Israel News for 10-24-18
Terror Attack
On Tuesday, terrorists in a moving vehicle opened fire at IDF soldiers at the checkpoint near the city of Halhul in the southern West Bank. The soldiers returned fire at the car. No soldiers were injured. Roadblocks were erected as part of a manhunt for the terrorists.
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Riots and Response
On Tuesday, around 200 Palestinians burned tires and threw explosive devices and stones at Israeli troops east of Deir al-Balah in the southern Gaza Strip. IDF troops responded with riot control measures, as well as sniper fire. The Palestinian health ministry reported that a 17 year old rioter was shot in the head, and several others were wounded in the rioting.
Meanwhile, incendiary balloons flown in from Gaza started a large fire near the Gvaram Forest in the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council that destroyed dozens of acres of natural woodland.
At the same time, Israel resumed the supply of diesel fuel to the Gaza Strip after a 12 day stoppage.
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Last night an IDF force that entered the town of Tammum, between Nablus and Jenin, was attacked by around 50 Palestinian rioters throwing stones and shooting fireworks at them. The soldiers responded with crowd dispersal measures and with live fire. The Palestinians claim that a 21 year old man was fatally shot and at least 5 others were wounded. The IDF is investigating.
During the night, Israeli security forces arrested 16 wanted men in the West Bank suspected of involvement in terror activity, popular terrorism and violent rioting. The IDF also arrested several people suspected of aiding the terrorist who murdered two Israelis in the Barkan industrial zone.
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Lightning Rockets
Security Cabinet ministers told Ynet on Monday the government decided against launching a military operation in the Gaza Strip following the rocket attack because Israeli intelligence determined, with a very high degree of certainty, that the rockets were fired due to a malfunction caused by the lightning storm that raged on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday.
According to one minister, there was indication Hamas and Islamic Jihad were embarrassed by the incident and even exchanged accusations before realizing the rocket launches were the result of a malfunction.
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China Relations
The vice president of China, Wang Qishan met with Palestinian PM Rami Hamdallah and toured the Nativity church in Bethlehem yesterday, as part of his 3 day visit to Israel. Qishan also met with President Rivlin in Jerusalem. The Chinese VP said, “Israel does not have large natural resources, but the miracle of development rests on the tremendous human capital of this nation. Human beings are the most precious asset.” China has been seeking opportunities to invest in Israeli technology companies. Trade between the two countries has also increased.
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Arms Sale
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has signed a huge deal, worth $777 million, with Indian state-owned company BEL. IAI will supply LRSAM Air and Missile Defense (AMD) systems, the marine version of the AMD system Barak 8, for seven ships of the Indian Navy. This brings sales of Barak 8 in the past few years to over $6 billion.
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