Hamas-Associated Murderer of Rabbi Miki Mark Killed in IDF Arrest Raid
(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) A Hamas terrorist who killed a rabbi in a drive-by shooting attack earlier this month was killed during an IDF arrest raid near Hebron Tuesday.
In a victory for Israeli security and defense forces, a joint Shin Bet security agency, IDF and police investigation uncovered the Hamas terrorist cell responsible for the murder of Rabbi Michael Mark, who was murdered on July 1 as he traveled on Route 60 with his family near the settlement of Otniel.
Mark’s wife, Hava, was seriously wounded in the attack and remains hospitalized. Two of his children were also hurt.
The investigation and concurrent manhunt culminated Tuesday night with the shooting of Mohammad al-Fakih, 29, in an exchange of fire in the Palestinian village of Surif, near Hebron. Fakih is believed to have perpetrated the shooting. The driver, Mohammed Majid Amaira, was arrested several weeks ago. A number of additional accomplices are also in custody.
The Islamist group Hamas identified Fakih as a member of its armed wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades?. The house in which Fakih was hiding was damaged during the clash and then demolished by an Israeli bulldozer.
Over the course of the last month, intensive Israeli efforts were invested into capturing the cell behind the July 1 shooting attack. On Tuesday, IDF soldiers broke into Fakih’s hideout, sustaining fire. After killing the terrorist, Israeli troops discovered ammunition, homemade grenades and an AK-47 assault rifle.
ADL Reports Jump in Anti-Semitic Attacks in 2015
(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. increased in 2015, with the number of violent attacks jumping from 36 in 2014 to 56 in 2015, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reports.
According to the ADL report for 2015, a total of 941 reported anti-Semitic attacks were recorded in the U.S., compared to 912 in 2014. The incidents included physical assaults, vandalism, harassment, and threats. Specific attacks included Hassidic Jews being fired at with paintballs and air rifles while on their way to synagogue, and statements like “Jews should go back to Auschwitz. Hitler was right.”
Another troubling finding: Anti-Semitic incidents at colleges and universities nearly doubled last year. A total of 90 incidents were reported on 60 college campuses in 2015, compared with 47 incidents on 43 campuses in 2014.
Campus anti-Semitic incidents accounted for 10 percent of the total incidents reported in the U.S. in 2015.
Moreover, says ADL CEO Jonathan A. Greenblatt, “We know that for every incident reported, there’s likely another that goes unreported. So even as the total incidents have remained statistically steady from year to year, the trend toward anti-Semitic violence is very concerning.”
German Government Donating Millions to BDS Groups, Report Says
(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) A new report released Sunday claims that despite statements to the contrary, the German government has been donating millions of euros to groups promoting the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
The NGO Monitor watchdog group has found that between 2012 and 2015, Germany funneled at least $4.4 million to some 15 Israeli organizations, and 42 percent of the donations went to groups supporting an international boycott against Israel and policies negating Israel’s existence as a Jewish state.
The report found that the German Economic Cooperation and Development Ministry operates a Civil Peace Service (Ziviler Friedensdienst) project in Israel, but in fact, on the ground the project is headed by a different German group, KURVE Wustrow, which has partnered with two local organizations—the Israeli Coalition of Women for Peace and the Palestinian Popular Struggle Coordination Committee.
NGO Monitor argues that the Coalition of Women for Peace actively supports the BDS movement, including heading a project titled “Who Profits From the Occupation,” a database of potential boycott “targets.” The Popular Struggle Coordination Committee promotes violent riots across Judea and Samaria, and its Twitter account often features posts encouraging violence, the report said.
The German Embassy in Israel said that Germany “remains committed to the two-state solution and devising sustainable peace in the Middle East. The German government opposes any boycott of Israel, including BDS activities, as such action undermines the peace process. The German government’s funding policy seeks to support selected projects via earmarked funds. Germany will continue to invest in projects and initiatives that can promote and increase awareness to the two-state solution.”
Palestinians to Sue British Over the 1917 Balfour Declaration
(JNS.org) The Palestinians are seeking to sue the United Kingdom for issuing the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which they see as the direct cause of the “Palestinian Nakba.”
In an address at the Arab League Summit, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki spoke on behalf of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and formally asked for the Arab League’s support in prosecuting the British for the nearly 100-year-old document.
“We are working to open up an international criminal case for the crime which they committed against our nation – from the days of the British Mandate all the way to the massacre which was carried out against us from 1948 onwards,” al-Maliki said.
“With the commemoration of 100 years since this historic massacre, and following the continuity of this tragedy, we request that the Secretary General of the Arab League assist us in prosecuting the British government for publishing the Balfour Declaration which caused this catastrophe against the Palestinian people,” he added.
The 1917 Balfour Declaration, written by U.K. Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour to the 2nd Baron Rothschild Walter Rothschild, who was leader of the British Jewish community at the time, stated that the British government would “view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.” The document is considered by many to be the founding legal document for the State of Israel.
Israel’s President Condemns Terror Attack on Catholic Church in France
(JNS.org) Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Tuesday condemned the terror attack in the Normandy region of France, in which a priest was murdered and another wounded after both were taken hostage during a morning Mass service.
“This attack shows the true face of the brutal nature and horror of terrorism. This is an attack by radical extremists, terrorists, who have struck at the very symbol of peace and murdered in cold blood in a house of God, while they pretend to speak in His name,” Rivlin said.
Two men claiming to be Islamic State “soldiers” took five people hostage at the Catholic church in the northern French town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray.
The terrorists slit the throat of one Catholic priest, 86-year-old Rev. Jacques Hamel, and seriously wounded another hostage. Two nuns and two congregants were among the hostages. French police shot dead the two terrorists as the men left the church.
Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi called the attack a “barbarous killing” and said they are “particularly shocked because this horrible violence took place in a church, in which God’s love is announced.”
France is still on high alert following a deadly attack in Nice two weeks ago when a man ran a truck into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day. He killed 84 people and injured more than 300.
“The whole free world must understand that our values are under attack. We must fight to defend them, lest we be overtaken by waves of intolerance and hatred,” Rivlin said.
“Israel stands side by side with the people of France, and we send our thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families,” he said.
Israeli Soccer Club Members Arrested for Criminal Activity
(JNS.org) Israeli Police on Tuesday arrested 56 members of a Beitar Jerusalem soccer fan club for illegal weapons trafficking and intent to use pyrotechnics at soccer games.
The arrests that took place all over Israel follow a six-month undercover investigation in which an agent infiltrated the “La Familia” fan club.
Several weapons were confiscated including military grade stun grenades, one kilo of explosives, two tear gas canisters and other materials.
The club is known for abusive behavior toward the opposing team during games, including taunting with racist chants and suspected violent attacks. More arrests are expected.
