A7News: EU blasts Israel over Judea and Samaria construction

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Thursday, Aug. 23 '18, י"ב באלול תשע"ח



HEADLINES:
1. EU BLASTS ISRAEL OVER JUDEA AND SAMARIA CONSTRUCTION
2. 'JEWISH FRIENDS URGED ME TO DEPORT NAZI FROM NY,' SAYS TRUMP
3. BRITISH AIRWAYS, AIR FRANCE SCRAP ALL IRAN-BOUND FLIGHTS
4. "OUR DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH AS A JEWISH COMMUNITY"
5. 'TRUMP IS PUSHING THE PA INTO A CORNER'
6. TWO DEAD, ONE WOUNDED IN PARIS SUBURB KNIFE ATTACK
7. BOLTON: NO 'QUID PRO QUO' IN JERUSALEM EMBASSY MOVE
8. TRUMP: IF I AM IMPEACHED, THE ECONOMY WILL COLLAPSE


1. EU BLASTS ISRAEL OVER JUDEA AND SAMARIA CONSTRUCTION
by Tzvi Lev

The European Union (EU) released a sharply-worded statement criticizing the 1,000 approved housing units in Judea and Samaria on Wednesday.

"Within the past two weeks the Israeli authorities have advanced plans and tenders for over two thousand settlement units in the West Bank including East Jerusalem. If implemented, these plans would further jeopardize the prospect of a contiguous and viable future Palestinian state," said the EU.

"The EU is strongly opposed to Israel's settlement policy which is illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace," continued the statement, adding that the diplomatic body "will continue to engage with both parties and with its international and regional partners to support a resumption of a meaningful process towards a negotiated two-state solution, the only realistic and viable way to fulfil the legitimate aspirations of both parties".

Israel had approved construction of more than 1,000 housing units throughout Judea and Samaria on Wednesday. Almost half of the housing units, about 436, are located in the Samaria Regional Council. 108 units for immediate construction were approved in Nofim, the number of units expected to increase the community sitting in the Nahal Kana nature reserve by more than fifty percent.

The relatively low number of approvals had disappointed Yesha leaders, who had hoped for more than 2,000 units. "We're happy about each and every house in Samaria but the truth must be told, that hundreds of housing units aren't enough for an area that constitutes 12% of the State of Israel, with thousands of requests if not more every year," said Samarian Regional Council Chairman Yossi Dagan.



2. 'JEWISH FRIENDS URGED ME TO DEPORT NAZI FROM NY,' SAYS TRUMP
by David Rosenberg

President Donald Trump took a personal interest in the case of a Nazi-era concentration camp guard living in the United States, pressing the Justice Department to secure the man's deportation from the country.

On Monday, 95-year-old Jakiw Palij was deported from the United States to Germany, which accepted the Ukrainian national on Tuesday as a 'moral duty', over Palij's involvement in World War II-era war crimes at a Nazi concentration camp.

Palij illegally concealed his war-time activities from US immigration officials when he moved to the United States in 1949, and was naturalized in 1957.

The former Nazi concentration camp guard took up residence in Queens, New York in 1949, and his lived there ever since.

Authorities later discovered Palij's crimes, including participation in the November 1943 massacre of thousands of Jews held at the Trawniki camp, prompting courts to strip him of his American citizenship in 2003 and order his deportation in 2004.

On November 3, 1943, more than 6,000 men, women and children imprisoned at Trawniki were shot to death in one of the largest single massacres of the Holocaust.

"During a single nightmarish day in November 1943, all of the more than 6,000 prisoners of the Nazi camp that Jakiw Palij had guarded were systematically butchered," Eli Rosenbaum, then director of the Justice Department's Office of Special Investigations, said at the time.

"By helping to prevent the escape of these prisoners, Palij played an indispensable role in ensuring that they met their tragic fate at the hands of the Nazis."

The deportation order was never implemented, however, after getting bogged down in a lengthy appeals process.

Speaking with Fox News, Trump said that he had taken a personal interest in the case, and since the 2016 presidential campaign, had wanted to ensure that Palij's deportation order was carried out.

"I have a lot of Jewish friends who said to me about this man living in Queens," said Trump.

"That's where I grew up. And he was… not just a prison guard, he was a prison guard that supervised the killing of many, many Jews… And he's lived here for decades. And he walks the street of Jackson Heights. I know Jackson Heights very well. I walked the same streets."

Locals lobbied Trump prior to his election to guarantee that Palij was removed from the country.

"People came up to me… they tell me about this Nazi who lived in Queens, who walks the street like he owns the place."

Trump said a local Democratic lawmaker later expressed his gratitude for securing Palij's deportation.

"The Obama administration was unable to pull it off and frankly the Bush administration was unable to pull it off and I was able to pull it off."

"Dov Hikind, who's a very Democrat assemblyman from New York… He was giving me such praise. It was so nice. He said 'thank you, Mr. President. Thank you'. It was so nice to watch, because of the fact he's a Democrat."


3. BRITISH AIRWAYS, AIR FRANCE SCRAP ALL IRAN-BOUND FLIGHTS
by Tzvi Lev

British Airways announced Thursday that it will scrap all of its Iran-bound flights starting in September after sanctions make the routes "not commercially viable".

According to the Associated Press, the carrier announced on Thursday that "we are suspending our London to Tehran service as the operation is currently not commercially viable.

"We are sorry for any disruption this may cause to our customers' travel plans and we are in discussions with our partner airlines to offer customers rebooking options.

"Alternatively, they will be offered a full refund or the opportunity to bring their flights forward."

Hours later, Air France announced that it was also cancelling its flights to Tehran as of September 18th.

The news comes as the Islamic Republic's economy continues to suffer from a new slate of US sanctions. The 2015 agreement between Iran and world powers lifted international sanctions. In return, Iran agreed to restrictions on its nuclear activities, increasing the time it would need to produce an atomic bomb.

In May However, Trump pulled out of the 2015 deal and recently signed an executive order officially reinstating U.S. sanctions against Iran.

The sanctions target Iran's access to American dollars and steel and automobile industries, ban trade with Iran in gold and other precious metals, and include other sanctions which were lifted under the 2015 deal.

Additional sanctions will be imposed on November 4, targeting Iran's oil and shipping industries.

The European signatories to the deal did not agree with Trump's decision to leave the deal and have been trying to save the accord, which they see as crucial to forestall an Iranian nuclear weapon.

Tehran has demanded that Europe come up with an economic package to offset the effects of the U.S. withdrawal. On Thursday, the EU announced that will give Iran 18 million euros ($20.6 million) annually part of the effort to save the deal.


4. "OUR DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH AS A JEWISH COMMUNITY"
by Arutz Sheva Staff

Jay Sanderson talks to Eric Goldstein, CEO of UJA-Federation NYC, the Los Angeles Federation's East Coast cousin.

They speak about the role of the Federation today, the difficulties they face during challenging times, and what we need to do to bring our Jewish communities together. The theme of connection and unity was apparent, as Eric said, "Our diversity is our strength as a Jewish community."

Eric also shares his journey from litigator to lay leader to professional leader of one of the largest Jewish communities in America. Tune in to hear these two Federation CEOs talk about community, Jewish values, and our shared greatest opportunities and challenges as we look towards the future.
[קישורים:5:Radio]


5. 'TRUMP IS PUSHING THE PA INTO A CORNER'
by Benny Tocker

Danny Ayalon, who served as deputy foreign minister and Israeli ambassador to Washington, said that the PA should not have high hopes and Israel should not be concerned about President Trump's speech in which he mentioned that there would be a price for recognition of Jerusalem.

"The Palestinians are continuing to attack and they are not prepared for any compromise. Trump's statement gives leverage to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan to press Abbas and present him as a refuser of peace, in the face of a speech that talks about concessions by Israel," Ayalon told Arutz Sheva.

He believes that the American president is saying things for the world's ears, but does not really intend to make far-reaching demands from Israel. "Trump's words are no different from what he said in the election campaign. Trump is unpredictable. But the main reason for the timing of this statement is the proximity to the UN General Assembly in New York. He has to prove that he has done something about the Palestinian issue, especially as European leaders are constantly harassing him on this issue. Trump is doing everything to prove that he is acting to the best of his ability and the Palestinians are hindering the process."

Ayalon believes that if implemented, President Trump's "Deal of the Century" will be good for Israel. "Trump's outline has not been published, but according to what is known, it will not include the division of Jerusalem and the issue of the Palestinian refugees will not be brought up at all. What will be included is a presentation of defensible borders for Israel and a demand for Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state. This president is the friendliest Israel has ever had and therefore I believe that there is no special concern in Jerusalem about his words."

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6. TWO DEAD, ONE WOUNDED IN PARIS SUBURB KNIFE ATTACK
by Arutz Sheva Staff

Two persons have been killed and one seriously wounded in a knife attack in the Paris suburb of Trappes.

ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to Reuters.

It was later revealed, however, that the two persons murdered are the attacker's mother and sister. Now police are checking the possibility that the incident is criminal in nature.

Police told Le Parisien that the attacker was in a pavilion shouting, "Allahu Akbar," and threatened that "If you enter I smoke you all."

He was shot by police after coming out of the pavilion and threatening officers, according to Le Parisien. Reuters reported that the attacker has died.

Le Parisien also said that the attacker has been known to police since 2016 as someone who has incited to terror.

Trappes, home to a large Muslim population, has in the past had about 50 locals who went to fight for ISIS in Syria and Iraq, French security sources have told AFP.


7. BOLTON: NO 'QUID PRO QUO' IN JERUSALEM EMBASSY MOVE
by Arutz Sheva Staff

[youtube:2046408]

US National Security Advisor John Bolton addressed journalists at a press conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday to discuss his visit to Israel, and US policy across the Middle East.

The press conference opened Wednesday morning at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, a day after Bolton met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who accompanied him on a tour of the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Center in the capital.

In his opening comments Wednesday, Bolton cited the recent arrest of Iranian agents in the US who were conducting surveillance of Israeli and American Jewish targets, as well as the planned attack by Iranian agents against a gathering in Paris, saying the two cases highlighted "the threat that Iran poses in Europe and the United States."

Responding to a question from a reporter at the press conference regarding President Trump's comments Tuesday night that Israel would have to pay a "higher price" in talks with the Palestinian Authority because of the US decision to relocate the embassy to Jerusalem, Bolton played down the statement, saying it did not indicate a change in US policy.

"I don't think there's any change in policy. I think the president looked at the recognition of Jerusalem as being Israel's capital and the inevitable consequence of that – that the US embassy ought to be in the capital city of the country which its accredited as the right and natural thing to do, and it's not an issue of quid pro quo.

"He's made the point, I think, several times that this issue has been a hang up in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. And as he said last night as well, he's taken that issue off the table. As a deal-maker... he would expect that the Palestinians would say, 'Okay, great – we didn't get that one, now we want something else.' We'll see how it goes.

"But the fundamental point is that this is something that the parties are going to have to agree on."

Citing former Secretary of State James Baker, Bolton said the US "can't want peace more than the parties themselves."

"The real point is, the president did the right thing in moving the embassy to Israel's capital. And that in and of itself brings reality to the negotiations."

"It was a very positive step forward not just for Israel, but for the Palestinians as well."

The NSA later added that a peace deal was not something "the US is prepared to force on anybody."

Bolton also criticized the Obama administration over its pursuit of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, saying that the easing of sanctions on Tehran bolstered Iran's floundering economy, which had been in dire straits due to gross mismanagement. Rather than encourage Iran to moderate its behavior, Bolton continued, the new cash flow encouraged Tehran to increase its military activity across the Middle East and support for terrorism.

"The Iran nuclear deal mitigated the effects of its mismanagement of the economy, and gave the regime new life... this regime that's been the central banker of terrorism since 1979... it gave it new assets for its nuclear weapons program, for its ballistic missile program, for its terrorist activities, for its conventional military activities."

"We saw the consequences of the provision of these new resources in not reduced Iranian belligerency in the region after 2015, but increased Iranian belligerency."

"As a result of the lifting of sanctions, the regime in Iran felt as if it had a free hand – a free hand in the region, a free hand with the new resources, a free hand economically."

Turning to the planned framework for a final status agreement, dubbed the "Deal of the Century" by President Trump, Bolton appeared to reject reports suggesting the plan would be unveiled at the United Nations General Assembly next month.

"On the peace plan, work continues. There are a lot of consultations that are underway, and there's no decision on when the timing of the full plan will be announced. I think there's been a lot of progress in relations in the region as a result of the process of going through the possible outlines of what the plan would look like. There have been dramatic geo-strategic changes in the Middle East with the recognition that the Iran deal has failed and failed badly. That gives the possibility of re-alignment with Israel and many of its Arab neighbors that no one would have predicted years before."

"In terms of the specifics of when the plan might be rolled out, no decision as of now."

On Tuesday, Bolton also visited the new US embassy in Jerusalem, formally part of the US consulate, where he was received by US Ambassador to Israel David M. Friedman.

Bolton arrived in Israel Sunday night and met with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu over dinner, the first of a series of meetings with the Israeli premier.

On Monday, Bolton met against with Netanyahu, and addressed journalists at a joint press conference during which the two leaders bashed the "wretched" 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, better known as the Iran nuclear deal, and vowed to work with European allies to encourage them to withdraw from the JCPOA.

Iran's nuclear program and Iranian efforts to promote terrorism across the Middle East and beyond were the primary focus of the Prime Minister's talks with Bolton, Netanyahu said. Bolton's visit was said to also address Syria and Iran's military presence there as well as the future of the Gaza Strip.

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8. TRUMP: IF I AM IMPEACHED, THE ECONOMY WILL COLLAPSE
by Arutz Sheva Staff

[youtube:2046462]

President Trump said in an interview on Thursday that if he were to be impeached, the US economy would collapse.

"I will tell you what, if I ever got impeached, I think the market would crash. I think everybody would be very poor," Trump told Fox and Friends.

The comment came in response to a question about legal troubles he faces, following the statements of his former attorney Michael Cohen, who on Tuesday implicated Trump in campaign finance violations as part of a plea bargain.

While not specifically naming Trump, Cohen said in the plea deal that "in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office" he kept information that would have been harmful to the candidate and the campaign from becoming public.




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