Moshe Ya’alon dismisses Kerry ‘threats’ on possibility of third intifada
(JNS.org) U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday that failed Israeli-Palestinian conflict negotiations could lead to a third Palestinian intifada.
“The alternative to getting back to the talks is the potential of chaos. I mean, does Israel want a third intifada?” Kerry said in a televised interview on Israel’s Channel 2.
Responding to Kerry, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said there is “no need to fear threats of whether there will or won’t be a third intifada.”
Kerry also said on Channel 2 that the U.S. agrees with the Palestinian Authority’s position on Israeli construction beyond the 1967 lines.
“[Palestinian leaders] disagreed with [Israeli construction beyond the 1967 lines]. In fact, they said, ‘We don’t agree. We do not think you should be doing settlements.’ We, the United States, say the same thing. We do not believe the settlements are legitimate. We think they’re illegitimate. And we believe that the entire peace process would in fact be easier if these settlements were not taking place,” Kerry said.
Ya’alon, however, noted that the Palestinians’ territorial ambition “does not end in 1967 lines.”
“There is Sheikh Munis—Tel Aviv, Majdal—Ashkelon. We got out of the Gaza Strip and they continue to attack us. They raise their youth to believe that Haifa and Acre are Palestinian ports and more. There is no sign of compromise here,” Ya’alon said.
Member of Knesset Yariv Levin (Likud) said Israel’s “right to build anywhere on its land cannot be questioned.”
“Given the reality in the Middle East, Secretary of State Kerry’s statements, despite their good intentions, only encourage Arab extremists and bring down the chances for peace,” Levin said, according to Israel Hayom.
Iran ‘paying nothing’ in sanctions relief deal, Netanyahu says
(JNS.org) A U.S.-backed offer to Iran of mitigated sanctions in exchange for temporarily reduced uranium enrichment is “the deal of the century” for the Islamic Republic and a bad deal for the international community, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
According to the deal presented at the P5+1 talks in Geneva, Iran would receive sanctions relief if it suspended enrichment to the 20-percent level that approaches weapons capability for a six-month period, The Telegraph reported. Iran could still enrich to 3.5 percent, enabling the country to operate civilian nuclear power stations.
“I understand that the Iranians are walking around very satisfied in Geneva—as well they should be because they got everything and paid nothing,” Netanyahu said Friday. “Everything they wanted; they wanted relief of sanctions after years of a grueling sanctions regime, they got that. They are paying nothing because they are not reducing in any way their nuclear enrichment capability.”
David Albright, director of the Institute for Science and International Security, told The Telegraph that stopping enrichment to 20 percent would be “nowhere near enough” to contain the Iranian nuclear program, which would only be set back a “month or two” by the deal.
“We’re very worried that Iran can continue to make centrifuges, including the IR-2Ms during an interim deal, and then emerge if the deal fell apart with several thousands IR-1s and IR-2Ms to be deployed rapidly in Natanz, and possibly even a third centrifuge plant,” Albright said.
Wave of Palestinian attacks against Israelis in Judea and Samaria
(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) An Israeli man and woman were wounded Friday morning when a Palestinian assailant threw a Molotov cocktail at their car as they drove by the Jewish community of Tekoa in Gush Etzion. Both were treated by paramedics at the scene and were taken to Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem for further care. Their car was destroyed in the fire.
Friday’s attack came after Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian terrorist on Thursday at Tapuach Junction in Samaria, after the terrorist used a makeshift gun to shoot at Israelis, according to a witness and Israeli authorities.
Also on Thursday, a Palestinian who tried to stab an Israeli border policeman was shot and killed near Abu Dis.
CUFI founder Pastor John Hagee honored by major Jewish groups
(JNS.org) Christians United For Israel (CUFI) founder Pastor John Hagee was recognized by major Jewish organizations for his years of support and humanitarian endeavors on behalf of Israel.
On Thursday, the heads of groups including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations attended a gala dinner in Hagee’s honor on Thursday in New York. The event raised money for Meir Panim, which works to fight hunger in Israel. Hagee has donated more than $80 million to Israeli charities.
Hagee on Thursday said he hopes future leaders will continue to fight for Israel.
“I hope that the next generation [of CUFI advocates] will rise up to be aggressive and intelligent leaders that will continue its work until all the enemies of Israel are defeated,” Hagee said in an interview with JNS.org.
BDS not stopping popular singers from performing in Israel
(JNS.org) Numerous popular singers are planning to stop in Tel Aviv during their tours in the coming year, including Julio Iglesias, Cyndi Lauper, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, and others.
The pop stars will visit Israel despite the ongoing Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign calling on celebrities not to visit Israel.
Earlier this week, singer Paula Abdul, who is Jewish, visited Israel for a belated bat mitzvah ceremony. She met with President Shimon Peres and was photographed bathing in the Dead sea. Rihanna and Alicia Keys also visited Israel this year.
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