A7News: 'A hero of the Jewish people'

Arutz Sheva Daily Israel Report
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Sunday, Apr. 28 '19, כ"ג בניסן תשע"ט





HEADLINES:
1. 'A HERO OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE'
2. NEW FOOTAGE SHOWS SUICIDE BOMBER BLOW HIMSELF UP DURING MEAL
3. MASSIVE TERROR ATTACK AROUND ELECTION DAY THWARTED
4. ISRAELI NGO DEMANDS ISRAEL REVOKE BDS-FOUNDER'S RESIDENCY STATUS
5. TWO PRISONERS RETURNED TO SYRIA
6. RABBI CONTINUED SERMON AFTER BEING SHOT
7. ONE DEAD, THREE INJURED, IN SAN DIEGO SYNAGOGUE SHOOTING
8. WATCH: PARATROOPERS SING 'HATIKVA' IN GERMANY


1. 'A HERO OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE'
by Arutz Sheva Staff

60-year-old Lori Gilbert Kaye is the woman who was murdered in the shooting attack at the Chabad synagogue near San Diego on Saturday.

Three other people were injured in the shooting attack. The suspected shooter was apprehended.

Minister of Diaspora Affairs, Naftali Bennett, this morning commented on the death of Kaye, who sadly succumbed to her wounds sustained in the brutal terror attack on the Chabad synagogue in Poway, California during Saturday morning prayers, on the last day of Passover there.

Minister Bennett labelled Lori a hero of the Jewish people, and noted, "As more details emerge of the abhorrent attack in Poway Chabad in California, in Israel we are waking up to hear of a great tragedy for all the Jewish people.

He stressed, "Lori Gilbert Kaye, of blessed memory, is a Jewish hero, and will be remembered as a hero in Jewish history. She sacrificed her own life, throwing herself in the path of the murderer's bullets to save the life of the Rabbi. But it is clear that such heroism and good deeds are not only characteristic of dear Lori in death, but this is the way she lived her life - at the heart of her community, constantly doing charity and good deeds for those in need. She has been described by those who knew her as an 'Eshet Chayil', a 'Woman of Valour', and I would add, a true Hero of Israel."

"Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband and daughter, may they find great comfort in Lori's tremendous example and courage."


2. NEW FOOTAGE SHOWS SUICIDE BOMBER BLOW HIMSELF UP DURING MEAL
by Arutz Sheva Staff

📹 To watch the video: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/262326

Sri Lankan media on Saturday aired footage from security and street cameras in Colombo, Sri Lanka, showing how the suicide bombers entered the hotels before blowing themselves up.

A total of 253 people were killed in Sunday's series of six nearly-simultaneous bombings. A seventh attack occurred later the same day.

ISIS later claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The footage shows the suicide bombers examining the area, looking to the sides and choosing the exact spot from which each would carry out his attack.

Authorities initially estimated that the number of people killed was over 350, but later dropped the number due to many body parts being counted more than once.

"Some of the bodies get severely damaged in these kinds of explosions and it's possible for some bodies to get completely destroyed or break into parts, making the identification of full bodies difficult," CNN quoted a Health Ministry statement as saying. "Hence, counting an exact death toll is challenging."



3. MASSIVE TERROR ATTACK AROUND ELECTION DAY THWARTED
by Arutz Sheva Staff

The Shin Bet and the IDF recently discovered a terrorist operative in Judea and Samaria enlisted by senior Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip to carry out a serious terrorist attack near election day on April 9, 2019.

In the course of exposing the plot, Yihya Abu Dia, a 23-year-old resident of the village of A-Zayyim east of Jerusalem, who is identified with the Hamas terrorist organization, was arrested on March 31.

In his Shin Bet interrogation to date, it was found that Abu Dia had been in contact with senior Hamas operatives in the Gaza Strip via the Internet, was recruited for military activity and agreed to carry out missions and serve as a suicide attacker.

As part of his ties with Hamas operatives in the Gaza Strip, Abu Dia was asked to buy a car and rent a storage room in order to prepare a car bomb and to monitor the best point for an attack in the Ma'aleh Adumim area, where there is a high concentration of buses, civilians and soldiers.

Abu Dia followed instructions, carried out observations on busy sites, and reported to his superiors, who chose the "best" point and conveyed instructions on how to carry out the attack quickly.

As part of the preparations for the suicide bombing attack, Abu Dia was asked by the Hamas operatives from the Gaza Strip to film a final testament in the name of the military wing of Hamas. He planned to film the clip before he went to the attack wearing a Hamas military band, and for this purpose purchased a tripod for filming.

In the coming days, an indictment will be filed against Abu Dia.

A senior Shin Bet source said, "Hamas' terrorist infrastructure in the Gaza Strip is constantly recruiting Hamas operatives from the Judea and Samaria region to carry out murderous terrorist attacks in order to destabilize the security situation in the region. This activity of the military wing of Hamas joins a long list of attempted terrorist attacks under the direction of Hamas in the Gaza Strip by recruiting operatives in Judea and Samaria, that have been thwarted by the Shin Bet in recent years and have so far led to the imprisonment of many. The Shin Bet security service and security forces will continue to act to prevent terrorist attacks by Hamas in advance."


4. ISRAELI NGO DEMANDS ISRAEL REVOKE BDS-FOUNDER'S RESIDENCY STATUS
by Arutz Sheva Staff

Betzalmo, an Israeli Human Rights NGO has appealed to Israel's Attorney General and Minister of the Interior to cancel BDS-founder Omar Barghouti's residency permit.

Two weeks ago Omar Barghouti was refused entry into the United States because of his role as founder and chairman of the anti-Israel boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement.

In a letter dated April 24, 2019, Betzalmo inquired with the Minister of the Interior how is it possible that the USA prevents a boycott leader from entering its territory, while the Israeli government continues to grant him a residency permit allowing him to receive benefits from the State of Israel.

"A recent law authorizes the Minister of the Interior, with the approval of the Attorney General, to revoke residency for anyone who harms state security or violates allegiance to the state, or endangers public peace," Betzalmo noted.

"Undoubtedly Barghouti's leadership of the boycott movement against all citizens of the State of Israel severely harms the State of Israel and is a blatant breach of allegiance, as well as a threat to Israel's security and defense by pushing for an arms embargo against Israel.

"In addition, the BDS movement collaborates with terrorist organizations, so there is undoubtedly an indirect link between Mr. Barghouti and terrorist organizations."

Betzalmo CEO Shai Glick said:

"The State of Israel is a democratic and liberal state, but it must, in the name of democracy and liberalism, defend itself and its citizens. A determined struggle against the boycott constitutes true defense of the citizens of the State of Israel.

"We cannot demand from our allies in the world to prevent the entry of a boycott activist and to prevent conferences of boycott organizations, while allowing those leading BDS activists residency in Israel, giving them State benefits and a platform. We are certain that the Interior Minister and the Attorney General will act with determination and immediately revoke Mr. Barghouti's residency so he will be able to disseminate his toxic teaching only outside Israel."


5. TWO PRISONERS RETURNED TO SYRIA
by Arutz Sheva Staff

Following the transfer of IDF soldier Zachary Baumel's body from Syria to Israel, Israel released two Syrian prisoners held in Israel Sunday morning.

The IDF Spokesperson confirmed that the two Syrian prisoners had been transferred to the Red Cross through the Kuneitra crossing on the Golan Heights.

The first prisoner released was Hamis Ahmad, 35, a Fatah terrorist from the Yarmuk refugee camp in Syria who was captured in April 2005 for attempting to infiltrate an IDF base in the southern Golan Heights and harm soldiers.

After one of the IDF officers managed to subdue him, Ahmad was arrested, and he related that he had planned to kidnap a soldier. He was sentenced to prison until 2023.

The other prisoner is Zidan Tawil, 57, a resident of Khader, Syria, who was imprisoned in Israel after being convicted of drug smuggling. Tawil was arrested in July 2008 and was expected to be released this July.

Three weeks ago, Baumel was buried in the military cemetery on Mount Herzl, 37 years after he was declared missing in the aftermath of the Battle of Sultan Yaqub. According to Arab reports, the body was found in the Yarmuk refugee camp near Damascus.


6. RABBI CONTINUED SERMON AFTER BEING SHOT
by Gary Willig

The rabbi of the San Diego synagogue where a woman was murdered in a shooting attack Saturday continued his sermon even after being shot, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein continued to console his congregants after he was shot in the hand, his congregants said following the attack.

Synagogue member Minoo Anvari told CNN that Rabbi Goldstein "did not leave his congregation until he was finished speaking to them, calming their fears and pledging resilience."

"One guy was shooting at everybody and cursing," Anvari told the LA Times.

"One message from all of us in our congregation is that we are standing together. We are getting stronger," she added. "Never again. You can't break us. We are strong."

Rabbi Goldstein was taken to the hospital for surgery on his index fingers. He will likely lose at least one finger, a doctor stated.

Three people were wounded and one person killed in the shooting during morning services Saturday,


7. ONE DEAD, THREE INJURED, IN SAN DIEGO SYNAGOGUE SHOOTING
by Chana Roberts

📹 To watch the video: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/262329

Multiple people were injured Saturday in a shooting at the Chabad of Poway synagogue. Poway is approximately 20 miles north of San Diego.

The attack occurred at just prior to 11:30 a.m. local time.

All four of the patients were sent to the Palomar Medical Center.

60-year-old Lori Gilbert Kaye was identified as the woman who was murdered in the shooting attack.

Three other people were injured in the shooting attack. The suspected shooter was apprehended.

The Daily Beast reported that two children were among those wounded in the shooting. Poway Mayor Steve Vaus told CNN that members of the congregation engaged the shooter to prevent further violence, and added that the community was targeted by "someone with hate in their heart."

"I can tell you that it was a hate crime, and that will not stand. This community will come together," he told MSNBC.

Eyewitness reports said one of the injured is the congregation's Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, who was shot in his hand and lost two of his fingers.

According to the San Diego Sheriff's office, deputies investigated reports of a man with a gun, and a man was detained for questioning in connection with the shooting incident.

"We don't believe there are any other suspects," a spokesperson for San Diego police told The Daily Beast.

According to officials, the suspect is a 19-year-old adult white male from San Diego. Initially, he fled the scene, but later surrendered to police.

Minoo Anvari, a member of the congregation, told NBC 7: "It's a very important celebration for us. There's lots of people inside, they're praying. Everybody was crying and screaming."

She also said her husband was inside during the shooting and told her someone came in and started cursing and shooting.

Israeli Consul in Los Angeles Avner Saban is investigating whether any Israelis were at the scene of the attack.

Jewish Agency Chairman Yitzhak Herzog responded: "The anti-Semitic attack at @Chabadpoway in California is horrifying. We @JewishAgency are closely following events and mourn the loss of life & pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. It's immoral to attack people of any faith at any place of worship. It must be stopped!"

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said, "The words, the demonstrations, and the caricatures turn into shootings against worshipers in synagogues. The disease of anti-Semitism continues to rear its head and claim victims. This is the time for action, for determined war and not for weak and hollow condemnations which allow the forces of hate to reignite dark periods in history."

The Poway attack comes exactly six months after 11 worshipers were killed in a shooting attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue.


8. WATCH: PARATROOPERS SING 'HATIKVA' IN GERMANY
by Arutz Sheva Staff

📹 To watch the video: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/262321