PM’s son wins Bible Quiz

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s youngest child won the Jerusalem district Bible quiz Feb. 3. Avner Netanyahu, 15, will represent Jerusalem public schools in the national Bible Quiz later this year. He scored 98 out of 100 to defeat 50 opponents. His mother, Sara, has three older brothers who have won the national quiz and her father is an expert in Bible study. Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu have two sons, and he has a daughter from a previous marriage.

Kinneret rises

Lake Kinneret water level has risen by some 34 inches since November. The measurement was the first since Water Authority workers returned to work Jan. 31 after a two-month strike, and follows the largest January rainfall in five years. Another 15 feet would bring the lake to capacity.

Berlusconi addresses MKs

The Goldstone report “tried to incriminate Israel for its justified response to Hamas rockets,” Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said. Berlusconi addressed Israel’s Knesset on Feb. 3, the final day of his three-day visit to Israel, during which he and seven of his ministers held a joint cabinet meeting with Israel’s cabinet. Berlusconi noted in his address the strong ties between Jerusalem and Rome, saying that “Italy is like a big brother to Israel.”

Retaliation for barrel bombs

Israel attacked two Gaza smuggling tunnels in response to Hamas’ attempts to attack Israeli targets in the Mediterranean Sea. The air force destroyed two tunnels on Feb. 2 used by Hamas in southern Gaza. One was used to bring terrorists into Israel and the other for smuggling weapons, the IDF said. Three Gazans were injured in the attack, Palestinian reports said. On Feb. 3, a third explosives-laden barrel washed up on the beach at Palmachim, in central Israel. Two others washed up Feb.1 on beaches in Ashdod and Ashkelon, while others reportedly exploded in the sea the previous Friday. Police patrolled beaches looking for more bombs and urged the public to be alert for suspicious objects. A spokesperson for a Gaza group linked to Hamas said there were still many unexploded barrel bombs in the sea. He said they aimed to avenge the assassination last month of Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in a Dubai hotel. Hamas accuses Israel of the murder.
– Files from JTA