No Gaza repeat: Bibi
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel “will not repeat this mistake,” referring to the unilateral Gaza withdrawal. “What was done cannot be undone, Netanyahu told the cabinet. “We can only conduct genuine introspection and say that the unilateral evacuation from the Gaza Strip brought neither peace nor security.” He added: “To my regret, the opposite occurred, and we know that Gaza became a Hamas base under Iranian control from which thousands of missiles have been fired, including in the last campaign. In short, this did not bring peace.” Netanyahu also said the government is committed to “the rehabilitation of our brothers,” the Gaza evacuees, calling their plight a “tragedy.”
Two hurt in shooting
Two Israelis were wounded after Palestinians opened fire on their car as it drove near Ramallah. The men were attacked last Wednesday evening and were able to drive to nearby Ma’aleh Levona. They were taken to a hospital for treatment, according to reports. A group calling itself The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade – the Imad Mughniyeh groups claimed responsibility for the attack. Also on Aug. 12, an Israeli car was damaged near Hebron by stone-throwing Palestinians, and a Molotov cocktail was hurled at an Israeli car driving near Bethlehem, causing some damage. The number of attempted attacks on both sides of the Green Line has risen significantly since March, Ha’aretz reported.
Rabbis fast to stop flu
Two leading Israeli rabbis declared Aug. 26 to be a day of fasting and prayer because of the swine flu epidemic. The unusual 24-hour fast was announced in a joint letter published by Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Israel’s chief rabbi of the country’s Sephardi community, and Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, spiritual leader of the Shas party. The rabbis called for fighting the disease by “medical means and by maintaining excellent hygiene,” but also through fasting and prayer from sunset Tuesday, Aug. 25 to sunset Wednesday, Aug. 26. The swine flu started out relatively slowly and mildly in Israel, with the first local case confirmed in May and the first death only late last month. But, sparking belated widespread media attention and worry among the Israeli public, its spread has accelerated in August, with more than 2,000 cases and seven deaths confirmed.
Soldier sentenced for theft
A soldier convicted of stealing a Palestinian’s credit card during Israel’s military operation in Gaza was sentenced to prison. The soldier, who was arrested three months ago, was sentenced to 7-1/2 months and was demoted. He confessed to the charges and returned the money he withdrew from ATM machines in Israel using the card.
$1M for mermaid proof
A town near Haifa is offering $1 million (US) for proof that a mermaid lives in its waters. In recent months, several residents of Kiryat Yam have called city hall to report sightings of a half-woman, half-fish doing tricks such as jumping in the air like a dolphin, before disappearing into the sea. People have been gathering at the beach in the evenings, when the mermaid is said to emerge, trying to get a look at the creature and take her picture. A photograph of the mermaid is reportedly enough to claim the reward.
Files from JTA and Ha’aretz
