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Sunday, Jul. 17 '16, י"א בתמוז תשע"ו
HEADLINES:
1. BOMBING ATTACK AVERTED IN CENTRAL JERUSALEM
2. POLICE: BOMBER TARGETED JERUSALEM LIGHT RAIL
3. TWO IDF SOLDIERS KILLED BY GRENADE
4. 'WE SAW THE BOMB, I WAS SURE I WAS GOING TO DIE'
5. ISRAEL SECRETLY WORKING TO REDEEM JEWISH PROPERTY IN ARAB WORLD
6. CANADIAN POLITICIAN DENIES HOLOCAUST IN ONLINE VIDEO
7. 'WE PREVENTED A BIG ATTACK TODAY, THANK GOD IT ENDED LIKE THIS'
8. EXPERT: FAILED COUP IN TURKEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN STAGED
1. BOMBING ATTACK AVERTED IN CENTRAL JERUSALEM
by Yedidya Ben-Or
[video:2017222]
[youtube:2017220]
A bomb scare near the Jerusalem light rail shut down much of central Jerusalem Sunday morning.
An Arab passenger boarding the light rail near the intersection of Yafo and King George aroused the suspicions of the train's security guards, who questioned the man in an attempt to discern whether he posed a threat.
During the conversation, the man claimed he was carrying an explosive device in his bag. Security guards then detained the man, who was handed over to Jerusalem police for interrogation.
Police shut down portions of Yafo and King George streets in the capital to traffic. Light rail train service was also suspended.
The police bomb squad was called to the scene to handle the man's bag, which was revealed to contain a number of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
The suspect is a Palestinian Authority resident in his 20s.
Bomber nabbed boarding Jerusalem light rail Alona Cohen
Bomber nabbed boarding Jerusalem light rail Alona Cohen
Bomber nabbed boarding Jerusalem light rail Alona Cohen
2. POLICE: BOMBER TARGETED JERUSALEM LIGHT RAIL
by Eliran Aharon
Following the capture Sunday morning of a Palestinian Authority resident carrying a pack of explosive devices, Jerusalem District Police Commander Yoram HaLevy confirmed to reporters that the would-be bomber had targeted the Jerusalem light rail.
The terrorist was intercepted be train security guards after arousing their suspicion. During questioning by the guards, the terrorist admitted that he was carrying bombs in his bag.
The terrorist was distanced from the train and sections of Yafo and King George streets were shut down to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
HaLevy told reporters that the terrorist was carrying a relatively large explosive pack, which he apparently intended to set off after he boarded the light rail train.
The District Commander added that Israeli security forces had no prior warning ahead of the attempted attack, and that the bomber was stopped thanks to alert train guards.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat praised the guards' work, thanking them for warding off what could have potentially been a catastrophic attack.
"This morning, thanks to the alertness of the light rail guards of the City of Jerusalem a huge terror attack was prevented."
3. TWO IDF SOLDIERS KILLED BY GRENADE
by Arutz Sheva Staff
Two Israeli soldiers were killed and a third seriously injured in an accident early Sunday morning in the Golan Heights.
A live grenade carried in one of the soldier's vests reportedly detonated inside a patrol jeep around the Hermon near the Syrian border.
The soldiers have been identified as 20-year-old Sergeant Shlomo Rindenow and 24-year-old Sergeant First Class Hussam Tapesh. Rindenow is from Sde Yoav, though he has relatives in New Jersey. Tapesh is from Beit Jann.
Both victims' families have been informed of the tragedy. An army spokesperson says that the IDF shares in their sorrow, and will continue to assist the families.
General Aviv Kochavi, the commander of the IDF's northern command, has appointed a team of specialists to investigate the incident.
4. 'WE SAW THE BOMB, I WAS SURE I WAS GOING TO DIE'
by David Rosenberg
When security guards for the Jerusalem light rail system detained a suspicious man near a station at the corner of Yafo and King George, passengers and passersby noticed the disturbance – but few comprehended at the time how narrowly a tragedy was averted, one that could have easily left them dead or injured.
But Rafael Sin-Shalom, an employee at a nearby store who stepped out to share a smoke with one of the guards moments before the attack was averted, got an uncomfortably close view of the bomb that very nearly cut so many lives short.
"I went out to smoke a cigarette with one of the guards," Sin-Shalom recounted to Channel 2. "The guard noticed the terrorist and asked him to identify himself. He instructed him to remove his backpack. The guard, who is of Druze background, began speaking with him in Arabic, and started doing a body search. I understood that this wasn't something routine, so I pushed the bag [away from the terrorist] towards me and stood next to it."
The security guard and Sin-Shalom then peered inside the bag – and were horrified to discover a large bomb.
"We looked into the bag, we saw the explosive device, and our hearts dropped into our stomachs. I turned white and broke out in a sweat. We started to warn everyone and yell that there was an explosive device. I didn't know where to run. I told people in the store to flee, and I waited for an explosion. I was sure I was about to die."
"The security guard was also terrified. He threw the terrorist on the ground, aimed his gun at him, and warned him not to move. We were just scared to death. The bag was right between my feet."
5. ISRAEL SECRETLY WORKING TO REDEEM JEWISH PROPERTY IN ARAB WORLD
by David Rosenberg
Israeli officials are on the verge of recovering millions of dollars in lost Jewish assets from across the Arab world and Iran, Social Equality Director-General Avi Cohen revealed on Wednesday.
Speaking at a hearing of the Knesset's Immigration, Absorption, and Diaspora Affairs Committee, Cohen gave some insights into the government's efforts to redeem property lost by Sephardic and Mizrachi refugees who fled their homes across the Middle East after the establishment of Israel in 1948.
Committee chair Avraham Negosa (Likud) called for unity in the efforts to restore lost Jewish assets to their rightful owners.
"Those who came from Arab states left their countries and left their property behind. We want to bring about historic justice, and finally make sure that this property is returned to its owners. It's very important that the opposition and coalition be united on this issue. That's an important tool for success."
Cohen revealed that the government was indeed working towards that end, and a joint effort of the Foreign Ministry was likely to bear fruit in the near future.
"There is classified activity in conjunction with the Foreign Ministry in which we will invest millions to restore property belonging to Arab and Iranian Jewry, which will come to fruition within a month to a month-and-half. I cannot elaborate further."
Both coalition and opposition MKs called for a resolution of the lingering issue, demanding the government do more to redeem lost property to their Sephardic and Mizrachi owners.
"There is a change among part of the establishment that recognizes the glorious communities of the Jews of Arabia and Islam, and we hope that we will be able to correct this injustice," said Likud MK Oren Hazan, who called for the hearing. "Till they passed a law, one time it wasn't implemented and another time it wasn't worded well enough."
Zionist Union chief Isaac Herzog endorsed efforts to recover lost property, while also linking the issue to his efforts for a "regional arrangement".
"The issue was explicitly mentioned in our party platform before the last elections. If there is a move toward a regional arrangement, there's no doubt that this issue must be on the agenda."
6. CANADIAN POLITICIAN DENIES HOLOCAUST IN ONLINE VIDEO
by Dalit Halevi
Monika Schaefer, a former candidate parliamentary candidate on behalf of Canada's Green Party, is under fire for producing a video denying that the Holocaust took place.
In the video, entitled "Sorry Mom, I was wrong about the Holocaust," Schaefer refers to the Holocaust as "the six-million lie" and claims "these things did not happen."
The video begins with Schaefer playing her violin, but then she goes into a speech about how the Holocaust is "the biggest and most pernicious, persistent lie in all of history."
She acknowledges the fact that there were camps, but denies they were death camps and claims they were work camps.
"The prisoners of the camps were being kept as healthy and as well fed as was possible in those terrible war years. They needed to be kept healthy. How else could they perform the work? It was war, and so the camps were basically armaments factories. And how much sense does it make, by the way, to have a hospital in a death camp?" says Schaefer in the video.
"There were no gas chambers there. The only gas that was used was to get rid of the lice! Lice carried typhus and typhus was a deadly and rampant disease. So they had to delouse the clothing to keep the people healthy," she continues.
In response, the Green Party of Canada issued a statement in which it made clear it condemns Schaefer's comments "in the strongest possible terms."
"Monika Schaefer's comments denying the Holocaust are outrageous and shocking. Ms. Schaefer has no standing within the Green Party of Canada, and her views are exclusively her own," said Emily McMillan, Executive Director of the Green Party of Canada.
"In light of Ms. Schaefer's untrue statements made in a recent online video, we will be initiating the process to terminate her membership with the Green Party of Canada at the earliest possible opportunity," McMillan added.
7. 'WE PREVENTED A BIG ATTACK TODAY, THANK GOD IT ENDED LIKE THIS'
by Shai Landesman
Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat invited the light rail security guards who prevented a terror attack in Jerusalem this morning (Sunday) to his office to thank them personally and officially for their exemplary service in saving many lives.
One of the security guards noticed a man standing behind the light rail station on the corner of King George and Jaffa streets, holding a backpack and looking furtive and suspicious. The guard immediately confronted the man and asked to see what was in the bag. The suspect tried to avoid him, but the guard was able to see what looked like a bomb. He alerted his colleagues immediately, and they were able to neutralize the terrorist. Police arrived shortly and the bomb was diffused.
Sitting with Jerusalem District Police Commander Yoram HaLevi, Barkat told the guards: "The Police Commander and I were extremely impressed with your ability to identify suspicious, non-standard behavior, and to professionally approach and diffuse your situation. Your alertness and professionalism saved a lot of lives today. The people of Jerusalem thank you."
The Mayor urged all security personnel and the general public in the city to learn from the example. "Everyone must keep their eyes open. Anything out of the ordinary, anything not standard, should be noticed, just like the light rail security guards did today. This way we have a formidable defense mechanism against terror attacks."
Barkat then reiterated one of his signature pieces of advice. "Most importantly, after something like this, we must return to our daily routines as quickly as possible. The residents of Jerusalem must continue their lives as normal and allow terror to scare them. This is how each and every resident takes part in combating terror. This is our victory over it."
Commander HaLevy and Barkat expressed their appreciation at the light rail resuming its operations an hour and a half after the terror attack was thwarted, saying it was a further testament to the professionalism and efficiency of the security forces, and to the general desire to return to normal and not let terror disrupt Jerusalem city life.
The guard who originally recognized the terrorist and confronted him had only a few words of gratitude to say. "Thank God. I want to thank the people who trained us to get us ready for this. I want to thank my partner, for helping me. We prevented a serious attack. This could have ended in a very different way, but thank God it ended the way it did."
The Mayor presented the guards with official city of Jerusalem pins, as a small token of appreciation from the city.
8. EXPERT: FAILED COUP IN TURKEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN STAGED
by Shai Landesman
[youtube:2017234]
Middle East expert Dr. Ephraim Herrera spoke to Arutz Sheva about Friday night's attempted coup in Turkey, providing background and expert analysis.
"The coup attempt is not surprising. Erdogan is connected to the Muslim brotherhood and aims to make Turkey an Islamic state again. So naturally the partisans of the Ataturk movement, who follow Mustafa Kemal Ataturk who'd removed Islam from Turkish politics, are not to happy about this," Dr. Herrera explained.
He then clarified that the Muslim Brotherhood doesn't operate like ISIS. Their goal is to bring about Islamic world-domination through pacifist means, mainly demographic ones. "We already see very large Turkish populations in Germany, Belgium, and other countries, and if Turkey enters the European Union, they would be able to move into anywhere in Europe completely freely."
While the desire for a coup among certain segments of Turkish society is not surprising, elements of the execution of the coup were very surprising indeed, said the Islam expert: "The generals didn't cut off internet access during their operation, so Erdogan was able to freely and efficiently communicate with his supporters, and get crowds down to the streets to prevent the revolution. This means we cannot know whether this was really a coup by the officers, or one staged by Erdogan so that he can then eliminate opposition."
When asked about the implications of Thursday night's horrific terror attack in Nice, Herrera said it attaches to ISIS ideology. "Islam is not conquering France quite yet. But the kind of terror we are seeing comes from the ideas and aims of Islamic State, as written explicitly in the book written by Abu Musab a-Suri, the ideologue of ISIS. His aim is to terrorize the western populations by attacks conducted by lone wolves, without need for affiliation with ISIS. They just read the instructions written by ISIS figures and disseminated online. Remember, the terrorist in Nice was a French citizen."
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