Channel 14 News Israel

Category: Israel

  • Arab Media Melts Down Over Smotrich’s 1M-Jew Negev Plan

    Arab Media Melts Down Over Smotrich’s 1M-Jew Negev Plan

    Arab media platform Arab i published an slanted video covering Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s plan to strengthen Jewish communities in the Negev and Galilee, warning of its alleged demographic and territorial consequences. The video claims the plan seeks to bring about a million additional Jews to these areas and establish dozens of new communities and outposts, and could reduce the Arab demographic weight in these regions and significantly increase the Jewish presence.

    The video’s loaded narrative also claims the plan includes changes to planning and land policy, expanding state authority and increasing enforcement in the Negev and Galilee. The platform’s broadcasts used dire propaganda, portraying the measures as “demographic engineering” designed to change realities on the ground, and saying the Arab world should understand the potential goal of the plan is to strengthen Israeli governance and control over state lands while preventing illegal encroachment across the regions.

    A significant portion of the video focused on unrecognized Bedouin villages in the Negev, with its creators warning of increased enforcement against “illegal construction” and the establishment of additional Jewish communities in the area. The central message emerging from the video is clear: there is considerable concern in the Arab world that Smotrich’s plan could significantly expand the Jewish presence in the Negev and Galilee and alter the demographic balance in both regions.

    For the record, the Negev and Galilee are sovereign Israeli territory, and the communities envisioned under the plan would be established on land legally under Israeli jurisdiction.

  • Israel Airports Brace for Massive 3M+ Traveler Holiday Rush

    Israel Airports Brace for Massive 3M+ Traveler Holiday Rush

    Think the summer travel rush is behind us? Think again. The Israel Airports Authority is preparing for an exceptionally busy month, with more than 3 million passengers expected to pass through its facilities during September and the Tishrei holiday season. Most will travel through Ben Gurion Airport, which alone is expected to handle approximately 2.5 million passengers—roughly equivalent to the traffic seen during August.

    Illustration | Photo: Yossi Aloni, Flash90

    The crowds are expected to peak on several key days: September 10, 17, 22, and 25, when Ben Gurion will see about 100,000 passengers daily alongside some 600 flights. On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, September 10, the airport expects an unusually high number of more than 100,000 passengers on international flights alone.

    Flights to Uman will add to the congestion. The dedicated flights begin September 6 and continue through September 17. The most popular destinations during the holidays are expected to be Greece, Cyprus, the U.S., Italy, and the United Arab Emirates.

    The crowds won’t stay at Ben Gurion alone. Ramon Airport expects about 81,000 passengers, Haifa about 60,000, and the land border crossings to Sinai and Jordan about 500,000 passengers. The Rabin crossing expects about 190,000 passengers, Allenby about 153,000, the Begin crossing about 100,000, and the Jordan River crossing about 55,000.

    Photo: Avshalom Sassouni, Flash 90

    The Airports Authority has increased its staff for the busy period, and during the holiday there will also be an increased presence of managers in the terminals. For passengers themselves, the authority recommends checking in advance which terminal the flight departs from, checking in from home, and printing baggage tags at self-service stations. Those flying with carry-on only who have checked in independently can use the fast track in Sector W in Terminals 1 and 3. And the authority also reminds reservists and security personnel to carefully check their bags before heading to the airport, and make sure no ammunition parts are left in them.

  • Supreme Court Clears Shin Bet to Combat Rampant Arab Crime

    Supreme Court Clears Shin Bet to Combat Rampant Arab Crime

    Israel’s Supreme Court on Monday rejected petitions against the plan to involve the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency (ISA), in combating crime in the Arab sector. “I saw no reason to issue additional orders,” Justice Daphne Barak-Erez ruled, contradicting the Attorney General’s position and effectively removing the legal obstacle that had blocked the move until now.

    Credit: Screenshot from the Otzma Yehudit YouTube channel

    National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir had argued three years ago that the Shin Bet should participate in efforts to crack down on crime in the Arab community, given the expanding scope of the problem. According to him, during that period, “the Attorney General and Ronen Bar prevented bringing the Shin Bet into the fight against crime.”

    Responding to the High Court decision, Ben-Gvir said that “now, Mansour Abbas can only hope for the rise of a left-wing government that will allow him to immediately stop all the moves that Minister May Golan and I have led, so that God forbid we don’t discover his involvement in transferring billions to crime and terror organizations.” He went on to address Abbas directly, saying the immunity granted to him by former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar has ended.

    Shin Bet Chief David Zini | Photo: Dor Pezuelo, Flash 90

    Social Equality Minister May Golan said: “Those who need to provide answers today are the committee of Arab local council heads, left-wing organizations, and Mazen Ghanaim. They tried to stop the fight against criminals who are murdering in Arab society. Instead of joining us in the war against crime organizations—they’re asking to enable their continued funding by channeling money from the Bennett-Lapid-Abbas government.”

    The ruling comes after the government approved the plan to bring the Shin Bet into the fight against Arab sector crime about two months ago. As first reported by C14, the plan includes diverting approximately 497 million shekels from the five-year plan—550—to strengthen the fight against crime organizations.

    Ronen Bar | Photo: Haim Goldberg, Flash 90

    Numerous left-wing organizations, including the Association for Civil Rights in Israel and the Israel Democracy Institute, opposed the move, with some petitioning the High Court to torpedo it completely or at least delay it. At the same time, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara also submitted a legal opinion against bringing the Shin Bet into the matter.

  • Greece Backs Lebanon Hours After Signing Deal With Israel

    Greece Backs Lebanon Hours After Signing Deal With Israel

    Greece waded into the Israel-Lebanon conflict and decided to play both sides of the field. Hours after signing a security agreement with Israel, Greek President Konstantinos Tsoulakis stood alongside Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and said he supports Lebanon’s position demanding a complete withdrawal of IDF forces from Lebanon—after Aoun claimed Israel isn’t honoring the ceasefire agreement while Lebanon is complying with everything stipulated.

    Aoun met Monday with Tsoulakis at the presidential palace in Athens and again spoke out against Israel, saying the agreement must be fully implemented by both sides, not unilaterally and without selectivity. Aoun stressed that “solving the problem through military force will not succeed because Lebanon has already suffered the tragedies of war, and the time has come for it to find peace.”

    President of Lebanon Joseph Aoun | Photo: Arab networks

    At a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Aoun said: “We expect Greece to continue supporting the Lebanese army and the only possible solution, which is the complete withdrawal of the Israeli army and full control by our forces alone over all our land. I am visiting you and expect your continued support for Lebanon, out of our aspiration to soon establish a strategic partnership between us and Europe.”

    After the press conference, Tsoulakis confirmed his country’s support for Lebanon in these difficult and sensitive times: “Signing an agreement with Israel, with whom we have a direct relationship, will strengthen Lebanon’s sense of independence and prosperity.”

    The Greek president’s statement came on the same day Israel’s Defense Ministry and Greece’s Defense Ministry signed a massive security deal worth about €3 billion. Under the agreement, Israel will establish a multi-layered air defense system for Greece under a project dubbed “Achilles Shield.”

  • Israel and Greece Sign $3B Air Defense Deal

    Israel and Greece Sign $3B Air Defense Deal

    Israel’s Defense Ministry and Greece’s Defense Ministry signed a massive defense deal Monday worth roughly 3 billion euros—more than $3.2 billion—marking the largest defense export agreement in the history of Israeli-Greek relations and one of the biggest defense contracts Israel has ever signed.

    Under the agreement, Israel will build a multi-layered air defense system for Greece in a project dubbed “Achilles Shield.” The deal comes against the backdrop of ongoing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly with Turkey, as Athens seeks to significantly bolster its defense capabilities against a range of aerial threats.

    עסקת הענק של ישראל ויוון
    Photo: Spokesperson and Public Relations Division at the Ministry of Defense

    The system Israel will build for Greece will be based on architecture and systems manufactured by Israeli defense industries, alongside operational knowledge accumulated by Israel’s security establishment during years of combat and confronting advanced threats. The system is expected to provide protection against ballistic missiles, aerial attacks, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other threats.

    עסקת הענק של ישראל ויוון
    Photo: Spokesperson and Public Relations Division at the Ministry of Defense

    The signing ceremony at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv was attended by Defense Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. (res.) Emir Eshel and head of Greece’s procurement administration, Yannis Bouras. Also present were the head of SIBAT, Brig. Gen. (res.) Yair Kulas, head of the Defense Ministry’s Research and Development Directorate, Brig. Gen. (res.) Dr. Danny Gold, Rafael CEO Yoav Tourgeman, Israel Aerospace Industries CEO Guy Bar Lev, and head of the Homa Directorate Moshe Patal.

    Under the deal, Greece will receive several of Israel’s most advanced defense systems, including David’s Sling—led by the Homa Directorate in the Defense Ministry’s R&D arm and Rafael—the BARAK MX system and MMR multi-mission radars manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries, and Rafael’s SPYDER system. In addition, Rafael will lead development of a new national command and control system that will integrate all capabilities under one framework.

    Alongside the Achilles Shield deal, a complementary agreement worth 26 million euros was signed for the sale of DRONE DOME systems, designed to protect strategic sites from UAVs and drones.

    The Defense Ministry said the agreements also include enhanced industrial-defense cooperation between the countries, including transfer of knowledge and technology to Greece’s domestic industry. Defense Minister Israel Katz welcomed the deal, calling it another step in deepening the strategic partnership between Israel and Greece in the face of shared regional challenges.

    The Defense Ministry director general and heads of the defense industries noted that the deal represents international confidence in the technological superiority of Israeli industries and is expected to serve as a growth engine for establishing independence in armaments and force-building for the IDF.

  • IDF Arrests Terror Suspect Linked to “Lions’ Den” in Nablus

    IDF Arrests Terror Suspect Linked to “Lions’ Den” in Nablus

    Special forces arrested a 37-year-old terror suspect overnight in the city of Nablus in the Samaria Brigade. The operation was carried out with intelligence guidance from the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency, and in coordination with police and the IDF.

    According to police, the suspect previously belonged to the “Lions’ Den” terror organization that operated in Nablus and was dismantled by security forces in 2022. Police said he worked throughout the period to advance terror activity and attempted to carry out attacks against Israeli civilians.

    After receiving the intelligence tip, special forces prepared for the arrest and reached his home covertly. The suspect was arrested and transferred for further interrogation by the Shin Bet. Police said there were no casualties among Israeli forces.

  • Israel Boosts Police Presence for New School Year

    Israel Boosts Police Presence for New School Year

    The Ministry of Transport is finalizing preparations for the opening of the new school year, focusing on heightened road safety and traffic management around educational institutions nationwide. On Sunday, Ministry Director-General Moshe Ben Zaken convened a comprehensive readiness session with senior representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Israel Police Traffic Department, the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), the National Public Transport Authority, and child safety advocacy organizations.

    Photo: Yossi Aloni, Flash90

    The inter-agency discussions addressed safe pedestrian crossings, bicycle and scooter safety protocols, regulation of designated “Kiss and Go” drop-off zones, the operation of student safety patrols (Mishmarot Zahav), and increased police deployment, monitoring, and enforcement during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal hours. Concurrently, the National Public Transport Authority completed the seasonal transition from summer schedules to full school-year operational timetables, adjusted to match projected student demand.

    Transport officials emphasized that drivers must drop off and pick up students exclusively in designated zones, avoiding double parking, blocking crosswalks, or stopping in locations that endanger pedestrians. Parents are urged to practice safe walking routes with their children, ensure children under the age of 9 do not cross roads without adult supervision, and verify helmet use for riders and seatbelt compliance on every trip

    Photo: Canva

    Ministry of Transport Director-General Moshe Ben Zaken stated: “The opening of the school year is far more than a return to routine; it is our fundamental responsibility to safeguard children’s lives and ensure they travel to and from school safely. Under the directive of Minister Miri Regev, we are preparing well in advance alongside all relevant bodies to provide parents with full confidence as they send their children to school—from the daily commute to the immediate school perimeter. Alongside infrastructure upgrades, expanded transit, and strict enforcement, instilling lifelong safety habits from an early age is of paramount importance,” Ben Zaken added. “Under the Minister’s leadership, we will continue deploying every available tool to ensure the school year opens safely, responsibly, and with utmost vigilance.”

  • Winter Slams Mega-Scanner at Erez: Flawed Mindset

    Winter Slams Mega-Scanner at Erez: Flawed Mindset

    Chairman of the “Amcha Yisrael” party, Ofer Winter, addressed the recent placement of a massive new magnetometer scanner at the northern Gaza Erez Crossing on Sunday, asking: “Would you believe that after three years of war in Gaza, this is the image we would see?”

    Humanitarian Aid Trucks at Erez Crossing, Archive | Photo: IDF Spokesperson

    “Look at the picture of the gigantic magnetometer with Israeli and German flags at the Erez Crossing—when do you think that picture is from, October 6th? No, it’s from last week,” Winter declared. “Instead of decisively defeating Hamas and encouraging the voluntary emigration of Gazans, the Israeli government, together with the German government, is inaugurating a giant ‘conception’ magnetometer. As long as Hamas retains hope that Gaza will be rebuilt, we will neither achieve total victory nor see emigration.”

    The Erez Crossing serves as the sole pedestrian and goods transit terminal in the northern Gaza Strip, where security screenings are conducted using advanced screening technology. While standard metal detectors and magnetometers historically screened pedestrian transit, images of the new facility demonstrate a scale large enough to scan entire freight trucks.

    Erez Crossing | Photo: Flash90

    Last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz addressed the status of the Erez terminal, stating it will not reopen. Both leaders clarified that no directive had been issued to open the crossing for commercial goods, reiterating that Israel will not allow the rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip until Hamas is completely disarmed and the territory is fully demilitarized.

  • IDF Kills Two Hamas Nukhba Terrorists in Khan Younis, Gaza

    IDF Kills Two Hamas Nukhba Terrorists in Khan Younis, Gaza

    The IDF struck Saturday in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza, killing Yasser Abu al-Khair and Mohammed al-Adin, two terrorists in Hamas’s Nukhba force, according to an IDF spokesperson.

    The military said the two had recently been advancing terror plots against IDF forces and Israeli civilians, and were working to rebuild the terror organization’s capabilities. The IDF said their activities constituted a systematic violation of the ceasefire, and that they were eliminated to remove the threat.

    IDF forces under Southern Command are deployed in the area in accordance with the ceasefire agreement, and the military said it will continue to act to remove any threat.

  • Muslims Trap Hyena Near Jerusalem, Then Stone It to Death

    Muslims Trap Hyena Near Jerusalem, Then Stone It to Death

    A severe case of animal cruelty occurred last Friday near the settlement of Kedar in the Ma’ale Adumim area. According to reports, Arabs set a trap for a striped hyena, and after it was caught and unable to escape, they stoned it to death.

    The striped hyena is a protected wild animal in Israel, and the law prohibits hunting, trapping, or harming it. It is the only species from the hyena family living in Israel and is considered the country’s largest land predator. An adult hyena weighs about 35 kilograms (77 pounds).

    Despite the threatening image hyenas have in culture and folklore, they typically avoid confrontation with humans. According to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, there has never been a documented case of a striped hyena attacking a person in the wild in Israel.

    Hyenas are active mainly at night and are usually seen alone. They feed primarily on carrion, but also on small or injured animals, fruits and vegetables, and human waste. Because of their ability to consume carcasses and clean the area, the Nature and Parks Authority calls them “nature’s sanitation workers”—their activity helps clean the environment and reduce the risk of disease spread.

    Population at Risk

    The situation of the striped hyena is particularly concerning. According to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, based on estimates from the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the number of striped hyenas in the world is estimated at fewer than 10,000 individuals, and their population is declining. In the Middle East, their situation is even more difficult.

    Striped hyena| Edited using AI

    Among the main threats to hyenas in Israel are vehicle strikes, poisoning, traps, and deliberate pursuit and killing by humans. In Judea and Samaria, incidents of hyenas being shot and run over are regularly documented.

    Just this past March, a striped hyena cub less than two months old was rescued near Ramallah after being caught in an illegal leg trap. The cub arrived at the wildlife hospital in critical condition, suffering from an open fracture, necrosis, and severe dehydration, and veterinarians were forced to amputate one of its front legs.

    Last year, a female striped hyena was also rescued near the separation barrier after being caught in an illegal leg trap. She was found injured and suffering, with fractures in her paw digits, and was taken for treatment at the wildlife hospital.

    The Nature and Parks Authority emphasizes that in case of an encounter with a hyena, one should not approach it, feed it, or attempt to capture it. If the animal is injured or in distress, the Nature and Parks Authority hotline should be contacted.