A7News: Watch live: Tens of thousands attend Priestly Blessing

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Monday, Apr. 22 '19, י"ז בניסן תשע"ט





HEADLINES:
1. WATCH LIVE: TENS OF THOUSANDS ATTEND PRIESTLY BLESSING
2. 'ARAB LEADERS PRESSURING PALESTINIANS TO ACCEPT TRUMP PLAN'
3. BAR RAFAELI TO PAY TAXES ON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EARNED ABROAD
4. KINNERET RISES 1.5 CENTIMETERS AFTER SNOW FALLS ON MOUNT HERMON
5. WATCH: CELEBRATION AT WESTERN WALL
6. HOW ISRAEL HELPED SRI LANKA PREPARE FOR MEGA-ATTACKS
7. ANALYZING THE 'NEW RIGHT' VOTE
8. TRUMP, NETANYAHU OFFER AID AFTER BOMBINGS KILL 207 IN SRI LANKA


1. WATCH LIVE: TENS OF THOUSANDS ATTEND PRIESTLY BLESSING
by Arutz Sheva Staff

📹 To watch the video: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/262173

On Monday morning, tens of thousands of Jews from Israel and around the world gathered at the Western Wall for the traditional mass Priestly Blessing ceremony.

After the ceremony, Israel's Chief Rabbis Yitzhak Yosef and David Lau greeted the visitors, together with Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch.

American Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, Israel's Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel (United Right), Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon, and Israel Police's Commissioner Motti Cohen, also participated in the event.

Jerusalem's Old City is closed to private traffic throughout the intermediate days of Passover, and the public is asked to use public transportation.

"The fact that tens of thousands of worshipers are now at the Western Wall Plaza is very moving," Leon said. "The Jerusalem municipality prepared itself ahead of time, with stands offering water to the public. I call on the public to listen to the instructions of the police and organizers."

"After we finished praying for rain, and began to pray for dew on the first day of Pesach (Passover), this is an opportunity to thank the Creator for the abundance and the rain given to us," Rabbi Rabinovitch said.

The traditional Priestly Blessing ceremony includes hundreds of priests, descendants of the priestly tribe of Levi. The priests cover themselves in prayer shawls as they bless the Jewish people in the holiest place for the Jewish people, and thousands are expected to attend.

The commandment to bless the Jewish people and the words of the blessing are found in the Bible (Numbers 6: 22-27).

📹 To watch the video: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/262173

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2. 'ARAB LEADERS PRESSURING PALESTINIANS TO ACCEPT TRUMP PLAN'
by David Rosenberg

Arab leaders are pressuring the Palestinian Authority to accept the peace plan drawn up by the Trump administration, which is expected to be released this June, a source within the Palestinian Authority claims.

According to a report over the weekend by the Qatari Alkhaleej Online outlet, a member of the Central Committee of PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas' ruling Fatah party said that Arab leaders are applying "political and financial pressure" on the Palestinian Authority to accept the so-called 'Deal of the Century' – a framework for a final status agreement between Israel and the PA drawn up by the White House.

The effort to force the PA into accepting the deal is reportedly being led by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, according to the Fatah official.

"There are Arab countries, in particular Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, which take great interest in the American deal, and are using everything available at their disposal, including political and financial pressure, to make sure that the Palestinians accept the deal, despite the risks it involves for Palestinian interests."

On Sunday, PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas pushed back on calls for the PA to accept the Trump deal, telling a gathering of foreign ministers from Arab League member states that recently reelected Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was uninterested in peace, and that the Trump administration had disqualified itself as a peace broker.

"After the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the transfer of the US Embassy to it, the cessation of aid to UNRWA, and the closure of the Office of the PLO in Washington, what remains of the Deal of the Century?"


3. BAR RAFAELI TO PAY TAXES ON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EARNED ABROAD
by Arutz Sheva Staff

The Central District Court in Lod has rejected an appeal by Israeli model Bar Rafaeli, which was filed following an order by tax authorities requiring her to pay Israeli taxes on millions of dollars in income earned abroad.

If the court's decision is not overturned by Israel's Supreme Court, Refaeli will be required to pay Israeli taxes on some 16 million shekels ($4.45 million) in income earned abroad.

Rafaeli had argued in court that she had established a 'family life' abroad for the years in question, and should therefore not be liable for Israeli taxes for income earned in that period. The court rejected her argument, however, ruling that Israel remained her primary residence.

The ruling was handed down ten days ago, but the court publicized it only on Monday.

Refaeli's lawyers have requested some of the testimonies remain confidential.


4. KINNERET RISES 1.5 CENTIMETERS AFTER SNOW FALLS ON MOUNT HERMON
by Arutz Sheva Staff

The Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) rose 1.5 centimeters over the weekend, for a total of 3.07 meters since the rainy season began.

Currently, the lake stands at 211.41 centimeters below sea level, and 2.59 meters below the upper red line signaling that the lake is full.

Twenty-five centimeters of snow fell on Mount Hermon, and the site briefly opened to visitors - a rarity on Pesach (Passover). It closed later on Monday morning due to increased snowfall and concerns regarding the weather.

On Monday, temperatures will rise slightly but remain lower than seasonal average. There may be light local rainfall in northern Israel. Monday night will be partly cloudy.

Tuesday will be clear or partly cloudy, with temperatures continuing to rise but remaining lower than seasonal average.

Wednesday will be clear or partly cloudy, and temperatures will rise to seasonal average.

Thursday will be warmer than seasonal average, especially inland and in Israel's mountainous regions.


5. WATCH: CELEBRATION AT WESTERN WALL
by Arutz Sheva Staff

📹 To watch the video: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/262138


6. HOW ISRAEL HELPED SRI LANKA PREPARE FOR MEGA-ATTACKS
by Arutz Sheva Staff

Sri Lankan emergency teams responding to a string of deadly bombings across the island nation were trained in part by Israel, in a special program to prepare first responders in the Sri Lankan capital to handle a variety of large-scale disasters – including multiple terror attacks.

Explosions were reported at eight separate locations across Sri Lanka on Sunday, most of them targeting churches or hotels during the Christian holiday of Easter.

At least 207 people were killed in the mass attacks, including some 30 foreign nationals.

Hardest hit was the Sri Lankan capital city of Colombo, with at least three hotels and a church bombed.

Local emergency teams called upon to conduct search and rescue missions and to treat the victims received special training from Israeli first responder teams, preparing them for a variety of scenarios – including large-scale terror attacks.

According to a spokesman for the United Hatzalah emergency responder organization, earlier this year, Israeli rescue teams from United Hatzalah traveled to the Sri Lankan capital city of Colombo to train local teams to prepare them for possible mass-casualty incidents, including mega-terror attacks.

The program, a joint effort of the American Jewish Committee and United Hatzalah, began in December 2018 and continued into January, with training programs in both India and Sri Lanka.

"This past January, the AJC and United Hatzalah teamed up to train first responders in Colombo, Sri Lanka in mass casualty incidents and disaster management," United Hatzalah said in a statement Sunday. "The mission, which was funded by the AJC, brought experts from United Hatzalah of Israel to train members of local response organizations in how to provide quick and effective emergency response to large scale emergencies ranging from natural disasters to terror attacks."

"The team from Israel provided training to members of the military, police force, search and rescue units and the fire department in Sri Lanka and provided them with tools and techniques developed in Israel in dealing with large-scale attacks such as the kind that occurred today."

Below is video from the Indian portion of the AJC-United Hatzalah mission to India and Sri Lanka from December 2018 to January 2019:

📹 To watch the video: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/262154


7. ANALYZING THE 'NEW RIGHT' VOTE
by ILTV

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8. TRUMP, NETANYAHU OFFER AID AFTER BOMBINGS KILL 207 IN SRI LANKA
by David Rosenberg

📹 To watch the video: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/262145

Leaders from around the globe condemned a series of bombings targeting Easter celebrations in the island nation of Sri Lanka Sunday which killed more than 200 and left hundreds more injured.

Authorities in Sri Lanka placed urban centers across the country on lock-down after eight separate bombings ripped through hotels and churches in the cities of Colombo, Batticaloa, Negombo, Kochchikade, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, and Dematagoda.

The death toll in the attacks Sunday rose to 207, including at least 30 foreign nationals, with hundreds more injured.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility.

President Donald Trump offered his condolences to the victims of the bombings, and said the US stood "ready to help" Sri Lanka.

"138 people have been killed in Sri Lanka, with more than 600 badly injured, in a terrorist attack on churches and hotels. The United States offers heartfelt condolences to the great people of Sri Lanka. We stand ready to help!"

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu also offered assistance to Sri Lanka following the attacks, and called for the world to unite against terrorism.

"In the name of the citizens of Israel, it expresses deep shock at the murderous attacks against innocent civilians in Sri Lanka, and Israel is ready to assist the authorities in Sri Lanka at this difficult time."

"The entire world must unite in the battle against the scourge of terrorism."

The European Union expressed "horror and sadness" over the attacks, and adding that it was standing "ready to support" Sri Lanka.

"It was with horror and sadness that I heard of the bombings in #SriLanka costing the lives of so many people. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims who had gathered to worship peacefully or come to visit this beautiful country. We stand ready to support," tweeted EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May condemned the Sri Lanka bombings as "truly appalling", and called on the international community to "stand together" in defense of religious freedom.

"The acts of violence against churches and hotels in Sri Lanka are truly appalling, and my deepest sympathies go out to all of those affected at this tragic time," May tweeted.

"We must stand together to make sure that no one should ever have to practise their faith in fear."

Russian President Vladimir Putin called the attacks "cruel and cynical", and offered his condolences.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte also tweeted in response to the attacks, writing "Terrible reports from Sri Lanka about bloody attacks on hotels and churches on this Easter Sunday. Thoughts are with the victims and their relatives."

Pope Francis condemned the bombings as "cruel violence", and expressed "affectionate closeness" with the Sri Lankan Christian community.

"I want to express my affectionate closeness with the Christian community, attacked while it was at prayer, and to all the victims of such cruel violence," the Pope said.

The Catholic Church in Jerusalem had said in an earlier statement: "We pray for the souls of the victims and ask for speedy recovery of the injured, and ask God to inspire the terrorists to repent of their killing and intimidation."

Australia's Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, condemned the "horrific terrorist attack", adding that Australians hearts "go out to those Christians…slaughtered today in this horrific terrorist attack."

"To the beautiful people of Sri Lanka, Australia sends its heartfelt sympathies and our prayers and our support -- and our offer to do whatever we can to support you in this terrible time of need."

"At this time as Easter Sunday draws to a conclusion here in Australia, our heart goes out to those Christians and all of those other innocents who have been slaughtered today in this horrific terrorist attack."

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called the attacks "devastating".

"New Zealand condemns all acts of terrorism, and our resolve has only been strengthened by the attack on our soil on the 15th of March. To see an attack in Sri Lanka while people were in churches and at hotels is devastating."

"New Zealand rejects all forms of extremism and stands for freedom of religion and the right to worship safely. Collectively we must find the will and the answers to end such violence."

📹 To watch the video: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/262145