News Digest — 6/5/23
Terrorist Who Murdered Malachi Rosenfeld Receives Two Life Sentences
One of the terrorists who murdered Israeli civilian Malachi Rosenfeld was given two life sentences by an IDF military court on Sunday (4th), the IDF’s Spokesperson’s Unit announced Monday morning (5th).
Maad Hamad, confessed and was convicted of intentionally causing the death of Rosenfeld by shooting at a car near Shuvut Rahel. Rosenfeld, 27, died of his wounds in Shaare Zedek Medical Center, and three other passengers were wounded. Hamad also received a conviction for attempting to murder the injured men.
Rosenfeld’s family and the other victims are to receive NIS 1,090,000 in compensation from Hamad by court order.
Hamad was also convicted for membership in the Hamas terrorist organization. The defendant had established the four-man cell on behalf of Hamas, and together they planned terrorist attacks against Israeli targets. Hamad was prosecuted for a Beit El shooting attack against an ambulance the same month.
According to a 2017 Jerusalem Post report, Hamad had been taken into custody by the Palestinian Authority in 2015.
Another cell member, Amiad Hamad, in 2017 was sentenced to life in prison, fined NIS 325,000 in compensatory damages, and NIS 25,000 in punitive privileges. Two other cell members were indicted in 2015, one being sentenced to life, in 2017.
The mastermind and bankroller of the attack that killed Rosenfeld was Ahmed Majar. The Hamas terrorist resides in Jordan and had previously been serving six life sentences but was released in the Gilad Shalit deal.
Rosenfeld was a resident of Kochav Hashahar. He and his friends had been traveling home from a basketball game when they were shot at close range by the terrorists.
(jpost.com; reuters.com)
Netanyahu: Israel Will Fully Investigate Egyptian Border Terror Killings
The attack at the Egyptian border early Saturday morning (3rd) that left three Israeli soldiers dead is “severe and unusual,” Netanyahu said at the start of the Israeli Cabinet’s weekly meeting on Sunday morning (4th).
“Israel passed a clear message to the Egyptian government: We expect the joint investigation to be comprehensive and thorough. This is part of the important security cooperation between us that has benefited both countries for years. We will derive the necessary conclusions regarding our activity at the southern border,” the prime minister said.
“The fence, which was built in 2013, slowed the flood of illegal infiltrators into Israel. But there is still smuggling and from time to time attempts by terrorists to cross the border and harm our forces,” Netanyahu said.
“We will refresh the guidelines, the operative methods and means, in order to reduce the smuggling to a minimum and ensure that such tragic attacks do not repeat themselves,” the prime minister added.
IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi announced on Sunday (4th) that the results of the investigation into the attacks will be presented in one week’s time.
He additionally initiated a comprehensive investigation of the defense strategy and approach regarding the defense of borders with non-enemy countries like Egypt.
The attacker was a member of the Egyptian police forces. A Koran was found among his possessions, which military officials said indicates a possibility of religious radicalization, according to Army Radio and KAN News. The attacker also reportedly had with him six magazines, a commando knife and food, which suggested the attack was premeditated, the news sites added.
The attacker used his knife to cut through zip lines that held shut an emergency gate on the border fence, according to the preliminary investigation. The attacker managed to assault the two soldiers who were positioned over 490 feet away without being discovered.
(jpost.com; gglz.net; kan.org.il)
Israeli Soldiers Murdered On Egyptian Border Laid To Rest
The funerals of the three soldiers who were killed by an Egyptian officer at the Israeli-Egyptian border on Saturday (3rd), were held on Sunday afternoon (4th).
Sgt. Lia Ben-Nun’s funeral began at 4:30 p.m. in the military cemetery in Rishon Lezion, her hometown. Ben-Nun was 19 years old. She was promoted to the rank of sergeant after her death, the IDF announced.
St.-Sgt. Ohad Dahan was laid to rest at 5 p.m. in the military section of the cemetery in the southern Israeli town of Ofakim.
Dahlan was 20 years old at the time of his death. He was from Ofakim and posthumously promoted to staff sergeant. Dahlan was one of the three soldiers who engaged the terrorist in a firefight, ultimately killing him.
St.- Sgt. Uri Itzhak Ilouz’s funeral took place at 5 p.m. at the military cemetery in Safed, in Israel’s north. Ilouz was 20 years old when he died and like Dahlan, he was posthumously promoted from sergeant.
Sgt. Lia Ben-Nun and St.-Sgt Uri Itzhak Ilouz were shot and killed early Saturday morning (3rd), while St.-Sgt Ohad Dahlan was killed by the same terrorist several hours later in an exchange of fire.
Ben-Nun and Ilouz were found lifeless in an IDF guard post sometime after 6 a.m. by members of their team who had been sent to check on their wellbeing after they failed to respond to their radios, an initial investigation has shown.
Following the discovery of their bodies, additional reinforcements arrived and a search operation was carried out in order to locate the perpetrator, who was believed to have infiltrated Israel from across the border at some point during the night.
Khamenei Says It Would Be A ‘Mistake’ To Back Down From Tough Approach On The West/Israel
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Iran’s Supreme Leader on Sunday (4th) defended his tough approach to the West, saying compromise would only invite further hostility from Iran’s enemies and blamed recent anti-government protests on “thugs and villains.”
The Ayatollah’s remarks come amid an intensifying standoff with western countries over Iran’s nuclear program, which has made major advances in the five years since then-president Donald Trump withdrew the US from an international accord that restricted it.
Trump restored crippling sanctions on Iran that have contributed toward a severe economic crisis without forcing any concessions from its leaders. Iran has also lent support to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, supplying armed drones that have wreaked havoc on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.
“Some people are mistaken to think if we back down from our stances in certain cases, that will cause the enmity of the United States, global arrogance, or Israel’s policies toward us to diminish,” said Khamenei, who has the final say on all major Iranian policies. “This is a mistake.”
He spoke at an annual event, marking the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, his predecessor and the founder of the Islamic republic.
Khamenei alluded to nationwide protests last fall, marked by the death of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, who had been detained by the morality police for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code. The protests escalated into calls for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic before a deadly crackdown largely extinguished them.
Iranian authorities have blamed the protests on a foreign conspiracy, without providing evidence, while the demonstrators said they were protesting over decades of repression and economic mismanagement.
“Thugs and villains did what they did and malicious individuals chanted such slogans,” Khamenei said. “According to their plot they thought the Islamic Republic was finished and they could take the Iranian nation as servants. These fools once again were wrong. Once again they failed to know our people.”
(timesofisrael.com; ap.com)
Israel Recognizes New Natural Gas Field, Its Fourth Largest
Israel’s Energy Ministry has officially certified the discovery of a new maritime natural gas deposit, the country’s fourth-largest to date.
British-Greek energy company Energean can now begin drawing up plans to develop the field, named Katlan, which is entirely inside Israeli territorial waters.
Israeli Energy and Infrastructure Minister Israel Katz said in a statement on May 31st that there were potentially more reserves yet to be discovered.
“The office under my leadership will continue to develop the natural gas reserves that are in our territory and to promote the exploration and discovery of additional natural gas reserves for the sake of the energy security of the State of Israel and for ensuring a reliable, clean and affordable Israeli energy economy,” said Katz.
Katlan is Israel’s fourth largest gas reserve: Energean is already developing the Karish, Karish North and Tanin offshore reserves, as well as several blocks in the larger Tamar gas field.
“Katlan boasts approximately 68 BCM [billion cubic meters] of natural gas, and we are working diligently to develop it as efficiently as possible to create sustainable value for all our stakeholders. We believe this discovery will open new opportunities for Israeli gas supplies in both local and regional markets,” said Energean CEO Mathios Rigas.
The Israeli ministry has not certified any offshore gas discoveries since 2015.
Earlier this month, the Israeli cabinet approved a 900 million shekel (246 million) project to expand natural gas exports to Egypt.
A 40 mile pipeline will be constructed along a route between Ramat Hovav, south of Beersheba, and Nitzana, near the Sinai border via Ashilim, allowing for an additional 6 billion BCM of natural gas to be exported to Egypt each year.
The sale of the additional gas is expected to generate 200 million shekels ($55 million) in annual revenue for Israel Natural Gas Lines and hundreds of millions of shekels each year for the government in royalties and taxes.
It will be built by Nativ, a state-owned company that is responsible for the gas system throughout Israel.
(jns.org)
40,000 People Gather In Manhattan For Celebrate Israel Parade
Tens of thousands of Israel supporters gathered in Manhattan Sunday (4th) for the annual Celebrate Israel Parade.
The parade, organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, set out from the intersection of 54th Street and 5th Avenue at 11:30 a.m. The event marked the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel.
More than 40,000 people, including representatives from over 200 different groups, joined the parade.
This year’s parade also drew some protesters, including both Israelis and Diaspora Jewish groups who used the event as a platform to demonstrate against Israeli government ministers and coalition members, targeting them over the planned judicial overhaul.
The parade included New York City and government officials in attendance, along with singers and other musicians who performed throughout the day.
A continuation of the Youth Salute to Israel Parade of 1964, the Celebrate Israel Parade has been held every year since 1965, except for the two-year hiatus in 2020 and 2021 during the Covid shutdown.
(isnn.com)
