Archive for October 30, 2012

It Apears That its Now Our Turn to Worry, from Israel

The last time Israelis were so concerned  for the welfare of Americans, was during the aftermath of 9/11.

 

“It all just feels so backwards. We’re watching them and trying to understand exactly what’s going on, and we are concerned whether they are safe. It’s such a strange feeling – it’s supposed to be the other way around.”

Hurricane Sandy

Pedestrians walk past a submerged taxi in Brooklyn, New York, October 29, 2012 as Hurricane Sandy made landfall in the northeastern United States. – Photo by Reuters

I’ve heard versions of these comments in person, on the phone and online repeatedly over the past 72 hours, as Hurricane Sandy threatened the Eastern seaboard of the United States, and then after it became a reality. Continue Reading »

Iran no longer exporting wheat, flour, sugar, & red meat

The Islamic Republic is forced to take drastic  steps to preserve supplies of essential items including flour, wheat, sugar & red meat.

Iran bans exports of 50 essential items.

By REUTERS

 

DUBAI – Iran banned the export of around 50 basic goods, its media said on Tuesday, as the country takes steps to preserve supplies of essential items in the face of tightening Western sanctions.

Iran currency exchange - Photo: REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi

Iran currency exchange – Photo: REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi

The Islamic Republic is under intense financial pressure from US and European trade restrictions imposed over its disputed nuclear program.

The bans have led to a sharp drop over the past year in its oil exports, a major source of hard currency earnings and revenues for the government. Continue Reading »

Greece & Israel Conduct Joint Military Exercise

The Greek Air Force & the Israeli Air Force recently concluded a 2-day exercise in Greece.

The joint Israel-Greek exercise took place as ‘Austere Challenge 12’, the IDF’s joint exercise with the U.S. Army, got underway.

By Elad Benari

 

The Israeli Air Force and the Greek Air Force recently concluded a two-day joint exercise on Greek soil, Channel 2 News reported on Monday.

According to the report, the Greek Air Force said that, as part of the exercise, F16i fighter pilots from both armies practiced dogfights, bomb raids and long term aerial refueling.

As Israel’s relations with Turkey cooled over the past few years – its relationship with Greece, including security cooperation, has warmed up. Continue Reading »

As payback for Khartoum raid, Hamas shoots Grad at Dimona reactor

On 6 Oct an Iranian drone flew over Israel & photographed the reactor building & its air defense system’s radar.

The data gathered was sent to Hamas to help aim its rocket attack on Dimona.

A DEBKAfileExclusive Report

 

Less than 24 hours after Sudanese President Omar Bashir pledged “decisive steps against Israeli interests which are now legitimate targets,” for the destruction of the Iranian missile plant in Khartoum, Palestinian rocket teams early Sunday, Oct. 28, fired Grad missiles as target finders against Israel’s nuclear reactor in Dimona. This is reported exclusively by debkafile. They exploded on open ground in the Ramat Negev district southwest of the town of Dimona.

Continue Reading »

Jewish documents were confiscated by Egyptian authorities

Egyptian security services reportedly seized about 1.7 million documents packed in 13 cartons detailing Egyptian Jews’ assets from  1940-1960’s.

 

Some 1.7 million documents – purportedly containing details about the assets of Egyptian Jews in the 1940s, 50s and 60s – were seized by Egyptian security services in recent days just before they were exported to Israel, according to several online newspapers.

Jewish refugees arrive in Palestine – Photo: REUTERS

A report in the Egyptian government- owned Al-Ahram daily newspaper holds that the “Jewish documents,” packed in 13 cartons, were confiscated by Egyptian authorities ahead of them being “smuggled” out of the country from Jordan. Continue Reading »

Canadian Couple Seeks the ‘Unknown Soldier’ they Named their Son After

Two Canadian Jews on a honeymoon in Israel gave an IDF soldier a ride, and then decided to name their son after him.

By Gil Ronen

 

A Canadian Jewish couple is looking for the Israeli man whose name their son bears.

Hummer, soldier.

Hummer, soldier. – IDF Website

The story began when the couple was in Israel for their honeymoon. They offered a ride to a soldier named Lior, and were so impressed with him that after the woman became pregnant, they decided to name their son after him.

Two young Israelis, Gefen Hazan and Gal Baruch, who are currently on a pre-service volunteer year in Canada, are helping the couple and their son in their search for the original Lior. Continue Reading »

Experts: 14% of Israelis suffer from clinical depression

A 1/4 of women & an 1/8 of men will suffer from at least a single episode of depression during their lifetimes.

 

Fourteen percent of Israelis, as well as 14% of the world’s total population, suffer from clinical depression, but many do not seek professional help, according to experts organizing World Anxiety and Depression Awareness Month in November.

Various pills – Photo: Srdjan Zivulovic/Reuters


The condition, which can be treated successfully with medication and psychological or psychiatric support, is the most common mental condition in the world.

The prevalence is higher among women than men: a quarter of women and an eighth of men will suffer from at least one episode of depression during their lifetimes. Continue Reading »

Khartoum ‘factory’: Not “Arms-factory” per se, but rather Iranian Weapons Dépôt

Analysis: Iran missiles destroyed in attack on Sudanese ‘factory’ would have threatened oil & gas drilling, Israeli ships & civilian centers, in the hands of Palestinians & Hezbollah

By Ron Ben-Yishai

 

All signs indicate that it was not an “arms factory” that was bombed in Sudan recently, but a huge shipment of advanced weapons and ammunition that was on its way from Iran to terror elements in Gaza. A reliable Western source says that even if a small number of these weapons systems would have reached the Hamas-ruled territory, they could have posed a major threat to Israel and the IDF. Continue Reading »

Another Hunger Striking Terrorist Released by Israel

Former hunger striker Hasan Safadi, a terrorist detained in Shechem in 2011, was released by Israel Prison authorities 

By Elad Benari

 

Israeli authorities on Monday released former hunger striker Hasan Safadi, the Palestinian Authority prisoners minister told the Bethlehem-based Ma’an news.

Minister Issa Qaraqe said Safadi had been freed from Hadarim jail in central Israel.

Safadi, who stopped a 93-day hunger strike in September, is one of two prisoners who ended a hunger strike after assurances they would be freed at the end of their current administrative detention term.

Ma’an reported that Safadi was detained from his home in Shechem (Nablus) in June of 2011. Continue Reading »

Next Step Approved in Jerusalem for Homes for Retired IDF & Police

Peace Now says Israel has taken the next step in building new homes for retired police & IDF troops in Jerusalem neighborhoods.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

Israel has taken the next step in the process of building new homes for retired police and IDF troops in parts of Jerusalem restored to the city in the 1967 Six Day War. A plan to build the new neighborhood is being marketed to potential developers, according to the leftist Peace Now organization.

Construction in Gilo

Construction in Gilo – Reuters

A spokeswoman for the group, Hagit Ofran told the AFP news agency the Israel Land Administration released 180 units for development last week.  Continue Reading »

Saudi Arabia funding Israel’s Mossad operations against Iran

Israel & Saudi Arabia have at least one thing in common: neither country wants to allow Ahmadinejad to obtain nuclear capabilities.

By YourJewishNews.com/David Ross


Saudi Arabia is secretly funding Israel’s covert war against Iran’s nuclear program, according to an expert on Iran.

Saudi King

“A strange alliance: The Saudis are funding the Mossad of Israel” Lando wrote on his blog. Lando named his source only as “a friend, with good sources in the Israeli government.”

He wrote: “The head of Israel’s Mossad has made several trips to meet counterparts in Saudi Arabia, one result: an agreement that the Saudis fund the series of killings of several key Iranian nuclear experts that have occurred in the past two years. Continue Reading »

Buenos Aires demands extradition of 8 Iranian suspected in 1994 bombing

Argentina demands that Iran extradite 8 suspects suspected in the attack that killed 85 & wounded nearly 300 

Among the 8 suspects are former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani & Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi.

By Israel Hayom Staff

 

Argentinian and Iranian officials are scheduled to meet in Geneva on Tuesday to discuss the investigation of the deadly 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, Israel Radio reported on Monday.

Scene of the deadly 1994 bombing in a Buenos Aires Jewish community center that killed 85 and wounded nearly 300. – Photo: AP

According to the report, the Argentinian Foreign Ministry released a statement saying the meeting was discussed between the two countries’ foreign ministers during the U.N. Continue Reading »

Report: Petraeus says US not involved in Khartoum attack

Sudanese newspaper reported CIA chief called Sudan officials shortly after attack on arms factory, denied reports indicating his country had early knowledge of ‘Israeli strike’

By Roi Kais

 

The closure of the US embassy in Khartoum, shortly after Sudan accused Israel of launching an attack on an arms factory, has raised speculation that the US knew the Jewish state was behind the strike and feared it would be targeted by angry protesters.

CIA Director David Petraeus – Photo: Reuters

Despite this notion, a local Sudanese newspaper “al-Intiba” reported Monday that CIA Director David Petraeus called Sudanese deputy intelligence head Saleh A-Tayeb, shortly after the alleged Israeli attack in Khartoum. Continue Reading »

IDF official: Int’l sanctions on Iran hurt arms flow to Hezbollah

Despite cutbacks, Lebanese militant group still in possession of extensive & advanced arsenal, according to an Israeli military source speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity

 

A top Israeli military official said on Monday that international sanctions against Iran are cutting its flow of aid and weapons to anti-Israel Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.

Hezbollah supporters in Beirut, August 17, 2012.

Hezbollah supporters carry pictures of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right, disappeared Imam Moussa al-Sadr, center, and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, left, in Beirut – Photo by AP

Even so, he says the Lebanese guerrilla group remains a potent force with an arsenal far larger and of higher quality than it possessed during a month-long war against Israel in 2006. Continue Reading »

Israel’s Security Service Busts Hamas Recruiting Squad in Ramallah Area

The Shabak has arrested a large group of Hamas terrorists who have been recruiting members & terrorists in the  Binyamin area

By David Lev

 

The Shabak, Israel’s Security Service, along with the IDF and Israel Police, have uncovered extensive Hamas activity in the Binyamin area. A large group of Hamas terrorists have been working in recent months in the villages around Ramallah recruiting members, and terrorists, for the organization, it was released for publication Monday.

Hamas summer campers

Hamas summer campers – Israel news photo: IDF

The Shabak has been conducting a wide-ranging and long-term investigation of this group; so far, about 30 terrorists have been arrested. Continue Reading »