Current Events and Links

Prophetic Significance of Israel

Boehner, Democrats Blast White House for Netanyahu Insult

Oct. 30, 2014 - Following reports that one senior official in the White House described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a "chicken**," and another official called him a "coward," House Speaker John Boehner said that for the past six years the Obama administration has erroded the trust of America's allies.

"When the president discusses Israel and Iran, it is sometimes hard to tell who he thinks is America's friend and who he thinks is America's enemy. The House of Representatives has no trouble drawing that distinction," he added.

Some Democrats also disagreed with the inflamatory comments from the the two officials, and even the White House called the remarks "inappropriate and counterproductive."

Source: NewsMax

The Crisis in U.S.-Israel Relations Is Officially Here - The Atlantic

Train wreck in U.S.-Israel relations: Senior Obama official calls Netanyahu vulgar name, signalling “red hot” hostility between two governments - Joel Rosenberg

John Kerry Officially Apologizes to Israel's Netanyahu - NewsMax

Prophetic Significance of Israel

Temple-rebuilding activist shot in Jerusalem

Oct. 30, 2014 - Rabbi Yehuda Glick, chairman of the Temple Mount Heritage Foundation, was shot multiple times in the chest in Jerusalem by an unknown assailant on a motorcycle. Glick was putting up posters for a conference titled “Israel Returns to the Temple Mount.”

Source: WND

Prominent Temple Mount Activist Shot by Islamic Jihad Terrorist in Assassination Attempt, Shooter Killed - Breaking Israel News

Jerusalem's Temple Mount closes to all visitors after shooting of Yehuda Glick - Jerusalem Post

Abbas: Closing of Temple Mount tantamount to declaration of war - Jerusalem Post

Clashes Erupt as Israeli Police Kill Palestinian Suspected of Shooting Jewish Far-rightist - Newsweek

Update 10/31/14 - Police on high alert in Jerusalem after Fatah calls for 'day of rage' - Jerusalem Post

Security official: Jerusalem rioting could persist for weeks, even months - Jerusalem Post

UN to hold emergency meeting on Israel's settlement construction

Oct. 28, 2014 - At the behest of Palestinians and Jordan, the UN Security Council will meet tomorrow to discuss Israel's plans to build more than 1,000 additional Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem.

The European Union said that continued building of settlements would have serious consequences for relations between the EU and Israel. The US government said it was "deeply concerned" by the plans.

On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit back at US and European criticism of the plan for more settlement building, saying the statements were "detached from reality."

Source: YNet News

Abbas calls for emergency session at UN over Israeli construction plans - Jerusalem Post

EU Threatens Israel - Again - Over Jerusalem Apartments - Israel National News

Jordan warns that Jewish settlements may 'imperil' peace treaty with Israel

Oct. 27, 2014 - Visiting Tel Aviv on the 20th anniversary of the Israel-Jordan peace treaty, Jordan's ambassador to Israel, Walid Obeidat, warned that continued building of Jewish settlements or any effort to change the religious status of the Temple Mount could invalidate their treaty. He said,

"All such acts are incompatible with international law and international humanitarian law and if allowed to continue will ultimately imperil the treaty."

Source: Jerusalem Post

Abbas asks US to stop Israeli ‘escalations’ in East Jerusalem - Times of Israel

Netanyahu goes toe-to-toe with US, EU over criticism of Jerusalem construction - PM says criticism of plans to build 1060 new units in Jerusalem neighborhoods beyond Green Line is “detached from reality” and feeds false Palestinian hopes. - Jerusalem Post

Jerusalem to step up security after second day of violence

Oct. 24, 2014 -

Jerusalem will step up its security level following threats made during a second violent day in the city. . .Jerusalem police announced there will be restrictions on who can enter the Temple Mount for Friday prayers.

Source: Jerusalem Post

Israel preparing for ‘very violent’ war against Hezbollah, TV report says

Sept. 6, 2014 - On the heels of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, a report from the Israeli army warns that it is “making plans and training” for “a very violent war” with Iran-backed Hezbollah in south Lebanon. The report did not specify when this war might break out, but Hezbolla has 100,000 rockets --

— and that its 5,000 long-range missiles, located in Beirut and other areas deep inside Lebanon, are capable of carrying large warheads (of up to 1 ton and more), with precision guidance systems, covering all of Israel.

Israeli Colonel Dan Goldfus, commander of the 769th Hiram Infantry Brigade, said that Israel will have to use "considerable force” to quickly prevail over Hezbollah.

Source: Times of Israel

Israel to appropriate 1,000 acres in Gush Etzion; US urges reversal of move

Sept. 1, 2014 -

Large land tract in Gush Etzion to be declared state land, COGAT announces • Move comes in wake of kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teens not far from the land in question • Bennett: This is an answer to terrorism. Hamas murders and we build.

A message from the U.S. State Department official called the decision "counterproductive" to peace efforts and urged the Israeli government to reverse it.

Source: Israel Hayom

Gaza conflict: Israeli PM Netanyahu says war was 'victory'

July 28, 2014 -

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the seven-week conflict in Gaza ended in "victory".
The Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement was "hit hard and got none of its demands," Mr. Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu also warned that there would be an even tougher response should there be so much as a "sprinkle" of rocket fire from Gaza.

Of course Hamas also claimed that the truce was a victory for them.

Source: BBC

Analysis: How Israel made Hamas crawl to a cease-fire in Gaza - Jerusalem Post

Israeli official confirms US nixed arms shipment; pols argue over who’s to blame

Aug. 14, 2014 - The US has suspended a shippment of arms to Israel because of a disagreement between the leaders of the two countries.

The report claimed that US-Israeli tensions are at a record high, with US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said to hold a “particularly combative phone call on Wednesday” and officials on both sides resorting to name-calling.

Source: Times of Israel

14 Terrorists Killed, 187 Targets Destroyed

July 22, 2014 - Israel continues to strike Hamas targets in Gaza, hitting 187 terror targets so far today, bringing the total since the beginning of the ground operations in Gaza to 1,715.

The targets include hidden rocket launchers, Hamas command centers, tunnels, launchers used for firing ground-to-ground missiles, and a weapons factory.

Source: Israel National News

Ambassador Dermer: IDF deserves Nobel Peace Prize for ‘unimaginable restraint’ - "I especially will not tolerate criticism of my country at a time when Israeli soldiers are dying so that innocent Palestinians can live.” - The Times of Israel

LIVE BLOG: Israel's Operation Protective Edge in Gaza - Jerusalem Post

Israel expands Gaza offensive after two soldiers killed by Hamas

July 20, 2014 - The fighting in the Gaza Strip intensified Sunday with intensified Israeli airstrikes and ground offensive.

The nearly two-week conflict has killed more than 400 Palestinians and seven Israelis, and appeared to be escalating as U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon headed to the region to try to revive cease-fire efforts.

Source: Fox

Israel resumes airstrikes on Gaza after Hamas rejects cease-fire proposal

July 15, 2014 - A cease-fire proposal proposed by Egypt's Foreign Ministry was accepted by Israel but rejected by Hamas. Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official said that Hamas had not received an official draft of the proposal. He also said that the plan, as is, was "not acceptable."

Military spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said Tuesday that after holding its fire for six hours Israel has "resumed operational activities.”

During the six hours that Israel held its fire Gaza militants fired about 50 rockets into Israel.

Source: Fox

Netanyahu giving no indication when Gaza operation will end

July 14, 2014 -

As the sixth day of Operation Protective Edge came to a close Sunday evening, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu gave no indication of whether the campaign was nearing its end or whether Israel is on the verge of a ground operation.

Source: Jerusalem Post

Israel to continue air campaign while preparing for ground invasion of Gaza, IDF says

July 12, 2014 -

Brig.-Gen. Moti Almoz told Israel Radio on Saturday that there were still “many” targets in the Gaza Strip remaining. While air force sorties will continue, the army high command is simultaneously preparing for a ground incursion.

Source: Jerusalem Post

Hamas: Ben-Gurion Airport target of rocket attacks

July 11, 2014 - Hamas militants warned airlines not to use Israel's main airport near Tel Aviv because they intend to strike the military base that is located there. The warning said:

"In the light of Israel's ... attacks on the residents of Gaza Strip ... The armed wing of Hamas movement has decided to respond to the Israeli aggression and we warn you against carrying out flights to Ben-Gurion airport.

Source: Jerusalem Post

Obama tells Netanyahu US willing to negotiate cease-fire between Israel, Hamas

July 10, 2014 - President Obama called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express support to Israel's efforts to defend itself against the intense rocket fire from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

The also called on both Israel and the Palestinians to protect civilians and restore calm. The White House said the U.S. was willing to "facilitate a cessation of hostilities," potentially along the lines of a 2012 cease-fire that the U.S. helped broker.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that a cease-fire is urgent to avoid another Israeli-Palestinian war and the possible spread of warfare in the entire region.

Source: Fox

Netanyahu: Cease-fire with Hamas is not on Israel's agenda - Haaretz

Harper, World Leaders Support Israel's Right to Defend Itself

July 10 - So far many world leaders have spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but U.S. President Barack Obama has not spoken with Netanyahu since the launch of Operation Protective Edge three days ago. The supportive leaders include:

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, British PM David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.

One American dignitary, Philip Gordon, adviser on Middle East affairs, was in Israel and the West Bank this week. He condemned the Hamas attacks on Israel. He spoke to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, but did not ask to speak to Netanyahu.

Source: Shalom Life

Obama praises Abbas, but not Netanyahu in opinion piece published by Israeli newspaper - Fox

Israeli military steps up Gaza Strip airstrikes on second day of offensive

July 9, 2014 - As Hamas rockets continue to be fired into Israel, the Jewish state struck back decisively.

Since the offensive began Tuesday, Israel has attacked more than 400 sites in Gaza, killing at least 41 people, according to The Associated Press. The strikes came after militants fired more than 160 rockets at Israel.

Source: Fox

Hamas rockets reach Jerusalem and Tel Aviv - Jerusalem Post

Jordan Demands Israel Stop 'Barbaric' Operation' - Peace partner' condemns defensive operation, not hundreds of rockets raining on Israel; follows Turkish condemnation. - Israel National News

Iran Condemns Israeli Self-Defense as 'Savage Aggression' - Israel National News

Live Updates - Haaretz

Israel orders preparations for invasion of Gaza

July 8, 2014 -

Israel struck 150 targets in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and authorized the call-up of 40,000 reservists as it weighed a possible ground operation to quell weeks of Palestinian rocket fire into its territory.

Source: Telegraph

Israel Strikes Gaza by Air and Sea to Halt Rocket Attacks - BusinessWeek

Israel launches new air strikes on Gaza Strip

July 8, 2013 -

Israel has carried out more air strikes on the Gaza Strip, following dozens of rockets fired by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. . . A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has told the BBC that . . .that a ground incursion was "not off the table".

Source: BBC

Israel Arrests 6 Suspects in Kidnap and Murder of Palestinian Teen

July 7, 2014 -

Israeli police arrested six suspects on Sunday in the kidnapping and murder of a 16-year-old Palestinian boy... which police say appears to be revenge by Jewish extremists for the murders of three kidnapped Jewish Israeli youths buried just hours earlier.

Source: Time

Outrage and disgust - Times of Israel

IAF strikes Gaza underground rocket launchers as Eshkol region comes under heavy fire

July 7, 2014 - Some 150 rockets have been fired from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel in recent weeks. Thirty rockets were launched yesterday.

IAF aircraft struck three underground rocket launchers in the northern Gaza Strip in response to the fire.

Source: Jerusalem Post

East Jerusalem riots spread to Arab Israeli towns

July 5, 2014 - An Arab teenager was allegedly murdered by Jews in retalliation for the three Jewish teens killed by Hamas. Jerusalem experienced violent demonstrations yesterday because of the situation.

Clashes between local Arabs and security forces flared up again on Friday night in the capital and in other parts of Israel with large Arab populations.

Source: Times of Israel

Israeli jets pound Gaza as Netanyahu blames Hamas for teenagers' deaths

July 1, 2014 -

Israeli jets and helicopters launched dozens of air strikes across the Gaza Strip overnight . . . just hours after the bodies of three abducted Israeli teenagers were found in a shallow grave near the southern West Bank city of Hebron.

The air strikes struck 34 locations in the Gaza Strip that were associated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Source: The Guardian UK

Source: The Guardian UK

Israeli jets pound Gaza, hit 34 targets in overnight strike - Jerusalem Post

Israel: Hamas 'will pay price' after teenagers found dead - BBC