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Friday, July 07, 2023

07/07 Links Pt1: The story of Jenin: From beacon of peace to terrorism epicenter; The Jenin Operation Showed That Israel Preserves Life; IDF soldier killed by terrorist while preventing attack

From Ian:

Melanie Phillips: The malevolent reporting on Israel’s Jenin operation
That’s why the demonization of the Jewish people pumped out by the P.A. is resolutely ignored. That’s why the Palestinian aim to destroy Israel is denied. As the anchor of a BBC TV politics show said to me when I appeared on it this week, such things were just “propaganda” of the kind pumped out by “both sides.”

This skewing of the entire narrative is more momentous than most people realize.

The word “Nazi” has become so badly misused to demonize any opponent of the left that it’s been robbed of much of its actual meaning. But in the case of the Middle East, it’s not a vacuous insult. It’s no exaggeration to view the Arab and Muslim war against Israel as a posthumous Nazi front.

In recent years, a group of scholars has been steadily uncovering the depth of the alliance between the Arabs of Mandatory Palestine and the Nazi leadership.

The German political scientist Matthias Kuentzel has argued that the Nazi Party intended to turn Muslims against Jews and Zionism.

Now Kuentzel writes in the journal Fathom that his new book, Nazism, Islamic Antisemitism and the Middle East, sets out what’s known about the pamphlet Islam and Judaism, which was first published in 1937 by the director of the Palestinian-Arab Bureau of Information in Cairo. The author is believed to have had many contacts with Nazi agents. During the Second World War, his pamphlet was printed and distributed in large numbers by German forces.

Kuentzel describes it as a shocking text that uses religion to incite Jew-hatred. He writes, “It contradicts the widespread assumption that Islamic antisemitism developed as a response to alleged Israeli misdeeds. It was not the behavior of the Zionists that prompted the publication of this hostile text, but rather the very first attempt to implement a two-state solution for Palestine. This fact suggests that Jew-hatred was a cause, not a consequence of the crises in the Middle East conflict.”

Anyone looking at today’s Palestinian propaganda can identify its Nazi heritage of images and tropes. That’s because the Palestinian cause is a latter-day version of the Nazi onslaught against the Jews.

In the West, this does more than merely conflict with the narrative about the Middle East promoted by the BBC, The New York Times and the liberal intelligentsia. The West doesn’t want to hear about the Holocaust. It doesn’t want to hear about antisemitism. It tells itself the Jews exaggerate them for their own ends.

This is why the truth about the Palestinian war of extermination is never acknowledged. This is why the Iranian pincer movement against Israel is never reported.

It’s because much of the West believes what antisemites have always told themselves: That the Jews are responsible for their own destruction. That terrible thinking is what we’ve heard amplified once again in this week’s reporting of the events in Jenin.
‘Shameful, far-fetched, completely detached from reality,’ Erdan says of UN head’s Jenin comments
Two days after Israel completed a counter-terrorism operation in Jenin—during which it seized bombs, guns and hundreds of thousands of shekels in terror funds—António Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations, blamed the Jewish state solely for using excessive force.

The U.N. leader was “deeply disturbed” by the operation, he said on Thursday at a press briefing at U.N. headquarters in New York City.

“Israel’s airstrikes and ground operations in a crowded refugee camp” were the worst violence in the area in years, “with a significant impact on civilians, including more than 100 injured and thousands forced to flee,” he added.

Guterres called on Israel “to abide by its obligations under international law, including the duty to exercise restraint and use only proportional force, and the duty to minimize damage and injury and respect and preserve human life.”

The airstrikes were “inconsistent with the conduct of law enforcement operations,” according to Guterres, who blamed Israel for disrupting utility services and for blocking access to medical care—both charges that Israeli officials vehemently deny.

When a reporter asked whether the criticism applied only to Israel or to the Palestinians as well, Guterres replied: “It applies to all use of excessive force, and obviously, in this situation, there was an excessive force used by Israeli forces.” He ignored a question about whether Israel had committed war crimes in Jenin.

‘Are the lives of Israeli civilians not important?’

The U.N. head’s remarks were “shameful, far-fetched and completely detached from reality,” said Gilad Erdan, Israeli ambassador to the United Nations.

Jenin civilians fled their homes because Palestinian terrorists had seized them, and terrorist elements were using schools, hospitals and mosques as weapons caches and operational centers, Erdan said.
Richard Kemp: The fact that the IDF killed no civilians in Jenin is a marvel
The IDF defensive operation in Jenin — the most intensive military action in the West Bank since 2002 — has concluded after 48 hours of fighting without any civilian deaths. That is a remarkable achievement unparalleled in any comparable campaign worldwide. Twelve Palestinians were killed, at least eight of whom have been claimed as fighters by the terrorist groups involved.

In most high-intensity operations in urban areas, even those conducted by Western armies who adhere strictly to the laws of war, more civilians than fighters are killed, sometimes in a ratio of 3-5 to one. This is of course not deliberate but an unavoidable consequence of fighting an enemy among the population who themselves dress as civilians, occupy civilian buildings such as mosques, schools and hospitals as bases of attack, and use innocent civilians as human shields.

Israel’s enemies in Gaza and the West Bank go further still, using tactics that deliberately try to lure the IDF to kill their own citizens. You might wonder why any force that sets itself up as protectors of its people would do that. It is because they know they can never defeat or severely damage the IDF on the battlefield, and they can rely unfailingly on journalists, academics, international bodies and activists to blame Israel for these deaths, leading to vilification, condemnation and isolation.

This tactic was used in Jenin and as a consequence around 100 people were wounded, some of whom were civilians. Despite close surveillance, strict rules of engagement, extensive training in preventing civilian casualties and tight battle discipline, it would have been impossible in these circumstances to completely avoid any uninvolved civilians getting hit. To understand that you just have to put yourself in the boots of a young Israeli soldier in a fast moving and chaotic situation with explosives and gunmen potentially around every corner, bullets maybe with your name on scything through the air and every step you take liable to set off a lethal booby trap. Don’t forget, operating on their own turf, the terrorists had plenty of time to prepare the ground for the incursion they knew would come sooner or later.


The story of Jenin: From beacon of peace to terrorism epicenter
‘A West Bank Ruin, Reborn as a Peace Beacon.” That was the headline of a New York Times article in September 2008 celebrating a pilot program – supported by Israel and the international community – to create a model for successful Palestinian governance in Jenin.

The plan envisioned a reinforcement of PA security forces in the Jenin area and Israel, which wanted to support it, implemented economic and civil measures to improve the living conditions of the local residents.

In the article, US Gen. James L. Jones, at the time the special American envoy to the region and later former US president Barack Obama’s national security advisor, said: “I see this as a kind of dress rehearsal for statehood, a crucible where the two sides can prove things to each other.”

Then, the pilot was celebrated as a model for what can happen throughout the West Bank. A large number of construction projects were approved, an industrial zone was established and sewage and electricity infrastructure was upgraded.

Israel did its part. It loosened restrictions to enable the free flow of goods, pulled back its forces, and allowed Israeli-Arabs to enter Jenin – Area A is usually off limits to Israeli citizens – with the aim of boosting the local economy.

It’s interesting to recall those days of hope for economic prosperity and PA governance in Jenin after this week’s military operation (someone needs to help the IDF come up with better names for its operations than “Home and Garden”). Peace beacon? Crucible for both sides? That is anything but Jenin today, which instead has turned into the epicenter for Palestinian anti-Israel terrorism in the West Bank. The Jenin operation was a success

OVERALL, THE operation was a success. Terrorist infrastructure was discovered and destroyed, weapons and explosive devices were confiscated, and the Palestinians killed were almost all known terrorists and card-carrying members of Islamic Jihad or Hamas. Such results, in such a dense urban setting, are unheard of on the modern battlefield.

But this is a far cry from a defeat of terrorism. Most of the gunmen in Jenin went underground or fled the refugee camp during the IDF operation, preferring to live to fight another day than to die this week. They will return to the camp, rebuild the damaged infrastructure, start to make bombs again, and continue to orchestrate attacks against Israelis – in the West Bank and over the Green Line.
Palestinian Politician: Many ‘Martyrs’ in Jenin Refugee Camp Were Members of PA Security Forces
Palestinian politician Azzam Al-Ahmad, who is a member of the PLO Executive Committee and of Fatah’s Central Committee, said in a July 4, 2023 show on Al-Mashhad TV (UAE) that many of the “martyrs” of the recent Israeli military operation in Jenin were members of the Palestinian Authority’s security forces. He said that it is the duty of all Palestinians to use weapons in defense of Jenin, adding that most of the weapons used by Palestinian fighters originated in Israel and were purchased from smugglers and weapons dealers. Al-Ahmad added that this will continue, “even if we have to pay ten times the real price of the M-16, Kalashnikov, and any other rifles.”


How Israel got out its message about the Jenin raid
The uptick in violence in Judea and Samaria over the past six months, which has been rooted in Palestinian terror attacks, has strained ties between Israel and Abraham Accords states at the higher levels, and the latest action in Jenin is no exception. Despite this, trade continues to grow.

UN professionals also had the expected reaction, unequivocally condemning Israel for not turning the other cheek to terrorists. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, for example, accused Israel of “willful killing” and said that “standards do not change simply because the goal of the operation is stated as ‘counterterrorism.’”

When it comes to the media, Israel was able to convey its message effectively, since by lucky chance Cohen had scheduled a briefing to the Foreign Press Association for Monday morning, long before anyone knew that was when the operation would happen.

Plus, the Foreign Ministry published more than 150 social media posts in six languages that garnered over 2 million views.

THERE WERE, as always, exceptions, such as the blood libel spread by the BBC’s Anjana Gadgil who said, while interviewing former prime minister Naftali Bennett, that “Israeli forces are happy to kill children,” and refused to acknowledge that a teenager shooting at civilians is a terrorist.

“We dealt with a lot of fake news,” Lavi lamented, pointing to three false stories that spread: that Israel was preventing ambulances from entering Jenin, that the IDF intentionally destroyed civilian infrastructure, and that soldiers were expelling populations from their homes. These messages resonated on social media and in Arab media, but less so in the mainstream Western media.

“We made sure to respond immediately. The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories denied the fake news right away, and so did we… bringing images and videos to support what we were saying,” Lavi said.

The images of thousands of Palestinians leaving the Jenin “refugee camp” were called “the second Nakba” (“Catastrophe Day,” the term Palestinians use to describe the 1948 War of Independence) on social media, but the IDF immediately denied that they had told anyone to evacuate. As Lavi pointed out: “The soldiers left Jenin and everyone can go back to where they wanted. It doesn’t hold water.

“The false stories about Israel “are part of what we deal with all the time,” he said. “We’re careful not to create more conversation about it through our reaction – but we make sure to react.”


Right slams IDF general for preventing crackdown on illegal Palestinian construction
GOC Central Command Major General Yehuda Fuchs has been unilaterally undercutting the policy set by the political echelon by cutting down the number of forces allocated to the enforcement of Palestinian construction violations in Judea and Samaria, Israel Hayom has exclusively learned.

As a result, the policy set by the government of cracking down on illegal construction has never been fully implemented. The report has triggered a strong rebuke by some on the Right.

Data obtained by Israel Hayom shows that in recent weeks there has been a drastic decrease in measures against illegal Palestinian construction in Judea and Samaria because of the decision to draw down the number of forces who could be used to secure demolition operations in Palestinian towns – thus preventing the officials from executing such warrants and other enforcement-related action.

Fuchs refused to heed the request to provide the necessary troops in accordance with the enforcement policy of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has been tasked with handling civilian matters in Judea and Samaria.

The minister sent a letter to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding that they instruct Fuchs to help implement enforcement operations by supporting the government policy with the needed troops. The letter criticizes Fuchs for putting a spoke in the wheels of the government for non-professional reasons.

A source in the Civil Administration told Israel Hayom that "as far as the general is concerned, he is the sovereign on the ground. He sees Smotrich has scaled back tackling illegal Jewish construction, so he does not want to be suspected of selective enforcement that could result in legal action against him".
IDF soldier killed by terrorist while preventing attack on settlement
A Hamas-affiliated terrorist on Thursday opened fire near an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, killing one Israeli, a day after Israeli forces withdrew from the largest military operation in the West Bank in two decades. The Palestinian attacker was shot and killed by Israeli forces, the army said.

The victim, who fought the attacker and prevented a potentially larger incident, is IDF soldier named Shilo Yosef Amir, a 22-year-old Givati Brigade soldier from Kibbutz Meirav in northern Israel.

The shooting came on the heels of the Israeli withdrawal from the nearby Jenin refugee camp after a two-day offensive meant to crack down on Palestinian terrorists. The operation destroyed the camp's narrow roads and alleyways and killed 12 Palestinian terrorists. One Israeli soldier also was killed.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a firebrand settler leader, lives in the area of the shooting. Smotrich also oversees planning of settlements in the West Bank.

The Hamas terrorist group claimed responsibility for the shooting, saying it was a "natural response" to the Jenin incursion. It said the 19-year-old attacker had targeted Smotrich's settlement.

"The enemy will know that its massacre in Jenin only increased our people's insistence on resistance and adherence to its approach until liberation," the group said. The army said that the shooter opened fire on Israeli forces that had stopped his vehicle for an inspection. The man drove away and was shot dead after a brief chase.


Two Palestinian gunmen accused of recent attack killed by Israeli forces in Nablus
Two armed Palestinians accused of carrying out a recent shooting attack were killed by Israeli forces in the northern West Bank city of Nablus on Friday morning, the Shin Bet security agency said, the latest in a series of violent events in the West Bank.

According to the Shin Bet, the pair, named as Khairi Shaheen, 34, and Hamza Maqbool, 32, were responsible for carrying out a shooting attack on Wednesday at a small Samaritan community south of Nablus, near the Jewish settlement of Har Bracha. No injuries were caused in the attack.

The Shin Bet said members of the elite police Yamam counterterrorism unit attempted to arrest Shaheen and Maqbool. “The two were killed during an exchange of fire with our forces,” the agency said.

Two handguns allegedly used by the gunmen in the Wednesday attack were seized by Israeli forces.

In a separate operation in Nablus, the Israel Defense Forces said troops detained three wanted Palestinians. Another three Palestinian terror suspects were detained in other areas of the West Bank on Friday morning, the IDF said.

The clashes come a day after a soldier, Staff Sgt. Shilo Yosef Amir, 22, was killed by a Palestinian gunman near the settlement of Kedumim. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.


The Jenin Operation Showed That Israel Preserves Life
Israel’s commitment to minimizing collateral damage and protecting civilian lives has at times necessitated the implementation of shock-and-awe military interventions. The pre-emptive strikes against Egyptian air bases in 1967, which were carried out to neutralize the threat of imminent aggression, is one notable example.

Unfortunately, there have been instances when holding back from decisive action has resulted in tragic consequences, as seen in the Yom Kippur War of 1973, the 50th anniversary of which we will commemorate in a few months. Golda Meir, then Prime Minister of Israel, chose not to attack Egypt despite clear indications of an impending assault, and the loss of life that resulted from her decision was substantial — highlighting the potential ramifications of cautious restraint.

These historical events serve as poignant reminders that striking a delicate balance between preserving civilian lives and ensuring national security is a complex and often challenging endeavor.

Knee-jerk condemnations to the Jenin operation — such as the one from Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, who called it a “reckless crime and a prominent measure of state terrorism” — fail to acknowledge that by lancing a boil, even if it causes pain, the greater good is served, and long-term stability is assured.

Unlike the wholesale slaughter that accompanies military operations executed by most other countries — as we are currently witnessing in the senseless violence and loss of life in the war being waged by Russia against Ukraine — Israel’s primary objective is to minimize loss of life, even if loss of life is involved. It is the paradox of military operations that carefully calibrated violence is the surest way to avoid wholesale violence, that all agree would be much worse.

Israel’s approach to minimizing the loss of human life, even at the expense of some lives, has a parallel in the Biblical account of Pinchas (Num. 25). Pinchas took drastic action when he killed Zimri, a prince of the tribe of Simeon, and Cozbi, a Midianite princess with whom Zimri was cavorting publicly.

Their assassination ended the plague that had been generated by the immoral behavior they personified, but which their death brought to a sudden halt. While Pinchas’ act was undoubtedly violent, it served the purpose of preventing further unnecessary deaths. And in recognition of his actions, God granted Pinchas a covenant of peace.

Peace is not always synonymous with a complete cessation of violence; rather, it prevents excessive violence. In an imperfect and complex world, it is essential to navigate through messy circumstances with the aim of minimizing chaos and harm.

While ideal scenarios of absolute tranquility may ultimately be unattainable, the pursuit of peace lies in the diligent effort to mitigate conflicts and reduce unnecessary suffering. Striving for peaceful resolutions requires a nuanced understanding that sometimes difficult choices must be made to prevent greater violence or chaos. The objective must always be the minimization of disruption and harm, taking into account the intricate and imperfect realities of our world.
Washington Post Erases Palestinian Terrorists & Strips the Context from Israel’s Jenin Operation
The Washington Post’s “What is happening in Jenin in the occupied West Bank, and why now?” only ensures readers don’t know what’s happening or why Israel launched its recent military operation in Jenin.

According to journalists Niha Masih and Miriam Berger: “The military incursion on July 3 and 4 into the Jenin camp left 12 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier dead and hundreds of residents injured, displaced thousands more, and destroyed roads and infrastructure throughout the urban slum.”

Who were these 12 Palestinians? The Post fails to mention that all of them were combatants. Despite the IDF’s statement to that effect and Palestinian terror organizations claiming all of the 12, this relevant information does not appear in what is meant to be a backgrounder.

As for the “destroyed roads and infrastructure,” the article fails to note that the destruction resulted from the IDF having to use heavy bulldozers to address the roadside bombs and other ordinances planted by Palestinian terrorists, who deliberately turned civilian areas into military infrastructure, such as a weapons storage facility in a mosque.

The Washington Post does, however, note that “U.N. experts described the Jenin operation as ‘collective punishment‘ for the Palestinian people, amounting to ‘egregious violations of international law.'”

Who are these so-called UN “experts?” They happen to be led by none other than Special Rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, who has been widely condemned for antisemitism, sympathizing with terror organizations, dismissing Israeli security concerns, and comparing Israelis to Nazis.
CBS’s Biased Article on Jenin Raid Begins With Incendiary, One-Sided Headline
Between the start of this calendar year and the end of May, 20 civilians, among them both Israelis and tourists, and one border police officer had been killed in terror attacks in Israel. As part of efforts to hamper such attacks, earlier this week, the IDF conducted a counter-terror operation in Jenin. It was widely reported to have occurred in the Jenin refugee camp, though the area is a built-up neighborhood in the city, and the vast majority of its residents don’t fit the standard definition of “refugee.” The Times of Israel reported that “a senior [Israeli] government official said that ‘the goal of this extensive operation is to end Jenin’s role as a “city of refuge” for terror….’”

Yet, a Monday headline on the CBS News website read, “Palestinians in occupied West Bank say Israel bombing ‘innocent people’ in raid on Jenin refugee camp.” (July 3, 2023, by Haley Ott.)


The incendiary headline uncritically reflects the point of view of Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, who is quoted in the penultimate paragraph of the article: But Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh called the raid “a new attempt to destroy the camp and displace its people,” according to CBS News’ partner network BBC News. “Our heroic people will confront this aggression that is taking place under the eyes of the international community, where innocent people are bombed by planes. Our people will not kneel and will not surrender, and we will remain in confrontation until this criminal occupation is over.”

(On the neutrality of “CBS News’ partner network BBC News,” see CAMERA’s article here.)

And the July 3 headline was followed up by “Palestinians flee Israel’s raid on West Bank refugee camp as several hurt in Tel Aviv car attack,” (July 4, by Haley Ott) and “Israel ends deadly raid in West Bank Palestinian refugee camp, but warns it won’t be ‘a one-off’” (July 5). Palestinians flee from Israel’s raid, but unspecified people are injured in an attack … by a car? according to CBS editors. Israel’s raid is deadly, but the cause is unimportant.
In Jenin, the facts don’t matter
NEVERTHELESS, then, as now, Palestinians and others started circulating claims about a “massacre” in Jenin. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) rushed to call for an independent investigation into alleged Israeli war crimes in the city. In a stroke of unintended irony, Amnesty’s Professor Derrick Pounder accused Israel of committing a massacre based not on the evidence but on a lack thereof, charging that Israeli authorities had buried the proof of their soldiers’ supposed crimes.

“What was striking was what was absent,” he said after visiting Jenin. “There were very few bodies in the hospital. There were also none who were seriously injured, only the walking wounded. Thus we have to ask: Where are the bodies and where are the seriously injured?”

Never did it occur to the esteemed professor that the reason he couldn’t find evidence of war crimes was that none had, in fact, occurred.

Several weeks later, his own organization said there was no evidence of an Israeli massacre in Jenin. “There was no massacre,” Amnesty and HRW each concluded in their respective reports from the city. A UN report said that the Palestinian claim of a massacre “has not been substantiated in the light of evidence that has emerged.” Even the BBC accused the Palestinians of making “unsubstantiated claims of a wide-scale massacre.”

Mark Twain is credited with having uttered that famous witticism, “A lie can travel around the world and back again while the truth is lacing up its boots.” If he actually did say it, it would have been well over a century ago (there is evidence that the quote long preceded him). Today we find ourselves in an era in which the truth can hardly reach for its boots before the lie has done its damage. Whether it’s a newscaster accusing Israel of happily murdering children or a member of Congress inventing a fake Israeli massacre, there are some who will stop at nothing – no matter how outrageous, and no matter the overwhelming evidence to the contrary – to demonize and defame the Jewish state.

We must always stand against them, uncovering the truth and bringing it to light. And so we will.


The Israel Guys: The BBC Was FORCED to Apologize For This. . .
Are blood libels against Jews just a thing of the Dark Ages? The BBC doesn’t think so. Their latest lie about Israel’s military was so disgusting that they actually apologized for it! In the face of what's actually happening here and the IDFs valiant effort to rid Israel of terrorism, the BBC prefers to back the terrorists and condemn the IDF’s anti-terror mission.

Joshua breaks it all down for you on today’s show!




German diplomat, pro-terror Jenin mayor hold ‘cordial’ call
Oliver Owcza, the German representative to the Palestinian Authority, held a “cordial” call with Jenin Mayor Nidal Al-Obeidi, the diplomat tweeted on July 6.

Al-Obeidi told him about the “massive destruction of civil infrastructure, kick-started reparation works and need for external aid,” stated Owcza, who responded by reassuring the “continued support” of Palestinians (using a flag emoji) by his country.

Both parties in the “cordial” call have made their disdain for Israel known.

In a July 3 interview, Al-Obeidi extended his condolences to the terrorists killed in Jenin, praising his city’s “symbolic role in the resistance” against the Jewish state.

“All the Palestinian people know that coexistence with the occupation is impossible, and we carry out the martyrdom project for the sake of our homeland,” the Jenin mayor told Qatar’s Al Araby TV.

Six months ago, Owcza and Steffen Seibert, Germany’s ambassador to Israel, were part of what the latter called an “insightful” tour conducted by the anti-Israel NGO Ir Amim.

NGO Monitor has stated that Ir Amim “frequently accuses Israel of attempting to ‘Judaize’ Jerusalem and promotes the Palestinian narrative on the city.”

This week, Germany supported Israel’s right to defend itself against terror but expressed “great concern” over the counterterrorism action undertaken by the Israel Defense Forces. Berlin called on Jerusalem to “respect the principle of proportionality under international law.”


ANTISEMITE: Rashida Tlaib Torn Apart By ADL After Spreading More Lies About IDF
In a heated exchange on social media, Jonathan Greenblatt, the head of the Anti-Defamation League, launched a scathing attack on Democratic congresswoman Rashida Tlaib on Monday, accusing her of promoting baseless accusations and knowingly defaming Israel at a time when anti-Jewish hate crimes are on the rise.

Greenblatt’s criticism came in response to a tweet shared by Tlaib, wherein she claimed that Israeli forces were obstructing ambulances from reaching wounded Palestinians following a reported death toll of at least eight people in Jenin. Tlaib went on to call for an end to funding the alleged “violent Israeli apartheid regime.” Greenblatt promptly replied to her tweet, stating, “Even for @RashidaTlaib, the level of dishonesty here is truly staggering.”

“For starters, it’s a complete fiction. But equally important, this was a targeted action against armed terrorists who brutally murdered innocents, recklessly hid weapons under a mosque and intentionally located their ops center next to a school,” Greenblatt wrote.

“But when members of congress knowingly slander the Jewish state in a time of rising anti-Jewish hate, they should be held accountable for fanning the flames and endangering Jewish people everywhere.”


8 Palestinians arrested for livestreaming harassment of mentally ill Haredi man
Police arrested eight Arab men from East Jerusalem on Friday on suspicion of harassing a mentally ill ultra-Orthodox man at the Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem during a livestream on TikTok.

In portions of the lengthy video, the men are seen cursing and laughing at the man as he lies on the floor in front of them, telling him to curse the Israeli flag and ordering him to eat food off the floor “like a dog.” They also ordered the Haredi man to repeat insulting phrases and told him to express solidarity with the West Bank city of Jenin.

According to the police, the man was at the hospital seeking treatment when the incident occurred in the early hours of Friday morning. Media reports said the group were livestreaming the incident on TikTok for close to an hour.

Police say the suspects are ages 18-24, residents of the Sur Baher neighborhood of Jerusalem, and were in the hospital visiting a friend who was injured during riots in East Jerusalem a few days earlier.


US has military options for Iran's nuclear threat, CENTCOM air force chief tells 'Post'
The US regularly updates its military options for threats from Iran’s evolving nuclear facilities, US Lt. Gen. and CENTCOM Air Force Chief Alexus Grynkewich told The Jerusalem Post in an exclusive interview.

Israel also seeks regularly to gauge how much of a threat Iran’s nuclear program presents and how much backing Jerusalem would have from the US if it needed to confront that threat with preemptive strikes. The Post asked the AFCENT chief whether the US military would continue to be able to potentially handle the threat from the Islamic Republic of Iran, despite the construction of a new, deep, underground nuclear facility at Natanz.

“You can assume we are keeping a very close eye on Iranian facilities out there, continuing our evaluation of what it means, what Iran is using it for, what options we might have for those facilities,” Grynkewich said.

His comments were some of the most detailed to date – in terms of the US regularly working on and updating military options – including with respect to new Iranian moves.

Despite the impressive capabilities of the US military, Grynkewich was queried about the possibility that deterrence from Washington was not working. For example, in spite of US threats and capabilities, Tehran in the last two years has managed to move its nuclear program forward to enriching significant quantities of uranium to the very high 60% level, as well as having sufficient quantities of enriched uranium for around seven nuclear bombs – if Iran chose to cross the nuclear threshold.


UK Announces New Iran Sanctions Regime in Response to 15 Kidnapping, Assassination Plots
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Thursday announced plans for sweeping new powers to sanction the Iranian government in response to what he said were 15 credible Iranian plots to kill or kidnap British and UK-based individuals.

The new sanctions regime will expand the criteria for sanctioning Iranian individuals and entities to include Iran’s “malign influence in the Middle East and beyond,” its proliferation of weapons, its undermining of democracy and Iran’s threats to the UK and partner nations, according to the announcement. The UK’s current sanctions regime against Iran is focused largely on its violations of human rights.

Speaking in Parliament on Thursday to announce the changes, Cleverly described Iran’s growing international belligerency in the face of domestic mass protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish woman who died in regime custody after she was arrested by Iran’s Morality Police for allegedly failing to wear her hijab in the legally-required manner.

“Since protests began in Iran in September of last year, the Iranian regime has dramatically increased its attempts to silence dissent,” Cleverly said. “While our police, intelligence and security agencies have been confronting these threats for many years, their seriousness and intensity has increased in recent months. In the last 18 months, there have been at least 15 credible threats to kill or kidnap British nationals and others living in the UK by the Iranian regime.”
UK steps back from banning IRGC terror group
The British government will not proscribe Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards as a terror group despite mounting pressure to crack down on the organisation.

On Thursday, the foreign secretary announced plans for a new sanctions regime that would supposedly give the UK greater powers to target Iranian "decision makers" responsible for hostile activities around the world.

Asset freezes and travel bans under the existing sanctions regime against 13 individuals and entities were also revealed.

Those targeted include the IRGC’s Cyber Defence Command, which reportedly monitors the online activity of dissidents within Iran, and Heidar Pasandideh, the governor of the notoriously brutal Sanandaj Prison.

James Cleverly said: "The Iranian regime is oppressing its own people, exporting bloodshed in Ukraine and the Middle East, and threatening to kill and kidnap on UK soil.

“Today the UK has sent a clear message to the regime – we will not tolerate this malign behaviour and we will hold you to account.

“Our new sanctions regime will help to ensure there can be no hiding place for those who seek to do us harm.”




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