Author: AFSI Staff

Talks between Iran and world powers and indirectly with the US have ramped up in recent weeks after months of stalling following Iranian demands that were rejected by Washington. Throughout, Israel continues to hold firm on its position that Iran’s nuclear program must be prevented from advancing.

In response to the recent flurry of activity to push the Iran deal forward, Defense Minister Benny Gantz traveled to the US for a series of meetings with American defense officials.

In a press conference in Israel today, Prime Minister Yair Lapid said that Israeli pressure tactics on the United States have already had some positive effects. “The Americans accepted a large part of the things that we wanted them to include in the drafts. It is a welcome change, and the dialogue with them is good and we will continue it.” Given that according to the IAEA Iran is two weeks from having its first nuclear weapon, this dialogue must continue and it must be made clear that Israel and the region are in a precarious position. Sanctions should be strengthened and oversight must be made more thorough.

As the world continues to turn a blind eye to all of this, let’s remember that Iran’s President Ebraim Raisi is scheduled to speak in mid September at the United Nations annual General Assembly, where he is sure to push Iran’s desire for a nuclear agenda. Raisi should not be allowed in the country, let alone speak at the United Nations.

Israel continues to send a clear message by holding strong on its tough stance on the negotiations. The world must remember that Iran’s intentions are nefarious, not peaceful. Any deal with Iran, as Gantz made clear before he left for the US, “will harm global and regional security.” Israel’s visit to the US this week has had a positive effect on weakening attempts to seal the Iran deal, at least for now.

Sources:
‘World leaving us on our own against Iran’, by Shimon Cohen/Israel National News, August 25, 2022

Lapid says Israeli pressure campaign against Iran deal bore fruit with White House, by Amy Shapiro and TOI Staff/Times of Israel, August 25, 2022

 

The Tel Aviv school district will be using maps of Israel in the upcoming school year that display the Green Line, which marks a separation between the Judea and Samaria region and the rest of the Jewish State. This is in direct violation of the Education Ministry’s curriculum guidelines. Reports say that the move to the new maps came after a direct order from Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai.

Gush Etzion Regional Council Head Shlomo Ne’eman said of Mayor Huldai’s unauthorized decision: “There is a great need to apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, where hundreds of thousands of Jewish citizens of the State of Israel are treated as second class and any fool can decide to remove us from the map at any time.”

We agree. Whose side is Mayor Huldai on anyway? He doesn’t have his facts straight. It’s also not his job to determine where the map lines for Sovereignty over Judea and Samaria should be drawn. Shame on him! We’d like to see all those maps taken down and correct ones showing a whole Israel put in their place.

Source:
Maps separating Judea, Samaria from Israel to be used in Tel Aviv schools, by Lauren Marcus/World Israel News, August 23, 2022

The Civil Administration together with officers of the Border Police on Monday took action by razing 11 structures that were illegally erected by Arabs in the area of the Hasmonean Palaces archaeological site in Jericho.

The construction is yet another attempt by the Palestinian Authority (PA) to establish their facts on the ground in Area C, the parts of Judea and Samaria under direct Israeli control.

As part of a tour conducted in the area by the head of the Civil Administration, Brigadier General Fars Atila, an enforcement effort in the area was agreed upon as part of a campaign for the preservation of archaeological sites and for greater security enforcement overall in Area C.

We look forward to the same and more to protect ALL of Area C and all of Judea and Samaria!!

Source:
IDF Razes 11 Illegal Arab Structures Near Jericho’s Jewish Archeological Site, by TPS / Tazpit News Agency via Jewish Press, August 23, 2022

 

 

 

 

There are places within the Jerusalem area that the Palestinians could consider their capital, Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Monday.

“I repeat and insist that Jerusalem is the unified capital of the State of Israel,” he said in an interview with 103FM Radio. “And I do not see how we can continue towards an arrangement [with the Palestinians] in the coming years, but we must begin by initiating processes to reduce the conflict and strengthen security,” he said. Gantz continued, saying it was essential to prevent a “bi-national” state, “a situation that no one wants.”

“There are villages in the east that the Palestinians call Jerusalem, and they are not in the metropolitan area of Jerusalem,” he explained, adding: “It is possible to define them as a capital.” According to Gantz, “these are matters of debate that should be discussed “in the end,” and “Jerusalem will remain unified.”

It’s disgraceful that Gantz views certain parts of Jerusalem as not worth bothering with and even sadder that he would consider any portion of Jerusalem to be open for discussion. Handing over even the tiniest part of Jerusalem to the PA will not reduce any conflict and only weaken Israel and show weakness, but encroach on her legal rights as a sovereign nation. No negotiation about any part of Jerusalem should be allowed based on what we know to be true: Jerusalem, Capital of Israel must remain whole and undivided, not divided.

Source:
Gantz cites parts of Jerusalem as ‘possible’ Palestinian capital, by i24NEWS and ILH Staff

The Civil Administration last week attempted to uproot trees, including fruit trees, planted over four years ago, by residents of the Jewish town of Nokdim. The Civil Administration sought to uproot the trees after local Arabs claimed ownership of the land. Those trees belong to the State, located near homes in Nokdim where the town’s residents have cared for the trees continuously.

The Civil Administration sent Nokdim residents a note last Tuesday that they would be arriving the next day to uproot the trees. The decision was made by the Civil Administration itself, following an appeal by a leftist organization which was later supported by residents of nearby Bedouin towns. That appeal claimed that the land in question belonged to these local Bedouin, but did not provide any proof. Of course, the proof if it did exist, would most likely be a land grant from Jordan, an illegal occupier of the land from 1948 – 1967. The fact that the Courts and the Civil Administration are giving credence to these grants is absurd, and worse.

Nokdim residents responded with an appeal against the Civil Administration’s decision. Despite the appeal that expected a temporary order preventing the uprooting would be issued within less than an hour, the Civil Administration official in charge of the operation insisted on uprooting the trees quickly, before the temporary order could be issued.

MK Uzi Dayan was among many who spoke to the Civil Administration chief and the forces then left Nokdim to wait until the Supreme Court had issued its ruling. Later in the day, the Supreme Court rejected the residents’ appeal outright due to a technicality and other issues.

The Supreme Court’s decision does not show any strength in protecting land that legally belongs to Israel. It disturbingly and continuously baffles the mind to see Israeli official appease Bedouins and PA Arabs. Decisions such as this only serve to weaken Israel’s legal right to its own sovereign land.

Source:
Civil Administration to uproot trees near Jewish settlement?, by Israel National News, August 22, 2022

 

 

 

According to a Channel 12 report Friday night, MKs Ayman Odeh, Ahmed Tibi and Sami Abu Shahadeh, the heads of the Arab-majority Joint List faction, recently met secretly in Ramallah with the head of PA intelligence in an attempt to influence the results of the Israeli elections. The PA is reportedly pushing to have the Islamic Ra’am party rejoin the Joint List to prevent opposition leader and former prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from winning the upcoming November election.

Such a meeting could be considered contact with a foreign agent, punishable by 15 years in prison according to the Penal Code.

Several Israeli politicians and activists have called on the security establishment to launch a criminal probe against three Arab MK’s for breach of trust and conspiracy against the State of Israel. Among them are MK Bezalel Smotrich, Matan Peleg, Im Tirtzu CEO, and MK Avi Maoz.

Smotrich stated, “The choice [in the elections] is simple – a national government or a government with those allied with Israel’s enemies,” he said.

Source:
Knesset members met secretly with Palestinian Authority intelligence, by Aryeh Savir, TPS via World Israel News, August 21, 2022

 

 

Three new candidates running on the Likud list for Knesset in Israel’s national elections this November joined Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan last night in vowing to “fight for the Land of Israel” at Joseph’s Tomb. But as the delegation and other worshipers were praying, IDF soldiers outside the tomb were also fighting — to protect those inside.

This is the first time Israeli worshipers traveled to the tomb since the ceasefire following Operation Breaking Dawn. During the visit, Arabs rioted and opened fire on the IDF troops escorting the visitors.

Dagan called the visit a “sharp and clear statement” that Israelis will continue to visit Joseph’s Tomb and “not give in to attempts to stop the Jewish presence” there.

The fortitude and leadership of Yossi Dagan and his colleagues is what will ensure that the right to live in the Land of Israel will remain in Jewish hands. As it should be.

Source:
Shootout, Dead Terrorist as Knesset Candidates Visit Joseph’s Tomb, by Hana Levi Julian/Jewish Press, August 18, 2022

 

After all these years can we believe this?

After a 20-year diplomatic crisis between the two countries, Israel and Turkey announced a full restoration of diplomatic ties on Wednesday. This news followed a recent phone conversation between Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Lapid hailed the development as “an important asset for regional stability and very important economic news for the citizens of Israel,” adding, “We will continue to strengthen Israel’s standing in the world.”

Ariel Kahana writes in Israel Hayom today: If past is prologue, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan can be expected to continue with his outbursts. His hatred of Jews was passed on through his mother’s milk and his capricious demeanor has only gotten worse over the years. Israeli leaders are well aware of this, and a senior Israeli official told Israel Hayom that if Erdogan turns on Israel, it would know how to respond in kind. “Just like diplomatic ties were upgraded, so too could they be downgraded if needed. But if we can now reconcile, then why not?” the Israeli official added.

POOF!! Just like that – are we supposed to believe that Turkey will reverse course and stop hating Israel? Does this agreement really signal the end of the 20-year diplomatic crisis between the two countries?

P.S. Refer back to the title of this article: What Goes Up Could Go Down. Just saying.

Sources:
Senior official: If Erdogan reverts to anti-Israel posture, Jerusalem will respond in kind, by Ariel Kahana/Israel Hayom, August 18, 2022

Israel and Turkey to restore ambassadors in full renewal of diplomatic ties, by Ash Obel/Times of Israel, August 17, 2022

A group of Haredi yeshiva students and families established a new community on Sunday in eastern Gush Etzion near Metzad. The new community is called “Derech Emuna” (Path of Faith), after the title of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky’s book.

Within two and a half hours the community built 15 buildings including a shul and a yeshiva. So far, 11 families have moved in.

Activist Tzvi Succot pointed out that this is the first time ultra-Orthodox “settlers” have established such a community. The goal was to increase consciousness within the Haredi community of the religious commandment of settling the land. It also demonstrates that the housing crisis in the community could be resolved through housing construction in Judea and Samaria.

The realization of the Zionist dream was intended to be inclusive of all Jews, not just a specific segment of the Jewish people. The more that the entire spectrum of the Jewish population in Israel awakens to the Zionist dream, the more the land will be built up. The more the land is built up the stronger Am Yisrael will be.

Sources:
New Ultra-Orthodox Settlement in Gush Etzion, by Jewish Press News Desk, August 16, 2022

Ultra-Orthodox activists establish illegal settlement outpost in southern West Bank, by Jeremy Sharon/Times of Israel, August 16, 2022

 

Former US president Donald Trump authorized then-prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex parts of Judea and Samaria, in a letter obtained exclusively by The Jerusalem Post on Sunday.

In a three-page letter dated January 26, 2020, two days before Trump presented his Vision for Peace in the White House, the president summarized some of its details. These included that Israel would be able to extend sovereignty to parts of Judea and Samaria, as delineated in the map included in the plan if Netanyahu agreed to a Palestinian state in the remaining territory on that map.

“We will also work to create a contiguous territory within the future Palestinian state for when the conditions for statehood are met, including the firm rejection of terrorism,” Trump said. AFSI does not support any vision for a Palestinian state.

A Trump administration source closely involved with the president’s letter said that “it was a key part of Israel’s acceptance of the Vision for Peace as the framework for negotiations [with the Palestinians] for America to accept sovereignty up front, as per the mapping process and the plan, and for all the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley to be included.

We are grateful for President Trump’s enormous support for Israel and wonder what would have transpired if this plan had been executed. To hear that sovereignty was close to fruition is music to our ears. However, even though Trump’s plan set conditions for PA statehood being met, including the firm rejection of terrorism, AFSI’s position does not accept a PA state. With the PA perpetually refusing to accept Israel’s right to exist and putting a complete stop to terrorism against Israel, it seems not too much would have changed under Trump’s plan.

It is our belief that there must be many more Jewish neighborhoods (“settlements”) in Judea and Samaria and that the Arabs must immediately be stopped from all illegal activity including building and demolition in areas designated under the (failed) Oslo Accords for Jews. Of course, to take it one step further we believe that the PA would be unable to govern a state and it would soon be controlled by Hamas or another Iranian terror proxy.

Source:
Trump letter authorized Israeli sovereignty in West Bank – exclusive, by Lahav Harkov/Jerusalem Post, August 15, 2022