Author: AFSI Staff

Members of the US Congress and Senate, many from Long Island, NY, together with official representatives of the State of New York, toured Samaria during a visit to Israel.

Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan said, “This is another step on the path towards beating the lies of the BDS. We thank Bruce Blakeman, our dear friend, and the County Executive of Nassau County in New York, who brought about this visit and has helped us greatly. He also passed a law in his county against the Ben & Jerry’s corporation, which called to boycott Judea and Samaria.”

Source:
Congress members visit Samaria: ‘Biden’s policy is flawed, his advisers are anti-Israel’, by Israel National News, September 19, 2023

Three separate terror attacks were reported across Israel Monday morning, hours after the end of the Rosh Hashana holiday. The first incident, a stabbing attack, was foiled in Jerusalem Monday morning.

Hours later Monday morning, Palestinian terrorists operating in the town of Dayr Sharaf in Samaria opened fire on an IDF post.

In the afternoon, a third attack was reported just outside of Kibbutz Meirav, near the Green Line separating Samaria and the Galilee.

On Friday Israeli security personnel foiled a terrorist bombing attack in Tel Aviv and apprehended three suspects believed to be responsible for the attempted attack.

While all attackers were neutralized and nobody was hurt, Israel remains on high alert during this holiday season. These latest terror attacks make calendar year 2023 the deadliest year of terrorism since the Second Intifada.

Source:
TERROR WAVE: Three shooting, stabbing attacks in one day, by David Rosenberg/World Israel News, September 18, 2023

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was harshly criticized Monday morning for saying anti-judicial reform protesters were “joining forces with the PLO and Iran” in harming Israel.

“The protesters have made blocking roads a normal event, refusal [to serve in the military] normal, and they are defaming Israel before the world,” said Netanyahu ahead of his departure to the United States. “I was the head of the opposition, and I did not slander Israel in front of the world.”

Netanyahu’s office later clarified that he did not mean to equate protesters with Iran, but merely pointed out that for the first time in history, Israelis will be protesting outside the UN headquarters during an address by an Israeli premier along with Palestinian and BDS supporters.

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid said, “There is no person who has destroyed our image in the world more than Netanyahu in recent months. Nothing helps the Iranians more than the ‘coup d’état’ of his government. His accusations against the patriots of the protest is more proof of the serious disruption to his judgment and understanding of reality.”

Of course, we differ with Lapid. The agitators are being funded to purposely protest and create havoc against their own government. We know it’s all about the left’s desire for power and we fear that desire will reach a dangerous point where they will be equated too closely with what defines a terrorist. Their ongoing willingness to be a part this quest for power sends a bad message to the world and only fuels the flames of anti-Semitism and Israel hatred.

Source:
Netanyahu issues clarification after suggesting protesters helping PLO, Iran, by Ariel Kahana and JNS/Israel Hayom, September 18, 2023

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has issued a scathing response to the decision by the UNESCO Heritage Committee to classify the ancient city of Jericho as a “World Heritage Site in Palestine” during its meeting on Sunday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Israel slammed the decision, which it said was made “despite the many and sincere efforts of the Secretary-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, to balance the decision. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers the decision made today as another sign of the Palestinians’ cynical use of UNESCO and the politicization of the organization,” the ministry said.

“Israel will act in accordance with its many friends in the organization in order to change all the distorted decisions that were made.”

That the UN can blatantly do something like this makes it clear Israel has its work cut out for it and must do everything to block this horrendous decision. The UN must not be allowed to be the arbiter of the Land of Israel.

Source:
Israel Slams UNESCO Decision to Label Tel Jericho as ‘Palestinian Heritage Site’, by Hana Levi Julian/Jewish Press, September 17, 2023

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has signed off on sanctions waivers paving the way for international banks to unfreeze $6 billion dollars in Iranian funds, the Associated Press reported on Monday.

The funds will be disbursed for “further humanitarian transactions in accordance with written guidance from the U.S. government,” said Blinken, according to AP.

Nothing good can come from sending Iran more funds. This $6 billion dollars creates a new opportunity for Iran to enrich its uranium to continue building a nuclear bomb to attack Israel, continue funding its proxies that surround Israel plus create more plots to murder Israelis and Jews outside of Israel.

Source:
Biden admin paves the way for Iran deal worth $6 billion, by JNS Update Desk, September 12, 2023

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday disclosed that Iran was building an airport in southern Lebanon a mere 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Israeli border, with the aim of using it as a launch pad for terrorist attacks against Israel.

The Iranian flags are visible on the runways of Kilat Jabar, said Gallant who also alleged that Iran “is planning to act against the citizens of Israel,” using the runway as a base.

Source:
Israel reveals Iran building airport in Lebanon for terrorist attacks, by APH and ILH Staff/Israel Hayom, September 12, 2023

National Unity will support the judicial reform compromise outline discussed in the last week no matter Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s motivation for pushing for it, party leader Benny Gantz said on Monday.

“In the last few days, the president advanced an outline in which I saw a base for widespread agreements that would protect the democracy and the value of a politicization of the judiciary system and would give the other side an opportunity to influence to some degree because at the end of the day, the victory of one side or the surrender of the other will cost us dearly,” he said. “I’m not interested in Netanyahu’s motivation. If there is a solution on the table that will protect democracy, I will be there.”

The president’s compromise outline, which was leaked last week, sees the government legislating a less extreme reasonableness clause amendment as well as a freeze on judicial reform legislation for 18 months.

Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir today criticized the resumption of talks at the President’s Residence and made it clear that Otzma Yehudit would not support the move.

“I am in favor of negotiations, but against surrender,” clarified Minister Ben-Gvir and explained that “the reform is important for the State of Israel, it will balance the three authorities – the legislative, executive and judicial branches. Surrender in the President’s House means humiliating more than half of the people.”

As quoted in the Times of Israel, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says his Religious Zionism party will agree to some “concessions” to reach judicial compromises but will not budge on its demand to increase right-wing representation the nation’s top court. “I told the prime minister that we are ready for dialogue and agreements, including concessions, in order to bring about unity among the people, in order to keep the IDF united and strong, and Israeli society intact,” Smotrich says in a statement in Jerusalem. “But at the same time, we strongly oppose dictates and ultimatums from those who lost the elections, did not win the trust of the people, and are trying, by threats of refusal [to perform military service] and harm to state security, to dictate their position to us by force. Under no circumstances will we agree to give up on diversity in the selection of judges in order to represent all the communities in the State of Israel, and we will not agree to a situation in which the opposition, which lost the elections, can trample, and run over the right-wing in the Judicial Selection Committee,” the Religious Zionism party head says.

As long as Prime Minister Netanyahu compromises in good faith, Gantz will be there to move judicial reform forward. (What is this about waiting 18 months to put reforms into effect?) Major hearings were schedules for today. If they reach a compromise that all parties will accept it will be a great step. As Ben Gurion said, “Anyone who does not believe in miracles is not a realist.”

Sources:
Gantz: I will accept judicial reform compromise ‘to save Israeli democracy’, by Ariella Marsden/Jerusalem Post, September 11, 2023

Ben-Gvir: ‘Otzma Yehudit will not support negotiations’, by Israel National News, September 11, 2023

The Mount Hebron spokesman’s office reported that this past Shabbat about 30 Arab rioters managed to infiltrate the town of Otniel in Judea, south of Hebron. The rioters were spotted before they entered the community, and its security patrol was waiting for them when they crossed into the town. The head of Otniel’s security called the IDF for help.

The rioters reportedly vandalized property, damaged equipment, and destroyed a tent used by the local youth for prayer and Bible study.

They say “rioters,” we say, “terrorists.” Any violation at any time of Israeli land and the Israeli people, whether on Shabbos or not, is a violation of Israel’s sovereign rights.

Source:
Arab rioters infiltrate Jewish town near Hebron, by TPS via World Israel News, September 10, 2023

Mazal Tov! 18 years after the Disengagement, the wedding of Ahuvya Yair, son of MK Limor Son Har-Melech of Otzma Yehudit, was held last night on the ruins of the village of Homesh.

The bridegroom, Ahuvya Yair, was only 14 months old at the time of the attack, in which his father, Shuli Har-Melech, was murdered, and Limor was moderately injured.

Son Har-Melech was one of the most prominent activists against the Disengagement from Judea, Samaria, and Gush Katif and also served as the “PR officer” of Homesh in its various stages of the struggle.

This weekend’s wedding is a testament to the strength and endurance of the people of Homesh. It’s only through their fortitude and determination that Homesh will be rebuilt and stronger than ever.

Source:
18 years after Disengagement: Son of terror victim weds on ruins Homesh, by Israel National News, September 10, 2023

The Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday set the boundaries of three new communities in Judea, marking the first step in the legalization under Israeli law of nine communities that received official government approval earlier this year.

Two of the new towns, Avigayil and Asael, are located in the South Hebron Hills, while the third, Beit Hogla, is part of the Megilot Regional Council near the Dead Sea.

Yesha Council Chairman and Gush Etzion Regional Council head Shlomo Neeman hailed the move as a “meaningful step” that will advance communities in Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley.

This is the type of productive news we like to hear about. Regulation – Independence – Building new communities. Next step – Sovereignty!

Source:
IDF approves legal borders of three new Judea communities, by JNS Update Desk, September 7, 2023