Today’s Top Stories
1. As expected, the UN General Assembly condemned Israel for “excessive force” against Palestinians during the Gaza border clashes. The resolution — which calls on UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to recommend an “international protection mechanism” for Gaza — was approved by a vote of 120-8 with 45 abstentions.
The resolution, sponsored by Turkey and Algeria, does not mention by Hamas by name. A US push to include language denouncing the terror group was rejected on procedural grounds. See Times of Israel and AP coverage.
The resolution deplores “any excessive use of force” by Israeli forces, particularly in Gaza, and demands that Israel “refrain from such actions.” It “deplores the firing of rockets from the Gaza Strip against Israeli civilian areas,” but doesn’t say who is doing the firing.
General Assembly resolutions are not binding and the US has no veto power. I’m giving last word on the matter for now to Einat Wilf.
As #UNGA discusses Israel's supposed "indiscriminate" use of force, how about using math? if an army fired into a crowd of 45,000 representing population distribution in Gaza, what are odds of killing total of 61 men of whom 53 are Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives (1% of pop.)?
— Dr. Einat Wilf (@EinatWilf) June 13, 2018
2. Did Hezbollah refuse a Russian demand to leave southern Syria?
3. Jason Walters, a former Dutch jihadist who was de-radicalized in prison is now reaching out to Jews for forgiveness. The JTA explains:
“As a salafi jihadist, anti-Semitism is wrapped up in your entire worldview,” he said.
Which is why Walters chose to speak out for the first time to Esther Voet, the editor-in-chief of Holland’s NIW Jewish weekly, in an unusual interview that also featured an apology to Dutch Jews and other victims, and his advocacy of Israel’s right to exist within secure borders . . .
The “pitfall of anti-Semitism, where I once fell, is becoming mainstream,” he added. “The same stereotypes are back. There’s no more balance in the debate about Jews or Israel.”
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In the News
• Do you suppose the UN General Assembly’s vote slamming Israel has emboldened Hamas to play with fire? Hamas threatened to send 5,000 burning kites towards Israel on Friday. Tomorrow is Eid al Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the month of Ramadan.
Palestinians say they will launch 5000 flaming kites to Israel on Eid Al-Fitr (most likely Friday). pic.twitter.com/7JJ32yo9No
— Khaled Abu Toameh (@KhaledAbuToameh) June 14, 2018
• PA security forces broke up a Ramallah demonstration against Mahmoud Abbas’ sanctions on Gaza. Foreign and Palestinian journalists were roughed up too. Shortly before the demonstration, the PA banned anti-Abbas protests in the West Bank.
Palestinian police dispersed the crowd with electric shockers and batons. Undercover officers dragged others away, arresting about 10 people.
Abbas has cracked down on dissent, and such protests are rare.
• The Israeli habit of bureaucratizing everything in sight just collided with Mideast realities and the World Cup.
• German lawmakers gave a green light to a $1.2 billion deal to lease Israeli-made aerial drones. The Heron TP is Israel’s most advanced unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), capable of reconnaissance and air-to-ground missiles. See Times of Israel and Jerusalem Post coverage.
The deal had faced opposition from the center-left Social Democrats, who are partners in the ruling coalition, because the surveillance drones can also be equipped with weapons . . .
Germany is leasing the Israeli drones until European-built models are ready for operation around 2025, according to the report.
• Israel unveils kamikaze drone designed to hit complex targets.
• Prince William may visit Western Wall during royal visit to Israel.
• “Norway’s Foreign Ministry this week gave the supporters of the anti-Israel boycott, divestment and sanctions movement an unexpected boon by declaring that boycotting Israeli goods produced in Judea and Samaria is not illegal.”
• As we get closer to Turkey’s June 24 national elections, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s primary political challenger, Muharrem Ince accused him of “signing a secret deal with Israel,” Ynet reported. Bashing Israel to score political points is one of the oldest tricks in what passes for Mideast “democracy.”
• The JTA reports that Holocaust monuments in France and the Netherlands were vandalized. And in Italy, someone torched a car and vandalized a store, leaving behind a message “this shop belongs to a Jew.” (Italian media subsequently reported that the owner of the shop is not Jewish.)
• Congressman Steve King of Iowa taking flak for sharing a tweet by a prominent neo-Nazi.
Commentary
• Here’s what else I’m reading today . . .
– Raphael Ahren: The silver lining in the UN’s almost-condemnation of Hamas
– Elliott Abrams: Prince William (and the Foreign Office) in Jerusalem
– Jacob Magid: Netiv Ha’avot demolition may be a sign the settlers are winning
– Sima Kadmon: Where is Netanyahu’s leadership move?
– Yoni Ben Menachem: Mahmoud Abbas refuses to ease sanctions on Gaza Strip
– Daniel Laufer: Will BDS win Latin America?
– Jerusalem Post: Geographic divide: Taking the pulse of Jews in America and Israel
– Dr. Eliyahu Shoot: False terminology and the delegitimization of Israel
Featured image: CC BY-NC Ed Stevenson; Heron via Wikimedia Commons;
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