Israel News for 4-9-18
Russia Blames Israel
Russia today blamed Israel for attacking a Syrian air base. The attack on the base near the city of Homs came after a suspected chemical attack by the Syrian army killed over 60 civilians near Damascus over the weekend. Russia’s Defense Ministry said two Israeli fighter jets launched the attack on the T4 air base in central Syria from Lebanon’s air space and that Syria shot down 5 out of the 8 missiles fired at the base. The other 3 reportedly killed 14 people, including Iranians.
Yesterday President Trump strongly condemned the chemical attack, blamed Russia and Iran and threatened that there would be a “big price to pay”. But the Pentagon denied attacking the air base. So did Israel.
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Gaza Strikes
Yesterday afternoon 3 Palestinians crossed into Israel from northern Gaza. After hiding for a short time they were discovered and fired upon by IDF tanks. The 3 managed to escape back across the border unharmed. After a thorough search of the area, the IDF found 2 explosive devices. Meanwhile another Palestinian was apprehended crossing the border.
In response to the incursions, Israel Air Force fighter jets attacked a Hamas military base in northern Gaza early today.
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Gaza Protests
On Friday, around 20,000 Palestinians demonstrated at the Gaza border in a protest that soon turned into day-long rioting. Nine Palestinians were killed as a result of clashes with Israeli forces including Yaser Martuja, who was wearing a blue protective vest with the word PRESS in bold lettering. The IDF released a statement saying, “The IDF does not intentionally fire on journalists. The circumstances in which journalists were hit, allegedly by IDF fire, are unknown to us and are being examined.”
The protest march (riot) was a continuation of the “Great March of Return” that began last Friday when 30,000 Gaza’s marched towards the Israeli border and tried to break it down and cross into Israel. Eighteen protestors were killed in clashes with the IDF, who prevented them from crossing into Israel.
The IDF has appointed a panel to investigate the clashes over the last two weeks that have claimed a total of 30 Palestinians.
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Stabbing Attempt
A terrorist attempted to stab an Israeli man at a gas station in Mishor Adumim near Ma’ale Adumim (Judea – West Bank) yesterday morning. A civilian driving by noticed the attack and opened fire at the terrorist, neutralizing him. The terrorist was taken to Hadassah Medical Center in serious condition. Three people were treated for shock.
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Chief Rabbi on Syria
Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef called on the government to work towards ending the massacre being committed by Syrian President Bashar Assad against his own people.
A statement released by the Chief Rabbi’s office said:
“I have said in the past and I will say it again: What is happening in Syria is genocide of women and children in its cruelest form, using weapons of mass destruction. We have a moral obligation not to keep quiet and to try and stop this massacre. As Jews who have experienced genocide, as Jews whose Torah is a light to the nations, it is our moral obligation to try and stop this murder. It is an obligation no less important than the moral obligation to destroy the nuclear reactor in Syria.”
In response to the statement, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid tweeted, ““Though I have my disagreements with the Rishon Letzion (Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel), the things he said about Syria today are the words of a true spiritual leader.”
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