Arutz Sheva Daily Israel Report
http://www.IsraelNationalNews.com
------------------------------------------------
Delivered Daily via Email, Sunday thru Friday
Subscribe to this Daily Israel Report:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Subscribe/
Sunday, Sep. 04 '16, א' באלול תשע"ו
HEADLINES:
1. 'IT'S NOT NORMAL THAT I HAVE TO SEE MY FATHER'S MURDERER DAILY!'
2. 'THE ISRAELI SPACE PROGRAM IS STANDING ON CHICKEN LEGS'
3. NETANYAHU: RELIGIOUS STATUS QUO WILL BE MAINTAINED
4. 'WHY NOT JUST BUILD AT NIGHT, INSTEAD OF ON SHABBAT?'
5. 'WOMEN OF THE WALL' CONVENES SHOFAR CEREMONY AT WESTERN WALL
6. KIDNAPPED BOY'S BODY FOUND 27 YEARS LATER
7. TRUMP RECEIVES PRAYER SHAWL AT DETROIT CHURCH APPEARANCE
8. HAREDI SOLDIERS COMBINE ARMY WITH TALMUD AT SWEARING-IN CEREMONY
1. 'IT'S NOT NORMAL THAT I HAVE TO SEE MY FATHER'S MURDERER DAILY!'
by Shimon Cohen
The terrorist who murdered Avi Osher with a machete in the Jordan Valley in 1991 - and was freed 20 years early as part of a "goodwill gesture" to the Palestinian Authority - is now seeking agricultural employment in the Jordan Valley.
Osher's daughter Meirav is on a campaign to warn the farmers of the area so as to prevent the terrorist from getting work there.
In an interview with Arutz Sheva, Meirav told of the trauma her family has faced since the freeing of the terrorist and even before, and the difficulty she has in seeing the terrorist who murdered her father return to normal life – right in front of her eyes.
"Today he sits five minutes from my house, leads his life in front of our eyes, causing us suffering for the third time – the first when he murdered, the second when he was freed. He got himself an expensive shovel and he works, presents himself in Israeli communities without shame, pretends and works without a problem. I see him every day on the road. Is this right? Is this normal?
"I live in Bekaot and he lives in Jislig several minutes away, and he works on the road on which I travel. He goes into the food store between the Hamra Junction and the Adam Junction, a place where Jews also buy. He sits at the tire shop with his water pipe and looks around smugly.
"The State of Israel sentenced us to a life of suffering. We haven't even recovered from the release – why did you put him here? Send him back to Shechem! You're killing us. Who's to say that a terrorist like that who murdered a Jew won't take a shovel and get on a bus carrying children? I'm begging and I'm ready to lie on the road in front of the Knesset for it. I've suffered enough. It's hard for me and my children – we don't need to see him."
Meirav talked about her campaign to prevent local farmers from hiring the terrorist. "I've set out on a personal campaign, and I'm saying 'the shame is over.' I'm advertising his picture and notifying that a murderer is walking freely here – don't give him work. It can't be that he passes by the place where he murdered my father, eats and drinks. Get him out of here. The reactions I get [from would-be employers of the terrorist] are 'we didn't know' and 'I believe everyone.' There are good people here, and nobody would think to hire a murderer if he presented himself as the man who murdered Avi Osher."
2. 'THE ISRAELI SPACE PROGRAM IS STANDING ON CHICKEN LEGS'
by Arutz Sheva Staff
MK Nahman Shai (Zionist Union) sent a letter to the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, MK Avi Dichter (Likud) in which he blasted the status of the Israeli space program.
"The destruction of the Amos-6 satellite revealed the Israeli space program for what it is. Despite lofty and inflated words, the Israeli space program is standing on chicken legs. It is built on improvisations and on available budget.
"Together with Amos-6, damage has been caused to the long-term security of Israel, and there is currently no way to rehabilitate. Israel, as usual, is living from hand to mouth but, in this case, such an admission has direct implications for Israel's security."
The statements come after the Falcon-6 rocket, carrying the Israel Amos-6 communications satellite, exploded at launch at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The explosion put a question-mark on the future of the Israeli space program, which was already being threatened with budget cuts.
3. NETANYAHU: RELIGIOUS STATUS QUO WILL BE MAINTAINED
by Arutz Sheva Staff
Following two weeks of political threats and controversy relating to the coalition crisis, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke out at the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, addressing the issue of infrastructure work carried out on Shabbat, and the government's pledge to uphold the religious status quo.
The fracas which erupted in late August centered on work being carried out by the Transportation Ministry during Shabbat for public transportation networks, notably the Israel Railways system.
Religious MKs criticized the leniencies in permitting work on what is legally recognized as the Day of Rest in Israel, saying that only cases where a clear threat to life exists should exceptions be made on the restriction on Shabbat work by government agencies.
On Sunday Netanyahu, who has called for the creation of an oversight committee to ensure that public infrastructure projects are only carried out when absolutely necessary, reaffirmed his coalition's commitment to maintaining the status quo on religion and state.
"This crisis is completely unnecessary. There was no need to reach this situation. There has been a status quo in the State of Israel for many years; we honor it. When work needs to be done on Shabbat – it is done, as it was last Shabbat on the Ayalon highway. When it does not need to be done on Shabbat – it is not done. This has been our guiding principle; this is the principle that will continue to guide us."
"Over the past seven years the government has invested almost 30 billion shekels ($8 billion) in a massive expansion of highways, railways, and – of course – interchanges and tunnels. We succeeded in doing this without unnecessary crises. When nobody wants a crisis, it is possible to avoid it. On this matter I expect full cooperation by all ministers. Ministers are appointed in order to avoid crises and solve problems, not create them."
The Prime Minister also paid tribute to Herzl Shaul, whose son Oron was killed by Hamas terrorists in 2014. Shaul, who struggled for years to win the release of his son's body from the terror group, passed away on Friday after a battle with cancer.
"Today, the late Herzl Shaul, the father of IDF soldier the late Oron Shaul, will be laid to rest. Oron's body, along with that of Hadar Goldin, is held by Hamas, a vicious terrorist organization that respects no humanitarian norm. Herzl Shaul was a brave man and until his last days he fought to return his son's remains for a Jewish burial. At the same time, over the past year, he was compelled to fight the cancer with which he had been stricken. I saw him several times and on each occasion, from meeting to meeting, he appeared more gaunt, and heroically met the double tragedy that befell him and his family. On behalf of the Government and the people of Israel, I would like to send condolences to his dear wife Zehava and their sons Aviram and Ofek. We will continue to act in all fields to bring the late Hadar Goldin and the late Oron Shaul back for a Jewish burial."
4. 'WHY NOT JUST BUILD AT NIGHT, INSTEAD OF ON SHABBAT?'
by Nitsan Keidar
Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel (Jewish Home) spoke with journalists Sunday morning ahead of the government's weekly meeting, fielding questions regarding the ongoing coalition crisis over infrastructure work done for the public transportation system on Shabbat.
Two weeks ago, revelations that the Transportation Ministry was conducting infrastructure work for the Israeli rail system on the Jewish holy day promoted sharp protest by religious MKs, with the haredi factions threatening to bolt the governing coalition if the issue was not addressed.
Despite Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's pledge to resolve the issue and prevent unnecessary desecration of the holy day, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz authorized continued work on Shabbat.
Ariel weighed in on the controversy, dismissing claims it was necessary to work on Shabbat to prevent hazardous, potentially life-threatening situations if the projects were carried out during weekdays.
Defenders of the policy say the work could lead to an increase in deadly car accidents if done during the week, when the mass of commuters would be forced into a limited number of lanes.
"The issue of the train," said Ariel, "is an issue of Shabbat. There are alternatives and we can handle this in a better way that it has been thus far."
"There are alternatives and other solutions. Until a few years ago people were riding on buses [rather than the train] and things were fine. The population hasn't grown massively since, and that's not what's at issue. Of course it's a good thing that we have the train, but they can do the work on weekdays at night and get it done."
"The whole world knows about having a day of rest on Saturday, certainly the Jewish people must do so."
5. 'WOMEN OF THE WALL' CONVENES SHOFAR CEREMONY AT WESTERN WALL
by Haim Lev
Dozens of women from the "Women of the Wall" organization, which aims to challenge the religious status quo in Israel and gain a foothold for the Reform and Conservative movements at the Western Wall plaza, arrived this morning at the holy site, on the beginning of the Hebrew month of Elul.
The women arrived equipped with shofars (ram's horns associated with the upcoming Jewish High Holidays), but were at first prevented entry by order of the Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovich.
According to Channel 10, after the heads of the group spoke with Doron Turgeman, the police chief in charge of the area, the group was allowed to enter with their shofars.
During the group's ceremony at the Western Wall, haredi women praying at the wall objected to the procession and tried to break up the proceedings, calling on the group not desecrate the holiness of the area.
6. KIDNAPPED BOY'S BODY FOUND 27 YEARS LATER
by David Rosenberg
Police in rural Minnesota made grisly discovery last week when they uncovered the remains of Jacob Wetterling, who was kidnapped nearly 27 years ago.
The 11-year old St. Joseph native was abducted on the evening of October 22nd, 1989 by a gunman while Jacob, his brother, and a friend were riding their bicycles back home from a video rental store.
Along the way a masked man accosted the three boys, holding them at gunpoint before telling Jacob's brother and friend to flee. Until Saturday, Jacob's whereabouts and fate had remained a mystery.
The remains uncovered on Thursday were positively identified as belonging to the missing boy on Saturday.
The discovery of Jacob's body was a devastating blow to his family, who despite the years had still held out hope for his recovery.
"Jacob has been found and our hearts are broken," Patty Wetterling, Jacob's mother, wrote.
"She held out hope right to the very end," said Ellie Quarry, a neighbor of the Wetterlings. "God, I prayed for that."
"We didn't want Jacob's story to end this way," a statement from the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center read.
"Our hearts are heavy, but we are being held up by all of the people who have been a part of making Jacob's Hope a light that will never be extinguished."
Despite the recovery of Jacob's remains, his killer may never be brought to justice for the murder.
Investigators say Daniel James Heinrich, who police had called a "person of interest" in the case as far back as 1990, led them to the unmarked location where Jacob's remains were buried.
Police had questioned Heinrich four times following Jacob's disappearance, and said that tire tracks and footprints found near the abduction site were "consistent" with the tires on Heinrich's 1982 Ford EXP and sneakers found at his home.
DNA evidence from another abduction case nine months prior to Jacob's disappearance was recently confirmed to tie Heinrich to the kidnapping and assault of a then-12-year old boy in a nearby Minnesota town.
But the federal and state statutes of limitations in effect at the time of the 1989 abduction have precluded Heinrich's prosecution over the first kidnapping case, despite the DNA evidence.
A 2015 search of Heinrich's home revealed a massive stash of child pornography and recordings of news coverage about Jacob's disappearance.
Heinrich has since been indicted in a federal court on child pornography charges.
Following his arrest, Heinrich, who has denied abducting Jacob, led investigators to his remains.
The statute of limitations, which barred prosecution of Heinrich in the prior abduction case, will also likely prevent criminal charges from being filed over Jacob's abduction. He may, however, be charged with murder if the ongoing investigation can sufficient evidence for Heinrich's involvement in Jacob's death.
7. TRUMP RECEIVES PRAYER SHAWL AT DETROIT CHURCH APPEARANCE
by Uzi Baruch
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump made an appearance at a black church in Detroit Saturday, and received a prayer shawl (tallit) for the occasion.
After giving a brief speech, Trump received a Jewish Heritage Study Bible along with the prayer shawl from Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, pastor of Great Faith Ministries International. Trump wore the shawl as Jackson provided Trump with a scripture to refer to during difficult times.
Sitting in a pew at the front of the congregation, Trump took a selfie with a church member and at one point held up a baby. He then addressed the congregation.
"For centuries, the African-American church has been the conscience of this country. So true," Trump said, reading from prepared remarks. He added, "The African-American faith community has been one of God's greatest gifts to America and its people."
Trump told the audience he was there to "listen to your message" and said he hoped his appearance would "also help your voice to reach new audiences in our country." He said he would lay out his plans for economic change and school choice -- issues that he said would benefit black communities -- in the future.
"Our nation is too divided," said Trump, who spoke in a measured tone. "We talk past each other and not to each other. And those who seek office do not do enough to step into the community and learn what's going on. I'm here today to learn, so that we can together remedy injustice in any form, and so that we can also remedy economics so that the African-American community can benefit economically through jobs and income and so many other different ways."
"I believe we need a civil rights agenda for our time," added Trump, whose remarks were warmly received by the congregation.
8. HAREDI SOLDIERS COMBINE ARMY WITH TALMUD AT SWEARING-IN CEREMONY
by Ido Ben Porat
A swearing-in ceremony for the newest soldiers in the army's all-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda Battalion – better known as Nahal Haredi – turned into a milestone for haredi service in the IDF on Thursday, when the recruits added in an ancient Jewish tradition.
For the first time ever since the founding of the state 68 years ago, Israel's newest enlistees combined the ceremony marking their official entry into the army as fully-fledged soldiers with the celebration of the Talmud upon the completion of an entire tractate.
The entire company had learned tractate Megilla – which focuses largely on the holiday of Purim – together during basic training, and finished their study together at Thursday's ceremony.
"The people of Israel act based upon their learning (a play on words with Talmud), they first learn, and then take the best course of action," said one of the soldiers who spoke at the ceremony. "We soldiers in Netzah [Yehuda] act based upon Torah, thus we first learn a tractate [of Talmud] before our army service."
[video:2018762]
------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to this Daily Israel Report:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Subscribe/
