Archive for June 2, 2013

Israel & Italy: Friends & Partners

Italy and Israel are deeply invested in cooperating in innovative fields such as communications, nanotechnology, biotechnology, the study of the brain, water resources and local agriculture. We have recently added alternate energy resources and space exploration to the list. The event’s motto is: “Italy meets Israel — the sky is not the limit!”

By the Hon. Amb. Francesco Maria Talo

 

We are honored today to celebrate the establishment of the Italian Republic, of all places in Israel, the country with which we share the bond of courageous friendship, rooted in long-lasting mutual dialogue that is the bedrock of our two peoples.

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Argentina-Iran cooperation will continue despite indictment of Iranian officials

The Iranian gov’t agreed to establish a “truth commission” to investigate the attack.

Argentinian prosecutor accused Iran of building clandestine stations from which to sponsor, foster & execute terrorist attacks.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentina will continue to work with Iran to investigate a terror attack despite an indictment that accuses Tehran of terrorist activity in South America, the foreign ministry in Buenos Aires said.

emains of the AMIA after the 1994 AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires, Argentina - Photo:  Wikipedia commons

Remains of the AMIA after the 1994 AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires, Argentina – Photo: Wikipedia commons

“We will continue to promote the legal way to find and prosecute those responsible for Argentina’s worst ever terrorist attack,” read a foreign ministry statement released over the weekend, referring to the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, in which 85 people died.

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Germany backs labeling settlements products from WB

IDF Radio Reports: Berlin supports EU effort to label products originating beyond the ‘Green Line’

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

The German government has given its tacit approval of European Union efforts to label products manufactured in Israeli-controlled territory beyond the Green Line, Army Radio reported on Sunday morning.

German Chancellor Merkel and PM Binyamin Netanyahu - Photo: GPO

German Chancellor Merkel & PM Binyamin Netanyahu –  Photo: GPO

The IDF-run radio station said it obtained an official German government document that was produced in response to a parliamentary motion by opposition lawmakers in Berlin. The document reportedly enunciates Germany’s stance on the issue.

“In our view, it is permissible to label products with the ‘Made in Israel’ sticker only if those products are manufactured within the 1967 borders,” reads the document obtained by Army Radio.

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Iran’s Arak reactor beginning to worry Western and Israeli leaders

Iran’s research reactor could easily yield plutonium for bombs. Islamic Republic says the use is for civilian purposes only, there will be no reprocessing.

By Reuters

 

 

Iran aims to start a reactor next year which the West fears could arm an atomic bomb; Israel, which has bombed such construction sites around the Middle East before, may try to stop the plant being completed.

Arak heavy-water research plant – Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons

The timetable for the planned start-up of the Arak heavy-water research plant is closely watched: Israeli and Western experts say any attacker would probably prefer to act before it becomes operational – to avoid generating radioactive fallout. Continue Reading »

Muslims Openly Attack Jews on the Streets of Lyon

Two Jews were suddenly attacked on the streets as they walked to their synagogue on Saturday.

By Arutz Sheva Staff

 

Anti-Semitism continues to plague France. According to local media outlets in Lyon, two Jewish residents of the city were attacked Saturday as they walked to a local synagogue.

Attack on Hassidim (illustrative) - Screenshot

Attack on Hassidim (illustrative) – Screenshot

The two were attacked by three men of Arab origin in an unprovoked, sudden assault.

The two Jews shouted for help. Neighbors began to arrive at the scene, and the attackers fled.

Police arrived as well, and began to investigate. They discovered that the attack had been captured on film by security cameras at a nearby store. Continue Reading »

Dozen of rockets fired from Syria but now Hezbollah stronghold in Lebanon hit

Lebanese officials say 16 rockets fired by Syrian rebels have struck eastern region of Baalbek, Lebanon for first time.

 

Lebanese security officials say 16 rockets fired from Syria have struck the eastern region of Baalbek.

House damaged by rockets fired by Syrian rebels on Lebanese region of Hermel.


House damaged by rockets fired by Syrian rebels on Lebanese region of Hermel, Wednesday May 29, 2013. – Photo: AP

 

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters, say the rockets caused a fire in fields without casualties.

The area that was struck is a stronghold of Lebanon‘s militant Hezbollah group that is fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar Assad‘s forces against rebels who are trying to remove him from power. Continue Reading »

Eilat region experiences 4.9 earthquake

Eilat residents reported feeling an earthquake

 at 2:52 pm, the shortly afterwards US information center confirmed: 4.9 earthquake originating in Sinai.

By Lital Gana

Earthquake in Sinai and Eilat: An earthquake shook the southern resort town of Eilat Saturday afternoon.

4.9 quake felt in Eilat - Photo Danny Solomon

4.9 quake felt in Eilat – Photo: Danny Solomon

At 14:52 Eilat residents sent Ynet emails reporting the quake. “I live on the third floor and I the couch moved,” Dima wrote.

Ynet received numerous emails from local citizens reporting a 10-second quake. No injures or damage have been reported.

The Geophysical Institute of Israel has confirmed citizens’ reports that a 10-second earthquake was felt in the Eilat region. Continue Reading »

FIFA not bending to Palestinian pressure to sanction Israel

FIFA chief Sepp Blatter will meet with gov’t officials in Jerusalem & members of the IFA to try and come up with a compromise arrangement with the Palestinian players.

By Moshe Boker and Reuters

 

Anyone in Israel concerned that FIFA, the governing body of world soccer, was about to acquiesce to the demands of the Palestinian soccer federation and impose sanctions against Israel, can rest easy.

Jibril Rajoub - AFP - April 14, 2011

Former French soccer star Lilian Thuram, left, watches as Palestinian Football Association chairman Jibril Rajoub kicks the ball during the inauguration of the new stadium Thursday. – Photo: AFP

On Friday afternoon, Israel Football Association chairman Avi Luzon managed to convince FIFA’s all-powerful president, Sepp Blatter, to seek a less aggressive solution to the long-running problem of limited freedom of movement for Palestinian players in Gaza and the West Bank. Continue Reading »

Defense Minister Gives ‘OK’ to new PA City in Israel’s Jordan Valley

After reviewing the plans, the Defense Minister has given a green light to building a new Arab/Bedouin city which will appropriate 2,000 dunams of Israeli land.

By Elad Benari, Canada

 

Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon has given the green light to a plan to build a new Palestinian Authority Arab city which will take away 2,000 dunams of Israeli land, the Ma’ariv daily reported on Friday.

Construction of West Bank barrier (archives) Photo Reuters

Construction of West Bank barrier – Photo: Reuters

Two weeks ago, the newspaper reported that the Civil Administration for Judea and Samaria is working diligently on advanced plans for establishing a new PA city near Jericho. Continue Reading »

New French museum honors rescuers of WWII Jews

The museum will commemorate at least 35 residents who, according to Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, prevented the pro-Nazi Vichy gov’t from deporting & murdering some 5,000 Jews.

By JTA

 

PARIS — A French town where dozens of residents saved thousands of Jews from the Holocaust will open a museum to commemorate the rescuers’ actions.

Chambon-sur-Lignon. (LMFL)

Chambon-sur-Lignon. (LMFL)

The Memory of Chambon museum is scheduled to open its doors on June 5 in Chambon-sur-Lignon, 70 miles south of Lyon in southern France, according to the French news agency AFP.

The new museum will commemorate the actions of at least 35 residents who, according to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, prevented French authorities under the pro-Nazi Vichy government from deporting and murdering approximately 5,000 Jews. Continue Reading »

16 rockets fired from Syria reported to have hit Lebanon

Lebanese daily reports no one hurt in 2nd attack of rockets which come amid Hezbollah’s unwanted interference into Syrian unrest.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

More than 16 rockets were fired from Syria into Lebanon early Saturday morning landing in the Bekaa Valley region, The Lebanese Daily Star quoted a security source as saying.

The Bekaa Valley in Lebanon -  Photo: Steve Crisp-Reuters

The Bekaa Valley in Lebanon – Photo: Steve Crisp/Reuters

There were no injuries in the attacks, according to the report, but a rocket did cause a fire to break out near the town of Sireen al-Fawqa.

The Daily Star quoted Lebanese state media as reporting that four Syrians had been arrested in connection with the rocket attacks.

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Ignoring pressure from BDS, Alicia Keys to go forward with concert in Tel Aviv

Keys balks at calls from anti-Israel activists, among them author Alice Walker, to boycott Israel & says in New York Times interview: ‘I look forward to my 1st visit to Israel.’

 

Alicia Keys said Friday that she plans on going forward with her scheduled July concert in Israel, despite pressure from activists to drop the gig, the New York Times reported.

Alicia Keys performs at half time during the NBA All-Star basketball game in Houston, Texas

Alicia Keys performing at halftime during the NBA All-Star basketball game in Houston, Texas, February 17, 2013. – Photo: Reuters

 

Just days after Alicia Keys confirmed her summer performance in March, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign began to kick into gear, and websites, Facebook pages, and petitions urging Keys to cancel her plans to play Tel Aviv started popping up. Continue Reading »

Another Major BDS Movement Defeat in U.S.

A Palestinian inspired resolution calling for the boycott of Israeli firms will be ignored at the upcoming TIAA-CREF shareholders meeting.

By Elad Benari, Canada

 

 

A resolution calling for the boycott of Israeli firms will not be put to a vote at the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association – College Retirement Equities Fund’s (TIAA-CREF) upcoming shareholders meeting.

Protester calling for a boycott of Israel – Photo: REUTERS

The move comes after the pension fund giant received approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to “take no action” on a submission by pro-Palestinian Authority Arab activists. This followed the company’s warning by an Israeli civil rights group that passage of the resolution would violate NY and Federal law. Continue Reading »

Transplant makes blood brothers of Arab and Jewish families

 

Mohammed Eckert receives a kidney from Shmuel Ben-Yair, whose father gets a kidney from Mohammed’s wife in complex and rare procedure “We bonded both physically&  mentally,” says Jewish patient who now has a new lease on life.

By Daniel Siryoti

An extraordinary story that defies borders, religions and race recently unfolded at the Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa recently: Two patients who desperately needed kidney transplants, one Jewish and one Arab, received donations that saved their lives — with the Arab patient’s wife donating a kidney to the Jewish patient, and the Jewish patient’s son donating his kidney to the Arab patient.

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