Archive for May 17, 2013

Israel trying to deal with high poverty rating

Israel may have a strong & resilient economy, but according to the OECD, it also has the highest poverty rate of all developed nations, and no one feels that more than the poor Israeli children.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Despite Israel’s overall economic resilience and strong global market presence, which we have written on numerous times in the past, the Jewish state continues to struggle with high poverty levels.

Israel struggles with high poverty rating

Photo taken from Israel Today

A survey published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on Wednesday revealed that Israel has the highest rate of poverty among all developed nations. Continue Reading »

Israeli air strikes expected on Russian S-300 shipment to Hezbollah

 

WSJ reports: Another set Israeli airstrikes could target a new Russian transfer of Yakhont advanced anti-ship missiles if given to Hezbollah

Russia expediting delivery of its S-300 surface-to-air defense systems to Syria

CIA Director John Brennan in Jerusalem to discuss recent events.

By Shlomo Cesana, David Baron, Daniel Siryoti & Israel Hayom staff

U.S. officials told The Wall Street Journal on Thursday that another round of Israeli airstrikes could target a new Russian transfer of advanced anti-ship missiles in the near future. Israeli and Western intelligence services believe the Yakhont missiles, which have been sold by Russia to Syria in recent years, could be transferred to Hezbollah within days, the newspaper reported on its website Friday.

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Israel looking to open flights to Goa

India’s Tourism Minister will visit Jerusalem next month to discuss Israel’s interest in opening new tourist routes.


PANAJI: Tourism department is upbeat about the interest shown by the Israeli government to start scheduled and charter flights to Goa.
Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar along with deputy chief minister Francis D’Souza is scheduled to visit Israel in June.

El Al , Israel’s National Airline – Photo: Siwan Farj

Parulekar told TOI that the government has received an invitation from the Israeli government for the visit. “Israeli government is keen to start scheduled as well as charter flights to Goa,” said Parulekar.

He added that his department is also keen to start Australia-Singapore-Goa flights to tap tourist potential of Southeast Asia.

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IDF dogs now get personal files including serial numbers

IDF opens computer project directed at tracking history of dogs from the Paratrooper’s Oketz Canine Unit.  Performance reports,

medical background & photographs are all included in their personal files.

By Yossi Yehoshua

From now on, it’s not only IDF soldiers who get the full induction day red carpet – so do four legged friends. Over the past few days, all the dogs of the Oketz unit have received a military serial number which the army will use to track their activities.

Oketz members – two and four legged – Photo: IDF

The Ground Forces Computer Services Directorate has implemented a unique computer project focusing on the combat canines. Continue Reading »

Egyptian security close Gaza border crossing

In response to the abduction of 7 members of the Egyptian security forces by Islamist gunmen, Egyptian police-officers lock & block the gates at the border crossing to Gaza.

In the meantime, hundreds of Palestinians are stranded on both sides.

By Reuters
 

 

Egyptian policemen blocked the crossing into the Gaza Strip on Friday to protest against the kidnapping of Egyptian security forces in the Sinai, witnesses and sources said.

Egyptian soldiers standing guard - Reuters - August 10, 2012.

Egyptian soldiers standing guard on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border, to cross from the Sinai peninsula to Gaza, in August 2012. – Photo: Reuters

 

Locals said police had placed barbed wire across the entrance to the border and closed the gates with chains, leaving hundreds of Palestinians stranded on both sides of the fence. Continue Reading »

Russia will honor commitment to transfer S-300 missiles to Assad

Israel’s PM Netanyahu couldn’t convince Putin to reconsider decision regarding sale of S-300 missiles to Syria.

 

Russian foreign minister reiterates: Russia will make good on commitments.

Yoav Ziitun

 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced Thursday that Russia would remain committed to previously signed arms deal “regarding agreements pertaining to aerial defense weapons.”

(צילום: EPA)

Putin, Netanyahu meet – Photo: EPA

Despite the fact that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew for a lightning visit to Russia with the clear intent of preventing the sale of S-300 missiles to Assad’s regime, the Russians reiterated two days later that they refused to budge from their commitments. Continue Reading »

Turkey’s PM Erdoğan confirms his June visit to the West Bank & Gaza

At the joint White House press conference with Turkey’s PM Erdoğan, President Obama cites need for further evidence before making decision on Syria.

PM Erdoğan: Turkey is in ‘full consensus’ with the U.S. on a need to end Syria bloodshed.

By and Reuters

 

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced Thursday that he plans to travel to the Gaza Strip in June, for a trip that will also include a visit to the West Bank.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Barack Obama during a joint news conf

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. President Barack Obama during a joint news conference in the White House, May 16, 2013.

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8 policemen injured in mass Haredi protest against draft

The demonstration was not backed by Shteinman and the mainstream Haredi leadership, although they are vigorously opposed to the enlistment of yeshiva students.


 

 

A demonstration staged by the radical Eda Haredit organization turned violent Thursday night, with haredi protestors throwing rocks, glass bottles and other objects at police, injuring at least eight officers, two of whom were taken to hospital in moderate condition.

Haredi demonstration against IDF enlistment legislation in Jerusalem, May 16, 2013

Haredi demonstration against IDF enlistment legislation in Jerusalem, May 16, 2013 Photo: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post

The police made at least ten arrests and fired a water cannon to disperse violent protesters.

Between 25 to 30 thousand haredi men protested against government plans to draft ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students.

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Is UN’s Chief Ban Ki-Moon wrong about Israeli settlements deliberate?

Israeli Settlements are not illegal under int’l law. Anyone willing to divorce themselves from the threats and politics of the Palestinians would know this.

By Eric Rozenman

There he goes again. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon erroneously has asserted, for the fourth time in two years, that “all [Israeli] settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, is illegal under international law.”

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses the United Nations General Assembly  - Associated Press -Photo Mary Altaffer

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses the United Nations General Assembly – Associated Press/Photo: Mary Altaffer

The Washington Post headlined its Feb. 1 Associated Press dispatch “U.N. panel criticizes Israel on settlements; Report says ‘creeping annexation’ violates rights of Palestinians.” Continue Reading »

Hamas & Hezbollah run NY smuggling ring evading $80 million in taxes

The New York state Attorney General’s Report: NYPD bust cigarette-smuggling ring funneling $Millions to terrorist groups.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

New York law enforcement late Wednesday busted a smuggling ring, consisting of suspected members of Hamas and Hezbollah, that has been funneling millions of dollars of funds to terrorist organizations from the sale of tax-free cigarettes, the New York Daily News reported citing local law enforcement officials.

Woman smokes a cigarette

Woman smokes a cigarette – Photo: Daniel Munoz/Reuters

According to the report, The New York state attorney general and the New York Police Department (NYPD) arrested 16 members of the group.

The ring had infiltrated the market with the sales of over one million cartons of tax-free cigarettes smuggled from Southern states, where they were bought at cheaper prices, legal authorities were reported as saying .

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UN Chief warns Netanyahu over ‘int’l law violations’ in East Jerusalem

Of all the countries in the Mid East to address this problem, UN’s chief Ban, in a phone call to PM Netanyahu, urges Israel to abide by its obligations under ‘int’l humanitarian law’ to allow free expression of religion.

By MICHAEL WILNER, JERUSALEM POST CORRESPONDENT

 

NEW YORK — On a phone call during the past two days, United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of possible violations of “international humanitarian law” in East Jerusalem.

East Jerusalem.

East Jerusalem – Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Ban’s primary concerns expressed during the call seem to have been the resumption of peace talks and the denial of access to worshipers of various faiths to Jerusalem’s holy sites.

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Aharonovitch & Livni: ‘Price tag’ offenders to be charged with act of terror

Both Justice Minister & Interior Security Minister to introduce to the cabinet an initiative where ‘price tag’ crimes be recognized under the law as terror acts

By Attila Somfalvi

 

An initiative to change the legal standing of “price tag” attacks to that of an act of terror will be brought before the cabinet next week, according to a resolution devised by Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich and representatives from the police and security forces.

Yitzhak Aharonovich

Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich

The initiative is part of a larger shift intended to bolster police and Shin Bet action against “price tag” offenses in the West Bank and Israel. Continue Reading »

Gaza Legislative Council wants flogging & hand amputation in law

Many Gazans alarmed by harsh draft law from the Gaza Legislative Council that includes Islamic mandatory flogging or amputation for certain punishments.

By Hazem Balousha
Translated by: Kamal Fayad

 

The penal code drafted by Hamas hard-liners in the Gaza Legislative Council has caused widespread debate not only inside Palestinian society, but also among the political and parliamentary leadership of Hamas, because it included forms of punishment such as flogging and hand amputation, in addition to criminalizing acts not mentioned in the current law.

Members of Hamas police take part in a graduation ceremony in Gaza City, Dec. 17, 2012. - Photo REUTERS-Suhaib Salem

Members of Hamas police take part in a graduation ceremony in Gaza City, Dec. 17, 2012. – Photo: REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

The presidency of the Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza has released the draft penal code to civil-society organizations, Palestinian factions and Islamic scholars for discussion prior to its ratification by council members, who all belong to the Hamas movement in Gaza.

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Fatah & Hamas agree to hold general elections in 3 months

 

Brokered by Egypt, rivaling Hamas & Fatah terrorist factions reach “historic deal,”  for holding long overdue general elections in Gaza & the West Bank by upcoming summer.

By Daniel Siryoti and Israel Hayom Staff

 

Rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have agreed to form a unity government within three months, Israel Radio reported Wednesday.

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Unknown Palestinian group claims it fired rockets onto Mount Hermon

The group said that it “attacked an observatory of the Zionist entity on the occupied Golan Heights with missiles on the anniversary of return, avenging the martyrs of return [who died] last year.”

 

JERUSALEM — A previously unknown Palestinian group took responsibility for two rockets that hit Mount Hermon, a popular Israeli tourist site in the Golan Heights.

Exploded rocket fired into Northern Israel (archive) - IsraelandStuff/PP

Exploded rocket fired into Northern Israel (archive) – IsraelandStuff/PP

The group, which calls itself the Abdul Qader Husseini Battalions of the Free Palestine movement, said in a statement issued Thursday that it fired the projectiles that struck Mount Hermon on Wednesday.

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