IAF Targets Launch Site of Grad Rocket Fired at Israel

Posted on August 4, 2011 by idfspokesperson

A short while ago, a Grad rocket was fired from the northern Gaza Strip at the communities of the Hevel Lakhish Regional Council. In response, an IAF aircraft targeted the launch site where the squad was located.

Qassam rocket fired from Gaza hits southern Israel. Photo: (Credits: Shay Machlof)

Since the beginning of 2011, over 340 rockets and mortars fired from Gaza hit the Israeli home front, four of which were fired just this week.

The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers, and will respond with determination to any attempt to use terror against the State of Israel. The IDF holds the Hamas terrorist organization solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip.

Back to School Video: Druze Students Cross into Syria

Posted on August 4, 2011 by idfspokesperson

Yesterday, August 4, 2011, hundreds of Israeli Druze college students traveled from Israel to Syria via the Quneitra Crossing, along the Israeli-Syrian border. The students, who study at Syrian educational institutions, returned for the upcoming fall semester.

The Israeli Druze students used their summer break to visit their families in Israel.

The crossing is coordinated by officials from the Northern Command, United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) UNDOF and the Israeli Defense Ministry.

Israel Approves New Medical Clinic in Jordan Rift Valley

Posted on August 4, 2011 by idfspokesperson

The Civil Administration has issued the Jiftlik community a building permit for a new medical facility on the 30th of June 2011. The new and improved medical clinic will serve the Jiftlik community and is being promoted and funded by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). The statutory procedures which followed the request for the building permit submitted by the Jiftlik community and the GIZ included awarding the plot to the community and approving the plans.

Deputy Head of Planning of the Civil Administration on a joint field visit to the project site with Head of the Village Council.

Several joint field trips to the site were undertaken by the representatives of the Civil Administration, the GIZ, and Mr. Abed Kassab, the Head of the Jiftlik community, in order to promote the statutory process.

Concerns raised by the Staff Officer for Archeology in the Civil Administration regarding the probable existence of an archeological site in the vicinity of the plot earmarked for the construction necessitated an archeological survey.

Despite the fact that the funding of such an activity is part of the responsibilities of the promoter of the project, the Civil Administration earmarked over two hundred thousand NIS for this important endeavor. The Civil Administration archeological team headed by Yuval Peleg promoted the survey in short notice. The survey soon developed into a salvage dig and yielded a wealth of archeological finds from the Byzantine era.

Following the conclusion of the salvage dig, the plans for the Jiftlik medical centre were altered in order to prevent damage to the new-found site and the building permit was issued thereafter and handed over to Mr. Ulrich Nitschke, the Head of the GIZ mission. The construction of the clinic is expected to begin in a few months.

The medical clinic promoted by GIZ is a second project permitted by the Civil Administration in recent days in the West Bank. In May 2010 the project to construct a municipal building received its building permit from the Civil Administration.

Thanks to the generous aid of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Jiftlik municipality was fully constructed and inaugurated on the 5th of July, 2011. The Civil Administration is committed to project implementation and coordination with Palestinian and international organizations in the region.

In Response to Rocket Fire, IAF Targets Two Terror Activity Sites and a Smuggling Tunnel

Posted on August 4, 2011 by idfspokesperson

Overnight, IAF aircraft targeted two terror activity sites in the northern Gaza Strip and a smuggling tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip. Direct hits were confirmed.

These sites were targeted in response to the rockets fired from Gaza at Israel’s southern communities over the past few days. Overnight, two Grad rockets hit Israeli territory, raising the amount of rockets and mortars fired from Gaza at the Israeli home front since the beginning of 2011 to over 340.

Archive: IAF targeting terror facilities (Photo: IDF Website)

Building Materials Enter Gaza in Honor of Ramadan

Posted on August 3, 2011 by idfspokesperson

The spokesman of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced yesterday, August 2, 2011 that Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak approved the following measures in honor of the month of Ramadan, celebrated by Palestinian Muslims, and as part of the civilian policy towards the Gaza Strip:The import of construction materials for ten private sector factories in Gaza, under the supervision of the international community.

Textile and furniture exports and expansion of agricultural exports to Jordan.
An additional 3 million cubic meters of water from Israel will be transferred to Gaza as part of an effort to improve the quantity and quality of drinking water for the Gaza Strip population.
Change of address for more than 1,900 Gaza citizens, who have residence in Judea and Samaria.
Increasing the number of merchants permitted to enter Israel and Judea and Samaria.

These measures were made possible following administrative work, which was directed by COGAT and included numerous meetings with various governmental ministries and security agencies, the Palestinian Authority, and the international community.

This week, Major General Eitan Dangot, the coordinator of government activities in the territories, met with representatives of the Palestinian Authority and updated them on the concessions and gestures that were approved for the holiday in the West Bank and Gaza.

Restraining Orders Served to Jewish Inciters in Judea and Samaria

Posted on August 2, 2011 by idfspokesperson

Based on recommendations from the ISA, GOC Central Command, Maj. Gen. Avi Mizrahi has signed off on administrative restraining orders against twelve activists for periods ranging from three months and up to one year.

Archive: Jewish settlers and IDF soldiers. Photo: Foreign Policy

Six activists were limited to specific communities, three from complete entrance to Judea and Samaria and three from complete entrance to the community of Yizhar. The orders were served over night, August 2nd, 2011, by the Judea and Samaria District of the Israel Police.

The orders follow the culmination of information recently gathered by the ISA, according to which a group of extreme activists living in the vicinity of Yizhar have been, for the past two years, involved in leading, directing and executing violent and clandestine activity targeting Palestinian residents of Judea and Samaria. These activities include igniting a number of mosques, vehicles and buildings that belong to Palestinians, therefore endangering lives and disrupting public order.

According to security assessments these acts and more so the igniting of mosques, can be potentially detrimental to the entire area.

In Response to Rocket Fire at Israel and the Injury of a Civilian, IAF Targets Terror Activity Site and Smuggling Tunnel

Posted on August 2, 2011 by idfspokesperson

Overnight, IAF aircraft targeted a terror activity site in the northern Gaza Strip and a smuggling tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip. Direct hits were confirmed.

The sites were targeted in response to the rocket fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel’s southern communities during the previous day, moderately injuring a middle-aged woman.

Site of a Hamas rocket attack in a southern Israeli town.

The IDF will not allow the Israeli southern communities to continue living under constant threat, and will continue to respond with determination to any attempt to use terror against the citizens of Israel. The IDF holds the Hamas terrorist organization solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip.

Inspecting the site of a Hamas rocket attack in a southern Israeli town.

The IDF and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Ease Restrictions during Ramadan

Posted on August 1, 2011 by idfspokesperson

In anticipation of the upcoming Ramadan period, celebrated by Palestinian Muslims, which begins today, August 1, 2011, the IDF and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (CoGAT), will ease restrictions in line with the directives of IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz and with policies intended on improving the way of life for Palestinians in the Judea and Samaria region. Following situation assessments, Israeli Defense Minister, Mr. Ehud Barak, implemented these following measures throughout the Ramadan period:

Visitor permits for Palestinians who have relatives in Israel.
200 Palestinians will be able to travel abroad via Ben Gurion Airport.
The operational hours of the Beit Mishpat crossing to Ramallah will be extended until 24:00 daily.
Israeli Arabs will be able to use the crossings in the northern Jordan Valley- Gav Ha Har.
Trucks carrying supplies will be able to travel freely between the Judea and Samaria Region and the Jordan Valley.
Gate 107, leading to Qalqilya, will be open daily for the departure of Israeli Arabs who have visited their families in Israel.
2,000 Palestinians will be able to pray at Temple Mount during weekdays for the duration of the Ramadan period.
1,000 additional merchants (over the age of 28, and married with children) will be permitted entry into Israel.

Palestinian residents of the Judea and Samaria Region will be given authorized entry into the Temple Mount for Friday night and Laylat al-Qadr prayers as follows: Men age 50 and over and women age 45 and over will be able to enter the Temple Mount for prayer without any restrictions. Men married with children over the age of 45 and women married with children over the age of 30 will be given authorized entry into the Temple Mount after receiving the appropriate permits.

The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Maj. Gen. Eitan Dangot met with representatives of the Palestinian Authority and updated them regarding the gestures and easing of restrictions for the Ramadan Period. Moreover, Civil Administration representatives informed the Palestinian population of the easing of restrictions, and briefed all of the forces operating in the area on holiday times and traditions as well as distributing educational pamphlets on the topic. IDF soldiers have been given orders to show special consideration toward the Palestinian residents of the Judea and Samaria region and, wherever possible, to refrain from eating, drinking and smoking in public, more so at the various crossings so as to demonstrate a high level of respect and understanding.

Shotgun Uncovered in Town Near Hebron

Posted on August 1, 2011 by idfspokesperson

Saturday night, a dismantled shotgun was uncovered in the Palestinian town of Ash-Shuyukh by an IDF battalion of the Kfir infantry brigade. Ash-Shuyukh lies north of the southern West Bank (Judea and Samaria) city of Hebron.

The IDF uncovered a sniper rifle in a town north of Hebron.

Ash-Shuyukh has a history of terror activity. In June 2009, an explosive device and material were confiscated in a house located in one of the town’s densely populated neighborhoods. In October 2005, Israeli security forces arrested 59 members of a Hamas terrorist squad operating in Ash-Shuyukh, who were responsible for carrying out terrorist activity against several Israelis.