Israel News for 4-30-18
Terrorists Killed
The IDF killed three terrorists yesterday who were attempting to infiltrate into Israel from Gaza. Two of the terrorists threw explosives at soldiers before being shot. Later on, the IDF apprehended two terrorists with knives and wire cutters who managed to cross into Israel from Gaza.
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Syria Attacked
The Syrian army has reported that military bases near Hamas and Aleppo were attacked by missiles over the weekend. The Syrian opposition said 38 regime soldiers were killed and 57 were injured in the attack. It also said that one of the locations hit was an army base known as Brigade 47 near Hama city, widely known as a recruitment center for Iranian-backed Shi’ite militias who fight alongside President Bashar Assad’s forces. The Iranian news media denied that any Iranian fighters were killed.
Israel’s Defense Minister Lieberman stated yesterday, “We will keep our freedom of operation in all of Syria. We have no intention to attack Russia or to interfere in domestic Syrian issues. But if somebody thinks that it is possible to launch missiles or to attack Israel or even our aircraft, no doubt we will respond and we will respond very forcefully.”
PM Netanyahu convened the Security Cabinet for an unplanned meeting at the Kirya IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv today.
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Pompeo Visits
New US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Israel yesterday and told PM Netanyahu that President Trump “will withdraw from the Iranian nuclear agreement” if it cannot be fixed. “It’s pretty straightforward.” At a news conference Pompeo said that the US remains “deeply concerned about Iran’s dangerous escalation of threats towards Israel and the region.” He said, “Strong cooperation with strong allies like you is critical to countering Iran’s destabilizing and malign activities. The United states is with Israel in this fight and we strongly support Israel’s right to defend itself.” Netanyahu praised Trump and called Pompeo and true friend of Israel.
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Pollard Release
According to an Israeli TV report, President Trump is considering allowing Jonathan Pollard to leave the US and move to Israel. Pollard served nearly 30 years for spying for Israel, and since being paroled in 2015 has been prohibited from leaving US soil. Last October, PM Netanyahu reportedly asked Trump to allow Pollard to move to Israel.
Trump may also attend the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem next month. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is currently set to lead the 250-member delegation for the event, which will include 40 members of Congress and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and daughter Ivanka Trump. Other media reports have suggested that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo could lead the delegation, in lieu of a Trump arrival.
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School Raided
Police investigators raided the Bnei Zion pre-military academy yesterday and confiscated computers and documents as part of their investigation into the deaths of the 10 students who were tragically killed on a school trip by a flash flood. The academy’s principal Yuval Kahan, who is suspected of negligent homicide, was arrested on Friday.
A 25 year old instructor, herself a former student of the school, claimed during questioning that she warned authorities and asked for the trip to be canceled due to possible floods. She added she shared her concern with her father, deputy commander of the search and rescue unit that was rushed to scene after the disaster, and that he had also attempted to get the trip canceled—but his warnings went unheeded as well. The instructor was released on house arrest. Another instructor, Aviv Bardichev, 27, was also arrested.
The State Comptroller has indicated that he will open an investigation into the tragic incident.
Meanwhile, thousands attended the funerals of the 10 teens as well as memorial services and gatherings.
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