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Arutz Sheva Daily Israel Report http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com ------------------------------------------------ Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday Tuesday, Mar. 21 '17, כ"ג באדר תשע"ז HEADLINES: 1. 'IRAN REMAINS CENTRAL THREAT TO ISRAEL' 2. ANSWER TO HEZBOLLAH: COMPREHENSIVE AIR DEFENSE TO BE OPERATIONAL 3. RUBIO IN ISRAEL: THE JEWISH STATE IS ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES 4. 'A MILESTONE IN ENSURING THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY' 5. 'HEZBOLLAH IS OUR NUMBER ONE CHALLENGE' 6. '10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT JEWS' SATIRICAL VIDEO STIRS CONTROVERSY 7. BDS FOUNDER ARRESTED 8. WATCH: WHAT ARE ISRAEL'S MAIN PROBLEMS? 1. 'IRAN REMAINS CENTRAL THREAT TO ISRAEL' by Nitzan Kedar Mossad Director-General Yossi Cohen referred Tuesday morning to Israel's situation regarding Iran and said that "as long as the present administration exists, with or without a nuclear agreement, Iran will continue to be the central threat to Israel." "The US was and is a superpower, the new buzzword is hybrid strategy. The idea is to work concurrently utilizing a variety of measures at different levels," added Cohen. At the conference at the Netanya Academic College in memory of former Mossad chief Meir Dagan, Cohen also referred to other regions around Israel and said that "the security establishment needs to focus on the enemies in our region and learn them in depth in order to overcome them when required, and it will be required. "The Middle East is our home ground and therefore we need to be acquainted with the entire region. We need to create treaties, identify mutual interests with partners and even with enemies at a certain level," concluded Cohen. Earlier, IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot addressed the conference and said that Israel’s military was working to secure the nation’s northern border, but warned that the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon had become Israel’s greatest security challenge. "We are successfully keeping our northern border quiet, maintaining our interests in the north, and preventing terrorist groups from gaining strength or acquiring advanced weapons," said Eizenkot "Hezbollah is the number one challenge facing the IDF," said Eizenkot, adding that Israel was paying close attention to "the regular use of tactical chemical weapons in the fighting in Syria." 2. ANSWER TO HEZBOLLAH: COMPREHENSIVE AIR DEFENSE TO BE OPERATIONAL by Mordechai Sones Israel's aerial defense is upgrading. In exactly two weeks, "David's Sling" (also known by the name "Magic "Wand") is to be fully deployed, and Brigadier General Tzvika Haimovich, a senior Air Force officer today (Monday), reveals that the Israeli response to the incident in Syria over the weekend that led to the Arrow system's operational deployment presented no dilemma whatsoever. "We identified an SM-5 missile fired from Syria. In the short time we had at our disposal, we realized that this missile, with a gross weight of about seven tons and an explosive payload of a quarter ton, may explode and fall on Israeli territory, causing damage and injuries. We immediately deployed Arrow. "Aerial defense system fighters have a short time to make decisions, and it was absolutely correct," said Haimovich. During the night between Thursday and Friday last week, IAF jets attacked targets in Syria, and missiles were fired at Israeli planes. In response, an interceptor missile was launched by the Arrow system, hitting one of the rockets. He also explained that the new system will change Israel's defense preparedness for the better: "It is not the quantity of batteries, nor is it the deployment pattern. This system can handle threats to every area of the country, and hence its uniqueness," said the officer. The IDF says further that the terrorist and enemy state rocket threat covers today almost every point in Israel and weapons in the hands of Israel's enemies are more lethal and of better quality - hence the fighter's great challenge. "We closed last year with successful interceptions in the Syrian, Sinai, and Gazan sectors, indicating extensive operational and professional knowledge," the army said. [video:2026079] [album:open 3. RUBIO IN ISRAEL: THE JEWISH STATE IS ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES by David Rosenberg Florida Senator and 2016 Republican presidential contender Marco Rubio visited Israel over the weekend as part of a four-member delegation from the US Senate, wrapping up a tour of the Middle East. Rubio, a staunch ally of Israel, visited Israel twice before: once prior to winning his first term as senator in 2010, and again as senator in 2013. In a Facebook message posted just after he departed, Senator Rubio praised Israel as "an oasis of democracy and free enterprise" and expressed his hope that Ambassador-Delegate to Israel, David Friedman, will be confirmed by the full Senate. "From the moment one sets foot in Israel, the evidence of freedom, progress and tolerance are evident everywhere, as Israel continues to be an oasis of democracy and free enterprise in a tumultuous region plagued with difficult security, foreign policy and economic challenges," wrote Rubio. "Upon arrival, I visited the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, where I look forward to soon seeing David Friedman confirmed by the Senate and working hard to restore the U.S.-Israel relationship." During the trip, Rubio and his fellow senators met with US officials stationed in Israel to discuss US programs in the region. The delegation also learned first-hand about security threats to Israel from Iran following the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, as well as Iranian proxy groups including Hamas and Hezbollah. The Florida senator called the trip "an awe-inspiring experience". "Israel remains a shining example of what free people can accomplish anywhere in the world, and the impact that unwavering American support and smartly targeted U.S. international assistance can have in advancing our interests and values abroad. As a senator,‎ further strengthening the unique relationship between the U.S. and Israel remains one of my highest priorities." "May God bless Israel, may God bless the United States of America, and may God always watch over our close alliance." 4. 'A MILESTONE IN ENSURING THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY' by Hezki Baruch The information security directives issued by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked were approved Tuesday by the Knesset Law Committee. The directives will regulate the obligation on all parts of the economy, both private and public bodies, to maintain personal information security when they collect personal information in their databases. The directives are based on similar regulations issued worldwide and they place Israel at the forefront of personal information protection. The directives include organizational tools and methods whose goal is to prevent negative exploitation of the information by sources within the organization or outside of it. The Law, Technology and Information Authority in the Justice Ministry, which monitors the implementation of the Private Protection law, will also be in charge of supervision and implementation of the new directives. The Authority will also issue a pamphlet to the public explaining how to implement the directives. In order to allow the business sector to implement the new directives, it was decided that they will apply in another 12 months from today. Justice Minister Shaked said that "the approval of the directives is a significant step on the road to protecting personal information and maintaining people's right to privacy. In an era of growing numbers of cyber attacks, and in which broad information gathering is performed by commercial sources as well as by small businesses employing technological tools. In the lack of appropriate protection these tools could harm people's privacy ,and the new directives are therefore more essential than previously. Information protection is also the foundation of consumer trust which is so essential in a digitized economy which is so advantageous for society and for the individual," concluded Shaked. 5. 'HEZBOLLAH IS OUR NUMBER ONE CHALLENGE' by Reut Hadar IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot said Tuesday morning that Israel’s military was working to secure the nation’s northern border, but warned that the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon had become Israel’s greatest security challenge. "We are successfully keeping our northern border quiet, to maintain our interests in the north, and to prevent terrorist groups from gaining strength or acquiring advanced weapons," said Eizenkot in an address to a conference at Netanyahu Academic College. "Hezbollah is the number one challenge facing the IDF," said Eizenkot, adding that Israel was paying close attention to "the regular use of tactical chemical weapons in the fighting in Syria." On Monday, a Hezbollah spokesperson claimed the terror group had downed an Israeli unmanned aerial vehicle operating over Syria, releasing images of the destroyed drone. The IDF acknowledged that one of its drones had fallen over the Syrian-occupied portion of the Golan Heights Sunday night, but added that no sensitive information could be recovered by hostile forces from the unmanned aircraft. 6. '10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT JEWS' SATIRICAL VIDEO STIRS CONTROVERSY by David Rosenberg A right-wing Canadian comedian and social commentator made waves recently with a controversial video provocatively titled "10 things I hate about Jews." The eight-and-a-half-minute long video, posted on Youtube, was produced by Gavin McInnes, co-founder of Vice Media and a comedian and pundit for The Rebel Media. Originally titled "10 things I hate about Jews," the name of the clip was altered to "10 things I hate about Israel," following an outcry on social media and accusations of anti-Semitism. McInnes, known for his over-the-top comedic style and tongue-in-cheek humor, has appeared in the past on The Greg Gutfeld Show on Fox News, a news satire show mirroring programs by left-wing comedian-pundits like The Colbert Report and The Daily Show. The video in question was released after a group of Rebel Media hosts spent a week touring Israel, producing a number of pro-Israel viral videos – and sparking outrage among white supremacists angered by the positive coverage of the Jewish state. The faux rant, recorded at night on a secluded Tel Aviv street, mixes humor with political commentary, in an intentionally offensive message some critics say crossed the line. Among McInnes’ complaints listed in the video are the length of Israeli crosswalk signals, customer service at Israeli stores, Israeli drivers, and the obstacles civilians face in procuring firearm licenses. Israelis like to laugh at themselves and have no shortage of comedy routines that do just that, but not everyone found McInnes’ diatribe funny – or appropriate. The video’s mockery of modern Hebrew and McInnes’ suggestion Jews are excessively focused on the persecution they faced historically struck many as offensive and self-defeating for a trip billed as a pro-Israel event. "Spit talk – they [Israelis] spit when they talk," claimed McInnes. "The whole language is clearing your throat." Later, McInnes said Jews had a "paranoid fear" of persecution. "There’s this overall sort of whiney, paranoid fear of Nazis that is making them scared of Christians and Trump who are their greatest allies." Unsurprisingly, criticism of McInnes was not long in coming. "We love humour about Israel," wrote the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. "But Gavi McInnes’ ’10 things I hate about Jews’ on Rebel Media just isn’t funny… it’s offensive and stupid. If Rebel thinks this helps Israel’s cause, think again." Left-wing media outlets were even less forgiving, with Salon.com writer Amanda Marcotte outright accusing McInnes of becoming a "full-on neo-Nazi". While some white supremacists expressed their disgust with the Rebel Media trip to Israel and the videos produced during the trip by staff members including Faith Goldy, a few seemed encouraged by McInnes’ statements. Former KKK leader David Duke was one of several white supremacist activists who endorsed some of the Rebel host’s material. McInnes was quick to reject Duke’s support, tweeting to Duke: "F*** you. You’re talking about a clip out of context that includes the words, ‘Don’t take this out of context’." In a video message filmed shortly after his return to Canada, McInnes said "No offense, Nazis, I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I don’t like you. I like Jews." Rebel Media founder and owner Ezra Levant, a Jewish Canadian writer and publisher, defended McInnes, calling him a "provocative commentator and humorist." "He’s not to everyone’s taste," Levant wrote to Canadian Jewish News. "But during the week I spent with him in Israel, I laughed more than I have since I was a child. Humourless liberals hate him, but Israelis seem to love him." "He did a comedy show in Tel Aviv that was standing room only, and people stayed for two hours afterwards to talk with him." In an interview with the National Observer, Levant denied "10 things I hate about Jews" was anti-Semitic. "The entire shtick could have been delivered by a comedian in Tel Aviv," he argued. Later, Levant released a 22-minute video "For Jews Only" responding to the controversy and putting McInnes’ 8-minute diatribe into the context of other comments made during the trip to Israel. Among the comments Levant cited were: "Sorry Nazis, you're wrong, Israel's right again," and "Israel should enjoy their wall [sic] and be proud of it." McInnes also "visited" the Palestinian Authority in the character of his radical left-wing alter ego Miles, poking fun at the late PLO chief Yasser Arafat and Arab objections to Israel’s security wall. [youtube:2026108] 7. BDS FOUNDER ARRESTED by David Rosenberg One of the founders of the international Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement has been arrested for concealing large sums of money from tax authorities. Police say Omar Barghouti, founder of both the BDS movement and the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, was arrested on suspicion he committed tax evasion over the past decade, concealing $700,000 in earned income from tax authorities. During a raid of Barghouti’s house, police say they found credit cards and purchase records confirming the allegations against him. After being taken into custody, Barghouti was transferred to Haifa for interrogation before being released on bail. Investigators say Barghouti received the money from a company in the Palestinian Authority which sells and rents ATM machines, where Barghouti has served as director. The BDS co-founder also received large sums of money from speaking tours around the world. In both cases, Barghouti is believed to have concealed the hidden incomes in banks outside of the reach of Israeli tax authorities – one in the United States and one in Ramallah. The Qatari-born anti-Israel activist was raised in Egypt but received permanent residency status after he married an Israeli Arab woman. Barghouti currently resides in the northern Israeli town of Acre (Akko) and studied in Tel Aviv University – despite his own calls to boycott Israeli academic institutions. Barghouti has openly advocated for the destruction of the Israel as a Jewish state and the end of Zionism. Barghouti rejects the two-state solution, and has compared Israel to both Apartheid-ridden South Africa and Nazi Germany. 8. WATCH: WHAT ARE ISRAEL'S MAIN PROBLEMS? [youtube:2026107] ------------------------------------------------ Subscribe to this Daily Israel Report: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Subscribe/ | |
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