Tag Archives: IDF

Israeli President, Prime Minister Mark Anniversary of Operation Protective Edge

Israeli leaders held an official ceremony marking a year since the beginning of the 50 day war with Gaza.

Both Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid tribute to the 67 soldiers who died during Operation Protective Edge and warned that the next battle could be even more difficult and costly to the nation of Israel.

“The next conflict will be even more difficult than the last. It is clear that such a conflict will require a decisive and difficult decision,” Rivlin said. “When there is no fire towards Sderot, Nahal Oz, Nir Banim, Ashdod or Ashkelon — then there will be no fire towards the Gaza Strip.”

“We are not a people of war, but if forced to take up arms to defend our borders and our existence, we will not hesitate to do so,” the president added.

The remembrance comes as the United Nation’s Human Rights Council voted to condemn Israel for alleged war crimes during the conflict.

Netanyahu, however, appeared to be unmoved the opinion of the United Nations in his comments.

“I say to all enemies of Israel — Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran and the Islamic State, too — whoever tries to harm us, their blood is upon their heads,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu also spoke directly to the families of those who perished saying that each one saved lives.

“There isn’t any remedy for your pain,” Netanyahu said. “But with all that pain, you truly understand that your loved ones saved lives… for the sake of Israel.”

“Life is a flowing river that takes us forward and you will eventually know days of hope and happiness,” he continued. “There will always be pain, but your loved ones died as heroes.”

Netanyahu’s brother Yoni died during a 1976 Israeli military action.

Rocket Shot Into Israel From Gaza

A rocket was launched from the Gaza Strip toward Israel on Tuesday night.

Residents scattered for shelter as alarms pierced through the quiet night.  The IDF said the sirens sounded in Zikim, Karmia, Netiv Ha’asara and Yad Mordechai.  All of those towns border the northern Gaza Strip.

Radio Israel reported the rocket landed in an open area between two towns although the IDF would not confirm that report.

The rocket attack was the latest in a string of launches at Israel over the last month due to in-fighting among groups in the Gaza Strip.  A salafi group has been fighting against the Hamas leaders in the Strip and their clashes seem to end with rockets being fired into Israel.

Israeli officials say that Hamas is responsible any time a rocket is fired into their nation from the Gaza Strip.

The attack comes on the heels of the United Nations claiming that Israel could be found liable for war crimes from last summer’s rocket attacks by Palestinian groups.

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon earlier this month warned Israel would not allow the conflicts between Hamas and the salafi organization to disrupt Israeli life.

“In recent days we received another reminder about the complexity of the situation in the Gaza Strip, a hostile entity controlled by a murderous terrorist organization, Hamas, which is also challenged by terror gangs affiliated to the global jihad,” he said.

Rockets Fired Into Israel

Rockets were fired toward Ashdod and Lakhish on Tuesday night.

An army source told the Jerusalem Post said that sirens went off in the areas before the rockets headed toward the cities.

Various Israeli media outlets reported five rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip toward the country but that only one rocket actually landed inside Israeli territory.  Initial reports had said that three had landed inside the country.

Sources in Gaza told the Times of Israel that Islamic Jihad fired the rockets toward Israel.  There are disputes inside the organization that led to kidnappings in northern Gaza and ended with the rocket launches into Israel.

The IDF said they are investigating the launch and attempting to confirm the launches were the result of in-fighting among Islamic Jihad.

IDF Responds To Syrian Missile Attack

The Israel Air Force launched a strike against a Syrian army unit Tuesday night in response to a rocket attack on the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon.

“The IDF views the Syrian regime as responsible for what occurs in its territory, and will act at any time and any way it sees fit to protect the citizens of Israel,” the IDF said in a statement to Jerusalem Post.

The response from the IDF came after two rockets struck the northern Golan Heights Tuesday.  Local residents and over a thousand visitors to the Mount Hermon ski site fleeing into shelters or other cover.

“The time has come to bring back Israelis’ sense of security – personal and social. One depends on the other,” Labor leader Isaac Herzog said while speaking to students at Sapir College in Sderot. “We need to be determined and enlist the world to Israel’s side for the good of our security interests, because we cannot make a living without security, and there is no security without being able to make a living The IDF has over the past several days been on alert across the north, deploying air defense, armored units, infantry, and artillery guns.”

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said that Iran is seeking to attack Israel through any means possible including using Syrian forces.

Ten Fold Rise In Explosive Attacks By Palestinians in 2014

An IDF officer has released a report showing the number of IED attacks by Palestinians on Israelis has jumped ten fold in 2014.

The rise of 20 IEDs during 2014 compared to 2 in 2013 is indicative of a rise of across-the-board violence in the West Bank.

“The level of sophistication is not very high,” said Maj. Irad Hershkovitz, the demolitions officer of the Shomron Regional Brigade. “It’s not Yahya Ayyash. It’s not the Second Intifada. But there has been a very significant rise.”

Maj. Hershkovitz told the Times of Israel that most of the IEDs are explosives placed inside a cheap metal casing along with a watch or cell phone timer.

However, he said a crackdown has been taking place on bomb makers in the West Bank.

“The solution is the waves of arrests that we do,” he said, noting that the army is active in Area A, which is under full Palestinian control, and within the refugee camps surrounding Nablus. “There is not a night in which a few Palestinians are not arrested,” he said. “Nothing else can be done. That is what stops the wave of terror.”

Palestinians Fire Rocket At Israel

A rocket struck Southern Israel on Friday according to officials with the Israel Defense Forces, the first strike by Palestinians on Israel using rockets since September.

The strike in the Eshkol region set off the air raid sirens but the rocket landed in an open field causing no damage or injuries.

The strike came as Palestinians attacked Israeli forces at a West Bank checkpoint near the village of Turmus Aya.  The IDF reported no injuries as a result of the attack.

The village where the assault from the Palestinians took place is where a Palestinian Cabinet minister collapsed and later died.  The Palestinians claimed an Israeli soldier hit him when an autopsy showed that he actually died from a heart attack.

In the midst of the Palestinian attacks, the IDF announced they were going to allow Christians in the West Bank to visit their relatives in the Gaza Strip.  They said it was a goodwill measure for Christians during their holy days.

Palestinian Official Dies In Clash With Israeli Forces

The already strained relationship between Israel and Palestine grew further apart after the death of a Palestinian official who clashed with Israel Defense Forces.

An Israeli pathologist is joining with a team from Jordan to conduct the autopsy of Ziad Abu Ein, who died while en route to a hospital Wednesday after being struck in the chest with what is believed to be a tear gas canister.

Abu Ein headed the PA government agency that campaigns against security barriers and settlements.  He fought with Israeli Defense Forces near Turmusaya in the northern West Bank.  Palestinians claimed he was hit by the rifle butt of a soldier but Israeli witnesses say that he was not hit by a soldier.

The IDF says that 200 rioters were attempting to enter a Palestinian settlement and were being led by Abu Ein.

Abu Ein was extradited from the U.S. to Israel in 1981 for his connection to a 1979 terrorist bombing.

Israeli Planes Strike Syria

Israeli officials say they don’t expect to receive retribution from Syria after an airstrike.

An IDF official who requested anonymity told the Times of Israel that he doesn’t believe Syria can afford to open up another war front when they’re so engaged in fighting against Islamic terrorist groups attempting to overthrow the nation.

The officer also said that it’s unlikely terrorist group Hezbollah, who had been trying to obtain weapons and munitions from Syria, would strike out against Israel.

“I don’t see any reason why in 2015 Hezbollah will turn to Israel, there is no logic to that way of thinking,” he said in a briefing with reporters at military headquarters. “But if you are talking about capacity and the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) should be ready to deal with any capability of any one of its enemies. The capability of Hezbollah is growing every year.”

Israel has stayed out of the Syrian Civil War other than to make surgical strikes when they find Syria attempting to send weapons to Hezbollah.  There was no confirmation from the IDF that was the reason for the recent strike but the officer did make comment that seemed to indicate it was the reason.

“Anyone who tries to arm our enemies should know that we can go anywhere, anytime, in any way, in order to foil his plans. We will not compromise on this,” he said.

Potential Defense Secretary Quiet Supporter of Israel

The likely replacement for Chuck Hagel as defense secretary is seen as a likely stronger support of Israel than previous Obama Administration appointees.

Ashton Carter is described by those within the defense intelligence community as “an efficient administrator” and is believed to be an ally of top military brass rather than someone who views military leadership as an adversary.

Carter visited Israel in 2013 and told IDF soldiers “protecting America means protecting Israel, and that’s why we’re here in the first place.”

Carter, while considered the front runner, has been passed over for the top defense position on two other occasions and Israeli officials say they’re optimistic but will be cautious until Carter officially holds the position.

Israeli officials are also encouraged that Carter has been a strong advocate for making sure Iran does not have the ability to develop nuclear weapons.

Israel On High Alert Over Mutual Holidays

Police and IDF forces across Israel are on high alert Friday because of the possibility of clashes between Jews and Muslims as two major holidays collide on the same day.

Yom Kippur and Eid al-Adha overlap for the first time in over 30 years.

Reinforced police units have been deployed in cities that have significant Muslim minorities: Jerusalem, Jaffa, Haifa and Acre.  The military has closed the West Bank and the Gaza Strip which is usually done during the major Jewish holidays.

Yom Kippur is a major day in Israel where devout Jews ask God to forgive them for their sins.  Almost all businesses close and TV and radio stations usually are off the air.

The Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha lasts three days and consists of family celebrations and events.

Israeli officials did not say if the increased security will end after Yom Kippur or ocntinue through the end of the Muslim holiday.