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Monday, Feb. 06 '17, י' בשבט תשע"ז
HEADLINES:
1. TERROR GANG NABBED PLOTTING SYNAGOGUE ATTACK, KIDNAPPINGS
2. SENIOR HAMAS LEADER KILLED IN GAZA EXPLOSION
3. ISRAELI AIR FORCE HITS HAMAS TARGETS ACROSS GAZA
4. WATCH: HUNDREDS AT FUNERAL OF LONELY HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR
5. PUTIN: IRAN NOT TERRORIST STATE
6. PRIME MINISTER MAY: 'WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO TWO-STATE SOLUTION'
7. ARAB WOMEN DISCOVER THEIR JEWISH ROOTS
8. BULLDOZERS BEGIN DEMOLISHING AMONA
1. TERROR GANG NABBED PLOTTING SYNAGOGUE ATTACK, KIDNAPPINGS
by Arutz Sheva Staff
Israeli security forces uncovered a series of terror plots targeting towns in northern Israel, the military censor released for publication on Monday.
In a joint operation of the IDF, Israeli Police, and Shin Bet internal security agency, a terrorist gang from the Palestinian Authority town of Bani Naim near Hevron was uncovered and captured before they were able to strike.
The terror cell was reportedly part of a large operation in the Hevron area, directed by the Hamas terror regime in Gaza. During interrogation by Shin Bet agents, it was revealed that members of the terror cell used Facebook to communicate with their Hamas handlers in Gaza.
The cell was, at the time of their capture, plotting a number of attacks against Israeli Jews, including shootings, bombings, and kidnappings.
Members of the gang scouted out a number of targets for the various attacks, including an army base near Kfar Kara, the Central Bus Station in Binyamina, the Great Synagogue in Zichron Yaakov, and a bus station in the Wadi Ara region.
According to the Shin Bet security agency, the terrorists became acquainted with the targets while working in Israel. The Shin Bet report noted that the terrorists had entered Israel illegally and were working without permits.
In preparing for the attacks, the cell attempted to acquire firearms and produce explosive devices.
2. SENIOR HAMAS LEADER KILLED IN GAZA EXPLOSION
by Arutz Sheva Staff
Members of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas terror organization, reported Sunday that a senior organization leader was killed in an explosion in the Gaza Strip Saturday night.
The Hamas leader reportedly lost multiple limbs in the explosion, and eventually succumbed to his injuries.
Earlier on Sunday it was reported that Hamas had rejected an Israeli offer to exchange one of two Israeli prisoners now being held in Gaza - Avraham Mengistu and Hisham Al-Sayid – in return for the release of a Hamas terrorist and brother of a senior Hamas leader being held in an Israeli prison.
According to the report, the terrorist Israel offered to release is Hamas member Bilal Rozayna, brother of Mustafa Rozayna, who runs the terror group's internal security division.
Rozayna was captured in November and has reportedly "revealed sensitive information regarding Hamas activity" along Israel's border with Gaza.
3. ISRAELI AIR FORCE HITS HAMAS TARGETS ACROSS GAZA
by Arutz Sheva Staff
The Israeli Air Force struck three Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip Monday afternoon, in the latest Israeli retaliation for rocket fire from the Strip earlier today.
Earlier on Monday, IDF tank fire destroyed a Hamas position in the northern Gaza Strip after a rocket fired from Gaza landed near the southern coastal city of Ashkelon at approximately 9:00 a.m.
An IDF spokesperson said that the "projectile" landed in an open area and that no injuries or damage were reported.
The Hamas terror organization has yet to comment on either the rocket fire or Israeli responses to the attack.
On Sunday, Hamas reported that a senior member of the group's military wing – the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades – had been killed in an explosion in Gaza Saturday night.
4. WATCH: HUNDREDS AT FUNERAL OF LONELY HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR
by Yoni Kempinski
[youtube:2024163]
Hundreds of people on Sunday evening responded to a call on social media and attended the funeral of Clara, a lone elderly Holocaust survivor.
The call on social media said that a Holocaust survivor with no relatives had passed away and expressed concerns that there will not be a minyan at the funeral. It asked the public to make an effort and come to the funeral. Hundreds of good citizens responded to the call, including MKs Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin (Zionist Union) and Michal Rozin (Meretz).
Gili Cohen, who volunteers at the Association for Immediate Help for Holocaust Survivors, met Clara as part of her work at the organization and she and her friends accompanied Clara until her final days.
"Our beloved Clara," eulogized Cohen, who also initiated the call to the public to attend the funeral. "One winter day, you entered our hearts. There in the internal medicine ward at Ichilov Hospital, you lay without moving, breathing heavily, asking to die. You could not find a reason to live. You had suffered enough."
"I want to tell you, our beloved grandmother, thank you. Thank you for a lesson in life. Thank you for loving back unconditionally. Thank you for your smile and touch. Thank you for the opportunity to give you so little compared to what you really deserved," added Cohen.
5. PUTIN: IRAN NOT TERRORIST STATE
by Chana Roberts
[youtube:2024165]
Russian President Vladimir Putin's Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday the Kremlin does not agree with US President Donald Trump that Iran is a terrorist state.
In a Fox News interview, Trump said he thought Iran was "the worst deal I've ever seen negotiated.
"I think it was a deal that never should have been done.
"It's a shame that we've had a deal like that, that we had to sign a deal like that and there was no reason to do it. If you're going to do it then have a good deal."
Trump did not say whether he could undo the Iran deal, instead providing a noncommittal "let's see what happens."
Responding to Fox News' interview with Trump, Peskov said, "It's not a secret that Moscow and Washington's views on many international issues are diametrically opposed."
However, he also said Russia and the US should continue building a mutual beneficial relationship, despite their differences.
On a conference call, Peskov mentioned Fox News host Bill O'Reilly's comment calling Putin "a killer."
"We consider such words from the Fox TV company to be unacceptable and insulting, and honestly speaking, we would prefer to get an apology from such a respected TV company," he said.
On Saturday night, Fox News released a clip of an interview between Fox News host Bill O'Reilly and US President Trump. In the clip, O'Reilly says Putin is "a killer", while Trump brushes off the accusation, saying, "There are a lot of killers. You think our country's so innocent?
6. PRIME MINISTER MAY: 'WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO TWO-STATE SOLUTION'
by Nitzan Keidar
Prime Minister Netanyahu met Monday afternoon with British Prime Minister Theresa May at her official residence at 10 Downing Street, London.
At the outset of the meeting Netanyahu thanked May for her warm reception, stating that it reflected the strength of the mutual partnership the countries have. Netanyahu added that "all the residents of Israel congratulate the queen together with me on her 65 years of monarchy.
"Behind my table there are two pictures, one of Herzl and the other of Churchill," said Netanyahu. "These two leaders embody the common values that make possible great trade, technology, and security cooperation between the two countries.
"We face challenges - that's very clear - from militant Islam and especially from Iran. Iran seeks to annihilate Israel, it seeks to conquer the Middle East, it threatens Europe, it threatens the West, it threatens the world. And it offers provocation after provocation.
"That's why I welcome (US) President Trump's assistance of new sanctions against Iran, I think other nations should follow suit, certainly responsible nations, and I'd like to talk to you about how we can ensure that Iran's aggression does not go unanswered," added Netanyahu.
Netanyahu said that both countries share the dream of peace and "will never give up the search for peace. I think there are challenges there but there are some new and interesting opportunities because of these regional and global changes. And I'd like to discuss that with you.."
May said she was delighted to receive Netanyahu "especially as we mark 100 years since the Balfour Declaration. There is much more we can do and it's important to look at how we can build that relationship, but also talking about some issues around the region, Syria and Iran and the whole question of the future of the Middle East." May added that "certainly we remain committed to a two-state solution as the best way of brokering stability and peace."
7. ARAB WOMEN DISCOVER THEIR JEWISH ROOTS
by Michal Levy
Yad L'achim announced last week that in January they had several cases in which Arab women turned to the organization for help and thereby discovered their Jewish identities.
These women had lived their entire lives as Arabs, grew up in Arab villages and were taught Arab beliefs, lived as devout Muslims, and never suspected themselves to be Jewish.
21-year-old L., 40-year-old S., and 30-year-old A. were born to a Jewish mother and a Muslim father, and did not know their mother's true identity. Each woman approached Yad L'achim separately and of her own accord.
"It's hard to discover when you're already older that you have a different identity," a Yad L'achim spokesperson said. "These kinds of situations need to be dealt with differently. This month, we helped three different women deal with something completely different than what we're used to. These women are 'meeting' their new identities for the first time.
"A. was born and raised in the central Arab city of Qalansuwa. She is a Muslim through and through. A month ago, a relative told her, 'Your mother is Jewish.'
"A. did not give up, and did an investigation which proved the relative's claim to be true. Her entire world was shaken up."
"When I found out, completely by coincidence, that I was a Jew, I didn't know what to do," A. said. "I began to quietly learn about Judaism, and people told me that an organization called Yad L'achim could help me return to the Jewish people.
"I contacted Yad L'achim and decided to leave my village and start a new life. I'm progressing slowly. I light candles, I pray, and I'm very connected to Judaism.
"I'm really thankful to Yad L'achim for helping me so quickly, and getting me out safely and without leaving any tracks. And they continue to support me and help me find my footing."
A Yad L'achim spokesperson said, "There's a feeling of excitement every time we see someone discover their Jewish identity. It doesn't go away with time, and you don't get used to it. These people want to connect to Judaism and to start a completely new life.
"These people prove it's never too late. Never despair of a Jewish soul returning to its people. Even if it strays far and seems to be completely disconnected, it may still return.
"We don't give up on any Jews."
8. BULLDOZERS BEGIN DEMOLISHING AMONA
by Arutz Sheva Staff
[video:2024185]
Bulldozers and other equipment on Monday morning began to demolish Amona, after residents were evicted last week.
Amona's 42 families, along with a thousand supporters, participated in protests against the expulsion and destruction of their town.
The expulsion lasted over 24 hours, and though most of the residents left peacefully, one group of youths and some police officers became violent.
Residents were requested to pack their belongings over the weekend, and on Monday morning the government brought in vehicles to destroy the town, as per the Supreme Court's request.
The Supreme Court insisted the destruction be completed by February 8, and ordered the destruction of nine houses in Ofra to be destroyed by March 5.
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