Archive for May 11, 2013

Golan Druze divided over Syrian strife

The Druze residents of Majdal Shams differ in opinion over Assad’s regime, with some angrily calling alleged Israeli air-strike ‘terrorism,’ while others are calling for Syrian president’s elimination.

By Hassan Shaalan

 

 

Most residents of northern Druze village of Majdal Shams believe that a war will break out soon. The explosion shockwaves are very well felt in the border-adjacent Druze village, in which most residents profess they are part of the Syrian people.

מג'דל שמס. על הגבול (צילום: Google Maps)

Majdal Shams – Photo: Google Maps

The latest alleged Israeli attack in Syria caused much controversy in the village. Some residents support the Assad regime, and see the attack as “a terrorist act”. Continue Reading »

Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood stages anti-Israel protest in Cairo

In 1st such rally by the Muslim Brotherhood, the party from which President Morsi hails, the Brotherhood protested Israeli air-strikes on Syria & the detention of a Muslim cleric.

 

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood staged an anti-Israel rally in Cairo on Friday, the first such protest by the main backers of President Mohammed Morsi since they rose to prominence in the wake of the country’s 2011 uprising.

Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi.

Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi. – Photo by AP

Emerging from weekly services at Al-Azhar mosque — the centuries-old seat of Sunni Muslim learning — demonstrators chanted “the people want the destruction of Israel” in protest of recent Israeli airstrikes in Syria and the detention of a Palestinian Muslim cleric. Continue Reading »

PA Warns Int’l Community about cleric’s ‘Fake Palestinian Passport’

The Palestinian Authority asks world countries to take legal action and seize the fake ‘Palestine’ passport given by Hamas to the Muslim cleric Yousef al-Qaradawi.

By Elad Benari, Canada

The Palestinian Authority Ministry of Interior put out a notice on Friday, informing countries that recognize “Palestine” that radical Muslim cleric Yousef al-Qaradawi holds a “fake” Palestinian passport, according to the Ma’an news agency.

קרדאווי והנייה, היום. אזרחות עזתית ודרכון דיפלומטי (צילום: רויטרס)

Hamas’s PM Ismail Haniyeh and Yousef al-Qaradawi – Reuters

In a letter, the ministry called on all countries to take legal action to seize the passport if it is used contrary to international law.

The passport was given to Qaradawi by Hamas’s Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh, during the cleric’s visit to Gaza. Continue Reading »

The NGOs that undermine non-Jews who wish to serve

Support for those who serve the IDF or in national service without reference to their race, gender, or religion are systematically stymied by NGOs that are funded by foreign gov’ts.

 

In 2010, Cpl. Eleanor Joseph became the first female Arab combat soldier in the IDF.
Joseph, a Christian Arab told Ma’ariv that her good luck charm is a drawing of the Star of David with the caption: “I have no other land, even when my ground is burning.” Her commander drew it for her.
Elinor Joseph, was born 1991 into a Christian family from the Arab village of Jish, is the first Arab woman ever to serve in a combat role in the I.D.F.

Cpl Elinor Joseph, was born 1991 into a Christian family from the Arab village of Jish, and in 2010 became the first Arab woman ever to serve in a combat role in the I.D.F.

Continue Reading »

Hungarian Court convicts 3 men of anti-Semitic behavior at World Jewish Congress

Prosecution spokeswoman says all 3 men around 20 years old, shouted slogans such as “Sieg Heil” & gave the Nazi salute at WJC participants.

 

Hungarian authorities say three men have been convicted of shouting anti-Semitic slogans and making Nazi salutes at Jews attending an international meeting in Budapest.

The World Jewish Congress. – Photo by ReutersHaaretz Archive

The World Jewish Congress. – Photo by Reuters/Haaretz Archive

The Budapest Chief Prosecutor’s office said Friday that two of the men were given suspended two-year prison terms. The third man, who earlier had been given a suspended sentence for a separate crime, was sentenced to three years in prison but has appealed the decision. Continue Reading »

Egypt’s Black Bloc Guard, the new anti-Muslim Brotherhood militia

Egypt’s Black Bloc Guard has become a band of modern-day Robin Hoods, defending the innocent against an increasingly tyrannical Muslim Brotherhood-Hamas regime.

By Ashraf Ramelah

 

Egypt’s Black Bloc grew out of a struggle for liberation from an authoritarian system, only after non-violent civil efforts had failed. Not to be confused with America’s Black Bloc, which is friend to likes of the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s Black Bloc is an enemy to their country’s new Islamist rulers and fights for democracy and legitimate government.

Egypt's New Anti-Muslim Brotherhood Militia

Egypt’s New Anti-Muslim Brotherhood Militia – Israel Today

Clad in black garb and ski masks, the faceless and nameless Black Bloc soldiers lock arms to create a human shield in defense of pro-freedom protesters — the Black Bloc’s number-one priority — in the streets and squares of Egypt. Continue Reading »

Israelis go Combat Desertification, Helping African Deserts Bloom

 

Israeli students went to Africa to apply Israeli advancements in agricultural technology to combat desertification toward a solution for global hunger.

By Princella D. Smith

 

Despite Israel’s semiarid climate, Israel’s agricultural industry has advanced enough to prevent its desertification, which is defined as the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.

Continue Reading »

Amb. Rice: Attacks on Israel at UN undermines values, trust & peace

The relentless barrage of attacks on Israel at the UN undercuts the quest for peace, said Susan Rice, the U.S. envoy to the int’l body.

 

WASHINGTON — The barrage of attacks on Israel at the United Nations undercuts the quest for peace, said Susan Rice, the U.S. envoy to the body.

Susan Rice, official State Dept photo portrait, 2009.jpg

Susan Rice the 27th US Ambassador to the UN – 0fficial State Dept photo

“At its best, the U.N. does extraordinary things such as: keep the peace, help save untold civilians from Qaddafi in Libya, midwife the new nation of South Sudan, and empower women and girls worldwide,” Rice said Thursday at a luncheon in New York where she accepted the American Jewish Committee’s Distinguished Public Service Award. Continue Reading »

Church of Scotland back-peddles on denial of Jewish right to Israel

‘Guardian’ reports: After uproar, the Church of Scotland agrees to reword paper rejecting Jewish claims to Israel.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

After meeting with senior Jewish leaders in Britain on Thursday, the Church of Scotland has agreed to change the wording of a controversial paper which denies Jews any special claim to the land of Israel, the Guardian reported.

The General Assembly Hall of the Church of Scotland, Edinburgh.

The General Assembly Hall of the Church of Scotland, Edinburgh. – Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Green Lane

The paper, entitled “The Inheritance of Abraham,” rejects “claims that scripture offers any peoples a privileged claim for possession of a particular territory.” The paper further states that “reconciliation can only be possible if the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem and the blockade of Gaza are ended.”

Continue Reading »

Israeli finds aid to help Syrians ‘being butchered nearby’

Moti Kahana ‘can’t sit still as women & children are being butchered nearby’.

 

Syrian rebel: American airstrikes could

collapse Assad’s regime.

Yitzhak Benhorin

As many in Israel are concerned over the possibility that the civil war raging in Syria will spill over to the Golan Heights and strengthen the standing of Hezbollah, some Israelis regard the crisis in the neighboring country from another angle entirely.

כהנא. "לא חשבנו שהמלחמה תימשך כל כך הרבה זמן" (צילום: יצחק בן-חורין)

Moti Kahan – Photo: Yitzhak Benhorin

Jerusalem native Moti Kahana heads a group of Israeli businessmen and American Jews who travel to the Syrian refugee camps to provide humanitarian aid to victims of one of the era’s bloodiest conflicts. Continue Reading »

Now, Lapid is Against ‘Social Protests’

Although, social protests previously brought Lipid to power, the Finance Minister explains why he no longer supports the public’s ‘cost of living’ rallies.

By Maayana Miskin

 

Finance Minister Yair Lapid explained Thursday night why he does not support the latest round of rallies calling to reduce the cost of living. Previous such rallies were credited with boosting his party’s showing in the elections.

Yesh Atid chairman MK Yair Lapid“They told me that there will be a demonstration on Saturday. All I want to do is to put on a black t-shirt again, go down to the rally and say, ‘People, you’re demonstrating against yourselves,’” he told Channel 10. Continue Reading »

Cairo livid at Israel for barring Egyptian diplomats from Jerusalem church

 

Egyptian Foreign Ministry summoned Israel’s ambassador & demanded written apology from Israel after 3 Egyptian diplomats, including Deputy Ambassador Mustafa Al-Kuny were removed from Easter Mass at Coptic Church in East Jerusalem.

By Israel Hayom Staff

 

Israel’s Ambassador to Egypt Yaakov Amitai has been summoned by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry for clarification over “inappropriate treatment” of Egyptian diplomats in east Jerusalem over the weekend.

Continue Reading »

US & PA condemn Israeli plans for building 296 homes in Beit El

Palestinian Authority says continued building of Jewish homes could sabotage US efforts to revive peace process.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF & KHALED ABU TOAMEH

 

The Palestinian Authority and the US on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to advance plans to build 296 homes in the West Bank Beit El settlement, warning that it could sabotage American efforts to revive the frozen peace talks.

Ulpana outpost near Beit El

Ulpana outpost near Beit El – Photo: REUTERS/Nir Elias

“We see this decision as a message to the US Administration and a blow to the peace process,” said PA presidency spokesman Nabil Abu Rdaineh.

“The Israeli government is aiming at dragging the area toward violence instead of peace and stability by approving such plans.

Continue Reading »

UN reports that Israel stifles East Jerusalem’s development

UN’s report says 77%

of non-Jewish population in East Jerusalem live below poverty line, compared to 25% of Jews.

Reuters

The report recommended that while a resolution to the conflict remains elusive, Palestinian investors and business leaders must take the lead in forming a development strategy.

Arab Women demonstrating in East Jerusalem neighborhood - Photo: Reuters

Arab Women demonstrating in East Jerusalem neighborhood – Photo: Reuters

The Israeli occupation of east Jerusalem is driving its Palestinian residents into deeper economic isolation and they face far greater poverty than Jewish neighbors, said a UN report on the city at the heart of the Middle East conflict.

The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report, published on Thursday, is the first comprehensive investigation into the east Jerusalem economy carried out by the United Nations. Continue Reading »

Morocco’s king helped restore Jewish burial site off African coast

The Moroccan gov’t continues to be a ‘major benefactor’ of heritage preservation efforts on the island of Cape Verde, even though the Jewish-Moroccan community has long since disappeared.

By

 

A Jewish burial plot in the island state of Cape Verde was rededicated with help from the king of Morocco.

Jewish gravesite, Cape Verde.

Jewish gravesites during their inauguration in the municipal cemetery of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde.- Photo: AFP

 

About 100 people attended the rededication ceremony last week.

“The support of King Mohammed VI to this project is representative of Morocco’s attachment to the preservation of its patrimony – Arab, Jewish or Berber,” Andre Azoulay, the king’s Jewish advisor, said in a statement read during the ceremony by Abdellah Boutadghart, a Moroccan diplomat. Continue Reading »