Israel News for 8-25-17

Jared’s Message
During his visit to Israel yesterday with a small US delegation, Jared Kushner told both Netanyahu and Abbas That President Trump was very committed to achieving a solution here that will be able to bring prosperity and peace to all people in this area,” and that he was “very optimistic and hopeful for a better future for all Palestinian people and Israeli people.”

Neither side seems very confident that a real solution will emerge from the peace making attempts, but they continue to hope.

For further reading click here.

Settlement Wall
The Defense Ministry has allocated NIS 5.5 million to build a wall around part of Beit El, the large Jewish settlement located next to Ramallah. The wall will protect the settlement from attacks from the adjacent Palestinian refugee camp Jalazone.

According to Beit El Spokeswoman Yael Ben-Yashar, the request to build a wall came after “Palestinians attacked the community several times over the last year, including shootings at houses and using explosive devices and Molotov cocktails, which have started fires.”

Work on the wall is scheduled to begin in a few weeks.

For further reading click here.

Terror Stats
According to statistics released by Israel’s security services (Shin Bet), there were 222 terrorist attacks against Israelis in the month of July, which is the highest number since December of 2015. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 2 soldiers and 3 civilian. Seven people were wounded. Of the attacks, 129 occurred in Judea and Samaria and 87 in Jerusalem. Most of the attacks consisted of throwing Molotov Cocktails or firebombs.

Since January of 2016 there have been 2,314 attacks in which 33 were killed and 223 wounded.

To read the Shin Bet report click here.

Peace Game
One way to move the peace process for ward and improve Israeli-Arab coexistence has come from an unlikely source — backgammon. Specifically, the Jerusalem Backgammon Championships, which came to a conclusion last night after months of play.

To read more about this click here.

Shabbat Song
I can’t think of a better way to get ready for Shabbat than by listening to the legendary Reb Shlomo Carlebach singing his version of Lecha Dodi.

Shabbat Shalom!

To listen to Lecha Dodi click here.