Terror Group Goes On Alert After Jenin Gunfight, Stabbing Attack
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist group has gone into a state of organization-wide operational readiness following exchanges of gunfire between terrorists and IDF forces in Jenin and a stabbing attack on a bus in Gush Etzion on Thursday (31st).
“Based on the decision of the Secretary-General, the Mujahid Commander Ziad al-Nakhala we announce the raising of full readiness among our fighters in all military formations,” the military spokesman for the PIJ Al-Quds Brigades, Abu Hamza said.
One IDF soldier was lightly injured and three Palestinian gunmen were reported killed in an exchange of fire with Palestinian gunmen in Jenin Thursday morning (31st). The wounded IDF soldier was taken to a hospital to receive medical treatment.
IDF and Border Police had entered the city to arrest suspects in connection to the Bnei Brak terror attack.
Soon after the incident in Jenin, a civilian suffered critical injuries when stabbed by a terrorist on a bus near the town of Elazar in Gush Etzion. A civilian on the bus fired and killed the terrorist the IDF said.
“I salute the armed citizen who killed the terrorist in the bus stabbing in Gush Etzion and saved lives. Israel is under terrorist attack, this is the only way to neutralize terrorists as quickly as possible and save lives. I call on the government to adopt the bill I submitted and to allow the IDF combat reservists to obtain a weapons license to fight terrorism,” MK Nir Barkat said on Twitter.
“What can Israel’s citizens expect? Be alert. Whoever has a weapons license, this is the time to carry your weapon,” Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced in a broadcasted message late Wednesday evening (30th).
“A 20-year-old was stabbed in his upper body and evacuated to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem during the Thursday morning (31st) attack in Gush Etzion. There are victims being treated for shock at the scene,” Magen David Adom (MDA) Director-General Eli Bin reported.
11 Israelis have been killed in terrorist attacks over the last two weeks. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned on Wednesday (30th) that Israel was entering into a period of rising terrorist activity.
“Citizens of Israel we are currently experiencing a wave of murderous terrorism and, just like in all the previous waves, we will prevail together,” Bennett said. “In the last 24-hours, the security establishment has been acting with full force to restore security to Israel’s cities and a feeling of security for you, the citizens.”
From The US To Turkey, World Stands United With Israel Against Terror
Israel received a boost of international solidarity as diplomats from Turkey, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, India, the United States, Europe and the United Nations all condemned the Bnei Brak terror attack by a Palestinian gunman that claimed five lives.
“No one should have to endure such heartbreak,” US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides tweeted after the Tuesday evening (29th) shooting in Bnei Brak, which comes amid heightened concern of a resurgence of violence due to the approaching religious and overlapping festivals of Passover, Ramadan and Easter in April.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned “the horrific terrorist attack in Bnei Brak,Tuesday (29th, the third such attack in Israel in a week,” in a tweet.
“We send our condolences to the families of the victims of these attacks. May their memories be a blessing.”
House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) said the attacks “have…shaken a nation that has too often felt the pain of violence and unprovoked terror.” Last month, in Israel he said he “visited with Israelis who have endured attacks from terrorist rockets and who continue to face the constant threat of shootings and stabbings in their cities and communities. Those who target the Jewish state and its people with terror do so because they are so filled with hatred borne from centuries of vile anti-Semitism,” he added.
Jordan’s King Abdullah condemned the attack, as did Turkey which has recently moved to repair its frayed diplomatic ties with Israel. In a nod to the United States and Israel, Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas issued a rare condemnation against the killing of Israelis, saying it would only leade to a deteriorating situation on the eve of the April holidays.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that “such acts of violence…must be condemned by all.” He added that “in the spirit of the upcoming religious holy days” there must be “an immediate end to violence, which only serves to undermine the prospects for peace.”
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that the EU also “strongly condemns the terrorist attack,” the “third such incident in one week.”
“Attacks against civilians …must stop. We stand with Israel at this difficult time,” Borrell said.
French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted that “Israel can count on the support of France and on my total commitment to fight the scourge of terrorism.”
Romania’s Foreign Ministry said that Romanians stood “in solidarity” with Israel.
Germany said that “all who hold positions of responsibility and exert influence must roundly condemn these attacks so that the violence does not escalate further.”
Italy, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Egypt, Serbia, Hungary, the United Kingdom, India and Canada all issued statements.
Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, who is visiting Israel said that “it was shocking that terrorism was once again showing its ugly face” and that his country stands side by side with Israel. We are conducting this fight together.”
Schallenberg spoke at a joint press conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid.
“We want to see a strong and secure Israel,” Schallenberg told Lapid.
Herzog Arrives In Jordan, Calls For Joint Fight Against Terrorism
Israeli President Isaac Herzog was welcomed Wednesday (30th) at Al Husseiniya Palace in Jordan by King Abdullah II, just one day after Defense Minister Benny Gantz visited the kingdom.
At the start of the session, Abdullah condemned the recent terror attacks that left 11 dead in the span of 10 days, expressing his condolences to the victims’ families.
Herzog responded, “Thank you very much, Your Majesty, my good friend. Thank you for your warm hospitality and friendship and for inviting me to this unique event, which I think expresses the friendship between our peoples.”
Herzog said, “The lives of 11 innocent people were ended by the brutal and lowly terrorists, we must fight together against every form of terrorism and work together for the sake of our two countries’ security. This is a sad day in Israel, and I thank you for condemning the terror attacks.” He added that “in contrast to the terrible scenes of Tuesday (29th), we are offering an alternative of dialogue between people that is based on respecting one another, showing the world that there is another way.”
The King told Herzog that violence “in all of its forms…continues to provide a fertile ground for extremism,” according to Jordanian news site Petra.
Abdullah stated that “any measure that might impede the ability to reach Al-Aqsa Mosque should be avoided” during the month of Ramadan, which Israeli officials are still debating.
Herzog’s response noted that “we must move towards enabling everyone to practice their beliefs in safety, in security, in calm circumstances.”
The issue was brought up during Gantz’s meeting with Abdullah, with the defense minister presenting “steps that Israel intends to take in order to preserve freedom of worship in Jerusalem.”
The king emphasized to Gantz “the need to keep complete calm, and respect the rights of Muslims to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque, and remove every obstacle ahead of time to avoid any skirmishes that could lead to any violent escalation.”
Iran’s IRGC Head Warns Israel Against Role In Persian Gulf
Iran’s Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned the governments of the region and the “Zionist movement” against any role in the Persian Gulf. This comes in the wake of the Negev Summit where Bahrain and the UAE, which are in the Gulf, attended an unprecedented important summit in Israel this week.
The report of his comments took place in Iran’s Fars and Tasnim News on Wednesday night (30th). He was “referring to the security situation in the Persian Gulf, the Straits of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman and some movements of the presence of the Zionists in this strategic region,” the reports said. “We explicitly declare and warn that the continuation of such relations is not acceptable at all,” Salami said. “They should know that the existence of the evil Zionist regime everywhere is a cause of insecurity.”
He discussed strategic islands in his speech. Explaining the capabilities and defense and combat readiness of the IRGC Navy, he emphasized: “The IRGC Navy , especially in recent years, has achieved extraordinary capabilities and achievements in the fields of UAVs, missiles, buoyancy, forestry, air and submarines and is capable on all levels. Our defenses react quickly and effectively in the moment,” he said.
“Recently, the IRGC put drones on its fast boats. Last July Iran used a drone to target a ship in the Gulf of Oman.”
He discussed the “hope that with the great steps the IRGC Navy has taken to make extraordinary leaps in the quality of equipment, weapons and upgrades, it would improve the state of the Iranian IRGC forces.” He bragged about the growth of power of “UAVs, submarines, vessels, missiles, and electronic warfare units.”
He again slammed Israel, which he referred to as “Zionists.” “In context,” he said, “unfortunately, some regimes in the southern Persian Gulf countries have established political and security relations with the Zionist regime,” meaning Bahrain and the UAE.
Iran’s media said that the IRGC Commander-in-chief emphasized that : “The presence of the Zionists in these areas is not tolerable and it is necessary for these regimes to reconsider their political policy.”
This certainly indicates a new threat to Israel and its partners in the Gulf. Iran has attacked ships since 2019 using both mines and UAVs.
(reuters.com, jpost.com)
Mayors From U.S. Visit Israel In Bid To Bolster Bilateral Ties
A bipartisan group of American mayors is visiting Israel this week to gain firsthand knowledge about the Jewish state and discuss with their Israeli counterparts how to tackle common challenges.
The trip was organized by Project Interchange, an educational institute of the American Jewish Committee.
The group represents the second delegation to visit Israel as part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States Conference of Mayors and AJC, and the first after two years of the coronavirus pandemic. The trip is designed to strengthen US-Israel relations at the municipal level while having the mayors learn about Israel’s various challenges.
The mayors will talk with municipal leaders throughout Israel to discuss urban revitalization and smart city innovations, among other topics. They will be introduced to Jewish and Arab mayors, and visit the PA city of Ramallah to meet with Palestinian civic and business leaders including those involved in the high-tech industry.
The delegation is scheduled to visit Ashdod, Netivot, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, as well as Israel’s borders with Lebanon and Gaza. Historical, cultural and religious sites in the country are also included.
“Our time in Israel provides American mayors the opportunity to learn about and see in person a young complicated and exciting country that is a beacon of democracy in the Middle East,” said Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, who is leading the mayoral delegation.
“The US and Israel have had a special relationship ever since Israel’s founding in 1948, and this trip will provide an opportunity for US mayors to better understand that relationship and how our nations work together,” he continued. “It will provide an opportunity for us to discuss the common problems we face and the best ways to solve them.”
The participating mayors include: Ravinder Bhalla (Hoboken, NJ), James Brainard (Carmel, Ind.), Jane Castor (Tampa, Fla.), Greg Fischer (Louisville, Ky.), David Holt (Oklahoma City, Okla.), James Hovland, (Edina, Minn.), Keith James (West Palm Beach, Fla.), Quinton Lucas (Kansas City, Mo.), Libby Schaaf (Oakland, Calif.), Nancy Vaughan (Greensboro, N.C.), and Acquanetta Warren (Fontana, Calif.).
(jns.org)
