Israel News for 7-16-18
IDF Syria Attack
Syria’s official news agency SANA reported that Israel attacked the Al-Nayrab military airbase at Syria near Aleppo last night, killing 6 Syrian and 3 other soldiers. The Syrian statement said, “The Zionist enemy returned in its desperate attempts to support defeated terror organizations in Daraa and in Quneitra, and it attacked using missiles one of our military outposts north of the Al-Nayrab airport. Damage was caused to property only.” The IDF has neither confirmed nor denied the reports.
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Gaza Fighting
Over 200 rockets and mortar shells were fired into Israel from Gaza over the weekend. The IDF retaliated with air strikes against dozens of targets across Gaza. The IDF destroyed Hamas command centers, rocket manufacturing sites, arms depots and terror tunnels. The strikes were aimed at destroying infrastructure targets and not terrorists. A senior defense official explained, “We prefer to focus on infrastructure right now, because it’s more important to Hamas than people.” Four Israelis suffered light injuries from shrapnel when a rocket landed near a home in Sderot. Also, 11 fires broke out in Israeli communities near the Gaza border as a result of incendiary balloons and kites.
The IDF deployed extra Iron Dome anti-missile batteries across the southern and central Gush-Dan regions in Israel last night. Israeli aircraft attacked several kite launching cells in Gaza yesterday.
Egyptian officials have reportedly helped broker a cease fire agreement between Hamas and Islamic Jihad and Israel. The terror organizations claim that the agreement only includes a gradual reduction in the launching of incendiary kites and balloons. But PM Netanyahu made it clear last night that Israel will only respect the agreement if all kite and balloon attacks cease completely, and that the IDF will respond in force against any attacks.
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman also noted that the IDF “will not accept neither kites nor rockets.” He said, “We’ve had a stormy weekend. As for the rest of the week, it’s important to stress—we have no intention of accepting rockets, kites, drones or anything else.”
PM Netanyahu visited the Israeli communities near the Gaza border today. He told reporters, “We’re in the midst of a process. It’s important Hamas understands it is facing a steel wall, and that this wall is primarily made up of a determined government, steadfast local leadership, Zionist communities we will of course continue strengthening, and of course the IDF.”
He added, “We’re proud of them, and I’m proud of the wonderful residents of the border area, who are facing difficult days, but I’m convinced that with our shared strength to thwart and deter, we will eventually be able to defeat this terrorism from Gaza.”
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Snitch Indicted
An indictment was issued Sunday against left-wing activist Ezra Nawi for conveying information regarding Palestinians involved in selling land to Jews to the Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces on multiple occasions. Nawi is charged with an offense under section 7a (b) of the Implementation of the Oslo Interim Agreement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which prohibits Israeli citizens or residents from enlisting or acting in the service of the PA’s intelligence and security forces. This is the first time that an Israeli citizen has been charged with this offense without actually joining the PA.
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New Market
The Israeli government is hoping to soon pass a bill to set up a second stock market for small and medium-size businesses. The bill will loosen regulations for the trading of small cap stocks, which will benefit early stage hi-tech companies.
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