Israel News for 1-19-18
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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