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1. Friday Night is Seder Night
by T. Gedalya and R. Sylvetsky
The Holy One, Blessed be He, passed over the homes of the Israelites as he smote the firstborn of the Egyptians, from the son of Pharaoh to the son of the servants. Pharaoh was spared to see how G-d delivered His Chosen People from the hands of those who would destroy them, as He does in every generation. And the joyous holiday of Passover, in which we relive that redemption and sing "Next year in rebuilt Jerusalem", begins Friday night.
Arutz Sheva brings you a summary of the main aspects of the holiday in Jewish law and practice. For details on koshering a kitchen for Passover, click here and for Torah thoughts for the holiday from well known rabbis and religious scholars, click here and continue to read our Judaism section.
Dates:
Passover (Pesach), called the Holiday of Our Freedom, will take place in Israel this year between sunset on Friday, April 6, (15th of Nisan) and Friday night, April 13th, but because of the Sabbath, will effectively end on Saturday night April 14th.
The first and seventh days are always marked as Sabbath-like holy days (Yom Tov) in which work is forbidden.Since this year, the holiday in Israel ends as the Sabbath begins, there are two holy days at the end of the holiday.
Jews outside of Israel observe an additional holy day in both the beginning and end of Pesach, which lasts eight days for them. Jews visiting Israel only for the holiday should refrain, on the eighth day, from activities not allowed on holy days, but do not have to perform specific commandments related to the holiday, such as extra prayers. There are differing halakhic decisions on the issue, with some rabbis saying that that visitors must keep the additional days as if they were in the Diaspora, including having a second Seder.
Jews are commanded to tell the story of leaving Egypt at the Seder as if it had happened to them personally and not as a mere historical event. This is in order to emphasize the importance of the hard-won and precious freedom that, due to G-d's deliverance, allowed the Jewish nation to be born.
In the time of the Holy Temple, every Jew came to Jerusalem on the 14th of Nisan and at dusk, each family offered a lamb or kid to G-d in remembrance of their forefathers' deliverance from bondage, then joyously ate of the offering together. Today, statistics show that almost every Jew in Israel attends a seder. There are communal seders in many communities. At the start of the Seder, those who are in need are invited to enter and join.
Preparation:
It is the custome to say "Have a kosher and happy holiday" about Pesach, due to the many laws concerning the prohibition of leavened foods on the holiday.
The government of Israel sells its “chametz,” leavened products, to an Arab before the holiday in order not to transgress the commandment of not owning any chametz during the holiday. This includes any food product that contains leavened wheat, oat, barley, rye, or spelt products.
So do Jews who observe the holiday. Houses are thoroughly cleaned before Pesach and utensils and food containing chametz are sold to a non-Jew. After a search for remaining chametz in houses Thursday night, before which a special blessing is said, Jews burn it the following morning, several hours before Pesach begins. Both at night and in the morning they proclaim that any chametz left in their possession should be considered as dust - they have sold the rest.
Consult your local rabbi or an appropriate internet site for the time chametz should be burned, for the last minute one can eat chametz on Friday and when one can use it.
Dishes are changed for the holiday unless they have been made kosher for Passover through a procedure which depends on the material of which they are made. Not all materials can be made useable for Pesach.
In the absence of leaven, Jews will eat specially prepared unleavened bread, or matzah, on Pesach, as was done at the Exodus, when the Jews did not have enough time to wait for dough to rise before leaving Egypt. During their bondage, they ate matzah as well, called the "bread of affliction".
First-born males over 13 are required to fast on the day before Passover – in commemoration of the fact that first-born Jewish males were spared when first-born Egyptian males were killed during the tenth plague – but may be released of this obligation by participating in a halakhically mandated festive meal, like the ones that accompany the conclusion of study of a tractate of the Talmud or a circumcision, on the morning before Passover.
The Seder
The traditional Seder is held Friday night this year – Friday and Saturday nights for Jews outside of Israel. The guide for the Seder is detailed in the Haggadah, literally "narration," which relates the story of the Exodus from Egypt, and which has many commentaries, points of discussion and rousing songs that make for a lively evening..
A plate placed on the Seder table contains several special foods: a roasted egg, symbolizing the special holiday sacrifices which were brought in the Temple; a roasted shank bone, recalling the special Passover lamb offered and eaten in Temple times; a mixture of chopped apples, nuts, wine and cinnamon known as charoset, symbolizing the mortar that the Hebrew slaves in Egypt used to make bricks; sprigs of parsley and lettuce, symbolizing spring; a bitter herb symbolizing the bitterness of slavery; and nearby, a bowl of salt water, recalling the tears shed by the Hebrew slaves in Egypt.
Four cups of wine (or most of each cup) are drunk at the Seder, each symbolizing a specific verb used by G-d in the Exodus story; a fifth cup, symbolizing a fifth verb, is filled for Elijah the Prophet, harbinger of the Messiah in the hope that he will arrive at the Seder.
Three whole pieces of matza mark the division of the Jewish people into priests (Kohenim), Levites and the general population are also placed on the table. There are also other explanations for this custom, as there are for almost all of the customs.
During the course of the Seder, the Ten Plagues are recalled. When each of the Plagues is mentioned, each participant dips a finger into his/her cup of wine and removes a drop; even though the Jews were oppressed in Egypt, we are reminded that we must not rejoice over the Egyptians' suffering. Our cups of wine cannot thus be full.
One of the more popular Seder customs for children is the asking of the Four Questions, the reaction of a child who wonders at a totally different kind of evening than what he is used to seeing during holidays. Another concerns the afikoman, a special piece of matza that is the last food eaten during the Seder. The head of the household customarily hides the afikoman somewhere in the house, and the children then search for it. Once found, the afikoman is "ransomed," since the Seder cannot continue until the afikoman is eaten. This helps to keep the children focused on the Seder and to pique their curiosity regarding the entire Passover epic.
The Seven Day Celebration, the Counting of the Omer, Maimouna:
On the morning of Tuesday 19 April, festive prayers, including a prayer for dew during the spring and summer, and special readings, will figure prominently in synagogue services.
During the intermediate days, between the first and last days, special prayers also are recited in synagogue. In Israel, all of Pesach is an official holiday for schools and most government offices. The roads in Israel are clogged, as the entire country takes to wheels - and this year, lovely spring weather is forecast. In the Torah, the Jewish people are told: " Today you are leaving [Egypt], in the month of Spring".
Jewish tradition maintains that the parting of the Red Sea and the destruction of the Egyptian army occurred on the seventh day of Passover, but even though Passover celebrates the Exodus from Egypt, Jews nevertheless do not rejoice over the death of the Egyptians in the sea and only an abridged version of Hallel (Psalms 113-118) – a holiday prayer – is recited after the first day of Passover.
On the Sabbath that marks the first day of Pesach, the day's special readings will include the Song of Songs.
From the evening of Saturday night, April 7th, Jews will keep a nightly count of the 49 days (seven weeks), until Friday evening, May 25th, one day before the holiday of Shavuot. This count commemorates the Temple offering of the omer, or sheaf of new grain, in keeping with the Biblical injunction of Leviticus 23:15-16.
Maimouna – an informal, yet widely celebrated holiday which originated among the Jews of North Africa, particularly those from Morocco, and is believed to be in honor of Maimonides, the great Torah luminary who lived in Egypt – will be celebrated Saturday night, Arpil 14th. According to custom, families prepare elaborate tables with various sweets and baked goods, and host friends and family members. Whole neighborhoods often close as celebrations spill out into the streets and parks.
For an in depth look at different aspects of the holiday, see A7's Judaism section.
Chag kasher vesameach - have a kosher and happy holiday!
Comment on this story
by T. Gedalya and R. Sylvetsky
The Holy One, Blessed be He, passed over the homes of the Israelites as he smote the firstborn of the Egyptians, from the son of Pharaoh to the son of the servants. Pharaoh was spared to see how G-d delivered His Chosen People from the hands of those who would destroy them, as He does in every generation. And the joyous holiday of Passover, in which we relive that redemption and sing "Next year in rebuilt Jerusalem", begins Friday night.
Arutz Sheva brings you a summary of the main aspects of the holiday in Jewish law and practice. For details on koshering a kitchen for Passover, click here and for Torah thoughts for the holiday from well known rabbis and religious scholars, click here and continue to read our Judaism section.
Dates:
Passover (Pesach), called the Holiday of Our Freedom, will take place in Israel this year between sunset on Friday, April 6, (15th of Nisan) and Friday night, April 13th, but because of the Sabbath, will effectively end on Saturday night April 14th.
The first and seventh days are always marked as Sabbath-like holy days (Yom Tov) in which work is forbidden.Since this year, the holiday in Israel ends as the Sabbath begins, there are two holy days at the end of the holiday.
Jews outside of Israel observe an additional holy day in both the beginning and end of Pesach, which lasts eight days for them. Jews visiting Israel only for the holiday should refrain, on the eighth day, from activities not allowed on holy days, but do not have to perform specific commandments related to the holiday, such as extra prayers. There are differing halakhic decisions on the issue, with some rabbis saying that that visitors must keep the additional days as if they were in the Diaspora, including having a second Seder.
Jews are commanded to tell the story of leaving Egypt at the Seder as if it had happened to them personally and not as a mere historical event. This is in order to emphasize the importance of the hard-won and precious freedom that, due to G-d's deliverance, allowed the Jewish nation to be born.
In the time of the Holy Temple, every Jew came to Jerusalem on the 14th of Nisan and at dusk, each family offered a lamb or kid to G-d in remembrance of their forefathers' deliverance from bondage, then joyously ate of the offering together. Today, statistics show that almost every Jew in Israel attends a seder. There are communal seders in many communities. At the start of the Seder, those who are in need are invited to enter and join.
Preparation:
It is the custome to say "Have a kosher and happy holiday" about Pesach, due to the many laws concerning the prohibition of leavened foods on the holiday.
The government of Israel sells its “chametz,” leavened products, to an Arab before the holiday in order not to transgress the commandment of not owning any chametz during the holiday. This includes any food product that contains leavened wheat, oat, barley, rye, or spelt products.
So do Jews who observe the holiday. Houses are thoroughly cleaned before Pesach and utensils and food containing chametz are sold to a non-Jew. After a search for remaining chametz in houses Thursday night, before which a special blessing is said, Jews burn it the following morning, several hours before Pesach begins. Both at night and in the morning they proclaim that any chametz left in their possession should be considered as dust - they have sold the rest.
Consult your local rabbi or an appropriate internet site for the time chametz should be burned, for the last minute one can eat chametz on Friday and when one can use it.
Dishes are changed for the holiday unless they have been made kosher for Passover through a procedure which depends on the material of which they are made. Not all materials can be made useable for Pesach.
In the absence of leaven, Jews will eat specially prepared unleavened bread, or matzah, on Pesach, as was done at the Exodus, when the Jews did not have enough time to wait for dough to rise before leaving Egypt. During their bondage, they ate matzah as well, called the "bread of affliction".
First-born males over 13 are required to fast on the day before Passover – in commemoration of the fact that first-born Jewish males were spared when first-born Egyptian males were killed during the tenth plague – but may be released of this obligation by participating in a halakhically mandated festive meal, like the ones that accompany the conclusion of study of a tractate of the Talmud or a circumcision, on the morning before Passover.
The Seder
The traditional Seder is held Friday night this year – Friday and Saturday nights for Jews outside of Israel. The guide for the Seder is detailed in the Haggadah, literally "narration," which relates the story of the Exodus from Egypt, and which has many commentaries, points of discussion and rousing songs that make for a lively evening..
A plate placed on the Seder table contains several special foods: a roasted egg, symbolizing the special holiday sacrifices which were brought in the Temple; a roasted shank bone, recalling the special Passover lamb offered and eaten in Temple times; a mixture of chopped apples, nuts, wine and cinnamon known as charoset, symbolizing the mortar that the Hebrew slaves in Egypt used to make bricks; sprigs of parsley and lettuce, symbolizing spring; a bitter herb symbolizing the bitterness of slavery; and nearby, a bowl of salt water, recalling the tears shed by the Hebrew slaves in Egypt.
Four cups of wine (or most of each cup) are drunk at the Seder, each symbolizing a specific verb used by G-d in the Exodus story; a fifth cup, symbolizing a fifth verb, is filled for Elijah the Prophet, harbinger of the Messiah in the hope that he will arrive at the Seder.
Three whole pieces of matza mark the division of the Jewish people into priests (Kohenim), Levites and the general population are also placed on the table. There are also other explanations for this custom, as there are for almost all of the customs.
During the course of the Seder, the Ten Plagues are recalled. When each of the Plagues is mentioned, each participant dips a finger into his/her cup of wine and removes a drop; even though the Jews were oppressed in Egypt, we are reminded that we must not rejoice over the Egyptians' suffering. Our cups of wine cannot thus be full.
One of the more popular Seder customs for children is the asking of the Four Questions, the reaction of a child who wonders at a totally different kind of evening than what he is used to seeing during holidays. Another concerns the afikoman, a special piece of matza that is the last food eaten during the Seder. The head of the household customarily hides the afikoman somewhere in the house, and the children then search for it. Once found, the afikoman is "ransomed," since the Seder cannot continue until the afikoman is eaten. This helps to keep the children focused on the Seder and to pique their curiosity regarding the entire Passover epic.
The Seven Day Celebration, the Counting of the Omer, Maimouna:
On the morning of Tuesday 19 April, festive prayers, including a prayer for dew during the spring and summer, and special readings, will figure prominently in synagogue services.
During the intermediate days, between the first and last days, special prayers also are recited in synagogue. In Israel, all of Pesach is an official holiday for schools and most government offices. The roads in Israel are clogged, as the entire country takes to wheels - and this year, lovely spring weather is forecast. In the Torah, the Jewish people are told: " Today you are leaving [Egypt], in the month of Spring".
Jewish tradition maintains that the parting of the Red Sea and the destruction of the Egyptian army occurred on the seventh day of Passover, but even though Passover celebrates the Exodus from Egypt, Jews nevertheless do not rejoice over the death of the Egyptians in the sea and only an abridged version of Hallel (Psalms 113-118) – a holiday prayer – is recited after the first day of Passover.
On the Sabbath that marks the first day of Pesach, the day's special readings will include the Song of Songs.
From the evening of Saturday night, April 7th, Jews will keep a nightly count of the 49 days (seven weeks), until Friday evening, May 25th, one day before the holiday of Shavuot. This count commemorates the Temple offering of the omer, or sheaf of new grain, in keeping with the Biblical injunction of Leviticus 23:15-16.
Maimouna – an informal, yet widely celebrated holiday which originated among the Jews of North Africa, particularly those from Morocco, and is believed to be in honor of Maimonides, the great Torah luminary who lived in Egypt – will be celebrated Saturday night, Arpil 14th. According to custom, families prepare elaborate tables with various sweets and baked goods, and host friends and family members. Whole neighborhoods often close as celebrations spill out into the streets and parks.
For an in depth look at different aspects of the holiday, see A7's Judaism section.
Chag kasher vesameach - have a kosher and happy holiday!
Tags: Passover
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2. Last Preparations: Out With Bread, In with Matzah
by Maayana Miskin
Jews in Israel and around the world are making their final preparations for Passover (Pesach) on Friday. In Israel, the time to stop eating leavened bread products – chametz – is 10:03 a.m., and the last time to burn or otherwise dispose of it is 11:22 a.m.
Points have been set up across the country in which chametz can be safely burned.
Police have begun a state of high alert that will continue over the days of the week-long holiday. Thousands of officers have taken up positions in Jerusalem, where one main goal is to ensure that the Old City and Kotel (Western Wall) are safe for visitors. Police will also focus attention on mixed Jewish-Muslim neighborhoods.
On Monday, the Kotel will be the site of a very special biannual event – a massive Priestly Blessing. Hundreds of Kohanim, descendants of the biblical priests, will bless the people of Israel during morning prayers, which will be open to the public. The morning prayer service will begin at 8:45 a.m., the first blessing will be recited at approximately 9:30 a.m., and Mussaf prayers will start at 10.
Police will also providing extra security at parks and other public recreation places. The weather is expected to be hot yet pleasant during the intermediate days of Passover (Chol Hamoed).
Traffic police are preparing as well. They expect unusually heavy traffic as the holiday approaches and millions of Israelis travel to be with family.
The IDF is on alert as well. Palestinian Authority areas are under closure due to fear of terrorism, meaning that PA Arabs will only be allowed into Israeli areas in case of humanitarian need. PA Arabs will continue to travel freely within PA-controlled territory.
IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz plans to meet Friday with 400 lone soldiers to give them his best wishes before the holiday.
Comment on this story
by Maayana Miskin
Jews in Israel and around the world are making their final preparations for Passover (Pesach) on Friday. In Israel, the time to stop eating leavened bread products – chametz – is 10:03 a.m., and the last time to burn or otherwise dispose of it is 11:22 a.m.
Points have been set up across the country in which chametz can be safely burned.
Police have begun a state of high alert that will continue over the days of the week-long holiday. Thousands of officers have taken up positions in Jerusalem, where one main goal is to ensure that the Old City and Kotel (Western Wall) are safe for visitors. Police will also focus attention on mixed Jewish-Muslim neighborhoods.
On Monday, the Kotel will be the site of a very special biannual event – a massive Priestly Blessing. Hundreds of Kohanim, descendants of the biblical priests, will bless the people of Israel during morning prayers, which will be open to the public. The morning prayer service will begin at 8:45 a.m., the first blessing will be recited at approximately 9:30 a.m., and Mussaf prayers will start at 10.
Police will also providing extra security at parks and other public recreation places. The weather is expected to be hot yet pleasant during the intermediate days of Passover (Chol Hamoed).
Traffic police are preparing as well. They expect unusually heavy traffic as the holiday approaches and millions of Israelis travel to be with family.
The IDF is on alert as well. Palestinian Authority areas are under closure due to fear of terrorism, meaning that PA Arabs will only be allowed into Israeli areas in case of humanitarian need. PA Arabs will continue to travel freely within PA-controlled territory.
IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz plans to meet Friday with 400 lone soldiers to give them his best wishes before the holiday.
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3. Operation IDF Passover Seder
by Chana Ya'ar
As millions of Israelis prepare to celebrate the Passover seder on Friday night, the IDF will join them at bases around the country.
The various IDF units have been busy all week preparing for the feast to come. Passover preparations involve dozens of soldiers and commanders at army bases and outposts on land, out at sea, and flying the skies.
As part of its preparations for the holiday, the IDF purchased 70,000 kg of various foods that included 8,000 kg of Nile perch fish, 3,500 kg of roast beef, 9,000 kg of chicken thighs, 7,200 kg of matzah, 16,000 bottles of grape juice, and more.
Diners at the seder will conclude the feast with 9,500 kg of chocolate marble cake.
Not one soldier will miss celebrating a seder, regardless of where they are: Those who are on duty will have their meals delivered directly to their positions in the field. The military Chief Rabbinate has been extremely busy, with all reinforcements of reservists in the kosher food industry called to their army units to supervise the preparations.
Prior to the holiday, IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz will meet with 400 soldiers at the army resort village of AWIS Givat Olga to raise a glass in honor of the holiday.
The Association for the Israeli Soldier is holding a special Passover seder for lone soldiers who enlist to serve Israel despite having no family in the country. The event, now in its 11th year, is held in cooperation with the Division of Education and Youth Corps personnel.
“On the night of the seder and all through the holiday, the IDF calls on Israeli citizens to travel around the country and enjoy its beauty and attractions,” said the IDF Spokesperson, “but again calls on travelers to [also] abide by security and safety [protocols] as well.”
Comment on this story
by Chana Ya'ar
As millions of Israelis prepare to celebrate the Passover seder on Friday night, the IDF will join them at bases around the country.
The various IDF units have been busy all week preparing for the feast to come. Passover preparations involve dozens of soldiers and commanders at army bases and outposts on land, out at sea, and flying the skies.
As part of its preparations for the holiday, the IDF purchased 70,000 kg of various foods that included 8,000 kg of Nile perch fish, 3,500 kg of roast beef, 9,000 kg of chicken thighs, 7,200 kg of matzah, 16,000 bottles of grape juice, and more.
Diners at the seder will conclude the feast with 9,500 kg of chocolate marble cake.
Not one soldier will miss celebrating a seder, regardless of where they are: Those who are on duty will have their meals delivered directly to their positions in the field. The military Chief Rabbinate has been extremely busy, with all reinforcements of reservists in the kosher food industry called to their army units to supervise the preparations.
Prior to the holiday, IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz will meet with 400 soldiers at the army resort village of AWIS Givat Olga to raise a glass in honor of the holiday.
The Association for the Israeli Soldier is holding a special Passover seder for lone soldiers who enlist to serve Israel despite having no family in the country. The event, now in its 11th year, is held in cooperation with the Division of Education and Youth Corps personnel.
“On the night of the seder and all through the holiday, the IDF calls on Israeli citizens to travel around the country and enjoy its beauty and attractions,” said the IDF Spokesperson, “but again calls on travelers to [also] abide by security and safety [protocols] as well.”
Tags: IDF seder ,IDF Passover ,lone soldier ,AWIS ,Givat Olga
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4. Spy Eli Cohen ‘Ate Matzah in Damascus’
by Maayana Miskin
Israeli spy Eli Cohen managed to eat matzah on Passover even while deeply enmeshed in life among the Syrian elite, his widow Nadia told Arutz Sheva.
Nadia explained that she had just heard the story of Eli’s Passover observance recently. “Just now two people from Syria told me that [Eli] knew that there were Jews in the marketplace. He would watch them from afar, then go and ask to taste some of the matzah,” she said.
“He didn’t want them to know he was Jewish, so he would say, ‘Let me taste some of that thing that you eat only on your week of holiday,’” she explained.
Eli Cohen managed to infiltrate the top ranks of Syrian leadership, and used his status to gather valuable security information, which he sent to Israel. The reports he sent were invaluable in helping Israel take the Golan during the Six Day War, two years after he was caught and executed.
Passover had a special meaning for the Cohen family, Nadia related. “Eli came to Israel from Egypt, he made aliyah in 1956,” she said.
The family has found a measure of comfort in the decades since his death, she said. “For many years there was a lot of sadness, we felt that the ground had fallen out from beneath our feet,” she recalled. “But slowly, slowly the family expanded, there are children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren… This year we will celebrate the holiday at my daughter Sophie’s house, we will keep smiling.”
Comment on this story
by Maayana Miskin
Israeli spy Eli Cohen managed to eat matzah on Passover even while deeply enmeshed in life among the Syrian elite, his widow Nadia told Arutz Sheva.
Nadia explained that she had just heard the story of Eli’s Passover observance recently. “Just now two people from Syria told me that [Eli] knew that there were Jews in the marketplace. He would watch them from afar, then go and ask to taste some of the matzah,” she said.
“He didn’t want them to know he was Jewish, so he would say, ‘Let me taste some of that thing that you eat only on your week of holiday,’” she explained.
Eli Cohen managed to infiltrate the top ranks of Syrian leadership, and used his status to gather valuable security information, which he sent to Israel. The reports he sent were invaluable in helping Israel take the Golan during the Six Day War, two years after he was caught and executed.
Passover had a special meaning for the Cohen family, Nadia related. “Eli came to Israel from Egypt, he made aliyah in 1956,” she said.
The family has found a measure of comfort in the decades since his death, she said. “For many years there was a lot of sadness, we felt that the ground had fallen out from beneath our feet,” she recalled. “But slowly, slowly the family expanded, there are children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren… This year we will celebrate the holiday at my daughter Sophie’s house, we will keep smiling.”
Tags: Eli Cohen ,Passover ,Pesach Seder
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5. Abbas Denies Upcoming Meeting with Netanyahu
by Elad Benari
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas denied on Thursday the reports that he would meet Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu later this month.
Kol Yisrael reported that Abbas, who spoke in a television interview, said that a meeting with Netanyahu is not on the agenda at the moment.
Earlier this week there had been reports that Israeli and PA negotiators will meet for the first time since talks held in Jordan two months ago ended in failure.
There were also reports that Netanyahu is expected to meet with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad after Passover.
Sources in the PMO said that the two leaders will discuss the possibility of re-starting the long-moribund peace process.
Abbas, during Thursday’s interview, confirmed the meeting between Netanyahu and Fayyad and said that during the meeting, Fayyad will give Netanyahu a letter Abbas has written to the Israeli prime minister.
Abbas also said that the letter outlines the peace process since the Oslo Accord were signed and says that “the Palestinian Authority no longer feels like an authority."
Kol Yisrael quoted Abbas as having said on Thursday that the PA is impatient when it sees how “settlements ate up the land of the Palestinians.”
Peace talks between Israel and the PA have been frozen since Jordan hosted the series of “exploratory meetings”. The PA refused to continue to talk after those meetings and Abbas continued to impose preconditions on negotiations.
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by Elad Benari
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas denied on Thursday the reports that he would meet Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu later this month.
Kol Yisrael reported that Abbas, who spoke in a television interview, said that a meeting with Netanyahu is not on the agenda at the moment.
Earlier this week there had been reports that Israeli and PA negotiators will meet for the first time since talks held in Jordan two months ago ended in failure.
There were also reports that Netanyahu is expected to meet with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad after Passover.
Sources in the PMO said that the two leaders will discuss the possibility of re-starting the long-moribund peace process.
Abbas, during Thursday’s interview, confirmed the meeting between Netanyahu and Fayyad and said that during the meeting, Fayyad will give Netanyahu a letter Abbas has written to the Israeli prime minister.
Abbas also said that the letter outlines the peace process since the Oslo Accord were signed and says that “the Palestinian Authority no longer feels like an authority."
Kol Yisrael quoted Abbas as having said on Thursday that the PA is impatient when it sees how “settlements ate up the land of the Palestinians.”
Peace talks between Israel and the PA have been frozen since Jordan hosted the series of “exploratory meetings”. The PA refused to continue to talk after those meetings and Abbas continued to impose preconditions on negotiations.
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6. Israeli Driver Wounded in Samaria Attack
by Elad Benari
An Israeli driver was very lightly wounded on Thursday evening, when Arabs threw objects at his vehicle next to the Shomron (Samaria) Arab village of Nabi Elias, on Highway 55 between the Jewish communities of Alphei Menashe and Karnei Shomron.
The vehicle also sustained damage.
Rock and firebomb attacks on Israelis have become an increasingly common phenomenon over the past several months.
Last week, Arab men threw Molotov cocktails at a bus near the Hebrew University campus in French Hill in northern Jerusalem.
The bus sustained damage, but the makeshift bombs failed to break the windows and the dozens of passengers escaped without injury.
Following the attack, the head of the Student Union at Hebrew University-French Hill warned that the attack “is yet another proof that [terrorist] murder on the campus area is just a matter of time.” Hebrew University students have complained that local Arabs routinely harass them.
A second firebomb attack was carried out last week near the city of Beitar Illit, a short distance from Jerusalem. Attackers targeted an Israeli bus, but failed to cause injury or damage.
The day before, a groom about to get married was wounded in a rock attack as he went to pray at his grandfather's grave at Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives cemetery.
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by Elad Benari
An Israeli driver was very lightly wounded on Thursday evening, when Arabs threw objects at his vehicle next to the Shomron (Samaria) Arab village of Nabi Elias, on Highway 55 between the Jewish communities of Alphei Menashe and Karnei Shomron.
The vehicle also sustained damage.
Rock and firebomb attacks on Israelis have become an increasingly common phenomenon over the past several months.
Last week, Arab men threw Molotov cocktails at a bus near the Hebrew University campus in French Hill in northern Jerusalem.
The bus sustained damage, but the makeshift bombs failed to break the windows and the dozens of passengers escaped without injury.
Following the attack, the head of the Student Union at Hebrew University-French Hill warned that the attack “is yet another proof that [terrorist] murder on the campus area is just a matter of time.” Hebrew University students have complained that local Arabs routinely harass them.
A second firebomb attack was carried out last week near the city of Beitar Illit, a short distance from Jerusalem. Attackers targeted an Israeli bus, but failed to cause injury or damage.
The day before, a groom about to get married was wounded in a rock attack as he went to pray at his grandfather's grave at Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives cemetery.
Tags: rock attacks ,firebomb attacks ,Shomron ,Samaria ,terrorists
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7. PM: Sinai a Launching Pad for Terrorists
by Gabe Kahn
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to recent rocket fire on Eilat from Sinai saying Israel's security establishment was "well aware of the fact that Sinai is turning into a rocket launching pad for terrorists.
"We are building a fence. It can't stop missiles but we will find a solution for that. We will strike those who aim to harm us," he said Thursday.
Overnight on Wednesday, terrorists fired three rockets at Israel's southern resort city of Eilat.
One Grad rocket exploded in a construction site in a residential area in the city. No injuries or damage were reported.
Senior security officials decided to put the IDF on its highest state of alert over the Passover holiday – which begins Friday evening – as a result.
The move comes one week after IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz canceled the customary Passover leaves saying he did not believe an army should go on holiday.
The IDF has been on high alert across the Israel-Egypt border following several attempts to mount terror attacks in the sector.
IDF intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi echoed Netanyahu’s assessment on Thursday, saying the rocket fire underscored that "Israel must prepare to face threats and instability that could last for years" due to political upheaval in the region.
"The rocket fire on Eilat originated in Sinai and represents a fundamental change in the region," Kochavi said. "The Middle East has the highest pace of armament in the world, which is changing its ultimate character beyond recognition."
"Terrorist groups continue operate in Sinai and to strengthen their hold there," Kochavi said, adding his division had identified numerous terror cells in Sinai and aided the GSS in stopping several cross border attacks.
US ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro visited Eilat on Thrusday and said Israel faced a serious security threat from Gaza and Sinai. He reiterated Washington's full support of Israel's right to defend itself.
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by Gabe Kahn
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to recent rocket fire on Eilat from Sinai saying Israel's security establishment was "well aware of the fact that Sinai is turning into a rocket launching pad for terrorists.
"We are building a fence. It can't stop missiles but we will find a solution for that. We will strike those who aim to harm us," he said Thursday.
Overnight on Wednesday, terrorists fired three rockets at Israel's southern resort city of Eilat.
One Grad rocket exploded in a construction site in a residential area in the city. No injuries or damage were reported.
Senior security officials decided to put the IDF on its highest state of alert over the Passover holiday – which begins Friday evening – as a result.
The move comes one week after IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz canceled the customary Passover leaves saying he did not believe an army should go on holiday.
The IDF has been on high alert across the Israel-Egypt border following several attempts to mount terror attacks in the sector.
IDF intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi echoed Netanyahu’s assessment on Thursday, saying the rocket fire underscored that "Israel must prepare to face threats and instability that could last for years" due to political upheaval in the region.
"The rocket fire on Eilat originated in Sinai and represents a fundamental change in the region," Kochavi said. "The Middle East has the highest pace of armament in the world, which is changing its ultimate character beyond recognition."
"Terrorist groups continue operate in Sinai and to strengthen their hold there," Kochavi said, adding his division had identified numerous terror cells in Sinai and aided the GSS in stopping several cross border attacks.
US ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro visited Eilat on Thrusday and said Israel faced a serious security threat from Gaza and Sinai. He reiterated Washington's full support of Israel's right to defend itself.
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8. Egypt Denies Sinai Rocket Launch
by Gabe Kahn
Egyptian officials on Thursday denied that three Grad rockets which struck the city of Eilat in the pre-dawn hours were fired from the Sinai desert.
Mahamoud El-Hefnawy, Cairo's director of security for the Sinai sector, told Egyptian media that the rockets fired at Eilat did not emanate from Sinai.
Hefnawy said that "the situation in the southern sector is excellent. There are regular patrols and stakeouts across all roads. If anyone seems suspect they are stopped for inspections meant to stop any terrorist elements from entering the area."
He claimed that Egyptian border patrols are constantly present across the sector and that the Egyptian-Israeli border was "intensively secured."
No one had detected a flash of light or sound overnight on Wednesday, he said.
Observers note Egypt has a vested interest in claiming the rockets did not originate in Sinai due to the more aggressive deterrent posture announced by IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz following the attack.
Officials in Israel say the Sinai has become a base for Islamist terror groups since former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's downfall last year.
"For a long while now we have been seeing that the Sinai peninsula is turning into a launching pad against the citizens of Israel, for terror," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after the attack.
IDF intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi echoed Netanyahu’s assessment on Thursday, saying the rocket fire underscored that "Israel must prepare to face threats and instability that could last for years" due to political upheaval in the region.
"The rocket fire on Eilat originated in Sinai and represents a fundamental change in the region," Kochavi said. "The Middle East has the highest pace of armament in the world, which is changing its ultimate character beyond recognition."
The rocket attack on Eilat came one day before the start of the Passover holiday, which commemorates the exodus of the biblical Israelites from slavery in Egypt and the forging of the Jewish nation.
No physical injuries were reported after the rockets struck Eilat, but the incident security concerns about cross border attacks and led senior defense officials to place the IDF on its highest state of alert for the holiday.
In August of 2010, five Katyusha rockets hit the city of Eilat. Two exploded in open areas and three fell into the sea. No injuries were reported.
Rockets were also fired at Eilat in April of 2010. One landed in the sea, and one hit the Jordanian city of Aqaba
The Israel-Egypt border had been relatively quiet since the two countries signed a peace agreement in 1979, but in the past year the Sinai has become a staging ground for terrorism against Israel.
Two weeks ago, the Israel Security Agency (ISA) arrested a Hamas terrorist operating in Sinai who planned to kidnap an IDF soldier and aid in a suicide bombing in Eilat.
Mahmed Abu Aadram was captured as he attempted to infiltrate into Israel with other terrorists.
In August 2011, terrorists from Sinai staged a cross-border ambush of a civilian Israeli bus on Route 12 near Eilat, killing 8 Israelis.
In early March, Israel uncovered a plan by the Popular Resistance Committees to attempt a new attack on Route 12. Israel killed the PRC head – Zuhir Qaisi – In an airstrike, which led to a dramatic exchange of fire as Gaza's terror gangs fired over 200 rockets at Israel's southern communities.
Israeli airstrikes targeting teams of terrorists launching rockets from densely populated areas killed 26, of whom at least 21 were terrorists.
IDF officials say the terror groups were attempting to use Gaza's civilians as "human shields" in violation of the rules of war.
The ceasefire brokered four days into the exchange has not come into full effect.
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by Gabe Kahn
Egyptian officials on Thursday denied that three Grad rockets which struck the city of Eilat in the pre-dawn hours were fired from the Sinai desert.
Mahamoud El-Hefnawy, Cairo's director of security for the Sinai sector, told Egyptian media that the rockets fired at Eilat did not emanate from Sinai.
Hefnawy said that "the situation in the southern sector is excellent. There are regular patrols and stakeouts across all roads. If anyone seems suspect they are stopped for inspections meant to stop any terrorist elements from entering the area."
He claimed that Egyptian border patrols are constantly present across the sector and that the Egyptian-Israeli border was "intensively secured."
No one had detected a flash of light or sound overnight on Wednesday, he said.
Observers note Egypt has a vested interest in claiming the rockets did not originate in Sinai due to the more aggressive deterrent posture announced by IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz following the attack.
Officials in Israel say the Sinai has become a base for Islamist terror groups since former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's downfall last year.
"For a long while now we have been seeing that the Sinai peninsula is turning into a launching pad against the citizens of Israel, for terror," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after the attack.
IDF intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi echoed Netanyahu’s assessment on Thursday, saying the rocket fire underscored that "Israel must prepare to face threats and instability that could last for years" due to political upheaval in the region.
"The rocket fire on Eilat originated in Sinai and represents a fundamental change in the region," Kochavi said. "The Middle East has the highest pace of armament in the world, which is changing its ultimate character beyond recognition."
The rocket attack on Eilat came one day before the start of the Passover holiday, which commemorates the exodus of the biblical Israelites from slavery in Egypt and the forging of the Jewish nation.
No physical injuries were reported after the rockets struck Eilat, but the incident security concerns about cross border attacks and led senior defense officials to place the IDF on its highest state of alert for the holiday.
In August of 2010, five Katyusha rockets hit the city of Eilat. Two exploded in open areas and three fell into the sea. No injuries were reported.
Rockets were also fired at Eilat in April of 2010. One landed in the sea, and one hit the Jordanian city of Aqaba
The Israel-Egypt border had been relatively quiet since the two countries signed a peace agreement in 1979, but in the past year the Sinai has become a staging ground for terrorism against Israel.
Two weeks ago, the Israel Security Agency (ISA) arrested a Hamas terrorist operating in Sinai who planned to kidnap an IDF soldier and aid in a suicide bombing in Eilat.
Mahmed Abu Aadram was captured as he attempted to infiltrate into Israel with other terrorists.
In August 2011, terrorists from Sinai staged a cross-border ambush of a civilian Israeli bus on Route 12 near Eilat, killing 8 Israelis.
In early March, Israel uncovered a plan by the Popular Resistance Committees to attempt a new attack on Route 12. Israel killed the PRC head – Zuhir Qaisi – In an airstrike, which led to a dramatic exchange of fire as Gaza's terror gangs fired over 200 rockets at Israel's southern communities.
Israeli airstrikes targeting teams of terrorists launching rockets from densely populated areas killed 26, of whom at least 21 were terrorists.
IDF officials say the terror groups were attempting to use Gaza's civilians as "human shields" in violation of the rules of war.
The ceasefire brokered four days into the exchange has not come into full effect.
Tags: Egypt ,Israel ,Sinai ,Eilat ,rocket and mortar attacks
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