By David Lev
Two Grad rockets were fired at Israel by Gaza Arab terrorists Thursday morning. One rocket, fired at Be'ersheva, was intercepted by the Iron Dome system, while a second fell in the area of Ofakim, just several hundred meters from a school where classes were taking place Thursday.
As news of the attack spread, parents quickly came to pick up their children, and classes were cancelled for the rest of the day. Many parents said that the fact that their children were not injured in the attack “a miracle.”
Meanwhile, members of the Gar'in Torah community in Ashdod have decided to organize a mass protest in the city Thursday afternoon, to demand that authorities put an end to the ongoing terror attacks from Gaza. Residents of the city will protest beginning at 4 PM at main intersections at the entrance of the city to express their frustration with the attacks, which have disrupted normal life to a great extent.
Ya'akov Biton, director of the Ashdod Gar'in Torani, said that “a residents, we felt a need to express our feelings about the situation in the south in general and in the Gaza border area in particular. We cannot allow a situation where residents of the border area continue to absorb attacks, even after a cease fire, because each missile is meant to kill. We cannot accept the current situation."
"This is our opportunity to express our support for residents of the Gaza border area, who have been on the front lines for years. W hope that the government and decision makers will do everything possible to put a complete end to the rocket attacks on Israel,” Biton said.
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Soldier Wounded in Light Rail Stabbing Attack
Source: Arutz Sheva
By David Lev
An Israel female soldier in her early 20s was stabbed while riding on Jerusalem's light rail Thursday morning. The stabber was an Arab who ran away from the scene of the stabbing, witnesses said. The stabbing occurred as the train was traveling in the Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood in northern Jerusalem. Service has been suspended on trains in the north of the city.
Police have opened an investigation. Initial findings show that the Arab entered the train at one of the stops on its route, quickly stabbed the soldier, and jumped off the train within seconds.
After a search of about 20 minutes, police arrested the stabber. He was being questioned by security personnel.
Police said that the woman was being treated for serious wounds by rescue personnel, and that she was transferred to Sha'ar Tzedek hospital for further treatment. Police are searching the area for the stabber.
This was the first reported terror attack on Jerusalem's light rail, which is ridden daily by thousands of Jerusalem residents, Jewish and Arab.
Last week, an IDF soldier was stabbed when soldiers entered the town of Yatta in the southern Hebron Hills in order to arrest a terrorists who was plotting a terror attack. The terrorist, Khaled Mahmara, was released in the deal to free kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit several months ago. Two terrorists attacked the soldier, and one of them stabbed him in the throat. The soldier managed to shoot the terrorists, eliminating one and injuring the other.
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Source: Arutz Sheva
By David Lev
Despite the de facto cease fire in southern Israel, Gaza Arab terrorists fired another rocket at Israel Thursday morning. The rocket exploded in an open area near the city of Netivot in southern Israel. No one was injured, and no damage was reported.
This was the fourth rocket fired at Israel since the cease fire was announced. Three rockets were fired at Israeli targets Wednesday night by Gaza Arab terrorists. Two of the missiles aimed at Be'ersheva were intercepted by the Iron Dome rocket defense system, while the third fell near the town of Ofakim in an open field.
No injuries were reported, but several people were treated for shock in the attacks. As a result of the attacks, school was canceled in Ashdod, Be'ersheva, Kiryat Malachi, and Gan Yavneh – all of which have been under fire in recent days.
In response to the attack, IDF planes attacked terror targets in Gaza. Planes hit a site used for launching rockets against Israel in northern Gaza, and destroyed a tunnel used by terrorists to smuggle weapons from Sinai into Gaza. In a statement, the IDF said that it would “continue to defend Israeli citizens and respond with force and determination to any attempts to conduct terror attacks.
“Hamas, which takes advantage of other terror groups to conduct terror attacks against Israel, is responsible for these attacks, and will shoulder the responsibility of any future action by the IDF to remove the terror threat and restore quiet to the region,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, IDF troops arrested 11 wanted security suspects in Judea and Samaria overnight Wednesday. Five of the suspects were arrested in the Ramallah area, and two were arrested in Azzun, an Arab village on Route 55 adjacent to the towns of Alfei Menashe, Ma'ale Shomron, and Karnei Shomron. Numerous rock and firebomb attacks have occurred on Route 55 in recent days, and the suspects are thought to be connected to the incidents. All the suspects were being questioned by security officials on Thursday morning.
