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Thursday, Oct. 20 '16, י"ח בתשרי תשע"ז
HEADLINES:
1. SUKKOT WITH US AMBASSADOR DAN SHAPIRO
2. HOW AN ARAB-ISRAELI COUPLE JOINED ISIS
3. ARRESTED: TERROR RING THAT PLANNED MASS ATTACK AT EVENT HALL
4. TEMPLE MOUNT ACTIVISTS SIMULATE BIBLICAL WATER-DRAWING RITUAL
5. HAREDI SCHOOL PRINCIPAL REFUSES FEMALE STUDENT
6. 'SWISS MEDIA POISONING PUBLIC OPINION AGAINST ISRAEL'
7. HAMAS VOWS TO 'SURPRISE WORLD' IN NEXT PRISONER SWAP
8. 'TRUMP WHITE & BLUE' OPPOSES MEDIA BIAS AGAINST GOP CANDIDATE
1. SUKKOT WITH US AMBASSADOR DAN SHAPIRO
by Arutz Sheva Staff
Credit: Yoni Kempinski
[youtube:2020144]
American Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro welcomed Arutz Sheva into his Sukkah during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot currently underway, shortly before he was set to host in his Sukkah alumni of various exchange programs that the American Embassy runs every year.
Relating to recent actions of left-wing organization B'tselem, which spoke out against Israel at the UN, the Ambassador explained that America has a vested interest in protecting freedom of speech at home and around the world, and implied that the US saw B'tselem as contributing to freedom of speech with its UN appearance. "We encourage that there be a free flow of ideas everywhere in the world [...] It's most important to protect the speech of unpopular ideas - precisely because they are unpopular," he said.
In response to recent events leading up to the American elections, the Ambassador explained that because of America's leadership role in the world, many people are watching and waiting for the election results, though he noted, "Frankly, I think we are all going to be relieved when these elections are over."
In addition, the Ambassador praised the recent defense deal signed between the US and Israel and explained that he disagreed with the decision made by UNESCO to exclude Jews from the history of Jerusalem.
2. HOW AN ARAB-ISRAELI COUPLE JOINED ISIS
by Uzi Baruch
It has been cleared for publication that security forces arrested last month a couple, Wissam and Savrin Zabidat, from the Arab town of Sakhnin in the lower Galilee, as they arrived at Ben Gurion Airport with their three children from Iraq - where they had joined ISIS.
Investigations revealed that the couple had been exposed to ISIS propaganda before their departure.
The journey to Iraq
In mid-June 2015, the couple travelled to Romania with their three children - aged 3, 6, and 8 - for a family event. From there, they travelled, without the knowledge of other family members, to Turkey.
In Turkey, the couple got in contact through Facebook with a resident of Umm al-Fahm who had joined ISIS in 2013. With his help and the help of smugglers, the couple and their children crossed the border into Syria.
Military Training
The couple was met at the Turkish-Syria border by ISIS members, who took the couple's' Israeli passports, and transferred the couple to the ISIS stronghold of Al-Raqqa. There, Wissam was separated from his family and sent to a training camp in Iraq, where he studied religion and ISIS ideology. After his religious indoctrination, he was transferred to another base for military training - including instruction on Kalachnikov, PKS and RPG.
Afterward, Wissam was sent to active duty, during which he helped guard ISIS facilities close to areas of fighting; later, he participated in raids on Iraqi military outposts. In one of these raids, Wissam was injured in his leg and evacuated to a hospital in Mosul.
Life in Iraq under ISIS
Investigation also revealed the family's living conditions after joining Wissam in Iraq. The family lived in cramped conditions, in houses without water or electricity and bad sanitation, without proper medical care or access to medical institutions. The children didn't learn in educational institutions for an extended period, and were exposed to others with contagious diseases. In addition, at the beginning of the year, the couple experienced a serious explosion that resulted in significant destruction and many injured in the area in which the couple lived. As a result, the children suffered trauma.
The investigation also gained insight into daily life under ISIS. For example, ISIS rule discriminates heavily against women, and uses cruel punishment techniques such as cutting off limbs, whipping, and beheading. In addition, ISIS "ethics police" enforce women's dress and the form of a man's beard. ISIS allows holding Yazidi slaves for housework and sex. Starting from age 8, children start military training. In addition, the economic situation in Mosul under ISIS is dire, with many people destitute and starving.
Returning to Israel
Within the context of the difficult situation in Mosul, the couple decided to return to Israel this past June. To this end, the couple turned to family members, who had to pay thousands of dollars to border smugglers and others to ensure the smooth passage of the couple back to Israel. The couple tried to cross the Syria-Turkey border numerous times with their children, which included walking through mountainous terrain in difficult weather, sometimes without food and water. During these attempts, one of the couple's daughters was drugged so that she would not disclose the family's whereabouts. At other times during the attempts to cross the border, the family was met with fire from the Turkish army and from ISIS.
After crossing the border, the couple was arrested by Turkish police, and was placed in a detention camp. After several days, they were freed - but arrested upon their arrival in Israel.
Shin Bet security forces emphasize: "The phenomenon of Israelis going to Syria and Iraq is serious and dangerous. ISIS works to spread false propaganda to present a false image of itself as enabling a good life under Islam, or religious and military adventure. In contrast, the investigation of Israelis returning from Syria and Iraq presents an opposite picture."
Today, the prosecution of the district court in Haifa presented a serious indictment against the couple for departing to enemy territory and joining ISIS.
3. ARRESTED: TERROR RING THAT PLANNED MASS ATTACK AT EVENT HALL
by Arutz Sheva Staff
It has been cleared for publication that a terror ring that had been planning a mass terror attack at an event hall in southern Israel has been arrested. The ring had also been planning to capture and murder a soldier so as to use his body as a bargaining chip.
Mahmoud Yusef Hassin abu Taha of Khan Yunis in Gaza, who was arrested last month for trying to pass into Israel, revealed upon investigation that he stood at the head of an Islamic Jihad-affiliated organization in the Gaza Strip that had planned to carry out a number of attacks. In addition, it was revealed that Mahmoud had been drafted by Wael Sufyan Abu Taha, a senior operative of Islamic Jihad living in Gaza, who instructed Mahmoud to set up a terror infrastructure for carrying out attacks.
Mahmoud didn't hesitate, and drafted three more. One of them, a Gaza resident who had been residing in Israel illegally, was employed at the event hall for which the terror attack was planned.
It was also revealed in the investigation that, for the purposes of preparing the attack, the terror group leader and employee of the hall undertook an initial check of the scene of the planned attack, according to which they were able to consolidate and ensure that a maximum number of people were murdered in the attack.
In tandem, Abu Taha planned an attack whereby a soldier would be captured and murdered - and his body used as a bargaining chip. To this end, he received thousands of shekels to rent an Israeli apartment - to where the soldier would be lured and murdered - to bury his body in the area and to transfer his belongings to Gaza - for the purposes of bargaining with Israel.
The indictment against the terrorists was filed today by the district court in Be'er Sheva.
4. TEMPLE MOUNT ACTIVISTS SIMULATE BIBLICAL WATER-DRAWING RITUAL
by Arutz Sheva Staff
Temple Mount activists simulated yesterday a traditional water-drawing ritual for the Sukkot holiday, which included a special celebratory walk from the Tower of David Visitor's Center to the Shiloah spring, where they dipped in the spring's waters with the priestly blessing.
The worshipers then paraded with ceremonial singing and dancing to the Hurva Synagogue, lead by Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, director of the Temple Institute.
They performed the libation ritual in the square of the Hurva on a wooden altar, with replicas of the "Inner Table" and lights from the Temple.
water drawing Metanel Rahamim
water drawing Metanel Rahamim
water drawing Metanel Rahamim
water drawing Metanel Rahamim
5. HAREDI SCHOOL PRINCIPAL REFUSES FEMALE STUDENT
by Arutz Sheva Staff
Another clash occurred between the ministry of education and a Haredi educational institution: A Haredi school principal is refusing to accept a female student based on the fact that her older sister is studying at an academic institution of higher learning.
According to a report from Reshet Bet, the principal, with support from the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party, is refusing to accept the student because her older sister continued her education at the Jerusalem College of Technology - Lev Academic Center, an orthodox academic college, after she graduated from 12th grade.
An appeals committee from the ministry of education has informed the principal that this behavior is impermissible, but the principal was not swayed.
"The student will not study here even if 500 other students and the teachers have to suffer because of it," the principal is quoted as saying.
The ministry of education released a statement in response saying that the principal is obligated to accept the student at the school immediately. If he does not, then the ministry will take action against him in accordance with the law.
In an interview, the father of the student said that his daughter has been sitting at home for 35 days. "I am Haredi and I vote for UTJ," he said, and added that he has appealed to MK Gafni, who denied that he is supporting the school's decision. "Our representation in the ministry of education has failed," he said.
6. 'SWISS MEDIA POISONING PUBLIC OPINION AGAINST ISRAEL'
by ILTV
[brightcove:2020150]
7. HAMAS VOWS TO 'SURPRISE WORLD' IN NEXT PRISONER SWAP
by ILTV
[brightcove:2020148]
8. 'TRUMP WHITE & BLUE' OPPOSES MEDIA BIAS AGAINST GOP CANDIDATE
by ILTV
[brightcove:2020147]
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