Police Arrest Syrian Infiltrator

This article begins with an arrest of a Syrian infiltrator at a police check point in Majdal Shams. The Syrian was in a taxi and did not have any papers with him which is illegal. The man was not armed, but he was taken into questioning at a local police station. The taxi driver, who was Palestinian was also arrested for transporting him there. The whole passage, though, is not just about this arrest. Police have been leading house to house searches for Palestinian-Syrian infiltrators, so much so, that they have even set up road blocks throughout the city. The recent protests of Palestinians near the Israeli borders trying to enter the country has caused quite an upset for Israel because they realize that these protesters probably won't stop. On monday, Israel sent out messages to neighboring countries' governments and said they wish to prevent any incidents such as the one recently where protesters infiltrated the border, says Deputy Foreign Minister, Danny Ayalon. The security establishment has been preparing for another day of demonstrations throughout the country and West Bank, protesters infiltrating the border, and just overall chaos for the Israeli government. "Nakba Day" demonstrations and protests continued Sunday throughout Jordan and Egypt with dozens injured. Twenty-four people were injured during a protest that took place on Sunday outside the Israeli embassy in Cairo, Egypt, news agency MENA reported. Egyptian police set off teargas to force back pro-Palestinian protesters who has broken through a barricade outside the embassy. Jordanian police also had to use extreme force at the Allenby Bridge to prevent protesters from entering Israel. Reports were made that two people had been shot and murdered, but the Jordanian police have denied the accusations. "In Syria, the ruling Baath party issued a statement saying, 'the leadership of [Syrian President Bashar] Assad remains as committed as ever to restoring the rights of the Palestinian people,' responding to Sunday's events in the Golan Heights".

 

It is very sad that countries have to fight like this, let alone neighboring countries. I think that Israel should give Palestine back their "country" except I don't know that whole situation yet and all the facts. I just think that if people feel the need to protest so strongly there must be something that needs to change, whether it be to Israel's benefit or not. But I wouldn't want this type of fighting happening so close to where I live, which is why I feel for the Israeli citizens that have nothing to do with this situation.

http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=220742

Toddler Eats Alkaline Battery

This article is about a 3-year-old girl from Kiryat Malachi, Israel who swallowed a "button" battery. The battery was from her grandmother's blood sugar monitor that had been left on the couch. She was taken to the emergency room at Kaplan Medical Center and the toddler told the pediatric gastroenterologist that what she swallowed was a shekel coin. X-rays were taken, and it was discovered that the object she ingested was actually an alkaline battery. On top of that, the battery had begun to leak; the acid in her stomach had caused the metal casing to corrode. Under general anesthesia, the battery was removed. The toddler suffered an extreme burn in her esophagus from the battery, which will require continued treatment. The little girl also has to fast "to enable the tissue to begin recovering, and it will take some time until she can eat normally again.

It's scary, but also kind of humorous that toddlers and little babies will just pick up anything, and just eat it. This just shows you that if a guardian/parent doesn't pay close attention to their little babies, anything can happen to them. I'm glad this little girl is okay!

http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=216577&R=R2

Synagogue Vandalized in Ra'anana

This article addressed the vandalism inflicted upon the Kehilat Ra’anan synagogue in Ra’anana. This incident occurred during the late hours of Wednesday night when unknown persons shattered six windows of the establishment and spray painted a threatening phrase on the one of the outside building walls. The words read, "It has begun" and underneath was the Star of David, all in black spray paint. An investigation has been opened by the police of this incident. "Mayor Nahum Hofri vehemently condemned the 'thuggery' and stressed that such a deed does not characterize Ra’anana, 'a city of tolerance and exemplary coexistence'." He also stated that Ra'anana respects and tolerates every stream of Judaism. This synagogue has experienced an attack like this for the third time now, and by the Reform Movement, this has been seen as a "worrisome development". Police first took these attacks as mere acting out from out of control adolescents, but now they are leaning towards the idea that this is more organized than they have perceived. Security cameras have never been used at the synagogue before, but the head of the Reform Movement, Rabbi Gilad Kariv, has stated that that will most likely change. 

I really just want to shake people that act like this. I don't understand people who will just disrespect something that is meant to be so sacred and holy, and they probably don't even lose a wink of sleep over it. Even if they don't agree with something the synagogue is doing doesn't mean they have the right to vandalize the building, not to mention, make threats such as "It has begun". I disagree with a lot of other religions because I have my own beliefs, but in no way does that mean I would ever spray paint the walls of the church/synagogue or whatever, or do anything to vandalize it. That is so disrespectful and not right at all. And also, I would not want someone or some other group vandalizing my church in such a way, either. All I can hope for this group of vandals, is that they don't resort to unnecessary violence to get their point across. 

http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=216653&R=R2

Arab Israeli Sentences for Recruiting to Hamas Terror Cell

This article regards the arrest and sentencing of Islam Marai, 26 for "holding contacts with a Hamas operative, facilitating an illegal association, and providing room and board and transport to a foreign citizen". Marai was sentenced at the Haifa District Court. There was a charge sheet filed on Marai in December 2010 by state prosecutors. His contacts were filled with Hamas operatives with the intent of creating a terrorism cell in Israel that would be aimed at committing lethal acts upon Israeli civilians. He was sentenced six years for committing 'severe national security offenses' such as recruiting Arab-Israelis into Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades. The Haifa District Court stated that he used his presence inside Israel to his advantage so that he could facilitate terrorist activities.

I think out of all the types of criminals there are, terrorists are very high on my list. There is no reason to act like this as a human being. These people that are committing terrorists acts are just power hungry, but I think they also have to somewhat, if not totally, out of their minds. I cringe to think that so many of these terrorists get away with what they are doing, and accomplish their sadist goals so often. I'm glad they at least caught this potential terrorist..... but on the other hand, I do not think six years is even close to being enough prison time for people like this.

http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=221351 

Tel Aviv Murder Suicide

This article is about a couple found, both shot in their apartment in North Tel Aviv. The paramedics pronounced the woman dead at the scene, and then rushed the boyfriend to the Sourasky Medical Center, where he died an hour later. Police ruled this an apparent murder suicide. They stated that the boyfriend shot his girlfriend at close range, and then proceeded to attempt to commit suicide. Both the man and his girlfriend were in their 50s, divorced, and had been dating for approximately eight months. The woman's daughter is the one who found the couple lying on the floor, as she was trying to find her mother. The woman's ex-husband gave a statement to reporters saying that his ex-wife was going to leave her boyfriend and get back together with him, and that must have been why the boyfriend did this to her. The police are still in the beginning phases of this investigation, and are going to inspect all possibilities of this incident, but for now are calling it a murder suicide. As far as the police know, from asking neighbors and loved ones of the couple, there haven't really been any problems among or disturbances by the couple. 

This story reminds me so much of Champaign's attempted murder suicide last summer. But in that case, the mom survived, and the dad committed suicide when he thought he had killed her. I hate stories like this because they can be totally avoided. If someone doesn't want to be with you, why push it? And why to go to extreme lengths to make them stay with you, or in this case just not leave you? In my opinion, if someone I was with no longer wanted to be with me, I would eventually move on, because who would want to be in a relationship like that? I know people that commit these types of crimes have to have something extremely wrong with them mentally, though. These stories occur all too often, and are so sad to hear about. 

http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=216733&R=R2