Archive for category: news

Terror Attempt
Two 15 year old Arab males from Nablus carrying knives were heading towards the bus stop at the Tapuach junction in Samaria. They were spotted by a Border Policeman who alerted soldiers. The soldiers ordered the youths to stop. When they ignored the order, a Border Policeman fired a warning shot into the air. That caused one of the terrorists to draw his knife and approach the soldiers. The soldiers responded by shooting both terrorists in the legs and then arresting them. The terrorists were given medical attention at the scene.

For further reading click here.

Pence in Israel
During his Israel trip US VP Mike Pence addressed the Knesset, visited Yad Vashem and prayed at the Western Wall. After his Kotel visit Pence tweeted, “A privilege to pray at the Western Wall. This is our 4th trip to the Holy Land, but Karen & I never fail to leave without a sense our faith has been renewed – our faith in God, but also our faith in the people of Israel & their commitment to freedom, security & peace.”

Regardless of your politics, we must recognize the genuine and heartfelt love and support Pence feels for the Jewish People and for Israel, which he expressed in his Knesset address as well as in all of his statements and actions. It’s a blessing to have the leaders of the most powerful and influential nation in the world expressing their wholehearted support for Israel, and something we should feel thankful for (for a change).

American Support
According to the latest national survey by the Pew Research Center, 79% of Republicans say they sympathize more with Israel than the Palestinians, compared with just 27% of Democrats. Since 2001, the share of Republicans sympathizing more with Israel than the Palestinians has increased 29 percentage points, from 50% to 79%. Over the same period, the share of Democrats saying this has declined 11 points, from 38% to 27%. Nearly three times as many Republicans (52%) as Democrats (18%) have favorable impressions of PM Netanyahu. Almost half of all Democrats say Trump favors Israel too much, while just 21% say he is striking the right balance.

The survey found that white evangelical Protestants continue to overwhelmingly sympathize with Israel: 78% say this, while just 5% sympathize more with the Palestinians. Religiously unaffiliated people are divided: 29% sympathize more with the Palestinians, 26% more with Israel and 24% say they side with both or neither.

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Interactive Settlement Map
To get a better understanding of the geography and demographics of Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) you can use this incredible interactive map that shows both Israeli and Palestinian population centers there as well as in east Jerusalem. This is an amazing resource from the Washington Institute.

To see the interactive map click here.

Terrorist Hunt
Two members of the Border Police’s Yamam anti-terror unit were wounded yesterday during a raid in Jenin to apprehend the terror cell behind the fatal drive-by shooting of Rabbi Raziel Shevah. Both were taken for medical treatment. One was seriously wounded and the other lightly wounded. One terrorist was killed in the fighting and another arrested. Several other suspects were detained for questioning.

Israeli forces continued operating in Jenin throughout the night. They encountered violent rioting, with hundreds of Palestinians hurling stones at the troops. Palestinians also fired at the soldiers, and threw explosives, rocks and cement blocks at them. In response, IDF and Border Police forces fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live fire. The Palestinians reported three wounded in the clashes. Israeli forces demolished several homes belonging to terrorists before leaving Jenin yesterday afternoon.

Prime Minister Netanyahu praised the Border Police and Yamam forces for the raid, saying, “We will get to anyone who tries to hurt the citizens of Israel, the State of Israel will bring them to justice.” The PM also sent get well wishes to the wounded troops.

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman also praised the troops, saying “Security forces carried out a complex and successful operation last night to capture the killers of Rabbi Raziel Shevah. I congratulate the Yamam fighters for their bravery and send get well wishes to the wounded.” He added, “Terrorists will have nowhere to hide. We’ll get to the terrorists anywhere.”

President Reuven Rivlin added his praise saying, “I’m proud of, and appreciate, our best sons who are still carrying out their relentless pursuit of the murderers of Rabbi Raziel Shevah, may his memory be blessed. We are grateful to them and to all security forces who take on their part with courage and heroism. We are praying for the wounded soldiers and we send them our love.”

Yael Shevah, the widow of the murdered rabbi, said, “I am grateful to the security forces for their determined action in capturing the terrorists and I send my wishes for a speedy recovery to those wounded and who acted heroically and with determination. We are consoled not by revenge but by building in the Land of Israel.” She then added, “I appeal to the prime minister: Break your silence and adopt the recommendation by the defense minister to approve Havat Gilad and bring it for governmental approval on Sunday.”

Unfortunately, the IDF determined today that the murderer of Rabbi Shevah was not in fact killed during the raid and that he apparently managed to escape. So the search for the terrorist continues.

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Rabbis vs IDF
Two prominent religious zionist rabbinic leaders have made statements against the IDF because of what they believe is an IDF initiative to integrate women into all combat roles, which they claim goes against Jewish law.

Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, the head of the Ateret Cohanim yeshiva in Jerusalem, remarked, “until there is complete separation between men and women in the IDF—it is forbidden to enlist.” Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, the Chief Rabbi of Safed, backed Rabbi Aviner’s comments and called on IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot to resign.

Several other prominent religious zionist rabbis, including the heads of major yeshivot, denounced the two rabbis for their statements against the IDF and chief of staff. The Prime Minister and Defense Minister, along with other ministers and Knesset members, did the same and took pride in the IDF’s integration of women.

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Not So Fast
Earlier in the week PM Netanyahu remarked that the US would most likely relocate its embassy to Jerusalem by next year. But when asked about the timetable for the move, US President Trump said there was no way the embassy move would be accomplish in less than a few years at best.

When told about Trump’s statement, the PM’s office responded that the PM was aware that construction of the new embassy would take several years but that he was referring to interim measures that were being considered which could enable the establishment of a functioning embassy within a year. To sum it up, an Israeli official said, “The president and the prime minister are not saying anything different”.

According to a NYTimes report, the State Department has accepted a plan to convert the existing US consulate building in the Arnona neighborhood of Jerusalem instead of constructing a new building. That should enable US Ambassador David Friedman and his team to begin operating there by 2019.
 
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VP Visit
US Vice President Mike Pence is set to arrive at Ben Gurion Airport Sunday evening. He will visit the Kotel and Yad Vashem, and deliver a speech in the Knesset. Pence will not visit Ramallah or meet with Palestinian Authority officials. Before heading to Israel, Pence will visit Egypt and Jordan.

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PM in India
The PM visited a Jewish Center in Mumbai where he dedicated a memorial 166 people who were killed by terrorists who rampaged through the Indian city in a three-day siege in 2008. He was accompanied by Moshe Holtzberg, the boy whose parents (the Chabad emissaries) were among six people killed at the Chabad Center during the attack.

The PM said, “This place symbolizes both hatred for Israel and love for Israel—hatred of Israel by the terrorists, against tireless love for Israel by the Chabaniks who spread light around the world.”

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Tunnel Destroyed
On Saturday night Israeli fighter jets attacked a Hamas terror tunnel near the Gaza-Egyptian border. The IDF completed the destruction of the tunnel early Sunday. The tunnel stretched 1.5 kilometers, from Rafah, in southern Gaza, into Egypt and 180 kilometers into Israel.

IDF Spokesperson Brigadier-General Ronen Manelis denied claims made by Hamas that the tunnel was merely intended for smuggling. He said, “This is the first terror tunnel of its kind that has been dug over the last year and was still being worked on. It’s possible that the it was dug on the Egyptian side to stage a combined attack in the future on the Kerem Shalom crossing from the Egyptian side too and to transport activists or weapons to the Sinai. It is a significant asset for Hamas. We will continue to act rigorously against the terror tunnels and we are not interested in an escalation of the situation.”

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said, “The destruction of the attack tunnels is an essential component of the policy of systematically striking Hamas’s strategic capabilities. The message to Gaza’s leadership ad residents is clear: Invest in the sanctity of life, no in burial tunnels.”

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India Trip
PM Netanyahu, along with his wife and a large business delegation, landed in India yesterday to kick off a 6 day official trip. The Netanyahus were met at the airport by Indian PM Modi, even though the Foreign Minister usually meets and greets foreign dignitaries. Modi also tweeted in Hebrew, “Welcome to India, my friend the prime minister. Your visit is an historic and special one, and will strengthen the strong ties between our countries.”

During his six-day stay Israel and India are expected to sign agreements on cybersecurity, energy and space cooperation and film production. They’re also expected to review progress in implementing agreements on cooperation in technology, water and agriculture that were signed during Modi’s visit to Israel last year.

Today, Netanyahu will have formal discussions with Modi and visit President Ram Nath Kovind, as well as attend an India-Israel CEO Forum Meeting. In Mumbai, Netanyahu will meet with Jewish community leaders, Indian business leaders and representatives of the Bollywood film industry. Netanyahu will also visit Modi’s home state of Gujarat in western India.

For further reading click here.

Reform Petition
The Reform Movement and the Women of the Wall group petitioned the Supreme Court yesterday to order the state to implement the compromise agreement reached last year to build an egalitarian prayer area at the southern end of the Western Wall (Kotel). The government decided to freeze the implementation of the agreement in June after facing pressure from the ultra-Orthodox parties.

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Shabbat Protests
More than a thousand Ashdod residents carrying signs “against religious coercion” protested Saturday evening in front of the local municipality against the city’s increasingly stringent policy of enforcement towards businesses operating on Shabbat. Over the last few weeks, ahead of the Knesset approval of the supermarkets Bill, the Ashdod municipality, pressured by ultra-orthodox elements, decided to increase the enforcement against businesses operating on Shabbat. Protesters are demanding that the mayor cease the enforcement.

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Shopping Spree
Israelis averaged two online orders per second during 2017, buying a record-breaking 61 million packages, 15 percent more than in 2016. Clothing and shoes, homeware, accessories, gadgets, vitamins and cosmetics topped the Israeli shopping list. The most popular sites, as in previous years, were China’s Ali Express, Asus, eBay, Next and Amazon, with Ali Express taking half of all Israeli orders.

The data relates solely to orders which entered Israel via the Israeli postal system. The data does not include deliveries by courier companies such as DHL-I, GCX and UPS. GCX reported a 50% increase in Israeli online orders in 2017.

In September, the Israel Postal Company opened a special center for online trade in the city of Modiin, between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, hoping to reduce the percentage of justified customer service complaints, which in 2016 stood at 72.5%, according to the ombudsman’s office. Israel Postal Company CEO Danny Goldstein told The Marker that the new center would be able to sort more than 100 million items annually.

Online prices are usually less expensive than prices consumers pay in Israel, but delivery costs and taxes increase those prices. Israelis are exempt from Value Added Tax (VAT) for imports that cost up to $75 dollars, and from custom taxes for acquisitions up to $500. Local consumer groups, the Israel Postal Company and foreign online stores have been recently lobbying the government to raise the exemption ceiling to lower the cost of living locally.

Israel currently has one of the highest price levels among developed countries. Only Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Australia and New Zealand had higher price indices.

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Terror Attack
Rabbi Raziel Shevah, 35, was killed last night when terrorist opened fire at his car from another vehicle near Havat Gilad in the West Bank. Shevah, a father of 6, including an 8-month old baby, worked as a shohet (ritual slaughterer) and as a mohel (one who performs circumcisions) and also volunteered for Magen David Adom paramedics. Before dying, he managed to call his wife to tell her he had been shot.

IDF forces launched a massive manhunt for the terrorists, in the area around the shooting scene. The IDF has also sent reinforcements to the area.

PM Netanyahu said, “My deepest sympathy and condolences go out to the family of Raziel Shevah, who was murdered by a lowly terrorist. Security forces will do everything in their power to locate the heinous killer and the State of Israel will bring him to justice.” Hamas praised the attack.

US Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, tweeted, “An Israeli father of six was killed last night in cold blood by Palestinian terrorists. Hamas praises the killers and PA laws will provide them financial rewards. Look no further to why there is no peace. Praying for the bereaved Shevah family.”

Rabbi Shevah was laid to rest in Havat Gilad, which is currently considered to be an illegal outpost. Settler leaders are calling on the government to approve the construction of hundreds of housing units in Havat Gilad.

For further reading and to see a photo of the Shevah family click here.

IDF Attacks
The Syrian army claims that Israel attacked Syrian territory three times early on Tuesday, with jets and ground-to-ground missiles.

The statement said, “At around 2:40 am, the Israeli air force fired a number of missiles over Lebanese territory at the Al-Qutayfah in the suburbs of the capital of Damascus. Our air defense systems responded and hit one of the planes.”

The statement added that, “two ground-to-ground missiles fired once again from the occupied Golan territory at 3:04 am were intercepted by our air defense system. At 4:15 am, the enemy fired four missiles from Tiberias, which were also intercepted by our air defense system. Some property was damaged as a result of the interception of one of the missiles near one of the military posts.”

Israeli sources say that the target of the strikes were most likely Russian made precision missiles being transferred to Hezbollah.

For further reading click here.

Hole in the Head
A senior Hamas official was shot in the head yesterday in Gaza. The circumstances behind the injury are still unclear. It is possible he tried to take his own life after being diagnosed with cancer a year ago, or that he was hurt in an assassination attempt. A third option is that his handgun accidentally discharged. A Gaza source said al-Alami was likely dead, even though an official announcement has not yet been made.

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African Migrants
William Spindler, of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told a Geneva briefing, “We are again appealing to Israel to halt its policy of relocating Eritreans and Sudanese to sub-Saharan Africa,” referring to a new Israeli initiative to offer African migrants a $3,500 payment and a free air ticket to return home or go to “third countries”, which rights groups identified as Rwanda and Uganda.

Spindler said, “What we would like to see in Israel—and we are willing to help in that respect—is to find legal alternatives for these people, through resettlement in other countries.” If he can make that happen, that works just fine.

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Shabbat Bill
The Knesset approved the contentious Supermarkets Bill early Tuesday morning, making it into law. The legislation, which gives the Interior Minister authority to strike down municipal bylaws—including those permitting some businesses to open on Shabbat—was passed with a narrow majority of 58 in favor and 57 opposed. Several MK’s from the coalition either voted against the bill or were absent from the vote.

Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, who sponsored the bill, tweeted, “The approval of the Supermarkets Law this morning is not a ‘Haredi victory.’ It is the protection of the status quo and the victory of the silent majority in the State of Israel that wishes to safeguard the country’s Jewish character and to rest on the day of rest.”

Defense Minister and Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman, who apposed the law, tweeted: “Religious coercion has no place in Judaism or in Jewish tradition. This type of law distances, rather than bring closer, people to Judaism.”

Several municipalities recently passed bylaws to permit businesses to operate on Shabbat, but these will now be able to be overturned by the Interior Minister.

For further reading click here.