PM calls for unity at Jerusalem pride parade in memory of slain teen

Yishai Schlissel arrested in prison for plot to attack pride parade goers

Police reveal that the anti-gay religious extremist who killed teenager Shira Bank at the Jerusalem Gay Pride Parade last year and stabbed several others is suspected of planning a fresh attack at today’s parade in the capital.

Yishai Schlissel is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of Banki. He was arrested in prison yesterday.

Police say he is under suspicion of being involved in a plot, together with his brother Michael, to harm participants at the Pride Parade set to take place later this afternoon in Jerusalem.

Yishai Schlissel appeared before the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court earlier today and his remand was extended until Sunday, according to a police statement.

His brother Michael Schlissel was also arrested yesterday, under actionable intelligence, in connection with the plot. His mother and four other brothers were detained by police and later released under condition that they not come near the parade.

Michael Schlissel, brother of Yishai Schlissel, is led out of the courtroom of the Jerusalem Magistrates Court on July 20, 2016. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Police say the parade will take place as planned, albeit under heavy security. Some 2,000 police will be on hand to secure the highly charged march.

Radio program on Darwish’s works like praising ‘Mein Kampf’ – Liberman

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman says a recent radio program on the works of Palestinian poet and author Mahmoud Darwish is like praising Hitler’s “Mein Kampf.”

In a meeting today with Army Radio chief Yaron Dekel surrounding the brewing scandal over the station’s broadcasting on Tuesday of an educational program on Darwish, Liberman says the renowned Palestinian writer “who called in his poetry for the expulsion of the Jewish people from the State of Israel and who wrote that ‘the flesh of the occupier will be my sustenance,’ cannot be part of the Israeli narrative program that was aired.”

“By that logic, the complete legacy of the Mufti al-Husseini or the literary merits of ‘Mein Kampf’ could also have been included” in the program, says Liberman, according to Channel 2.

Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish seen during a signing for his new book in Amman, Jordan, February 23, 2008 (AP/Nader Daoud)

The station had come under fire since the broadcast, with Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev called on Liberman to intervene and urging him to defund the station.

Army Radio has defended its programming, saying in a statement that its educational broadcasts sought to “enrich and engage” their listeners with a variety of ideas.

‘We have no control over him,’ says Schlissel’s father

The father of Yishai Schlissel, the religious extremist serving a life sentence for the murder of a teenager at the Jerusalem Pride Parade last year, says the family has no control over him.

Police revealed today that Schlissel was arrested in prison yesterday over a suspected plot to attack parade-goers again this year. His brother Michael was arrested yesterday in connection with the plot as well.

“We started to rehabilitate him as much as we could, to find him a job, and, much to our chagrin, we have no control over him. He’s a grown man,” his father says, according to Channel 10.

Before last year’s attack, Schlissel had just been released from prison after serving 10 years for a stabbing attack at the Jerusalem pride parade in 2005.

Herzog to suggest postponing Labor primary elections

Labor party leader MK Isaac Herzog is expected to call for the postponement of the party’s primary elections to next year, Hebrew-language media reports.

Herzog, who is also head of the Zionist Union — made up of Labor and Tzipi Livni’s Hatnua — will convene the Labor party’s election committee on July 31 to set the date.

Jerusalem mayor lays flowers at site of Shira Banki’s murder

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat lay flowers at the site of the murder of teenager Shira Banki who was killed last year at the Jerusalem Gay Pride Parade. Her killer, Yishai Schlissel, stabbed six others in that attack and was arrested again in prison yesterday for plotting with his brother to attack parade-goers this year.

Barkat, under fire for his decision not to attend this year’s parade so as not to offend ultra-Orthodox residents, says he understands the criticism and the pain it has caused.

“I chose another way to honor the memory of Shira Banki, may her memory be blessing, the sweet teenager who was murdered because of baseless hatred,” says Barkat.

“I wish with all my heart that on this day we will know to unite against any expression of incitement, [and] violence, and [in favor] of the right for the freedom of expression of every person and every community in the State of Israel regardless of religion, race or sexual orientation,” he adds.

The 15th annual Gay Pride Parade will take place in Jerusalem later this afternoon under heavy police protection.

Arab MKs slam Liberman for Darwish-Hitler link

Arab Knesset members are in an uproar over comments by Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman earlier that said airing an educational program on Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish was like praising the literary work of Hitler. Army Radio broadcast the program on Darwish’s works on Tuesday.

Joint (Arab) List MK Ahmad Tibi says Liberman is not just “racist, violent and delusional but also ignorant for the comparison.”

The head of the Joint List party, Ayman Odeh, says “only a hateful, evil person can compare between the wonderful, human-loving poetry of Darwish and the works of Hitler.”

IDF general to be indicted for rape, conduct unbecoming

The IDF Military Advocate General will file an indictment against Brig. Gen. Ofek Buchris for rape and sodomy against two female subordinates, Israeli media reports.

Under Israeli law, sodomy constitutes either oral or anal sex when a person in a position of power “exploits his [or her] authority in the workplace or in (national) service.”

The indictment against Buchris also include conduct unbecoming.

Brig.-Gen. Ofek Buchris seen during a visit to Tel Hashomer army base, November 22, 2010. (Flash90)

The investigation against the general, considered a rising star in the army’s top ranks, was launched in February after the two subordinates leveled the charges against him.

Buchris, 47, a highly decorated officer who was thought to be on the fast track to head the IDF, has vehemently denied the accusations by both women.

A decision to appoint him the head of the army’s Operations Division in March was rescinded by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot.

In a statement, Buchris’s attorney says he is confident that the defense will prove his innocence.

Iran arrests 40 suspects linked to underground tunnel

Iran’s official IRNA news agency says authorities have arrested 40 suspects linked to the discovery of an underground tunnel in the country’s far east, near the Pakistani border.

The report says those arrested belong to a “terrorist group” but doesn’t identify the group. It quotes Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli as saying the subterranean tunnel discovered two nights ago was meant for “carrying out attacks and militant activities.”

Earlier in July, four Iranian border guards were killed by gunmen near the Pakistani border. Security forces have also occasionally clashed with militants groups in the area believed to be affiliated with al-Qaeda and which have claimed responsibility for several attacks in the past years.

Most of the violence is focused in Iran’s eastern Sistan-Baluchistan province, which borders Pakistan’s southwestern Baluchistan province.

— AP

Jerusalem pride parade to begin amid heavy police security

The 15th annual Jerusalem pride parade is set to begin amid heavy police security.

Parade-goers are lining up to enter the area of the event, as thousands of police officers, Border Police units and Magen David Adom paramedics stand by.

Earlier today, police revealed that the religious extremist who killed a teenager and injured several people in a stabbing attack at last year’s parade was arrested in prison over a plot for a fresh assault against participants at this year’s event.

Yishai Schlissel is serving a life sentence for the murder of Shira Banki, 16.

Watch livestream from Jerusalem pride parade

The Times of Israel’s new media editor Sarah Tuttle-Singer is broadcasting live from the pride parade in Jerusalem.

https://www.facebook.com/sarahtuttlesinger/videos/10105520115436223/

Over 10,000 people at Jerusalem pride parade

Over 10,000 people are participating at the 15th annual Jerusalem pride parade, according to initial reports.

In the wake of the deadly stabbing attack last year that claimed the life of teenager Shira Banki, the march this year is secured by over 2,000 police officers, uniformed and plain-clothed.

The Times of Israel is broadcasting live from the event

https://www.facebook.com/timesofisrael/videos/901456659961045/

‘There was serious risk’ to parade-goers, Jerusalem police chief says

Jerusalem police chief Yoram Halevy says “there was a serious risk of danger to those participating [in the Jerusalem pride parade,” in the wake of a police revelation earlier today that the religious extremist who killed a teenager at last year’s parade had plotted a fresh attack this year with his brother.

“We have information that indicated he intended to cause harm to the march,” Halevy tells Channel 2, adding that “a number of people… tried to enter the area of the march in order to prevent it taking place as planned. They were stopped and arrested before they reached the area of the march.”

He says police are “working at our full capacity and with the highest possible alertness.”

“We want everyone to be able to march and take part in the event in peace. The area is fully protected and we will continue to ensure that,” he says.

Cruz: Not supporting candidate who wages personal attacks

A night after being booed off the Republican National Convention stage, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz remains defiant about Donald Trump, saying he is not a “servile puppy dog” and vowing not to support anyone who wages personal attacks against his family.

Speaking to an incensed Texas delegation, Cruz recalled an answer he gave at a Republican debate this year, when he enthusiastically said he would support the party’s official nominee.

“The day that was abdicated was the day this became personal,” Cruz says. “I’m not going to get into criticizing or attacking Donald Trump, but I’ll give you this response: I am not in the habit of supporting people who attack my wife and attack my father.”

“And that pledge was not a blanket commitment that if you go and slander and attack Heidi, I’m going to nonetheless come like a servile puppy dog and say thank you very much for maligning my wife and my father,” he adds.

Trump repeatedly mocked Cruz throughout the campaign as “Lyin’ Ted.” Trump also took jabs at the appearance of Cruz’s wife, Goldman Sachs executive Heidi Cruz, and the Texas senator responded that Trump is a “sniveling coward.” Trump also made suggestions that Cruz’s father had indirect links to John F. Kennedy’s assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tex., addresses the delegates during the third day session of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Wednesday, July 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

— AP

Trumps hits back at Cruz over refusal to endorse him

Donald Trump is hitting back at Ted Cruz after the Texas senator explained why he wasn’t endorsing Trump for president.

Cruz said today that he will not support anyone who wages personal attacks against his family. Cruz told members of the Texas delegation that he would support the candidate “I trust to defend our freedom and be faithful to the Constitution.”

In a Tweet, Trump said Cruz “talks about the Constitution but doesn’t say that if the Dems win the Presidency, the new JUSTICES appointed will destroy us all!”

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/756129793054220288

Trump was referring to the open seat on the Supreme Court left vacant after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. Senate Republicans say it should be up to the next president to appoint a replacement. They have refused to hold a confirmation hearing for President Barack Obama’s nominee, Judge Merrick Garland.

Cruz has refused to rule out a run for president in 2020.

— AP

Brazil arrests 10 IS-linked suspects over alleged plot to attack Olympics

Federal police in Brazil have ordered the detention of 12 people who allegedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group via social media.

Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes tells journalists in Brasilia that 10 had been arrested and two more were being sought.

Moraes says police acted because the group had been discussing the use of weapons and guerrilla tactics to potentially launch an attack during the Olympics, which begin Aug. 5.

The arrests were made in the southern states of Sao Paulo and Parana. Moraes says there were no specific targets for attack.

Last week, Brazil’s interim government’s top military aide said the concerns with terrorism had “reached a higher level” after the attacks of six days ago in Nice, France.

— AP

We march together for Shira Banki’s memory, says PM

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that today’s pride parade in Jerusalem is not just for the LGBTQ community, but for all those who believe in equality.

In a Facebook post that also included a video in Hebrew, the prime minister wrote that those participating in the event “will be marching for one principle: all human beings are equal, all human beings were created in God’s image, all human beings have a right to live their lives as they choose, with dignity and security.”

Netanyahu pays tribute to Shira Banki, 16, who was murdered at last year’s pride parade in the capital by a religious extremist, calling her a “brave, talented and loved” child.

The PM says he spent the past year hearing about Banki from her “wonderful family and close friends, learning about her beliefs and her opinions.”

“Shira was murdered for supporting the simple idea that we are all equal. The parade today in Jerusalem is not a parade just for the LGBTQ community. It’s not a march just for one group…It’s a march for ‘us,’ for ‘togetherness.’ …We are all one family,” he says.

“We march together in Shira’s memory, we will remember her with love and longing, we will not let others sow separation among us,” he adds.

Netanyahu is not expected to be in attendance at the pride parade.

Jihadi forum calls for Rio Olympics attack like 1972 killings of Israeli athletes

Jihadists on an instant messaging service are calling for terror attacks at the upcoming Rio Olympics in Brazil, citing the 1972 murders of 11 Israelis during the Munich Olympics as an example.

The messages were sent over the cloud-based service Telegram Messenger, according to the SITE intelligence service which monitors online media activity of terror groups.

The channel is being used for suggestions on how to carry out lone wolf attacks during the games, set to begin in two weeks.

Suggestions have included causing traffic accidents, poisoning people’s food, stabbing people on public transportation and at the airport, targeting those who are drunk at bars and clubs, and taking hostages.

One of the messages includes a call to specifically target Israelis or Americans.

“One small knife attack against Americans/Israelis in these places will have [a] bigger media effect than any other attacks anywhere else inshallah,” according to the site The Foreign News Desk, run by a former journalist with CNN and NBC.

“From amongst the worst enemies, the most famous enemies for general Muslims is to attack Israelis. As general Muslims all agree to it and it causes more popularity for the Mujahideen amongst the Muslims,” says another message

“Your chance to take part in the global Jihad is here! Your chance to be a martyr is here!” says yet another.

Jihadists and would-be jihadists are also reminded to record a “claim of responsibility” message prior to any attacks.

30 arrested for attempts to disrupt Jerusalem pride parade

Police say 30 people have been arrested over attempts to disrupt the pride parade currently taking place in Jerusalem.

Some were in possession of knives, police say.

Hatred has no place in Israeli society, says PM

In an English statement that differs slightly from the Hebrew message earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is surrounded by regime that murder people for their sexual orientation while the LGBTQ community marches in Jerusalem with pride.

Netanyahu mentioned the massacre last month at an Orlando gay nightclub in which 49 people lost their lives at the hands of Omar Mateen, a US-born man who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, and the terror group’s policy of throwing homosexuals to their deaths off rooftops.

He also mentioned how the Iranian regime treats its gay community by “hang[ing] them from cranes in public squares.”

“This is nothing short of insanity,” writes Netanyahu in a post and video published on Facebook. “Surrounding us are regimes who literally murder you for being gay. In Israel, the LGBT community marches with pride.”

Netanyahu reiterates his belief that all people are created equal and pays tribute to Shira Banki, the 16-year-old teenager who was stabbed to death at last year’s pride parade in the capital by religious extremist Yishai Schlissel.

“Shira was murdered by an extremist filled with hate. And this hatred has no place whatsoever in Israeli society. We will always fight against it,” he writes, adding that “some elements of our society are still not yet ready to accept the LGBT community.”

“Whether you are marching today or not, I ask you to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the LGBT community,” says the PM.

‘You’ve left a deep scar in my soul,’ writes complainant to IDF general indicted for rape

One of the women accusing a top IDF general of sexual assault wrote a letter to him explaining the deep trauma he has caused her, Channel 2 reports.

Earlier today, Brig.Gen. Ofek Buchris was indicted by the Military Advocate General for rape, sodomy and sexual assault against two female subordinates between 2010 and 2012. Buchris has vehemently denied the charges calling the trial a “fight for his life.”

The attorneys representing Buchris said the prosecution’s case against the general was “seriously flawed.”

In the letter obtained by Channel 2, one of the general’s former subordinates wrote, prior to pursuing a legal process against him, that she was “blinded by his authority and power”

The letter was written more than two years ago, according to Channel 2 and was destroyed by Buchris after he received it.

In it, the soldier writes that the general created intimate situations in which she felt obligated to sleep with him against her will.

“As I process the things that have happened, I understand that you took advantage of me. You took advantage of my loyalty, my innocence, the fact that I wouldn’t tell anyone what happened behind closed doors, you took advantage of your power and the knowledge that no can can refuse you,” she writes.

“The purpose of this letter is first to make you understand that you’ve left a large, deep scar in my soul,” she goes on.

Channel 2 reports that she wrote the missive after years of psychological treatment.

Nice killer had help and accomplices, says French prosecutor

Tunisian truck killer Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel was helped to prepare his Bastille Day attack by five suspects who are now in custody, a French prosecutor says

Francois Molins says the four men and a woman were “involved in the preparation” of the attack in the French Riviera resort of Nice, which had been planned months in advance.

More than 400 investigators have been poring over evidence since the July 14 attack in which Bouhlel rammed a truck into crowds on the Nice promenade, leaving 84 dead and over 300 injured.

— AFP contributed

Teen says he was attacked in Jerusalem near pride parade

A teenager says he was attacked in Jerusalem, near the pride parade, and that the attacker had tried to stab him.

According to Channel 2, the teen, a member of the LGBTQ community, approached police officers and told them he was assaulted by a person who tried to stab him. He showed the police his torn shirt as evidence.

The teen did not have stab wounds.

The incident occurred on Agron street, corner of David Hamelech in the capital, not far from the pride parade is taking place.

Streets closed to traffic during Jerusalem parade now reopened

Police say streets that were closed to traffic during the Jerusalem pride parade have now reopened — with the exception of Agron, Menashe Ben Yisael and Hillel streets — as marchers have reached Independence Park,.

Parade-goers began congregating at Liberty Bell Park from 4:15 p.m. this afternoon before heading up Keren Hayesod and King George streets toward the park.

Some 25,000 people are participating in the parade.

Stand up for right to live in tolerant society, says father of slain teen

The father of the teenager murdered at last year’s Jerusalem pride parade by a religious extremist says that “extremism, of every kind, is a sure way to destruction.”

Ori Banki, father of Shira Banki, is speaking at the 15th annual parade in Jerusalem, a year after his daughter was knifed to death and six others were injured by Yishai Schlissel.

“The lesson we must learn from Shira’s murder, and from our national destruction 2000 years ago, is that moderation is good for everyone. extremism, of every kind, is a sure way to destruction.” he says.

“Don’t let hate, ignorance and prejudice consume you. Stand up and demand your right to live in a tolerant, moderate society,” he says.