Friday, February 07, 2014

Terror in 2014: The Nonstop Threats to Israel

IDF Blog

by Israel Defense Forces

2014 has barely begun, but terrorists haven't wasted a moment in attacking Israel. In January alone, terrorists from Gaza fired rockets at Israel 28 times, a dramatic increase from previous months.

The threat of terror does not cease, and the IDF is always ready, 24/7, to prevent terror attacks.

Share the true story of the terror threats we face with your friends and family. This article will be updated throughout the year whenever a terror attack or attempt occurs and is made public.

Febuary 5:

Soldiers uncover a submachine gun, ammunition and an improvised explosive device in the northern part of Judea and Samaria

Update: #IDF soldiers found a submachine gun, munitions and an IED in an overnight activity in Al-Far'a. A suspect was detained on scene

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) February 5, 2014

Febuary 4:

A rocket fired from Gaza lands in southern Israel during the time when children are on their way to school

This morning, as children were on their way to school, a #Gaza rocket landed in Eshkol Regional Council in Israel. No injuries, no damage — IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) February 4, 2014

January saw a dramatic Increase in terror from Gaza. Gaza rockets

January 2014 in Review:

Rock-Throwing Incidents: 468
Firebombs: 121
Shootings: 2
Injured Israeli Civilians: 14
Security Forces Injured: 14

Weapons Seized:

Firearms: 12
Improvised Firearms: 7
Explosive Devices: 5
Knives: 30

January 31:

A rocket is fired into Eilat but intercepted by the Iron Dome System before it can land

Update: Earlier this evening, the Iron Dome system intercepted rocket fire above Eilat — IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 31, 2014

January 30:

10:33 PM: IDF soldiers uncover three rifles near Tulkarem

Update: A short while ago, #IDF soldiers uncovered these 3 rifles at a crossing near Tulkarem pic.twitter.com/JenrRGVvfU — IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 30, 2014

10:06 PM: A rocket from Gaza hits southern Israel

Moments ago, a rocket fired from #Gaza hit southern #Israel in an open area south of Netivot — IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 30, 2014

5:52 PM: Palestinians throw rocks at an Israeli car, damaging it

Update: A short while ago rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Ni'lin. Rocks caused damage to the vehicle — IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 30, 2014

January 29:

12:06 PM: A Palestinian man opens fire on Israeli civilians and soldiers near Ofra

The terrorist's weapon

January 27:

8:59 AM: IDF soldiers discover rifles and ammunition near Nablus

Update: Overnight #IDF forces discovered 3 rifles & ammunition during an arrest near Nablus. Weapons seized & suspect detained — IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 27, 2014

8:46 AM: Terrorists detonate an explosive device near the Gaza security fence — for the second time in one week

For the 2nd time in a week, a concealed explosive was activated against an #IDF vehicle near the Gaza security fence. No injuries reported. — IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 27, 2014

IDF soldiers seize three firearms and ammunition in the Etzion region of Judea and Samaria

January 25 & 26:

Firebombs are thrown at Israeli civilian vehicles in Judea and Samaria

Update: A firebomb was thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Jenin. Damage was caused to the vehicle. #IDF forces searching the area

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 26, 2014

Update: A firebomb was thrown a short time ago at an #Israeli vehicle near Nablus. Damage was caused to the vehicle.

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 25, 2014

January 23:

Southern Israelis are warned to take cover ahead of a potential rocket attack

Update: Moments ago, red alert sirens were sounded in southern #Israel

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 23, 2014

January 22:

9:09 PM: Firebombs are thrown at a civilian bus, damaging it

Update: Moments ago, 2 firebombs were hurled at an #Israeli bus traveling near Yizhar. The bus was damaged

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 22, 2014

1:43 AM: The IDF successfully targets a Gazan terrorist who was in the process of planning further attacks

#BREAKING: #IDF targeted #Gaza terrorist Ahmad Za'anin, who was involved in the recent rocket attacks on #Israel http://t.co/xELq2U1Bjd

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 21, 2014

IDF soldiers seize firearms in the Judean and Ephraim regions of Judea and Samaria

January 21:

9:54 PM: IDF soldiers discover a weapon hidden in a child's backpack

Weapon disguised in a child's bag uncovered in a Palestinian car in Bekaot. The weapon's carrier is being questioned pic.twitter.com/3gXh0B3hbg

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 21, 2014

8:44 AM: Terrorists detonate an explosive at the Gaza border frence

This morning, an explosive device was activated near the #Gaza border fence in an attempt to harm soldiers. No injuries or damage reported

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 21, 2014

8:31 AM: IDF forces discover military-grade weapon

This morning, #IDF forces discovered a military-grade explosive device, an Uzi firearm and ammunition during a routine search near Jenin

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 21, 2014

IDF forces seize weapons and ammunition in Judea and Samaria:

January 20:

Terrorists fire a rocket into Israel from Gaza

Early this morning #Gaza terrorists launched a rocket at southern #Israel no damage reported.

— Peter Lerner (@LTCPeterLerner) January 20, 2014

January 19:

Terrorists fire a rocket at southern Israel

Update: Moments ago, sirens were sounded in southern #Israel. No injuries reported

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 18, 2014

#BREAKING: #IDF targeted a terrorist in #Gaza. He carried out multiple rocket attacks on #Israel & was planning more http://t.co/j6q8WAktez

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 19, 2014

January 18:

Terrorist opens fire in the direction of civilians

Update: Moments ago, a terrorist opened fire towards the entrance to the community of Migdal Oz. #IDF soldiers apprehended the attacker

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 18, 2014

January 16:

Five rockets from Gaza fired at Israel

BREAKING: #IronDome intercepts 5 rockets in overnight rocket attack as IAF retaliates by targeting Gaza terror sites http://t.co/zMqBHvv1Cm — IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 16, 2014

Terrorists fired rockets at #Israel. We intercepted them. RETWEET for self defense pic.twitter.com/4kHwAxgPGQ

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 16, 2014

Weapons and ammunition seized in the Menashe region of Judea and Samaria:

January 15:

10:59 PM: Rocks hit and damage an Israeli vehicle near Hebron

In a separate incident, rocks were thrown at & damaged an Israeli vehicle near Hebron. #IDF forces searching the area pic.twitter.com/lPVrcwMQLf

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 15, 2014

10:56 PM: An Israeli vehicle is hit by gunfire

Update: Moments ago an #Israeli vehicle traveling near Nablus was hit by gunfire. #IDF soldiers are searching the area for suspects

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 15, 2014

5:04 PM: A firebomb is thrown at Israeli vehicle near Hebron

Update: A firebomb was thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Hebron. Damage was caused to the vehicle. #IDF forces searching the area

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 15, 2014

January 13:

13,000 teens "graduate" from Hamas' terror program

January 12:

Rocks are thrown At an Israeli bus, damaging it

Update: A short while ago, rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus near Bethlehem, causing damage to the bus. #IDF forces searching the area

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 12, 2014

January 9:

Terrorists fire mortars from Gaza into Israel

Update: A short while ago 3 mortars were fired from #Gaza at #Israel. No injuries or damage reported

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 9, 2014

January 8:

10:46 PM: Firebombs are thrown at an Israeli bus, damaging it

Update: A short while ago, 3 firebombs were thrown at an Israeli bus near Bethlehem. Damage caused to the bus

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 8, 2014

9:53 PM: Firebombs are thrown At an Israeli vehicle

Update: A short while ago, 2 firebombs were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Bethlehem

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 8, 2014

10:29 AM: An Israeli woman is injured by rocks thrown at her vehicle

A short time ago, an Israeli woman was lightly injured & evacuated to the hospital after rocks were thrown at her vehicle near Qalqilya

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 8, 2014

Firearms seized in the Benjamin Region of Judea and Samaria:

January 7:

IDF forces discover an illegal rifle and ammunition in Jericho

Update: Overnight, #IDF forces discovered an illegal rifle, knife & ammunition during a routine operation in Jericho pic.twitter.com/zE1fZdLWUR

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 7, 2014

January 6:

10:28 PM: An Israeli civilian is injured by a grenade near Rachel's Tomb

Update: An improvised grenade was thrown near Rachel's Tomb in Judea & Samaria. An Israeli civilian was lightly injured.

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 6, 2014

8:33 PM: A grenade is thrown at an IDF base

Update: A short time ago, an improvised grenade was thrown at an #IDF base near #Bethlehem. No injuries were reported

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 6, 2014

2:07 PM: A firebomb is thrown at an Israeli civilian vehicle

Update: a firebomb was thrown a short while ago at an Israeli civilian vehicle near Qalqilya. #IDF forces are searching the area

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 6, 2014

January 4:

10:53 PM: IDF forces detain Palestinians carrying weapons near Migdal Oz

This evening, we detained 4 Palestinian suspects carrying knives & improvised weapon near Migdal Oz. Security forces now investigating them — IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 4, 2014

10:26 PM: Rocks and Firebombs thrown at Israeli vehicles near Bethlehem

Update: Rocks & 4 firebombs thrown at Israeli vehicles near Bethlehem. Rocks caused damage to one vehicle — IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 4, 2014

January 2:

Gaza terrorists fire rockets at Israel

#Gaza terrorists have already fired their first rocket at #Israel in 2014. The rocket was launched today. We will continue to protect Israel

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 2, 2014

PAST YEARS:

2013

January-December

2012

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January-May

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The IDF’s Minorities in Numbers and Pictures

In honor of IDF Diversity Week, we present diversity through numbers and pictures. Each year, more and more Muslims, Christians, Druze, Bedouin and immigrants from around the world take on the responsibility of defending Israel.

MUSLIMS:

Muslim Arab Israelis are not required to draft in the IDF, but there are many who volunteer. In 2013, there were over 200 Muslims serving in the IDF and over 300 in the reserves.

Bedouins:

Bedouins are nomadic Muslims who were in Israel when modern borders were set in place and are now considered Israeli citizens. They are not required to draft but a growing number choose to enlist. In 2012, there were over 1,400 Bedouin Muslim soldiers doing regular IDF service and almost 1,500 in the reserves.

Read more:http://www.idfblog.com/2014/02/27/truth-idf-numbers-pictures/#more-34027

Are you aware that in 2013, Middle class taxes go up-significantly?

In January of next year, the federal income tax rate for middle-class taxpayers is scheduled to rise from 25 percent to 28 percent, and the payroll tax is scheduled to rise from 13.3 percent to 15.3 percent… This drives the marginal tax rate based on the aforementioned three taxes to 48.12 percent. Add in state and local property, corporate, excise, and other state and local taxes, and the percentage of each additional dollar that is taxed hovers around 50 percent… When half of each additional dollar earned is taxed away, taxpayers experience a disincentive to start businesses or expand existing ones. This leads to fewer jobs being created.

Why is HAMAS Inside Tampa Schools?

Clare Lopez

Kelly Miliziano, who teaches history classes at Steinbrenner High School in the Tampa, Florida area apparently thinks it’s perfectly OK to invite a senior official of a HAMAS-affiliated organization into her classroom to discuss Islam with her students. According to local media reports, not only has this been going on for years, but in spite of the civil and criminal proceedings that could result from such reckless negligence, the Hillsborough County school superintendent, Mary Ellen Elia, and the chairman of the school board, Candy Olson, also expressed approval for students under their responsibility to be exposed repeatedly to guest speaker, Hassan Shibly, who is the Executive Director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in the Tampa area.
More...

Did You Know... Ignoring the Call to Islam will Bring Jihad

‘Conquest through Da’wa [proselytizing] that is what we hope for. We will conquer Europe, we will conquer America! Not through sword but through Da’wa.’
-- Yousef al-Qaradawi , Muslim Brotherhood spiritual leader The Arabic word ‘Da’wa’ means the “call to Islam.” But do not think that Da’wa is the same thing as an invitation to an optional holiday event. The classical Islamic doctrine of jihad mandates that enemies must be given the opportunity to convert to Islam or pay the jizya tax before it is permissible to attack them.
Clare M. Lopez

Who is being discriminated-facts tell the truth

Religious bias

Hate crimes motivated by religious bias accounted for 1,409 offenses reported by law enforcement. A breakdown of the bias motivation of religious-bias offenses showed:

65.4 percent were anti-Jewish.
13.2 percent were anti-Islamic.
9.5 percent were anti-other religion, i.e., those not specified.
4.3 percent were anti-Catholic.
3.8 percent were anti-multiple religions, group.
3.3 percent were anti-Protestant.
0.5 percent were anti-Atheism/Agnosticism/etc.

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/hate-crime/2010/narratives/hate-crime-2010-incidents-and-offenses.

On March 31, 1977, the Dutch newspaper Trouw published an interview

with PLO executive committee member Zahir Muhsein. Here's what he said:

"The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct "Palestinian people" to oppose Zionism.

For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem. However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan."

In March 1977, Zahir Muhsein, a PLO executive, said:

"The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct Palestinian people to oppose Zionism."

"For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem. However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan."

The Arab Apartheid

Ben-Dror Yemini
In 1948, the Arab countries refused to accept the UN partition proposal and they launched a war of annihilation against the State of Israel which had barely been established. All precedents in this matter showed that the party that starts the war - and with a declaration of annihilation, yet - pays a price for it. Between 550,000 and 710,000 Arabs fled because of the war and a larger number of 850,000 Jews were expelled or fled from Arab countries (the "Jewish nakba").
Population exchanges and expulsions were the norm at that time, occurring in dozens of other conflict points and affecting about 52 million people. In all the population exchange precedents that occurred during or at the end of an armed conflict, there was no return of refugees to the previous region, which had turned into a new national state.
Only the Arab states acted completely differently from the rest of the world. Instead of assimilating the refugees, they crushed them despite the fact that they were their coreligionists and members of the Arab nation - instituting a regime of apartheid. So the "nakba" was not caused by the actual dispossession, which had also been experienced by tens of millions of others. The "nakba" is the story of the apartheid, oppression, abuse and denial of rights suffered by the Arab refugees at the hands of the Arab countries. (Maariv)

International Law and Military Operations in Practice - Col. Richard Kemp

"Islamist fighting groups study the international laws of armed conflict carefully and they understand it well. They know that a British or Israeli commander and his men are bound by international law and the rules of engagement that flow from it. They then do their utmost to exploit what they view as one of their enemy's main weaknesses. Their very modus operandi is built on the correct assumption that Western armies will normally abide by the rules, while these insurgents employ a deliberate policy of operating consistently outside international law. "

Lost Historical Moments

What Rabin’s last Knesset speech really said:repudiation of a Palestinian state

Rabin ruled out a fully sovereign Palestinian state :

“We view the permanent solution in the framework of State of Israel which will include most of the area of the Land of Israel as it was under the rule of the British Mandate, and alongside it a Palestinian entity which will be a home to most of the Palestinian residents living in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. We would like this to be an entity which is less than a state, and which will independently run the lives of the Palestinians under its authority.”

Rabin ruled out a total withdrawal from Judea and Samaria and thus a return to the pre-June 1967 borders :

“The borders of the State of Israel, during the permanent solution, will be beyond the lines which existed before the Six Day War. We will not return to the 4 June 1967 lines.”

Rabin ruled out withdrawing form the Jordan Valley:

“The security border of the State of Israel will be located in the Jordan Valley, in the broadest meaning of that term.”

Rabin ruled out uprooting settlement blocs, like the Gush Katif bloc in Gaza (which was subsequently uprooted by former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon):

“The establishment of blocs of settlements in Judea and Samaria, like the one in Gush Katif.

AND

Rabin ruled out removing any settlement before coming to a full peace agreement with the Palestinians:

“I want to remind you: we committed ourselves, that is, we came to an agreement, and committed ourselves before the Knesset, not to uproot a single settlement in the framework of the interim agreement, and not to hinder building for natural growth.”

Rabin insisted on Israel retaining full security control of the borders with Egypt and Jordan, contrary to Israel’s relinquishment of the Philadelphia Corridor on the border with Egypt:

“The responsibility for external security along the borders with Egypt and Jordan, as well as control over the airspace above all of the territories and Gaza Strip maritime zone, remains in our hands.”

Correcting Oslo Myths-Part 2

3) Kuttab laments that the post-1993 Oslo process resulted in a Palestinian Authority "whose ministers and legislators are not guaranteed passage between Gaza and the West Bank ...."

Before free passage or other perquisites, PA leaders were obligated, among other things, to eliminate the terrorist infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, end anti-Israeli, antisemitic incitement in schools, mosques, and communications media, and resolve all outstanding issues through peaceful negotiations. They met none of these commitments, sometimes bolstering terrorism and greatly increasing incitement.

4) Kuttab complains that under Oslo the PA got "lightly armed police ---- but no real sovereignty over the land or contiguity between our communities in Gaza and the West Bank."

Oslo agreements repeatedly were revised, regardless of Palestinian non-compliance, until the authorized number of police grew from 8,000 to 40,000. Though they were to be the only armed forces in the territories, Israeli estimates early in the second intifada put the number of gunmen - police, "security services," terrorists, and armed gangs - at 85,000. Their armament reportedly included not only heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, but also anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles.

Sovereignty was to be negotiated in the envisioned 1998 "final status" talks - after a five-year period of confidence-building. Palestinian leadership chronically undermined the process. Palestinian terrorism made the 1993 - 1998 Oslo period more deadly for Israelis than the 15 years preceding it.

The United States doesn't have contiguity between the lower 48 states and Alaska and Hawaii; territorial contiguity between the West Bank and Gaza Strip - that is, through the 20 miles of Israeli territory between them - was never promised and would destroy Israeli contiguity.

5) "Palestinians have been made to endure hundreds of checkpoints in the West Bank, an eight-foot wall deep in our territories, and tight Israeli control over borders."

The security barrier is not "deep in Palestinian territories," but rather encompasses less than 8 percent of Judea and Samaria, and is mostly a fence, rarely a wall; the land in question is not "our [Palestinian] territories" but disputed territory to which, according to the authors of U.N. Security Council Resolution 242, Jews as well as Arabs have claims; and there are no international borders, only the 1949 armistice lines with Jordan. Under 242, borders remain to be negotiated. As for checkpoints - like the security barrier and "tight Israeli control" - Palestinian Arabs precipitated these measures themselves. No terrorism and there would be no fence or tight Israeli control and few checkpoints - like before the first intifada.

Correcting Some Oslo Myths

1) In Oslo "Israeli, Palestinian and other world leaders promised that ... Palestinian sovereignty would be solidified."

No, they didn't. The 1993 Declaration of Principles and subsequent Oslo agreements outlined a process by which final status negotiations about the West Bank and Gaza Strip would be reached. The process required an end to anti-Israel terrorism and incitement and a commitment to peaceful negotiations. The PA, Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and other terrorist groups, sabotaged the process from the start.

2) "The reality is that, in defiance of U.N. Security Council Resolution 242, which states that it is inadmissible to occupy land by force, Palestinian territories are still under foreign military occupation."
Wrong again. Resolution 242 (1967) does note "the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war." It also affirms the right of every state in the area "to live in peace with secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force." There were no "Palestinian territories." Jordan occupied the West Bank, Egypt controlled Gaza. Israel did not have "secure and recognized boundaries," so retention of some of those territories was possible under 242. Israel is not a "foreign" military occupier in the West Bank but, pending final negotiations, the lawful military administrator as a result of a successful war of self-defense.