Israeli Politicians Across Spectrum Call For Tougher Response To Hamas Rockets
JNS.org—Israeli politicians across the political spectrum are calling for a tougher response to Hamas rocket fire following the terrorist group’s violation of a temporary cease-fire on Tuesday.
“When you negotiate with a terrorist organization, you get more terrorism in return,” said Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett (Habayit Hayehudi). “Sooner or later, Israel will have to defeat Hamas.” Opposition Leader Isaac Herzog (Labor) also criticized the Israeli government’s attempts to reach a longterm cease-fire deal through negotiations.
“It is the prime minister’s job to provide security and calm to residents of the south,” he said, according to Israel Hayom. “If, as the prime minister claims, Hamas has been defeated, then he should reach a diplomatic deal under the best terms possible for Israel. But, if the government buckles to provide a false sense of quiet, as we experienced [Tuesday], this indicates a failure on the part of a weak government.” Stopping negotiations “is the only language [Hamas] understands,” said Labor MK Nachman Shai.
Lone Soldier from U.S. Found Dead
JNS.org—Israel Defense Forces (IDF) lone soldier David Menachem Gordon, who was last seen outside his military base on Sunday, was found dead on Tuesday, the IDF said. Gordon, 21, was found with his army-issued rifle by his side in a drainage pipe near his army base in central Israel, according to the IDF.Originally from Ohio, Gordon served in the Givati Bridgade during Operation Protective Edge and did not have any disciplinary issues, Israeli police said. “As far as we know from investigations so far he arrived at Tzrifin two days ago for dental treatment, received the treatment, then left the medical corps, and since then his trail has vanished,” police said shortly after his disappearance, the Times of Israel reported. Military police are now investigating Gordon’s death.
Schabas Vows to Investigate Israel For U.N. With Or Without Government Cooperation
JNS.org—Prof. William Schabas, selected to head the United Nations Human Rights Council inquiry into Israel’s Operation Protective Edge, has vowed to conduct his investigation with or without the cooperation of the Israeli government. Schabas’s U.N. appointment has come under fire over his perceived bias against Israel. “I might even come to Israel to examine things from up close,” he told Israel’s Channel 2. “When the U.N. gives us its final approval—and we hope this will be very soon—we will begin our work. It’s very important for us to come to Israel, but this visit won’t be important if the authorities in Israel don’t cooperate with us, despite my hope that they will cooperate.” In the past, Schabas has made comments implying that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs to be brought before an international tribunal for war crimes. In response, Israeli officials have called the U.N. inquiry “a kangaroo court.” Israel has also called for Schabas’s replacement, but he has vowed to remain in the lead role for the investigation.
Israel Removes B’Tselem from National Service Volunteer Program
JNS.org—The left-wing human rights organization B’Tselem will no longer be able to participate in Israel’s national service volunteer program over its refusal to designate Hamas as a terrorist organization and the anti-Israel positions it has expressed during Operation Protective Edge. National Civilian Service Administration Director Sar-Shalom Jerbi informed B’Tselem Director Hagai El-Ad of the decision to strip the group of its “operating organization” certification on Wednesday, via a letter. “After reviewing the matter with several other operating organizations, and given [B’Tselem’s] activities against Israel and IDF troops, I have decided to revoke your participation in the National-Civilian Service Volunteer Program; especially during this period of time, when Israel is engaged in neutralizing the threat of rocket fire looming over millions of its citizens,” wrote Jerbi, according to Israel Hayom.
The letter added, “As you know, Israel is currently dealing with an international delegitimization campaign, which includes gross incitement against the IDF—the most ethical military in the world. Unfortunately, B’Tselem is a party to this smear campaign. The information released by the organization and its expressed positions encourage our enemies worldwide and prompt anti-Semitic expressions against Israel, as well as anti-Semitic attacks on Jews.”
B’Tselem said in a statement Wednesday that it “maintains that protecting human rights is a vital democratic action done in the best interest of Israeli society.”
“Sar-Shalom Jerbi’s decision, which we doubt he has the authority to make, is an abuse of his administrative power for the sake of political gain. It constitutes political and governmental persecution of a human rights group,” said B’Tselem.
Belfast Plaque Marking Birth Home of Former Israeli President Chaim Herzog Removed
JNS.org—A blue plaque marking the birth home of former Israeli president Chaim Herzog in Belfast, Northern Ireland, was removed following a series of anti-Semitic attacks. Herzog, whose father served as Chief Rabbi of Ireland, was born in Belfast in 1918 and later moved to the Mandate of Palestine in 1935. Herzog went on to have a distinguished military, legal and political career in Israel before serving as president from 1983 to 1993. According a local government official, the plaque, which was erected in 1998, was removed after a series of anti-Semitic attacks in the area prompted concern for the safety of residents there.
“Attacks have included the scrawling of anti-Israeli graffiti on the building and items being thrown at the plaque and the house,” Brian Kingston, a local government official, told the Belfast Telegraph. “Recently some youths were stopped in the process of trying to remove the plaque with a crowbar.” Kingston added, “Out of concern for staff and for residents living in neighboring houses, the community group and the Ulster History Circle have decided that it was best to remove the plaque for the foreseeable future, and it was removed at the end of last week.”
Like elsewhere in Europe, anti-Semitism has been on the rise in the U.K. and Ireland. Last month, anti-Semitic graffiti was found on Belfast’s sole remaining synagogue.
Staying Open on Shabbat in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv’s municipal council approved a new by-law on Sunday which will enable approximately 15 percent of grocery stores city-wide to remain open on Shabbat until November. This has been a controversial issue for at least 18 months. Minister for the Interior Gidon Sa’ar rejected a by-law that that would have allowed many grocery stores to remain open, saying that it “harmed the values of the Sabbath and that the parameters in the by-law for allowing grocery stores to remain open had not been defined or explained, such as how it was decided which major streets and thoroughfares could have grocery stores open and which could not; how many stores could be open on a particular street, and other similar issues. Groceries, about 300 of them in Tel Aviv that remained open despite the Shabbat ban would pay their fines as the cost of doing business. Permits will be granted to 165 smaller sized groceries. Frum neighborhoods will get fewer permits.
Iron Dome Sparks Interest from So. Korea
South Korea wants the Iron Dome, its manufacturer said last week. Yedidia Yaari, CEO of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., state-owned manufacturer of the “kippot Barzel,” said the system’s performance had fuelled interest in buying it. “[South Korea is very worried not only about rockets, but other things as well … You can certainly include them in the club of interested countries,” Yaari told Israel’s Army Radio. There have been no announcements of sales of the Iron Dome to any countries—and all manufacturing is focused on building at least three more interceptors for Israel, which has nine in operation. It is believed that each Iron Dome costs approximately $50 Million and each missile it sends costs between $30-50K. The Elisra Group, Israel Aerospace Industries, and the U.S. company, Raytheon, are all involved in its production. The U.S. is subsidizing its costs.
