ISIS Threatens Israel In Online Newsletter

The Islamic State (IS) terror militia published an article in its weekly online newsletter this week declaring its intention to attack the Jewish State, adding the “war on Israel will not be limited by geographical boundaries or by international norms.” The article also promised to be much more violent and effective than other Islamist terror groups, and concluded by saying  “With Allah’s permission (Israel) will be overpowered, and then they will be taken to hell.”

As negotiations towards ending the catastrophic multi-faceted civil war in Syria appeared to be collapsing this week, reports indicate that all sides are preparing for a return to total war against the regime of President Bashar Assad and each other. Meanwhile, the UN and independent aid agencies are preparing what some describe as “desperate measures” to assist civilians caught up in the fighting.

Israeli taekwondo fighter Ron Atias won a silver medal at the European Championships in Montreux, Switzerland Thursday. His strong finish in the under-58 kilogram event makes it likely he will be given a top seed at the upcoming Summer Olympics in Rio.

US Secretary of State John Kerry announced on Thursday that he plans to attend an upcoming conference in Paris aimed at promoting a new French-sponsored initiative on Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. “I will work with the French, I will work with the Egyptians, I will work with the Arab community in good faith in an effort to see if we can find a way to help the parties see their way to come back,” Kerry said. “What we are seeking to do, is to help encourage the parties to be able to see a way forward so they can understand that peace is a possibly.”