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DECEMBER 16, 2021 | The Jewish Home
an uptick in violent clashes between Palestinians on the streets and PA security forces. The PA has sought to disperse events at which Hamas flags were raised over the past few days, clashing with Palestinians in Tulkarem on Sunday when supporters gathered to greet a Hamas member who had just been released from Israeli prison. Palestinian Authority forces also clashed with locals during the Monday funeral of Nablus resident Jamil Kayyal, who was allegedly killed by Israeli forces during a raid the previous night. The Israeli army said that Kayyal, 31, had been part of a group that had thrown Molotov cocktails at troops as they entered the city. After the attempted dispersal, a few hundred Palestinians were seen marching through the streets calling the Palestinian security forces “snitches” for Israel. Israeli forces also arrested senior Hamas official Hassan Yousef, one of the terror group’s West Bank leaders, on Monday morning, according to the Shin Bet security service. Yousef has been in and out of Israeli jail for years; he had just been released in July after spending nearly a year behind bars without charges. A spokesperson for the Shin Bet said that Yousef had been arrested on Monday for “renewed terror involvement.”
Hamas: We Won’t Give Up an “Inch” of Land
A Friday rally celebrating the 34th anniversary of the founding of the Hamas terror group saw the terror group’s co-founder promise not to give up even “an inch” of the land. According to Arab media, at the massive rally, Hamas co-founder Mahmoud al-Zahar said, “The participation of thousands in these marches commemorating the launch anniversary [of Hamas] confirms that the Palestinian individual cannot give up his right and refuses to forfeit not an inch of his land.”
Hamas terrorists often chant, “From the [Jordan] River to the [Mediterranean] Sea, Palestine will be free.” The terror group does not recognize Israel’s right to exist. Speaking at the rally, Hamas official Mushir al-Masri promised to keep Jerusalem at the center of the terror group’s conflict with Israel. In a statement released by Hamas, al-Masri said Jerusalem “is a red line, and defending it is a sacred duty.”
A Sobering Statistic
On Monday, the United States reached a grim milestone when it was reported that more than 800,000 Americans have died from Covid-19 since the pandemic was declared. There have been at least 800,156 confirmed deaths traced to the coronavirus, according to a rolling tally by NBC News. That’s more deaths reported than in any other nation. Thirty-three states and the U.S. Virgin Islands have seen an increase in deaths over the last 14 days. According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the seven-day death average in the U.S. was 1,092, a 27.8 percent increase from the week before. The first known Americans to have died from coronavirus passed away in February 2020. Dr. Vin Gupta, a critical care pulmonologist and affiliate associate professor at the University of Washington, expects the U.S. death toll to reach 1 million at some point in 2022. “That’s just the reality of the situation,” he said. “The same people who didn’t get an initial shot won’t get boosters. It’s a lot of preventable death.” In total, the U.S. has recorded nearly 50 million cases of the virus since the pandemic began.
Car Stuck in Niagara Falls
On Wednesday, eagle-eyed visitors to Niagara Falls noticed a dark car in the rushing waters near a pedestrian bridge which became stuck on rocks around 150 feet from the American Falls. A Coast Guard helicopter that was conducting a training mission in Michigan was quickly flown in, and a swimmer was lowered about 80 feet from the aircraft to the roof of the car. Petty Officer 2nd Class Derrian Duryea entered through the passenger side of the car and was lifted out two minutes later. Unfortunately, the woman who was in the car, who was in her 60s, had died before the Coast Guard was able to get to her. It is unclear how her car ended up in the falls, although police say that it appears as if the car was brought into the water on purpose. Over the weekend, the car managed to be dislodged by the rushing waters from the top of the falls and went over the falls. On Saturday night, police were able to see the vehicle. By Sunday morning, though, police no longer could find trace of it.
Smollett Found Guilty
On Thursday, actor Jussie Smollett was found guilty of five felony counts of disorderly conduct. The sixth count was of making a false police report that he was the victim of aggravated battery. According to one juror, it was the sixth count that caused jurors to struggle. In the end, according to the juror who spoke with the Chicago Sun-
Times, they “all thought we were doing Jussie a favor.” Smollett had told police in January 2019 that he was the victim of a racist crime. He said that two Trump-loving bigots beat him up, tied a noose around his neck, and doused him in bleach on a freezing night. But after a quick investigation, police found that Smollett fabricated the attack. He had hired brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, whom he knew from his TV show, to stage the attack to garner attention. It took jurors almost ten hours to come to their verdict, which Smollett’s lawyer said they would appeal. For now, it is likely that Smollett will be sentenced to probation, given his lack of criminal history.
Deadly Avalanche at Crystal Mountain
A Saturday avalanche at Crystal Mountain in Washington State left one dead and five temporarily trapped. According to the Sheriff’s Department spokesperson, the avalanche swept through the Silver Basin area, trapping six people. Crystal Mountain ski resort CEO Frank Deberry confirmed that the group was comprised of six men and that the man who died was in his 60s. He also said the men rescued themselves from the avalanche and reported it to ski patrol, which had not been in the area because the group was backcountry skiing. The skier who died was pulled from the snow not breathing. Someone in the group attempted but failed to resuscitate him. The avalanche came amid the season’s first major snowfall. “As skiers and riders ourselves, this event saddens all of us here at Crystal Mountain. We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased. We are working closely with the families of all the affected individuals to ensure their continued care,” the resort added.
