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The soccer team dedicated its victory to the three IDF soldiers murdered Saturday morning on the Egyptian border.

By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

The Israeli junior national soccer team pulled off a historic win Saturday against Brazil in the FIFA U20 World Cup quarterfinals, beating the favorite 3-2 in overtime to earn an unheard-of place in the Final Four of the most important youth sports competition in the world.

The team came back not once but twice against the soccer powerhouse.

Local sports commentators said that in the first half the blue-and-whites outplayed Brazil, but even with a few good scoring chances on each side, they went into the locker rooms at 0-0.  Ten minutes into the second half, Brazilian star Leonardo scored the first goal of the match, but not four minutes later, Anan Khalaili headed in the equalizer.

After both team’s goalies made some excellent saves, the game went into the 30-minute overtime period tied at 1-1. Immediately the pace changed. Brazil scored 19 seconds in, but in an astonishing turnaround, two minutes later Hamza Shibli, another Arab-Israeli player, perfectly timed his arrival in the box after a long pass and kicked the ball in from short range to even the score again.

Fifteen long minutes later, Dor Turgeman became Israel’s hero when he twisted past two yellow defenders and put the ball into the corner of the net with a brilliant shot. The team then had two chances to really put the game away after being awarded two penalty kicks one right after the other, but missed both. This could have easily deflated them, giving an opening to their opponents, but it didn’t. With unflagging defense, the Israelis hunkered down and protected their side of the field for the rest of the time and came away with the victory.

Following the game, Turgeman said the players had known about the terror attack that morning in which three IDF soldiers had been murdered by an Egyptian police officer on the southern border, and it had “pained them greatly.”

“We underwent a very hard day in Israel. We went onto the field with a wristband in memory of those murdered. I want to dedicate the win to their families, I hope we gave them some joy,” he said.

Coach Ofir Haim also immediately mentioned the terror attack in the post-game press conference, saying, “First of all, I want to share in the grief of the families after the attack today. This victory is for the whole country. At the Euros last year, we united the country and we want to unite it again. Our country is amazing.”

Then playing in the European Championships, the same team, in the U19 category, reached the finals last July before losing to England 3-1.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sports Minister Miki Zohar also referred to the loss Israel had just suffered when they called to congratulate Haim.

“On this day of sadness, you brought joy and pride on a level that’s hard to describe. I watched every minute of the game. There hasn’t been a day like it in Israeli soccer,” Netanyahu said.

Zohar said that “coming in this difficult period that we underwent today, you made us all happy. We’re proud of you, and we appreciate you… Now go get them in the semis!”

This Thursday, the Israelis will face the winner of the USA-Uruguay quarterfinal match, which will be played on Sunday.

The post Historic win – Israel’s U20 team into World Cup semifinals appeared first on World Israel News.

Contentiousness rises as coalition members in Manhattan for Sunday’s Celebrate Israel Parade are hounded by protestors.

By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

The New York Police Department closed a complaint against MK Simcha Rothman hours after a leftwing protestor charged the Israeli legislator with hurting her when he grabbed her megaphone away in Manhattan on Friday night.

The police saw no injuries on the woman, and decided that no further action was warranted in the matter.

Rothman has been met by small groups of shouting, anti-judicial reform protestors before, during or after several meetings he has held in recent days with New York area Jewish communities.

In this incident, the head of the Constitution, Law and Justice and Committee, who is religious, was walking to his Manhattan hotel on the Sabbath with his wife and security guards when several people started yelling while following the group closely.

In a video clip of the incident, a woman can be seen right behind Rothman while repetitively saying loudly into a megaphone that Rothman should “free the country” before he turns around, takes it away from her and starts walking more quickly while the protestors yell, “Whoa, whoa!”

According to Rothman, “a small group of violent protestors attacked” the couple.

“They blocked our way, stepped on my wife Chana’s foot, and cursed, including wishing for my death,” he wrote in a post on his Facebook account. “The security guards called the police, described where we were, and we continued walking while ignoring the protesters.”

“At one point…they put their megaphone against our ears (which is assault) and yelled,” he added. “Both the guards and I told them, again and again, to stop and move away, but they continued.”

After the warnings went unheeded, he said, “I took the megaphone which the protester shoved in my ear, without touching her, of course. After about half a block, we reached a spot where we could wait for the police. The police accompanied me to the hotel, and the incident ended.”

The violent attackers were Israeli, he noted, in contrast to the minority in the local Jewish community he has met who are against the reforms, who “were respectful” when disagreeing with him. In general, he felt the Jews in New York gave him “a lot of support and encouragement to proceed with the reform plan,” he said.

Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli was also accosted by protestors, this time on Saturday, in front of a synagogue, as was Economy Minister Nir Barkat upon his arrival to his Manhattan hotel.

The three had come ahead of the Celebrate Israel Parade Sunday, in which they will march along with more than a dozen other cabinet ministers and MKs in the largest Israeli delegation ever to attend the annual event. Marking Israel’s 75th birthday, it is expected to draw some 40,000 participants, making it one of the largest Israel Day parades ever.

Parade sponsors, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, sent out a letter signed by dozens of rabbis across the religious spectrum asking that the event be held in a spirit of togetherness, “showing the world that we are one community even when we disagree.”

Rothman castigated opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz for not condemning the “violent attack on Knesset members.”

If they were silent, MK Gilad Kariv (Labor) went on the attack, slamming Rothman’s behavior. He told Ynet that the grabbing of the megaphone showed “disrespect for the entire Knesset,” and that “he is unworthy of being the head of the Constitution Committee.”

“I wasn’t surprised, he added. “I sat with this ruffian for three months in the committee and this thuggery typified the way he managed the arguments over the reform.”

The post NYPD closes complaint against MK Rothman appeared first on World Israel News.

In a statement, the Egyptian government downplayed the killings, minimized the shooter’s responsibility, and avoided naming terror as a motivation for the deadly attack.

By World Israel News Staff

New details about a deadly attack on IDF soldiers committed by an Egyptian police officer suggest that the perpetrator was motivated by Islamic extremism.

Early Saturday morning, an Egyptian border police officer crossed into Israel without advance permission and shot two IDF soldiers who were guarding a remote outpost in Israeli territory.

Several hours later, the gunman exchanged fire with additional troops, shooting and killing a third soldier. The perpetrator was shot dead during that clash.

Despite statements from the Egyptians and Israeli governments stressing ties between the two countries and both nations avoiding naming a motivation for the killings, Hebrew-language media noted on Sunday morning that the perpetrator was carrying a Quran at the time of the attacks.

He was also armed with several handguns, multiple knives, and additional ammunition – suggesting that he was possibly intending to carry out a larger attack within Israel.

The number of weapons carried by the police officer, along with the Quran, go far beyond the level of standard gear for Egyptian security forces while on duty.

Several hours after the incident on Saturday, the Egyptian government released a carefully worded statement that downplayed the killings, minimized the shooter’s responsibility, and avoided naming terror as a motivation for the deadly attack.

Without providing evidence for the claim, the Egyptian government said that the police officer had been chasing after a drug trafficker when he crossed the border.

Notably, even if the officer had been in a hot pursuit of a drug trafficker, international law – as well as Israeli and Egyptian military policies – would not have allowed him to enter Israel to continue the chase.

IDF reports have found no proof that the Egyptian had been in the midst of a pursuit when he crossed, and in fact found that he had quietly entered the country through an emergency gate.

The Egyptian statement also falsely insinuated that the officer shot the two IDF soldiers after exchanging fire with them. However, early ballistics reports suggest that the troops guarding the outpost never fired their weapons at the attacker, suggesting that he shot them immediately and that they were swiftly immobilized by the perpetrator.

The post Islamic terror or border clash? Egyptian killer was carrying a Quran appeared first on World Israel News.

The move paves the way for Energean to begin drawing up plans to develop the reserve, named Katlan.

By JNS

Israel’s Energy Ministry has officially certified the discovery of a new maritime natural gas deposit, the country’s fourth-largest to date.

British-Greek energy company Energean can now begin drawing up plans to develop the field, named Katlan, which is entirely inside Israeli territorial waters.

Israeli Energy and Infrastructure Minister Israel Katz said in a statement on May 31 that there were potentially more reserves yet to be discovered.

“The office under my leadership will continue to develop the natural gas reserves that are in our territory and to promote the exploration and discovery of additional natural gas reserves for the sake of the energy security of the State of Israel and for ensuring a reliable, clean and affordable Israeli energy economy,” said Katz.

Katlan is Israel’s fourth largest gas reserve; Energean is already developing the Karish, Karish North and Tanin offshore reserves, as well as several blocks in the larger Tamar gas field.

“Katlan boasts approximately 68 BCM [billion cubic meters] of natural gas, and we are working diligently to develop it as efficiently as possible to create sustainable value for all our stakeholders. We believe this discovery will open new opportunities for Israeli gas supplies in both local and regional markets,” said Energean CEO Mathios Rigas.

The Israeli ministry had not certified any offshore gas discoveries since 2015.

Earlier this month, the Israeli Cabinet approved a 900 million shekel ($246 million) project to expand natural gas exports to Egypt.

A 65 kilometer (40 mile) pipeline will be constructed along a route between Ramat Hovav, south of Beersheva, and Nitzana, near the Sinai border via Ashalim, allowing for an additional 6 billion BCM of natural gas to be exported to Egypt each year.

The sale of the additional gas is expected to generate 200 million shekels ($55 million) in annual revenue for Israel Natural Gas Lines and hundreds of millions of shekels each year for the government in royalties and taxes.

It will be built by Nativ, a state-owned company that is responsible for the gas system throughout Israel.

The post Israel recognizes new natural gas field, its fourth largest appeared first on World Israel News.

National Security Minister defends police officers accused of using excessive force to break up raucous illegal protest outside Netanyahu’s private residence.

By World Israel News Staff

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir offered his strong support for Israeli police officers accused of using excessive force, after demonstrators complained that they had been treated roughly when police broke up an illegal protest in front of the prime minister’s home in Caesarea.

On Friday evening, some 200 protesters gathered outside of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private home in the coastal town of Caesarea, blocking roads and screaming into bullhorns.

Local residents called the police, who ordered the crowd to leave the area and cease the protest because they did not have the appropriate permits for the demonstration.

Left-wing activists were quick to push a narrative that they had been the victims of police brutality after they refused to disperse during the late-night, illegal protest, but Ben-Gvir said that security forces had acted appropriately.

While some activists leaked photos to Hebrew-language media of one demonstrator left with a bloody nose, police said that some of the protesters at the scene had physically assaulted security officers.

Three people were arrested at the protest, including prominent activist Moshe Radman, and taken to a nearby police station in Hadera. An additional 11 people were arrested after they attempted to storm the police station in protest of their three comrades being detained.

“Those who attack police officers should be treated with zero tolerance, and our job is to protect the police officers and democracy. I will fight for everyone’s right to demonstrate, but freedom of speech is not freedom of harassment and bullying, violation of public order and freedom to attack police officers,” said Ben-Gvir in a statement.

“I strengthen the hands of the Commissioner and the District Commander and call for zero tolerance in the face of the phenomena of attacks on police officers and of anarchy.”

Protest leaders responded in a statement that Ben-Gvir “supports police violence” and that he is not “National Security Minister, he is a minister of violence and incitement.”

“Ben Gvir, take this to heart,” the statement continued.

“We are not afraid of you, we will continue to demonstrate everywhere against the accomplices of the coup attempt.”

The post Ben-Gvir vows zero tolerance for attacks on police, anarchy appeared first on World Israel News.

Palestinian man with criminal record stole Arab-Israeli man’s identity, passed government-approved firearms course, obtained a gun license and started working as armed guard at popular mall in central Israel.

By World Israel News Staff

A Palestinian man with a criminal record was able to successfully infiltrate into Israel, pose as an Arab-Israeli citizen, undergo a firearms course, and obtain a gun license without triggering suspicion from authorities.

The man was working as an armed security guard at a shopping center in central Israel for several months before he was discovered, raising serious questions around failures in the Jewish state’s security apparatus.

According to Hebrew-language media reports, Mahmud al-Raja, 36, stole the identity of an Arab-Israeli citizen and used his personal details to begin working in Israel.

Originally from the Palestinian Authority-controlled town of Dura, south of Hebron, al-Raja did not have a valid work permit which would allow him to enter Israel and be employed in the country.

Using the victims’ personal information, al-Raja signed up for an Israeli government-approved firearms course.

Upon completing the training, he was issued a firearms permit by the authorities, which allowed him to carry a personal handgun and qualified him to work as a security guard.

He then found employment as a security guard at a popular mall in Holon, a suburb of Tel Aviv.

The impostor was only discovered because the victim whose identity was stolen received a notification that he had been issued a weapons permit. As the victim had never applied for such a license, he was concerned and filed a police complaint.

Eventually, the authorities discovered al-Raja had assumed the victim’s identity to fraudulently obtain the permit and work. He was arrested while leaving the mall where he worked.

“This case evokes difficult feelings between great embarrassment and a real concern arising from the way the authorities handled the case of the suspect, who scammed his way to a weapons license, and even employment as a security guard at the Holon mall, while being a resident of the Palestinian Authority,” said Judge Alaa Massarwa at al-Raja’s arraignment hearing.

“He pretended to be an Israeli, has a criminal record, and has also accumulated convictions for property crimes, violent crimes, and fraud,” Massarwa noted.

Initial reports indicated that there were no signs al-Raja was planning a terror attack.

The post ‘Embarrassing’ security failure – Illegal Palestinian obtained gun license, worked as armed guard appeared first on World Israel News.

Protesters block Tel Aviv highway as turnout rises in 22nd weekly demonstration against judicial overhaul.

By The Associated Press

Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered Saturday to protest judicial overhaul plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition.

The weekly protests, now in their 22nd week, continue despite Netanyahu’s March announcement that the contentious legal proposals were put on hold.

Several rallies were held across Israel, with the main protest drawing tens of thousands in the central city of Tel Aviv. The turnout at the Tel Aviv gathering was estimated by Hebrew media outlets to be at least 95,000 – up from 80,00 last week.

The protesters waved Israel’s flags, lit torches, and beat drums.

Hundreds of demonstrators at the Tel Aviv rally blocked traffic on the Ayalon Highway. Police officers quickly cleared demonstrators from the northbound highway, though protesters continued to block the southbound Ayalon for over an hour.

The plan would curtail judicial activism and the judiciary’s ability to strike down laws and government decisions, a move critics say poses a direct threat to civil rights.

Protests have continued even though the government and Opposition are in talks, brokered by President Isaac Herzog, to find a compromise on the plan.

The government says the judicial plan is meant to rein in what it says is an overly interventionist Supreme Court and restore power to elected legislators. Critics say it will grant the government unrestrained power and upend the country’s system of checks and balances.

The post Israelis rally against judicial reform for 22nd week in a row appeared first on World Israel News.

This week, a Massachusetts man was arrested and charged for the murder of his 82-year-old mother in a hotel parking lot. Daniel Uhlman, 53, was taken into custody by the Marlborough Police Department on Thursday after officers responded to a call concerning a potential homicide.

Prosecutor Steven Gilpatric stated that when Uhlman’s mother arrived at the Holiday Inn & Suites in the 200 block of Lakeside Avenue, her son asked her to park in the back lot, claiming he wanted to smoke cigarettes. Once there, Uhlman allegedly stabbed and beat his mother with a butter knife before running her over with her truck. Uhlman then asked the hotel staff to contact the police.

When questioned about the crime, Uhlman allegedly told authorities, “I just felt like killing her.” His attorney stated that Uhlman was off his anti-psychotic medication for one month at the time of the incident.

Uhlman’s criminal history includes another attack on his mom. In 2014 he was convicted for stabbing his mother multiple times with steak knives.

In response, the Holiday Inn issued a statement expressing sadness and their full cooperation with the investigation.

A shocking incident at a Sonic Drive-In restaurant recently left customers and employees uneasy. Jeffrey David Salazar, 54, was arrested and faces a felony charge for the possession of a controlled substance. The substance was inadvertently placed in a customer’s “Coney” hot dog and tested positive for cocaine.

The customer had bitten into a plastic bag containing the drug, though she does not believe any powdered substance went into her mouth. Salazar admitted to police that he purchased the cocaine from someone in the restaurant’s parking lot.

The affidavit for the arrest warrant stated that Salazar was observed on video surveillance conducting a hand-to-hand transaction with a female employee. After delivering the food, Salazar frantically searched the area “as if he lost something.”

The incident at Sonic raises questions about food safety in restaurants nationwide. How did the cocaine end up on the customer’s hot dog? While Salazar is responsible for the incident, it highlights the need for restaurants to have strict safety protocols to protect customers from exposure to dangerous substances.

Four people were killed when the yacht sank, including one former Mossad agent and two Italian intelligence agents.

By World Israel News Staff

A secret meeting between Mossad and Italian intelligence personnel that ended in tragedy when the boat they were on capsized earlier this week was held with the purpose of preventing Tehran from obtaining advanced unconventional weapons, the Italian La Repubblica newspaper reported over the weekend.

Four people were killed when the yacht sank, including one former Mossad agent and two Italian intelligence agents. The wife of the ship’s captain also died.

The ill-fated yacht carried a total of 24 individuals at the time that it capsized, including two crew members and 22 passengers.

Among them were 10 Israeli intelligence officers and several Italian officers, both active and retired.

Initial reports had said the group had gathered to commemorate a birthday but other reports later said it was a high level intelligence meeting.

The New York Times quoted a senior Israeli security official as saying that it was “neither a birthday party nor a vacation. Without going into details, it was related to [the Mossad agent’s] work, and it is very sad we lost such a man,” and added that the victim also worked to connect Israel with spy agencies around the world.

After the vessel capsized, the Israeli team and their Italian counterparts swam to the shore and were promptly rescued. Alongside the Mossad agent, three other people, including two Italian intelligence officers, lost their lives in the incident.

The ten surviving Israeli agents were whisked on an emergency military flight back to Israel.

The Italian intelligence agents were secretly transferred out of the hospitals they had arrived at in an attempt to keep their identities hidden, Italian media reported.

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