Archive for January 19, 2013

Israeli dazzles ‘American Idol’ judges

 

Following her astonishing audition, singer Shira Gavrielov is on her way to Hollywood, for the next round.

David Shear

 

“American Idol” returned for Season 12 this week and the judges kicked-off the season in fine style in New York City, where there was definitely a bit of Hebrew love going on between one contestant and judge Mariah Carey.

Shira Gavrielov in 'American Idol'

Shira Gavrielov in ‘American Idol’

Israeli-born Shira Gavrielov, a contestant who’s already had a No. 1 hit back in the Jewish state before moving to the United States, performed a great rendition of “Valerie” by the late Jewish singer Amy Winehouse. Continue Reading »

FACEBOOK VIOLATES ITS OWN PRINCIPLES with Arab Israeli Journalist’s Page

Arab Israeli journalist Khaled abu Toameh told The Jewish Press in a lengthy interview about Facebook’s bizarre treatment of his Facebook page.

Facebook has yet given a word of explanation to abu Toameh, why his page was shut down, parts of it were deleted, and then put back up.

 

 

“Fatah couldn’t stop me, Hamas couldn’t stop me, not even Facebook will stop me from continuing my work,” is what Arab Israeli journalist Khaled abu Toameh told The Jewish Press Tuesday morning, January 15, in a lengthy interview about Facebook’s bizarre treatment of his Facebook page. Continue Reading »

Bulgaria Official: No Hezbollah connection to deadly Burgas attack

Bulgarian Foreign Ministry denies Israeli reports that Burgas probe links Lebanese terror group to 2012 airport terrorist attack on Israeli tourists.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, BENNY WEINTHAL

 

The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry on Friday denied a Channel 2 report alleging that an investigation, set to be made public in the near future, will link Hezbollah to the July 2012 Burgas bombing that killed five Israeli tourists and a Bulgarian bus driver.

ZAKA worker at site of bombing. Photo by Avigdor Shatran

On Thursday, Channel 2 reported that the Bulgarian investigation found the Lebanese terror organization was behind the deadly bombing. The same day, however, a contradicting report appeared in Bulgarian media stating that Bulgaria has no evidence of Hezbollah’s involvement in the bombing.

Continue Reading »

IDF gunfire injures 2 Palestinians

Palestinian sources report one man wounded in northern Gaza by IDF gunfire & another badly hurt in refugee camp in Bethlehem.

IDF says Palestinians tried to cut Gaza border fence . Meanwhile, Palestinians set up a second outpost, this one northwest of Jerusalem.

By Elior Levy

 

Sources in Gaza reported Friday evening that a Palestinian had been injured by IDF fire near the northern Strip town of Beit Lahiya. According to the Palestinians, the man was evacuated to a local hospital with an injury to his leg and his condition was defined as moderate.

Bab al-Shams outpost, Photo EPAThe IDF said that dozens of Palestinians had gathered near the border fence in the northern Strip in an off-limits area, while rioting and trying to cut the fence. Continue Reading »

Lack of Free Speech in the Arab World & Facebook’s Support

Many Palestinian journalists, and those in the Middle East, are forced to use Facebook to publish what their own media will not accept. But the problem becomes worse when Facebook itself starts removing material that bothers dictatorships and tyrants. One can only hope that the same Facebook employee who “accidentally” removed the article will make the same mistake and and close down the accounts belonging to terrorist organizations and their leaders. It is the duty of Facebook and Western societies to side with those seeking freedom, and not to be complicit in suppressing there voices.

By Khaled Abu Toameh

 

“All censorships exist to prevent anyone from challenging current conceptions and existing institutions. Continue Reading »

Latest PA Blood-libel: IDF ‘Booby-Trapped Toys’ to Kill Children

According to the latest Palestinian libel against Israel, the IDF is distributing “booby-trapped toys” to Arab children

By David Lev

 

According to the latest Palestinian Authority libel against Israel, the IDF is distributing “booby-trapped toys” to Arab children. It was a take-off, said the Palestinian Media Watch organization, of an old libel, which claimed that the army was distributing “poison candies” to Arab children.

toys

According to the PMW, the libels spread by the PA against Israel have their “seasons,” and the latest “style” in libeling is the story of the booby-trapped toys. In several interviews on PA television in recent days, PA government officials have said that IDF soldiers have spread the toys in areas where they conducted patrols or exercises, apparently in the hope that children will pick them up and get blown up. Continue Reading »

Dore Gold: A code of conduct is nessecery for the Middle East

 

A code of conduct or a set of rules would either promote a real peace process or provide a clear measure for indicating that the Palestinian leadership continues to violate commitments. Issues must be addressed: incitement to violence, providing sanctuary to terrorist organizations, or halting hostile initiatives in int’l bodies such as the U.N.

By Dore Gold

In 1996, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan convened an international forum at the Hashimiyya Palace in Amman with guests from the entire Middle East as well as noted statesmen from outside the region. As a newly appointed foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, I found myself invited to one of these events.

Continue Reading »

Hamas & Fatah agree to implement unity Gov’t

Representatives of both Hamas & Fatah factions set end of January as target to form a Palestinian unity gov’t.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

 

Hamas and Fatah agreed Thursday to implement, by the end of this month, previous reconciliation agreements signed between the two parties.

The new agreement was reached during talks between representatives of the two sides in Cairo.

PA chief Abbas and Hamas leader Mashaal in Cairo - Photo by ReutersAzzam al-Ahmed, head of the Fatah delegation to the talks, announced that the two parties agreed, among other things, to launch consultations over the formation of a Palestinian unity government, with the hope of reaching agreement within the next two weeks. Continue Reading »

Israel’s IDE to build largest desalination plant in San Diego worth $650m

Israeli Company signs 30-year deal with California’s Encina Power Station to design & maintain water project subbed ‘largest of its kind in western hemisphere’

Ynetnews

 

Israel-based IDE Technologies announced that it has signed a contract with one of the largest desalination construction companies in the United States to design and supply equipment for the largest seawater desalination plant in the country.

Desalination facility - Photo by MekorotAccording to the company’s press release, the facility will be located near the Encina Power Station in Carlsbad, California.

The company has also signed a contract directly with Poseidon Resources for Operation & Maintenance (O&M) of the plant for a period of 30 years. Continue Reading »

Not Surprising Report: Hizbullah Behind Burgas Bombing

Thursday, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov paid a surprise visit to Israel & shared their updates, confirming Israeli allegations on the Burgas bombing investigation.

 

By Maayana Miskin

 

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov paid an unannounced visit to Israel on Thursday. Mladenov updated Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres on Bulgaria’s progress in investigating the terrorist attack in Burgas last year in which five Israelis and one Bulgarian were murdered.

The bus that was destroyed in the Burgas terrorist attack – Reuters

The bus that was destroyed in the Burgas terrorist attack – Reuters

According to Channel 2, the report found the Hizbullah was behind the fatal bombing.

Bulgaria’s Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, is updating European leaders regarding Bulgaria’s findings. Continue Reading »

Hamas Bans Israeli Aid That Compete with Their Smuggling Operation

Hamas bans certain types of Israeli goods into Gaza at the expense of the people’s welfare. Israel nevertheless continues supplying the free goods.

By Elad Benari

 

Hamas is once again trying to punish the residents of Gaza by attempting to reduce the scope of Israeli goods entering the region.

Hamas’ Ministry of Economics announced this week its decision to ban the import of certain types of goods into Gaza through the Israeli crossings. These include office furniture, various types of foods, hygiene products, gas pipes, plastic, plastic bags and clothing.

The local population in Gaza expressed its dissatisfaction with the decision, especially since the Israeli products that enter Gaza are considered to be of much higher quality than the goods that are smuggled into Gaza from Egypt, through the tunnels in the Rafiah area. Continue Reading »

Israel Antiquities Archives are Now Online & Open to the Public

Israel’s Antiquities Authority has uploaded tens of thousands of original documents,  architectural plans, maps & photographs to its newly digitized collection

1st section available includes original architectural plan for the post-renovations Church of the Holy Sepulchre & even British espionage maps.

By Yori Yalon

 

 

The archaeological archive of Israel, administered by the Israel Antiquities Authority, has digitized and uploaded all of Israel’s archaeological archives to the Internet, slated to be publicly available this month.

Jerusalem 1941The archive allows visitors to explore the British Mandate Period, for example, and view the impressive and original architectural plan for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre following renovations, British espionage maps from World War I and blueprints for buildings on the Temple Mount.

Continue Reading »

2 Years Later, Israel’s Carmel Forest Begins to Rejuvenate

The authority plans to introduce more Jerusalem pines as well as oak, almond, olive & carob trees — all native to Israel and thus, in better sync with the environment. A wider range of trees will attract a wider range of wildlife to the forest.

 

By Ben Sales

 

CARMEL FOREST, Israel (JTA) — The rabbi’s yarmulke fluttered in the wind, his hand holding it to his head, as he recited El Malei Rachamim, the traditional prayer for the deceased.

A view of part of the scorched area of the Carmel Forest, burned in the 2010 Carmel Fire, with an intact area of the forest in the background, Jan. 2013.  (Ben Sales)

A view of part of the scorched area of the Carmel Forest, burned in the 2010 Carmel Fire, with an intact area of the forest in the background, Jan.

Continue Reading »

Israel hints at ‘letter of regret’ to Turkey over ‘Marmara Fiasco’

 

Ayalon tells Turkey’s ‘Hürriyet’ that Israel may attempt to smooth relations by using diplomatic language; FM Liberman advocates “expression of regret.”

By JPOST.COM STAFF, REUTERS

 

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon told Turkish daily Hürriyet on Thursday that Israel may use diplomatic language inspired by the letter sent by Washington to Islamabad over the killing of 24 Pakistani soldiers in order end the impasse with Ankara.

Danny Ayalon“I see some kind of improvement and opportunities,” Ayalon was quoted as saying, citing the “American-Pakistani formula” as an idea to renegotiate relations.

“Remember, recently there were 24 Pakistani soldiers killed by mistake by American forces, and the Americans sent a letter that was accepted in Pakistan.

Continue Reading »

EU Parliament to mark Int’l Holocaust Remembrance Day

European Parliament President Martin Schulz adopts Int’l Holocaust Remembrance Day as part of European institution’s official ceremonies.

Ynetnews

 

For the first time since the European Parliament’s establishment, its president, Martin Schulz, has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Day as part of its official ceremonies.

NEVER forget!

In a special letter sent to Rabbi Avi Tawil, president of the European Jewish Community Center (EJCC), Schulz acknowledged EJCC’s seven-year contribution to the Holocaust Day commemorations in European Union institutions, and promised that the European Parliament was committed to the perpetuation of the Holocaust and the promotion of democracy and human rights.

The decision to hold an official ceremony is a result of ongoing efforts by the EJCC. Continue Reading »