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Monday, Aug. 29 '16, כ"ה באב תשע"ו
HEADLINES:
1. PLATOON COMMANDER: I ALSO FEARED TERRORIST HAD A BOMB
2. WILL NAHAL HAREDI SOLDIER BECOME THE NEXT ELOR AZARIYA?
3. NY STATE ATTORNEY TARGETED BY ANTI-SEMITIC TRUMP SUPPORTERS
4. 300 ORTHODOX RABBIS URGE REPORTING OF CHILD SEX ABUSE
5. 'BEN-ELIEZER WAS AN AGGRESSIVE, PREDATORY CRIMINAL'
6. ARGENTINE BOXER WINS WORLD BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE ON RETURN TO RING
7. WATCH: RESCUE EFFORTS CONTINUE AFTER NEARLY 300 KILLED IN QUAKE
8. COMBATING BDS - WITH CREATIVITY
1. PLATOON COMMANDER: I ALSO FEARED TERRORIST HAD A BOMB
by Arutz Sheva Staff
The platoon commander of Elor Azariya, the Kfir Brigade soldier charged with manslaughter over the March 24th shooting of a wounded terrorist, testified in court on Monday, backing up claims by the defendant that he had legitimate concerns the terrorist was carrying an explosive device.
Azariya, who was serving in Hevron, had responded to a terror attack which left a soldier wounded when he spotted one of the two terrorists involved. The terrorist had been wounded, but was moving in such a way as to arouse Azariya's suspicions, he claims, and was wearing an unseasonably warm jacket, often a tell-tale sign of a concealed bomb.
While Azariya's company commander, Tom Naaman, has dismissed his claims and testified against him in court, the platoon commander said he too was concerned that the wounded terrorist may have been carrying an explosive device, adding that he warned soldiers to keep their distance. The platoon commander added that the terrorist had not yet been checked and cleared by the bomb squad and thus should still be considered a possible threat.
The platoon commander also testified that Naaman was reprimanded following the shooting incident, but was unaware of the reason for the censure. Azariya had in testimony claimed that Naaman struck him following the shooting incident, though it is unclear whether the censure was related to this claim.
Responding to questions by the defense, the platoon commander said that soldiers who were later questioned in regards to the case had been told by their commanding officers that the "incident was very serious".
He noted that all platoon commanders in the company had been ordered to discuss the incident with the soldiers under their command and impress upon them the severity of the situation.
When asked why such discussions were held before the investigation had finished interviewing soldiers in connection with the incident, the platoon commander replied that those were the orders that he and other platoon commanders had received.
The defense pressed him on the issue, asking if he did not see discussions intended to emphasize the seriousness of the incident as creating a bias in soldiers who were yet to be questioned, to which he responded that he hadn't thought of it at the time.
2. WILL NAHAL HAREDI SOLDIER BECOME THE NEXT ELOR AZARIYA?
by Arutz Sheva Staff
A combat soldier from the Netzah Yehuda Battalion (also known as the Nahal Haredi) may be prosecuted for shooting a suspicious Arab who charged an army position on Friday.
The soldier, who shot and killed a 38-year old resident of Silwad as he ran towards an IDF pillbox near the Samarian town of Ofra, was warned by investigators on Sunday that he may face an indictment for manslaughter.
During questioning, the soldier said he feared for his safety and the safety of his comrades when he saw the man suddenly begin to sprint towards their position. The man reportedly did not heed calls by the soldiers to halt as he approached the pillbox.
The soldier claims that he opened fire in accordance with army regulations, and that the circumstances justified his actions.
An Arab paramedic who treated the man claims he appeared to have been shot in the back, fuelling accusations within the Palestinian Authority that the shooting was not justified.
"The soldier carried out his duty and acted in accordance with army regulations given the suspicious behavior of the Palestinian and the apparent danger," said Captain Lior Ayesh, who is representing the soldier during the investigation.
"This experienced and valued soldier will be returned to his important duties in his unit by the end of the day."
The warning by investigators that the soldier involved may face prosecution has drawn comparisons with the case of Elor Azariya, a soldier who on March 24th shot and killed a wounded terrorist shortly after a terror attack in Hevron.
Azariya claimed that the terrorist in question was moving suspiciously even after having been wounded, and that he feared the terrorist may have been attempting to activate an explosive device hidden underneath the unseasonably warm jacket he was wearing.
In the wake of the incident Azariya was charged with murder, which was later reduced to manslaughter. The shooting and subsequent investigation prompted a raucous political debate and sparked widespread opposition to the indictment.
3. NY STATE ATTORNEY TARGETED BY ANTI-SEMITIC TRUMP SUPPORTERS
by JTA
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said he has been the target of "gruesome" anti-Semitic tweets from supporters of Donald Trump, whose for-profit Trump University is the target of a state lawsuit alleging fraud.
Schneiderman also joked that he would leave the United States for the Dominican Republic if Trump was elected president.
Schneiderman made the remarks during an interview published Aug. 25 by the New York Daily News. The state attorney, who is Jewish, also said he had been the subject of personal attacks by Trump.
In 2013, Schneiderman filed on behalf of the state a $40 million civil lawsuit against Trump for his Trump University -- now known as the Trump Entrepreneur Initiative -- charging that the real estate training program was a "bait-and-switch" scheme.
The Republican presidential candidate has denied all accusations, calling Schneiderman a "political hack." In February, Trump accused President Barack Obama of bribing Schneiderman with a campaign contribution to bring the lawsuit against Trump University.
The case is not expected to go to trial until after the election. New York's highest court is expected to hold a hearing this fall on a motion by Trump's lawyers to dismiss several of the claims brought by Schneiderman.
"You guys can reach me in the Dominican Republic if there is a Trump administration," Schneiderman said jokingly during an appearance before the Daily News editorial board on Aug. 25.
Schneiderman, a Democrat and supporter of the party's presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, echoed statements made by her on Aug. 25 when he accused Trump's campaign of fomenting racist sentiment, including against Jews.
"You don't get to choose your bigots. Once you go after Muslims and you go after Mexicans, it's open season," he said.
Schneiderman added: "I think probably we are better off having it out in the open rather than having winks and dog whistles for the bigots."
4. 300 ORTHODOX RABBIS URGE REPORTING OF CHILD SEX ABUSE
by JTA
JTA - Three hundred Orthodox rabbis have signed a proclamation urging those suspecting child sex abuse to notify secular authorities and calling on Jewish institutions to take preventative measures to prevent abuse.
The letter, which was released Thursday and signed by rabbis from the United States, Canada, Israel and Europe, recognizes that Orthodox communities "could have responded in more responsible and sensitive ways to help victims and to hold perpetrators accountable." It also condemns attempts to ignore or silence abuse victims and witnesses.
Those suspecting sexual abuse do not need to seek rabbinic approval before contacting civil authorities, the proclamation states.
"We condemn attempts to ignore allegations of child sexual abuse. These efforts are harmful, contrary to Jewish law, and immoral," it said. "The reporting of reasonable suspicions of all forms of child abuse and neglect directly and promptly to the civil authorities is a requirement of Jewish law."
The letter strongly condemns ostracizing victims of sexual abuse and calls upon synagogues and schools to set up policies to prevent sex abuse, including carefully screening new employees, raising awareness of the issue, and teaching children about sexual development and safety.
The proclamation draws upon the biblical precept not to "stand by while your fellow's blood is being spilled" (Leviticus 19:16). One of the signatories likened sexual abuse to murder.
"Every sexual abuser is a potential murderer," said Rabbi Hershel Billet of the Young Israel of Woodmere. "They destroy the souls of their victims and at times cause the death of their victims."
The signatories include members of the Orthodox Union, Rabbinical Council of America and Yeshiva University.
In August 2015, more than 100 haredi Orthodox rabbis and teachers signed a proclamation obligating Jews to report suspected child sex abuse to the authorities, citing the same verse from Leviticus.
5. 'BEN-ELIEZER WAS AN AGGRESSIVE, PREDATORY CRIMINAL'
by Arutz Sheva Staff
Just hours after former Defense Minister Binyamin (Fuad) Ben-Eliezer (Labor) passed away Sunday night, former Justice Minister Yossi Beilin, architect of the disastrous Oslo Accords, ripped into his former rival, calling him "aggressive, predatory," and "criminal."
Speaking to Channel 1 Sunday night, Beilin sparked controversy when he offered a highly critical description of the former Labor leader, describing him as a "predatory" politician.
"In my opinion he was the aggressive, predatory politician. He was [the kind of] politician who should not lead a party like the Labor Party… and certainly not as Defense Minister."
"He was the kind of [politician] that makes people say they don't like politics," added Beilin. "He had no ideological spine".
Despite criticism of his statement, on Monday Beilin expressed no remorse for his comments or their timing, saying in an Army Radio interview that he had nothing to apologize for.
"What should I apologize for? His criminality? His predatory [behavior]? I guess politeness and etiquette aren't my strong suit."
Born in Iraq in 1936, Ben-Eliezer immigrated to Israel on his as a child. He served for 30 years in the IDF, rising to the rank of Brigadier General, before turning to politics.
During his nearly three decades in politics, Ben-Eliezer served as Deputy Prime Minister, Defense Minister, Minister of Housing, and other prominent cabinet positions.
In 2015 Ben-Eliezer was indicted for bribery, money-laundering, tax evasion, and fraud following the discovery of a secret safe-deposit box filled with hundreds of thousands of dollars in undeclared funds.
Investigators suspect the former Defense Minister had received large sums of money from businessmen, including Avraham Nanikashvili, in exchange for easements at the port in Ashdod. Ben-Eliezer withdrew his candidacy for the Israeli presidency as a result.
6. ARGENTINE BOXER WINS WORLD BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE ON RETURN TO RING
by JTA
Argentine Jewish boxer Carolina Raquel Duer won the interim International Boxing Federation's world bantamweight title in her return to the ring after two years.
Duer, 38, nicknamed "The Turk," knocked out Aline de Casia Scaranello of Brazil in the sixth round Friday in Quilmes, a Buenos Aires suburb. The bout was aired live by the main Argentine TV channel sport TyC, which called the knockout "spectacular" and spread a video of the victory via social media.
Duer, a former World Boxing Organization super flyweight and bantamweight champion, raised her record to 19-3 with one draw. The knockout was her sixth. She must defend the IBF crown against Chile's Carolina Rodriguez, who is unbeaten in 15 bouts.
Duer is the daughter of Syrian immigrants to Argentina and attended the Jaim Najman Bialik Primary School in Buenos Aires. She spent more than a month in Israel in her younger years working on a kibbutz and touring the country.
In 2010, Duer was the first Jewish woman to hold a WBO crown, which she defended six times. In 2014 she became a boxer announcer for Argentine National TV.
As an amateur, Duer won 19 of 20 fights.
7. WATCH: RESCUE EFFORTS CONTINUE AFTER NEARLY 300 KILLED IN QUAKE
by Arutz Sheva Staff
[youtube:2018592]
Amid the ruins of towns and villages across central Italy, aid workers continue to search the rubble, looking for possible survivors of last Wednesday's devastating earthquake.
The quake, which claimed 290 lives and left nearly 400 wounded, leveled entire neighborhoods in a communities northeast of Rome.
In the town of Amatrice, home to some 2,600 people, workers from the Italian Red Cross are treating survivors and sifting through the ruins inside the "red" zones – areas where buildings were damaged or destroyed.
Arutz Sheva caught up with Italian Red Cross worker Francesco Barbero at the scene of the rescue operation in Amatrice.
"We are in Amatrice in Lazio. This is the emergency camp of the Italian Red Cross. In this camp [we] are leading all the rescue efforts from our association that is providing relief to the people in the camp… [as well as teams] digging in the ruins inside the 'red' areas of the town."
"The area affected is very big around here. Behind me is the advanced medical post where the medical people from the Italian Red Cross is still providing care to people affected by the earthquake."
"We don't have after four days any more emergency. We are now dealing with the chronic diseases this population has [as a result of the disaster], and we are trying to give what we can in terms of drugs and medication that they have lost inside of their buildings that collapsed."
"On the other side of the advanced medical post is the command post, where all the decisions are taken and where the management of the Italian Red Cross is coordinating their effort here in Amatrice."
8. COMBATING BDS - WITH CREATIVITY
by ILTV
[HTML:2018586]
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