Israel News for 8-30-2019
IDF Warning
The IDF announced that Iran and its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah are stepping up attempts to build missile-production facilities in Lebanon and warned that these efforts are putting Lebanese civilians in danger.
IDF spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said, “It is time for them (the Lebanese government) to understand their responsibility and understand the fact that what they are letting Hezbollah and Iran do on Lebanese soil is their responsibility. They are the ones who are complicit in endangering Lebanon and Lebanese civilians which Hezbollah and Iran are using as human shields.”
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Election Update
PM Netanyahu and Zehut Chairman Moshe Feiglin officially announced Thursday they will run together in the upcoming elections under a special agreement. The deal apparently includes promotion of legislation on imports of medical marijuana and promises that Feiglin would become a minister in the sphere of economics or social welfare in the Netanyahu government.
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Embassy Moves
The tiny Pacific island of Nauru has become the latest country to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and will soon move its embassy there. Naaru has 4,500 inhabitants. Honduras is also slated to open a diplomatic mission in Jerusalem on Sunday, which is supposed to turn into an embassy at a later date.
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New Tombs
The management of Har Hamenuchot, the massive cemetery at the entrance to Jerusalem, will be opening a subterranean area of recently built tunnels that will be able to accommodate an additional 23,000 graves. The cemetery currently is almost at capacity with around 250,000 graves.
The entire project cost an estimated $50 million and took just over three years to complete. The tunnels take up just 5% of the total subterranean area of the mountain available for future tombs. The project has been approved by the Orthodox rabbinate.
The limestone walls are lined four-high with tombs that resemble small Japanese capsule hotels. Giant flame-hued polyhedron light fixtures designed by German artist Yvelle Gabriel dangle at intersections between the avenues and streets deep in the mountain.
Part of the inspiration behind this project was the ancient Jewish custom of cave burials found at sites around Israel.
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