Regional Tensions Diffused after Israeli Security Guard Attacked in Jordan

PM Netanyahu speaks with Israeli Amb. Shlain & embassy security guard.

The Israelis managed to successfully work out the return of an embassy security officer from Jordan on Monday after the officer was forced to defend himself against a Jordanian attacker, killing him. The motive behind the Jordanian attack is unclear. It came against the backdrop of Arab anger over Israel installing metal detectors to prevent terror attacks at the entrance to the Temple Mount, which houses the Islamic Dome of the Rock shrine and has sparked major protests.

However, the Jordanian news agency Petra reported that the incident occurred after a disagreement at the officer’s apartment at the Israeli embassy over work being done by Jordanian carpenters. Petra claimed that after the dispute turned physical, one of the carpenters stabbed the Israeli, who shot and killed the carpenter. The landlord of the apartment was also killed in the incident. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the Israeli was attacked from behind and stabbed with a screwdriver. Both reports indicated the Jordanian struck first and the Israeli responded in self-defense.

Yet despite that fact, the potential for a diplomatic crisis remained, especially given the Temple Mount tensions. In just one day, the Israeli was returned home to Israel and the crisis appears to have been averted. … Continue Reading

Hamas Warns Temple Mount Metal Detectors Will ‘Ignite the Jerusalem Intifada’

Palestinian use of the Temple Mount for incitement is nothing new. Illustrative banner of terrorists and Dome of the Rock. By Joshua Spurlock

One day after three Israeli civilians were murdered in their own home by a Palestinian terrorist, the armed-wing of the Hamas terrorist organization warned of a new wave of “heroic acts” according to the group’s website, due to the situation in Jerusalem. The website paraphrased Abu Obaida, spokesperson of Al Qassam Brigades, as also saying on Saturday that “Israeli aggression” in the holy city—presumably the placing of metal detectors at the main entrance to the Temple Mount and the ensuing clashes between violent Arabs and Israeli security forces—would “ignite the Jerusalem Intifada,” the Arabic word used for multiple terror campaigns.

The Hamas report noted what it termed an “anti-occupation stabbing” that killed three Israelis on Friday, referencing the brutal assault on an Israeli home that killed 70-year-old Yosef Solomon, 46-year-old Chaya Solomon, and 36-year-old Elad Solomon. Israeli Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld tweeted the victim’s names and ages, while IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner posted a graphic photo to Twitter of the blood-stained kitchen where the attack took place. The IDF Spokesperson’s Twitter feed posted a photo of Gazans celebrating the murders and then on Sunday, tweeted that a rocket was launched from Gaza at Israel but exploded in the air, resulting in no reported injuries. … Continue Reading

French President Denounces Anti-Zionism, Joins with Netanyahu to Oppose Terror

France and Israel don’t always see eye-to-eye, but they agree to oppose terror, anti-Semitism. French, Israeli flags. Illustrative.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regularly makes the point that the radicals threatening Israel are not merely the problem of the Jews, but of all of the free world. French President Emmanuel Macron—whose nation has faced some of the worst acts of terror in the last decade—had a message for the Jews on Sunday: Your problems aren’t just your own, but of all the free world.

In a stirring speech commemorating the 75^th anniversary of the deportation of French Jews during the Holocaust, Macron repeatedly assailed anti-Semitism and racism, but didn’t stop by looking at the past. In a message poignant for today, Macron declared that anti-Semitism’s new form is anti-Zionism—the opposition to the State of Israel.

“We will not yield anything to hate messages, we will not give in to anti-Zionism because it is the reinvented form of anti-Semitism,” said Macron in comments published on the French Presidency website. “And we will not give in to all those who, on every continent, seek to make us renounce freedom, seek to recreate divisions, seek to make us renounce this humanity, our democracy, our Republic.” … Continue Reading

Palestinians Protest Metal Detectors to Prevent Temple Mount Terrorism

Palestinian use of the Temple Mount for incitement is nothing new. Illustrative banner of terrorists and Dome of the Rock. By Joshua Spurlock

After two Israeli police officers and three terrorist Arabs died in last Friday’s shooting attack in the Temple Mount area, Israel installed metal detectors to prevent future terror attacks. While that might seem like something everyone would want, the Palestinians were not only opposed to the security measures, some took to public protesting in Jerusalem in response. Eylon Levy, a news anchor for i24News in Israel, tweeted about his experience getting trapped in the Old City by a riot after covering a Palestinian prayer session meant to protest the metal detectors.

While the exact reason for the outburst was unclear to Levy, he tweeted that a prayer leader “lurched” at an Israeli policeman filming the prayers and “then all went crazy.” Levy’s tweets noted that the riots included religious Islamic chants, as well as cries of “with spirit and blood we’ll redeem Al Aqsa,” referring to the mosque near the Dome of the Rock atop the Temple Mount.

And it wasn’t just religious rioters who opposed the cameras. Even the Palestinian government got into the act. … Continue Reading

Palestinian ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Engage in Terrorism

Illegal gun seized by Israel. Illustrative. Photo courtesy of ISA.

In Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, a romantic couple tragically die while attempting to make their forbidden love a reality. In the Palestinian real-life version of this drama, the couple was also rejected by their families, and then launched terror attacks targeting Israel. Amar Ahmed Lutfi Khalil and his fiancé Ruan Ambar perpetrated two shooting attacks on Saturday (July 15) “as a result of their families’ rejection of the engagement,” reported a press release from the Israel Security Agency (ISA).

The couple was eventually found by security forces. The IDF Spokesperson’s Twitter feed reported that Khalil attempted to open fire at the Israeli forces trying to arrest him, while the ISA noted that he was then killed by the arresting forces. Ambar surrendered herself to the Palestinian security forces.

The ISA also provided some background on Khalil, who was a weapons dealer and a former member of the Palestinian security forces. … Continue Reading

Irish FM Asked Why His Country Funds Groups Calling for Israel’s Destruction

PM Netanyahu & Irish FM Coveney. Photo courtesy of Haim Zach (GPO)

That new Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney made his first trip outside of Europe a visit to Israel might be surprising. What makes it really unusual is that the Irish diplomat doesn’t see eye-to-eye with Israeli leadership regarding the Palestinian situation—but he got the full picture from them while he was there. In his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli leader made sure that Ireland knew Israel’s stance.

A summary of Netanyahu’s comments released by his office said that he noted to Coveney that Ireland “does not condemn Palestinians for incitement and for glorifying those who commit terrorist attacks,” while also asking him “why Ireland helps NGOs that call for the destruction of Israel.” And Netanyahu may have been generous, because some of the Irish aid allegedly goes to groups with ties to terrorists. At the least, the Irish diplomat himself openly promoted a journal that publishes aggressive anti-Israel rhetoric. … Continue Reading