Archive for October 31, 2013

White House fingers Israel on attacked near Latakia

 

After Jerusalem chooses not to comment on a reported IDF attack on air defense base near Latakia, Obama administration official says Israeli warplanes targeted Hezbollah-bound missiles.

Al-Arabiya says IDF also attacked in Damascus.

By Roi Kais

 

An Obama administration official confirmed to CNN Thursday night that Israeli warplanes struck a military base near the Syrian city of Latakia.

Anti-aircraft missile batteries in base near Latakia

Anti-aircraft missile batteries in base near Latakia

The target, according to the Obama administration official, was missiles and related equipment the Israelis felt might be transferred to Hezbollah. The official declined to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the information. Continue Reading »

Polish prosecutor rules: Nude photo shoot in Jewish cemetery not illegal

 

 

Lukasz Szczygielski, a Polish photographer conducted a controversial photo shoot with a half-naked model which he explained, before apologizing, was meant to draw attention to a neglected Jewish cemetery.

By

 

A Polish photographer did not break the law by conducting a photo shoot with a half-naked model at the Jewish cemetery in Checiny, Polish lawmakers held this week after a complaint was filed.

The city prosecutor in the Polish city of Kielce decided this week that Polish photographer Lukasz Szczygielski did not intend to insult the religious sensibilities of the cemetery of the Jewish community and that his main objective was art when he photographed a topless model at the Jewish cemetery in Checiny in August, TVN 24 reported. Continue Reading »

IDF Reports Arab from Jenin May Have Been Shot Dead by PA Police

The IDF reported that the Arab resident whom the Palestinian Authority accused the IDF of shooting may very well have been killed by a PA police gunfire.

By David Lev

 

 

An Arab resident of a town near Jenin whom the Palestinian Authority accused the IDF of killing may very well have been killed by gunshots fired by PA police. The IDF is investigating the death of the Arab in Qabatiya, south of Jenin late Wedneday, and has found evidence indicating that the Arab was killed by PA gunfire.

The incident occurred as IDF soldiers attempted to arrest security suspects in the town. Continue Reading »

Israeli Christians don’t want Arab & Muslim history in school curriculum

 

 

Local Christians say they want official Christian school curriculum, don’t want to learn Arab & Muslim history and are asking the Israeli gov’t to change the curriculum in local schools.

By Israel Today Staff

 

 

 

The growing movement of local “Arab” Christians who identify with Israel are now asking the state to establish an official school curriculum.

A conference titled “Israeli Christians: Breaking Free? The advent of an independent Christian voice in Israel” in Jerusalem – Photo: Dudi Vaaknin

The Israeli Christians Recruitment Forum, which encourages young local Christians to join the Israeli army, is behind the new petition. Continue Reading »

Jerusalem condemns Palestinian celebration of terror

In Gaza, Hamas forbids families from celebrating Fatah success of prisoner release.

In Ramallah, PA President Mahmoud Abbas attends official ceremony in honor of released prisoners

In Jerusalem, gov’t source says PA ceremony “a parade of convicted murderers” is a celebration of terror.  

By Daniel Siryoti & Shlomo Cesana

 

 

About 2,000 family members and friends were waiting when 21 of the 26 prisoners released Tuesday night arrived at the Mukataa Palestinian Authority government compound in Ramallah. They were welcomed with an official reception attended by PA President Mahmoud Abbas and PA Prime Minister Rami Hamdullah.

Continue Reading »

Sergio Bergman is Argentina’s history-making Rabbi-lawmaker

“If the society knows us better, the level of anti-Semitism will become lower…If I am attacked for being a rabbi, the first to come out to defend me are the non-Jews.” – Rabbi Sergio Bergman

Sergio Bergman, shown in Jerusalem in May 2013, will be the first rabbi serving to serve in Argentina's parliament when he takes office in December.

Sergio Bergman, shown in Jerusalem in May 2013, will be the first rabbi serving to serve in Argentina’s parliament when he takes office in December.

Continue Reading »

Saudi Court Sentences Jordanian ‘spy’ for Israel

Jordanian citizen sentenced to 9 years in jail & 80 lashes by Riyadh court for communicating with Israeli PM & ‘Zionist’ intelligence officer.

By REUTERS
 

 

DUBAI – A Saudi court convicted a Jordanian citizen of spying for Israel and sentenced him to nine years in jail and 80 lashes, a pro-government Saudi newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Prisoners (Illistrative) - Photo: Tal Cohen

Prisoners (Illustrative) – Photo: Tal Cohen

The Arabic-language al-Riyadh newspaper did not identify the Jordanian but said the Riyadh criminal court found him guilty of “writing to the Israeli prime minister and communicating with a Zionist (Israeli) intelligence officer” by email and receiving a financial payment.

Continue Reading »

Palestinian Arab killed by IDF fire in Qabatiya

 

 

Palestinians report large force of IDF soldiers entered village near Jenin overnight to secure arrest of wanted Arab terrorist. Subsequent clashes ensued leaving one young man dead.

Elior Levy

A Palestinian man in his 20s was killed during clashes with IDF forces in the West Bank village Qabatiya overnight. Palestinian medical officials said he was shot in the chest and died of his wounds.

According to Palestinian reports, large IDF forces entered Qabatiya late on Wednesday with the purpose of arresting several suspects. Clashes ensued and left Ahmad Tazazaa dead. His body has been transferred to a hospital in Jenin. Continue Reading »

Area 51 used to test a ‘secretly acquired’ Soviet MiG-21 from Israel

Documents released Tuesday show the United States secretly acquired a Soviet MiG-21 jet fighter from Israel and tested it at the infamous Area 51 in the Nevada desert back in 1968.

 

The US government “secretly acquired” Soviet aircraft during the Cold War and tested them at Area 51, according to documents released Tuesday that shed light on the once-classified and long speculated base deep in the Nevada desert.

migOne of those programs was the government’s investigation of the multiple Soviet MiG fighter planes it “secretly acquired” during the Cold War. The first documented acquisition was the MiG-21, originally obtained by Israel in August 1966.

Continue Reading »

Israel Blamed for Massive Explosion at Syria Missile Site

Reports of massive explosions were reported at a gov’t military base in western Syria. Both Syrian & Lebanese sources say Israel was behind the blast.

By Maayana Miskin

 

There was a massive explosion early Thursday morning at an aerial defense base near the city of Latakia in northeastern Syria, Walla reports, based on reports from the Syrian opposition.

Opposition sources said the base, which held anti-aircraft missiles, was destroyed in the blast.

Sources in Syria and Lebanon blamed Israel for the strike. However, they offered alternate versions of events: while Syrian sources said the base was hit by a strike from the sea, Lebanese media outlets reported that Israeli planes were seen in the area before the blast. Continue Reading »

Israel’s Lawful Claims to the West Bank

“In light of new realities on the ground, including already existing major Israeli populations centers, it is unrealistic to expect that the outcome of final status negotiations will be a full and complete return to the armistice lines of 1949…” – U.S. President George W. Bush

 

 

Proponents of fairness and equity who have advocated against some of Israel’s most pernicious detractors have often advanced several well-reasoned arguments against further Israeli West Bank withdrawals and Palestinian statehood. Key among those arguments are that the Palestinian leadership is rejectionist, duplicitous, incites violence, is non-democratic and, in general, is not committed to a two-state solution recognizing Israel’s rights to exist within safe and secure boundaries. Continue Reading »

Knesset Speaker declares French president ‘persona non grata’

French president snubs Knesset, opting to appear before university students instead. Knesset Speaker Edelstein responds in kind, won’t invite French dignitaries to ceremonies.

French Embassy reports: President Hollande’s schedule still not final.

 

 

French President Francois Hollande is not welcome in the Knesset, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein declared Wednesday.

Hollande speaks during the opening of the Qatari-French Business Forum in Doha June 23, 2013.

Hollande speaks during the opening of the Qatari-French Business Forum in Doha June 23, 2013.- Photo: REUTERS/Mohammed Dabbous

Hollande decided to speak to university students, not the Knesset, during his visit to Israel in three weeks, and Edelstein responded to the snub in kind.

“Whoever disrespects the Knesset does not deserve the Knesset’s respect,” Edelstein wrote on Facebook.

Continue Reading »

View Clip of IDF Paratroopers firing advanced Spike missile

 

In a special training exercise held before the unit deploys for tour on Israel’s northern border, IDF paratroopers fire an advanced Spike-MR missile, one of  the IDF’s most advanced portable guided missiles.  -Watch it in action

By Yoav Zitun

 

Combat soldiers from the IDF‘s Paratroopers Brigade received an unusual allocation this week and fired a Spike-MR missile during a training exercise held in preparation of the troops’ scheduled operational activity along the northern border.

Spike-MR missile in action - IDF

Spike-MR missile in action – IDF

The Spike-MR rare launch was documented by the IDF and is quite the sight.

The missile is a portable “fire-and-forget” guided missile, and it is one of the army’s most advanced anti-tank and anti-personnel projectiles. Continue Reading »

Report: Details on lost pilot Ron Arad for intel on missing Iranian diplomats

Al-Siasa newspaper from Kuwait quotes Western intel sources as saying that a possible deal would reveal info on Israel’s Ron Arad in exchange for details on Iranian diplomats who vanished in the 1980s.

 

 

A Kuwaiti newspaper reported on Wednesday that Israel will soon receive new details regarding missing Israel Air Force navigator Ron Arad as part of a deal between Iran and a Western intelligence agency.

Missing Israel Air Force navigator Ron Arad

Missing Israel Air Force navigator Ron Arad.- Photo by AP

The Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Siasa quoted Western intelligence officials as saying that the deal includes the release of information regarding Arad, who’s been missing in action since 1986, in exchange for details on four Iranian diplomats who vanished in Lebanon in the 1980s. Continue Reading »

Ancient Curse Unearthed in Jerusalem’s City of David

Inscribed on a lead plate the 1,700 year old curse was found at archaeological dig in the City of David. It appears to have been ordered by a woman from a professional magician.

By Ari Yashar

 

On Wednesday the Israel Antiquities Authority released the discovery of a 1,700 year old curse found at the City of David archaeological site in Jerusalem.

Ancient Curse – Clara Amit, courtesy of Israel Antiquities Authority

The curse, inscribed in Greek on a rolled-up lead plate, was found at the Givati parking lot dig site opposite the City of David.

The text was determined to be a curse written by a professional magician, according to the analysis of Dr. Continue Reading »