Israel News for 9-9-2019
Syria Attack
Syrian opposition forces are reporting that at least 18 people have been killed in an aerial attack targeting pro-Iranian militias in the town of Al Bukamal in eastern Syria. The IDF said that pro-Iranian militias in Syria made a failed attempt to launch missiles into Israel shorty before the attack.
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Drone Downed
Hezbollah claims to have downed an Israeli drone today outside a southern Lebanese town, after it crossed the border. The IDF said one of its drones “fell inside southern Lebanon during routine operations”. In a statement, it did not say what caused the crash and noted “there is no concern information could be taken from it”.
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Terror Attack
A 17 year old Israeli and his 60 year old father on their way on their way to a local dental clinic were injured in a stabbing attack near the Palestinian village of Azzun in the West Bank on Saturday afternoon. “A 15-year-old boy approached us and asked me in Arabic if we were Jewish,” said the 17-year-old’s uncle who wasn’t hurt in the incident. “I said no, we are Arabs. Then, he stabbed the father and the son, and the dentist came out to help and got us out of there.”
The Palestinian dentist, Dr. Amin, noticed the attack through the clinic window, rushed downstairs, pushed off the perpetrator, and rescued them.
The IDF forces transported the wounded from the area of the attack to the Eliyahu checkpoint, near the settlement of Alfei Menashe, where the two received treatment by the emergency medical teams called to the scene.
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Gaza Update
Two Palestinians were killed and 70 wounded in violent demonstrations along the Israel-Gaza border on Friday. The IDF said that troops guarding the border were faced with more than 6,000 demonstrators in “especially violent” protests at several points along the border fence. It said the demonstrators hurled “a large amount of explosive devices, grenades and firebombs” and damaged parts of the fence.
On Friday night a rocket fired from Gaza landed in an open area near Sderot. Two women in Sderot were treated for shock after the rocket strike.
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Voting Cameras
PM Netanyahu’s cabinet approved yesterday draft legislation that would mandate installing cameras in voting stations ahead of next week’s election. But the bill failed to pass in the Knesset today. Opponents called the law discriminatory against Arab voters (although I’m not sure why).
The proposed bill was opposed by the head of the Central Election Commission that oversees the vote, who said the last-minute introduction of cameras might “lead to chaos”. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who advises the cabinet on legal issues, also came out against the legislation, saying it could violate laws ensuring voters’ privacy.
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Diplomatic Freeze
Israel’s Foreign Ministry has halted most diplomatic activity due to a budget shortfall.
The ministry on Sunday announced the cessation of all expenditures, limiting the travel of diplomats around the world and in Jerusalem, the Kan public broadcaster reported.
The new guidelines, ordered by the Finance Ministry’s accountant general, were issued due to a “very large gap” between the ministry’s expenditures and its approved budget.
“During this sensitive time, when faced with diplomatic and strategic challenges, first and foremost among them the threat by Iran and its proxies — and on the eve of a U.N. General Assembly— the Foreign Ministry and its missions abroad will be almost entirely paralyzed,” the ministry said in a statement.
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Warsaw Attack
Two Israeli law students studying in Warsaw were attacked by a group of Arabs from Qatar after they left a nightclub in the city. The attackers heard the students speaking Hebrew and asked them if they were Israeli. When they answered yes, the gang started beating them while shouting “f-k Israel” and “Free Gaza”. Security guards from the club, as well as bystanders, watched the attack without intervening.
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