Tag Archive for: Israel News

Gaza Border
IDF soldiers killed 3 terrorists who were attempting to infiltrate into Israel from Gaza. A fourth terrorist was wounded. The incident took place at Khan Younis when troops from the Golani Brigade’s 51st Battalion opened fire on the four suspects. An IDF investigation subsequently revealed that the group was planning to carry out terror attacks against Israelis. The group was under military surveillance and was spotted while “moving suspiciously and hitting the perimeter fence and crossing while crossing it,” the IDF said.

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Hezbollah Victory
According to preliminary results from Lebanon’s elections, Hezbollah and its allies have won at least 67 out of the country’s 128 parliamentary seats, giving it effective control over the governing body. Hezbollah’s allies include the Shiite Amal Movement led by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, the Christian Free Patriotic Movement established by President Michel Aoun and other groups and individuals that view its weapons as an asset to Lebanon. On the bright side, Hezbollah and its allies are not on course to win the two-thirds majority that would allow them to pass big decisions such as changing the constitution. But having an Iranian backed terror group with that much power over a country on Israel’s border is clearly problematic, to say the least.

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Russian Invite
Russian President Putin has invited PM Netanyahu to join him in an annual march in Moscow on Wednesday marking Russia’s victory over Nazi Germany in WWII. After the march the two will meet in the Kremlin to “discuss regional developments,” including the Israeli airstrikes against Iranian bases in Syria and the possible sale of the Russian-made S-300 aerial defense system to Syria. This will mark the two leaders’ eighth meeting in the past two years.

On Tuesday Netanyahu will be in Cyprus for a meeting with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
 
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Override Law
The ministerial legislation committee today approved a bill introduced by MK Bezalel Smotrich (Bayit Yehudi) giving a majority of 61 MKs the power to ratify a law struck down by the Supreme Court. The bill is an amendment to the Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty.

Minister of Education and Diaspora Affairs Naftali Bennett and Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked said, “The government today began building a wall separating the three branches of government. The High Court’s interference in legislation and the government’s decisions long ago deviated from the accepted norm. The override clause will restore the public’s confidence in the High Court and restore the original functions to the three branches: the Knesset legislates, the government executes, and the court interprets. No branch should interfere with another one. As the representative of the people, the Knesset is sovereign, as in any proper democracy.”

The bill was opposed by members of the Kulanu party and the Attorney General. The Supreme Court judges as well as members of the opposition have strongly criticized the bill as a threat to democracy.

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Airstrikes Confirmed
Three US officials have confirmed that the airstrikes against Iranian bases Syria on Sunday were launched by Israel. The officials said that Israeli F-15s hit Hama after Iran delivered weapons to a base that houses Iran’s 47th Brigade, including surface-to-air missiles. In addition to killing two dozen troops, including officers, the strike wounded three dozen others and destroyed 200 missiles. They said that while Israel did not ask the US for permission to attack, it did send cautionary notes.

During the past week, senior Israeli military leaders have been meeting with senior U.S. counterparts, both in the region and in the U.S., looking for U.S. support for stronger action against Iran in Syria. U.S. officials say the Israeli requests include intelligence support.

One senior US official said, “On the list of the potentials for most likely live hostility around the world, the battle between Israel and Iran in Syria is at the top of the list right now.”

The Iranians have said that they will retaliate “at the right time”.

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Revelation Aftermath
On Monday night PM Netanyahu went on live TV and revealed, in English, that the Mossad had stolen thousands of secret Iranian documents that indicate that Iran has no intention of ceasing its nuclear program. The documents did not, however, reveal any Iranian violations of the current nuclear agreement.

The purpose of the PM’s multimedia presentation was to convince US and European leaders to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal. The US seems to have enthusiastically embraced the information. Whether Trump will decide to withdraw for the agreement will most likely remains a question until the May 12th deadline. The Europeans are by all indications committed to sticking with the agreement.

Former Deputy Mossad Director Ram Ben-Barak questioned Netanyahu’s decision to expose the sensitive information on the Mossad’s complicated operation. He said, “I see no good reason for it. It’s very likely that many people objected to the publication of this information, because it’s harmful. The Iranians are probably racking their brains now, trying to figure out how it happened. They will investigate and eventually find out all kinds of things. I think it was unnecessary. We could have reached the same result without that press conference.”
 
Regarding the actual agreement Ben-Barak said, “The Iranians don’t want to violate the agreement because they want it to expire in eight years, and then they’ll develop the nuclear program. In the meantime, they are building military activities to threaten the State of Israel which has to deal with them. The right thing to do, therefore, is to say to the world powers, including Russia: Either supervise Iran to make sure that it’s upholding the agreement, or impose sanctions. Unfortunately, we are choosing a policy of bombastic statements that are heating up the entire region, and that’s a shame.”

Intelligence Minister Katz defended the PM saying, “By releasing the documents we are pushing Iran into a corner, and that benefits us, especially in light of the conflict in the north. He [Netanyahu] decided to expose the material and he did it in a good way.”

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Abbas Slammed
PM Netanyahu slammed PA President Abbas for claiming that Jews were murdered in the Holocaust because they engaged in usury. Netanyahu said, Abbas “was a Holocaust denier and has remained a Holocaust denier. I call on the international community to condemn Abu Mazen’s grave antisemitism.” US officials including Jason Greenblatt and Ambassador to Israel David Friedman also strongly condemned Abbas.

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Power Deal
Israel has signed a 15-year, $775 million deal with the Palestinian Authority to put electricity distribution for Palestinians in the West Bank in PA hands and build four power plants. Israel currently supplies electricity to the Palestinians. The Gaza Strip is not included in the deal.

As part of the new deal, the PA will pay off a 915-million-shekel debt to the state-owned utility Israel Electric Corp (IEC), while taking charge of the distribution of electricity to West Bank Palestinians. The IEC will sell power to the Palestinian Electricity Transmission Company (PETL) through four plants to be built by the IEC and PA. PETL will own the power plants and channel the electricity supply.

Israeli Finance Ministry Director-General Shai Babad said that the deal, “brings about a new reality in the Palestinians’ energy sector, reduces restrictions on electricity supply, strengthens economic stability…and opens a new era in economic relations between the two sides.”

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Guatemala Moves Embassy
Guatemala has started to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, transferring furniture and other equipment into a yet-unfinished office in the capital’s Malha Technology Park. Earlier this week, the Guatemalan flag was raised outside the building. PM Netanyahu tweeted, “I was moved to see the flag of Guatemala waving in Jerusalem in advance of the opening of the Guatemalan embassy later this month. Dear friends, welcome back to our eternal capital!”

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Kabbalistic Wedding
Tonight, hundreds of thousands of Jews will celebrate the “hilullah” of Rabi Shimon Bar Yochai (Rashbi), the second century sage who is believed to have authored the Zohar, the cornerstone text of the kabbala (Jewish mysticism), in Meron (near Tzfat), where he is buried. The Aramaic word “hillulah” literally means wedding, but it is used to commemorate the Rashbi’s day of death, during which he is believed to have revealed the deepest secrets of Kabbalah to his close circle of students (a good reason to celebrate).

The day is also Lag B’omer, the 33 day in the traditional counting of the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot. During that time period the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva (the Rashbi’s teacher) were stricken by a plague and died as punishment for their lack of mutual respect and brotherly love. But on the 33rd day, Lag B’omer, the dying ceased.

The celebration at Meron is highlighted by the burning of a huge bonfire that is lit by many prominent Hassidic Rebbes, with the Boyaner Rebbe leading off the festivities. Thousands of smaller bonfires are also lit in the Meron area and throughout Israel — and barbecue, marshmallows and amores are often not far behind.
It’s also customary for young boys to get their first haircuts at Meron (after letting it grow until age 3), so barbers eagerly join the crowds and do a brisk business — as do vendors of all sorts of cabalistic amulets and charms.

Ten of thousands of people are camping out at Meron for Shabbat. Hundreds of buses carrying thousands more will be making the trek after Shabbat ends. Some rabbis have demanded that the celebration be moved to Sunday night so as to avoid potential desecration of Shabbat by people either traveling to or preparing for the event on Shabbat. But they were ignored. Tradition stands.

Any event that can bring together hundreds of thousands of Jews from different religious walks of life is something to celebrate. May the merit of Rashbi and the Jewish unity at Meron bless Israel and the Jewish People with peace and success.

Tragic Accident
Yesterday, 10 teenagers (12th graders) on a school trip in the Arava (southern Israel) were killed when they were swept away by a flash flood as they were hiking in a wadi (stream). The nine girls and one boy were students at the Bnei Zion pre-military academy in Tel Aviv. The other 15 students on the trip were rescued.

The dead students are: Ela Or from Ma’ale Adumim, Romi Cohen from Moshav Maor, Yael Sadan from Jerusalem, Maayan Barhum from Jerusalem, Agam Levy from Moshav Herut, Gali Balelli from Givatayim, Shani Shamir from Shoham, Adi Ra’anan from Moshav Mikhmoret, Tzur Alfi from Mazkeret Batya, also in central Israel and Illan Bar Shalom from Rishon LeZion. Seven of the teens are being laid to rest today. May their memory serve as a blessing for us all.

Israel Police has launched an investigation into the deaths of the teens. According to a police spokeswoman, the organizers of the trip from the pre-military academy ignored flash flood travel warnings issued for the area. Even many of the students expressed hesitation prior to the trip about heading to the area, which is prone to flash flooding. Two staff members of the school, including the principal, have been arrested and a third has been placed under house arrest.

To read more about the teens and to see their photos click here.

For more on the tragedy click here.

DM in Washington
Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman met yesterday with new US National Security Advisor John Bolton in Washington DC. The meeting was also attended by Jason Greenblatt and Jared Kushner. The DM will also visit the Pentagon to meet with US Defense Secretary James Mattis. The visit comes ahead of a May 12 deadline President Trump has set to decide on the fate of the Iran nuclear deal.

For further reading click here.

Knesset Rabbi
With Knesset Rabbi Alexander Hochman due to retire in a few months, the Knesset will be seeking a new rabbi — male or female. The rule that requires the Knesset rabbi to be ordained by the Chief Rabbinate has been found to be discriminatory against women and been removed. The new rules require applicants to possess a kashrut supervisor certificate from the Chief Rabbinate, which many women have.

The position of Knesset rabbi mostly entails handling the kosher supervision of parliament’s various kitchens, oversight over its synagogues and assorted religious services, installation and maintenance of mezuzot for its hundreds of chambers, sale of chametz before Passover and other duties.

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Jew Imprisoned
Yemenite news sites are reporting that a Jewish man, identified as Libby Salam Marchabi, was found guilty by the court in the capital of Sanaa, which is controlled by the Iranian backed Houthis, and sentenced to two years in prison for allegedly helping smuggle an ancient Torah scroll out of the country. The “crime” was committed in March of 2016, when Israel covertly brought 19 of Yemen’s remaining Jews to Israel. The Jews brought with them ancient manuscripts, including the Torah scroll.

For further reading click here.

Navy Shabbat
This is how Israel’s navy brings in the Shabbat – click here to watch.

Missiles to Syria
Russia is reportedly considering supplying the Syrian government with its powerful S-300 missile defense system, and has warned Israel that attacking it would be “catastrophic for all sides.” Russia had originally agreed to sell the system to Syria in 2010, but scrapped the plan at Israel’s request.

The Russian-made system offers long-range protection against both fighter jets and missiles. The system has been supplied by Moscow to Tehran, and deployed by the Russian army in Syria, alongside its more advanced iteration: the S-400.

Israeli officials have expressed concerns that selling the S-300 system to Damascus could weaken Israel’s regional air supremacy. Therefore, Israel might look to destroy the defense system, preferably before it is set up and made operational.

For further reading click here.

Terrorists Arrested
Israeli security forces arrested 19 wanted Palestinians early Sunday, including 15 Hamas members who were arrested in the Ramallah area. Among them was Khaled al-Din Hamed, a Hamas member from the Gaza Strip, and other senior members who received funding to carry out different assignments in their area of residence.

Meanwhile, Arab media outlets are reporting that a senior Hamas terrorist was killed in an explosion in northern Gaza. Three other terrorists were injured in the blast. It’s unclear whether the explosion was accidental or a result of a drone attack.

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Terrorist Assassinated
A Hamas-affiliated Palestinian engineer from the Gaza Strip was shot dead on Saturday near the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur by two people on a motorcycle. The assassination is being blamed on the Mossad. Israel denies the accusation. The engineer was an expert in rocket building.

For further reading click here.

Embassy Prep
The Foreign Ministry is busy preparing for the opening of the new US embassy in Jerusalem, which is scheduled for May 14. The ministry is planning for an 800 person US delegation led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are also expected to attend. Of course, all of Israel’s senior officials will be there too. Guatemala is scheduled to open its embassy in Jerusalem 2 days after the American opening.

For further reading click here.

Eurovision Yiddish
If you haven’t heard yet, Israel’s song entry in the annual Eurovision contest is Toy by Netta, which addresses issues related to the #MeToo movement. Well, now there’s a Yiddish version (parody).

To watch the music video click here.

Prayer for Israel
Check out this music video of a version of the prayer for the welfare of the State of Israel sung by acapella group Voices – click here.

Yom Hazikaron
Today is Yom Hazikaron, the day of remembrance, on which we pay remember and pay tribute to the members of Israel’s military and security services who paid the ultimate price serving and defending their country. We also mourn the victims of terror, who were murdered solely because they were Jewish and Israeli. The total of fallen since the founding of the state is 23,646.

The day was marked by a two unite long siren heard throughout Israel at 11am during which the entire country came to a halt. The official state memorial ceremony on Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl was attended by President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein and IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot.

PM Netanyahu said, “The people’s love is given to your fallen loved ones and our fallen loved ones every day, especially today.” He said, “All of us—Jews, Druze, Christians, Muslims, Bedouin and Circassians—stand together against the terror fanatics threatening to destroy us, and together we’ll keep defeating them.”

The PM recounted that an IDF orphan had asked him earlier this week about his thoughts while sending soldiers to battle. “I told him that I think about the security of the state and its citizens, I think about the soldiers, I think about you and families like your family which might pay the heaviest price of all. I think about my brothers in arms who died beside me, about David Ben Hamo of Be’er Sheva who died in my arms. I always think about the price and how to prevent deaths, and at the same time I know that without the heroism and sacrifice of our fighters, our existence can’t be secured. At moments of truth, we must defend our existence firmly, stand up to our enemies like a fortified wall. We are here thanks to the 23,646 fallen soldiers, whose names are on this wall.”

Speaking at a military cemetery in Tel Aviv, Defense Minister Lieberman said, “Here, in this place and in every military cemetery in Israel, there are no political parties or factions,” he began in his remarks in a bid to sweep aside political differences as the country unites to remember its fallen soldiers. Here, there are no tribes and no political camps, but only one camp—the children of Israel camp, who sacrificed their lives for Israel’s independence, for its security, for its future,” the defense minister continued, as he called on the nation to unite. Like them, who did not flinch from the dangers and understood that there is no other way, we must also do the same, in their memory and in their spirit, to be one nation and one camp against the challenges that the State of Israel faces.”

At a memorial ceremony for terror victims that took place at 1pm on Mount Herzl the PM said, “We have lost remarkable figures. When I look at the pictures and hear the stories, I immediately know, like all the people of Israel know, that the terrorists robbed us of huge souls. We will chase every despicable murderer while pursing our loved ones’ mission. We will settle the land, put down roots, build communities, strengthen mutual responsibility. Our culture of life and light wll defeat their culture of death and darkness. We have strength, willpower, persistence. We will all stand shoulder to shoulder and pass the torch of mission from hand to hand, from heart to heart.”

For further reading click here.

You can read more about today’s memorials and the heroism of the fallen on any of the Israel news publications and on https://israelforever.org/

Israel Independence Day, Yom Ha’atzmaut, is tonight and tomorrow.

May God accept the 23,646 who died in defense of Israel as our final sacrifice, and bless Israel with true peace.