A 60-year-old man found bloodied and beaten in an agricultural field between Pedaya and Carmei Yosef in central Israel earlier Wednesday has died from his wounds. The man, a farmer and resident of the city of Rehovot, had been attacked by an Arab gang - apparently a group of the many Palestinian Arabs who regularly illegally enter Israeli cities in search of employment. Magen David Adom (MDA) paramedics who arrived at the scene shortly afterwards were forced to resuscitate the dying victim. After returning his pulse they transported him to Assaf Harofeh Hospital in Tzrifin, where he succumbed to his wounds some time later. Police have opened an investigation and are currently attempting to locate the perpetrators. Investigators say they have yet to determine whether the incident was criminal or terror-related.
Leftist activist Shaked Morag has been appointed director-general of the leftist organization Peace Now. Morag, 33, served until recently as acting secretary-general of the Meretz party. "I intend to continue the struggle against the creeping annexation policy of the Netanyahu government, which is abandoning the future of Israel. A just peace is the only way for both peoples to live in peace," she said. MK Merav Michaeli (Zionist Union) welcomed the appointment, saying, "The wonderful Shaked, congratulations and good luck, Peace Now made an excellent choice. We are looking forward to cooperating for the benefit of a political settlement, for Israel's sake and yes, also for peace." Morag will replace Avi Buskila who resigned in January 2018 in order to run in the primaries for the leadership of the Meretz party. He lost to Tamar Zandberg. Buskila had replaced longtime Peace Now chairman Yariv Oppenheimer in 2016, and vowed to do everything possible to fight the growth of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. In his short tenure heading Peace Now, Buskila distinguished himself for his extreme diatribes against Judea and Samaria residents, who he accused of racism.