Yeshiva World News

Optimism surrounds predictions that the Iron Dome (Kippat Barzel) rocket detection system will be ready to go operational in 2010.

A number of tests of the system intended to provide protection for southern area residents were conducted this week, with defense officials reporting the results were encouraging. It was added that the tests actually resembled real attacks, using some of the same rockets deployed by terrorists in northern Gaza.

On the down side, the continued development of the system sends a message that rocket attacks from Gaza are being accepted as part of life’s realities in southern Israel.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

Six people were injured in an early morning blaze on Friday in Jerusalem’s Jabel Mukaber neighborhood, an Arab area in the capital. Among the injured is a 3-year-old boy who is listed in serious condition with smoke inhalation. One other family is listed in moderate condition and the remainder light.

Paramedic Zohar Lomer reports that they performed CPR and implemented advanced life support measures for about 8-10 minutes when a spontaneous pulse returned to the 3-year-old victim. The victims were transported to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital and Shaare Zedek Medical Center.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

The Movement for Quality Government (MQG) has petitioned the High Court of Justice against the appointment of Avigdor Lieberman as foreign minister due to the police investigations against him.

The petition also makes mention of the fact that a member of Yisrael Beitenu will serve as minister of public security, directly responsible for Israel Police, which is problematic since Lieberman is under investigation, facing allegations of many serious white collar crimes.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

According to Hamas officials, the convoy in Sudan that was targeted in an IAF air strike was not carrying weapons for Gaza, but people fleeing Sudan, hoping to find work in Egypt and elsewhere.

Using its propaganda machine to feed the world media, which is more than willing to blame Israel for additional “war crimes”, Hamas announced the strike was against innocent civilians, non combatants and not weapons smugglers.

Israel has remained silent regarding American reports that the IAF carried out the January 2009 air strike, similar to the bombing in Syria in which a nuclear facility was eliminated.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

An Israeli sustained light injuries in rock-throwing attacks near Dir Naballah, south of Ramallah. A number of vehicles were damaged as well.

**Thursday night: A bus was attacked with rocks traveling near PA-occupied Bet Lechem. No injuries.

**An anti-tank rocket was fired at IDF soldiers near Kissufim along the Gaza border on Friday morning. No injuries.

**False alarm in Sderot on Friday morning when Red Alert sirens sounded in the southern city.

**Kol Chai Radio on Friday morning reported that Maran Rav Elyashiv Shlita has approved the giyur compromise accepted by Chief Rabbi Moshe Shlomo Amar Shlita and the Belzer Rebbe Shlita.

**PM Olmert undergoing standard medical testing on Friday after prostate cancer was detected about 18 months ago.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

The Haifa District Court has sentenced Shfaram resident 21-year-old Annis Safouri to 14 years in prison after he was convicted of a multi-count indictment, including assisting the enemy in a time of war.

Safouri was part of an Islamic Jihad cell operating in Birzeit University, plotting to abduct and murder IAF pilots, scientists and academics. Safouri and others observed IDF soldiers at checkpoints and other areas in the hope of learning enough to actualize the kidnapping plot.

A relative of Safouri was found guilty of aiding him, sentenced to two years in prison.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

The doomsday predictions regarding Bank Hapoalim some fear may have been optimistic. The bank, which in 2007 reported a cool net profit of NIS 2.68 billion is showing a different reality today, a NIS 895 million loss. The last quarter of 2008 proved worse than expected, NIS 363 million.

On Wednesday, CEO Zvi Ziv unexpectedly resigned, and was replaced by deputy CEO and head of corporate banking Zion Keinan.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

Israel – While the nation is busy looking for ways to cut spending, and NGOs scrounge for funds for Pesach, to provide food for the needy, in one of his last acts in office, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has given approval to redoing the garden in the official President’s Residence ahead of next month’s visit of Pope Benedict XVI.

The 11 May papal ceremony will be expected by 1,000 guests. Members of the president’s staff add that the president regularly receives guests in the garden, which has not really be redone as needed for some 40 years.

At Sunday’s cabinet meeting, Mr. Olmert will give the final stamp of approval, which will allocate NIS 3 million of Jewish National Fund money for the project, which is being designed and implemented by JNF.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

The 18-month-old toddler, who was reported in critical condition for a number of days, the result of choking on a banana in the early part of the week, was niftar in Haifa’s Rambam Medical Center on Wednesday.

The child was a resident of Moshav Habanim, and choked by being fed a banana in daycare in Moshav Geva Carmel.

EMS responders found the child in cardiac arrest, beginning CPR.

On Sunday, an 18-month-old child died in Ichilov Hospital from having choked on a Bissli snack a week earlier.

Another child was taken to Rambam in serious condition two months ago, a victim of choking from an apple.

Pediatricians continue to stress that certain foods should not be given to infants and toddlers and others, such as bananas and hot dogs, should be cut lengthwise, not widthwise.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

Taking a break from its regular articles condemning the IDF Chief Rabbinate, accusing it of “brainwashing” members of the military and exceeding its authority by infringing on the role of the IDF Education Branch, the daily Haaretz has now turned the focus of its attacks on frum soldiers.

The Haaretz report cites that about 100 soldiers and officers left official military ceremonies to avoid hearing women sing, outraged at the insubordination of the shomer Shabbat soldiers who dare to act on their own will and turn their backs on official military events. The most recent case, which prompted the report, was a recent ceremony in Haifa in which a paratroop brigade marked its participation in Operation Cast Lead.

The newspaper warns of the growing number of the dati leumi and hesder soldiers and even officers, stating the current situation of leaving an official ceremony is intolerable and soldiers may not be permitted to decide to act on their own to prevent hearing women sing. The major ‘problem’ drew comment from the military’s chief education officer, Brigadier-General Eli Shermeister, who called the trend a “worrisome phenomenon” that “should not be accorded continued legitimacy”.

The newspaper even reports the startling news that another brigade recently canceled planned appearances by female singers as two frum battalion commanders explained if the females sing, they cannot attend. The report states the “problem” is widespread.

It should be pointed out that the frum soldiers acted respectfully, and quietly left ceremonies to avoid transgressing halacha, without shouts of protest or any act that might be interpreted as disrespectful.

There is also a growing demand from the sizable Shomer Shabbat community in the IDF, calling for ceremonies in accordance to halacha. Unfortunately, the Haaretz report is somewhat twisted and the headline which reads “soldiers leave military ceremonies to avoid women’s singing” perhaps should have read “IDF fails to adhere to halachic guidelines in official ceremonies, compelling soldiers to leave”.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

An IDF soldier sustained light-to-moderate injured in a Jordan Valley training mishap on Wednesday. The incident occurred in the Kfir Brigade training base when a bullet ricocheted on the shooting range.

The injured soldier, who on Thursday is listed in stable condition, was transported by military chopper to Tel Hashomer Hospital in Tel Aviv.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

In response to allegations that IDF soldiers during Operation Cast Lead fired intentionally at a woman and children, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gabi Ashkenazi has stated any failure to adhere to the military’s moral code will be met with immediate appropriate actions.

An investigation was ordered into the alleged “war crimes” allegations of the intentional firing at the civilians, and the military has learned the victims of this shooting are alive and well, quite well, contrary to the testimony of the soldiers of the Yitzchak Rabin pre-IDF course affiliated with Oranim Academic College. While the investigation is still ongoing, sources involved in the probe state that they are pleasantly surprised by the exemplary conduct of the soldiers involved, which is substantiated by the facts in the case.

The source was quick to add that is not to say there are no cases of violations and breaches of the moral code, and those violations will be appropriately addressed.

IDF military police is conducting its own investigation in addition to Ashkenazi’s appointed investigators, which is also still ongoing.

Addressing a military ceremony, Ashkenazi reiterated he position, that he stands behind the IDF, the “most moral army in the world,” adding any documented digression from acceptable behavior would be addressed appropriately.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)