Judea

2024-05-06

In July 2014, I traveled to Israel with my grandpa. He used to go at least once a year to recite memorial prayers for his parents. My great-grandparents are buried in Jerusalem, on the crest of Mount Olives. After the first flight, we learned our second flight had been delayed. The airport in Tel Aviv had to clear airspace due to incoming rockets. While we waited for an update, he realized I was nervous and started small talk. After a few minutes, I noticed he was undisturbed. I suggested looking for a nearby hotel, and he confidently replied, “We’ll be in Israel by the evening,” adding in Yiddish, “Es vet zein gut” – “Everything will be fine.” Yes, my grandpa was born in Warsaw. I assume the banner on campus instructing “Go back to Poland” is directed to my kind. At best, the author erroneously believes Jewish presence in Israel started in 1948. At worst, he is conscious of the gas chambers. And yes, my grandpa was a Zionist, a Golden Generation one, morally identical to David Ben-Gurion or Shimon Peres. He saw Jewish self-determination as non-negotiable, loved his religion, and was proud of his culture. I got that from him. Contrary to the , Zionism is not racist, colonialist, or imperialist. It is a strive to stop a cycle of persecution of Jews triggered by being a minority everywhere. It recognizes that Judaism originated in Judea and asserts that if Jews are to have a state, it should most reasonably be where they had it twice before. Campus pundits wouldn’t know, but Zionism is not mutually exclusive with the coexistence of a Palestinian state – most Jews accepted a partition plan in 1947 and still do today. Zionism, however, is concerned with the preservation of Jews and their safety. It knows peace and can work with former foes, even after grave tensions. and King Hussein can attest. They got peace with Israel once they sought it. What Zionism cannot do is unilaterally declare peace and retreat to wishful thinking, ignoring terrorism at its borders. And what we cannot do is stay put when the environment is becoming grim. A STUDENT protester waves a Palestinian flag above Hamilton Hall on the campus of Columbia University in New York, in late April. (credit: MARY ALTAFFER/REUTERS) I have full sympathy for innocent people in Gaza. They deserve the human dignity afforded to anyone else. At the same time, I have zero sympathy for whimsical teenagers linking Israel to almost every cause of worldwide violence. I am outraged by students and outside agitators who stage a performative farce on campus, disseminating lies like a banner that reads “Israel funds Mexican cartels.” In light of the recent events, I believe it’s fair to recognize a problem. One that arises when fringe revisionists surpass a handful and become a loud minority. Aided by persistent propaganda and most likely Russian bots, young people with kind hearts are misled to believe they can vindicate a record of assorted historical wrongs by opposing Israel. In their view, Israel is a colonial creation rather than history-rooted self-preservation. These young people see a natural link between Zionism and intergenerational prejudice. Their scapegoating is reinforced through 10-second videos of infuriating messages and complete disregard for the source. Hence, becomes resistance, murder is justified, and rape could or could not be wrong – depending upon the context. I have seen many intelligent people fall prey to this trap. A classmate from law school posted a picture of a swastika inscribed inside a Star of David, thinking it was not antisemitic but rightful. A business school peer compared female Israeli reserve soldiers to SS officers, thinking viewers would see a connection rather than madness. I saw students take down posters of kidnapped toddlers and protesters wearing Hamas headbands. I heard disruptive chants from speakers calling to “globalize the intifada,” all at a top-tier American university. It pains me to say it, but almost one year after my grandpa died, I am quietly relieved he is no longer alive. Seeing the reaction educated people had to the events of October 7 would have revived his worst fears. Based on how much he cared about his grandchildren, I know he would have died in worry rather than in peace. And precisely due to my heritage, I feel an immense commitment to ensure the safety of my kindred. An obligation to never let a falsehood stand unchallenged, even if that means losing old friends or unsubscribing from The New York Times. A duty to ensure authorities enforce the law, even if the law is out of favor. A responsibility to tell my wife “Everything will be fine,” just like my grandpa told me that day, back in 2014, while we were en route to Israel. The writer is a graduate student at the Kellogg School of Management and Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. ...قراءة المزيد

الكلمات المفتاحية المذكورة في المقال:

2024-05-05

Crafted by bees – Slovak artist Tomas Libertiny presents the bust of Roman emperor Hadrian at the Israel Museum, in a new exhibition combining innovative design and sustainable art. Noting his artistic decision to orchestrate bees as a solution to art production, Libertiny’s golden workers already crafted the bust of Nefertiti, the wife of Akhenaten (2022’s Eternity aka Nefertiti) and even the head of . This recasting in wax of the ruler who erased Judea off the map of the ancient world offers the Israeli public a powerful invitation to mediate on power and its limitations. Worker bees live for a few weeks while the queen bee lives for up to six years, Libertiny told The Jerusalem Post. In human terms, a queen lives for 3,000 years. “Bee’s wax is very durable,” he noted. “It’s like a membrane that seals everything.” Noting Libertiny’s art is part of a larger shift toward sustainable design, curator of design and architecture Rami Tareef observed that “this is part of the neo-craft movement, the craftsmanship of the bee.” “This exhibition embodies the spirit of this museum; an encyclopedic museum that offers new connections to be made,” senior curator of Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine Archaeology Dudi Mevorah added. Libertiny’s interest in Nefertiti was shared by Dana Darvish, who recently presented The Destruction of All Art at Art Cube Artists’ Studios in an exhibition curated by Ilanit Konopny. While the Slovak artist took the long way around the barn, researching bees for years to eventually be able to offer a “full” wax bust of the feminine beauty icon, the Israeli artist preferred to “demand the smallest thing from the material to make art out of it,” she said. This is a wise reference to the early decades of Israeli art, during which artists were able to see important artworks only from printed reproductions.   11 Ruppin Blvd. Hours: Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. NIS 54 per ticket. Call (02) 670-8811 for more information.  Supported by the Embassy of Slovakia in Israel; the Slovak Institute, Jerusalem and its director Jakub Urik; The Office for Slovaks Living Abroad; Tatra Bank – Slovakia.  FROM THIS PLACE – Attend Poalot Mikan (Working from Here) Alfred Festival which will begin on Thursday, May 9, and continue until Saturday, May 25. Artistic directors Revital Michali and Efrat Rubin have created a rich program combining dance, performance, and music The Atelier Spaces, Tel Aviv Tarbut, Alfred Gallery, and the Boaz Ahronovitz Studio. Among the performances included are Polar Bee (Friday, May 10, at noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m.) by Yarden El-Kayam and Yulia Frydin’s Crying Over Spilled Milk on Saturday, May 18, during the same hours. 6 Shvil Hameretz. NIS 60 per ticket. Email [email protected] or visit www.alfredinstitute.org to book. On Thursday, May 9, about 100 museums across the country will open their doors gratis and offer unique events in honor of .  The Museum of Man and the Natural World, at the Ramat Gan Safari, will offer free admission upon pre-registration from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. as well as an adult-oriented tour at 2 p.m. Come see it latest exhibition, Sea/Land, which invites the audience to listen to the music oysters make in the deep blue sea. THE MUSEUM of Man and the Natural World. (credit: NADAV COHEN YONATAN) 10 Ehad Ha’am St. Call (03) 631-5010 or email [email protected] to book. Hamizgaga Museum of Archaeology and Glass at Kibbutz Nahsholim offers a special exhibition about the lives of women in the ancient world and a simulation of how archaeologists dive to unearth the past. Call (04) 639-0950 or email [email protected] for more. A complete list of all museums taking part, and how to sign up to their respective lectures and events, can be found at www.icom.org.il. HERZLIYA – Nissim Kahlon’s cave at Sidna Ali beach, where he has lived for half a century and transformed into a well-known tourist attraction, was challenged by the state as it is essentially an illegally built dwelling on public land. To visit Kahlon’s mosaic-filled home, call (09) 955-0756. Note that he is observant and will not answer during Shabbat and Jewish holidays. NEVO – The same-titled artwork by Ariel Hacohen, commissioned by curator Sharon Soffer for the Knesset art collection, was recently placed near the Knesset cafeteria. This is an inspired choice since Hacohen uses digital manipulations of objects discovered at various archaeological sites to offer visual wealth and a sense of expectations, as if all the weight of past generations is expecting some miraculous leap into a new promised land. PERSONAL STRUCTURES – While the Israeli pavilion at the Venice Biennale was shut down until the captives held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas terrorists are returned and a ceasefire is reached, Israeli artist Suly Bornstein Wolff is showing her works at Personal Structures, an exhibition right next to a Palestinian Pavilion. Curated by Vera Pilpoul, Wolff’s exhibition opened on Saturday, April 20, and will be open to the public until Wednesday, November 27 at Palazzo Mora; admission is free. At the Biennale, The Golden Lion for Best National Participation was awarded to Australia, which showed work by Kamilaroi Bigambul artist Archie Moore. The first Australian to be awarded this prize, his installation Kith and Kin is a description of his family’s legacy spanning 65,000 years. Australian Arts Minister Tony Burke said the work shows “the power of Australian art and storytelling going right back to the first sunrise” and pointed to the decision to build a new pavilion for Australia in 2013 as one that evidently paid off. Meanwhile, artist Ruth Patir and curator Mira Lapidot decided to shut down the space meant to present Israeli art to the world despite securing public funding for this purpose. Curator and art critic Smadar Sheffi called Patir and Lapidot’s decision as one arrived at “too late.” This unusual decision might be considered within the following context. The Democratic Republic of Congo is presenting an exhibition titled Lithium during a hunger crisis impacting 25.4 million people. Lebanon is presented with A Dance with her Myth by Mounira Al Solh, shown during the ongoing Lebanese liquidity crisis, which caused 80% of Lebanese to live in poverty. The Islamic Republic of Iran is also there, with an exhibition titled Of One Essence is the Human Race shown at the same time its government attacks Israel with hundreds of drones. Venezuela, which currently goes through the largest displacement crisis in the world, is presenting art by Juvenal Ravelo. Curator Edgar Ernesto Gonzalez did not suggest this pavilion would be bolted because 7.7 million citizens of Venezuela had been displaced. Not a single protester questioned the decency of the Democratic Republic of the Congo presenting art when its population is starving to death. Nor was a single letter of protest passed among artists wondering about the morality of Lebanon taking place in a global cultural event that most of its citizens are too poor to visit. In contrast, tens of thousands of people signed a protest stating they refused to accept this “empty gesture” by Patir and Lapidot and called for Israel to be removed from the event altogether.  This outcry would have been a tad more convincing had similar moral standards been applied to other countries included in the event. Art Roundup is a monthly glance at some of the finest art exhibitions and events currently shown across the country. Artists, curators, and collectors are welcome to send pitches to [email protected] with “Art Roundup” in the email subject. ...قراءة المزيد

الكلمات المفتاحية المذكورة في المقال:

2024-05-02

In the past couple of weeks enormous billboards were seen around Israel showing an hourglass with the flag of the Islamic Republic and promising that the end of the Ayatollah regime in Iran is nearing – setting the date for a mysterious October 28, 2028. Some of the billboards also featured a plight reassuring that “hundreds of millions of evangelicals have Israel’s back,” signed by a mysterious “Jerusalem Prayer Team.” The billboard reminded many in Israel of the reminiscent of the well-known countdown clock placed in Palestine Square in Tehran which counts the days left until Israel’s alleged “fall” in 2040. Nevertheless, while Israelis attempted to decipher the meaning of the messages and guess who was behind them, the billboard gained much traction in Persian-speaking outlets, especially those that oppose the Islamic Republic regime, such as Iran International and Radio Farda, which shared its images with hundreds of thousands of followers and stirred heated debates. BBC Persian reporter Kasara Naji shared a video of one of the billboards with his almost 145 thousand followers, adding “It's not only Iranians who ask when they [the Islamic Republic] will go - this is in Jerusalem in the past days!”. From his part, BWNS reporter Morteza Ismailpour expressed ironic criticism arguing that “We Iranian people are allies of Israel, but we don't want to wait for 4 years!” Though October 28 may be foreign to Israelis and many others across the world, it is a well-known date in Iran. The day coincides with the 7th of the month of Aban according to the Iranian calendar, which is the Day of Cyrus the Great. This is a traditional and popular Iranian holiday that has attempted to suppress and cancel for the past decades, but which still remains popular in the eyes of Iranian citizens, many of which challenge the government’s will, flood the streets with their cars and make their way to the mausoleum of the ancient monarch of Persia, Cyrus the Great, in Pasargad. Cyrus the Great was mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as a Persian king who allowed and even urged Jews to return to their homeland in Judea about 70 years after they were exiled by the Babylonians and rebuild the Jewish temple in the capital Jerusalem, a deed which earned him the title “messiah” in the Book of Isaiah. This is consistent with the historical accounts of Cyrus’s strategy to allow for freedom of worship across his kingdom following his conquering of the Babylonian Empire. Ironically, this encouragement of Jews to gather in Jerusalem stands in contrast with the current Islamic Republic’s view of the Jewish State.Behind the giant billboard campaign is the organization JPT, it was revealed on May 2, 2024. (credit: BLUMENKRANTZ ADVERTISING COMPANY LTD.) Now it can be revealed that the person behind that campaign is the organization JPT, which is part of the Christian-evangelical movement. Dr. Mike Evans, founding member of JPT and founder of the Friends of Zion Heritage Center, identifies simply as “a friend of Israel and an evangelist,” and he was the main brain behind the idea to publish these billboards. The Jerusalem Post reached out to Evans to hear more about the initiative and the reasoning behind it. "Iran's radical jihad is growing stronger. It's a threat to Israel, of course, but it's even worse for the free world,” explained Evans. “That's why hundreds of millions of evangelicals around the globe will keep fighting anti-Semitism with everything we've got. We will ensure Israel's security and peace," he promised. An avid Israel enthusiast, Evans also decided to take action against the antisemitic demonstrations in campuses in his home state of Texas and urge local authorities to act. He also accompanied families of hostages to meetings around the world and joined the efforts to sway the votes of Congressmembers in favor of the military aid package approved last week. “The decision to launch this current billboard campaign stemmed from my desire to convey an unequivocal message to both the regime in Iran and the people of Israel,” added Evans. “This is a message that first and foremost expresses the fact that Israel is not alone: standing behind her like a solid rock are millions of Christian believers in the whole world and in in particular, who have tremendous power and influence,” he reassured. “In addition, the campaign mentions the ancient legacy of Cyrus, the Persian leader who to this day enjoys the allegiance of the people of Iran, while the Ayatollah regime attempts to erase his memory. Cyrus supported the independence of the Jewish people in their own homeland, and it was important for me to mention that this is the true Iranian heritage. The denial of Cyrus’s legacy, as well as the will of the Iranian people, will soon lead to the end of the Ayatollah regime in Iran,” concluded Evans. ...قراءة المزيد

الكلمات المفتاحية المذكورة في المقال:

2024-05-02

The IDF spokesperson announced the names of officers who will ascend to senior roles in the General Staff forum on Thursday evening, following discussions between and Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi. According to Walla, Brig, the decisions are based on evaluations of commanders distinguished in combat and staff roles during the 'Iron Swords' war. Gen. Shlomi Binder is set to lead the Intelligence Division and Brig. Gen. David (Dado) Bar Kalifa will head the Personnel Division. The Defense Minister approved the Chief of Staff's recommendation for the following appointments: Brig. Gen. Avi Blut is designated as the Central Command chief. This officer will be elevated to general. Brig. Gen. Shlomi Binder will head the Intelligence Division and be promoted to general. Brig. Gen. Dan Goldfus will take over as commander of the Northern Corps and head of the Ground Forces' Maneuvering System, with a promotion to general. Brig. Gen. David (Dado) Bar Kalifa will lead the Personnel Division, with a promotion to general. Brig. Gen. Aviad Dagan will head the Communications Division and be elevated to general. These appointments will be implemented in the coming months on a phased basis. Blut, a highly decorated combat officer, is also the first general from the religious Zionist Eli Pre-Military Academy alumnus in the IDF. Blut, a flesh-and-blood representative of the settlers of Judea and Samaria, will now challenge those on the right to decry discrimination, neglect, persecution, and misunderstanding of Central Command's needs for their security and today’s realities. The future of the current Personnel Division head, Gen. Yaniv Asur, still needs to be decided. The army's upper echelons currently need to be more settled by the Chief of Staff's choices for the future of the General Staff, especially after his shortcomings on October 7. "How can a Chief of Staff, who failed himself, make decisions about the future of the General Staff?" was stated. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir openly criticized Defense Minister Galant for his decisions regarding the General Staff appointments, urging Prime Minister Netanyahu to dismiss him. "Galant, a key figure in the conception and prominently responsible for the October 7 failure, has no mandate to approve general appointments or shape the next IDF General Staff," he stated. "Today's decisions by Galant, together with the , show his total disregard for the public." "It's not about the qualifications of the appointed officers, some of whom may be very worthy, but about Galant's decision to carry on as if no significant failure occurred under his watch as Defense Minister," Ben-Gvir added. "In light of this, I call for the Prime Minister to remove Galant from his position - he is unfit to continue as Defense Minister." The criticism against the Chief of Staff's decision to appoint Binder as head of Military Intelligence centers on two main issues related to Binder. First, his sensitive and critical involvement on October 7, and what preceded it, as head of the Operations Division. Secondly, being a younger general, Binder was preferred over more seasoned generals such as Gen. Nitzan Alon, Gen. Lior Carmeli, and Gen. Yehuda Fox, among others. Nevertheless, Binder is highly respected and well-known within the intelligence community, having served as the commander of Sayeret Matkal, the Golani Brigade, and the Galilee Formation. Additionally, Walla has learned that there are solid governmental objections to appointing a general to this sensitive position. ...قراءة المزيد

الكلمات المفتاحية المذكورة في المقال:

2024-05-02

The term “Palestinian” today refers to the Arab population living in Judea and Samaria (), east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. By adopting this name, there is an implication that these people have been linked somehow to this land for thousands of years; that is, these Palestinians have deep roots in the land – which is certainly not the case. The term “Palestinian” is derived from the word Philistine. The Philistines (of whom Goliath was one) were a sea-faring people who likely originated in Crete and invaded the coastal strip around 1200 BCE. Their land included the Gaza Strip and extended north to around present-day Caesarea. The Philistines disappeared under the Babylonian conquest in the 6th century BCE and, as far as I know, have not been heard of since. In 63 BCE, the Roman army under Pompey the Great captured Jerusalem. The Roman goal was to destroy any vestige of Jewish attachment to this land, which was then called Judea and from which the term Jew arose. The Romans then reinvented and modified the name by calling the land Palestina. Islam was founded in 610 CE, and spread rapidly by conquest and conversion. The Muslims reached and conquered Palestina in 632 CE and the name Palestina disappeared. The Crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099 CE and drove out or killed thousands of Muslims and Jews and repurposed al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and the Dome of the Rock as Christian shrines. Jerusalem was later taken back in 1187 by the Muslim military genius Saladin. The writer’s bronze coin dated 1946. (credit: JACOB SIVAK) In 1291, the Templars were defeated in the siege of Acre (the capital of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the last major stronghold of the Crusaders) by the Mamluks. It was only a matter of time before the was extinguished. The land remained under the control of the Mamluks for 220 years until their surrender to the might of the Ottomans in 1516. During the Ottoman rule, which lasted 400 years, the land was referred to as Filastin. In 1917, British forces entered Palestine. In 1918, Ottoman rule ended following the defeat of its forces at the battle of Megiddo. On April 25, 1920, the League of Nations gave Britain a Mandate over Palestine. The name Palestine was resurrected by the map makers drawing up all the new country borders in the Middle East. UNTIL THE 20th century, the name “Palestine” referred exclusively to the ancient land of the Jews. The Arabs who lived there were called Arabs and considered themselves living in southern Syria. They never identified the land as a unique national homeland for themselves. During the Mandate, it was the Jews who often referred to themselves as Palestinians. The Arabs that lived west of the Jordan called themselves “The Sons of South Syria.” About half of these Arabs came from Syria and about half came from Egypt. These Arabs were so reluctant to use the name Palestinian that it was accepted by everyone that Palestinian was a term used only for Jews. Golda Meir in fact stated “I am a Palestinian.” In 1964 the Russian KGB, the godfather of all Arab terrorism, decided the optics of 200 million Arabs against a tiny Jewish state caused too much sympathy toward Israel – who was perceived as the biblical David whereas the Arabs were Goliath – so they came up with the idea of turning the table. They selected the Arab refugees from the 1948 war, and called them Palestinians. The Russians found the Islamic world was a petri dish in which they could nurture a virulent strain of American-Israeli hatred, because Islamic antisemitism ran deep. In order to make Yasser Arafat the figurehead of the struggle, the Russians destroyed the documentation that showed he was born in Cairo and forged instead the documents that showed that he had been born in Jerusalem. Thus, a new Palestinian and a Palestinian people was born. The Six Day War and the Arab’s devastating loss caused enormous damage to Russian prestige. In an attempt to rectify the damage, they unleashed a constant flow of anti-Zionist propaganda. Four thousand Russian agents with thousands of copies of the Russian forgery The Protocols of the Elders of Zion were distributed all over the Arab world.  They promoted the idea that the US and Israel were fascist and that the Imperial-Zionist country was being bankrolled by rich Jews. The USSR came up with a lot of Nazi-borrowed trigger words like genocide, racism, and concentration camps. The United Nations turned out to be an overwhelmingly grateful recipient of Soviet propaganda resulting in Resolution 3375 condemning Zionism as a form of racism and discrimination. Thus, it was the USSR that rebranded the term Palestinian – which, despite the fact that they stand for everything opposite to Western liberal thinking, has nevertheless won the hearts of the poorly informed, the naïve and the not-so-latent antisemitism amongst us. The writer is a practicing endocrinologist in Dallas, Texas, who now lives part time in Caesarea, Israel. He is the author of thirteen books about his personal experiences that have taught him life lessons. ...قراءة المزيد

الكلمات المفتاحية المذكورة في المقال:

2024-04-30

According to the Bible, the “United Kingdom of Israel” existed from the 11th century BCE and was ruled by Saul, David, and his son Solomon. But it – Israel and Judea – about 975 BCE after King Solomon died and his son, Rehoboam – his anointed successor who ruled over the Southern Kingdom comprised of territory belonging to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin – took over. The schism occurred when Jews rebelled against heavy taxes that were charged by the monarchy.  Israel consisted of Samaria and the Shechem in the north, while served as a center of religious significance in the south. Until now, there has been only biblical and historical evidence but no indisputable archaeological remains to prove the exact chronology. The formation of the Kingdom of Judah has been a subject of heavy debate among scholars, with a dispute emerging between biblical minimalists and biblical maximalists on this particular topic. Due to geopolitical factors like security issues, isolation, and political changes, the core area of the Kingdom of Judah on the south-central highlands has seen limited archaeological exploration compared to regions west of the Jordan River. Some scholars had suggested that Jerusalem, the kingdom's capital, did not emerge as a significant administrative center until the end of the 8th century BCE. Before then, the archaeological evidence suggests its population was too small to sustain a viable kingdom. (Left-right): Eugenia Mintz, Dr. Johanna Regev, Prof. Elisabetta Boaretto and Dr. Lior Regev. (credit: Johanna Regev) Now, researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot in collaboration with a team of archaeologists from Jerusalem’s City of David archaeological site, Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), and Tel Aviv University (TAU) have now managed to produce a detailed chronology of Iron-Age Jerusalem when the city served as the capital of the biblical Kingdom of Judah.  The findings of this study are being published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, (PNAS) under the title “Radiocarbon chronology of Iron-Age Jerusalem reveals calibration offsets and architectural developments.” The study was made possible by an experiment set up by Dr. Lior Regev at D-REAMS, Weizmann’s dedicated accelerator for research.  Despite the reams of writings about Jerusalem, studying its Iron Age has proven challenging in terms of absolute chronology, which involves determining the exact dates or time periods to which archaeological evidence belongs, as opposed to a relative chronology, which establishes the order of events based on similarities to architecture or ceramic evidence at other sites.  A charred basket pattern on a jar from the time of the 586 BCE Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem (credit: Johanna Regev) Part of the challenge is a phenomenon known as the Hallstatt plateau, which comes from a particular interaction of cosmic rays with Earth’s atmosphere at the time in question and interferes with the use of radiocarbon dating, the gold standard of determining how old something is. The plateau means that during the Iron Age, radioactive dating rather than pointing to an object’s specific age generates a graph with a flat area – the range between the 8th and 5th centuries BCE. Therefore, radiocarbon dating generally isn’t accurate during this time period, which made overcoming the Hallstatt plateau one of the biggest struggles in archaeological studies of the later part of the Iron Age.  As a result, archaeologists exploring Iron-Age Jerusalem relied more on biblical and historic texts and studying pottery rather than using radiocarbon dating. In addition, the mix of architecture and continuous habitation over more than 4,000 years has led to Jerusalem being an amalgamation of construction from different time periods; it is a city that has seen many wars, destructions and reconstructions, turning into sprawling and complex urban areas built on top of the ruins of what came before.  All these combined to create gaps in establishing an absolute chronology of Iron-Age Jerusalem. Filling these gaps would require successfully dealing with the Hallstatt plateau problem. Fortunately, the Weizmann researchers were able to do just that by using microarchaeology, a relatively new field within archaeological sciences that they had developed. This approach focuses on carefully examining pieces of evidence left behind at sites, using scientific instruments with an almost forensic-like level of care and attention. “It’s a question of thoroughly understanding the connection between the materials to be dated and the layers with evidence of human occupation or construction material – and that’s how we were able to apply the microarchaeology method,” said Prof. Elisabetta Boaretto, director of Weizmann’s Scientific Archeology Unit.  Developed about eight decades ago, works by measuring radiocarbon (carbon-14 or 14C) in a given object. Radiocarbon is constantly being produced in the atmosphere and becomes part of the carbon cycle. These atoms are absorbed into the tissue of organic matter such as plants, animals and people – but when that living organism dies, it stops absorbing radiocarbon. The 14C undergoes radioactive decay, turning into nitrogen-14. Since radiocarbon has a known rate of decay, researchers can use the number of remaining 14C atoms to determine something’s age. Going to the excavation sites in Jerusalem, Boaretto and Dr. Johanna Regev (a consultant in her lab) were able to carry out more than 100 radiocarbon measurements on organic material, mostly charred seeds. “We have to be able not only to collect material like seeds, bones or charcoal from the site but to identify the context, such as where the seeds were burnt,” Boaretto explained. “We achieve this with the methods we have developed over the years, using analytical instruments that we have at Weizmann and also bring with us to the field. In this manner, we can go beyond the standard archaeological analysis of the site.”  The researchers then separated the original material from contaminants and carried out multiple radiocarbon measurements at Weizmann’s Dangoor Research Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (D-REAMS) Lab to get the highest level of accuracy and precision in dating. “We have an understanding of how the site was formed, so when we collect seeds or mortar samples related to the site, we can be confident that these were there when the site was built, which means we can date the site itself from that,” Boaretto said. Overcoming the Hallstatt plateau was also made possible with the help of 100 calendar-dated tree rings obtained from well-known archives. Tree-ring dating, also known as dendrochronology, is built on the fact that a tree will grow a ring every year until its death. The more rings a tree has, the older it is.  Combining this with the radiocarbon method, researchers were able to obtain a more precise and detailed determination of the radiocarbon concentration in the atmosphere during the period of interest, which also helped create an absolute chronology. The existence of two historical events that occurred at well-established dates – the 586 BCE destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, and the 8th century BCE earthquake and subsequent widespread reconstruction efforts – helped provide further insights into the radiocarbon behavior in the atmosphere.  The researchers noticed differences between the radiocarbon in the material in the region compared to the measured concentration in European and American tree rings from the same time. These differences – when the radiocarbon data don’t match what we know they should be thanks to the tree rings – are known as “offsets,” and understanding them can be of fundamental importance for scientists studying the climate and atmosphere, as well as for archaeological chronologies. The study’s greatest achievement was its success in creating an absolute chronology, with unprecedented detail and fidelity, for a continuously inhabited city. In particular, the researchers were able to provide concrete evidence of widespread presence of human habitation in Jerusalem as far back as the 12th century BCE. A westward expansion of the city was precisely dated back to the 9th century BCE by determining the timing of the construction of a large ancient building.  Establishing the dates of a major shakeup to the urban planning made it possible to attribute it to a devastating earthquake and further development up until 586 BCE. Notably, while previous research had credited the post-earthquake redevelopment to King Hezekiah, the radiocarbon dating and chronology show that it likely occurred during the reign of King Uzziah.  “Jerusalem is a living city; it’s not like a tel site that’s built as a sequence of layers,” Boaretto concluded. “This is a city that’s been rebuilt constantly all this time, and the archaeological evidence is scattered. But despite these challenges, layers and layers of construction and the Hallstatt plateau, we were able to put together its absolute chronology during the Iron Age.”  The methods developed in the study could have an impact beyond Jerusalem, the team said, “since problems with using radiocarbon dating at Iron-Age sites are a global issue. The team’s microarchaeology approach can be used at many of these other sites, helping fill in the gaps in this pivotal period of human development and history. Not such a “small” feat for something called microarchaeology. ...قراءة المزيد

الكلمات المفتاحية المذكورة في المقال:

2024-04-17

on Israel Sunday morning is a seminal event that thrust the Middle East into a new era. For the first time in history, Iran launched an attack on Israel directly from its territory, employing drones and both cruise and ballistic missiles that have been under development for decades. These weapons served as a crucial element of Iran’s strategic deterrence and enabled the projection of its power across the region. While Iran’s nuclear program is still evolving, its extensive missile and drone capabilities elevated it to a regional powerhouse not to be overlooked. Take away those capabilities, and Iran appears far less menacing. The head-spinning success Israel and its allies had Sunday morning in swatting Iranian projectiles out of the sky has shown that Iran’s missile threat is not as dire and catastrophic as many thought. The ramifications of this will be felt for years in ways that may be hard to imagine today. One way is that what happened Sunday morning might catalyze formal . Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia December 6, 2023. (credit: Sputnik/Sergei Savostyanov/Pool via REUTERS) If indeed this is one of the unintended consequences of Iran’s attack, it will be a sweet irony, considering that one of the outcomes the ayatollahs were hoping for after attack was that a strong Israeli response would thwart an Israel-US-Saudi deal that was being earnestly discussed and promoted. Though it now seems like eons ago, last September there was serious talk about a game-changing pact that would contain the following elements: The US would sign a NATO-like defense treaty with Israel and Saudi Arabia, sell state-of-the-art weaponry to the Saudis and assist in its development of a civilian nuclear program that would include the right to domestic uranium enrichment. The Saudis would normalize ties with Israel, help end the war in Yemen, and provide massive financial assistance to the Palestinians. And Israel would put a cap on settlement activity and pledge not to annex Judea and Samaria. Soon after Biden met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the UN and discussed this plan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman acknowledged in a stunning interview with Fox News that his country was moving “closer” each day to a normalization deal with Israel and that the process is “for the first time a real one, serious.” A little over two weeks later, Hamas sent more than 3,000 terrorists across the border to murder, rape, kidnap, and pillage. Israel responded with justified ferocity, and all hopes of Saudi-Israeli normalization seemed shattered. Yet they are not, and the quiet role the Saudis played in helping Israel and the US thwart Iran’s missile attack is proof of that. According to a report Monday in The Wall Street Journal, Saudi Arabia was one of the countries in the region that quietly agreed to share intelligence with the US about an impending Iranian attack. According to the report, Iranian officials briefed officials from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries on the outline of their attack two days before, allowing them to safeguard their airspace. As part of a regional air-defense system the US has painstakingly created over the last few years, this information was shared with the US, giving Washington and Jerusalem crucial advanced warning, though the Saudis did not give the US and Israel use of their airspace to intercept the missiles and drones. Jordan did grant that permission and even participated in downing some of the drones. Such security cooperation with the Saudis – albeit not complete – would have been unimaginable a decade ago and is something that needs to be built upon to re-energize talk of a three-way Israel-Saudi-US deal once the Gaza war ends. In the post-April 14 Middle East, Israel’s security will be based on two pillars. The primary pillar is its might and deterrence, which necessitates a robust response to Iran’s brazen attack. The second pillar is a regional defense architecture that is still a work in progress but whose benefits were already evident in Sunday’s early hours. To ensure the success of this regional architecture, Israel must now carefully weigh its response to Iran, ensuring that it does not undermine this regional cooperation, which, in the darkness currently enveloping the Middle East, is one flicker of hopeful light. ...قراءة المزيد

الكلمات المفتاحية المذكورة في المقال:

2024-04-16

National Security Minister, whose spokesperson was quoted Tuesday, has set up a new Israel Police team that will be responsible for dealing with left-wing activists in the West Bank. According to the spokesperson, the new team's purpose is to monitor activists who cause instability in the region. It will be part of the central command's Judea and Samaria division and will work in coordination with immigration police and the Interior Ministry, among other bodies. "Founding the team for handling the anarchists is consistent with my clear policy of fighting those who disturb public order," said the minister. These are "anarchist factors who I see in Judea and Samaria or Hebron, cursing IDF soldiers, igniting tempers, inciting and encouraging harming Jews, and in doing so hurting the security of the state," he said. The minister added that he has "zero tolerance for those who hurt the security of settlers and of The State of Israel."Peace Now demonstration outside of the Kochav HaShahar settlement in the West Bank. (credit: TOVAH LAZAROFF) responded to the new team, saying, "Instead of dealing with the settler violence that is rampant in the territories and harms human life and the stability of the entire region, directs the police to act against the peace activists who try to prevent [settler violence], and take risks on a daily basis to calm the area and prevent damage to innocents." Grassroots peace organization Standing Together co-director Alon-Lee Green also responded, saying that the new team's founding is an attempt to keep the truth about crimes occurring in the area from the public. "Founding a special police unit whose whole purpose is to prevent human rights activists from getting to Palestinian towns will not prevent the public from being exposed to the fact that in those territories, there is an apartheid regime," he said. "The Jewish settlers have all the rights, while their Palestinian neighbors don't have any. The new unit will not deter us; we will continue to come and act against the continuation of this reality that hurts Palestinians and Israelis," he said.  ...قراءة المزيد

الكلمات المفتاحية المذكورة في المقال:

2024-04-14

While it would be difficult to obtain and would involve very painful sacrifices, there are many reasons for Israel to start actively pursuing a two-state resolution of its conflict with the Palestinians. Without such a resolution: 1. Israel is likely to have a very bleak future. The might last for a long time, with many additional Israelis killed or wounded as well as continued widespread diplomatic criticism, negative economic effects, and many Israelis unable to return home. The back-and-forth attacks with Hezbollah are likely to continue and might expand into a full-scale war, which would have devastating consequences for Israel. Tensions in Judea and Samaria are also likely to continue, making terrorism and war increasingly likely. 2. The continued deaths of large numbers of Gazan civilians, despite Israel’s efforts to minimize them, will continue to weaken relations between Israel and the US, European Union countries, members and other nations, causing Israel to be considered a pariah by some countries. It would also provide justifications for continued and possibly increased antisemitism for people seeking such justification. The situation has worsened because of the international outrage about Israel’s accidental killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers. 3. The continued instability in the area could lead to far greater warfare, causing spikes in oil prices and possibly a widespread recession. 4. The possibility of averting a climate catastrophe would decrease since so much energy is needed to continue the war and repair its devastation. Also, the daily reports about the war and acts of terrorism divert attention from the urgency of addressing climate threats. A WOMAN mourns amid bodies of people killed in the Gaza war. Deaths of large numbers of Gazan civilians, despite Israel’s efforts to minimize them, will continue to weaken Israel’s ties with the US, European Union countries, Abraham Accords members, and others, the writer argues. (credit: REUTERS/Ramadan Abed) A RESOLUTION to the conflict would require the elimination of Hamas, the freeing of the hostages, a demilitarized Palestinian state, more peace-supportive leadership for Israel and the Palestinians, a territorial swap that would keep most of Judea and Samaria’s residents as part of Israel, and financial and other support from the world’s nations. These are more likely to happen if the Jewish state makes resolving its conflict with the Palestinians a priority. If Israel worked with other nations on a comprehensive, sustainable resolution of the conflict with the Palestinians after Hamas was destroyed, it could be a game changer. The chances of a broader conflict would significantly decrease. Instead of Israel increasingly becoming a pariah, the nations of the world would happily back the initiative. Antisemites would be reduced, and Jews on college campuses and in other settings could shift from having to be defensive to being able to promote a positive initiative. Palestinians in Gaza as well as in Judea and Samaria would be able to work in Israel again, with major economic benefits to Israel and the Palestinians. Nations would be far more likely to fund the rebuilding of Gaza if the risks of future wars there are sharply reduced. Israel’s relations with the US and other nations would be greatly improved. Israel’s major expenditures for its military would be sharply reduced, freeing up much money to expand social and environmental programs. And, of course, there would be an end to the deaths and injuries from the conflicts. If, despite major Israeli efforts to end the conflicts, the Palestinians still refuse to cooperate, Israel would still benefit from an improved image worldwide and reduced antisemitism. Obtaining a has significant support in Israel and worldwide. It is backed by US President Joe Biden and most world leaders, as well as most American Jewish and Democratic politicians who have consistently supported aid to Israel.  More importantly, it is the view of Commanders for Israel’s Security (CIS), which includes over 500 Israeli retired generals and leaders of the Mossad, Shin Bet (Israel Security Service), and the Israeli police. These are the Israelis who are most familiar with our security needs, and they stress that it is essential for Israel’s future well-being that there be a just, comprehensive, sustainable end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As indicated in the 2013 Israeli Academy Award-nominated documentary The Gatekeepers, all of the six then-living retired heads of the Shin Bet believed that Israel should be doing more to help resolve the Israeli/Palestinian conflict to provide Israel with a decent future. BECAUSE OF the horrendous acts of violence by Hamas on October 7, 2023, the many acts of Palestinian terrorism for many years and the hard-line positions of Israeli and Palestinian leaders, most people think that the possibilities for a conflict resolution are very slim now. However, considering that there will be an extremely negative future for Israel, the Palestinians, the US and, indeed, the entire world without such a resolution, obtaining it must be an Israeli and a global priority. Judaism teaches that the greatest hero is “someone who converts an enemy into a friend” (Avot de Rabbi Natan 23) and has many teachings to help make that happen. Applying these teachings is more important than ever, as the fate of Israel and the entire world depends on it. We should stress to the Palestinians that we have a choice: to continue the status quo, which involves many negatives, including the continued killings and woundings, or find a way to work together, with great benefits to both of us. Israel should work with the US, the European nations, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the Abraham Accords nations, and others to promote the conditions that would make a conflict resolution more likely. Once the Palestinians recognize that Israel sincerely wants to end the status quo and cooperate in working together harmoniously, they could demand new leaders, people willing to forge better relations with Israel. Working toward peace applies essential Jewish values and mandates: to seek and pursue peace (Psalms 34:14), to turn enemies into friends (Avot d’Rebbe Natan 23:1), to work cooperatively for justice (Deuteronomy 16:20), and to preserve God’s world (Genesis 2:15). A just Mideast peace agreement would enable Israel to fulfill its moral mission as a model of justice, compassion and, most importantly, shalom – peace.  A key question is this: Without a two-state resolution, how can Israel avert continuing and possibly increased violence and diplomatic criticism, effectively respond to our economic, environmental and other domestic problems, remain both a Jewish and democratic nation, and reduce antisemitism? I recognize that I am advocating for a position with which many Israelis currently disagree, but how else can we have a positive future for our beloved, imperiled nation? I hope my article will start respectful dialogue that will result in a much better future for Israel. As Theodor Herzl famously said, “If you will it, it is not a dream.” The writer, celebrating his 90th birthday, is author of Vegan Revolution: Saving Our World, Revitalizing Judaism; Judaism and Vegetarianism; Judaism and Global Survival; Mathematics and Global Survival; and Who Stole My Religion? Revitalizing Judaism and Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal Our Imperiled Planet; as well as over 250 articles at JewishVeg.org/schwartz. ...قراءة المزيد

الكلمات المفتاحية المذكورة في المقال:

2024-04-13

There are some concerns in Israel that the murder of the 14-year-old boy Binyamin Achimair will ignite the entire West Bank and lead to violent disturbances. After news of the discovery of Achimair's body, violent clashes and car fires reported in the village of Duma and Al-Mughayyir on Saturday. Tensions in the West Bank are rising as farmer Binyamin Achimair's body was found in the West Bank on early Saturday. Palestinians claim of one dead by settler gunfire in Al-Mughayyir near Ramallah. According to another report, settlers attacked a photographer near the village of Duma, broke his hand, and burned his equipment. There were also reports of shooting at a Palestinian car. In Al-Mughayyir, Jihad Abu Alia, who was shot dead yesterday during disturbances between residents and Israelis following the disappearance of the boy, was brought for burial. The mourners called for support for Hamas and Ismail Haniyeh. According to reports, throughout Saturday, calls have been made on Arab social networks to mobilize and protect villages from "mass attacks by settlers." The Red Crescent reports 16 Palestinians injured and in need of medical treatment.Binyamin Achimair, Missing 14-year-old boy from Samaria, Police are requesting help in searching, April 12, 2024. (credit: ISRAEL POLICE) In the villages of Kusra and Beit Furiq, a series of houses and vehicles were set on fire by settlers. In the area of Yitzhar, a Palestinian was attacked with stones while driving his car. Attacks by settlers have also been reported in  more Palestinian villages at the West Bank. An IDF spokesperson issued a statement saying: "In recent hours, clashes have erupted between Israeli citizens and Palestinians in several locations in Judea and Samaria, during which they threw stones and fired. Dozens of Israelis and Palestinians were injured in various ways. Numerous IDF and Border Police forces were deployed in various areas and used means to disperse demonstrations. At this time, all events have ended. In addition to the forces deployed in the field, it was decided to reinforce several IDF battalions and additional Border Police forces. Security forces continue to pursue the terrorists who murdered Binyamin Achimair." Yesterday, the shepherd, the boy Binyamin Achimair, 14, left the farm at Mlachi Hashalom in the Binyamin Regional Brigade. A few hours later, the shepherd returned to the farm without the boy, and then concern arose for his fate. The information was passed on to the police and the IDF, who began extensive searches. In the afternoon, violent disturbances developed in which Israelis arrived in the area near Al-Mughayyir, set cars on fire, threw stones, and fled. Around midday Saturday a combat collection team located the boy's body using a drone within the farm's premises. From preliminary reports, it appears that Achimair was probably murdered with a cold weapon, and according to the suspicion, the background to the event is not criminal. The investigation of the event has been transferred to the Israel Police for handling, which has already collected details from the scene by a forensic lab and the Shin Bet. At this stage, the assessment is that a terrorist ambushed the boy while he was grazing in the open area and surprised him at close range. The treatment was transferred to the intelligence sphere. Defense Minister Yoav Galant wrote in X: "I am saddened by the death of the boy Binyamin Achimair, who was murdered in cold blood by a despicable terrorist. The security system will reach the murderer and deal with him according to the law, as we have done with every terrorist and murderer. I appeal to the public, let the security forces act quickly in pursuit of the terrorists - retaliatory actions will only exacerbate our fighters in their mission - it is forbidden to take the law into your own hands." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote an offcial statement, saying "The heinous murder of the boy Binyamin Achimair, is a serious crime. I send condolences from the bottom of my heart to his family." He further added that the IDf and Shin Bet are investigating the incident, and that they are conducting intelligence and operational activities in the region and villages. Netanyahu urges Israeli citizens "to allow the secuty forces to do their work with interference." ...قراءة المزيد

الكلمات المفتاحية المذكورة في المقال:

2024-04-11

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will virtually address an event on Monday at a conservative DC think tank hosted by Keep God's Land, an organization formed after October 7 advocating against a two-state solution.  The group is made up of rabbis, evangelical pastors, former Israeli and US ambassadors, as well as members of Knesset.  Also speaking at Monday's event will be House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), Rep. Claudia Tieney (R-NY) and Ohad Tal, a member of Knesset for the right-wing Religious Zionism party. US HOUSE of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson holds a news conference on Capitol Hill, last month. (credit: LEAH MILLIS/REUTERS)  "A two-state solution that divides God’s land would be a direct rejection of God’s will as clearly and repeatedly stated in the Bible," according to Keep God's Land's website.  "Jews and Christians who believe in the Bible must stand together with the brave Jewish pioneers of Judea and Samaria to ensure Israel’s terrorist enemies and their antisemitic supporters do not succeed in their plan to drive the Jewish people out of God’s land," the website says.  President Joe Biden and his administration have posited that Palestinian statehood will be the only way for Israel to achieve long term peace and stability, a claim fervently rejected by Netanyahu.  ...قراءة المزيد

الكلمات المفتاحية المذكورة في المقال:

2024-04-10

The IDF, Shin Bet, and Border Police arrested nine during a Tuesday overnight operation, the IDF announced on Wednesday. During the operation in Kalandiya, in the Binyamin Division, soldiers arrested three wanted individuals and seized two rifles and three handguns.IDF forces night operation in the West Bank, April 9, 2024. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) In the in the Menashe Division and Samaria Division area, soldiers arrested an additional six wanted individuals and interrogated more suspects. In Idna, in the Judea Division, forces located and confiscated combat equipment that was found in the area, and in Hebron, terror funds were also confiscated. "The arrested suspects and the were transferred for further handling by security forces; our forces did not suffer casualties," the IDF Spokesperson Unit reported.Confiscated weapons from IDF forces night operation in the West Bank, April 9, 2024. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) So far, since the beginning of the conflict, about 3,700 wanted individuals have been arrested throughout the West Bank, with about 1,600 of them affiliated with the Hamas terror organization. ...قراءة المزيد

الكلمات المفتاحية المذكورة في المقال:

2024-04-10

Israel, Jews, and indeed Zionism have faced, for over a century, a . The campaigns in this war have been fierce, vicious, and injurious, even if at times no blood has been shed. And they are ongoing. They have been waged on battlefields and in conference rooms; in halls of powers and on campus quadrants; in courtrooms and in trenches; in newspaper columns and on . The first front is, of course, the armed effort designed to and to eradicate Israel.  From murderous riots outside Jaffa Gate in April 1920 to Hebron’s Jewish Quarter in August 1929 to the 1948 War of Independence and all successive battles since, from Fedayeen to Fatah, to Hamas and Hezbollah. The second front is the diplomatic efforts to deny Zionism its legitimacy and Israel its raison d’etre. This front is shared by the information public diplomacy engagements where there are, according to President Binyamin Netanyahu, “people who can’t put two words together [in English].” Judges are seen at the International Court of Justice before the issue of a verdict in the case of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav who was sentenced to death by Pakistan in 2017, in The Hague, Netherlands July 17, 2019 (credit: REUTERS/PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW) The third front, the focus of this column, is that of the legal assault on Israel, employing claims of law to deny the national rights of Jews, by pushing a line that the Mandate for Palestine itself was a legal error – at best – and that Israel has no rights to Judea and Samaria. One recent instance is what journalist Melanie Phillips termed “a contemptible letter... a disgrace to the legal profession,” referring to a letter sent to the United Kingdom’s prime minister and signed by 600 British lawyers. They asserted that Israel was breaking international law and potentially committing genocide in Gaza. As Ms. Phillips pointed out, they not only failed to quote correctly from the January ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), but in their inability to do so misrepresented the court’s findings – essentially lying. On a previous occasion, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International simply redefined the term “apartheid” in order to have in applied to Israel in its new form.  NGO Monitor released a report in December 2021, authored by Joshua Kern and Anne Herzberg, titled “False Knowledge as Power.” It addressed the legal vacuum that existed and how it permitted the charge of the apartheid calumny to invade the debates over Israel’s policies – and provided a full analysis based on international law. That campaign is ever ongoing. A recent post with a rebuttal and a rejoinder, at the prestigious OpinioJuris blog, is worthy of attention. The blog seeks to inform discussion of international law by and among academics, practitioners, and legal experts. It is read in over 70 countries, daily. Its posts have been cited by international and domestic courts, international arbitrators, and government officials. DR. ALONSO Gurmendi Dunkelberg of Kings College touted that Israel possesses no sovereign claim to Judea and Samaria, that is, the “West Bank” a la Dunkelberg. His arguments were refuted by Kohelet’s Avraham R. Shalev and were countered by Dunkelberg, all this over a two-month exchange. While my legal training is limited, it quickly became obvious that Dunkelberg’s knowledge of history was central to his interpretation of law. Moreover, that knowledge was one of a rigid ideological approach and a misrepresentation of history, while his background is Latin America. He had armed his view with illegal ammunition. To deny Shalev’s assertion that Zionism is not a “colonial endeavor,” Dunkelberg points to the 1899 established “Zionist Colonial Trust” and to Ze’ev Jabotinsky’s writing in 1923 about Zionism’s “colonizing aims.” That, of course, is etymological claptrap. The term “colonization” there and then used was simply a synonym for “settlement.” Kibbutzim were “colonies.”  Zionists engaged in resettling Jews on their national land, planting it and rebuilding it. Moreover, they were required to do so through buying the land back from Arabs and others who had themselves occupied it, centuries earlier. In another section, he argues on behalf of “Arab Palestinians” and their rights as if they existed as a distinct people. Yet, at the time, those Arabs themselves denied Palestine’s independence. Orientalist Philip Khoury Hitti was active in 1918 in an anti-Zionist Arab-American movement. The group lobbied for the establishment of a Greater Syria and at the 1919 peace conference, they asked that Palestine not be independent and not detached from Syria. The First Palestinian Congress of January-February 1919 resolved: “We consider Palestine as part of Arab Syria... we desire that our district Southern Syria or Palestine should be not separated from the Independent Arab Syrian Government.” The King-Crane Commission was also so informed.  The Emir Feisal, the most senior Arab diplomat, meeting with Israeli president Chaim Weizmann in January 1919, accepted that there would be an Arab state and a “Palestine” for the “Jewish people.” Article VII of their agreement recognized a “Zionist Organization.” In arguing that Israel was created “in Palestine” but itself is not “Palestine” nor did “Palestine” disappear, Dunkelberg conveniently ignores the existence of Jordan in Palestine territory in a colonial maneuver by Great Britain.  In addition, in his logic, the Ottoman Empire somehow wasn’t a colonial empire, occupying Judea, the Jewish national homeland but rather possessed sovereign rights that should only be transferred to Arabs, not Jews. Dunkelberg suggests the territory cannot have a Jewish national identity, despite never existing as a separate, distinct state entity with an Arab character in any form.  Ignoring that a Palestinian nationality was specifically legislated in 1925 so that Jews could obtain naturalization status, Dunkelberg traipses through a purposeful misreading of history to the downgrading and disadvantage of the legal rights of the Jewish people. His method is shared by many other denigrators of Zionism and is but a form of a totalitarian newspeak. As George Orwell wrote in his 1946 essay, “Politics and the English Language,” “if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.” And as he added, “debased language... is in some ways very convenient.” Israel needs better-trained warriors on its third-front battles. The writer is a researcher, analyst, and opinion commentator on political, cultural, and media issues. ...قراءة المزيد

الكلمات المفتاحية المذكورة في المقال:

2024-03-27

A few days ago, Israeli police officers arrested two Palestinian Arab terrorists for throwing firebombs at Jewish homes in the mostly Arab Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina. Beit Hanina is not some remote area: it is just five miles from the Western Wall Plaza and less than three and a half miles from Hebrew University. It’s alarming how quickly the public has become accustomed to such assaults. Imagine if two white supremacists tried to burn down the homes of African-Americans in Washington, DC. There would be an outpouring of angry condemnations – and rightly so – from political leaders, civil rights groups, and American Jewish organizations. But not a word is heard when Palestinian Arab attackers try to burn Jews alive in Jerusalem. A seemingly small detail in the news reports about the incident caught my eye. The firebombs were “filled with nails,” a police spokesperson revealed. That was a new one for me, and I follow this kind of news rather closely. A terrorist is carefully filling a bottle with gasoline. He is just about to stuff a rag into the top, which he will light when he is ready to turn it into a firebomb. But before adding the rag, he and his comrade pause. “Wait a minute,” one must say to the other. “In addition to setting Jews on fire, this could fire nails at high speed when it explodes. Let’s put a bunch of nails in the bottle, so the Jews will both catch on fire and be stabbed by sharp, high-velocity pieces of metal!” It seems as if Palestinian Arab terrorists are constantly trying to invent new ways to inflict pain on Jews. Of course we saw unimaginably horrible new types of savagery on October 7. But before anybody thinks that such behavior is unique to Hamas, or to Gazans, let’s not forget that Palestinian Arab terrorists in Judea and Samaria, whether affiliated with Fatah, Hamas, or other organizations all use the same playbook. Israel Border Police officers at the scene of the Neve Yaakov terror attack in Jerusalem, January 27, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun) There are Israeli victims of previous terrorist bombings who have screws or nails permanently embedded in their bodies, because the bombs were packed with those objects. Doctors considered it too dangerous to try to remove them, so they will have to spend the rest of their lives with nails or screws in their bodies. There are Israeli motorists who were wounded when Arab terrorist rock-throwers spilled oil across a roadway in order to make the drivers skid and slow down, so the rocks could be aimed more precisely. Sometimes the wounds included losing vision in an eye, or hearing in an ear. There are Israeli bus drivers and passengers who were injured when Arab terrorists splashed black paint across the front windshield of the bus, blinding the driver and forcing him to slow down so the passengers would be easy targets for the rock-throwers. It may seem obvious, but it bears repeating that the Jewish homes in Beit Hanina are not “occupying” anybody. They were purchased peacefully and legally. Jews have just as much right to live in the neighborhood as Arabs. Anybody who says otherwise is no different than somebody who says African-Americans have no right to live in a mostly white neighborhood in DC. Even if somebody takes the despicable position that people who look or pray differently should be barred from a neighborhood, what kind of depraved mind reaches the conclusion that if you don’t like the ethnicity or religion of your neighbor, you should try to burn him alive? Jewish motorists or bus drivers who are driving down some random road are not “settlers.” They are not “oppressing” Arabs. They are innocent highway travelers. It should be a basic human right to be able to travel in peace and not be stoned to death. But this is what the Jews of Israel are up against: enemies who will use any tactic, no matter how barbaric, in order to spill Jewish blood. They’ve been doing it for more than a hundred years, and they might very well be doing it for another hundred years. No Israeli concessions of territory will ever change that. October 7 proved that the absence of any Jews in Gaza made no difference to the Hamas terrorists: they attacked families living outside Gaza. The writer is a commentator on Jewish affairs whose writings appear regularly in the American and Israeli press. ...قراءة المزيد

الكلمات المفتاحية المذكورة في المقال:

2024-03-26

Hamas’s savage attack on October 7 shattered many long-held Israeli assumptions. One was that our enemies were deterred by our power. Another was that hunkering behind a multi-billion-dollar wall would provide adequate protection. A third was that Israel could rely on a small, hi-tech army and did not need to enlist the Haredim (ultra-Orthodox). All those assumptions proved false. Our enemies did not deem us as powerful as we thought. It took mere minutes for an army of terrorists to crash through Israel’s border wall with Gaza. The army needs more soldiers – and swiftly. How do we know the army needs more soldiers? Tens of thousands of reservists who were released over the past few weeks after serving more than 100 days – many of them engaged in grueling – have recently been told they will be called up for yet another stint of reserve duty by the end of the year, ranging from a couple of weeks to more than a month. The state would not be doing this – ripping husbands from their wives and fathers from their children so soon after they had just served, many of them in active combat – were it not absolutely necessary. IDF reserve Infantry and Merkava Tank soldiers train in a military exercise in the Golan Heights on October 23, 2023. (credit: MICHAEL GILADI/FLASH90) But it is essential, and because it is necessary, post-October 7, Israel no longer has the luxury to exempt an entire segment of its Jewish community – 13% of the population – from army service. What was once morally wrong is now simply unsustainable in terms of Israel’s long-term survival. Why should some able-bodied young men and women be asked to risk their lives for the collective while other equally able-bodied members of that collective are not asked to do the same? October 7 and its aftermath showed Israel needs boots on the ground – lots of them. It requires them along the border with Gaza, in Judea and Samaria, on the northern border, and – increasingly because of an uptick in infiltration attempts from Jordan – along the long border with the Hashemite Kingdom. The IDF needs people. Set against that stark reality, a draft bill slated to be brought for on Tuesday that would essentially prolong wholesale haredi exemptions from the army is utterly tone-deaf. Instead of initiating a process that would gradually increase the number of haredi soldiers, this bill – void of any recruitment targets or penalties for draft dodgers or their yeshivot – retains the status quo. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and National Unity Party head said they would not support this legislation. We applaud their stand and wish other members of the Likud and the coalition would take a similar principled position, even if it means bringing down the government. The High Court of Justice will convene this week on the matter. A government resolution passed last June, which will expire on April 1, instructed the IDF not to conscript yeshiva students for nine months to allow the government time to draft a bill to finally resolve this issue. The bill scheduled to come to the cabinet on Tuesday is largely seen as a way to show the court that the government is working on the issue so that it can stall for even more time. According to testimony given by IDF officers last month in the Knesset, some 66,000 haredim ages 21-26 were exempted from conscription this year because they were yeshiva students. Each year, 12,000 to 13,000 haredim get yeshiva draft exemptions. No one expects to see 66,000 haredim – or even 12,000 – show up tomorrow to serve. But there is a need to end the blanket exemptions and begin a process whereby the haredi community internalizes that it is now expected to share in this country’s overwhelming security burden. Twenty-five years after the court first began hearings on this matter, seven years after it struck down as discriminatory legislation granting wholesale exemptions to haredim, and the government was told to pass legislation that would change the situation, the game is over. At a time when Israel is in the midst of its second-longest war and desperately needs manpower, measures need to be taken immediately to widen the circle of those who must serve. For this country’s future, the stalling and maneuvering must end. ...قراءة المزيد

الكلمات المفتاحية المذكورة في المقال:

2024-03-26

In an interview with KAN to promote his new book, Ilan Kfir claimed that Hamas had an operative plan to reach the heart of Tel Aviv on October 7, but was ultimately thwarted. The veteran journalist published "Gaza Division Conquered," in March, the first book published in Hebrew about the .  "Today the picture is much clearer than it was on October 7. Hamas was not satisfied with the phase one plan - but the test was if the phase one plan was successful, they would go on to phase two - and it was prepared with large forces ready on standby and prepared to set off at noon. At the heart of the plan was a breach in two areas, in the north as well as in the south and east, towards Dimona, which was singled out by the group as a very central target. The goal of the operation would have been a raid on Tel Aviv. They marked several focal points in the city that were expected to be crowded in the afternoon and evening in order to carry out a mass massacre in the city," the author stated. “Whoever from Hamas was planning to arrive in Tel Aviv and the north would have been forces with the mental willingness to commit suicide, because they knew they had no chance of returning from there. It was a plan that was formulated and in very advanced stages," Kfir said. "Towards noon on October 7, when realized that they had achieved success above and beyond what was expected, an order was given to the forces of phase two to set off. Here, they encountered a big surprise because unlike in the morning - when the fence was broken and there was minimal IDF presence in the area - there was already an assessment and a huge influx of forces into the Nevatim area where a large blockade was carried out. There is no doubt that if Hamas had carried out its second phase, the trauma and disaster on October 7 would have been doubled." A man walks behind a glass with bullet holes following the deadly October 7 attack by gunmen from Palestinian militant group Hamas from the Gaza Strip, in Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel November 21, 2023. (credit: RONEN ZVULUN/REUTERS) Kfir hypothesized that had "Sinwar believed that if an attack on Tel Aviv and Dimona were reported in the news, and the other terrorist organizations in Judea and Samaria would also attack. This is a diabolical plan, and if it had succeeded, the reality would have been many times worse." He also said that "maps found with terrorists indicated that they intended to reach Kiryat Gat. After that, a plan was discovered by a certain force to attack Shikma Prison in Ashkelon and release terrorists. Another plan was to attack the Hatzerim air base. All this testified to Sinwar's pretensions of carrying out something that had never before been done." ...قراءة المزيد

الكلمات المفتاحية المذكورة في المقال:

2024-03-25

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced to his party, the Likud, that he would not renege on passing the ultra-Orthodox draft bill and that without the bill, the government would not remain in place, KAN Reshet B reported on Monday morning. Netanyahu’s announcement came in the wake of minister-without-portfolio and National Unity chair Benny Gantz’s warning that he would should the bill be passed and reports of several Likud ministers' opposition to the bill. The bill, should it pass, would extend the exemption from IDF conscription for haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jews. The subject of drafting the haredim into the IDF has been a point of contention, particularly in recent weeks, and has sparked a number of protests. Protests conducted by haredi men have sprung up in cities and Beni Brak, where protestors have blocked traffic and the light rail in demonstrations of opposition to the push to include them in Israel’s military draft.A group of ultra-Orthodox Jews blocked traffic and the light rail in Jerusalem demonstrating against a Haredi draft into the IDF. February 26, 2024. (credit: SOL SUSSMAN) Despite Netanyahu’s message to Likud, there has been doubt expressed within the part about whether the bill could pass. Likud member Hanoch Milwidsky, in a Monday interview on 103FM, expressed his disbelief that the draft of the bill, as it currently stands, could pass, adding “I didn't write it, moreover, no one consulted me before they wrote it." On Sunday, Gantz voiced firm opposition to the bill, saying, “The people will not tolerate it, the Knesset will not be able to vote in favor of it, and my associates and I cannot be part of this emergency government if this law passes.” “If the draft law passes on Tuesday, Gantz and (minister-without-portfolio) [Gadi] Eisenkot would leave the government,” KAN Reshet B quoted opposition leader and Yesh Atid Chair as saying on Monday. “It's a security disaster. There aren't enough soldiers. There are more soldiers today in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) than in Gaza. Practically, the actual war is not being conducted at the moment." KAN also noted that Lapid directly attacked Netanyahu. “Netanyahu was and remains a rabbit in closed rooms,” Lapid reportedly said. “I fought with the Americans much more than he did as prime minister.” ...قراءة المزيد

الكلمات المفتاحية المذكورة في المقال:

2024-03-22

Israel expanded its footprint in the Jordan Valley as landed in Israel on Friday. "This is another dramatic and important step for the settlement of the Jordan Valley and Judea and Samaria,” (Religious Zionist Party) said. He spoke after the Civil Administration announced that it had classified an additional 8,000 dunams of land in the Jordan Valley, located over the Green Line, as state land. The classification of the additional state land was authorized by Smotrich, through his role in the Defense Ministry with oversight of the Civil Administration. He noted that the declaration follows one made earlier this month that classified as state land 3,000 dunams in the area of the West Bank settlement of Ma’aleh Adumim. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich at a press conference, February 14, 2024. (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM) “While there are those in Israel and in the world who seek to undermine our right to Judea and Samaria and the country in general, we promote settlement through hard work and in a strategic manner all over the country,” Smotrich stated. The declaration of territory in Area C of the West Bank as state land is a bureaucratic step that opens the door for the development of that land. According to the , Israel has classified more territory in Area C as State land in 2024 than it has in at least the last 25 years. No such classifications were made in 2023. The move comes as the Biden administration has doubled down on its opposition to Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank. The administration has underscored its stance on this issue, rescinding a declaration made during the Trump administration that West Bank settlements were not inconsistent with international law.  It declared precisely the opposite, that settlement activity was inconsistent with international law, a de-facto statement that it holds such activity to be illegal. This would include declarations of state land.  Peace Now said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and "Smotrich are determined to fight against the entire world and against the interests of the people of Israel for the benefit of a handful of settlers who receive thousands of dunams as if there were no political conflict to solve or war to end.  "The announcement of the declaration on the eve of the visit by the US Secretary of State is yet another provocation against the American government," it said. ...قراءة المزيد

الكلمات المفتاحية المذكورة في المقال:

2024-03-22

Rema, a second-grade student at Iraq al-Shabaab School in , faces challenges in mastering fundamental reading skills and feels self-conscious about reading aloud in class.  Iraq al-Shabaab, classified as one of the lowest-performing “red” elementary schools in Israel based on evaluations, is implementing the Tamkin Joint Venture, a promising new educational collaboration expected to mark a potential shift in elementary education. Of the 400 in the country, like Iraq al-Shabaab, half are “red” or “chronically failing” elementary schools in Israel. Arab students are twice as likely as their Jewish peers to leave school prematurely and score notably lower on OECD international assessments. The Tamkin system hopes to boost Rema’s reading confidence and address the persistent underperformance of schools like Iraq al-Shabaab, marking a potential shift in Arab elementary education across Israel. Arab elementary schools are disproportionately lacking resources. To address this, the Education Ministry is investing NIS 33 million in the Tamkin Joint Venture to increase Arab literacy in low-income district Arab-Israeli schools. The word “tamkin” means “foundation” or “empowerment” in Arabic. The initiative comes at a time when, because of the war, Arab-Israeli relationships are strained, and educational budgets were cut by NIS 300m. The Education Ministry in schools oversees the curricula for all schools throughout Israel proper, Jewish schools in Judea and Samaria, and in 18% of schools in east Jerusalem. But east Jerusalem has unique problems, according to Amal Ayoub, who established the first school in east Jerusalem to incorporate the bagrut (matriculation). 15 years ago.THE ARAB-ISRAELI city of Umm al-Fahm in the foreground and Wadi Ara in the background. (credit: REUTERS) Most Arab schools in east Jerusalem are overseen by the Palestinian Authority. Unifying the school system in east Jerusalem has been a battle for years and is more controversial now than ever before. “I was very happy in education and made a lot of changes,” explained Ayoub. “I felt that I could have changed people’s lives. But the orders we got from the Education Ministry weren’t tailored to my population. I spent a lot of time trying to change the minds of the parents and students, but the bureaucracy finally made me give up.” “The schools take money per student from the Education Ministry, using it to pay the rent, teachers, books, and then they get grants from NGOs as well. In most of the Arab schools, boys are segregated from girls. In Arab schools, they don’t teach Hebrew. By high school, they don’t even know a few Hebrew words. “After giving 15 years to this system, I was so disappointed,” Ayoub said. She was hoping to spark a trend, incorporating Israeli education in traditional Arab schools. “Social issues and education both must be addressed. When a student was finishing school, I encouraged them to go to university or college, but their society encourages the boys to go to work and the girls get married. It’s not enough just to teach them. I had some brilliant students. But I watched the boys become cleaners and the girls immediately got married. The only Jews they ever saw were the soldiers at the checkpoint. Unless they have the same hopes, dreams, and communication – like in Jaffa or central Israel, it is very frustrating.” Unlike the east Jerusalem youth, the Arab children in the Tamkin program tend to be more integrated with their Jewish counterparts, although some of the cultural and socioeconomic aspects are similar. With Arab students twice as likely to drop out of school than their Jewish peers, the matriculation rate in the Arab school system falling well below the equivalent rate in the Jewish education system, and Arab pupils scoring significantly lower in reading scores than Jewish pupils, improving Arab elementary schools has been one of the national priorities for the Education Ministry and the Social Justice Ministry. Don Futterman, executive director and founder of the Israel Center for Educational Innovation (ICEI), pointed out that while Arab-Israeli children speak Arabic it is not unusual for those from lower economic sectors to have basic literacy challenges mastering Arabic, reflecting the complexities of the differences in spoken and written Arabic language. Additionally, many, even in mixed schools, never learn to communicate in Hebrew. This leaves them at a disadvantage when it comes to pursuing academic studies and white-collar employment later in life. The pilot program began five years ago, administered by staff based in both Kfar Saba and Nazareth. The Tamkin Joint Venture targets the needs of Arab elementary schools, where so many children are underperforming. Since the beginning of this year, it has been operating in 23 schools. They provide a literacy coach to each school and have former principals mentor the principals of the participating schools. A family coordinator reaches out to parents. Each classroom is provided with a robust library to encourage reading, which can be embedded with reading comprehension questions if the teacher chooses to do so. “If elementary and middle school students do not get the basics of reading, writing, and dialogic education, they can fall behind for the rest of their lives,” explains Futterman. The collaboration will expand the joint venture to an additional 15 elementary schools in communities including Umm el-Fahm, Jisr e-Zarka, Kafr Kanna, and Be’ene, uniting diverse regions with a common vision for educational excellence. Abeer Awawdi, principal of Alrouad Elementary School in Kafr Kana, has been using the Tamkin program since the beginning of 2024. He says the Tamkin approach, because it is centered on targeted teaching and learning strategies, has empowered teachers to create a conducive learning environment where students are curious, engaged, and eager to learn. “There has been a remarkable improvement in students’ academic achievements in Arabic language studies,” explains Awawdi, who says more students are reaching higher levels of proficiency. “Additionally, we’ve observed a narrowing of academic gaps among students, indicating a more equitable learning environment.” He also noted, “Teacher collaboration has been enhanced, fostering a culture of teamwork, shared lesson planning, and knowledge exchange.” Futterman, a social worker with degrees in community organization and literature, developed the Moriah Fund 15 years ago to address the struggles of the Ethiopian community. “People were giving up on these children,” he recalls. “We built a program to help the schools raise achievement levels while being cognizant of the need not to separate these children out. Pulling them out of the classroom stigmatizes the children. The model served 12 schools of Ethiopian concentration in the South and Center of the country.” He said the model not only helped children but also reinforced teachers’ sense of competence. He went on to establish ICEI. The ICEI program has also taught Hebrew in schools in Ramle after Arab schools were shut down and non-speaking Arab students were suddenly integrated into regular state schools. “Sometimes more than half the first-graders didn’t speak Hebrew,” Futterman said. “We had to get them up to speed fast. We are more agile than a larger bureaucratic system and within a few weeks, we put together a program that was focused on reading. It was not an ulpan [but] the kids were able to acquire basic Hebrew skills very quickly.” Hana Laloush, director of the Department of Elementary Education at the Education Ministry, shared her vision for Tamkin.  “The goal is to tailor a program to precisely meet the needs of every school, encouraging social mobility, and breaking the correlation between socioeconomic status and achievement levels. The decision to embark on this joint venture expresses the Education Ministry’s belief that it is possible to break through the glass ceiling in participating schools. The Department of Elementary Education sees Tamkin as an opportunity to create fairness and equal opportunities for students, particularly for disadvantaged populations.” ...قراءة المزيد

الكلمات المفتاحية المذكورة في المقال:

2024-03-20

The IDF and the Shin Bet on Wednesday announced that they had captured Mahmoud Kawasme - the last remaining conspirator at large from the Hamas murder of - as part of their operations to retake Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza. In 2014, the IDF Judea military court convicted Hussam Hassan Kawasme of being the mastermind behind the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teens. Hussam was convicted based on his own confession of planning and financing the attack, including receiving NIS 200,000 from Hamas in Gaza, purchasing and providing weapons for the other terrorists, hiding the bodies, and destroying evidence. The IDF Prosecution filed an indictment against Hussam with the Judea Military Court in September 2014. The Shin Bet arrested him on July 11, 2014, on suspicion of assisting the killers and of hiding the victims’ bodies in land he owned in Hebron, security forces said. IDF soldiers operate in the Gaza Strip, March 20, 2024. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) On June 12, 2014, Hamas members kidnapped Gil-Ad Sha’er, 16, Naftali Fraenkel, 16, and Eyal Yifrah, 19, as they waited for a ride outside the Alon Shvut settlement in Judea. The Shin Bet named the killers Marwan Kawasme and Amar Abu Aisha. The two were killed in a shootout with the IDF near Hebron in September 2014. Hussam, a resident of Hebron, was in Israeli prison from 1995 to 2002 after being convicted of involvement in Hamas terrorist offenses, including being part of a cell that carried out bomb attacks. “He is the son of a family whose sons have been involved in severe terrorist attacks on behalf of Hamas,” the domestic intelligence agency said at the time. Hussam’s brother Hassin Kawasme is serving a life sentence for his role in a bomb attack on a bus stop across from the Jerusalem International Convention Center in March 2011. Scottish tourist Mary Jane Gardner, 59, was killed in the attack, and 39 people were wounded. His other brother was Mahmoud Kawasme, who had served a 20-year prison sentence for his role in a twin suicide bombing attack aboard buses in Beersheba in August 2004, which killed 16 residents of the city and wounded more than 100 people. However, Mahmoud was released as part of the Schalit exchange with Hamas and expelled to the Gaza Strip. From Gaza, Mahmoud transferred funds to his brother in Hebron for the attack on the three teenagers. “During questioning by the Shin Bet, and the questioning of others, it emerged that Hussam Kawasme served as a command level for the kidnapping,“ the Shin Bet said. Bat Galim and Ofir Sha'er welcomed the news of Kawasme's arrest. They said in response, "Justice has finally come to light, and the heroic IDF soldiers and all the security forces are doing it bravely." "We do not deal with terrorists and death but with life, with unity, with the order of life left by our son and all those who have fallen over the years," they added. The couple, who founded the Sunshine Association in memory of their son, said, "In these very days, we are privileged to deliver thousands of parcels as part of the 'Connection' project to our brothers and sisters in the diaspora on behalf of the soldiers and commanders of the IDF for their boundless support and love for our soldiers and the State of Israel, this is the victory of light over darkness, love won over pure hatred. "Our joy comes from the apprehension of all our enemies who seek to harm us, for our choice of life and for no more Jews to be harmed," the further noted.  "Our personal security is strengthened by the knowledge that there will not be a terrorist left with whom we will not reckon with. All our enemies should know that we will reach everyone," they concluded. Over the past day, , in cooperation with the Shin Bet, have killed dozens of terrorists and located weapons in the al-Shifa Hospital area while preventing harm to civilians, patients, medical teams, and medical equipment, the IDF announced on Wednesday. According to the announcement, have killed approximately 90 terrorists in the area, as well as questioned over 300 suspects near the compound, with the cooperation of Unit 504 from the Intelligence branch. Also, an additional 160 suspects have been transferred to Israeli territory for further questioning.  The announcement also stated that a launch was identified from northern Gaza toward the city of Sderot, which fell in the on Tuesday. In response, an IAF aircraft struck a Hamas shaft in the area of the launch, the added.  Additionally, snipers from the Nahal Brigade detected a terrorist threat in central Gaza and killed it. Furthermore, IDF troops from the 215th combat brigade reportedly directed an IAF aircraft to strike and kill six terrorists. in Jabalya. IDF troops also continued to operate in Khan Yunis. Soldiers from the 7th Armored Brigade combat team killed two terrorists and struck military sites in Al-Qarara in Khan Yunis. Additionally, an IAF aircraft struck a terrorist who was identified as loading weapons in the area, the military added. ...قراءة المزيد

الكلمات المفتاحية المذكورة في المقال: