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Monday, March 07, 2022

03/07 Links Pt2: Caroline Glick: Biden Shatters Israel's Delusions; Russia exploiting Iran talks to ease sanctions; AIPAC hosts first Arab head of state

From Ian:

Caroline Glick: Biden Shatters Israel's Delusions
For decades, senior Israeli defense officials beat a path to the Pentagon, the State Department, the CIA and the National Security Council with briefcases full of documents providing conclusive proof that Iran's nuclear program is a military program and that its purpose is to transform the Islamic Republic of Iran into a nuclear-armed state. The officers arrived in Washington convinced that the smoking gun they were providing the Americans would compel Washington to abandon its long-held delusion that there is a "grand bargain" to be had with the fanatical Islamist theocracy whose leaders believe that Iran's rise will herald an era of unmitigated Shiite global domination.

All of the Israeli officers made their best cases to their American counterparts. Most believed the Americans were open to the information they provided, and left Washington convinced that the Americans finally recognized the danger and would act to block Iran from achieving its nefarious goal. On at least one occasion, their efforts were rewarded.

In 2018, after Israel's Mossad spy agency spirited Iran's nuclear archive out of a warehouse in Tehran and brought it to Israel, Israel's spy chiefs flew to Washington to share the findings with the Trump administration. The documents provided incontrovertible proof of Israel's long-standing contentions that Iran's nuclear program was initiated, maintained and expanded throughout the years for the primary purpose of developing nuclear weapons. Then-President Donald Trump responded to Israel's revelations by withdrawing the U.S from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—the nuclear deal the Obama administration had concluded with Iran.

The 2015 nuclear deal placed certain restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities for a limited period. But the JCPOA allowed Iran to continue with its nuclear research and development, and placed no restrictions on Iran's missile development and proliferation. In other words, Barack Obama's deal limited what Iran could do with the nuclear capabilities it had acquired by 2015, but it enabled Iran to massively expand its nuclear capabilities for the future.

During the early years of the JCPOA, Iran developed second-generation centrifuges capable of enriching uranium 10 times faster than it was able to enrich in 2015—and to much higher levels of purity. Iran began deploying the new advanced centrifuges as soon as they were ready, even before Trump abandoned the JCPOA and reinstated the nuclear sanctions the Obama administration had suspended in 2015.

After abandoning the JCPOA, Trump and then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced their "maximum pressure" campaign of harsh sanctions on the Iranian regime. The campaign intended to block the regime from waging war against its neighbors, either directly or through its proxies, and to deter it from attacking U.S. forces and assets in the region.
Seth Frantzman: Russia exploiting Iran talks to ease sanctions
The Tasnim report said Lavrov wants trade between Iran and Russia to be exempt from sanctions, which means the West would reject the deal. Moscow holds a veto over the deal as well.

Iran doesn’t seem happy. Although it has feigned disinterest in the deal and says it has managed to get around sanctions, it doesn’t want to be used by Russia. The Islamic Republic already has a plan to blackmail the West and now sees Moscow trying to exploit it for its own blackmail.

But Tehran has another agenda. “Iran produces more than two million barrels per day of oil, and if this oil enters the market, its price increase will slow down,” the report said.

Russia benefits from the price increase. Talk of the US banning Russian energy imports would ostensibly drive prices up. Then America would have to ask the Gulf states to compensate for the price increases by increasing supply.

Iran is saying, “Wait a sec, we have lots of oil to sell. Don’t let Russia strong-arm you.”

That is one interpretation. Or Iran and Russia may be playing “good cop, bad cop,” with the latter now playing the bad cop and the former pretending to be good. Either way, “Russia, the world’s largest oil producer, intends to put pressure on the Western economy by raising oil prices further and boosting its production,” Tasnim reported.

Russia has now been exposed not only as an unreliable country in terms of unchecked aggression against Ukraine but also as unreliable in the Iran nuclear talks.
Ben-Dror Yemini: The West's Selective Morality in the Face of the Iranian Threat
The West is rightly concerned about Russia, but how come it closes its eyes in the face of the Iranian threat? Where is the morality here exactly? Turning a blind eye to the situation effectively equates to abandoning the people of the Middle East — Muslims and Jews alike.

This pacified approach leads to a disgraceful deal with Iran that will only serve to expand the Islamic republic’s death industry. We must fight Russian aggression. But why are those going against Russia, and rightly so, are also those waving a white flag when it comes to Iran? There’s no arguing that the U.S. is Israel’s most important ally, Russia is the aggressor, and Ukraine is the victim. That is why Israel joined the UN’s condemnation of Moscow. But that wasn't enough to appease Amanpour and her ilk.

However, Israel must continue in its fight against the most murderous actor in the Middle East. This is not just an Israeli interest, it's also an American interest and of every decent human being in the Middle East and the West.

As an ally, the U.S. is supposed to understand this and that freedom of action that allows undercutting Iran's might is a moral imperative that Jerusalem simply cannot give up on, and if it means the Israeli government must walk on eggshells vis-à-vis Moscow, so be it.

And another thing, had a harsher Israeli stance against Russia actually led to a turning point, then it should have employed a different policy. But it is clear that halting Israeli operations against Iran on Syrian soil would only lead to more bloodshed and destruction. Given these circumstances, Israel is taking the moral approach. The only ones having a moral lapse are those seeking to sabotage the war on Iran’s murderous machinations.


AIPAC hosts first Arab head of state
Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad met with AIPAC leaders and lawmakers at the pro-Israel organization's headquarters in Washington, DC on Thursday.

Bin Hamad's visit, along with key leaders from his country, was the first such meeting to AIPAC headquarters by an Arab head of state, according to a tweet by AIPAC.

Also attending the meeting were American lawmakers, including leaders from the bipartisan Abraham Accords Caucus.

Bin Hamad also met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who wrote in a tweet that the two discussed joint peace and security initiatives, human rights, and opportunities to advance both the US-Bahrain dialogue and its growing ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords.
UK strikes ‘exciting’ Israel deal after £80bn EU fob-off: 'Stronger and smarter!'
Science Minister George Freeman headed to Tel Aviv for a two-day visit last week to meet with key players in the Israeli scientific community and explore broadening collaboration between the two powerhouses. The country is already Britain’s top collaborator in the Middle East and is considered a world leader in a number of scientific domains like stem cell research and computer sciences.

Mr Freeman tweeted: “Thank you to all the brilliant scientists, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers in Israel for a brilliant visit and agreement on a new UK-Israel R&D collaboration.”

The science minister has been looking to strike agreements with some of the world’s strongest nations in science after the EU banned Britain from Horizon Europe.

Horizon Europe is the £80billion key research and innovation project that the UK was meant to participate in as a feature of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

But Britain was told it cannot re-join the project until it resolves its Brexit disputes with the bloc.

Britain planned to contribute £15billion over seven years to access the huge pool of funding and let its scientists collaborate with European partners.
The Saudi Crown Prince's Messages to Israel and Iran
Mohammed Bin Salman is the “strongman” in Saudi Arabia, already wielding major security and diplomatic power, and he is apparently on track to become the next Saudi king. This only underlines the importance of what he says about Israel and how he views it as a “possible ally” of Saudi Arabia against Shiite Iran, though he did not say that explicitly.

According to sources in Jerusalem, Mohammed Bin Salman says the same things to senior Israeli officials he meets as he said in the Atlantic interview transcript as released by the Saudi Press Agency. (The statement about a possible alliance was missing in the magazine.)2

MBS sees Israel as an ally of Saudi Arabia, but so long as his elderly father, King Salman, is alive, it is hard for him to deviate from the traditional Saudi line on Israel. At the same time, calling Israel a “possible ally” is undoubtedly a further positive step in preparing Arab hearts and minds for normalization with Israel, especially when done on the eve of a renewed nuclear deal with Iran in Vienna.

President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris continue to boycott the Saudi crown prince, whom they see as responsible for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. They communicate directly with his father, King Salman, and ignore the crown prince. In the Atlantic interview, Bin Salman continues to deny that he ordered Khashoggi’s murder.

The murderous act, he insisted, was a mistake by those convicted for the deed. He said he was not behind them and compared what occurred to American mistakes in Afghanistan and Iraq. “I’m doing my best to make sure that we have the governance, the right process, and procedure to be sure that things like that don’t happen again. That’s my commitment.”

According to U.S. sources, President Biden has no intention to change his attitude toward the Saudi crown prince, but today, with a looming energy crisis, reports suggest that the White House is considering a visit to the Saudi Kingdom.3 What is still unclear is whether Washington will try to intervene in the Saudi royal family’s internal affairs to prevent Mohammed Bin Salman’s election as king when his father dies or is incapacitated.

In any case, Israel views Mohammed bin Salman as a friend and an ally against the Iranian danger. Even if the matter is kept unofficial, the Israeli top echelon well understands the difficulties of the Saudi royal family and is waiting patiently for a state of affairs that will make it possible to reach and announce a normalization agreement with the Saudis.
Biden’s Supreme Court Nominee’s Harvard Group Hosted A Speaker Criticized For Antisemitic Remarks
President Joe Biden’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, was a member of the Black Students Association (BSA) at Harvard University that invited Leonard Jeffries, a former professor who has been criticized over antisemitic and racist remarks, to speak at the school.

Jeffries, who was a City University of New York professor of black studies at the time, spoke at an event hosted by the BSA, Harvard’s Black Law Students Association and the Dubois Graduate Society, The Harvard Crimson reported in February 1992.

The event sparked criticism and campus protests from groups such as the campus Hillel chapter, Gay-Straight Alliance, College Democrats and more, who cited Jeffries past comments in calling him antisemitic, racist and homophobic.

Throughout Jeffries’ lecture to the black student groups, he discussed a “revisionist version of history” that attributed modern society successes to “the ancient Egyptian civilization of the Nile,” according to the Crimson.

Although Jeffries denied being antisemitic, he said “Jews were heavily involved in the slave trade” and denied that “Egyptians had used Jewish lave labor to build the ancient pyramids of Giza,” the Crimson reported. In a discussion of the Holocaust, Jeffries reportedly said “Adolf Hitler was a problem of Europeans. Adolf Hitler is not my problem.”

In 1991, the American Jewish Committee (AJC) released a report called “Dr. Jeffries and the Anti-Semitic Branch of the Afrocentrism Movement,” discussing Jeffries’ comments about Jews and his Afrocentric views. Describing a 1990 conference Jeffries held for black teachers that highlighted his own beliefs, the AJC report said “if one wanted to know more about the Jews, the ‘Protocols of the Elders of Zion,’ the anti-Semitic Czarist forgery that alleges a worldwide Jewish conspiracy, and which fueled many pogroms, was sold at the conference.”


Four Palestinians indicted for firebombing Jewish home in Sheikh Jarrah
Prosecutors on Monday indicted four Palestinians from East Jerusalem, including a minor, for the alleged firebombing of a Jewish home in Sheikh Jarrah last month.

The Jerusalem District Prosecutor’s Office requested that the group be kept in custody until the end of the legal proceedings against them.

The suspects were arrested in the days following the attack on Tal Yushuvayev’s home, which sparked clashes in the flashpoint neighborhood after far-right MK Itamar Ben Gvir opened a makeshift office at the scene.

According to the indictment, Mu’taz Haj Mahmoud, Balal Jabari, Jamal Husseini and an unnamed minor prepared Molotov cocktails and threw them at Yushuvayev’s residence.

No injuries were reported in the fire. However, the house was badly damaged and police said an officer was lightly hurt from smoke inhalation after entering the home.

The indictment further alleges that the four were involved in additional arson attempts in the months preceding the incident. MK Itamar Ben Gvir (right) holds a press conference at his makeshift office in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah together with Tal Yushuvayev, whose house was firebombed, February 14, 2022. (Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)

In November, according to the indictment, the three tried to set fire to the same house, and in December, two of them set fire to and totally burned the Yushuvayev family’s vehicle.

In addition, in January, one of the defendants, along with another person, threw Molotov cocktails at the Yushuvayev family home, causing damage to property.
Ramle synagogue torched, suspect in police custody
The Israel Police on Monday arrested a 30-year-old resident of Ramle, a mixed Jewish-Arab city in central Israel, on suspicion of trying to set fire to a local synagogue late on Sunday night.

Police and fire investigators who arrived at the scene concluded that arson may have been the cause and opened an investigation. A source familiar with the case said the police plan to seek the man's remand at a hearing set for Tuesday morning.

According to available details, the man broke into the synagogue and attempted to set it on fire, but the flames did not spread, damaging only the rabbi's chair.

"A synagogue in the center of Ramle was set on fire tonight," local social activist Meir Layosh tweeted. "Can you imagine what would have happened if it had been a mosque? All the politicians boasting false morality would have rushed to condemn [it], demand the perpetrators face the full extent of the law, and be appalled by the 'incitement.' And now? Silence. Remember that the next time you hear them speak. This is disgraceful."

Religious Zionist Party leader Bezalel Smotrich condemned the incident strongly, saying, "The sight of a torched synagogue comes from the darkest times in the Jewish people's history. The government's indifference toward antisemitic incidents in the heart of Israel is unacceptable."

Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, echoed the outrage, saying, "If this was a mosque the entire world would decry this and MKs would be denouncing it, but when we're dealing with a synagogue no one makes a sound."

He demanded the police "set up a special task force to investigate such acts of terror, just like they do for price-tag incidents.
Israel’s Military Intercepted Two Iranian Drones Last Year
Iran launched two drones toward Israeli territory in March of 2021, successfully intercepted by the Israeli Air Force, Israel’s military permitted for publication on Sunday.

This was the first operational interception of a UAV by an F-35i aircraft in the world, the statement said.

The interception of the UAVs was carried out prior to it entering Israeli airspace, in coordination with neighboring countries. The UAVs were detected and tracked throughout their flight by ground control units.

According to reports, the drones carried firearms meant for terror groups in Gaza.

Two drones launched from Iran were shot down in Iraq last Tuesday.

“It’s so easy to carry out attacks with drones or bombs. So it’s a very big story that is tackled by all kinds of means,” said a senior diplomat.

Over the past year, Israel has been tracking Iranian drone strike attempts, both by Houthis in Yemen and Shia militias on the Syrian-Iraqi border.

Israel has begun to establish a “regional air defense parachute” in cooperation with a number of countries in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf to detect and intercept drones, with one country helping to defend the other.


Seth Frantzman: Iran drone threat against Israel is rapidly evolving
This is a major and rising threat that has no borders. Iran has no problem moving weapons to the West Bank and Gaza, moving air-defense systems to Syria and targeting US forces and Gulf states. It targets ships as well.

The Islamic Republic is likely trying to test Israel. Hezbollah’s decision to fly a drone into Israeli airspace and have it return to Lebanon was scripted to boast about the group’s capabilities.

In other incidents, Iran has obviously failed to get its drones to do what it wants them to do. The March 2021 interception is one example of this.

However, Israel’s decision to increasingly spotlight the program shows a realization of the complexity of the emerging threat. Israel didn’t just reveal the March 2021 incident now, it also highlighted last year that Iran is training drone operators and constructing drone bases. This is all part of the Iranian drone threat.

The reports this week that Iran had moved air defenses to Syria show that Tehran wants to protect its assets in Syria, including perhaps drones that it has sought to move there. The February 2018 incident, for instance, began with a drone flying from T-4 base.

These are the moves Iran is making ahead of a possible nuclear deal and as the world is distracted by the war in Ukraine.
Syrian Army Says Israeli Airstrike Near Damascus Killed Two People
Israel struck targets near Damascus early Monday morning, killing two people, the Syrian army said.

Syria’s air defense systems were activated against the alleged strike.

“Air defense systems were activated against the missiles and intercepted most of them,” the Syrian army said.

The strike took place at around 5 am local time, hitting several targets south of the capital and causing property damage, with explosions heard in Damascus, according to Syrian media reports.

An alleged Israeli airstrike on February 24 killed three Syrian soldiers, according to Syrian state news SANA.

That attack came a day after an alleged Israeli strike hit the largely abandoned town of Quneitra, just a few miles from the border with Israel.
Tell kids “Israelis are evil” - Palestinian psychologist on how to explain why Israel doesn’t release terrorist fathers
The Israelis “are evil” – that’s the simple message a Palestinian psychologist suggests mothers offer their children when they need to explain why the children’s imprisoned terrorist fathers “can’t leave prison.”

This false explanation fits in with the rest of the PA narrative that terrorists are heroes and, in PA Chairman Abbas’ words, “the most sanctified we have.” In other words, Palestinian terrorist prisoners – among them mass murderers – have done nothing wrong, rather they are victims of the “evil” Israelis:
Director of the Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture, Psychologist Khader Rasras: “We can explain to [the prisoner’s child] what it means that your father can’t leave prison. Like sometimes I [as your mother] don’t let you leave the house. But I don’t let you leave the house because I love you and am concerned about you. [The Israelis] don’t let him leave because they are evil. They do not respect people's rights, or human rights in general.”

[Official PA TV, How Will I Answer Them?, Feb. 20, 2022]

It is likely that many mothers will follow psychologist Khader Rasras’ advice, especially given that he is presented as an authority figure on official PA TV. After receiving this incitement, the terrorists’ children may grow up with a desire to take revenge on Israelis for the “evil” inflicted against their fathers, and will choose to engage in terror and follow in their fathers’ footsteps. This is a prime example of how the seeds of terror are planted.

The statement by Rasras also lines up with the PA’s libel about Israel's alleged “medical neglect” of the terrorist prisoners, exposed by Palestinian Media Watch. According to the libel, Israel is said to be deliberately leaving the terrorist prisoners to suffer from untreated diseases, intentionally making them ill, and even using them as guinea pigs to test new medicines.




HonestReporting Videos: Amid Ukraine Crisis, Media Failing to Report on Iran 'Getting Much More' Than Expected in Nuke Talks
As the world's eyes are on Russia's war against Ukraine, negotiations on a return to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal have reached a critical juncture. Russia's representative to the ongoing negotiations, Mikhail Ulyanov, told Iranian state media that Tehran is liable to get "much more than it could expect" in the Vienna talks.

The US has reportedly agreed to lift sanctions on "some of the [Iranian] regime's worst terrorists and torturers," as well as leading officials involved in the Islamic Republic's production of weapons of mass destruction.

Ulyanov's interview coincided with a visit to Iran by the UN's nuclear chief, Rafael Grossi. It comes amid reports that Tehran has almost doubled its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% purity. Meanwhile, Iran's military unveiled two underground bases for launching attack drones and missiles.

Israel this week disclosed that it had intercepted Iranian UAVs en route to Gaza Strip-based terrorist groups.

Iran's campaign of expansionism and terror poses a threat to the entire Middle East -- and beyond. Yet news outlets often singularly focus on Israel's concerns. It's time for the media to explore the magnitude of the Iranian threat to international peace and security.


IAEA Refuses Iran's Request to Close Investigation into Nuke Sites
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi does not intend to set "artificial deadlines" for the closure of an investigation into Iran's military nuclear program, Grossi said Saturday in Tehran.

Iran and the IAEA agreed on a three-month plan to resolve the issue of uranium particles found at undeclared sites in the country, removing an obstacle to reviving the Iran nuclear deal.

Iran has agreed to supply answers long sought by the IAEA. However, Grossi emphasized that his conclusion would not necessarily be positive.


Iran pulls out of women's ice hockey championship after being slated against Israel
Iran, which was due to face off against Israel at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hokey Women's World Championship for Division III in Belgrade, Serbia, later this month, has withdrawn from the event to avoid competing against Israel.

The Israeli women's ice hockey team will be making its competition debut at the championships.

Levav Weinberg, chairman of the Ice Hockey Federation of Israel, said, "We put politics aside. What we care about is promoting the sport. You can see that in our team, which is made up of [women of] four religions, and we do our utmost to win."
French retail giant Carrefour to set up 150 stores in Israel
Electra Consumer Products announced Sunday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Carrefour by which the French retail giant will open dozens of stores in Israel under the Carrefour brand.

Carrefour is a multinational retail corporation headquartered in Massy, France. It is the eighth-largest retailer in the world by revenue and operates a chain of supermarkets and convenience stores. It currently has 13,900 branches worldwide and a sales turnover of €81.2 billion.

The franchise agreement between Electra and Carrefour is said to be for 20 years with an option to extend it for another 20 years. Both aim to finalize a binding agreement by April, Electra's press release said.

The agreement will see Carrefour open 150 stores nationwide, converting locations used by the Yeinot Bitan chain, which Electra acquired last year.

The first branches under the Carrefour brand are slated to be opened in late 2022, while Carrefour's brand products will start to be sold in Yeinot Bitan branches before the summer.

Carrefour is a world leader in changing food consumption habits anywhere and it provides its customers with access to quality and affordable food anytime, anywhere. Its brands are among the largest in Europe and the company, which is listed on the Euronext N.V. stock exchange, has a market value is about €14 billion. The company also carries out more than 2 billion transactions a year.


Police Arrest Suspect Behind Shooting at Indianapolis Jewish Center
Police have arrested a 19-year-old who was allegedly responsible for a shooting at the Jewish Community Center in Indianapolis that resulted in the injury of two men, The Indianapolis Star reported.

Latrell Williams was detained by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department on Wednesday on two preliminary charges of battery with a deadly weapon for his alleged involvement in the shooting on Saturday. Police believe the incident was “not religiously motivated” or a hate crime.

Police and witnesses said two men were shot on Saturday afternoon following a dispute related to a basketball game at the Jewish center’s gym. One man was shot once in the arm and then three times in the abdomen. The second victim was shot once in the leg before the suspect fled the scene. The men were taken to a hospital in stable condition, The Associated Press reported.

Andrea Kruszynski, a spokesperson for the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis, said an Indianapolis police officer is usually patrolling the Jewish center but at the time of the shooting, the officer was at the center in a patrol car.

The Jewish Community Center announced after the incident that it will review its policies for visitor and door access to the building. The center said in an email to its members on Wednesday following the arrest, “Safety and security is of utmost importance … and we credit the swift actions of local law enforcement and our Jewish campus staff for their assistance during this event.”
Poster of Jewish MP defaced with swastika and Adolf Hitler moustache in Australia
A poster of a Jewish MP in Australia was defaced with a swastika and an Adolf Hitler moustache recently.

The election poster of Josh Burns, who represents Australia’s Labour Party and is the Federal Member of Parliament for the Melbourne division of Macnamara, was vandalised with a black marker. On his forehead, a swastika was drawn, along with a kippah, Hitler moustache and beard.

Mr Burns said: “It was obviously very disappointing to see this kind of ugly graffiti in the heart of our local community, but I was overwhelmed with the support I received from parliamentary colleagues on both sides of the political divide, and from people across the nation.

“There’s no place for the swastika in Australia and there’s no place for antisemitism or any form of racism in this country. The ugly actions of a small few will only galvanise us to keep fighting against antisemitism, racism and extremism.”

Mr Burns posted the photograph to his Facebook profile, writing: “I’m not putting this up for sympathy – to be honest, I’ve got thicker skin than that. But I’m putting this graffiti up as a reminder that there are some lines that shouldn’t be crossed. And because democracy is precious and needs defending.

“Elections can be brutal and sometimes politics in Australia is not practised at the highest level. I get that. But being able to freely express one’s political views, peacefully and respectfully, is an essential part of Australia.”

“It will be cleaned today and we will continue on with a full day of campaigning,” he added. “With even more determination and focus to help shape and build our wonderful, democratic Australia.”


Jewish archaeological sites in West Bank must be preserved - Herzog
Jewish archaeological sites in the West Bank must be preserved, President Isaac Herzog told the English-speaking community in Israel and abroad. He delivered the short virtual address during the third in a series of Judea and Samaria mega-events.

“Much of the Jewish People’s history in this land is rooted in the hills and valleys of Judea and Samaria,” Herzog said.

“Here our Patriarchs and Matriarchs lived and were laid to rest. Here Joshua led the Sons and Daughters of Israel, Bnei Yisrael, into the land; King David began his rule; our prophets spread their teachings, which we teach today, and every Shabbat; and Jewish rebels—from the Maccabees to Bar Kochva—fought for what they believed in,” he explained.

“Beyond any political dispute we should all agree to protect the integrity of Jewish historical and archaeological sites throughout the Land of Israel, as well as the historical sites belonging to other religions and cultures which have left their stamp on this region throughout the ages,” he explained.

He also took a moment to speak of Israel’s status as both the Jewish national homeland and a democracy “built on equality and religious freedom.”

It is also important, he said, to work for a future of peace, cooperation and dialogue particularly through the Abraham Accords, under whose rubric Israel normalized ties with four of its Arab neighbors.
1,500-Year-Old ‘Magic Bowls’ Found in Jerusalem
A search of an apartment in Jerusalem has revealed hundreds of rare artifacts, including three 1,500-year-old “magic bowls,” the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said on Monday.

The suspected dealer in illegal antiquities resides in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo.

IAA’s theft prevention unit conducted the raid in coordination with Jerusalem district police.

Trading in stolen artifacts is a criminal offense, with punishment of up to three years in prison.

The magic incantation bowls are dated to the 4th to 8th centuries CE. They came from Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) and are written in Aramaic and use quotes from the Hebrew Bible in the Hebrew language.

“Bowls of this type came from ancient sites in Mesopotamia — Iraq of today. The text was written by artists to a specific client, in accordance with his personal needs,” Amir Ganor, director of the IAA’s Robbery Prevention Division, said.

Additional finds include hundreds of ancient coins, glassware and weapons.
Girl from Myanmar undergoes cardiac surgery in Israel
Hannah, an eight-year-old girl from Myanmar was successfully brought to Israel and underwent a life-saving heart operation this week through the Save a Child's Heart organization.

Hannah was born eight years ago with a life-threatening heart syndrome. Three years ago, at the age of five, she underwent cardiac surgery in Wolfson Medical Center that required her to return for another operation. This was made difficult, however, when a civil war broke out in Myanmar, and flights in and out of the country were stopped.

Save a Child's Heart conducted an operation to extract Hannah from Myanmar and bring her to Israel.

"The only people allowed out of Myanmar are diplomats and exceptional cases," explained Sarah Nevo, a representative from the organization. "We turned to the Israeli embassy in Myanmar and got a special permit for an extraction flight to Dubai for Hannah and her father. From there, they continued on to Israel."

Another obstacle arose on the night of the flight. Hannah's father phoned Nevo to tell her that he was being barred from boarding the flight because he didn't have COVID-19 insurance which was essential for entry to Dubai.

"We managed to sort it out in the middle of the night, and in the end the two boarded the plane and arrived in Israel," said Nevo.






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