A7News: Terrorist arrested - 2 years after stabbing attack

Arutz Sheva Daily Israel Report
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Monday, Mar. 11 '19, ד' באדר ב תשע"ט





HEADLINES:
1. TERRORIST ARRESTED - 2 YEARS AFTER STABBING ATTACK
2. ISRAELI COMPANY SOLD TO NVIDIA IN MASSIVE ACQUISITION
3. 'IF THEY LAUNCHED MISSILES AT TEL AVIV IT WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED'
4. ISRAEL'S FIRST LADY UNDERGOES LUNG TRANSPLANT
5. TRUMP TO DONORS: DEMOCRATS HATE THE JEWS
6. 2 ISRAELIS KILLED IN ETHIOPIAN PLANE CRASH
7. US ZIONISTS URGE TRUMP TO WITHDRAW CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL OPINION
8. RABBI AMSALEM IN FAVOR OF CIVIL MARRIAGES


1. TERRORIST ARRESTED - 2 YEARS AFTER STABBING ATTACK
by Arutz Sheva Staff

The Shin Bet announced Monday the arrest of the terrorist who committed a stabbing attack in Efrat in December 2016.

According to the Shin Bet investigation, Ayman Muhammad 'Ali Fughara, 27, from the village of Jorat a-Shama, identified with the Hamas terrorist organization, purchased the knife, and carried out the attack. He arrived in Efrat in order to murder Israelis and stabbed a civilian.

The findings of the investigation were transferred to the Military Prosecution in order to file an indictment in his case.

The Shin Bet announced that it will continue to work along with other security services to prevent terror attacks and catch terrorists, now matter how much time has elapsed since the attack.


2. ISRAELI COMPANY SOLD TO NVIDIA IN MASSIVE ACQUISITION
by Arutz Sheva Staff

American tech giant Nvidia signed a deal Monday to purchase Israeli data connectivity company Mellanox Technologies for just shy of $7 billion.

The Santa Clara, California-based Nvidia, perhaps best known for its graphics processing units used in many home computers and laptops, agreed to pay $6.8 billion in cash for Mellanox, which is based in Yokneam, in northern Israel, with a US office in Sunnyvale, California.

Mellanox was founded 20 years ago by Eyal Waldman, the company's current chief executive officer. The company produces hardware for large data center servers, including server centers used to power cloud computing.

A dramatic rise in Mellanox's stock price in recent months – including a 66% rise since October – has attracted attention from a number of companies interested in purchasing the firm, including Microsoft, Intel, and Xilinx. Nvidia outbid an offer by Intel, giving Mellanox a $125-per share offer – a 14% premium over the company's value as of the close Friday.

The purchase of Mellanox is Nvidia's largest-ever acquisition. According to Reuters, the company hopes its acquisition of Mellanox will help it reduce its reliance on the video game industry.


3. 'IF THEY LAUNCHED MISSILES AT TEL AVIV IT WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED'
by Gary Willig

Education Minister Naftali Bennett demanded an emergency Cabinet meeting to formulate an operational plan to restore peace in the south in light of the tense situation with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

"Israel needs a full-time defense minister. If a missile fell in Tel Aviv, they would not let it continue," Bennett told Prime Minister Netanyahu.

"Israel lacks a full-time defense minister. The residents of the south deserve security. If they were dropping explosives on houses in Tel Aviv or if a missile were launched at them, the IDF would stop them," Bennett said." We have to say honestly: with all due respect to Netanyahu, a country like Israel needs a full-time defense minister."

Bennett demands that the IDF present the Cabinet with an operational plan for restoring calm to the south, which will be implemented immediately.


4. ISRAEL'S FIRST LADY UNDERGOES LUNG TRANSPLANT
by Arutz Sheva Staff

Israel's First Lady, Nechama Rivlin, underwent a single lung transplant at Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah Monday, President Reuven Rivlin's office announced Monday afternoon.

The First Lady is said to be in stable condition, sedated, and on assisted breathing.

"As is normal after a procedure like this, Nechama is sedated and on a respirator until she recovers and is able to breath unassisted. She is in a stable condition, and is surrounded by close family," Rivlin's office said.

Lung transplants are life-saving operations that allow patients with terminal pulmonary disease to resume a full life without depending on an external oxygen supply.

The complex procedure took several hours and was performed by Professor Dan Aravot, Director of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Beilinson, assisted by Nechama's personal physician Professor Mordechai Kramer, Director of the Institute of Pulmonary Medicine at Beilinson.

Mrs. Rivlin required the operation due to pulmonary fibrosis, which she has suffered from for several years. The transplant took place after a long waiting period for a donated lung.

"President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin and the whole family thank the dedicated medical team for their warm and professional care throughout the process. Updates regarding Nechama's progress will be issued by Beit HaNasi as necessary," the president's spokesperson said.


5. TRUMP TO DONORS: DEMOCRATS HATE THE JEWS
by Elad Benari

US President Donald Trump reportedly once again criticized Democrats and their attitude towards the Jewish people in a speech to Republican donors on Friday night.

Axios on Sunday published some remarks made by the president at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

The remarks included a reference to the recent anti-Semitism controversies involving Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. Trump reportedly told the donors, "The Democrats hate Jewish people."

Trump also said he did not understand how any Jew could vote for a Democrat these days. Trump talked about how much he'd done for Israel, noting his historic decision to move the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, according to Axios.

Trump also asserted that if he could run to be prime minister of Israel, he'd be at 98% in the polls, according to three sources who were at the gathering.

The comments followed Trump's remarks earlier on Friday, when he told reporters that the Democratic party has become an "anti-Israel" and "anti-Jewish" party.

Trump's earlier comments came after the House of Representatives passed a broad resolution that called out bigotry of all kinds without directly condemning Omar over her anti-Semitic remarks.

"Democrats have become an anti-Israel party. They've become an anti-Jewish party. I think the vote was a disgrace," the president told reporters at the White House lawn.

Trump added that most lawmakers would agree that the resolution, which did not mention Omar name, was a disgrace "if you get an honest answer."

The resolution originally condemned anti-Semitism but was rewritten and its final draft was expanded Thursday afternoon to condemn all forms of bigotry, including white supremacy. Republicans characterized the watering down of the resolution as a ploy to distract from Omar's remarks which had prompted the resolution in the first place.

Omar recently came under fire after she suggested on Twitter that Republicans were attacking her at the behest of the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC.

She subsequently issued a half-hearted apology before ultimately deleting the controversial tweets.

This week she caused another uproar when, at a public event, she appeared to refer to domestic support for Israel as "allegiance to a foreign country".

Trump's initial comments raised the ire of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who fired back at the president in a post on Facebook.

"For the president, who when neo-Nazis marched in Charlottesville in front of a synagogue and said 'burn it down' and he said 'both sides' are to blame, this is a new divisive low," wrote Schumer.

"His comments show the president is only interested in playing the politics of division and not in fighting anti-Semitism. Mr. President, you have redefined chutzpah," he added.


6. 2 ISRAELIS KILLED IN ETHIOPIAN PLANE CRASH
by Arutz Sheva Staff

Ethiopian Airlines officially confirmed on Sunday that among the 149 passengers of the company's flight who died in the plane crash this morning were two Israeli citizens.

There were 149 passengers from 33 different countries and 8 crew members on the Boeing 737 flight, all of whom died in the crash.

A preliminary examination of the events revealed that before the crash the pilot reported to the control tower and asked permission to come back and land in the airport, but the plane crashed before he could do so.

CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Tewolde Gebremariam said at a press conference that among those killed, 32 were Kenyans, 18 Canadians, nine Ethiopians, eight Italians, eight Chinese citizens, eight Americans, seven British citizens, seven French citizens, six Egyptians, five Dutch citizens, four Indians, four people from Slovakia, three Austrians, three Swedes, three Russians, two Moroccans, two Spaniards, two Poles and two Israelis.

Boeing said in response to the crash: "Boeing is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the passengers and crew on Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a 737 MAX 8 airplane. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families and loved ones of the passengers and crew on board and stand ready to support the Ethiopian Airlines team. A Boeing technical team is prepared to provide technical assistance at the request and under the direction of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board."


7. US ZIONISTS URGE TRUMP TO WITHDRAW CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL OPINION
by Orli Harari

With Trump's Deal of the Century in the offing, an anti-Israel legal opinion in the State Department has surfaced, which outlaws all Israeli communities over the Green Line. CUFI, which speaks for 4 million Christians, as well as the RCA and ZOA, are urging the Administration to rescind the controversial document. The fear is that Israel will be in a disadvantageous position if the "Deal of the Century" is published and an official pro-Arab legal opinion, negating all settlements, remains intact. Pro-Israel organizations call for the opinion, also known as the Hansell memorandum, to be rescinded, while BDS organizations are relying on it. The controversial legal opinion is even starring in a Palestinian-American lawsuit filed against Sheldon Adelson and other prominent pro-Israel Americans. Since the opinion, authored by the late Attorney Herbert Hansell at the request of his superiors in the Carter Administration, has not been revoked or updated, it is still valid.
Distinguished legal experts in the West, as well as the State of Israel, are adamant that Israel's settlements (communities in Judea-Samaria) are legal. But the Hansell memorandum, penned by the legal adviser to the State Department under President Carter, unilaterally adopts Arab legal arguments, bolstering an anti-Israel position according to which all Israel's settlements in Judea and Samaria are actually illegal.
Arutz Sheva has learned that both Jewish and Christian groups in the United States are calling for the opinion to be rescinded, given that leading legal experts support Israel's legal position. In addition, the chairman of the Israeli Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, MK Nissan Slomiansky, appealed to the Trump administration several months ago, also requesting that the opinion be revoked. The author of the opinion himself admitted the opinion was "controversial", wrote Slomiansky in his appeal to American Ambassador David Friedman. However, contrary to the accepted practice, Slomiansky's letter is still waiting for an American reply.
Zalman Shoval, former Israeli ambassador to the United States, recently revealed that a second American legal opinion was penned by a government legal adviser, which differs from the negative opinion of the State Department. The second opinion was written by a legal adviser to the White House National Security Council and does not yield a conclusion of settlement illegality, Shoval explains in his recent book. However, the adviser to the National Security Council, who has since resigned and returned to academic life, opposes the US confirming legality of settlements for political rather than legal reasons: not to help Israel too much in her negotiations with the Arabs. In addition, this second opinion is not available to the public, in contrast to the negative opinion against the settlements, which is available to the public and appears on the website of a leading Palestinian-American group.
Assessments are that if the Trump plan is published (reportedly immediately after the elections in Israel) before the damaging opinion is canceled, this could give a deliberate advantage to the Arab side, regarding the entire issue of the settlements. The negative opinion does not claim that the IDF presence in Judea and Samaria is illegal but it does attack the legality of all of the hundreds of thousands of civilian residences in the Judea-Samaria region, relying on legal argumentation characteristic of the Arab side, but denied by the legal experts Israel relies on.
The pressure to cancel the opinion comes from a number of American organizations. Rabbi Mark Dratch, Executive Vice President of the Rabbinical Council of America, which represents North America Orthodox Jewry in its relations with American government officials, said that the RCA "joins others in urging the United States administration to withdraw the Hansell memorandum". The RCA's Executive Vice President explained that the RCA "views settlements as legal according to international law". Rabbi Dratch emphasized that the RCA "appreciates the support for Israel of the Administration" and also stressed "the strong bipartisan support for Israel in Congress."
A statement from Christians United for Israel (CUFI), an American Christian organization that supports Israel, similarly clarified that "CUFI does not agree with the opinion offered by the Hansell memorandum and supports its revocation." As of May 2018, CUFI's membership is said to include 4.1 million Christian Americans.
Dan Pollak, Director of Government Relations at the ZOA warned that "the legal reasoning in the Hansell memorandum... has been used inside the State Department to actively sabotage the policies of several US presidents. With the new thinking of President Trump on the Arab-Israeli conflict, the negative impact of the memorandum have finally become too great to ignore.... The memorandum should be rescinded."
The Orthodox Union has referred press inquiries regarding the Hansell opinion to a longstanding OU statement according to which "Assertions that Israeli 'settlement activity' is illegal under international law are incorrect."
The cancellation of a legal opinion is a simple administrative action that can be implemented immediately. On the other hand, rewriting an opinion to include missing considerations that were not reflected in the first opinion is a much more complicated process. Therefore, the organizations chose to recommend that the opinion be revoked, instead of demanding that it be amended so as to reflect a reasoned position of legality.
In addition to the statements made by the organizations, a number of American public figures known as President Trump's supporters have personally approached government officials and expressed their opinion that the opinion should be revoked.
As of today, none of these efforts have borne fruit.
In the meantime, BDS activists in the United States and abroad rely on the alleged illegality of the settlements as justification for boycott actions against Israel. In addition, 18 American-Palestinian activists have, for the past 3 years, been promoting a billion dollar lawsuit against American philanthropist Sheldon Adelson and others. Adelson is accused by the American-Arab plaintiffs of supporting Israeli "settlements." This support, the Palestinian claimants allege, citing the Hansell memorandum and various international law documents, is illegal.
Sheldon Adelson did indeed donate a medical school to Ariel University. The entire city of Ariel is deemed illegal by the Hansell memorandum.


8. RABBI AMSALEM IN FAVOR OF CIVIL MARRIAGES
by Arutz Sheva Staff

Rabbi Haim Amsalem, a former Shas member and current member of the Zehut party, stated that he supports the adoption of civil marriage in Israel, outside the auspices of the Chief Rabbinate.

"In a political meeting that took place this week in Safed, most of the residents were haredim," Rabbi Amsalem said in an interview with Galai Tzahal (Army Radio). "They were there because of the closer, moderate Judaism, not religious coercion, but the freedom-loving approach. This is what appeals to broad audiences who are also anxious to join Zehut."

He referred to the 'pig law' that in the 1990s led Shas to leave the government of Yitzhak Rabin. "The 'pig law' was passed in 1962. But the bottom line is not only this law, but similar laws are a dead letter and no one enforces them. There are restaurants in Jerusalem which sell pork. I'm not in favor of [repealing the law], but it failed, and the Chametz law failed and the supermarkets law failed," he said.

According to Rabbi Amsalem, "Even the Civil Marriage Law is a law of Rabbi Bakshi Doron from 22 years ago. What kind of civilized country can actually allow itself not to allow half a million people not to marry in the rabbinate? I am in favor of civil marriage."

"On the one hand you are not willing to convert them. You raise the bar, you do not say, let's adopt the conversion method of the rabbinate fifty years ago. You say. 'I am stringent.' You don't let them convert and you don't let them marry anywhere. It's ridiculous," Rabbi Amsalem concluded.