Monthly Archives: September 2010

Chief of the General Staff and Senior Reservists Visit Air Force Base in Hatzerim, 15 Sept 2010

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Eleven reservist Brigadier Generals and Major Generals, who served as commanding officers since the founding of Israel in various IDF forces, commands, branches, and corps, visited the Hatzerim Air Force Base accompanied by the Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi. The visit was organized to express gratitude in the name of the IDF to the commanders for their lifelong efforts and contributions to the founding of the Israel and its army, and for the protection of its citizens.

In addition, the visit served to update the senior reservists on the current IDF situational picture, including the threats and challenges it faces, as well as the readiness and fitness of its soldiers. Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi praised the senior officers, and remarked, “We have received the State of Israel from you, and continue to protect it. I hope you feel that the country has been transferred into able hands. We continue your traditions.”

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IAF Strikes Hamas Operated Tunnel in Southern Gaza, 15 Sept 2010

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Several hours ago, in a joint ISA-IDF operation, the Israel Air Force struck a Hamas operated tunnel located on the Rafah Border in the Southern Gaza Strip. Secondary blasts were identified.

This specific tunnel was used to smuggle terrorists into the Gaza Strip so that they could execute attacks against Israeli civilians.

Since the beginning of the week, 14 rockets and mortars have been fired into Israel. Today, Wednesday, September 15th, 2010, one Qassam rocket and eight mortar shells hit the Eshkol Regional Council, making it the largest number of projectiles fired from the Gaza Strip in a single day since March 2009.

More than 150 rockets and mortars have been fired at Israeli territory since the beginning of 2010, and over 440 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel since the end of Operation Cast Lead.

The IDF remains committed to protecting the citizens of Israel and will continue to act against terror. The IDF holds Hamas solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip.

For the Second Time in Three days, IDF soldiers Met with RPG-Carrying Militants in Gaza, 14 Sept 2010

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Earlier today, a group of militants fired an anti-tank missile at an IDF force that was operating near the security fence in the Northern Gaza Strip. No injuries were caused.

The force retaliated by firing tank shells and light fire at the suspects and identified hitting one of the militants, who was apparently killed.

Terrorist organizations are constantly aiming to harm IDF soldiers and the citizens of Israel. Commander of the Gaza Brigade, Brigadier General Eyal Eisenberg, commented earlier today:

“The Gaza Strip is controlled by the Hamas terrorist organization. We hold it accountable for anything that takes place in the strip.”

Leaders of the Haganah Organization Celebrate 90 Years Since Its Founding, 14 Sept 2010

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Commanders of the Haganah, the military organization that later became a core part of the IDF upon the founding of the State of Israel, met yesterday evening to celebrate 90 years of the organization’s founding. Around two thousand of its members and their families participated in the celebration which included former President of the Haganah and current Friends of the Haganah President, Mr. Yitzhak Navon, Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai, chairperson of the National Haganah Organization Maj. Gen. (res.) Tzvikah Levanon, and the Chief Education Officer of the IDF Brig. Gen. Eli Shermeister. In remarks regarding the occasion, the IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi noted, “You, members of the Haganah, paved the way for the IDF as the army of the Jewish people. I salute you.”

The Haganah Organization was the main and central military organization before the establishment of the State of Israel. Six commanders of the Haganah went on to become IDF Chiefs of Staff, and 27 Haganah commanders eventually became Major Generals in the IDF.

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COGAT: Coordination of Entry of Construction Equipment and Materials in Order to Upgrade Gaza Sewage Treatment Facilities, 13 Sept 2010

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Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Spokesman reports that today (Monday), 13.9.10, the entry into the Gaza Strip of 250 tons of construction materials, including pipes and iron for building, in order to upgrade the sewage treatment plant in central Gaza Strip neighborhood of Sheikh Ajlin, has been coordinated.

180 trucks, carrying – inter alia – food and various fuels, entered the Gaza Strip today via Kerem Shalom Crossing . Archive Photo: IDF Spokesperson

The Sheikh Ajlin sewage treatment plant project is being carried out under the sponsorship of the German government and the KfW Bankengruppe, and was approved in May 2010 by Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and the German Ambassador to Israel, Dr. Harald Kindermann.  The project will allow for the proper treatment of wastes for the residents of the central Gaza Strip and will drastically reduce runoff into the Mediterranean Sea.

Last week, over 80 tons of iron were transferred in order to implement the second stage of the northern Gaza Strip sewage treatment plant, which is being carried out under the aegis of the World Bank.

The transfer of the equipment, which was coordinated by the Gaza Coordination and Liason Office, was made possible – and financed – by international organizations operating in the Gaza Strip.

The sewage treatment facilities, which were approved by Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Maj.-Gen. Eitan Dangot, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and various officials in the international community, are designed to significantly improve the ability to treat sewage in the Gaza Strip so as to reduce harm to the environment and water sources in the area.

180 trucks, carrying – inter alia – food and various fuels, also entered the Gaza Strip today, via the Kerem Shalom Crossing.

Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Spokesman Maj. Inbar emphasizes that the transfer of equipment was carried out despite the recent firing of mortar rounds and Kassam rockets, by the terrorist organizations, at Israel’s southern communities, as per the decision of Defense Minister Ehud Barak and the IDF that the crossings remain open.

IDF Thwarts Attempt to Fire RPG at Forces in the Northern Gaza Strip, 12 Sept 2010

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A short while ago, IDF soldiers identifed a number of suspects attempting to fire an RPG in their direction. The soldiers returned fire towards the suspects, who were apparently hit.

Earlier today, IDF soldiers identifed a number of suspects approaching the security fence in the same area. The force fired warning shots at the suspects’ general direction.

In addition, two projectiles apparently landed in the same area.

The IDF remains committed to protecting the citizens of Israel and will continue to act against terror. The IDF holds Hamas solely responsible for terror emanating from the Gaza Strip.

Summary of Holiday Events: In Response to Fourth Incident of Rocket Fire Since Beginning of Holiday, IAF Targeted Hamas Terror Infrastructure in Gaza Strip 11 Sept 2010

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In a joint IAF and ISA operation, the IAF struck a terror target in the northern Gaza Strip and a smuggling tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday night, September 9th, 2010. The attack is in response to the rockets and mortars fired into Israeli territory since the beginning of the Rosh Hashana holiday, the Jewish new year, which began on Wednesday, September 8th, 2010.

More than 120 rockets and mortars have been fired at Israeli territory since the beginning of 2010, and over 400 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel since the end of operation Cast Lead.

The IDF remains committed to protecting the citizens of Israel and will continue to act against terror. The IDF holds Hamas solely responsible for terror emanating from the Gaza Strip.

Security Crossings into Israel from Judea and Samaria Temporarily Closed During Rosh Hashanah (The Jewish New Year), 8 Sept 2010

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During the Rosh Hashanah holiday, the Jewish New Year, September 7th, 2010 to September 11th, 2010, security crossings into Israel will be temporarily closed. The crossings will close on September 7th, 2010 at 23:59 and will open again on September 11th, 2010 at 23:59 in accordance with security assessments adopted by the defense establishment.

For the duration of the holiday, persons in need of medical attention will cross into Israel for medical care. The passage of humanitarian aid as well as doctors, medical personnel, NGO members, attorneys and additional professionals will be coordinated by the Civil Administration. Additionally, special accommodations were made in light of the Muslim holiday of Eid ul-Fitr for the purpose of family visitations.

Extended Video Footage: Hezbollah Removes Weapons from Explosion Site in Al-Shahabiya, 6 Sept 2010

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Additional footage released today (September 6th, 2010)  by the IDF shows Hezbollah operatives removing weapons from the site of an explosion in a weapons storage facility in Southern Lebanon, which occurred on September 3, 2010.

The explosion occurred in Al-Shahabiya, a village in southern Lebanon. The footage shows smoke rising from a building, Hezbollah operatives transferring weapons from the building and preventing LAF and UNIFIL forces from approaching the site of the incident. The Hezbollah operatives removed the contents to a new location–a mosque in a nearby village.

This incident is only one of many that clearly show that Hezbollah systematically violates United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which stipulates that Hezbollah should be disarmed and that no paramilitary groups will be active south of the Litani river.

Hezbollah operatives can be seen emptying the storage facility and moving the contents to a new location–a mosque in a nearby village.

Today’s incident is only one of many that clearly show that Hezbollah systematically violates United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which stipulates that Hezbollah should be disarmed and that no paramilitary groups will be active south of the Litani river.

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In Response to Security Related Incidents, IAF Targets Hamas Terror Infrastructure in Gaza Strip, 5 Sep 2010

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Overnight, the Israel Air Force struck a terror tunnel and two smuggling tunnels in the southern Gaza Strip .The terror tunnel was intended for infiltrating into Israel and executing terror attacks against IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians.

The attack is in response to the security related incidents that took place throughout the week.

More than 100 rockets and mortars have been fired at Israeli territory since the beginning of 2010, and over 400 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel since the end of Operation Cast Lead.

The IDF remains committed to protecting the citizens of Israel and will continue to act against terror. The IDF holds Hamas solely responsible for terror emanating from the Gaza Strip.