Arutz Sheva Daily Israel Report
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Monday, Jan. 11 '16, Shevat 1, 5776
HEADLINES:
1. B'TSELEM OFFICE FIRE WAS NOT ARSON
2. MARSEILLES: JEW TARGETED IN ANTI-SEMITIC MACHETE ATTACK
3. REPORT: ISRAELI AIR FORCE STRIKES HEZBOLLAH IN QALAMOUN, SYRIA
4. HOTEL SYNAGOGUE TURNS INTO A MASSAGE PARLOR
5. ATTEMPTED STABBING IN SAMARIA - TERRORIST NEUTRALIZED
6. GERMANY: MUSLIM 'REFUGEES' STAGE ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACK, ROBBERY
7. SOUTHERN ISRAEL: TERROR ALERT LIFTED AS SUSPECT ARRESTED
8. RIP DAVID BOWIE, WHO FOUND KABALLAH BEFORE MADONNA
1. B'TSELEM OFFICE FIRE WAS NOT ARSON
by Ari Soffer
The Jerusalem Fire Service has determined that the fire which occurred last night at the offices of the far-left NGO B'Tselem was caused by an electrical fault, and was not the result of arson.
The fire, which took place at the building housing the NGO's offices in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Mekor Chaim, caused extensive damage but no injuries. One person trapped on the fourth floor of the building had to be evacuated by firefighters.
Following the fire, Arab and Left-wing MK all but preempted the investigation, blaming "right-wing incitement" and the Israeli government for causing what they clearly believed was an arson.
MK Zehava Galon (Meretz) and other far-left MKs attempted to tie the fire directly to the government's efforts to enact legislation requiring NGOs funded by foreign states to disclose the sources of their funding.
"If only the fire turns out not to be a premeditated arson... (But) at this point the signs are that it was," she claimed, despite having no insight into the investigation on the ground.
"If indeed the B'Tselem offices were set alight, the arsonists tonight would rightly feel that they have backing from the government," she added. "They can burn the offices, the papers, the archives, but it is impossible to burn B'Tselem. It is impossible to eliminate with violence the struggle against the occupation (sic), for human rights and justice."
The head of the extreme-left Peace Now NGO also weighed in on the "arson," going further still.
"The arson at the offices of B'Tselem in an attempted terror attack which by a miracle did not claim any lives, and those responsible are the government ministers, and at their head Netanyahu.
"When the government labels left-wing organization, there are those who react and attack the targets. The blood of all those who oppose the government is fair game and the next political murder is not far away. The government must stop this campaign of incitement against the Left, and allow the Israel Police to protect left-wing NGOs and organizations from attempts to harm them."
2. MARSEILLES: JEW TARGETED IN ANTI-SEMITIC MACHETE ATTACK
by Orli Harrari
A terrorist stabbed Benjamin Amsalem, a local Jewish school teacher, who was on his way to work on Monday morning. Amsalem, who is a teacher at the Louis Pasteur school was stabbed in sector-9 of Marseilles outside a local synagogue.
Amsalem suffered light wounds on his hands.
The terrorist, who has been apprehended by local police is a 16 year old Muslim. It is rumored that he suffers from a mental disorder. However, the Jewish community fears that this is an anti-Semitic attack.
The Chief Rabbi of France, Rabbi Haim Korsia, is expected to speak to Amsalem later today, after he visits with the relatives of the victims of last year's Hyper Cacher attack.
Tzvi Amar, the President of the Jewish Community in Marseilles said that as of now, Amsalem is receiving medical treatment for his wounds which were very light. He also said that Amsalem was lucky to have received only light wounds as he had attempted to fight off his attacker.
3. REPORT: ISRAELI AIR FORCE STRIKES HEZBOLLAH IN QALAMOUN, SYRIA
by Ari Soffer
Syrian opposition sources claim the Israeli air force conducted airstrikes against Hezbollah positions in the mountainous Qalamoun region, along the border with Lebanon.
The alleged strikes were first reported by Syrian opposition outlet 7alpress, which claimed on Twitter that "two consecutive Israeli raids" targeted Hezbollah positions outside the town of Flita late Sunday night.
A subsequent report added that ambulance sirens were heard in Yabrud, southeast of Flita, "after Israeli aircraft targeted Hezbollah's positions."
Lebanon's Now. news site cited several other rebel sources, some of whom said they counted as many as five strikes by aircraft on Hezbollah targets.
Other Lebanese media sources also reported on "unidentified" explosions in the area.
Israel is believed to have repeatedly struck Hezbollah positions and weapons convoys in Syria, as part of efforts to prevent the Iranian proxy group obtaining "game-changing" sophisticated weaponry, as well as to thwart attacks by Hezbollah and affiliated terrorist groups along the Golan Heights border with Israel.
The last reported Israeli air strike in Syria eliminated arch-terrorist Samir Kuntar, a one-time Hezbollah commander who was reportedly drafted by Iranian special forces to set up anti-Israel terror cells in southern Syria.
However, Israeli government officials have never commented openly about the strikes, as part of the government's policy of ambiguity regarding operations in the civil war-torn country. Despite the airstrikes Israel has largely managed to avoid being sucked into the bloody civil war.
The Qalamoun region is a strategically-important position recently seized by Hezbollah and pro-Assad militias from Syrian rebels, cutting off a crucial lifeline for opposition forces with supporters in Lebanon.
4. HOTEL SYNAGOGUE TURNS INTO A MASSAGE PARLOR
by Haim Lev
Marathon Runners who recently competed in the Tiberias 42.2 Kilometer Marathon run, were treated to a special type of reward at the end of their long journey.
The Leonardo Hotel in the host city of the marathon provided free massages for runners who participated in the race, in the Synagogue at their hotel.
Channel 10 published photographs of the impromptu massage room, that depicted massage tables set up in in front of and in close proximity to the Holy Ark, as well as in other corners of the room. The runners, who were wearing sportswear and running clothes, were treated by masseuses who were specially brought in for the event.
The race took place on Friday morning, and the massages continued on until late in the afternoon. Minister of Religious Service David Azoulay was quoted in the report saying, "of course this is a serious issue. I feel that this is disrespectful and inappropriate."
Chief Rabbi David Lau responded to the incident with outrage.
"A synagogue is a holy and sanctified place for each and every Jew. These pictures are a shot to the heart for every Jew," he stated.
Sources close to the Chief Rabbi have said that Lau intends to look into the matter and question those involved in the decision to host the massage parlor in the synagogue, as to why it was allowed to happen. "More education regarding the how to treat a holy place with sensitivity is needed," said the Chief Rabbi.
The city of Tiberias as well as the Leonardo hotel have responded to airing of the story and said "The hotel responded to the organizers of the event and gave permission for a room to be used so that massage students would be able to treat the marathon runners. The students, with good intentions made the mistake of going into the wrong hall, and instead of going into the hall intended for them, went into the synagogue and set up the massage parlor there. Soon after, the hotel staff realized the mistake and reorganized the students in the proper room."
5. ATTEMPTED STABBING IN SAMARIA - TERRORIST NEUTRALIZED
by Arutz Sheva Staff
A terrorist approached a military checkpoint near the town of Hermesh and attempted to stab a soldier stationed at the checkpoint. Soldiers on location shot him and prevented him from carrying out the attack.
No Israeli forces were wounded in the attack.
The surprised and improvised checkpoint was established 200 meters away from the entrance to the town. There are generally no guards at the location.
The terrorist was seen running towards the soldiers with a knife in his hand, and was shot in the stomach. Having been neutralized, he is currently receiving medical attention on site.
Head of the Samaria Regional Council, Yossi Dagan said "The presence of the soldiers on location as well as their rapid response which we see on a daily basis is excellent and important. We give our full support to the commanders and soldiers. However it seems that as the situation stand the terrorism will not cease. Only when the Palestinians feel that they have something to lose, and that each and every terror attack harms them, will there be an interest in Palestinian society to do away with terrorism."
Dagan suggested a possible response to the continued terrorist activity. "It has to be made very clear to the Palestinians with regard to which roads they are allowed to travel on. Every time they come to a checkpoint or road and attack it, it should be closed. If a terrorist attacks a checkpoint, that checkpoint needs to remain closed to Palestinians. Firstly to prevent further attacks and save the lives of soldiers. Secondly, it will deliver a clear message that we do not tolerate terror."
Dagan says that each attack needs to have a "clear and decisive response."
"I am saddened that the State of Israel continues to tolerate terror attacks, instead of unequivocally uprooting its source."
6. GERMANY: MUSLIM 'REFUGEES' STAGE ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACK, ROBBERY
by Ari Soffer
German police arrest two Muslim migrants Sunday, after they staged an anti-Semitic attack on a Jewish man in northern Germany the previous day.
Their victim - a 49-year-old French citizen - was pushed to the floor and robbed at Puttgarden ferry port by the two attackers, who shouted "Yahud" (Arabic for "Jew"), according to the UK's Jewish News.
His attackers have been identified as Syrian and Afghan nationals respectively. Apart from assaulting their victim, they stole a bag of money, his bank card and cellphone, and a train ticket.
They had reportedly arrived in Denmark along with thousands of others claiming refugee status, but were deported after it was found they lacked the correct paperwork. They were waiting for a train to a refugee center at the time of the robbery.
The attack comes as German officials are facing widespread public outrage and a growing backlash against Chancellor Angela Merkel's open-door policy to migrants, following a series of apparently organized, sexual assaults and rapes carried out in public by mobs of Arab immigrants.
7. SOUTHERN ISRAEL: TERROR ALERT LIFTED AS SUSPECT ARRESTED
by Ari Soffer
Israel Police have withdrawn a terror alert for southern Israel, after it was determined that the suspected terrorist did not manage to enter Israeli territory.
Earlier Monday morning, dozens of emergency checkpoints were erected in southern Israel, after the Shin Bet intelligence service put out an alert for a female Arab terrorist who they believed was on her way to commit an attack.
The checkpoints were put up from the Lachish area near the Hevron Hills through to Sderot, in locations including Ashdod, Ashkelon, the Gaza Belt Region and Sderot itself.
The suspect was identified as Hamad Diana, from the Palestinian Arab village of Kfar Sira.
However, shortly after police announced they had arrested a suspect who they believe was meant to transport the terrorist into Israeli-controlled territory.
Police confirmed the terrorist herself is still in Palestinian Authority-controlled areas, after her accomplice failed to carry out his role, having been intercepted by authorities.
The checkpoints have all been lifted, and traffic has returned to normal.
8. RIP DAVID BOWIE, WHO FOUND KABALLAH BEFORE MADONNA
by Gil Ronen
[youtube:2011370]
British rock superstar David Bowie, 69, has died after a prolonged fight with cancer, it was announced Monday.
While not even remotely Jewish, Bowie may have been the first – and thus far the only – major international pop singer to use kabbalistic terminology in Hebrew. Writing in The Forward in 2013, Seth Rogovoy noted that Bowie "beat Madonna by 20 years or so when he sang about the sefirot, the mystical vessels of divine energy, in the title track of his 1976 album, 'Station to Station.'"
"Here are we, one magical movement from Kether to Malkuth," he sang. The lyrics refer to the divine emanations of the infinite: the Keter, or crown, and the Malhut, or kingship. Bowie was pictured on the back of the album, drawing a diagram of the 10 Sefirot.
Bowie's Kabbalistic dabblings were "part of an overarching spiritual quest" that took him from Tibetan Buddhism to Christian mysticism and occult worship, according to Rogovoy. However, he adds, the singer also had "a flirtation with neo-Nazi imagery that nearly derailed his career when it was discovered that he collected Nazi memorabilia and that he seemingly made a 'Heil Hitler' salute upon arriving, in 1976, in an open-top Mercedes convertible, waving to a crowd gathered at London's Victoria Station."
Bowie's subsequent life and career, including his marriage to black Somali supermodel Iman, "suggest that he is anything but a Nazi sympathizer," though.
While the Internet-based rumors that Bowie's mother, Peggy Burns, was part Jewish, are false, it is true that that Bowie's older half-brother, Terry Burns, is the son of one Jack Isaac Rosenberg, whose father was Jewish.
Rogovoy added that two of Bowie's greatest early musical influences were Jewish rockers Bob Dylan and Lou Reed.
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