Archive for July 24, 2013

US refuses Israeli request for Pollard’s release when pressured to release Arab prisoners

PM Netanyahu asked the U.S. to release Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard as part of peace talks deal with Palestinians.

Israeli official: Government determined to release Pollard, but only through standard procedures in their prison system.

By Shlomo Cesana, Yori Yalon and Israel Hayom Staff

U.S. President Barack Obama has refused another Israeli request for the release of imprisoned Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard. During talks that preceded the announcement of the renewal of Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, Netanyahu asked for Pollard’s release and was rebuffed by the Americans.

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Unlike McCartney & Keys, Eric Burdon cancels Israel following threats

 

Unable to stand firm, ex-Animals giant falls and will not be appearing with 80’s local favorites, Tislam.

 

 

British rock legend Eric Burdon has canceled a scheduled August 1 appearance of Eric Burdon and The Animals in Israel after receiving threats, his management announced Tuesday.
Musician Eric Burdon performs at Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York

Musician Eric Burdon performs at Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York – Photo: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

“We’ve been receiving mounting pressure, including numerous threatening emails, daily.

The last thing I intend do is put Eric in jeopardy,” said a statement released by Burdon’s management. Burdon, 71, and his reconstituted Animals were scheduled to appear at the Zappa Shoni Amphitheater on a bill with 1980s local favorites Tislam.

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Polish Religious Minister asks Jews to sue over ritual slaughter in Constitutional Court

Boni met with two Jewish representatives Monday in Warsaw and asked them to challenge a de facto ban on ritual slaughter that has been in effect since January. The Polish parliament earlier this month defeated a bill that would have allowed ritual slaughter.

By JTA

 

A Polish government minister asked Jewish and Muslim representatives to petition the country’s Constitutional Court to sort out conflicting laws that have led to a ban on ritual slaughter.

Michał Boni, Polish Minister responsible for Religious Affairs

Michał Boni, Polish Minister responsible for Religious Affairs

According to a statement Monday by the office of Michal Boni, the Polish minister responsible for religious affairs, the minister asked the representatives to petition the court with regard to the 1997 Act on the Relation of the State to the Jewish Communities in Poland, which states that ritual slaughter may be performed in accordance with the needs of the local Jewish community.

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Hamas claims Egypt is attempting to reclaim sovereignty over Gaza

 

Ahmed Assaf, a Fatah spokesman in the West Bank, called on Hamas to stop meddling in the internal affairs of Egypt of other Arab countries, saying this was causing grave damage to Palestinians.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
 

 

Hamas is concerned that Egypt may be trying to restore its sovereignty over the Gaza Strip, Mousa Abu Marzook, a senior Hamas official, said Monday.

An Egyptian military helicopter flying over Alexandria [file].

An Egyptian military helicopter flying over Alexandria [file]. – Photo: REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

Abu Marzook wrote on his Facebook page that by sending helicopters to fly over the Gaza Strip, “Egypt is signaling that it trying to restore its sovereignty over the area, which it lost after the 1967 aggression.”Over

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2012 best year for Israel’s arms exports

Just weeks after serious budget cuts, Defense Ministry reveals Israel’s arms export totaled $7.4 billion for 2012

By Yoav Zitun

Israel‘s export of defense-related products registered an all time record in 2012 totaling $7.4 billion, compared to $5.8 billion in 2011, according to Defense Ministry data.

Iron Dome

Israel’s Anti-rocket system, Iron Dome – Photo courtesy IDF Spokesperson’s Office

The main export destinations were markets in Asia and the Pacific Ocean. The two most lucrative deals were the sale of a satellite and advanced spy planes to Italy.

Shmaya Avieli, head of the Foreign Defense Assistance and Defense Export Department estimated that export in 2013 will total some $4.3 billion adding that Israel is considering new deals with Turkey. Continue Reading »

US Court: Americans born in J’lem can’t have ‘Israel’ designated ‘place of birth’

 

US federal appeals court strikes down 2002 law designed to allow U.S. citizens born in Jerusalem to list Israel as their place of birth.

By Reuters
 

A federal appeals court on Tuesday invalidated a U.S. law that was designed to allow American citizens born in Jerusalem to choose to have Israel listed as their birthplace on passports contrary to long-standing U.S. foreign policy.

Jerusalem, Israel. The Old & the new – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

A unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the president – and not lawmakers – had sole authority to say who controls the historic holy city claimed by Israelis and Palestinians. Continue Reading »

Four more seriously injured Syrians sent to Israeli Hospital

8 yr-old girl among the 4 Syrians sent to a Ziv Hospital in Northern Israel after they were seriously wounded in their civil war.

A total of 45 Syrians have received treatment at Ziv since Syria’s civil war broke out.

By Gil Ronen

 

Four Syrians including an eight-year-old girl were brought to a hospital in Israel after they were wounded by fighting in the war-torn country, a medical source said on Tuesday.

“Yesterday night an injured eight-year-old girl and her 48-year-old mother were treated for fractures to their arms and legs from shrapnel,” said a spokesman for Ziv hospital in Tzfat, north of the Sea of Galilee. Continue Reading »

Palestinians leaders say peace talks may not begin unless Israel agrees to preconditions

John Kerry’s announcement is starting to look premature as Palestinian spokesmen say Abbas has not yet agreed to start Peace Talk.

By Ryan Jones

 

 

While American and Israeli leaders are already patting themselves on their respective backs over the reported resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, the other party to the talks, the Palestinian Authority, is saying everyone should instead hold their respective horses.

Palestinians say peace talks might not happen, after all

Nabil Abu Rudeineh and Yasser Abed Rabbo, official spokesmen for Abbas

Israel is already setting up negotiating teams, and the Obama Administration is praising itself over ostensibly “closing the gaps” that had previously seemed like insurmountable obstacles. Continue Reading »

British Report: Syria’s Assad asked Israel’s support for Alawite State

 

UK’s The Guardian: Syria’s President Assad asked a mediator to approach Israel’s ex-Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in 2012 with a request that Jerusalem not oppose the formation of an Alawite enclave.


In response Lieberman asked for information on Ron Arad’s whereabouts & the return the remains of spy Eli Cohen.

Israel Hayom Staff

According to a report in The Guardian on Monday, Syrian President Bashar Assad sent a message to Avigdor Lieberman in 2012, when the latter was serving as foreign minister, asking Israel’s position on the establishment of an Alawite enclave in northwestern Syria.

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German supermarket chain rebutes settlement boycott policy

Conflicting remarks between German owners and local Dutch operators.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Dutch branch of the German supermarket chain Aldi has backtracked from its stated policy of boycotting products made by Israelis in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Golan.

מחרימה. רשת ALDI

Aldi branch in Holland

“Aldi would like to emphatically state that it does not boycott products from the occupied territories,” a spokesperson for Aldi’s Dutch branch wrote on Monday to the Information and Documentation on Israel — CIDI — a Dutch pro-Israel organization.

The spokesperson, Laetitia F. Gruwel, wrote in a letter to CIDI Director Esther Voet that “Aldi is not engaged in political or religious issues.”

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Israeli President sends a hearty ‘Mazal Tov’ to Will & Kate

President Peres sends ‘Blue & White’ outfit ”With Love from Israel” to newborn baby boy.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

President Shimon Peres on Tuesday morning wished the British royal family a “hearty Mazal Tov” on the birth of a newborn son for Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton and her husband Prince William.

President Peres gives royal new-born blue-and-white outift, July 23, 2013.

President Peres sent royal new-born blue-and-white outfit. The gift to the new baby with a special message embroidered on it – “From Israel with Love” July 23, 2013.- Photo: President’s Press Office

In a letter (left), Peres wrote: “On behalf of the State of Israel, I wish to express our tremendous joy at the birth of your child – a royal baby, born in the most democratic country in the world.”

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Ultra-Orthadox MK chains himself to podium prior to Knesset voting on draft bill

Knesset approves draft bill on 1st reading following heated debate.

Haredi

 MKs tear shirt lapels to indicate mourning

By Moran Azulay

 

The Knesset plenum approved Yesh Atid‘s draft bill on first reading early Tuesday morning, prompting dramatic acts of protest by haredi legislators. Ultra-Orthodox Knesset members declared Monday a day of mourning and tore the lapels of their shirts to signify their mourning.

cuffed

MK Meir Porush (United Torah Judaism) chained himself to the podium before the bill was brought to a vote. – Screenshot Knesset channel

The bill, which passed a 66-21 vote, will now be turned over to a special committee presided by MK Ayelet Shaked (Habayit Hayehudi) that will prepare the bill for second and third readings. Continue Reading »

Female pro-Palestinian Activist Deported to Canada After Biting Policewoman

Canadian Sara Ali, 26, was deported Friday after she was detained for assaulting a policewoman in Hevron.

By Gil Ronen

 

A Canadian citizen of Pakistani descent was deported to Canada from Israel Friday, after she was involved in an attack on a policewoman in Hevron two days earlier, reports Shalom Toronto.

Bethlehem-based news site Ma’an reported that Ali was a volunteer in a group called “Youth against the Settlements,” which operates in the Palestinian Authority (PA).

A Youtube video uploaded by anti-Israel activists documents Ali kicking and screaming as she is taken into custody by two female Border Police in Hevron. Continue Reading »

Pardons dept chief: 82 terrorists to be released to begin peace talks

After Israeli media reported that US Secretary of State Kerry’s plan includes releasing prisoners the Knesset Interior Committee met to confirm all 82 prisoners are serving life sentences & have blood on their hands.

 

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry’s plan to restart peace talks will include the release of 82 terrorists – all of whom have blood on their hands and are serving life sentences – it emerged during a meeting of the Knesset Interior and Environment Committee on Monday.

Palestinians in Ramallah hold prisoners' pictures

Palestinians in Ramallah hold prisoners’ pictures – Photo: REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman

The statement was made by attorney Ami Palmor, head of the pardons department of the Justice Ministry.

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Hassan Nasrallah Blames Israel for EU’s blacklisting Hezbollah

Terrorist group’s TV channel claims Israel forced EU into including Hezbollah to terror its list.

Lebanese president urges Europeans to reconsider their decision for sake of his country’s stability.

By Roi Kais

“The blacklisting of Hezbollah is Israel forcing its way on the EU,” the Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV channel responded to the EU’s decision to list the organization’s military wing as a terror group on Monday.

Hezbollah’s Nasrallah – Photo: AFP

The balk of the criticism landed on Britain, which according to the channel led the blacklisting campaign: “For years, leaders of the enemy state tried to lead Europe to this decision with the obvious backing of Britain and the US.” Continue Reading »