Category: Articles

“Does someone have to be killed for lack of security for the West Bank outposts to be legalized,” railed Ori Bartfeld of Asael.

“We have come to understand that right-wing governments have no intention of regulating [legalizing] us,” he said at a nighttime Jerusalem rally Tuesday near the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday.

Yael Shevach, a resident of the Gilad Farm, whose husband Raziel was killed in a terror attack near their community in 2018, also spoke. She recalled that the government had voted to authorize the community in which she lived in the aftermath of her husband’s death. Shevach, who is also on a hunger strike, said that “three years later nothing has happened.”

AFSI Chizuk Mission participants visited with Yael on a 2018 trip. At that time we partnered with the non-profit organization,One Israel Fund, to purchase a camera for the entrance to that community (see below photo). Since then Marc Provisor, Security Director of the One Israel Fund has upgraded their security systems. We are with the strikers and hope that the Israeli government does more to provide protection for ALL Israelis, wherever in Israel they live.

Diaspora Minister Omer Yankelevich and Samaria Council Chairman Yossi Dagan came to visit Itai Zar, one of the leaders of the “young settlement” struggle, who collapsed Wednesday night in a protest tent and refused to receive a blood transfusion.

Zar has been on hunger strike for the past nine days in a protest tent, demanding that the prime minister approve a proposal to regulate the “young settlements” at a cabinet meeting next Sunday, which will allow 46 communities to be connected to water and electricity infrastructure.

Sources:
‘Does someone have to die for West Bank outposts to be legalized?, by Tovah Lazaroff. Jerusalem Post, January 12, 2021

Minister Yankelevich visits ‘Young Settlement’ leader who collapsed during hunger strike, by Hezki Baruch. Arutz Sheva, January 14, 2021

The HonestReporting and UNRWA: Stop Teaching Hate advocacy groups launched a joint petition on Monday calling on the United States government to declassify a report detailing the true number of Palestinian refugees worldwide, nine years after it was first commissioned and seemingly shelved by the State Department.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees claims there are over 1.5 million Palestinian refugees, but it is believed that that true figure is actually closer to about 30,000, the NGOs said.

The Palestinian Authority argues that all descendants of those displaced in 1948, about 5 million people, be granted the “right of return” to their homes in what is now Israel.

HonestReporting CEO Daniel Pomerantz explained, “In every other conflict around the world, refugee populations decrease over time. Only here do the numbers continue to rise – a phenomenon which weaponizes the concept against Israel.”

Joan Lurie, chair of UNRWA: Stop Teaching Hate, added: “this is the most serious obstacle to peace; neither Israel nor any sovereign nation could accept this Right of Return for over five million people. Negotiations cannot proceed until a more realistic refugee count is available.”

Source:
NGOs petition US to reveal true number of Palestinian refugees, by ILH Staff. Israel Hayom, January 12, 2021

Former consul-general in New York Dani Dayan became the latest acquisition of Gideon Sa’ar’s New Hope Party on Wednesday.

Dayan served for four years in the post, where he was responsible for representing the State of Israel throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Delaware. He was appointed to the post by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a political appointment after he endorsed the Likud.

Source:
Former NY consul-general Dani Dayan running with Sa’ar, by Gil Hoffman. Jerusalem Post, January 13, 2021

The Supreme Planning Council of the Civil Administration is expected to discuss next Sunday the promotion of the legality of illegal construction plans led by the Palestinian Authority as part of its campaign to takeover Area C.

These plans include illegal construction within nature reserves, on state lands designated for Israeli localities, as well as a series of illegal schools, which the Palestinian Authority defines as “schools in the fight against settlements.”

Immediately after the start of construction at strategic points, a construction plan is submitted to the Civil Administration on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, and at the same time a petition is submitted to the court, demanding that the enforcement proceedings be suspended until the planning process is completed.

Meir Deutsch, Regavim Director General said, “Netanyahu publishes headlines about expanding Jewish settlement with 800 housing units, and on the other hand approves illegal construction plans by the Palestinian Authority on hundreds of dunams. The strategic significance here is clear and appalling: Jewish settlement must converge into small, fenced-in squares, while the Palestinian Authority spreads across the surface, and also receives approval for it.”

Both the Yesha Council and the Young Settlement Forum responded with stark criticism:

“All this while he continues to abandon – without living proper conditions and without minimal security – the tens of thousands of residents in the young settlements whose regulation he has been delaying for months.” ~Young Settlement Forum

“This is severe and sometimes life-threatening discrimination against normal citizens who are equal in obligations to the state but are not equal in rights. Mr. Prime Minister and Mr. Defense Minister, this is a time of trial. Stop the discrimination and harm to the settlers, confirm the decision on the table to regulate the young settlements.” ~Yesha Council

Sources:
Civil Administration supports legalizing illegal PA construction, by Arutz Sheva Staff. Arutz Sheva, January 11, 2021

‘Young Settlement’ Forum: Netanyahu continues to spit in our faces, by Arutz Sheva Staff. Arutz Sheva, January 11, 2021

A Defense Ministry panel will approve plans for over 800 new Jewish homes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday, confirming an earlier report.

At a meeting next week, the Civil Administration’s High Planning Committee will approve the construction of 500 housing units in Itamar, Beit El, Shavei Shomron, Oranit and Givat Ze’ev, the Kan public broadcaster reported.

In addition, the committee will also advance plans to build 100 units in Tal Menashe and more than 200 homes in the Nofei Nehemia outpost.

Tal Menashe, in the northern West Bank, was the hometown of Esther Horgen, who was killed last month in a terror attack. Her husband has called for increased construction following her murder.

Even though this is but a drop in the bucket of housing needs in Judea-Samaria, we hope these approvals will be acted upon.

Source:
Israel to okay over 800 new settlement homes days before Biden sworn in, by TOI Staff. January 11, 2021

The Samaria Regional Council began exporting products made in its own communities to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday with labels stating that Israel is the country of origin.

A shipment of olive oil and honey from the Tura Winery in the Rehelim community and Paradise Honey in the Hermesh area will be exported.

“This is a historic day for Samaria and the entire State of Israel,” said Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, who was photographed holding a box that reads Tura Winery, Rehelim, Israel.

Samaria’s ability to export products to the UAE, which are treated as made in Israel items, is seen as a small step forward toward de facto Sovereignty and recognition that the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria are indeed part of Israel.

Source:
Settlers begin exporting ‘made in Israel’ products to Dubai, Tovah Lazaroff. Jerusalem Post, January 10, 2021

Yesterday, Sudan signed on to the “Abraham Accords” with the United States, paving the way for the African country to normalize ties with Israel.

The newly signed agreement was a largely symbolic document, indicating Sudan’s intentions to move forward with normalization.

The memorandum did not officially establish diplomatic ties between Khartoum and Jerusalem, a move that is expected to happen in the near future, at an as yet undetermined date.

Source:
Sudan signs ‘Abraham Accords’ with US, paving way for Israel normalization, by Agencies and TOI Staff. Times of Israel, January 6, 2021

Arab bandits digging at the archeological site of Tel Tekoa in Gush Etzion on Thursday were documented by the Shomrim Al Hanetzch (Guardians of Eternity) organization while in action.

A drone documented the bandits digging through the archeological site while in search of findings they can later sell on the black market. One of the bandits is clearly seen with a metal detector while others are seen digging at the archeological site.

In a separate incident today, a group of Arab demonstrators supported by the Palestinian Authority on Thursday morning invaded land near Kochav Hashachar in Binyamin with the aim of taking over the territory and creating provocation. Jewish Israelis who were there were violently attacked and a fight broke out as the Arabs threw stones at the Jews.

Earlier this week, on Tuesday, an Israeli civilian and a soldier foiled a stabbing attack by a Palestinian Authority terrorist on Tuesday afternoon at the Gush Etzion junction in Judea, about 10 minutes south of Jerusalem. The terrorist, who was armed with a meat cleaver, was shot and killed by the civilian near the Gush Etzion Winery, located close a short distance from the junction.

Sources:
WATCH: Arab Bandits Caught on Drone Illegally Digging at Ancient Tekoa Archaeology Site, by Aryeh Savir, Tazpit News Agency. Jewish Press, January 5, 2021

Watch: Arabs attack Jews near Kochav Hashachar, by Arutz Sheva Staff. Arutz Sheva, January 7, 2021

Israeli Foils Gush Etzion Terror Attack by Arab with Meat Cleaver, by Hana Levi Julian. Jewish Press, January 5, 2021

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised US President Donald Trump’s administration for its Middle East policies on Thursday, as the American leader faced widespread criticism at home after hundreds of his supporters stormed the Capitol building the day before.

“I want to thank President Trump and all of you in the administration for all you have done and are doing for peace. You’ve made a real difference, achieving one breakthrough after another, bringing the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan into the circle of peace. I have no doubt that more Arab and Muslim countries will follow,” Netanyahu said.

However, concern about a new administration re-entering the Iran deal weighs heavy on the Prime Minister’s mind. “If we just go back to the JCPOA, what will happen and may already be happening is that many other countries in the Middle East will rush to arm themselves with nuclear weapons. That is a nightmare and that is folly. It should not happen,” Netanyahu said.

Source:
As Biden inauguration nears, Netanyahu warns US against rejoining Iran nuke deal, by Judah Ari Gross. Times of Israel, January 7, 2021

Former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Yamina) responded Monday evening to the failures that were discovered in the investigation into the death of Ahuvya Sandak, the boy who was killed during a police chase in Binyamin.

“A joint investigation by the DIPI and the police is fundamentally wrong,” Shaked said. “It is not possible for the interrogee to interrogate himself. In this way, the horrific death of Ahuvya Sandak will not be clarified and we will not reach the uncovering of the truth.”

“I call for the establishment of an external commission of inquiry that will also lead to the restoration of public trust and the lowering of tensions,” Shaked added.

Source:
Shaked: Establish external commission of inquiry in death of Ahuvya Sandak, by Arutz Sheva Staff. Arutz Sheva, January 4, 2021