Sub Still Missing

“embarked on a journey to visit the remnants of the Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean,” their family said in a statement.

The expedition began with a 400-nautical-mile journey to the Titanic wreck site. The submersible then started its descent on Sunday morning, eventually losing contact.

Unlike a submarine, a submersible needs a mother ship to launch it, has fewer power reserves, and can’t stay underwater as long.

ond fled, the IDF said.

“IDF soldiers are pursuing additional suspects and blockages have been set up in the area,” the military said in a statement.

A suspected infiltration alert sounded in Eli following the attack. The military ordered residents of the community to remain in their homes and lock their doors and windows until further notice, as troops scanned the area.

The Ukrainian first lady then met with officials from the Israel Trauma Coalition, as well as NATAL, the Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center, to discuss treating children with trauma from conflicts. The meeting included a discussion with a mother from Sderot about the effects of constant rocket fire from Gaza on her children.

It’s a race against time as crews search for a missing submersible that lost contact while touring the wreckage of the Titanic. Five people are onboard the 21foot vessel, whose oxygen supply is slowly dwindling.

The Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Air Force are deploying more aircraft and vessels to aid in the search. They are now looking below sea level after scouring an area of the ocean’s surface.

The search zone covers a remote area more than 900 miles east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and 13,000 feet deep. Crews are also dealing with foggy conditions and waves of 3 to 6 feet.

The submersible – roughly the size of a minivan – was carrying one pilot and four “mission specialists” when its mother ship lost contact with it about 1 hour and 45 minutes into its descent to explore the Titanic wreckage.

The group conducting the Titanic expedition, OceanGate Expeditions, is also helping in the search and said it is “exploring and mobilizing all options to bring the crew back safely.” Canadian research vessel Polar Prince, which took the submersible to Titanic wreckage site, is assisting search and rescue efforts

Among those on the submersible is British businessman Hamish Harding, according to a social media post by his company, Action Aviation. The day before the vessel went missing, Harding wrote of the Titanic mission: “I am proud to finally announce that I joined OceanGate Expeditions for their RMS TITANIC Mission as a mission specialist on the sub going down to the Titanic.”

Shahzada Dawood and his son Sulaiman Dawood, of Pakistan, also had

A mother ship can communicate with a submersible “via text messages which are exchanged via a USBL (ultra-short baseline) acoustic system,” according to OceanGate Expeditions’ archived website. The submersible is required to communicate with the ship every 15 minutes or more frequently, if needed. That USBL system is the only communications link between the submersible and the surface.

OceanGate Expeditions operates a trip taking passengers to the Titanic’s wreckage at the bottom of the ocean for prices starting at $250,000, the archived website states, describing its “mission support fee” for a 2023 expedition.

The company advertised the experience as a way “to step outside of everyday life and discover something truly extraordinary.”

A Titanic dive takes about 10 hours from start to finish, including the two and a half hours it takes to reach the bottom, the website says. The company calls its clients “mission specialists,” who are trained as crew members in a variety of different roles, including communicating with the topside tracking team, taking sonar scans, and opening and closing the vessel’s dome.

4 Killed in Gas Station Attack

Four Israelis were killed and four others were wounded when Palestinian terrorists opened fire at a gas station and a restaurant near the city of Eli in the West Bank.

At least two gunmen were involved in the attack, which took place on Tuesday.

One of the terrorists was shot dead at the scene by an armed Israeli, while a sec-

According to the army’s initial investigation of the attack, the gunmen arrived at the gas station by car and first opened fire with assault rifles at people in the adjacent Hummus Eliyahu restaurant, after which the terrorists targeted people at the gas station itself. At one point, an armed civilian shot dead one of the terrorists, while a second terrorist apparently stole a running vehicle and fled the area.

Several knives were found in the car the terrorists arrived in, according to local security officials.

Ukrainian First Lady Visits Israel

“The State of Israel is a role model for us; unfortunately, you have rich experience in this area,” the Ukrainian first lady said. “Nevertheless, your country still succeeds to thrive and survive, even under incessant attacks. Yes, we are resilient, but resilience comes at a high psychological price.”

Zelenska is also set to meet Ukrainian soldiers undergoing rehabilitation in Israel. Wounded Ukrainian soldiers began arriving in Israel for treatment last September; eleven have returned home thus far.

Israel has been sending Ukraine humanitarian aid since Putin invaded the country last February. But it has been hesitant to get involved militarily, as it is dealing with Syria to its north, a country in which Russian forces largely control the airspace.

Last month, several Israeli ministries put on the Ukrainian-Israeli Rehabilitation Summit in Lviv, bringing Israel’s experience in physical and psychological recovery to Ukraine as it continues to fight Russian forces. Michal Herzog also addressed that conference virtually.

Livestream from Prison

Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska has been on a worldwide tour, meeting with leaders to draw attention to her country’s plight. This week, she visited Israel, meeting with President Isaac Herzog and touring Sheba Medical Hospital with Michal Herzog, wife of President Herzog.

“We need programs that support mental health and assist in the rehabilitation of injured citizens, including children, adults and the elderly. Our healthcare system cannot cope alone,” Zelenska said.

“We are very pleased that you came here to see for yourself the special treatment for children,” Mrs. Herzog told Zelenska. “Israel is very proud, and we want to share our knowledge, infrastructure, and excellent medical facilities with those in need around the world.”

The Israel Prison Service seized six smuggled mobile phones from Palestinian Islamic Jihad prisoners at the Ketziot Prison in southern Israel after a prisoner used a smuggled phone to stream his brother’s funeral on Monday.

Six prisoners were punished with 14 days in solitary confinement and reduced living conditions. 26 prisoners were isolated as well.

“The prison service will continue to work to eradicate terrorist activity both within and from the prisons professionally and for the safety of the country’s residents,” said the prison service.

On Monday, a prisoner reportedly used a smuggled phone to speak with his family and stream the funeral of his brother, Ahmed Khaled Daraghmeh, who was killed in the clashes in Jenin earlier on Monday.

Photos on social media showed the video call with the prisoner, leading Israel Prison Service forces to search his cell and find the phone. The prisoner’s cell was searched, and he was transferred to solitary confinement.

After the prisoner was transferred, other prisoners from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist movement torched a mattress in their cell. Prison officials extinguished the fire and moved the prisoners in the cell to solitary confinement as well.

The Palestinian Commission of Detainees’ Affairs stated on Tuesday that prisoners in the prison had announced their “mobilization and readiness for confrontation” in light of the situation.

West Bank Settlement Expansion

signed to eliminate the possibility of a two-state solution, and this is a political decision,” Yoni Mizrachi, a researcher from Peace Now, claimed.

“Israel is moving towards full annexation of the West Bank and does not intend to allow security or diplomatic considerations to stop it,” Peace Now said, asserting that “the government has decided to tie the fate of the residents of Israel to the messianic vision of endless settlements among millions of Palestinians whose rights are being trampled upon every morning.”

“We must stop treating residents of Judea and Samaria as second-class citizens,” argued Yossi Dagan, Head of the Samaria Regional Council. “It’s unthinkable that only residents of Judea and Samaria need approval from the political echelon in order to build a home or a kindergarten.”

“The construction boom in Judea and Samaria and in all parts of our country continues,” Smotrich said. “As promised, today we are advancing the construction of thousands more new units in Judea and Samaria… We will continue to develop the settlements and strengthen Israel’s hold on the territory.”

Intel to Invest $25 Billion in Israeli Plant

On Sunday, an amendment was passed that gives Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s Finance Minister, the authority to approve building plans in West Bank settlements.

In the past, construction in West Bank settlements could only be done if approved by the defense minister and required five or more stages of planning. Now, all that is needed is approval from Smotrich. However, these new construction rules only apply to existing settlements; new settlements must be approved by the cabinet.

“This government resolution brings the residents of Judea and Samaria to the regular situation of the entire State of Israel,” said Yisrael Gantz, Head of the Benjamin Regional Council in the West Bank, praising the amendment. “This step will turn construction in the settlements into something that is not newsworthy but rather, routine.”

Others criticized the decision.

“Construction in the territories is de-

Maseches Succah begins

Intel, one of the largest semiconductor makers in the world, announced plans to invest $25 billion to create a new chip factory in Kiryat Gat.

“This is the largest investment ever in the State of Israel,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday during a meeting with his cabinet. “This is an expression of great confidence in the Israeli economy and exactly reflects the strength of the free economy that we have built here and the technological economy that we are developing here.”

2027 is the year that the factory is anticipated to open, and it will likely continue to operate for eight or more years thereafter, providing well-paid jobs to thousands.

Intel will pay a 7.5% tax rate, and due to the Encouragement of Capital Investment Law, would also receive a grant from the government at a rate of 12.8%.

“Intel’s investment will yield significant economic benefits to the State of Israel in general and to the southern region in particular,” Yogev Gardos, the Israel Budget Commissioner, said. “The negotiations with the company were… based on economic models to examine the benefits of the investment, in order to maximize value for the Israeli public while promoting investment in Israel against the alternative options available to Intel globally.”

This isn’t the company’s first business deal with Israel, having acquired Granulate, an Israeli tech startup, about a year ago, and Mobileye, an Israeli company that develops self-driving technologies in 2017. In addition, Intel Israel has significantly contributed to the Israeli economy, with their exports of $8.7 billion in 2022 making up 1.75% of Israel’s national income, as well as 5.5% of high-tech Israeli exports.

In all, Intel has invested more than $17 billion in the state of Israel.

“Israel is a global center of technical talent and innovation and one of Intel’s significant global manufacturing and R&D centers,” Intel said. “Our intention to expand manufacturing capacity in Israel is driven by our commitment to meeting future manufacturing needs and supporting Intel’s IDM 2.0 strategy, and we appreciate the continued support of the Israeli government.”