Netanyahu Responds to Arab Knesset Member Who Dissed Israel

(JNS.org)—While the Knesset last week voted on a bill to necessitate a national referendum among Israelis on any peace deal that would require territorial withdrawals, during the plenum debate on the referendum bill, Arab MK Jamal Zahalka (National Democratic Assembly) said the bill was irrelevant because it referred to “occupied territory, and as such, what applies is international law; the referendum should apply to the nations of the world,” Israel Hayom reported. The Habayit Hayehudi party subsequently heckled Zahalka, saying, “You are the foreigners in this land.”Zahalka responded, “We were here before you and we will be here after you.” Netanyahu responded from the Knesset podium, “I did not plan to speak but I heard what MK Zahalka had to say. You said ‘We were here before you and we’ll be here after you’re gone.’ The first part is not true and the second part will never take place.” Netanyahu slammed his hand on the podium before leaving, and his comments were met with applause from much of the Knesset.

Jumpshot!

New York—JTA reports that Amar’e Stoudemire, the New York Knicks star who claims Hebrew roots and is currently touring Israel, is seeking Israeli citizenship. Stoudemire’s agent, Happy Walters, told New York magazine that the Knicks’ power forward is in the process of becoming an Israeli.”He’s getting citizenship,” Walters said. ”He applied, and he’s there now.” Stoudemire went to Israel for the Maccabiah Games as the assistant coach of the Canadian basketball squad. The games ended last week. Stoudemire’s Jewish connections have been the source of much media fascination in recent months. At his wedding last year to Alexis Welch, Stoudemire donned a yarmulke and prayer shawl for the “Hebraic” ceremony. In July, he announced he had become a part owner in the Israeli basketball club, Hapoel Jerusalem. And in an exclusive interview in Jerusalem last month with JTA, Stoudemire said he is in regular dialogue with New York rabbis, studies Torah and observes the High Holidays.

Holocaust Survivors to Get Free Legal Aid

The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee approved a bill proposing free legal aid for Holocaust survivors in all matters regarding claims for compensation for damage caused by their persecution by the Nazis. The proposed law will enable survivors with an average monthly income of less than NIS 6,000 ($1,680) a month to qualify for assistance in court proceedings and appeals committees from a state-appointed attorney which includes foreign legal advice. Assistance will also be provided in obtaining benefits from the State or petitioning appeals committees.”The time has come to help victims of the Holocaust themselves, after the State of Israel received so much money for many years, to help the survivors,” said Chairman of the committee MK David Rotem (Yisrael Beytenu).

Hezbollah ‘True Face’ Exposed by IDF on New Website

(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org)—The Israel Defense Forces launched a new English-language website earlier this month meant to “expose the true face” of Hezbollah. The website went online on the seventh anniversary of the Second Lebanon War and was designed to fill in gaps in the international community’s knowledge about the Lebanese Shiite terrorist group that Iran supports. The IDF said the website would contain experiential and interactive content and would be updated on a regular basis with news about Hezbollah. The site is run by the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit and was created in cooperation with intelligence units. It presents information about Hezbollah’s history, ideology, leadership and activities. The site highlights Hezbollah’s cooperation with other terrorist groups and countries, like Iran, and details the group’s missile arsenal. Though the European Union (EU) has agreed to blacklist Hezbollah’s “military wing,” Jewish groups are still objecting to the fact that the EU’s designation does not treat all of Hezbollah as one entity.

More Israeli Arabs Signing Up for National Service

Israel Hayom reports an upsurge in young Israeli Arabs interested in national service. Fire-fighting, working as medical assistants, or helping social workers are among the most sought after roles. ZeidanBaha, 18, a Muslim from Jish, was seriously injured in a car accident and rescued by fire and rescue responders. A year after his injury Baha joined the Acre fire station as a national service volunteer. Amal Abbas, 23, a Muslim woman from Jadeidi-Makr, is a medical secretary in the Maccabi Health Fund. She said, “When I finish my year of service, I will be able to restart my life as an adult with a more promising future. I always recommend to women I meet that they volunteer for national service because it opens doors to life in Israel.” Anet Haskia says, “I am an Arab Muslim and a proud Israeli. …As a social activist for the full integration of Israeli Arabs into the State of Israel…it is clear that serving in the IDF and serving in national-civic service is a basic component of the Israeli melting pot. …My (three) children get equal treatment in the army and they have not encountered racism or discrimination. …This is true integration into society, in the only country in the Middle East that provides genuine human and civil rights.”