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Monday, Jun. 06 '16, Iyar 29, 5776
HEADLINES:
1. TERROR ATTACKS ON FRENCH SYNAGOGUES, MOSQUES THWARTED
2. NETANYAHU HEADS TO RUSSIA AS TIES WITH MOSCOW STRENGTHEN
3. LIBERMAN PREPARING TO DEMOLISH SAMARIA COMMUNITY?
4. JORDANIAN SECURITY AGENTS KILLED IN ATTACK ON PALESTINIAN CAMP
5. DRIVER SMUGGLED ANTIQUITIES IN NORWEGIAN AMBASSADOR'S CAR
6. RIVLIN: I TOLD OBAMA TWO-STATE SOLUTION IS 'IRRELEVANT'
7. WHEN A RABBI WORE JEANS AND A WIG TO SAVE A JEW
8. MOVING: HAREDI BATTALION 'RECONQUERS' JERUSALEM
1. TERROR ATTACKS ON FRENCH SYNAGOGUES, MOSQUES THWARTED
by Ari Soffer
A major terrorist attack on Jewish and Muslim places of worship during an international soccer tournament in France was thwarted Monday.
Ukraine's State Security Service (SBU) announced it had arrested an ultra-nationalist Frenchman named as 25-year-old Gregoire M, on Ukraine's border with Poland, according to French Media.
According to SBU chief Vasyl Hrytsak the suspect had amassed a huge arsenal of weapons - including rifles, anti-tank weapons, detonators and 125 kg of TNT, and was planning 15 attacks during the Euro 2016 games.
His targets reportedly included synagogues and mosques. He also planned to attack railways, bridges and other strategic targets.
Video footage and pictures released by the SBU showed the moment a blond-haired man was arrested by counter-terrorism police as he entered a white van, as well as pictures of his extensive arsenal.
"The Frenchman spoke negatively about his government's actions, mass immigration, the spread of Islam and globalization, and also talked about plans to carry out several terrorist attacks," Gritsak told a press conference.
The suspect had reportedly been in touch with illegal militias in Ukraine with the aim of building a huge arsenal to use in his one-man terror rampage.
2. NETANYAHU HEADS TO RUSSIA AS TIES WITH MOSCOW STRENGTHEN
by Ari Soffer
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu headed to Moscow this morning, for his third visit to the Kremlin in nine months, as Israel-Russia ties continues to burgeon.
The meeting is the fourth one between Netanyahu and Russia President Vladimir Putin during the same period, after the pair also met at the sidelines of the recent UN climate change conference in Paris. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has also met with Putin during that time, even cancelling a trip to Australia to visit the Russian leader at the Kremlin.
In an illustration of the growing alliance between their two countries, this time Netanyahu is scheduled to stay in Russia for an extended trip of two and a half days, meeting other leading Russian officials as well as the Russian President.
The official pretext for this visit is to mark 25 years of official diplomatic relations between Israel and Russia. Until then, Israel's relationship with what was then the Soviet Union had been hostile one, with Moscow backing Israel's Arab enemies and declaring itself opposed to Zionism.
Today, however, things are very different. Official explanations aside, the two leaders will be engaging on a range of issues of mutual interest and potential cooperation, most notably the ongoing bloody civil war in Syria.
Russia, which supports Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, has been heavily engaged in Syria on the side of the regime. While Israel considers the Assad regime - a close ally of Iran - an enemy, and is still technically at war with it, Jerusalem and Moscow have seen their interests in Syria converge as of late.
Last year, Netanyahu and Putin reached a landmark agreement to coordinate all Israeli and Russian forces in and over the skies of Israel's northern neighbor.
Israel, concerned over the growing Iranian presence in Syria, has operated extensively to thwart the transfers of sophisticated weaponry and radar equipment to Hezbollah, which is also fighting on behalf of the Syrian regime. The Israeli air force has also assassinated several leading Hezbollah terrorists based in Syria, who were plotting attacks against Israeli targets.
While Russia is working to secure its own strategic interests in Syria - most crucially by preserving its naval and other military bases in western Syria - the Kremlin has made it clear it has no interest in facilitating attacks against Israel, and has allowed Israeli aircraft free movement over the skies of Syria. In return, among other things, Israel has committed to alerting Russia of impending airstrikes to ensure no Russian casualties, and has allowed Russian aircraft to cross into Israeli airspace when operationally necessary for its operations in southern Syria.
In a symbolic illustration of the growing alliance, last week Putin signed an executive order to hand over an Israeli tank seized by pro-Soviet Arab forces in Syria during the First Lebanon War.
But while previous - far more speedy - visits by Netanyahu have focused purely on the Syrian crisis, this extended trip is expected to also deal with a range of other issues, according to sources close to the PM. Among other things, the pair will discuss the battle against global Islamic terrorism, as well as the diplomatic process with the Palestinian Authority.
Both topics come at a particularly important time. Russia - which is in Syria ostensibly to fight jihadist terrorists - is also a backer of Iran, the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, and Israeli leaders hope they can persuade the Russians to use their leverage with Iran to curb Tehran's increasingly aggressive designs in the region.
On the diplomatic front, Netanyahu will look to Russia as a way to offset a hostile White House's recent veiled threats to not use its veto in the Security Council, as well as increased pressure from Europe to impose a two-state solution over the heads of the Israeli government.
The growing Israeli-Russian alliance also illustrates Moscow's rising influence in the Middle East, as US President Barack Obama has pulled back America's presence and influence in the region considerably.
3. LIBERMAN PREPARING TO DEMOLISH SAMARIA COMMUNITY?
by Arutz Sheva Staff
Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman has canceled a planned visit by his Yisrael Beytenu party to the Jewish town of Amona in Samaria, raising fears that the new "nationalist" defense minister will act to demolish the community despite previous statements of solidarity.
Amona is slated for destruction by the end of 2016, in accordance with a Supreme Court ruling, Army Radio reports. As defense minister, Avigdor Liberman is responsible for administration of Judea and Samaria, including enforcing demolition orders.
The Yisrael Beytenu leader had been scheduled for today (Monday), but on the morning of Liberman's swearing in as defense minister party leaders called community heads at Amona to cancel.
The official reason for the cancellation given by Liberman's office is a problem with scheduling, given his new responsibilities.
"From the moment he entered his (new) role, the minister's time has been dedicated to urgent matters... and therefore no new dates will be set for events which were on his previous schedule," sources from Liberman's office responded to the report.
As for why such personal scheduling problems should require all party members to cancel their trip, the sources said a faction event must by definition include all party members.
Residents of Amona are skeptical, however, noting that the "hardline" Liberman of the opposition embarked on an abrupt about-turn on entry into the government, repeatedly insisting he would be "pragmatic" and coming out strongly in favor of territorial concessions.
4. JORDANIAN SECURITY AGENTS KILLED IN ATTACK ON PALESTINIAN CAMP
by Ari Soffer
Three Jordanian intelligence officers and two civilian employees have been killed in a terrorist attack on a security forces headquarters at a Palestinian refugee camp in Jordan.
According to Jordanian government officials, the attack took place at an office of the General Intelligence Department in Baqa'a, located on the outskirts of the capital Amman.
Jordanian television cited by Reuters news agency quoted a government spokesman as saying that the "terrorist attack" took place at 7 a.m., without providing any further details.
According to Al Arabiya news, security forces captured alive the two gunmen behind the attack after a two-hour chase.
"Palestinian refugee camps" in Jordan are in fact built-up neighborhoods, which house the descendants of Palestinians who fled Israel during Arab invasions of the Jewish state. In Jordan, as in most other Arab countries, Palestinians are segregated from the rest of society in an attempt to preserve their "refugee" status as a political weapon, and often complain of discrimination.
5. DRIVER SMUGGLED ANTIQUITIES IN NORWEGIAN AMBASSADOR'S CAR
by Ari Soffer
The Norwegian Ambassador to Israel's chauffeur was arrested on the Allenby Crossing between Israel and Jordan, as he attempted to smuggle ancient artifacts out of the country.
Customs Authority agents discovered some 10 kilograms of antique sculptures, coins and other items concealed in cardboard boxes and hidden in the walls of the Norwegian Ambassador's Mercedes late last month.
The precise value of the antiquities has yet to be determined.
The driver, Issa Nagam of Beit Hanina in Jerusalem, was arrested under suspicion of antiquities smuggling, and later released to house arrest with strict conditions on his movement by a Jerusalem court.
Nagam was arrested on May 31, as he traveled along Allenby Bridge in the Ambassador's car, together with an unidentified senior Norwegian diplomat.
In a statement to Norway's Dagbladet, the Norwegian Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed the incident, which they said they took "very seriously."
They said Israeli officials requested, and received, permission from the Norwegian Embassy to inspect the car after receiving "concrete tips about smuggling."
The foreign ministry added it was conducting its own investigation into how a diplomatic vehicle was used for such illegal activity.
Israeli Customs Authority
6. RIVLIN: I TOLD OBAMA TWO-STATE SOLUTION IS 'IRRELEVANT'
by Eliran Aharon
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin recounted how he told US President Barack Obama that a "two-state solution" to the Israeli-Arab conflict is "irrelevant."
Rivlin was speaking during a tour of the Binyamin Region of Samaria, as a guest of Yesha Council leader Avi Roeh. The Yesha Council represents the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria.
Addressing a group of some 80 local community leaders at Psagot winery just north of Jerusalem, Rivlin described his last meeting with Obama at the White House.
"I told President Obama that the two-state solution is not relevant - that is my personal opinion," Rivlin said.
Rivlin - a longtime supporter of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria - highlighted the ancient Jewish connection to those lands, and brushed off attempts by UNESCO to deny the existence of Jewish heritage sites in Israel.
"Regarding Shiloh, we don't need UNESCO to prove historical facts," Rivlin said, referring to the neighboring Jewish town, which served as the first Israelite capital and today is home to some 350 Jewish families.
"You settled here in cooperation with the government of Israel, and for that I bless you," he added.
7. WHEN A RABBI WORE JEANS AND A WIG TO SAVE A JEW
by Hillel Fendel
Rabbi Yitzchak David Grossman, legendary head of the Migdal Ohr Institutions in Migdal HaEmek in the Jezreel Valley – known as the "Disco Rabbi" because of his practice of entering noisy nightclubs to find potential returnees to Torah – related the following extraordinary incident in his most recently column in the weekly BaKehillah.
In the days preceding Yom Kippur one year, a man came to Rabbi Grossman and tearfully told him that his grandson had been caught in the clutches of missionaries. "My son and his family live in Europe," the man said, "and they sent their son to study in Israel. He ended up renting an apartment with a missionary, who convinced him to move to a monastery in Dir Hana to learn Christianity. How can I pray on Yom Kippur when my own grandson is sitting in a monastery?!"
Dir Hana, located not far from Migdal HaEmek, is a predominantly Muslim village, with a Christian monastery perched on a hilltop at the edge of town. Rabbi Grossman contacted the village mukhtar and asked for his help in entering the monastery. The mukhtar said that his son is in charge of bringing food up to the site, and that he could give him a lift up the hill. But in order not to attract attention, the distinguished Hassidic-looking rabbi, originally from Meah She'arim, put on a wig and jeans and made his way up to the monastery on a tractor loaded with bread, vegetables and other victuals.
The disguise worked; the Christians thought he was a new recruit and allowed him to enter. Rabbi Grossman quickly located the young man in question, and asked to talk with him privately. They entered a side room, Rabbi Grossman took off his wig, and the astonished boy exclaimed, "Rav Grossman?! What are you doing here?!"
"What are you doing here?" the rabbi countered. "Your grandfather survived the Nazi camps – does he deserve this? He came to me crying and cannot be comforted!" The boy began to cry and complain about things his family had done to him, but Rabbi Grossman was insistent: "I hear you, but you have gone too far. Yom Kippur is two days from now. How can you remain here on that holy day?"
The boy said, "No matter what, I eat on Yom Kippur." Rav Grossman said, "I have a full refrigerator at home – just come! Be with us in Migdal HaEmek on Yom Kippur."
The boy refused to commit himself, yet they still parted warmly, and Rav Grossman got back on the tractor to return home.
Yom Kippur came – with no sign of the boy. "I was very tense," the rabbi related, "and with a very heavy heart, I began reciting Kol Nidre… But the next night, after the fast, I received a very emotional call from the grandfather, who told that his grandson had spent Yom Kippur in the synagogue with him, full of remorse at what he had done and resolved to start on a new path."
Many years later, Rabbi Grossman continued, "I was in a shtiebel in Monsey, New York, when a local man came up to me, dressed as a typical Orthodox Jew. He bent down to me with a smile and whispered, 'Rabbi Grossman, where's your wig?'"
8. MOVING: HAREDI BATTALION 'RECONQUERS' JERUSALEM
by Arutz Sheva Staff
A full 300 warriors of the Kfir brigade's Netzah Yehuda battalion, better known as the haredi battalion, conducted a massive march in Jerusalem on Sunday in honor of Jerusalem Day, marking 49 years since Israel liberated all of the capital.
[youtube:2015939]
The soldiers marched along the major streets of Jerusalem towards the Kotel (Western Wall) to "reconquer" the Old City, in the first time IDF soldiers launched such a march in the capital on Jerusalem Day.
A festive mood reigned as the soldiers began their march at Sacher Park, walking up Bezalel Street and down Ben Yehuda, along King George and on through Jaffa until they reached the Jaffa Gate of the Old City. From there they walked through the Jewish Quarter on to the Kotel.
Numerous traffic routes were closed by police in order to allow the soldiers to perform their moving march through the city, singing as they went and raising the morale of the 3,000-year-old Jewish capital.
All of the soldiers performed the march in full combat gear while carrying their automatic weapons.
As they passed the offices of the Nahal Haredi Foundation and the Shiluv Menatzeah - IDF Haredi Alumni Association, which accompanies the soldiers during and after their military service, they met with the foundation's rabbis who marched alongside them.
At the end of the march the soldiers reached the Kotel Plaza, where a ceremony was held attended by Netzah Yehuda battalion commander Lt. Col. Uri Levy and the battalion's rabbi, Cap. Rabbi Shaul Avdiel.
Levy spoke to the soldiers, praising them and describing the power in the connection between their battalion, Jerusalem and the nation of Israel.
Then Rabbi Avdiel spoke to them about Rabbi Yosef Haim Zonnefeld, who taught about the commandment to only see and take the best of Jerusalem and learn from that to be a better person.
Rabbi Yaron David of the Nahal Haredi Foundation said that "the Netzah Yehuda battalion decided to hold the parade today of all days on the day of Jerusalem's celebrations."
"Many Gedolim (leading rabbis - ed.) have considered this day to be a day of joy and festivities, among them, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Oirbach, Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv and Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, ORM. This march was held in the spirit of the duty to be joyous, as expressed in their leadership."
Hillel Maeir
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