Israel news summary

Israel News for 12-8-2021

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News Update

A 26 year old Israeli woman was walking her young children to school when a Palestinian terrorist, a teenage girl, stabbed her. The attack took place in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem, just east of the Old City. The victim was taken to the trauma unit of Hadassah Hospital and is conscious, in stable condition. Police later arrested the terrorist, who was in a neighborhood school. Hamas praised the terror attack, which is one of a slew of recent “lone wolf” attacks.

Israel has completed a sensor-equipped underground wall on its side of the Gaza border. The security system also includes an above-ground fence, a naval barrier, radar systems and command and control rooms.

The Defense Ministry said the barrier, which includes hundreds of cameras, radars and other sensors, spans 65 kilometers (40 miles) and that 140,000 tons of iron and steel were used in its construction, which took 3.5 years to complete. It said the project’s “smart fence” is more than 6 meters (20 feet) high and its maritime barrier includes means to detect infiltration by sea and a remote-controlled weapons system. Israel is expected to begin a similar project along its border with Lebanon early next year.

Syrian state media is reporting that Israel attacked storage facilities at Syria’s main port of Latakia yesterday.

The Jerusalem municipality has frozen plans to build a new Jewish neighborhood on the site of the abandoned Atarot area, due to heavy US opposition. Foreign Minister Lapid said that the government will make the final decision as to wether the project should proceed.

The mayor of the southern city of Dimona urged PM Bennett to destroy what he called the “criminal militias” that he said are taking over the south. He was referring to a surge of violence and criminal activity in the Bedouin communities of the Negev and spilling over into the general, Jewish, population. The PM was touring the area with Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai, Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked and Public Security Minister Omer Barlev. He promised that the government would take responsibility and act forcefully.

Heavy rains, winds and cold weather are expected later today in the north and center of the country. There will be snowfall on Mt. Hermon. There could also be major coastal flooding.

Israel’s version of Air Force One, ordered by former PM Netanyahu, is finally ready for service, but PM Bennett is not yet sure if he’ll use it. To read more, click here.

A young IDF medic saved the life of a Palestinian infant. To read more, click here.

Israel news summary

Israel News for 12-6-2021

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News Update

A 34 year old Israeli security guard was seriously wounded early today when a 16 year old Palestinian terrorist rammed his vehicle into the guard post at the Te’enim checkpoint in Samaria (West Bank). The terrorist was shot and later died in the hospital. The guard is being treated at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv and is expected to survive. Defense Minister Benny Gantz ordered checkpoints across the West Bank to go on high alert.

On Saturday, a Palestinian terrorist from the West Bank stabbed a Haredi man outside the Damascus Gate of the Old City of Jerusalem and attempted to stab police officers on the scene. He was shot and killed by police. The terrorist had been jailed in Israel between 2019 and 2020 for incitement.

Flag marches were held yesterday down the main streets of Lod and Ramle, cities with mixed Jewish and Arab populations. The marches were meant as a show of support for the Jewish populations of the cities.

During the ceremony in which the new US Ambassador to Israel presented his credentials, President Herzog said that “all options are on the table” relating to stopping Iran’s bid to become a nuclear power. Israel’s Mossad chief is in Washington to share intelligence information related to Iran. Defense Minister Gantz will head to Washington later in the week.

Last night we lit the eighth candle of Hanukkah. May we be blessed with light, in these dark times.

Israel news summary

Israel News for 12-1-2021

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News Update

Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli (Labor) and Public Security Minister Omer Barlev (Labor) released a joint statement calling throwing stones at buses terrorism and promising to bring perpetrators to justice and to provide better protection for bus drivers and passengers. There have been an increasing number of cases of stone attacks against buses by Arabs, particularly in the northern Negev.

The magazine The Economist has named Tel Aviv the most expensive city in the world ahead of Paris, Zurich, Hong Kong, and New York. Last week in was in fifth place. Part of the reason for the rise in ranking is due to the strength of the shekel.

UNRWA, the UN agency created to assist Palestinian “refugees”, is experiencing a major funding crisis. UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini told reporters in Jordan that the resumption of U.S. support for the agency this year — which had been halted by the Trump administration — was offset by a reduction in funding by other donors.

Tonight is the fourth night of Hanukkah.

What do you get when you mix Hamilton, Hanukkah and a bunch of singing yeshivah boys? A pretty awesome music video. To watch click here.

To hear a Hassidic Hanukkah medley, mostly in Yiddish, click here.

May we all merit to see miracles in our own lives and for the State of Israel. Happy Hanukkah!