2 Tishrei 5779
11 September 2018
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The News on the Israeli Street
Palestinian terror in the last 48 hours . . .
On Sunday alone, Palestinian terrorists in Gaza armed with axes, knives, guns, grenades, and IEDs attempted to break through the border fence 11 times–especially in the area near Khan Younis. In most cases they were repulsed by our soldiers, but terrorists managed to break through at least once, stealing and burning IDF equipment. During the course of the day, several terrorists were killed.
Remarkably, none of our soldiers were physically wounded.
The last two days have also seen dozens more incendiary devices launched toward southern Israel.
The Russians and Iranians continue cooperation . . .
This time on nuclear weapons. Ali Akbar Salehi, Iran head of nuclear energy development declared Sunday that Iran had finished a new advanced centrifuge center in cooperation with “a European country.” Later in the day that country was revealed to be Russia.
Obviously, the purpose of the advanced centrifuges is to refine uranium more quickly for use in the Iranian nuclear weapons program targeting Israel.
The bizarre battle at Idlib . . .
Idlib. Red color: Assad forces; Yellowish color: Free Syrian/Rebel forces; Purple: Kurdish forces.
As israelstreet readers undoubtedly know by now, Syrian regular forces acting in conjunction with Iranian ground forces and Russian air strikes have launched the long-awaited attack on the final bastion of the rebel forces of the Syrian Free Army. Yesterday saw the Russians bombing the outskirts of the city.
What makes the situation bizarre is that elements of the Turkish Army are also in Idlib. They are there supporting the Syrian Free Army because the Syrian Free Army is fighting with the Turks against the Kurds in the area. The Turks have already warned Assad, the Iranians, and the Russians that “there will be no massacre in Idlib.” Yesterday, the Turks even allowed the Syrian Free Army to attack Assad’s forces at Tel Ripat.
All of this situation is further complicated by the United States which possibly has special forces in Idlib and has now warned Assad that using chemical weapons against the population of Idlib will lead to American intervention. In fact, an unsubstantiated report this morning says that Assad has now approved the use of chlorine gas in the coming battle.
If all of this is not complicated enough, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps fired seven missiles Saturday in an attack on Iraqi Kurds, killing at least 11 people. This morning, U.S. Vice President Pence warned Iran to cease its attack on the Kurds in Iraq.
One final element of the bizarrness: in the last few days Russia, Turkey, and Iran signed an agreement to conduct trade among themselves in a currency other than dollars. All three countries’ currencies are currently at all-time lows against the dollar.
What are the top 7 airlines serving Ben Gurion Airport? . . .
Still number one, but gradually losing passenger share.
The following list may surprise you. Since January of this year, here are the airlines with the number of passengers they flew:
1. El Al: 3,910,604
2. Turkish Airlines: 712,000
3. WizzAir: 701,000
4. EasyJet: 648,000
5. Aeroflot: 504,000
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6. Israir: 479,000
7. Arkia: 457,000
All of these countries registered increases in comparison to the same period last year except for El Al which had a 2% decrease.
Deserters are welcome back . . .
The IDF has announced that any Israeli citizen who fled Israel to avoid military service will be permitted back into Israel without military arrest for the holiday season. The only stipulation is that he or she leave the country by October 31.
The IDF hopes that while they are here, such citizens will settle their status with the IDF by enlisting.
At the same time, the IDF has declared that any Israelis living in Israel who left military service without permission during their reserve service will be allowed to return to active duty by October 31. Such reservists will not be subject to criminal proceedings.
TODAY’S BLOG:
The U.S. Closes Down the PLO and Puts the ICC On Notice!
Did you ever think you would see this?
What a remarkable statement of the reality of the non-existent “peace process” with the Palestinians.
Let’s repeat for emphasis: “. . . the PLO has not taken steps to advance the start of direct and meaningful negotiations with Israel. To the contrary, PLO leadership has condemned a U.S. peace plan they have not yet seen and refused to engage with the U.S. government with respect to peace efforts and otherwise.”
The simple fact is that the PLO has never taken steps to have direct and meaningful negotiations with Israel. It has never made one concession to peace; any talks that have ever taken place have always been based on unilateral Israeli concessions. Everybody knows this–but until now, no one has been willing to say it.
As if the closure of the PLO office in Washingtons was not enough, it was followed up by an equally remarkable speech by White House National Security Adviser John Bolton at the Federalist Society in Washington.
Discussing the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Bolton declared:
“If the court comes after us, Israel or other U.S. allies, we will not sit quietly . . . The United States will use any means necessary to protect our citizens and those of our allies from unjust prosecution by this illegitimate court . . .
We will ban its judges and prosecutors from entering the United States. We will sanction their funds in the U.S. financial system, and we will prosecute them in the U.S. criminal system. We will do the same for any company or state that assists an ICC investigation of Americans . . . For all intents and purposes, the ICC is already dead to us . . .
While the court welcomes the membership of the so-called state of Palestine, it has threatened Israel, a liberal, democratic nation, with investigation into its actions in the West Bank and Gaza to defend its citizens from terrorist attacks.”
Wow.
And double wow.
Seriously, could there possibly be a U.S. Administration more supportive of Israel than the Trump Administration? And could there be any more dramatic contrast between the current Trump Administration and the previous Obama Administration than what happened yesterday?
It was a remarkable day in Washington.
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.