A7News: 'We're not threatening to uproot anyone'

Arutz Sheva Daily Israel Report
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Thursday, Jul. 11 '19, ח' בתמוז תשע"ט





HEADLINES:
1. 'WE'RE NOT THREATENING TO UPROOT ANYONE'
2. YOGEV WARNS: ANXIETY UP, FORTITUDE DOWN
3. OFFICIAL SEARCH FOR VIRGINIA RABBI SWEPT OUT TO SEA CALLED OFF
4. CRANE OPERATOR LOSES CONSCIOUSNESS, MDA TEAM CLIMBS TO RESCUE
5. IRAN TRIES TO SEIZE BRITISH TANKER IN PERSIAN GULF
6. WATCH: HOW TERROR TUNNEL WAS UNCOVERED
7. SUPERMODEL 'REDEDICATES' LIFE TO LUBAVITCHER REBBE'S MISSION
8. NETANYAHU IN SAMARIA: NO COMMUNITY WILL BE UPROOTED


1. 'WE'RE NOT THREATENING TO UPROOT ANYONE'
by Mordechai Sones

Blue and White Chairman Benny Gantz made it clear this morning in an interview with Galei Tzahal that his party does not intend to uproot Judea and Samaria communities from their place, even in a future political settlement.

"We've said several times that we're in favor of striving for an agreement, with strict adherence to the security arrangements and, of course, our historical right to the State of Israel, the Jordan Valley, the settlement blocs, and of course Jerusalem; there is no return to the 1967 lines. And if and when any arrangement develops, it'll be brought to the people for decision. Therefore, no one will be uprooted from his home," Gantz said in response to Netanyahu's speech in Samaria last night.

"Either way, the settlements in Judea and Samaria will develop, and we'll be in constant contact with them; no one should feel threatened," Gantz added.

Gantz was asked about his meeting this week with a group of religious Zionist rabbis, and whether this was an attempt to promote a future coalition. "I believe in discourse within Israeli society, and I don't think one group should be excluded, and no side is unacceptable for conversation, for listening," Gantz replied.

"It mustn't be a first-grade slogan, it should be a task of political leaders and I hold myself to be one of those who needs to listen and hear. We're from Israel, we're in the same place, with the same interests. Of course there were disagreements, but if we don't talk about them, how can we proceed? It was a great conversation, it was a day with a lot of jolts and talking to them was the best part of the day."

Gantz stressed, "We're not dealing with the Palestinian issue now, we won't uproot settlements, we'll leave the settlements; we are not threatening anyone with uprooting."

In response to a question about the new party of Ehud Barak, Gantz replied, "Blue and White is the only alternative government that exists against Netanyahu, and we'll continue to act as the largest faction because only we can change the government."


2. YOGEV WARNS: ANXIETY UP, FORTITUDE DOWN
by Mordechai Sones

The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee today visited Kibbutz Sa'ad in the Gaza area, at the initiative of MK Moti Yogev (Jewish Home).

"The push to hold the meeting stemmed from strong feelings of an increase in the level of anxiety and a decline in the fortitude of Gaza area residents," Yogev said.

The meeting was attended by 10 Knesset members, mayors, representatives of government ministries, security coordinators both military and civilian, directors of aid centers, community coordinators and residents' representatives.

Yogev said, "We came to hear and see the situation on the ground, and left with a deeper demand and commitment to address the different needs of the Gaza-area communities.

"Without a doubt, the solution lies in occupying the Gaza Strip, destroying terror, and restoring a routine of peaceful and secure civilian life for Gaza-area residents," Yogev concluded.


3. OFFICIAL SEARCH FOR VIRGINIA RABBI SWEPT OUT TO SEA CALLED OFF
by Marcy Oster, JTA

The U.S. Coast Guard has called off the search for a rabbi who jumped into the ocean in a state park in Virginia Beach, Virginia, saving a student who was having trouble returning to shore.

The official search was called off mid-Wednesday, a full day after Reuven Bauman, 35, a teacher at Yeshiva Toras Chaim in Norfolk, Virginia, jumped into water that was be choppy with rip currents at False Cape State Park. The student, said to be 13 years old, and the 20 other students from the local yeshiva were said to be safe.

The Coast Guard had deployed crews from Elizabeth City, N.C. and Little Creek, Va. to search a total of 347 nautical miles, which is more than 450 square miles, according to Coast Guard Lt. Steve Arguelles. A number of other crews, including from the Virginia Beach police and fire departments and the National Parks Service, participated in the search on land, air and sea.

"It's always a hard decision, and it's not one we make lightly," said Arguelles told the Virginian-Pilot daily newspaper. In calling off the search, the Coast Guard considered the rough waters, the size of the area searched and the "likelihood of survivability," Arguelles said. He added that Bauman "acted heroically."

Meanwhile, dozens of volunteers from various organizations from New York, New Jersey and Baltimore, Maryland joined the search in Virginia and reportedly will continue. The organizations include Achiezer, Hatzalah Air, Misaskim of Baltimore and Baltimore Shomrim who have arrived with boats, Yeshiva World News reported. Other volunteers came with jet skis or are walking on the shorelines.

The rabbi, who is listed on the school's website as teaching seventh- and eighth-grade secular studies teacher and third-grade Judaic studies, is the father of five children.

The water on Tuesday was reported to be choppy with rip currents, and area lifeguards had raised a red flag, which means that swimming is prohibited, the local channel ABC 13 news reported. Swimming is prohibited in that area of the state park as well.

Local rabbi Gavriel Rudin told the CBS affiliate News 3 WTKR that volunteers would continue to search for Bauman.

"We know the chances are slim, but we have not given up and Jews throughout the world are hoping and praying for his safe return," he told the news channel.

He added that in Judaism, finding his body and giving it a proper burial is also of "incredible importance."

"I'm sure you know the family is really struggling now, and we want to bring them that closure and show Rabbi Bauman the proper respects if that's what it comes to," he said.


4. CRANE OPERATOR LOSES CONSCIOUSNESS, MDA TEAM CLIMBS TO RESCUE
by Mordechai Sones

📹 To watch the video: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/265830

A crane operator fell ill and lost consciousness this morning during work at a Haifa construction site. MDA teams gave him initial treatment and evacuated him to Rambam Hospital.

The incident began shortly after 10:00, when a report was received at MDA headquarters saying the crane operator in the operator's cab at a height of 50 meters had lost consciousness.

MDA paramedics mounted the crane with advanced medical equipment and with the help of firefighters and security guards in harnesses and provided primary medical care to the crane operator, who was extracted and evacuated to Rambam Hospital in Haifa in stable and good condition.

MDA Paramedic Guy Carmel said: "When we arrived at the site, the workers told us a man apparently lost consciousness in the crane cab at a height of about 50 meters. Accompanied by firefighters who secured me in harnesses, hoisted me up to the cab with the medical equipment where the crane operator was found feeling ill but was conscious. I gave him initial medical treatment and immediately afterwards the firefighters extracted him from the high cab and evacuated him to Rambam Hospital."


5. IRAN TRIES TO SEIZE BRITISH TANKER IN PERSIAN GULF
by Elad Benari

Five armed boats belonging to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps unsuccessfully tried to seize a British oil tanker in the Persian Gulf on Wednesday, two US officials with direct knowledge of the incident told CNN.

The British Heritage tanker was sailing out of the Persian Gulf and was crossing into the Strait of Hormuz area when it was approached by the Iranian boats, according to the officials.

The Iranians ordered the tanker to change course and stop in nearby Iranian territorial waters. A US aircraft was overhead and recorded video of the incident, the two officials added.

The UK's Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose had been escorting the tanker from the rear. It trained its deck guns on the Iranians and gave them a verbal warning to back away, which they did. Montrose is equipped on the deck with 30 mm guns specifically designed to drive off small boats.

UK officials had previously confirmed that the Montrose was in the region performing a "maritime security role."

The incident occurred nearly a week after the British naval force seized an Iranian oil tanker in Gibraltar on suspicion that it was carrying crude oil to Syria, in violation of EU sanctions.

The detention of the tanker angered Iran, which condemned the move as an "illegal interception" and summoned the British ambassador in protest.

Last Friday, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander threatened to seize a British ship in retaliation for the capture of the Iranian supertanker.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned earlier Wednesday that the UK "will see the consequences" for last week's incident.

Rouhani, speaking in a cabinet session, said, "I tell the British that they are the initiator of insecurity and you will understand its consequences later."

Wednesday's incident also comes a day after the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joseph Dunford, said that the US and its allies were working to put together a coalition of countries to come up with a system to enforce freedom of navigation in the region amid what the US says are heightened threats from Iran.


6. WATCH: HOW TERROR TUNNEL WAS UNCOVERED
by Gary Willig

📹 To watch the video: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/265739

The IDF released video Tuesday evening of how soldiers discovered the Hamas terror tunnel which was revealed yesterday.

IDF forces have been operating over the past 24 hours to investigate the route of the tunnel that was exposed Monday during construction work on the underground barrier along the Gaza Strip border.

According to the IDF, the tunnel route was part of an older tunnel.

The Eshkol Regional Council responded to the exposure of the tunnel of terror and said that "the tunnel was located because of the groundbreaking technological defenses that are being used along the Gaza border to protect our communities.

"The tunnel is not a threat and is being handled by the IDF. We thank IDF soldiers and officers who are determined and courageous in defending our communities," the council said.

18 attack tunnels have been discovered crossing under the border from Gaza into Israel since Operation Protective Edge in 2014.


7. SUPERMODEL 'REDEDICATES' LIFE TO LUBAVITCHER REBBE'S MISSION
by David Rosenberg

British supermodel and actress Naomi Campbell honored the Lubavitcher Rebbe this week, writing in a social media post that she would 'rededicate' her life to his mission.

Campbell, 49, wrote on Instagram Sunday that she had learned from and been inspired by the late Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, despite never having met with him.

"Today, is the 25th anniversary of the passing of The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Schneerson," Campbell wrote.

"An inspirational leader, scholar, and teacher, the Rebbe taught that we are all inherently good and we each have the potential to change the world for the better, one good deed at a time. I have personally learned so much from his wisdom and teachings, and while I never met him, I've visited his resting place in Queens to gain blessing and inspiration."

Campbell added that she would be 'rededicating' her life to Rabbi Schneerson's "mission of creating more light and goodness."

"With so much discord and division across our society, the Rebbe's words are more relevant than ever, and we so desperately need to take them to heart and learn from his example to always see the good in others, even those with whom we may disagree. Today I rededicate myself to the Rebbe's life-long mission of creating more light and goodness, and making a better future for ourselves and all of humanity.

In 2010, Campbell announced that she had been studying Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, for roughly a decade.

"I study Kabbalah because it takes me to a positive, calm place," she said, according to JTA.

"That's what I use it for, and it helps me a lot. I've been in and out of Kabbalah since around 2000. It's just something I have taken more seriously [recently]."

"I've been practicing. I don't know if I've been pronouncing everything right," she said, "but I've been practicing."


8. NETANYAHU IN SAMARIA: NO COMMUNITY WILL BE UPROOTED
by Yoni Kempinski

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised Wednesday that he will not uproot Judea and Samaria communities within the framework of any future political plan.

Speaking at the 40th anniversary of the Samaria Regional Council, Netanyahu said, "This is a commitment - not limited in time - that no community in the Land of Israel can be uprooted in any political plan. Communities will not be uprooted, neither those of Jews or of Arabs. The fact that we are on those ridges enables us to defend the entire state and ensure security and stability in the region. "

He added that "If Samaria was not in our hands, every place would be in clear and present danger. These are our fundamental principles, this is our homeland. We will continue to develop and build it. In any political plan I will not allow the uprooting of any community and any resident. The IDF will continue to control the entire area west of the Jordan Valley. I am currently working on an international recognition of these principles, "Netanyahu said.

He refrained from referring to his promise from the previous elections to promote the application of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.

Some 6,000 people took part in the event, including ministers and Knesset members from the coalition and opposition parties.

📹 To watch the video: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/265795