Gaza Attacks
On Saturday, two IDF soldiers were seriously wounded and two others moderately and lightly wounded when an explosive device was set off near an IDF patrol around the border fence in the southern Gaza Strip, opposite the Ein HaShlosha kibbutz.

Later Saturday night, the IDF responded by attacking 18 terror targets in Gaza. The Air Force hit an additional eight targets. Terrorists then fired another rocket into Israel, which landed on the roof of a residence in the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council. The family was home, but no one was harmed as the rocket failed to explode.

On Sunday evening a rocket launched from Gaza landed in an open area in the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council. In response, Israeli jets attacked and destroyed a Hamas terror tunnel in an open area in the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council.

Yesterday, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman confirmed the destruction of the tunnel and said, “The incidents proved that the IDF is ready for any scenario with zero warning. It wasn’t easy to achieve this kind of capability but the fact is that we have stood up for the tests and we have known how to handle them.”

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Settler Population
According to the “West Bank Jewish Population Stats,” a report sponsored by a prominent settler organization, the Jewish population living in the West Bank is currently 435,159, up from 420,899 last year. This does not include the 200,000 Jews living in east Jerusalem.

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Train Trouble
The new high speed train from connected Jerusalem and Tel Aviv is supposed to open in late March. But engineers and safety experts are warning that if the railway launches as scheduled, there is liable to be a disaster. They say that the railway line cannot be used for passenger trains before August at the earliest.

An investigation into the matter by “Globes” found that much work remains incomplete. Laying the track is still taking place, the communications systems in the tunnels are operating only in part, electrification work has not yet been completed, and essential coordination checks between the various systems have not yet been carried out. Even worse, information obtained by “Globes” indicates that safety rules are being ignored in the feverish effort to finish the project on time, while the State Comptroller has already warned in his recent report that the rush to finish the project is liable to endanger human life.

An engineering expert said that the two most important systems that must undergo several months of testing are the electrical system and the command and control system. “If the cables touching the train are not well synchronized down to the millimeter, there is a risk of collapse – including during a journey.”

One transportation source said, “They waited a decade, and it’s too bad that they are messing up at the very end.”

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Gas Exports
Delek Drilling LP (TASE: DEDR.L) and Noble Energy Inc. (NYSE: NBL) announced today that they have signed two binding agreements to export gas to Egyptian company Dolphinus Holdings Ltd. The energy companies will supply 64 billion cubic meters (BCM) of natural gas from the Tamar and Leviathan gas fields over 10 years. The gas is worth an estimated $15 billion. The gas will be transported either through an existing pipeline or through a newly constructed one.

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Pilot Released
The F-16 pilot whose plane was shot down by Syrian anti-aircraft fire last week was released from the hospital. The pilot, a 35-year-old resident of central Israel, was seriously wounded in the incident, but left the hospital on his own two feet, appearing in good condition. His co-pilot, a navigator, was lightly injured and released from the hospital a few hours after ejecting from the plane.

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PM in Trouble
The Israel Police announced Tuesday that there is sufficient evidence to indict PM Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in two cases against him. In one case the PM allegedly received bribes from business moguls Arnon Milchan and James Packer. In the other, he is accused of talks with Yedioth Ahronoth owner and publisher Arnon Mozes regarding the rival Israel Hayom daily newspaper.

The recommendations now go to Attorney General Avihai Mendelblit, who will review the material before deciding whether to file charges. Netanyahu can remain in office during that process, which could drag on for months.

According to reports, Yeah Atid leader Yair Lapid testified as a witness in the investigation.

Netanyahu denied all allegations against him declared that he would not resign as Prime Minister, and vowed that his coalition government would serve out the remainder of its term, set to end in November 2019.

He said, “I feel that it is incumbent upon me to continue leading the State of Israel. Citizens of Israel, you know that all the work that I have done was with the good of the State of Israel in mind. Nothing will distract me from this sacred duty. Today isn’t any different from so many other days. Our government will finish its term.”

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Pot Exports
Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman joined Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan in opposing the export of medical cannabis. Litzman said, “It’s shameful that the State of Israel exports cannabis because it’s a drug.”

Litzman added, however, that he would remove his objections if a significant portion of the export revenues will be transferred to the health system in Israel and significant manpower will be added to monitor possible leakage of medical cannabis to unauthorized persons.

On the other hand, Minister of Agriculture Ariel and Justice Minister Shaked both support exporting medical cannabis. Shaked said, “medical cannabis is important to medicine, and to date, there have been 0 indictments concerning spillover from the farms for criminal purposes. Israel is the only country in the world that can grow cannabis with a breakthrough clinical method. There is no reason why we should not act for both global medicine and the Israeli economy.”

It is estimated that if Israel approves exports of medical cannabis, it will be able to generate NIS 1 billion to NIS 4 billion a year in profits.

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Torah Study Law
Senior rabbis in the religious Zionist community, including Rabbi Chaim Druckman, Rabbi Yaakov Ariel, Rabbi Tzfania Drori, and Rabbi Dov Lior signed an appeal to PM Netanyahu to promote a new Basic Law that would classify Torah study as a “basic value” for the State of Israel, thus alloying for army deferments for full time yeshivah students.

The appeal included the following excerpt, “We have no doubt that strengthening the status of the Torah of Israel and its students in the Basic Law will greatly contribute to the State of Israel, deepen our national recognition of the importance of the Torah, and be an additional important element in raising our prestige and the sprouting of our redemption.”

The new Basic Law proposal was drafted by haredi MKs following the Supreme Court’s nullifying of a law extending draft deferments for full-time yeshiva students.

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Close Call
A Jewish mother and daughter were supposed to be on the doomed Russian airline that crashed on Sunday killing all 71 passengers and crew. The pair had flown to Moscow from their hometown of Orsk to participate in a Chabad run Torah seminar over Shabbat. They were supposed to fly back on Sunday but the rabbi heading up the program convinced them to stay the entire weekend to participate in a tour of the Moscow Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center. They agreed and, thankfully, missed the doomed flight. There were apparently no other Jews on the flight.

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Terror Attack
Early this morning a terrorist stabbed a security guard in the settlement of Karmei Tzur in Gush Etzion. Another security guard shot and killed the terrorist. The guard was lightly wounded in the hand and taken to hospital for treatment. Security forces went to the terrorist’s village of Halhul, not far from Karmei Tzur, to question his relatives. Rioters hurled stones at the troops. Several were arrested.

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Fugitive Terrorist
On Monday Rabbi Itamar Ben Gal, a 29 year old teacher and father of 4 from Har Bracha, was stabbed to death near the entrance to the city of Ariel in Samaria. He was laid to rest yesterday.

The terrorist, 19 year old Abed al-Karim Adel Assi, is still on the loose. He is a resident of Jaffa and is the son of an Israeli-Arab mother from Haifa and a Palestinian father from Nablus. His mother said, “My son has no right to hurt anyone. I condemn what he did, and I call on him to turn himself in, because what he did will not help anyone. On the contrary, he ruined himself and he ruined everything.”

The terrorist was abandoned by his parents as a child, became a drug addict, and lived in various social service homes in Israel. Growing up, he had no contact with his mother but continued to visit his father in Nablus, where he apparently became radicalized.

Security forces are hunting for the terrorist.

Meanwhile, security forces yesterday shot and killed Ahmed Nassar Jarrar, the head of the terror cell responsible for the murder of Rabbi Raziel Shevah. The terrorist was hiding in the village of Yamun, near Jenin. The governor of Jenin condemned Israel for killing Jarrar.

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Israel Attacks Syria
The Syrian army claims that Israeli fighter jets fired missiles at a Syrian army outpost near Damascus early today and that Syrian air defense batteries destroyed most of the missiles. The Syrian army released a statement saying, “The general command of the armed forces holds Israel fully responsible for the dangerous consequences for its repeated, aggressive and uncalculated adventures.”

Israel is trying to prevent sophisticated Iranian weapons from being transferred to Hezbollah forces in Syria. Over the last few years Israel has reportedly carried out close to 100 attacks against weapons convoys and depots in Syria.

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Northern Border
PM Netanyahu and members of the Security Cabinet toured the Golan Heights Tuesday afternoon and received briefings from IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and other generals. At the end of the tour the PM said, “We desire peace, but remain prepared for any scenario, and I don’t propose to anyone to test that resolve. I’m impressed with the immense efforts of the IDF here to protect both our borders and our country.”

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s President, PM and Parliament Speaker agreed to “strenuously continue efforts on all levels to prevent Israel from constructing a concrete wall within Lebanese territory.” Israel claims that the wall is being built on Israeli territory.

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IDF Responds
In response to a rocket fired into Israel from Gaza last night that landed in an open field, the IDF attacked a Hamas observation post in northern Gaza early this morning. An IDF spokesman said that, “the IDF considers the Hamas terrorist organization solely responsible for what is happening in the Gaza Strip.”

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Infiltrators Arrested
Four men were arrested attempting to infiltrate into Israel from Gaza last night. One of them was found carrying knives and a grenade. The suspects were observed by IDF spotters as they approached the border fence and were apprehended immediately after crossing over into Israel.

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Security Control
In a meeting between PM Netanyahu and German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel in Tel Aviv, the PM said Israeli control over the security of the West Bank is a condition for a peace agreement with the Palestinians. He added, “Whether or not it is defined as a state when we have the military control is another matter.”

Nabil Abu Rdeneh, spokesman for Palestinian President Abbas, said the Palestinians would not accept the presence of “one Israeli soldier” on sovereign Palestinian lands. “Either there will be full Palestinian sovereignty or there will be no security, no peace and no stability.”

The German FM said, “It is increasingly difficult for people like me to explain to them the reasons why our support for Israel must persist.” He added, “Germany is looking forward to the day when it will be able to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. But let me add: in two states with Jerusalem as their capital. There is no shortcut here.”

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Holocaust Coverup
The new Polish law, which labels it a crime to blame the “Polish Nation” or country for playing a role in the murder of Jews during the holocaust, passed both the upper and lower houses of Poland’s parliament and is now awaiting the Polish president’s signature in order to become law.

The law states, “Whoever accuses, publicly and against the facts, the Polish nation, or the Polish state, of being responsible or complicit in the Nazi crimes committed by the Third German Reich… or other crimes against peace and humanity, or war crimes, or otherwise grossly diminishes the actual perpetrators thereof, shall be subject to a fine or a penalty of imprisonment of up to three years.”

PM Netanyahu along with other Israeli leaders have blasted the law as a way of covering up the facts of the holocaust. In response to the law, Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying, “In light of the Polish Senate’s approval of the bill, Israel asked to postpone the planned visit in Israel of the head of the Polish national security council.” The ministry also said, “The State of Israel categorically opposes the Polish Senate’s decision. Israel views with utmost gravity any attempt to harm historical truth. No law will change the facts.”

Responding to the attacks by Israeli leaders, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said, “We will never curb the freedom of the Holocaust debate. We owe that to all those who experienced it. We understand the emotions of Israel. We need a lot of work to make our common, often complicated, history possible to tell together.”

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Iceland vs. Bris
Lawmakers from four political parties in Iceland introduced a bill in parliament that would ban the non-medical circumcision of boys younger than 18 and impose imprisonment of up to six years on offenders. The parties make up 46% of Iceland’s parliament.

The bill calls the circumcision of boys younger than 18 a violation of their human rights and says it places them at an elevated risk of infection and causes “severe pain.”

Circumcision has come under attack in all of the Scandinavian countries, but none of the countries have actually banned it. In these countries, circumcision is primarily viewed as a Muslim practice and is associated with recent surges in Muslim immigration.

European rabbis have come out against the proposed ban, even though Iceland only has a few dozen Jewish residents (and just a few hundred Muslims). The fear is that the law would set a precedent other countries would follow.

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Terror Attempt
A Palestinian wearing clothing resembling an IDF uniform was apprehended by IDF forces last night while he was on his way to infiltrate the settlement of Itamar in Samaria (West Bank). The terrorist had previously been arrested for terror related activities. The IDF then launched a manhunt for another terrorist who managed to flee the scene. As part of the manhunt, IDF forces entered the village of Furik, where several riots erupted.

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Annexation Bill
Likud MKs are sponsoring a new bill to apply Israeli law to settlements in Judea and Samaria. The result of the bill will, in effect, be annexation of those areas. Similar bills in the past have not been passed, primarily because of the fear of international reaction. But given the new relationship with the US administration, will this time be different?

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Tunnel Tour
After touring the Hamas terror tunnels recently uncovered by the IDF, US Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt tweeted, “Hamas wastes resources on tunnels & rockets to attack Israel, instead of helping the people of Gaza by getting the lights on, the water flowing & the economy growing. Hamas spews hateful rhetoric & foments a vicious cycle of violence. Gaza deserves better!”

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Polish Lies
The Polish parliament, the Sejm, passed a bill on Friday outlawing the use of the term “Polish death camps” and the blaming of Poles for crimes committed during the Holocaust. PM Netanyahu called the bill “baseless”.

In a statement, Yad Vashem said that, whereas “there is no doubt that the term ‘Polish death camps’ is a historical misrepresentation,” the intended law nonetheless is “liable to blur the historical truths regarding the assistance the Germans received from the Polish population during the Holocaust.”

Yeah Atid leader Yair Lapid wrote, “Hundreds of thousands of Jews were murdered without ever meeting a German. Poland was a partner in the Holocaust.”

Some Jewish historians corrected Lapid claiming that many thousands, not hundreds of thousands, of Jews were killed by Poles. They also point out that the death camps were not Polish, although they were on Polish soil.

Poland’s President promised yesterday to review the bill before deciding whether to approve it. PM Netanyahu spoke with the Polish PM last night and they agreed to open a dialogue to discuss the bill. The bill must be approved by the Polish Senate and the President before becoming law.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Naftali Bennett has instructed high schools to teach students about “the response of populations in countries occupied by the Nazis to the fate of the Jews during the Holocaust.”

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School Drama
All kindergartens, elementary schools and junior high schools in Jerusalem went on strike for two hours Monday morning to protest the assault of a teacher by a student’s mother.

The incident occurred on Friday when a mother burst into a classroom where her son was studying and slapped the English teacher across the face, kicked her and pulled her wig off her head. Following the assault, classes were canceled in protest on Sunday for two hours.

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