Shalom and good evening, this is TV7 Israel
News broadcast to you from Jerusalem.
And in today’s top stories:
Two Israeli police officers sustain light
injuries, when a Palestinian assailant deliberately
rammed his vehicle into a security roadblock.
French President Emmanuel Macron warns Lebanon’s
political leadership to bring about much needed
reform.
Tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean are
continuing to mount between Turkey and Greece
– threatening miscalculation.
Two Israeli police officers sustained light
injuries this morning, when a Palestinian
assailant deliberately rammed his vehicle
into a security roadblock at the Tapuach Junction
south of the West Bank city of Nablus.
The terror-attack occurred shortly after 8
o’clock this morning, when police conducted
security checks in the area, when the Palestinian
assailant crashed his vehicle into two officers
standing next to a police car.
The attacker then exited his vehicle with
a knife in hand, when a third police officer
opened fire toward the assailant.
Police Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told TV7
that “the terrorist was shot and injured
moderately.”
“Police units responded to a terrorist attack
that took place this morning in the Shomron
Tapuach Junction.
As a result of the ramming vehicle attack,
two police officers were struck and injured
lightly; treated at the scene and rushed to
hospital.
Police officers responded at the scene.
The terrorist was shot and injured moderately.
And heightened security is continuing in order
to prevent any further terrorist attacks from
taking place.”
It is important to mention that the terrorist
received medical treatment at the scene, after
which he was transferred to an undisclosed
hospital in Jerusalem for further treatment.
In other yet related news, a senior Israeli
defense official informed TV7 that the Qatari-brokered
ceasefire arrangement with Hamas was reached
after the Islamist organization made significant
compromise on its demands.
The official explained that while Hamas sought
to extort Jerusalem by means of terrorizing
Israel’s southern region; it quickly realized
that it miscalculated its actions.
While employing balloon terrorism was initially
seen as an inexpensive tactic, Israel seized
the opportunity to strike approximately 100
military targets belonging to Hamas over the
course of 19 days.
The Israeli bombardments, which destroyed
numerous weapons-manufacturing and armament
installations, subterranean weapons caches
and tactical infrastructure – among others
– constituted a significant blow to Hamas’s
military capabilities, ahead of a potential
escalation.
Furthermore, Israel’s economic sanctions
had ratchet-up domestic pressure on Hamas,
which as a consequence “reluctantly sought
to alleviate tensions with Israel.”
Nevertheless, Jerusalem is aware that the
understandings that were reached with Hamas
will not last for an extended period of time
– and the Israeli security establishment
is working to prepare for a next round of
escalation.
The Islamist Hamas did not immediately respond
to TV7’s request for comment.
Turning to Israel’s northern neighbor Lebanon,
where Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail
Haniyeh headed a delegation to Beirut, where
he attended meetings with local Palestinian
leaders – among other unspecified activities.
The Palestinian Islamist faction released
a statement confirming the visit, and voiced
hope of boosting “bilateral relations between
Palestine and Lebanon and enhance the humanitarian
and social conditions of the Palestinian refugees
in Lebanon until they return” to what Hamas
referred to as “their hometowns and villages
from which they were expelled in 1948” – in
reference to the state of Israel.
It is important to note that the visit by
the Hamas leader comes a couple of days after
Lebanese President Michel Aoun appointed Beirut’s
former Ambassador to Berlin Mustapha Adib
as the new Prime Minister of Lebanon.
In his first remarks to the nation, the newly-appointed
Premier insisted that the time for concrete
reform is vital to reintroduce hope to the
devastated nation.
"In these hard times that our nation is going
through, especially after the devastating
blast in the port, which caused martyrs, injured
and missing people, there's no time for talking,
promises and wishes.
It's time to work with the cooperation of
everyone in order to heal our country and
bring back hope to our people for a better
future because all Lebanese are extremely
worried about the present and the future."
Premier Adib further noted that he accepted
the leadership post on the premise that all
political forces acknowledge the importance
of forming a government that will immediate
introduce crucial reform to a deeply-corrupt
system that will establish a foundation for
a viable bail-out agreement with the International
Monetary Fund.
Nevertheless, numerous protests erupted throughout
Beirut over allegations that the newly-appointed
prime minister is part of the corrupt system
which plagues Lebanon’s governing institutions.
This public sentiment was made clear to French
President Emmanuel Macron, during a two-day
visit to Beirut, as part of the country’s
100th anniversary of its formation as a nation
state.
'We are here to send a message that we reject
this new government which is a product of
a failed and criminal authority, always.''
During his visit, the second in less than
a month, President Macron once again toured
the port of Beirut – where French troops
are partaking in efforts to rehabilitate the
devastated location.
When asked about allegations that were levelled
by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
who accused his French counterpart of “colonial
aims in Lebanon,” Macron defended his country’s
efforts to assist the Lebanese people.
"When France comes to support Lebanon at its
request without ever taking the place of its
rulers, as a friend, when it sends its soldiers
to help clear up and support the Lebanese
forces, it is called aid.
When the President of France comes to make
a demanding statement, because you hear the
people's demand, because the international
community demands it, it is called a demand."
Following numerous meetings with Lebanese
leaders, President Macron announced in a press
conference, that Paris has given Beirut’s
political leadership until the end of October
to start delivering on reforms or else face
an abrupt end to financial-aid and subsequent
international sanctions.
"I am putting my trust (in Lebanese government
officials) this evening.
But I've said clearly, if by the set date,
the end of October, your leaders have not
met their commitments, we must draw consequences.
What does this mean?
This means that first, if nothing has been
done, and at that point it's clear -- I would
have to tell the international community that
we cannot meet our aid commitments in Lebanon.
But I would also have to explain to the Lebanese
people - we were ready to help you, but your
leaders have decided otherwise."
Meanwhile, tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean
are continuing to mount.
Both Western and Turkish officials confirm
to TV7 that a significant buildup of opposing
naval and aerial forces in a relatively limited
area of operations is increasingly threatening
miscalculation that could quickly instigate
a clash.
While Greece - backed by France, Italy, Egypt
and the United Arab Emirates – demands of
Turkey to end off-shore gas exploration in
disputed waters; Ankara remains adamant on
defying legal claims by Athens and vows to
respond with force to any seeming provocation.
In response to Turkey’s threats, however,
France and Italy have deployed additional
warships to support the Greek Navy – which
evidently infuriated Turkish President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan.
"Do Greek people accept what will happen to
them because of their ambitious and incompetent
rulers?
Are French people aware of the price they
will pay because of their ambitious and incompetent
rulers?"
Erdogan further vowed to safeguard his country’s
interests by all means possible.
"Now, we call on our enemies to bring it on
with a louder voice, a more candid belief
and with more confidence.
Everyone who will face us on the ground, at
sea and in air, has seen our determination
to safeguard Turkey's legitimacy as well as
its interests, opportunities and rights stemming
from international laws.
Those who do not see, will face this reality
in the field, at the table and on international
platforms."
The Turkish leader’s remarks come in spite
of a cohesive stance of EU member states,
who emphasized their own determination to
defend European Union interests, in solidarity
with Greece and Cyprus.
"We are clear and determined in defending
European Union interests in solidarity with
Greece and Cyprus.
Turkey has to abstain from unilateral actions.
This is a basic element to allow the dialogue
to advance."
It is important to mention that several incidents
have occurred over the past week, in which
Greek and Turkish F-16 fighter-jets have faced
each-other above disputed waters – with
accusations and counter accusations projecting
an increasingly alarming reality.
Thank you for watching us.
As part of TV7’s prayer initiative, I would
like to encourage you to join myself and the
team here in Jerusalem to lift up New Zealand
in prayer, for its salvation and peace – in
addition to our ongoing prayers for the peace
of Jerusalem and Salvation of Israel and for
all those who are impacted by the corona contagion
and its economic ramifications worldwide.
I am Jonathan Hessen, wishing you an Erev
Tov U Mevorach and we will see you again tomorrow
at the same time.
