiopian born Israelis have been banned from donating blood as a result of unproven fears that their blood might carry the HIV virus. The Health Ministry has announced that starting on July 1, their blood will be accepted. The ministry also changed the rules for blood donations from homosexuals and those older than 65.

In 1996 it was revealed that Magen David Adom had been secretly disposing blood donated by Ethiopian Jews over fears they carried HIV/AIDS. The news of the scandal led to violent clashes between the Israeli police and Ethiopian protesters charging that they were being treated as second-class citizens.

Despite the lifting of the ban, Immigration Committee Chairman MK Avraham Neguise said “MDA’s decision to delay accepting these donations for another half year, even though there’s no medical justification for it, is a continuation of the discrimination and deprivation.”

For further reading click here.

Divorce Reversal
In 2014 the Rabbinical district court of Tsfat ruled that the court could give a Get (Jewish divorce) on behalf of a husband in a coma to his wife who had been in a state of limbo (agunah) for seven years. The ruling was revolutionary, since only the husband himself can give or order the giving of a get, but based on traditional Jewish legal (halachic) sources.

Recently a man, unrelated to the the couple, came forward and demanded that the ruling be retracted because it was not correct according to Jewish law. The Tsfat court rejected his claim since the man has no bearing in the case. The man appealed to the Supreme Rabbinical Court in Jerusalem, saying that the ruling effected every Jewish man, since the woman who is eligible for marriage is really still married (if the ruling permitting the divorce was incorrect).

Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, as head of the Supreme Rabbinical Court, has agreed to review the case regarding whether the man has the right to have his claim heard. In addition R. Yosef also will allow the original ruling of the Tsfat court to be reviewed to determine its validity. That means that the divorce given to the woman could be rejected, which would return her to a state of agunah (unable to marry).

The case was brought to the Israeli Supreme Court, where the justices have forcefully spoken out against the idea of the rabbinical court attempting to retract a divorce. The court has yet to make a decision but has restricted the rabbinical court from dealing with the case for 21 days.

For further reading click here.

Driving and Praying
You don’t want your bus driver to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or falling asleep at the wheel. Well, in Bnei Brak passengers have to deal with drivers praying while driving. To see this in action click here.

israel news terror raid

Israel News for January 10, 2017

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Terrorist Killed
A Palestinian terrorist attacked IDF soldiers of the Duvdevan unit with a knife last night as the soldiers were carrying out an operation to arrest terror suspects in the Far’a refugee camp in the West Bank. The 33 year old terrorist was shot and killed by soldiers before causing any harm. During the operation the soldiers were also fired at and attacked with molotov cocktails. There were no IDF casualties.

For further reading click here.

Status Revoked
Minister of the Interior Aryeh Deri has decided to revoke the permanent resident status of 13 family members of the terrorist who killed four soldiers and injured 15 in Jerusalem on Sunday. The family members, including the terrorist’s mother, will lose all social benefits that go along with permanent residency.

This is the first time residency status of family members of terrorists has been revoked, and it precludes them from appealing to the Supreme Court. Deri decided on the move after consulting with the Prime Minister and the Shin Bet.

Deri said, “This is a decision that signals a new era against terrorism and terrorists who use their status to carry out attacks against citizens. From now on, there will be zero tolerance towards those who are involved in terrorism against Israel. Let this be known to all who are plotting, planning or considering carrying out an attack, that their families will pay a heavy price for their actions and the consequences will be severe and far-reaching.”

Israeli citizenship, however, has never been revoked from people involved in or connected to terror activity.
 
For further reading click here.

UN Condemns
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Sunday’s terror attack but added that the attack should not prevent peace starts from restarting between Israel and the Palestinians. He added that those involved in the planning and implementation of the attack “must be brought to justice, condemned and disavowed.” The UN Security Council made a similar statement condemning the attack.

For further reading click here.

 

Funeral Absence
The four soldiers killed in Sunday’s Jerusalem terror attack were laid to rest yesterday. Surprisingly, and to the consternation of the parents of the deceased, no government officials attended any of the funerals. When contacted by the press they all had different reasons and excuses why they couldn’t attend. As a result, the PM has instructed Cabinet Secretary Tzachi Braverman to formulate binding procedures requiring government ministers, deputy ministers and Knesset members to attend the funerals of fallen IDF soldiers.

The PM did visit soldiers who were wounded in the terror attack and are being treated at Shaarei Tzedek and Hadassah Hospital.

For further reading click here.

Tsfat Growing
The city of Tsfat, considered to be one of Israel’s holy cities (along with Jerusalem, Hebron and Tiberius) and home to great kabbalists and mystics since the 1500’s, is already home to thousands of haredi families who make up a significant portion of the city’s population. Now two Hasidic real estate investors have announced that they will build 2,000 new homes in the city, earmarked for the haredi public.

For further reading click here.

Kushner Rises
President elect Donald Trump has appointed his son-in-law Jared Kushner as a senior White House adviser working on trade and the Middle East.

Although his name isn’t Joseph (like his grandfather and son), you can’t ignore the juxtaposition of the rise of Jared with the rise of Joseph (prime minister to Pharaoh) in the last few Torah portions (regardless of your personal political views).

May he be blessed with wisdom and success.

For further reading click here.

Amazing Story
Would you believe that an Arab boy from East Jerusalem who threw stones at soldiers is now trying to join the IDF? It’s true. To read this amazing story click here.

Israel News for January 9, 2017

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Jerusalem Terror
Yesterday a terrorist drove a truck into a a large group of young officer cadets on a popular promenade in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Armon Hanetziv. The soldiers were on a tour of Jerusalem and listening to a tour guide when the truck veered off the road and rammed into them. Several armed civilians along with two of the soldiers began firing at the truck. But before they could neutralize him the terrorist put the truck in reverse and drove over the wounded.

Four soldiers were killed and 15 soldiers and civilians were wounded in the attack. The soldiers killed were 2nd Lt. Yael Yakutiel (20) from Givatayim, whose rank was posthumously elevated to Lt.; Cadet Shir Hajaj (22) from Ma’ale Adumim, whose rank was posthumously elevated to Lt.; Cadet Shira Tzur (20) from Haifa, whose rank was posthumously elevated to 2nd Lt.; and Cadet Erez Orbach (20) from Alon Shvut, whose rank was posthumously elevated to 2nd Lt. They were all laid to rest today.

To read more about the victims click here.

The were around 300 soldiers in the area taking part in group tours. All of the soldiers were armed. The army is investigating why only two soldiers actually fired at the terrorist. One theory is that they didn’t know it was a terrorist attack until several minutes later. To read more about this click here.

Many of the soldiers ran from scene, apparently upon orders from a commander. To see footage of this from a security camera, click here.

One of the tour guides at the scene who was also injured but managed to fire at the truck with his personal weapon told media that he believed that soldiers hesitated to fire at the truck because of the recent Azaria case in which the soldier was convicted for firing at an incapacitated terrorist. However IDF officials as well as soldiers at the scene were quick to refute that claim.

One of the cadets that fired at the terrorist posted on Facebook, “Please stop listening to sources that don’t verify and immediately publish nonsense and distorted information. Please stop distributing opinions that are based on baseless lies…There is no connection to Elor Azaria. No connection.” He said that cadets ran towards the truck but were cautious about shooting due to the possibility of friendly fire accidents. He concluded by saying that regardless of what the tour guide tells the media, “we fought for our friends.”

To read more about soldiers’ reactions click here.

PM Netanyahu and DM Lieberman visited the site of the attack. Lieberman said, “It is clear that this horrible terrorist attack is not for any other reason rather than just one reason: Because we are Jews, and we live here in the State of Israel. “There was no other reason for this, and you don’t need to look for any justification—not Jewish settlements and not negotiations, but simply a terrorist attack, inspired by ISIS. We saw this in France, we saw it now in Berlin, and unfortunately, we saw it today in Jerusalem. We will fight this terrorism with all the tools at our disposal, and I am certain that there will be results and that we will triumph.”

The White House and State Department, the Canadian Prime Minister, the EU Foreign Minister, several European foreign ministers as well as the UN Security Council condemned the attack.

Palestinian sources identified the terrorist as Fadi Ahmad Al-Qunbar, a released prisoner from Jabel Mukaber, a neighborhood in east Jerusalem that borders East Talpiot. IDF troops raided the terrorist’s house shortly after the attack. The PM said that he believed that the terrorist was affiliated with ISIS. Hamas promised the attack, calling it heroic and pledging more attacks. They also gave out sweets in Gaza to celebrate.

Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan has ordered the police not to return the body of the terrorist to his family for burial. He said, “This is a particularly heinous, painful and serious crime that could lead to copycats. We will not allow the vile terrorist and his family to have a funeral that would grant him the respect that would encourage other attackers.”

capitol washington

Israel News for January 6, 2017

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Congress Condemns UN
The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a non binding resolution that proclaims unwavering support for Israel and insists that the United States reject any future UN actions that are similarly “one-sided and anti-Israel.” The vote was 342-80, with all Republicans and many Democrats voting for the resolution.

The 80 Democrats that voted against it claimed that it contained inaccuracies and distorted the complexities of the Middle East peace process and that the Republicans were using it to attack Obama unfairly. Despite that, most of the 80 Democrats voiced their support for Israel and praised Obama for approving the $38 billion military aid package for Israel.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said, “Our government abandoned our ally Israel when she needed us the most. It is time to repair the damage done by this misguided hit job at the UN.”

Vice President elect Mike Pence tweeted, “Great to see strong bipartisan vote in Congress opposing recent UN resolution against our most cherished ally. America stands with Israel.”

A similar resolution has been introduced in the US Senate.

For further reading click here.

Jordan Warns
Jordan’s Information Minister Mohammed Momani told The Associated Press yesterday that moving the US embassy to Jerusalem would constitute the crossing of a “red line” for Jordan and would “inflame the Islamic and Arab streets” and serve as a “gift to extremists.”

Momani said that moving the embassy “will have catastrophic implications on several levels, including the regional situation. It will definitely affect the bilateral relationship between countries in the region, including Jordan, and the parties that will be related to such a decision.”

He said that Jordan would use all possible political and diplomatic means to try and prevent such a decision.

For further reading click here.

PM Questioned
PM Netanyahu was questioned by police for five hours yesterday in connection with the investigation into allegations that he received gifts from businessmen. That’s something Prime Ministers are prohibited from doing due to obvious conflicts of interest. Earlier this week the PM was questioned for three hours. Netanyahu maintains that the allegations are baseless.

For further reading click here.

Haifa Shooting
The suspect in the Haifa shooting that is thought to be terror related surrendered to police yesterday. He was the object of a massive manhunt in his Haifa neighborhood. Residents of the Arab neighborhood and family members said the they do not believe that his motive was nationalistically motivated. The man that he killed, Guy Kafri, was laid to rest yesterday.

For further reading click here.

Startup Nation
Israeli startups are hard at work to make our everyday lives a bit easier and more efficient. To check out the innovative things these six startups are working on, click here.

Israel News for January 5, 2017

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PM Wants Pardon
Hours after the verdict convicting IDF Sgt. Elor Azaria of manslaughter for shooting a neutralized terrorist in the head, PM Netanyahu called on the public to remain calm and respect the decision of the military court. He also said that Azaria should be pardoned.

In a Facebook post Netanyahu wrote, “This is a hard and painful day for all of us, first and foremost for Elor and his family, the soldiers of the IDF, many citizens and the parents of soldiers, myself included. I call on all Israeli citizens to act responsibly toward the IDF, its commanders and the IDF chief of staff. The soldiers of the IDF are the sons and daughters of all of us. I support pardoning Elor Azaria.”

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman called on fellow cabinet ministers to refrain from demanding a pardon for Azaria, saying that they should let the defense establishment handle the matter without outside interference. Education Minister Naftali Bennet (Bayit Yehudi), Culture Minister Miri Regev (Likud), Interior Minister Aryeh Deri (Shas) and Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud) have all called publicly for a pardon.

The judges and prosecutor in the case have been given security details in light of death threats from angry protesters and widespread condemnation of the verdict by large segments of the public who feel that the verdict is an attack on all IDF soldiers and that it hinders the soldiers ability to fight terror. Two people were arrested today for incitement against the judges.

Meanwhile, the parents of the terrorist shot by Azaria expressed their satisfaction with the verdict. His father said, “I feel good. It is fair. It is an achievement for the court that it condemned the soldier.” But the family is worried that the court will give Azaria a light sentence.

The military court is scheduled to sentence Azaria next week. Azaria’s lawyers have already announced that they will appeal the decision.

For further reading click here.

Haifa Terror
Earlier this week a religious services worker was shot and killed and a rabbinical judge serving on the conversion court was shot and wounded in Haifa. The motive of the shootings was initially unclear but police now suspect that it was a nationalistically motivated act of terror. The police have identified a suspect who is a resident of the Arab neighborhood of Halisa in Haifa. They are conducting an intensive search in the neighborhood and are being helped by neighborhood residents, who are calling on the suspect to turn himself in.

For further reading click here.

Arab MK Indicted
Arab MK Basel Ghattas (Joint List) was indicted today for smuggling cellphones to Palestinian security prisoners in Israel jails.  

The indictment stated, “The defendant delivered the communications equipment to Bizra while knowing that it is more than likely the equipment will be used to endanger human lives, cause serious harm to people, undermine state security, or to aid a terror organization.”

For further reading click here.

Senate Jerusalem Bill
Senators Marco Rubio (Florida), Ted Cruz (Texas) and Dean Heller (Nevada) have introduced a bill to remove the presidential waver from the 1995 law passed by Congress recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and mandating the move from Tel Aviv. Presidents currently have the ability to exercise the waiver every six months to prevent the embassy move. The bill would slash in half the funds that Congress disburses to the State Department for building, securing and maintaining embassies until the embassy opens in Jerusalem.

Cruz stated, “Jerusalem is the eternal and undivided capital of Israel. Unfortunately, the Obama administration’s vendetta against the Jewish state has been so vicious that to even utter this simple truth – let alone the reality that Jerusalem is the appropriate venue for the American embassy in Israel – is shocking in some circles. But it is finally time to cut through the double-speak and broken promises and do what Congress said we should do in 1995: formally move our embassy to the capital of our great ally Israel.”

Rubio added: “Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the Jewish state of Israel, and that’s where America’s embassy belongs. It’s time for Congress and the president-elect to eliminate the loophole that has allowed presidents in both parties to ignore US law and delay our embassy’s rightful relocation to Jerusalem for over two decades.”

For further reading click here.

Israel News for January 4, 2017

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Soldier Convicted
After a nine month trial in a military court, IDF Sgt. Elor Azaria was convicted of manslaughter this morning for shooting a seriously wounded terrorist in the head last year in Hebron. The terrorist had just committed a stabbing attack and was shot and wounded by soldiers. As he was lying on the ground face down, surrounded by soldiers, Azaria approached and shot the terrorist in the head, allegedly killing him.

On the one hand the defense attempted to claim that the terrorist was already dead before Azaria shot him. On the other hand the claim was made that Azaria saw the terrorist move and thought that he was still a threat. In any case, the judges wrote, “He opened fired in violation of orders, the terrorist did not pose any threat.”

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman expressed regret at the verdict but urged everyone to respect it. “We are all obligated to show restraint. What is important is that despite the verdict, the security apparatus will assist the soldier and his family in any way possible.”

Hundreds of protesters rioted outside of the courtroom in front of the IDF military headquarters in Tel Aviv directly before and after the verdict.

Education minister Naftali Bennet and Culture Minister Miri Regev both called for the government to grant Azaria immediate amnesty.

Azaria’s legal team said that it will appeal the verdict.

For further reading click here.

Motorbike Attack
Palestinians on four motorbikes attempted to break through a checkpoint near Jenin yesterday. One of the bikes rammed into two Border Police officers, injuring them. The other three motor bikes escaped through the checkpoint.

For further reading click here.

Gaza Casualty
Over two and a half years after Operation Protective Edge (Gaza War), an Israeli soldier critically wounded in the operation has died. Major Hagai Ben Ari, a highly regarded paratroop officer, was shot in the head by a sniper in Gaza on July 21, 2014. Over the next 2 years he remained unconscious. Ben Ari leaves behind a wife and 3 young children. He is the 68th IDF soldier killed in Protective Edge.

For further reading click here.

PA Austerity
The Palestinian Authority is planning to implement some deep spending cuts as a result of a huge budget deficit. The reason for the deficit is a sharp drop in foreign funding, primarily from Saudi Arabia and the US and EU.

Saudi Arabia normally pays about $20 million a month into the budget, but it stopped making regular contributions last April – in part to apply pressure on President Mahmoud Abbas to implement political changes. The EU and the US have also reduced direct budget support, preferring instead to fund specific development programs.

More than half of the PA budget goes for paying salaries of government employees. The PA also pays stipends to families of terrorists.

For further reading click here.

Underwater Lighting
Even though Hanukkah is over, we thought you had to see this video, in which two Chabad emissaries light a huge menorah under the shark infested waters of Playa Del Carmen in Mexico. Chabad really does go everywhere! To watch video click here.

Israel News for January 3, 2017

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Terrorists Arrested
Last night security forces arrested 34 suspected terrorists in raids throughout the West Bank.

For further reading click here.

PM Investigated
Israeli Police spent three hours questioning the PM at his residence yesterday as part of an investigation into allegations that Netanyahu received funds for personal use from businessmen. The Attorney General said that investigators were examining, “a long string of claims that the prime minister allegedly carried out crimes relating to ethicality.”

Claims relating to Netanyahu’s involvement in tampering with Likud elections have been found to be baseless. Claims relating to having his flights and trips abroad funded by businessmen, which would smack of bribery, are still being investigated.

The PM has denied al allegations and told hopeful opposition members, “hold off on the partying, don’t jump the gun. I told you and I repeat: Nothing will happen, because there is nothing. You will continue making wild allegations and we will continue leading the State of Israel.”

For further reading click here.

Haifa Shooting
A 48 year old rabbinic judge serving on the Haifa conversion court was shot and wounded today in Haifa today. Witnesses said that the shots were fired by a woman. Minutes later a 45 year old man who worked in the religious services administration was shot and killed in the same area. Police suspect a connection between the shootings.

For further reading click here.

More Water
Despite December being the wettest month in Israel since 1992, the Kinneret, Israel’s largest fresh water reservoir, is still 60 centimeters (23.6 inches) below its lower red line. It needs another 4.80 meters (15.7 feet) until it fills the lake entirely and reaches the upper red line. Luckily, most of the drinking water used in Israel comes from desalination plants. But still…

For further reading click here.

Rabbi Released
Last week we told you about Rabbi Shteinman, the 104 rabbinic leader from Bnei Brak who had been hospitalized in intensive care for over a week as a result of various medical problems including inflammation of the kidneys. Today the rabbi was released from the hospital and returned to his home. According to hospital sources the inflammation suddenly disappeared. May he continue to have a full and speedy recovery.

For further reading click here.

Air Force
The Israel Air Force was busy in 2016. To watch a summary of IAF highlights from 2016 click here.