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Israel news summary

Israel News for 6-27-18

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Gaza Conflict
The IDF bombed a vehicle belonging to one of the commanders of Hamas’ military wing in the Neuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on Tuesday night. Soon after, 13 rockets were fired from Gaza at Israeli communities near the border. At least three of the rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome air defense system. There were no reports of injuries.

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Solar for Gaza
Israel has approved a plan to build a solar field on Israeli territory to ease the electricity crisis in the Gaza Strip. The construction of the facility at the Erez Crossing will be funded by private Israeli and foreign elements. The plan, along with other ideas to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, were discussed in meeting this week with US envoys Jason Greenblatt and Jared Kushner. The idea to build a solar field was initially raised by Israel at an international conference on the strip’s reconstruction held in Washington at the beginning of the year. The move would be unilateral, with no agreement from Hamas.

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Holocaust Law
Poland’s lower house of Parliament voted 388 to 25 to remove jail penalties for suggesting that Poland took part in crimes against the Jews during the Holocaust. The original “Holocaust Law” passed by the Polish government in February makes a crime to accuse the Polish nation of taking part in the crimes of the Holocaust. The law was condemned by Israel and the US. Poland is seeking to bolster security ties with the US.

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Arms Deal
A deal has been signed between Israeli defense contractor Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and US-based defense contractor Leonardo DRS to supply the American military with the Israeli made Trophy active defense system for tanks and armored personnel carriers.

Trophy consists of sensors that detect and classify the threat and its precise location. The system then launches a countermeasure to intercept the threat. Data regarding the position of the attacker is transmitted to field forces who can then neutralize the threat. Since its first battlefield interception in March, 2011, the system has proven itself numerous times, especially during Operation Protective Edge in Gaza. It is the only active defense system for armored vehicles in the world.

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Gas Discovery
Egyptian media reports that Italian energy company Eni is about to announce a massive offshore gas discovery in the coming few days have been enough to seen energy stocks on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) plunging. With an estimated 2,550 billion cubic meters (BCM) of gas, Noor would be three times larger than the Zohr gas field, over five times larger than Israel’s Leviathan field and more than ten times the Tamar field.

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Israel news summary

Israel News for 6-25-18

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Shooting Attack
Gunshots were fired from a car with Palestinian license plates near the West Bank settlement of Kibbutz Migdal Oz (next to Efrat) on Sunday night. The IDF called it an attempted terror attack. There were no injuries and no damage.

The IDF statement said, “IDF troops are blocking exits from the village of Beit Fajjar as part of the search efforts after the terrorist. Exit permits will be granted in accordance with decisions by security forces. In addition, troops are continuing to search the area.”

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Air Defense
The IDF fired a Patriot air defense missile at a drone that crossed into the northern Golan from Syria. The drone retreated back across the border, undamaged.

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The Israel Air Force attacked a cell suspected of launching incendiary kites from Gaza yesterday. Three terrorists were injured, one critically.

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Infiltration Fears
The IDF has begun taking precautionary measures, fearing that its Operation Good Neighbor humanitarian efforts to assist Syrian civilians wounded in the civil war are being exploited by pro-Iranian terrorists to infiltrate Israel. Three months ago, the IDF General Staff first discussed the possibility of Shi’ite pro-Iranian militias and Hezbollah forces infiltrating villages in the Syrian-controlled part of the Golan Heights, as well as trying to enter Israel under the guise of Syrian civilians seeking medical help.

A few weeks ago, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot instructed the Northern Command to increase its intelligence gathering efforts in the Syrian villages near the border in an effort to thwart attempts by Hezbollah and other Shi’ite terrorists to gain control of the area and begin carrying out attacks from the border. Eisenkot also directed the Operation Good Neighbor directorate to remain alert in light of the threat and brief their medical crews and ambulance drivers on the matter.

Wounded Syrian civilians, who have been receiving medical treatment in Israel in recent years, are now being evacuated mostly to international hospitals set up south of Quneitra (Syria) by the Evangelical-American organization Friendships Unlimited.

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New Leader
The Jewish Agency’s board of governors, meeting in Jerusalem, has confirmed Isaac Herzog as the next chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, despite the objections of PM Netanyahu. Herzog will replace Natan Sharansky. Herzog is currently leader of the opposition in the Knesset, a position that he will now be leaving.

In an official statement, Herzog spoke of the Jewish Agency as “a narrow bridge that connects the State of Israel and the Jewish people wherever they are” and said that he would seek to work in cooperation with Netanyahu. He also said that “relationships between Israel and the Jews in the Diaspora have suffered a severe blow over the few past years, and we have to do whatever we can to mend them.”

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New Uniforms
The IDF will be testing a new version of combat uniforms in the coming weeks in a month-long trial led by the military’s Technology and Logistics Division and the Ground Forces Division. The IDF said, “This is an opportunity to improve the quality of the IDF combat uniform by adapting to operational needs and using new and advanced technological capabilities from the world of textiles.”

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India Flights
Air India will transform its 3 days a week Tel Aviv-Delhi route into a daily route. The flights fly through Saudi Arabian airspace to save about an hour. A source at Air India said, “The success of the service is a testament to the strengthening of diplomatic ties between India and Israel and growing people to people contact between the two countries.”

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Royal Visit
Prince William is visiting Israel. We told you all about his itinerary in Friday’s email. To read it click here.

Israel news summary

Israel News for 6-22-18

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Sara Indicted
Sara Netanyahu, the PM’s wife, has been indicted for fraudulently obtaining benefits under aggravated circumstances, fraud and breach of trust. She is suspected of ordering private meals worth some NIS 350,000 (roughly $96,600) from high-end restaurants with the state footing the bill, despite the fact that a cook had been hired to prepare the meals at the residence.

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More Fires
Fifteen fires broke out in the western Negev on Thursday afternoon as a result of incendiary kites and balloons launched from Gaza that set fire to trees in the Shokeda Forest and the Be’eri Forest. Firefighters fought to contain the fires.

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Fake News
According to an indictment filed against 20-year-old Gaza resident Mahmoud Omar, who was arrested when he tried to break the Gaza border fence during the “March of Return” riots last month, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar paid Omar’s family to lie and say that his eight-month-old niece, Leila al-Ghandour, had died from tear gas inhalation rather than from a blood disease. The media subsequently reported that the baby was killed by IDF teargas.

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Peace Team
The US Mideast peace team, led by Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt, arrived in Egypt on thursday and met with Egyptian president al-Sisi. A White House statement said that the meeting focused on “the need to facilitate humanitarian relief to Gaza.” Jordan’s King Abdullah is set to meet President Trump on Monday.

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Ambassador Extension
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked the government to extend Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer’s five-year tenure by another year—until September 30, 2019. The standard term for an ambassador is 3 years. Netanyahu said his request was based on “unique political circumstances in the international arena in general and in light of our relationship with the US in particular.”

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Low Water
The Sea of Galilee (Kinneret) is currently 213.57 meters below water level and 57 cm below the lower red line. Significant evaporation is expected to take palce during the summer, which threatens to cause yet a further decrease in the Kinneret’s water level. However, the National Infrastructure Ministry and the Water Authority are planning to pour desalinated water into the disappearing lake as part of the national effort to preserve its water line.

However, the Mekorot Company, Israel’s national water company, is still pumping some 100 million cubic meters of water, which is equal to 60 cm in water level, from the Kinneret. According to the peace treaty with Jordan, Israel is obligated to transfer 50 million cubic meters annually, with 20 million cubic meters being salt water transferred to the eastern side of the southern Jordan River. The salt water is mixed with 10 million cubic meters of sweet water. Additional water is pumped to supply the residents of Tiberias and other communities surrounding the lake with drinking water, as well as water to irrigate the Golan Heights communities.

As a result of the dropping water level, two islands have been formed and are expanding in the Kinneret.

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Royal Visit
Prince William of England will kick off the first official royal visit to Israel on Monday when he lands and spends the night at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. On Tuesday morning the Prince will visit Yad Vashem and lay a wreath at the Memorial Hall. In the afternoon he will meet with PM Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara at their official residence. Afterwards, the prince will meet President Reuven Rivlin at the President’s Residence.

Then he will travel to Jaffa “where he will meet with young people involved in the work of two organizations focused on co-existence between the young people of different religious and ethnic communities – the Equalizer and the Peres Centre for Peace.” His next stop will be a visit to central Tel Aviv together with Mayor Ron Huldai. He will also attend a reception at the British Embassy in Ramat Gan together with 350 guests.

On Wednesday, William will visit the Beit Ha’ir Museum and meet with representatives of leading Israeli start-up companies and watch a presentation on Israeli innovation. He will also meet with young activists, both Jewish and Arab, who are involved with youth, education and social programs. He is also expected to attend a cultural event in the city as well and, of course, make a stop at the beach.

Also on Wednesday, the Prince will visit Ramallah and meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. He will also attend an event focusing on Palestinian refugees and “celebrate Palestinian culture, music and food; and a chance to meet a number of young Palestinians. At night he will deliver a speech at a reception at the home of the American Consul in Jerusalem.

On Thursday the Prince will visit the Old City of Jerusalem, which the British Foreign Office and the palace has called “Occupied Palestinian Territories”, to the consternation of Israeli officials. According to the Princes official itinerary published by Kensington Palace, “the programme in the Occupied Palestinian Territories will begin with a short briefing on the history and geography of Jerusalem’s Old City from a viewing point at the Mount of Olives. From here His Royal Highness will travel a short distance to the Church of St Mary Magdalene where he will pay his respects at the tomb of his great-grandmother, Princess Alice.” Princess Alice was recognized as “Righteous Among the Nations” by Yad Vashem for saving a Jewish-Greek family during the Holocaust.

Prince William will also visit the Western Wall. The two official photographs of the visit will be from the Prince’s visit to the Western Wall and Yad Vashem.

For further reading click here.

Israel news summary

Israel News for 6-20-18

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Gaza Fighting
Israeli fighters attacked targets in Gaza last night in response to continued incendiary kite attacks. Following the Israeli operation, around 45 rockets and mortar shells were fired at Israel from Gaza. Seven of them were intercepted by the Iron Dome system and at least 3 landed within Gaza. One mortar shell exploded on a pathway near a nursery in the Eshkol Regional Council. No injuries were reported in any of the attacks, although there was damage. The IDF responded with additional strikes against terror targets in Gaza, hitting 25 targets in total.

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US Withdraws
US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, along with Secretary of State Pompeo, announced yesterday that the US was withdrawing from the United Nations’ Human Rights Council, calling it “an organization that is not worthy of its name.” She specifically referred to the organization’s “chronic bias against Israel” and that its membership includes accused human rights abusers such as China, Cuba, Venezuela and the Democratic Republic of Congo. She said, “We take this step because our commitment does not allow us to remain a part of a hypocritical and self-serving organization that makes a mockery of human rights.”

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Drone Crashes
An IDF unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) crash landed last night in the al-Khader area in southwestern Syria. The IDF announced that the incident, which is being investigated, was due to a technical failure and that no classified information was compromised.

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Demolition Postponed
PM Netanyahu has ordered the postponement of the evacuation and demolition of five illegal buildings in the Palestinian village of Khirbet Susya in South Mount Hebron. The demolition, which was scheduled for Tuesday morning, is being postponed following international pressure. This is the third time in the past few months that the evacuation is put off.

The demolition of illegal Palestinian homes in Khirbet Susya is seen as one of the symbols of the Palestinian battle in the West Bank, and Israel has been under heavy international pressure—mainly in recent weeks—to prevent the evacuation, which would have received wide international coverage.

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Terrorist Sentenced
The Lod District Court on Tuesday sentenced Ismail Abu Aram to 22 years in prison for stabbing Niv Nehemia at a supermarket in the city of Yavne and seriously wounding him in August 2017. He was also ordered to pay Nehemia NIS 200,000. Nehemia said after the sentence was handed down, “I would have been happier if he had received more, if the punishment had been set like in the new terror law, which is 25 years in prison at the most. They could have given him more, but it’s a good sentence, the highest that has been given so far. But had they given the maximum punishment, it would have created maximum deterrence.”

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Peace Talks
Jared Kushner and US special Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt met with Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Tuesday to discuss the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians and a number of other regional developments.

The White House released a statement saying that the meeting in Amman centered on Israel-Palestinian peace proposal which is expected to be rolled out in the near future by the Trump administration. The discussions also focused on bilateral relations between the US and Jordan, on regional developments and on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

On Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with King Abdullah in Amman where they “discussed regional developments, advancing the peace process and bilateral relations.” Netanyahu also ”reiterated Israel’s commitment to maintaining the status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem.” According to the Petra news agency, King Abdullah, “stressed the need to make progress in efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution and in accordance with international law, relevant UN resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative.”

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Housing in Nahariya
The government announced the approval of a plan to build and market 10,000 new “affordable” housing units in the northern city of Nahariya. But not everyone is happy about it. Some groups claim that the existing infrastructure, educational system and job market cannot sustain the new development. In addition, there are already a lot of vacant units in Nahariya.

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Israel news summary

Israel News for 6-18-18

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Terrorists Foiled
The IDF spokesman reported that five terrorists attempted to place an explosive device near the Gaza border fence, but the device exploded killing one and injuring the rest today. Arab media reported that the terrorists were killed when soldiers discovered them and opened fire.

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Gaza Air Strikes
Earlier today, Israel Air Force jets attacked nine Hamas targets in the northern Gaza Strip in response to the continued incendiary kite attacks from Gaza. The strikes hit two military bases in Jabalia, Al-Shati and a weapons production facility in Gaza City. During the strikes, three rockets were fired from Gaza at the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council.

Seventeen fires broke out on Sunday as a result of the incendiary kites and balloons, with hundreds of turkeys suffocating to death in Ein HaShlosha from smoke inhalation.

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Terror Cell Busted
The Shin Bet, IDF and Israel Police recently exposed a Hamas terror cell operating in the Nablus area which was planning to carry out attacks in the center of Israel’s main cities, including in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The terror cell had been operating since October last year until its members were arrested at the end of April. The cell consisted of at least 20 terrorists, many with long histories of terror activity. During its investigation, security forces succeeded in uncovering an additional terror cell that was also planning attacks.

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Baby Girl
Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) gave birth to her third daughter last night. Mazal Tov!!

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Israel news summary

Israel News for 6-15-18

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IDF Attacks
IDF planes attacked a location in southern Gaza Thursday afternoon where terrorists were assembling incendiary kites. Warning shots were fired prior to the attack. There were no casualties reported. Several fires broke out earlier Thursday as a result of incendiary kites and balloons, including a brush fire near Kibbutz Be’eri and two other brush fires in the Shaar HaNegev Regional Council. Firefighters and foresters put out the fires. No one was hurt.

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Indonesia Meeting
PM Netanyahu had an unscheduled meeting yesterday with Yahya Staquf, secretary general of the 60 million member Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia’s largest Muslim organization. Staquf, an advocate of interfaith coexistence, is visiting Israel at the invitation of the American Jewish Committee.

In an interview, Staquf said he remains committed to the visit and hopes the controversy can bring more attention to his message of tolerance. He remarked, “Some people here are amazed by my decision to come, because they think it must be dangerous for this man to come, thinking that many, many Muslims must be threatening him with death or something.” Earlier this week, Staquf addressed the American Jewish Committee’s conference, appearing alongside a rabbi in his discussion. His schedule also included meetings at Hebrew University, and talks with local Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders.

In Indonesia, Twitter and Facebook have been filled with negative comments about the visit. Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim country, does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, and support for the Palestinians there is strong. Indonesia recently revoked tourist visas for Israeli visitors to protest Israeli actions in Gaza. In response, Israel has threatened to ban tourist visas for Indonesians.

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Jaffa Hotel
Marriott International will open a 121-room luxury hotel in Jaffa on July 22. The Jaffa – a Luxury Collection Hotel will be housed in a renovated 19th century building on the corner of Yefet and Louis Pasteur Streets that formerly served as the French Hospital, alongside a new building designed by world famous London-based architect John Pawson and local architect Ramy Gill. The hotel is the result of 20 years of planning and construction. Prices per night will range between $620 for a deluxe room and up to $6,000 per night for a large suite.

The Jaffa – a Luxury Collection Hotel is one of three boutique hotels that have opened in Jaffa this year. Last month the Nakash brothers opened the 120-room Setai in an historic building that served as an Ottoman prison and an Israeli police station, while this month the 42-room Drisco Hotel opens in a 19th century building in the American Colony on the seam between Jaffa and Tel Aviv.

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Commando Raid [VIDEO]
Watch this video of the IDF’s Duvdevan special operations unit on the raid in the refugee camp where an IDF soldier was killed when a terrorist dropped a marble slab on him from a window. Click here.

Party Time [VIDEO]
This is how the Sadigora Rebbe celebrated the engagement of his daughter. The rebbe is the one in the center wearing the shtreimel with the pointed top. To his left, with the long white beard, is the Vasloy Rebbe. To watch the video click here.

Israel news summary

Israel News for 6-13-18

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Syrian Missiles
According to a commander in the pro-government alliance in Syria, the Syrian army has reinforced its anti-aircraft defenses near the frontier with Israel and additional defenses are set to be deployed in the coming days. He said that the stationing of the Russian-made Pantsir S1 weapon aims “to renew the air defense system against Israel in the first degree.” The Syrian government has been planning to mount an offensive against rebel held territory in areas near the Israeli border, but has yet to make any moves, most likely as a result of American and Israeli pressure along with Russia’s desire to avoid direct conflict with either country.

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Settlement Evacuated
Thousands of police officers participated yesterday in the evacuation of Netiv Ha’avot, a settlement outpost in Gush Etzion. The Supreme Court ruled that the 15 homes in the outpost were illegally built on Palestinian owned land.

Teenagers standing on the house’s rooftop poured paint and threw stones and water bottles at the police. The police began carrying the youths away one by one. The outpost’s residents asked the youths to come down from the rooftops, but they refused. By the end of the evacuation, two teenagers and a young man were arrested for assaulting a police officer, while dozens of other teens were barred from the area. Thirteen police officers were wounded during the evacuation. One was in moderate condition and the others were lightly hurt.

The residents of Netiv Ha’avot will be resettled on a nearby plot of land. They hope to return to rebuild their homes in two years, if the land is legalized.

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Terror Attack Confirmed
The Shin Bet has confirmed that the stabbing attack against an 18 year old girl in Afula by a Palestinian from Jenin was in fact a terror attack. The suspect, who was captured by police after the attack, confessed his terror motive to investigators. Police had initially not labelled the attack as a terror attack.

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Terrorist Arrested
The Shin Bet and the IDF’s elite Duvdevan unit have arrested the terrorist who dropped a marble slab on the head of IDF soldier Staff Sgt. Ronen Lubarsky that killed him last week during a raid at the al-Am’ari Refugee Camp. The terrorist, Islam Yusuf Hamid, 32, was in an Israeli prison from 2004 to 2009 for involvement in a Hamas sponsored shooting attack.

Hamid comes from a family of Hamas terrorists behind several attacks that killed Israelis in the past. Four of his brothers, also Hamas members, are serving life sentences for their involvement in murderous terror attacks during the second intifada, including the 2002 Seafood Market attack in Tel Aviv that claimed the lives of three Israelis. One of the brothers is serving a life sentence for the 1994 shooting of Shin Bet operative Noam Cohen. Hamid’s elder brother is one of the founders of the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades and the right hand of Marwan Barghouti.

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Preventing Terror
Shin Bet (Israel’s FBI) Director Nadav Argaman revealed that his organization has prevented 250 terror attacks so far this year. Big data and social media tracking has played a major role in the Shin Bet’s success.

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Hunger Strike
MK Yehuda Glick (Likud) launched a hunger strike Tuesday morning, which he intends to continue until Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon (Kulanu) raises the tax on loose tobacco for roll-up cigarettes so it is equal to the tax on regular cigarettes, in accordance with international and domestic health organizations’ demands.

Glick said, “World health organizations have asked the State of Israel to raise the taxation on loose tobacco to equal regular cigarettes, and Mr. Finance Minister has dismissed it. The Finance Committee along with its chairman Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism), voted unanimously in favor of increasing the tax on loose tobacco, because children can walk into a supermarket and buy tobacco, and the finance minister just keeps singing his tune.”

He added, “I believe in the Torah that says human life is above everything, I can’t wash my hands clean of this issue anymore, I cannot say that my hands did not spill this blood, and so… I will go on a hunger strike until Minister Kahlon starts caring about our children.”

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Israel news summary

Israel News for 6-11-18

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Stabbing Attack
An 18 year old woman in Afula was stabbed and seriously wounded by an Arab from Jenin today. Police shot the suspect in the legs as he was fleeing the scene. It is still unclear whether the attack was nationalistically motivated.

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Kite Fires
Ten different fires broke out on Saturday in Israeli communities on the Gaza border—mostly in the Be’eri and Kissufim area—as a result of incendiary kites flown from the Gaza Strip. Firefighting forces, security coordinators and farmers were able to gain control of all of the fires, and no one was hurt. However, damage was caused to crops and wooded areas.

In response to the recent terror fires, residents from Gaza border communities gathered this week in Kibbutz Or HaNer for a tree-planting ceremony. Ofir Libenstein, a member of Kibbutz Kfar Aza who is leading the initiative, “The kites phenomenon completely destroyed a lot of forests and groves in our area, and we decided, as a community activity, to give back to nature what has been taken from it. “Beyond the financial damage, there’s also damage to the Gaza border residents’ morale, and we have decided to come together as a community and change this reality. The residents are coming together—families and children—to plant the trees.” He added, “This is the first of the activities, and in the coming days we will continue planting trees. We’re motivated by the slogan: ‘They’re burning, and we’re planting.'”

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Kite Killer
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, a premier Israeli arms company, has developed a new drone to counter the threat posed by incendiary kites. The Z’vuv HaEsh (Firefly) drone, which has been developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, will be presented for the first time at the Eurosatory exhibition in Paris next week, where the latest land and air defense and security gear goes on display.

The Firefly, which weighs only 3 kilograms, can be armed with a warhead weighing up to 350g and can remain in the air for up to 15 minutes before crashing and exploding into an enemy outpost or anti-tank missiles depot. It can also be flown through a window of an enemy building and detonated there. Its electric engine gives it the strategic advantage of silence, enabling it to creep up on its target until the moment it explodes.

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Austrian Visit
Austrian Chancellor Sebastion Kurz arrived in Israel yesterday for his first official visit. He met with Holocaust survivors and invited them to visit Austria this year, saying his government would pay for the trip. He also invited them to visit the chancellor’s office in Vienna. Kurz visited Yad Vashem and laid a wreath at the Hall of Remembrance. He tweeted, “I visited Yad Vashem together with Holocaust survivor Victor Klein and with the president of Vienna’s Jewish community, Oscar Deutsch. It’s always exciting to be there. We have a responsibility not to forget the Nazis’ horrible acts and to fight any form of anti-Semitism.” He also visited the Jerusalem’s Old City, the Western Wall and the cemetery on Mt. Hertz.

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Dedication
Today’s issue is dedicated to the commemoration of the Yahrzeit (anniversary of passing) of my grandfather Chaim Ahron ben Abraham Aba (Singer). He was born in the town of Mosciska (Galicia) in 1900, led his family into hiding during the Holocaust and then brought them to Toms River, NJ. He passed away on this Hebrew date in 1962. May his soul be elevated and may his memory serve as a blessing.

Israel news summary

Israel News for 6-8-18

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Kites Spreading
Mimicking tactics that have been increasingly used as part of violent Gaza border protests in recent weeks, Palestinians in the West Bank yesterday launched what are believed to be the first incendiary kites used there. The kites were flown over the settlements of Matan, Yarhiv and Nirit, three Jewish communities in the West Bank near the central Israeli city of Kfar Saba. One of the kites caused a fire in a field, which was quickly put out without major damage, while another struck a power line, causing a power outage in the area for several hours.

For further reading click here.

Gaza Tensions
The IDF is beefing up its security presence in the Gaza region in anticipation of protests by thousands of Palestinians along the border on Friday afternoon to mark the annual Al Naksa Day, which commemorates displacements caused by Israel’s 1967 Six Day War victory. The IDF has been dropping leaflets into Gaza urging residents to stay away from the border fence. In a video broadcast on the Hamas-controlled Al-Aqsa TV station, Hamas called upon residents to make their way to the “March of Return and to destroy the blockade.”

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Terror Medic
A few weeks ago, Palestinian health officials and witnesses claimed IDF forces shot dead Razan Najjar, a 21 year old volunteer medic, as she ran towards the border fence to reach a casualty. Social media videos allegedly showed Najjar and a cohort of medics walking toward the fence and raising their hands to reach a wounded man lying on the ground. Najjar wore a dark blue headscarf and a white coat with the logo of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society.

But yesterday, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee posted a video on his Facebook page showing Najjar throwing a gas grenade. The Arabic text on the video says, “She’s not a merciful angel. Hamas used her as a human shield.”

An initial IDF investigation of the incident found that while a small number of bullets were fired during the incident, the gunfire wasn’t aimed at the Palestinian nurse. One possibility is that Najjar was killed by the ricochet of a bullet. The IDF said the investigation is still ongoing.

For further reading click here.

 

Iranian Protests
Tens of Thousands of Iranians took part in anti-Israel rallies across the country to mark Jerusalem Day, also known as Al-Quds Day, burning the Israeli flag and chanting “Death to Israel” and “Death to America”. The speaker of Iran’s parliament, Ali Larijani, said, “Israel and Saudi Arabia are the source of chaos in the region. The Saudi Arabia, Israel and American triangle wants to turn the region into a chaotic scene. The region’s security will be threatened if they corner Tehran.”

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Women of Wall
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has ruled that Women of the Wall, a multi-denominational feminist organization, will no longer be permitted to pray like all women in the Western Wall plaza, and will be restricted to a separate section fenced off by the police and the Western Wall’s custodian. Mandelblit said that anybody violating the new terms could be subject to forced removals by the police.

The decision was reached following a request by the police and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation to separate monthly prayer services held by members of the group from other women who visit the site in order to reduce tensions that erupt between the two. The police explained that the main aim was to enable security for the Women of the Wall, but they have refused to abide by new conditions, demanding that they be allowed to pray wherever they choose and calling for intervention from the attorney general.

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Gay Parade
Over 200,000 people are expected to attend Tel Aviv’s 20th annual Gay Pride Parade, which kicked off today at 12 noon. Tel Aviv Mayor Huldai delivered remarks at the start of the parade saying, “I am proud to stand before you. I remember how it was 20 years ago when we began the march and I see the atmosphere of freedom here. We have progressed a lot, but there is still a way to go. We will smash down legislative barriers so that all people are equal,” he vowed. “The parade represents a moral significance that says: We are here until we reach this goal.”

For further reading click here.

Israel news summary

Israel News for 6-6-18

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Breaking News
IDF troops carrying out a raid to capture terrorists in Nabi Saleh, northwest of Ramallah, were attacked by a mob throwing rocks. According to an IDF spokesman, “One of the Palestinians flanked the troops and hurled the rock, striking a soldier’s head.” The soldier opened fire at the attacker, seriously wounding him. IDF medics attempted to save the wounded terrorist, but he died. An army spokesperson said the incident “is being examined”.

For future reading click here.

Kite Terror
An incendiary kite flown from Gaza sparked a major fire in an open field across from the Sapir College in the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council, near the southern city of Sderot, on Tuesday afternoon. Heavy smoke covered the college building as firefighters were dispatched to the area and worked to prevent the fire from spreading to the nearby road and into the college. Fires also broke out in 7 other locations near Gaza from incendiary kites. There were no reports of injuries.

The Defense Minister said that 600 incendiary kites have been launched into Israel from Gaza, of which 400 have been intercepted by the IDF. The other 200 have burned 9,000 dunams of crops and forests. He vowed to take whatever action is necessary to stop the terror.

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European Trip
PM Netanyahu kicked off his 4 day European trip with a meeting in Berlin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday. He met with French President Macron in Paris yesterday and is meeting with Britain’s PM May in London today. Netanyahu’s main objective is to highlight Iran’s ongoing terror activities and muster European support against Iran, despite understanding that the Europeans will most likely not join the US in withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal.

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Golan Initiative
Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon endorsed a new plan today to rapidly develop the Golan and raise its population from 22,000 to 100,000 within a decade. The plan, which was written by Deputy Minister Michael Oren, calls for forming an inter-ministerial committee led by Finance Ministry Director-General Shai Babad to improve the quality of life in the Golan and bring more tourists to the area. The idea of building up the Golan has support in both the government and the opposition.

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Soccer Snub
The Palestinian Football Association praised the Argentinian national soccer team for cancelling a scheduled “friendly” game with Israel which was supposed to have been held in Jerusalem this week. The Argentinians were under intense pressure from Palestinians and pro BDS forces to cancel the pre-World Cup practice match. The game was originally supposed to be held in Haifa, but Israeli Culture Minister Miri Regev decided to relocate the game to Jerusalem in honor of Israel’s 70th anniversary. Prime Minister Netanyahu briefly addressed the match’s cancellation saying, “We’re moving on, guys.”

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Giuliani Interview
Rudy Giuliani gave an exclusive to Globes yesterday at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem in which he spoke candidly about a wide range of issues including the recent embassy move and Trump’s peace plan. To read the interview click here.