March 19, 2018
Israel destroys Hamas tunnel infiltrating Israel
The Israeli army destroyed a Hamas tunnel late Saturday night (17th), which crossed into Israeli territory, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit announced Sunday (18th).
The tunnel, which ran from Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, infiltrated into the Eshkol Regional Council inside Israel and was identified several weeks ago.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the army’s work, saying Israel will continue to act “resolutely” against any attempt to harm Israeli citizens by “systematically” destroying the terror tunnel infrastructure.
(jpost.com; israelhayom.com)
Netanyahu warns donors to Gaza that their aid money is being ‘buried’ in tunnels
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the international community that its aid money to the Gaza Strip was being used by terror groups to build tunnels for attacking Israel, hours after the military destroyed two such passages.
“It is time for the international community to recognize that the Gaza aid money is being buried underground,” he added, addressing recent attempts at the UN to raise funds for Gaza, which is facing a severe humanitarian crisis.
The comment came as donor countries and others have worked to raise money for the beleaguered Strip, which UN officials say is facing a crippling shortage of clean water among other ills.
(timesofisrael.com)
Security guard stabbed in terror attack dies of wounds
A 32-year-old man succumbed to his wounds Sunday evening (18th) after being stabbed in Jerusalem’s Old City multiple times in a terror attack earlier in the day.
The victim was evacuated to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem where he was said to be in life-threatening danger. Doctors battled for hours to stabilize what was described as an “extremely serious” condition and despite having surgery, the hospital was forced to pronounce his death.
He was identified as Adiel Coleman, a resident of Kokhav HaShahar in the West Bank. Coleman was married and the father of four children.
(ynetnews.com; worldisraelnews.com)
Israeli jets strike Hamas post in Gaza, hours after bomb explodes on border
Israeli jets carried out an airstrike on a Hamas target in the central Gaza Strip late Saturday night (17th) in retaliation for a bombing on the southern border earlier in the day, the army said.
The raid, just after midnight on Sunday (18th) came hours after a bomb planted near the Israel-Gaza border exploded, causing no casualties. Israeli tanks earlier on Saturday (17th) had destroyed a Hamas post in the area in response to the bombing.
(timesofisrael; afp.com)
Soldiers from terror attack Friday, identified
The IDF has identified Ziv Daos, 21, and Netanel Kahalani, 20, as the murdered soldiers – victims of a car-ramming terror attack Friday afternoon (16th).
Ala Qabha, 26, from the Palestinian village of Barta’a, rammed his vehicle into the security forces before fleeing the scene. He was later found and arrested.
Three other victims, also in their 20s, were wounded – one lightly, one seriously and one critically.
Under questioning, Qabha admitted he wanted to kill Israelis.
(worldisraelnews.com)
Terror victims laid to rest after weekend attack
Israel overnight Saturday (17th) tearfully laid to rest Sgt Netanel Kahalani, 20. Captain Ziv Daos, 21, was laid to rest Sunday (18th) at a military plot in Holon. Both soldiers were killed on Friday (16th) when a Palestinian Arab rammed them with his vehicle, in what security officials said was a terror attack.
Three others were wounded and are hospitalized
(israeltoday.co.il)
Israeli security forces arrest Palestinian man who stabbed Rabbi Itamar Ben-Gal to death
Abed al-Karim Adel Asi, the Israeli Arab terrorist who murdered Rabbi Itamar Ben-Gal outside the settlement of Ariel on February 5th, was captured by security forces in Nablus along with several other suspects, the Shin Bet announced on Sunday (18th).
Asi was arrested after a six-week manhunt.
Rabbi Itamar Ben-Gal, a 29-year-old father of four young children, was fatally stabbed at a bus stop at the entrance to the Jewish settlement of Ariel.
(jta.org; jpost.com)
‘Jerusalem is not holy to Muslims, enough with this lie!’
Zionist Organization of America President Morton Klein spoke on Thursday night (15th) at the National Council of Young Israel’s annual dinner, debunking the myth that Jerusalem is holy to Muslims.
“Jerusalem was the capital of Israel, under King David, 3,000 years ago,” Klein said. “It was never, ever, the capital of any other nation except Israel. When the Arabs conquered Palestine in 716, they made Ramla their capital, not Jerusalem.”
The Jewish holy books mention Jerusalem 700 times. It is never, ever mentioned in the Quran. Even about Mohammed allegedly going from Jerusalem to heaven. In the Quran….this is described as a dream.
Klein said that “when Arabs (Jordan) controlled Jerusalem from 1948-1967, they built everything of importance in Amman not Jerusalem.” “They allowed it to be a slum, no water, no electricity, no plumbing and they destroyed the 58 synagogues in eastern Jerusalem.”
Klein said Arabs historically have never cared to invest in Jerusalem.
(israelnn.com)
Official Palestinian policy is now resolute rejection – Daniel Siryoti and Lior Yaakobi
Palestinian officials said last week that Ramallah’s position is now based on three resolute “refusals.” FIRST, the Palestinian Authority will refuse to resume diplomatic relations with Washington, and Chairman Abbas will not meet with U.S. Special representative for International negotiations Jason Greenblatt or any other White House envoy.
SECOND, the PA refuses to accept the Trump administration’s Middle East peace plan. THIRD, the Palestinians will reject any U.S. or European pressure to shelve their “diplomatic intifada” against Israel.
(israelhayom.com)
OECD: Israel one of the world’s leading economies – Ariel Whitman
A new report by the 35-member Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has found that the Israeli economy is one of the strongest in the world. Israel’s economy grew by 3.3% in 2017, helped by strong population growth and a robust high-tech sector, and the OECD forecasts 3.5% growth in 2018. “The Israeli economy has grown faster and more consistently than nearly any other in the OECD for the past 15 years,” said OECD acting Chief Economist Alvaro Pereira.
(israelhayom.com)
