Yom Rishon
Sunday
14 Shvat 5783
February 5 2023
The News on the Israeli Street
The war in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza.
Israel’s Shin Bet revealed that it foiled two major terror attacks planned to take place in Israel last week.
A Palestinian terrorist was shot and killed as he attacked an IDF soldier near the headquarters of the Shomron Brigade.
Shooting attacks.
Palestinian terrorists opened fire on an Israeli motorist near Rawabi.
Palestinian terrorists in Jericho fired on our security forces involved in an operation to capture those involved in the Al Mog attack a week ago.
IED, Molotov, and “rock” attacks.
Palestinian terrorists attacked a bus on Road 31 near Mulda (a female passenger was wounded), at Singil, Peduel, Hizma, Hawara, on the Al Abuv curve, on the Gush Etzion-Hevron Road, the Hosan Bypass, and at many other locations.
Over Gaza:
IAF aircraft intercepted an as yet unknown aircraft over Gaza. A huge explosion in the skies as the unknown airplane was hit by a missile over Sderot sent residents into a panic.
Disturbing facts about the terror in Judea and Samaria . . .
According to a report yesterday:
Hamas and Islamic Jihad are now paying anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000 shekels to terrorists who carry out shooting attacks.
Virtually every household in PLO territory (Areas A and B of Judea and Samaria) has at least 1 gun.
TODAY’S BLOG
The “Horrifying” Leftist Call For Violent Action Against Government Leaders
We have often commented in the past few weeks about how the level of leftist discourse has turned decidedly uncivil and even violent. Several social media postings over the weekend called on those opposed to the government to carry out specific acts against government leaders.
As PM Netanyahu was leaving France yesterday, he commented about threats on his life and others:
“In recent weeks we have witnessed a growing wave of incitement, every day borders are crossed. It seemed that all borders were crossed with threats to elected officials and me, but it turns out not – because today we heard and saw a threat to murder. An explicit threat to murder a head of state government in Israel.
I know there is a debate as to what endangers democracy, but it is not something that is up for debate – it is a real danger to democracy. I expect the law enforcement and security forces, who spoke clearly and sharply during the previous government about phenomena that were much less serious, to come out with at least the same severity and the same clarity against this horrifying phenomenon.
I expect the law enforcement agencies to act immediately against those who incite or threaten murder, and I also expect the leaders of the opposition to speak with the same firmness and with the same force that I spoke. We are in difficult times and we need intentions to do what is required of us as leaders other public. We must not be silent about this matter.”
This morning the Police responded:
“The Israel Police will act with zero tolerance for inciting publications of any kind and anyone who publishes or expresses himself in a threatening and inciting manner to harm public figures will be investigated under a warning and if it turns out that he has committed a criminal offense an indictment will be filed against him.
The Commissioner of Police and the head of the Police Department take very seriously any expression that incites violence, harm and threats to public figures.
The Israel Police will not deny anyone the freedom of protest in a democratic country, but at the same time we will not allow violent, inciting and threatening discourse.”
Commissioner of Police Ya’akov Shabtai and Police Superintendent Yigal Ben Shalom
All of which brings us to the Tel Aviv anti-government demonstration last night–a demonstration which featured an ever increasing number of PLO flags:
Pro-PLO supporters have become more brazen with each demonstration; dozens of PLO flags were waved last night (apologies for the blurry photo which is a screen shot from a blurry video)..
Recalling the two quotes above, your humble servant wonders what you think of these words from a speech at the demonstration by Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai in which he fraudulently accused the government of “extreme decisions”:
“If the government continues with extreme decisions then you will expect extreme actions from the demonstrators, and from talk they will have to move to extreme actions, and it will not continue to be peaceful and calm as is happening now.”
Huldai’s words are not a call to violence; however, they are already offering an excuse for it when it comes.
The bottom line is that the time has come for the police to act before something horrible happens.
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.