Israel News for 11-9-17
Terror Thwarted
An Israeli firefighter noticed a suspicious looking Arab man wandering near the entrance of the settlement of Kochav Yaakov in Samaria. He called police who apprehended the man and found him carrying a bag with a knife and a Koran. The man admitted that he was planning to carry out a terror attack. Police are searching for an alleged accomplice.
For further reading click here.
British Blunder
Priti Patel, the UK Secretary of State for International Development, resigned after it was revealed that she met with members of the Israeli government, including the PM, without informing or getting the permission of the British government.
Patel, who was a rising star in Britain’s Conservative party and a staunch supporter of Israel, was on a private vacation in Israel with her family when she “secretly” met with Netanyahu and other government and business leaders.
After the visit, Ms Patel suggested some of Britain’s aid budget go to the Israeli army. She also asked her officials to see if Britain could support humanitarian operations conducted by the Israeli army in the occupied Golan Heights area. The request was seen as inappropriate, since the UK doesn’t recognize Israeli sovereignty in the Golan.
Patel was also found to have met “secretly” with other Israeli officials in NYC in September.
Prior to resigning, Ms Patel apologized for not informing the Foreign Office of the meetings and for suggesting Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, knew about her plans in advance of the visit.
Israel has lost a friend in the UK.
For further reading click here.
American Zionist Convention
The American Zionist Movement (AZM) will hold its National Conference in Washington, DC from November 15-17, which coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration and the 70th anniversary of the UN Partition Resolution.
The conference, with over 50 presenters, will feature key speakers including Ambassador Ron Dermer; Baroness Ruth Deech; Malcolm Hoenlein; Col.(ret.) Richard Kemp; Brig.Gen. (ret.) Yossi Kuperwasser; Gusti Yehoshua-Braverman: and Richard D. Heideman. The program includes panels, discussions and briefings on Israel and Zionism, and special events, including The Balfour Gala hosted at The Embassy of Israel, and sessions on Capitol Hill featuring a Congressional and Diplomatic Luncheon honoring Ambassador Dermer.
For more information click here.
New Town
A new Haredi town will be established in the next couple of years, but not in Israel. The Satamar Hassidic community of Kiryas Yoel in the township of Monroe, NY will be splitting off from the township to become The Town of Palm Tree — an English translation of the Satmar rebbe’s surname, Teitelbaum. Over 80% of the voters in Monroe voted to allow the 20,000 strong Hassidic community to form it’s own town, which will be the first totally Hassidic town in the US (and in the world, outside of Israel). The new Town of Palm Tree will also annex several hundred acres of land from Monroe.
For further reading click here.
