Archive for August 8, 2013

878 New Homes Approved in Judea and Samaria

 

Actual construction may take a while to begin, but this decision acknowledges the fact that Jews of Judea & Samaria have “rights and needs which can’t be ignored.”

By David Lev

 

The Civil Administration on Wednesday authorized construction of 878 housing units in Judea and Samaria. The units were approved for towns in the Binyamin region, the Jordan Valley, and Gush Etzion, Ha’aretz reported Thursday.

The Jewish community of Shilo, in Binyamin – IDF Photo

The approvals had been set to be issued several weeks ago, but were postponed due to the efforts to restart negotiations with the Palestinian Authority. Continue Reading »

Rocket Fired at Southern Israel by Gaza Terrorists

Once again, Arab Terrorists from Gaza fired a Qassam rocket at Southern Israel. The rocket exploded in an open region causing no injuries, no damage.

By Elad Benari

 

Terrorists from Hamas-controlled Gaza fired a Qassam rocket towards the Eshkol Regional Council on Wednesday night.

Once AgainThe rocket exploded in an open region, causing no physical injuries or damages. Local residents said that the “Red Alert” warning siren had not gone off before the rocket exploded.

Israel and Hamas agreed to an Egyptian-brokered “ceasefire” after Israel’s counter-terrorist Operation Pillar of Defense last November. Nevertheless, the terrorist groups operating in Gaza have violated the ceasefire several times. Continue Reading »

Irish EU Parliamentarian Calls for Arab Violence Against Israel

 

Irish EU representative faces criticism after suggesting that PA Arabs should resort to violence by starting a 3rd “Intifada” against Israel.

By Maayana Miskin

 

 

An Irish politician has caused outrage by urging Arabs to “rise up” against Israel in another “Intifada.”

European Union parliamentarian Paul Murphy said he does not believe that Israel is serious about the newly renewed diplomatic talks with the PA, and that what the PA needs is “a mass struggle from below.”

“There are many positive examples from the first intifada of mass protests, strikes and marches and checkpoints that I think would be ideal tactics to redevelop now,” he explained in an interview with Russia Today. Continue Reading »

After Surgery in Israeli Hospital, Wounded Syrian Teen Miraculously Walks

15 yr-old Syrian girl get up to walk after she underwent emergency surgery at Ziv Hospital in Safed for shrapnel wounds to her left leg & abdomen.

By Danny Brenner, Dan Lavie and Reuters

 

 

A 15-year-old Syrian girl with an amputated right leg and serious shrapnel wounds to her left leg and abdomen, who was treated at an Israeli hospital, shocked medical staff when she managed to walk only a day after undergoing major surgery. The teenager was wounded during clashes in the Syrian civil war and was transferred to Ziv Hospital in Safed for treatment.

Continue Reading »

Gov’t request High Court to uphold prisoner release, despite terror victims’ petition

 

The State believes prisoner release gives Israel potential for improving security situation hence the gov’t files request to squash recent ‘Almagor Petition’ to block mid-August terrorists’ release from prison.

 

 

 

The state on Wednesday asked the High Court of Justice to uphold its decision to release 104 Palestinian prisoners, including some of the worst murderers with “blood on their hands” in custody to the Palestinian Authority on August 13 as part of the recently renewed peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.

Demonstration against the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Demonstration against the release of Palestinian prisoners. – Photo: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post

The state’s request was filed in response to a recent petition by the Almagor Terror Victims Association to block the prisoner release deal by preventing President Shimon Peres and OC Central Command Maj.-Gen.

Continue Reading »

Lebanon: IDF Soldiers Wounded in Lebanon, Return to Israel

IDF Reports: 4 Israeli soldiers suffer light to moderate injuries in an explosion.

Lebanese Army Reports: Israeli soldiers  were 400 meters inside Lebanon when wounded.

By Gil Ronen

 

Four IDF soldiers suffered light to moderate injuries Tuesday night, when an explosion occurred near the northern border, the IDF Spokesman’s Unit said Wednesday morning.

IDF tanks in the Golan Heights - Photo Courtesy IDF Spokesperson's Office

IDF tanks in the Golan Heights – Photo Courtesy IDF Spokesperson’s Office

 

The four soldiers wounded were located 400 meters inside Lebanese territory when the blast occurred, Lebanon’s army said on Wednesday.

“An infantry patrol of the Israeli enemy penetrated 400 meters inside Lebanon in the Labouneh area at 00:24 local time,” the army said in a statement. Continue Reading »

Researchers: Smokers motivated by instant gratification & risk taking

Working together, researchers from both the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Haifa’s Technion found that smokers are mainly motivated by an urge for instant gratification.

 

 

Researchers have been puzzled over the years why smokers – who well know their habit endangers their health and that nicotine is addictive – often don’t want to stop. It has long been thought they have a risk-taking personality that dismisses the danger of cigarettes.

Woman smokes a cigarette

Woman smokes a cigarette – Photo: Daniel Munoz/Reuters

Around 22 percent of Israeli adults smoke, and 10,000 die of direct and passive smoking in an average year.

Continue Reading »

President gives 2013 Israel Defense Prize for ‘technological developments’

 

 

Peres & Ya’alon awardes 16 prizes for developments that bolster Israeli defense.

President Shimon Peres said: ‘We are proud of your achievements, count on your ability to produce deterrence capabilities that are on par with security challenges of the future,’

Noam (Dabul) Dvir

President Shimon Peres and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon awarded the Israel Defense Prize on Tuesday at the Presidential Residence in Jerusalem.

A 2011 winner, the Calanit shell

A 2011 winner, the Calanit shell

Also present were IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz and senior officials with the defense establishment.

The award ceremony, held this year for the 56th time, awarded those whose work has contributed to State security, both in terms of technology and in terms of combat operations. Continue Reading »

Israeli scientists & ministers to PM: Don’t cut ties with EU

Academics & Ministers voice concern over Naftali Bennett’s suggestion of ending cooperation with the EU because of their new settlement guidelines.

‘Israel works in the global arena. The problems we are working on are relevant for the entire world. So is our industry, it’s int’l & it’s the engine of our economy.’

 

 

Israeli scientists warn that cutting ties with the European Union could cause irreparable harm to Israeli research. The researchers were reacting to Economy Ministry Naftali Bennett‘s call for the Israeli government to end all cooperation with the EU in response to new guidelines banning funding to Israeli entities with ties to West Bank settlements, East Jerusalem or the Golan Heights. Continue Reading »

Netanyahu to Congressmen: The US Keeps Iran from Bomb

 

At a meeting with visiting US Congress officials Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that pressure on Iran must be kept up.

By David Lev

 

 

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Tuesday met with a delegation of 36 U.S. Congress members who are visiting Israel. Leading the delegation is Maryland Representative Steny Hoyer (D), currently the House minority whip.

Netanyahu held a round-table discussion with the Congresspeople, presenting Israel’s case on a number of regional and security issues.

Netanyahu also discussed Iran with the group, saying that the U.S. needed to more forcefully press Iran to stop its nuclear development program. Continue Reading »

Tel Aviv launches its first electric bus

Maintenance costs for the Chinese-built electric bus are 25% lower than the regular diesel buses and energy costs are about a 1/3.

Dan bus company plans to replace a 1/4 of its fleet with electric buses over the next 5 years at a cost of NIS 400 million ($112.6 million).

By Shlomo Diaz

 

 

The Dan bus company rolled out its first electric bus on Tuesday as part of its campaign to replace some of its current diesel-powered fleet with fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly buses.

The energy costs of the Chinese-built electric bus are one-third those of its diesel counterpart – Phot: KOKO

“Today marks the beginning of a new era in public transportation,” Dan Chairman Michael Nagar and CEO Shmuel Rafaeli said in a joint statement at the inauguration ceremony in Tel Aviv on Monday. Continue Reading »

Israeli Official: IDF capable of unilateral strike on Iran, if US won’t commit

Senior Israeli official doubts US administration’s willingness to thwart nuclear Iran in a military scenario.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
 

 

Israel is capable of carrying out a unilateral military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities without operational support from the United States, a senior Israeli official said to Israel Radio on Tuesday morning.

Centrifuges unveiled in Natanz

Centrifuges unveiled in Natanz – Photo: REUTERS

Although, such a strike would render less effective than one conducted by America, the unidentified official said.

The diplomatic official doubted US intentions to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons at all costs.

American conduct regarding Syria, contrary to declarations by President Barack Obama, shows Israel that it cannot rely on US assurances, the Israeli source said. Continue Reading »

Caught Hezbollah terrorists in Nigeria tell court Mossad agents interrogated them

Two Lebanese nationals charged in Nigerian court for plotting attacks against Israeli targets in western African countries say their interrogators were Mossad agents who used sleep deprivation & other harsh techniques in questioning.

 

Two Lebanese nationals charged with plotting terror attacks in western Africa told a court in Nigeria on Monday they were interrogated by Mossad agents, AFP reported.

Cache of weapons.

Cache of weapons discovered at home of suspected Hezbollah operatives in Kona, – Nigeria. Photo:AFP

Mustapha Fawaz, Abdallah Thahini and Talal Ahmad Roda, allegedly Hezbollah members, were arrested in May after Nigerian police discovered they had amassed a secret weapons stock. Continue Reading »

Death penalty could save lives

 

Op-d: There’s no reasonable explanation why Israel shouldn’t execute convicted terrorists who murdered innocent, defenseless civilians.

The death penalty will reduce the Arab’s motivation to carry out acts of terror with the ultimate goal of being released in future prisoner deals with Israel.

Gideon Friedman

 

Ahead of the resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians Israel is being asked to release numerous murderers as a “gesture.” This is very difficult because we are talking about terrorists who murdered many civilians. Some of them are even Israeli citizens who were tried here like any other prisoner, so why should they be released? Continue Reading »

In Past 6 months, Jewish Population in Judea & Samaria Up 2%

 

The Jewish rate of growth in the Biblical heartland of Israel is greater than in the rest of the country.

Because of this new information, many supporters of Peace Now are dispirited.

By Gil Ronen

 

The Jewish population of Judea and Samaria grew by 2.12% in the last six months – faster than the rate of Jewish population growth in the rest of Israel, which is 1.9% annually, reports Israel Hayom.

The Jewish population of Judea and Samaria currently numbers 367,000. In the last six months, this number grew by 7,700, including immigrants and births.

The newspaper noted that the number is particularly impressive when one takes into account the low supply of housing in Judea and Samaria, the rise in housing prices and the fact that in the last year, there have been less construction tenders issued and delays in approval of zoning plans for communities in Judea and Samaria. Continue Reading »