Israel News for 11-12-18

Gaza Fighting
Last night, an IDF commando force secretly entered into Gaza and was discovered by Hamas forces. An exchange of gunfire ensued. IDF Lt. Col. M., 41, was killed and another officer was moderately wounded. Israeli aircraft entered into the fight to assist the IDF force. Six Hamas terrorists, including a commander, were killed. Seven other terrorists were wounded. A short time following the altercation, 17 rockets were fired at Israeli border communities. Most of the rockets exploded in open fields and 3 intercepted by the Iron Dome system.

Lt. Col. M. is survived by a wife and two children. He will be laid to rest at 3pm on Monday in his community. His name and information have been withheld by the military censor. The wounded officer was evacuated to the Soroka University Medical Center in Be’er Sheva. He underwent surgery during the night and is hospitalized at the Intensive Care Unit in moderate and stable condition.

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman mourned the loss of Lt. Col. M. saying, “The State of Israel lost a glorified fighter whose contribution to the country’s security will remain covert for many years to come. I send my deepest condolences to the family and swift recovery wishes to the officer, who was wounded in the incident.”

PM Netanyahu said, “I bow my head to the loss of Lt. Col. M., a glorified fighter, who was killed during an IDF mission in Gaza. Someday the full scope of his heroism will be revealed. Israel’s citizens owe him so much. Our forces acted tonight with courage and bravery. I salute Lt. Col. M., his family, and his comrades-in-arms. May his memory be blessed.”

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Submarine Indictments
The Israel Police announced Thursday there is sufficient evidence to indict six suspects in Case 3000, the investigation into Israel’s acquisition of 3 submarines and 4 patrol boats from Germany. The six suspects include former senior IDF officers and close associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: attorney David Shimron, the prime minister’s personal lawyer and his relative; former deputy National Security Advisor Brig. Gen. (res.) Avriel Bar Yosef; former Navy commander Maj. Gen. (res.) Eliezer Marom; former minister and current chairman of the Keren Hayesod, Eliezer Sandberg; former PMO bureau chief David Sharan; and Brig. Gen. (res.) Shai Brosh.

While the police can recommend indictments, only the prosecutor can decide whether to indict.

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Bahrain Invite
Minister of the Economy and Industry Eli Cohen received an invitation last week to participate at the Startup Nations Ministerial conference held in Bahrain. The trip will follow visits by PM Netanyahu and Transportation Minister Katz to Oman and Culture Minister Regev to Abu Dhabi in the past few weeks.

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Highway Expansion
In the wake of 2 deadly accidents that claimed 17 lives in the past week on highway 90, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz announced that he has directed the Ministry of Transport to draw up plans to turn the 2 lane highway into a divided road with 2 lanes in each direction. Highway 90, which stretches 480 kilometers from Eilat to the Upper Galilee, will be called the Cross-Israel Highway East. It is the longest highway in Israel.

Katz plans to get approval for the NIS 2 billion plan from Prime Minister Netanyahu and the cabinet. Katz also wants to convert several other two-way undivided highways into four-land divided highways including Road 25 between Dimona and Beersheva, Road 31 between the Dead Sea and Arad, the eastern section of Road 1 near the Dead Sea, Road 505 between the Jordan Valley and the Kessem Inteerchange on Road 6, and Road 71 from Beit Shean to the Hasargel Junction.

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