Israeli tourist among those injured in Berlin Christmas market attack
(JNS.org) An Israeli tourist was among those injured in Monday’s terror attack on a crowded Christmas market in Berlin, in which 12 people were killed and 50 others were injured when a tractor-trailer plowed into the market.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed Tuesday that an Israeli tourist in his 60s was among those injured. The man underwent surgery and was in stable condition, the ministry said.
“Israel condemns what appears to be a terror attack in Germany,” Israeli Prime Minister Benja-min Netanyahu said. “We send our condolences to the families of the victims and of course to the German government and a speedy recovery to the injured, including an Israeli citizen.”
Authorities initially believed the attack was committed by a 23-year-old man from Pakistan or Afghanistan, who came to Germany as a refugee and was apprehended near the scene of the at-tack. But police have yet to confirm that the man was the tractor-trailer’s driver.
“I know that it would be particularly difficult for all of us to bear if it is confirmed that this deed was carried out by a person who sought protection and asylum in Germany,” said German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
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Poll: Israelis suspicious of human rights groups, distrusting of public institutions
(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) A majority of Israel’s citizens—86 percent of Israeli Jews and 55 percent of Israeli Arabs—are proud to be Israeli, according to the 2016 Israeli Democracy Index survey, commissioned by the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) think tank.
IDI President Yohanan Plesner submitted the report Monday to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. The study shows an increasing sense among Israelis that human rights and civil rights organizations such as the Association for Civil Rights in Israel and B’Tselem cause damage to the state. Seventy-one percent of the Jewish public and 23 percent of the Arab public believe that to be true, an increase of 15 percent and 4 percent from the last such survey, respectively.
The report also finds a lack of trust in public institutions among Israelis. The institution that garnered the most public trust was Israel’s High Court, yet it earned the confidence of only 56.5 percent of Jews and 52 percent of Arabs.
Israel reaches deal to sell Iron Dome technology to Azerbaijan, Czech Republic
(JNS.org) Israel has reached a deal to sell the Iron Dome missile defense system to Azerbaijan, just days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Central Asian country.
The Azerbaijani Press Agency reported Saturday that Azerbaijan Defense Industry Minister Yaver Jamalov had agreed to the deal with Israel. Netnayahu said during his cabinet meeting Sun-day that both countries have “extensive ties.”
During Netanyahu’s meeting last week with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the Central Asian leader revealed that his country has purchased nearly $5 billion in defense equipment from Israel to date.
Israel also reached a deal with the Czech Republic for the eastern European nation to purchase MMR radars from Israel Aerospace Industries. It is the same radar system used for the Iron Dome and David’s Sling anti-missile systems.
The Czech Republic will reportedly be purchasing eight radar systems for a total of $100 million to replace old Soviet-era radar systems, the Associated Press reported. Czech Defense Minister Martin Stropnicky said the radars will be used for air defense.
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Netanyahu condemns assassination of Russian ambassador in Turkey
(JNS.org) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Monday’s assassination of Russia’s ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov.
“Israel condemns the brutal assassination of Ambassador Andrey Karlov this evening in Ankara. We send our deepest condolences to his family and to the Russian people,” Netanyahu said, adding, “The murder of a diplomat serves as a stark reminder of the need for the civilized world to come together in fighting the forces of terrorism.”
While Karlov was speaking at the opening ceremony of a photo exhibit at an art gallery in Ankara, Turkey’s capital, the gunman—identified as 22-year-old Turkish police officer Mevlut Mert Altintas, who was dressed in a black suit and tie standing behind him—shot Karlov several times in the back.
A video of the assassination shows the gunman shouting in Turkish, “Allahu akbar. Do not forget Aleppo! Do not forget Syria!” The gunman was shot following the attack.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan both called the assassination a “provocation” aimed at undermining the normalization of Russian-Turkish relations, which have been strained since a Turkish fighter jet shot down a Russian fighter jet near the Syria-Turkish border in November 2015.
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