Hamas terrorist behind murder of rabbi killed in IDF arrest raid
(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) A Hamas terrorist who killed a rabbi in a drive-by shooting attack earlier this month was killed during an IDF arrest raid near Hebron Tuesday.
In a victory for Israeli security and defense forces, a joint Shin Bet security agency, IDF and police investigation uncovered the Hamas terrorist cell responsible for the murder of Rabbi Michael Mark, who was murdered on July 1 as he traveled on Route 60 with his family near the settlement of Otniel.
Mark’s wife, Hava, was seriously wounded in the attack and remains hospitalized. Two of his children were also hurt.
The investigation and concurrent manhunt culminated Tuesday night with the shooting of Mohammad al-Fakih, 29, in an exchange of fire in the Palestinian village of Surif, near Hebron. Fakih is believed to have perpetrated the shooting. The driver, Mohammed Majid Amaira, was arrested several weeks ago. A number of additional accomplices are also in custody.
The Islamist group Hamas identified Fakih as a member of its armed wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades. The house in which Fakih was hiding was damaged during the clash and then demolished by an Israeli bulldozer.
Over the course of the last month, intensive Israeli efforts were invested into capturing the cell behind the July 1 shooting attack. On Tuesday, IDF soldiers broke into Fakih’s hideout, sustaining fire. After killing the terrorist, Israeli troops discovered ammunition, homemade grenades and an AK-47 assault rifle.
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Palestinians want to sue British over Balfour Declaration
In an address at the Arab League Summit, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki spoke on behalf of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and formally asked for the Arab League’s support in prosecuting the British for the nearly 100-year-old document.
“We are working to open up an international criminal case for the crime which they committed against our nation – from the days of the British Mandate all the way to the massacre which was carried out against us from 1948 onwards,” al-Maliki said.
“With the commemoration of 100 years since this historic massacre, and following the continuity of this tragedy, we request that the Secretary General of the Arab League assist us in prosecuting the British government for publishing the Balfour Declaration which caused this catastrophe against the Palestinian people,” he added.
The 1917 Balfour Declaration, written by U.K. Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour to the 2nd Baron Rothschild Walter Rothschild, who was leader of the British Jewish community at the time, stated that the British government would “view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.” The document is considered by many to be the founding legal document for the State of Israel.
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Israel’s president condemns terror attack on Catholic church in France
“This attack shows the true face of the brutal nature and horror of terrorism. This is an attack by radical extremists, terrorists, who have struck at the very symbol of peace and murdered in cold blood in a house of God, while they pretend to speak in His name,” Rivlin said.
Two men claiming to be Islamic State “soldiers” took five people hostage at the Catholic church in the northern French town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray.
The terrorists slit the throat of one Catholic priest, 86-year-old Rev. Jacques Hamel, and seriously wounded another hostage. Two nuns and two congregants were among the hostages. French police shot dead the two terrorists as the men left the church.
Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi called the attack a “barbarous killing” and said they are “particularly shocked because this horrible violence took place in a church, in which God’s love is announced.”
France is still on high alert following a deadly attack in Nice two weeks ago when a man ran a truck into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day. He killed 84 people and injured more than 300.
“The whole free world must understand that our values are under attack. We must fight to defend them, lest we be overtaken by waves of intolerance and hatred,” Rivlin said.
“Israel stands side by side with the people of France, and we send our thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families,” he said.
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Israeli soccer club members arrested for criminal activity
The arrests that took place all over Israel follow a six-moth undercover investigation in which an agent infiltrated the “La Familia” fan club.
Several weapons were confiscated including military grade stun grenades, one kilo of explosives, two tear gas canisters and other materials.
The club is known for abusive behavior toward the opposing team during games, including taunting with racist chants and suspected violent attacks. More arrests are expected.
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Democratic lawmaker expands apology for comparing Israeli settlers to ‘termites’
During a speech on Monday at a Philadelphia event hosted by the U.S Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) was quoted by the Washington Free Beacon as saying, “There has been a steady [stream], almost like termites can get into a residence and eat before you know that you’ve been eaten up and you fall in on yourself, there has been settlement activity that has marched forward with impunity and at an ever-increasing rate to the point where it has become alarming.”
Following the Washington Free Beacon report and a request from the Anti-Defamation League to retract his statement, Johnson’s initial apology on Twitter stated, “Poor choice of words—apologies for offense. Point is settlement activity continues slowly undermine 2-state solution.” The National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) argued that Johnson’s initial apology fell short, tweeting at the lawmaker, “@RepHankJohnson, To refer to Jews as ‘termites’ is deeply offensive and dehumanizing. Not just a ‘poor choice of words.’ It’s dangerous.”
On Tuesday, Johnson’s office expanded the lawmaker’s apology, stating in a press release, “We must work to promote policies that support a two-state solution and encourage trust between both sides. The congressman regrets his comments. He did not intend to insult or speak derogatorily of Israelis or the Jewish people. When using the metaphor of termites, the Congressman was referring to the corrosive process, not the people. [‘Termites’ was a] poor choice of words—I meant no offense. The point is settlement activity has slowly and deliberately undermined Palestinian land claims.”
The NJDC subsequently tweeted, “Props to @RepHankJohnson for a fuller apology for his offensive comments comparing Jewish settlers to termites.”
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