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/
Tuesday, Dec. 20 '16, כ' בכסלו תשע"ז
HEADLINES:
1. ISRAELI WOUNDED IN BERLIN TERROR ATTACK
2. MK GHATTAS QUESTIONED BY POLICE
3. SYRIAN ARMY TELLS REBELS TO QUIT ALEPPO BEFORE COMPLETE TAKEOVER
4. NAOR: DON'T BRING POLITICS INTO THE APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES
5. WATCH: WHY THE TEMPLE NEEDS TO BE REBUILT
6. 'GERMANY IS IN SHOCK FROM THE ATTACK'
7. TRUMP LINKS ISLAMIST TERRORISTS WITH BERLIN ATTACK
8. INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATIVE LEADERS SUMMIT CONVENES IN JERUSALEM
1. ISRAELI WOUNDED IN BERLIN TERROR ATTACK
by Arutz Sheva Staff
[youtube:2022247]
An Israeli was seriously wounded in the truck terror attack in Berlin last night.
The Israeli Consul, Liora Givon, is expected to meet with him soon at the hospital in Berlin and ascertain his status.
In addition, according to the Chief Rabbi of Berlin, Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal, the wounded man's wife is missing.
12 were killed in the attack and over 50 wounded.
The terrorist, apparently a 23-year-old immigrant who had come in recent months to Germany from Pakistan, was already known to authorities as having a criminal background.
Initial investigations showed that the terrorist took control of a truck by murdering the driver - then proceeded to speed into pedestrians at the crowded Berlin market.
Berlin police are calling the incident an act of terror and are trying to verify if the terrorist belonged to an organized group.[youtube:2022231]
2. MK GHATTAS QUESTIONED BY POLICE
by Hezki Baruch
MK Basel Ghattas (Arab Joint List), suspected of smuggling cell phones to Hamas terrorists in prison, was questioned Tuesday morning by members of the Lahav 433 special police unit.
The Lahav 433 unit is charged with investigating national crimes and corruption and was established in 2008 at the initiative of Avi Dichter, who was then Minister for Public Security and who had been director of the Israel Security Agency (Shin-Bet).
MK Dichter (Likud), who is now the Chairman of Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said this morning that ''Ghattas must not set foot in the Knesset. He's likely to smuggle in weapons that could bring harm to elected officials."
MK Dichter explained that ''Ghattas is a real risk. Members of Knesset enjoy immunity not only when they visit terrorists in prisons, but also when they enter the Knesset with no inspection. Mobile phones are not just tools of speech, but can also be weapons that terrorists can use in their attacks."
''This man can enter the Knesset with weapons and deposit them in his office. Someone can then come later and carry out some scheme that would, God forbid, harm the prime minister or someone else. He should be forbidden to set foot in the Knesset," he warned.
Basel Ghattas
Flash 90
Housing Minister Yoav Galant (Kulanu), formerly head of the IDF's Southern Command, urged the expulsion of the Balad party, of which Ghattas is a member. "This Balad movement is not loyal to the State of Israel. They should be legally removed," said Galant on Army Radio. "We need to prosecute Basel Ghattas," he said. "If it were up to me, I would send people to bring Azmi Bishara back Israel and indict him as well."
3. SYRIAN ARMY TELLS REBELS TO QUIT ALEPPO BEFORE COMPLETE TAKEOVER
by AFP
Syria's army on Tuesday urged the last remaining rebels and civilians to leave the bombed-out eastern quarters of Aleppo as it prepares to take full control of the devastated city.
The evacuation of east Aleppo is seen as a pivotal moment in the nearly six-year war that has killed more than 310,000 people and triggered a major humanitarian and refugee crisis.
At least 25,000 people have left rebel districts of east Aleppo since evacuations began last week, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which is overseeing the operation.
Thousands more were still waiting to be bused out, spokeswoman Ingy Sedky said.
She said that 750 people had been evacuated in parallel from Fuaa and Kafraya, two Shiite-majority villages in northwest Syria besieged by rebels, as part of the deal.
In east Aleppo on Tuesday, soldiers using megaphones called on the remaining fighters and civilians to exit the opposition districts, a military source told AFP.
"The army is expected to enter (Aleppo) to clean the area after the fighters leave," the source said.
Buses and ambulances have been bringing rebels and civilians on a tense journey from Aleppo's battered east into government-held neighbourhoods, and back into rebel-held territory west of the city.
Thousands of people -- mostly women and children -- squeeze onto buses with whatever belongings they can carry, many in tears and others shivering in the cold, according to AFP correspondents who made the trip.
Evacuees must pass several checkpoints manned by either Syrian army soldiers, Russian officers or Iranian and Iraqi fighters.
"Everyone was so cold," Bashar Babbour, who works with the medical charity UOSSM, told AFP from the staging ground of Khan al-Assal.
He said he saw a shivering old man struggling to get off one of the buses.
"When people are going to the medical assessment teams. Most of them ask for food and water, in addition to blankets, especially if they're arriving at night," Babbour said.
He said many other evacuees were also asking if there was internet access there so they could contact friends or relatives.
The World Health Organization said the evacuees included around 300 needing medical treatment, including dozens of children.
"The huge majority of these patients have trauma injuries," spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said, adding that 93 people in critical condition had been referred to hospitals in Turkey.
Aleppo was once Syria's commercial and industrial hub, but it has been divided since 2012 between government forces in the west and rebel control in the east.
Government forces launched an offensive in mid-November to capture the whole city, and had seized more than 90 percent of the eastern half when the evacuation deal was struck.
4. NAOR: DON'T BRING POLITICS INTO THE APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES
by Shlomo Vile and Ido Ben Porat
Supreme Court Justice Miriam Naor, participated Tuesday in the swearing-in of new judges at the President's house, and spoke about the appointment of Supreme Court justices and the judicial selection process.
''In recent months, there have been published media reports about the list of candidates to the Supreme Court," said Naor. "Various publications have referred to agreements or disagreements between members of the Judicial Selection Committee about the qualifications of various candidates."
She added, "It is not an easy task to stay out of the arena of media debates, especially when the information is incorrect or inaccurate. The judges on the committee believe that discussion of the pros and cons of the various candidates should take place between the members of the Judicial Selection Committee only, and not in the media."
Naor responded to the demand of the MKs on the committee that they be able to meet with the judiciary candidates. "The selection of candidates to the Supreme Court and any other court should be free of any political consideration and rely on the special skills of the candidates, their good character and their temperaments."
The Supreme Court has been enveloped in controversy in recent years for its alleged left-wing bias, its allegedly excessive interference in virtually all areas of governance, and for its de facto control over the process of appointing new judges. Most recently, it was the Supreme Court which ordered the destruction of Amona, even prior to a final conclusion about who legally owns the land.
Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Jewish Home) has been seeking to reform the process for appointing new Supreme Court judges and has been bitterly opposed by the current Supreme Court President.
Arutz Sheva spoke to Avraham Diskin about the issue. Professor Diskin is an Israeli political scientist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a Professor at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya.
"I'm not aware of the most recent comments of the Chief Justice concerning political nomination of Justices. However, in all countries known to me, both democracies and non-democracies, Supreme Court judges are always nominated by politicians. Israel is the only exception where in practice, the Supreme Court Judges are usually nominated by their peers," Diskin said.
5. WATCH: WHY THE TEMPLE NEEDS TO BE REBUILT
by Arutz Sheva Staff
[youtube:2022237]
The Temple Institute, in honor of Hanukkah, just released a new thought-provoking video series to bust age-old myths about the Temple and its relevance in our time. The first video in the animated "Holy Temple Myth Busters!" series delves into some of the most controversial questions associated with the Temple and why it is a religious obligation to build the Holy Temple today.
The introductory video deals with questions like: Who needs the Holy Temple anyway? Haven't we evolved? Don't we have to wait for the messiah to build it? What about the Mosque? Didn't the rabbis say it was all symbolic?
The new series is narrated by the organization's International Director, Rabbi Chaim Richman, whose weekly Torah classes are watched by thousands of people worldwide.
Rabbi Chaim Richman commented: "The Holy Temple Myth Busters series is for people that truly want to understand what the Torah says about the Holy Temple, as opposed to the many mantras and misnomers that have been repeated for generations."
He added: "We launched the video series to coincide with Hanukkah, when we celebrate the Hasmonean rededication of the Temple, because it is imperative that we understand our religious requirement to rebuild it today. The Torah is very clear about the Jewish people's obligation to build the Holy Temple and there is no precedent in Jewish history for buildings of millions of tons falling from heaven, as is commonly believed."
The Temple Institute is a center of research - and preparation - for the Holy Temple. In addition to educational activity focused on the centrality of the Temple Mount and Holy Temple, they have also recreated over 60 sacred vessels for use in the Third Holy Temple, which can be seen at their Visitors Center in the Old City of Jerusalem. The Institute's Youtube channel has attracted a broad audience, with over 5,000,000 viewers.
6. 'GERMANY IS IN SHOCK FROM THE ATTACK'
by Hezki Baruch
Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal, Rabbi of the Berlin Jewish community, described to Arutz Sheva the shock felt in Berlin following last night's terror attack on the city's Christmas market.
The terrorist, an immigrant from Pakistan who came to Europe last year, took control of a Polish moving company's truck by murdering the driver; he then sped into the market and rammed into pedestrians.
Special forces raided this morning in Berlin a complex for refugees in which the terrorist was thought to be living.
"Germany is in shock from the attack," Rabbi Teichtal told Arutz Sheva. "There has not been an attack like this in Berlin in 20 years. We in the Jewish community are increasing security, and I have already spoken with the police."
Next week, the Berlin Jewish community will hold a special Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony.
"We will not cancel it," the Rabbi emphasized. "It is forbidden that we project a message that we are afraid - therefore, the event will take place and, in addition, we will increase security."
Rabbi Teichtal first heard of the attack during a celebration for the "New Year of Hadism," "Yud-Tet Kislev."
"The minute we heard about the attack, I rushed to the scene. There were many police forces and ambulances there. We're talking about a very central location. We tried to give aid to everyone - and to Jews, as well. There is still an Israeli family in touch with us, and we are still helping them to find their relatives who did not return last night to their hotel."
The Rabbi said that there had been warnings that terrorists were seeking to commit an attack in the city - though there was no warning about an attack specifically on the Christmas market.
"Police confirmed today with almost complete certainty that this was an act of terror, on the basis of the fact that the truck [sped into] the market without stopping."[youtube:2022230]
7. TRUMP LINKS ISLAMIST TERRORISTS WITH BERLIN ATTACK
by Ben Ariel
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Monday condemned the attack on a Christmas market in Berlin that killed 12 people, saying that "Islamist terrorists" were responsible for it.
"ISIS and other Islamist terrorists continually slaughter Christians in their communities and places of worship as part of their global jihad," Trump said in a statement quoted by Reuters and using an acronym for the Islamic State jihadist group.
On Twitter, he said the attack, along with others in Turkey and Switzerland, showed "it is only getting worse. The civilized world must change thinking!"
[twittervideo:2022228]
Monday's attack in Berlin occurred when a truck plowed into crowds at a Christmas market in the German capital.
Police told the German news agency dpa that they are treating the incident as a suspected terror attack, though the interior minister for the state of Berlin said late Monday night that the circumstances were not clear and the incident could be an accident.
The attack in Berlin was very similar in nature to the attack in Nice, France, this past July, in which a truck plowed into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day.
86 people were murdered in the Nice attack, which was claimed by the Islamic State (ISIS) group.
While Trump linked the Berlin attack with Islamist terrorists, President Barack Obama's White House was more cautious, condemning in a statement "an apparent terrorist attack".
"The United States condemns in the strongest terms what appears to have been a terrorist attack on a Christmas Market in Berlin, Germany, which has killed and wounded dozens," said National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price.
"We send our thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of those killed, just as we wish a speedy recovery to all of those wounded. We also extend our heartfelt condolences to the people and government of Germany. We have been in touch with German officials, and we stand ready to provide assistance as they recover from and investigate this horrific incident. Germany is one of our closest partners and strongest allies, and we stand together with Berlin in the fight against all those who target our way of life and threaten our societies," the statement added.
8. INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATIVE LEADERS SUMMIT CONVENES IN JERUSALEM
by Yoni Kempinski
[youtube:2022234]
A high-level policy event with Parliamentary and business leaders from Europe, India, Israel, and the United States took take place on Monday at the Waldorf Astoria, Jerusalem.
The event addressed the 21st century's global threats and security challenges, the weakening of the rule of law, and obstacles to economic freedom and free trade. Speakers highlighted the benefits of economic freedom and the contributions of innovation and technology that benefit citizens around the world.
The Jerusalem Leaders Summit was co-hosted by the International Leaders Summit, Alliance for Direct Democracy in Europe (ADDE) and strategic partners from Europe, India, Israel and the US. The audience for the summit included international participants from Europe, India, Israel and the United States.
The goal of the gathering, according to the founders of the summit, was "to provide a strategic platform to affirm the common civilization based on the foundation of the rule of law – protecting life, liberty and private property."
Speakers engaged with leading voices and key stakeholders in the areas of foreign policy, global security, economic growth solutions, technology and the significance of strengthening Israel's security and sovereignty.
The leaders gathering at the Jerusalem Leaders Summit - coming from Europe, India and the United States, affirmed Israel's sovereignty and showed solidarity with Israel's citizens.
According to the summit organizers, "rule of law civilization based on shared values and principles and the foundation of the rule of law has contributed to the security and prosperity of free societies. However, today, rule of law countries face unprecedented challenges and threats including the threats against free speech, media freedom and individual liberty."
"The second Jerusalem Leaders Summit convenes at a pivotal time when conservatives and the freedom movement have an opportunity to advance principled ideas that safeguard freedoms, fuel economic growth and prosperity and importantly, protect citizens from dangers of terrorism."
------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to this Daily Israel Report:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Subscribe/
