|
| Week ending Shabbat, May 6, 2006 |
8 Iyyar, 5766 |
|
Monthly Encirclement of the Temple Mount:
Every month literally thousands of worshippers take part in the traditional encircling of the outer walls of the Temple Mount. This renewal of an ancient custom began nearly four years ago as a small group, and has since become a very popular event. Marchers express their desire to identify with the Temple Mount by circling the holy site as they stop to pray and sing at each of the gates. Marches take place at the beginning of every Jewish month. The participants meet as the sun is setting at the Western Wall plaza and march around the outside walls of the Temple Mount. The march is known as one of the most festive and moving Jerusalem traditions.
Land of Israel Legal Forum Expands:
The Land of Israel Legal Forum has launched new efforts to prevent the stealing of Jewish-owned land and incitement against the Jews of Judea and Samaria. Chairman Nachi Eyal said that the Land of Israel Legal Forum has invested a great deal of effort in defending the right of the Jews expelled from Gaza and northern Samaria, as well as in trying to spread awareness of their plight. In addition he stated that the Forum understands the need to widen their scope of operation on behalf of the struggle for the Land of Israel. Mr. Eyal explained that the Forum would now also work at preventing the stealing of Jewish land through illegal Arab building and the route of the Partition Wall, and prevention of incitement against the public that resides in Judea and Samaria. "The Forum has taken upon itself to assist the groups monitoring such illegal building and will offer legal assistance," Eyal said. "We want to also assist other bodies on the right, such as Israel Media Watch, to petition against broadcasters and those who use and exploit the microphone for their own aims. Libel and incitement suits will be filed when called for." The Forum began surveying illegal Arab building over a month ago and has already begun legal action against hundreds of houses built against the law. An organized tour of illegal building in the Negev has been organized, but the group stressed that its activities in that realm will not be limited to the Bedouin construction in the Negev, and will encompass Arab land-grabbing throughout the country.
The news conference also focused on the violent events at Amona in February. The Forum sees its actions as having an impact on the nature of future confrontations as well, attaching great significance to the gathering of testimony, videos and photographs of such events. They explained that the demolition of the stone buildings in Amona was supposed to be a quiet demonstration with legitimate protest. Viewed photographs showed protestor after protestor with head wounds and a long convoy of ambulances. Before it was over 386 wounded were treated at hospitals, 219 of them transported via Magen David Adom ambulances. As they watched the video the attorneys demonstrated how security forces acted contrary to procedures they were obligated to follow. They also showed that on-site commanders declined to take control or attempt to calm the atmosphere. Avi Har-Zahav, one of the Forum's attorneys, said. "If the police had known that there would be more [legal] backing for the protestors, they would not have been able to act like they did in Amona. Nowhere does a government allot over 7,000 policemen to the destruction of illegal buildings; there was a guiding hand in this case." Har-Zahav also sees great importance in filing legal suits against the commanders and officers who acted illegally.
IDF Captures Terrorist and Foils an Attack:
Israeli Defense Force [IDF] soldiers surrounded a house where Iyad Abdullah, a high-ranking Islamic Jihad terrorist, was hiding. IDF Central Command sources said the suspect was "a high-ranking Islamic Jihad fugitive involved in a number of attacks against Israel." Soldiers from the elite Duvdevan unit fired warning shots into the air when Abdullah defied the order. An IDF spokesman said, "After calling on him to go out, the soldiers fired live bullets in the air and then they identified suspects moving by the window and directed their fire at them." After a ninety-minute siege Abdullah surrendered and was taken for interrogation by security forces. In the course of the siege, a woman in the house was killed, and her two daughters were wounded by soldiers' fire. The IDF issued an apology and stated that there would be an investigation into the incident.
In other security news, it was announced Monday that a planned terrorist attack scheduled for Wednesday [Israel's Independence Day] had been foiled. A "Palestinian" terrorist carrying a bomb had been arrested in Jericho. His plan was to detonate it in a crowded area of Haifa, which was revealed during his interrogation. The would-be murderer said he was sent by Islamic Jihad terrorists from Jenin.
Israel Celebrates Two Special Days:
Tuesday, May 2nd was Memorial Day in Israel as seven million of her citizens remembered their victims of war and terrorism, all who have fallen in the struggle for the return of the Jewish people to their homeland. The counting began in 1860, which was the year the first Jerusalem neighborhood was built outside the walls of the Old City. That year also marks the founding of the Jewish Company for the Settlement of the Holy Land.
At eleven o'clock in the morning a two-minute siren was sounded, marking the start of memorial services in 43 military cemeteries throughout Israel.  At one o'clock in the afternoon a state ceremony was held for victims of terror attacks, which is a new feature of the official Memorial Day commemorations. At eight o'clock in the evening torches were lit at Jerusalem's Mt. Herzl, marking the conclusion of Memorial Day and the beginning of Israel's 58th Independence Day.
During the past year, 138 soldiers and security force personnel fell in the line of duty.
Israeli Population now over Seven Million:
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, Israel's population has reached 7,026,000. This figure is more than eight times larger than it was when the state was established. At that time [1948] Israel had only 806,000 citizens. Half of them are still residing in Israel. Some eighty percent of Israelis [5,639,000] are Jewish and twenty percent [1,387,000] are Arab. During the past year the population of Israel increased by 118,000, pushing the total past the 7-million mark. Much of the increase [104,000 individuals] was from natural growth (births minus deaths). 138,000 babies were born and 21,000 new immigrants arrived since last year's Independence Day. Over the past 58 years, a total of seven children were named Atzmaut [meaning "Independence"], mainly in the early 1950s. Children born on Independence Day in the early years of the state were also named Medina [meaning "state"]. Other common names for Independence Day babies has been Tikva [hope], Nitzhona [her victory], Dror and Drora [freedom].
Hevron Residents, "We Will Stay":
Three faithful Jewish families who recently moved into a newly-acquired building in Hevron are refusing to back down despite recent eviction orders. Outgoing Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz has ordered the eviction of these families who moved into a large building in Hevron, despite the Jewish community's assertion that the building was purchased under the full letter of the law. On Thursday the Israeli Supreme Court affirmed their decision and authorized police to evict the residents by 11:00 a.m. Friday. Then, as a result of concern for the sanctity of the Jewish Sabbath [according to the police] and out of concern for clashes with Arabs congregating for Friday prayers [according to the Jewish community] the forced eviction was delayed until Sunday or Monday by another court decision Friday.
The Court for Matter of the Nation and the State, an organization affiliated with the 71-member nascent Sanhedrin, issued a call upon Hevron residents to stand strong. The court said that an expulsion from Hevron is the first step in removing Jews from Judea, Samaria, and all of Israel. This statement issued by the religious court said that the decision by the Israeli Supreme Court is "opposed to justice and law and harms the rights of the buyer. The Supreme Court has been recruited by the state, and together they are destroying and undermining the rights of Jews in the Land of Israel." The statement concludes by calling upon the public to "put on helmets and come with bandages to bodily prevent the expulsion of Jews."
The recently purchased building, named Beit Shapira, is located along the route leading from the Avraham Avinu neighborhood [in Hevron] to the Cave of the Machpelah. The ancient tomb is above a cave containing the graves of the Biblical patriarchs and their wives [Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob, and Leah]. It is also believed by many to be the burial place of the first man and woman, Adam and Eve.
B'nei Menashe Soldier Honored:
The B'nei Menashe [sons of Manassah] have a special reason to rejoice this year. A member of their community was honored as one of Israel's outstanding soldiers at an official ceremony in Jerusalem. Tamir Baite, who moved to Israel four years ago, became the first B'nei Menashe member of the IDF to be recognized as one of Israel's outstanding soldiers. Baite serves in the IDF's elite Shaked unit of the Givati Brigade. He is one of 120 Israeli soldiers who received this honor at a Jerusalem ceremony on Wednesday. The event was attended by President Moshe Katzav, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and other Israeli officials.
For Baite, the joy of the event was somewhat bittersweet: he has not seen his family since moving to Israel, even though he has worked diligently over the past three years to get permission from the Israeli government to allow them to make Aliyah [immigrate to Israel]. In June 2003, then-Interior Minister Avraham Poraz of the anti-religious Shinui party imposed a freeze on B'nei Menashe immigration for political and ideological reasons. Now, with the help of Shavei Israel, Baite is again appealing to Israel's Interior Ministry to allow his remaining family members to join him here. "Every day, Tamir is defending the country and placing his life on the line to protect it," said Michael Freund, Chairman of Shavei Israel. "It is unjust and inconceivable that the Israeli Government would prevent this hero from being reunited with his loved ones here in the Jewish state."
The B'nei Menashe, who reside in the Indian states of Mizoram and Manipur, near the border with Burma, claim descent from the tribe of Manashe, one of the ten tribes exiled from the Land of Israel by the Assyrians over 2,700 years ago. Nearly 1,000 of them have made Aliyah over the past decade thanks largely to the work of the Jerusalem-based Shavei Israel organization.
Tour Israel for Hanukkah:
Join us as we explore Israel from a genuine Biblical Zionists perspective. Meet the people who are continuing the Biblical narrative in the Land today. See for yourself how ancient prophesies are being fulfilled. Discover how you too can participate in the ongoing process of Biblical Redemption. Join us for an opportunity of a lifetime, to see the real Israel from the viewpoint of those who are living the Bible today. The experience will change your life.
The tour has been coordinated and will be guided by Associate Pastor Jon Klein [pictured left].
More information | Questions
|
| | |
