Six months ago, on March 21, US-based researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, the daughter of Soviet political prisoners and a dual Israeli and Russian citizen, was kidnapped in Iraq. The kidnapping of the Princeton doctoral student was reported by the Prime Minister’s Office only in July, which announced that she was being held hostage by the Iraqi Shi’ite militia Kataib Hezbollah…In response to questions from the Jerusalem Post, former Soviet prisoner Natan Sharansky said “the Iraqi government has to feel it is their responsibility because, after all the organization that kidnapped her is a part of the government.” READ MORE
Last week, Israel unveiled the much anticipated new Barak tank, an updated version of Israel’s successful family of Merkava tanks. The tank had been in the work for many years led by Israel’s Defense Ministry’s Tank Administration (MANTAK) and local defense companies from a concept almost a decade ago to planning and testing phases over the last half-decade…One of the most impressive pieces of technology is the Iron Vision helmet. The helmet borrows from some of the logic behind Air Force helmets and head-up displays, such that the commander now can see a display of what is happening outside the vehicle, while buttoned down in the tank. This intuitive concept gives the commander an instant sense of what is happening, from the safety of the vehicle. READ MORE
The United Nations said Wednesday it has documented more than 1,600 cases of human rights violations committed by authorities in Afghanistan during arrests and detentions of people, and urged the Taliban government to stop torture and protect the rights of detainees. Nearly 50% of the violations consisted of “torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment,” the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said…It said the torture aimed at extracting confessions and other information included beatings, suffocation, suspension from the ceiling and electric shocks…The Taliban have promised a more moderate rule than during their previous period in power in the 1990s. READ MORE
FDD LONG WAR JOURNAL Two years after U.S. withdrawal, the Taliban enjoys an iron-fisted grip on AfghanistanTwo years ago on this day, the Taliban marched into Kabul and triumphantly seized back control of Afghanistan. Two weeks later, on Aug. 30, 2021, the last U.S. soldier left the country. Since the U.S. withdrawal, the Taliban has consolidated its power, sheltered and supported numerous regional and global terror groups, crushed armed opposition and rival terror groups, and ruthlessly suppressed the rights of the Afghan people.
…One morning, as we were setting up our pieces, the commander showed up. He brought a new soldier who had just joined the battle. He told me I was in charge of him. I told him, “It’s an honor, welcome.” We didn’t talk any further, we started firing at the Egyptians. The new soldier stood behind the howitzer and helped carry shells and propellant like everyone else. Then we were hit by counter-battery fire. I can’t recall where the shells had fallen, but I do remember that the new soldier, who had just arrived that morning, fell on the sand. He had been hit by shrapnel in his head and sustained severe wounds. He died several days later. His name was Shmuel Hadad. He was the first dead soldier I had seen. READ MORE
Golda Meir was the first female prime minister of Israel and, like the country she led, she was a mass of contradictions. Reportedly lauded by David Ben-Gurion as “the only man” or “the best man” in his cabinet, a statement most would find sexist today but which was unquestionably meant (and taken) as a compliment, Meir was an icon of female empowerment. When she became prime minister in 1969, her face appeared on posters all over the world with feminist slogans, but she was later vilified in Israel for her handling of the Yom Kippur War.READ MORE
JNS Yom Kippur 50 years later: Rethinking Golda’s reputationThe anniversary of the traumatic war has led to a surge of interest in Meir’s life. However, the lessons of the conflict go deeper than a boost in her historical stock.
…Beginning in the 1970s, Fynn-Paul writes, the academic Left began to appropriate the popular image of Indians as proud, noble warriors for its own ends, portraying them instead as naturally peace-loving and harmonious; any negative characteristics were attributed to the corrupting influence of European colonialists, whose society was viewed as “hierarchical, oppressive, exploitative, greedy, misguided, superstitious, and arrogant.” But as Fynn-Paul makes clear, “There is one small problem with this image of peaceloving Native American societies: it is completely untrue. Before the Spanish imposed peace on Amerindian tribes from California to Tierra del Fuego, the unrelenting reality of their lives was a Hobbesian war of all against all.” As is true of any tribal society, constant warfare, raiding, enslavement, and the extermination of rival tribes were endemic, as well as cannibalism, and human sacrifice on a mass scale.READ MORE
Yom Kippur is observed on the 10th day of the Jewish month of Tishrei(September 25, 2023). It is called the Super Sabbath (Shabbat Shabbaton in Hebrew), concluding 10 days of soul-searching and spiritual self-awareness and self-enhancement, which begins on Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the Jewish year. According to Leviticus23:26-32: “The Lord said to Moses, that the tenth day of the seventh month [Tishrei] is the Day of Atonement…. Do not do any work on that day…. This is a lasting ordinance for generations to come….” Yom Kippur commemorates the day of divine forgiveness for the sin of worshipping the golden calf idol. It cautions against the temptation to sacrifice spiritual values on the altar of materialism and convenience. READ MORE
At least four Palestinians were killed and at least 20 others were wounded amid armed clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces in the Jenin refugee camp on Tuesday evening, according to Palestinian reports. Amid the clashes, an Israeli “Maoz” suicide drone was used against terrorists who were attacking Israeli forces in the camp, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit confirmed. The home surrounded by Israeli forces reportedly belonged to Muhammad Abu al-Baha, a leader in the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in Jenin. Palestinian media reported that shoulder-fired missiles were launched by Israeli forces toward the house, sparking a fire. READ MORE
Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas attacked Israel and sought to rewrite its history during his remarks on Sept. 21 at the U.N. General Assembly in New York City. “The Israeli racist right-wing government continues its attacks on our people, and through its army and its racist terrorist settlers continues to intimidate and kill our people, destroy homes and property, steal our money and resources, and detain the bodies of the martyrs,” he said. Abbas further claimed that Israeli ministers have “even been bragging about their apartheid policies on our people under occupation. The Palestinian people are remaining on their land, which they have inhabited for thousands of years, generation after generation,” he said. “They cannot leave their land, and if anyone must leave it must be the occupiers and usurpers.” READ MORE
JNS CEO/Jerusalem Bureau Chief Alex Traiman and Senior Contributing Editor Caroline Glick give you a complete rundown and in-depth analysis of the multiple storylines taking place simultaneously as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a series of diplomatic meetings in the U.S. during the United Nations General Assembly, click here to view. Click here to view
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said Wednesday that “every day we get closer” to Saudi Arabia normalizing ties with Israel, while clarifying that the Palestinian issue is still a “very important” component of the process. The comments represented rare public remarks in English by bin Salman regarding the normalization effort, offering an additional degree of optimism regarding its chances, hours after US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the issue during a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York…The crown prince has long been seen as less hostile to Israel than his father King Salman, telling The Atlantic last year, “We don’t look at Israel as an enemy, we look to them as a potential ally with many interests that we can pursue together.”READ MORE
ARUTZ SHEVA Erdogan: I intend to visit Israel soonTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he intends to visit Israel soon after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits Turkey, Ynet reported on Wednesday. Erdogan made the comments in a meeting with 15 Jewish leaders at in New York. According to the report, the Turkish President told the Jewish leaders said that he was very excited about the reconciliation with Israel.
ArchitectGuy on Israel 