Israel intercepts Gaza-bound drone shipment disguised as toys
(JNS.org) A shipment of drones disguised as toys that was bound for the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip was recently intercepted by Israeli security personnel at the Kerem Shalom border crossing, the Israeli Defense Ministry announced Sunday.
The drones were discovered during a search of a truck carrying toys. Security personnel found drones of different sizes and types. All were equipped with quality cameras. It is believed the drones were meant to be used to gather intelligence on Israel Defense Forces activities.
According to the Defense Ministry, a number of other drone-smuggling attempts have been foiled by Israel’s Shin Bet security agency in recent weeks.
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Israel and U.S. launch large joint missile defense drill
(JNS.org) A large multi-day joint exercise between the Israel Defense Forces and the United States European Command officially got underway on Sunday.
According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, the goal of the exercise, named Juniper Cobra 16, is to “improve cooperation and coordination between the two militaries and bolster ballistic missile defense capabilities.”
More than 1,700 U.S. soldiers, civilians, and contractors traveled to Israel to take part in the exercise.
Juniper Cobra exercises are held every two years. This year’s exercise marks the eighth since the first one was held in 2001. During the current exercise, the American and Israeli participants are training, via computer simulations, in how to deal with missile and rocket attacks. The various components of Israel’s multi-tiered aerial defense network—including the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow systems—are taking part in the exercise.
“This exercise provides an opportunity for both militaries for joint learning and training,” the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said. “The exercise is another step in strategic relations between Israel and the U.S., and it will greatly contribute to regional stability.”
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Canadian lawmakers set to condemn BDS movement
(JNS.org) Canadian lawmakers are set to pass a bipartisan bill that will “condemn any and all attempts” by entities in Canada to support the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
The measure, slated to be voted on next week, rejects “the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which promotes the demonization and delegitimization of the State of Israel, and call upon the government to condemn any and all attempts by Canadian organizations, groups or individuals to promote the BDS movement, both here at home and abroad.”
“We must fight anti-Semitism in all its forms,” Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion said. “We must oppose the boycott, divest, sanctions campaign in our communities and continue to speak out forcefully against them.”
“This is not a partisan issue,” said Conservative Party lawmaker MP Tony Clement, the Canadian opposition’s leading foreign affairs commentator. Clement called BDS a form of discrimination, “just like boycotts that have targeted Jews throughout history.”
Canada’s third-largest party, the far-left New Democratic Party, condemned the anti-BDS measure, saying it stifles freedom of belief.
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State Department condemns fatal stabbing of U.S. citizen at Israeli supermarket
(JNS.org) The U.S. State Department on Friday condemned Palestinian terrorists’ fatal stabbing of a U.S. citizen north of Jerusalem one day earlier.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the attack that took place yesterday in the West Bank that resulted in the death of U.S. citizen Tuvya Weisman,” the State Department said, adding, “There is no justification for terrorism. This horrific incident again underscores the need for all sides to reject violence, and urgently take steps to restore calm, reduce tensions, and bring an immediate end to the violence.”
Israel Defense Forces Staff Sgt. Tuvya Yanai Weisman, 21, was stabbed by two Palestinian teenage terrorists on Thursday at the Rami Levy supermarket in the Sha’ar Binyamin area north of Jerusalem. Weisman was buried with military honors at Mt. Herzl on Friday.
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Former American Idol contestant makes aliyah, plans to join IDF
(JNS.org) Brett Loewenstern, who competed on the talent-seeking reality show “American Idol” in 2011, this week made aliyah and plans to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) after falling in love with Israel on a Taglit-Birthright trip in 2012.
After moving to Israel, Loewenstern said he will join an IDF military band following his enlistment in the Israeli army.
Reporters and television crews waited for Loewenstern when he arrived on a Nefesh B’Nefesh aliyah agency charter flight in Israel last week.
“All of a sudden a TV crew runs up asking to interview me, and my phone rings from a reporter with the IDF magazine,” Loewenstern told the Times of Israel, calling the experience “humbling.”
After appearing on “American Idol,” where he made it to the top 24 and was eliminated after singing “Light My Fire,” Loewenstern enrolled in Boston’s Berklee College of Music, where he majored in performance and song-writing. He has performed Israel’s national anthem, “HaTikvah,” and other Israeli songs at many Jewish community events, and has partnered with Israeli composer Matti Kovler on various projects.
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Donald Trump, after vow to be ‘neutral,’ calls Obama ‘worst thing’ for Israel
(JNS.org) Republican presidential candidate and business magnate Donald Trump on Thursday said President Barack Obama has been “the worst thing that’s ever happened to Israel.”
“Israel is so important. What Obama has done to Israel is a disgrace. How they even talk to us is hard to believe. How do they talk to Obama?…You look at what he’s done to Israel, with just this Iran deal, which is such a terrible deal. He’s been the worst thing that’s ever happened to Israel,” Trump told Fox News.
A day earlier, Trump said that he would remain “neutral” with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but also mentioned Palestinian incitement to violence as a reason for why the conflict remains unresolved.
“You know, you have both sides, really, but one side in particular growing up learning that these are the worst people…I was with a very prominent Israeli the other day. He says it’s impossible because the other side has been trained from the time they’re children to hate Jewish people,” Trump said at an event hosted by MSNBC.
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