Archive for February 18, 2013

EU rejects declaring Hezbollah a ‘terrorist organization’

EU sources report that if Hezbollah’s involvement in last July’s terrorist attack in Bulgaria is proven, the most the EU will do is consider implementing pinpoint sanctions against it, but the European Union will not call Hezbollah a terrorist organization.

By Dan Lavie, Daniel Siryoti & Israel Hayom Staff

 

If the required proof implicating Hezbollah in the terrorist attack in Bulgaria last July is provided, then the EU would lean toward implementing pinpoint sanctions against elements involved in the attack, but would refrain from formally declaring Hezbollah a “terrorist organization,” European Union sources said on Sunday.

The scene of the terrorist attack against Israeli tourists in Burgas, Bulgaria, last July.

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Dershowitz: Papacy contender is an anti-Semite

James Carroll, distinguished columnist for the Boston Globe, who is himself a Catholic, has characterized Rodriguez Maradiaga’s “crackpot” mindset: “When the church has a problem — here is the oldest move of all — blame the Jews.”

By JTA

 

In a letter to the editor of the Miami Herald, Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz said that one of the leading candidates to replace Pope Benedict XVI is an anti-Semite.

Alan Dershowitz, professor of law, Harvard University – Photo: Dudi Vaaknin

Responding to a list published last week after the resignation of Benedict, which identified Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga of Honduras as a possible successor to the current pope, Dershowitz wrote:  “He has blamed the Jews for the scandal surrounding the sexual misconduct of priests toward young parishioners! Continue Reading »

Neurologists discover Parkinson’s breakthrough

Neurologists explain how a device that induces deep brain stimulation at an early stage of the disease will be better for motor outcome & quality of life later on.

The implantation of deep brain stimulation (DBS) devices at an early stage of Parkinson’s disease – rather than at an advanced one – has been shown, in a breakthrough study published Thursday, to significantly reduce the tremors and other symptoms of the widespread neurodegenerative disease that begins mostly from age 60. The study, which appears in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, is likely to end the global practice up to now of implanting an electrical stimulating device only as a last resort, when medications are no longer effective.
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Hezbollah Invades Syria

14 Hezbollah soldiers killed by rebels in past 2 days in battles over control of villages on Lebanese border

By Roi Kais

 

Hezbollah’s involvement in the Syrian civil war continues to grow. Syria’s main opposition group claimed Sunday that no less than 1,000 Hezbollah men have entered Syria in the past 24 hours.

Hezbollah rocket launcher“It’s a coordinated ground invasion,” the Free Syrian Army spokesman said. “Hezbollah has started a war against us.”

At least two Hezbollah operatives and five rebels were killed in battles southwest of Homs. Earlier on Sunday, rebels claimed they killed 12 members of the Lebanese terrorist group on Saturday. Continue Reading »

Swift IDF Action Nabs Arab Terrorists

2 Arabs arrested after caught firing shots at Kibbutz Migdal Oz in the Etzion Bloc.

By Gil Ronen

 

A quick IDF operation led to the arrest of two Arabs who fired shots at the kibbutz (cooperative community) of Migdal Oz in the Etzion Bloc Saturday night.

IDF PhotoThe shots were fired from the nearby village of Bayt Fajar.

A military source told Arutz Sheva that the source of the gunfire was identified shortly after the shooting began, and that a force from the Nachshon Battalion of the Kfir Brigade, which was on routine assignment in the area, was alerted.

The soldiers carried out the normal procedure for arresting suspects and fired in the air. Continue Reading »

The Knesset & US Congress jointly urge Obama to release Jonathan Pollard

With Obama’s pending trip to Israel, MK Danny Danon & former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee initiated a joint petition urging Jonathan Pollard’s pardon.

President Shimon Peres set to urge U.S. Senators to seek Pollard’s release as well.

By Mati Tuchfeld and Yori Yalon

 

A joint initiative by Knesset members and the U.S. Congress is calling on President Barack Obama, scheduled to visit Israel in a few weeks, to secure the release of imprisoned Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard in time to bring the news to Israel personally on his visit.

Jonathan Pollard. – Photo: AP

The two politicians behind the initiative, Israeli MK Danny Danon (Likud-Beytenu) and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, met on Thursday to discuss the joint endeavor.

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Australia’s very own, the ASIO ‘burned’ Zygier

Analysis: Australian intel agencies’ conduct played key role in low level Mossad operative’s decision to end his life.

By Ron Ben-Yishai

 

Ben Zygier was a victim. From details that have already been published by British and Australian media we learn that he was a victim of his own personality and also of the over-enthusiasm and lack of caution on the part of his handlers in Israel. Most infuriating is the fact that people who worked for the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) purposely got the Mossad operative in hot water and indirectly contributed to his decision to commit suicide.

Ben Zygier

According to the details that have surfaced so far, Zygier and two of his colleagues, who were also born in Australia and held Australian citizenship, were recruited to Mossad at the beginning of the last decade. Continue Reading »

Arabs: Keep Marathon Runners Away from Temple Mount

The PLO threatened Israel not to use the upcoming annual Jerusalem Marathon as an attempt to “Judaize” Jerusalem

By David Lev

 

With the Jerusalem Marathon set to take place March 1, the Palestinian Authority is warning Israel not to use the race to “Judaize” the city, presenting it as a “unified capital of Israel,” said the chairman of the PLO’s action committee, Ahmed Qureia. Qureia is also the head of the “Al-Aqsa Department” in the PA, and on Sunday he warned Israel to ensure that marathoners stay away from the Temple Mount, where the mosque is located.

Runners from some 50 countries are expected at this year’s marathon. Continue Reading »

Haredi Rabbi: 12 Reasons Why Secular Israelis Reject Haredim

Here’s a refreshing perspective from a respected Haredi Rabbi with a clear view of the Haredi contribution to the problems between the secular & the ultra-Orthodox.

 

 

Rabbi Dovid Bloch is the official spokesman for the Nahal Haredi, the Netzah Yehuda IDF battalion, was among its founders, and is the spiritual guide (mashgiach ruchani) of its recruits. This part of his record is impeccable, as far as secular Israelis are concerned. Rabbi Bloch studied at Yeshivat Ponivez and for many years served as Rosh Yeshiva of the Midrashia in Pardes Hanah. He currently is a Ram (Rosh Metivta) in Nahora Yeshiva High School and a Rosh Kollel in Jerusalem. Continue Reading »

Do the Palestinians actually deserve a state of their own?

Op-ed: All the regional Arab countries have been unsuccessful in their attempts at annihilating Israel militarily, but their lust to have Israel eliminated has never diminished.

By Dan Calic

 

With President Obama coming to Israel soon, let me ask what some consider a rhetorical question- do the Palestinians actually deserve a state of their own?

Rally in Hebron ahead of UN vote

Obama and most of the international community think they do. Yet if we take a closer look at the situation there are serious issues which should not be ignored. For example, would it be a peaceful, productive neighbor with Israel? This can best be answered by reviewing some guiding principles of the PLO and Fatah, which is the dominant political party of which Mahmoud Abbas is chairman. Continue Reading »

Abandoned quarries being rehabilitated into parks, lakes, amphitheaters

Used quarries throughout the country have been amazingly rehabilitated by the Quarry Rehabilitation Fund.

 

As the sun set on Thursday in the Avital Valley – a few kilometers from the Syrian border – miniature replicas of cone-shaped volcanoes that once erupted at the site glowed again in an automated light show.

The once volcanic Avital, which later became a valued quarrying spot, is to be inaugurated as a park this Passover. It is one of several quarries throughout the country being rehabilitated by the Quarry Rehabilitation Fund.

In an effort to ensure that mine and quarry lands are economically viable after projects are completed, the fund collects royalties from developers while the quarrying is being carried out, the percentage of which depends on the value of the minerals being harvested.

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Ex-FM Lieberman’s trial to begin

3 judge panel to preside over Yisrael Beiteinu chief’s fraud trial.

State prosecutor will also pursue a moral turpitude conviction, that may bar him from politics for 7 years.

Lieberman pleaded ‘not guilty’ on all charges.

Aviel Magnezi

 

Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman and former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman‘s trial began Sunday at the Jerusalem District Court.

Israel's previous Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman

Israel’s previous Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman

The former minister faces fraud and breach of trust charges over his alleged involvement in the promotion of former Israeli Ambassador to Belarus Zeev Ben Aryeh within the Diplomatic Corps – to the post of ambassador to Latvia. Continue Reading »

Likud-Yisrael Beiteinu plans to draft 60% of Haredim up to age 24

Likud-Yisrael Beiteinu proposal submitted to  Habayit Hayehudi & Yesh Atid as part of coalition negotiations.

Prof. Eugene Kandel on Saturday publicly presented the main points of his proposal for distributing the burden of military service more equally. The proposal was submitted last week to Yesh Atid and Habayit Hayehudi by Likud-Yisrael Beiteinu during the latter’s coalition negotiations with the two parties.

Ilan Assayag

Eugene Kandel – Photo by Ilan Assayag

The program calls for drafting more than 60 percent of ultra-Orthodox men up to the age of 24, while offering government incentives to these conscripts and the yeshivas from which they they were drafted. Continue Reading »

Minister Yaalon: Steps against “Prisoner X” Saved Lives

Yaalon condems left wing MKs who irresponsibly exposed the affair, says they knew they could have employed more discreet channels.

By Gil Ronen

 

Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Strategic Affairs Moshe Yaalon (Likud / Yisrael Beytenu) said Saturday evening that the steps taken against “Prisoner X” Ben Zygier were necessary in order to save lives.

“We are a unique country in terms of our security situation,” Yaalon told Channel 2‘s Meet the Press.”

Asked why Zygier was arrested, he said, “Out of considerations of pikuach nefesh [the halakhic precept that refers to the saving of lives], we needed to take such a step.

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Blog from Istanbul: Turkey & Israel Should Work Together

Turkey was the 1st country to send planes to help with the terrible Carmel forest fire in Israel, which once again proved its friendship after the dreadful ‘Marmara earthquake’. Other ‘friendly countries’ recommended help, but Turkey sent it.

 

By Aylin Kocaman

Turkey has sheltered Jews since Ottoman times. The Turkish people have a particular culture and conception of religion; Turkish people may go hungry, but they will make sure their neighbors have food. They will watch over them more than themselves. Their Jewish neighbors have always been very important for the Turkish people.

4flag-turkey-israel-sky

I grew up in this culture. I saw this behavior from the people around me. Continue Reading »