Category: Articles

Closely following the funeral of Binyamin Achimeir, who was murdered on Friday by terrorists as he tended to sheep outside the village of Malachei Hashalom in Binyamin, two Jewish residents of nearby communities were arrested on suspicion of participating in violent protests after the murder.

Advocates Nati Rom and Daniel Shimshilashvili from the Honenu organization represent the detainees, one of whom is a minor. Rom stated: “While the boy’s murderers are still running free and have not yet been caught, the Shin Bet, in a show arrest, chooses to arrest two settlers who live near the place of the murder and accuse them of attacking Arabs. The settlers completely deny the suspicions attributed to them.”

To make matters worse, today, Police and the Civil Administration showed up at the Achimeirs’ farm and started taking steps to dismantle the place – while his family was sitting Shiva. The demolition order was executed by Central Command Commander Yehuda Fox, currently the most loathed IDF officer in Judea and Samaria. Local residents wondered and commented: “How are his hands not shaking? Binyamin’s blood is not yet dry and only yesterday evening we buried him, awash in our tears. Does he really have no limits in the war he is waging against the settlement?”

Both the Shin Bet and Civil Administration need to concentrate on the real threats and the real enemies. We fail to see what these “show arrests” and housing demolitions accomplish politically, especially during a time of brutal war and ongoing terror attacks against the Jewish Nation State. We don’t believe that this is how a sovereign nation should be conducting itself.

Sources:
With murderers still at large | Shin Bet arrests Israelis who protested teen’s murder, by Orli Harari/Israel National News, April 15, 2024

Gallant Orders Demolition of Murdered 14-Year-Old’s Community during his Shiva, by David Israel/Jewish Press, April 15, 2024

The threat of an attack by Iran on Israel looms overhead. It’s a potential scenario we hoped would never come; and still, it may not happen.

During a visit to the Tel Nof Airbase in central Israel where he met with members of the 133rd Squadron, which operates F-15 fighter jets, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today that Israel is prepared “both defensively and offensively” for any attack. These assurances to the troops came as Iran threatens retaliation for the assassination of a very high-ranking Revolutionary Guard in Damascus early this month.

“We’ve established a simple principle,” Netanyahu added. “Whoever harms us, we will harm them. We are ready to respond to Israel’s security needs, both defensively and offensively. The people of Israel and I trust you and may we all have great success.”

Iran should know that if it launches a missile at Israel, it could boomerang back. Israel has the capability to launch an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. If Iran does attack Israel, would it be testing to see if Israel responds by targeting their nuclear arsenal? We know Israel will not fire first but if it has no choice to defend itself it will – offensively and defensively. Iran on the attack represents an immediate threat to not only Israel but the entire western world. Finally, we question whether Israel would respond by initially attacking Iran’s nuclear facility. We are not privy to the IDF’s plan for this scenario. We only pray it doesn’t reach that point.

Source:
Netanyahu says Israel prepared ‘defensively and offensively’ as Iran attack looms, by Yossi Yehoshua and Lior Ben Ari/Ynetnews, April 11, 2024

Iran has greatly increased activity at the Fordow nuclear facility, moving it closer than ever to the production of nuclear weapons, according to a Washington Post report published Wednesday.

Citing the International Atomic Energy Association’s (IAEA) report on its February inspection of the Fordow facility, the Post noted that Fordow is undergoing a significant expansion that could double its output. In addition,Iran has been enriching an increasing amount of uranium to near-weapons-grade at higher levels,violating most limits on the amount of enriched uranium the country is allowed to have.

While The Washington Post is not necessarily a source we rely on, we believe the content of this article deserves serious attention. Iran is the #1 state sponsor of terrorism and continues to be enabled by the Biden administration. Iran remains a growing threat to not just Israel but the entire world. The IAEA’s ability to get Iran’s nuclear facilities under control has failed and this leaves the world under constant threat from Iran’s nefarious nuclear activities.

Source:
Report: Iran closer than ever to nuclear weapons, by Israel National News, April 10, 2024

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan held up a picture of Hitler meeting with the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem during a UN Security Council debate on Palestinian statehood.

Erdan produced the photo to illustrate that the roots of Palestinian nationalism were based on Nazism and the destruction of Jews.

He ponted out that Haj Amin Al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem during WWII, was “one of the founding fathers of Palestinian nationalism,” and supported Nazism and antisemitism.The Grand Mufti met with Hitler to ask for his assistance in getting rid of the British Mandate and Jewish immigrants coming to the Holy Land.

Erdan made the case that the objective of Palestinian nationalism from the Grand Mufti’s time was to eliminate Jews.The UN’s response to this well-known truth? Crickets.

Source:
Israel’s UN ambassador displays photo of Hitler and Grand Mufti during Palestinian state debate, by Vered Weiss/World Israel News, by April 9, 2024

On Sunday Israel’s Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant stated that the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Khan Yunis in Gaza was carried out once Hamas “ceased to exist as a military framework in the city” and that “our forces left the area in order to prepare for their future missions, including their mission in Rafah.”

Minister Gallant called the IDF’s achievements “extremely impressive,” saying that it has “eliminated terrorists and destroyed terror targets including warehouses, weapons, headquarters, communication centers and more.” “Their activities enabled the dismantling of Hamas as a functioning military unit in this area,” he added.

“Our forces are going to prepare for their follow-up missions. We will reach a point when Hamas no longer controls the Gaza Strip and does not function as a military framework that poses a threat to the citizens of the State of Israel.”

While US pressure has had an influence, it cannot control the mission of the IDF. Israel’s forces are preparing for attacks on different fronts by Iran and its proxies. Nothing will deter it from its mission in this existential war. Israel must and will emerge victorious! Am Yisrael Chai!

Source:
Ben Gvir, Smotrich Anxious over Netanyahu’s Pullout from Southern Gaza, by David Israel/Jewish Press, April 8, 2024

Member of Knesset Dan Illouz has introduced a bill together with a group of right-wing members of Knesset calling for the imposition of full sovereignty over all Jordan Valley territories.

According to the bill, the imposition of sovereignty will come into effect on October 7, 2024, a year after the massacre. According to those behind it, the move will represent a victory and link the imposition of sovereignty to this fateful date.

“A true victory will be possible only when the enemy feels that October 7 was a mistake, turning it into a day of mourning for them” Chairman of the Jordan Valley Sovereignty Caucus, MK Dan Illouz, stated. “Now, we must complete the task by deepening our roots in our land and imposing sovereignty over wide areas of the country,” he added.

Sovereignty – Sovereignty – Sovereignty – Sovereignty – Sovereignty – NOW!

Source:
New bill: Full sovereignty to be imposed over Jordan Valley next October 7, by Israel National News, April 7, 2024

Four Israeli towns in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley have received their permanent “Yishuv” symbols, the office of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced Saturday night.

The communities of Mishmar Yehuda, Shacharit, Beit Hogla and Asael received their permanent “settlement” symbols, according to Smotrich.

A Yishuv symbol is the final stamp on a new community in Israel that is accepted by the Ministry of the Interior. The symbol is approved as part of the “settlement” process.

“Another step and another step in the regulation of the young settlement that we promised to promote,” Smotrich said in a statement.

Minister Smotrich has certainly had several wins over the last week, this being the latest. We applaud him for all his determination to advance building, growth – and permanence – in Judea and Samaria.

Source:
Four Israeli Towns Receive Permanent Yishuv Symbol, by Hana Levi Julian/Jewish Press, April 6, 2024

Israel’s Security Cabinet met today amid concerns that an Iranian attack was imminent soon after the IDF said it was suspending weekend leaves for troops in combat units.

Yesterday, the military said it was calling up reserve forces to bolster deployment of the IDF aerial defense systems and today that decision was extended to reservists serving in the military intelligence and in the Home Front command.

“I’ve told you repeatedly that we cannot be sure the worse is behind us and we are facing complex days ahead,” military intelligence chief Major General Aharon Haliva told his senior officers today.

Israel was on high alert after a strike in Damascus on Monday that was attributed to Israel killed a senior Iranian commander in the IRGC. Iran vowed to avenge the death of General Mohammad Reza Zahedi – a threat Israeli security forces have taken seriously.

Should the attacks against Israel escalate, preparation and readiness are critical for the IDF. We have no doubt they are taking this threat seriously as they must.

Source:
IDF calls up reserves, security cabinet to meet, amid threat of attack from Iran, by Yoav Zitun/Ynetnews, April 4, 2024

Members of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were wounded this weekend in an explosion initially blamed on Israel in southern Lebanon.

But as often happens in the region, the “powers that be” have since discovered that in fact the blast was caused by a roadside bomb planted in the Rmeish area by Lebanon’s Iranian proxy, Hezbollah.

Now that it’s been determined the explosion was planted by Hezbollah, where is the public outcry? Where is the apology from the US Administration for jumping to blame Israel? There was outrage aimed at Israel when this tragedy first happened as people immediately rushed to assign blame to her. The terror organizations are well aware that some of their activities will harm their own, and still continue the violence.

Source:
UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon Struck by Hezbollah — Not Israel, by Hana Levi Julian/Jewish Press, April 3, 2024

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced Monday that the Civil Administration has declared 170 dunams (42 acres) of land surrounding the Herodium archaeological site in the Etzion Bloc as “state land.” This means land that is not privately owned can be used for various purposes including Jewish community development.

This news serves as a catalyst for transforming the Herodium site into an international tourist center, said Gush Etzion Regional Council Chairman Yaron Rosenthal. He added that it will “bring prosperity to the entire region” and is “a magnificent testimony to our historical connection with this part of the country.”

Smotrich has authority over the Civil Administration as part of his role as a second minister in the Defense Ministry. AFSI congratulates him on his tireless work and success in advancing development in Judea and Samaria, Israel’s heartland.

Source:
Israel appropriates 42 acres in West Bank’s Etzion Bloc, declaring it state land, by Jeremy Sharon and Sam Sokol/Times of Israel, April 1, 2024