Israel Watching Iran, Syria, Islamic Terrorists On Yom Kippur

Israel has its ears wide open, its forces ready
within minutes. No more surprises on Yom Kippur.

By Joel Leyden
Israel News Agency

Jerusalem ----September 21...... Israel Defense and General Security Forces remain on high alert against threats from Syria, Iran and Islamic terror groups both inside and outside Israel borders.

Israel closed entry to and from the Palestinian territories for Yom Kippur, the holy Jewish day of atonement remembering the bloody surprise attack which took place 34 years ago by Syria and Egypt.

"Unlike 1973, we have developed both technological and other resources to monitor our enemies movement day and night," said a senior Israel security source. "We don't need Google Earth to know what color underwear Bashar Assad or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is wearing."

Thousands of IDF ground troops, the Israel Air Force and Navy which just finished extensive military exercises in the north of Israel and on the Golan Heights are now on alert on the Syria and Lebanon borders with multiple layers of security measures now in effect regarding thousands of Palestinians who wish to trek from the West Bank to pray in Jerusalem on the second Friday of Ramadan.

"In light of the significant terror threat during the Yom Kippur Jewish holiday and according to the decision of the Israel defense minister, a general closure has been implemented in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip," the Israel army told the Israel News Agency.

The closure came into effect last night and is scheduled to be lifted at midnight on Saturday. Only Palestinians in need of humanitarian aid will be allowed to cross into Israel during the lockdown.

"The image of every Israeli now being in Beit Knesset (Temple) praying on Yom Kippur is a bit misleading," a respected security analyst told the INA.

"First, most Israelis are not religious. They are either at home watching the news or enjoying a movie from one of the TV cable companies. If they go for a walk, they have their mobile phones and beepers on them. For those who serve in the IDF, police or other security forces such as Mossad or Shin Bet can be quietly activated either at home or abroad, we know exactly where they are and how to contact them. We are more than ready for any challenge. And this is our norm, not just on Yom Kippur, but the morning after Yom Kippur and every day and night of the year. And our Arab enemies should remember how the Yom Kippur war ended - Israel was just 35 miles outside of Damascus and 65 miles from Cairo."

Yesterday, Hamas terrorists involved in the planning of terror attacks in the Judea and Samaria region were arrested during a joint IDF, Border Police and ISA activity in the Ein Beit Ilme refugee camp in Nablus.

Haled Nuri, Yusuf Nadi and Mustafa Nuri, members of the Hamas terror organization admitted that they intended to implement terrorist attacks inside Israel. Nuri also admitted his intention to commit a suicide terror bombing. Their terrorist unit secured explosives and assault rifles for the execution of the terror attacks from the leaders of the Hamas infrastructure in the Nablus region.

Hamas, which now controls the Gaza Strip, contacted Israel through a third party after receiving assurances from other terrorist groups that they too would abide by a cease-fire, according to an Israel Radio report today. Israel turned down the offer, saying it will not deal with Hamas until it recognizes Israel and disavows terrorism.

Meanwhile, the IDF has deployed reinforcements to prevent any disturbances on borders and at crossing points and soldiers are using effective and humanitarian means to keep order.

Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip may travel to Israel only in extraordinary cases. The Erez terminal between Gaza and Israel will be closed during the holiday along with all points of entry to the Jewish state.

The Israel Police have heightened their alert to level three, one short of the maximum level reserved for times of war, spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

Thousands of officers, reserves and volunteer forces were deployed today around markets and public places, and protective measures around synagogues were being increased out of fear of attack, police said.

On the Syria border, Israel troops and officers canceled some leave requests.

"We will do everything in our power so that the Tsahal (army) is not taken by surprise and again finds itself in the situation as before the Yom Kippur war," Israel chief of army staff General Gaby Ashkenazi pledged late on Thursday.

Yom Kippur is the most important holiday in Judaism. The observant neither eat nor drink from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday as they pray for forgiveness for their sins.

Israel suspends all government TV and radio broadcasts, stops all public transport and closes ports and airports during the holiday, along with entertainment venues. But cable news and movie programming continues as normal. The operational use of the Internet is not affected by the Yom Kippur Jewish holiday in Israel. This news report is real time evidence of that.

Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert convened the Security Cabinet this week, in continuation of its September 5 meeting in order to discuss possibilities for taking action in light of both the continued
Kassam rocket fire from the Gaza Strip at Sderot and other communities near the Gaza Strip
and the continued terrorism in the Strip.

In an unanimous decision, it was determined by the Israel Cabinet that Hamas is a terrorist organization that has taken control of the Gaza Strip and turned it into hostile territory. This organization engages
in hostile activity against the State of Israel and its citizens and bears responsibility for this activity.

"In light of the foregoing, it has been decided to adopt the recommendations that have been presented by the Israel security establishment, including the continuation of military and counter-terrorist operations
against the terrorist organizations," read a report send to the INA. "Additional sanctions will be placed on the Hamas regime in order to restrict the passage of various goods to the Gaza Strip and reduce the supply of fuel and electricity. Restrictions will also be placed on the movement of people to and from
the Gaza Strip. The sanctions will be enacted following a legal examination, while taking into account both the humanitarian aspects relevant to the Gaza Strip and the intention to avoid a humanitarian
crisis."

"From the Syrian border to the streets of Gaza, we have our eyes wide open on this Yom Kippur," a security source told the INA. "If a mouse crosses the street, we will see it. And monitor where it got its food, its water, its weapons and how many bullets are in each weapon. We will know where the cheese came from and where its planned to be eaten. That Israel knew where Assad was before his meeting this morning with a British parliamentary delegation and where he relaxing right now."

The recent, alleged Israel air strike into Syria on September 6 against a nuclear North Korean shipment illustrated how much Israel has its eyes on the ball. And the very fact that the international community did not remark on this incident reflects that the global community will not tolerate any form of terrorism - conventional or nuclear.

That Israel was able to detect, locate and neutralize in a very short period of time a threat to the Jewish state over 600 flight miles away. Operation Orchard again showcased two of Israel’s finest national assets, the Israel air force and the Israel intelligence services, both among the best in the world.

As Israel was about to enter the Yom Kippur Jewish holiday today, Israel accused Iran of lying as Tehran challenged the international community to send inspectors for a probe of its Israel's alleged nuclear capabilities in a rare direct confrontation between Israel and Iran.

UN officials attending a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency said they had no memory of Israel and Iran ever engaging each other directly at previous meetings and noted that development and the unusually harsh tone of their statements in part reflected Middle East tensions.

The heated exchange came after chief Iran delegate Ail Asghar Soltanieh, like Arab delegates before him, said that Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had acknowledged earlier this year that Israel possessed nuclear weapons, something that Olmert never did.

Israel delegate Israel Michaeli alluded to claims that Olmert acknowledged Israel’s nuclear weapons, saying, some previous speakers “continued to lie.”

“Those who call for the elimination of Israel have no right to criticize Israel policies aimed at defending Israel’s very existence,” said Michaeli.

"Olmert's recent statement that he has deep respect for Assad and desires to make peace unconditionally and without demands with Syria are sincere," a security source told the INA.

"Assad and Ahmadinejad should understand, respect and take advantage of Israel's willingness to seek a fair and just peace, at the same time if Iran, Syria, Hamas, al Qaeda or Hezbollah make the slightest offensive move with arms from North Korea, Saudi Arabia or China, we will act without delay using proportionate and even overwhelming force to defend our civilian population. There will be no more Yom Kippur Wars."