Israel news summary

Israel News for 3-6-2023

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News Update

Security forces arrested 14 suspected terrorists in overnight raids. They also mapped the home of the terrorist who killed Elan Ganeles last week, for demolition.

The IDF will seal off Judea, Samaria and Gaza during the holiday of Purim on Tuesday and Wednesday. No Palestinians will be around to leave those areas.

The government has decided to close the Temple Mount to Jews for 10 days during the Muslim Ramadan holiday. The days coincide with the final period of the holiday, when Muslims sleep in the Al Aqsa Mosque compound. The closure occurs every year. Security Minister Ben Gvir is vehemently opposed to the decision and is attempting to get it reversed.

Security Minister Ben Gvir has ordered the police to carry out several evictions of Arab families in east Jerusalem this month, coinciding with Ramadan. The families are illegally residing in homes owned by Jews. Security officials fear that the eviction could trigger major unrest in the capital. For more, click here.

The Biden administration is considering denying entry to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, because he commented that the village of Huwara should be wiped off the map. Smotrich later walked back his statement about Huwara, saying he did not mean it literally and was referring to targeting terrorists and their supporters. But that has not appeased the Biden administration, who claim that Smotrich is inciting violence. Smotrich is planning to attend an Israel Bonds meeting in the US. AIPAC has refused to meet with him.

Prime Minister Netanyahu met with Slovakian Prime Minister Eduard Heger in Jerusalem on Sunday. discussed deepening the cooperation between Israel and Slovakia, especially in technology, innovation and tourism, as well as regional issues.

A special report on women published by the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, Israeli women are marrying and having children later, with Jewish women lagging Arab women by a significant percentage. For more, click here.

Tonight and tomorrow is Purim, the holiday celebrating the deliverance of the Jewish People in the Persian kingdom from the annihilation planned by Haman, the prime minister of the kingdom. The salvation is spearheaded by Queen Ester and her cousin Mordecai, the leader of the Jews. While we might not be facing annihilation today, we certainly are in great need for some Divine deliverance. So let us all pray for peace and unity on this Purim.

Israel news summary

Israel News for 3-3-2023

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News Update

According to a Bloomberg report, Iran is seeking sophisticated new air defense systems from Russia that Israeli officials say would reduce the window of a potential attack on Tehran’s nuclear program. Israeli and American sources told Bloomberg that the prospect of Tehran obtaining these systems, the S-400s, would speed up the decision on a possible attack on Iranian nuclear sites. It would take almost 2 years for the S-400s to be made operational, if they were to be delivered. U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said last week that Russia has offered Iran “unprecedented defense cooperation, including in the field of missiles, electronics and air defense” and may supply Tehran with fighter jets.

A Lebanese government security source has revealed that Palestinians residing in Lebanon are being recruited to join the Russian army to fight in Ukraine. The majority of the Palestinians being deployed to the frontlines in Ukraine hail from Ein Al-Khalwa, the largest Palestine refugee camp in Lebanon, just south of the port city of Sidon. They reportedly receive a monthly stipend and compensation for their families. Hezbollah is also reportedly actively enlisting supporters to fight for Russia in Ukraine. For more, click here.

Government officials are exploring the possibility of allowing Palestinians to fly to Mecca for the annual Haj pilgrimage directly from Ramon Airport in southern Israel. The Haj takes place from Jun 25-30. Arabs that are not Israeli citizens must currently travel overland to Jordan to get an international flight to Saudi Arabia. For more, click here.

Hungary will move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem next month, as a result of an agreement between the Prime Ministers of Hungary and Israel. Hungary will be the first European Union member country to have an embassy in the capital. For more, click here.

Prime Minister Netanyahu visited the Yaniv family, whose sons, Hillel and Yagel were murdered by a terrorist in the village of Huwara this week. To read more, click here.

Israeli defense electronics company Elbit Systems Ltd. has won three deals with NATO countries worth $372 million. For details, click here.

Israel news summary

Israel News for 3-1-2023

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News Update

Security forces are conducting an anti-terror operation in the Aqabat Jabr refugee camp outside of Jericho. One of the objectives is to capture the terrorist who shot and killed Elan Ganeles, 26, at the Almog Junction near Jericho on Monday. Ganeles was an American who made aliyah and served in the IDF before moving back to Connecticut where he was living and studying. He was visiting Israel this week to attend a friend’s wedding. He will be buried in Ra’anana, Israel.

Security forces are engaged in gunfights with terrorists in Aqbat Jabr. One terrorist is reported killed and 4 arrested. The operation is continuing at the time of this writing.

[On a personal note, my wife and I drove past Jericho and stopped for gas at the Almog Junction on our way to the Dead Sea on Sunday. On our drive back on Monday afternoon, I decided to take an alternative route that did not take us through the territories and past Jericho and the Almog Junction because I felt nervous due to the recent terror attacks and violence. Elan Ganeles was killed at the Almog Junction later that day.

Thousands of Israelis drive through Palestinian areas on highways assumed to be safe every day, including in and around Jerusalem. We should not have to fear being killed each time we go for a car ride. It wouldn’t be acceptable in the US or any other civilized country, and it shouldn’t be acceptable in Israel. The terror must be stopped.

Now I’m pretty sure that I’ll receive some emails telling me that the terror will stop if we leave the territories. To be fair, that is a separate discussion that can be had between Israel and the Palestinians, but it has no bearing on the issue of terrorism. There is NO excuse for terror attacks. They happened before a single Jew was living in the territories and are directed against any Jewish presence in any part of the Land of Israel. Terror will never solve anything. It will only bring suffering on those who support it or simply stand by and let it occur.

The Jewish People are in the Land of Israel to stay, and we will use all the power at our disposal to protect ourselves — that is something that Israelis of all political leanings agree upon. Most of the Arab countries have accepted this reality. Once the Palestinians accept it, we can move forward and find away to for Jews and Arabs to live together peacefully in this land.

Warning: if you feel the need, there’s an unsubscribe link at the bottom of this email. Instead of getting your blood pressure in a boil, just click the link. It’ll be healthier for both of us.]

In the aftermath of the settler retaliatory attack on the village of Huwara, during which 1 Palestinian was killed, 35 homes were burned to the ground and close to 100 cars torched, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said: “We expect the Israeli government to ensure full accountability and legal prosecution of those responsible for these attacks in addition to compensation for the loss of homes and property.” He added that Washington appreciated the statements made by President Herzog and Prime Minister Netanyahu urging Israelis to refrain from taking the law into their own hands. Israeli police have so far made several arrests of suspects related to the attack. Israelis have donated over $270,000 to a GoFundMe campaign for the victims of the Huwara attack.

During a joint press conference with Germany’s Foreign Minister, Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said that Israeli settlements in the West Bank would continue to be built under the current government.

Large demonstrations throughout Israel today against judicial reform disrupted highway and train traffic. Police have thus far arrested 16 demonstrators and have been attempting to disperse crowds with water cannons and stun grenades.

MK Avi Maoz, a deputy minister in the Education Ministry and known for his openly homophobic views, announced Monday evening his resignation from the government. He felt that he could not implement any of his initiatives. He will remain a member of Knesset.