Decade later: ‘We engaged with Turkish terrorists paid to kill Israelis’

IDF commando who boarded the Mavi Marmara speaks of the clash with Turkish Islamic extremists aboard the lead flotilla vessel ten years later.

By Arutz Sheva Staff

 

A decade after the taking over of the Mavi Marmara, one of the soldiers involved in the battle on the flotilla ship spoke to Yisrael Hayom about the fierce battle which occurred on the vessel.

Major (res.) N. was the sixth soldier to board the Mavi Marmara. According to him, even a decade later the issue is still sensitive for some of his friends: “This was not the first flotilla we needed to stop, nor the last one. Continue Reading »

ICC requires PA to clarify if Oslo Accords binding after termination decree

Following Abbas’ tirade terminating all agreements with Israel & the US, the International Criminal Court seeks understanding from the PA of how nullifying the accords that granted them autonomy still awards the PA legitimacy to claim ‘state status’ before the ICC.

By i24NEWS

 

A three-judge panel that comprises the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) pretrial chamber has requested clarification from the Palestinian Authority (PA) over President Mahmoud Abbas’ statement regarding the termination of all agreements with Israel.

Screenshot of Abbas delivering rambling anti-Israel diatribe at the UNGA. – YouTube

The justices are attempting to find out whether Abbas’ remarks apply to the Oslo Accords – signed in 1993 and 1995 – which helped establish the Palestinian Authority as an entity. Continue Reading »

Contrary to EU policy, moderate Arab states back Israel’s sovereignty plan

Unlike the European Union, who are backing Palestinians seeking to stop implementation of Israel’s sovereignty over parts of the West Bank – which is part of Trump’s Peace to Prosperity plan,  senior Saudi and Jordanian officials have admitted moderate Arab states are backing Israel’s sovereignty plan in closed-door talks with the US.

By David Rosenberg

 

A number of Arab states allied with the US are quietly backing Israel’s plan to apply sovereignty over nearly a third of Judea and Samaria, despite officially opposing the move, senior Arab officials say.

The Trump administration’s Middle East peace plan, first unveiled on January 28th, includes provision for Israel applying sovereignty over the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea area, and all Israeli towns in Judea and Samaria. Continue Reading »

Israeli researchers identify 2 antiviral drugs effective against COVID-19

Israeli Defense Ministry spokesperson reported that researchers at the Israel Institute for Biological Research identified two antiviral drugs as an effective treatment for COVID-19.
– One, an FDA-approved drug and the second, already in the advanced stages of the approval process.

By Arutz Sheva Staff

 

As part of the wide-ranging efforts of the Israel Institute for Biological Research to identify antiviral drugs for COVID-19, scientists have tested an analogue of the FDA-approved Cerdelga drug, and an analogue of a second drug that is currently in advanced stages of the approval process, an Israeli Defense Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday.

Treatment of a new disease such as COVID-19 using an existing, approved drug may serve as an effective short-term solution considering that one of the major challenges in addressing such a pandemic is the length of time it takes for both the research and approval phases of new drugs. Continue Reading »

Norway’s Parliament rejects bill to label Israeli products from West Bank

The failure of the label bill proposal ended a long anti-Israel campaign by Norway’s pro-Palestinian NGOs to force adherence to decrees passed by the European Court of Justice.
– Oslo legislator stresses that dialogue must supersede boycotts.

By Ariel Kahana

 

The Norwegian Parliament rejected a motion to label imported Israeli products manufactured in Judea and Samaria, Israel Hayom learned Monday. The bill was presented two weeks ago by left-wing parties, including the Norwegian Labor Party, but was voted down by the coalition parties and other non-affiliated parties in the Oslo legislator.

The European Union’s top court ruled in November 2019 that EU countries must identify products made in Israeli settlements on their labels. Continue Reading »

Draped as ‘coronavirus aid’, UN funds Palestinian terror-linked groups

REPORT: NGO Monitor found that the UN & World Health Organization facilitated millions of dollars of emergency COVID-19 funding from Canada, the EU, France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and the UK to Palestinian organizations with links to terrorism.

By LAHAV HARKOV

 

Millions of dollars of international funding for the Palestinians’ coronavirus emergency response, coordinated by the World Health Organization and UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) have gone to organizations with links to terrorism, a new report by NGO Monitor found.

The research institution focused on the funding of non-governmental organizations found that several of the groups funded by OCHA and the WHO are tied to the People’s Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which is recognized as a terrorist organization in Israel, the EU, US and Canada, and had staff members arrested and indicted late last year for the murder of 17-year-old Israeli Rina Schnerb. Continue Reading »

PA autocrat obligated to make ‘dramatic declarations’ to remain relevant

PLO & Fatah associates of the 84 yr-old Palestinian autocrat rally behind Mahmoud Abbas to revive his stature with ‘dramatic announcements’ as the PA Prime Minister, Mohammad Shtayyeh, appears to have gained respect & admiration during the months of the pandemic crises.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

 

While the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic forced Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to maintain a low profile and restrict his public appearances, Israel’s intention to extend sovereignty to parts of the West Bank has brought him back to center stage.

During the coronavirus crisis, PA Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh appeared to be alone at the helm, successfully leading efforts to stem the spread of the disease. Continue Reading »

2 Palestinian terrorists shot during failed stabbing attack of IDF soldiers

Two Palestinians rushed patrolling IDF soldiers with weapons in hand, trying to stab them using what the IDF described as “sharp agricultural instruments.”
– IDF reports both terrorists evacuated to a hospital in Ramallah with gunshot wounds, while none of the attacked soldiers were injured.

By Lilach Shoval

 

Two Palestinian terrorists were shot Monday while trying to carry out a stabbing attack against a group of soldiers operating near a central Samaria settlement, the military said.

According to available details, a group of eight Palestinians approached soldiers who were on patrol near Amichai, a settlement northeast of Ramallah. Two Palestinians then stormed the troops and tried to stab using what the IDF described as “sharp agricultural instruments.” Continue Reading »

19 Senate Democrats warn Netanyahu, Gantz against applying sovereignty

19 Senate Democrats send a letter to PM Binyamin Netanyahu & Defense Minister Benny Gantz, warning that Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, Israel’s ancestral homeland, would place Israel at risk.

By Elad Benari

 

A group of US Senators from the Democratic party have sent a letter to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Alternate Prime Minister and Defense Minister Benny Gantz in which they warn against an Israeli move to apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.

Sen. Bernie Sanders claimed the United States is “complicit” in so-called Israeli occupation” and should rethink its military aid to the Jewish state.- Photo/ AP,Mary Altaffer

The letter, sent on Thursday, is signed by 19 Senate Democrats, led by Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). Continue Reading »

Palestinian push to replace the US with Quartet as peace broker fails

With the Palestinian leadership trying to replace Trump’s ‘Vision for Peace’ plan, the Quartet’s video conference, requested by the Palestinian Authority, culminated without a resolution.

By OMRI NAHMIAS

 

The Palestinian Authority’s push to replace the US as the sole broker for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process failed to yield immediate results as a Quartet video conference on the matter ended without any conclusions.

Quartet representatives discussed Israeli plans to annex portions of the West Bank, including the July 1 deadline for Israel to begin to apply such sovereignty as laid out in the coalition agreement between the Likud and Blue and White parties, according to a person familiar with the discussion. Continue Reading »

Following 3 years of threats Palestinians end CIA information-sharing

Mahmoud Abbas’ government security arrangements with the CIA continued quietly despite the PA’s decision to disengage with the Trump White House following their move of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem in 2017.

By i24NEWS

 

Palestinian security services will no longer share information with their US counterparts in protest at Israeli plans to declare sovereignty over parts of the West Bank, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat aid Thursday.

The announcement comes after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared on Tuesday an end to all agreements with Israel and the US.

PLO Secretary-General, infamous fabulist, renowned Palestinian spin-master, Chief PA ‘peace negotiator’, and grandmaster propagandist, Saeb “Pinnochio” Erekat – YouTube Screen Shot

“It has been 48 hours that the American Intelligence Service has been notified that the agreement with them is no longer in force,” Erekat said referring to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Continue Reading »

Palestinians rejects UAE’s coronavirus aid sent via flight to Israel

Staying in character to “never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity,” the Palestinian leadership rejected the 16 tons of coronavirus medical aid shipment from the UAE to the Palestinians in Gaza & the PA, just because it arrived at Israel’s airport. 

By i24NEWS

 

The Palestinian Authority (PA) declined a shipment of medical supplies sent by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) via Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport, Palestinian news agency Maan reported Thursday.

An unmarked Ithihad Airways plane from Abu Dhabi lands at at Israel’s Ben Gurion Int’l Airport with humanitarian aid for the Palestinians. 19 May 2020 – Photo: Israel Airports Authority Spokesman

The PA rejected the shipment, which included 16 tons of medical aid for coping with the coronavirus, just as it arrived at Israel’s airport on Tuesday, according to the report as cited by the Andalou Agency. Continue Reading »

Mahmoud Abbas: Palestinian gov’t voids all agreements with Israel, US

The Palestinian autocrat stressed that his PA is ‘absolved’ from all signed agreements & understandings with the US and Israel, including the security-related agreements between the Palestinian internal security and the IDF.

By CODY LEVINE, TZVI JOFFRE

 

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas declared Tuesday that the PA is “absolved” of all security agreements and understandings between Israel and the PLO, in addition to agreements with the US, according to the Palestinian WAFA news agency. Abbas also placed responsibility for the West Bank on Israel as an “occupying power.”

Abbas stressed that security-related agreements are included in his statement.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas addresses the Arab League to refute Trump’s ‘Deal of the Century’.

Continue Reading »

Payback: Israeli cyberattack disrupts Iran’s largest strategic port

In retaliation for Teheran’s earlier attempted cyberattack on Israel’s rural water distribution systems, the IDF cyber unit targeted Iran’s largest port operational system, which reportedly caused far more than the 3 days damage previously admitted to by Iranian officials.

By Ynet, Reuters

 

Israel appears to be behind a cyberattack earlier this month on computers at Iran’s Shahid Rajaee port that caused massive backups on waterways and roads leading to the facility, the Washington Post reported on Monday.

Citing unnamed U.S. and foreign government officials, the Post said the May 9 disruption of Iranian computers was presumably in retaliation for an earlier attempted cyberattack on rural water distribution systems in Israel. Continue Reading »

History at Ben Gurion Int’l Airport: Direct Abu Dhabi flight lands in Israel

UAE sends medical equipment on Ithihad Airways’ maiden flight from Abu Dhabi, in a historic non-stop flight to Israel’s Ben Gurion Int’l Airport.

By Mordechai Sones

 

The UAE sent medical equipment on an unmarked Ithihad Airways’ maiden flight from Abu Dhabi (photographed below), in a historic non-stop flight to Israel’s Ben Gurion Int’l Airport.

An Ithihad Airways plane tonight landed for the first time ever in Israel, following a direct flight from Abu Dhabi.

An unmarked Ithihad Airways plane from Abu Dhabi parked at Israel’s Ben Gurion Int’l Airport. 19 May 2020 – Photo: Israel Airports Authority Spokesman

It is a cargo plane containing medical and humanitarian equipment to deal with the coronavirus pandemic sent by the UAE to the Palestinian Authority and the Gaza Strip, in coordination with Israel. Continue Reading »