Early Monday morning, a 21 year old Palestinian man from Nablus launched a terrorist attack at one of Tel Aviv’s most popular nightclubs. According to local police, the suspect hijacked a taxi, drove into the venue’s security, and proceeded to go on a stabbing spree, injuring 8 Israelis.

During yesterday’s daily press briefing, the U.S. State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland issued the following statement:

“The United States condemns in strongest terms yesterday’s brutal attack on innocent civilians in Tel Aviv. We extend our deepest sympathies to all those harmed in this tragedy. Attacks against innocent civilians in Israel or anywhere else are never justified. We again remind all parties that violence will not advance but will impede the hope for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.”

Like

Unlike

On Thursday night in Israel, terrorist attacks flared up once again, with rocket and mortars continuing to be launched from the Gaza Strip at southern Israel, forcing some 1 million civilians into bomb shelters.  As the rockets mortars rained down across Israel’s southern skies, they managed to cause damage to the Erez Crossing, The only crossing used by people traveling between Gaza and Israel.

With Hamas committed to the destruction of Israel, one would normally assume the victims of their terrorist attacks are always Israelis. After all, they are firing into southern Israel, right?

Unfortunately, during the recent attack, a Palestinian family was caught in the crossfire on their way back to Gaza from Israel. Three Palestinian women and their children had come to Israel to receive medical treatment. Whether during periods of calm or not, it is quite common for Gazans to seek medical treatment in Israel, as the Hamas-run enclave spends more time crafting missiles than training doctors.

The mortar attack on the Erez Crossing happened at the very same time the Palestinian family was attempting to return to Gaza. With the Erez Crossing suffering serious damage to its electrical system from the attacks, Israelis monitoring the crossing risked their lives to bring the Palestinians back to a safe location. Here, they were given food, water and medical care.

Despite an onslaught of terrorist attacks and rocket fire over the last week, it has not stopped Israel from maintaining the border crossings, which are used for the movements of not only Palestinians but to bring in goods and supplies, which arrive by the thousands of tons per day.

8 people like this post.

Unlike

Since Thursday’s terrorist attack which left 8 Israelis dead and scores more wounded, Israel has responded swiftly to hold those responsible to justice. Even while Israel continues to be pounded by over 100 rockets launched from Gaza, the Israeli government approved the transfer of humanitarian goods and aid to enter Gaza.

The Erez Crossing, despite being hit by 2 rockets,  remained open to allow 100 Palestinians living in Gaza to enter Israel to receive medical treatment. At the Kerem Shalom crossing, 80 truckloads entered Gaza over the weekend, totaling 2,554 tons of goods, and 46 tons of cooking gas.

Here’s the breakdown:

• 13 truckloads of Fruits and Vegetables.
• 5 truckloads of Meat and Fish.
• 3 truckloads of Dairy Products
• 23 truckloads of Mixed Grain for animals feed.
• 9 truckloads of mixed food.
• UNRWA transferred 21 truckloads of construction materials and 6 truckloads of flour.

2 people like this post.

Unlike

On Saturday, August 20th, over 60 rockets and mortars were fired from Gaza towards Israel.  One man was killed and dozens more were wounded, including a 4 month-old baby.  More than 500,000 residents of Israel were forced into bomb shelters.

This barrage of rockets follows a coordinated attack on Israel that claimed the lives of eight citizens and wounded 30 more.

The names of the casualties have been released (click on their names to read about their lives as Israeli citizens):

• St-Sgt Moshe Naftali, 22
• Chief Warrant Officer Pascal Avrahami,  49-year old father of three
• Flora Gez and her husband Moshe Gez, as well as Flora’s sister Shula Karlinsky and her husband Dov Karlinsky
• Yosef Levy, 57
• Yitzhak Sela, 56

Since Thursday’s attack, over 100 rockets were fired at Israel.  For a timeline of events, click here.

1 person likes this post.

Unlike

The Minister of Defense, Ehud Barak, conducted this afternoon (August 20th) a special situation analysis with the IDF Chief of Staff, Lt.-General Benny Ganz, as well as intelligence and security officers. The Defense Minister received an update of the situation and gave instructions for future activity. Barak said that he views very seriously the horrific attack on Thursday that targeted Israeli civilians on Israeli territory.

Defense Minister Barak stated: “The terrorist attack originated in Gaza, most of the perpetrators were killed and the senior terrorists responsible for the attack were killed shortly after it. Over the last two days, Israel has been hitting back hard at those responsible for the attack in the south, and is acting with efficiency against the launching of Grad missiles and rockets from Gaza in order to protect the citizens of Israel.”

The Defense Minister noted the importance of the peace treaty with Egypt and his appreciation for the reasonableness and responsibility that Egypt has demonstrated. Barak stated: “We regret the deaths of members of the Egyptian security forces during the terror attack on the Israeli-Egyptian border.” The Minister of Defense has ordered an IDF investigation, followed by a joint examination with the Egyptian military, to examine the circumstances of the event. The appropriate conclusions will be reached following the investigation. Defense Minister Barak stated: “The Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty has great importance and much strategic value for the stability of the Middle East.”

UPDATE: Saturday’s rocket barrage from Gaza at Israeli cities in the south has killed at least one individual, injuring 16, including a 4 month old baby.

6 people like this post.

Unlike

Firstly, I would like to express my condolences to the families of the civilians murdered, and to those of the soldiers who fell while responding to today’s terrorist attacks.

I share their pain. I know that their lives will never be the same. I also want to express my hopes for a speedy recovery to those injured in these attacks and are currently undergoing treatment in hospital.

We all witnessed today an attempt to escalate the terrorist war against Israel by launching of attacks from the Sinai. If there is someone who thinks that the State of Israel will let this pass, he is mistaken.

I have set out a principle – when the citizens of Israel are attacked, we respond immediately and with strength.  That principle was implemented today.  Those who gave the order to murder our citizens, while hiding in Gaza, are no longer among the living.

I commend the IDF and the security services who eliminated today in Gaza the senior figures of the organization which carried out the terror attacks in the south. I commend the soldiers, police, and members of the security services who acted swiftly, determinately and bravely against the terrorists, and who thereby prevented an even greater tragedy.

If the terrorist organizations believe that they can attack our citizens and get away with it, they will soon learn how wrong they are. We will exact a price, a very heavy price.

17 people like this post.

Unlike

Just a few hours ago on Thursday afternoon Israeli time, terrorists carried out three coordinated terrorist attacks near the southern Israeli city of Eilat on Thursday. Current reports place the casualties at 7 killed, over 40 injured.

Today’s combined terrorist attacks on Israeli civilian vehicles began several hours ago, around noon local Israel time, when gunfire was opened at an Israeli bus. The bus was traveling from Be’er Sheva to the resort town of Eilat on Highway 12 along the Israel-Egypt border. 14 people were injured as a result and evacuated to nearby hospitals.  Simultaneously, fire was opened on an additional bus and two civilian vehicles, injuring several people.

An explosive device was detonated on IDF soldiers that arrived at the scene a short while afterwards, injuring several of them.

Magen David Adom paramedics were called to the scene and injured persons were transported to Yoseftal Hospital in Eilat.

In addition to mortars being fired from across the Egyptian border at soldiers conducting routine maintenance work on the security fence on the Israel-Egypt border, terrorists also launched an anti-tank missile at a private car. At least 5 civilians were killed in that attack.

All incidents occurred approximately 20 kilometers north of Eilat.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the attacks saying, “The terror attacks are a serious incident, in which Israeli citizens were killed and our sovereignty was breached.” He added that “Israel will react accordingly.” You can find the full English translation of his address here.

IDF forces pursued the terrorists that carried out the attacks and exchanged fire with them.

Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Benny Gantz arrived in the area a short time ago.

IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yoav (Poly) Mordechai said that the attacks were part of a “grave and complex event” in which civilians and soldiers were injured.

The White House condemned the attack in no uncertain terms, saying in a statement:

“We condemn the brutal terrorist attacks in southern Israel today in the strongest terms.  Our deepest condolences go to the victims, their families and loved ones, and we wish those injured a speedy recovery.  The U.S. and Israel stand united against terror and we hope that those behind this attack will be brought to justice swiftly.”

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also spoke out against the attacks:

“The United States condemns today’s attacks in southern Israel and all acts of terrorism in the strongest terms. These brutal and cowardly attacks appear to be premeditated acts of terrorism against innocent civilians. Our deepest condolences go out to the victims, their families and loved ones.

This violence only underscores our strong concerns about the security situation in the Sinai Peninsula. Recent commitments by the Egyptian government to address the security situation in the Sinai are important and we urge the Egyptian government to find a lasting resolution.

The United States and Israel are united in the fight against terror. We hope that those involved in the planning of these gruesome attacks will be brought to swift justice. We stand by Israel as our friend, partner, and ally — now and always.”

18 people like this post.

Unlike

South of Lebanon’s Litani River, many villages lay in ruin. Others were deserted, their inhabitants having fled northward to Beirut. Across the border, Israeli civilians emerged from shelters to find their neighborhoods ravaged by thousands of Katyusha rockets. The surrounding forests were scorched. Israeli troops deployed throughout southern Lebanon, poised to deal a decisive blow to Hezbollah, but they did not. At that moment, 8 a.m. on Aug. 14, 2006—five years ago this weekend—the guns of the Second Lebanon War fell silent.

Continue reading over at WSJ.com

1 person likes this post.

Unlike

(Communicated by the President’s media advisor)

President Shimon Peres conducted a working meeting yesterday morning with 26 Democratic Members of Congress that are visiting Israel in a delegation headed by the Democratic Whip, Rep. Steny Hoyer. The visit was organized by American Israel Education Foundation, and is the first of a number of Congressional delegations that will visit Israel in the next few weeks in an effort to strengthen relations between the United States and Israel.

Rep. Hoyer presented President Peres with a parchment copy of House Resolution 268 which was adopted on May 13, 2011. Rep. Hoyer said when presenting it: “As you know we have a lot of partisan differences in our Congress today, but there is real value and centrality on the policies of the United States towards Israel and there is little if any partisan difference in the Congress on the issue of Israel. Rep. Cantor and I introduced a resolution that was passed by the Congress, just a few weeks ago. That resolution articulated, once again, and reaffirmed our unyielding support for Israel, and our opposition to either party its declaring independence. We believe the Palestinians would be making an error seeking UN recognition now before negotiations. We urge the Palestinians and the Israelis to return to the table without preconditions.”

President Peres responded by saying: “Thank you very much from the depth of my heart. You are always so generous and friendly to our people and our nation. For us your visit here is a real event. We never forget your bipartisan support of Israel which is an expression of the people of the United States.” President Peres also expressed his condolences on the loss of the servicemen killed recently in Afghanistan saying: “I know you lost some of your best boys.” In addition, he said that regardless of the current economic situation, the United States would overcome its difficulties and continue to be the “only country that seriously pays attention to the problems of the rest of the world.”

Regarding the Palestinian issue President Peres said: “The peace process is experiencing some difficulties, as usual, but I believe that peace can be achieved. Even some of the Palestinians who are considering asking the U.N. for recognition are not sure that it is the right move. The U.N. cannot provide solutions like stopping global terror or Iranian terror specifically. A U.N. declaration would be lacking any meaning and will only lengthen the conflict. I hope that both sides will come back to the negotiating table before September. Both us and the Palestinians understand that the alternative to peace is continued mistakes.”

* * *

PM Netanyahu, who also met with the delegation, said that he was committed to peace: “The only way to achieve peace between us and the Palestinians is through direct negotiations. We are ready to begin negotiations without prior conditions immediately. If the UN recognizes a unilateral Palestinian step, his will harm the chance of achieving peace.”

Like

Unlike