Israel News for 6-8-18
Kites Spreading
Mimicking tactics that have been increasingly used as part of violent Gaza border protests in recent weeks, Palestinians in the West Bank yesterday launched what are believed to be the first incendiary kites used there. The kites were flown over the settlements of Matan, Yarhiv and Nirit, three Jewish communities in the West Bank near the central Israeli city of Kfar Saba. One of the kites caused a fire in a field, which was quickly put out without major damage, while another struck a power line, causing a power outage in the area for several hours.
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Gaza Tensions
The IDF is beefing up its security presence in the Gaza region in anticipation of protests by thousands of Palestinians along the border on Friday afternoon to mark the annual Al Naksa Day, which commemorates displacements caused by Israel’s 1967 Six Day War victory. The IDF has been dropping leaflets into Gaza urging residents to stay away from the border fence. In a video broadcast on the Hamas-controlled Al-Aqsa TV station, Hamas called upon residents to make their way to the “March of Return and to destroy the blockade.”
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Terror Medic
A few weeks ago, Palestinian health officials and witnesses claimed IDF forces shot dead Razan Najjar, a 21 year old volunteer medic, as she ran towards the border fence to reach a casualty. Social media videos allegedly showed Najjar and a cohort of medics walking toward the fence and raising their hands to reach a wounded man lying on the ground. Najjar wore a dark blue headscarf and a white coat with the logo of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society.
But yesterday, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee posted a video on his Facebook page showing Najjar throwing a gas grenade. The Arabic text on the video says, “She’s not a merciful angel. Hamas used her as a human shield.”
An initial IDF investigation of the incident found that while a small number of bullets were fired during the incident, the gunfire wasn’t aimed at the Palestinian nurse. One possibility is that Najjar was killed by the ricochet of a bullet. The IDF said the investigation is still ongoing.
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Iranian Protests
Tens of Thousands of Iranians took part in anti-Israel rallies across the country to mark Jerusalem Day, also known as Al-Quds Day, burning the Israeli flag and chanting “Death to Israel” and “Death to America”. The speaker of Iran’s parliament, Ali Larijani, said, “Israel and Saudi Arabia are the source of chaos in the region. The Saudi Arabia, Israel and American triangle wants to turn the region into a chaotic scene. The region’s security will be threatened if they corner Tehran.”
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Women of Wall
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has ruled that Women of the Wall, a multi-denominational feminist organization, will no longer be permitted to pray like all women in the Western Wall plaza, and will be restricted to a separate section fenced off by the police and the Western Wall’s custodian. Mandelblit said that anybody violating the new terms could be subject to forced removals by the police.
The decision was reached following a request by the police and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation to separate monthly prayer services held by members of the group from other women who visit the site in order to reduce tensions that erupt between the two. The police explained that the main aim was to enable security for the Women of the Wall, but they have refused to abide by new conditions, demanding that they be allowed to pray wherever they choose and calling for intervention from the attorney general.
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Gay Parade
Over 200,000 people are expected to attend Tel Aviv’s 20th annual Gay Pride Parade, which kicked off today at 12 noon. Tel Aviv Mayor Huldai delivered remarks at the start of the parade saying, “I am proud to stand before you. I remember how it was 20 years ago when we began the march and I see the atmosphere of freedom here. We have progressed a lot, but there is still a way to go. We will smash down legislative barriers so that all people are equal,” he vowed. “The parade represents a moral significance that says: We are here until we reach this goal.”
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