Monthly Archives: November 2010

Measures to Further Ease Conditions for the Palestinian Population in the Judea and Samaria Region During the Eid Al-Adcha Holiday, 16 Nov 2010

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Today, November 16th 2010, marks the beginning of the Eid Al-Adcha holiday (“Festival of Sacrifice”), celebrated by Muslim Palestinians throughout the Judea and Samaria region.

In accordance with the directives of Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and given the security assessments by the IDF Central Command and the Civil Administration, travel and access restrictions will be eased during the holiday for the Palestinian population. These measures are part of a general policy to improve the quality of life for the Palestinian population in the region.

The following steps will be implemented as of today (Tuesday) and apply through Thursday, November 18th, 2010:

1. Operating hours of the “Beit Ha-Mishpat” crossing will be extended. The crossing will be open until 22:00 for permit holders, and will be open for everyone between 22:00 and 06:00.

2. Operating hours of the “Reihan ” and “Jalame” crossings will be extended to 24:00.

3. The “Khirbet Jabara” and the “104″ crossings, leading to the Judea and Samaria region will be opened during the holiday.

4. The “Musa Alami” crossing, leading to Jericho, will be opened for tourists during the holiday and after it.

5. Twenty four road blocks will be removed throughout the Judea and Samaria region.

In accordance with the Minister of Defense’s directive, the entrance of Palestinians to the Temple Mount for the next month of Friday prayers will be permitted according to the following criterion;

1. Men over the age of 50 and women over the age of 45 will be able to enter without special authorization.

2. Married men between the ages of 45-50 and married women in the ages of 30-45 will be able to enter with special authorizations.

3. The entrance of Palestinians to Israel to visit close relatives was authorized based on specific criterion.

During the course of the holiday, the IDF will reduce its activity in the central cities and Palestinian police activity will be expanded in specific areas.

Officers of the Civil Administration held meetings with representatives of the Palestinian Waqf and were updated with the schedule of the expected religious events and prayers. In addition, forces operating in the region were briefed about the times and customs of the holiday and explanation leaflets were distributed to all soldiers.

Large Sums of Terror Linked Finances and Property Seized in Overnight Tulkarm Operation, 15 Nov 2010

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Last night, in a joint IDF-ISA operation in Tulkarm, security forces confiscated the money and possessions of a senior Hamas operative that was recently convicted of transferring Hamas finances into the Judea and Samaria region.

The operative, Ali Dadu from Tulkarm, is a senior Hamas operative and one of the founders of the Hamas network in the area of Tulkarm. Dadu was arrested by security forces on June 27th, 2010 on suspicions of involvement in transferring hundreds of thousands of dollars in terror finances from abroad to the Judea and Samaria region.

During his investigation, Dadu admitted to having received $620,000 from Hamas, which were smuggled from Israel into the Judea and Samaria region in various ways.

In addition, Ali Dadu’s son, Diaa Dadu, was also arrested. During his investigation, Diaa confirmed that the source of the money is Hamas. He estimated the value of the money his father received to be approximately $900,000.

On August 26th, 2010, Ali Dadu was convicted of transferring money into the Judea and Samaria region and transferring enemy finances into the region. The military court in Samaria imposed a nine month prison sentence, a fine of 15,000 NIS, and 12 months of probation.

This operation should serve as a message to Hamas operatives and affiliates that involvement in the transfer of finances from terror organizations may jeopardize their property.

The confiscation follows Dadu’s conviction and is in accordance with Order 120/84 of the Security Regulations as well as Supreme Court rulings, allowing the confiscation of equal sums of money from the convicted persons’ private property. In accordance with this regulation GOC Central Command, Maj. Gen. Avi Mizrahi ordered the confiscation of the money.

The Hamas terror organization is constantly acting to rebuild its terror network in the Judea and Samaria region. These attempts are possible with money coming from the Gaza Strip, Syria, Hezbollah, and Iran.

The operation was carried out by forces from the IDF, the ISA, the Israel Police, as well as an assessor.

Gaza Strip Weekly Crossing Report for November 7th to 13th, 14 Nov 2010

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The Israeli Government, together with the IDF, coordinates the delivery of a variety of humanitarian aid and development assistance to the civilian population of the Gaza Strip on a daily basis. The following report details cross-border activities for the second week of November 2010.

During this period, a total of 1,105 truckloads crossed from Israel, carrying 25,108 tons of goods, humanitarian aid and development assistance for Gaza’s civilian population.

In addition, 1,757,891 liters of Heavy-Duty Diesel fuel were transferred to the Gaza Power Plant, and 678 tons of cooking gas were transferred into the Strip. 315 patients and accompanying individuals exited Gaza for medical treatment and 276 international organization staff members entered the Strip.

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IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi to Depart for a Work Visit in Canada and the United States, Nov 13 2010

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IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, will depart tonight (Saturday) for an official week-long work visit in Canada and the United States.

Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi is scheduled to conduct a series of work meetings with various defense and military officials, regarding mutual defense challenges, cooperation between the militaries and security assessments of the Middle East.

During his visit to Canada, Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi will be hosted by his counterpart, Chief of the Defense Staff of the Canadian Forces, General (****) Walter Natynczyk, who visited Israel in October 2009 and invited the IDF Chief of Staff to visit Canada. General and Mrs. Natynczyk will host Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi and his wife at an official dinner in Ottawa. The Chief of Staff is also scheduled to meet the Canadian Minister of National Defense, Mr. Peter MacKay, Israel’s Ambassador to Canada, Mrs. Miriam Ziv and leaders of the Jewish community in Toronto. In addition, Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi is scheduled to visit a base of Canadian forces who fought in Afghanistan and to meet with officials in the Canadian General Staff. Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi will also visit the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, where he will lay a wreath for the fallen soldiers.

Later on in the week, Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi will visit Washington DC, where he will meet with his American counterpart, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen.

Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi will hold a series of meetings with senior American officials, including the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Dr. Michele Flournoy, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mr. Howard Berman, and Senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman.

To conclude his visit, Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi will travel to New York, where he will meet with several public diplomacy organizations, leaders of major American Jewish organizations and other senior officials.

Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi will also conduct briefings for senior members of the Canadian and US press.

Deputy IDF Chief of the General Staff, Maj. Gen. Benny Gantz, will assume Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi’s responsibilities during his absence.

Accompanying Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi are his wife, Ronit, the IDF Military Attaché to Washington, Maj. Gen. Gadi Shamni, IDF Spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Avi Benayahu, Head of the International Military Cooperation Department, Col. Hanny Caspi and Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi’s Aide-de-Camp, Lt. Col. Amos Ha’Cohen.

Gaza Strip Civilian and Humanitarian Aid Monthly Report – October, 11 Nov 2010

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The Israeli Government, together with the IDF, coordinates the delivery of a variety of humanitarian aid and development assistance to the civilian population of the Gaza Strip. This report details the humanitarian measures taken during the month of October 2010, as well as general transfers of goods and services to the Strip.

4,356 truckloads weighing 93,487 tons of food, fuel, and other materials, including construction materials entered the Gaza Strip last month. During the month, there was a 21% increase in the volume of truckloads entering the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom Crossing and the Karni Conveyor compared to last month, and an 86% increase in the number of businessmen that exited the Gaza Strip.  In addition, 223 truckloads of cement, iron, aggregates, and other building materials have been transferred for the purpose of a variety of humanitarian aid projects in coordination with international organizations. These include water treatment plants, greenhouses, agricultural plots, schools, a medical center, and housing units.

After an Israeli Cabinet decision in June 2010, the capacity of the Kerem Shalom Crossing was nearly doubled so that 250 truckloads could enter the Gaza Strip on a daily basis.

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IAF Strikes Gaza Building Housing Armed Militants, 11 Nov 2010

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A short while ago, in a joint IDF-ISA operation, IAF aerial vehicles and IDF ground forces fired toward a building in the central Gaza Strip, in which armed militants were hiding. The militants planted explosive devices earlier today and planned to fire at IDF soldiers.

The militants returned fire toward the forces. No injuries were sustained amongst the IDF soldiers. A direct hit was confirmed.

It should be noted that two explosive devices were detonated near an IDF force that was on routine patrol yesterday, in the area of today’s fire exchange. A third explosive device was found on the scene and detonated in a controlled manner.

The IDF holds the Hamas terrorist organization solely responsible for maintaining the calm in the Gaza Strip and for any terrorist activity emanating from it. The IDF will continue to respond harshly to any attempt to use terror against the State of Israel.

F-16I Fighter Jet Crashes in Makhtesh Ramon During Routine Training Flight, 11 Nov 2010

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Maj. Amichai Itkis (left) and Maj. Immanuel Levy

An F-16I “Sufa” (“Storm”) fighter jet crashed in Makhtesh Ramon during a routine training flight last night, Wednesday November 10th 2010, at approximately 20:00.

Maj. Gen. Ido Nachushtan surveys the location of the F-16 jet crash

Representatives of the IDF notified the crew members’ families of the incident. The crew members’ names are Major Amichai Itkis, a pilot, 28, from Sde Warburg, and Major Immanuel Levy, a navigator, 30 from Ma’ale Adumin.

Search and rescue forces were called to the scene, and began to search extensively for the aircraft and the two crew members.

Military rabbinate searches crash site for crew.

Commander of the Israel Air Force, Major- General Ido Nehushtan put together an investigating committee, headed by an IAF Colonel, in order to examine the causes of the incident. With that, all training flights for the “Sufa” F-16I fighter jets will be suspended until further notice.

 

Excerpts from Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi’s Remarks at International Artillery Conference, 9 Nov 2010

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“A major change in the nature of the military conflict is currently taking place throughout the world- from broad-scale wars to asymmetrical conflicts. For Israel, the challenge is no longer that of its territory being conquered, but that of rockets fired at the Israeli home front. We are fired upon from within densely populated areas, out of intention to avoid a military conflict with the IDF. The launching of rockets from within homes and villages is intended to prevent us from maneuvering inside the territory and to force us to return fire towards civilian territory, possible hurting uninvolved civilians.”

“The IDF’s substantial advantage, compared to other western militaries, is in its knowledge of the battlefield. We hold the ability to study our enemy and terrain, with which we will have to deal in the different arenas.”

“Intelligence is becoming more and more crucial in operating our fire power, specifically when dealing with asymmetrical warfare. The need to operate our fire power against targets operating from within a civilian population demands high-quality and precise intelligence.”

“When fighting in densely populated areas, our major challenge is distinguishing innocent civilians from the enemy. When such a differentiation is impossible, we are required to adjust our ammunition to the changing battlefield and build a clear fire-operating policy. The IDF’s current operating methods rely on substantial usage of precision-guided ammunition, such as the ammunition used in operation Cast Lead. Such technologies allow us to minimize the unwanted damage caused to the civilian population (81% of the ammunition used in during operation Cast Lead was precision-guided).  One of the challenges we will face in our future will be the development of a small, precise yet deadly war head, able to directly hit the target, while minimizing collateral damage.”

Gaza Strip Weekly Crossing Report for October 31st-November 6th, 9 Nov 2010

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The Israeli Government, together with the IDF, coordinates the delivery of a variety of humanitarian aid and development assistance to the civilian population of the Gaza Strip on a daily basis. The following report details cross-border activities for the first week of November 2010.

During this period, a total of 970 truckloads crossed from Israel, carrying 21,042 tons of goods, humanitarian aid and development assistance for Gaza’s civilian population.

In addition, 1,342,534 liters of Heavy-Duty Diesel fuel were transferred to the Gaza Power Plant, and 339 tons of cooking gas were transferred into the Strip. 202 patients and accompanying individuals exited Gaza for medical treatment and 189 international organization staff members entered the Strip.

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Flickr Album: IDF’s Elite Alpine Unit Train on Mt. Hermon, 9 Nov 2010

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The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit has launched a new Flickr album featuring photos of the elite Alpine Unit.

The Alpine Unit is comprised of reserve soldiers that served in elite units during their regular service and who take part in intensive training days in Judea and Samaria and the northern border, particularly Mt. Hermon.

The unit carries out regional defense tactics, shooting while skiing at high speeds, snowmobiling, and riding Sno-Cats.

All of the reservists who serve in the Alpine unit are volunteers and the unit is highly selective when admitting new troops.

The album features pictures of the reservists running drills in Mt. Hermon. The pictures include soldiers practicing skiing, climbing, shooting, tracking, and rehearsing rescue drills in conditions of heavy snow.

To see all the IDF’s flickr albums, click here.