A7News: Biblical city from time of King David discovered

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Monday, Jul. 08 '19, ה' בתמוז תשע"ט





HEADLINES:
1. BIBLICAL CITY FROM TIME OF KING DAVID DISCOVERED
2. PM'S SON HITS LINDA SARSOUR FOR 'JESUS WAS PALESTINIAN' CLAIM
3. 'THESE ARABS WERE TRYING TO KILL US'
4. TZIPI LIVNI RETURNING TO POLITICS?
5. THE ISRAELI INNOVATION WHICH MAY REPLACE SUGAR
6. IDF OFFICER KILLED IN GAZA OP WAS KILLED BY FRIENDLY FIRE
7. WHAT HAPPENED TO MOSHE ELIEZER ILOVITZ?
8. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PARENTS PROTEST ACROSS ISRAEL


1. BIBLICAL CITY FROM TIME OF KING DAVID DISCOVERED
by Arutz Sheva Staff

📹 To watch the video: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/265654

Researchers from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Israel Antiquities Authority and Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, believe they have discovered the Philistine town near Kiryat Gat, immortalized in the Biblical narrative.

Ziklag is mentioned multiple times in the Bible in relation to David (in 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel). According to the Biblical narrative, Achish, King of Gat, allowed David to find refuge in Ziklag while fleeing King Saul and from there David also departed to be anointed King in Hebron. According to scripture, Ziklag was also the scene of a dramatic event, in which the Amalekites, desert nomads, raided and burned the town taking women and children captive.

The excavation, which began in 2015 at the site of Khirbet a-Ra'i in the Judaean foothills - between Kiryat Gat and Lachish, has proceeded in cooperation with Prof. Yosef Garfinkel, Head of the Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Saar Ganor of the Israel Antiquities Authority and Dr. Kyle Keimer and Dr. Gil Davis of Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. The excavation was funded by Joey Silver of Jerusalem, Aron Levy of New Jersey, and the Roth Family and Isaac Wakil both of Sydney. The excavation has been ongoing for seven seasons with large areas being exposed - approximately 1,000 sq.m., leading to this new identification for Ziklag.

The name Ziklag is unusual in the lexicon of names in the Land of Israel, since it is not local Canaanite-Semitic. It is a Philistine name, given to the town by an alien population of immigrants from the Aegean.

Twelve different suggestions to identify Ziklag have been put forward, such as Tel Halif near Kibbutz Lahav, Tel Sera in the Western Negev, Tel Sheva, and others. However, according to the researchers, none of these sites produced continuous settlement which included both a Philistine settlement and a settlement from the era of King David. At Khirbet a-Ra'i, however, features from both these populations have been found.

Evidence of a settlement from the Philistine era has been found there, from the 12-11th centuries BC. Spacious, massive stone structures have been uncovered containing finds typical of the Philistine civilization.

Additional finds are foundation deposits, including bowls and an oil lamp - offerings laid beneath the floors of the buildings out of a belief that these would bring good fortune in the construction. Stone and metal tools were also found. Similar finds from this era were discovered in the past in excavations in Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron and Gath--the cities of the Lords of the Philistines.

Above the remains of the Philistine settlement was a rural settlement from the time of King David, from the early 10th century BC. This settlement came to an end in an intense fire that destroyed the buildings. Nearly one hundred complete pottery vessels were found in the various rooms.

These vessels are identical to those found in the contemporary fortified Judaean city of Khirbet Qeiyafa—identified as biblical Sha'arayim—in the Judaean foothills. Carbon 14 tests date the site at Khirbet a-Ra'i to the time of King David.

The great range of complete vessels is testimony to the interesting everyday life during the reign of King David. Large quantities of storage jars were found during the excavation- medium and large-which were used for storing oil and wine. Jugs and bowls were also found decorated in the style known as "red slipped and hand burnished," typical to the period of King David.

Following a regional archaeological study in the Judaean foothills managed by Professors Garfinkel and Ganor, a picture of the region's settlement in the early Monarchic era is emerging: the two sites - Ziklag and Sha'arayim-are situated on the western frontier of the kingdom.

They are both perched atop prominent hills, overlooking main routes passing between the Land of the Philistines and Judea: Khirbet Qeiyafa in the Elah Valley sits opposite Philistine Gath, and Khirbet a-Ra'i, sits opposite Ashkelon. This geographic description is echoed in King David's Lament, in which he mourns the death of King Saul and Jonathan in their battle against the Philistines: "Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon."


2. PM'S SON HITS LINDA SARSOUR FOR 'JESUS WAS PALESTINIAN' CLAIM
by David Rosenberg

Women's March organizer and far-left activist Linda Sarsour came under fire over the weekend after she claimed that Jesus of Nazareth was a "brown copper skinned" Palestinian.

Sarsour, a long-time critic of the Jewish state, tweeted Saturday that Jesus "was Palestinian", adding that he had "brown copper skin" and "wooly hair".

"Jesus was Palestinian of Nazareth and is described in the Quran as being brown copper skinned with wooly hair."

The tweet quickly drew both criticism and mockery, with social media users pointing out that Jesus was unquestionably Jewish, and that no Palestinian identity or land of Palestine existed at the time. The term Palestine was coined only in the year 132 CE, roughly a century after Jesus' death, when the Roman empire renamed the Land of Israel 'Syria Palaestina'.

"Are you that stupid?" Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's son, Yair Netanyahu, tweeted in response.

"On the cross above Jesus' head was the sign 'INRI'…which means in Latin 'Jesus of Nazareth king of the Jews'."

"The Bible say that Jesus was born and raised in Judea!"

In a follow up tweet, Sarsour wrote that "Palestinian is a nationality not a religion. Your point is not negated. Jews lived with Palestinians in peaceful co-existence before there was a state of Israel."

"Folks reported my tweet that Jesus was a Palestinian. Twitter was obviously like, this doesn't violate our standards. It's also true. Jesus was born in Bethlehem which is in Palestine. Move on."

"Why so upset by the truth. Jesus was born in Bethlehem aka بيت لحم in Arabic. Bethlehem is in Palestine. It's currently militarily occupied by Israel and home to a predominately beautiful Palestinian Christian community. Yes, the birthplace of Jesus is under military occupation."

Sarsour later added: "Palestine is not a religion. Palestinian is someone born in Palestine or a descendant of Palestinians. Palestinian is a nationality. So when someone says Jesus was born in modern day Palestine that doesn't negate that he was a Jew. The hate is real. It breeds ignorance."

In response, Yair Netanyahu pointed out the history of the term Palestine, and its origins with the Hebrew term for the people known in the Bible as the Philistines.

"The Romans changed the name of the province of Judea to province of Palestine on 130 ad as a punishment to the Jews for their revolt. They named it after the ancient philistines that were Greeks and were already extinct at the time."


3. 'THESE ARABS WERE TRYING TO KILL US'
by Arutz Sheva Staff

Arab residents of the Palestinian Authority town of Mukhmas near the Binyamin region Jewish town of Ma'ale Mikhmas on Sunday night threw stones at several Jewish vehicles traveling on the Allon Road near Ma'ale Mikhmas just after 11:00p.m.

No one was hurt but serious damage was caused to the vehicles. A complaint was filed with Israel Police, but it seems none of the rock-throwers have been caught.

Tal, a resident of Kokhav Hashahar, told Arutz Sheva: "We were returning home from Jerusalem. About 300 meters (984 feet) after Route 60 turns, we saw nice-sized stones hitting our car as we drove."

"The Arabs threw stones at two other cars traveling in front of us, as well as at us. Those cars stopped afterwards on the side of the road to inspect what had happened. It seems that afterwards they [the Arabs] escaped towards their village. We immediately reported it to the Binyamin hotline, and were told that IDF forces are on their way to the scene.

"These Arabs tried to kill, and it would be correct to arrest them and their partners and to try them as murderers.

"Unfortunately, the Arabs raise their heads and we see the 'dream of coexistence' disappearing before our very eyes. Or in other words, we see here what 'coexistence at its best' is like."


4. TZIPI LIVNI RETURNING TO POLITICS?
by David Rosenberg

Less than half a year after announcing the end of her political career, former Justice Minister Tzipi Livni is weighing a new Knesset bid – if a broad left-wing bloc is formed for the September elections.

In February, Livni announced that she would not run in the April 9th election, adding that she would be leaving politics after then-Labor chief Avi Gabbay ended his party's alliance with Livni's Hatnuah faction.

"There should have been a single bloc to bring a political revolution, but that didn't happen," Livni said as she announced her departure from politics. "I worked to make a [left-wing] alliance. This time, it didn't happen."

"I'm leaving politics, but I won't let our dream of peace disappear from Israel."

Five months later, however, Livni is already considering a return to politics – under one condition.

While Livni has rejected overtures from both the Labor party's new chairman, Amir Peretz, and Ehud Barak, who recently formed the new Democratic Israel party, she has indicated she may run for the Knesset again if a broad left-wing ticket is formed, Haaretz reported.

Such a left-wing alliance would likely include both Labor, the Democratic Israel party, and Livni's own Hatnuah faction.

Last week, a poll by Maagar Mohot found that a grand alliance of left-wing parties, including Labor, Democratic Israel, and the far-left Meretz faction, would net 19 seats in the next election.


5. THE ISRAELI INNOVATION WHICH MAY REPLACE SUGAR
by ILTV

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6. IDF OFFICER KILLED IN GAZA OP WAS KILLED BY FRIENDLY FIRE
by David Rosenberg

The Israeli officer who died during a botched undercover operation deep inside the Gaza Strip last year was killed by friendly fire, an IDF report has revealed.

On Sunday, the Israeli military announced that an in-depth report on a November 11th 2018 undercover IDF operation in Gaza, its discovery by Hamas terrorists, and the subsequent battle had been completed and turned over to IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi.

The operation, the details of which remain classified, failed to achieve its goal, Kochavi said, adding that close examination of the events revealed a number of mistakes during the planning and execution of the operation.

A special review committee established to probe the incident reached its conclusions following a lengthy investigation, delivering its report to Kochavi, s well as commanders from the Special Forces, the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, the Head of the Operations Directorate, the Head of the Military Intelligence Directorate, the Commander of the Israeli Air Force, and the Head of the General Staff Review Committee, Maj. Gen (Res.) Nitzan Alon.

According to the report, Lieutenant Colonel M. – whose identity remains classified – was killed by accident, as the result of stray friendly fire.

In the wake of the incident and the subsequent investigation, the Chief of Staff said, the army has modified its own operational protocol to prevent a repeat of the same errors which led to the secret force's discovery while still inside the Gaza Strip.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who also holds the Defense portfolio, praised the soldiers involved in the top secret operation, and vowed that the lessons learned from the incident would be implemented.

"The lessons will be learned and the recommendations will be implemented. I commend the courage of the soldiers and pilots who operated in very difficult conditions, and the heroic rescue action. On behalf of the citizens of Israel, I would like to stand by the family of Lt.-Col. M for his heroism and his efforts."

Lieutenant Colonel M., a 41-year-old father of two, was killed and a second Israeli officer seriously wounded after an undercover Israeli force was discovered by Hamas terrorists operating inside the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, near Khan Yunis last November.

During the ensuing battle, Israeli aircraft provided cover for the IDF unit as it withdrew from the Gaza Strip.
Seven Hamas terrorists were killed during the battle, including Nur Barakeh, commander of the eastern battalion of Hamas' Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades in Khan Yunis.

📹 To watch the video: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/265629


7. WHAT HAPPENED TO MOSHE ELIEZER ILOVITZ?
by Joseph Frager, MD

Moshe Eliezer Ilovitz, an American-born father of five living in Israel, disappeared one Saturday morning six weeks ago.

It is hard to believe, but there are as many as 100,000 active missing persons in the United States at any given time. In Israel the numbers are much smaller - but substantial.

Each year, about 30 people in Israel leave home and go missing.

Families often turn to private investigators out of frustration with the police and other agencies.

Yekutiel "Mike" Ben Yaakov, a volunteer who leads a canine search unit, claims the police in Israel just are not up to the task of finding missing persons.

Frustrated families often turn to him, but usually too late.

The search for Moshe Eliezer Ilovitz is active and ongoing. The difference is that he is an American citizen. It means that not only does the Israeli law enforcement establishment and its political leaders have an obligation to find him, but American governmental officials have an obligation to find him as well.

Unfortunately, the last time I was involved in a missing person's case was after the disappearance of the "Three Boys", Naftali Fraenkel, Gilad Shaer And Eyal Yifrah, on June 12, 2014.

Several days later I arranged a Fox interview with Naftali Fraenkel's mother, Rachel, and Mike Huckabee who had a show on Fox at the time. We did not know they had been murdered by Hamas terrorists at the time.

On June 30th, 2014 their bodies were found. On July 8, 2014 Israel launched "Operation Protective Edge" as a result.

Although no foul play was noted at the scene of Moshe Eliezer Ilovitz' disappearance, nothing of his personal effects other than a Tallit were taken, raising the possibility of a kidnapping or abduction.

Moshe Eliezer ("Elie") was born in Brooklyn in 1982. He studied at Yeshiva Neve Tzion in Israel. He lived with his wife and five children in Moshav Mevo Modiim.

Elie had been commuting to the United States working in finance.

Six weeks ago he was in Meron like thousands of others prior to Lag Baomer when he went missing. The last time he was seen was on Shabbat before Lag Baomer at noon.

Elie's family has been working feverishly and tirelessly to find him. They are extremely distraught. They have offered a 50,000 NIS reward. They implore anyone and everyone who May have seen him to call the Israel Dog Unit hotline at 054-487-6709.

American officials can be very helpful. Israeli political figures must get involved. The media could help tremendously here as well. We must realize that it is an obligation upon everyone to find Moshe Eliezer Ilovitz as soon as possible.


8. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PARENTS PROTEST ACROSS ISRAEL
by Arutz Sheva Staff

📹 To watch the video: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/265632

Tens of thousands of parents gathered at demonstrations across Israel to demand reform in Israel's childcare system, including improved safeguards to prevent the abuse of young children at schools or daycare centers.

Ten thousand protesters rallied at Tel Aviv's Azrieli Junction Sunday night, along with thousands more at 24 other demonstrations across the country, following the indictment of a daycare owner and operator.

Protesters blocked roads in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa, while police largely avoided confrontations with the protesters. Protesters reportedly lit a fire at the Azrieli Junction protest in Tel Aviv.

The demonstrators are demanding that preschools, nurseries, and daycare centers for children three and under be placed under the authority of the Education Ministry. Organizers of the protests have called for background checks for all care providers at preschools, nurseries, and daycare centers, increased punishments for child abusers, as well as increased use of security cameras in daycare facilities.

Earlier on Sunday, 25-year-old Carmel Mauda, a resident of the central Israeli city of Rosh Haayin, was indicted on 18 charges of child abuse, for a variety of cruel acts against children at her "Baby Love" daycare center, where children between the ages of three months to three years were cared for.

According to the indictment, Mauda abused children in a variety of ways, including forcing children to eat their own vomit, covering the children's heads with a blanket and sitting on them to prevent movement; tying a minor's hands using string for minutes to hours; picking up minors by forcefully grasping the arm; swinging them in the air and throwing them onto the floor; shaking babies; placing toddlers facing the wall, sometimes for several hours; whipping the minors with a diaper, slapping them, pinching and pulling toddlers' heads back, blocking their noses and mouths until breathing difficulties arose.

📹 To watch the video: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/265632

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