Channel 14 News Israel

Category: Israel

  • Judea, Samaria Leaders Slam UK Sanctions: ‘Mandate Is Over’

    Judea, Samaria Leaders Slam UK Sanctions: ‘Mandate Is Over’

    Outrage erupted Tuesday across Judea and Samaria following Britain’s decision, alongside several other countries, to advance trade restrictions on products from the region. Regavim and local authorities in Judea and Samaria accused the government in London of blatant interference in Israeli sovereignty, calling on the Israeli government to respond with firm measures and further strengthen Jewish communities throughout the area.

    The Settlement | Photo: Haim Goldberg, Flash 90

    Regavim sharply condemned the move, saying that rather than confronting its own internal decline and chaos in its streets, Britain was attempting to interfere in Israeli sovereignty, while reminding London that the days of the White Paper are long over. The organization said Britain’s announcement continues what it described as nearly a century of hostile and antisemitic policy, recalling Britain’s restrictions on Jewish immigration to the Land of Israel on the eve of World War II.

    Regavim also criticized longstanding British funding for ‘Palestinian’ activity in Judea and Samaria and demanded that the Israeli government immediately halt what it described as aggressive foreign interference in the homeland. Efrat Council head Col. (res.) Dovi Shefler said the British Mandate ended in May 1948, but that some in London apparently still have not internalized that fact. He noted that even then, the British government placed obstacles before the Jewish community while Arab terrorism raged.

    British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband | Screenshot

    Shefler stressed that the residents of Efrat and Judea and Samaria do not need permission from the British government to live, build and develop their homes in their own country. He said boycotts and sanctions would not weaken the communities, but instead serve as another reminder of the importance of continuing to strengthen them. The Efrat Council head called on the Israeli government to respond by urgently passing a decision returning the Solomon’s Pools heritage site to full Israeli control, which he said would correct a historic injustice created by the Oslo Accords.

    Binyamin Regional Council head and Yesha Council chairman Israel Ganz described Britain’s decision as a “disgraceful antisemitic step,” stressing that the days when London could determine where Jews were permitted to live in the Land of Israel were over and would not return. Ganz accused Britain of assembling a coalition of pro-‘Palestinian’ countries to wage an “economic war” against Jews in Binyamin and across Judea and Samaria. He called for any financial damage caused to Israel and its citizens to be deducted and confiscated from funds belonging to the ‘Palestinian’ Authority. Ganz concluded that attempts to harm Jewish communities would fail, declaring that every such move should be met with more construction, more communities and the application of Israeli sovereignty.

  • Winter: IDF Fabricated Data Under Eisenkot to Avoid Gaza Op

    Winter: IDF Fabricated Data Under Eisenkot to Avoid Gaza Op

    Amcha Israel party leader Ret. Brigadier General Ofer Winter claimed that during Gadi Eisenkot’s tenure as IDF chief of staff, the military fabricated data to avoid a major operation in Gaza. Speaking at an activists’ conference, Winter accused the security establishment of addiction to false calm and a policy of containment. Israel must shift to decisive military action, he said.

    The Amcha Israel party, led by Ret. Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter, held an activists and supporters conference Tuesday at Cinema City Glilot, with hundreds in attendance. Winter spoke alongside party members Yoseph Haddad and Natalie Shem Tov. During his speech, Winter revealed disturbing details from Eisenkot’s tenure as IDF chief of staff, claiming the security establishment fabricated data and presented false information to political leadership to avoid a large-scale military operation in Gaza.

    Photo: “Amcha Israel”

    Winter referenced Ze’ev Jabotinsky’s essay “The Iron Wall,” which argued that Arabs will never abandon their dream of destroying Israel—not for money or quiet arrangements. The party leader emphasized that the October 7 attacks exposed the heavy price of the conception that took hold in the system over years. Winter then cited an example from October 2018, when he served as military secretary to the defense minister, explaining that when Hamas launched incendiary kites and the cabinet authorized strikes in case of escalation, the IDF spokesman issued a false statement to the press.

    According to Winter, while the IDF spokesperson reported it was the quietest Friday in three months, an evening review of the data showed it was actually the most severe day of that period. He questioned the insanity of lying to political leadership and arranging reality to avoid action, stressing that the top brass became addicted to false calm. Winter concluded that Israel must shift to a policy of decision and initiative instead of containment and rounds, leveraging the army’s strength and leading its fighters to defeat the enemy without empty threats.

  • El Al Cancels Flights as UK Airports Descend Into Chaos

    El Al Cancels Flights as UK Airports Descend Into Chaos

    Major disruptions hit flights in and out of Britain’s main airports Tuesday after a severe technical failure struck the systems of NATS, the country’s national air traffic control provider.

    El Al planes, archive | Photo: Shutterstock

    According to current reports, roughly 600 flights worldwide have been affected so far, creating an air blockade where planes can neither depart from Britain’s paralyzed airports nor land at them. El Al also announced it’s canceling its flights on the route due to the situation.

    NATS said in an official statement that a problem was identified in the flight processing system and that the company’s engineers are working urgently to resolve it, but stressed that airspace is restricted and a full return to normal operations is expected to take considerable time.

    Ben Gurion Airport | Photo, archive: Avshalom Sassoni, Flash 90

    Heathrow Airport, Britain’s largest, confirmed it’s working with air traffic authorities to resolve the failure that caused massive cancellations across the flight schedule. So far, hundreds of flights have already been canceled at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted, and airlines like British Airways and EasyJet are reporting a “domino effect” of disruptions impacting airports across Europe.

    Many passengers remain stuck in terminals with no ability to move. This marks another in a series of technical failures in Britain’s air traffic control systems in recent years—similar incidents in the past cost airlines tens of millions of pounds in compensation and caused delays that lasted for days around the world.

  • UAE Hits Back at Haaretz Oct. 7 Claim: ‘Enough with Rumors’

    UAE Hits Back at Haaretz Oct. 7 Claim: ‘Enough with Rumors’

    C14 correspondent Achikam Himpelfarb reported that the United Arab Emirates responded for the first time to a Haaretz report claiming that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu one week before the Oct. 7 massacre, seeking to distance Abu Dhabi from the political storm that erupted in Israel. “You cannot fend off the wave of rumors in the Israeli media,” a senior Emirati official told C14, according to correspondent Achikam Hempler.

    UAE ruler Mohammed bin Zayed | Photo: Shutterstock

    The official expressed frustration that the UAE’s name has repeatedly been tied to political events in Israel, forcing the Gulf state to issue denials. The message from Abu Dhabi was clear: the UAE does not want to be dragged into Israel’s internal political disputes. Sources close to Netanyahu also rejected the incident described in the report, saying it never occurred.

    According to the sources, a diplomatic conversation at such a senior level does not happen spontaneously and requires a series of preparations and prior coordination. Even if such an event were subsequently removed from official records, they argued, traces of the preparations and coordination required for a conversation between national leaders should remain in the relevant systems. In other words, they said, a conversation of this kind could not simply have occurred without advance preparation.

    Photo: Shutterstock

    Senior Israeli security officials also strongly rejected the report, describing it as “complete fake.” They said it was unclear where the story originated or how it ultimately came to be published. The Haaretz report was based on testimony from a ‘Palestinian’ from Gaza who emigrated to the UAE and claimed he was present during a conversation involving UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed.

    Sources familiar with standard practices in the UAE also cast doubt on that part of the account. They said access to diplomatic discussions at the highest levels is extremely restricted, and individuals who do not belong to circles close to the royal family would generally not be present during such conversations. Accordingly, they said, the claim that a man who emigrated from Gaza was present during a sensitive conversation involving the Israeli prime minister raises significant questions about the account.

  • Israeli Navy Chief Warns Turkey: Distance Won’t Protect You

    Israeli Navy Chief Warns Turkey: Distance Won’t Protect You

    Israel’s naval commander delivered a pointed message Tuesday aimed squarely at Turkey and other actors seeking to challenge Israel in distant maritime arenas. The commander made clear that in the current era “there is no longer a distant front,” and that anyone attempting to operate against Israel from remote waters should know that distance will grant them no immunity.

    Archive | Photo: IDF Spokesperson

    According to the commander, the naval arm has been built to project the power of the State of Israel and the IDF even at distances of thousands of miles from the country’s shores. Addressing attempts to shift the balance of power in the Mediterranean and Red Sea, he emphasized that the IDF is closely monitoring these activities and preparing accordingly.

    He made clear that the navy will not accept a reality in which Israel’s strategic interests or maritime freedom of action are under threat, declaring that forces will operate “openly and covertly, to fulfill our responsibility and mission by any means.” The remarks come against the backdrop of significant strengthening of the naval arm, including the sixth submarine INS Dragon currently making its way to Israel, alongside advancement of Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir’s “Hoshen” program and acquisition of new Reshef-class missile ships.

  • Rubio: U.S. Rejects UK Sanctions, ‘We Won’t Follow Suit’

    Rubio: U.S. Rejects UK Sanctions, ‘We Won’t Follow Suit’

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded today (Tuesday) to sanctions imposed by the British government targeting Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, stopping short of condemning the move while making clear that the United States would not follow Britain’s lead.

    Rubio said the United States does not want to see any actors creating instability in Judea and Samaria, without specifying whom he was referring to. He then stated that Washington would not participate in the sanctions imposed by Britain. Britain significantly escalated its anti-Israel policy earlier Tuesday, opening a new international front against Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria.

    Trump and Rubio | Photo: Shutterstock

    British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced in Parliament a ban on imports of goods from Israeli communities in the area, along with a new sanctions regime targeting companies and individuals that provide services facilitating their expansion. The British measures placed Judea and Samaria alongside Iran and Hezbollah, which were also included in sanctions announced by London.

    A number of other countries joined the British initiative, including France, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. The move therefore extends beyond unilateral British action, representing an effort to build an international front aimed at applying economic pressure on Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria.

  • 12 Countries Join Britain in Boycotting Israel

    12 Countries Join Britain in Boycotting Israel

    France, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden announced Tuesday they are joining Britain’s push to impose restrictions on trade in goods produced in Israeli communities.

    In a joint statement, the countries said they intend to implement national restrictions, support similar measures at the European Union level, or examine additional steps—depending on internal procedures in each country. Iceland and Spain, which has already advanced measures on the issue, also joined the statement. The official announcement praised Britain, France, and Canada for steps already taken by Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium.

    British Prime Minister Andy Burnham | Photo: Shutterstock

    The countries claimed that construction, particularly the announcement of tenders for the E1 project, undermines the possibility of establishing a ‘Palestinian’ state. They demanded Israel’s government halt building Jewish communities and what they called “settler violence,” and accused it of advancing measures resembling territorial annexation.

    British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband quoted former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who said about events in Judea and Samaria: “This is a violent and criminal attempt to claim ownership of territories in Judea and Samaria.”

    British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband | Photo: Shutterstock

    Miliband tried to separate the measures against Israel’s government from attitudes toward its citizens. “Our argument is not against the people of Israel, but against the conduct of its government,” he said. In the joint statement, the countries also condemned the October 7 massacre and emphasized they recognize Israel’s legitimate security interests.

  • Sa’ar Slams UK for Sanctions, ‘Outrageous Lies,’ Jew-Hatred

    Sa’ar Slams UK for Sanctions, ‘Outrageous Lies,’ Jew-Hatred

    Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar issued a scathing response to the British government on Tuesday following its announcement of sanctions targeting what it calls illegal Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, accusing London of interfering in Israel’s upcoming election and announcing a series of Israeli countermeasures. Sa’ar said the measures follow a “series of anti-Israel decisions” by Britain’s Labour government, accusing Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband of spreading “outrageous lies.”

    Gideon Sa’ar | Screenshot

    Sa’ar described the Labour government as “hostile” toward Israel and accused it of “systematically working against the State of Israel.”

    He then announced four Israeli measures in response to the British sanctions:

    1: Closure of the British Consulate General in Jerusalem.

    2: Removal of British representatives from the International Gaza Support Center in southern Israel.

    3: Termination of British activities in Ramallah to train ‘Palestinian Authority’ forces in Judea and Samaria.

    4: Denial of entry to Israel for British elected representatives and other British nationals who promote Jew-hatred or anti-Israel activity, as well as those who “deny the very existence of the State of Israel.”

    According to the British government, “the British Consulate General in Jerusalem represents the UK government in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and Gaza” and works on “political, commercial, security and economic interests between the UK and ‘Palestine’.”

    UK Govt member Ed Miliband announcing sanctions | Screenshot

    Sa’ar also took aim at the timing of London’s announcement, noting that the British government chose to announce the measures on the eve of the holiest days of the Jewish calendar and ahead of the Labour Party conference. He accused the government of “blatant interference in the affairs of a sovereign state and its electoral process,” saying its actions carry “echoes” of “antisemitic wars.”

    Sa’ar argued that Labour’s move is “particularly absurd” given Britain’s own historic role in recognizing the Jewish people’s right to a national home. It was the British government’s Balfour Declaration of 1917, he noted, that formally recognized “the historic right of the Jewish people to re-establish their national home in the land of Israel.”

    Sa’ar went on to call the British boycott of Israeli goods “despicable” before addressing plans for E1, east of Jerusalem, which Miliband announced he would seek to stop. The foreign minister said “no new decisions” had been made regarding those developments, contrary to the British government’s announcement.

    ‘Palestinian’ Ambassador to the UK Husam Zomlot | Photo: Reuters

    Sa’ar then directly linked Labour’s actions to Israel’s election campaign, accusing the British government of making a “blatant and completely unacceptable attempt” to exert influence during an Israeli election. He said the Israeli public overwhelmingly opposes the establishment of a “‘Palestinian’ state” “in the heart of our land”—something he accused the Labour government of attempting to “force upon Israel.”

    Sa’ar made clear that Israel’s response would not necessarily end with Britain, saying Israel would also take “counter-measures” at its discretion against other countries “that act or will act against Israel.” “The message to every government that harms us is clear: whoever acts against Israel, Israel will act against them and they will lose their influence and relevance in this region,” Sa’ar said.

    With that warning, the foreign minister concluded his remarks without taking questions.

  • UK Names Five Israelis Hit With Personal Sanctions

    UK Names Five Israelis Hit With Personal Sanctions

    Britain’s Foreign Office today (Tuesday) released the names of five Israelis hit with personal sanctions as part of a broader crackdown on the State of Israel.

    The list includes conservative activist Benzi Gopstein, founder of the Lehava organization; conservative activist Meir Mordechai Ettinger, a council member of the Derech Chaim movement; bereaved father Eliav Libi, a co-founder of the ranch movement in Judea and Samaria; conservative activist Baruch Marzel, chairman of the Kach movement; and Judea and Samaria activist Avihai Swissa.

    Ed Miliband, the British Foreign Secretary who announced the sanctions | Photo: Shutterstock

    All five have been deeply involved in advancing activity in Judea and Samaria and the Jewish state—some through politics, others through establishing new communities.

    British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced the measures earlier Tuesday in Parliament, banning imports of goods from Israeli territory and imposing a new sanctions regime targeting companies and individuals providing services to Israeli communities.

    In doing so, Britain placed Judea and Samaria in the same category as Iran and Hezbollah, which are also subject to UK sanctions. Twelve countries joined the move: France, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. What began as a unilateral British step has now become an attempt to build an international front applying economic pressure on Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria.

  • Israel & Allies Respond to UK, Consulate to Shut Down

    Israel & Allies Respond to UK, Consulate to Shut Down

    The announcement today by British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband on sanctioning Israel triggered a firestorm of reactions from Israeli leaders and the Jewish state’s allies around the globe. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced that the British consulate in Jerusalem would be shut down.

    In addition to this, Saar announced that 12 far-left and anti-Israel British MPs will be banned from entering the State of Israel. British representatives will also be removed from the International Gaza Support Center in Kiryat Gat and Britain’s involvement with training PA ‘forces’ in Ramallah would cease.

    British Foreign Minister Ed Miliband | Photo: Shutterstock

    Israel Gantz, governor of Binyamin, responded to the sanctions by vowing further Israeli development in its heartland: “You will not succeed in removing the Jews from Judea and Samaria. We will respond to any attempt to harm the communities with more construction, more communities, and Israeli sovereignty.”

    Before Miliband’s announcement, Republican Congressman from Florida Randy Fine threatened the United Kingdom that sanctioning Israel would trigger a law he passed that would “ban any British company forced to comply from doing business with any state or local government in Florida.” Fine later confirmed it would be implemented.

    Blue and White party chairman Benny Gantz called the decision hypocritical. He added that the response should be “to build a strong coalition and a strong government. Without extremist ministers, without games, and without apologizing.”

    Yigal Dilmoni, CEO and Co-founder of American Friends of Judea and Samaria, released a harsh statement as well: “Any attempt to deny Jews the right to live and build in their historic homeland stands against the faith and beliefs of hundreds of millions of Jews and Christians around the world who regard the Bible as a fundamental testimony to this history.”

    Negative reactions came from inside Britain as well. Retired British Army Colonel Richard Kemp said the sanctions would have a “negligible economic effect” on Israel. He added that the sanctions would backfire by inciting “even greater Jew hate and potentially violence by jihadists and their useful idiots in Britain. They will damage relations with the US, causing potential economic harm to the UK. They are also deliberately intended to constitute electoral interference in Israel.”

    As Milband made the announcement, Samaria Governor Yossi Dagan met with the deputy prime minister of Slovenia, Jernej Vrtovec. Dagan issued his response from Ljubljana: “Israel is the frontline, the vanguard that defends Europe. It is impossible to accept a situation where Jews are punished just because they live in the heart of the Land of Israel.”  

    Samaria Governor Yossi Dagan and Deputy Prime Minister and Slovenian Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Jernej Vrtovec | Photo: Samaria Regional Council

    Unlike Miliband, Vrtovec affirmed his support for Israeli sovereignty over its heartland and historical homeland: “We express great solidarity with Samaria, and we would like to say that we support Samaria being under Israeli sovereignty.”