Israel Strikes 100 Targets in Gaza Overnight in Response to Rockets Fired at Tel Aviv

■ Israeli army assesses that militants mistakenly fired rockets at Tel Aviv during maintenance work 

■ Weekly Gaza border protest canceled 

■ Three additional projectiles launched from Gaza to southern Israel Friday morning

The Israeli army attacked some 100 targets in Gaza Thursday overnight in response to two rockets being fired at Tel Aviv from the Strip the evening before, a first since the 2014 war. According to a preliminary army assessment, the rockets were fired at Tel Aviv by mistake during maintenance work.

The army said the Iron Dome missile defense system was activated as a result of the launches. It is assumed that the rockets landed in open areas due to the fact that no damage or injuries were reported. The last time rocket alerts were activated in Tel Aviv was two years ago, in what turned out to be a false alarm. The flare-up comes three weeks before Israel holds its general election on April 9.

In an unusual move, the organizing committee for the March of Return in Gaza announced Friday morning that it called off the weekly protest along the Israel-Gaza border in light of the flare-up. The committee said in a statement that the protest, which has been held every Friday since last March, was canceled in an effort to prevent further escalation and Palestinian casualties.

Read more - https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/rocket-alerts-blare-in-tel-aviv-1.7022326

Israel Strikes 100 Targets in Gaza Overnight in Response to Rockets Fired at Tel Aviv

■ Israeli army assesses that militants mistakenly fired rockets at Tel Aviv during maintenance work 

■ Weekly Gaza border protest canceled 

■ Three additional projectiles launched from Gaza to southern Israel Friday morning

The Israeli army attacked some 100 targets in Gaza Thursday overnight in response to two rockets being fired at Tel Aviv from the Strip the evening before, a first since the 2014 war. According to a preliminary army assessment, the rockets were fired at Tel Aviv by mistake during maintenance work.

The army said the Iron Dome missile defense system was activated as a result of the launches. It is assumed that the rockets landed in open areas due to the fact that no damage or injuries were reported. The last time rocket alerts were activated in Tel Aviv was two years ago, in what turned out to be a false alarm. The flare-up comes three weeks before Israel holds its general election on April 9.

In an unusual move, the organizing committee for the March of Return in Gaza announced Friday morning that it called off the weekly protest along the Israel-Gaza border in light of the flare-up. The committee said in a statement that the protest, which has been held every Friday since last March, was canceled in an effort to prevent further escalation and Palestinian casualties.

Read more - https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/rocket-alerts-blare-in-tel-aviv-1.7022326

FACEBOOK DOWN: SITE AND APP NOT WORKING FOR USERS WHO ARE TOLD IT IS 'DOWN FOR MAINTENANCE'

Facebook has stopped working for some of its users.
A message showing to those affected suggests the problem is part of scheduled maintenance, though Facebook's own developer page makes no reference to those issues.
"Facebook will be back soon," the message showing to users reads.

"Facebook is down for required maintenance right now, but you should be able to get back on within a few minutes. In the meantime, read more about why you're seeing this message. Thanks for your patience as we improve the site."
Others suggested they were able to get online, but that some particular functions – like uploading photos, adding statuses or adjusting particular pages – did not appear to be working. People reported seeing a message about there being a "problem updating your status", encouraging people to try again in a few minutes

Read more - CLICK HERE

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FACEBOOK DOWN: SITE AND APP NOT WORKING FOR USERS WHO ARE TOLD IT IS 'DOWN FOR MAINTENANCE'

Facebook has stopped working for some of its users.
A message showing to those affected suggests the problem is part of scheduled maintenance, though Facebook's own developer page makes no reference to those issues.
"Facebook will be back soon," the message showing to users reads.

"Facebook is down for required maintenance right now, but you should be able to get back on within a few minutes. In the meantime, read more about why you're seeing this message. Thanks for your patience as we improve the site."
Others suggested they were able to get online, but that some particular functions – like uploading photos, adding statuses or adjusting particular pages – did not appear to be working. People reported seeing a message about there being a "problem updating your status", encouraging people to try again in a few minutes

Read more - CLICK HERE

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Senior Israeli Delegation Visits Jordan, but No Solution Yet for Temple Mount Crisis

Jerusalem and Amman still discussing potential agreement over prayer site ahead of mass Friday protest prayers

A delegation of senior Israeli officials paid a visit to Jordan Thursday in an attempt to reach a solution over the crisis sparked surrounding a disputed prayer site in Jerusalem's Temple Mount. 

Jerusalem and Amman have so far failed to reach an agreement regarding the future of the Bab al-Rahma building in the compound, but discussions are still underway between representatives of the two countries. 

Meanwhile, the Waqf (Islamic custodian of the Temple Mount) has called on Muslim worshipers to hold protest prayers at the gates of the compound on Friday. 

Jerusalem police told Haaretz that they had not gone on high alert ahead of Friday's prayers. "There are no restrictions on entry and the level of forces will be similar in size to every Friday in the Temple Mount area," police said.

Read more - https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israeli-delegation-visits-jordan-but-no-solution-found-for-temple-mount-crisis-1.7001319

Senior Israeli Delegation Visits Jordan, but No Solution Yet for Temple Mount Crisis

Jerusalem and Amman still discussing potential agreement over prayer site ahead of mass Friday protest prayers

A delegation of senior Israeli officials paid a visit to Jordan Thursday in an attempt to reach a solution over the crisis sparked surrounding a disputed prayer site in Jerusalem's Temple Mount. 

Jerusalem and Amman have so far failed to reach an agreement regarding the future of the Bab al-Rahma building in the compound, but discussions are still underway between representatives of the two countries. 

Meanwhile, the Waqf (Islamic custodian of the Temple Mount) has called on Muslim worshipers to hold protest prayers at the gates of the compound on Friday. 

Jerusalem police told Haaretz that they had not gone on high alert ahead of Friday's prayers. "There are no restrictions on entry and the level of forces will be similar in size to every Friday in the Temple Mount area," police said.

Read more - https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israeli-delegation-visits-jordan-but-no-solution-found-for-temple-mount-crisis-1.7001319

Israel election committee bans Arab-Israeli coalition

JERUSALEM — A decision by Israel’s electoral committee to ban two Arab parties and a candidate from a third Arab-led slate from running in elections, while allowing a far-right-wing candidate despite recommendations from the attorney general to ban him, was sharply criticized Thursday by leaders of Israel’s Arab community.

The ruling was called unreasonable and racist, and it sparked fears among Israeli Arabs that the country’s 1.8 million Arab citizens could be further politically marginalized ahead of April 9 parliamentary elections.

The decision to ban the parties, which are running on a united ticket, and candidate, Ofer Cassif, followed petitions submitted by three right-wing factions, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party. 

The two parties and Cassif now plan to appeal to the Supreme Court next week, and a panel of nine judges will make a final ruling on whether they can run in elections for the parliament, called the Knesset.

Read more - click here