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1. UN Suspends Aid to Gaza
by Hana Levi Julian
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) announced Friday it will suspend its humanitarian aid to Gaza until further notice due to a Hamas raid on the agency's distribution center and a subsequent attack on an aid convoy.
Hamas police attacked a convoy of trucks carrying humanitarian aid supplies from the agency's warehouse in Israel to its distribution center in Gaza on Thursday, stealing 200 tons of food, according to IDF Major Peter Lerner, spokesman for Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).
The terrorist force also held up the UNRWA distribution store at Beach Camp in Gaza on Tuesday, stealing 3,500 blankets and 406 tons of food parcels intended for 500 impoverished families in the region. The raid was carried out after UNRWA staff had earlier refused to hand over the supplies to the Hamas-run Ministry of Social Affairs, according to the agency's Jerusalem-based spokesman, Chris Gunness.
Lerner confirmed the report that UNRWA had decided to suspend its aid to the region till further notice due to the thefts, both of which were carried out at gunpoint.
This is not the first time that Hamas terrorists have stolen humanitarian aid supplies meant for the poor in Gaza, according to the IDF. However, it was the first time they had looted from UNRWA, according to Gunness, who expressed the agency's disappointment with the group's actions.
UNRWA runs 221 schools and dozens of medical clinics in Gaza; the agency also distributes food packages and quarterly cash stipends to thousands of impoverished families throughout the region.
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by Hana Levi Julian
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) announced Friday it will suspend its humanitarian aid to Gaza until further notice due to a Hamas raid on the agency's distribution center and a subsequent attack on an aid convoy.
Hamas police attacked a convoy of trucks carrying humanitarian aid supplies from the agency's warehouse in Israel to its distribution center in Gaza on Thursday, stealing 200 tons of food, according to IDF Major Peter Lerner, spokesman for Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).
The terrorist force also held up the UNRWA distribution store at Beach Camp in Gaza on Tuesday, stealing 3,500 blankets and 406 tons of food parcels intended for 500 impoverished families in the region. The raid was carried out after UNRWA staff had earlier refused to hand over the supplies to the Hamas-run Ministry of Social Affairs, according to the agency's Jerusalem-based spokesman, Chris Gunness.
Lerner confirmed the report that UNRWA had decided to suspend its aid to the region till further notice due to the thefts, both of which were carried out at gunpoint.
This is not the first time that Hamas terrorists have stolen humanitarian aid supplies meant for the poor in Gaza, according to the IDF. However, it was the first time they had looted from UNRWA, according to Gunness, who expressed the agency's disappointment with the group's actions.
UNRWA runs 221 schools and dozens of medical clinics in Gaza; the agency also distributes food packages and quarterly cash stipends to thousands of impoverished families throughout the region.
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2. Rocket Fire South of Ashkelon
by Hana Levi Julian
Gaza terrorists continued their rocket attacks on the western Negev on Sunday with an early-morning attack on a Gaza Belt kibbutz, and another, longer-range missile attack aimed at the coastal city of Ashkelon in the mid-afternoon.
A Grad rocket exploded shortly after 2:00 p.m. on the southern outskirts of the Mediterranean city, landing in an open area. No one was physically injured and no damage was reported.
But Western Negev residents had already been roused first thing Sunday morning by the now-almost-daily blare of the Color Red rocket siren warning of an attack by Gaza terrorists.
The warning, which came at 6:30 a.m., was followed within seconds by a Kassam rocket explosion in the parking lot of a kibbutz located in the Sha'ar HaNegev region near Sderot.
No one was physically injured in the attack. However, several cars were set afire and badly damaged.
Gaza terrorists had also fired two rockets at the western Negev on Friday. One landed near a kibbutz in the Sha'ar HaNegev region, and the second exploded in an area on the southern outskirts of the coastal city of Ashkelon.
The IDF retaliated late Friday night in response to the attacks, sending Air Force pilots to bomb four smuggling tunnels and a weapons storage facility in Gaza.
A statement issued by the IDF on Saturday noted that secondary explosions were seen following several of the attacks, indicating there were weapons and explosives being smuggled through the tunnels.
No injuries were reported among Israeli military personnel and all returned safely to base following the operation.
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by Hana Levi Julian
Gaza terrorists continued their rocket attacks on the western Negev on Sunday with an early-morning attack on a Gaza Belt kibbutz, and another, longer-range missile attack aimed at the coastal city of Ashkelon in the mid-afternoon.
A Grad rocket exploded shortly after 2:00 p.m. on the southern outskirts of the Mediterranean city, landing in an open area. No one was physically injured and no damage was reported.
But Western Negev residents had already been roused first thing Sunday morning by the now-almost-daily blare of the Color Red rocket siren warning of an attack by Gaza terrorists.
The warning, which came at 6:30 a.m., was followed within seconds by a Kassam rocket explosion in the parking lot of a kibbutz located in the Sha'ar HaNegev region near Sderot.
No one was physically injured in the attack. However, several cars were set afire and badly damaged.
Gaza terrorists had also fired two rockets at the western Negev on Friday. One landed near a kibbutz in the Sha'ar HaNegev region, and the second exploded in an area on the southern outskirts of the coastal city of Ashkelon.
The IDF retaliated late Friday night in response to the attacks, sending Air Force pilots to bomb four smuggling tunnels and a weapons storage facility in Gaza.
A statement issued by the IDF on Saturday noted that secondary explosions were seen following several of the attacks, indicating there were weapons and explosives being smuggled through the tunnels.
No injuries were reported among Israeli military personnel and all returned safely to base following the operation.
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3. Chabad Faction: Vote Ichud Leumi
by Hillel Fendel
While the official Chabad-Lubavitch movement is staying out of politics, several leading Chabad rabbis have issued a proclamation with instructions to vote for the Ichud Leumi (National Union) party.
Campaigning for the Ichud Leumi (National Union) party in Crown Heights (Photo: Chabad.info)
The proclamation was issued last week, including a specific imperative “upon every one of our brethren in Israel to vote for the National Union.” It is signed by Rabbi Gedaliah Axelrod, former Rabbinical Court President and the rabbi of the Chabad community in Haifa; Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpe, author and head of the Task Force for the Land and Nation; and Rabbi Yigal Pizem, founder of yeshivot and Chabad institutions in northern Israel.
The letter states:
“As is well-known, the fact is that there is no party today waving the banner of the Entirety of the Land of Israel except for the Ichud HaLeumi (National Union). Leading the list is Yaakov HaCohen Katz (Ketzaleh), who has proven in deeds his total dedication and loyalty to the Land of Israel for decades. The next two candidates, Mr. Uri Ariel and Prof. Aryeh Eldad, have over the course of many years proven their absolute loyalty to the Entire Land of Israel.
“Fourth on the list is Dr. Michael Ben-Ari, the representative of the Our Land of Israel movement on the National Union list. Dr. Ben-Ari, who was chosen for this task by Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpe and Rabbi Baruch Marzel, will express in the Knesset the firm position of the Lubavitcher Rebbe regarding the Greater Land of Israel and the integrity of the Nation and the Torah. After he appeared before us and we talked for a long while, we determined that he is worthy of publicizing the holy opinion of the Rebbe in all matters on the public agenda, and he will in fact follow the rabbis’ decisions in all matters.
“It is therefore our opinion that every man and woman of our brethren in Israel must vote for the Ichud Leumi (National Union) party, whose symbol is the letter tet, and influence all those who will listen to them to do the same. Heaven forbid that they should vote for any other of the parties, all of which have proven in the past that they were partners to giving away land, releasing terrorists, and making concessions that have placed the lives of millions of Jews in the Holy Land in danger.
“And everyone can be sure that with this vote they are publicly sanctifying G-d’s Name, by showing that there is a large sector for whom the Land of Israel is precious…”
The Chabad movement was last active in an election campaign in Israel in 1996, when it publicized the famous "Bibi [Netanya is good for the Jews" slogan in an election for prime minister. Since then, however, it has largely shied away from public endorsements of parties, though individual Chabad members have made their opinions known.
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by Hillel Fendel
While the official Chabad-Lubavitch movement is staying out of politics, several leading Chabad rabbis have issued a proclamation with instructions to vote for the Ichud Leumi (National Union) party.
Campaigning for the Ichud Leumi (National Union) party in Crown Heights (Photo: Chabad.info)
The proclamation was issued last week, including a specific imperative “upon every one of our brethren in Israel to vote for the National Union.” It is signed by Rabbi Gedaliah Axelrod, former Rabbinical Court President and the rabbi of the Chabad community in Haifa; Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpe, author and head of the Task Force for the Land and Nation; and Rabbi Yigal Pizem, founder of yeshivot and Chabad institutions in northern Israel.
The letter states:
“As is well-known, the fact is that there is no party today waving the banner of the Entirety of the Land of Israel except for the Ichud HaLeumi (National Union). Leading the list is Yaakov HaCohen Katz (Ketzaleh), who has proven in deeds his total dedication and loyalty to the Land of Israel for decades. The next two candidates, Mr. Uri Ariel and Prof. Aryeh Eldad, have over the course of many years proven their absolute loyalty to the Entire Land of Israel.
“Fourth on the list is Dr. Michael Ben-Ari, the representative of the Our Land of Israel movement on the National Union list. Dr. Ben-Ari, who was chosen for this task by Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpe and Rabbi Baruch Marzel, will express in the Knesset the firm position of the Lubavitcher Rebbe regarding the Greater Land of Israel and the integrity of the Nation and the Torah. After he appeared before us and we talked for a long while, we determined that he is worthy of publicizing the holy opinion of the Rebbe in all matters on the public agenda, and he will in fact follow the rabbis’ decisions in all matters.
“It is therefore our opinion that every man and woman of our brethren in Israel must vote for the Ichud Leumi (National Union) party, whose symbol is the letter tet, and influence all those who will listen to them to do the same. Heaven forbid that they should vote for any other of the parties, all of which have proven in the past that they were partners to giving away land, releasing terrorists, and making concessions that have placed the lives of millions of Jews in the Holy Land in danger.
“And everyone can be sure that with this vote they are publicly sanctifying G-d’s Name, by showing that there is a large sector for whom the Land of Israel is precious…”
The Chabad movement was last active in an election campaign in Israel in 1996, when it publicized the famous "Bibi [Netanya is good for the Jews" slogan in an election for prime minister. Since then, however, it has largely shied away from public endorsements of parties, though individual Chabad members have made their opinions known.
Comment on this story
4. Jews Train for Media War
by Gil Ronen
Jewish leaders in Samaria are launching a new initiative aimed at countering the successful media war that has been waged against them for years by Arabs and their anti-Zionist accomplices. The project, launched by the Shomron Settlers' Committee in cooperation with the Shomron Liaison Office, will train dozens of volunteers of all ages to film attacks and provocations by Arabs and anarchists, and to document anti-Zionist activists' harassment of IDF soldiers.
Camera teams will be trained in documenting the activities of Machsom Watch – an all-female pacifist group which sends its volunteers to harass IDF soldiers at security checkpoints in Judea and Samaria. Machsom Watch's volunteers stand a short distance away from IDF soldiers at the checkpoints and document what they claim are human rights abuses. According to eyewitnesses from Nadia Matar's “Women in Green,” they also routinely hurl abuse at soldiers and assist Arabs in circumventing the checkpoints.
Machsom Watch's activity includes photographing the soldiers' actions and filing legal complaints against them.
The Samaria video teams will “watch the watchers”: they will document harassment of soldiers and use the documentation to back up complaints against the Machsom Watch activists.
In addition, the video teams will be trained to film Arab attacks on Jewish motorists. While the unexpected nature of these ambushes makes it difficult to film them as they happen, some of the video volunteers will be embedded with rapid response teams and will be able to provide initial footage of the aftermath.
Shooting Back at 'Shooting Back'
The graduates will film demonstrations, police actions, Arab riots and activities by anarchists, the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) and similar groups. If needed, the materials will be used for legal support in cases where Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria are wrongfully accused.
The more Jews who are armed with quality video cameras and know how to use them, the organizers believe, the greater the videos' potential effectiveness as a tool in the media war. “You never know where valuable footage can come from,” says David Ha'ivri, who heads the Liaison Office's North America desk. “Unfortunately, there is no shortage of Arab and leftist provocations and violence. Until now, however, it was the Left – through projects like B'tzelem's 'Shooting Back,' which armed Arabs with cameras – that organized more effectively on the media front. They film events from their angle and doctor the videos to show a slanted picture against the IDF and the settler enterprise. Our challenge will be to provide footage that shows the true character of the enemy and its collaborators. And if the mainstream media doesn't show the videos – at least we have the Internet.”
Haivri speaks to the donors funded the project.
Israel News photo
Ha'ivri returned from a North American fundraising tour last week in which he received anonymous donations for the first batch of cameras, which can be used for both videos and still photos. The organizers immediately launched a course for young video volunteers and intends to open a course for adults as well soon.
Time to Fight Back
At the first briefing for the volunteers held in Kedumim this week, Ester Karish of the Shomron Settlers' Committee told the would-be camera crews that “it is time to fight back.” She informed them that the course would give them professional tools in filming, editing and working with news media. Gamilel Shilo of Revava noted that the Internet is “open ground” that anyone can access to upload videos for the world to see. “We must learn how to use this platform to our advantage,” he said, and promised that activists who supply of a good flow of material will have their equipment upgraded.
Filmmaker Amatzia HaEitan told the group of his extensive experiences in supplying the media with footage of events and the influence his materials had on the end result of the stories broadcast on TV. A pilot course will be taught by filmmaker Hadas Ya'akobi and will include classes in scriptwriting, sound, production, practical exercises in film-making and more.
The organizers dream of setting up an editing facility in which they will train Shomron youth to produce short infomercials for video-sharing sites.
Comment on this story
by Gil Ronen
Jewish leaders in Samaria are launching a new initiative aimed at countering the successful media war that has been waged against them for years by Arabs and their anti-Zionist accomplices. The project, launched by the Shomron Settlers' Committee in cooperation with the Shomron Liaison Office, will train dozens of volunteers of all ages to film attacks and provocations by Arabs and anarchists, and to document anti-Zionist activists' harassment of IDF soldiers.
Camera teams will be trained in documenting the activities of Machsom Watch – an all-female pacifist group which sends its volunteers to harass IDF soldiers at security checkpoints in Judea and Samaria. Machsom Watch's volunteers stand a short distance away from IDF soldiers at the checkpoints and document what they claim are human rights abuses. According to eyewitnesses from Nadia Matar's “Women in Green,” they also routinely hurl abuse at soldiers and assist Arabs in circumventing the checkpoints.
Machsom Watch's activity includes photographing the soldiers' actions and filing legal complaints against them.
The Samaria video teams will “watch the watchers”: they will document harassment of soldiers and use the documentation to back up complaints against the Machsom Watch activists.
In addition, the video teams will be trained to film Arab attacks on Jewish motorists. While the unexpected nature of these ambushes makes it difficult to film them as they happen, some of the video volunteers will be embedded with rapid response teams and will be able to provide initial footage of the aftermath.
Shooting Back at 'Shooting Back'
The graduates will film demonstrations, police actions, Arab riots and activities by anarchists, the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) and similar groups. If needed, the materials will be used for legal support in cases where Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria are wrongfully accused.
The more Jews who are armed with quality video cameras and know how to use them, the organizers believe, the greater the videos' potential effectiveness as a tool in the media war. “You never know where valuable footage can come from,” says David Ha'ivri, who heads the Liaison Office's North America desk. “Unfortunately, there is no shortage of Arab and leftist provocations and violence. Until now, however, it was the Left – through projects like B'tzelem's 'Shooting Back,' which armed Arabs with cameras – that organized more effectively on the media front. They film events from their angle and doctor the videos to show a slanted picture against the IDF and the settler enterprise. Our challenge will be to provide footage that shows the true character of the enemy and its collaborators. And if the mainstream media doesn't show the videos – at least we have the Internet.”
Haivri speaks to the donors funded the project.
Israel News photo
Ha'ivri returned from a North American fundraising tour last week in which he received anonymous donations for the first batch of cameras, which can be used for both videos and still photos. The organizers immediately launched a course for young video volunteers and intends to open a course for adults as well soon.
Time to Fight Back
At the first briefing for the volunteers held in Kedumim this week, Ester Karish of the Shomron Settlers' Committee told the would-be camera crews that “it is time to fight back.” She informed them that the course would give them professional tools in filming, editing and working with news media. Gamilel Shilo of Revava noted that the Internet is “open ground” that anyone can access to upload videos for the world to see. “We must learn how to use this platform to our advantage,” he said, and promised that activists who supply of a good flow of material will have their equipment upgraded.
Filmmaker Amatzia HaEitan told the group of his extensive experiences in supplying the media with footage of events and the influence his materials had on the end result of the stories broadcast on TV. A pilot course will be taught by filmmaker Hadas Ya'akobi and will include classes in scriptwriting, sound, production, practical exercises in film-making and more.
The organizers dream of setting up an editing facility in which they will train Shomron youth to produce short infomercials for video-sharing sites.
Comment on this story
5. Arab Election Rep in Beit El
by Hillel Fendel
The Arab answer to Marzel? A representative of the extremist Arab party Raam-Taal will be one of three polling booth monitors in Beit El on Election Day.
The Central Elections Committee computer program that randomly designates parties to various polling stations around the country has proven once again that it has a sense of humor. After the Committee appointed nationalist Baruch Marzel to head the polling station in the hostile Israeli-Arab city of Um el-Fahm last week, it has now been learned that a representative of the extremist Arab party Raam-Taal will be a polling booth monitor in the Jewish town of Beit El in southern Samaria.
The Elections Committee randomly appoints three parties to oversee each polling station around the country. Each party, depending on its size, also gets to chair a certain number of stations.
Together with the Raam-Taal representative in Beit El will also be delegates from the National Union and Kadima parties.
The decision follows the decision publicized last week of Marzel's appointment to head the Um el-Fahm station. The Marzel appointment was ironic, in that he had just been turned down by the police in his request to stage a pro-Jewish parade in the city – for fear that violence would result.
Irregularities are Feared
The job of the polling booth chairman is to ensure that no illegalities or irregularities take place at the voting station. In previous elections, voters in Arab areas have been known to vote several times during the course of the day, each time with a different ID card. Similarly, illogical results from Arab village voting stations have raised widespread suspicion of ballot stuffing.
One-Sided Request from Mazuz
Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz requested last week that the Central Elections Committee prevent Marzel from chairing the booth in Um el-Fahm, for fear of “disturbance of the public order and the proper management of Election Day. Mazuz is not expected to make a similar request regarding Beit El.
Elections Committee Chairman Judge Eliezer Rivlin turned Mazuz down and refused to renounce Marzel’s appointment. Rivlin explained, “The Committee has no authority to intervene in the identity of the representatives of the various factions that were randomly assigned to them. Furthermore, the job assigned to Mr. Marzel by his party makes no difference, since according to the police, his very presence there is liable to cause a disturbance. The solution for this, therefore, is not just to find him a different job, but for the police to ensure that the law is enforced.”
Rivlin emphasized that the Elections Committee is responsible to find a secretary for each polling station, “and for this purpose it makes sure to ensure that each secretary is appropriate to his or her job [and locatio.”
Comment on this story
by Hillel Fendel
The Arab answer to Marzel? A representative of the extremist Arab party Raam-Taal will be one of three polling booth monitors in Beit El on Election Day.
The Central Elections Committee computer program that randomly designates parties to various polling stations around the country has proven once again that it has a sense of humor. After the Committee appointed nationalist Baruch Marzel to head the polling station in the hostile Israeli-Arab city of Um el-Fahm last week, it has now been learned that a representative of the extremist Arab party Raam-Taal will be a polling booth monitor in the Jewish town of Beit El in southern Samaria.
The Elections Committee randomly appoints three parties to oversee each polling station around the country. Each party, depending on its size, also gets to chair a certain number of stations.
Together with the Raam-Taal representative in Beit El will also be delegates from the National Union and Kadima parties.
The decision follows the decision publicized last week of Marzel's appointment to head the Um el-Fahm station. The Marzel appointment was ironic, in that he had just been turned down by the police in his request to stage a pro-Jewish parade in the city – for fear that violence would result.
Irregularities are Feared
The job of the polling booth chairman is to ensure that no illegalities or irregularities take place at the voting station. In previous elections, voters in Arab areas have been known to vote several times during the course of the day, each time with a different ID card. Similarly, illogical results from Arab village voting stations have raised widespread suspicion of ballot stuffing.
One-Sided Request from Mazuz
Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz requested last week that the Central Elections Committee prevent Marzel from chairing the booth in Um el-Fahm, for fear of “disturbance of the public order and the proper management of Election Day. Mazuz is not expected to make a similar request regarding Beit El.
Elections Committee Chairman Judge Eliezer Rivlin turned Mazuz down and refused to renounce Marzel’s appointment. Rivlin explained, “The Committee has no authority to intervene in the identity of the representatives of the various factions that were randomly assigned to them. Furthermore, the job assigned to Mr. Marzel by his party makes no difference, since according to the police, his very presence there is liable to cause a disturbance. The solution for this, therefore, is not just to find him a different job, but for the police to ensure that the law is enforced.”
Rivlin emphasized that the Elections Committee is responsible to find a secretary for each polling station, “and for this purpose it makes sure to ensure that each secretary is appropriate to his or her job [and locatio.”
Comment on this story
6. U.S. Embassy Warning on Gaza
by Hana Levi Julian
The U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv has issued a warning to American citizens to be cautious in their travel in southern Israel due to the ongoing security situation, despite the upbeat message of hope for a peaceful settlement between Israel and Gaza terrorists broadcast by the Obama administration.
The U.S. security warning was folded into a "Warden Message" dated February 6, in which the U.S. provided an update on travel restrictions for employees of the Tel Aviv embassy. The warning included a link to the revised Worldwide Caution as well as a reminder of the embassy's various working hours.
"Due to continued tensions and violence in and around the vicinity of the Gaza Strip, all U.S. Embassy personnel are required to provide 24 hours advance notice of any official travel to include the city of Sderot, Israel Defense Force crossings and any other Gaza Strip border areas inside the Green Line," read the warning.
"This announcement restores the Gaza-related restrictions that were in place prior to the December 2008 conflict and removes the restriction on travel within 30 km of Gaza," it continued.
"American citizens should still be aware that militants and terrorist groups continue to launch longer-range missiles that land well beyond the 30 KM (sic) radius…. American citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times," it noted.
Hamas and allied terrorist have launched rocket attacks on the western Negev on an almost-daily basis since the Israeli government announced its unilateral ceasefire on January 18.
On Sunday, terrorists fired a Kassam rocket at the Sha'ar HaNegev region at 6:30 a.m. The missile exploded in the parking lot of a kibbutz, igniting a blaze that damaged a number of vehicles. No one was injured in the attack.
U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell is expected to return to the region within the next two weeks and has said he hopes to establish an office in the Jerusalem area in order to more closely monitor the situation on a day-to-day basis. The envoy recently completed his first shuttle diplomacy mission, crisscrossing back and forth between Jerusalem, Amman, Cairo and Ramallah in an effort to help hammer out a workable ceasefire agreement that would end the constant rocket attacks from Gaza and enable a return to negotiations on a final status deal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
For specific assistance from the U.S. Embassy, readers are advised to contact the switchboard during regular office hours at 03-519-7575, and after hours to contact the duty officer at 03-519-7551. For routine inquiries citizens are asked to email AMCTelAviv@state.gov .
Comment on this story
by Hana Levi Julian
The U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv has issued a warning to American citizens to be cautious in their travel in southern Israel due to the ongoing security situation, despite the upbeat message of hope for a peaceful settlement between Israel and Gaza terrorists broadcast by the Obama administration.
The U.S. security warning was folded into a "Warden Message" dated February 6, in which the U.S. provided an update on travel restrictions for employees of the Tel Aviv embassy. The warning included a link to the revised Worldwide Caution as well as a reminder of the embassy's various working hours.
"Due to continued tensions and violence in and around the vicinity of the Gaza Strip, all U.S. Embassy personnel are required to provide 24 hours advance notice of any official travel to include the city of Sderot, Israel Defense Force crossings and any other Gaza Strip border areas inside the Green Line," read the warning.
"This announcement restores the Gaza-related restrictions that were in place prior to the December 2008 conflict and removes the restriction on travel within 30 km of Gaza," it continued.
"American citizens should still be aware that militants and terrorist groups continue to launch longer-range missiles that land well beyond the 30 KM (sic) radius…. American citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times," it noted.
Hamas and allied terrorist have launched rocket attacks on the western Negev on an almost-daily basis since the Israeli government announced its unilateral ceasefire on January 18.
On Sunday, terrorists fired a Kassam rocket at the Sha'ar HaNegev region at 6:30 a.m. The missile exploded in the parking lot of a kibbutz, igniting a blaze that damaged a number of vehicles. No one was injured in the attack.
U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell is expected to return to the region within the next two weeks and has said he hopes to establish an office in the Jerusalem area in order to more closely monitor the situation on a day-to-day basis. The envoy recently completed his first shuttle diplomacy mission, crisscrossing back and forth between Jerusalem, Amman, Cairo and Ramallah in an effort to help hammer out a workable ceasefire agreement that would end the constant rocket attacks from Gaza and enable a return to negotiations on a final status deal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
For specific assistance from the U.S. Embassy, readers are advised to contact the switchboard during regular office hours at 03-519-7575, and after hours to contact the duty officer at 03-519-7551. For routine inquiries citizens are asked to email AMCTelAviv@state.gov .
Comment on this story
7. Eldad on Secular Nationalists
by IsraelNN Staff
Ichud Leumi (National Union) MK Aryeh Eldad speaks with Israel National News TV about the election campaign and about the Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel is Our Home) party, which seems to be garnering the votes of Eldad’s potential voters, the non-observant nationalists. Can't see the video player? Click here to view the report.
Comment on this story
by IsraelNN Staff
Ichud Leumi (National Union) MK Aryeh Eldad speaks with Israel National News TV about the election campaign and about the Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel is Our Home) party, which seems to be garnering the votes of Eldad’s potential voters, the non-observant nationalists. Can't see the video player? Click here to view the report. Comment on this story
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