A7News: Israel's Mossad foils Iranian assassination plot in Denmark

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Wednesday, Oct. 31 '18, כ"ב בחשון תשע"ט



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HEADLINES:
1. ISRAEL'S MOSSAD FOILS IRANIAN ASSASSINATION PLOT IN DENMARK
2. 'COURT MAY END ALL TERRORIST HOME DEMOLITIONS, DON'T GO TOO FAR'
3. BERKOVITCH PLANS ALLIANCE WITH HAREDI FACTION
4. BEIT SHEMESH MAYORAL RACE CLOSE AS SOLDIERS' VOTES COUNTED
5. TRUMP VISITS PITTSBURGH AFTER SYNAGOGUE ATTACK
6. TWO ADULTS, SIX CHILDREN KILLED IN DEAD SEA CRASH
7. 8 MEMBERS OF SAMARIA FAMILY KILLED IN DEAD SEA CAR ACCIDENT
8. ZAKA CHAIRMAN: 'ENOUGH, I HAVE NO MORE STRENGTH'


1. ISRAEL'S MOSSAD FOILS IRANIAN ASSASSINATION PLOT IN DENMARK
by David Rosenberg

Israeli intelligence services aided Denmark in foiling a recent assassination attempt by Iranian agents, Israeli media outlets reported Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Denmark announced that it had recalled its ambassador to Iran, after it accused Tehran of plotting to assassinate three Iranian nationals residing in Denmark, AFP reported.

"I have decided to recall Denmark's ambassador in Tehran for consultations... Denmark can in no way accept that people with ties to Iran's intelligence service plot attacks against people in Denmark," Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen was quoted as having told reporters.

"It is the Iranian government, it is the Iranian state that is behind" the plot, Samuelsen added.

A day later, Israeli media outlets reported that Israel's Mossad agency had played a key role in foiling the Iranian assassination plot, a senior Israeli official said.

The official claimed that the Mossad provided Danish security services with information which led to the arrest of a member of the suspected Iranian terror cell operating in Scandinavia.

Prior to Samuelsen's announcement on Tuesday, the head of Denmark's intelligence service PET, Finn Borch Andersen, said his agency believed the Iranian intelligence service "was planning an attack in Denmark" against three Iranians suspected of belonging to the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz.

A Norwegian of Iranian origin was arrested on October 21 for allegedly planning the attack and spying for Iran, according to the report.

The suspect was detained in the southwestern Swedish city of Goteborg. Swedish authorities later extradited the suspect to Denmark.

The Iranian government denied Denmark's claims, and in September accused Denmark, the Netherlands, and the UK of hosting "several members of the terrorist group" that Iran holds responsible for an attack in the mainly ethnic Arab city of Ahvaz in southwestern Iran.

The attack, which targeted an Iranian army parade, killed 24 people.


2. 'COURT MAY END ALL TERRORIST HOME DEMOLITIONS, DON'T GO TOO FAR'
by Mordechai Sones

First publication: Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit warns that an attempt by the government to pursue the mass demolition of terrorists' houses, without adhering to restrictions set by the Supreme Court, could lead to a halt by the Court of all demolitions.

In a letter sent to Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman by AG Avichai Mandelblit that reached Arutz Sheva, the Attorney General explains why they do not demolish the homes of terrorists who failed in their attempts to murder Israeli Jews.

Mandelblit notes at the beginning of his letter that demolishing such houses does not meet the criteria set by the Supreme Court justices in their rulings. "There are statutory constraints imposed by the various judges, according to which anyone who just tried to murder and failed - his house will only be sealed.

"The State Prosecutor's Office wanted to demolish a house of terrorists who did not succeed in killing, as in the case of Yehuda Glick," who was seriously wounded in an assassination attempt in 2014, "and there the Supreme Court ruled it possible to seal - but not destroy," the Attorney General wrote.

According to him, the court ordered to "examine the proportionality", stating it impossible to ignore the improvement in MK Glick's condition, and therefore it was necessary to make do with only sealing the terrorist's house.

Later in the letter Mandelblit expressed concern that mass terrorist home demolitions without adherence to Supreme Court limitations would bring the Court judges to a general moratorium on demolishing terrorist's homes.

"We act in accordance with the limitations set by the Supreme Court," Mandelblit said in his letter. "We don't want to destroy this tool and go a step too far in demolishing houses when there are judges in court who are reluctant. As long as we have the tool we use it according to the criteria."

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3. BERKOVITCH PLANS ALLIANCE WITH HAREDI FACTION
by David Rosenberg

With Jerusalem's hotly contested mayoral election heading to a run-off vote next month, Jerusalem city councilman and Hitorerut chairman Ofer Berkovitch is charting a course to victory that may surprise some supporters.

In Tuesday's local election, Berkovitch, 35, came in second in the five-way race, picking up 28.8% of the vote to Moshe Lion's 33.4%. The two will face each other in a run-off vote in November.

Likud MK and Jerusalem Affairs Minister Ze'ev Elkin received 20% of the vote, while the haredi candidate, Agudat Yisrael's Yossi Deitch won 17%. Avi Salman received just 0.8% of the vote.

While the vote-breakdown appears to suggest that Lion – a member of the city's National Religious community and a Likud party member who lost to Nir Barkat in the 2013 mayoral election – has a clearer path to victory in November, Berkovitch is hoping that internal divisions among the city's haredi factions will help him to top 50%.

Prior to Tuesday's vote, Berkovitch campaigned in part on limiting haredi influence, telling The Times of Israel he was the only candidate who would not cave in to "haredi extortion".

"The other candidates are liable to capitulate to the Haredi extortion, and may not understand the strategic steps the city needs to take in order to flourish and get on the right track. They weren't partners in the successes of recent years."

But following the release of the preliminary election results Tuesday night, Berkovitch struck a conciliatory note, sending what he called a "message of unity between different sectors".

Berkovitch suggested he was open to "cooperation with the haredi sector," he said in interview with Arutz Sheva.

On Wednesday, Berkovitch said in an interview with Army Radio that he hoped to win over Yossi Deitch's voters.

Deitch, 50, a member of the Slonim Hassidic movement, represented he predominantly Hassidic Agudat Yisrael faction.

Led by the Gur Hassidic movement, Agudat Yisrael split with the non-Hassidic haredi faction Degel Hatorah, which represents the Lithuanian haredi sector. While religious authorities associated with Degel backed Lion, Gur pushed for Deitch to remain in the race.

Now, Berkovitch hopes to use the split within the haredi sector to defeat Lion.

"I'll try to convince voters who didn't back me to vote for me now," Berkovitch told Army Radio. "I'll even speak with leaders of the Gur Hassidic movement."

While Berkovitch suggested he would engage Gur in negotiations to win their backing, he vowed not to compromise on haredi demands to restrict businesses operating at night in the Mahane Yehuda marketplace in the center of town. In recent years, Mahane Yehuda, located near a number of has become a night-life hotspot.

"The Mahane Yehuda marketplace will not be a part of negotiations with the haredim. The market will remain open."

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4. BEIT SHEMESH MAYORAL RACE CLOSE AS SOLDIERS' VOTES COUNTED
by Mordechai Sones

Beit Shemesh Mayor Moshe Abutbul leads by a margin of only 251 votes over the Zionist candidate for mayor, Aliza Bloch.

Abutbul won 21,750 votes while Bloch won 21,499 votes.

The votes of soldiers, the disabled, and prisoners must be counted, and therefore the final declaration of the next mayor's identity will arrive only tomorrow.

Bloch said after the vote, "It's a holiday in the whole country and a holiday for Beit Shemesh. I call on everyone to vote for our beloved city."

Bloch, married and mother of four, is trained in education and management where she has won many awards.


5. TRUMP VISITS PITTSBURGH AFTER SYNAGOGUE ATTACK
by Arutz Sheva Staff

[youtube:2049076]

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday visited the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, where 11 people were gunned down in an anti-Semitic attack during Shabbat services.

Trump was greeted by more than 1,500 protesters who gathered nearby to make it clear the US president was unwelcome.

Carrying signs that read "President Hate, Leave Our State!" and "Trump, Renounce White Nationalism Now," the protesters gathered near synagogue.

Trump, who was accompanied by his wife Melania, arrived in the late afternoon, and placed a white flower and a small stone on each star erected in memory of the dead at a makeshift memorial outside the Tree of Life.

Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, who are Jewish, followed at a short distance, also pausing at each star.

The first couple then entered the synagogue and lit candles in honor of each of those killed, the occasion punctuated by the still audible cries of protesters outside.

The controversial visit came after mourners crowded into nearby synagogues and joined street processions at the first funerals for some of the victims of the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in modern US history.

The service for brothers Cecil and David Rosenthal, both in their 50s, was the first in honor of those killed.

Services for 66-year-old doctor Jerry Rabinowitz and 71-year-old Daniel Stein followed in Pittsburgh, where scores of residents protested Trump's visit.

Suspected shooter Robert Bowers is facing more than two dozen charges related to the bloodshed.

During the 20-minute shooting attack on the synagogue, which took place during a circumcision ceremony, Bowers fired on congregants and guests with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and three handguns. Thirteen people were shot inside the Tree of Life synagogue, 11 of them fatally.

Bowers reportedly made anti-Semitic statements during the shooting, and shouted that "All Jews must die".

Federal prosecutors said Sunday they would be asking Attorney General Jeff Sessions to give them the green light to pursue a death penalty case against Bowers.


6. TWO ADULTS, SIX CHILDREN KILLED IN DEAD SEA CRASH
by David Rosenberg

[video:2049037]

Eight people were killed and three more injured Tuesday afternoon in a traffic accident near the Dead Sea in southern Israel.

The accident occurred on Route 90 between the Ein Gedi park and the Dead Sea, when two vehicles crashed into each other in a head-on collision.

Of the eight people killed in the accident, six were children, and two were adults.

According to a report by MDA emergency services, aside from the eight fatalities, two others are in moderate condition, and a third was lightly injured. The two moderately injured victims are woman approximately 42 years of age, and a 12-year-old girl. The two suffered injuries to their heads and limbs, and were treated on the scene before being evacuated to Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheva for treatment.

The third injured victim, a man in his 50s who is believed to be the driver, was lightly injured.

One of the two vehicles involved in the accident went up in flames, MDA said. At least five people, including three children, were trapped inside the burning vehicle. Fire and rescue teams recovered the victims from the vehicle.

"This was a terrible accident," said senior MDA paramedic Sarah Yisraeli and MDA first-responder Amiram Muallem. "When we arrived on the scene, we spotted two vehicles on the road. One of them was burning while it was carrying passengers – it was a terrible sight."

"Firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze and then began recovering the people who were trapped inside. There were three people in the second vehicle, including a woman about 52 years old and a girl roughly 12 years of age who were moderately injured. After giving them first aid treatment on the scene, we evacuated them on an MDA helicopter, which had landed nearby, to Soroka hospital to treat them for injuries to their heads and limbs."

"The driver, a man in his 50s, was lightly injured, and was treated on the scene and evacuated by one of our ambulances to Soroka hospital."

Scene of the accident
Police spokesperson



7. 8 MEMBERS OF SAMARIA FAMILY KILLED IN DEAD SEA CAR ACCIDENT
by Ido Ben Porat

Eight family members from the community of Psagot in the Binyamin region of Samaria were killed in the road accident that occurred on Tuesday afternoon in the Dead Sea area.

The parents were killed along with their six children in a head-on collision on Route 90 near the Dead Sea.

The driver of the jeep who was involved in the frontal crash told police, "I have nothing to hide, you know exactly what happened there, it's the first time that it happened to me. I do not remember what happened there, I know I killed people. I will never drive again."

Prime Minister Netanyahu said in the wake of the accident: "The heart breaks in light of the heavy disaster that today destroyed the life of an entire family. My wife Sara and I grieve with all the citizens of Israel for the life that was cut short and send our deepest condolences to the family and the residents of Psagot."

"Today, when many Israeli citizens take advantage of the sabbatical day for trips in our country, I ask you to do everything in order to return home safely," the prime minister added.

MK Betzalel Smotrich (Jewish Home) expressed his sorrow over the accident.. "A whole family has gone. It's simply inconceivable. We embrace and strengthen the residents of Psagot and Mateh Binyamin in these difficult times. We must take it upon ourselves to drive extra carefully. Absolutely nothing is worth it," he said.

Initial investigations revealed that two vehicles traveling on Route 90 near the Dead Sea collided with each other. The killed persons were trapped between the remains of the burning vehicle and their death was determined after they were extricated by firefighting teams.

Three other members of a family from the community of Givon were wounded in the other vehicle. Magen David Adom medics gave a 52-year-old woman and a 12-year-old girl medical treatment and evacuated them by helicopter to Soroka Hospital. Another 50-year-old man was also evacuated with light injuries.

[video:2049037]


8. ZAKA CHAIRMAN: 'ENOUGH, I HAVE NO MORE STRENGTH'
by Mordechai Sones

ZAKA Chairman Yehuda Meshi Zahav, who arrived at the scene of the serious accident near the Dead Sea, calls on Israeli citizens to increase their attention while driving on the roads.

"I've experienced and seen all sorts of attacks and disasters for 30 years, but every time you come to a disaster where children are killed and burned - you can't stand it. I have no strength.

"What for? Because of lack of attention. Look at the results. Wake up - there's an orderly road here, only lack of attention caused this," emphasized Meshi Zahav. "The vehicles were excellent, they could see each other; only the lack of attention."

Eight family members from Psagot village in Binyamin were killed in the road accident this afternoon in the Dead Sea area. The parents were killed along with their six children in a head-on collision on Route 90 near the Dead Sea.

[video:2049051]

The investigation revealed that two vehicles traveling on Route 90 near the Dead Sea collided with each other. The dead were trapped between the remains of the burning vehicles and their death was determined after they were extracted by firefighting teams.

Three other members of a family from the Givon community were injured in the opposing vehicle. Magen David Adom paramedics took a 52-year-old woman and a 12-year-old girl in moderate condition by helicopter to Soroka Hospital, and another 50-year-old man was also lightly injured.

[video:2049040]





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