Category: Articles

Arabs from the Arab village of Urif on Monday morning lit a fire near the Kumi Ori neighborhood of Yitzhar in Samaria.

Arabs set the fire near the Jewish neighborhood and shouted at IDF soldiers who were trying to secure firefighters.

AFSI has very close friendships with residents and officials in Yitzhar. We’ve traveled there on our Chizuk Mission trips many times. AFSI raised the money that installed fire breaks, which one resident told us has made an enormous difference. Our hearts go out to the residents of Yitzhar and we stand side by side with them as they work through this latest violation of Israel’s Sovereignty.

Source:
Arabs set fire near Jewish neighborhood in Yitzhar, by Arutz Sheva Staff. Arutz Sheva, May 3, 2021

Rabbi Zvi Thau on Monday called for the creation of a 59-seat, right-wing coalition headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This would rely on the parliamentary support of the Islamic party Ra’am and was initially refused by MK Bezalel Smotrich, who was joined by the Sovereignty Movement, headed by Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar.

Yehudit and Nadia sent out the following message by email and social media:

The Sovereignty Movement responds to the dramatic pressure that is being exerted to gain the agreement of the Right to establish a minority government with the support of the United Arab List (Ra’am):

“This pressure was expected with the approach of the expiration date of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s mandate to establish a government; however, the stressful timetable is not sufficient to transform darkness to light and impurity to purity.

Establishment of a government dependent on supporters of terrorism constitutes a mortal blow to the ability of the government to promote the Zionist vision and dream.”

Source:
Sovereignty Movement’s Pushback: Fifth Elections Preferable to Government Leaning on Supporters of Terrorism, by David Israel. Jewish Press, May 3, 2021

Americans For A Safe Israel is in mourning with all of Klal Yisrael as the country processes and recovers from the Lag b’Omer tragedy at Mount Meron last Thursday night. Our thoughts are with the families who lost loved ones and we pray for a refuah shlema – a speedy recovery – for all of the victims.

Dozens of people were crushed to death in a stampede that broke out in the early hours last Friday morning at the Mount Meron prayer compound, where tens of thousands of Jews had gathered. At least 45 people were confirmed dead and 150 people were injured, with dozens in serious condition and several defined as critical.

The incident happened at around 1:00am but the specific cause of the disaster was not immediately clear. Initial reports said a stand had collapsed at one of the services where thousands of people were taking part. However, Magen David Adom said the tragedy was caused by overcrowding at a narrow pass at the prayer compound.

A police official said dozens of participants in the service had “slipped” on a metal floor, falling on those around them and causing a crushing domino effect.

“The disaster at Mount Meron is one of the most difficult tragedy’s to strike Israel. We will conduct a thorough investigation to make sure this type of tragedy never happens again. Sunday will be a national day of mourning. Let us all come together and pray for the victims and their families and for the wounded’s speedy recovery,” Netanyahu said while visiting the scene Friday morning.

May the Jewish Nation State know no more sorrow. May they only know joy and peace.

Source:
At least 45 dead, 150 injured as tragedy strikes Lag B’Omer event at Mt. Meron, by Adi Hashmonai, Hanan Greenwood, Itsik Saban, and News Agencies. Israel Hayom, April 30, 2021

Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is accused of telling Iran about Israeli operations and now there are demands for him to be investigated, and resign, over what he allegedly told them.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, in a leaked audiotape, claimed that while Kerry served as America’s top diplomat during the Obama administration, he discussed more than 200 operations that Israel had carried out in Syria against Iranian targets. Zarif said that he was astonished at the revelations.

This comes after Kerry’s additional meetings with Zarif, held as a private citizen after he left office, have also raised questions about what he has told Iranian officials over the years. In a Twitter post, Kerry called the claims “unequivocally false.”

The Iran regime certainly has no better friend than John Kerry. Since the nefarious activities that lead to the 2015 Iran ‘deal’, we’ve always known that Kerry has been in lockstep with this enemy – the #1 state sponsor of terror. Kerry’s actions then and now have thrown diplomacy out the window, especially when he has not been held accountable by US officials. Kerry’s leaking Israel’s covert information to the enemy is a flagrant betrayal of trust in the history of US – Israel relations. It puts Israeli and American lives in danger. In his diplomatic position, Kerry is charged with protecting the interests of the United States and its allies, not aiding and abetting the enemy. While we are glad Kerry’s warm and fuzzy relationship with Iran is being exposed once again, there must be an investigation into his illegal and inappropriate ‘diplomacy.’ John Kerry is a self-serving rat, a disgrace – and a danger – to the United States. Calls must be made for him to answer for his actions. Better yet, let’s call for him to be FIRED.

ACT NOW!! – CLICK HERE TO CONTACT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DEMAND THAT JOHN KERRY BE REMOVED FROM HIS POSITION IMMEDIATELY

Source:
Calls for John Kerry to be investigated for what he told Iran, by Eric Shawn. Fox News, April 26, 2021

Israel’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Ambassador to the United States Gilad Erdan said on Thursday he estimated that the ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Iran to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement will lead to both parties striking a new deal within weeks.

“I say it with grief, the Americans presented before us the difficulties in the negotiations with Iran, but still, the estimates in Israel are that the sides will reach an understanding in the coming weeks,” Erdan said in an interview with the Ynet studio. “There may be some disagreements on how many sanctions [the U.S.] will remove and how [Iran] will return to abide by the agreement, but the Iranians have recognized that there is an overall desire to return to the old nuclear deal signed at the time of [former U.S. President Barack] Obama. We believe that returning to this bad agreement is a mistake, even a significant one.”

It is ludicrous to put a decision to further imperil Israel in the hands of the US, Iran, Russia and China!

Fool us once, shame on you, fool us twice, shame on us.

Source:
UN envoy says U.S., Iran may reach new nuclear deal within weeks, by Attila Somfalvi. Ynetnews.com, April 29, 2021

The Palestinian Authority has blazed a new illegal trail through the Jordan Valley, connecting the towns of Taysir and Tubas in Area B to its network of illegal outposts in Area C.

“The Palestinian Authority continues to carry out its masterplan for territorial contiguity in the Jordan Valley, and the State of Israel continues to allow it,” the Regavim organization said Wednesday in a statement.

Regavim alerted the Civil Administration and other relevant authorities in the early stages of the project, demanding decisive enforcement action against the illegal activity and those responsible for it.

Regavim stated, “Either knowingly or unwittingly, the inaction of the enforcement authorities and the State of Israel is enabling the Palestinian Authority to achieve its vision of territorial contiguity and control in the Jordan Valley.”

Source:
How the Palestinian Authority Connects Illegal Outposts in Area C to Villages in Area B, by Hana Levi Julian. Jewish Press, April 28, 2021

Terrorists in Gaza fired rockets toward Israel for the third night in a row on Sunday and early Monday. The Iron Dome system intercepted two of the five projectiles.

Four people, including a pregnant woman, were lightly wounded after falling while running to bomb shelters early Monday, medics said.

A first projectile was detected by the Israel Defense Forces, which said it only set off red alert sires in an open area where it evidently fell. A second rocket landed inside Gaza near the security fence.

Palestinian terror groups said that the weekend’s rocket attacks were in response to ongoing unrest in Jerusalem. Arab residents have demonstrated for several days against Ramadan restrictions on congregating near Jerusalem’s Damascus Gate. This is how a ‘peace partner’ expresses their freedom of worship.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Saturday for the military to “prepare for any scenario” with Gaza. Defense Minister Benny Gantz similarly said that the Israel Defense Forces “will do what is necessary so the calm is preserved,” following security consultations at defense headquarters in Tel Aviv.

Also, after an emergency situational assessment meeting, Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi, decided to postpone his forthcoming trip to the United States. Kohavi was to be part of a team who will meet with US officials about the US’s dangerous intent to re-enter the Iran ‘deal’.

The threat that Israeli residents are under right now cannot be imagined unless one is in their shoes. AFSI received a first hand voice message yesterday from Dan Luria, executive director of Ateret Cohanim and spokesperson, who detailed the ongoing attacks, which began on Shabbat. He tells us that, “for 48 hours the ugly head of Arab hatred and the Ramadan riots was raised…with ‘convenient targets’ being Jewish families in the old Yemenite village of Shiloach. But we are resolute and no amount of Arab violence will drive us (the rightful heirs of this land) out of our homes.”

Sources:
Rockets fired from Gaza for 3rd night, 4 lightly hurt running for shelter, by TOI Staff. Times of Israel, April 25, 2021

Muslims Continue Nightly Riots in Jerusalem, by Aryeh Savir. Tazpit Press Service, April 25, 2021

Following rocket attack: IDF Chief of Staff postpones trip to USA, by Arutz Sheva Staff. Arutz Sheva, April 24, 2021

Israel Police and Border Police forces were brought in to evacuate the students from the rebuilt Homesh yeshiva in Samaria Monday morning. The yeshiva was part of the Homesh community which was one of the four Jewish communities of Samaria which were destroyed as part of the 2005 Disengagement.

The forces removed the yeshiva students and families from the buildings and demolished the building. Among the buildings demolished were the beit midrash, the students’ quarters and the houses of four families.

“It is very painful that precisely in these days, between Independence Day and Jerusalem Day, when we thank G-d for the great miracles he performed for us and the country he gave us, that very country chooses to cut off its hand and destroy a settlement in the Land of Israel,” said Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Elishema Cohen.

At the end of the destruction, the director of the yeshiva, Shmuel Wendy, said that “the evacuation and destruction will not weaken the yeshiva students and they will continue to cling to the Jewish hold in northern Samaria. It is very unfortunate that while the State of Israel is showing weakness in eastern Jerusalem, it is finding time to take a hard line against the pioneers of the hilltops, who are settling the country with devotion and guarding the territory which was abandoned for no reason.”

Source:
Homesh yeshiva destroyed again, by Arutz Sheva Staff. Arutz Sheva, April 24, 2021

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is no longer seeking a government that relies on the outside support of the Ra’am Party (United Arab List).

While Netanyahu no longer sees any chance of forming a government, he still intends to maintain his mandate to form a government, which ends on May 4, his associates said.

Instead, he would seek a direct election for prime minister, which will pass if Yamina supports it, Netanyahu said. “We don’t need Ra’am,” he said. “We need a direct election to form a government.”

When asked if he condemned the repeated attacks on Ra’am by Religious Zionist Party head Bezalel Smotrich, Netanyahu declined to comment, which angered Ra’am MKs.

Meanwhile, in a statement from Likud, “[Naftali] Bennett refuses to support the only solution to the political deadlock that does not involve destroying the Right: a quick vote to elect a prime minister that does not involve the dissolution of the Knesset and another round of elections.” According to Bennett, electing a prime minister without having a Knesset that supports him will not solve the crisis but will only give power to whomever is elected.

It is clear that there are many players in this political game. Eventually, we’ll see who is most skillful.

As Netanyahu continues to try to fulfill the mandate to form a government, we continue to hope for the “right” outcome.

Sources:
Netanyahu gives up on forming a government, by Gil Hoffman. Jerusalem Post, April 20, 2021

As gridlock continues, Likud slams Bennett for ‘galloping’ to Left, by Ariel Kahana and Yehuda Shlezinger. Israel Hayom, April 21, 2021

Israel is lobbying the United States to push for improved international oversight of Iran’s nuclear program, as Washington negotiates to reenter the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

Jerusalem is pushing for International Atomic Energy Agency officials to have greater powers in inspecting the nuclear sites. The position was formulated after Israeli officials concluded there will not be significant changes to the treaty, but nonetheless sought to slightly improve the terms of the pact, the network said.

Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat and IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi will all head to the US early next week to lobby on Jerusalem’s behalf.

Israel was said to have conceded that the deal will be renewed without addressing its concerns about Tehran’s ballistic missile program and support for terror groups.

AFSI is in complete opposition to Biden’s intent to return to the Iran “deal.” If the US does allow the “deal” to go through, we don’t see how the US can guarantee Israel’s safety against Iranian nuclear threats. In the end, only Israel can defend itself against all of these hostile enemies.

Sources:
Israel said resigned to restored Iran deal that won’t address missiles, terror, by TOI Staff. Times of Israel, April 21, 2021

Biden agrees to Iranian demands of sanction relief to advance nuclear deal talks: report, by Liz George. American Military News, April 22, 2021