IDF reports IAF jets launch fresh retaliatory strike on additional Hamas targets in Gaza

IDF reports Israel launched a second strike, destroying two Hamas observation posts in northern Gaza, just a day after a mortar fired by Palestinian terrorists hit an Israeli structure during a birthday ceremony for slain IDF soldier, Oron Shaul.

By Yoav Zitun and Elior Levy

 

Israeli jets attacked a Hamas observation post Saturday evening in northern Gaza in response to rockets that were fired Friday morning at Israel during a ceremony held in memory of an IDF soldier who was killed during Operation Protective Edge in 2014.

IAF F-15i (Ra’am) takes off –  Photo: IAF website

One of the rockets hit a structure in the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council, while the Iron Dome system intercepted two other rockets.The Continue Reading »

IDF strikes multiple Hamas targets in Gaza following rocket attack on Southern Israel

Israel Police confirmed that the third rocket fired struck an Israeli community, hitting a building in the Negev region bordering the Gaza Strip, causing damage but no injuries.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

Three rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israel on Friday morning, the IDF said, adding that two of the rockets were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system.

Israel Police confirmed that a third rocket struck an Israeli community in the Negev region bordering the Gaza Strip, causing damage to a building but no injuries. Police bomb disposal experts are working at the scene.

IDF tanks – Photo: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

In response, IDF tanks and aircraft targeted two Gaza Strip outposts belonging to Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip. Continue Reading »

Palestinians make killing Jews ‘most lucrative profession’ for unemployed Arabs

Here’s why 19 yr-old Omar al-Abed, the terrorist who murdered three members of the Salomon family this past summer is smiling in court:
His life-time pension, beginning now and financed by int’l financial aid to the Palestinians, will be $3,000+ a month.

By Lital Shemesh

 

The Ofer military court on Friday morning began hearing the defense and prosecution’s views on sentencing the terrorist who killed three members of the Salomon family in July.

The military prosecution demands 19-year-old Omar al-Abed be sentenced to three life sentences for the murders and a fourth life sentence for attempting to murder the rest of the family. Continue Reading »

Israel offers quid pro quo for support at United Nations

Israel gave Nauru, a tiny island nation only 21 square kilometers in the Pacific Ocean, a sewage treatment plant worth $71,997, prior to the UNGA vote on resolution nullifying President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

By Itamar Eichner

 

Israel purchased a sewage treatment system for Nauru, a tiny island nation in the Pacific Ocean, only two weeks before the country voted against a UN General Assembly resolution criticizing the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The Foreign Ministry’s Tenders Committee approved the purchase of the sewage treatment plant at the cost NIS 250,191 () without a tender. Continue Reading »

Israel TV10 reports Jerusalem, Washington sign secret MOU to counter Iranian threat

According to Channel 10news, US and Israel’s intelligence services reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding to counter all Iranian threats, from their nuclear program to terrorism.

By Gary Willig

 

Israel and the United States signed a joint memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cooperate to counter the Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile threat, according to a report by Channel 10 News.

According to the report, the MOU was signed on December 12 at the White House following discussions between Israeli and US intelligence officials.

Netanyahu and Trump meet. – Photo: Avi Ohayon/GPO

Channel 10 reporter Barak Ravid reported that the Israeli delegation during the talks which preceded the agreement was led by National Security Council head Meir Ben-Shabat, while the American team was led by US National Security Adviser H.R. Continue Reading »

U.S. Amb. to Israel: Abbas’ reaction to Jerusalem announcement, was ugly, antisemitic

American envoy says Abbas knew the US was “not taking a position on any final status issues, including the specific boundaries of the Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem,” and yet he purposely “overreacted” and made “ugly, needlessly provocative and antisemitic,” calls for violence.
– Amb. Friedman, ‘US Jews of all streams owe Trump enormous debt of gratitude for Jerusalem move.’

BY HERB KEINON

 

Some of the Palestinian rhetoric in response to US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem has been “ugly, needlessly provocative and antisemitic,” US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman told The Jerusalem Post.

Friedman, a leading force behind Trump’s decision three weeks ago to recognize Jerusalem and move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv, characterized the Palestinian reaction as “largely emotional,” saying they “unfortunately overreacted” because Trump made clear that the US was “not taking a position on any final status issues, including the specific boundaries of the Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem.” Continue Reading »

Guatemala dispels Palestinian allegation embassy move to Jerusalem was forced

Dispelling Palestinian contentions, Guatemala says neither the US, or any other country, applied pressure or made overtures to influence their decision of “returning” Guatemala’s embassy to Jerusalem, where it was originally located until being shifted to Tel Aviv in 1980.
– Guatemala’s foreign minister, ‘We are friends and historical allies with Israel.’

By AFP

 

The United States did not pressure Guatemala into announcing it will move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, the Central American state’s foreign minister said Wednesday.

“There wasn’t any pressure. There wasn’t any overture from the United States to make this happen. This was a decision by the government, the state and the foreign policy of Guatemala,” the minister, Sandra Jovel, told a news conference in Guatemala City. Continue Reading »

REPORT: Unemployment in Israel at historic low, consumerism rising

The Taub Center reports prices in Israel are still high and in many industries the productivity is still low, but increased employment rates & higher salaries “have led to an impressive rise in consumption in recent years and to an increase in the standard of living.”

By Ariel Whitman

 

Employment and salaries have risen and unemployment rates have fallen to a historic low over the past year, according to a new report released by the Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel on Tuesday.

“The increase in employment rates, together with the rise in the average wage, have led to an impressive rise in consumption in recent years and to an increase in the standard of living,” the report said. Continue Reading »

Israel’s Culture Minister says to MK Zoabi (in Arabic): “Go to Gaza, traitor!”

Israel’s Culture Minister Miri Regev, Likud MK Hazan clash with Arab parliamentarian after she accuses opposition of hypocrisy over its failure to stand up against racism.
– Knesset Member Hazan to Zoabi, “You should go to prison and sit behind bars.” 

By Moran Azulay

 

Knesset Member Hanin Zoabi of the Arab Joint List was slammed Wednesday by Culture Minister Miri Regev and Knesset Member Oren Hazan of the Likud party after accusing the opposition of hypocrisy over its failure to stand up against racism as it does against corruption issues.

Minister Miri Regev (R), MK Hanin Zoabi (C), MK Oren Hazan (L) – Photos: knesset.gov.il

Continue Reading »

Israel names new high-speed train station at Western Wall, ‘Trump Station’

Israel’s Transportation Minister Katz, “The Western Wall is the holiest place for the Jewish people, and I decided to call the train station that leads to it after President Trump, following his historic and brave decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel.”
– WATCH video of station construction

By UDI SHAHAM, JPOST.COM STAFF

 

A new train station that will be built next to the Western Wall will be named after US President Donald Trump, announced Transportation Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday.

“The Western Wall is the holiest place for the Jewish people, and I decided to call the train station that leads to it after President Trump following his historic and brave decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel,” said Katz. Continue Reading »

Trump’s Ambassador to Israel calls on US State Department to stop using term ‘occupation’

President Trump’s Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, reportedly calls on the State Department to stop referring to Judea and Samaria [West Bank] as ‘occupied’ territory.

By Gary Willig

 

US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman recently asked the State Department to cease using the term ‘occupation’ to describe Israel’s presence in Judea, Samaria, and eastern Jerusalem, according a report by Kan, the Israel Broadcasting Corporation.

According to the report, the State Department objected to the request, but eventually agreed to discuss the matter.

Ambassador David Friedman – Photo: Arutz Sheva

Ambassador Friedman described Judea and Samaria as being under an “alleged occupation” in an interview with the Jerusalem Post in September. Continue Reading »

Israel’s Def. Minister & Yisrael Beytenu head Lieberman advances death penalty for terrorists

Israel’s Defense Minister, “Every additional terrorist who enters prison alive creates an incentive for more attacks. To all those who claim the death penalty is unacceptable, I would like to remind you that a Boston court sentenced to death a terrorist who carried out an attack,” calling Massachusetts “the most liberal state” in the U.S.

By Gideon Allon

 

The Israel Beytenu faction on Wednesday will present a bill that would apply the death penalty to terrorists convicted of murder to the Knesset plenum for a preliminary hearing.

The Knesset, located in Jerusalem, Capital of Israel – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

At a faction meeting on Monday, Defense Minister and Israel Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman said, “Every additional terrorist who enters prison alive creates an incentive for more attacks. Continue Reading »

Abbas opts to celebrate Christmas Eve meeting with Fatah terrorists for Facebook posts

Palestinian autocrat Abbas spent part of Christmas eve meeting with Rafat Jawabra, current commander of Fatah’s main terrorist organization, al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades, who was recently released from prison for planning a suicide bombing attack against Israeli civilians 16 years ago.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spent part of Christmas eve on Sunday night meeting with a former senior commander of the al-Aksa Martys Brigades, Fatah’s military wing, recently released from prison for plotting a suicide bombing attack against Israel 16 years ago.

Rafat Jawabra was received in the PA president’s office on Sunday evening. Photos of the meeting were posted on Fatah’s official Facebook page and in the post, Jawabra is referred to as the commander of the al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades, a known terrorist organization. Continue Reading »

Christmas tourism in Bethlehem down due to Palestinian leadership’s call to violence

An unlit Christmas tree sits in the middle of a mostly empty plaza in central Bethlehem where shops depend on foreign tourists to boost its economy, but those making money this holiday season are “Only young kids [who] throw stones,” says a gift shop owner, “This is business… The municipality does nothing for us,” the shop owner said.
– WATCH Christmas message from PM Netanyahu.

By Ethan Freedman

 

A large Nativity scene flanked by an unlit Christmas tree sits in the middle of a mostly empty plaza in central Bethlehem, known as the birthplace of Jesus, where Palestinians and a handful of tourists are celebrating the holiday amid tensions over US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Continue Reading »

Arab leaders unimpressed with Abbas’ politics, seek alternative Jerusalem policy

Jordan teams up with Egypt and Saudi Arabia to devise new policy fearing Abbas’ strategy in response to President Trump’s Jerusalem declaration will undermine its special status as caretaker of the Temple Mount.

By Daniel Siryoti

 

Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are displeased with the way the Palestinian Authority has reacted to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and his decision to relocate the U.S. Embassy to the city, Israel Hayom has learned.

Some Arab Quartet states stopped their donations in mid-2016 in order to pressure PA President Mahmoud Abbas to initiate political reforms that will lead to peace with Israel.

Continue Reading »