Archive for April 26, 2012

New IDF Rifle has Double Barrel

First Israeli twin-barrel assault rifle has greater fire power and effectiveness, uses regular ammunition.

A new Israeli assault rifle features a twin barrel – the first such gun to be made in Israel, writes Israel Defense.

Double barreled assault rifle

Double barreled assault rifle - Israel Defense

Silver Shadow, the firm that manufactures the Gilboa assault rifle, will soon unveil a new member of the Gilboa family with a double barrel, meaningfully increasing fire power and enhancing the effect of a hit on target.

The gun uses standard ammunition.

The new weapon will be presented by the company at the Eurosatory 2012 weapons trade show, to be held in June in Paris. Continue Reading »

Dubai withholds Israeli cardiologists visas

Over a dozen Israeli cardiologists who had been invited to a Dubai conference were denied visa last minute.

 

Over a dozen Israeli cardiologists who had been invited to a Dubai conference of the World Heart Federation – attended by 12,000 heart specialists last week – were denied a visa by authorities at the last minute.
Dubai Skyline - Photo: REUTERS/Jumana El-Heloueh
Dubai Skyline – Photo: REUTERS/Jumana El-Heloueh

Only a couple of Israelis – one from the Rabin Medical Center and the other from Tel Aviv’s Sourasky Medical Center – who had been invited to lecture at the conference were allowed to attend and did so.

The Jerusalem Post learned on Tuesday that the would-be participants – Jews and Arabs – paid $3,000 each for their flights, visas, hotels and attendance at the conference.

Continue Reading »

Jordan PM quits 6 months into reform mandate

King Abdullah II replaces Khasawneh with former PM Fayez Tarawneh. Islamic Action Front: Security services, siege mentality won

 

Jordan‘s Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh resigned on Thursday, barely six months after forming a reform-mandated government to bring in political and economic change in the country.

King Abdullah II replaced Khasawneh, who was in Turkey, with Fayez Tarawneh, 63, who was prime minister and royal court chief in the late 1990s.

King Abdullah Photo: Reuters

King Abdullah of Jordan - Photo: REUTERS

The king “asked Fayez Tarawneh to form a new government after the resignation of Khasawneh today,” a senior official told AFP.

Khasawneh, 62, an International Court of Justice judge, formed his cabinet in October, becoming the third premier in 2011, saying he had “received guarantees from the king to have full sovereignty as prime minister.” Continue Reading »

Israel marks 64th Independence Day

Celebrations of 64 years of Israeli independence begin with lighting of beacons at annual ceremony marking end of Memorial Day; celebrations marred by accident at the site last week, in which IDF soldier Hila Bezalel, was killed.

Celebrations of 64 years of Israeli independence kicked off on Wednesday night with the lighting of beacons at the official ceremony at Mount Herzl national cemetery in Jerusalem, which also marks the conclusion of Memorial Day.

The official ceremony was marred by the fateful accident at the site last week, in which 20-year-old Israel Defense Forces soldier, 2nd Lt. Hila Bezaleli, was killed  when a lighting rig collapsed during rehearsals for the Independence Day ceremony.

Continue Reading »

Salah Making Trouble Again, 10 Days after his Return

Rabble rousing sheikh takes part in anti-Independence Day march alongside Arab MKs.

Sheikh Raed Salah is back in Israel, and making trouble. The rabble rousing sheikh from Umm El Fahm took part Thursday in a march protesting Israel’s victory in the 1948 Independence War, and the fact that Arabs lost some territory as a result of their defeat.

Several thousands of people reportedly took part in the march in the Galilee, including Knesset Members Ahmed Tibi and Jamal Zahalka.

Salah spent about ten months in Britain before returning to Israel just ten days ago. Some of his time in Britain was spent in jail, after he successfully entered the country despite being banned from doing so. Continue Reading »

Israel at 64: Population of 7,881,000

Israel’s population grew by 161,000 people since last year’s Independence Day, approaches 8 million mark

Israel‘s population numbered 7,881,000 people on the eve of its 64th anniversary, data released by the Central Bureau of Statistics indicate. In comparison, on the eve of its establishment, the State of Israel consisted of only 806,000 residents.

New data published by the CBS, indicate that nearly 5,931,000 of the population are Jewish (75.3%).

The Arab population stands at 1,623,000 (20.6%) and the remaining 4.1% are immigrants and their children, who are not listed as Jewish by the Interior Ministry. They comprise 327,000 residents.

Since last year’s Independence Day, 161,000 babies have been born in Israel, and 39,000 people have died. Continue Reading »

Obama announces new Iran, Syria technology sanctions

During his first visit to the Holocaust museum as President, Obama introduces a new set of sanctions against entities aiding the regimes of Iran and Syria to use technology to target citizens and erode their human rights.

United States President Barack Obama on Monday announced new sanctions on people and entities in Iran and Syria who have deemed to use technology to target citizens and erode their human rights.

Obama

President Barack Obama speaking at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington - photo by AP

Speaking at the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. before a crowd of Holocaust survivors, administration officials, members of Congress, and leaders of Jewish organizations, Obama commented on the situation in Syria and Iran.

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State Dept. Refuses to Stand Up For Israel on Summit

State Dept. refuses to stand up for Israel against a Turkish statement that it vetoed Israel’s participation in a NATO summit.

The U.S. State Dept. refused on Monday to stand up for Israel against a Turkish statement that it vetoed Israel’s participation in a NATO summit.

Hillary Clinton at press conference at NATO

Hillary Clinton at press conference at NATO - Photo by Reuters

State Dept. spokeswoman Victoria Nuland fended off a round of questions on the Obama administration’s support of Israel by a persistent Associated Press reporter  who went so far as to tell Nuland, I’m trying to help you out here, because you’re going to get absolutely slammed for not backing Israel.. Continue Reading »

Arab IDF soldier: I wanted to defend the country

East Jerusalem man, whose community doesn’t know he is in the army, to be honored on Independence Day.

 

For most soldiers, there is a period on their first weekend home from basic training when they strut around the neighborhood showing off their spotless dress greens, bursting with pride at the newfound maturity conferred by their uniform. That’s something that one soldier, who can only be identified as S., will never get to experience.

IDF soldier in thought - Photo: Israel Weiss

IDF soldier in thought - Photo: Israel Weiss

As an Arab living in east Jerusalem, S. does not even bring his uniform home with him. His neighbors do not know that he serves in the army, and S.

Continue Reading »

Memorial Day: Israel’s Flag at Half Mast

PM Binyamin Netanyahu attended a flag-lowering ceremony in Jerusalem, saying ‘it cuts your life in two’ when a family member dies in war

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, and Israel’s Chief Rabbis on Tuesday attended a flag-lowering ceremony in Jerusalem as Memorial Day is set to begin.

Binyamin Netanyahu, Memorial Day

Binyamin Netanyahu, Memorial Day - Photo by Reuters

“For bereaved families, time stops when you get the terrible news… it cuts your life in two: what was before, and what will never be again,” Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told more than 200 soldiers and bereaved families gathered for the Yad Lebanim Memorial for the Fallen in Israel’s Wars. Continue Reading »

Germany: Egypt must affirm treaty with Israel

Westerwelle, Germany’s foreign minister, says he expects Cairo to avoid elevating gas crisis to political level.

 

In the first international comment on Egypt-Israel gas dustup, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Tuesday that Egyptian leaders, present and future, must affirm the country’s peace treaty with Israel.
BEDUIN man looks at a gas pipeline in Sinai - Photo: REUTERS
BEDUIN man looks at a gas pipeline in Sinai – Photo: REUTERS

Westerwelle said that he expects the relevant parties in Egypt to take a clear stance on peace and to not let the gas issue reach a political level.

Egypt on Sunday terminated a long-term gas deal with Israel, prompting a diplomatic spate between the two countries.

Continue Reading »

True heroes of Israel

Op-ed: Israel must rectify mistakes in way it treats widows of IDF soldiers who have fallen in battle – by MK Danny Danon

There is one day in the year when all Israelis feel the excruciating pain endured by our heroic bereaved families. On Remembrance Day the anguish, the sorrow, the sense of loss envelopes all of us, yet also pride that these families feel on a daily basis, evident on the faces of all Israelis.

We Israelis know how to argue and debate with one another in a fashion that sometimes seems overly wrought with emotions to outsiders, but when it comes to the honor and respect we feel for these brave families, our unity knows no bounds. Continue Reading »

El and Al? Israeli airline mulls splitting into two companies

One of the two companies would specialize in premium long-haul flights to destinations such as the U.S. and the Far East, while the second would compete against low-cost airlines on European routes.

El Al Israel Airlines is considering splitting into two companies as part of a new strategic plan – a low-cost carrier and a premium carrier.

Indeed, the airline needs efficiency measures and might face new competition due to the open-skies agreement that Israel signed with the European Union.

One of the two companies would specialize in premium long-haul flights to destinations such as the United States and the Far East, while the second would compete against low-cost airlines on European routes.

Continue Reading »

UN Amb. Prosor Explodes ‘Myths’ of PA-Israeli ‘Struggle’

Amb. Prosor explodes myths. ‘How can Israel-PA conflict be the key to stopping Assad and Ahmadinejad? Jerusalem not Jewish

Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Ron Prosor broke down several myths Monday in an “Open Debate on the Situation in the Middle East” in the United Nations Security Council.

UN Security Council

UN Security Council - Photo by Reuters

After quoting Winston Churchill’s statement, “In the time that it takes a lie to get halfway around the world, the truth is still getting its pants on,” Prosor methodically brought up and broke down myths that he said have fertile ground in the Middle East. “Facts often remain buried in the sand. Continue Reading »

Israel housing prices rising 3rd-fastest in world

Prices fall 1.2% in 2011 but social justice protest fail to make significant dent in prices; global housing prices continue to fall around the world.

 

Despite the recent social justice protests, Israel has held on to its spot as the third-hottest housing market in the world, according to a survey by CNBC, based on data from real estate agents Knight Frank. The survey found that housing prices in Israel jumped more than 21percent in 2009 and16% in 2010.

Israel ranked third with a five-year growth of 54.5%, bumping Singapore into fourth place with five-year growth of 50.5%, but well behind China in top spot with five-year growth of 110.9% and Hong Kong in second place with growth of 93.7%.

Continue Reading »