Archive for June 7, 2013

Syrians seek refuge in Israel

After battle between Assad’s forces & rebels in Golan Heights, dozens of Syrians attempt to cross into Israel, but IDF soldiers send them back after determining Quneitra was safe.

Meanwhile, wildfires caused by Syrian gunfire spreads crosses the border into Israel

By Yoav Zitun

 

Dozens of Syrians arrived at the Quneitra border crossing between Israel and Syria at around noon Thursday and requested entry into Israel.

Syrian-born fire reaches Golan shrubbery - Photo Haggai Aharon

Syrian-born fire reaches Golan shrubbery – Photo: Haggai Aharon

According to assessments, hundreds of dunams have gone up in flames, some of which have come near the IDF’s Golan positions. An Israeli firefighter squad is currently at the scene attempting to take control of the fire and the IDF has instructed local farmers to stay away from their lands near the border for the time being. Continue Reading »

Jerusalem to UN: Replace Austrian peacekeepers that withdrew from Golan Heights

Israel says it does regret Austria’s decision to pull its more than 300 troops out of the 1,100-strong UN force following clashes at Quneitra, but expects the UN to maintain its mandate on the Israel-Syria border.

 

Israel demanded on Thursday that the United Nations replace the Austrian soldiers that were pulled out of a UN peacekeeping force on the Golan Heights as soon as possible.

Quneitra Syria

Smoke rises from a fire as a result of fighting in the Syrian village of Quneitra near the border with Israel. – Photo: AP

Following the battles at Quneitra in Syria early on Thursday morning, Austria announced it was withdrawing its troops that serve in the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan.

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JNF cancels Clinton invitation by withdrawing $500,000 offer to attend

Following uproar in Israel & abroad, the JNF announced it will no longer pay former U.S. President $500,000 to speak at Peres’ Birthday gala.

By Elad Benari

 

The Jewish National Fund (Keren Kayemet Leyisrael) said on Thursday that it will not take part in an upcoming gala event attended by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, and will not pay him $500,000 to give a speech at this gala.

Clinton and Peres - Photo by Reuters

Clinton and Peres – Photo by Reuters

Earlier this week it was reported that the JNF would pay Clinton this huge sum for the gala evening, to be held June 17 in honor of President Shimon Peres’s 90th birthday. Continue Reading »

Safed hospital evacuated when hand-grenade found on wounded Syrian

One of the 2 wounded Syrian men sent to Israel’s Ziv Medical Center with gunshot wounds in the chest and abdomen, were found with a stun grenade in his pocket.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

Security personnel at Ziv Medical Center in Safed Thursday evacuated the emergency room and trauma unit after a stun grenade was found in the pocket of one of two wounded Syrian nationals who were transferred to the hospital earlier in the day, Channel 10 reported.

According to the report, sappers were called to the scene to neutralize the weapon, after which patients were permitted to return to the previously evacuated areas.

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The Druze community celebrates 40 years of IDF combat service for Israel

Despite the Druze being an Arabic-speaking minority, Israeli Druze have always seen themselves as blood brothers with the Jews, proudly wanting to defend their country, the State of Israel.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Israel’s Druze population last week celebrated 40 years since the establishment of a special, elite infantry unit for members of the community joining the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The all Druze, 'Swords' 299 unit of the IDF celebrate 40 years of combat service

The all Druze, ‘Swords’ 299 unit of the IDF celebrate 40 years of combat service

Israel officially exempts minority groups from mandatory military service, but shortly after the Jewish state’s modern rebirth, leaders of the Druze community demanded that Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben Gurion, also draft their young men for service. Continue Reading »

Which will be victorious, Hezbollah or Al-Qaida ?

With Al-Qaida forces fighting in a dozen countries, can Hezbollah stand up to their battlefield experience?

By Clifford D. May

 

Back during the George W. Bush administration, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage famously called Hezbollah the “A-team of terrorists,” adding that “al-Qaida is actually the B-team.” How do these two organizations compare today?

Hezbollah rocket launcherLast week, the State Department released its annual “Country Reports on Terrorism 2012.” At a background briefing , a “senior administration official” highlighted an alarming trend: a “marked resurgence of terrorist activity by Iran and Hezbollah. The tempo of operational activity was something we haven’t seen since the 1990s. Continue Reading »

An Israel-Hater Appointed by Obama To Represent the U.S. at the U.N.

 

The next United States ambassador to the UN wants the US Army attack Israel at the risk of alienating “a domestic constituency of tremendous political and financial import.”

Power also goes on to calls Netanyahu “dreadfully irresponsible.”

By Arnold Ahlert

 

On Wednesday, President Obama nominated Samantha Power to be US Ambassador to the United Nations. Power has “been a relentless advocate for American interests and values, building partnerships on behalf of democracy and human rights, fighting the scourge of anti-Semitism and combating human trafficking,” the president contended. Power’s record, however, tells a much different tale. Power is, unsurprisingly, not only a radical leftist who believes America is evil and owes the world an apology, but someone with an egregious history of antipathy directed towards Israel.

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Ireland leads opposition in having Hezbollah blacklisted by EU

Jerusalem officials accuse Ireland of heading EU opposition to having Hezbollah’s “military wing” rightly placed on continent’s blacklist.

 

 

Government officials in Jerusalem accused Ireland on Wednesday of leading opposition inside the EU to placing Hezbollah, or at least its “military wing,” on the European Union’s terrorist black list.

Hezbollah terrorists - Photo by EPA

Hezbollah terrorists – Photo by EPA

According to the officials, Ireland – which holds the EU’s rotating presidency – was supported in this position by Sweden and Finland at a working group on Tuesday that debated the issue.

A consensus of the EU’s 27 states will be needed to blacklist Hezbollah’s “military wing,” a move now even backed by Germany and France.

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Iranians ‘embarrassed by ignorance’ after meeting Holocaust survivors

Young Iranians now living in UK listen to stories of Holocaust survivors, tell about their childhoods, being indoctrinated to hate Israel. ‘We have no real way to influence Iranian gov’t, but we can pass on these stories we heard here.’

By Ahiya Raved

Fifteen young men and women of Iranian descent who now live in Britain met on Tuesday in Haifa with Holocaust survivors and heard, for the first time in their lives, stories about life in the concentration camps and life in the ghettos.

סיפורי הניצולים ודמעות האיראנים (צילום: אבישג שאר-ישוב)

Emotional meeting – Photo: Avishag Shaar-Yashuv

The young members of the Church of Light were born mostly Muslims and converted after moving to England. Continue Reading »

Decade later, construction on Israel’s 2nd int’l airport takes off

 

The Ilan & Asaf Ramon Int’l Airport is set to become a reality. For now the desert surroundings seem poised to trump any possible architectural cliche.

 

 

This week the bulldozers and steamrollers finally kicked up their first cloud of sand as work began on the new international airport, in Timna, in the Arava Desert.

Architect’s rendering of the planned Timna international airport near Eilat.

Architect’s rendering of the planned Timna international airport near Eilat. – Photo Courtesy

 

The cornerstone of the facility, whose official name is the Ilan and Asaf Ramon Airport, was laid two weeks ago in a ceremony attended by Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz, Israel Airports Authority officials, Eilat Mayor Meir Yitzhak Halevy and members of the Ramon family including Rona Ramon. Continue Reading »

Syrian Group of Al-Qaeda Rebels Now Positioned on Israeli Border

The IDF confirmed reports that Syrian rebel forces, most likely affiliated with Al Qaeda, now control areas of the Syrian Golan city of Kuneitra.

By David Lev

 

The IDF verified reports Thursday morning that Syrian rebel forces had conquered parts of the Golan city of Kuneitra, placing them directly on the border with Israel. IDF officials said that the takeover of the area by rebel forces was a “significant development.”

During the battle between rebel and Syrian army forces, a mortar shell fell on a UN observer base in the area. A UN worker was injured. IDF officials have advised agricultural workers in the border area to stay away from the border until the security situation can be clarified. Continue Reading »

PA Threatens ‘War Crime’ Charges at ICC if Direct Talks Fail

Decline and Fall of the ‘Peace Process’
————-Chapter 2,742————–
If the State of Israel does not agree to Abbas’ unconditional conditions for non-negotiated negotiations for a Palestinian state, the PA will charge Israel with war crimes at the Hague.

By: Tzvi Ben-Gedalyahu

 

Senior Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat threatened on Tuesday that the Palestinian Authority will carry out its threat to charge Israel with war crimes in the international court if it does not agree to direct talks for establishing a Palestinian Authority independent country based on the PA’s definition of borders.

RIP

Middle East Peace Process, May It Rest in Peace

He also said that it will be Israel’s fault if Palestinian Authority violence and terror escalates unless Israel agrees to its conditions for talks, which U.S. Continue Reading »

Hezbollah seeking reason for confrontation in Golan, Israel says

 

IDF officials: Hezbollah seeks to ensure Golan Heights  doesn’t fall under rebels’ control.

Hezbollah also hopes to use confrontation in Syria to acquire advanced Syrian weaponry without being detected by Israel,  although no attempt has been made since the alleged Israeli airstrike.

By Lilach Shoval

Israeli defense officials believe Hezbollah has been trying to establish a strategic foothold in the Syrian Golan Heights to facilitate attacks on Israel from that area, Israel Hayom has learned.

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After Syrian military defeats rebels, they threaten Israel

General Command of the Syrian army warns the Zionist enemy involved in the aggression against Syria that they’re ready to face any aggression against their homeland.

JERUSALEM  — Syria’s military threatened Israel after reportedly capturing the town of Qusair on the Lebanon border.

The Quneitra Crossing between Syria and the Israeli Golan Heights - Photo AP

The Quneitra Crossing between Syria and the Israeli Golan Heights – Photo AP

 

SANA, Syria’s state news agency, said the Syrian army on Wednesday took control of Qusair from rebels who had been fighting government forces and Hezbollah volunteers for more than two weeks as part of Syria’s two-year civil war. Qusair had been in rebel hands for more than a year, according to reports.

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Rice ready to defend Israel’s legitimacy

Israel will be keeping the new US National Security Adviser Susan Rice very busy

By JTA

 

 

Susan Rice has said that a “huge” portion of her work at the United Nations was defending Israel’s legitimacy. Her new job will likely be no less Israel-centric.

Susan Rice meets with PM Netanyahu in 2009.

Susan Rice meets with PM Netanyahu in 2009. – Photo: Moshe Milner/GPO/Getty

President Obama plans Wednesday to name Rice his national security adviser and replace her at the UN with Samantha Power, one of his top White House advisers. Rice would succeed Tom Donilon, who has been in the post since 2010.

Rice has scored mostly high marks from Jewish groups for her defense of Israel at the United Nations, although right-wing groups were furious with her in 2011 when she condemned Israel’s West Bank settlement policies.

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