Tuesday, November 3 2015
7:00 pm UPDATES (from Ashdod)
5:25 pm: IDF units fire on Palestinian terrorists on the Gaza Border. No further info.
10:30 am: Palestinian stabbing attack thwarted. Members of the IDF Bedouin Reconnaissance Battalion capture terrorist armed with a knife near the Gilboa (Jalama) Crossing. No Israeli casualties.
8:00 am UPDATES (from Tzfat)
***It was another day of horrific Palestinian terror yesterday:
Palestinian terrorists tried to stab Israelis to death (see below) in Netanya, Rishon LeZion, and at the Jalama Checkpoint near Jenin.
Palestinian terrorists tried to burn Israelis to death with Molotov firebombs at Nablin, Ramot, Benjamin Plaza, Mt. Hebron, Migdalim, Rachel’s Tomb, Abu Dis, and the District Courthouse in Jerusalem.
Palestinian terrorists tried to smash Israelis to death with “rocks” at Turmusaya, western Benjamin, Hebron Pharmacy, Tekoa, Hebron Hills, Kiryat Arba, Beit Kahil, the Jaffa Gate in the Old City, the Mt. of Olives, Hizma, Tahta, and Halhul.
Palestinian terrorists assaulted Israeli security personnel with “rocks” and Molotovs at Tulkarm, Qalqilya, Beit Awa, the Gaza Border fence, Morag, Bethany, and Hebron.
Numerous Israelis were physically wounded in the above terror incidents, and uncounted others had to be treated for shock.
***The three stabbing attacks:
At the Jalama Checkpoint at 9:05 am. This stabbing attack was almost identical to one that occurred in exactly the same location several days ago. After that attack, the IDF closed the checkpoint, but yesterday morning, inexplicably, it was reopened. Immediately two Palestinian terrorists attacked IDF soldiers. No Israelis were wounded, but the two terrorists were shot and killed.
At Rishon LeZion at 3:24 pm. Three Israelis were badly wounded by a Palestinian terrorist (perhaps terrorists). Two of the Israelis remain in critical condition this morning including an 80-year-old woman. One terrorist was captured, and the other (if he exists) is still on the loose. What was important about these attacks is that (1) the captured terrorist is from Hebron; (2) the location is central Israel; (3) at least one of the targets was an old person.
Does this mean that the terror is now expanding to central Israel?
At Netanya at 6:32 pm. A 71-year-old Israeli was stabbed by a Palestinian terrorist. The man remains in serious condition this morning; the terrorist was shot and wounded. Just as in the Rishon attack, the target was an older man, the terrorist was from an area close to Hebron, and the location was central Israel.
TODAY’S BLOG:
Because your humble servant is still traveling in northern Israel, today’s blog will be brief.
However, here are a few details from my last 48 hours.
Early Sunday morning, we left our home in Ashdod and drove north along Highway 6. We exited at Yoqneam,and headed toward Tiberias. We were at the Kineret (Sea of Galilee) in short order, and then continued on to Katzrin which is in the southern Golan Heights.
From Katzrin, we drove further north along the Syrian border and were interested to watch two Russian jets bombing the rebel-held areas around Quneitra. We were “treated” to numerous loud explosions with the bomb blasts–and fires that were started by the bombs. When we left the Quneitra overlook, smoke was billowing from the targeted areas.
We continued on to Kiryat Shemona. As we drove into the city, we were immediately struck by how deserted it seemed. There were very few people on the streets, and even fewer in the shopping mall where we ate a light dinner at a pizza restaurant. In fact, the large mall was virtually empty except for us.
We continued on to Neve Atif at the base of Mt. Hermon where we spent the night at a local hotel. All night long and into Monday morning, we could hear the booming of bombs and artillery coming from Syria.
After eating breakfast yesterday, we drove up to the ski area on Mt. Hermon. Of course, there is no snow there yet, but the views were striking of the valley below–and of the war taking place in the distance (more airplanes and bombs).
We then drove down through Majdal Shams and headed over to Metulla which is directly on the Lebanese border. We walked up to that border until we reached the point of the IDF checkpoint.
Again, the town was almost completely deserted. At 11:00 am, many of the stores and cafes along the main street were closed, and there were no people. From Metulla we headed south, eventually arriving here in Tzfat (Safed) at about 4 pm.
What can we say about our experience thus far?
It is easy to speculate that the reason that Kiryat Shemona and Metulla were deserted is that we are here in the off-season. Israelis normally come up here in the summer when they can jump in the Jordan River and float for a while in its cold water. But what was disturbing was that we saw very few “locals”. Without trying to sound alarmist, it makes one wonder if the north is beginning to depopulate because of all the trouble along the borders.
On the other hand, the Druze town of Majdal Shams seemed as bustling as ever–and it is also right on the border. One thing your humble servant was happy to see was the presence of Israeli flags there–along with Druze flags. In past years, there have been fewer Israeli flags and more Syrian ones.
As for the Syrian war, the situation is actually not that much different from last year when we were here–except for presence of the Russians. Along the border, people seem inured to the explosions. In Neve Atif, there was not even any notice paid. Life just goes on as normally as possible.
I suppose that is the way it is in most war zones.
Tomorrow, I will discuss in more detail another interesting aspect of our travels around the north–and something about our stay here in the magical city of Tzfat.
There are a number of different Kamagra medicines available on the market nowadays that are designed to treat premature ejaculation in levitra brand men. It has a powerful constituent, Sildenafil Citrate that is the main ingredient of viagra generika http://respitecaresa.org/rcsa-in-the-community/. Before taking any herbal or dietary supplements, the man must consult a doctor and only then follow viagra sales france recommended for of medication or natural treatment as prescribed. Some of the best examples of such foods include that are high in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, and sugar levels. lowest price tadalafil
A student from Malawi, who had worked with an Israeli health volunteer in his country battling AIDS, came up to us as we walked down the street in the UC-Davis Picnic Day Parade and wanted to carry the Israeli flag.