Arutz Sheva Daily Israel Report
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Thursday, Jan. 14 '16, Shevat 4, 5776
HEADLINES:
1. SHIMON PERES RECOVERING FROM MINOR HEART ATTACK
2. NO SHAME: EX-DIPLOMAT 'TOLD ABBAS TO CRY' TO DEFEAT ISRAEL AT UN
3. ORTHODOX WOMAN AMONG 3 US STUDENTS KILLED IN HONDURAS ACCIDENT
4. SOLDIER STABBED IN SAMARIA, TERRORIST KILLED
5. IN SECULAR FRANCE, MPS WEAR KIPPOT TO NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
6. LIBERMAN: ISRAELIS SHOULD STOP SHOPPING AT IKEA
7. TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY ALLOWS BREAKING THE SILENCE, BANS LIKUD
8. 'WISHING AMBULANCE' BRINGS CLOSURE TO FAMILY OF TAIR RADA
1. SHIMON PERES RECOVERING FROM MINOR HEART ATTACK
by Yedidya Ben Or
[youtube:2011495]
Israel's ninth President, Shimon Peres was admitted to Tel Hashomer Hospital on Thursday morning. Doctors found that he had suffered a mild heart attack, and say that his condition is already improving.
Peres who is 92 years old, is currently conscious. His personal assistant, Ayelet Frish, told Ynet that "He woke up this morning with chest pains. The paramedic from the protection agency said that there is a heart complication and suggested we go to the hospital."
Peres' office issued a statement saying, "He underwent a cardiac catheterization during which a narrowed artery was diagnosed which was then widened during the procedure. Former President Peres is feeling well and is fully conscious, his condition is stable."
His personal doctor, Professor Rafi Walden, says that the former president "is only worried about the continuation of his schedule and he is insisting on going on to do some of the schedules prepared for today."
The former president was supposed to participate in a festival at the Habimah theater in Tel Aviv later today.
Peres was Israel's Prime Minister four times, twice as Prime Minister and twice as interim Prime Minister in the 1980's and 90's. He was part of 12 cabinets and his political career has spanned more than 66 years in Israel.
2. NO SHAME: EX-DIPLOMAT 'TOLD ABBAS TO CRY' TO DEFEAT ISRAEL AT UN
by Gil Ronen
[youtube:2011506]
In a previously unnoticed video, former Foreign Ministry director and ambassador Alon Liel told leftist activists how he came very close to tipping a critical UN vote against Israel.
Liel told the activists that he advised Palestinian Authority and Fatah head Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), through a contact person, to call three heads of state and "cry on the phone" in order to win a ninth vote for a UN Security Council resolution recognizing the "Palestine" as a member state and demanding an Israeli withdrawal to pre-1967 lines within 12 months.
The vote took place in the UNSC on December 30, 2014. In the end, Abbas did not act upon Liel's advice but Binyamin Netanyahu apparently did, according to Liel himself.
He added that people whom he identified only as "the guys" told him after the matter that the Shabak (Israel Security Agency) had listened in on his phone call to the Palestinian contact and advised Netanyahu to make the calls.
It is an open question who "the guys" were, although Liel appears to have a good relationship with former Shabak heads Yuval Diskin and now-Yesh Atid MK Yaakov Perry.
The disastrous effect that the UNSC vote would have had on Israel was also detailed by Liel, who was clearly aiming for it to happen. As can be seen in a second video portion of his meeting, he explained that the "big BDS" effect on Israel, in the form of cultural, sports and economic sanctions, could only be put into effect if the UNSC called on Israel to withdraw from Judea and Samaria, and Israel was seen as violating a UNSC timetable.
[youtube:2011511]
Ex ambassador Liel has been actively aiding and abetting BDS (boycott divestment and sanctions) against Israel, including a recent successful bid to prevent Brazil from accepting former Yesha Council head Dani Dayan as Israel's ambassador, because of his former leadership role in Judea and Samaria.
Liel revealed what many would call his clearly subversive activity in a meeting with activists from a group called "Warriors for Peace," which includes both Jews and Arabs. The meeting was held in Jerusalem on January 6, 2015, and the video was uploaded by the leftist Social TV website shortly afterward but received little notice until now.
Liel is currently at the center of a firestorm after activists secretly recorded a meeting he recently held with another ultra-leftist group, Breaking the Silence, in which he suggested among other things working to get Israel expelled from the UN.
The recording is soon to be released in full.
3. ORTHODOX WOMAN AMONG 3 US STUDENTS KILLED IN HONDURAS ACCIDENT
by Matt Wanderman
Three volunteers from the US died in Honduras, after their bus crashed into a gully.
The victims, 21-year-old Daniella Moffson, 19-year-old Olivia Erhardt, and 45-year-old Abigail Flanagan, were all students at Columbia University and were in Honduras as part of a volunteer project to help the poor.
Columbia University President Lee Bollinger said, "This terrible and tragic loss is all the greater because these individuals were dedicating their passion and very special talents to serving those in need. No endeavor more proudly exemplifies the traditions and values of our University."
The bus was carrying at least 12 others from the US who were injured in the accident. They had been on their way to the airport for their flight home at the time.
The local Chabad emissary arranged for the treatment of Moffson, who was an Orthodox Jew. He ensured that the coroner would not perform an autopsy on her body and that she would be quickly sent home to New York for burial.
Her father told New York Daily News that Daniella loved helping others and wanted to become a pediatrician. "My daughter was perfection. She was a beautiful girl, beautiful in and out. She did this because she was a good girl," he said.
4. SOLDIER STABBED IN SAMARIA, TERRORIST KILLED
by Arutz Sheva Staff
Reports indicate that a terrorist tried to stab an IDF officer at the entrance to Har Eival, near Shechem.
The terrorist first threw an object at the soldiers' vehicle. When they exited the vehicle in order to find the source of the threat, he pulled out a knife and stabbed the officer in his hand. The other soldiers at the scene shot and killed the terrorist. The stabbed officer was declared lightly wounded and has been evacuated.
According to Mako, the victim was the deputy commander of the company.
A Molotov cocktail was found near the scene of the attack. It may be what the terrorist threw before drawing his knife.
The Palestinian Authority's health ministry has acknowledged the death, though it has not released the terrorist's identity.
Earlier today, another terrorist tried to stab civilians near Kiryat Arba. In that instance, nearby soldiers were able to shoot and kill the attacker before he did any damage.
5. IN SECULAR FRANCE, MPS WEAR KIPPOT TO NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
by Cynthia Blank
A call earlier this week from the leader of the Jewish community in Marseilles for Jews to stop wearing kippot in public caused a fierce uproar in France, with scores of Frenchman putting on the ritual head covering in a demonstration of solidarity with Jews
French parliamentarians Meir Habib and Claude Goasguen joined the demonstration on Wednesday, proudly adorning kippot at the National Assembly as a show of solidarity after a brutal anti-Semitic stabbing attack in Marseilles on Monday.
The move was very unusual given France's principle of "secularism" and its prohibition against wearing religious articles in official or state locations, such as schools.
The law is ambiguous about wearing such garments to the National Assembly, but Habib and Goasguen's move did raise eyebrows. "It's not so accepted," asserted sources in the French parliament.
Explaining his decision to wear a kippah, Habib stressed that "freedom of religion is a central value in France" and that removing kippot would deliver a "dangerous message [we are] surrendering to terrorism."
"We will not accept a situation where people are afraid to express their Jewish identity," he continued. "What will haredi Jews do? Shave their beards? The problem is more general and concerns all of France."
"Unfortunately, just as Israel is the first goal of jihad, so is it with the Jewish community in France," Habib warned. "It begins with the Jews and then quickly impairs all of France. We must be careful but to stop wearing religious symbols is not an answer to terror."
Goasguen noted that he even though he is not a Jew, he wore the kippaha as a sign of solidarity, "because I cannot understand or accept that a country like France, a state of human rights, people are killing or trying to kill citizens because of their religion. Religion does not create a murder, a person does."
French President Francois Hollande also weighed in Wednesday on the debate over whether or not French Jews should wear the kippah, calling it "intolerable" for them to have to hide away out of fear of attack.
"It is intolerable that in our country citizens should feel so upset and under assault because of their religious choice that they would conclude that they have to hide," Hollande declared.
6. LIBERMAN: ISRAELIS SHOULD STOP SHOPPING AT IKEA
by Elad Benari
Yisrael Beytenu chairman MK Avigdor Liberman on Wednesday urged Israelis to stop shopping at the popular IKEA furniture store in protest of Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom's latest remarks against Israel.
On Tuesday, Wallstrom called for an investigation to be opened in order to determine whether Israel is guilty of executing Palestinian Arab "assailants" without trial, fueling already existing tensions between Stockholm and Jerusalem.
"Sweden ignores the wave of terrorism that is affecting the whole world and especially the Middle East, and finds it necessary to specifically condemn Israel and compare us to Palestinian terrorists. It cannot go without a response," Liberman told Walla! News on Wednesday, shortly after Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely announced that Swedish officials are no longer welcome to visit Israel.
Liberman told Walla! that Sweden's conduct remains as it was during World War II, when the country had business dealings with Nazi Germany.
"Sweden made the majority of its profits from trading with Nazi Germany," he said. "In 1943 they knew about the refugee camps, about Auschwitz and Buchenwald, and that the gold with which they were paid was plundered from Jews. Sweden is a country that is concerned only with its own money and wealth. They provided the steel and iron for the construction of tanks in World War II. It's the same line and the same tradition. I would stress that 99% of the population were pleased about it and collaborated with the Wehrmacht."
Liberman then called on Israelis to stop shopping at IKEA, saying, "I do not call for the severing of relations with Sweden, but we must not ignore this. The national sport of the people of Israel is buying at IKEA on Fridays, so I encourage everyone to think about this. There are enough Israeli products. The owner of IKEA is not an enemy of Israel, on the contrary, but we must remember that Sweden took part in the initiative to mark products produced in the settlements and in the Golan Heights."
Later on Wednesday, Israel's Foreign Ministry summoned Swedish ambassador to Israel Carl Magnus for reprimand over Wallstrom's comments.
Magnus was summoned by Aviv Shiron, the Foreign Ministry's director-general for Western Europe division, who attacked Wallstrom for her "biased and hostile attitude toward Israel."
"The minister's remarks indicate she does not understand what is happening in the region and is probably not aware of the difficult situation Israeli citizens are exposed to - the constant danger of murderous terror attacks," Shiron told Magnus.
"In view of the Swedish minister's harmful and baseless attitude, she has removed herself for the foreseeable future from any role with regard to relations between Israel and the Palestinians."
Tuesday, of course, was not the first time Wallstrom has made anti-Israel remarks. In December, she made similar accusations against Israel, claiming during a debate in parliament that Israel was "executing" without trial terrorists who carried out stabbing attacks in Israel.
Several weeks before that, the Swedish minister provoked a firestorm of criticism, when she appeared to blame the terrorist attacks in Paris on "Palestinian frustration" with Israel.
7. TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY ALLOWS BREAKING THE SILENCE, BANS LIKUD
by Matt Wanderman
Breaking the Silence and Meretz have announced that it will hold an event at Tel Aviv University next Sunday, in which its members will read out testimonies of soldiers to showcase alleged crimes and unethical behavior on the part of the IDF.
In response, students associated with the Likud and Im Tirtzu activist group requested permission to hold a counter-event and read out testimonies highlighting soldiers' ethics. Surprisingly, the dean of students responded tersely: "The event will not be permitted on this date," with no further explanation provided. Instead, she suggested that they hold their protest on another date.
The head of the university's branch of Likud, Hodaya Shahar, has strongly criticized the university's conduct. "Under the auspices of free speech, the dean of students, Professor Tova Most, permits students with Meretz and the radical left group Breaking the Silence to hold events, so why does she not also permit events by the Likud and other right-wing groups? Is there free speech and free assembly only for one side of the political map at Tel Aviv University?"
Shahar added: "The dean of students' decision to prevent us from holding an alternative event, a demonstration in support of IDF soldiers, is a badge of shame for the university, which allows only one side to express itself and does not contribute to a balanced discourse on campus.
"I call on Tel Aviv University to allow free speech and pluralism, for which it is so proud, also for right-wing students, who do not agree with the political opinions of Meretz and the group Breaking the Silence, despite the support that they receive from the university. My friends and I will continue to fight for our rights to express our opinions in public, and for the dean of students to reconsider her decision."
Shahar is not alone in her struggle. The president of the student government has offered to help and MK Miki Zohar (Likud) has also stepped into the controversy. "Tel Aviv University must return step back from its decision and allow equal and fair free speech for all sides. The decision to prevent the Likud group at Tel Aviv University from fulfilling its legitimate right to protest is a form of silence and it must be canceled immediately."
Most universities in Israel allow students to hold political protests. Just this past October, Arab students at Tel Aviv University protested against Israel Police because police officers were killed terrorists at the scene of their attacks. In this case, Im Tirtzu and other students were freely permitted to hold a counter-protest.
Breaking the Silence held a similar event at Hebrew University last month, and the institution allowed protesters to express their disagreement.
8. 'WISHING AMBULANCE' BRINGS CLOSURE TO FAMILY OF TAIR RADA
by Benny Tocker
A Magen David Adom (MDA) "wishing ambulance" picked up Shmulik Rada from Poriya Hospital in Tiberias and brought him to the inauguration of a synagogue in Katzrin that was built in honor of his slain daughter, Tair.
The synagogue, which will be called "Tair Shevet Achim" (Tair dwells amongst her people), was an idea that Shmulik came up with two years ago.
Elana Rada, Shmulik's wife, told Arutz Sheva how thankful she was that her husband could attend the opening. "We are overjoyed. Shmulik came up with this idea two years ago. The idea began to take shape with the help of the Katzrin local council. We can't believe that we actually made it to this day."
Shmulik being treated for terminal cancer. According to Elana, the difficulties he faces due to his illness had them worried that he wouldn't survive to see the synagogue opened. "When he contracted cancer, we were very worried as his situation deteriorated about whether or not he would be able to attend. Last month we approached the general public and requested donations to help finish the building of the synagogue."
Elana was extremely thankful that people stepped up to answer the call. "With the help of this amazing nation of people, our dream is being realized. May you all be blessed."
"I want to bless this nation, and I want to bless them in our synagogue today," exclaimed Elana. "Together we succeeded. We were helped in part with a concert by [singer/songwriter] Peer Tasi, and many other contributors, both large and small. People donated from one shekel to hundreds of shekels. From a chair to a window. Because of that we have a beautiful synagogue today. The work continued day and night, and today, our dream is becoming a reality."
[youtube:2011496]
Tair Rada was slain in one of the local high school, Nofey Golan, in 2006. The murder appeared to be motiveless and shocked the country. Four years after the incident, repair contractor Roman Zadorov was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison.
As of yesterday Shmulik was still in severe condition at the hospital. "People in every corner of the country have been praying for Shmulik, and today he woke up with more strength. We will be leaving soon for the inauguration. And today, finally after years, we have some joy in our hearts that alleviates some of the pain we feel. Our wish has come true."
According to the MDA website the "wishing ambulance" is a Magen David Adom initiative, which aims to fulfill the wishes of individuals who face serious or terminal illnesses and/or who are not independently mobile.
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