Israel News for 3-18-19
Terror Attack
At around 10am on Sunday morning, a Palestinian terrorist stabbed a soldier at an intersection near the city of Ariel in Samaria. The terrorist then grabbed the soldier’s rifle and shot and killed him. The terrorist then shot at three vehicles, hitting and critically wounding 47 year old Rabbi Ahiad Ettinger, a father of 12. He then hijacked a car and drove to a nearby junction where he shot and wounded another soldier. The terrorist then fled.
According to a preliminary investigation by the IDF, during the initial attack at Ariel Junction, the commander of the unit deployed to the junction managed to open fire on the terrorist during the attack, lightly wounded him. According to some reports, Rabbi Ettinger also managed to shoot at the terrorist.
Rabbi Ettinger was taken to Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva where doctors tried to save him, but he succumbed to his wounds. For the past three years, Rabbi Ettinger was the head of the Oz and Emunah hesder yeshiva in the Neve Sha’anan neighborhood of southern Tel Aviv.
The soldier killed was Staff Sergeant Gal Keidan, aged 19 from Be’er Sheva, who was a member of the Artillery Corps. He will be laid to rest at 11am Monday at the military cemetery in Be’er Sheva.
The third victim of the attack, IDF soldier Alexander Dvorsky from Nazareth Illit, is still in serious condition at Beilinson Hospital.
The IDF launched a massive manhunt to capture him. Security forces also raided the home of the terrorist, identified as 20 year old Omar Abu Lila from the village of Az-Zawiya, and arrested his younger brother and questioned his father.
For further reading and to view security camera footage of the attack click here.
Election Poll
According to the newest poll, Likud is expected to win 31 seats vs Blue White’s 30 seats. In total the right wing block is expected to win 63 seats, which would enable PM Netanyahu to form a coalition.
For further details on the poll breakdown click here.
The Supreme Court has disqualified the candidacy of Dr. Michael Ben-Ari, from the far right Otzma Yehudit party, from running in the upcoming elections. The court did not disqualify another Otzma candidate, Itamar Ben-Gvir.
At the same time, the court approved the candidacy of Professor Ofer Cassif of the far left Hadash party. It also approved the controversial Arab Balad party.
The court’s ruling was expected and should not effect the ability of PM Netanyahu to form a right wing coalition.
For further reading click here.
Slander Alert
Beware of extra anti-Israel propaganda in honor of the 15th annual Israeli Apartheid Week, which kicks off today.
According to its website, “Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) is an international series of events that seeks to raise awareness about Israel’s apartheid regime over the Palestinian people and build support for the growing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. It now takes place in over 200 cities across the world, where events such as lectures, film screenings, direct action, cultural performances, postering, among many more help in grassroots organizing for effective solidarity with the Palestinian liberation struggle.”
To know what you’re up against, you can check out the website here.
