Police raise alert at Jerusalem building sites

Jerusalem police said they are taking extra measures to check Arab workers at city construction sites since the bulldozer attack Tuesday morning (22nd).  Police officials said that they will examine more closely the backgrounds of the workers.  Work continued on Wednesday at the site (23rd) where three weeks ago a terrorist ran a bulldozer over pedestrians and vehicles, killing three an injuring 45.  Work foremen in construction areas are being told to monitor each and every truck that arrives at work sites, and watch for any unusual activity.    

Tuesday’s (22nd) latest bulldozer attack injured 26 persons before the driver was shot and killed.

Since January, 12 persons have been killed in Jerusalem by Israeli Arab terrorists from East Jerusalem carrying Israeli identity cards.

(Arutz-7, 7/23)

Eyewitnesses describe Tuesday’s attack

Witnesses described how the driver of the bulldozer had targeted pedestrians and vehicles before he was shot dead by a civilian and a Border Policeman Tuesday (22nd).  “The driver tried to bring the blade of the bulldozer on the head of a pedestrian, but missed by an inch,” said one eyewitness.  “Then he kept going in a zigzag fashion down the slope of King David Street….One car flipped over and others were crushed.”

The driver of a bus hit by the bulldozer said he was chased as the driver wielded the vehicle’s shovel.  “I was driving on the main road when the bulldozer hit me in the rear,” the bus driver told Channel 10 TV.  “After I passed him he turned around, made a U-turn and rammed the windows twice with the shovel.  The third time he aimed for my head – he came up to my window and I swerved to the right, otherwise I would have gone to meet my maker.”

Witness Moshe Shimshi said the bulldozer driver slammed into the side of the bus, then sped away and aimed for a car.  “He just kept ramming into cars….The driver then headed for cars waiting at a red light and rammed into them with all his might.” 

(Ha’Aretz, 7/23)

Dead terrorist related to jailed Hamas parliament member

Palestinian sources in Jerusalem reported on Tuesday (22nd) that the man who carried out the bulldozer attack in Jerusalem earlier in the day was Ghasan Abu-Tir, 22, of Umm Tuba who is related to “jailed” Hamas parliament member Muhammad Abu-Tir.

(Ynet, 7/23)

Policeman shot in July 11 Jerusalem attack dies of wounds

Israeli police say a policeman shot in a Palestinian militant attack earlier this month at the Lions Gate has died of his wounds.  The lawman, David Shriki, was one of two officers wounded by gunfire while on patrol in Jerusalem’s Old City on the night of July 11.  Police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said Shriki died early Wednesday (23rd) at the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem.  The second policeman shot in the attack was less gravely injured and is recovering.  Police are still hunting the assailant

(JP, Ynet, 7/23)

Israel government Press office to sanction Al-Jazeera over party for Kuntar

For the second time this year, Israel has decided to act against Al Jazeera, after the influential TV station held a party for released Lebanese child-killer Samir Kuntar in Beirut, where he was hailed a hero who carried out a brave military operation against the Jewish state.

“We will suspend all handling of Al-Jazeera requests,” said GPO director Daniel Seaman. 

Earlier this year, Israel decided to boycott the station after Al-Jazeera correspondents staged a candlelight protest following an Israeli decision to reduce electric supplies to Gaza in response to continued rocket attacks.

(JP, 7/23)

Gillerman in final speech: What ever happens, Israel will prevail

Israel’s outgoing Ambassador to the United Nations, Dan Gillerman, gave his last speech Tuesday (22nd) to the U.N. Security Council.  Referring to the second tractor terror attack on Tuesday (22nd), he said when the first tractor attack occurred (July 11) people said the driver was “a madman.”  It is now clear, he added, that the problem was not a solitary madman but rather “a phenomenon.”  Gillerman had prepared a speech but told the ambassadors that he decided to “speak from his heart” instead.  “This is most probably my last appearance before you as the representative of the state of Israel,” he said.  “I would like to thank each and every one of you for the time you have spent on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and our problems.”  He said however, that, “whatever happens, whatever you discuss, whatever transpires – Israel will prevail.”

(Ynet, 7/23)

 Hundreds turn out for Tel Aviv rally in honor of Gilad Shalit

Hundreds of people gathered at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening (22nd) at a rally in honor of abducted Defenses Forces soldier Gilad Shalit.  Shalit was kidnapped by Palestinian militants in June 2006 and has been held captive in the Gaza Strip for over two years.

Shalit’s company was discharged Tuesday (22nd) after formally completing their three years of mandatory service.  Their first steps as reservists were to walk the five and a half miles that separate the Bakum base in Tel Hashomer from the Defense Minister’s Bureau in the Kirya military compound in the heart of Tel Aviv.  There they met with Ehud Barak and asked him – as someone who once served as a commanding officer – to work toward achieving their friend’s release.

Shalit’s comrades will continue to urge Israel’s leadership to bring Shalit back – and at any cost.

(Ha’Aretz, 7/23)

Record 450 French immigrants arrive at Ben Gurion Airport

A record 450 French immigrants arrived at Ben Gurion International Airport Wednesday (23rd), on three special flights sponsored by the Jewish Agency and the AMI immigration association.

France has one of the largest Jewish communities outside of Israel, totaling nearly half a million people.  Its population is second only to America’s Jewish population, which has now exceeded 5 million.  Since 2000 there has been a marked increase in the number of French citizens immigrating to Israel due to the waves of growing anti-Semitism in the European state.

Many French Jews say they no longer feel welcome in France, particularly within the working-class suburbs of Paris, where much of the tension has been focused.

(Ha’Aretz, 7/23)

Graffiti reappears in Russia

Swastikas reappeared on a wall facing a Jewish community center in Russia a day after graffiti was painted over.  Community leaders in the city of Ivanovo, 85 miles northeast of Moscow, have become increasingly discouraged in the face of the anti-Semitic graffiti.  Vandals, last week, spray-painted a swastika on the entryway of the home of Ervin Kirshtein a local Jewish leader.  Kershtein said it seems that regional law enforcement agencies “either don’t want to, or are unable to fight against fascism,” according to the Regnum News Agency.

In an unrelated incident, Vandals painted swastikas and stars of David on 15 gravestones in the Nizhny Novgorod region according to a Jewish website.  The vandals knocked over 10 gravestones and smashed five more.  Police are investigating the incident among other recent anti-Semitic attacks.

(JTA, Regnum News Agency, 7/23)

Israeli-planned irrigation project helps Sengalese farmers

A new irrigation project in Senegal developed by the Israeli Embassy is expected to enormously increase local agricultural production. 

The equipment was developed by an Israeli scientist, Dov Pasternak, who specializes in agriculture in desert areas.

Traditionally farmers wait for the three-month rainy season to plant, but with drip-irrigation, Senegal’s farmers can grow crops year around.  “Drip irrigation means bigger yields by as much as five times,” says Alioune Diouf, technical advisor to the project.

(Daily Alert, 7/23)