Call to UN’s Guterres: ‘Stop Giving a Moral Blank Check to Palestinians to Kill Jews’: The Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC) on Friday, July 7, decried United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres’ assertion that Israel deployed “excessive force” to root out the terrorist infrastructure in Jenin.
“Excessive force? Really? What would Portugal or Belgium or UK do? All 12 Palestinians killed in Jenin were armed terrorists. IEDs hidden under [a] mosque. Jews in neighboring communities shot, rammed, and stabbed to death,” declared Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action at the SWC.
“There‘s a role for Secretary-General, UNWRA, UNHCRC, UNICEF: Stop the double standard; stop demonizing Israel; stop giving a moral blank check to Palestinians to kill Jews; stop PA pay to slay Jews; stop weaponizing Palestinian youth, stop the brainwashing of Palestinian children; make UNWRA schools acknowledge the legitimacy of their Israeli neighbors.”
“Stop rewarding terrorism and start investing in real peace and reconciliation because right now there is no viable Palestinian partner for negotiations that could lead to a peaceful two-state solution,” Rabbi Cooper added.
Earlier that week, Guterres told reporters during a press briefing at UN Headquarters in New York City that, “There was an excessive force used by Israeli forces.” Israel has “legitimate concerns over its security … but escalation is not the answer.”
“Restoring the hope of the Palestinian people in a meaningful political process, leading to a two-State solution and the end of the occupation, is an essential contribution by Israel to its own security,” Guterres added. (INN / VFI News)
“God, we ask that leaders around the world stop dismissing Israel’s legitimate efforts to stop terrorism in our country. We trust that more of our allies will start speaking out in our favor and assist us in eliminating terror not only in Israel but worldwide.”
The articles included in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Vision for Israel. We try to provide accurate reporting on news pertinent to Israel, the Middle East, the diaspora, and Jewish issues around the world—and we hope that you find it both informative and useful for intercessory prayer.
Terrorist Killed After Opening Fire on IDF Soldiers in Judea and Samaria: IDF soldiers on Monday, July 10, shot and killed a Palestinian who attacked them with gunfire and possessed a grenade, near the Neveh Tzuf settlement in Judea and Samaria, the IDF spokesperson’s office has confirmed.
No IDF soldiers were injured, according to local Israeli municipal reports and the IDF.
Initially, the man was parked by the roadside and was acting in a way that raised the IDF patrol’s suspicions. When they approached him to ask him to identify himself, he opened fire and started to get ready to throw the grenade at them, but he was shot before he was able to let it loose.
After the exchange of fire, a Carlo submachine gun was found in the Palestinian’s car.
Despite the massive IDF operation in Jenin last week, there have been a number of terror incidents against Israel last week and this week. (JPost / VFI News)
“God, we thank You for protecting Israeli citizens from terror. We are extremely proud that our defense forces are always alert and able to thwart any potential attacks while protecting themselves and the people of Israel.”
Fragment from Gaza Rocket Interception Crashes into Kids’ Paddling Pool in Sderot: A large fragment from a rocket hit a home in Sderot in the early hours of Wednesday morning, July 5, crashing into a children’s paddling pool in the yard as the Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted a volley fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip.
There were no injuries, but the fragment damaged the roof of the home as well as the pool. Neta Ohayon told Israeli media that she heard the bang as the rocket parts hit her family’s home, but only realized what had happened when she went outside.
Ohayon said that when the rocket warning sirens went off in Sderot she, her husband and their sleeping four-year-old twins, did not have time to reach their reinforced shelter room before they heard the detonations from the first Iron Dome interceptions.
Terror groups in the Gaza Strip fired five rockets at Sderot and the surrounding areas, all of which were intercepted by the Iron Dome. The IDF retaliated by striking two sites in the Palestinian coastal enclave that has been ruled by the Hamas terror group since 2007.
The flareup in Gaza came as the massive military operation in Judea and Samaria drew to a close, with hundreds of Israeli troops withdrawing from Jenin after two days of intense fighting in the Palestinian refugee camp. (TOI / VFI News)
“For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep til they make someone stumble. They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.” – Proverbs 4:16-17
Europe Not Planning to ‘Snapback’ Iran Sanctions Despite Continued Violations: The European parties to the Iran nuclear deal do not plan to invoke snapback sanctions on Tehran ahead of the expiration of a ban on Iranian ballistic missiles and drone exports set to expire in October, a foreign diplomatic source said on Wednesday, July 5.
The E3 – UK, France, and Germany – plan to institute their own sanctions related to Iranian ballistic missiles “and other coercive measures” beyond the UN sanctions expiration date on October 18, the source stated. The countries do not plan to add new sanctions or to activate the snapback mechanism, a veto-proof move that would reinstate all UN sanctions on Iran that were in place before the Iran nuclear deal was reached in 2015.
In that way, the E3 views itself as remaining within the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as the Iran deal is known, and the accompanying UN Security Council Resolution 2231.
According to the JCPOA, the UN is meant to lift a ban on Iran’s development and production of ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, and on its import and export of missile-related technology, including missiles and drones with a range of 300km. or more.
A German Foreign Office spokesman said in response to a question at a press conference on Wednesday that “Iran has significantly expanded its nuclear activities in recent months and years and, contrary to the JCPOA, Iran’s nuclear program is now more advanced than ever…How we deal with that is still a matter of discussion within E3 at the moment.” (JPost / VFI News)
“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” – Proverbs 12:26
A Threat to Iran: IDF and US Military Team Up for Joint Drill: The IDF and the US have started another joint drill which is a not-so-veiled threat against Iran, the military announced on Monday, July 10.
The statement by the IDF did not specifically mention the Islamic Republic by name, but mentioned training for situations where there would be conflict “at a distance” – an often-used code phrase for Iran, and noted the use of the KC-46 midair refueling aircraft.
Midair refueling is not necessary for the IDF to strike Gaza, Judea and Samaria, Lebanon, or Syria, but would be necessary for any potential strike on Tehran.
In addition, the statement connected the current joint drill with the Juniper Oak drill in January, which was also clearly a message to the ayatollahs of what offensive power the US and Israel could jointly bring to bear in the event of a conflict or crossing the line with its nuclear program.
Last week, CENTCOM Air Force Chief Lt.-Gen. Alexus Grynkewich told Israeli media that participating in such a joint drill was a clear way to message Iran that the US could still employ significant force in the Middle East, despite drawdowns of troops in various areas. (JPost / VFI News)
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9
Israeli Woman Held Hostage in Iraq by Kataib Hezbollah: Israeli-Russian citizen Elizabeth Tzurkov is being held hostage by the Shi’ite militia Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq, the Prime Minister’s Office announced on Wednesday, July 5.
Tzurkov has been missing in Iraq since March, but is alive and well, considering the circumstances, a senior Israeli diplomatic source said. The PMO said that it sees Iraq as responsible for her well-being.
A senior Israeli diplomatic source said that Jerusalem is doing “all it can,” through a number of channels, to ensure her safety and return, and has been in touch with Tzurkov’s family.
Tzurkov entered Iraq on her Russian passport to do research for her Ph.D. at Princeton University, a senior diplomatic source said, and she has likely traveled to Lebanon and Syria as well.
It is illegal for Israelis to enter enemy states such as Iraq, even with a foreign passport. The source pointed out that the government of Israel has long warned against such travel. (JPost / VFI News)
“God, we pray for the safe return of Elizabeth and the quick resolution of this situation. We hope that she has not suffered physically or emotionally and that she can soon reach her family in good health.”
HSBC and Leumi to Provide $1.1 Billion in Financing for Tel Aviv Purple Light Rail: Israel has secured €1 billion ($1.1 billion) in financing from UK banking giant HSBC and Israel’s Bank Leumi to start building an overground light rail line in the greater Tel Aviv area.
HSBC and Bank Leumi will provide the consortium – made of Israel’s Shapir Group and Spain’s CAF (Spain) – that has won the tender for planning, designing and building the purple light rail line, with €1 billion in financing, according to a joint statement by the Finance Ministry and the Transportation Ministry.
With the final closure of the financing on Tuesday, July 4, the Shapir-CAF consortium will be able to start working on the construction of the light rail infrastructure and technological systems and order the tram cars, after winning the tender for the project about a year ago.
The planned Tel Aviv purple light rail line will run from the eastern part of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area to transport passengers from Yehud, Kiryat Ono, via Ramat Gan and Givatayim to the center of Tel Aviv, stopping at Bar Ilan University, Sheba Medical Center, and Shuk Hacarmel.
It will span 29 kilometers (18 miles) and stop at 46 stations at a frequency of four minutes carrying about 256,000 passengers a day.
The government hailed the closure of the financing as a “vote of confidence” in the Israeli economy. The financing provided by the banks is part of so-called ‘green financing’, in which a financial institution finances projects of an environmental nature, with the aim of taking vehicles off the road and encouraging public transportation, according to the joint statement. (TOI / VFI News)
Israeli Soccer Team to Compete in 2024 Paris Olympics: Israel’s national soccer team qualified for the Olympics for the first time in nearly 50 years by making a surprising run at a major under-21 European tournament.
Israel lost to England on Wednesday, July 5, in the semifinals of the UEFA European U-21 Championship, a biennial contest among the Continent’s best under-21 teams.
But three days earlier, after a win in the playoff round against Georgia, Israel earned a place at the 2024 Paris Olympics alongside just 15 other countries.
“This tournament brought historic achievements to Israeli soccer. We reached the quarterfinal, then the semifinal, and we qualified for the Olympics for the first time in 47 years,” Moshe Shino Zuares, the chairman of the Israel Football Association, told Israeli media after the loss to England.
“I am proud of each and every one of our players, our professional staff, and the whole delegation for smashing every possible ceiling and restoring confidence in Israeli soccer.” The under-21 team’s success follows the Israeli under-20 team’s Cinderella run to a third-place finish at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina last month. (INN / VFI News)
The suggestions, opinions, and scripture references made by VFI News writers and editors are based on the best information received.
