Tag Archives: Israel

Palestinians Fire Rocket At Israel

A rocket struck Southern Israel on Friday according to officials with the Israel Defense Forces, the first strike by Palestinians on Israel using rockets since September.

The strike in the Eshkol region set off the air raid sirens but the rocket landed in an open field causing no damage or injuries.

The strike came as Palestinians attacked Israeli forces at a West Bank checkpoint near the village of Turmus Aya.  The IDF reported no injuries as a result of the attack.

The village where the assault from the Palestinians took place is where a Palestinian Cabinet minister collapsed and later died.  The Palestinians claimed an Israeli soldier hit him when an autopsy showed that he actually died from a heart attack.

In the midst of the Palestinian attacks, the IDF announced they were going to allow Christians in the West Bank to visit their relatives in the Gaza Strip.  They said it was a goodwill measure for Christians during their holy days.

The Final Countdown

Our recent trip to Israel and New York City with Rabbi Jonathan Cahn to visit the Harbinger sites was truly one of the highlights of my life and a high point in the life of this ministry. Rabbi Cahn presented some amazing teaching in the Holy Land as well as undeniable facts about the history of our nation, how it was birthed, and now, sadly, its inevitable decline. Continue reading →

American Accused Of Terrorism In Israel

An Illinois resident has been charged with plotting terrorism against Israel.

Adam Everett Livix, 30, has been charged with possession of weapons.  Israeli police say that he intended to blow up various Jerusalem holy sites.  Police said they have evidence that he turned down an officer from Palestinian officials to assassinate President Obama during his 2013 visit.

“He categorically denies the charges in the indictment,” Livix’s attorney Gal Wolf said. “He says it is nonsense.”

Livix reportedly had overstayed his visa in Israel for a year.

The Justice Ministry said Livix later cooperated with his roommate, a serving soldier in the Israeli military, to obtain 3 pounds of explosive material to blow up the unidentified Jerusalem holy sites. The ministry said police discovered the plot in October.

Livix had fled to Israel after facing criminal charges in Indiana.

Palestinian Official Dies In Clash With Israeli Forces

The already strained relationship between Israel and Palestine grew further apart after the death of a Palestinian official who clashed with Israel Defense Forces.

An Israeli pathologist is joining with a team from Jordan to conduct the autopsy of Ziad Abu Ein, who died while en route to a hospital Wednesday after being struck in the chest with what is believed to be a tear gas canister.

Abu Ein headed the PA government agency that campaigns against security barriers and settlements.  He fought with Israeli Defense Forces near Turmusaya in the northern West Bank.  Palestinians claimed he was hit by the rifle butt of a soldier but Israeli witnesses say that he was not hit by a soldier.

The IDF says that 200 rioters were attempting to enter a Palestinian settlement and were being led by Abu Ein.

Abu Ein was extradited from the U.S. to Israel in 1981 for his connection to a 1979 terrorist bombing.

Israeli Student Attacked In New York Synagogue

An Israeli rabbinical student is in critical condition at a New York hospital after a man yelling “kill the Jews” attacked him in a Brooklyn synagogue.

“Levi had his hands up, trying to block the individual with his arms,” Mendy Notik, 22, told the New York Daily News. “He was saying. ‘I will kill you.’ And after Levi, he went towards another young student and he said ‘I will kill the Jews!'”

Peters was approached by members of the NYPD who told him to put down his knife.  Initially, Peters put down the knife and before he picked it up again and charged toward officer Roberto Pagan.  Pagan shot Peters in the stomach.

Rosenblat, 22, was rushed to trauma unit at Kings County Hospital and initially reported in stable condition before it was revealed he was transferred to Bellevue Hospital where he was in critical condition with bleeding on the brain according to police sources.

NYPD officials were quick to dismiss the attack as an act of terrorism, saying that the attacker was only mentally ill.

“We are very, very confident it’s not a terrorist-related act at this stage,” Bratton said. “There’s no indication that the subject … had any affiliation with any terrorist organization.”

Evan Bernstein, New York director of the Anti Defamation League, told USA Headline News that anti-Semitism has been on the rise around the world.

“We have definitely seen a surge in global anti-Semitism really since Operation Protective Edge, the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians,” Bernstein said.  “We’ve seen a dramatic uptick, especially in Europe, where instances over previous years is incredibly high.”

The NYPD announced they will have a greater security presence around synagogues with Hanukkah approaching next week.

Israeli Planes Strike Syria

Israeli officials say they don’t expect to receive retribution from Syria after an airstrike.

An IDF official who requested anonymity told the Times of Israel that he doesn’t believe Syria can afford to open up another war front when they’re so engaged in fighting against Islamic terrorist groups attempting to overthrow the nation.

The officer also said that it’s unlikely terrorist group Hezbollah, who had been trying to obtain weapons and munitions from Syria, would strike out against Israel.

“I don’t see any reason why in 2015 Hezbollah will turn to Israel, there is no logic to that way of thinking,” he said in a briefing with reporters at military headquarters. “But if you are talking about capacity and the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) should be ready to deal with any capability of any one of its enemies. The capability of Hezbollah is growing every year.”

Israel has stayed out of the Syrian Civil War other than to make surgical strikes when they find Syria attempting to send weapons to Hezbollah.  There was no confirmation from the IDF that was the reason for the recent strike but the officer did make comment that seemed to indicate it was the reason.

“Anyone who tries to arm our enemies should know that we can go anywhere, anytime, in any way, in order to foil his plans. We will not compromise on this,” he said.

Israeli Oil Spill One Of Country’s Worst

Israeli officials say that an oil spill Wednesday night is one of the worst environmental disasters to strike the country.

The accident on the Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline caused crude oil to flood 200 acres of a desert reserve about 12 miles north of the Red Sea.

The slick reportedly has run into ravines and pooled there, avoiding the rare trees and plants in the majority of the park.  The spill is not expected to be able to reach the Red Sea unless major rainstorms were to hit the region.

“Rehabilitation will take months, if not years,” Environment Ministry official Guy Samet told Israel Radio.

The oil will be collected with suction equipment and government officials say they will likely collect contaminated earth as well.

Potential Defense Secretary Quiet Supporter of Israel

The likely replacement for Chuck Hagel as defense secretary is seen as a likely stronger support of Israel than previous Obama Administration appointees.

Ashton Carter is described by those within the defense intelligence community as “an efficient administrator” and is believed to be an ally of top military brass rather than someone who views military leadership as an adversary.

Carter visited Israel in 2013 and told IDF soldiers “protecting America means protecting Israel, and that’s why we’re here in the first place.”

Carter, while considered the front runner, has been passed over for the top defense position on two other occasions and Israeli officials say they’re optimistic but will be cautious until Carter officially holds the position.

Israeli officials are also encouraged that Carter has been a strong advocate for making sure Iran does not have the ability to develop nuclear weapons.

Israeli Elections Called For March 17, 2015

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for voters to give him a “clear mandate” as he announced elections will be held on March 17, 2015.

The announcement of the election comes a day after Netanyahu fired members of his governing coalition that had been opposing new settlements in areas that Palestinians want for their own nation.

The five-party coalition that has been ruling the country took power only last year.

“The coming election is about one question – who will lead the country in the face of the tremendous challenges facing Israel – security, economic, regional,” Netanyahu said in public remarks to Likud legislators.  “Whoever wants to give a clear mandate to lead the country to a prime minister from Likud needs to give many votes to Likud.  That is the main lesson of our experience from the past years. That is the challenge for this election campaign.”

Netanyahu will lead a now-minority government until the elections and swearing in of the new members of the Knesset.

Hamas Plot To Attack Soccer Stadium Foiled

Israeli leaders said Thursday they had foiled a plot to bomb the largest soccer stadium in Jerusalem by the terrorist group Hamas.

Shin Bet security service said that 30 members of the terror group has been arrested and many had received weapons and explosives training in Jordan and the Gaza Strip.

The statement from Shin Bet also said that Hamas leaders in Turkey planned the plot against Teddy soccer stadium and also against the city’s light railway system.

“We have no information about these Israeli claims … It is clear Israel wanted to create a new story to divert the world’s attention away from the escalation in Jerusalem,” Hamas said in a statement.

Israeli intelligence services and Defense Forces have stopped a number of Hamas plots in the last few weeks.   Eleven Israelis have been killed in the last month because of Hamas terrorist attacks.