Israel News for 9-19-17
Trump Meets Netanyahu
President Trump and PM Netanyahu met, for the third time this year, at the Plaza Hotel in NYC yesterday. Netanyahu pressed his case for dissolving the nuclear deal with Iran. He told Trump, “I look forward to discussing with you how we can address together what you rightly called is the terrible nuclear deal with Iran and how to roll back Iran’s growing aggression in the region, especially in Syria.”
Netanyahu also mentioned Israel’s seeking out peace with the Palestinians and the Arab world in general. He said, “As you said, we will discuss the way we can seize the opportunity for peace between Israel and the Palestinians and between Israel and the Arab world, I think these things go together and we look forward to talking about how we can advance both.”
Trump agreed with him, saying that they “are giving it an absolute go,” and that “we’re working very hard” to reach a deal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Netanyahu also stressed the importance of the Israeli US relationship and ended with a Rosh Hashana message saying, “I want to wish you, the Jewish community of America, Jews everywhere, people everywhere, Shana Tova, Happy Healthy New Year. Thank you, Mr. President.”
Last night the PM also met with Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi in what was their first public meeting since al-Sisi took office in 2014. The two have already had secret meetings and maintain close ties.
PM Netanyahu will address the UN General Assembly today at 1pm, where he is expected to focus on Iran as he has done for the past few years.
For further reading click here.
US Base in Israel
The US has opened its first ever army base in Israel. The base, located within the grounds of the IDF’s Mashabei Sadeh aerial defense school in the southern region, will permanently house dozens of American soldiers operating a large, joint US-Israel, radar.
For further reading click here.
Terror Attack
An Israeli resident of the settlement of Kfar Adumim, Gabi Shifrin (35), was driving through East Jerusalem on his way home from work on Sunday when he was forced to slow down on a narrow road near the Mt. Of Olives because of traffic. That’s when he hear a loud bang on his and saw a masked Palestinian near a pile of rocks throwing rocks at him. Shifrin lifted his personal handgun. When the assailant saw it he ran off down an alleyway.
Before he had a chance to turn around, Shifrin’s car was hit with another rock. Shifrin recounted, “I felt another huge bang, this time behind me. I cocked my weapon, turned around and saw another boy throwing large rocks at me. The back windshield burst and he, too, disappeared. It was at that moment that I realized I only had a few seconds. A pathway cleared and I zoomed out of there.”
Shifrin shared the thoughts that went through his head during the attack: “You feel as if you’re fighting for you very life. I saw a lynch about to come and looked death in the eye. It was horrifying.”
Police are investigating the attack.
For further reading click here.
Population Stats
Marking the end of the Jewish year, the Central Bureau of Statistics has released the latest population stats. Israel’s population currently stands at 8.743 million which includes 6.5 million Jews (75%), 1.8 million Arabs (20.5%) and almost 400,000 people who fall into other categories such as Druze and non-Arab Christians.
Israel’s birthrate was 3.11 representing 181, 405 babies born, which is the highest in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Around 25,000 new immigrants moved to Israel, with the highest number coming from the former Soviet Union, followed by France and the US.
Israel’s population is expected to reach 10 million people by 2024 and 20 million by 2065.
For further reading click here.
Rosh Hashana
Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, will begin tomorrow night and last until Friday night. We will take a break from sending out IsraelAM until Monday. Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and sweet new year. Shana Tova!
To read a short word of Torah about the holiday click here.
