Quiz – Israel History – Leaders
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Hope you enjoyed this quiz. If you haven’t done so already, make sure to subscribe to our Israel news email summary.
Fatal Crash
A fatal car crash near the Dead Sea on Tuesday afternoon claimed the lives of 8 members of one family including Yariv (45) and Shoshi (47) Atar and their six children—Yaakov Yisroel (12), Ateres (11), Ayala (9), Moriah (7), Yedid (5) and Avigayil (3). The family was driving in a van when it was hit by a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by a 50 year old man and carrying his wife (53) and daughter (12). The mother and daughter were moderately injured and the father, lightly injured.
“The father was hysteric and crying, saying ‘I killed them, I killed them,'” said Sarah Israeli, an MDA paramedic who was first on the scene. He told police in the hospital, “I don’t remember what happened there. I know I killed people. I’m never driving again.” The man is being held in police custody under suspicion of having been under the influence of drugs during the accident.
The stretch of Rt. 90, where the accident occurred, has just recently been widened and repaved. It has only 2 lanes — one going in each direction. According to the Israel National Road Safety Authority, 240 people have been killed in car accidents in 2018 so far, compared to 310 in the same time period in 2017.
For further reading click here.
Female Mayor
Einat Kalisch Rotem became the mayor of Haifa and the first female mayor of a major Israeli city when she defeated the incumbent yesterday in municipal elections. Tel Aviv’s mayor Ron Huldai won a fifth term. In Jerusalem there will be a runoff election between yesterday’s top 2 winners, both secular, since no candidate got the required 40% minimum share of votes. Other cities also having runoffs include Rishon Letzion, Ramat Gan, Raanana, Bat Yam, Kfar Saba, Hod Hasharon and Safed.
For further reading click here.
Minister Dies
Minister of Religious Services David Azoulay (Shas) passed away on Tuesday at the age of 64. Azoulay, who served as a member of the Knesset from 1996 to March this year, had been battling cancer. Interior Minister Aryeh Deri (Shas) said, “I am crying for my dear friend, my beloved, my partner for decades, who has now passed away after enduring horrible pain at the age of 64. Rabbi David, the honest, modest, merciful man, the man of action, a true tzaddik, died and left his family, the family of Shas and the people of Israel, hurt and lacking. May his memory be a blessing.”
To read more about Azoulay’s life click here.
Israel in Syria
A senior Israeli official said on Monday that Israel has carried out attacks in Syria since the accidental shooting down of a Russian surveillance plane by Syrian anti-aircraft defenses last month. He did not provide any details.
For further reading click here.
Security Cooperation
The Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) Central Council called on Monday to end the security coordination with Israel and suspend recognition of the Jewish state until it recognizes the Palestinian state. However, the PLO Central Council left the decision on whether to implement its recommendations to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the PLO Executive Committee.
For further reading click here.
New Ambassador
Amira Oron has been appointed as Israel’s ambassador to Egypt. Oron will be the first female ambassador to Cairo since the Egypt-Israel peace treaty was signed in 1979. She is the second woman to serve as an ambassador in an Arab state after Einat Klein, who was Israel’s ambassador to Jordan. Two other women were also appointed ambassadors: Rodica Radian to Spain and Orly Gil to Latvia.
For further reading click here.
Gaza Updates
An IDF airstrike killed 3 terrorists near Khan Yunis who were spotted placing an explosive device on the Gaza border fence. On Friday, Four Palestinians rioters in their 20s were killed during violent protests at the Gaza border fence. IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said that some 16,000 demonstrators attended Friday’s riots, hurling Molotov cocktails, hand grenades and stones at the security forces, and burning tires.
Overnight Friday, 39 rockets were launched into Israel from Gaza. In response, the airfare struck 87 targets in Gaza on Saturday morning. Out of the 39 rockets launched into Israel, the Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted 17. Two rockets landed inside the Gaza Strip and the rest landed in open areas in Israel. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the rocket fire and have vowed to avenge the deaths of the 3 terrorists killed near Khan Yunis.
For further reading click here.
Oman Visit
The PM’s office said Friday that the PM has returned from a visit to the Gulf state of Oman, where he joined the country’s leader in the first meeting of its kind in more than 20 years. He had been invited by Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said after lengthy communications. Netanyahu and his wife were joined on the trip by Mossad Head Yossi Cohen, his Foreign Ministry director, and other defense officials. The two leaders issued a joint statement saying the two sides “discussed ways to advance the Middle East peace process and discussed a number of issues of mutual interest to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East.”
Palestinian President Authority President Abbas also paid a three-day visit to Oman earlier this week and Oman’s foreign minister paid a visit to the PA controlled West Bank earlier this year.
For further reading click here.
PM Netanyahu announced Sunday that Transportation and Intelligence Minister Israel Katz will embark on a visit to Oman next week. Katz will attend an international transportation conference in Muscat upon personal invitation by his Omani counterpart and the organizers of the conference. This is the first time an Israeli minister has been formally invited to participate in an international conference in Oman.
During the visit, Katz will present the regional transportation initiative, which he is advancing jointly with Netanyahu. The initiative, called “Tracks for Regional Peace,” is aimed at connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Gulf by rail via Israel as a land bridge and Jordan as a regional transportation hub.
For further reading click here.
First Time
The Israeli national anthem was, for the first time, played in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), when the Israeli lightweight judoka Sagi Muki won a gold medal at the Grand Slam judo tournaments on Sunday. Minister of Culture and Sport Miri Regev, who accompanied the team during the competition, wept while she sang the anthem on stage. Three other Israelis won bronze medals yesterday: Gili Cohen, Baruch Shamilov and Timna Nelson Levy.
To watch the emotional video click here. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5382307,00.html
Regev was also given a tour of the grand mosque in the capital, which is the 3rd largest mosque after Mecca and Medina. To watch a video click here.
New Construction
The Construction and Housing Ministry has approved the construction of 20,000 housing units in the city of Ma’aleh Adumim. Initially, 470 housing units will be constructed, with the remainder awaiting government approval. The project is expected to cost NIS 2.8 billion ($756 million).
Construction and Housing Minister Yoav Gallant said that the approval would “lead to significant development and growth in the population of Ma’aleh Adumim.” He said,
“In addition to the new housing units, public and educational institutions will also be established, and will include synagogues, schools, parks, community centers and sports arenas. We must continue to establish [our] hold on the Jerusalem area, from Ma’aleh Adumin in the east to Givat Zeev in the west, from Atarot in the north to the area of Bethlehem and Rachel’s Tomb to Efrat and Gush Etzion.”
For further reading click here.
Pittsburgh
Our deepest condolences go out to the families who’s loved ones were murdered in synagogue on Shabbat simply because they were Jews. May their souls find everlasting peace in the special place reserved for those who died for being Jewish (Al Kiddush Hashem). And we pray for the full and speedy recovery of those who were wounded in the horrific shooting attack. May we never again have to mourn the murder of Jews anywhere.
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Terror Attack
On Tuesday, terrorists in a moving vehicle opened fire at IDF soldiers at the checkpoint near the city of Halhul in the southern West Bank. The soldiers returned fire at the car. No soldiers were injured. Roadblocks were erected as part of a manhunt for the terrorists.
For further reading click here.
Riots and Response
On Tuesday, around 200 Palestinians burned tires and threw explosive devices and stones at Israeli troops east of Deir al-Balah in the southern Gaza Strip. IDF troops responded with riot control measures, as well as sniper fire. The Palestinian health ministry reported that a 17 year old rioter was shot in the head, and several others were wounded in the rioting.
Meanwhile, incendiary balloons flown in from Gaza started a large fire near the Gvaram Forest in the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council that destroyed dozens of acres of natural woodland.
At the same time, Israel resumed the supply of diesel fuel to the Gaza Strip after a 12 day stoppage.
For further reading click here.
Last night an IDF force that entered the town of Tammum, between Nablus and Jenin, was attacked by around 50 Palestinian rioters throwing stones and shooting fireworks at them. The soldiers responded with crowd dispersal measures and with live fire. The Palestinians claim that a 21 year old man was fatally shot and at least 5 others were wounded. The IDF is investigating.
During the night, Israeli security forces arrested 16 wanted men in the West Bank suspected of involvement in terror activity, popular terrorism and violent rioting. The IDF also arrested several people suspected of aiding the terrorist who murdered two Israelis in the Barkan industrial zone.
For further reading click here.
Lightning Rockets
Security Cabinet ministers told Ynet on Monday the government decided against launching a military operation in the Gaza Strip following the rocket attack because Israeli intelligence determined, with a very high degree of certainty, that the rockets were fired due to a malfunction caused by the lightning storm that raged on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday.
According to one minister, there was indication Hamas and Islamic Jihad were embarrassed by the incident and even exchanged accusations before realizing the rocket launches were the result of a malfunction.
For further reading click here.
China Relations
The vice president of China, Wang Qishan met with Palestinian PM Rami Hamdallah and toured the Nativity church in Bethlehem yesterday, as part of his 3 day visit to Israel. Qishan also met with President Rivlin in Jerusalem. The Chinese VP said, “Israel does not have large natural resources, but the miracle of development rests on the tremendous human capital of this nation. Human beings are the most precious asset.” China has been seeking opportunities to invest in Israeli technology companies. Trade between the two countries has also increased.
For further reading click here.
Arms Sale
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has signed a huge deal, worth $777 million, with Indian state-owned company BEL. IAI will supply LRSAM Air and Missile Defense (AMD) systems, the marine version of the AMD system Barak 8, for seven ships of the Indian Navy. This brings sales of Barak 8 in the past few years to over $6 billion.
For further reading click here.
Terror Attack
Early today, a terrorist stabbed a solider with a pair of scissors near the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron. The soldier and another soldier fired at the terrorist, killing him. The soldier was lightly injured and evacuated to the hospital fully conscious and standing. The terrorist was a 42 yer old man from Hebron.
For further reading click here.
Jordan Reversal
Jordan’s King Abdullah II announced Sunday that he does not plan to renew parts of the country’s 24-year-old peace agreement with Israel. The parts Jordan wants to revoke relate to two parcels of land Jordan leased to Israel for 25 years. The lease on the two territories — known as Baqoura and Ghumar in Arabic and Naharayim and Zofar in Hebrew — ends in one year. Naharayim is located just south of the Kinneret, on the eastern bank of the Jordan river. Zofar is located in the Arava, south of the Dead Sea.
In a statement the king said, “Baqoura and Ghumar are Jordanian lands and will remain Jordanian and we will exercise full sovereignty over our territory.” Abdullah has been facing major pressure in Jordan, including mass protests, to reclaim the land.
Central Arava Regional Council head Eyal Bloom expressed concern by the Jordanian decision, saying “the agricultural lands in the Tzofar enclave are significant to the security of the area, the state, the livelihood of the residents and agriculture in the central Arava. This would mean the collapse of 30 farms in an area of some 1,400 dunams (346 acres).” Israeli farmers have been cultivating the land for the past 24 years.
The terms of the peace treaty state that 25 years after the initial signing, each party will be able to discontinue the lease of the land on one condition—it should be done one year in advance, and this Sunday marks 24 years since the treaty had been agreed upon.
PM Netanyahu said that Israel would renegotiate the original agreement with Jordan.
For further reading click here.
Russian Missiles
Russian newspaper Izvestia cited a Russian Defense Ministry official as saying that Russia provided Syria with three S-300 PM-2 anti-aircraft missile systems, which are more advanced than the S-300 system Moscow has recently delivered to Damascus.
According to the report, the S-300 system differs from the S-300 PM-2 system by its cutting-edge radars and advanced ability to identify targets as well as its mobile command center. It was also said that the S-300 PM-2 system is able to handle fifth-generation fighter jets and can intercept not only short-range ballistic missiles, but also medium-range rockets of up to 250 kilometers (155 miles). The system is capable of defeating electronic warfare systems.
Officials from the Russian Defense Ministry denied that Iranian forces are operating the new system.
For further reading click here.
US Embassy
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced yesterday that the US will merge the US Consulate General, which serves Palestinians, with its new embassy into a single diplomatic mission in Jerusalem. He said, “This decision is driven by our global efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations. It does not signal a change of US policy on Jerusalem, the West Bank, or the Gaza Strip.” He added, “We will continue to conduct a full range of reporting, outreach, and programming in the West Bank and Gaza as well as with Palestinians in Jerusalem through a new Palestinian Affairs Unit inside US Embassy Jerusalem.”
For further reading click here.
Student Can Stay
The Supreme Court has ruled that Lara Alqasem, the 22 year old American student who was barred from entering Israel to study because of her BDS activity, will be allowed to stay in Israel. Several government ministers harshly criticized the court’s ruling, calling it a victory for BDS.
For further reading click here.
No Assimilation
As part of its campaign for municipal elections in the mixed Arab and Jewish city of Ramle, the Bayit Yehudi party hung banners saying, “Hundreds cases of assimilation and nobody cares—tomorrow it can be your daughter. Only a strong Bayit Yehudi will keep Ramla Jewish.” The anti assimilation banners were called racist by Arab Joint-List candidates, who demanded their removal. Bayit Yehudi issued a statement saying, “The party’s stance regarding assimilation is clear—the Jewish people should preserve its national character, tradition, religion, culture and heritage.”
For further reading click here.
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Rocket Hit
A rocket fired from Gaza early this morning hit a two story house in the city of Be’ersheva. Miri Shabita, the owner of the house who was sleeping downstairs, ran upstairs at the sound of the warning sirens and dragged her 3 sleeping children into the home’s bomb shelter just before the rocket hit. The mother, 39, and her 3 children aged 9, 10 and 12 were treated for shock, but were otherwise unharmed. The house was almost totally destroyed. The balcony of the house next door collapsed, and several other homes and parked cars were hit by debris and shrapnel.
The rocket attack came a day before Kamel Abbas, the head of Egyptian intelligence, is due to arrive in Israel to discuss the ceasefire talks with Hamas. After the attack, Hamas and Islamic Jihad released a joint statement in which they said they “oppose rocket fire that hurts the efforts to lift the siege,” and that they “reject all irresponsible attempts that try to change the direction and sabotage the Egyptian efforts, including the overnight firing of the rocket.”
The IDF said, “The rockets that were fired are self-produced and medium-ranged. Only two organizations in Gaza have such rockets: Hamas and Islamic Jihad. It doesn’t matter who fired, Hamas bears the responsibility.”
In response to the attack, IDF planes attacked 20 terror targets in Gaza including Hamas military bases, rocket manufacturing sites, underground infrastructure and terror tunnels. At least one terrorist was reportedly killed in the strikes.
Defense Minister Lieberman ordered the closure of the Kerem Shalom and Erez border crossings and the reduction of the strip’s fishing zone to three nautical miles.
For further reading click here.
Aussie Surprise
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison stated yesterday that he was open to the idea of moving the Australian embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing the city as Israel’s capital. The move would reverse decades of Australian foreign policy and inflame tension with some of Australia’s Asian neighbors — particularly Indonesia, with which Australia is due to sign a major trade agreement. Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim-majority country.
Morrison’s statement comes four days before a by-election in Sydney at which his center-right coalition runs the risk of losing its tenuous hold on power. The by-election is in the Sydney harborside seat of Wentworth. Census figures show 12.5 percent of people in Wentworth are Jewish, a significantly larger proportion than elsewhere in Australia. Coincidence? We’ll take the move any way it comes about.
For further reading click here.
Holocaust Movie
Most of us are well aware of the collaboration with the Nazis by local police forces in Eastern European countries such as Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, Latvia etc. But most are surprised to hear that the French police engaged in roundups of thousands of Jews in France in 1942, most of whom were then transported to Auschwitz and gassed. The movie La Rafle (The Roundup) dramatically tells the story of the French collaboration. The movie first came out in 2010, but just appeared on Amazon Prime, which is where I discovered it. It is beautifully made, and a must see.
Regarding the French collaboration, it must be noted that unlike what happened in the Eastern European countries, thousands of French non Jews risked their lives to hide Jews and to help in other ways. Thousands of French collaborators were sentenced to death for their crimes after the war. Many were also killed by French civilians.
To see the movie on Amazon click here.
Terror Attack
A Palestinian terrorist attempted to stab a soldier standing at a bus stop at the busy Gitai Avishar Junction on Highway 5 in Samaria today. The soldiers guarding the stop shot and killed the terrorist. No soldiers were harmed.
For further reading click here.
Judge Attacked
Supreme Court Justice David Mintz said he escaped a violent assault by three men armed with hammers who attempted to block his car as he drove on a West Bank highway near his home in the settlement of Dolev on Monday morning. Police opened an investigation into the incident.
For further reading click here.
Gaza Strife
An IDF aircraft attacked a cell of terrorists launching incendiary balloons from the northern Gaza Strip into Israel on Sunday afternoon. Several fires caused by incendiary balloons erupted during the day throughout the Gaza border communities. Incendiary balloons were carried by winds into central Israel as far as Beit Shemesh, Rishon Letzion, Bat Yam, Modiin and Jerusalem.
Speaking at the Security Cabinet meeting on Sunday evening, PM Netanyahu warned Hamas, saying the IDF is edging closer to a large scale military activity in the Gaza Strip and if the ongoing border violence continues, Israel will strike the terror group with “very powerful blows.” He added that, “if Hamas has any sense, they will stop the violence immediately.”
On Friday, during riots on the Gaza border, 20 terrorists attempted to cross into Israel. The IDF shot 3 terrorists dead. A total of 7 Palestinians were reportedly killed during the riots.
Defense Minister Lieberman warned that he will cut off the fuel supply to Gaza if the violence continues.
For further reading click here.
Tax Cuts
Despite problematic deficit figures, the minister of finance is starting to signal an upcoming tax cut. According to a television news report on Friday, Moshe Kahlon said, “There is a large-scale plan for cutting taxes, and I will pursue it, regardless of whether elections are held.” Kahlon did not state what taxes were involved.
For further reading click here.
New Embassy
Israel’s foreign ministry will open an embassy in the central African state of Rwanda in 2019, in the capital city of Kigali. Rwanda currently has an embassy in Tel Aviv. The move constitutes the fulfillment of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s promise to the Rwandan government in 2017 to open a full embassy in Kigali.
For further reading click here.
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