Israeli soldier wounded in blast in Samaria
(JNS) — An Israeli soldier sustained serious injuries in an explosion in the town of Beita near Nablus on Wednesday, prompting the Israel Defense Forces to circle the locale in search of the culprits, the army said.
The soldier, a reservist, was part of an operational activity by his Battalion 9221, a patrol and reconnaissance unit belonging to the Ephraim regional division, the IDF Spokesperson’s unit said in a statement. The wounded soldier was transferred for treatment in Israel.
Israel celebrates 77th Independence Day in shadow of wildfires
(JNS) — Israel ushered in its 77th Independence Day at sunset on Wednesday night, with nightly celebrations canceled or postponed throughout the country as massive wildfires continued to engulf the Jewish state.
The Jerusalem torch-lighting ceremony that traditionally marks the start of Yom Ha’atzmaut, Independence Day, and the end of Yom Hazikaron, the Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism, was canceled due to a massive blaze in the nearby hills and strong winds. Instead, footage of the rehearsals held earlier this week was aired.
Netta Barzilai teams up with Jewish Agency to drop Independence Day tune
(JNS) — In celebration of Israel’s 77th Independence Day, internationally acclaimed singer Netta Barzilai has partnered with the Jewish Agency for Israel to release a new rendition of the iconic Israeli anthem “Chai.” The song, originally written by Ehud Manor and famously performed by Ofra Haza at the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest, has been reimagined to reflect Israel’s resilience in the face of current challenges.
This modern adaptation brings together a diverse and poignant group of participants: new immigrants who arrived amid war, young Jewish volunteers from around the world, Jewish Agency shlichim (emissaries) who served communities abroad during rising antisemitism, youth from Israel’s conflict-stricken southern and northern regions, survivors of terrorism, and recently freed hostage Dafna Elyakim.
Israeli Air Force uses big guns to contain Jerusalem-area fire
(JNS) — Israeli Air Force pilots have joined firefighting teams working to contain several conflagrations that have consumed about 5,000 acres of forest and terrain, mostly near Jerusalem.
These efforts and weather conditions helped stabilize the situation, but the Israel Fire & Rescue Authority said in a statement on Thursday morning that its 155 teams were still working to contain the fires, in which no one was killed but which resulted in the hospitalization of 12 civilians and 17 firefighters. Thousands of residents have been evacuated from their homes in the Judean Foothills.
On Wednesday night, the IAF deployed its big guns in the fight against the fires: its two Samson airplanes, the Israeli name for the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules, which has only recently been added to Israel’s firefighting arsenal.
