Archive for March 15, 2012

| March 15, 2012
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Turks outraged by Israel’s travel advisory

Turkish elements claim Israeli decision to warn tourists against visiting Turkey motivated by desire for revenge over Erdogan statements

Heightened tensions: Turkish elements expressed outrage over Israel’s travel advisory to Turkey issued by the Counter Terrorism Bureau on Tuesday, Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Thursday. The Turks claim that the warning is based on “vengeful political considerations aiming to portray Turkey as failing to  protect Jews and Israelis.”

Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan Photo: EPA

Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan - Photo: EPA

It was also claimed that Turkey is putting great efforts into securing local Jewish and Israeli institutions and that the diplomatic crisis with Israel does not effect its determination to fight terror. Continue Reading »

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| March 15, 2012
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Three rockets fired at Be’er Sheva on seventh day of Israel-Gaza violence

Palestinian militants fired three Grad rockets toward the southern Israeli city of Be’er Sheva on Thursday morning, after the Israel Air Force launched several strikes on the Gaza Strip overnight.

Early Thursday, a Gaza rocket landed near Netivot in southern Israel and shortly afterward, three Grad rockets were fired toward Be’er Sheva. Two of them were intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile system.

Islamic Jihad has denied any involvement in Thursday’s rocket fire.

Gaza after Israeli air strike - AFP - March 14, 2012

Palestinian fire fighters extinguish a fire at a Gaza building following an Israeli air strike, March 14, 2012. - Photo by AFP

Despite an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire between the sides which went into effect early Tuesday morning, Palestinian militant groups continued to fire rockets sporadically into Israel on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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| March 15, 2012
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Soldier Wounded in Light Rail Stabbing Attack

In the first major terror attack reported on Jerusalem’s light rail, a female soldier was stabbed by an Arab, who fled the scene

An Israeli female soldier in her early 20s was stabbed while riding on Jerusalem’s light rail Thursday morning. The stabber was an Arab who ran away from the scene of the stabbing, witnesses said. The stabbing occurred as the train was traveling through the Pisgat Ze’ev neighborhood in northern Jerusalem. Service has been suspended on trains in the north of the city.

At the scene of Thursday's light rail attack

At the scene of Thursday's light rail attack - Photo by Hezki Ezra

Police have opened an investigation. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| March 15, 2012
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IAF strikes Gaza targets after rockets fired at Beersheba

Israeli aircraft respond to Grad rockets fired at South, striking rocket launching site, smuggling tunnel; IDF might need large ground operation in Strip, OC Southern Command Russo says.

 

The Israel Air Force struck a rocket launching site in northern Gaza and a smuggling tunnel in the southern Strip overnight Wednesday. Palestinians did not immediately report any injuries in the strikes.

IAF plane takes part in maneuvers

By IDF spokesperson

The IAF strikes came after the Egyptian-brokered cease-fire that went into effect on Tuesday appeared to collapse earlier on Wednesday night when Gazans fired two Grad-model Katyusha rockets into Beersheba.

The assessment within the army is that the rockets were fired by small, splinter terrorist groups and not by Islamic Jihad, which was behind the bulk of the rocket fire into Israel since Friday. Continue Reading »

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| March 14, 2012
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Report: Iran officials told Assad to focus on Israel to divert attention from Syria crisis

Emails said to have been intercepted by Syria opposition and released by the Guardian show advisers indicated Syrian President should verbally attack Israel, center on Palestinian cause in a planned speech.

Syrian President Bashar Assad was advised by Iranian officials to divert attention toward Israel and the Palestinian cause in an effort to deflect criticism of his brutal crackdown, emails said to have been intercepted by Syrian opposition and released by the U.K.’s the Guardian indicated on Wednesday.

Bashar Assad and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Syria President Bashar Assad and Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - Photo: AP

According to the Guardian, the messages were said to have been intercepted by the opposition’s Supreme Council of the Revolution between June of 2011 and February 2012, and include missives from Assad’s private account as well as that belonging to his wife, Asma.

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| March 14, 2012
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Turkish Airstrikes Target PPK in Northern Iraq

One day after Turkey’s prime minister castigated Israel for striking terrorists in Gaza, Ankara strikes at terrorists in Iraq.

Turkish warplanes launched a series of air strikes on northern Iraq late on Tuesday

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan - Photo by Reuters

The region is home to several bases used by Kurdish separatists from the PKK that Ankara regards as terrorists – and frequently targets with its military.

“After 10:00 last night, the Turkish warplanes hit some areas near the border in three locations,” Colonel Hussein Tamr told the media.

“It lasted more than an hour. We went there after the attacks finished. Continue Reading »

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| March 14, 2012
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FIDF raises $26 million for Israel

The US-based Friends of the IDF organization (FIDF) held its annual fundraiser on Tuesday and raised $26 million – NIS 98 million – in favor of the Israeli military.

Over 1,300 prominent business and philanthropic leaders attended the $1,000-a-plate gala dinner, which was held at New York’s Waldorf Astoria hotel.

Among those attending the gala were Israel’s Military Attaché in Washington Major-General Gadi Shamni, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, founder and president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) and FIDF National Director Maj-Gen (Res.) Jerry Gershon.

גלעד שליט מברך בכנס (צילום: שחר עזרן)

Gilad Shalit's video message - Photo: Shahar Azran

The evening was held under the banner of the “IDF’s Special Forces,” and included a special live satellite link allowing the donors to meet members of the military’s elite unit and tour their base. Continue Reading »

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| March 14, 2012
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Potable water system wins Intel competition

Netanya high school pupils developed a system  to disinfect & clean water supplies.

 

A pair of Netanya high school pupils who developed a system using solar rays to disinfect and clean water supplies so they are suitable for drinking won the Intel-Israel 15th Annual Young Scientists Competition on Tuesday.

Avishai Katko and Maya Braun

Avishai Katko and Maya Braun - Photo By Sasson Tiram

Avishai Katko and Maya Braun of Sharett High School found a way to expose polluted water to ultraviolet light using renewable energy at low cost. The device, if produced commercially, could be used in any home, the pupils said.

The system is modular, mobile and suitable for use in places with a severe shortage of potable water that also enjoy sunlight most of the year.The

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| March 14, 2012
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Azerbaijan arrests 22 suspects in plot to attack Israeli, U.S. targets

Azerbaijan’s national security ministry says Iran’s Revolutionary Guards is behind plot to carry out attacks against Israeli, U.S. embassies in Baku.

Azerbaijan authorities have arrested 22 people suspected of plotting to attack the Israeli and American embassies in the capital Baku, AFP reported on Wednesday.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards was reportedly behind the plan to attack Israeli and U.S. targets in the country, according to Azerbaijan’s national security ministry.

A month ago, the national security ministry said it had arrested several activists belonging to the Iranian intelligence service and Hezbollah. The operatives were suspected of planning terrorist attacks against foreigners in Baku.

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| March 14, 2012
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‘Death of Palestinian boy raises Gaza death toll to 27’

7-year-old reportedly succumbs to his wounds after IAF strike on eastern Gaza City; Netivot municipal head: Only half of students show up for class despite cease-fire and no rocket attacks.

Palestinians pass rubble from IAF strike, Gaza

Palestinians pass rubble from IAF strike, Gaza - Photo: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters

A seven-year-old Palestinian boy in the Gaza Strip has died from wounds sustained during an IDF strike on terrorist operations in the coastal territory this past weekend, Gaza news portal Al Resalah reported, raising the death toll of last weekend’s spasm of violence between Gaza and Israel to 27.

Birka Salama al-Maghrabi was injured in an Israeli air strike in an eastern part of Gaza City, the largest city in the Palestinian territories. Continue Reading »

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| March 14, 2012
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Nasrallah, Hamas: Israel ‘tested’ Gaza factions ahead of possible Iran strike

Hezbollah leader meets top Islamist group figures in Lebanon; according to local newspaper, they claimed Israel instigated latest round of violence in south to gauge terrorists’ readiness to take part in regional conflict

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah met with senior Hamas figures on Monday to discuss regional developments, Lebanese newspaper Al-Sapir reported.

Hassan Nasrallah Photo: EPA

Hassan Nasrallah - Photo: EPA

According to the report, published Wednesday, Hamas’ delegation was headed by Deputy Politburo Chief Moussa Abu Marzouk. The meeting in Lebanon focused on the latest round of violence between Israel and Gaza, the uprising in Syria and the Muslim Brotherhood’s ties to Hezbollah and Iran. Continue Reading »

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| March 14, 2012
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Report: U.S. asked Russia to warn Iran of ‘last chance’ to avoid military strike

Clinton reportedly told her Russian counterpart to rely message to Tehran that it must engage in talks with world powers or face a military strike within months, according to Russian daily Kommersant.

The United States has asked Russia to deliver an ultimatum to Iran, warning the Islamic Republic that it has one last chance for talks before a military strike, the Kommersant daily quoted Russian diplomats as saying on Wednesday.

Clinton, Lavrov, Ahmadinejad - Reuters and AP - March 14, 2012

Clinton, Lavrov, Ahmadinejad - Photos Reuters and AP

According to the Russian newspaper, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asked her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in New York on Monday to tell Tehran that it has one last chance to solve the conflict peacefully by making progress in the talks with the P5+1 group – United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany.

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| March 14, 2012
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Video: Israel Tests Its Own Bunker Buster Bomb

Israel has developed and tested its own bunker buster bomb, that has been described as “a very credible military option,” to use against Iran.

Click here to view ‘IMI Hard-Target Penetration Bomb’ test video.

Lockheed Martin F-16i (Sufa)

F-16i IAF's 'Sufa' - Photo By IAF

The 500-pound “MP-500” bomb is laser-guided, and the video below shows it penetrating four reinforced concrete walls. Iran has buried several of its nuclear facilities, including a uranium enrichment plant, under concrete bunkers in mountainous areas.

The government-owned Israel Military Industries (IMI) developed the bomb, an upgrade of the U.S. Mk82 bunker buster.

“The lethality, precision … and relatively low weight enables its use against multiple targets in a single pass; an element that increases the operational effectiveness of attack,” according to IMI. Continue Reading »

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| March 14, 2012
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1 Injured as Rocket Hits Downtown Netivot

Israel’s asymmetrical cease-fire with Gaza continues as rockets continue to rain down on the south.

Gaza terrorists fired a rocket into downtown Netivot around 21:30 (GMT+2) on Tuesday evening.

Damaged car in Netivot

Damaged car in Netivot - Photo by Reuters

Magen David Adom reported that one person was lightly injured after being hit in the hand by flying glass. 11 people suffered shock.

The attack came just hours after a pair of rockets slammed into the Ashkelon beaches. No physical injuries were reported in that attack.

At least seven rockets were fired into Israel earlier in the day despite a cease-fire brokered between Israel and Gaza’s terror factions by Egypt. Continue Reading »

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| March 13, 2012
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Iran lauds Egypt house vote to expel Israel envoy

Islamist-dominated lower parliament says Cairo will “never be a friend, partner or ally of the Zionist entity.”

Egypt lower parliament, Majlis As-Shaab - Photo by Reuters

Egypt lower parliament, Majlis As-Shaab - Photo by Reuters

Iran on Tuesday applauded the Egyptian parliament’s demand a day earlier that Cairo expel Israel’s ambassador over Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip.

“Egypt will never be the friend, partner or ally of the Zionist entity which we consider as the first enemy of Egypt and the Arab nation,” said the statement from Egypt’s lower house of parliament, which called on the Egyptian government to “revise all its relations and agreements with that enemy.”

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