Author: AFSI Staff

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi to send additional forces to the southern command. On his visit to the Gaza border today, Netanyahu ordered reinforcement of units in preparation for what could become an “extensive ” campaign.

This week’s recap:

An IDF official reported that over a 24 hour period 60 rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza on Monday. Israel’s response was swift and hard hitting. Among those Israel pounded heavily throughout the night: Hamas and Islamic Jihad military compounds in the northern Gaza Strip, offices of Hamas senior political leader Ismail Haniyeh, a building housing the organization’s general and military intelligence headquarters, and internal security offices.

Prime Minister Netanyahu, who cut short his visit to the US, said, “We gave a very, very powerful response, and Hamas needs to know that we shall not hesitate to take all steps required.” 

Hamas carried out its threat to increase launches of incendiary balloons into Israel.

While Israel’s enemies keep attacking her, what have they really accomplished for their own interests? Nothing that we can see. In reality, they keep losing and Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi told them so in an open letter.

Why did this week’s rocket attacks on Israel happen? Hamas’ problems at home could be to blame, as Khaled Abu Toameh discusses in his Jerusalem Post Opinion.

Early Monday morning, a rocket fired from Gaza struck a home in Moshav Mishmeret, north of Tel Aviv in the Sharon region. While no fatalities have been reported, seven people are reported injured.

Of concern to AFSI is that Israel’s Iron Dome did not intercept the rocket. It is estimated that the rocket fired can reach a range of more than 100 kilometers and since it travels on a nonlinear path it cannot be intercepted by Iron Dome.

In light of this recent attack, Prime Minister Netanyahu will cut short his visit to the US today. Though Netanyahu will meet with President Donald Trump, after their meeting Netanyahu will return to Israel immediately.

Reports also state that warning sirens were only heard in some areas of Mishmeret and that residents barely had time to respond to the attack.

The IDF began attacks on Hamas positions in response to explosives thrown during night riots. One explosive triggered sirens in in he Eshkol region, says IDF spokesperson. Tzvi Joffre reports in The Jerusalem Post.

AFSI friend Josh Hasten’s inside report tells us “Train service suspended to Sderot, Ofakim, and Netiviot. Shelters opened in Ashkelon. Anticipating a rough night ahead.

Tefilot/prayers to our brothers and sisters in the south (and in the center, and in the north, and in Judea and Samaria, and in all of #Israel). And of course to our #IDF soldiers!”

Hamas inmates riot, stabbing and wounding prison guard in neck. Report by Times of Israel Staff.

Hamas’ ‘night unit’ threatens escalation on Gaza border – will increase its launching of incendiary balloons during the day this week. Sara Rubenstein in Arutz Sheva.

Rafi Eitan, z”l, a lead Mossad spy involved in the capture of Adolf Eichmann, passed away on Saturday at age 92.

Former Mossad chief Shabtai Shavit told The Jerusalem Post that Eitan was one of “the founding fathers of intelligence and operations for the State of Israel… He was an out-of-the-box thinker, highly skilled and helped train the next generation” of Mossad agents.

In an historic announcement today via Twitter, President Donald Trump announced that after 52 years it’s time for the United States to fully recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

We thank President Trump for having the courage and fortitude to do what is right for Israel and the western world!

Several experts revealed major fallacies and biases in the recent UNHRC report on activity at the Gaza border.

Dr. Einat Wilf explained clearly the exact point the UNHRC refuses to acknowledge: “Those who come to the border marching in the name of the so-called ‘right of return’ are not rioting against Israel’s blockade, but rather, are coming to destroy Israel. This needs to be understood clearly as a declaration of war and nothing less than that. The Israeli response cannot be understood if this is not understood.”

An excellent in-depth article on this issue is found in Monday’s Lawfare: “Framing Israel: The U.N. Commission of Inquiry on the Spring 2018 Gaza Border Confrontations” ~Geoffrey S. Corn, Peter Margulies

U.S. Envoy to Germany: U.N. Human Rights Council is anti-Semitic ~ Herb Keinon, Anna Ahronheim

Israel Supporters Protest UN Rights Meeting ~Lisa Schlein

Muslim Stands Up for Israel at UN Human Rights Council ~Jerusalem Post Staff

The California State University (CSU) agreed to a settlement on March 20 that includes them issuing a statement acknowledging Zionism’s importance to Jewish identity.

The case, Volk v. Board of Trustees, involved two San Francisco State University (SFSU) Jewish students alleging that SFSU and the CSU Board of Trustees engaged in anti-Semitism against them when SFSU prevented the campus Hillel from participating in the campus’ “Know Your Rights” fair in February 2017.

They were represented by The Lawfare Project and Winston & Strawn LLP.

Story HERE | Lawfare Project Press Release HERE.

The Israel Defense Forces launched a massive manhunt for the individual who committed terrorist attacks on Sunday morning near the Ariel junction.

IDF soldier Gal Keidan and Rabbi Ahiad Ettinger were killed in two separate shooting attacks. Despite suffering massive bleeding, Rabbi Ettinger bravely fired fours shots at the attacker in an attempt to neutralize him. One IDF soldier, also shot at, is in serious condition.

Cars heading for the center of Israel are being searched to ensure that the attacker doesn’t try to reach populated areas. Israel also deployed large numbers of troops and special forces to the site of attack.

“The PA celebrates attacks on Jews” US ambassador to Israel rips Palestinian Authority. ~David Rosenberg

The 2018 Human Rights Reports, released late this week by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, include a section on the Golan Heights, Judea, Samaria and Gaza.

AFSI is quite pleased to learn that for the first time the report refers to the Golan Heights as “Israeli-controlled” and not “Israeli-occupied.”

The words “occupied” and “occupation” have been dropped from everything related to Judea and Samaria and Gaza.

Read the report HERE.

The Israeli army has uncovered a new Hezbollah terrorist cell on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights. This network is designed to carry out attacks against Israel. Israel promptly issued a formal complaint to the United Nations Security Council over the “Golan Project.”

Israel “…will not ignore the conversion of Syria and Lebanon to a military front against us and will act with force against the aggression from Tehran,” wrote Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon to council members.

Hezbollah’s New Terror Project Mastermind: ”Worst of the Worst’ ~Anna Ahronheim

Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan renewed the twin city alliance with New York’s Hempstead municipality.

Bruce Blakeman, of the Hempstead City Council, is very close to the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. He is also a staunch supporter of Israel.

Both Blakeman and Dagan’s goal in the creation of “twin schools” is to promote joint activities for the schools of Samaria Council and New York City.

“We believe this will be another joint activity of cooperation and understanding between our students that are the future of both countries,” Blakeman said.