April 2012 Archives

Warner Bros. shelves Mel Gibson Maccabee movie

Jewish groups “pleased” at decision to freeze controversial movie project.

Warner Bros. has put on hold a controversial Mel Gibson movie project about the Jewish Maccabee revolt in the 2nd Century BC after reading the script by writer Joe Eszterhas, TheWrap has learned.”We are analyzing what to do with the project,” a spokesman for the studio told TheWrap.

Photo: FayesVision/WENN.com

Jewish groups were outraged after news broke in September that Gibson had reached a production deal with Warner’s to direct the story of Judah Maccabee, whose victory over Greek and Syrian armies is celebrated at Hanukka. One Jewish group called it a moral lapse in judgement.Rabbi

Category: Jewish News | Tags: anti-Semitism

Northern border fence subject to grave neglect

Israel remains vigilant vis-à-vis volatile situation in Damascus, but tour along Israeli side of Syrian border reveals outdated fence, defense systems

The defense establishment is on high alert on the northern front, but while Israel remains vigilant as to the developments in Syria, it seems that the massive deployment of advanced defense systems on the southern border, has yet to echo through to its northern counterpart.

The majority of the northern border fence, Ynet learned Thursday, has been grossly neglected and has not been renovated since 1975.

רווח מסוכן בין הכביש לציר הטשטוש שגרם לתאונות (צילום: יואב זיתון)

Rickety roads - Photos: Yoav Zitun

The defense establishment began upgrading the border with Syria after the events of the 2011 Nakba day, which saw the part of the fence bordering with Majdal Shams compromised. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News |

Hundreds of police to await ‘fly-in’ activists at terminal

Massive contingent of police and special forces will attempt to block entry of pro-Palestinian ‘fly-in’ activists on Sunday; activists say airport has no authority to deny them entry.

Hundreds of police and special forces will converge on Ben-Gurion Airport to block the entry of pro-Palestinian activists on Sunday, but human rights activists say the airport has no authority to deny entry to anyone intending to visit the Palestinian territories.

Police preparing for the 'flytilla' at Ben Gurion Airport - Photo by: Moti Milrod

Hundreds of police officers, most of them in plainclothes and unarmed, will await the so-called fly-in at Ben-Gurion on Sunday, while special forces will deploy outside the terminal.

Category: Israel News | Tags: fly-in

Kosher Food Being Served at White House is ‘Insulting’?

MJ Rosenberg, a leftist who was recently ousted from his position at Media Matters, says White House’s serving kosher food is ‘insulting’

MJ Rosenberg, the radical leftist who was recently ousted from his position at Media Matters for America, is now writing a blog where he continues to propagate his anti-Israel and anti-Jewish views.

He wrote on Monday that the most “ridiculous (and insulting) White House pander came at Hanukah” when kosher food was served at a high-profile event.

He references a New York Times article, which describes “A Lubavitch SWAT team” expunging the kitchen of all traces of non-kosher food, and proclaims that such actions are merely attempts at appeasing Jewish voters, while treating them as if they “just arrived from Poland or Russia.” Continue Reading »

Category: Jewish News | Tags: Barack Obama

Abdullah seeking divorce from Palestinians

Analysis: Jordanian King Abdullah wishes to finish what his late father King Hussein began – full separation from the Palestinians.

Photo: REUTERS

King Abdullah is seeking to complete the divorce proceedings between Jordan and the Palestinians which his late father, King Hussein, began in 1988.

The separation began in July that year, a few months after the eruption of the first intifada.

King Abdullah of Jordan - Photo: REUTERS

King Hussein realized back then that it was not in the interest of his kingdom to maintain a linkage to the West Bank, home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.His biggest fear was that the intifada would spill over into Jordan, where the Palestinian majority would rise against his monarchy.

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Jordan, King Abdullah

U2 frontman Bono spotted in Israel

Lead singer of Irish rock band seen in Jaffa as part of what appears to be private visit in Israel

U2 frontman Bono is currently in Israel in what appears to be a private visit, Ynet has learned. Irish singer Paul Hewson, AKA Bono was spotted chatting with five friends at a restaurant in the Jaffa Port on Monday.

Bono’s visit in Israel has been kept under wraps and the media was not informed of his arrival.

Bono in Jaffa. Private visit - Photo: Jackey Yaakov

This is not the singer’s first visit in Israel. In 1997, he visited the country together with U2 for one concert in Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News |

Israeli Arab MK threatens to file libel suit against envoy to U.S.

In letter of complaint, Ahmed Tibi criticizes Michael Oren for claiming the United Arab List-Ta’al MK supports suicide bombings, demands retraction.

Israeli Arab MK Ahmed Tibi submitted an official complaint to the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, following an article by Israel’s envoy to the U.S. Michael Oren, according to which Tibi had retained his position as deputy Knesset speaker despite his support of suicide bombers.

MK Ahmed Tibi (United Arab List-Ta'al) - Photo by: Moti Kimche

In an article published last week in the Foreign Policy magazine, titled “Israel’s Resilient Democracy,” Oren claimed that Israel’s Arab citizens enjoyed equal rights, and that Israel’s first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion emphasized that Arab citizens must be allowed to vote and be elected to the Knesset.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Knesset

Israel, Lebanon navy increase cooperation in Mediterranean

Lebanese navy has been helping the IDF drive away boats that approach the Israeli border, as Israel Navy prepares for possible altercations on upcoming Nakba Day.

The Israel Navy has recently strengthened its cooperation with the Lebanese Navy in the Mediterranean, as it prepares for possible pro-Palestinian flotillas to Gaza on Nakba Day this month.

Israel Navy ships on the northern border with Lebanon - Photo by: Hagai Fried

According to Israel Navy officials, the indirect cooperation between the Israeli and Lebanese navies has increased.

On Land Day last month, when hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets to protest the loss of Arab lands in the Galilee, the Lebanese army increased its naval operations and barred any ship from approaching the maritime border with Israel, to prevent any possible provocations.

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Gaza flotilla, IDF, Lebanon

Former US Official: Pollard May Yet be Released

Former US undersecretary of defense Lawrence Korb says Jonathan Pollard may yet be released, perhaps in June.

Former undersecretary of defense Lawrence Korb said Tuesday that convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard may be released soon.

“Given Jonathan’s deteriorating health they may consider clemency,” Korb said in remarks that contradicted reports that Pollard’s release was were baseless. “There is a chance.”

Korb also rejected that US President Barack Obama’s silence on an emergency plea for Pollard’s release from Israeli President Shimon Peres on humanitarian grounds was a definite “no” on clemency for Pollard.

“Obama didn’t respond to a letter sent by Prime Minister Netanyahu over a year ago, either, to my knowledge,” Korb said. Continue Reading »

Category: Jewish News | Tags: Jonathan Pollard

Lebanese targets fair game in future Hezbollah war

Defense officials: It was a mistake not to have said this during the Second Lebanon War in 2006; IDF has significantly boosted its ‘target bank,’ which is now said to contain thousands of Hezbollah targets.

Israel will attack Lebanese government targets during a future war with Hezbollah, senior defense officials said amid speculation that a war could erupt in the North following a future strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

“It was a mistake not to attack Lebanese government targets during the [Second Lebanon] War in 2006,” a senior defense official explained. “We will not be able to hold back from doing so in a future war.”

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Hezbollah, Lebanon

‘Flytilla’ organizers: Israel won’t determine who enters Palestine

Internal security minister says pro-Palestinian ‘provocateurs’ from Europe, North America ‘will be dealt with in a determined, quick manner. Bethlehem mayor: Let them enter without ‘humiliation’

Israel vowed Tuesday to prevent the entry of hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists from Europe and North America expected to arrive in the country this weekend, calling them provocateurs who are intent on disturbing public order.

The activists are set to board flights to Israel with the aim of participating in demonstrations against Israeli policy in the West Bank. Although organizers say all protests will be peaceful, Israeli officials said the activists would be deported.

Police at Ben-Gurion Airport - Photo: Yaron Brener

“The provocateurs will be dealt with in a determined and quick way,” said Israel’s public security minister, Yitzhak Aharonovitch. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News |

Iran says cut oil supply to Spain, may halt flow to Germany, Italy

Iran has cut oil exports to Spain and may halt sales to Germany and Italy, Iran’s English-language state television reported on Tuesday, in an apparent move to strengthen its position ahead of crucial talks with world powers later this week.

iran oil - Glenn Klasner - December 12 2011

Irainian Ship - Photo by: Glenn Klasner

But in an indication that Tehran’s “counter-sanctions” were of little impact, Spain’s biggest refiner said it had already replaced its Iranian crude with oil from Saudi Arabia several months ago.

Iran has played a tit-for-tat game over crude shipments since the European Union agreed in January that it would stop all Iranian oil imports as of July. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Iran threat

CBS’s Ben Stein Warns of Second Holocaust

CBS’s Ben Stein warns that the Jewish people must heed the lessons of history in order to prevent another Holocaust from befalling it.

In light of the Passover holiday, CBS’s Ben Stein warned that the Jewish people must heed the lessons of history in order to prevent another Holocaust from befalling it.

Scud-B Missiles - Reuters

Every Passover, the Jewish people attest to the daunting and recurring theme that, as it says in the Haggadah, “In every generation we are faced with enemies that seek our complete annihilation and destruction.” Stein gives voice to his understanding that Jews must not rely on the nations of the world to determine their destiny, but must do so themselves. Continue Reading »

Category: Jewish News | Tags: Holocaust

israelandstuffcom | April 10, 2012

IDF considering interceptors for sea-based gas platforms

Fearing missiles, Navy seeking budget for 4 new vessels to improve defense coverage of Mediterranean Sea; Israel concerned Hezbollah will try to attack platforms.

The IDF is considering the deployment of missile interceptors on gas rigs that Israeli companies plan to construct in the eastern Mediterranean Sea in the coming years, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

Israel’s concern is that Hezbollah will try to attack the platforms with anti-ship missiles or explosives-laden vessels.

Leviathan holds 453 billion cu.m. of gas – Photo: Albatross

The navy is particularly concerned about Syria’s recent purchase of the Russian Yakhont anti-ship missile, which could be transferred to Hezbollah and used to target the gas rigs. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: gas, Hezbollah

israelandstuffcom | April 10, 2012