German ambassador says ‘occupied territories’ not part of Israel
(JNS.org) Following European businesses’ recent demand of Jordan Valley farmers that their products be labeled “manufactured in territories occupied by the Israeli government” before being exported to Europe, Germany has reiterated the requirement for labeling Israeli settlement products.
David Elhayani, the head of the Jordan Valley Regional Council, reached out to German Ambassador to Israel Clemens von Goetze regarding widespread opposition to the demand.
Von Goetze responded over the weekend, saying that Germany is acting in accordance with the legal decision made by all European Union countries, which states that the “occupied territories” are not part of Israel. This means that produce from the territories cannot be treated with the same rules as produce from within Israel, including using the “Made in Israel” label.
Von Goetze stressed that Germany opposes any efforts to boycott Israel, and that the decision to enforce product labeling would not limit the amount of produce imported from Israel and the territories. Elhayani responded, “The ambassador’s answer does not correspond with the reality on the ground. He chose to evade the responsibility of looking into the situation and verifying that the German market has not changed with respect to Jordan Valley produce.”
Member of Knesset Nava Boker (Likud), who is leading the struggle for the Jordan Valley farmers, said, “Judea and Samaria are not occupied territories. I will continue to follow up and to ensure that private German initiatives do not harm the relationship between Israel and Germany.”
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Israel mulls relocating terrorists’ families within Judea and Samaria
(JNS.org) The Israeli government has decided on three plans of action to confront the ongoing wave of Palestinian terrorism: toughening penalties imposed on terrorists’ families, shutting down Palestinian media outlets that incite violence against Israelis, and expedited legislation to prevent illegal Palestinian infiltrators from living or working in Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday, however, that progress is being made only on the last of the three plans.
“I am awaiting an answer from the attorney general regarding my request to deport terrorists’ families to Gaza,” Netanyahu said. “At the same time, we are also considering relocating the terrorists’ families within Judea and Samaria.”
Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit opposes the relocation idea.
In terms of Palestinian incitement, Netanyahu mentioned an Israel Defense Forces raid on a Palestinian radio station in Ramallah last Friday and France’s removal of a Hamas-affiliated television network from one of the biggest French satellite providers. Since the Hamas network has since gone back on the air via Egyptian and Saudi satellite companies, Israeli officials are now looking into ways of permanently shutting down the network’s broadcasting.
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Arab League designates Hezbollah as a terrorist organization
(JNS.org) The Arab League on Friday designated the Lebanon-based Shi’a Muslim group Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.
“The resolution of the League’s council [of foreign ministers] includes the designation of Hezbollah as a terrorist group,” a statement by the Arab League said.
The 22-member body, which is dominated by Sunni Arab states, voted overwhelmingly in favor of the decision, with only Lebanon and Iraq—which both have significant Shi’a Muslim populations and close relations with Iran—not supporting the resolution.
The Arab League’s move comes after the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council—which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—also formally designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization earlier this month.
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Two rockets fired from Gaza strike southern Israel
(JNS.org) At least two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip on Friday evening and landed inside of Israel.
Rocket sirens were heard in southern Israeli communities of Sderot and Sha’ar Hanegev, which are adjacent to the Gaza border.
According to the Israel Defense Forces, the rockets landed in an open area, and no injuries or damage were reported. Israeli soldiers searched the area for the rockets.
This was the first rocket attack from Gaza since January, when five rockets were fired and two landed inside of Israel.
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Trump fends off criticism on Israel as candidates spar in latest GOP debate
(JNS.org) In the latest Republican presidential debate on Thursday, businessman Donald Trump fielded criticism from Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Trump’s previous assertion that he would remain “neutral” on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Cruz mentioned Vanderbilt University graduate student and Texas native Taylor Force, who was killed by a Palestinian terrorist while visiting Israel last week.
“As president, I will not be neutral. And let me say this week, a Texan, Taylor Force…He was murdered by a Palestinian terrorist this week in Israel, and I don’t think we need a commander in chief…who is neutral between the Palestinian terrorists and one of our strongest allies in the world, the nation of Israel,” Cruz said.
Trump defended his position, saying that “if we’re going to ever negotiate a peace settlement, which every Israeli wants…I think what would be much more helpful is, I’m a negotiator….I would like to at least have the other side (the Palestinians) think I’m somewhat neutral as to them, so that we can maybe get a deal done.”
Cruz countered, “The reason we are friends and allies with Israel is they are a liberal Democratic country that share our values, they’re our strongest ally in the region.” Yet the Palestinian Authority, he noted, “is in a unity government with Hamas, a terrorist organization.”
Rubio, similarly, said that Israel has “no one to negotiate with.”
“These [Palestinian] groups are not interested in a deal with Israel. What they are interested in is ultimately removing the Jewish state and occupying its entire territory,” he said.
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