Yeshiva World News

Thursday 12:15PM IL: It is now cleared for publication that during IDF operations in Kabatia in the Jenin district during the night, IDF soldiers arrested four terrorists who were planning to perpetrate a terror attack.

The two were apprehended with two bombs totaling 20 kilograms (45lbs). The suspects were turned over to the ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) for interrogation. The bombs were neutralized in a controlled blast without incident.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

** Three Jews were injured in rock-throwing attacks on Shabbos in Akko. 12 people were arrested, mostly Jews, who insist they did nothing as riots renew in the racially divided city.

** Three border policemen were injured by teargas in the Na’alin command post as a result of malfunction on Shabbos. One sustained moderate injuries and two light. An MDA ambulance responded.

** IDF soldiers operating in Beit Omer were bombarded with rocks, compelling them to respond with riot-control adjuncts. There were no injuries to IDF soldiers. One Arab was reportedly injured and transported to a Chevron hospital.

** Galil District Fire Officer Shmulik Franco that two apartment fires were extinguished on Shabbos in Akko. Officials suspect arson, perhaps connected to the city’s racial riots that began on Yom Kippur.

** In what appears to be an expansion of racial rioting, Israeli Arabs in the Um el-Fahm area took to the streets blocking Highway 65, the major north-south route, while waving PLO flags. Police did not intervene.

** Two terrorists were killed when a weapons smuggling tunnel collapsed in Gaza.

** A border police jeep flipped near Kfar Giladi injuring three, one moderately. An investigation was ordered.

** A firebomb was hurled at the community of Bet El in Shomron on Shabbos, landing near the perimeter fence. There were no reports of injuries or damage.

** Firefighters in Kiryat Malachi on Shabbos dealt with a hazardous materials leak in the city. There were no injuries.

** MDA spokesman Miki Kafri reports a 20-year-old was stabbed in his thigh on Carol Street in Petach Tikvah. He was transported to Sharon Hospital in light condition. The motive for the stabbing is not mentioned in the report.

** Fire Department spokesman Boaz Rakia reports an expensive parrot became entangled in a tree in Givatayim. Firemen were called. The expensive pet was successfully rescued without incident.

** Fire Department official Oren Shashistzky reports units responded to a Rosh HaAyin blaze on Shabbos. A 70-year-old male was treated for smoke inhalation. His condition was reported as light.

** A serious vehicular accident was reported at the Glilot Interchange of the Coastal Road on Shabbos. Persons were trapped in vehicles. One victim was reported in serious condition. The victims were transported to Beilinson and Ichilov Hospitals.

** A major forest fire was reported on Shabbos in Megiddo Forest in the Jezreel Valley district. No injuries were reported. Officials are investigating possible arson.

** In a criminal and not nationalistic incident, gunfire was directed at a vehicle occupied by two male Arabs and two female Jews on Highway 6 (Rabin Hwy) near Nitzanei Oz. the couple in the rear was seriously injured by gunfire and transported to Hillel Yafeh Hospital in Chadera.

** Netanya: In a dispute at Independence Square in the city, a Taibeh man stabbed and wounded another Arab man. The suspect was placed in custody. The victim was reported in light condition.

** A child fell from a height on Givat Pinchas Street in Bnei Brak on Shabbos sustaining moderate injuries. He was transported to Sheba Medical Center.

** Three youths who were on the shore in Kiryat Chaim were stabbed on Shabbos. The motive is unclear police report. Two of the victims were transported to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa. The third victim did not require medical attention.

** A serious vehicular accident was reported in the north near Kibbutz Ne’ot Mordechai. Four victims were in light-to-moderate condition, transported to Rebecca Ziff Hospital in Tzfas. The fifth victim, reported in serious condition, was transported by helicopter to the trauma unit of Rambam Medical Center in Haifa.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

Following a violent Yom Kippur in Akko, police on erev Shabbos have moved to a heightened operational status in a number of other mixed areas in which Jews and Arab reside.

Special attention is being focused on Yerushalayim and the Old City. Police reinforcements are being moved into the Old City and other areas of the capital in the hope of avoiding a spread of the racial riots to other areas of the country.

A large police contingent remains on hand in Akko as well to prevent a resumption of the rioting.

MK (Yisrael Beitenu) Avigdor Lieberman stated on motzei Yom Kippur that the rioting in Akko to him signals the “start of the Third Intifada in the heart of Israel”. On the other side of the political spectrum, Arab MK Dr. Ahmad Tibi referred to the violence as a “pogrom” against Arabs by Jews. (Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

Firebombs were hurled at a number of vehicles traveling on the Tunnel Highway near el-Hader in Gush Etzion on motzei Shabbos. Baruch Hashem, no injuries were reported.

** No additional information was released regarding the erev Shabbos feared kidnapping in Yerushalayim. It appears the report was unfounded.

** PA police on motzei Shabbos arrested an Israeli male who entered Bet Lechem. He was turned over to Israel Police unharmed and may face criminal charges for entering a PA area. He apparently did so unintentionally.

** The remains of a 33-year-old Israeli who died in northern Italy over a year ago have been identified. Foreign Ministry officials are working to locate his family in Israel and abroad. The man was a one-time immigrant from the FSU.

** Egypt has responded positively to an American request to host a peace conference involving Israel prior to President Bush leaving office.

** Right-wing activist Daniela Weiss is accusing the ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) of placing the pipe bomb that injured radical left-wing Prof. Sternhell to provoke public sentiments against the right-wing camp.

** Itamar Ben-Gavir has filed a complaint with police against three left-wing activists whom he accuses of trying to run him over during an incident that occurred in Kiryat Arba.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

13:04 IL: Just cleared for publication: Three Israeli Arabs were arrested as part of a terror cell connected to the January 24, 2008 attack at the Shuafat Checkpoint and the murder of policeman Rami Zuadi HY”D. His partner was seriously wounded in the attack.

In addition, the suspects in the cell are connected to July 11, 2008 attack near the Old City in which border policeman David Shriki was murdered and his partner moderately wounded.

The investigation was a joint venture between Israel Police and the ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet). Three members of the terror cell are Israeli Arab citizens, residents of the eastern capital.

Authorities report the cell planned additional attacks in Yerushalayim and elsewhere, some planned for the end of this August. The planned attacks included the assassination of a senior officer assigned to the Jerusalem police; a shooting attack in the French Hill neighborhood;  a shooting attack against a police vehicle on the road to the Dead Sea; and attacking soldiers in the Admat Yishai (Tel Rumeida) area of Chevron.

The cell leader is identified as Mahmoud Abu Seninah, 21, from the Anata area of the eastern capital. He built the cell while attending studies in Abu Dis. He began enlisting members in the cell about 18 months ago.

His dad, Idnan Abu Seninah, was sentenced to life in prison for the murders of two IDF soldiers in the 1970s. He was released in the 1985 Jibril prisoner release deal. Two other Shuafat residents were also indicted along with the other cell members. (Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

Following is an update on victims of Monday night’s vehicular terror attack at Kikar Tzahal in downtown Yerushalayim.

Dr. Yuval Weiss, director of Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital reports that five victims remain, with one listed in moderate-to-serious condition following surgery. The victim is in a medically induced coma at this time. The others are listed in light-to-moderate condition and some will undergo surgery during the day.

Four victims remain in Shaare Zedek Medical Center with two listed in moderate condition, one following surgery and now recuperating in an intensive care unit.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

13:52 IL: According to a report from Egyptian officials, a group of approximately 15 tourists were abducted in Aswan, in southern Egypt. It is believed that two Israelis are included in the group that may have been taken to Sudan.

Additional information will follow as it becomes available.

14:18 IL: According to reports from Italian TV, el-Jazeera and other foreign news agencies, a group of tourists numbering between 10-15 were kidnapped from southern Egypt, most likely from Aswan. The reports are stating there may be two Israelis in the group but Foreign Ministry officials in Israel are indicating it appears there are no Israelis among the group, although this is yet to be confirmed.

It does seem that 11 tourists have indeed taken hostage, including Italian, Romanian, and German nationals, and they have been smuggled into Sudan. According to conflicting reports, the tourists appear to have lost their way and were then abducted from the area.

Additional details to follow as information becomes available.

15:51 IL: Israel Foreign Ministry officials report that they are unaware of any Israelis among the tourists abducted in southern Egypt. It is also being reported that the kidnapping took place two days ago. (Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

American officials have decided to sell 1,000 Guided Bomb Unit-39 “bunker-busting bombs” to Israel, a move viewed by many as a major step in the preparation for an aerial assault against Iran.

The bombs are state-of-the-art, extremely lightweight, 113kg each, but they carry a punch capable of wiping out underground fortifications like the Iranian nuclear facilities. Their weight permit fighter jets to arm with several of the bombs in each sortie. The cost of each bomb is estimated at $70,000-$90,000.

While America has publicly opposed an Israel assault against Iran, there is speculation that the White House is indeed giving approval behind the scenes and would permit Israeli fighter planes to utilize aerial lanes over Iraq on their way to and from Iran. Some believe that President George W. Bush may authorize an Israeli attack prior to stepping down from office.

Iranian officials continue to warn Israel, the United States and Western countries that any attack would be met with a most painful retaliation. Intelligence experts in Israel report that undoubtedly, an Israeli offensive against Iran would result in a counter-attack to the homefront, which would result in causalities.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

According to reports from Hamas-controlled Gaza on motzei Shabbos, at least 4 people are dead and 80 injured following a Hamas raid of a Fatah stronghold aligned with the Hilles clan, which is headed by former Gaza Tanzim leader Ahmed Hilles. Included among the injured in the Gaza City fighting according to various reports are at least 12 children. Apparently, the raid follows the recent explosion in Gaza that killed five Hamas terrorists and a girl. Hamas is blaming the Hilles clan for the deadly blast.

Fighting between rival terror factions seems to be increasing and Israeli intelligence officials are carefully monitoring the situation, which has led to the firing of eight mortar shells on motzei Shabbos. Three of the shells landed in southern Israel. No injuries were reported. The remainder appears to have fallen short of its intended target, in northern Hamas-controlled Gaza.

Not wasting the opportunity to point a finger of blame at Israel, senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouq released as statement on Saturday that if Israel does not comply with the ceasefire, one cannot expect the rival Gaza factions to comply. He added that Hamas however remains committed to the ceasefire. 

Israeli officials fear the escalation in rival fighting will lead to the collapse the fragile ceasefire, which has been officially ongoing for 46 days. There have been numerous violations, but there have been considerably less rocket and mortar shell attacks than during the weeks preceding the ceasefire.

Magen David Adam, Israel’s emergency medical service provider, on Shabbos moved to a level 2 state of readiness. Three wounded Gaza residents were transported to the trauma unit of Beersheva’s Soroka Medical Center, reportedly all in serious condition.

Israel has announced it is permitting 150 Fatah-aligned Gazans into PA (Palestinian Authority) autonomous areas throughout Yehuda and Shomron. Reports indicate that family members of the Hilles clan are included in that number, with some sources stating that Ahmed Hilles is also included, but this is not being verified by official Fatah sources in Ramallah. (Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
 

They’re still talking about it!!!

Three months after a pre-Pesach food distribution of major proportions took place in the heart of Williamsburg, they still talk about.  But this time, they were talking about it at Borough Hall.

On Tuesday evening, July 15th, Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz, paid tribute to UJCARE by honoring the volunteers of SABAINU, the UJCARE project that distributed over 200 tons of fresh fruits and vegetables for the Pesach Holiday (reported HERE on WYN)

The Borough President had only moments to meet, greet and congratulate UJCARE’s Executive Vice President, Rabbi Leib Glanz, before being called away for a family emergency.  Apologetically, Borough President Markowitz sent a personal congratulatory letter to Rabbi Glanz, highlighted in bold type with the word, “BRAVO”.

Borough Hall, however, was well represented by Assistant to the Borough President, Yvonne Graham and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Bella Vais, as the event drew over 200 guests, including dozen’s of dignitaries, filling the upstairs courtroom, the most prestigious room in the house.

Ms. Graham eloquently described the April 13th event, praising the sacrifice and servitude of the seventy volunteers who made the distribution possible.

Rabbi Glanz not only thanked Marty Markowitz and his Borough Hall staff for hosting and arranging the tribute, but took the opportunity to pay his own tribute to those dignitaries who stood by him through the years and now stand by UJCARE through its growth.

New York State Assemblyman, Joseph Lentol became emotional as he addressed the crowd from the podium, recounting his years of service and his affinity to the Jewish community.  Assemblyman Lentol expressed pride in praising the work of the organization and congratulating its honorees.  Rabbi Glanz joined Assemblyman Lentol in a special presentation to the Williamsburg Shomrim Patrol.  The Patrol spent the evening hours before the Pesach distribution into the early hours of the morning making arrangements and setting up barricades to direct traffic for the event, and continued to coordinate traffic and crowd control until the event ended late Sunday night.  Accepting on behalf of the Shomrim were coordinators Yanky Itzkowitz & Zalman Leib Hoffman.

Rabbi Bernard Freilich, Assistant Superintendent of the New York State Police, always referred to, endearingly, by Rabbi Glanz as his brother, praised the Shomirim “for their years of service to the community… serving with pride… serving with purpose”.

Councilman Simcha Felder shared his public acknowledgement of UJCARE’s outstanding work and service to the community, reaffirming his commitment to supporting an agency of their caliber.

Rabbi Glanz then singled out Joel Vitriol, the first Chassidic police officer, presenting him with a special award as top brass of the NYPD looked on.

Howard Katz, UJCARE’s Executive Director, delivered a crowd pleasing “Drasha”, masterfully employing Pirkei Avos (Ethics of Our Fathers) and Parshas (Torah portion) Pinchas to express his gratitude to the leadership behind UJCARE and his staff. 

“Baruch She’Bochar Bahem”, he quoted.  “Blessed is He (G-d) who has chosen them (these special individuals) who have sacrificed for the community.  But G-d does not just drop such individuals on your doorstep”, he continued.  “It takes other motivated individuals to identify, coordinate and organize such outstanding personalities.  ‘Baruch She’Bochar Bahem’, Blessed is “he”, the one who identified and organized and coordinated “them”, the volunteers who served our Jewish community.  That “he” may go under many titles, but to me “he” is my right arm… That he is Mayer Berkowitz.”  Mr. Berkowitz serves as UJCARE’s Planning Coordinator and Director of Special Projects.

Mr. Katz then acknowledged Yoeli Lefkowitz as the “encyclopedia of who’s who in the world of politics and community service, in order to pull off an event of this magnitude”.  Mr. Lefkowitz serves as UJACRE’s Government Relations.

In a powerful analogy, Mr. Katz proclaimed that “within our midst was a Pinchas ben Elozer ben Aharon HaKohen, who is described as an individual who saw what needed to be done and responded to the need, taking action without stopping to question or justify his actions.  But to be a Pinchas, you must have the heart of a lion.  To be a Pinchas, you must be an Aryeh Leib”…  Before he could finish his remarks, the crowd began to applaud.  He then completed, “To be a Pinchas, you must be Rabbi Leib Glanz”, as the volume of applause shook the courtroom.

He concluded his remarks by addressing the 70 volunteers.  “Kinegged” the 70 souls that accompanied Yaakov Avinu down to Egypt, these 70 souls (the volunteers), in celebration of the Exodus from Egypt, represented and fed their community”.

A special acknowledgement went to Rabbi Yoel Eisdorfer for his invaluable contribution in arranging the SABAINU activities and organizing the Borough Hall celebration.

Among the notable community leaders who attended the event was Rabbi Simcha Barnath, representing Borough Park Shomrim.  Rabbi Barnath also serves as Chaplain to the Sullivan County Sheriff’s department.

Notable guests also included Rabbi Shea Hecht, Chairman of the Board of the National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education; City Council candidate Evan Thies; City Council candidate, Isaac Abraham; Congressional candidate, Kevin Powell; and David Pollack, Associate Executive Director, Jewish Community Relations Council.

After the courtroom ceremony a beautifully catered reception was held in honor of UJCARE, SABAINU and its volunteers.

(Moshe Altusky – YWN NYC)