Tuesday, November 10 2015
UPDATES 4:00 PM
3:10 pm: Palestinian stabbing attack: Palestinian terrorist shot and killed at the Hakiosk checkpoint northeast of Abu Dis at Tekoa after running at Border Guards with knife and yelling Allahu Akbar.
3:05 pm: Palestinian “rock” attack. The security guard for the Binyamin community of Psagot was wounded by “rocks” and evacuated to a hospital. The terrorists escaped.
UPDATES 1:00 PM
12:50 pm: Palestinian stabbing attack. Palestinian terrorists (aged 12 and 13) stab 25-year-old Israeli security guard in the chest and head at the Pisgat Ze’ev Light Rail Train Station in Jerusalem. Israeli is in “moderate condition.” One terrorist shot and wounded–the other captured.
12:38 pm: Palestinian stabbing attack. Palestinian terrorist attempts to stab Israelis across from the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem. The terrorist was repeatedly shot and killed.
UPDATES 8:00 AM
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***Israel’s economic picture looks even rosier than at first thought . . .
Yesterday, the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) increased its economic growth projection for Israel from 2.6% for this year to 3.25% for 2016 and 2017. The organization cited low unemployment, an increase in the minimum salary, and strengthening domestic demand as reasons for the improved outlook.
***And the economic outlook is bright because of continued Israeli technological innovation . . .
Yesterday, yet another Israeli startup company launched here in Ashdod.
This one is MOBEEGO.
Has your cellphone ever run out of battery? Of course it has.
Have you ever been in a place where you could not find an outlet to charge your phone? Of course you have.
MOBEEGO has the answer for you: an eco-friendly charger that simply plugs into your phone.
$10 for a 4-hour charge. No electricity needed. MOBEEGO.
***What a difference 8 kilometers make . . .
In the midst of all the stormy weather we have had recently here in Ashdod, yesterday was a relatively quiet day with barely a sprinkle of rain.
However, all day long, we saw deeply black clouds passing over us on their way south.
Actually not very far south–just 8 kilometers to Ashkelon.
Between 7 am and noon, 112 mm of rain fell in the city–with 92 mm falling in just one hour. This was the most rain that has ever fallen anywhere in Israel in one hour since records have been kept.
A washed out road in Ashkelon yesterday (picture: ynet).
***Netanyahu in Washington . . .
Well, our prime minister arrived in Washington again yesterday to give away who knows what. There were the usual slights such as “You can’t stay in Blair House because it is being renovated (even though the President of China stayed there a month ago, and the leader of South Korea two weeks ago)“, but all in all the White House photo op seemed to go well.
Netanyahu had shifted into “Thank you, Thank you, Thank you” deferential mode, and Obama was praising and supportive of Israel. All of which is likely to get Israel nowhere. The word is out that there will be no substantive increase in funds for Israel; Pollard will not be allowed to come to Israel, etc. etc.
Your humble servant thought that the most telling moment came as the photo op came to an end. Once again it was Netanyahu saying, “I want to thank you personally Mr. President for all you have done for Israel, thank you, thank you thank you.”
To which Obama answered: “Good.”
Not “you’re welcome.” Just “good”.
***Palestinian terror yesterday.
Two stabbing incidents occurred:
—at 6:56 am, a female terrorist attempted to stab Israelis at the Eliyahu Crossing between Alfei Menashe and Karni Shomron on Highway 55. No Israelis were wounded, and the terrorist was shot and killed.
—at 12:51 pm, another female terrorist armed with a knife was captured at a checkpoint in Hebron. Again, no Israelis were wounded.
Numerous “rock” attacks yesterday resulted in numerous Israelis being physically wounded and others being treated for shock. For example, terrorists struck the Jerusalem Light Rail at Shuafat, a policeman was wounded at Hizma, motorists were bombarded at Kiryat Arba, and a motorcyclist was wounded near the Mt. of Olives.
“Rocks”, Molotovs, and IEDs were thrown at Israeli security personnel in such places as Qalqilya. Abu Dis, and Hebron.
TODAY’S BLOG:
Not surprisingly, the number of tourists coming to Israel began dropping last year during the 51 day war with Hamas–and continued dropping through the first nine months of this year presumably because of all of the Palestinian violence. Some cruise ships canceled ports of call in Ashdod and Haifa, and the number of people arriving by land and air decreased.
All of this had negative economic ramifications–6% of the Israeli workforce is employed in the tourist industry, and tourists spend a lot of money here–an average of $1500 per person.
Yet the number of tourists coming to Israel this year (and last) did not decrease as precipitously as one might have imagined. Between January and October, 2.4 million tourists entered the country–4% fewer than the same period in 2014 (which was 3 % fewer than the same period in 2013). However, it turns out that this 4% number is misleading.
Actually, last month, October, saw a startling 29% increase in the number of tourists compared to the number who arrived in September.
All told, 290,000 tourists entered the country last month.
Of theses 290,000 tourists, 257,000 entered by air and a roughly equal number entered via cruise ships in Ashdod and Haifa and land crossings from Jordan and Egypt.
How can your humble servant account for this increase? For what they are worth, here are three theories:
1. Whereas israelstreet regularly attacks the international media for not reporting on the violence here, that non-reportage may have a silver lining. The world simply doesn’t realize what the situation is on the ground.
2. As we reported yesterday on this blog, many groups–especially Christian ones–are coming to Israel to show solidarity with us during these violent times, and they deserve our heartfelt appreciation for their spirited courage and support.
3. Visitors come to Israel–no matter what the situation. Like it or not–and most Israelis don’t–Israel is the center of the monotheistic world. Every moment you are here, you are living history in the making.
Whatever the reason, the October surge in tourism is welcome!
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.