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"Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, G-d has shone forth. May our G-d come and not keep silence; fire devours before Him, and it is very tempestuous around Him." Psalm 50:2-3
[+] THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS:
:: KIRYAT ARBA CHIEF RABBI ASCENDS THE TEMPLE MOUNT: Rabbi Dov Lior, chairman of the Rabbinical Council of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, and Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Arba, ascended the Temple Mount on Wednesday, along with many Jewish other worshipers. On Thursday, organizations promoting knowledge of the Temple Mount and worship in the Temple held a seminar on ascending the Mount. Rabbis and public figures attended the seminar, which was held at the Museum of the Jewish Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem. [Arutz Sheva]
:: THOUSANDS PROTEST RELOCATION PLAN: Over 40,000 Israelis gathered Wednesday in Neve Dekalim, the largest Gush Katif settlement, to rally against the government's plan to withdraw from the area, despite a 'Palestinian' rocket attack. As the rally was in progress, a homemade Qassam rocket and two mortar shells fired from a nearby 'Palestinian' area exploded nearby, slightly wounding a soldier.
Seder night [Shabbat night] in N'vei Dekalim was, according to residents and visitors, "unprecedented." Local Rabbi Yigal Kaminetzky reported that he had received a letter from the head of Yeshivat Kisei Rachamim in Bnei Brak, Rabbi Meir Mazuz. Rabbi Mazuz wrote that after the Seder, all the residents should recite the passage in Chapter 6 of Book of Judges dealing with Israel's salvation during the time of Gideon - which occurred, according to the Sages, on Passover. Many residents then spontaneously took to the streets in song, dancing until 3:00 in the morning. [AP, Arutz Sheva]
:: CHIEF RABBIS TELL SOLDIERS TO OBEY ORDERS TO EVACUATE: Although Israel's chief rabbis, Yonah Metzger and Shlomo Amar, said on April 24 that they are against the Disengagement Plan, they insisted that soldiers must obey orders to evacuate settlements. Many rabbis, some prominent, have called for soldiers to refuse evacuation orders. Some have even advised soldiers not to return to their posts after their Passover leave. When asked whether they were opposed to the Disengagement Plan, Rabbi Metzger replied: "What Jew is in favor? Nobody can be for it, but there is a bald reality; after a decision by the government and Knesset, the law is set. The law binds us all." [This is a sad stance because the government and Knesset have no right to give away any land in Israel. It is better to disobey the government than to disobey G-d.--ed] "And it will come about that after I have uprooted them, I will again have compassion on them; and I will bring them back, each one to his inheritance and each one to his land" (Jeremiah 12:15). [BFP, NASB]
:: ISRAEL REJECTS U.S. REQUEST TO ARM 'PALESTINIAN' POLICE: American officials have told Israel that the 'Palestinian' security forces need weapons to help them maintain order in the territories. In response, the U.S. officials heard a negative reply from Israeli officials: "Let them first take the weapons from the terrorists." The Americans are training the 'Palestinian' security forces (most of whom are recruited from local terrorist organizations), and are interested in supplying them with weapons. At all of his meetings with foreign dignitaries, 'Palestinian' Interior Minister Nasser Yousef brings up the demand to arm the 'Palestinian' police officers. The U.S.security coordinator in the Middle East, Lieutenant General William Ward, is leaning toward supporting the 'Palestinian' request. A political source in Jerusalem said in response that the Bush administration envoys, Elliott Abrams and David Welch, raised Yousef's request for arming the 'Palestinian' police during th eir visit to Israel last week, which is when Israel turned down the request. [Ha'aretz, Israel Line]
:: TROOPS MAY BE GONE BUT SYRIAN INTELLIGENCE STILL IN LEBANON: Syria has not withdrawn a significant part of its intelligence presence in Lebanon, undermining its claim Tuesday to have ended its 29-year intervention, U.S., European and U.N. officials said. The international community welcomed the pullout of the last of 14,000 Syrian troops from Lebanon. But the continuing presence of covert Syrian intelligence operatives would violate the promise President Bashar Assad made to the United Nations last month to withdraw all Syrian personnel. It would also contradict a letter the Syrian government wrote to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan saying that the withdrawal was complete. [Washington Post]
:: 'PALESTINIANS' WARN US OVER JERUSALEM BILL: The "'Palestinian'" terrorist organization Hamas has threatened to ramp up violence against Israelis if the US Congress dares to ratify a bill calling for global recognition of Jerusalem as the Jewish capital. The proposed legislation was submitted by Senator Sam Brownback. It links recognition of a unified Jerusalem as Israel's capital to the establishment of a 'Palestinian' state. The bill also notes that while Jerusalem is central to the Jewish faith, it is not mentioned even once by name in the Koran. [Every so often a US Congressman or Senator introduces a bill - and many times it passes - proclaiming to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. However, it really isn't anything more than political maneuvering - their just statements of support, the bills have no actual power. While it is nice, it is also safe - and politically correct - for these politicians to do so. How about some type of real support that means something to Israel.--ed] [JNW]
:: ROCKET STRIKES CONTINUE; TERRORIST ATTACKS INCREASE: 'Palestinian' missiles have once again hit the southern Israeli town Sderot. Two Qassam rockets have landed in the town without causing injuries or damage. A group not party to the 'Palestinian' self-declared cease-fire said it was behind the attacks. Meanwhile, at least one mortar was fired at an Israeli village in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.
Terrorist activity in the Gaza Strip continues despite the ceasefire, and specifically, in the last few weeks, there has been a significant increase in terrorist attacks against Israeli communities and civilians inside and outside the Gaza Strip. This increase constitutes a blatant contravention of the ceasefire agreement. In the last three weeks, 'Palestinian' terrorists have fired three Qassam rockets, six mortar shells and an anti-tank missile, 10 explosive devices have been uncovered and detonated, and fire was opened at Israeli communities and IDF forces in over 30 different incidents. As a result of these attacks an Israeli civilian was lightly wounded, an IDF non-commissioned officer and IDF soldier were moderately wounded and a third IDF soldier was lightly wounded. In addition, eight attempted infiltrations into Israel were thwarted, involving 25 'Palestinians' who were taken for questioning. [Media Line, IDF Spokesperson]
:: U.S. 'BUNKER-BUSTER-BOMB' SALE TO ISRAEL MOVES FORWARD: The U.S. Department of Defense has given formal notification of a proposed sale of 100 GBU-28 'bunker-busting' bombs to Israel. The sale of the 5,000 pound weapon, which is designed to be effective against underground targets such as bunkers and command centers, immediately raised speculation over possible Israeli plans to destroy Iran's nuclear reactor that is under construction before it can become operative. Although Israel has denied such intent, many international observers believe that it remains a very real scenario. An analyst for THE MEDIA LINE explained that even if the intent is not to attack the reactor, Israeli possession of the bunker-busters makes the threat more convincing and thereby reinforces the negotiating position of Britain, France and Germany as they try to convince Iran to suspend its nuclear program. [The Media Line]
:: AN APPEAL FROM THE AMERICANS FOR A SAFE ISRAEL: "A very special Israeli, Israel Danziger, will be in the United States from May 9-19 on a fund-raising mission for his organization, Mishmeret Yesha. This organization trains members of individual communities in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza to be rapid response teams, prepared to encounter Arab terrorists who infiltrate the communities. They work in conjunction with the IDF, which supplies the rifles and the ammunition. I have had the privilege of being escorted by Israel Danziger to the training sites where I have observed these teams in action. I cannot tell you how moving it is to see ordinary civilians wearing their bullet proof vests and carrying their rifles, responding to a simulated attack. It is tragic that our brethren have to live under such threat to their lives, but we must take great pride in the work of people like Danziger and his men who are so ready to put themselves into the line of fire on behalf of their families and friends. Please consider hosting a parlor meeting in your home, or at your synagogue, where you can meet Izzy and introduce him to members of your community who would like to learn about Mishmeret Yesha and how it is filling a much needed vacuum in Israel today, and would be willing to contribute to the organization. Feel free to call Sima or me at the office, 212-828-2424, to discuss this further. Very best, Helen Freedman." [AFSI]
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EMET NEWS SERVICE WEEKLY UPDATE
"On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; all day and all night they will never keep silent. You who remind the L-rd, take no rest for yourselves." Isaiah 62:6
Emet News Service is a weekly summary of news and events concerning Israel and the Jewish people. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Address them to:
Lee Underwood, Editor
To subscribe, email: Lee Underwood, Editor
leeu@shamar.org
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