Archive for August 13, 2013

Palestinian Authority Denies Jews Any Rights to Western Wall

 

Decree is just another example in a string of anti-Israel propaganda, as “peace talks” are set to begin.

By Ari Soffer

 

In what is being described as yet another example of Palestinian Authority (PA) denial of the Jewish connection to Jerusalem and the very legitimacy of the State of Israel, the Presidential Guard of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has claimed the Western Wall as an Arab and Islamic site.

Last week, a picture of the Western Wall was posted onto the PA Presidential Guard’s official Facebook page with a PA flag superimposed on it, along with the words “The Al Buraq Wall – Public Relations and Information – The Presidential Guard – Palestinian youth know their rights.”

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After refusing to play Davis Cup match on Yom Kippur, Israel fined

Israel Tennis Association was ordered to compensate the Belgian team for inconvenience of postponing game one day.

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The Israel Tennis Association has been fined more than $13,000 for refusing to play a Davis Cup match on Yom Kippur.

Israeli tennis player Dudi Sela, right, and Jonathan Erlich, left

Israeli tennis player Dudi Sela, right, and Jonathan Erlich, left, wipe their faces as they listen to the advice of team coach Eyal Ran, during the first round of the Davis Cup, Feb. 2, 2013. – Photo: AP

The Israeli national tennis team had been scheduled to play against the Belgium national tennis team in Antwerp on September 14, which is Yom Kippur, in the world group playoffs, the highest level of Davis Cup play. Continue Reading »

MK Shaked: High Time for Implementation of Death Penalty for Terrorists

 

MK Ayelet Shaked says that when the gov’t cannot be trusted in keeping murdering terrorists in prison, it’s time for implementing the death penalty for convicted terrorists.

By David Lev and Ari Soffer

 

 

MK Ayelet Shaked (Bayit Yehudi) on Monday called for implementing the death penalty for terrorists. She said the measure was necessary to ensure that terrorist murderers are “never released.”

Member of Knesset Ayelet Shaked – Photo: Moti Kikayon

At a protest at the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv against the release of 26 terrorists that the government confirmed earlier Monday would be set free, Shaked said that the only way to guarantee that the government did not use terrorists who killed Israelis and Jews as “negotiation cards,” as was currently happening, was to kill the terrorists. Continue Reading »

Egyptian Christian Leader tells the EU & US to back off in ‘Open Letter’

 

 

Western maneuvering to quietly reinstate the Muslim Brotherhood baffles Egypt’s frightened & persecuted Christians.

By Ashraf Ramelah

 

The following is an open letter from Egyptian Christian Dr. Ashraf Ramelah, director of Voice of the Copts, to European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton, who, together with leading American officials, has been working to reinstall Muslim Brotherhood rule in Egypt.

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I have followed with great interest your latest visit to my native country of Egypt — particularly your request to free former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi.

Sources in Egypt inform me that Egyptians fear that your aim to have Morsi and Muslim Brotherhood leaders released from custody and dismissed from their day in court. Continue Reading »

Minister Livni: The European Union will not dictate Israel’s borders

Israel’s Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who’s also Israel’s lead negotiator in peace-talks with the PA, said during a meeting with German foreign minister, that any final status agreement relating to Israel’s borders will be determined only through negotiations with the Arabs and not by any EU decision.

By Yori Yalon & Edna Adato
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Ban on Shabbat candles leads Hasidic Jews to leave Welsh resort

 

Despite efforts to mediate between the university and visiting Orthodox Jews, the ban on Shabbat candles drove the hasidim from the seaside resort to take their holidays elsewhere this year.

 

 

Hasidim looking to vacation on the Welsh seaside are scrambling to find alternate arrangements after Aberystwyth University banned the use of candles in its residences.

File:Shabbat Candles.jpg

Shabbat Candles – Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Hundreds of Orthodox Jews have vacationed in the resort for over two decades, according to The Telegraph. Hasidim have traditionally taken up summer residence in Petre Jane Morgan, a university housing complex across a footbridge from the main campus.

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US Congressman: No one’s suggesting US troops as part of Arab peace agreement

 

U.S. Congressman Steny Hoyer (Dem.) says U.S. prepared to play leading role in ensuring security in the West Bank, but unlikely to deploy American troops.

 

 

On the eve of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations that will ultimately have to discuss security guarantees for Israel, US Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) told The Jerusalem Post that the deployment of US troops anywhere in the West Bank was very unlikely.

Democratic Congressman Steny Hoyer during a visit to Israel in 2011.

Democratic Congressman Steny Hoyer during a visit to Israel in 2011. – Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Hoyer, who led a delegation of 36 Democratic congressmen to Israel over the past week, said during an interview on Thursday that the issue was not raised in meetings the congressional group held either with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu or with PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat.

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Temple Mount now reopened to Jews

 

 

 

Non-Muslim visitors allowed onto Judaism’s most holy site for 1st time since end of Ramadan.

Temple activists say police closing Mount to Jews was unnecessary, asking for site’s opening ahead of Jewish High Holidays. ‘It’s our basic right & it must be respected,’ their representative tells Knesset committee.

By Kobi Nachshoni

 

Dozens of Jews on visited the Temple Mount on Sunday morning as it was opened to tourists for the first time since the end of the month of Ramadan and the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr last week.

Temple activists are accusing the police of closing the Mount unnecessarily throughout most of the month of Ramadan, including for two whole weeks, thus discriminating against non-Muslims seeking to visit the site. Continue Reading »

PA tells US: Stop Tenders for New Homes or Talks are Off

 

The decision to announce the new tenders for construction of new homes around Jerusalem has exposed some of the rifts within the Israeli coalition gov’t.

“Let Netanyahu make peace with Bennett,” a senior PA official said, according to Voice of Israel radio.

By Gil Ronen and Ari Soffer

 

The Palestinian Authority (PA) is demanding that Israel cancel its decision to market about 1,200 new housing units in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, even before the next round of “peace talks” scheduled for Wednesday.

Voice of Israel public radio quoted an anonymous senior PA official as saying the PA leadership has informed the United States of this decision and is awaiting a response. Continue Reading »

Congressman Kennedy: Israel’s right to exist isn’t too much to ask

 

Joseph Kennedy (D-MA), grandson of assassinated RFK says Jerusalem should trust President Obama on Iran.

 

 

 

The sight of a fluttering Syrian flag just across Israel’s border on the Golan Heights on Sunday underscored for visiting United States Congressman Joseph Kennedy (D-MA) how important security is for a small country like Israel with hostile neighbors.
Joseph P. Kennedy III (D-MA) talks to 'The Jerusalem Post' at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem.

Joseph P. Kennedy III (D-MA) talks to ‘The Jerusalem Post’ at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. – Photo: STEVE LINDE

During his five-day visit as part of a 36-member congressional delegation led by US Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), he also visited the Gaza border in the South, as well as the Lebanese border in the North, near the Golan Heights.

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Jailed Arab Murderers Collect $3,400 a Month from PA

Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Elkin opposes concept that “releasing terrorists brings peace, & building a kindergarten prevents peace.”

By Gil Ronen

 

Deputy Foreign Minister Ze’ev Elkin (Likud) had harsh criticism Sunday for the government he is a part of, over the decision to release terrorist murderers. He admitted that he, too, shares in the blame for the decision, although he opposes it.

“I am angry at the approach that says that releasing terrorists brings peace nearer, and building a kindergarten prevents peace,” he said – in a reference to the “peace camp” and its criticism of construction for Jews in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. Continue Reading »

Lapid sees new housing tenders as ‘double mistake’

 

Finance minister upset at decision to build new Jewish settlement homes beyond Green Line, but Jerusalem’s Mayor Barkat welcomes decision.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

 

Finance Minister Yair Lapid lashed out Sunday at the decision to build more than one thousand new homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, calling it “a double mistake.”

Finance Minister Yair Lapid

Finance Minister Yair Lapid – Photo: REUTERS

Lapid’s comments came on the heels of similar condemnation by Meretz leader, Zahava Gal-On, who accused the government of trying to stymie the nascent peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

“Announcing the decision to market 1,200 housing units in east Jerusalem and in the larger settlement blocs at this time is a double mistake,” Lapid said in a statement.

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Ministers agree on the 26 Palestinian prisoners to be released

 

 

Final official list to be published Sunday night, to include 14 Hamas prisoners exiled to Gaza.

‘Move meant to strengthen Mahmoud Abbas,’ political source says.

By Attila Somfalvi

 

 

The ministerial committee appointed to determine which Palestinian prisoners will be the first to be released approved a list of 26 prisoners to be released on Tuesday.

Palestinian prisoners released in Shalit deal (archives) – Photo: Reuters

The list, to be published tonight on 1 am, includes 14 prisoners to be released into the Gaza Strip, several of which are Hamas members.

The committee members are Tzipi Livni, Yaakov Peri, Moshe Ya’alon and Yitzhak Aharonovich. Continue Reading »

Egypt army reports 12 militants killed in Sinai following alleged Israeli drone strike


Egyptian Military spokesman says Islamic militants were wanted for the attack that killed 16 Egyptian soldiers last year & the abduction of 7 security forces earlier this year.

 

Egyptian helicopters fired on a meeting of suspected militants in the country’s Sinai Peninsula, officials said Sunday, killing at least 12 people as authorities stepped up their attacks following an Israeli drone strike in the region.

Sinai attack - archive

People check the scene where a car bomb exploded in near the port town of El-Arish in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula July 24, 2013. – Photo: Reuters

 

The helicopter attack came as Egyptian and Israeli officials tried to downplay the drone strike Friday in the largely lawless Sinai, fearing popular criticism in a country already roiled by last month’s military coup that ousted President Mohammed Morsi. Continue Reading »

Less Rosh Hashana Honey Due to Disappearing Bees

Honey sales are taking their annual upward tick because of up coming Rosh Hashana, but due to the dwindling number of bees, there’s less honey to go around.

By David Lev

 

With Rosh Hashana coming up, honey sales are taking their annual upward tick. This year, though, there is less Israeli honey to go around; with sparse rainfall at the end of the winter (between February and April) and fewer wildflowers growing as a result, fewer bees were hatched this year – meaning that less honey was produced. Honey yields are down about 6% this year, with local honey production reaching just 3,000 tons this year, instead of the 3,200 tons that were produced last year. Continue Reading »