Archive for December 24, 2012

Video: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Christmas Greeting 2012

 

Prime Minister Netanyahu says Christian community in Israel flourishing, unlike in neighboring Islamic countries where Christians are endangered.

Unlike other countries in the Middle East, where Christian communities are shrinking and many of them are in danger, in Israel there is a strong and growing Christian community that participates fully in the life of the country, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Monday in a taped Christmas greeting.
Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher [file]

Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher – Photo: Ammar Awad / Reuters

“Israel is proud of its record of religious tolerance and pluralism, and Israel will continue to protect freedom of religion for all,” Netanyahu said.

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Germany Reports: elite Israeli, American, French units in Syria to take WMD

Opposition activists tell Al-Jazeera poisonous ‘Sarin-like gas’ sprayed by Assad’s forces in Homs neighborhood kills 7.

German weekly says elite French, American & I.D.F. units operating deep inside Syria will take control of Assad’s chemical arms arsenals.

By Ynet

 

Seven people were killed in Homs’ rebel-held neighborhood of al-Bayyada when they inhaled a poisonous gas sprayed by Syrian Army forces, opposition activists told Al-Jazeera early Monday.

Syrian treated for gas inhalation

Syrian treated for gas inhalation – Screenshot

According to the activists, scores of others suffered from side effects, including nausea, relaxed muscles, blurred vision, and breathing difficulties.

Residents said they did not know the nature of the gas sprayed. Continue Reading »

Hamastine: the 1st terrorist state created & recognized by the EU & UN

By Amin Farouk

 

In a field near the Islamic University — where PhD theses are written on topics such as “The role of the Muslim mother in preparing her sons to be shaheeds [martyrs] of the resistance” — the Gaza Strip stronghold of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, and the other terrorist organizations, a large outdoor rally was recently held to glorify, celebrate and promote anti-Semitism and genocide. Continue Reading »

Human Rights Watch: Gaza Committed Numerous War Crimes

FINALLY: Human Rights Watch says Gaza “armed groups” commit war crimes by targeting Israeli civilians. HRW also blamed Gaza terrorists for firing rockets & missiles from densely populated areas.

HRW also blamed Iran for provided technical information to Gaza terrorists for building their own  Fajr 5 missiles that were fired on Tel Aviv & Jerusalem.

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

 

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a rare condemnation of Gaza terrorists on Monday for war crimes – without the usual “balancing act” of blaming Israel.

Terrorist groups boast by publishing their rocket fire emanating from civilian areas within Gaza. - Screenshot

Terrorist groups boast by publishing their rocket fire emanating from civilian areas within Gaza. – Screenshot

HRW did not go so far as to describe “Palestinian armed groups” as terrorists, but the categorical censure of rocket launchers marks a drastic change in the attitude towards Israel and Hamas. Continue Reading »

Egyptian blogger visiting Israel says Egyptians want peace

An Egyptian blogger, Maikel Nabil Sanad is in Israel & is being hosted by Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

‘There is a peace-seeking community in Egypt’ says Sanad

By Roi Kais

 

Egyptian blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad, 27, carried an unusual speech at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and was interrupted by pro-Palestinian activists who broke into the hall and shouted at him “Shame on you, this is Palestine.”

Egyptian blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad – Photo:Ohad Zwigenberg

Sanad has been known to express views about Israel, which caused him to be heavily criticized in Egypt.

On the one hand, Sanad is a social activist, one of the leaders of the revolution that resulted in the ouster of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Continue Reading »

IDF Captures 2 Palestinians Attempting to Infiltrate from Gaza

IDF soldiers patrolling along the border fence with Gaza earlier on Sunday evening, caught two Gaza residents when they tried to infiltrate the Negev in the Kissufim area.

By Elad Benari

 

IDF soldiers patrolling along the border fence with Gaza fired into the air on Sunday night, to deter several Palestinian Authority Arabs who approached the fence.

An IDF statement said that the soldiers had called on the Arabs to back away and return to Gaza. When the Arabs refused to heed the calls, the soldiers fired into the air.

The IDF said that there were no known injuries among the Arabs, who likely took off after the shooting. Continue Reading »

Russia: Assad consolidated chemical weapons into 1 or 2 sites

 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov: “The Syrian gov’t has concentrated the stockpiles in 1 or 2 centers, unlike in the past when they were scattered across the country”

Report says Russia & the U.S. have given 2 options to Assad: Step down & receive asylum, or a transfer of power will be arranged without you.

By News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff

 

 

The U.S. and Russia have come to an agreement on the fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to a report in the London-based international Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat.

The message given to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad: Either step down from power, or be sidestepped out of power.

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National Poll: 45% of Israelis support unilateral withdrawal from most of the West Bank

Rafi Smith poll: 80% of Israelis support IDF presence in West Bank in the case of unilateral (civilian) withdrawal until ‘peace agreement’ is signed.

 

Almost half of the Israeli population supports a unilateral withdrawal from large sections of the Palestinian territories based on the pre-1967 lines, according to a poll conducted by Rafi Smith for the Blue White Future movement.

Foreign tourists on trip to W. Bank settlements - Photo: REUTERS

Foreign tourists on trip to W. Bank settlements – Photo: REUTERS

The poll was released ahead of an election debate between the “Zionist parties” hosted by the movement at Tel Aviv University on Sunday.

Forty-five percent of respondents answered they would back a unilateral withdrawal while maintaining the large settlement blocs including western Samaria, Kedumim, Jerusalem, Ma’aleh Adumim and Gush Etzion.

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Congress requests that Obama shut PLO office as reprisal for UN vote

In the letter signed by more than half the US House of Representatives, were also calls for defunding of UN-affiliated organizations that accept the PLO for membership.

By JTA

WASHINGTON – Just over half of the U.S. House of Representatives called on President Obama to shut down the PLO office in Washington as punishment for its ascension in United Nations status.

Palestinian President Abbas

Palestinian President Abbas in Ramallah, after the UN vote. – Photo by AP

“One important way of expressing U.S. disapproval would be to send the message that such actions are not cost-free and that, at a minimum, they result in setbacks to U.S.-Palestinian Continue Reading »

Prime Minister Netanyahu: Israel is adapting to the dramatic changes in Syria

Netanyahu told his ministers at their weekly cabinet meeting that Israel is cooperating with the U.S. and int’l community ahead of the Assad regime’s upcoming downfall.

By and DPA

 

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel is getting ready for the downfall of President Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria, and the implications this will have for the regime’s chemical weapons cache.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. – Photo by Olivier Fitoussi

Speaking at the weekly cabinet meeting, the prime minister said that Israel “is following dramatic developments in Syria, cooperating with the U.S. and the international community, and taking the necessary steps to prepare for the possibility of radical changes to the regime with all the consequences these may hold for networks of sensitive weapons.” Continue Reading »

Anti-Israeli propaganda wrapped up in a Story of Bethlehem.

Squeezing a Story Out of Bethlehem is a great way to seek understanding and good-will, but a few in the media without scruples see this as a propaganda bonanza.

By

 

Every year around this time, it’s the same tired old story. A journalist attempts to find a Christmas angle for Palestinian suffering, most often focusing on Bethlehem’s Palestinian Christian residents. This year is no different and Harriet Sherwood of The Guardian and sister Sunday paper The Observer is the journalist filling the seasonal role.

Hamas rally in Bethlehem – Photo: honestreporting.com

The Guardian regularly trashes or undermines Jewish historical claims to the land of Israel that go back to biblical times. Continue Reading »

Israeli Defense Expert: Syria’s Chemical Weapons Are Secure

Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal is secure for now, says an Israel defense official, Amos Gilad.

At some point, the various splinter groups may begin to also fight each other. But for now, they are still united against a common enemy: Assad.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

According to Defense Ministry military expert Amos Gilad, for the moment, there appears to be a balance of power between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and opposition forces.

בסיס נשק כימי בספירה. קרבות ניטשו סביב המקום

Syrian Chemical weapon base

It is that delicate balance that is keeping the chemical weapons in check, Gilad told listeners in an interview broadcast Sunday morning on IDF Army Radio.  Continue Reading »

Ukrainian, French, American, Danish nationals & 4 women among newest grads of IAF pilots.

50% of latest graduates are eldest sons or daughters, 74% are members of youth movements & the Air Force’s first religious woman to graduate.

By Lilach Shoval

 

 

The 165th class of Israel Defense Forces air force pilots will graduate this Thursday at a graduation ceremony to be attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz and Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel.

A new generation of pilots completes the 165th training course.-
Photo: IDF Spokesman’s Unit

 

Among this year’s graduates are four women, three of whom will serve as navigators and one who will serve as a flight engineer.

Continue Reading »

Australian Tycoon Saves Sydney’s Chabad Headquarters

 “This transaction will undoubtedly increase community confidence in the long-term stability of Yeshiva, bringing much-awaited certainty to parents, teachers & the extended Chabad community.” commented Rabbi Feldman.

By JTA

 

SYDNEY – An Australian property tycoon has staved off a financial crisis that threatened the closure of the headquarters of Sydney’s Chabad-Lubavitch movement.

Rabbi Pinchus Feldman, Harry Triguboff and Rabbi Dovid Slavin with Yeshiva students – Photo: Ingrid Shakenovsky

Harry Triguboff, a longstanding benefactor of the ultra-Orthodox organization, purchased two Chabad buildings in Bondi Dec. 20 for a reported $6 million, enabling the beleaguered organization to pay off debts that threatened to cripple its ability to operate across Sydney.
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Israel to join NATO activities for 2013

Israel’s addition into the 2013 NATO activities follows granting Turkey’s request for deployment of Patriot missiles along their border with Syria.

By HILARY LEILA KRIEGER, JPOST CORRESPONDENT

 

WASHINGTON – Israel has received approval to participate in NATO activities in 2013 that had been held up amid tensions with Turkey, Israeli officials told The Jerusalem Post.

The officials said the approval had come as Turkey’s request that NATO station Patriot missile batteries along its border with Syria was granted, leading them to assess that NATO was using the deployment as leverage to induce Ankara to thaw its relations with Israel. Continue Reading »