Weekly roundup of world briefs

Israel rebukes Amman over harassment of religious Jews

By Etgar Lefkovits

(JNS) — Israel has lodged an official complaint with Jordan over the repeated harassment of religious Jewish tourists at border crossings, the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem said Tuesday. 

The protest expressed in a letter from Foreign Minister Eli Cohen came two weeks after a group of ultra-Orthodox Jews said they were asked to cut off their sidelocks after being detained for two days at the Jordanian side of the Yitzhak Rabin/Wadi Araba border crossing north of Eilat. It also follows multiple reports of Jordanian authorities refusing to allow religious Jews to enter with religious objects.

“It is beyond the pale that Israelis will be humiliated at the crossings to Jordan and their entry denied only because they are religious Jews,” Cohen said. 

Israel’s top diplomat said that he was working with the Jordanian embassy in Israel and Jordanian authorities to find a solution to thousands of religious Israelis who are interested in visiting Jordan but are prevented from entering because they carry tefillin (phylacteries) prayer shawls or holy books.

In the latest incident, the Jewish tourists said that the Jordanian guards at the Yitzhak Rabin crossing who asked them to cut off their traditional side curls told them that it was safer for them not to be visibly Jewish in the kingdom.

Earlier this year, a U.K.-born rabbi on his way to board a connecting flight at Jordan’s main airport—Queen Alia International Airport near Amman—had the straps of his tefillin cut by security guards who called them a security threat.

Children’s park evacuated as fires rip through Jerusalem foothills

(JNS) — A children’s amusement park in Israel was evacuated on Monday as 50 fire crews and eight planes battled wildfires that tore through hills surrounding Jerusalem.

“We have been fighting a fire between Ein Rapa and Tzuba for the past three hours,” said Jerusalem District Commander Tafser Shmulik Friedman. 

“This is a dangerous area for us with a heavy heat load, strong winds and a lot of dry vegetation,” he continued. “We reacted strongly with 50 firefighting teams from Beit Shemesh, Jerusalem and reinforcements from surrounding towns.”

Eight firefighting planes from the National Fire and Rescue Authority, a police helicopter, the Israeli Nature and Parks Authority, Jewish National Fund-USA firefighters and other volunteers all came together to extinguish the blaze.

The fires broke out near Kibbutz Tzuba in the Judean Mountains, about 6 miles from Jerusalem’s Old City.

Temperatures in Jerusalem are expected to nudge above 100 degrees over the remainder of the week with towns further south expecting 110 degrees.

Israel’s fire and rescue service is preparing for additional blazes as the country approaches August, traditionally the region’s hottest month of the year.

US State Department: Judicial reform will not affect Israel aid

(JNS) — The U.S. State Department stressed on Tuesday that the Biden Administration has no intention to slash aid to Israel following the passing into law by Israel’s coalition of key judicial reform legislation.

Responding to a leading question by Said Arikat, who reports for a Palestinian paper and has a history of anti-Israel attacks disguised as questions, State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel reiterated that Jerusalem’s move would not harm the special relationship between the two countries.

“There is not going to be any cut or stoppage of military aid, and that is because our commitment to Israel and our commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad. Our decades-long partnership with Israel is ironclad,” said Patel.

“We understand that the talks on attempts at a compromise on judicial reform will continue in the coming weeks and months with the aim of reaching a consensus through dialogue. I am not one to speculate about the success of the talks, but there are internal talks, in order to reach a broader consensus,” the spokesperson added.

On Monday afternoon, all 64 members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition voted into law a bill to restrict judges’ use of the “reasonableness” standard. The amendment to Basic Law: The Judiciary bars “reasonableness” as a justification for judges to reverse decisions made by the Cabinet, ministers and “other elected officials as set by law.”

In an address to the nation, Netanyahu confirmed reports that the coalition would seek a broad agreement on the rest of the judicial reform package over the summer break, which starts on July 30. “We all agree that Israel must remain a strong democracy, that it will continue to protect everyone’s individual rights, that it will not become a halachic state,” the prime minister said, using the term for Jewish law.

On Tuesday evening, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke by phone with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who reportedly “underscored the United States’ belief that broad consensus through political dialogue, especially in the coming weeks and months, are critical elements of a resilient democracy.”

According to the Pentagon’s readout of the call, Austin reiterated that the “U.S. commitment to Israel’s security is steadfast and unwavering, and affirmed that the Department of Defense is focused on initiatives that deepen military cooperation.”

Gallant responded by saying that “Israel is a strong democracy, and it will remain so in the future,” according to his office.

Illegal construction on biblical site prompts rare Israeli action

By Hanan Greenwood

(JNS) — Over the past several days, Staff Officer for Archeology inspectors within Israel’s Civil Administration carried out enforcement operations in the Tel Aroma archaeological site in Samaria, located in Area B, which is under Palestinian civilian control. This was a relatively rare operation since, up until several months ago, the Civil Administration refrained from enforcing violations regarding archaeological sites not located in Area C, which is in full Israeli control.

“Tel Aroma” is a biblical site mentioned in the Book of Judges and a Hasmonean fortress city. It overlooks the Itamar Ridge and has suffered extensive destruction at the hands of vandals and thieves. Among other incidents, it was discovered that a Hasmonean fortification wall with a unique Herodian addition of decorated stones had been stolen.

About a year ago, Israel Hayom reported that the P.A. planned to build a Palestinian heritage site and a mosque commemorating the shahids (“martyrs,” a euphemism for terrorists) at the location. This plan was considered “terrorism aimed at harming Jewish history” by Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council.

According to the “Shomrim al Hanetzach” (Preserving the Eternal) organization, last week Civil Administration personnel confiscated an excavator used to pave an illegal road at the site, destroying archaeological artifacts. As a result of the confiscation, the violations were stopped.

The Civil Administration has recently changed its policy and begun operating in Area B as well, where violations of antiquities laws and archaeological site destruction occurs. Several months ago, Israel Hayom reported that the Civil Administration was operating in the Khirbet Turpin ruins, also located in Area B. At the beginning of this month, SOA personnel operated in Khirbet Turpin again, confiscating four vehicles and arresting looters at the scene.

“We welcome the new trend,” said Moshe Gutman, chairman of Preserving the Eternal. “The State of Israel has understood that it is also responsible for heritage sites located in Area B. The policy change that began in Khirbet Turpin is spreading throughout Judea and Samaria, led by the political echelon. We hope to see more and more effective enforcement operations such as these. The heritage belongs to us all,” he added.

The Israeli government has set as a goal acting against the phenomenon of archaeological site destruction in Judea and Samaria and preserving Jewish heritage in the region.

Last week, as was published by Israel Hayom, the government approved a massive plan to combat the destruction of antiquities, allocating NIS 120 million ($32 million) to the cause.

Originally published by Israel Hayom.

Jewish man attacked, tzitzit torn in Southern California

By David Swindle

(JNS) — A 65-year-old Jewish man was attacked in “broad daylight” on July 24 at a 7-Eleven just blocks away from the Chabad center at San Diego State University.

Lt. Adam Sharki, public information officer at the San Diego Police Department, told JNS that the SDPD is actively investigating the “disturbing incident” as a hate crime.

“SDPD stands united with our community against bigotry and aggressively investigates these types of incidents,” he told JNS.

Sharki said the man was assaulted at about 9:50 a.m. at the convenience store at 5100 College Ave. in San Diego. 

“This crime is being investigated by Eastern Division detectives. They are in the process of interviewing witnesses, looking for evidence, and analyzing video footage,” Sharki said. “Anyone with information is asked to contact SDPD or Crime Stoppers.”

Reportedly, the attacker tore the man’s tzitzit, and allegedly made antisemitic and anti-Israel statements.

The nearby Chabad center where the victim attends was the site of previous attacks, including the vandalism of a large menorah in March.

Orthodox valedictorian garners awards at NYPD Academy graduation

(JNS) — The New York Police Department’s Police Academy valedictorian this year, 25-year-old Orthodox Jew Samuel Winsbacher, gave a seven-minute speech at Tuesday’s ceremony in Madison Square Garden as he also received a number of awards.

“It is important that we stay true to ourselves and, above all else, continue to demonstrate the integrity and professionalism that embodies this great department,” said the native of Monsey, N.Y.

Winsbacher was tapped with the Mayor’s Award, the top honor bestowed by the academy. He led his class of 500 with an academic average of 99.3%.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams was on hand to congratulate Winsbacher and all of the new graduates.

The valedictorian, who wears a kippah under his police cap, recalled the intensity of training, describing doing push-ups in 90-degree heat and full uniform. He said of the drill instructor-style approach that “the more they yelled at me, the higher I achieved.”

Winsbacher described his motivations in going into law enforcement, saying, “I wanted to be able to go after criminals and not just pull over law-abiding citizens who roll through stop signs.”

The new officer will begin his career at Transit Police District 11, the region around Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y.

Chinese president ‘looking forward’ to Netanyahu meeting

Beijing’s ambassador conveyed the message in a meeting with the Israeli PM on Wednesday.

(JNS) —  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted China’s Ambassador to Israel Cai Run at his office in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

The ambassador delivered a message from Xi Jinping that the Chinese president is “looking forward” to their meeting in Beijing later this year, a spokesperson for Netanyahu said.

During the meeting with Cai, Netanyahu was given an autographed copy of Xi’s four-volume “The Governance of China.” 

“The ambassador told Prime Minister Netanyahu that President Xi read with interest and appreciation what the prime minister wrote in his memoir about China-Israel relations,” the spokesperson said.

Netanyahu will make his first visit to China in six years later this year, where he is expected to meet with Xi and other senior government officials. 

Beijing brokered the rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March and has shown an interest in playing a role in finding a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Last month, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas visited the Chinese capital for talks.

The Israeli leader will discuss efforts to normalize relations with Riyadh during the China trip, which the U.S. administration has taken a leading role in attempting to secure. 

Netanyahu has not visited the White House for a meeting with President Joe Biden since taking office at the end of December, although earlier this month the two leaders spoke by phone and Biden extended an invitation to meet later this year.

“They have agreed that they will meet, probably before the end of this year, and all the details of the wheres and the whens are still being worked out,” John Kirby, U.S. National Security Council spokesman, told reporters during the White House press briefing after the phone call.

Jenin area terrorists fire rocket at Israeli town

(JNS) — Palestinian terrorists on Thursday fired a rocket from the Jenin area in Samaria towards the Israeli moshav of Ram-On in the Gilboa region.

The Gilboa Regional Council said that security forces located a rocket launch pit and had increased its search measures in the area.

“We emphasize that this is preliminary information and the Israeli army has not completed the investigation and has not yet announced any findings,” the Gilboa Regional Council spokesperson said.

The rocket launch did not trigger any alerts and there have been no reports of damage or injuries.

Hamas’s Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades earlier on Thursday claimed that it fired a rocket in response “to the aggression of the occupation and settlers on Al-Aqsa.”

Earlier this month, the Hamas-affiliated Al-Ayyash Battalion fired two rockets from the same area towards the Jewish community of Shaked in northern Samaria.

The IDF subsequently located two rocket launchers and two makeshift projectiles near the village.

Sappers were deployed and the launchers were taken for investigation.

“The rockets did not pose a threat to the residents” of Shaked, said the military.

Also in July, an “old-improvised rocket” with “no explosives” was found in Ram-On.

A security guard in the community, which is situated just within the 1949 Armistice Line, located the remnants of the rocket in the moshav’s cemetery. 

Last month, the military said that a “lone wolf” was responsible for two rockets fired from Jenin.

The Al-Ayyash Battalion had shared a video claiming to show the rocket launches. However, the IDF said that there was no connection between the projectiles and an organized terrorist group, despite a report that Hamas’s “military wing” claimed responsibility for them.

Evidence of Second Temple’s destruction unearthed in Jerusalem

By Pesach Benson

(JNS) — Tangible evidence of the destruction of the Second Temple and the devastating events that unfolded in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago has come to light with the discovery of a rare coin in Jerusalem’s City of David National Park.

The coin was inscribed with the words, “For the Freedom of Zion,” and was pierced in the middle. Presumably, it was worn as a pendant.

He said other archaeological finds have shown that both Jewish families and Roman soldiers kept coins and other objects as mementos from the time of the Jewish Revolt of 66-73 C.E. and the Temple’s destruction.

Levy explained that coins taken by Roman soldiers have been found in excavations of Roman military camps in Europe, but stressed, “In the case of this coin that was discovered this week in Jerusalem itself, it seems that the possibility that the coin was in the hands of a Jew—more likely.”

Other artifacts discovered in the City of David excavations include a stone weight, a spinning wheel and a basalt grinding bowl, all offering a glimpse into Jewish life in Jerusalem during the Roman siege.

The excavation site, situated next to the “Pilgrims Road,” which served as the main thoroughfare during the Second Temple period, has yielded a treasure trove of artifacts.