Al Qaida-Linked Group Claims Responsibility for Monday’s Terror Attack
June 20, 2012 15:08 by Pesach Benson
Today’s Top Stories:
1. Al-Qaida-linked group takes responsibility for Monday’s terror attack while the IDF said it killed a Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander who helped plan the attack. Palestinian terror groups partnering up with Global Jihad Inc. is bad news. This from the Jerusalem Post:
The defense establishment is particularly concerned with the development and growing presence of global jihad and al-Qaida-affiliated organizations in the Gaza Strip, some of which are made up of former Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas members. Others, it said, come from Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Hamas said the man was Ghalib Rmelat, a member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s Al-Quds Brigades.
Haaretz reports that more than 20 rockets have been fired today, including one that directly hit a Sdot Negev house, and a Grad that landed near Beersheva.
Meanwhile, YNet‘s Ron Ben-Yishai wonders if the Sinai’s Bedouin smugglers are behind yesterday’s attack:
They know that they cannot completely avert the construction of the fence, yet every delay in building it means an added profit of tens of thousands of dollars . . .
The Bedouins’ cheekiness is reinforced by the realization that the IDF will avoid as much as is possible operating in the Sinai, as not to hurt Egypt’s honor and sovereignty at this sensitive period.
2. The Palestinian Authority is revamping its politically correct guide style book. Palestinian Media Watch cites numerous examples of testy terminology. Here’s a selection:
3. A ship carrying Russian attack helicopters to Syria turned around thanks to an unusual course of action by the UK. The Daily Telegraph explains:
The change came after a British government intervention led the ship’s insurers to withdraw cover for Russian firm that owns the vessel . . .
Western officials have said the ship was carrying military cargo including Hind-D Mi-25 helicopter gunships.
Security sources said there could be no legitimate reason for the Syrian regime to seek the helicopters.
Israel and the Palestinians
• My colleague, Yarden Frankl, takes exception to Reuters photography over the recent border violence. Why is Reuters skewing the story using only images of Palestinians — and even images unrelated to the story itself?
• Tweet of the Day goes to reporter Jon Donnison of the BBC (you read that right):
With that tweet in mind, see HonestReporting’s latest communique addressing Big Media and Palestinian medical sources: Palestinian Girl’s Death: Hamas Owns Up.
• Saeb Erekat to the Times of Israel: We may push for UN nonmember status this month:
Under such a resolution, Palestine would be considered a “state under occupation,” according to Erekat.
While Palestine would not have a vote in the General Assembly, it could join the International Court of Justice or the International Criminal Court.
“I don’t know why the Israelis are against this move,” Erekat said . . . .
• Is the PA Losing Control of the West Bank?
• Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is training legal eagles around the world to deal with lawfare and delegitimization efforts. Details at Israel HaYom.
• NY Times bureau chief Jodi Rudoren visits Ulpana:
The residents of Ulpana, and Beit El more broadly, are mostly middle-class, Orthodox families seen as mainstream and responsible. But in recent days their neighborhood has been flooded with outsiders: well-wishers bringing homemade cakes; a food-charity truck filled with fresh cherries; yeshiva boys poring over sacred texts in a 24-hour vigil; and a small tent city reminiscent of the Occupy movement. Some have strategically placed tires on pathways, ready to be set ablaze to block the police; others stand guard at driveways entering the neighborhood with makeshift weapons.
“I hate it,” said Yael Yosef Chai, 25, one of those to be evacuated. “Youth have inclinations. People who have families are more balanced. They feel humiliated, they feel frustrated, but they will go on.”
Source material can be found at this site.
