Arutz Sheva Daily Israel Report
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Monday, Apr. 25 '16, Nissan 17, 5776
HEADLINES:
1. TENS OF THOUSANDS FLOOD KOTEL FOR PRIESTLY BLESSING
2. INDICTMENT FILED AGAINST 'JEWISH TERROR' SUSPECTS
3. ISRAELI DOCTOR AMONG TOP 100
4. WHEN AMIRA HASS TOLD THE PALESTINIANS NOT TO MAKE PEACE
5. WILL BENNETT BE THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER?
6. 'MEDDLING OBAMA OWES NETANYAHU AN APOLOGY'
7. STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED IN THE DIASPORA
8. WATCH: RETURNING A HOME TO JEWISH HANDS
1. TENS OF THOUSANDS FLOOD KOTEL FOR PRIESTLY BLESSING
by Arutz Sheva staff
Tens of thousands of Jews visited the Western Wall (Kotel) Monday morning, for the annual and traditional Birkat Kohanim (Priestly Blessing) ceremony in honor of Chol HaMoed Pesach (Passover).
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Congregants then said the Shacharit morning services prayer at 8:45 a.m.; the first Blessing was at 9:30 a.m.; the Mussaf prayer was at 10:00 a.m.; and the second blessing, at 10:30 a.m.
The ceremony then included welcoming words from Chief Rabbis Yitzhak Yosef and David Lau.
Due to the influx, the Israel Police has boosted security throughout the Old City of Jerusalem, with heavy police presence along every entrance and exit to the Western Wall and to the Jewish Quarter.
Entrance is closed to private vehicles, and police have advised motorists wishing to attend to park on Mount Scopus, at Ammunition Hill, at the Police Headquarters, and at Binyanei HaUma and then take public transport to the site.
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Birds'-Eye view Israel Police
2. INDICTMENT FILED AGAINST 'JEWISH TERROR' SUSPECTS
by Arutz Sheva staff
The State Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment against seven suspects of "Jewish terror" on Monday, after weeks of drama around the spate of Shin Bet-led arrests.
Charges include arms smuggling and violence against Palestinians and their property.
At least five of the seven arrested have been denied legal counsel until now, raising speculation and fear over the Shin Bet's interrogation process.
The suspected cell members have been named as:
Pinhas Shendorfi, 22, a resident of Kiryat Arba near Hevron
Itamar Ben Aharon, 20, a resident of Nahaliel in Samaria
Michael Kaplan, 20, of Nahaliel
"MH", a minor, also of Nahaliel
"BS", a minor, of Nahaliel
An unnamed IDF soldier from Nahaliel
Among the attacks the cell members admitted to was the assault in June 2015 of a Palestinian farmer, in which the victim was beaten with sticks and sprayed with pepper spray, as well as a firebomb attack on a home in the Palestinian Arab village of Mazar'a Kabalia in November of the same year.
In a chilling echo of the Duma attack - which security services say was also the work of Jewish extremists - the firebomb was hurled into the house at night while the family slept. One of the firebombs bounced off the window and failed to penetrate the home, preventing a potential tragedy.
The attackers sprayed the words "revenge", "death to the Arabs" and "Jews, awaken" on the door of the home, indicating the attack may have been intended as revenge for Arab terrorism.
During December, the cell threw a CS gas grenade into a home in the Palestinian Arab village of Bitilu, in revenge for the arrest of the suspected Jewish terrorists behind the Duma attack.
In that incident, the father of the family awoke from the noise, and experienced difficulty breathing and irritation to his eyes. He immediately evacuated his wife and infant son from the house - his alertness and quick reactions likely preventing more severe casualties. The attackers spray painted the words "Revenge - regards from the prisoners of Zion" on the wall of the house, in reference for the detained Duma suspects.
The cell members also admitted to torching a number of Palestinian cars over the past few years, including the arson of a car in Bitilu in October 2015, and another car previously in the same village in July 2014.
Indictments are to be filed against the suspects on a number of serious terrorism charges over the coming days.
According to the Shin Bet, the cell was connected to the same collective of several dozen extremists involved or connected to the Duma arson. Known as the "Revolt", the group is not believed to be a centralized organization but a number of independent cells inspired by a fringe extremist ideology which calls for the overthrow of the State of Israel and the imposition of a Jewish Kingdom.
3. ISRAELI DOCTOR AMONG TOP 100
by Rafael Levy, Shoshana Miskin
Professor Anat Lowenstein, Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, and Professor of Ophthalmology and Vice Dean at Tel Aviv University, was selected in The Ophthalmologist Magazine's Power List 2016.
The Magazine, which highlights the top 100 most influential people in the world of ophthalmology, noted how Lowenstein was popular lecturer at international conferences and celebrated "her contribution to, and influence in the field of medical and surgical retina cannot be underestimated."
Lowenstein completed her medical studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem after which she served as a medical officer in the naval headquarters of the Israel Defense Forces for 4 years.
She completed a residency program in the Department of Ophthalmology at the TASMC and a fellowship in retinal vascular disease and vitreoretina surgery at the Wilmer Institute at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.
As of the year 2000, she serves as Chairman of the TASMC Department of Ophthalmology in 2000.
Dr. Gil Fire, Deputy Director of the Sourasky Medical Center, congratulated Lowenstein: "We know that you are leading a department with the highest standards and building a future generation that will excel in ophthalmology, but it's great to receive such recognition."
Photo: Sourasky Medical Center Spokesperson
4. WHEN AMIRA HASS TOLD THE PALESTINIANS NOT TO MAKE PEACE
by Dalit Halevy
Radical leftist journalist Amira Hass of Haaretz in the past actively encouraged the Palestinians to reject peace treaties and not to agree to the 1994 Oslo Accords, according to a Palestinian journalist.
The journalist, Dr. Fayez Abu Shamala, revealed to the Hamas paper Palestine on Sunday the contents of a speech Hass gave during a visit to the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) during the period of the Oslo Accords.
Hass, who lives in Ramallah, has openly legitimized and supported Arab terror against Israeli Jews and recently cited the anti-Semitic forgery "Elders of Zion" in a UK university speech.
In her speech at the PLC during the days of Oslo, Abu Shamala reveals that Hass said, "I see it as an obligation to bring before you some of the facts supported in documents, which will help you make a decision."
"Look at this map. Look, where will your Palestinian state be established?," she said, indicating a map of Israel including Judea and Samaria.
"Do you not notice that these settlements can amputate the connection between cities of the West Bank at any given moment? Do you not notice that the Palestinians live in separation (from each other) in their cities?"
The Israeli journalist continued, saying, "I emphasize before you today that there won't be a possibility to establish a Palestinian state as long as the settlements remain in place."
"Why did you agree to a peace agreement that doesn't promise you the removal of the settlers?," she said, advising the Palestinians not to make any agreements that do not include the removal of all Israelis from Judea and Samaria.
"The Oslo Accords that you support will bring you to complete submission to the Israeli occupation, which is taking advantage of the time to expand the settlements," concluded the Haaretz journalist according to Abu Shamala.
In an ironic twist, despite adamantly advocating against the "Occupation" of Israel on its own land Hass received a taste of the Palestinian world's true attitude toward Israelis in September 2014, when Birzeit University ejected her for being Jewish.
The Oslo Accords established the PA and armed it, while removing the terrorist status from the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Fatah. It also led to the 2000-2005 Oslo War or Second Intifada, as the ensuing Arab terror war that left over 1,000 Israelis murdered came to be known.
5. WILL BENNETT BE THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER?
by Uzi Baruch
Education Minister Naftali Bennett (Jewish Home) will be the next Prime Minister, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Jewish Home) opined during a Channel 10 interview.
Shaked firmly believes that Bennett will succeed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, but also did not deny a possibility that Bennett could quit the party. If so, she said, "I would not rule out the possibility of running to be the head of the party."
"I do not know if Jewish Home is built to have a female party chairman, but the fact is that a woman was chosen as the #1 MK during the primaries," she added.
When asked about a recent law limiting monthly pay for executives, Shaked replied that the legislation is "extreme."
"The social rights of bankers have been violated, and it will cause people to leave [Israel - ed.]," Shaked said. "We're talking about setting a global precedent and we should have made a more moderate version of the law."
"You have to remember: all of our money is in the banks, and we need our best people managing it there."
6. 'MEDDLING OBAMA OWES NETANYAHU AN APOLOGY'
by Nitsan Keidar
US President Barack Obama's visit to the UK last week in which he gave unsolicited advice pressuring Britain to stay in the European Union (EU) has raised fury among Britons, but also disbelief among American Jewish leaders given Obama's apparent double standards.
Several top British politicians last Friday suggested Obama is pressuring the UK to stay in the EU because of his Kenyan background, arguing he wants the UK to be less independent given lingering hostility over Britain's colonialism.
In America his conduct was met with surprise as well, as prominent American Jewish leaders Alan Dershowitz and Elliott Abrams both noted Obama's hypocrisy given his anger at Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu when he spoke in Congress last March warning against the Iran nuclear deal.
Dershowitz, a Harvard law professor, wrote in an op-ed on Fox News last Friday that Obama defended his meddling in the UK vote "by suggesting that in a democracy, friends should be able to speak their minds, even when they are visiting another country."
"Nor did he stop at merely giving the British voters unsolicited advice, he also issued a not so veiled threat. He said that 'The UK is going to be in the back of the queue' on trade agreements if they exit the EU," pointed out Dershowitz.
The legal expert noted the hypocrisy given Obama's outrage when Netanyahu "spoke his mind about the Iran Deal."
"There are, of course, differences: first, Israel has a far greater stake in the Iran deal than the United States has in whatever decision the British voters make about Brexit: and second, Benjamin Netanyahu was representing the nearly unanimous view of his countrymen, whereas there is no evidence that Americans favor or oppose Brexit in large numbers."
Dershowitz wrote that another difference is that UK Prime Minister David Cameron invited Obama whereas Obama did not invite Netanyahu. However, he clarified that Congress, which has equal standing to the president, invited the Israeli Prime Minister, thereby making the matter a non-issue.
"So what is it Mr. President? Should friends speak their minds about controversial issues when visiting another country, or should they keep their views to themselves?," wrote Dershowitz.
"The president owes the American people, and Benjamin Netanyahu, an explanation for his apparent hypocrisy and inconsistency."
Calling for one rule for all such situations regardless of whether the leaders of friendly nations agree or disagree, Dershowitz urged "open dialogue among friends on all issues of mutual importance."
"Under this rule, which President Obama now seems to accept, he should have welcomed Prime Minister Netanyahu's advocacy before Congress, instead of condemning it," concluded the law professor.
"Obama threatened, Bibi didn't"
Elliott Abrams, a former American diplomat, also criticized Obama for his hypocritical stance in his blog on the Council on Foreign Relations website on Saturday.
Abrams pointed out that not only did Obama "offer an opinion, as Netanyahu did, and not only did he fly to the UK to offer that opinion, as Bibi flew to Washington, but he did something Netanyahu did not do: he threatened the UK."
"Proponents of 'Brexit' argue that the UK can after leaving the EU negotiate free trade agreements with the EU and US, so that British trade is not harmed. While in London Obama said the UK would go 'to the back of the queue' and was anyway too small for a free trade agreement with the US."
The ex-diplomat dismissed the free trade comment as being "silly," because after all the US has such an agreement with Oman despite its size.
He added that "the 'queue' point is an empty threat - both because Obama is leaving office soon and will not be in charge of that queue, and because it is blindingly obvious that such an agreement would be in the interest of the United States and we would seek one quickly."
Refocusing, Abrams said his point is not about the UK's decision regarding the EU, but rather "it is about the hypocrisy of Obama and his acolytes last year in feigning outrage about Netanyahu's conduct."
"We have a Congress whose Speaker invited Netanyahu to speak about an issue of major national security concern to us and even greater import to his country. He spoke, making a straightforward argument. Now Obama goes to the UK to speak about an issue that affects our country far less than Iranian nuclear weapons affect Israel, and he adds threats to his arguments, and that's supposed to be fine?"
Like Dershowitz, Abrams dismissed the criticism of those saying Obama did not invite Netanyahu because that invitation was issued by the party in power in Congress.
He also discredited the claim that "it is fine for our president to intervene in referenda abroad, but for a foreign leader to express views about our own decisions is absolutely out, even when Congress invites him to do so."
Jeff Dunetz, popular Washington D.C. blogger, wrote an incisive analysis that can be seen on Arutz Sheva..
7. STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED IN THE DIASPORA
by Arutz Sheva Staff
As always, Arutz Sheva presents news highlights from the past 24 hours for all our many readers in the Jewish Diaspora celebrating two days of chag.
12 places you have to visit this Chol HaMoed Pesach
True, this is a very Israeli-centric story, but if you're in Israel at all during Passover, we've put together a list of sites you just have to see.
Israeli fighter jets scramble to intercept undeclared airliner
Israel Air Force jets were called into action, when an unidentified aircraft from Egypt crossed into Israeli airspace. Fears were high after an Egyptian hijacked an airliner on its way to Cyprus, as well as the fatal ISIS attack on an Egyptian airliner last year.
Fortunately, this incident was resolved more peacefully.
Horrifying massacre in Ohio
An investigation and urgent manhunt have been opened after an entire family were murdered in their sleep, in what police say was a planned execution.
13 Jews kicked off the Temple Mount, as Passover security bolstered throughout Jerusalem
With fears of more Arab terror attacks keeping many tourists away from Jerusalem, police removed 13 Jewish visitors to the Temple Mount from the holy site, alleging they broke strict rules banning Jewish and other non-Muslim forms of worship.
House arrest for activist who attempted Passover Sacrifice
In a related story, Raphael Morris, leader of Return to the Mount movement, was placed under house arrest Sunday. Morris had attempted to offer the Korban Pesach (Passover Sacrifice) on the Temple Mount, but was prevented from doing so by police, who say such moves could "provoke" Muslims.
White House to release earth-shattering documents on 9/11
Report said to include evidence of Saudi Arabian connivance in devastating September 11 terrorist attacks.
Extremely rare ancient Egyptian seal discovered in northern Israel
Israeli archaeologists working at a dig near Haifa unearthed a beautifully-preserved ancient scarab seal, which belonged to a viceroy to a Pharaoh in Egypt some time in the 17-18th Centuries BCE. The extremely rare find has prompted a further look into the role of an ancient sea port at Tel Dor in the ancient world.
Hollywood hairstylist ditches LA, helps terror victim
Maurice Dadoun is a world-renown hairstylist who left a Beverly Hills lifestyle to come back home to Israel. Just two months after his aliyah, Dadoun decided to use his skills to help a victim of the recent Jerusalem bus bombing.
Car accident, or terror attack?
Police are investigating whether a deadly car crash along on Route 375 was caused by a Palestinian rock-throwing attack.
Arab Jerusalem school holds "meet and greet" for terrorists' families
An Islamist-run school in Jabel Mukaber hosted the families of several terrorists killed attacking Israelis during the recent wave of violence - including a terrorist who murdered four elderly Israelis in a gun and knife massacre aboard a Jerusalem bus.
Youngest girl terrorist released after just 2.5 months
Dima al-Wawi, was jailed on February 9 when she tried to conduct a stabbing attack. She was caught by security forces with a knife in her possession on the outskirts of Karmei Tzur in Gush Etzion, Judea.
Mahmoud Abbas blames "Israeli occupation" for... ruining the environment
Never one to miss an opportunity to attack Israel, Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas took aim at the Jewish state from the podium of the UN Climate Summit in New York on Friday. At the very least, he deserves some credit for consistency - and keeping a straight face.
First-ever Passover Seder at the United Nations
But, it's not all bad from the UN. Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon hosted the first Pesach Seder Night in New York, with dozens of other ambassadors in attendance.
8. WATCH: RETURNING A HOME TO JEWISH HANDS
by Eliran Aharon
A building belonging to Jews in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem has returned to Jewish hands this week.
The Yeshayahu Dolgin building has been the center of a two-year legal battle between the State and the Dolgin family over the site, with help from the Ateret Cohanim yeshiva.
Arutz Sheva attended a ceremony celebrating the renovation of one of the apartments of the complex on Monday, and spoke with several of the residents and supporters, as well as Rabbi Dolgin's children, about the importance of a Jewish presence in the Old City.
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Dr. Irwin Moskowitz bought and dedicated the building to his dear friend, Chicago native and Torah advocate Rabbi Avraham Yeshayahu Dolgin.
Born in Chicago, Dolgin received rabbinical ordination at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, and then became the rabbi of the Beth Jacob Congregation in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. He served in this position for 32 years, until he made aliyah (immigration) to Israel in 1971, urging his congregation members to follow in his footsteps.
Rabbi Dolgin then became rabbi in the budding Ramat Eshkol neighborhood in Jerusalem. Among his accomplishments: founding of the Hillel Hebrew Academy in Beverly Hills, serving as Director-General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Jerusalem for five years, and chairing the World Mizrachi-Hapoel Hamizrachi Movement.He passed away in 2004, at age 89.
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