Author

admin

Emergency Diaspora Campaign

Israel’s aliyah minister hosts lone soldiers

by admin April 23, 2024

written by admin

The IDF soldiers with their certificates of appreciation at the office of Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer on June 12, 2023. Credit: Aliyah and Integration Ministry.

(June 13, 2023 / JNS)

Israel’s Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer on Monday hosted a group of new immigrants who enlisted in the army as lone soldiers. The troops received the President’s Excellence Award on Israel’s 75th Independence Day: April 25.

“I was very excited to meet the outstanding soldiers and hear their stories,” said Sofer.

A “lone soldier” is defined by the Israeli military as one without parents in Israel, or who is estranged from their parents.

“Each soldier has a unique and moving story that led them to this point, and behind them are parents who support and encourage their aliyah [immigration] and meaningful service in the Israeli Defense Forces. In my opinion, soldiers that have made aliyah exhibit an unparalleled uniqueness that combines aliyah and the protection of our nation, which is very special,” the minister continued.

The soldiers were presented with a framed certificate of appreciation and a special gift at the event, which was organized by Lt. Col. Oded Nahari, commander of the IDF Ceremonies and Events Unit, and the Aliyah and Integration Ministry.

According to the Lone Soldier Center, a total of 7,000 lone soldiers are currently serving in the IDF.

Image: The IDF soldiers with their certificates of appreciation at the office of Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer on June 12, 2023. Credit: Aliyah and Integration Ministry.

April 23, 2024 0 comments

Uncategorized

html test

by admin March 26, 2024

written by admin

Farmer’s market

Welcome to Farmer’s Market

This is the next line down

March 26, 2024 0 comments

History

The myth of the homeless, cultureless, ahistorical Jew

by admin March 3, 2024

written by admin

At its core is a simple message: Jews don’t belong anywhere. At least not on earth.

Matthew Schultz

(Jewish Journal via JNS)

At a protest in London, scrawled on a small piece of cardboard and written with fewer words than a haiku, a masterpiece of antisemitism was lifted on high.

“The only place you’re indigenous to is Jahannam!”

Turn it and turn it, as Ben Bag-Bag said of the Torah, for everything is in it. The idea that Jews belong in “Jahannam,” or “hell” in Arabic, is part of the venerable tradition of religious antisemitism, whether Christian or Islamist, while the reference to indigeneity is a nod to left-wing university-style antisemitism.

At its core is a simple message: Jews don’t belong anywhere. At least not on earth.

And since we don’t have a natural, authentic connection to any place in particular, it’s perfectly justified to try and expel us from every place in general. Before the Holocaust, it was common for German Jews to be told to go back to where they came from. Today, after being slaughtered in Europe and chased out of the Middle East and Africa, we are still being told to go back to where we came from, but now they say it was Europe all along.

Like the myth of the Wandering Jew, who was cursed for taunting Jesus on the cross, our foot can find no rest as we drag ourselves over the horizon. We are conceived of as unwanted guests at best, dangerous infiltrators at worst.

Just as we have no true home, so too we have no true culture or history. Just last May, in a speech to the United Nations, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas asserted that there never was a Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

“They dug under al-Aqsa…they dug everywhere, and they could not find anything,” he said. “They lie and lie, just like Goebbels.”

In this reimagined ancient Levant scrubbed clean of Jews, Jesus is recast as a Palestinian. Even Tel Aviv—the first Hebrew city—is given a fabricated Palestinian pedigree. In a video uploaded to YouTube by “The Ask Project,” a young Palestinian woman is asked if she believes Jews have a right to live anywhere in the land. She shakes her head.

“What about Tel Aviv?” the interviewer asks.

“There is no Tel Aviv,” she responds with a laugh. “It’s Tel Arabiya.”

Most virulent of all is the charge that Israeli cuisine is stolen from Palestinians—a claim which has gained major traction among American leftists because of its consonance with Western ideas about cultural appropriation.

Hence, Israeli restaurants in the United States have been targeted by protesters not only for their ties to Israel, but also for being culture thieves. In one widely shared video, a woman tears down an Israeli flag from a New York restaurant called “Hummus Kitchen” while shouting that hummus “isn’t even Israeli.”

“There is no such thing as Israeli cuisine,” writes one user on X. “It’s all stolen/appropriated from Palestine/Egypt/Lebanon/Morocco/Syria/Turkey/Iraq/Iran/Armenia.”

Note that these countries are all places where Jews have lived for centuries. If Jews don’t live there today, it’s because they were aggressively expelled from those regions. Many of them resettled in Israel, and naturally they took their recipes with them. Had this X user done his research, he would have realized this.

Similarly, had our protester done her research, she would have learned that “Jahannam” is an Arabization of a Hebrew word found in the Torah. “Gei-Hinnom” originally referred to an area in Jerusalem. Today it is a beautiful place just outside the Old City, and for a single year I had the great privilege of seeing it each day when I looked out of my bedroom window.

In the ancient world, it wasn’t so scenic. It was a place of ill-repute. “Gei-Hinnom” thus became a watchword for all that was bad in the world, and by the time Jesus was preaching, the word had come to signify a supernatural netherworld instead of a bad neighborhood. This concept of hell was then adopted by Islam as “Jahannam.”

There is thus a profound irony in our protester’s sign. The very words she uses to try and sever the Jewish connection with the land conceal an etymological link to our ancient presence in Jerusalem. In her effort to call us thieves, she utilizes an Islamic concept which turns out to be derived from the Torah.

This isn’t so unusual. Those most eager to erase Jewish history are those who have been most profoundly shaped by it. For most of history, it was primarily Christians who—having built their religion and society on Hebraic foundations—scorned and abused Jews, claiming the Holy Land as their own and dubbing themselves the new children of Israel. Today these ideas are pushed by Palestinian leadership and activists.

Which is to say that the erasure of Jewish history, culture and connection to the land is best understood as an act of projection.

Hence those whose mosque sits on the site of an ancient Jewish Temple accuse the Jews of being foreign colonizers with no historical connection to the land.

Those whose sacred book is filled with stories and ideas taken directly from the Hebrew Bible accuse the Jews of stealing their falafel.

Increasingly, this campaign of erasure is winning hearts and minds in America and Europe. They believe that Jews have no culture, no history, and most importantly, no place where we belong.

Nowhere except “Jahannam.”

Luckily for us, we know where that really is.

Jerusalem.

Aka Zion.

Originally published by The Jewish Journal.

Image: View of a rope bridge crossing from the Ben Hinnom valley to Mount Zion, in the Old city of Jerusalem, on July 30, 2023. Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90.

March 3, 2024 0 comments

Education Judaism

Miracle on the mountain

by admin March 3, 2024

written by admin

Elijah teaches us a lesson for every generation, including our own.

RABBI YOSSY GOLDMAN

Rabbi Yossy Goldman is Life Rabbi Emeritus of Sydenham Shul in Johannesburg and president of the South African Rabbinical Association. He is the author of From Where I Stand, on the weekly Torah readings, available from Ktav.com and Amazon.

(February 28, 2024 / JNS)

This week we will have the unusual opportunity of marking the leap day of Feb. 29. But Jews, who are characteristically generous, don’t have just a leap day. We have a whole extra month.

With a full 13th month of Adar II, the Haftarah read in shul this week will be a well-known biblical story from the First Book of Kings, which is not usually read in an ordinary calendar year. It is the famous story of Elijah the prophet, and his fight against the idolatrous King Ahab and his heathen wife Queen Jezebel, who actively promoted paganism in the Holy Land and had many of the Hebrew prophets put to death.

The Israelites were wavering between the worship of Baal and the worship of the true God of Israel. Elijah decides that dramatic action is needed to bring his people back from idolatry and confusion to monotheism and faith in the one God. He challenges Ahab to a duel, not with Colt .45s, but with prayer.

The 450 prophets of the idol Baal and Elijah—the one prophet of the one God of Israel—ascended Mount Carmel. Each side was to prepare an animal offering on an altar and pray to their deity. The one whose offering would be consumed by a fire from heaven would have proven the authenticity of their God.

“Give us two bulls and let them [the prophets of Baal] choose one bull for themselves and cut it up and place it on the wood, but fire they shall not put; and I will prepare one bull, and I will put it on the wood, and fire will I not place. And you will call out in the name of your deity, and I will call out in the name of the Lord, and it shall be that the one who will answer with fire, he is the true God.” (First Kings 18:20-39)

The prophets of Baal agreed to the challenge and many thousands gathered on the mountain to watch the dramatic showdown. This would be the final faceoff to determine who was the one true God.

The prophets of Baal went first. Naturally, their prayers and entreaties went unanswered. Elijah even taunted them: “Perhaps your god is sleeping or on a journey. Pray more loudly, perhaps he doesn’t hear you.” Of course, despite all their prayers, incantations and shenanigans, there was no reply from above.

As evening approached, Elijah took center stage. He built an altar, placed the animal upon it, poured water all around the altar and offered a short but powerful prayer: “Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel. Let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant, and at Your word have I done all these things. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, and this people shall know that You are the Lord God.”

As Elijah finished his prayer, a fire descended from heaven and consumed his offering: “And all the people saw and fell on their faces, and they said, “The Lord is God, the Lord is God.”

It is with these very words that, to this day, we conclude the sacred Neilah prayer at the end of every Yom Kippur.

This is a powerful, inspirational story. Just as it demonstrated to the Jews of that generation that the one God alone is worthy of our worship, so does its stirring message speak to us today.

But I am not here to marvel at God’s miracles. To God, miracles are nothing special, just an everyday routine matter. To me, the bigger and more moving miracle is how one mortal man of flesh and blood stood up to the most powerful ruler in the land. Ahab was the king and had an army at his beck and call. Elijah was one lone voice in the wilderness. He had been persecuted, was on the run and almost all his righteous compatriots had been murdered by the king and queen’s forces. Still, he spoke truth to power.

It would have been so much simpler and easier for Elijah to change his tune and go along with the popular thinking of the time. No doubt there were plenty of Jews who must have told him, “Don’t be such a fanatic. Why are you so rigid and inflexible? So what if they dabble a bit with Baal? Everyone is doing it these days. If you cooperate with the king, you may even become the chief prophet of the land!”

But Elijah remained faithful to his beliefs and stuck to his principles. In the end, his prayer was answered, the miracle happened, and he was able to inspire and turn his entire nation back to God.

So, to my mind, bigger than a fire coming down from heaven is the miracle of Elijah’s faith, fortitude, strength of character and courage of his convictions.

Today, the prophets of Baal are gone without a trace, but Elijah—Eliyahu Hanavi—has gone down in history as one of the greatest prophets of all time. He continues to be remembered at every bris and Pesach seder around the world, down through the generations. One dissenting opinion, one man of principle who took the long hard road, lives on forever.

Falsehood may be fashionable, but truth is timeless. Lies, like any fad, soon go out of fashion, but truth is eternal. Compromising principles for popularity works in the short term, but soon leaves us emptyhanded and chastened.

Elijah teaches us a lesson for every generation, including our own. No wonder we are told that Elijah will be the precursor to the ultimate Messenger of Peace who will herald the Messianic Age. He is the harbinger of Moshiach. Ultimately, principled living will bring peace much sooner than pandering to the whims of the moment, as popular as they may be.

We have seen the success of peace through strength. We also need peace through truth.

Image: “The Prophets of Baal Are Slaughtered” by Gustave Doré, 1866. Source: Wikimedia

March 3, 2024 0 comments

Business

$1.3 million awarded to Israeli climate tech startups

by admin March 3, 2024

written by admin

There are more than 850 climate change startups in the country.

(February 28, 2024 / JNS)

An initiative that encourages innovation to address the global climate crisis has awarded $1.3 million to Israeli tech startups, in the latest boost for the Start-Up Nation.

The funding offered by the Climate Solutions Prize Organization with the Tel Aviv-based Startup Nation Central was bestowed to Israeli early-stage startups developing innovative climate tech technologies.

“Channeling Israel’s ingenuity to tackle one of the biggest challenges of our times, the Climate Solutions Prize …aims to be a catalyst for climate tech innovation in both breakthrough research and the startup ecosystem,” said Jeff Hart, executive chair of the Climate Solutions Prize.

“It is vital that we mobilize and inspire the best efforts and best minds so that we can proudly leave a better world for future generations to come,” Hart continued.

The winners include BaTTeRi, which operates in the Electric Vehicle (EV) charging industry; Electriq, which works with hydrogen powder for auxiliary power applications and long-term storage; Envomed, which specializes in sustainable on-site waste treatment; Filo Systems, a data compression innovator; Nemo Nanomaterials, which provides industrially scalable nanotechnology solutions; TIGI, which provides turn-key renewable heat solutions to large heat users; and Biotic, which provides fully bio-based, fully biodegradable polymers (bioplastic) manufacturing processes.

“As a recognized leader in developing advanced solutions to global challenges, Israel is extremely well-positioned to take a central role in battling climate change and bringing solutions to the biggest shared challenge of our times,” said Startup Nation Central CEO Avi Hasson.

The Startup Track prizes include the premier flagship equity investment of $1 million from Capital Nature as well as a roadshow to Singapore from Temasek Foundation, an investment and incubation process with ESIL, and engagements with corporate business units from Continental, E.ON, Italgas and Takeda.

The news comes one month after a separate $1 million climate prize was awarded to three Israeli research projects seeking to solve global warming.

There are more than 850 climate change startups in Israel, according to Startup Nation Central, putting the nation among the global leaders in innovations on climate action.

Image: Israelis attend a rally calling for action against the climate change, at Habima Square in Tel Aviv, Dec. 20, 2020. Photo by Tomer Neuberg/Flash90.

March 3, 2024 0 comments

JTVC Breaking News Terrorism

New IAF Iran unit to focus on preparations for long-range operations

by admin February 29, 2024

written by admin

Established in January, the new unit is a reflection of the IAF’s defined responsibility to be prepared for a future order to mount strikes on sites in Iran.

Yaakov Lappin

(JNS)

A recently established Iran Unit in the Israeli Air Force is dealing with preparations for potential long-range Israeli air operations.

The unit was established in January at the IAF’s operational headquarters, Israel’s Walla! news site reported on Feb. 19.

The unit is a reflection of the IAF’s defined responsibility to be prepared for a future order to mount strikes on sites in Iran such as nuclear facilities and missile bases.

IAF planners face a complex and extensive challenge that demands meticulous planning across several areas: intelligence gathering, the selection of ammunition, choice of aerial platforms and refueling capabilities. The scale and scope of such an operation are vastly different from short-range operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

A solo Israeli strike and a joint Israeli-American strike are both possible scenarios, though the United States under the current administration appears deeply adverse to direct military action against Iran.

The F-35 fighter jet, with its stealth capabilities and vast intelligence-gathering abilities, appears to be the natural candidate for taking the lead in such a strike. In September, Israel formally requested to procure a third F-35 squadron, which would bring the total number of such jets in the IAF to 75. Israel currently has 36 of the 50 jets it has ordered from manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

The IAF, in addition to striking Hamas targets in Gaza and Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on a daily basis, has reportedly also been highly busy in Syria, combating Iranian efforts to build weapons or smuggle them to Hezbollah.

A series of high-level Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps officers, including Sayyed Razi Mousavi, the IRGC’s Syria commander, were killed in airstrikes in and around Damascus in recent months.

Nevertheless, despite the ongoing war and associated activities, Iran remains its own critical arena, due to its conventional and unconventional capabilities. Iran is home to the Middle East’s largest and most varied missile arsenal, a portion of which can strike targets in Israel.

Meanwhile, Iran’s nuclear program is moving ahead at an alarming rate.

On Tuesday, the Associated Press reported that Iran has further increased its overall uranium stockpile, citing a report by the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency watchdog. As Iran continues to bar International Atomic Energy Agency access to its nuclear sites, as of Feb. 10 it had amassed 5,525.5 kilograms (12,182 pounds) of enriched uranium—more than 1,000 kilograms (2205 pounds) more than was documented in the IAEA’s last quarterly report, released in November 2023.

Of that, 121.5 kilograms has been enriched to 60%, representing a decrease of 6.8 kilograms (14.9 pounds) since the last report in November 2023, according to Reuters.

The decrease is reportedly the result of Iran having diluted some of its 60% enriched uranium in recent weeks with lower-grade material.

The Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security estimated in January that Iran could build a crude nuclear weapon within six months.

For weaponization to occur, the Iranians would need to conduct simulations, testing, convert uranium into metallic components and integrate all of the parts into a weapon. This would include the need to place them on missile warheads or bombs, and a possible underground nuclear test.

This means that the IAF must ensure immediate operational readiness.

Already in 2022, the IAF made long-range strike capabilities against Iranian nuclear sites as its top priority.

Iran’s nuclear sites—the most famous of which are the Natanz and Fordow uranium enrichment sites—are not only far away but also heavily fortified, with advanced air-defense systems. In Fordow’s case, the facility is built deep inside a mountain.

In 2020, the Israel Defense Forces formed the Strategy and Third Circle Directorate (a reference to countries in Israel’s “third-circle” periphery, with Iran being the focal point). The directorate was formed due to the need to create a comprehensive, holistic view of threats that begin on Iranian soil and reach the borders of Israel, rather than narrowly viewing developments in isolation from one another.

Image: IAF F-35 stealth fighter aircraft fly in Israeli airspace. Credit: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.

February 29, 2024 0 comments

JTVC Breaking News

‘I heard gunfire a lot,’ says US civilian embedded in Khan Younis for a day

by admin February 28, 2024

written by admin

A husband and father, Gabriel Boxer told JNS that he didn’t sleep much a few nights before his stint in the Gaza Strip.

Alan Zeitlin

(JNS)

Gabriel Boxer of Long Island, N.Y., never expected that a joke would result in his spending a day in Khan Yunis this month in the central Gaza Strip.

The 43-year-old had made several trips to Israel to bring in supplies since the Hamas terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7. In his capacity working with the American Friends of Judea and Samaria raising funds for surveillance drones, he was talking to Yigal Dilmoni, CEO of the Yesha Council.

“As a joke, I said: ‘You should bring someone in to see how everything is working to raise money for more of them,’” he told JNS.

Boxer, who also blogs online as the “Kosher Guru,” was surprised that he subsequently got permission to embed with the Israel Defense Forces—a highly unusual, if not unprecedented, arrangement for a civilian.

“It took over a month and a half to get final approval,” he told JNS. “I heard there was a lot of back and forth behind the scenes.”

He figures a sticking point was how bad it would look if a U.S. civilian was harmed.

“I was told not to leave the side of the commander because I was not dressed as an Israeli soldier, and if I didn’t follow that, they would not be responsible if anything happened,” he told JNS.

In fact, during the more than five hours he went through Khan Younis on a Humvee, Boxer told JNS that there were some tense moments, including when Israeli soldiers ahead of him fired at four Hamas terrorists.

“I heard gunfire a lot of the time,” he told JNS.

Gabriel Boxer in Tunnel — Boxer in a Hamas terror tunnel in the Gaza Strip, February 2024. Credit: Courtesy.

‘Wasn’t thinking about it’

A husband and father, Boxer told JNS that he didn’t sleep much a few nights before his trip.

“I told my wife and children what was going to happen, but I didn’t tell my parents until after. I didn’t want them to worry,” he said. “I was definitely concerned.”

Boxer had faith that God would protect him while he was there. “I wasn’t thinking about it so much,” he said. “I was thinking about the bravery of the Israeli soldiers and how it is tragic that things have to be this way because of Hamas.”

An Orthodox Jew who wears a yarmulke, Boxer told JNS that Israeli soldiers showed him photographs from a school in Gaza where painted images show an exploding Israeli Egged bus.

“When we saw video and read about Oct. 7, we wondered how human beings could do such things,” Boxer said. “Part of it is the indoctrination in schools where, from a young age, there are years of radicalization.”

“This has to be addressed if there is any future hope for peace,” he said.

Wardrobe mishap

In Gaza, Boxer wore a helmet and bulletproof vest. But there was a miscommunication on his attire with Dilmoni.

“Before I went, I asked what I should wear, and he said to wear black,” Boxer said. “So, I wore jeans and a black shirt. He said I looked like Hamas. So, he said I should stay close to him.”

Generally, only certain journalists for top news organizations are given permission to embed with the Israeli army. When asked how unusual it was for a person like Boxer to do so, an IDF media representative told JNS that it frequently gives journalists a chance to embed, though did not elaborate on civilians.

Boxer told JNS that he thinks the IDF needed donations of drones to quickly avoid bureaucratic red tape.

His sense after spending time on the ground is that Israeli soldiers are up to the task, although the fighting is intricate and difficult.

“The morale is high,” he said. “The feeling is we are winning. But it isn’t easy.”

Image: U.S. citizen Gabriel Boxer in a Hamas terror tunnel in the Gaza Strip in February 2024. Credit: Courtesy.

February 28, 2024 0 comments

JTVC Breaking News Terrorism

Hamas praises man who burned himself to death outside Israeli embassy

by admin February 28, 2024

written by admin

Aaron Bushnell has also received celebrations from far-left 2024 presidential candidates Cornel West and Jill Stein.

(JNS)

Hamas said in a statement that Biden “bears full responsibility for the death of U.S. Army pilot Aaron Bushnell due to its policy that supported the Nazi-Zionist entity in its war of extermination against our Palestinian people.”

Hamas said Bushnell gave his life “to shed light on the Zionist massacres and ethnic cleansing against our people in the Gaza Strip.”

Cornel West, the far-left independent 2024 presidential candidate, similarly offered praise, writing on X: “Let us never forget the extraordinary courage and commitment of brother Aaron Bushnell who died for truth and justice! I pray for his precious loved ones! Let us rededicate ourselves to genuine solidarity with Palestinians undergoing genocidal attacks in real time!”

Let us never forget the extraordinary courage and commitment of brother Aaron Bushnell who died for truth and justice! I pray for his precious loved ones! Let us rededicate ourselves to genuine solidarity with Palestinians undergoing genocidal attacks in real time!… pic.twitter.com/9F7dXOAYJt

— Cornel West (@CornelWest) February 26, 2024

Dr. Jill Stein, a presidential candidate for the far-left Green Party, wrote on X: “Rest in power Aaron Bushnell” and “May his sacrifice deepen our commitment to stop genocide now.”

Antisemitic rock artist Roger Waters posted a video of Bushnell killing himself as the Pink Floyd song “The Gunners Dream” played in the background. Waters wrote that Bushnell was an “All American Hero.”

A friend has described Bushnell as an anarchist. Unverified postings on Reddit also suggest staunch anti-Israel views. In a posting responding to someone describing the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on civilians and tourists, Acebush1—an account identified as Bushnell’s that has since been wiped—wrote: “There are no Israeli ‘civilians’ or tourists who have no part in the oppression of Palestine.”

The user claimed that since he was not Palestinian, he was “in no position to endorse or condemn Hamas’ actions,” that “there are no Israelis without the genocide of the Palestinian people” and that “Israel is a settler colonialist apartheid state.”

Image: The Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. Credit: Krokodyl via Wikimedia Commons.

February 28, 2024 0 comments

Community JTVC Breaking News

‘Not coincidental’: Drastic drop in aid that goes through UNRWA

by admin February 28, 2024

written by admin

A security source said that the shift reflects Israel’s desire to reduce UNRWA’s role in managing civilian life in Gaza as much as possible.

Ariel Kahana

(JNS)

Israel has significantly reduced the scope of aid distributed through UNRWA, and now most of the supplies entering Gaza are handled by other organizations.

According to data from Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories obtained by Israel Hayom, 52% of the food entering the Strip is delivered to the “U.N. World Food Programme (WFP),” 34% to UNRWA, and the rest to other aid organizations.

A security source told Israel Hayom that the shift is not coincidental and reflects Israel’s desire to reduce UNRWA’s role in managing civilian life in the Gaza Strip as much as possible. The move comes against the backdrop of mounting evidence showing UNRWA employees were active participants in the Oct. 7 atrocities and glorified the acts afterward.

The call to replace UNRWA was heard by dozens of public figures and experts at a special conference convened near U.N. headquarters in Geneva, under the title “International Summit for a Future Beyond UNRWA.” The special gathering was initiated by UN Watch, a watchdog that monitors U.N. activity and documents its bias against Israel.

The hardest moment of the conference was when a grieving Israeli mother, Ayelet Samerano, showed footage of a UNRWA employee brutally dragging her son Yonatan’s body and abducting it to Gaza.

Samerano tearfully appealed to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres:

“Mr. Guterres, look me in the eyes and answer me now, where is my son? Bring him back home. You are next door. You have the opportunity to speak with me and tell me what happened to my son. I’m not an investigator and cannot answer these questions. I’m just a mother who lost the most precious thing in the world.

“That is why I am standing here before you today and demanding answers about my son. We already have proof that at least 42 UNRWA employees took part in the Oct. 7 terrorist attack. For me, there is only one decision: UNRWA has no reason to exist. U.N., clean your house!”

Originally published by Israel Hayom.

Image: A Palestinian carries an aid package from UNRWA in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Sept. 27, 2018. Photo by Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90.

February 28, 2024 0 comments

JTVC Breaking News Terrorism

IDF reservist flies home to fight Hamas in plane’s washroom seat

by admin February 27, 2024

written by admin

“I felt for the first time that it was a war for our existence.”

Etgar Lefkovits, Rehovot

(JNS)

When a 27-year-old Israeli university student vacationing in Thailand on Oct. 7 was determined to fly home to join his military reserve unit, he was given an unusual seat on the sold-out and overbooked El Al flight to Tel Aviv: the plane’s restroom.

“I felt for the first time that it was a war for our existence, and that we need to be here to protect our country,” Itay Kahana recounted in an interview with JNS on Sunday after completing nearly five months of reserve duty. “I had no second thoughts,” he added.

Itay Kahana (center) in Samaria. Photo: Courtesy.

From paradise to firefight

On that fateful autumn morning, Kahana had completed a diving course on a Thai island and was lunching on Chicken Pad Thai on the beachfront when he and two friends got word via social media apps on their phones of the Hamas massacre underway in Israel. He quickly understood the situation was dire.

“It was the most surreal situation possible,” he recalled. “In one second, we went from enjoying ourselves on this paradise beachfront to complete and total shock.”

Concerned that the existence of the State of Israel was at stake, Kahana, who had no return ticket, bought a domestic flight from the southern Thai tourist island of Ko Pha-ngan, where a halfmoon party was underway, to Bangkok.

The airport was flooded with Israelis trying to get back home, but nearly all the flights to Tel Aviv were canceled, with the exception of the direct flights on El Al as well as a connecting route via Dubai, which had been flagged as a security risk due to the outbreak of war.

For three days, Kahana, who received an emergency call-up order from his IDF combat unit, desperately tried to get on an El Al flight, encouraged by his father, who said he would always regret it if he stayed in Thailand during such a fateful time. For 72 hours, he went back and forth from the airport to the city to sleep.

Finally, on the third day, 20 minutes before the midnight flight, an El Al stewardess told a group of reservists that she was taking 25 of them on the place even though it was overbooked, he recounted. Five were seated in the cockpit, five in the airline stewards’ seats and 15 in the plane’s washrooms.

“Of course with my luck, I got the washroom seat,” he said with a grimace.

The airline, which days later was chartered by the Israeli government to bring back reservists from around the world, charged him $650 for the one-way flight, he begrudgingly notes, which was later refunded by the military.

(His for-pay washroom flight seat left him angered at a recent El Al television advertisement, which received national and international plaudits, depicting reservists being flown home on the flagship carrier. The airline has also offered military personnel a free ticket to a European destination.)

During the eight-hour flight, Kahana walked the aisles, where other reservists were sleeping on the floor, and only had to take his assigned seat during takeoff, landing and times of turbulence. If he was in his washroom seat, he would redirect passengers to other restrooms unless it was for a quick freshening up.

The mood on the overnight flight was dour. He met a seated traveler, whom he had earlier seen in the Far East, whose farmer father was murdered during the Hamas invasion.

In the morning, he landed in an Israel at war.

Kahana, who lives in a village near the central Israeli city of Rehovot, raced to his military base not knowing if he would be sent to Gaza or to the northern border where Hezbollah was raining down missiles.

In the end, he was stationed near Ariel in Samaria amid concerns that Palestinians in other regions would join in on the violence. The day after he deployed, his unit engaged in an intense firefight with Palestinian gunmen near the village of Huwara, a hotbed of violence outside Nablus.

“A day before my flight I was getting a Thai massage and two days later I was being sprayed by an automatic weapon with 40 bullets at a distance of 100 meters,” he said.

No regrets

As he completes his reserve service next week and returns to civilian life and his university studies, Kahana said he would have made the same decision to immediately return home—select plane seat notwithstanding—“in a heartbeat.”

“We need to be here to protect our country,” he said. “Also, just being here we showed our enemies that they don’t break our spirit.”

He is looking forward to his next trip abroad to relax after things calm down, preferably with an upgrade.

February 27, 2024 0 comments