Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Israel News Analysis: Gaza-Israel Clashes - A Shortage of Plans


[Article originally appeared in Besheva (Hebrew) and translated by Hillel Fendel]

by Assaf Mishnayot

B'sheva, Nov. 15, '18
Deterrence vis-à-vis Hamas has not been achieved, and the present quiet is simply a lull, with no guarantee that it will last for any length of time. The intensive Hamas rocket barrage inflicted last week on Israel's northern Negev areas, all the way up to Ashkelon, proved that the country's political and military echelons have no real plan or program as to how to deal with Hamas. It is doubtful whether we will be able to attain true quiet along Israel's Gaza border for a significant period.
The ceasefire declared on Tuesday of last week, immediately following a 24-hour bombardment of more than 450 Hamas rockets on Israeli towns and cities, was met with fury in the Israeli public. This was true particularly in the south, where it is known and felt that the next round of hostilities is just around the corner. Though the Israel Air Force made some impressive strikes against terror infrastructures in Gaza, it was Hamas and not Israel that smelled the fragrance of victory. The basic sense is that the IDF simply is not providing military solutions to the Gaza problem – and this has been borne out even by statements of the Security Cabinet members.

Interview with Judy Simon: Host of Arutz Sheva's "Life Lessons" tells about marriage, motherhood, and Aliyah

Judy Simon has lived in Bet El for 18 years. For eight of those years she served as the Director of Bet El's Tourism Department, and for the past 11 years she has been hosting a show on Arutz Sheva called Life Lessons. One of Judy's son's recently graduated from the Bet El Boys Yeshiva High School and is now learning in hesder yeshiva. She discusses here her thoughts on Bet El's heritage, marriage and motherhood, and Aliyah.

[Interview conducted by Sharona eshet-Kohen]

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Bet El Project Highlight: New High School Yeshiva Dormitory

Bet El Institutions Project Highlight: New High School Yeshiva Dormitory

For those who haven't yet heard, this past summer we completed construction of a new floor of the Bnei Tzvi Boys Yeshiva High School dormitory, adding 80 more beds, in response to the ever-expanding student body.

Interview with Helen Bohrer: Bet El pioneer

Interview with Helen Bohrer: Bet El pioneer speaks on love and purpose
[Interview conducted by Sharona eshet-Kohen]

News Analysis: The Real Story of Khan al-Ahmar

Israel News Analysis: The PA's Last Outpost
[Translated by Hillel Fendel]

Israeli headlines recently focused on the Supreme Court decision to demolish and evacuate an illegal Bedouin outpost and Prime Minister Netanyahu's refusal to carry out the evacuation orders because of European pressure.

The Khan al-Ahmar villagers, members of the Bedouin Jahalin tribe, lived in the Negev until a few years ago. After a dispute broke out within the tribe, it split into two and some of its members fled north to the Ma'aleh Adumim area, where they are living today.

The residents of Khan al-Ahmar knew from the first moment that they were living in the area illegally, and that it would not be possible for them to remain there for long. However, the Palestinian Authority had a different plan: In August 2009, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad announced his plan for the creation of a Palestinian state, the principle of which was to establish a de facto state, not by various agreements and complicated negotiations, but by creating facts on the ground, even in Area C, which are the areas of the Jewish towns and villages.

Bet El Highlight: New High School Yeshiva Dormitory​​​​​​​

For those who haven't yet heard, this past summer we completed construction of a new floor of the Bnei Tzvi Boys Yeshiva High School dormitory, adding 80 more beds, in response to the ever-expanding student body.

Bnei Tzvi boasts high achievements in both secular and Hebrew studies, and has a nation-wide reputation for offering Torah study at the highest level in a joyful and challenging atmosphere. In fact, Elkana Friedman, a student at Bnei Tzvi, won a recent International Bible Competition for Youth, and another Bnei Tzvi student placed second in the national High School Talmud competition. So not surprisingly, the dorm is already once again at max capacity, full of students who come from all over the country to learn Torah from the best of the best.

As a result, just a couple months ago, Bet El Institutions Founder Ketzaleh gave the order to draw up plans for an entirely new high school dormitory building. The contract with the architect was signed in October, and plans are already in the works!

The majority of the high school’s graduates continue their studies in yeshivot of higher learning prior to enlisting in the IDF. Many join elite army units and key commando units, like former Bnei Tzvi graduate David Golobentzitz z”l, an officer in Golani who was killed in an operation in Hevron last year.