Victims arrive at Kaplan Medical Center

On Saturday, October 29, over 20 rockets and mortars were fired from Gaza into Israel.  One man was was killed.

To watch a multi-barrel rocket launch from Gaza, click here.

Fifty-six year old Moshe Ami was on his way to buy groceries when shrapnel hit his car and wounded his abdomen. At first he was classified as a mildly injured victim and taken to Barzilai Medical Center in the city.

However his condition deteriorated quickly and surgeons were called in to try and save his life. Nearly an hour and a half later Moshe died on the operating table.

Dr. Bezalel Shaham, an orthopedist from the Kaplan Medical Center said: “Thus far we have received eight injuries as a result of the rocket fire. They include one person in moderate condition who was hit by shrapnel in his vehicle, a girl from Kiryat Malakhi who was hurt while running for cover and five people who suffered anxiety. Most of the victims will be discharged tonight.”

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry said that some 200,000 students in communities up to 40 km from the Gaza Strip will not attend school on Sunday. The communities include, among others, Beersheba, Ashdod, Ofakim, Kiryat Gat, Gan Yavne and Netivot.

Click here for more information.

Lieberman: If Gaza rocket fire does not stop, there will be consequences

“Israel is not seeking a confrontation with the Palestinians and does not want to escalate the current situation, but it will not tolerate barrage after barrage without retaliating,” Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said during a press conference with the president of Republika Srpska on Saturday.

“I hope that already tonight neighboring countries and the international community will intervene to put a stop to the rocket fire,” he said. “If the rocket fire does not stop, there will be immediate consequences in the coming days.”

Stay tuned to IsraelPolitik for the latest.

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On this solemn day, Israeli President Shimon Peres sent this letter to U.S. President Barack Obama.

Dear President Obama,

Ten years after the heinous terror attacks on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 93, that killed over 3,000 innocent people in their wanton destructive intent, in my name and on behalf of the people of Israel, I want to express our solidarity with the American people and the bereaved families in this hour of remembrance.

September 11 was the epitome of evil, and the symbol of courage of the American people. September 11 also served as a milestone in the collective war against terror, headed by the United States, with the aim of building a better and safer world for our children and grandchildren. In its aftermath, America waged an uncompromising war on terror, culminating in the death of Osama bin Laden and freeing the world of this scourge that threatened humanity, without losing sight of the freedom and the rights of man.

We share this hour of mourning of the people of the United States, as we share the same values of democracy, freedom and respect for human life. America is an example and inspiration to us all – a nation that has strived to promote the well-being of humanity without seeking to dominate others.

We are proud to be close friends and allies with the U.S.A. The people of Israel have shared in the joys of your nation, and cried with you a decade ago on the day America was attacked. And today, we again bow our heads as America mourns its loss.

Nobody can destroy freedom. You preside over the promise that all of mankind, all human beings, can enjoy it. We trust your leadership, and are thankful for your outstanding contribution in saving the lives of the members of our delegation in Egypt at the most crucial moment.

With enormous appreciation,

Shimon Peres

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In the evening hours of Friday, March 11th, Udi Fogel, 37, and Ruth Fogel, 36, and their three children, 10-year-old Yoav, four-year-old Elad and three-month old Hadas were in a knife attack in the Israeli community of Itamar.

Click here to read more.

World leaders joined together in their condemnation of the attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu:

“I would like to express my deep outrage, outrage which is certainly felt by every Israeli over the murder of a young family – father, mother, eleven-year-old boy, four-year-old-boy and four-month-old girl.  Three orphaned children have been left in this family.  One of the girls saw her parents and siblings stabbed to death.  The family was brutally murdered in their sleep on the Sabbath.  We embrace and support the orphans and the other members of the family.  We embrace and support our brothers who reside in Judea and Samaria.  Do not be disheartened.  I know that this is a difficult time for us, but the entire nation is with you.  Since the disaster, this awful murder, became known I have held discussions with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, IDF Chief-of-Staff, Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz, ISA Director Yuval Diskin and other senior security officials.  I instructed them to make every effort to find the murderers and not to rest until they have been found and brought to justice.

I expect the international community to sharply and unequivocally condemn this murder, the murder of children.  I have noticed that several countries that always hasten to the UN Security Council in order to condemn Israel, the state of the Jews, for planning a house in some locality, or for laying some tiles somewhere have been dilatory in sharply condemning the murder of Jewish infants.  I expect them to issue such condemnations immediately, without balances, without understandings, without justifications.  There is no justification and there can be neither excuse nor forgiveness for the murder of children.  I expect a similar condemnation, and I demand a similar condemnation, from the Palestinian Authority.  I am disappointed by the weak and mumbled statements.  This is not how one condemns terrorism.  This is not how one fights terrorism.  See how Israeli prime ministers, myself among them, have reacted in similar situations, but there has never been anything like this, in which terrorists entered a home and cut children’s throats.

This requires sharp and unequivocal condemnation. This requires something else.  This requires a halt to the incitement.  I demand that the Palestinian Authority stop the incitement that is conducted on a daily basis in their schools, mosques and the media under their control.  The time has come to stop this double-talk in which the Palestinian Authority outwardly talks peace, and allows – and sometimes leads – incitement at home.  The time has come to stop the incitement and begin educating their people for peace.

Despite all the awful pain, I call upon all Israelis to act responsibly, with restraint, and not to take the law into their own hands.  When one takes the law into his own hands, there is no law.  The IDF and the security forces will carry out their responsibilities; only they.  We will not allow terrorism to determine the settlement map.  The settlement map will be determined by Government policy, which is in accordance with our national interests, with security first and foremost.  Terrorism will not determine the settlement map.  We will determine it.”

United States President Barack Obama:

“There is no possible justification for the killing of parents and children in their home. We call on the Palestinian Authority to unequivocally condemn this terrorist attack.”

United States Secretary of State Hilary Clinton:

“I was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the brutal murder of an Israeli family early Saturday morning in the West Bank. The United States condemns this appalling attack in the strongest possible terms. To kill three innocent children and their parents while they sleep is an inhuman crime for which there can be no justification. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the victims and with all the people of Israel. The murderers must be found and brought to justice. Israeli security forces have launched a thorough investigation and we look to the Palestinian authorities to assist in every way possible.”

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas:

“Violence will only bring more violence – we must hurry to find a comprehensive, just solution to the conflict.”

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad:

“I say that in regards to what happened (Saturday) in Itamar settlement — and the victims were a toddler and two children, the father and mother — exactly as we have always said against violence … we refuse this and condemn it. We refuse and condemn violence, whatever the reasons are or the perpetrators or targets or victims.”

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“The longstanding peace treaty between Israel and Egypt has greatly contributed to both countries and is the cornerstone for peace and stability in the entire Middle East.”

To learn more about the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, click here.

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“Over the past four days, the State of Israel and its people have faced a great challenge, battling the largest wildfire in the nation’s history.  The fire is now extinguished, but not before tragically claiming lives and land alike, killing 42 Israelis, burning more than 12,000 acres, millions of trees, and destroying thousands of homes.

“Throughout this tragedy, Israeli firefighters, police, EMS, and soldiers worked tirelessly to battle the flames.  And though their efforts were great, Israel could not effectively combat this blaze without the help of our friends around the world.  The international community was quick to act, sending planes, fire retardant chemicals, and firefighting equipment— for all of which Israel is deeply grateful.

“Beyond our diplomatic bonds,  Jewish communities around the United States yet again were among the first to respond.  Organizations like the Jewish National Fund, the Jewish Federations of North America, American Jewish Committee, and others immediately sent out calls, shoring up support.  The State of Israel and its people know that the American Jewish community serves as a safeguard, standing shoulder to shoulder with Israel during times of crisis.  This is what family does.

“Israel has faced many tests in its sixty-two years.  With the support of our friends, we shall overcome this as well.” - Michael Oren, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States

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Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon addressed the delegates on the first morning of the conference where he spoke about the need for global cooperation in the fight against violence and crime and the necessity to make technological advancements available for ensuring civilian security.

At the conference, Israel’s significant contributions to international counterterrorism activities, homeland security and protection, as well as the vast body of knowledge that Israel has amassed in this field, will be presented. Israel is eager to share its experience and know-how with its partners around the world in order to increase global cooperation in battling crime and violence and achieving a better life.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes with satisfaction that among the 700 delegates expected to participate in the conference can be found ministers of the interior and homeland security of various states as well as a long list of other distinguished guests. The Ministry is confident that the conference will lead to accelerated cooperation among the participants and will contribute to the security of civilians and public institutions in the participating countries.

The conference was organized by the Export Institute, in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, the Ministry for Public Security, Israeli Airports Authority and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Foreign Ministry welcomes the hundreds of delegates who have come to Israel from abroad, including ministers, inspectors general and other senior officials.

To read a summary of DFM Ayalon’s address at the conference, click here.

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Airport security makes all travelers put their bags through the X-ray machines, remove their laptops from their cases and walk through the metal detectors. It doesn’t matter if you’re a diplomat, a nun or a peace activist.

So imagine being an airport-security worker faced with a man who refuses to be searched. He explains that he means no harm and is simply bringing gifts to his loved ones. Would you just let him through? What if he then assaults you or your staff, runs to his terminal and tries to board the plane. Would you let him? After all, he’s only bringing gifts.

From the time Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 until June 2007, the situation there improved. European inspectors and the Fatah governors of the Palestinian Authority worked together to inspect goods coming into Gaza. But that cooperation didn’t fit with Hamas’ objective of working to destroy Israel and build an Islamic theocracy in its place. Hamas violently took over Gaza, expelled the Europeans and kicked out or killed Fatah members. The thugs also explicitly announced that they planned to bring more weapons into Gaza to continue their attacks on Israel.

Since it took power, Hamas has fired more than 10,000 rockets at Israel. Egypt and Israel put the blockade in place solely to prevent weapons from being smuggled to terrorists who haven’t hesitated to use them.

Last week, when Turkish ships approaching our shores refused to be inspected, Israel had no choice but to ensure that the cargo included no weapons for use against our civilians. The policy is no different than that of any other country that faced similar threats. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, for example, President John Kennedy placed an embargo on Cuba to prevent the entry of more Russian missiles. Likewise, the Israeli and Egyptian blockade of Gaza applies to weapons and specific items that can be used as weapons.

Flotilla spokesperson Greta Berlin admitted, “This mission is not about delivering humanitarian supplies, it is about breaking Israel’s siege” — by which she meant the blockade.

The truth is there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Each day, thousands of tons of goods and equipment are transferred to Gaza from Israel and Egypt through international organizations.

Israel offered both the Turkish government and the flotilla leadership the chance to have the ships’ cargo processed in a manner consistent with Israeli and Egyptian protocol. They refused.

Despite this, Israel tried to deliver the cargo, after inspection. But Hamas refused to allow the humanitarian goods to enter Gaza — preferring the world to see despair.

“Peace activists” who openly declare their mission is to incite, who had weapons ready and raised before any soldiers boarded the ship, are not peace activists — if they had been, they’d work on creating conditions in Gaza that can lead to peace, conditions that include the teaching of coexistence rather than hate.

These people aren’t focused on delivering humanitarian aid — if they were, they’d have peacefully docked in Ashdod, and the supplies would’ve been delivered to the people of Gaza. And they certainly aren’t helping the Palestinian people.

Asaf Shariv is Consul General of the State of Israel in New York.

First appeared in The New York Post on June 8, 2010.

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The following statement was delivered by Yossi Gal, Israel’s director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

“I want to once again deliver a message that has been delivered in both public and private channels to the Rachel Corie ship heading toward Gaza:

We have no desire for a confrontation. We have no desire to board the ship. If the ship decides to sail the port of Ashdod, then we will ensure its safe arrival and will not  board it. Israel is prepared to receive the ship and to offload its contents. After an inspection to ensure that no weapons and war materials are on board, we are prepared to deliver all of the goods to Gaza. Representative of the people on board and relevant NGOs are welcome to accompany the goods to the crossings. We will work with the UN and international organizations to ensure that all the goods are used for the benefit of the people of Gaza.”

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