Archive for October 18, 2012

Revolutionary Guard commander: Iran will Destroy Israel, if Attacked

Acting commander Gen. Hossein Salami claims Israel’s ‘defense mechanism is not planned for big & long wars’ 

Asserts that Israel’s ‘threats are only psychological.’

By Reuters

Israel will “definitely” face fierce retaliation if it attacks Iranian nuclear sites, the acting commander of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard warned Thursday.

The remarks by Gen. Hossein Salami appear to be part of Iranian efforts to portray any strike against it as the trigger for a regional conflict that could draw in Iranian proxies, such as Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group, on Israel’s borders.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard troops - AP

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard troops march, during a military parade, in front of the mausoleum of the late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini, just outside Tehran, Iran, Sept.

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First Female Christian Arab Combat Comander in IDF

Traitor or Hero?  Mona Abdo becomes 1st female Arab commander of IDF combat unit.

By Annie Lubin

 

On Wednesday night, a twenty year old Christian Arab is set to make history, as she becomes the first female Arab commander of an IDF combat unit.

Mona Abdo is the first female Arab combat commander

Mona Abdo is the first female Arab combat commander – IDF Spokesperson

Mona Abdo, who grew up in Haifa, but now lives in Kiryat Haim, will take her place at the graduation ceremony for the IDF commanders training course, where surrounded by family and fellow Jewish Israeli soldiers, she will become a commander in Caracal, the first of her sector to ever accomplish something of this magnitude. Continue Reading »

Israeli-Arab MKs Zoabi and Tibi are facing disqualification petitions

Israel must act strongly against MKs Hanin Zoabi & Ahmad Tibi who exploit Israel’s democracy with goal of destroying it from within.

By Gideon Allon

 

Three months before the general elections, the Central Elections Committee fielded two requests on Tuesday to ban Israeli-Arab MKs Hanin Zoabi (National Democratic Assembly) and Ahmed Tibi (Ra’am-Ta’al) from running for Knesset seats in the upcoming vote.

Arab-Israeli MK Hanin Zoabi. – Photo: AP

Likud MK Ofir Akunis demanded that Zoabi be disqualified, citing the legal clause stipulating that “a list of candidates will not participate in elections for the Knesset, and an individual will not be a candidate for the Knesset, if the stated goals or actions of the list or individual support armed struggle by a foreign nation or a terrorist organization against the State of Israel.” Continue Reading »

Israeli innovation for Renewable energy suited to India

Economic partnerships formed as Israeli ‘Green Energy’ entrepreneurs meet with Indian gov’t delegation

 

With its wide expanses of open space and ever-increasing energy needs, India would be an ideal place for Israeli renewable energy innovators to take their business, experts from both sides of the equation agreed on Tuesday.

Hiker walks past wind turbines in the Golan Height - Photo: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

Hiker walks past wind turbines in the Golan Height – Photo: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

Representatives from both the Indian and Israeli governments, as well as leaders from around 50 Israeli renewable energy companies, gathered on Tuesday morning in Tel Aviv to discuss such opportunities – which seem to be plentiful.

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Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs: French diplomat is ‘helping Palestinians rewrite history’

“It is unworthy of an official representative of France to provide assistance to this kind of propaganda, at the expense of fairness and historical truth,”

By JTA

Israel’s Foreign Ministry accused France’s consul general in Jerusalem of “denying Jewish connection to the Land of Israel.”

Dead Sea Scrolls

Dead Sea Scrolls

 

The statement by Yigal Palmor, a spokesman for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, came in response to remarks made last month by Consul General Frederic Desagneaux in a speech on archaeology. Desagneaux spoke of “the important archaeological projects that French archaeologists had helped to uncover in Palestine,” including the Qumran Caves. Continue Reading »

Israel & the U.S. to Begin Major Air Defense Drill

US forces begin to arrive in Israel ahead of largest joint military exercise yet

Air defense drill to cost over $37 million

By Yoav Zitun, AP

The US and Israel are embarking on the largest exercise in their long military relationship, against a backdrop of tension with Iran and sharp rhetoric in the American presidential election.

משאיות שמובילות טילי פטריוט. תורגש תנועה ערה (צילום: אבי רוקח)

Trucks transporting Patriot batteries – Photo: Avi Rokach

An air defense drill planned for late this month will involve more than 3,500 Americans and 1,000 Israelis, practicing their ability to work together against a range of threats facing the main US ally in the Mideast. Continue Reading »

Qatar funds major reconstruction project to rebuild Gaza

A $254 million plan, due to begin within 3 months, is the largest injection of reconstruction aid to Gaza since parts of it were left in ruins after Operation Cast Lead.

By Reuters

 

Qatar on Tuesday launched a $254 million plan to rebuild and modernize Gaza, the biggest injection of reconstruction aid for the Palestinian enclave since parts of it were devastated in Operation Cast Lead nearly four years ago.

doha

A view of Doha, Qatar. – Photo by Wikipedia

Projects announced at a news conference by Qatari ambassador Mohammed Al-Amadi will require the cooperation of Israel and Egypt to admit building materials and heavy machinery to Gaza,  which is under a partial blockade. Continue Reading »

Israel Releases Details About Gaza Blockade Measures

Among the protocols taken by the blockade, the amount of calories were calculated by the IDF to avoid a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

By Scott Krane

 

 

The IDF has said that a mathematical formula was devised to set the food needs of Gazans in order to avoid a humanitarian crisis during the blockade that started in September 2007.

The Israeli pro-Hamas NGO Gisha denies this information.

“The official goal of the policy was to wage ‘economic warfare’ which would paralyze Gaza’s economy and, according to the defense ministry, create pressure on the Hamas government,” reads the Gisha report.

The blockade of the region, populated by 1.5 million people was meant to weaken the abilities of militants to commit acts of terror. Continue Reading »

IAF Retaliates in Gaza After Rocket Barrage on Sderot

Israel Air Force strike terror activity center in northern Gaza after terrorists fire on Sderot.

By Elad Benari

 

IAF aircraft struck a terror activity center in northern Gaza on Tuesday night, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit announced.

According to the statement, direct hits at the target were detected. All Israeli aircraft safely returned to their bases.

The attack came in response the constant rocket attacks into Israeli territory.

“The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers and will continue to operate against anyone who carries out terror attacks against Israel,” said the IDF statement.

Several hours before the air strike, terrorists in Hamas-controlled Gaza fired a barrage of at least seven rockets at the city of Sderot and the nearby area. Continue Reading »

Gaza Terrorists Shoot Anti-Aircraft at IAF & Fire Qassams at Civilians

 

As rockets & mortar are shot at civilians, Gaza Arab terrorists debut new weaponry at Israeli aircraft.

By Scott Krane

 

A Qassam rocket attack by Gaza Arab terrorists on southern Israel prompted a “red alert” Tuesday evening, Channel 2 reported. The alarm was sounded after terrorists in the Gaza Strip fired an anti-aircraft missile at an Israeli aircraft. Officials said terrorists fired a Strela shoulder-fired missile at an IDF helicopter, however, missed the target.

IAF Apache (Saraph) Photo: IAF facebook page

In the last few weeks, more than 60 rockets and mortar shells have been fired at Israeli towns in the western Negev. Continue Reading »

Sinai Islamists vow revenge for deadly IAF Gaza strikes

After Israel Air Force strikes kill 5 terrorists last weekend, including leader of al-Qaida-inspired terror-group, Ansar Bayt al-Maqdes vows revenge.

By REUTERS

CAIRO – An Islamist group in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula bordering Israel said on Tuesday it will take revenge against the Jewish state for the killing of Palestinian terrorists in Gaza over the weekend.

Funeral for Gaza terrorist killed by IDF - Photo: Reuters

Funeral for Gaza terrorist killed by IDF – Photo: Reuters

“We, Ansar Bayt al-Maqdes group tell the Jews that the blood of our brothers in Palestine is ours and their revenge is ours… So wait for our painful reply and revenge,” the group said in a statement posted on Islamist websites.

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Abbas: UN recognition would foster peace with Israel

U.S. envoy to UN, Rice says Palestinian status bid jeopardizes peace process.

Abbas’ letter to Obama, says Palestinians ready to resume Israel talks if UN bid succeesful

By Reuters and

 

 

The Palestinians fended off on Tuesday U.S. criticism of their bid for upgraded status at the United Nations, saying the move would improve prospects for a peace accord with Israel, not damage them.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sent a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday, saying he is ready to resume talks with Israel if he succeeds in obtaining UN recognition for the Palestinians.

Abbas and Obama

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, left, and U.S.

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Iran Very upset over Shutdown of its Satellite TV Channels

EU’s Decision to shut down 19 Eutelsat TV channels draws Tehran’s ire.
Netanyahu commends new EU sanctions.

By Gil Ronen

 

Iran is upset over the European Union’s decision to shut down all 19 Iranian satellite channels carried by Eutelsat, including Press TV and the Al-Alam channel in Arabic.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met with European Union member state ambassadors Tuesday and commended the EU for the sanctions package it approved Monday against Iran.

“I first want to congratulate the EU for receiving the Nobel Peace Prize,” he said. “Would that we could replicate in the Middle East what was achieved in Europe. Continue Reading »

Israeli expatriates returning home in record numbers

Immigration Ministry brings back 22,470 Israelis living abroad in 2.5 years; mostly from the US & Canada.

A record number of 22,470 Israelis who were living abroad returned to Israel in the past two-and-a-half years, according to a report by the Immigrant Absorption Ministry released on Monday.m
El Al airplanes sit on the runway - Photo: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

El Al airplanes sit on the runway – Photo: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

The ministry initiated a campaign to bring back Israeli citizens living abroad in May 2010.

Until then, a smaller number of Israelis returned each year; in the early 2000s, about 4,000 came back every year.

The amount started growing since 2008 and reached a peak in 2010 when about 11,000 citizens returned.

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Electrocuted Palestinian Boy Taken to Settlers For Treatment

Parents of the severely injured child, go to Neve Tzuf, where Jewish medics stabilize 6 yr-old until ambulance evacuates him to Israeli hospital

Itamar Fleishman

 

A six-year-old Palestinian who was electrocuted was treated by Jews from Neve Tzuf on Monday after his parents, seeking medical attention, brought him to the settlement’s gate.

Palestinian boy evacuated from Neve Tzuf Photo courtesy of Neve Tzuf security chief

Palestinian boy evacuated from Neve Tzuf – Photo courtesy of Neve Tzuf security chief

The child, who sustained severe injuries, was treated by a medic who resides in the West Bank settlement. He was later evacuated to the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer for further treatment.

Neve Tzuf, which is located in the Binyamin Regional Council, has been at the center of tensions between local Jews and Arabs. Continue Reading »