Author: AFSI Staff

Arutz Sheva reports that IDF security forces discovered and destroyed a terrorist tunnel Tuesday morning that leads into Israeli territory from southern Lebanon.

Apparently built by Hezbollah terrorists, the tunnel originates in the southern portion of the Lebanese town of Kafr Kela and crosses over into Israeli territory. It is believed to have been dug for use in an upcoming terror attack on Israeli targets.

US National Security Advisor John Bolton issued a strong statement on Twitter in defense of Israel:

“The US strongly supports Israel’s efforts to defend its sovereignty, and we call on Hizballah [sic] to stop its tunneling into Israel and to refrain from escalation and violence. More broadly, we call on Iran and all of its agents to stop their regional aggression and provocation, which pose an unacceptable threat to Israeli and regional security.”

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) stated, “Israel has the absolute right and obligation to dismantle the terror infrastructure that Hezbollah has built in preparation for infiltrating its northern border and attacking its citizens…”

Israel’s Foreign Ministry plans to submit a protest to UN Secretary General António Guterres and the president of the Security Council against aggressive actions emanating from Lebanon.

The Foreign Ministry also instructed its representatives abroad to stress that the digging of these tunnels constitutes an aggressive action and is a clear violation of Israeli sovereignty, not to mention, an additional violation of Security Council resolutions 1559 and 1701. Source – Jerusalem Post

Read Mordechai Kedar’s take on discovery of the tunnel in his Arutz Sheva OpEd.

“We have gone from a discourse of eviction to a discourse of normalization.”

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked has agreed to a legal opinion provided by the Justice Ministry’s Counseling and Legislation Department, which paves the way for the access road to the community of Haresha in Binyamin to be constructed.

This move means that the community will be legally legitimized immediately.

Source – Arutz Sheva

“In the wake of Airbnb’s decision to ban Jewish homes in Jerusalem and the West Bank, we made it clear the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement is wrong, and it has no place in the free enterprise of the United States of America,” said VP Mike Pence speaking at a conference last week.

In response to the Airbnb decision – and in only a week – Koshbn is up and running! United With Israel reports that Koshbn is a portal of kosher friendly guest rentals around the world. Read more HERE.

Former minister and Likud member Gideon Sa’ar participated last week in the My Israel conference.

Sa’ar expressed his strong support for Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria. “We need to make a move that will bring about normalization and say that we’re there forever. We must apply sovereignty in the Israeli settlement areas and we must build everywhere in the Land of Israel.”

Source – Arutz Sheva

An unprecedented UN ‎resolution condemning Hamas is being promoted by the United States and Israel. ‎

The resolution, a joint move by Israeli Ambassador to the ‎UN Danny Danon and outgoing US Ambassador Nikki Haley, ‎excoriates Hamas’ terrorist activities, its rocket fire on Israel, ‎its incitement to violence, and its use of civilian resources for military ‎purposes, predominately its sprawling grid of terror tunnels. ‎

Source – Israel Hayom

The Jewish Press reports that the Israeli High court ruled that 522 dunams (129 acres) of disputed land near Kibbutz Rosh Tzurim in Gush Etzion does in fact belong to the Kibbutz and a subsidiary organization of the Jewish National Fund.

Arabs were claiming that this land belonged to them.

Today’s Times of Israel reports that Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said that Israel is “closer than ever” to re-occupying the Gaza Strip and “must move from defense to offense.”

He further clarified his statement to mean “targeted killings of the terrorist leaders of Hamas’ military wing. And it means being willing to capture and hold the Gaza Strip, until we dismantle the terrorist infrastructure.”

Retired General John Abizaid has been nominated by President Trump as ambassador to Saudi Arabia, a position that has been open for several years.

Abizaid’s credentials are impressive and make him and ideal choice for this position:

• A former US Central Command commander who has a long background in the Middle East and its wars.
• Opposed the Iranian nuclear program but also urged Israeli restraint in confronting it.
• Saw some of Hezbollah’s first terrorist attacks as an observer for the UN in 1985 and has spoken about the threat of terrorism in the region.

Abizaid’s nomination as ambassador to Saudi Arabia comes at a crucial juncture for US-Saudi relations and also Riyadh’s role in the region.

A Palestinian Arab from Qalqilya was indicted for plotting to kill renowned pioneers of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, including Daniella Weiss and Moshe Zar.

Daniella Weiss is a close and dear friend of AFSI. Moshe Zar is a friend who bought land and gave some to a group of young idealists in memory of his son who was killed. That is Chavat Gilad. AFSI also installed cameras there in the spring.

Hearing that these two were targets of this vile plot hits us at AFSI particularly hard. We are longtime friends and admirers of these two brave leaders. Daniella’s bravery and strength was the driving force behind Kedumim where she served as Mayor for many years.

Moshe Zar’s bravery is legendary. Following his son, Gilad’s murder he gave land to young idealists who created the Yishuv of Chavat Gilad. AFSI has many close friends in that Yishuv and donated a security camera to the community just last Spring.

Airbnb announced that it will no longer list homes in Judea and Samaria following years of criticism of Airbnb for allowing such listings.

Airbnb stated, “We are most certainly not the experts when it comes to the historical disputes in this region.”

Obviously, we don’t like this. It would behoove Airbnb to educate itself on the truth about Judea and Samaria and not use an excuse and blame it on “historical disputes.” Moreover, we think this is anti-semtisim.