Category: Articles

On October 28, 1948, the State of Israel formally adopted the Israeli flag as we know it today to be the nation’s official flag.

The Israeli flag with its two blue stripes and a Star of David in the middle is a variation on the flag that had been used by the World Zionist Organization since 1897.

The blue stripes were inspired by the tallit, used during prayer. It also had the Star of David and the word Maccabee on it. The idea for the design is traditionally believed to have come from David Wolffsohn who came up with the idea during a Zionist meeting with Theodor Herzl in Basel.

We always need inspiration for a good result at work or in relationships. Healthy relationships can only be developed from understanding yourself from the inside, and also through self-knowledge, you can learn more about this read this article

Source:
On This Day: The Israeli flag is formally adopted, by Jerusalem Post Staff, October 28, 2021

An Israeli defense official on Saturday disputed American claims that the United States was not informed of a highly contentious decision by Jerusalem to label six Palestinian rights organizations as terror groups. Israel insists Washington had been told in advance.

“Officials in the American administration were updated in advance of the intention to make this declaration and they received intelligence information about the matter,” the defense official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

On Friday afternoon, Defense Minister Benny Gantz announced that half a dozen Palestinian civil society groups — including highly prominent ones with significant backing and oversight from the European Union and other international bodies — were being designated as terror organizations, asserting that they worked on behalf of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terror group.

“Those organizations were active under the cover of civil society organizations, but in practice belong and constitute an arm of the [PFLP] leadership, the main activity of which is the liberation of Palestine and destruction of Israel,” Gantz’s office said in a statement. According to the Defense Ministry, all six organizations employed senior PFLP members, “including activists involved in terror activity.”

These six NGO’s have also previously been exposed by Regavim and The International Legal Forum, are among the many NGOs that have been after these “humanitarians” for years. For too many years now they have been actively working to destroy and harm Israel. AFSI applauds Minister of Defense Gantz for this much needed move in labeling and banning these “humanitarian” groups for exactly what they are: Terrorists.

Sources:
Israel disputes US claim it wasn’t told of plan to outlaw rights groups, by Judah Ari Gross/Times of Israel, October 23, 2021

Regavim Report, October 24, 2021

 

 

 

 

Construction of a total of 3,144 housing units throughout the areas of Judea and Samaria is expected to begin approval or be approved next week by the government of Israel.

At the same time the government will also approve the construction of almost 200 new homes housing for Palestinian Authority Arabs who live in Area C, where the residents are considered part of the PA, but where Israel is in complete control of security and local civil law enforcement. The planned PA Arab homes in Gush Etzion next to Alon Shvut, Khirbet Beit Zakariyyah, were removed from the list.

The news comes two months after a plan to build just 2,200 new homes was delayed because it did not get the official green light from the Civil Administration as the administrative body did not convene due to a workers’ dispute.

Similarly, the Jewish Community of Hebron last week celebrated the news that construction has begun in the historic Hezekiah (Hizkiyahu) quarter in the ancient city. The new neighborhood will be called “Hezekiah Quarter – Nachalat Chabad” and is being built on Jewish-owned property that belonged to the original Hebron Jewish community. It’s the first time in 20 years that Hebron has seen new construction for Jews.

Let’s keep in mind that actual initial and final approvals show that the Israelis will get 3,144 housing units. In the end, the PA Arabs in Area C will get 1,473 housing units. Area C is being given away to Arabs and scores of illegal housing are still not being taken down. Innumerable PA Arabs homes have gone up in Area C and there is no apparent attempt to stop it or demolish.

We appreciate Israel is moving forward with building up its legally owned land and exercising its Sovereign rights but the issue of PA Arab land grabs has not been dealt with.

Sources:
Report: More than 3,000 New Homes to Be Approved for Construction in Judea and Samaria, by Jewish Press News Desk, October 21, 2021

Construction Begins in Hebron’s Historic Hezekiah Neighborhood, by Hana Levi Julian/Jewish Press, October 24, 2021

 

 

MK Bezalel Smotrich, Chairman of the Religious Zionist Party, said Sunday that Arab Knesset members who support terrorism have no place in the Knesset of Israel and the State of Israel.

During a discussion on the immigration bill last week in the Knesset, MK Smotrich told Knesset members of the Joint Arab List: “You are here by mistake – because [former Prime Minister David] Ben-Gurion did not finish the job and did not throw you out in ’48.”

“I did not exaggerate at all,” MK Smotrich told Sharon Gal on Galei Israel today. “Arab Knesset members, anti-Zionist terrorist supporters, are debating the Basic Law of Immigration, provoking us [by claiming] that we are all immigrants here and we have no rights in this country, and we are racists and fascists and who knows what else. There is no place for such people in the Knesset or in the State of Israel.”

Smotrich also clearly stated “We do not hate anyone and do not want to expel anyone, except those who hate us and want to destroy us and expel us.”

Source:
Smotrich: ‘Bennett will cave and build consulate’, by Arutz Sheva Staff, October 17, 2021

 

A petition filed by the Regavim movement in the High Court states that the Civil Administration and the Ministry of Defense have in recent years been following an internal procedure contrary to the Planning and Building Law, which has led to inaction regarding any enforcement against illegal Palestinian construction in Judea and Samaria. This has led to a sharp increase in illegal Arab buildings being built in the area.

The petition reveals that in recent years the Civil Administration and the Ministry of Defense have formulated an internal, illegal work procedure. It stipulates that enforcement proceedings against illegal construction in Judea and Samaria must be automatically frozen if various statutory applications are submitted for the illegal structure. This includes a master plan, a building permit, a legal appeal, a request for a stay of proceedings and a petition to the High Court, even if it is clear in advance that the requests have no legal chance due to lack of land ownership, lack of planning chances, and even a declared request for a “non-legal” halt.

Meir Deutsch, director-general of the Regavim movement, explains the strategic risk created by the procedure: “Even when the many bureaucratic procedures are finally over, it will be an old illegal construction over which no one will try to enforce the law. This procedure is the silver platter on which the Palestinian state is based.”

Sources:
The reason for rise in illegal Arab construction in Judea and Samaria revealed, by Arutz Sheva Staff, October 17, 2021

The systemic failure of Israel’s Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria, by
Lt. Col. (res) Maurice Hirsch/JNS, October 17, 2021

 

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced Monday that the government intends to dramatically increase the number of people living on the Golan Heights. He stressed that the Biden administration continues to recognize the northern plateau as Israeli territory.

Speaking at the Makor Rishon Golan Conference in Haspin, a moshav commonly known as Hispin, Bennett said that in six weeks the government will present a plan to greatly boost the population, including the construction of two new communities.

The ultimate goal, he said, was to hit 100,000 residents, almost four times the current population of around 27,000.

“The Golan Heights is Israeli, period,” Bennett said to applause. Describing the Golan as a “strategic goal,” he said, “our aim is to double, and then double again the number of residents on the Golan Heights.”

Bennett’s declaration of his intention to build up the Golan Heights is what we want to hear. We look forward to it being fully implemented.

We believe that there is the need for the building of Jewish homes all over the country. Housing is needed and facts on the ground must be established so that the land is not appropriated by the Palestinian Arabs.

Source:
Bennett announces major drive to quadruple population of Golan Heights, by TOI Staff, October 11, 2021

 

 

 

 

The Ad Kan group is dedicated to exposing NGOs and countries that labor to alter Israel’s identity and values, as well as the activities of the Palestinian Authority and the European Union in Area C. On Thursday they revealed the deep intrusion of the PA intelligence service into Israel’s Defense Ministry’s Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria.

This week, the PA’s preventive security forces once again arrested Nidal al-Atari, a Palestinian Authority citizen who serves as the lands inspector in the Israeli Civil Administration. Al-Atari was interrogated and remains in custody. During his previous detention, he was kept in jail for more than half a year.

Ad Kan revealed that al-Atari stored in his home, in violation of protocol, a large number of confidential files with transaction details of Jewish real estate purchases from Arabs in Judea and Samaria.

Ad Kan Director-General Gilad Ach concluded his group’s report with the statement: “The negligence of the Civil Administration has spiraled out of control. The confiscation of sensitive Civil Administration documents by the Palestinian Preventive Security marks a new low in the dysfunction of the Civil Administration.”

Source:
Exposé: Palestinian Authority Controlling MoD’s Judea & Samaria Civil Administration, by David Israel/Jewish Press, October 14, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

Defense Minister Benny Gantz addressed opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu at an event marking the one-year anniversary of the Abraham Accords in the Knesset. Gantz reminded him that the agreements were signed after Netanyahu agreed to remove from the agenda his intention to apply Israeli Sovereignty in parts of Judea and Samaria.

“The fact that we prevented a unilateral move of annexation allowed the vision of the Abraham Accords to materialize and break through. I am very happy that these peace treaties were signed and I am sure they will be expanded and be an engine of change in the Middle East,” Gantz said.

He added that “in order for the State of Israel to reach peace agreements and expand them, it must remain the most powerful state in the Middle East. That is how we act and that is how we will continue to act forever.”

Sorry to say, it angers us that Gantz speaks so proudly that Sovereignty was taken off of the table during the Abraham Accord negotiations. Just a reminder – in order for Israel to “…remain the most powerful state in the Middle East” Sovereignty must be applied! Sovereignty guarantees Israel’s defense and safety along with its future as a Sovereign nation. Gantz seems to have forgotten that.

Source:
Gantz: Dropping sovereignty paved way for Abraham Accords, by Arutz Sheva Staff, October 11, 2021

 

 

Jewish heritage sites in Judea and Samaria are being systematically vandalized and destroyed by local Arabs, according to a watchdog group which monitors archeological sites in the area.

Adi Shragai, operations organizer for the Shomrim Al HaNetzach organization, said in an interview with Arutz Sheva that the phenomenon of Arab vandals targeting archeological sites in Judea and Samaria has grown worse in recent years.

“Unfortunately, in the last few years we’ve received more and more reports from hikers and people in the field regarding the destruction of antiquities in Judea and Samaria, with no law enforcement. We understood immediately that something significant – and terrible – is happening here.”

Unfortunately, Shragai said, the damage is more the rule than the exception. A recent survey of 365 major archeological sites across Judea and Samaria found that some 80% had suffered either moderate or serious damage at the hands of vandals.

Source:
‘Arabs have destroyed 80% of archeological sites in Judea and Samaria’, by Yoni Kempinski/Arutz Sheva, October 8, 2021

Press Release from Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar, The Sovereignty Movement

The Sovereignty Movement praises Minister of the Interior Ayelet Shaked for her resolute declaration that a Palestinian state will not be established.

Lately we have witnessed a persistent campaign by left-wing elements to divide the Land and establish a Palestinian state in its heart; we also see parade of people eager to pay their respects to PA Chairman Abu Mazen, who views IDF soldiers and commanders as criminals worthy of being tried in the Hague.

Against this background, Interior Minister Shaked’s remarks (expressed when visiting in the Emirates), are of great importance, however, our movement appeals to her with a request: It is not enough to block the ideas of a Palestinian state.

We must promote the Israeli initiative to apply Israeli Sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, and as a first step starting with the Greater Jerusalem initiative.

Only in this way, will it be possible to cut off the Arab hopes to establish a state upon the ruins of Israel.

The application of Sovereignty is a necessary step for the security of the State of Israel and the fulfillment of the People of Israel’s historic destiny in its Land.

Build up the Negev! Ayelet Shaked also plans to promote the construction of 10 new communities in the Negev. The Interior Ministry said the move is important “for bolstering the settlement of the Negev, an area of national importance, and preventing illegal seizure of state land.” The ministry noted that increasing the population of the Negev will benefit all residents of the area, as well as using available land for the construction of additional housing units.

Interference unwelcome! The Biden Administration sent a quiet message to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s office requesting that new construction be curbed in Jewish localities in Judea and Samaria. Yesha Council chairman David Elhayani responded to the report and said: “The Biden Administration should not interfere in the internal affairs of the State of Israel. President Biden knows that damage to settlement building in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley means the fall of the current government.”

It is imperative that Israel remain steadfast and not allow a “two-state” solution, continue to build up the land and not fall victim to pressure from other nations who instruct it on how to run its Sovereign Nation.

Sources:
Interior minister pushing plans for 10 new Negev localities, by Yori Yalon/Israel Hayom, October 7, 2021

Biden sends private message to Bennett to stop settlement construction, by Arutz Sheva Staff, October 6, 2021