Archive for July 8, 2012

| July 8, 2012
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US court fines Iran $813m for 1983 Lebanon attack

WASHINGTON: A US federal judge has ordered Iran to pay more than $813 million in damages and interest to the families of 241 US soldiers killed in the 1983 bombing of a Marine barracks in Lebanon.

By AFP

 


“After this opinion, this court will have issued over $8.8 billion in judgments against Iran as a result of the 1983 Beirut bombing,” Judge Royce Lamberth wrote in a ruling this week, a copy of which was seen Friday by AFP.

In1983, 241 American soldiers, including 220 Marines, were killed in near Beirut's international airport. PHOTO: FILE

In1983, 241 American soldiers, including 220 Marines, were killed in near Beirut’s international airport. – PHOTO: FILE

 

“Iran is racking up quite a bill from its sponsorship of terrorism,” the Washington judge added, noting that “a number of other Beirut bombing cases remain pending, and their completion will surely increase this amount.” Continue Reading »

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| July 7, 2012
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Hot or cold filtered water on demand

 

A joint UK-Israeli venture puts filtered tap water on British countertops, revolutionizing teatime and keeping plastics out of landfills.

 

Teatime is central to British culture, and a new product developed with UK and Israeli partners is changing the face of British teatime and home water consumption in general.

 

Richard Branson and Ofra Strauss introducing Virgin Pure.

Richard Branson and Ofra Strauss introducing Virgin Pure.

Imagine boiling hot and cold filtered water available all day, on demand. This is the promise of the Virgin Pure water system created by Virgin Strauss Water, a new joint venture pairing Israel’s family-owned Strauss Group and Britain’s Virgin brand owned by aviation mogul Richard Branson. Continue Reading »

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| July 7, 2012
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US sends reinforcements to Gulf amid Iran tensions

Naval ship deployed to Gulf in latest step of gradual US build-up; move follows string of hawkish Iranian statements.

By REUTERS

 

DUBAI – A US navy ship that had been slated for decommissioning has been sent instead to the Gulf to help mine-clearing operations, the US Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain said, the latest move in a gradual US build-up as tensions with  Iran smoulder.

US aircraft carrier in Strait of Hormuz [file] - Photo: REUTERS

US aircraft carrier in Strait of Hormuz – Photo: REUTERS

A fleet spokesman in Manama said the USS Ponce, described as an “afloat forward staging base” (AFSB), had arrived on Thursday after undergoing refitting for its new mission. Continue Reading »

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| July 7, 2012
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General: Iran to close strait if threatened

Top commander says Iran won’t shut strategic waterway, unless its interests are compromised

By AFP

 

Iran has plans to close the Strait of Hormuz, which sees more than a third of the world’s oil tanker traffic, but only if the country’s interests are seriously threatened.

Iranian navy at Strait of Hormuz Photo: EPA

Iranian navy at Strait of Hormuz – Photo: EPA

“We have plans to close the Strait of Hormuz because military commanders must have plans for any situation,” Iran’s armed forces chief of staff, General Hassan Firouzabadi, said late Friday according to ISNA news agency.

“But Iran, acting rationally, will not close the corridor through which 40% of the world’s energy passes, unless its interests are in serious trouble,” he said. Continue Reading »

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| July 7, 2012
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UNRHC Appoints Officials for ‘Settlement Mission’

UNHRC appoints officials to conduct a fact-finding mission on ‘Israeli settlements.’ Israel: the mission is flawed and biased.

By Elad Benar

 

The United Nations’ Human Rights Council (UNHRC) appointed on Friday three officials to conduct a fact-finding mission on how the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria (Yehuda and Shomron) affect the lives of Palestinian Authority Arabs.

According to a CBS News report the Council president, Uruguay Ambassador Laura Dupuy Lasserre, named three women to the panel: Christine Chanet of France, Unity Dow of Botswana and Asma Jahangir of Pakistan.

Dupuy Lasserre was quoted in the report as having said their mission will be to look at how Israeli communities impact “the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people.” Continue Reading »

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| July 6, 2012
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The Truth about Arafat’s Final Days

As Arab news network claims poisoning, Israel reveals the truth about Yasser Arafat’s final days.

By Amir Rappaport, Israel Defense

 

In October 2004, Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat was holed up in his Ramallah compound, the Mukata. IDF intelligence got reports that his health was deteriorating.

Initially, it was assumed that Arafat was suffering complications from the flu virus. The IDF planned to follow its usual protocol: allow food and other vital supplies to reach Arafat, but do not by any means release the PA Chairman. Arafat’s continued isolation was seen as vital to the battle on PA terror, which had begun to see dramatic results just months earlier. Continue Reading »

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| July 6, 2012
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A sheikh, settlers and MPs meet in Hebron Hills tent

Representatives of Hebron’s Jewish community, European parliamentarians accept invitation from sheikh with vision one democratic state for all.

 

 

Sheikh Farid al-Jabari of Hebron grew up on stories of close ties between Arabs and Jews.

In keeping with that tradition, he hosted an unusual gathering of Palestinian settlers and conservative European parliamentarians on Thursday afternoon in his large tent, set back from the road in the South Hebron Hills.

Sheikh Farid Al-Jabari greets Gershon Mesika

Sheikh Farid Al-Jabari greets Gershon Mesika – Photo: TOVAH LAZAROFF

In the heat, flies buzzed over plates of grapes, peaches and plums laid out on silver trays on the red oriental carpets that adorned the tent’s floor.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| July 6, 2012
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‘Next Lebanon war will be different’

As IDF marks six years since Second Lebanon War, officials say future conflict will entail ground operation, ‘incredible damage’ to Beirut

By Yoav Zitun

 

IDF officials painted a bleak picture of a future conflict between Israel and Lebanon, saying that it will probably entail a massive response by the IDF, including the deployment of ground forces.

Israel-Lebanon border Photo: Avihu Shapira

Israel-Lebanon border – Photo: Avihu Shapira

On the eve of the sixth anniversary of the Second Lebanon War, IDF officials expressed grave concern over the future of the relative calm noted on the Lebanese border.

Between the Islamist dawn in Egypt, the bloody uprising in Syria and the overall instability in the Middle East, the situation in Lebanon is seen as fairly stable; but IDFofficials warned Thursday that as Hezbollah’s grip on the country grows, looks may be deceiving. Continue Reading »

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| July 6, 2012
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FBI: Bibi Helped in Plot for U.S. Nuclear Equipment

Declassified FBI documents implicate PM Netanyahu in a 1970s plot to use U.S. technology for Israel’s nuclear program.

 

Declassified FBI documents from a 1985-2002 investigation implicate Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in an initiative to illegally purchase United States nuclear technology for Israel’s nuclear program.

Netanyahu was allegedly helped by Arnon Milchan, a Hollywood producer with ties to Israeli prime ministers and U.S. presidents. Milchan’s involvement in Israeli intelligence and arms dealing has been the subject of reports for some time, and was described in an unofficial biography published last year.

The documents rely on testimony from Richard Kelly Smith, a U.S. Continue Reading »

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| July 6, 2012
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Analyst: Polonium found on Arafat’s clothing was planted

Senior counter-terrorism analyst tells ‘Post’ the high levels of radioactive poison polonium reportedly found on belongings of late Palestinian leader indicate toxin was planted on him much later.

 

The high levels of the radioactive poison polonium reportedly found on the belongings of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat indicate that the toxin was planted on them long after Arafat’s death, a senior counter-terrorism analyst told The Jerusalem Post Thursday.

Deceased PLO chairman Yasser Arafat - Photo: REUTERS

Deceased PLO chairman Yasser Arafat – Photo: REUTERS

Dr. Ely Karmon, of the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center’s Institute for Counter-Terrorism, is a specialist in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terrorism.

Continue Reading »
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| July 6, 2012
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Served in IDF? US universities want you!

As US MBA convention gets ready to open in Tel Aviv, experts say former IDF soldiers have clear advantage when applying to American programs

Ran Rimon

 

 

“Former IDF soldiers have a major advantage when they apply for MBA studies in the US as military personnel are held in high esteem in the US and are a symbol of commitment, loyalty and striving for success,” said Hila Yerushalmi, an educational advisor at the EducationUSA center.

Heading to school? Photo: Michael Kremer

Heading to school? Photo: Michael Kremer

The US MBA convention is set to be held in Tel Aviv over the weekend with the purpose of recruiting Israeli students to leading American MBA programs. Continue Reading »

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| July 6, 2012
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Senior IDF officer: Israel is preparing for the next Lebanon war

Officer says instability in Syria could ignite violent confrontation with the Lebanese army, says ‘Goldstone report will pale in comparison to what will be here next time.’

By Gili Cohen

Six years after the outbreak of the Second Lebanon War, the IDF is saying openly that Israel is preparing for another Lebanon war.

The commander of the IDF’s 91st Division, Brigardier-General Hertzi Halevy told journalists on Thursday, “We understand that there is more than one factor, whether this is Lebanese, or whether it will come from somewhere else, that can ignite the border here.”

The Israel-Lebanon border, July 5, 2012.

The Israel-Lebanon border, July 5, 2012. – Photo by Yaron Kaminsky

The 91st Division, part of the Northern Command, and responsible for the front with Lebanon, sees developments in Syria as one of the factors that could upset the calm that has prevailed in the region since the war. Continue Reading »

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| July 5, 2012
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Lord Coe to hold ‘personal’ memorial to Israeli Olympic victims

A memorial for the 11 athletes killed at the Munich 1972 Olympics by Palestinian terrorists is unlikely to form part of the London 2012 opening ceremony

 

Lord Coe, chairman of the London Organizing Committee for the 2012 Olympic Games, has said he will hold a “personal” memorial for Israeli athletes killed at the Munich 1972 Games during the opening ceremony in London.

A memorial for the 11 athletes killed at the Munich 1972 Olympics by Palestinian terrorists is unlikely to form part of the London 2012 opening ceremony

A memorial for the 11 athletes killed at the Munich 1972 Olympics by Palestinian terrorists is unlikely to form part of the London 2012 opening ceremony

He told staff at the capital’s City Hall that he would mark the anniversary during a “personal moment”. Continue Reading »

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| July 5, 2012
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‘Hezbollah setting IDF up for another Goldstone’

Senior IDF officer says destruction in Lebanon will be extensive due to Hezbollah establishing command posts and bases in villages; potential attack on Iran could spark conflict with Hezbollah.

Continue Reading »
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| July 5, 2012
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Scaffolding on Foundation Stone prompts police complaint

Dome of the Rock renovations see Waqf place scaffolding direction on Foundation Stone – Judaism’s holiest spot. Temple Mount activists appealed to police to ‘stop desecration’

By Kobi Nahshoni

 

A group of Temple Mount activist movements appealed over the weekend to Israel Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino to take immediate action to stop the desecration of the “Holiest of Holies” on the Temple Mount by the Muslim Waqf.

According to activists, the body responsible for the site and charged with carrying out renovations to the Temple Mount chose to erect scaffolding directly on the Foundation Stone (Even Shtiya) – the holiest place for Jews, and which Muslims also honor. Continue Reading »

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