Sometimes, my friends, one succinct word better encapsulates a response to a situation than a more extensive analysis would.
And so, it is here.
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Route 1 runs into Jerusalem from the Jewish community of Ma’alei Adumim in Judea. Prior to entry into Jerusalem, drivers must pass through the az-Za’ayyem checkpoint. At peak rush hours there is a considerable backup, with a line of cars waiting.
This morning, Thursday, three PA Arabs from the area of Bethlehem took advantage of the situation in order to commit a terror attack. They were carrying serious weapons, including an assault rifle. They jumped out of their car and started shooting.
Matan Elmaliah, age 26, from Ma’aleh Adumim, was badly wounded and subsequently succumbed to his injuries.
At least eight others were wounded, three in serious condition. Two women were shot in the chest. One, 30-year-old Adi Zohar, is pregnant and required surgery; thankfully, there appears to be no injury to the fetus. Other individuals suffered gunshot wounds to the chest and limbs. As is typical in such situations, early reports vary and so it is difficult to provide specifics.
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All three of the assailants have been eliminated. The first terrorist was killed by 23-year-old Hanania ben Shimon, an IDF reservist who had come out of Gaza just a week and a half ago after serving for four months in Khan Yunis. Hanania’s mother was in the car with him when the incident unfolded. He first shot from his car window but then got out of the vehicle to pursue the terrorist; in the process, he was himself wounded – in the stomach and leg, but thankfully, not critically.
Hananiah, who is the son of media advisor Arik Ben-Shimon, is rightfully being hailed as a hero who saved lives. Security personnel subsequently took out the other two.
On arriving at the scene of the attack, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said, “An extremely large disaster was avoided here thanks to police and armed citizens. We’re distributing more and more guns. I think that today, everyone understands that guns save lives.”
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The terrorists were identified as Palestinian Arabs, two were brothers from the PA village of Ta’amra, and a third was an accomplice from the PA village of Za’atara – both villages near Beit Lechem. Family members and others associated with the terrorists have been arrested.
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An issue of some importance has been raised with regard to this attack: Wherever Israelis are delayed significantly at a checkpoint, terrorists are provided with an opportunity to attack.
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There are other situations we must contend with now that also call for a response of “Damn!!” I want to touch briefly upon one matter that is ludicrous in and of itself but indicative of a larger problem:
A report has been released by OHCHR (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) regarding alleged mistreatment by IDF soldiers of Palestinian Arab women and children…
“We are particularly distressed by reports that Palestinian women and girls in detention have also been subjected to multiple forms of sexual assault, such as being stripped naked and searched by male Israeli army officers. At least two female Palestinian detainees were reportedly raped while others were reportedly threatened with rape and sexual violence,”
These accusations are lies, libels directed at Israel to weaken and delegitimize us. It is notable that charges leveled against Hamas are summarily turned around and directed towards us. Hamas committed acts of genocide on October 7, and so we are charged with genocide in Gaza. Hamas has raped Israeli women over and over – witnesses and victims attest to this. And so, we are now charged with rape of Arab woman.
There is likely no UN agency with less credibility on matters concerning Israel than OHCHR. The concern is that other anti-Israel sources may pick up on these charges and repeat them. That is why it is important to be aware of this situation and prepared to respond.
I wrote about OHCHR recently with regard to false charges of settler violence. This group relies upon information from “experts,” primary among them Francesca Albanese, whose claims are fantastical and exhibit major hostility to Israel. See here:
https://arlenefromisrael.info/from-israel-the-pernicious-lies-of-settler-violence/
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I turn now to the issue of hostages, beginning with unreasonable charges that have been leveled against Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and others.
In an interview on Tuesday, Smotrich said that bringing back the hostages was “not the most important thing” in our dealings with Hamas. That caused an enormous furor: he was charged with being heartless and uncaring. But I think his words were distorted and misinterpreted.
It happens that I agree with Smotrich.
If bringing back the hostages has top priority, that means we would relinquish our goal of taking out Hamas in order to get them back. And that would be a huge error, as Hamas would come at us again, killing far more than the 100+ hostages we might rescue now. The hostage rescue must be considered within the context of applying military pressure on Hamas and bringing them to their knees.
“Why do you want competition?” Smotrich asked. “It’s very important, but not the most important thing.”
Bringing them back at any cost would be “irresponsible…”
“We are committed to bringing back the hostages – the only way of doing this is by defeating Hamas and applying even more military pressure…”
https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-787966
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Key among those criticizing Smotrich has been head of the opposition, Yair Lapid: “Heartless people cannot continue to lead the State of Israel to the abyss.”
I confess readily, my friends, that if there were a way to put Lapid on a slow boat to China, I would help pay for his ticket. His statements are unhelpful and just plain wrong in the course of a war. Lapid is promoting Lapid, hoping for a collapse of the government so that he might come forward.
In his dreams.
The coalition cobbled together by Lapid and Naftali Bennett in June 2021 included the Ra’am faction of Mansour Abbas. This was the only time an Arab party has been incorporated into a coalition. Ra’am is the political arm of the Southern Branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel.
Now news has broken about an investigation by Elchanan Groner of HaKol Ha’ Yehudi that exposes ties between the Ra’am party and a Hamas-affiliated Turkish association. A summer camp operated by Ra’am members and the Islamic Movement incites terrorism.
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With regard to the hostages, we see that there is some movement forward, but it’s a far cry from a done deal.
On Sunday, Minister Benny Gantz, a member of the War Cabinet, told the Conference of Presidents gathering in Jerusalem that if the hostages were not released by the beginning of Ramadan, in three weeks, the IDF would go into Rafah.
“I say this very clearly: Hamas has a choice. They can surrender, release the hostages, and this way, the citizens of Gaza can celebrate the holy holiday of Ramadan.”
I do not believe there was the remotest expectation that this would happen, but in structuring the situation this way, Gantz made it clear that the onus was on Hamas.
But now Gantz says there are “initial signs that indicate the possibility of moving forward.” Initial signs do not constitute a done deal:
“I repeat, if there is no hostage deal, we will also operate during Ramadan.” [Since the temporary ceasefire in November] “we have not stopped fighting for even one day — and we will not stop even for a minute, without our hostages being returned.”
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Yesterday, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh came from Qatar, where he lives, to Cairo, to consult on negotiations. At the same time, leadership in Gaza indicated a possible willingness to reduce demands on how many terrorists would be released from our prisons. This suggests a weariness on the part of the Gazan leadership, and a desire to see this done.
See here for indications that Hamas is collapsing: https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r133pvgjt
The initial demand was that all Hamas prisoners be released; I have now read that they want 3,000, but there is no official new offer from Hamas as I write.
The initial signs were sufficient for the War Cabinet to approve sending a delegation to a new round of negotiations in Paris. A vote now has to be taken in the larger Security Cabinet.
Today, in a meeting with National Security Council regional coordinator Brett McGurk in Tel Aviv, Defense Minister Gallant said that hostage negotiators would be given more authority while the IDF continues to plan intense ground operations.
If your head is spinning after reading this, you will know that you are normal.
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Hope is good but can be dashed in a second. Expectations should be tempered.
Stay tuned…
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Keep praying to Heaven for Israel, my friends. Pray for the strength and wisdom of our leaders, for the safety of our soldiers, and for the rescue of our hostages. Pray with a heart filled with hope.
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© Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by independent journalist Arlene Kushner. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
