Archive for July 9, 2012

| July 9, 2012
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Finding Nemo in Israel

The world craves pretty ornamental fish, and Israeli growers are meeting the demand with revolutionary Arava Desert hatcheries.

 

Guppies and clownfish swimming in the Israeli desert?

Sounds unlikely, but that’s the latest commercial project spawned by Central and Northern Arava Research and Development, a quasi-governmental project set up in 1986 to help farmers in the arid Arava region plan and implement businesses to serve overseas consumers with fresh produce, flowers and fish.

“Nemo” fish being raised at an Arava R&D experimental station.

“Nemo” fish being raised at an Arava R&D experimental station.

“The first growers started with guppies, a freshwater fish,” Arava R&D director Aylon Gadiel tells ISRAEL21c. Continue Reading »

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| July 9, 2012
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IDF concerned Lebanon planning water diversion

 Israel is deliberating responses to the possibility that Lebanon will divert water from the Hatzbani River.

 

By YAAKOV KATZ

 

The IDF is deliberating responses ahead of the possibility that Lebanon will divert water from the Hatzbani River, a move that Israel has in the past viewed as a casus belli – justification for war.

Kayaking down the Hatzbani River – Photo: Phillip Pasmanick

Israel’s concern stems from the construction of a large tourism center on the Lebanese side of the river, not far from the Israeli town of Metulla.

A senior IDF officer in the Northern Command said that construction of the center needed to be closely tracked due to the possibility it would be used to divert water from the Hatzbani, which supplies 25 percent of the Jordan River’s waters.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| July 9, 2012
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Report: EU’s boycott of settlement trade legal

New expert legal opinion published in UK says EU nations can boycott products made by West Bank settlements without violating World Trade Organization obligations

By Ynet

 

A recent legal brief compiled by James Crawford, professor of international law at Britain’s Cambridge University, has ruled that European governments “Are fully within their rights to ban trade with Israeli settlements” in the West Bank.

According to a Monday report in the Independent, Crawford’s brief may fuel the cause of those within the UK and European Union seeking to harden their position on the imports of settlement products.

Various boycott campaigns have been staged against settlement products across Europe and in Britain over the past few years. Continue Reading »

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| July 9, 2012
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European Parliament condemns Israel’s policy toward Bedouin population

Human rights groups hail resolution as unprecedented; European Parliament calls on Israel to withdraw government-approved plan to regulate Bedouin communities in Negev.

By Jack Khour

The European Parliament passed a resolution on Thursday condemning Israel’s policy toward the Bedouin communities living in unrecognized settlements in the Negev Desert. Human rights groups have called the resolution, which passed 291 to 274 with 39 abstaining, unprecedented.

Bedouin children of the Jahalin tribe near the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, June 16, 2012.

Bedouin children of the Jahalin tribe near the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim (seen in the background) – Photo by Reuters

The European Parliament called on Israel to withdraw its government-approved Prawer plan to regulate the Bedouin communities in the Negev. Continue Reading »

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| July 9, 2012
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UN Watch Denounces UNHRC Unbalanced ‘Settlement’ Probe

UN watchdog group expressed concern over ‘unbalanced’ UNHRC panel probing Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.

By Rachel Hirshfeld

 

United Nations watchdog group UN Watch expressed concern over the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC) panel set to probe Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, calling it unbalanced.

The terms of the inquiry are solely based on examining violations by Jewish “settlements,” but refrain, completely, from focusing on those of the ‘Palestinians.’

“While there are genuine human rights victims on all sides, this inquiry’s mandate is imbalanced and lacks credibility,” said Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch.

“Its terms were framed in a 4-page resolution, co-sponsored by the Arab and Islamic groups, that omits any reference to Arab terrorism against Israeli civilians, including the hundreds of rockets fired recently from Gaza and Sinai into Israeli towns and villages,” he stated. Continue Reading »

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| July 8, 2012
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36 Years Later, Entebbe Pilot Reveals Plane Barely Took Off

Thirty-six years after the world’s most famous rescue mission, Entebbe pilot reveals his plane was so heavily loaded, it could barely fly.

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

 

Thirty-six years after the world’s most famous rescue mission, an Operation Entebbe pilot reveals his plane was so heavily loaded, it barely got off the ground.

Shani in center of front row with his crew

Shani in center of front row with his crew
Israel news photo: IDF

Reservist Brig. Gen. Joshua Shani, the lead pilot of the four-plane Operation Entebbe, flew his C-130 Hercules cargo plane with the entire rescue force on board.

In an interview with the IDF, he revealed that the transport plane was loaded with the famous Mercedes vehicle that was a mock-up of Idi Amin’s car and designed to fool Ugandan soldiers into thinking the dictator himself had arrived at the airport where more than 100 Jewish hostages were being held. Continue Reading »

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| July 8, 2012
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Government approves new aliya from Ethiopia

Decision will allow around 250 Jews from Ethiopia to arrive in Israel each month, some after waiting for more than 10 years.

By RUTH EGLASH

 

 

In a drive to expedite what has been touted as the historic final chapter in mass aliya from Ethiopia, the government on Sunday approved an additional budget of NIS 17 million, which will speed up the entire process and also see the opening of a new absorption center here.

Ethiopian Jews (illustrative) - Photo: Ruth Eglash

Ethiopian Jews (illustrative) – Photo: Ruth Eglash

The goal is to ensure the arrival in Israel of some 2,200 new immigrants before the end of March 2014.

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| July 8, 2012
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Report: Iranian diplomat molested girl

 German paper says Iranian diplomat arrested after allegedly sexually harassing 10-year-old girl at Frankfurt playground. Iran’s Foreign Ministry: This is a plot fabricated by anti-Iran opposition group and Zionist-affiliated Bild newspaper

By Dudi Cohen

 

Iran’s deputy head of the general consulate in Frankfurt was arrested last week on suspicion that he sexually harassed a 10-year-old girl of Senegalese descent.

The Iranians quickly disputed the allegations, saying that the German police mistakenly arrested him.

Illustration Photo: Shutterstock

Illustration Photo: Shutterstock

The incident occurred last month in a Frankfurt playground. According to German newspaper Bild, the 45-year-old diplomat caressed the girl’s back side and tried to kiss her. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags:
| July 8, 2012
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Abbas: Palestinians to resume UN bid if no peace talks

Abbas says he is not issuing ultimatum, talks with Netanyahu depend on release of prisoners.

By DPA

 

The Palestinians will resume attempts to get the United Nations to recognize a Palestinian state, if no peace talks with Israel are forthcoming, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in remarks broadcast Saturday night.

He told Israel’s Channel 2 News that while negotiations remained his “first, second, and third” option, the UN bid would be pursued if there was no horizon for peace. He did not give a timetable for the move.

Mahmoud Abbas Photo by AP

Mahmoud Abbas – Photo by AP

A Palestinian bid for UN membership – in effect recognition of Palestinian statehood – fell through last year when it became clear that the necessary Security Council votes were lacking. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags:
| July 8, 2012
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Archaeologists Uncover Gold Treasure Near Herzliya

One of the largest gold treasures ever to be discovered in Israel was uncovered last week at an archaeological dig near Herzliya.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

One of the largest gold treasures ever to be discovered in Israel was uncovered last week at an archaeological dig near Herzliya.

The treasure, more than 100 gold pieces and weighing approximately 400 grams (nearly one pound), is estimated at a worth of more than $100,000.

The coins were found hidden in a partly broken pottery vessel at the Appollonia National Park, where archaeologists say the former Crusader town of Apollonia-Arsuf once thrived. The dig is being carried out under the joint auspices of Tel Aviv University and the Nature and Parks Authority. Continue Reading »

Category: Innovations & Discoveries | Tags: ,
| July 8, 2012
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EU security organization rejects PA membership

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe denies request for observers status, J’lem praises rejection.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe on Saturday rejected a Palestinian application to join the organization as an observer, which one official in Jerusalem said was the result of Israeli diplomatic efforts, ArmyRadio reported Sunday.

European Union flags in Brussels - Photo: Thinkstock/Imagebank

European Union flags in Brussels – Photo: Thinkstock/Imagebank

Twenty-eight countries voted against the Palestinian request and 21 voted in favor of accepting the application, according to the report.

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon told Army Radio Sunday that Israeli diplomatic efforts played a role in thwarting the Palestinian application.

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| July 8, 2012
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IDF hopes new technology would end terrorists’ tunneling activity

Soldiers in prestigious IDF program develop system that could allow early detection of tunnels by means of sensors and oil exploration devices • Experimental deployment expected by year’s end • IDF attacks terrorist squad preparing to launch rockets.

By Israel Hayom Staff

 

The Israel Defense Forces plans to install a new underground system along the Gaza border to detect tunneling activity in its early stages, Army Radio reported Monday. According to the report, over the past several months the army has carried out a series of tests near the Kerem Shalom border crossing and declared the new technology, called “Strong Number,” a success.

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Category: Innovations & Discoveries | Tags: ,
| July 8, 2012
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Halutz leaves Kadima, slams Mofaz

Former chief of staff says politicians should take action rather than demonstrate. ‘We can’t let this issue turn into political capital; we can’t hide behind words’

By Ynet

Former IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz announced Saturday evening that he was leaving the Kadima Party over the issue of making military service compulsory for the Ultra-Orthodox.

“I’m leaving Kadima,” Halutz told Channel 2. “I urge everyone who joined Kadima because of me to reconsider his choice,” he said.

Halutz plans to participate in tonight’s “suckers’ demonstration” in Tel Aviv.

While Halutz backed Kadima Chairman Shaul Mofaz during the party primaries, he is now criticizing him for planning to join the protest. Continue Reading »

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| July 8, 2012
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London Police Nab Female Terrorist Suspect

London police have arrested a female terrorist suspect, the seventh caught in a sting operation carried out last week. No identity released.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

London police have arrested a female suspected terrorist, the seventh in a sting operation carried out last week.

London commuters, Tower Bridge in background

London commuters, Tower Bridge in background
Reuters

The 22-year-old woman was taken into custody on Saturday morning on suspicion of committing, preparing or instigating terrorism.

Five men and another woman ages 18 to 30 were picked up in London last Thursday on similar charges, according to CNN. None of the nationalities or ethnic identities of the suspects were released. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags:
| July 8, 2012
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Nicholas Winton: The Power of Good

In December 1938, Nicholas Winton, a 29-year-old London stockbroker, was about to leave for a skiing holiday in Switzerland, when he received a phone call from his friend Martin Blake asking him to cancel his holiday and immediately come to Prague: “I have a most interesting assignment and I need your help. Don’t bother bringing your skis.” When Winton arrived, he was asked to help in the camps, in which thousands of refugees were living in appalling conditions.

 

Sir Nicholas Winton


MUNICH AGREEMENT

The Munich Conference was held September 29-30, 1938, following Hitler’s demand to annex the Sudetenland, a region in Czechoslovakia populated largely by ethnic Germans. Continue Reading »

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