Category: Articles

A bipartisan group of lawmakers reintroduced on Monday the Peace and Tolerance in Palestinian Education Act. The bill requires the Secretary of State to submit a report to Congress reviewing textbooks produced by the Palestinian Authority. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) sponsored the bill along with Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) and Rep. David Trone (D-MD).

There are concerns that such textbooks produced by the Palestinian Authority “include language and imagery that encourage violence and hatred toward other nations and ethnic groups,” Sherman said in a statement. “Such content is particularly concerning given the use of such materials in educational settings for children as young as primary school age.”

AFSI applauds the US lawmakers for taking up this important matter. The US taxpayer has provided the PA with millions of dollars with no transparency to show what the funds have produced. On the flip side, we are troubled by the comments made by the US lawmakers, at least as quoted in the JPost article. They did not acknowledge that Israel is the primary object of PA hatred in the textbooks. Let’s not forget that truth.

Source:
US lawmakers introduce bill to make State Dept. review PA textbooks, by Omri Nahmias. Jerusalem Post, April 7, 2021

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has tasked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday with forming a new government.

Rivlin announced Tuesday afternoon that he has decided to grant Netanyahu a mandate for the premiership, following consultations with representatives of parties from the incoming 24th Knesset.

Rivlin’s nomination will grant Netanyahu a 28-day mandate to attempt to cobble together a governing coalition with the support of at least 61 MKs.

Once again, we continue to wait for Bibi, still the most likely Prime Minister, to pull a rabbit out of his hat and save Israel from going to unthinkable 5th elections.

Source:
President Rivlin grants Netanyahu mandate to form new government, by David Rosenberg. Arutz Sheva, April 6, 2021

The Palestinian Authority took advantage of the Passover holiday recess for large-scale illegal construction, including sites already under court-issued work-stop orders.

While Israelis enjoyed the week-long Passover holiday, the Palestinian Authority (PA) used the Civil Administration’s vacation to its full advantage. They carried out lightning-paced construction at a number of strategically-placed sites in Area C, the portion of Judea and Samaria under full Israeli jurisdiction.

One of the projects aimed at establishing facts on the ground during the inspectors’ vacation is on the outskirts of Rujeib, located between Shechem (Nablus) and the Jewish community of Itamar in Area C. Over the intermediate days of Passover, new areas were leveled for construction and infrastructure was laid for an illegal construction project that broke ground in recent months. Illegal construction also took place in the vicinity of Duma and at Khirbet Khurkosh.

“These are the tip of the iceberg of the systematic annexation-via-construction program that is carried out on Jewish holidays, which have become festivals of illegal construction in the Arab sector throughout Israel, and particularly in Judea and Samaria,” says Eitan Melet, Regavim’s Field Coordinator for Judea and Samaria. “The authorities know full well what will happen, but fail to take any preventative measures.”

Source:
Palestinian Authority ‘Celebrated’ Passover with Illegal Construction Blitz in Area C, by Hana Levi Julian. Jewish Press, April 4, 2021

“We had a call with the Knesset last week, trying to see what do they do in Israel around the Knesset,” said Rep. Tim Ryan.

Several members of the US House Appropriations Committee spoke with Knesset officials last week as Congress seeks to learn about security measures in other countries, Rep. Tim Ryan said Friday.

Last Friday, a motorist rammed his car into US Capitol police officers and brandished a knife, killing one and wounding another. The attacker, identified as a 25-year-old follower of the Nation of Islam — a highly controversial black nationalist movement accused of hatred towards whites and anti-Semitism — was shot by the police after jumping the vehicle with a knife in his hand. “We had a call with the Knesset last week, with [House Appropriations Committee chairwoman] Rosa DeLauro and Jaime Herrera Beutler, the ranking member on our committee, trying to see what do they do in Israel around the Knesset,” Ryan told Fox News after the attack. They did not specify with whom the lawmakers spoke.

We know this won’t be reported on in the mainstream media. Instead of bashing or ignoring Israel, they should spotlight this story. Israel and the US are allies, not enemies. It’s time for the media in the US to report on the truth about Israel and there is no better time to do so than now.

Source:
US reached out to Israel’s Knesset for Capitol security advice, lawmaker says, by i24NEWS. i24NEWS, April 04, 2021

Yamina party leader Naftali Bennett will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday to hold negotiations on possibly forming a coalition government. This is their first sit-down since last week’s inconclusive elections. Close sources suggest that Bennett will meet with Ayelet Shaked on Shabbat to discuss options.

Bennett is scheduled to meet Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid on Saturday night, for the same purpose, Yamina said in a statement Thursday.

Both Netanyahu’s bloc of supporters and the anti-Netanyahu bloc are competing for Yamina’s backing, which is crucial to muster a 61-strong majority in the Knesset. Even with Bennett’s support, both sides face significant hurdles.

Source:
Who will he back as PM? Bennett to meet with Netanyahu, then Lapid, by TOI Staff. Times of Israel, April 1, 2021

Attorney Aviad Visoli, who has represented Israeli groups dedicated to opening up the Temple Mount to Jews without any limits, stated on Tuesday, “Today we were privileged to pray Mincha with a minyan on the Temple Mount. A full prayer with a minyan and with a shliach tzibur (the leader of the prayer service) and the Hazarat Ha’Shatz (group prayer that follows the segment of individual prayer).”

Visoli, who did not offer details regarding where on the Temple Mount, and with whose participation the minyan prayer was carried out, registered that “in all the decades I have been ascending to the Temple Mount I did not have the privilege of saying a prayer in the minyan openly.” But this time, he reported, “the policemen looked at us and knowingly allowed the fullest prayer. Including a blessing for the sick.”

“This is the most significant progress in the rights of the Jews on the Temple Mount since the destruction of the Second Temple,” an exuberant Visoli proclaimed. “It is not possible to retreat from this point. The Temple Mount is in our hands!” Visoli declared.

AFSI is grateful to the Israeli policeman who allowed the prayer to take place and applauds Aviad Visoli and the organizations he represents for their dedicated work towards regaining Jewish access and prayer on the Temple Mount.

Source:
Attorney Aviad Visoli: We Held Mincha Prayer with a Minyan on Temple Mount Tuesday, by David Israel. Jewish Press, March 31, 2021

Funding Terrorists Once Again
The Biden administration has informed the Congress that it has approved the transfer of $75 million for projects in the Palestinian Authority-controlled areas of Judea, Samaria and Gaza.

The funding is being restored to regain the “trust and goodwill” of the Ramallah government, the Congress was told, after the budget cuts by the previous American administration of President Donald Trump. Even while Abu Mazzen reportedly has refused to take calls from Blinken, insisting on direct communication with Biden first, money is being put aside to replenish the coffers of the PA. All this as a predicate to American attempts to revive negotiations based on the impossible Two-State Solution. We at AFSI have always called this the two state dissolution; it should never be revisited.

Having a Conversation with Iran
The Biden administration plans to roll out a new proposal for Iran to return to negotiations “as soon as this week,” in which it would limit some nuclear activity. In exchange, Washington would lower some sanctions on the economically-hit Islamic Republic. By so doing, the administration is turning a blind eye to Iran’s oil smuggling which ignores or certainly circumvents the sanctions.

One of the sources said the proposal was “more than anything, about trying to get the conversation started.” We ask – why try to start a conversation that is predicated on lies?

Human Rights is His Agenda
The US State Department’s annual report on human rights violations published earlier this week refers to Judea, Samaria, Gaza, eastern Jerusalem and the Golan Heights as territories “occupied” by Israel but does not title the chapter “Israel and the Occupied Territories”.

The report does reference “the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem territories that Israel occupied during the June 1967 war.”

Lisa Peterson, acting top State Department official on human rights, said the report’s authors continued to believe it was better to assign geographic names. “We also believe it is clearer and more useful for readers seeking information on human rights in those specific areas.”

A reminder to Biden: YOU CANNOT BE AN OCCUPIER IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY. For a refresher on this, watch our Zoom meeting from last September with Dr. Jacques Gauthier.

All of these developments are deeply troubling to us as Israel’s security is first and foremost on our mind. Anything Biden plans to do only reverses successful Trump era policies that benefited Israel. Let’s not kid ourselves – the man in The White House has delusional plans that are nothing more than a political agenda dictated to him by anti-Israel, left-wing radicals.

Sources:
Biden Administration Transfers Another $75M to Palestinian Authority, But No Word to Israel, by Hana Levi Julian. Jewish Press, March 31, 2021

Biden administration resumes use of ‘Occupied Territories’, by Nitsan Keidar. Arutz Sheva, March 31, 2021

Report: Biden to offer Iran sanction relief for reduced nuclear activity, return to negotiations, by i24 NEWS. i24 NEWS, March 29, 2021

With 100% of votes tallied for the 24th Knesset election, the official results are in. To form a government, a coalition must have a total of at least 61 seats. Here is the breakdown by party:

Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud – 30
Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid – 17
Shas – 9
Benny Gantz’s Blue and White – 8
Yisrael Beiteinu – 7
Yemina – 7
Labor – 7
United Torah Judaism – 7
Gideon Saar’s Tikvah Hadashah – 6
Zionist Judaism – 6
Meretz – 6
The Joint List – 6
Raam – 4

Though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scored his largest electoral victory, he shows no clear path to forming a government majority. At the time of this writing, it appears that Israel may be headed this summer for an unprecedented 5th election in 2 years. In addition to the burden the Coronavirus has thrust upon Israelis, this ongoing political challenge leaves the country’s ability to move forward hanging in the balance. It’s also another delay in progress toward applying Sovereignty throughout Judea and Samaria.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Israeli people as they continue to work toward overcoming this tremendous political deadlock.

Source:
With All Votes Counted, Final Election Results Are In, by Chana Oz. Tazpit News Agency, March 25, 2021

Leaders from Judea and Samaria and the political system issued a warning following an expose by the Ad Kan organization on the strategic threat to Area C. Conclusion: Israel is losing the battle for the control of Judea and Samaria to the Palestinian Authority’s grand plan to take it over illegally.

Ad Kan members conducted an undercover operation and disguised themselves as Arabs working for a Belgian news agency. They were successful in obtaining the PA’s grand plan to overtake Area C in Judea and Samaria through illegal construction projects, funded by the European Union (EU) and Arab countries.

“A well-oiled mechanism”
Ad Kan exposed that the PA is operating in the shadows together with the EU and the United Nations that have allocated about 3 billion euros for the construction of a Palestinian state and the construction of a new capital in Jerusalem. The process is in full swing and about 100 programs are taking shape in the field, unhindered. Ad Kan found that the EU “is pushing with all its might,” knowingly operating against the law and in contravention of the Oslo Accords, to build a Palestinian state.

The plan
“Isolate Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem and establish a de facto terrorist state in the heart of Israel.”

Yisrael Ganz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council, described the findings as a “national state of emergency” and warned Israel is losing Judea and Samaria.

We remained outraged that we must continue to report on this matter. Israel’s government is still on unstable ground and so is the status of applying Sovereignty over Judea and Samaria. That is unacceptable.

Source:
Leaders Warn Israel is ‘Losing Judea and Samaria’ Following Exposure of PA Grand Plan to Occupy Area C, by Aryeh Savir. Tazpit News Agency, March 25, 2021

Thousands of Jews visited Mount Ebal in Samaria today and also visited the altar of Joshua son of Nun, part of which was destroyed last month by the Palestinian Authority. The site is believed to be the place where the Biblical Prophet Joshua built an altar after entering the Land of Israel more than 3,000 years ago.

Last month, a gravel crusher used by the Palestinian Authority for the paving of a new road deliberately removed and crushed stones from the ancient wall around the altar, provoking outrage among the Jewish and archaeological communities. The Samaria Regional Council promoted the restoration of the site and today for the first time held a huge event featuring thousands of people took place at the archaeological site.

Referring to the thousands who came to the first festival on Mount Ebal and the altar of Joshua, Dagan says: “They are destroying and we are building, they are trying to erase history and we are restoring and preserving the world history and historical sites of the Jewish people, the thousands who come today prove that the Jewish people do not forget their roots. A nation that remembers its past will have a glorious future on all its land.”

Source:
Thousands come to Joshua’s Altar after PA desecration, by Arutz Sheva Staff. Arutz Sheva, March 29, 2021