News Digest — 10/3/19
Terrorist Who Murdered Rina Shnerb Worked For BDS Group
The Israeli Ministry of Strategic Affairs on Wednesday (2nd) confirmed a report by the TPS news agency that the head of the terror squad that murdered Rina Shnerb, Sammer Arabid, worked as a clerk for the Palestinian Authority BDS organization Al–Dameer, which supports and promotes boycotts against the State of Israel.
Arabid served in that position at least until mid-2017, and his wife Nora has served as treasurer of the organization for the past two years.
In February 2019, the Ministry of Strategic Affairs released the “Terrorists in Suits” report that revealed more than 100 links between terrorist organizations and BDS. According to the report, terrorist organizations are whitewashing their activities in the West, raising funds and gaining legitimacy through the use of disguised civil society organizations that promote the delegitimization and boycott campaign against Israel.
One of the organizations listed in the “Terrorists in Suits” report is Al–Dameer, to which the terrorist Arabid belonged. Al–Dameer was established by activists belonging to the PFLP terror group, and some of its past and present staff have been charged with terrorist activities.
Minister of Strategic Affairs Gilad Erdan said: “This is definite proof of the close connection between BDS and terrorism. Boycott activists and terrorists in the terror organizations are working with the same motives – the desire to eradicate the idea of the Jewish State. Anyone who lends a hand to the anti-Semitic BDS movement must understand that he is helping terror supporters.
(tps.co.il; israelnn.com)
Neo–Nazi Protestors In Germany Call For Palestinian Help Against Israel
Dozens of Neo–Nazis marched through the German city of Dortmund on Monday (9/30), calling for Palestinian support to eradicate Israel.
The demonstration which came on the heels of an anti-fascist protest in the western German city, involved approximately seventy Neo–Nazi activists marching through the streets, holding flags of the Third Reich and chanting, “Palestine help us, Israel still exists” and “Israel no more.”
Israel’s Ambassador to Germany Jeremy Issacharoff condemned the Neo-Nazi rally, writing on Twitter: “Disgraceful to see Neo–Nazis openly on the streets of Dortmund just as we celebrate the Jewish New Year – my wife’s great-grandparents were from Dortmund and were murdered by the Nazis – where there is no remorse, there can be no forgiveness.”
Dortmund is considered to have the biggest Neo–Nazi presence of any city in western Germany, with the majority of them living in the Dorstfeld Quarter.
(ynetnews.com)
Danon And New US Envoy To Work For Coalition Against Hamas, Hezbollah
Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon held his first working–meeting with new US Ambassador Kelly Craft, and the two discussed working together to form a broad coalition against Hamas and Hezbollah.
According to a statement issued by Danon’s office on Wednesday (2nd), the two discussed strengthening cooperation between the two countries and steps that can be taken in the Security Council against Iran and its proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah.
Craft—a Republican activist from Kentucky and former ambassador to Canada—was sworn in by US Vice President Mike Pence on September 10, replacing Nikki Haley, who was staunchly pro-Israel and often used her speeches in the Security Council and the General Assembly to defend Israel and point out the hypocrisy of the world body when it comes to Israel.
Craft, in her maiden appearance at the monthly Middle East debate in the Security Council last month, signaled that she will be as strong an advocate for Israel inside the UN as Haley was.
Danon and Craft also spoke during their meeting about leading a combined diplomatic effort against the global rise in anti-Semitism.
(jpost.com)
Israeli Youth Delegate: Israel Will Become The Impact Nation
Israel’s Youth Delegate to the UN Ruth Moatti addressed the Third Committee at the UN on Tuesday (1st) and spoke about Israel’s innovative spirit and its history.
“I would like to share with you today the spirit of Israel’s youth, a generation defined by its deep curiosity for finding new and innovative ways to positively impact the world,” Moatti began. She acknowledged that Israel’s impact on the world relative to its age – just 71 years old, saying, “71 years ago a group of young, passionate and driven leaders created the modern State of Israel in our ancestral homeland, sowing the seeds for a thriving nation.”
Moatti emphasized that Israel’s innovative nature, and in particular the entrepreneurial spirit of its youth, is rooted in the ideals of its pioneers and “the Israeli tradition of helping whenever and wherever we can.”
“To us, Israel is not only about innovation and technology, but about impacting the world for the better,” Moatti said.
She talked about examples of Israeli startups whose innovations have made a “social impact,” focusing on ReWalk, WaterGen and Mobileye. ReWalk developed technology that allows paralyzed people to walk again, WaterGen is able to distill clean drinking water from thin air and Mobileye’s technology prevents traffic accidents.
Moatti explained that she had personal experience with Israeli youth changing the world when she went with an Israeli delegation to Uganda where they helped women in rural areas build skills and acquire “knowledge to achieve financial independence.”
She then quoted late President Shimon Peres who said “Without fantasy we cannot do fantastic things.”
(un.org; jpost.com)
Israeli Scientists: Cure For Insulin-Dependent Diabetics Within Five Years
A team of Jerusalem-based researchers and entrepreneurs claim they have a cure for diabetes that should hit the market as early as the next few years.
Betalin Therapeutics has developed the first bio-artificial pancreas, composed of pig’s lung tissue and insulin secreting cells. The artificial pancreas would be implanted into the patient and connected with his or her blood vessels and then be able to measure the body’s sugar-level and secrete an optimal amount of insulin needed to balance blood sugar.
“This is a new way to treat diabetes,” said CEO Dr. Nikolai Kunicher, “Today, you only have ways to manage the disease. This is a cure. The diabetic pancreas has lost the function of secreting insulin and we give it back. The patient should never have to inject insulin into his body again.”
Betalin has raised $3.5 million and is looking to raise another $5 million before human clinical trials begin. It is expected that the biological pancreas will cost around $50,000 per patient.
According to the World Health Organization, 500 million people worldwide suffer from Type I or Type II diabetes. Some 160 million are insulin-dependent, according to Kunicher.
Numerous treatments for diabetes are available and vary depending on an individual patient’s needs. Insulin-dependent diabetics generally take insulin by injection or by using a pump. There are also oral diabetes medications. Anyone who uses insulin would be eligible for the Betalin cure.
(jpost.com; reuters.com)
Brooklyn Synagogue Vandalized During Rosh Hashanah
The windows of a synagogue in Brooklyn were broken during Rosh Hashanah services JTA reported Wednesday (2nd).
A video of people throwing milk crates at the Rivnitz Synagogue in the Williamsburg neighborhood was circulated Wednesday on social media.
Police said that the incident took place on Monday afternoon (9/30), and they were searching for two females seen on the video according to local news media.
The Anti-Defamation League said it was “deeply disturbed” by the video.
“At a time when the Brooklyn Jewish community is already on edge in the wake of a series of anti-Semitic incidents, it is extremely upsetting to see this congregation targeted during what is otherwise supposed to be a joyous celebration of the Jewish New Year,” Evan Bernstein, the regional director of the organization’s New York-New Jersey office, said in a statement.
The incident follows spates of attacks against visibly Orthodox Jewish men in Brooklyn.
(jta.com; israelnn.com)
