Author: AFSI Staff

For the first time in 30 years, Israel and Lebanon will hold direct talks on the resolution of their maritime border dispute.

The talks between the two countries, with no diplomatic ties, will be mediated by the US and hosted by the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL).

Formal news of the pending negotiations is viewed as the latest Middle East success for the Trump administration, with regard to Israel’s relations with its neighbors. It comes in the aftermath of two US brokered normalization deals between Israel and the Arab countries of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

“Today’s announcement is a vital step forward that serves the interests of Lebanon and Israel, of the region, and of the United States,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. “Both countries requested that the United States participate as mediator and facilitator in the maritime discussions,” he added.

Americans For A Safe Israel once again thanks President Trump for his behind the scenes work in achieving another level of “normalization” between Israel and her Arab neighbors. It’s clear to us that the expanding number of Arab and Muslim countries normalizing relations with Israel has also made the idea of negotiating with Israel publicly acceptable. We caution, however, that this is the same country that houses Hezbollah, an organization that is an arm of the terror state of Iran. Appearances to the contrary notwithstanding, Lebanon has a LONG way to go before it can be a trusted negotiating partner, regardless of whether they are willing to engage with Israel.

Source:
First Israeli-Lebanese talks in 30 years to be held on maritime dispute, by Tovah Lazaroff October 1, 2020

Gilad Erdan, former Knesset Minister, is now Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations. Read about how he plans to fight for Israel at the UN in his Arutz Sheva OpEd.

In my capacity as a minister in various Israeli cabinets, I dealt extensively with the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. I have come to know firsthand the bias and decades-long anti-Israel sentiment in the United Nations.

But despite this, I decided to begin my U.N. ambassadorship with a clear determination to fight for Israel’s reputation, to get rid of the hatred toward Israel there and to make sure that an automatic majority against it is no longer a preordained fate. I believe that now, with Arab countries embracing peace with Israel as a boon and Iranian brutality being exposed on a daily basis, there is a fighting chance at achieving this goal.

Between President Trump’s efforts to bring together Arab nations to recognize Israel, and with more negotiations with additional Arab states rumored to be underway, we are finally seeing a slowly but growing acceptance of Israel by its Arab neighbors. Could Ambassador Erdan be the one to turn around the hate Israel agenda at the United Nations? AFSI will be watching closely and wishes Ambassador Erdan yasher koach as he works to chip away at the UN’s biased agenda.

Source:
The UN must recalculate its route, by Gilad Erdan. Arutz Sheva, October 1, 2020

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to the United Nations General Assembly, on September 29, 2020* revealed photographs showing secret Hezbollah arms depots adjacent to civilian residences and a gas station, urging the Lebanese population to “tear these depots down.”

In this speech which addressed the 75th UN General Assembly, Netanyahu recalled the massive blast in Beirut’s port in early August which caused hundreds of deaths and destroyed large swathes of the city.

“Here is where the next explosion could take place,” the Israeli premier noted, pointing to a large screen. “This is the Beirut neighborhood of Jnah. It’s right next to the international airport. And here, Hezbollah is keeping a secret arms depot…adjacent, a meter away, from a gas company. And it’s embedded in civilian housing here…”

Last month’s explosion in a Beirut port was due to weapons stored that were clearly intended for use against Israel. As we saw, due to a twist of fate, Lebanon took an unintentional hit. Today’s exposure of Hezbollah’s secret by Prime Minister Netanyahu should be a clear wake-up call to the Lebanese people – and the world. Accidents happen.

The primary thrust of his speech was a wake-up call to all nations that Iran is a friend to none, even its own people. Its dictatorship has total disregard for not only enemy civilian populations but its own people and those of its proxies. Where Israel wants peace, Iran thirsts only for power. Iran continues to prove what a mistake the JCPOA was and how correct the Trump administration was for pulling out of that bad deal. We can only hope that message is heard and understood by all who truly care about freedom and justice.

*The address was delivered using a pre-recorded video.

Source:
Netanyahu: Hezbollah keeping secret arms depot that could harm Lebanese, by i24News. i24News, September 29, 2020

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu last Thursday evening ordered a meeting to be held immediately after Simchat Torah of the Supreme Planning Council of the Civil Administration, with the aim of approving extensive construction in Judea and Samaria.

Arutz Sheva has learned that Netanyahu has approved the promotion of more than 5,000 housing units in dozens of localities, after freezing construction planning in Judea and Samaria since last February so as not to jeopardize the peace agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

Head of the Samaria Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, said that “Netanyahu’s test is in issuing the building permits in Judea and Samaria. The people of Israel expect full sovereignty to be applied as promised by the prime minister in three consecutive elections, but while sovereignty is not applied, a national government should take steps to strengthen settlement and prove that the national government is committed to Israel and to settlement in Judea and Samaria.”

The approval of “extensive construction in Judea and Samaria” is music to our ears. AFSI looks forward to a vote to proceed by the Supreme Planning Council of the Civil Administration. It is our hope that the application of Sovereignty is not far behind.

Source:
First publication: Netanyahu approves large-scale construction in Judea and Samaria, by Ido Ben Porat

Miriam Levinger, 83, who together with her husband Moshe, personally led the Jews back to Hebron after the 1967 Six Day War, passed away in the aftermath of the Yom Kippur holiday and was buried Tuesday.

“Miriam dedicated her life, out of great devotion, to the settlement of the Land of Israel and to the love of the people of Israel. We will always remember her as a symbol and example of Zionism and pioneering,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted.

The Sovereignty Movement commented that Rabbanit Levinger was “…the beating heart of the settlement movement from its inception, a courageous and fearless fighter for the Land of Israel, the People of Israel and the Torah of Israel.”

May the family be comforted among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. May they know no more sorrow.

Sources:
Miriam Levinger, mother of Hebron’s Jewish community, passes away at 83, by Tovah Lazaroff. Jerusalem Post, September 29, 2020

An Everlasting Love, by Rabbanit Miriam Levinger. Hebron History, July 12, 2020

A little more than a week has passed since the beginning of 5781, and the silenced intifada calendar of Hakol Hayehudi has recorded more than 20 terrorist incidents. According to reports, one Jewish man was injured in a terror attack last week.

The 20 plus incidents included throwing stones at civilian vehicles and at security forces, as well as throwing Molotov cocktails and dumping explosives. In one case, a paint bottle was hurled at a bus, damaging the windshield.

Source:
More than 20 Arab Terrorist Attacks on Jews Since the Start of 5781, by HaKol HaYehudi / Yehuda Pearl. Jewish Press, September 29, 2020

Florida will be issuing specialty “Florida Stands with Israel” license plates for those who wish to support the Jewish state throughout the Sunshine State.

Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation (HB 1135) on Friday, before Rosh Hashanah, which authorized the creation of the special license plate.

Americans For A Safe Israel praises the State of Florida for showing its support for Israel in this manner. An official license plate on Floridian cars now displays strong support of Israel for all to see whether driving the open road, or parked in a public space. We ARE proud of the stronger than ever friendship between Israel and Florida and it makes us smile. Kinda makes us wanna move to Florida too….just saying 🙂

To Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida legislature, we say, THANK YOU!

Source:
Florida to issue ‘Florida Stands with Israel’ license plates, by Jerusalem Post Staff. Jerusalem Post, September 22, 2020

As the normalization train between Israel and Arab nations moves forward, the most pressing question is when, not if, another country jumps aboard.

United States Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft said in an interview with Al-Arabiya Wednesday that another normalization agreement between Israel and an unnamed Arab country will happen in the next day or two.

During the interview, Craft said regarding US intentions on pushing forward Middle East peace in the Arab-Israel conflict that “our plan is to bring more countries…which we will have more being announced very soon…”

Watch the full interview with Ambassador Kelly Craft below.

Sources:
Diplomacy built Israeli-Arab peace. The private sector will sustain it., by Dana Stroul/JT. Jerusalem Post, September 23, 2020

New PA School in the Jordan Valley is Illegal
One more illegal school joins the rapidly growing roster of similar structures built by the Palestinian Authority at lightning speed.

The newest to join the ranks is an illegal school built overnight – literally – in the Jordan Valley.

Regavim: “While the Israeli government chatters about sovereignty in the Jordan Valley, the Palestinian Authority is hard at work building a de facto state.”

Source:
Regavim Report, September 23, 2020

UNTSO Compound in Armon HaNatziv
The Israeli government announces “understandings” that would place the United Nations above the law and waive Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem.

Regavim’s petition regarding the UNTSO Compound in Armon HaNatziv continues.

Sources:
Full Regavim Report, September 22, 2020

State’s response to Regavim’s petition (in Hebrew)

A family from Gush Shilo was caught several days ago in a planned ambush set by local Arabs, who blocked their vehicle with a barricade made of stones and attacked the family’s car with rocks.

Miraculously, the couple and their children were not harmed, but Uri, the father, was forced to shoot a bullet in the air to drive the terrorists away.

The parents and four of their children, ages nine, five, three, and one-and-a-half were in their car at the time of the attempted attack. The rocks shattered their windshield (See photo) and the car was hit by about ten more rocks that inflicted heavy damage.

Renna, Uri’s wife, then related what happened when they came to the police station to file a complaint regarding the lynching. “We arrive at the police station together, and the policeman turns to Uri and asks, ‘Do you want to talk to a lawyer before we start the investigation?’”

“‘What? Investigation? Of what?’ We ask. The policeman replies: ‘You will hear about it in the interrogation. It’s about your using your weapon.‘”

Attorney Nati Rom from the Honenu legal aid society showed up at the police station to assist the family. Following his interrogation, Uri was released unconditionally.

While AFSI is grateful that Honenu provided swift and successful legal assistance for Uri, it is an outrage that it was needed in the first place. No Jew should be criminalized for exercising self-defense against Arab aggression.

Source:
Jewish Family Survives Lynching Attempt, Police Open Criminal Case Against the Father for Shooting in the Air in Self-Defense, by HaKol HaYehudi / Yehuda Pearl. Jewish Press, September 22, 2020