May 29, 2018
Memorial Day Salute From Israeli Ambassador To U.S.
On Monday (28th) Ron Dermer, Israeli Ambassador to the United States, tweeted, “On Memorial Day, Israel salutes the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces for everything they have done and continue to do to defend freedom around the world.”
U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman also wrote on the occasion of Memorial Day in the U.S.: “Remembering today and always the American men and women in uniform who gave their lives to secure our freedom. May God bless their souls. Also wishing a full and complete recovery to all those injured in the line of duty.”
(israelnn.com)
Elite IDF Soldier KIlled By Marble Block In West Bank, Buried In Jerusalem
Sgt. Ronen Lubarsky, who died Saturday (27th), two days after he was critically injured during an arrest raid, was laid to rest early Sunday morning (28th) at Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl military-cemetery. He was wounded when a marble block was dropped on his head during an IDF operation to arrest suspected terrorists in the West Bank.
(timesofisrael.com)
Over 300 Incendiary Kites Flown Into Israel Since April 13 – Matan Tzuri
Since April 13, the “aerial terror offensive” against the Gaza border communities has continued with vigor, with some 300 incendiary kites flown into Israel’s territory resulting in a hundred fires and more than 3,000 acres of wheat destroyed, causing millions of shekels worth of damage to the farmers of the area. The Gaza border community farmers are dealing on a daily basis with putting out fires instead of taking care of their harvest. As a result, they will be harvesting earlier than usual so they can save some of their crops.
(ynetnews.com)
A Green Nature Reserve Charred By Incendiary Kites
The Be’eri Crater Reserve adjacent to the Gaza border is considered to be among the most picturesque tourist sites in the region, with its green landscape serving as a natural habitat for a variety of species of animals.
During the winter, the nature reserve was covered by a blanket of multiple shades of green, interspersed with red roses in what was a symbolic testament to the success of making the desert bloom.
In recent weeks, however the greenery has been replaced by a blackened and charred landmass caused by incendiary kites flown over by Palestinian rioters from the Gaza Strip, whose latest weapons is wreaking havoc on southern residents and farmers.
(ynetnews.com)
Israeli Farmers To Sue Hamas For Torching Fields
Israeli farmers from the area surrounding the Gaza Strip declared Sunday (27th) that they will appeal to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to indict Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and the head of the terrorist’ organization’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh for damages caused by Palestinian “fire kite” terror.
(israelhayom; worldisraelnews.com)
IDF Tank Shells Islamic Jihad Post, Killing 2, After Attempted Bombing
The IDF on Sunday morning (27th) shelled an Islamic Jihad post, eliminating two terrorists, in response to a boobytrap designed to kill IDF soldiers that was placed along the border fence by an Islamic Jihad terrorist group.
The IDF said a tank fired on an observation post in response to a bomb placed along the border fence separating Gaza from Israel that was aimed at killing patrolling IDF soldiers.
Palestinian media reported two fatalities.
(ap.com)
Israeli Air Force Destroyed Half Of Syrian Air Defenses, Says Senior Officer
Some 50 percent of air-defenses batteries belonging to the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad have been destroyed after they fired on Israel Air Force jets in recent months during multiple operations, a senior Israeli Air Force source said last week.
“All of the batteries that fired on the IAF were destroyed. All of them. And this policy will continue. We do not destroy batteries that do not fire on us,” said the senior IAF officer.
(jns.org)
Report: Syrian Air Force Bars Iran From Using Bases
The Commander of the Syrian Air Force decided Syria will no longer allow Iranian-backed Shiite factions to use its bases to store ammunition and host fighters, the Syrian opposition newspaper Zaman al-Wasl reported on Monday (28th). The report claims that the decision was made “following recent Israeli attacks.”
The report went on to claim that the Syrian regime is experiencing panic since Israel attacked Syrian Air Force sites used by Iranian-backed forces.
(jpost.com; reuters.com)
Palestinian Leader Abbas Said ‘Jerusalem Issue Put Him In The Hospital’
Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas on Monday (28th) blamed the stress of the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital for his health issues after he was discharged Monday from nine days in the hospital.
Abbas, 83, had been hospitalized with pneumonia and a lung infection.
The extended hospitalization led to widespread speculation over his condition, particularly with no successor publicly in line as leader of the Palestinian Authority.
(timesofisrael.com)
In 1948, Palestinians Lost Land, But Not To Israel – Michael Berenhaus
In the 1948 Israeli War of Independence, the Palestinians did in fact lose what was offered to them with the loss of the West Bank, the Palestinians did in fact lose what was offered to them with the loss of Gaza. But the dark little secret left out was that the Palestinians lost the West Bank, not to Israel, but to their land-grabbing brethren Jordan. And they lost Gaza, not to Israel, but to their land-grabbing brethren Egypt. This set of facts is critical to assess what happened to the Palestinians and who is culpable.
The war was started by the local Arabs and neighboring countries. If the Palestinians had accepted the two-state solution of 1947, there would be no conflict today, and the two-state solution would be going on its 71st year.
(washington Post – Letter)
