Shifting Gears: War in Gaza Day 83

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Fighting in the South. The War in Gaza: Day 74

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Rockets, Rape & Revenge War: Day 61

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Fighting Resumes, Rockets Fly War Day 57

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Pause or Ceasefire? War Day 53

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Update-The Exchange: True or False

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Neither Fear Nor Panic: Only Rage War in Israel Day 44

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Going Steady War Day 39

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Winning Isn't Enough War: Days 34-36

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Hamastan War: Day 32

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A New Level

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Truth, Lies & Videotape War: Days 12 & 13

Jerusalem Magazine Dashboard 5 Truth, Lies, & Videotape War: Days 12 & 13 LARRY PRICE OCT 19, 2023                          US President Joe Biden meets in Israel with PM Netanyahu and “War Cabinet” US President Joe Biden was in Israel on Wednesday, Oct 18, for a five-hour visit. He met with Israel’s “War Cabinet” in a safe room of the Kapinski hotel in Tel Aviv. Reportedly, Biden was in Israel to not only show support for Israel but also to insure that Israel stayed within the boundaries of acceptable conduct while conducting the war in Gaza. He said that the USA and Israel were democracies that respected the rule of law unlike the terrorists who did not. Biden also stressed that Israel needed to be sensitive to the humanitarian needs of the Gaza population. The war began when Hamas terrorists crashed through the Israeli border fence from Gaza with 2,500 fighters. By the latest estimates, Hamas terrorists killed at least 1,400, taking 203 hostage, including Americans, French, Argentinian and others, leaving 309 recovering in the hospital with over 80 in critical condition. The army spokesman also said that so far over 300 Israeli troops have been killed, including 70 from the Golan brigade. Biden said that the USA stands “Shoulder to shoulder” with Israel. He pointed out that “America has Israel’s back.” He also said that the USA had sent two aircraft carriers into the region. Analysts say this move was to deter Iran, it’s proxies like Hezbollah in Lebanon, and other enemies of Israel from assuming Israel was in a weakened condition due to this attack and the internal strife over the Judicial Reforms pushed by PM Netanyahu. The push for Judicial Reforms resulted in a month of protests that included reserve soldiers and pilots refusing to do their reserve duty. Biden also said the US was supplying Israel with unspecified advanced weaponry to defend itself. Observers say these supplies included sophisticated intelligence gathering equipment, access to US intelligence organizations, bunker buster bombs and planes to carry them, as well as ammunition to refill the Iron Dome missile defense system. Some analysts also said that Biden came to Israel, following on the heels of US Sec. of State Blinken and US Sec. of Defense Austin, because there is concern among the US hierarchy of Netanyahu’s ability to successfully manage the war. And to make certain the conflict didn’t spread and become regional. Analysts have said that Netanyahu has repeatedly placed politics over security, pointing to the errors stressing Judicial Reforms even when warned that this was weakening Israel strategically. Others point to the cabinet, and even the war cabinet, made up of Netanyahu cronies and yes men. Of late, Netanyahu formed a National Unity Government with opposition leader Benny Gantz. He also formed a smaller War Cabinet and allowed Gantz a seat along with former chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot. But it is unclear, say the observers, how much influence these military men have on the cabinet. Or even who is making the decisions. Some observers have begun to question Netanyahu’s fitness for his position citing mental health issues exhibited by a possible denial of the current reality. Netanyahu has also been criticized for not holding any press conferences. According to Danny Kushmaro of Channel12TV, “Netanyahu stands up and speaks and then leaves, never allowing any questions.” However, the government has so far not admitted any errors. Minister of Communications Shlomo Karhi told a reporter firing questions at him as he walked through the Knesset, “Apologize? For what? We did nothing wrong.” Karchi was one of the voices calling for the Judicial Reforms and castigating those who joined the protests, including those in the military. Channel 12 TV’s political analysts Avraham Rabinovitch said that the Chief-of-Staff Herzi HaLevi, as well as the head of the Shin Bet (Israel’s FBI) Ronen Bar, and Maj. Gen Aharon Haliva, head of Military Intelligence, and others have all admitted they should have known of the impending attack. “Everyone but Netanyahu. Why doesn’t he go on TV and admit he made a mistake.” Rabinovitch then called on Netanyahu to resign. The Times of Israel reported that Tazachi HaNegbi, head of the National Security Council and a long-time Netanyahu ally, appeared on TV and admitted, “I was wrong,’ so were others, about Hamas being deterred.” Hanegbi also said that Israel wouldn’t negotiate until Hamas was destroyed. “Hamas will not be the ruler, the sovereign, in Gaza after the war.” When asked why Netanyahu had not taken responsibility for the catastrophe HaNegbi ignored the question and went onto other issues. The displaced Gaza Strip residents were also critical of the government. Channel 11 Kan TV’s Michael Steinman reported that many people had been relocated from their destroyed homes to hotels and hostels in the center of the country but were now told that the government wouldn’t pay for their housing past the end of the week. These displaced people were asked to raise the money themselves for their own housing. Or go home. “But they don’t have a home.” Videotape Channel 11 Kan TV news showed videotape taken from a body camera lifted from a Hamas terrorist killed in the fighting to clear the terrorists from the Gaza Strip settlements. The video showed Hamas terrorists on motorcycles, carrying RPGs (rocket propelled grenades) and automatic weapons,  breaking through the three lines of defense the Israeli military had set up to stop attacks and thought impenetrable.  The terrorists used bolt cutters or explosives to get through two of the fences, each a hundred meters apart, and finally more explosives to blow holes in the 18-ft tall concrete wall. Then the video showed how easily the terrorists invaded the Israeli settlements, firing indiscriminately, killing defenseless men, women and children.  North According to Channel 11 TV news Ohad Hemo, Hezbollah was unaware of the planned Hamas attack. “Had Hezbollah been aware of the attack and coordinated an attack with Hamas the catastrophe would have been much greater. Iran’s proxy Hezbollah, that essentially controls Lebanon, has limited their attacks on Israel, being very careful not to escalate the tit-for-tat into a full-scale war.  Israeli media reports that Hezbollah has been warned that should they cross the red line of moderated response Israel will decimate Hezbollah and the parts of Lebanon they inhabit and call home. Hezbollah continues to fire missiles into Israel. A number were fired on Wednesday and Thursday. Israel has responded with artillery fire. “Israel is capable of fighting a war on two fronts without US aid,” said Tomer Hyman, former head of Israel’s military intelligence, on Channel 12 TV news.  Lies and Truth At 18:59 on October 17, 2023 an explosion occurred on the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital grounds. Even now, according to CNN, it is unclear how many people were injured. NPR reported that the parking lot of the hospital had been used by Gazans seeking safety from Israelis aerial attacks on Hamas targets, thinking that the Christian hospital grounds were safe. But an explosion went off in the parking lot. The hospital building was untouched. Hamas immediately blamed an Israeli bomb. And issued a press release saying hundreds of Gazans were killed indicating that the hospital was hit and patients killed. The world’s media jumped on the story without checking the facts and news of the event and Israel’s culpability spread like fire on dry grass. The army spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari appeared on TV saying Israel would investigate the explosion but had no knowledge of Israel’s culpability. Experts appeared on Israeli tv panels doubting Israel’s involvement. An Israeli bomb leaves a crater ten feet deep and twenty feet across. This explosion had no crater. Channel 12tv news looked at the footage they had from a video camera they’d recently set up in the southern town of Netivot with a clear view of Gaza.  In studying the video, that was shown on TV, they saw that the volley of rockets, launched by Islamic Jihad near a cemetery behind the hospital, went airborne except for one missile that misfired and fell onto the hospital grounds. The army spokesman showed this footage, as well and before and after footage of the hospital parking lot, and said that it was clear that an Islamic Jihad missile had misfired. “This was not unusual. Since they began firing rockets into Israel over 450 have misfired.” Islamic Jihad Missiles launched (left) and landing on hospital grounds (right)  The army spokesman also played audio that was captured by Israeli listening posts of a conversation between two Hamas operatives. The conversation made it clear that the explosion was called by an errant Islamic Jihad missile. U.S. President Joe Biden, in meeting with Israel’s “War Cabinet” told the press that the Pentagon had looked at their satellite images and confirmed that Israel had not caused the disaster. “It was the other team,” Biden said. Still, the fact that Israel wasn’t responsible had much less impact than the initial Hamas disinformation. No sooner had Hamas made the claim than international news outlets broadcast the video clips and information provided by Hamas without checking the facts.  Roi Case of Channel 11 Kan TV said, “The result was more than Hamas could have hoped for.” He added, “When Mohammed Dieff planned this attack, he thought that Hezbollah would join the war, and the Arabs in the West Bank, and Israeli Arabs in the north of Israel. That didn’t happen. But now, with this Hamas lie accusing Israel, there is an uprising of Arab support Dieff didn’t get when the Hamas terrorists invaded Israel.” Impact of Lies Media reports protests breaking out in France, England  and other places. In Tunis a synagogue was set on fire. In Argentina the Israeli and US Embassy’s were hit with bomb threats. Protests have been organized in Britain. A synagogue was firebombed in Germany in response to the explosion at the Gaza hospital.  New York City is reportedly a hub of pro-Palestinian support. “Kidnapped” posters calling for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas have been torn down around the city.  In France, Nice’s Algerian born footballer Youcef Atal has been suspended by the football team and reprimanded for showing support for Hamas.  In Britain, popular Liverpool soccer star Egyptian born Mohammed Salah has called for humanitarian aid for Gazans. The New York Times admitted that they’d been hasty in reporting that Israel was responsible for the explosion. NPR was lukewarm in their apology saying that all the information was not yet in. The Huffington Post wrote that Israel was apparently not to blame for the explosion but took decidedly pro-Palestinian slant to their reporting. Both NPR and the Huffington Post have a progressive market they need to please, said one observer. However, according to Ynetnews, even US progressive Democrat Ilhan Omar has said that Israel was not to blame for the Gaza hospital explosion. Channel 12TV news reported that the British now realize that all of the reports coming from Hamas are not reliable. The BBC, the commentator said, is another matter. Many outlets were not endorsing the US-Israel narrative. Rob Picheta’s CNN reported that “The devastating Gaza hospital blast is shrouded in uncertainty.”  The report also stated, “Several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq issued statements condemning Israel and accusing its military of bombing the hospital.” CNN continued that even though Israel, backed by the USA have shown the blast to be a misfired missile, still  CNN reported, “Palestinian officials and several Arab leaders nevertheless accuse Israel of hitting the hospital amid its ongoing airstrikes in Gaza. Islamic Jihad – a rival group to Hamas – has denied responsibility.”  CNN also reported that “…thousands of protesters shouting anti-Israel slogans gathered in Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Egypt, and Tunisia. Protests also rocked the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah.” The worry, according to the Israeli media was that these denials, half-hearted or not, were too little too late. Those who had heard the original Hamas lies chose to believe them despite proof to the contrary. Qatar based Al-Jazeera still supports the Hamas false narrative. Egypt, Jordan and the PA declined to meet with US President Biden to discuss the present situation after the hospital explosion was blamed on Israel. Reportedly, the leaders of these countries feared an uprising by their own populations. Egypt has long been fighting the Islamic Brotherhood, a sister organization of Hamas. The Hamas lies could well inspire Hamas sympathizers to try to overthrow the leaders of Egypt, Jordan and the PA. One analyst pointed out that Muslims make up nearly a quarter of the world’s population. 6% of the population of Europe was Muslim, about 28 million people. European leaders were worried about these Muslims rising up and violently protesting the events in Gaza. Moslems make up 6.5% of Great Britain but according to the Guardian newspaper 39% live in poverty stricken areas.   One of the messages US President Biden carried to Israel was that Israel should not attack Hezbollah in the north because the US did not want to see this conflict spiraling into a world war, bringing in Iran and her allies, like Russia and China. On Thursday, October 19, 2023, Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sumak flew into Israel. He said, “I want you to know that the UK and I stand with you. He said he absolutely defended Israel’s right to defend itself.” He also said that there should be humanitarian aid to Gaza.” Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Sholz had been in Israel earlier in the week with similar sentiments. Humanitarian Aid Egypt has agreed to open up the Rafiah border crossing to allow in humanitarian aid. Reportedly, 20 trucks of food and medical supplies are lined up at the border. At the outbreak of the war Israel cut off supplies, electricity and water to Gaza, although turned back on the water after a day. Electricity, according to media reports, has never been reliable in Gaza and many homes are powered by gas-driven generators. At the start of the war, Israel also bombed Hamas supplies going into Rafiah. But has agreed to allow the convoys pass. This despite fierce opposition by protest groups made up of the families of the Israeli hostages that have formed against the humanitarian aid.    Protest by some families of those held hostage Many in Israel, like ultra-right Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, are demanding that the international community concern itself with the hostage crises as a humanitarian issue not only supplies for Gazans. Still, US President Biden has made it clear he supports humanitarian aid for Gazans, many of whom he says are innocent civilians. Some media reports liken to Gazans to hostages themselves, hostages of Hamas. Former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, head of the Yesh  Atid party, told an international press conference today that the war wasn’t Hamas against Israel, but rather Hamas against Israel and the Palestinians and in fact Hamas against all of us. Like Isis. Israel has said it would allow in the humanitarian aid as long as it was not going to be used by Hamas. An Israeli spokesman reportedly said that should the goods wind up in Hamas’ hands, Israel would seal up the Rafiah crossing.  The War Hamas continues to fire rockets into Israel Wednesday night, some landing as far as Tel Aviv. On Thursday, sirens sounded once again in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. There were no reports of injuries. So far citizens have been evacuated from the Gaza strip, settlements and cities near the Gaza and Lebanese borders. Over 80% of the Southern seaside city of Ashkelon have been evacuated and the entire city of Sderot. The army spokesman’s office said that Israel destroyed hundreds of Hamas targets overnight, between Wednesday and Thursday, including missile sites, tunnels, intelligence infrastructure and various command centers. The IDF also killed  Rafat Abu Hilal, head of the Rafiah Military Wing of BPRC (Gaza Popular Resistance Group) the third largest terrorist organization in Gaza after Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Abu-Hilal was reportedly responsible for some of the groups that attacked the Israeli settlements.  According to the Times of Israel, the IDF also targeted several members the Nukhba commando force that led the Oct 7 slaughter in the Gaza Strip settlements.  According to Ynetnews, The IDF said on Thursday that security forces arrested some 63 Hamas operatives and 80 terror suspects who were detained in overnight West Bank raids including Hassan Yusaf, the head Hamas in the West Bank. This brings the number of West Bank suspects in custody since the Hamas attack on October 7, to 524.  The army spokesman along with military analysts said the upcoming battle in Gaza would be long and hard. Israel is still preparing for the invasion of Gaza. Troops are gathering on the border and being supplied with necessary equipment. 100,000 bullet-proof vests with ceramic inserts, and helmets, have yet to arrive from suppliers.   Suspected N. Korean RPGs with red strip The IDF has also shown evidence that some of the weapons used by the Hamas terrorists were made in north Korea, long a supplier of arms to the Palestinians.  Israel media says that so far Israel is playing by the rules set out by the USA mainly to continue receiving needed supplies for attack and deterrence. 

Tragedy and Revenge

Lutz family in Kfar Aza killed by Hamas terrorists in their home The tragedies are still nearly impossible to comprehend, said one observer. Entire families, like the Lutz family in Kfar Aza massacred in their own home. All day, and every night the Israeli public watches the news and there are always more horror stories. A mother and father, Yona and Ofer Levy appeared on Channel 12tv News telling anchorman Danny Kasharov, broadcasting outdoors from near the southern town of Sderot, how their daughter Inbar was kidnapped at the Re’em music festival. A clip of Inbar’s kidnapping was shown to the public, but Yona and Ofer asked the TV screen be turned off on Kasharov’s make-shift desk so they didn’t have to watch their daughter stuffed into the back of an SUV by armed Hamas terrorists. A commentator said one could only pity the poor girl since it didn’t take much imagination to picture what would happen to her. Apparently her mother Yona could. She was in tears, broken, sobbing, pleading with the government to do something to get her daughter back. Soon Kasharov was also in tears. He turned the broadcast back to the main studio and anchor Yonit Levi. The Army Spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari ,appeared on TV at 20:00 and announced that so far 199 hostages have been identified. Yaron Blum, a hostage negotiator, told Channel 12 TV that number was not the end. Other experts speculated that the announcement that 1,300 people were massacred in the Hamas invasion was also not final. Intelligence reports now say that approximately 3,000 Hamas terrorists broke into Israel on Oct 7, 2023. Some of the weapons captured by the Yalom unit The army has now evacuated all residents along the Gaza fence from a distance of 0-2km. Reportedly, some of the Hamas terrorists may still be roaming free and planning to attack. As the TV broadcasts goes on, said one pundit, the blood of those Israelis watching the horrific images starts to boil until only revenge would assuage their rage. Gen (ret) Israel Ziv, appearing on Channel 12tv news said, “I went and visited these settlements.The terrorists were in them for hours. They killed the residents in cold blood one after another.” During the prime time news broadcasts of all the station, there are four, Hamas fired a non-stop volley of rockets that reached as far as Tel Aviv. The rocket fire continued for the three hours of the extended nightly news. Danny Kasharov, of Channel 12 TV, said that the heavy attacks usually took place as the prime time broadcasts began. Most of the rockets were met by Iron Dome anti-missile missiles. Some fell on homes and apartment buildings. Ashkelon was hit hard absorbing scores of rockets. On Monday night the government announced that those residents of Ashkelon without safe rooms, 40% of Ashkelon, would be evacuated to government hotels in the center of the country.. The UN and others have worried that there would be a Humanitarian Crises in Gaza as Israel cut off electricity and fuel supplies and as more than 500,000 residents have fled, some to southern Gaza. Today, Israel allowed the Gaza border crossing into Egypt to open for several hours allowing the entry of fuel and food. Israel had already opened up the water supply they controlled. Israel was careful to stay within the law. And since Israel is not occupying Gaza, that is an independent entity with no Israeli troops inside, Israel cannot be accused of war crimes since they are not an occupying army. Israel has also made it clear that even if it were to invade Gaza Israel has no intention of staying and occupying Gaza and the 2.2 million residents there. Roi Case of Channel 1 Kan TV reported that UNRWA (United National Relief and Works Agency) said that Hamas had appropriated a shipment of humanitarian goods meant for the general population. UNRWA later denied the report. Critics said the denial came because the UNRWA officials feared reprisals from Hamas. “What happened to the humanitarian crises with our Israelis held hostage? Isn’t that a humanitarian crises?” asked one observer “Why isn’t anyone doing anything about that? Why isn’t the Red Cross demanding to see them?” “Why aren’t countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia demanding Hamas release the prisoners,” asked one of the families of the kidnapped Israelis. A heated debate took place on Channel 11 Kan TV between popular radio personality Jacki Levi and Channel 11 Kan’s political reporter Michael Shemesh. Levi said that five of his family members had been kidnapped by the Hamas terrorists and he was very angry. “Why didn’t the government know about the attack? Why haven’t they come on TV and apologized, asked Levi. Shemesh defended the government, and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Levi was having none of it and said, “There is no leadership in Israel. Uri Sharon, the military correspondent of Channel 11 Kan said that Netanyahu had met with families of those kidnapped. The screen showed the scene of Netanyahu greeting family members. Then a couple came in ostensibly uninvited. Sharon was skeptical and asked how could that possibly happen when no one was allowed anywhere near Netanyahu without a thorough background check. He hinted strongly that the scene was staged and the new arrivals were functionaries of Netanyahu’s Likud party. Avigdor Leiberman of the Yisrael Beitanu party spoke on a TV panel and said he was backing the National Unity Government but would not join the cabinet unless he could contribute to the scaled down and influential War Cabinet. “I don’t need to be minister number 37 in the general cabinet. I don’t want an office or a budget. I want to contribute.” Leiberman had been both Finance Minister and Defense Minister in the past. Leiberman also said that he’d visited the Israeli villages in the south and in one saw a bloody toy teddy bear and a little girl holding it with her brains blown out. “They are worse than the Nazis and the SS,” he said. Gen (ret.) Yisrael Ziv, also on the panel, said that the War Cabinet needed people with experience guiding the war especially as the Israeli invasion of Gaza approached. “I have no dealings with Leiberman, but he has a wealth of experience and the War Cabinet could use men like him who know how to manage a crises.” Some media reports state that Sarah Netanyahu, wife of the Prime Minister, is against allowing Leiberman a seat in the War Cabinet because he has strongly come out against Netanyahu for the Judicial Reforms push, that some say led to the present quagmire. Sarah Netanyahu also came under fire when the Civil Authority, in charge of hiring and firing government staff, was pressured to fire the Prime Minister’s Wife’s Chief of Staff for calling those who criticized the prime minister “Leftists” and “Traitors.” Meanwhile, Gen. Herzi HaLevi, the Army Chief of Staff, called a press conference today and publicly took blame for the failure to stop the Hamas terrorist’s attack. But he said that investigations would be carried out after the war but the goal now was to win the war and destroy Hamas. Channel 12 TV also ran clips from the army outposts along the Gaza border fence, with Israeli soldiers reporting on the Gazans setting fires and explosive charges and shooting at Israelis. These reports were being filed daily for nearly two weeks, but were not taken seriously by the army higher ups. Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet (Israel’s FBI) also appeared on TV and accepted blame for the intelligence failure of not catching the Hamas terrorists before they launched their attack. The media also ran clips of a Hamas Terrorist unit preparing for the attack, something the Shin Bet should have been aware of. Likud minister Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak told the media that in a normal country Netanyahu would resign.” The communities along the Gaza Strip have been evacuated. Some to hostels and some to hotels. However, many have to pay for the housing out of their own pocket since the government has still not allocated funds for their evacuation and relocation. Ehud Gilad, of the ‘Soldiers From ’73 War Association,’ whose members have volunteered to help with the refugees, said only volunteers and municipal authorities were dealing with the refugees. “The government is not here. The municipal authorities are filling the gap.” A social worker appeared on TV and said that there were thousands of refugees and the government had approached the social workers to volunteer to help them and to work for free. Minister for Culture and Sport, Miki Zohar appeared on TV and also admitted that the government had made mistakes. He denied there was chaos with the refugees but admitted he hadn’t gone to visit. When asked if he thought Netanyahu was to blame he said ‘You’d have to ask him.” There were also stories of great heroism. Small groups of men grabbed their weapons to defend their homes, killing terrorists before they themselves were killed. Some successfully defended kibbutz Re’em fighting off the terrorists, outnumbered 40 to 6, until they were luckily rescued by an Israeli unit supported by a tank. In one incredibly brave act, Corporal Matan Avargil and his unit were in a firefight with Hamas terrorists at Kibbutz Nir Am when Avargil saw a hand grenade lobbed at his unit. Avergil ,without thinking, fell on the grenade, absorbing the blast, sacrificing himself to save his comrades. IRAN US Sec of State Anthony Blinken has returned to Israel after visiting the moderate Arab states in the region reportedly trying to cobble together some type of coalition to oppose Iran should that country decide to enter the war. Blinken has been sitting in on Israel’s War Cabinet meetings, and one critic said that Blinken’s presence makes it look as if Israel cannot handle this crises alone. Another pundit said perhaps Blinken is there because the US realizes Israel, under Netanyahu’s leadership, is incapable of handling this crises alone. To highlight the US commitment to Israel, the Army Spokesman said that the USA has sent the US Aircraft Carrier Eisenhower into the region to join the Gerald R. Ford attack group. The spokesman also said the US has supplied planes capable of carrying heavy bomb loads. Some speculate that these are aircraft that can carry the bunker-buster bombs that can penetrate reinforced concrete, weigh between 5 and 15 tones, depending on the ordnance and are dropped one after another in the same spot to reach maximum depth. These bombs can be used to decimate the underground bunkers where Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and his staff are hiding. Other commentators say that the reason Blinken is back in Israel after Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had just left, was to show that America had a lot invested in Israel survival. Their presence and that of the American supplies, ships and planes, as well as a steady airlift of arms and ammunition, were meant as a warning to Iran and other actors like China and Russia, to stay out of the fight. Some are concerned should other state actors enter the fray this could easily lead to World War III. However, one Historian, Prof. S., who has written many books on war, said that “… So called statesmen have a habit of being drawn into conflicts because they feel committed to allies and friends. I think the main difference here is that many of the players have nuclear weapons, which might rein in their recklessness.” Meanwhile, the rumors are flying in the Israeli media that U.S. President Biden will make a snap visit to Israel in the next few days to show solidarity with Israel, and also, some observers say, to underline the warning to Iran, and other parties, that any attack on Israel will be met with a firm American response. Biden has become a favorite in Israel, according to observers, who say he is proving himself to be a true friend. One pundit used a quote of Biden’s saying that he’d taken each of his children to the Dachau concentration camp once they turned 14 to show them the face of evil. Biden has called the Hamas attack on the Israeli settlements “pure evil." HEZBOLLAH The Hezbollah terrorist organization, sponsored and controlled by Iran, is based in Lebanon. Hezbollah has been a concern for the Israeli army, not wanting to have to fight a war on two fronts, and give Iran an excuse to enter the war. Israel has been careful not to over-react to Hezbollah rocket fire. One missile landed in the northern border on Kibbutz Schtula killing a construction worker and injuring two others. Israel responded with artillery fire taking out a guard tower in Lebanon. This tit-for-tat went on during the day with five separate exchanges. However, both sides were careful not to go too far. Ohad Hemmo of Channel 12 TV called this a “War of Attrition.” He also said that, “If Hezbollah enters this war they’ll be set back 100 years” after Israel finishes with them. The government of Lebanon has told Hezbollah that Lebanon does not want Hezbollah entering the war. However, experts point out that the Lebanese government has little power over Hezbollah. According to Tomer Hyman, former head of Israel’s Military Intelligence, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was not put in power by Iran to defend Hamas leader Sinwar in Gaza, but to be the rear guard protecting Iran. “And he better no do anything to change those orders.” Just in case Hezbollah does enter the war, Israel has evacuated 27,000 Israelis from 28 settlements that are between 0-4 kilometers along the northern border, relocating them to government sponsored hotels and guesthouses. THE COMING BATTLE Israel has been pounding Gaza from the air for days. Pinpoint targets, said Nir Dvori, Channel 12 TV’s military correspondent. The Palestinians claimed that 3,000 Gazans have been killed in the fighting. Israel is repeatedly carrying out bombings aimed at buildings housing Hamas operatives and operations. Israel also captured hundreds of Hamas terrorists during the fighting to clear the Gaza border settlements and these prisoners have given Israeli intelligence several hundred new targets. Experts say that some of this intelligence information will be used to disable the traps Hamas has set for Israel once the ground invasion begins. But, say observers, Israel is in no hurry to rush into Gaza. Channel 12TV’s Nir Dvori said, first Israel will hit as many Hamas leaders as they can. Today they took out the head of Hamas’ military intelligence for Khan Yunis. In the last few days they’d taken out other mid-level Hamas operatives. 2.) Israel will continue to attack targets from the air. 3.) Then comes the land invasion. Dvori pointed out how important it was that Israel received legitimization from none other than the President of the United States to carry out this operation. According to Gen (ret.) Israel Ziv, “The army has to go into Gaza prepared. Supplied with all the equipment they need. Trained to do what they need to do.” Observers pointed out that the 350,000 reserve troops called up for the war were now undergoing exercises, collecting their necessary gear, learning their roles. “When they go in, they’ll go in ready,” said Ziv. An Hassidic father from the anti-Zionist Toldot Ahron group kisses his son a paratroop, going off to war. This only shows how solidly the home front is behind this effort.Even communities that were at odds have found themselves embracing. Fund-raising campaigns abound to collect money for the shortfall Israel’s soldiers have reported, like bullet-proof vests with ceramic plates, helmets, even Go Pro action cameras to record the activities. The sites like Jgive, a non-profit, has a list of organizations and army units asking for donations. Channel 12tv’s Danny Kasharov said that Hamas had picked the wrong generation to mess with. His colleague Nir Dvori said “The spirit of the Israeli soldiers will be the deciding factor in the war. That’s why Israel will win. The spirt is very high.” Pointing to the pro-Hamas protests in Britain, and the synagogues defaced in Germany, Gen (ret.) Yossi Peled told Channel 11 Kan TV that Israel has to win this war. He said that if the IDF doesn’t win, the Jews around the world would be in danger.”

Unconditional Surrender Expected: War Day 7, Oct 13, 2023

Approximately 1500 dead over 3000 injured so far from the Hamas invasion into southern Israel of over 2500 terrorists. Over 6000 rockets have been fired into Israel from Gaza. Israel continues to bomb Gaza. The Israeli army has also warned residents of northern Gaza to evacuate the area within 24-hours. Hamas expects a massive ground invasion at any time. Hamas has told these residents not to leave. The army spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagar has warned the residents of Gaza not to be used as human shields. Military analysts said that the air force is expected to bomb targets in northern Gaza irrespective if civilians are in buildings. While the UN warns of a humanitarian crises, Channel 12tv new’s Ohad Hamo said he has been in touch with people in Gaza and was told there is no humanitarian crises. “They have water and food and medicine. Israel knows it is important not to put Gaza into a humanitarian crises. Israel needs legitimacy in the international courts despite that the Judicial Reform activists said Israel’s courts should be able to be involved in military decisions.” Hamo also said that sources in Gaza said that Hamas “didn’t expect to be in this bad a situation within a week of their attack.” Hamo echoed other analysts saying that Hamas expected that their invasion would spark a general uprising among Israeli Arabs, Palestinians in the West Bank, and Hezbollah in Lebanon. “None of that happened,” said Hamo. “Plus the cruel way they butchered Israelis has isolated them from the international community.” Another report added that the Israeli army had found tents, shaving equipment, and other supplies indicating that Hamas had expected to stay in Israel for an extended period. Alon Davidi, the mayor of Sderot, one of the southern towns hit hard by the Hamas missiles and by terrorists, told Chanel 1tv news that he’d been going from funeral to funeral “The government shouldn’t listen to those saying the invasion of Gaza will take a heavy toll on Gaza. The area has to be cleared of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. A new era is needed. It’s either them or us.” However, some analysts who said that Hamas was an existential threat to Israel were exaggerating. “Hamas is not strong enough to destroy Israel, or the Jewish people,” analyst Shmuel Rosner told Channel 1tv news. “But we don’t want to have to hide in closets, pretending we’re not Jews.” Gen. Giora Eiland, former head of Military Intelligence, told a panel on Channel 12tv news that “In February 1943, US President Roosevelt met at the Tehran Conference with Britain’s Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the Soviet Union’s Joseph Stalin. At that conference it was decided that the Nazi government of Germany would have to “Surrender with no preconditions.” Eiland said the same should be true of Hamas. “If Hamas sits on floors 4 & 5 with civilians above or below in the building, previously we’d inform the residents to clear out. This is not necessary in international law. If we want to have total war we must take the necessary steps. We can’t worry about humanitarian criticism.” In ’43 the USA and Britain understood this, said Eiland. He pointed out that Hamas hid their rockets and ammunition and headquarters under hospitals and schools. “What to do? The have to evacuate the hospitals. The international community should be called in to help do this.” Eiland said that in 1982 when Israel was at war with the PLO in Lebanon, PLO leader Yassir Arafat said that Beirut would be their Stalingrad. Israel proceeded to bombarded parts of Beirut into rubble. “I was a brigade commander then. When it came time for troops to enter Beirut, we just walked in. The PLO had fled.” He hinted that the same would be true of Gaza. As to Hezbollah entering the fray and making this a two front war he said, “As long as we don’t make make mistakes, Hezbollah will stay out.Every day that passes lessens the chance of their involvement.” A Hezbollah spokesman said later that Hezbollah would enter the fight “when we are ready.” According to Israel radio’s Reshet Bet, Hamas lobbed a long range rocket that fell, for the first time, in the port of Haifa. The rocket was intercepted by a David’s sling. However, missiles did fly out of the north today, landing in an open field in near Haifa. Sirens were heard in the north. The norther border town of Metulla was evacuated. The rockets were few from the North. Most were fired from Gaza. Hamas unleashed a fierce attack on Ashkelon on Friday morning lobbing over 60 rockets on the seaside city. An hour later another attack, with one rocket landing on a building with no injuries. Nir Dvori, military correspondent of Channel 12tv news said that since the war began over 1000 missiles had been fired at Ashkelon out of the total of 6000 fired at Israel. He said the attack this morning was meant to look for holes in the Iron Dome. Also, to catch Israelis in Gaza unaware. “It is Friday. People came out of their bomb shelters to shop and prepare for Shabbat. Hamas took advantage of that.” A poll conducted by Israel’s newspaper Maariv showed that support for Prime Minister Netanyahu and his Likud party had dropped precipitously. If an election were held to day Benny Gantz’s National Unity party would win 41 seats (out of 120 Knesset seats) and Netanyahu’s Likud only 19. Asked who was better suited to lead Israel 48% said Benny Gantz and 29% Netanyahu. Those polled said that in spite of the Hamas attack, 72% still trusted the IDF. Gen. Giora Eiland was highly critical of Netanyahu’s 20-minute speech to the nation on Thursday night. “He spoke for 20-minutes and never sent a message of sympathy to those who had been attacked along the Gaza border.” Eiland pointed out that Netanyahu did take the opportunity to make clear that he’d not been informed of the impeding attack until a minute before it was launched.Rather, Netanyahu allowed the blame to fall on everyone else, the army, intelligence, even those in his own office. “Just not him when he is the one to blame. He is the one responsible. It’s a shame he’s trying to lay blame on the army, especially now, when the army is entering a big battle,” said Eiland. Eiland lauded Gen. Herzi HaLevi, who had appeared on TV earlier in the evening accepting blame for the Hamas attack, admitting the army and intelligence services had made mistakes. But, he said, the time for going into the deep investigation of what happened and who was to blame should be left until after the war. “Now is the time to fight and win.” News reports have been circulating that the USA had sent the Israelis a message six days before the Hamas attack that a major incident was coming. Reportedly, the Egyptians had warned Israeli officials of an impending major attack. However, PM Netanyahu has remained adamant that he knew nothing until a minute before the attacks. EIland said that Hamas made a critical error in thinking there would be a major uprising. “Through the horrific and sadistic acts they committed Hamas has isolated itself from the international community.” He said, however, that destroying Hamas as a military entity was possible but destroying Hamas completely was not since Hamas was also a religious movement and would, even if stripped of their military capability, still be around as a religious entity.” But, he added, “After their sadistic slaughter Hamas has to be destroyed.” The threat of terrorist attacks in the south is still on Israel’s radar. There are terrorists still roaming free after escaping the IDF sweep of the southern towns. Israel reportedly killed a number of terrorists in firefights over the last few days. This even though Army Spokesman has said that the south has been secured. There were also reports of two other incursions in the south, one near Kibbutz Zikim, the other near Nachal Oz, this by a terrorist flying an ultra-light aircraft similar to that used in the initial attack. Luckily for Israel, the Israeli people are not alone in this fight. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken was in Israel on Thursday and told the Israeli people in a television speech after meeting with Israel’s PM Netanyahu, that “The USA stands shoulder to shoulder with Israel. As long as there is a United States Israel is not alone.” US Sec. of Defense Lylod Austin, (l) Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ® On Friday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was in Israel meeting with Israel’s Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant. The two appeared before the press following Austin’s meeting with Gallant. Gallant told the press that Austin was shown into the “well,” the defence ministry’s inner sanctum at Israel’s version of the Pentagon in Tel Aviv. Gallant told Austin, “When you say you stand with us, you show up.” Gallant said that he’d shared with Austin Israel’s operational plans and capabilities. He said that others have tried to destroy Israel in the past and didn’t succeed Now the attacker is the one being attacked.” He said, “We will keep fighting until we win.” Austin told the press, “I’m here to make something perfectly clear. We stand with Israel, with the soldiers, and the families of the hostages. some who are Americans…This is not the time for neutrality,” Austin said. “Anyone who wants peace in the region must isolate Hamas.” Austin said that the cruelty he saw committed by Hamas reminded him of Isis. “Who were bloodthirsty, cruel, and looking for death…Make no mistake, American will make sure that Israel has what it needs to succeed.” He pointed out that, “Democracies like the US and Israel respect the rule of law.” Austin also said, “This is the time for resolve, not panic. “ He said that the US had sent the Gerald R. Ford (aircraft carrier) strike group into the region. “The US Department of Defense stands ready to provide what is needed…And as President Biden said, anyone who is thinking of reprisals there is one word for them, ‘Don’t.’” “The US has Israel’s Back, Austin said, and ended with “Shabbat Shalom.” Former Israel Ambassador to the US, Danny Alon told Channel 1tv news, “Since 1948 there has not been a US government as supportive, who acted as quickly, as this one. What we have here is a ‘Pearl Harbor’ scenario, as the US sees it. Still he said the US expects Israel to provide a humanitarian corridor allowing Gazans to flee the impending attacks.

Chicken or Egg

The old riddle of which came first the chicken or the egg applied to the fierce cycle of violence that swept Israel this week. The apparent cause this time was an IDF raid into the northern West Bank city of Jenin, considered a stronghold of terrorist groups. Since last years wave of terror that reached the streets of Tel Aviv, the Israeli Army has been carrying out nearly nightly raids in the West Bank trying to curtail any new terrorist momentum by arresting men wanted for involvement in organizing and carrying out terrorist attacks.  According to the BBC, “Since the start of this year, at least 162 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, while 21 Israelis have been killed.” On June 19, 2023 the IDF went into Jenin, an area now controlled by terrorists, in force with a convoy of armored vehicles and hundreds of troops all to arrest two wanted terrorists. Usually, these raids go off smoothly with the army’s special units moving in, arresting the wanted men, and leaving. This time, according to observers, armed Palestinian groups, like the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and Iranian backed Hezbollah fighters were waiting. Roadside bombs that had been placed in advance of the raid exploded under or beside the Israeli vehicles. Five vehicles were disabled. Israeli soldiers in the vehicles were injured. Then a firefight broke out that lasted for hours.  For the first time since the Second Intifada two decades ago, an Israeli Apache attack helicopter entered the fray, blasting away at Palestinian positions. When the raid was over seven Israeli soldiers, including border policemen, had been rushed to the hospital, a few by rescue helicopter. According to the BBC, "The helicopter reportedly fired at militants on the ground while Israeli forces tried to extract soldiers.” One resident told local media: "We are unable to leave the house, it's a real war here. Apache helicopters are flying over our heads.” According to media reports, the Palestinian health ministry said five men and a 15-year-old boy, whom it named as Ahmed Yousef Saqr, were killed during the raid. More than 90 Palestinians were wounded, including a 15-year-old girl who local reports said was hit by a bullet which came through the wall of her home. She later died of her wounds. Israel had to send in heavy vehicles to remove those damaged by the roadside bombs. The Apache helicopters provided covering fire to help the  operation. The EU and the UN condemned the raid.  On Tuesday, Islamic Jihad claimed credit for the Jenin roadside bomb that wounded Israeli troops. On Wednesday, media reports said that two teenagers associated with Islamic Jihad, who were from the Balata refugee camp near Jenin, were killed in an apparent work accident while trying to assemble a bomb. Ehud Yaari, veteran Arab affairs correspondent, reported on Channel 12 TV news that Jenin and some towns around it were no longer under the control of the Palestinian Authority but were rather controlled by Palestinian terror gangs, many funded directly by Iran. According to Yaari most of the terrorists were under the age of 26 and unemployed, and disenfranchised, because they were too young to get work permits to enter Israel where most of the men in the West Bank found employment. Some pundits said that these young men were desperate to find work and angry at being turned away at the border. Israel has a profile system in place that tries to weed out potential problems like allowing young fighting age men into the country. Iran, said Yaari, was pouring money into these groups of young men who were also supported by Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, two groups that also received funds from Iran. REPRAISALS   The reprisals were not long in coming. On June 20, 2023 four Israelis were shot and killed, and four others injured, in a gas station near the West Bank Jewish settlement of Eli when two Palestinian gunmen drove into the gas station and opened fire with automatic weapons, killing Elisha Anteman, 17, Ofer Fayerman 64, Harel Masood 21, and Nachman Mordoff 17.   At the gas station Morel Nikel, a security guard at the Eli settlement, was sent to the scene. He said he arrived and opened fire at one of the gunmen, who fired back. He said he kept firing until the terrorist was killed but was hit twice himself, once in the leg and once in the shoulder. Nikel was hospitalized and in stable condition. The second gunman was found a few hours later and died when the IDF tried to arrest him. The four Israelis were buried on Wednesday June 21, 2023. Channel 1 Kan TV news reported that Hamas was responsible for providing the gunmen with the M-16 automatic weapons. And that Hamas and Ultra-Nationalist Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotritch had one thing in common, they wanted to see the demise of the Palestinian Authority. Other commenters have worried aloud what the situation would be once Palestinian Authority leader Abu Mazen, 86, passed on his chair to someone else. As of now the PA and Israel have a good security working relationship that Hamas would like to see end. On Wednesday the IDF issued a statement that following the deadly attack in the settlement of Eli, several additional battalions would be sent to the West Bank to bolster the troops already there. The Israeli government also issued a statement that 1,000 new apartments would be built in Eli in response to the killings. Jordan, the EU and the US have criticized the proposed expansion of the West Bank settlement. SETTLER RAMPAGE On Tuesday night, In response to the killing of the four Israelis, hundreds of settlers rampaged through the West Bank setting fire to fields, homes and cars.  According to the Times of Israel, on Wednesday, after the funerals of the four Israelis, 60 cars and 30 homes were damaged in the West Bank town of Turmus Ayya, near the Palestinian city of Ramallah, not far from the Eli settlement. At least a dozen Palestinians were wounded. There were no reports of Israeli arrests, although some unofficial sources said two Israelis were arrested on Tuesday night. Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Galant called on the settlers to obey the rule of law. He said that the IDF was fully capable of dealing with the situation. According to Israel TV’s Kan Channel 1, four months ago the IDF and the Shin Bet (Israel’s FBI) had dealt effectively with the settler rampage after two Israelis were killed driving through the Arab village of Hurawa. The IDF said they would find and arrest those responsible for the current rampage. Some called for immediate action. Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir called for a full scale invasion of the West Bank in order to quell the terrorism. His call was echoed by another Ultra-Nationalist, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotritch. However, government spokesmen said that no action of that scale would be taken without careful planning and execution. When asked about the two Ultra-Nationalists’ call for invasion of the West Bank and Israeli pilot still on active duty made a wry face and dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand. Media reports that Thursday night, settlers had started to rampage once again in the Arab city of Huwara, the scene of the killing of two Israeli settlers four weeks ago. One commentator said that given the present situation it was nearly impossible to pin down when the present cycle of violence began.  JUDICIAL REFORMS The Judicial Reforms that have roiled Israel for the last 24 weeks were dealt a setback today when Amit Bechar was elected the new head of the Israel Bar Association. The head of the Bar Association sits on the committee that choses Israeli judges, including the High Court. Normal turnout for this rather standard election ran about 20%, however this time more than 50% of those qualified turned out to vote. Amit Bechar, who is reportedly against the Judicial Reforms, defeated Efi Naveh, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s coalition candidate. Even so, Netanyahu has said that he will continue to advance the Judicial Reforms. Last Saturday Night protesters turned out for the 24th week in a row to express their opposition to the Judicial Reforms.  Aaron Barak, former head of the High Court, said that the protesters should continue their activities since that was the only tool available to them to prevent the undemocratic Judicial Reforms, under the present circumstances. WAR IN UKRAINE According to the Jerusalem Post, Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska is hopeful there will be a quick rollout of the Israeli early-warning systems that Israel has agreed to provide to Ukraine. She also hoped for “desperately needed” technology that Israel could provide. Israel has already provided humanitarian aid to Kyiv. Also according to the Jerusalem Post, Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential administration, has called on Israel to allow Ukraine to use Israeli made defensive weapons against Iranian-made drones now being used by Russia. Some pundits think that the current war in Ukraine allows the US and Israel to test weapons against Russia and Iran in ‘battlefield conditions.’ One correspondent recalled the late Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin saying that the US was using Israel to ‘battle test’ American weapons in the battles against Syria in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, and the same process is occurring again but with Israel using some weapons of its own. ARAB ISRAELI CRIME WAVE The Arab Israeli crime wave continues. Nearly 130 Arab Israelis have been killed this year in the on-going gang war taking place mostly in the north of Israel but also in places like Jaffa and even Ramat Gan. Last week a motor scooter exploded shortly after a gang member stepped away, seriously injuring him.   HEALTH The Sackler family, owners of the Purdue Pharma Company that was found partly responsible for the opioid epidemic, have agreed to remove the Sackler name from Tel Aviv University’s medical school.

Operation Shield & Arrow

Jerusalem Magazine Operation Shield & Arrow Here We Go Again LARRY PRICE MAY 12, 2023 When did it all start? Some say when Adam, the first man, was born and saw his son Cain kill Abel. Some say when the Prophet Abraham’s wife cast out her handmaiden Hagar and Ishmail, her son by Abraham, into the wilderness. Some say when Islam took root in the Middle East in the 8th century AD. Some say when the first pioneers arrived in Israel at the end of the 19th century. Some say when the State of Israel was established. When ever the conflict began the latest conflagration started a week ago when Israel simultaneously assassinated three Islamic Jihad leaders in a lightening strike against three separate locations in the Gaza strip. Operation Shield and Arrow Israel launched what the IDF called “Operation Shield and Arrow.” The first salvo was the attack was in reprisal for 106 rockets fired by Islamic Jihad, a terror group financed by Iran, a week earlier ostensibly as payback for the death of, and Islamic Jihad leader Khadar Adnan, 45, a baker and the father of nine, who died in an Israeli prison after a nearly three-month hunger strike. This was the third time sine 2011 that Adnan had been arrested and held without charges and the third time he’d gone on a hunger strike. According to the Prison Services Adnan was indicted by a military court on charges of involvement in an outlawed group and inciting violence. Reuters reported that Israel employs this type of detention when evidence cannot be revealed in court due to security needs. “Palestinians and rights groups say Israel routinely uses such detentions, which deny due process, to hold hundreds of Palestinians for prolonged periods of time.” Adnan, from the West Bank town of Arraba near Jenin, represented Islamic Jihad, a group based in Gaza, in the West Bank. His family and attorney say he was denied medical attention but Israeli prison services said he’d denied any medical care. Reuters also reported that, “Hundreds of people took to the streets in the occupied Palestinian territories to rally and mourn Adnan's death, which Palestinian leaders described as an assassination. In Gaza, Islamic Jihad began began firing rockets into Israel as a response to Adnan’s death. Hamas, the terror group that rules Gaza did not join in the firing but did nothing to stop it. Two people were injured when Islamic Jihad fired a hail of 106 rockets that fell in Sderot, a southern Israel town near the Gaza border. In an unusual turn of events Israel did not immediately respond strongly to the rocket attack but did strike a few Islamic Jihad weapons manufacturing plants and training bases. Gaza waited for the stronger Israeli response which, after a week, had not come. Thinking this round of fighting was over Islamic Jihad leaders came out from their underground bunkers. Three Islamic Jihad leaders, Kahil Bahitini, a veteran terrorist responsible for attacks in Israel going back decades, now a conduit for Iranian funds to Islamic Jihad Tarek Azaldin who reportedly directed Islamic Jihad activities in the West Bank from his command center in Gaza.and Jahid Ahnan, another veteran terrorist who handled money for Islamic Jihad. All three were killed in their upper floor apartments in high-rise buildings. Israel immediately went on high alert preparing for the inevitable response by Islamic Jihad. The big question was, would Hamas join in the fighting if and when Israel counter-attacked. Islamic Jihad, that has been described as a small group of criminals with a limited supply of missiles was not expected to be able to fight for long without Hamas. Experts said that Hamas had a lot more to lose than Islamic Jihad since Hamas controlled Gaza and was responsible for the citizens there, their well-being and their ability to earn a living in Israel. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from Gaza go to work in Israel every day. Hamas realized that should they enter the fray Israel would close off the borders and not allow workers to their jobs. Iran Reportedly had been putting a lot of pressure on Islamic Jihad to respond to the assassinations .Islamic Jihad was taking its time to respond, ostensibly because they were trying to get Hamas to join in the fighting and get backing from other Arab countries. In Israel, Itamar Ben Gvir, Minister of National Security, was pressuring the Netanyahu government to strike hard at Gaza in response to the missile attacks. And to mount a military operation in the West Bank. Ben-Gvir had been refusing to attend Knesset sessions and even speak to Netanyahu. The media speculated that Netanyahu’s government might fall. Other pressures, prior to the rocket attacks, came from Netanyahu’s coalition partners United Torah Judaism (UTJ) who threatened if a law guaranteeing draft deferral for yeshiva students wasn’t passed they would quit the government, and Shaas, the Sephardi ultra-orthodox party run by Aryeh Deri, who wanted a Deri 2 law passed that would allow Deri to come back into the government as a minister. He’d been banned by the Attorney General since he was a convicted felon. Still other threats came from those behind the push for Judicial Reforms. Justice Minister Yariv Levine threatened to quit if the Judicial Reforms were not passed. His co-architect of the reforms, Simcha Rotman, said the survival of Netanyahu’s coalition government was contingent on passing the reforms. Finance Minister Smotritch said the reforms would be passed. All of this as Netanyahu was struggling to get a budget passed before May 29th, when the law stated if no budget was passed then the government automatically fell and new elections had to be called. According to experts, the law passed in 2014 stated that should a vote of no confidence in the government be passed the government didn’t automatically fall. Rather, others in the Knesset were called upon to form a new government. If that didn’t happen, the present government continued to rule. These experts say that no other group in the Knesset could replace Netanyahu and that he would survive a vote of no confidence. Dissenters, perhaps like Ben Gvir perhaps wouldn’t vote for bills Netanyahu wanted passed but that wouldn’t effect his staying in power. This, even as pundits cited the recent polls to show how the last thing Netanyahu needed now was new elections. His popularity had plummeted. Polls by all three TV stations showed that his rival, Benny Gantz’ National Unity party would garner 29 votes and the Likud only 24. Polls also showed that Netanyahu’s present coalition would only get 52 seats in a new election when 61 were needed for a majority to form a government. Worse still, Netanyahu’s rating as a good or bad prime minister had fallen drastically. 75% of those polled thought the government was not going a good job, 73% thought Netanyahu was doing a poor job. A Maariv newspaper poll showed that about 20% of the sample thought the Judicial Reforms were important. Most, 48% thought the high cost of living was the most important issue. One source pointed out that only Norway and Sweden have a higher cost of living index than Israel, which is 39% above the OECD average. The only way Netanyahu’s government could fall would be if the budget is not passed; or if he were to be convicted of one of the three felony indictments hanging over his head. So, Netanyahu is doing his best to appease his coalition partners by agreeing to outrageous demands. Once the budget is passed, say observers, it is uncertain how Netanyahu would behave towards his coalition partners. One thing left unsaid, however, is if Netanyahu would keep on pushing for Judicial Reforms since he needs to neuter to court and appoint a new Attorney General who would dismiss the three felony indictments he now faces. Meanwhile, Israel’s crime families were in their own war, mostly among the Arab Israeli community. News reported daily murders usually one crime family seeking retribution against another. So far nearly 90 Arab Israelis have been killed this year, twice the number for last year at this time. Many of the murders took place in broad daylight in Israeli Arab towns in the north and even in Haifa, where a 24-year old mother was gunned down in front of her home. Bombs exploded under cars and motorcycles. The tension was palpable and much blame was aimed at National Security Minister Ben Gvir, whose evaluation of performance was only 19%, for not stopping the violence. Some cynics speculated that he was happy to see Arabs killing each other. As a Kahanist, whose mentor Meir Kahane pressed for a ‘transfer’ of Israeli Arabs out of the country, this killing spree was just another way to rid israel of the Arab population. At this juncture, some analysts speculated that Netanyahu might engage in a military adventure to increase his standing with the public. Protesters were still turning out in the streets every Saturday night, as they had for 18 weeks straight. Negotiations over judicial reforms were still on-going at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem but little or no headway had been made. During the previous lull Israel had mounted a raid on targets in the West Bank. 200 special forces operatives, some dressed as women, went into Nablus and arrested two wanted terrorists and their associates. Some analysts wondered if this was the final response Israel was going to make to the rocket attack? The protests continued. The threats by coalition partners continued. Netanyahu’s popularity continued to drop. Until Israel answered the Islamic Jihad rocket attacks by killing the three Islamic Jihad leaders., Knowing that Islamic Jihad would retaliate, as that was the usual methodology in these situations, strike, response, quiet, until the next blow-up. A scenario that has been going on for nearly two decades. Expecting a retaliation Israel went on high alert. Roads near Gaza were closed. Settlements along the Gaza border were told to open up their bomb shelters. Schools were closed. Many residents of towns and villages along the Gaza border left for the center of the country. The country hunkered down awaiting the attack. Islamic jihad spokesmen in Gaza said gleefully that israel was in a panic. Even if they didn’t attack they’d managed to freeze the country like a block of ice. Veteran military correspondent Ron Ben-Ishai of Yideot Achronot called this the “Silent Attrition,” saying a long silence may be a new tactic, a change in the pattern. That instead of immediate rocket barrages, with Islamic Jihad and Hamas relishing the paralysis of life in the Israeli towns along the Gaza border, a psychological warfare that teased a response. Ben Ishai also speculated, as did others, about Hamas joining the fighting. Islamic Jihad reportedly didn’t have a large supply of rockets and the expectation was that the fighting wouldn’t last long. Hamas reportedly has three times the number of rockets. And then there was the danger that Hezbollah, the terror organization in Lebanon, would also join in the fight. Hezbollah reportedly has over a hundred-thousand rockets ready to fire at Israel. Still, Islamic Jihad did have a number of long range Grad rockets, and some improved long-range missiles. During the night, Israel struck again, this time at an Islamic Jihad cells Khan Yunis that was reportedly preparing to fire missiles at Israel. At 13:41 on May 10th sirens sounded Israeli areas along the Gaza border. The rockets began to fall. And fall. The firing went on for three days. By the time over 500 missiles had fallen, luckily with no loss of life in Israel, Egypt and Qatar had stepped in to mediate a ceasefire. Of the over 500 missiles that fell, a reported 96% were destroyed by the Iron Dome anti-missile system. As one commentator pointed out, each Iron Dome missile cost about $60,000, and each missile fired from Gaza costs a few thousand at most. Speaking on Israel TV’s Kan 11, Gen.(retired)Gal Hirsch said that Islamic Jihad was part of the Iranian Army as was Hezbollah (a terror group based in Lebanon). They saw that Israel could take out three Islamic Jihad leaders simultaneously and knew that Israel could do much more than that. “They got the message,” said Hirsch. He pointed out that the group knew the world’s media was in Israel with cameras running. He said that the Islamic Jihad rocket fire was aimed at the residents of Gaza who would watch on TV that Islamic Jihad was causing Israel to scurry around running from the rockets. Kan Channel 11 military correspondent Uri Sharon said that the real leaders of Islamic Jihad sit in Syria. He said he didn’t expect any response by Israel to cause the Islamic Jihad to surrender and close up shop. Sharon pointed out that it had been 9-months since the last rocket attacks from Gaza. And that there had been quiet. He thought that the best Israel could hope for was just that, quiet, for as long as possible. According to Ynetnews, “Iran pours millions of dollars a year into jihad, and fears that the investment will go down the drain. In Israel it is estimated that she is putting pressure on those senior officials of the organization who are in Lebanon to oppose the ceasefire in any way. And Hamas? He sits on the fence and wants the round to end because of the possible financial damage to Gaza.”Arab Affairs expert Lior Levi told the Kan 11 TV audience that Islamic Jihad was a gang of thugs, not terribly organized, not like Hamas. By Wednesday night, May 10, after a storm of missiles fell on Israel, quiet took over. Reports that talks of a ceasefire were taking place. The rocket fire stopped at midnight. Commentators said this was the expected behavior. A flurry of attacks by the Gaza terrorists to show that they hadn’t surrendered out of fear, and then a negotiated ceasefire. But Israel apparently had other plans. at 04:10 Israel struck again, this time taking out Ali Hasan Rali, the commander of the Islamic Jihad rocket forces. As expected, Islamic Jihad began firing again, but this time only a dozen or so rockets fell during most of the day as negotiations continued. Islamic Jihad was demanding the return of the body of the hunger-striker Adnan, and a cessation of assassinations of Islamic Jihad leaders. Israel rejected both demands. Pundits said this was only the opening bids in the negotiations. Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Galant informed the public that the hostilities could go on for an extended period and that he’d informed the army to be prepared for an extended conflict. He also warned that the current 40 kilometer area from the Gaza border could be extended as the fighting continues. Earlier, Galant had been informed that his Holocaust survivor mother, who had been on the famous Exodus ship carrying refugees to Israel, had passed away at the age of 88. Islamic Jihad then fired missiles at the center of the country, towards Tel Aviv. These were taken down by the David’s Sling missile system that was geared for long range work, 40-300 kilometers. The short range rockets were dealt with by the Iron Dome and long range rockets, those fired from other countries, by the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 anti-missile system. On Thursday afternoon May 11, The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet security agency confirmed that the Air Force had carried out a strike in the southern Gaza Strip killing Ahmad Abu Daqqa, the Islamic Jihad’s deputy head of the terror group’s rocket array. The IDF says Abu Daqqa was the deputy of Ali Ghali, who was killed in an Israeli strike early this morning. Meanwhile, National Security Minister Ben Gvir had come back into the fold after his demand for retaliation was seemingly met. Ben Gvir was no longer looked upon as a threat to bring down the government. Other thorns in Netanyahu’s side were also removed. Finance Minister Smotritch agreed to double the salary of married yeshiva students, mollifying United Torah Judaism, who apparently were not going to quit the government should the draft law not be passed before the upcoming budget vote. Talk onIsrael radio again turned to the Judicial Reforms, with Levine and Rothman still pushing hard to get the laws back on the agenda. Netanyahu has said he has put these reforms on the back burner until after the budget has passed. On Wednesday May 10th Islamic Jihad let loose hundreds of missiles aimed at Israel. Most were taken down by the Iron Dome or fell in open areas. One hit a building in Rehovot, near the center of the country, apparently due to a fault in the Iron Dome. Igna Avramyan, an elderly residents of a four-story building was killed trying to help her invalid husband to the bomb shelter. A dozen others were injured. Then there was quiet. From midnight on Wednesday until Thursday morning. Overnight Israel had struck once again at Islamic Jihad bases. The rockets began again and continued. Negotiations for a ceasefire mediated by Egypt were suspended. Rocket fire continued through Friday. By the approach of Shabbat nearly 900 rockets had fallen in Israel with no let up in site. What will be the outcome? When will the ceasefire negotiations bear fruit? Eventually there will be some sort of agreement. And as Uri Sharon said, and then we’ll have quiet again. But for how long? Ultra-nationalist MK Struck, of Ben Gvir’s Otzmah Yehudit party told Israel Radio Reshet Bet that Israel should do something about this situation, like going back into Gaza and cleaning out the terrorists. More reasonable people think this is a recipe for disaster. Time will tell how this all plays out. And until the next time someone says, “Here We Go Again.” Update, AS OF 22:00 on May 13th, A CEASEFIRE WAS AGREED UPON BY BOTH SIDES. WE’LL SEE HOW LONG IT LASTS. CEASEFIRE WENT INTO EFFECT AT 22:00 BUT ROCKET FIRE CONTINUED UNTIL MIDNIGHT. IN TOTAL OVER 1,300 ROCKETS FELL IN FIVE DAYS. World A gunman killed two worshipers at the 2,500 year old synagogue on the Tunisian Island of Djerba. The gunman, a Tunisian naval officer, opened fire on those gathered for the annual pilgrimage. He was shot and killed by security guards. The motive was unclear. Health The WHO has said that the Covid pandemic is over. Israel has cancelled the 5-day quarantine policy. So far, there are 687,842,087 cases around the world with 6,871,241 deaths and 63.017,405 active cases. In the USA there are 106,768,296 cases with 1,162,431 deaths and 883,374 active cases. Israel is #28 in cases with 4,823,329 and 12,500 deaths and 12,356 active cases. The Hebrew University has announced a possible breakthrough in female Alzheimer’s patients that could lead to better understanding of genetic origins of the disease, as well as treatments to prevent or slow cognitive deterioration. Also, according to the Times of Israel, researchers at Tel Aviv University have successfully used RNA nanodrugs to target and silence a gene that encodes for a protein that causes ovarian cancer to metastasize. said Dr. Rachel Michaelson-Cohen, an obstetrician-gynecologist and the director of the prenatal genetics unit at Shaare Zedek Medical Center, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Michaelson-Cohen, said she would like to see this approach tested on late-stage ovarian cancer metastasis, and also other cancers that metastasize similarly to the intraperitoneal cavity, such as pancreatic, colorectal and liver cancer. Finance According to Ynetnetnews, the ratings agency S&P is expected to affirm Israel's credit rating of AA- and credit outlook of stable when it releases its latest report on Friday after assurances by PM Netanyahu not to go ahead with the Judicial Reforms. Entertainment Noa Kirel, whose grandparents escaped Austria and survived the Holocaust, made the finals of the Eurovision song contest to be held on Saturday night May 13th in Liverpool, England. Israel won the contest in 1978, 1979, 1998 and 2018. Kirel said she’d dedicated her semi-final performance to the Israelis in the south of Israel suffering rocket fire from Gaza. KIREL FINISHED THIRD IN THE CONTEST. SHE SAID SHE WAS PLEASED. SOURCES SAID SHE WAS EXPECTED TO GO NO HIGHER THAN SEVENTH PLACE. Thanks for reading Jerusalem Magazine! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Memorials, Celebrations and Protests

                 Soldiers At Mt. Herzl Memorial Day Ceremony

 

Yom HaZicharon (Memorial Day)

Controversy swirled around Israel’s memorial day ceremonies.  24,468 soldiers and terror victims have died since the establishment of Israel 75 years ago. Traditionally, on this day, bereaved families of the fallen gather at cemeteries around the country, laying wreaths, flowers, and small Israeli flags. Usually there is a brief memorial ceremony with speeches by military and political figures.,

This year bereaved families asked that government representatives not attend the ceremonies so as to stave off any anti-government protests on this somber day. Israeli mayors and officials also called on demonstrators to cease their protests during the Memorial Day ceremonies out of respect to the fallen.

Speaking at the official ceremony at Mt. Herzl, Israel’s President Yitzchak Herzog called for calm, saying this was a day when the sirens that sound for two minutes in the morning should be a wake up call for unity. Herzi HaLevi, Israel’s IDF Chief-Of-Staff, said politics should be left out of the cemeteries. 

Still, some coalition government representatives insisted on attending ceremonies. Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel, of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud party, was blocked by anti-government protesters from entering a military cemetery in the largely Druze town of Isfiya.

Far-right National Security Minister, MK Itamar Ben-Gvir, was asked not to attend memorial services in the Negev capitol of Beer Sheva. He refused to cancel his appearance. Some bereaved families came to the cemetery a day early to avoid being in his presence.

However, according to Ynetnews, Ben Gvir showed up anyway. Ynet headlines read, “Families feud over Ben Gvir at Memorial. Some sang to drown out the minister others shouted out against them (those singing) causing altercations lasting past the ceremony.”  One bystander said that Ben Gvir “seems to enjoy” the fracas. Another angry family member said, “He should have just kept quiet.” 

A pundit quipped that Ben Gvir thrived on the attention and like former President Trump, made sure he was in the news every day, one way or another.

On April 27th, according to  Moran Azoulai writing in Ynetnews,, Eli Ben Shem the chairman of the "Yad Labanim,”  the national organization in memory of fallen soldiers and bereaved families, accused Ben Gvir of bringing "Hundreds of people who have no connection to the bereaved families. And in the middle of the ceremony they applauded him. …At what state ceremony in a cemetery do you clap your hands?' This is a disgrace to the fallen and a serious injury to the families, we will demand from the Knesset a comprehensive investigation."

GA

A few days prior to the Memorial Day celebrations, the annual meeting of the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America met in Israel at the Expo Tel-Aviv fairgrounds. Nearly 2,000 federation members gathered for the four-day conference. They heard from pro-democracy leaders while anti-reform demonstrators loudly protested outside the gates of the compound. 

Israel’s president Yitzchak Herzog told the gathering that “Today, Israel’s greatest threat was from within.” In another forum Herzog called for a “Global Initiative” and the formation of a council for Jewish dialogue where “we can engage in serious sensitive and strategic discussions on the most complex and pressing issues facing our people.”

JFNA Chairperson Julie Platt reportedly told the audience during her opening remarks “To the protestors exercising their democratic rights, we are inspired by your love of Israel.” Protesters outside were heard to cheer her words.

MK Simcha Rothman, one of the architects of the Judicial Overhaul plan, appeared on a panel at the GA. He was accused by fellow panelist Yochanan Plesner, former Yes Atid party MK and now president of the Israel Democracy Institute, of “crushing Israeli Democracy.” Rothman accused Plesner of “siding with a political group that exercises control through an undemocratic court.”

Rothman was briefly trapped inside the room by anti-reform protesters.  Rothman stayed inside the room as demonstrators outside shouted “Shame” and “Democracy,” before he was extracted by police. Reportedly, Rothman had come to meet with right-wing delegates at the congress. 

The 2,000 delegates reviewed drafts of condemnation of the Judicial Overhaul but no vote was taken after a debate. In any case, said one observer, the JFNA’s vote would only be symbolic since the organization has no power over the government.

Reportedly, most of the attendees at the GA were put off by the demonstrations and chose to stay above the fray. One said, “We’re told, we don’t live here. We don’t serve in the army, so we have no voice. Now they want us to get involved.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was to have spoken at the event, was convinced to cancel his appearance. He said that ‘scheduling considerations’ not fear of the protesters was the cause of the cancellation, although observers doubted the veracity of that claim. Most said Netanyahu feared an outbreak of violence that would embarrass him and disturb the assembly meetings. 

According to the Times of Israel, the JFNA slammed the government’s plan to legislate an ‘override clause’ that would allow a bare 61 seat Knesset majority to overrule High Court decisions. “He shouldn’t have been invited to speak in the first place,” Said Anna Kislonsk, CEO of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism…Netanyahu is responsible for the current deep rift in Israel Diaspora relations.”

Observers point out that many pro-Israeli American Jews are worried that the protests in Israel weaken Israel’s image and point out to a commensurate rise in antisemitism. One woman reported that in her village in Northern California swastikas were painted on their small synagogue in the town’s first ever sign of anti-semitism. She attributed the act to the protests in Israel that showed a deep division encouraging anti-Semites to strike.

According the NPR (National Public Radio), the ADL reported that Antisemitic incidents in the U.S. rose 36% in 2022, an annual audit by the Anti-Defamation League shows. 3,697 incidents of harassment, vandalism and assault targeting Jewish people and communities. New York is the state with the highest number of reported incidents: 580. California follows with 518, New Jersey with 408, Florida with 269 and Texas with 211. "Combined, these five states account for 54 % of the total incidents."488 anti-Jewish acts were committed in Poland in 2022, more than four times the total number for the European Union in 2021. 

In Britain, MP (Member of Parliament) Diane Abbot, the first black woman to be elected to the British Parliament was suspended from Parliament for arguing that anti-Semitism was not racism. She later apologized and withdrew her remarks. Abbot was an ally of former Labor party chief Jeremy Corbyn who was forced to step down as Labor chief after anti-Semitic statements.

Independence Day

Israel’s population has reached nearly 10 million, a 12-fold increase since 1948.

“Unity” was again stressed by President Herzog during a speech on Israel’s 75th Independence Day. The same theme was used many times during the annual Independence Day ceremony at Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem. 

        

                                                      Former MK Avigdor Kahlani, hero of Yom Kippur War

The festive ceremony passed without incident. One observer pointed out that this was preordained since “Miri Regev, one of Netanyahu’s cheerleaders, was in charge of invitations to the event.” Regev, Ministry of Transport, National Infrastructure and Road Safety, and former Minister of Culture and Sport, “made certain that no anti-government protests would be allowed,” said the observer. 

The highlight of the event was the traditional torch lighting by 12 people with powerful life-stories that enhanced the State of Israel. However, this year some of those asked to light a torch refused as a protest against the Judicial Overhaul. 

                                                      Smiling faces at Yom Ha’atzmaot ceremony, Mt. Herzl

The event was covered by a number of cameras, but it seemed to one cynic, that every time the camera landed on an audience member, or group, they were smiling gleefully at the camera and enthusiastically waving little Israeli flags. “Clearly, someone is directing these people, like TV studio audiences that have to clap when the ‘applause’ sign goes on,” said the cynic. “

Judicial Reforms

Israel’s Knesset began meeting for the summer session. Pro Judicial Overhaul ministers say they plan to push through the reforms despite the mass protests that have engulfed the country in a drama that could devolve into a civil war, according to pundits.

Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu told CBS that the Judicial Overhaul in its present form would be modified. Likud MK Avi Dichter told Israel Radio Reshet Bet that once all of the reforms were passed it would be clear that they did not harm Israel. He said that President Herzog’s proposals for compromise were 80% acceptable to the Netanyahu coalition.

However, according to the Times of Israel, Israel’s attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has warned that the coalition’s current package of legislation would hand the government virtually unrestrained power without providing any institutional protection for individual rights.

 

                                                        Pro-Judicial Reform protest in Jerusalem April 27, 2023

On Thursday night, April 27th, approximately 200,000 Pro-Judicial Overhaul protesters showed up opposite the Knesset. Some reports said that religious and settler groups were reportedly behind the call. 

Reportedly, nearly 1,000 buses carried pro-Judicial Reform protesters to the demonstration. Some reports said the buses were paid for by the Netanyahu’s Likud, Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit parties and other right-wing groups. According to Channel 13 TV news, Prime Minister Netanyahu sent an English language message on Twitter supporting the gathering.

According to media reports, the gathering took place because the pro-reform protesters felt that the right had won the election and the left had taken to the streets as sore losers. That the 17 weeks of huge protests by the anti-judicial Reform demonstrators were really meant to unseat the right-wing government. 

Channel 1 Kan TV’s political analyst Ayala Sasson said that this demonstration was a grass roots movement by the mass of people who voted for the coalition and now feel as if they’re made insignificant.

Sasson said the issue for the hundreds of thousands who showed up on Thursday was that they felt disenfranchised, as if their votes didn’t count.  She also said that Justice Minister Yariv Levine has said that he would resign if the reforms don’t move forward within a month. A threat, other critics said, he’d made in the past and not kept. 

When Levine spoke to the huge gathering, he said that the vile insults hurled against him only strengthened his resolve to pass the reforms. Kan TV political reporter Michael Shemesh said that Levine was extremely harsh in his criticism of the High Court saying the court was more interested in protecting terrorists than Israeli soldiers. Levine also said that the coalition won the election and those who voted for the coalition voted for Judicial Reform. 

Speakers like ultra-right wing ministers Shmotrich and Ben-Gvir as well as deputy Justice minister Amsalem all told the audience that the Judicial Reforms would be passed. “The nation wants Judicial Overhaul, the nation will get Judicial Overhaul,” Finance Minister Shmotrich told the cheering gathering.

This caused some pundits to point out that the compromise negotiations being held at the President’s residence were a diversion to keep the anti-Judicial Overhaul protesters from taking more extreme action. 

Channel 1 Kan’s Sasson also said that Netanyahu has paused the move towards judicial reforms while the negotiations are ongoing and thus cannot appear to support the demonstration. Haaretz columnist Yossi Verter said that Netanyahu was seeking a way to ‘climb down from the tree’ that Levine has climbed without causing a crises that would lead to new elections. 

Netanyahu’s legal team is now discussing mediation of the charges against him with the prosecution. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has yet to decide on the matter. The trial on just one of the three indictments has been going on for three years with only forty of the nearly one hundred prosecution witnesses called. A pundit pointed out that should the Judicial Overhaul get passed, Netanyahu could simply fire the present attorney general and appoint one to his liking that would dismiss all charges against him.

Guns and Cars and Terror

Terror incidents marred the holiday events. On the eve of Memorial Day five Israelis were injured near the Machane Yehuda market in Jerusalem when a car, driven by a 39-year-old father of five from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Safafa and a reported Hamas supporter, rammed into a group of pedestrians. Beit Safafa is one of the quietest neighborhoods in East Jerusalem.

Two Israeli soldiers were wounded in a drive-by shooting attack in the northern West Bank town of Huwara on Saturday, April 22nd.  Huwara has been the scene of a number of shootings lately. Route 60 cuts through the busy commercial center of the Arab town where most of the shootings take place.

According to Ynetnews, Amad Aduan Nazer, a Jordanian parliamentarian of Palestinian descent, was caught on Saturday April 22nd trying to smuggle 200 weapons, 183 Glock and Sig Sauer pistols and 17 M-16 rifles, hidden in three large suitcases, through the Allenby checkpoint from Jordan into Israel. Nazer, a member of the Palestine Committee in the Jordanian Parliament, is considered an ardent support of the Palestinian cause and hostile to Israel. Nazer has, according to the report, previously expressed support for terrorists organizations, such as Hamas. Members of Nazer’s family in the West Bank are known as militants who do not hesitate to engage in firefights with the Palestine Security forces. 

Israel made it clear that they did not suspect the Jordanian government of being involved in the gun smuggling. The Israel Security Services are holding Nazer trying to determine who was to receive the guns.

 

MOTL

                                                                   March of the Living Finale, Latrun Tank Museum

At the conclusion of Independence day, the evening before the huge pro-reform demonstration in Jerusalem, the 35th March Of The Living finale took place at the Latrun Tank Museum outdoor auditorium.

Nearly 9,000 participants had taken part in the two week event, one week touring Poland and visiting Holocaust sites, marching nearly two miles from the concentration camp at Auschwitz to the one at Birkenau accompanied by 42 Holocaust survivors, dignitaries and the international press, and then a week touring Israel. 

At the finale replete with dance troupes, popular singers, including Neta Barzalai who won the Eurovision contest five years ago, elaborate fireworks displays and even a swarm of drones programmed to form images like a heart, an Israeli flag, the outline of the country, and the number 75.  

The theme again was love for Israel and unity. And the singing of Am Yisrael Chai, long live Israel.