Archive for January 2, 2013

3 Attempts to Smuggle Weapons into Gaza Foiled by Egypt

Sources: On 3 occasions since Operation Pillar of Defense, Egypt has prevented the smuggling of weapons into Gaza.

By Elad Benari

 

Western sources have revealed that Egypt has prevented three instances of large-scale smuggling of weapons into Gaza since the end of Operation Pillar of Defense, the Israel Defense website reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, the activity against the weaponry smuggling is part of Egyptian-U.S. coordination, agreed upon in the discussions involving Secretary of State Hillary Clinton two days before the end of the operation.

Western sources said that the agreement includes assistance with U.S. technological measures made available for Egyptian use, and intelligence cooperation in order to counter the smuggling of weapons. Continue Reading »

MK Edelstein & MK Elkin call on Israel’s annexation of ‘Area C’

High-ranking Likud politicians suggest that the lack of Israel’s annexation where all the Jewish settlements are located strengthens the int’l community’s demand for withdrawal to the pre-1967 lines.

 

Israeli annexation of the West Bank’s Area C – where all settlements are located – received public support from two high-ranking Likud politicians on Tuesday evening, Public Diplomacy Minister Yuli Edelstein and MK Ze’ev Elkin.

“Lack of Israeli sovereignty over Area C means the continuation of the status quo,” said Edelstein, as he spoke about an area of the country that is now under Israeli military control. “It strengthens the international community’s demand for a withdrawal to the pre-1967 lines.”

Continue Reading »

2013: Israel bans cosmetic tests on animals

MK Cabel: This is a revolutionary step in animal welfare. Import & marketing of cosmetics and detergents tested on animals officially barred by law.

Ynetnews

 

Israel now officially bans the import, marketing and sale of any cosmetics, toiletries or detergents whose manufacturing process involves animal testing.

Look for this icon on your cosmetics Photo: Shutterstock

Look for this icon on your cosmetics – Photo: Shutterstock

The Knesset originally passed the law in 2010. The new regulations take effect on January 1, 2013.

MK Eitan Cabel (Labor), who serves as head of the Knesset’s Animal Rights Lobby, promoted the legislation, which states that “Israel will no longer allow the import and marketing of cosmetics, toiletries or detergents that were tested on animals. Continue Reading »

Another Int’l Expert: Israel Has a Historic Right to Judea & Samaria

Dr. Alan Baker, an expert on int’l law, contends that Israel has a legal right to build anywhere in Judea & Samaria

By David Lev

 

Dr. Alan Baker, an expert on international law and a member of the committee headed by Judge Edmond Levi recommending the extension of Israeli law to Jewish towns in Judea and Samaria, said at a conference discussing the matter Tuesday night that Israel would be fully in its rights to do so. “The task of the Levi Committee was to look at the construction situation in Judea and Samaria and make the appropriate recommendations on how to proceed,” Baker said at the event sponsored by the Women in Green organization. Continue Reading »

British Muslim MP Admires Israel

We are mere beginners compared to Israel, a nation that is governing itself in the same territory, under the same name, with the same religion, and the same language as it did 3,000 years ago.

Now that’s what I call longevity!

By Israel Today Staff

 

It is somewhat rare these days to hear outright statements of support for Israel from the upper echelons of British politics. It is even more rare to hear such statements from British Muslims.

Conservative MP Sajid Javid – Photo:israel today

Earlier this month, support for Israel was voiced from both quarters, in the form of one man: Conservative MP Sajid Javid. Continue Reading »

In revolutionary decision, Rabbis will allow ‘gender selection’

Up until now, rabbis forbade intervention in selecting the sex of a baby, but Rabbi Menachem Burstein says an increase in the number of requests stemming from deep psychological needs has led rabbis to reconsider.

Yehuda Shlezinger

 

 

After years in which rabbis forbade any sort of gender selection at conception, a recent revolutionary Halachic (Jewish legal) ruling has now deemed it permissible to intervene and select the gender of a fetus in certain situations.

A boy or a girl? – Photo: Getty Images

The ruling was to be officially issued at a conference on Wednesday organized by the Puah Institute, which offers fertility treatments in line with Jewish law. Continue Reading »

JTA’s Gentiles of the Year 2012

Remembering 10 Gentiles that influenced Jews through 2012.

By JTA Staff

 

gentiles of the year

 

Whether they made us cheer, bang our heads against the wall, wish they were Jewish or thank God that they’re not, this year had plenty of non-Jews who played an important role in the Jewish story. And what better time to highlight them than now, in this season of best-of lists and holiday cheer?

 

  •  Begrudged mazel tovs greeted news in August that Benjamin Millepied had wed Natalie Portman, one of the most desirable Jewish women in Hollywood. Millepied, the French-born choreographer who prepped Portman for her Oscar-winning turn as a troubled dancer in the 2010 hit “Black Swan,” donned a yarmulke and wrapped himself in a tallit for the ceremony, held underneath a chuppah in Big Sur, Calif.
Continue Reading »

Security Council head tells ambassadors: Quit or enter politics

National Security Council’s Amidror bats at criticism from envoys over policy, saying they should either represent Israel, resign or enter politics.

 

National Security Council head Yaakov Amidror’s irritated response to questions by Israeli ambassadors about E1 – that they should either represent Israel’s position, resign or go into politics – was representative of a government attitude that does not put a premium on explaining policy to those who must represent it,  Foreign Ministry officials said Monday.

lev

The officials were responding to a Yediot Ahronot story Monday that Amidror snapped a day earlier at ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor when he asked about the timing of the decision to announce planning for development of the E1 section between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim.

Continue Reading »

Elite IDF counter-terrorism force ‘busted’ in undercover operation

Palestinians reported an undercover IDF squad operating in Tamoun, near Jenin, was identified.

Riots erupt on site, soldiers injured.

Elior Levy, AP

 

Riots in Tamoun – Photos: AP

Raid gone wrong: Palestinian sources in the West Bank reported Tuesday that riots broke out in the West Bank village of Tamoun, near Jenin, after an undercover IDF unit operating in the area was exposed.

Three soldiers sustained mild injuries and were evacuated to a nearby hospital.

The Palestinians said that the troops were disguised as vegetable vendors and and sought to seize members of a militant group.

 

זירת עימות בטמון (צילום: AP)

Riots in Tamoun – Photos: AP

The force was apparently part of the Mistaarvim (“Arabized”) Unit – an elite counter-terrorism force whose members serve in various IDF divisions. Continue Reading »

U.N. Watch: Top 10 Worst UN Decisions of 2012

Top 10 Worst U.N. Decisions of 2012

Compiled by U.N. Watch

 

1. Electing genocidal Sudan to ECOSOC, a top U.N. council overseeing human rights bodies.

 

2. Adopting Cuba’s “Right to Peace” resolution, which endorsed terrorism, at the same time as the Castro regime was backing Assad’s murderous Syrian forces.
3. Keeping Richard Falk as U.N. investigator of “Israel’s violations,” even after he was removed from Human Rights Watch in wake of protests over his support for Hamas, 9/11 conspiracy theories and promotion of antisemitism.
 
 
5. Electing the Venezuelan dictatorship of Hugo Chavez to the U.N.
Continue Reading »

PA report: Palestinian population to outnumber the Jews by 2020

At the end of 2012 the estimated number of Palestinians in the world is 11.6 million, of whom 4.4 million are living in the Gaza Strip, West Bank & East Jerusalem & another 1.4 million living inside Israel.

By DPA

 

The number of Arabs and Jews in Israel and the occupied areas will be equal by 2016, but the number of Arabs will exceed that of Jews by 2020, a report by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics said Monday.

Fatah supporters wave flags during a rally marking the 48th anniversary of the founding of the Fatah

Fatah supporters waving flags during a rally marking the 48th anniversary of the founding of the Fatah movement in the West Bank town of Bethlehem December 31, 2012.

Continue Reading »

Watch: PM Netanyahu States his Vision for a “Palestinian State”

Israel’s Channel 2 reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu affirmed he still believes in the solution for a “Palestinian State” that he outlined in his Bar Ilan speech.

By Gil Ronen

 

 Binyamin Netanyahu - screenshot

Binyamin Netanyahu – screenshot

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has affirmed to Channel 2 that as elections approach, he stands behind the principles he outlined in his speech at Bar Ilan University in 2009. Channel 2‘s Knesset reporter, Amit Segal, did not say Monday evening whether the information came directly from Netanyahu, but from the way in which he reported the news, it was clear that it had been approved by the Prime Minister. Continue Reading »

Israeli population approaches 8 million in 2013

Israel has more than 6 million Jews and 1.6 million Arab citizens

A record 170,000 babies were born in Israel in 2012

Jerusalem is Israel’s most populated city, with 804,400 residents

By Zeev Klein

 

 

Pop open the champagne corks. The Israeli population totals 7,981,000 citizens.

This past year also saw the most babies born in Israel’s history: about 170,000 according to the Central Bureau of Statistics, which released these numbers to coincide with the secular New Year.

About 170,000 babies were born in Israel over the past year. – illustrative Photo: Shuki Yosef

The number of people who died in 2012 was 41,938.

Continue Reading »

New Law against anorexic models in Israeli media begins

Models in Israel with a body mass index (BMI) of less than 18.5 will not be shown on Israeli websites, in media, or walk down catwalks at fashion shows.

 

Starting on Tuesday, female and male models who have a body mass index (BMI) of less than 18.5 may not be shown in the media or on Israeli websites or go down the catwalk at fashion shows.

modelThe law, initiated by then-Kadima MK Rachel Adatto, aims to protect impressionable teens from eating disorders.

Every year, an average of 30 young adults and teens die of anorexia or bulimia.

Continue Reading »

Israel to begin Biometric Database Test Project

Today Israel starts amassing biometric data on its citizens despite protests by privacy groups.

The test program will continue for 2 years, will be voluntary for Israelis 16 & older.

By David Lev

 

Despite protests by privacy groups, Israel will begin amassing biometric data on its citizens beginning Tuesday. The pilot program for the biometric database will greatly enhance the ability of authorities to identify terrorists, supporters of the project say – while those opposed believe that the program will give the state unprecedented opportunity to control the lives of Israelis.

The test program, which will continue for two years, will be voluntary. Continue Reading »