August 30, 2018
Report: Abbas Says Israel-Hamas Deal ‘Over My Dead Body’
Israel’s Channel 10 News published a report on Tuesday (28th) based on comments from a senior Fatah official demonstrating Palestinian Authority Leader Mahmoud Abbas’ intense hostility toward any potential deal between Israel and the Hamas terror group in the Gaza Strip.
According to the report, the Fatah official told Channel 10 that Abbas was furious with the Egyptians for mediating the agreement, which the PA chief referred to as “treachery and defiance against the leadership.”
The official also claimed that Abbas acknowledged that the supposed reconciliation process between his party and Hamas was disintegrating.
Abbas apparently made his position on the ceasefire clear, commenting, “An agreement between Hamas and Israel will take place over my dead body.”
Among Abbas’ complaints with regard to any future agreement involving Hamas is the illegitimacy of the terror group’s rule over the Gaza Strip, which was achieved via a violent coup through which the PA was ousted from the coastal enclave in 2007.
Regardless of Abbas’ comments, senior Hamas officials claimed that the ceasefire could be concluded in the near future, after a break in negotiations due to the Eid al-Adha holiday.
With Hamas officials issuing statements regarding the terror group’s intention to maintain its arsenal and militaristic capabilities, and their contention that prisoner exchanges would be addressed separately, the ultimate fate of the ceasefire remains to be seen.
Meanwhile Egypt would like to see a reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah, before a ceasefire agreement is signed with Israel.
(worldisraelnews.com)
Shin Bet Busts Hamas Network In Hebron
A Hamas terrorism network operating out of the West Bank city of Hebron was uncovered by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), it was announced Tuesday (28th).
The network recruited dozens of agents, including several women, who operated in coordination with Hamas headquarters abroad, as well as in the Gaza Strip, in order to promote terrorism, according to the Shin Bet.
Their investigation found that the suspects promoted Hamas activities in Hebron, including the recruitment of operatives. The suspects coordinated activities in mosques, and were involved with preaching, increasing support circles, propaganda, incitement activities and assisting prisoners’ families.
The suspects allegedly passed along intelligence and transferred funds to finance terrorism activities.
The cell is also said to have attempted to take over Hebron’s municipal activities and various charities in the city. At its head were Nizar Shehadeh and Faras Abu Sharah – both senior Hamas operatives who had served several sentences in Israeli prisons for terrorism offenses.
The cell committee was headed by Dina Karmi, the widow of Nashat Karmi, a Hamas terrorist who carried out an attack in 2010 in which four Israeli civilians were killed. Karmi was killed in 2014 in a shootout with IDF forces.
Abu Sharah and Shehadeh acted behind the scenes by conveying instructions to the women to promote the terror group’s activity on the ground. Over the years, the committee expanded its activity by mobilizing dozens of activists for Hamas and establishing numerous other sub-committees.
“The exposure of this infrastructure proves once again that the Hamas headquarters in the Gaza Strip and abroad are directing activities in Judea and Samaria, through any means at their disposal, including through the use of women,” the Shin Bet wrote in a statement.
(jpost.com; reuters.com)
IDF Chief To UNIFIL Counterpart: Keep Hizbullah In Check
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) must increase its enforcement against Hizbullah in the country’s south, Israel’s chief of staff told the newly appointed UNIFIL commander.
IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot met Monday (27th) with Italian Maj. Gen. Stefano Del Col, who took office earlier this month, replacing Maj. Gen. Michael Beary.
Beary was often criticized by Israel for his lack of enforcement against the Iranian-backed Shiite terrorist group.
Israel has often expressed concern over UNIFIL’s inaction against Hizbullah, which has allowed the terrorist group to turn 200 villages in southern Lebanon into virtual urban fortresses.
UNIFIL’s decision to largely turn a blind eye to Hizbullah’s activities is in contrast to United Nations Security Resolution 1701, which effectively ended the 2006 Second Lebanon War.
The resolution states that UNIFIL forces must ensure that southern Lebanon is not exploited for hostile operations. It also imposed an arms embargo on Hizbullah, which has not stopped the group from accumulating a substantial missile arsenal.
UNIFIL’s impact on the ground has been significantly eroded over the years. Last year, Israel revealed that Hizbullah was operating along the Israel-Lebanon border freely under the guise of a non-government organization called “Green without Borders.”
UNIFIL rejected the claims, but Israel presented evidence that proved this activity was carried out openly.
Israel hopes that things will be different under Del Col’s command. The Italian general’s first test will be an ongoing dispute between Israel and Lebanon over a wall that Israel is building.
Lebanon claims part of the wall violates its sovereignty, while Israel maintains construction is carried out entirely within its territory.
(israelhayom.com)
Germany: Israel’s Friend In Words But Not Deeds – Daniel Krygier
During a recent visit to Auschwitz, Germany’s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas described the Nazi death camp as “the most horrible place on earth.” This statement reflects a long German policy of taking full responsibility for the Holocaust of six million Jews.
At the same time, Germany continues advocating commercial and political relations with the Iranian regime that denies the Holocaust while threatening to commit a new one against the state of Israel. Germany has emerged as one of the most vocal defenders of the controversial Iranian nuclear deal.
Berlin has criticized Washington for withdrawing from the nuclear deal with Tehran. In a piece in the German Handelsblatt paper, the German Foreign Minister suggested that Europe keep the Iran deal alive by setting up an independent payment system as a counterweight to Washington.
On the surface, Germany appears to be one of Israel’s closest European allies. Unlike harsh critics of Israel such as France, Belgium, Sweden and Ireland, Berlin has often refrained from excessive and unbalanced criticism of Israel.
However, behind the rosy facade, Berlin’s Middle Eastern policies threaten Israel’s security and strengthen the enemies of the Jewish state. Like France, Germany’s strong support of the Iran deal is rooted in commercial interests.
Yes, the German government does pay lip service by condemning Iran’s genocidal threats against Israel. However, in practice, financial profits through trade with iran appear to be far more important for Germany than preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
This cynical German and European policy did not start with Iran. German, French and other European companies happily exported military equipment to the former Iraqi despot Saddam Hussein. France built the Iraqi nuclear reactor Osirak while German companies provided Saddam Hussein with chemical weapons. These were later used against his own people.
Finally, Germany emerged as the top foreign donor supporting NGOs hostile towards Israel. While Germany officially opposes boycotts against Israel, Berlin has supported radical NGOs advocating BDS and delegitimizing the Jewish state. While officially opposing racism and promoting Arab-Israeli peace, the German government is really undermining peace by supporting anti-semitic forces seeking Israel’s destruction.
(worldisraelnews.com)
BDS In South America Protests Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra
The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, which has been touring South America with solo violinist Itamar Zorman, has been targeted by the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, which is calling on music lovers to stay away from the concerts and is staging protests outside the concert halls where the orchestra is scheduled to perform.
Ahead of the orchestra’s scheduled concert in Santiago, Chile – the last stop on the South American tour – BDS activists organized a demonstration outside the concert hall and put up posters showing conductor Yeruham Scharovsky spattered with blood.
Israeli Ambassador to Chile Eldad Hayet has asked the Santiago police to help secure the event, Israel media reported.
The BDS movement was also lying in wait in Sao Paulo, Brazil, when the orchestra arrived there last week. Protesters in Sao Paulo waved PLO flags and shouted condemnations of Israel. The Brazilian police moved them away from the venue and the concert went on as planned, but under heavy security.
Smaller demonstrations took place in Buenos Aires and in the province of Tucuman in northwest Argentina, as well as in Lima Peru.
JSO Director General Yair Stern said that incidents such as these were “unpleasant” but did not cast a shadow over the performances.
“The police kept order and allowed the performances to go on as planned. The halls were full,” Stern Said
(israelhayom.com)
