Archive for December 16, 2013

Public committee to decide feasibility on Israeli ‘White House’ &/or Israeli ‘Air Force 1’

 

Cabinet ministers authorize the establishment of a public committee to examine the feasibility of purchasing a plane for Israeli PM and President, and the building of a new official PM Residence.

Lapid objects, ‘Gov’t must maintain modesty,’ 

By Moran Azulay

The government has authorized the establishment of a public that will look into purchasing a plane for the travel purposes of the prime minister and president.

Visualization of potential new PM residence planned in 2009

Visualization of potential new PM residence planned in 2009

The committee will also examine the possibility of building a single structure to house the Prime Minister’s Office and his residence – the Israeli “White House.” Continue Reading »

Susan Rice consults Israeli officials about Iran nuclear deal

Susan Rice, Obama’s national security adviser  met with her Israeli counterpart last week in hope of gaining support for P5+1 nuclear deal with Iran.

By Reuters

 

 

President Barack Obama‘s national security adviser Susan Rice played host to a series of meetings with Israeli officials last week to try to gain their support for an interim deal with Iran aimed at containing Tehran’s nuclear program.

U.S. national security adviser Susan Rice (R) with Secretary of State John Kerry and Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power in September 2013. – Photo: Reuters

The meetings, announced in a White House statement on Sunday, arose from talks between Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month as the United States tried to persuade a skeptical Israel to support the Iran deal. Continue Reading »

IDF Soldier Killed by Sniper Fire on Lebanon Border

Lebanese sniper opens fire, 7 shots at IDF vehicle near Rosh Hanikra, on Israel’s northern border, killing 1 Israeli soldier.

By Gil Ronen and Elad Benari

 

An IDF soldier was killed on Sunday evening after being hit by sniper fire near Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.

The attack took place near Rosh Hanikra, in northwestern Israel, and was perpetrated by a soldier from the Lebanese army. A military source who spoke with Arutz Sheva said that the Lebanese soldier fired at least seven bullets at an IDF vehicle.

The soldier’s family has been notified.

Israel has filed a complaint with the UN over the incident, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement. Continue Reading »

IDF of High Alert: Israeli soldiers comes under fire from Lebanon

 

Lebanese army says their soldiers opened fire on IDF soldiers who crossed border from Rosh Hanikra; Lebanese also say one of their soldiers is missing, may be in Israel.

 

 

A round of fire struck Israel from Lebanese territory on Sunday, in an incident still being investigated by the Israel Defense Forces.

Israel's border with Lebanon.

Archive photo showing IDF soldier on Israel’s border with Lebanon. – Photo: Yaron Kaminsky

Reports from within Lebanon indicate that Lebanese soldiers opened fire at an Israeli force that crossed the border in Rosh Hanikra.

The IDF was concerned at first that the incident was a Lebanese attempt to distract the Israeli force to enable armed militants to cross the border, but an investigation has concluded that there was no infiltration. Continue Reading »

Latest Storm a Boost to the Kinneret

The “storm of the decade” that hit Israel this past weekend brought much needed water to the country’s aquifers and Lake Kinnert.

By David Lev

 

The “storm to end all storms” that hit Israel this past weekend will be remembered not only for how a major snowstorm brought many parts of the country to a halt, but for the unusual bounty of water it provided the country. According to the Meteorological Institute, over 200 millimeters of rain fell between Wednesday and Saturday on average in Israel.

That water, in the form of rain and melting snow, will eventually fill Israel’s aquifers, as well as the Kinneret, or Sea of Galilee. Continue Reading »

2nd incident in 24 hrs: IDF fires, lightly injures Palestinian on Gaza border

 

After group of Gazans refuse calls by the IDF to vacate the area, and they continued to carry out suspicious activity by border security fence, IDF opened fire.

 

 

A group of Palestinians approached the Israel-Gaza security fence on Sunday morning and began carrying out suspicious activity on the ground near the barrier, an IDF source said.

IDF Soldiers on southern border – Photo: Israel Spokesperson’s Unit

The army dispatched a unit to the area, which borders northern Gaza, and soldiers asked the suspects to vacate the area. The suspects refused, and soldiers opened fire, lightly injuring one of the men, the source added.

Continue Reading »

Israeli start-up to eliminate expensive roaming charges

 

New Israeli start-up developed an app that turns any smartphone into a local phone, thus enabling travelers around world to pay inexpensive local rates without being surprised with pricey fees by their domestic wireless carriers when they get their phone bill.

By Associated Press

An Israeli startup is trying to combat a common fear for international travelers: getting socked with hundreds or thousands of dollars in unexpected roaming charges for using cellphones away from home.

Roaming Illustration – Photo: Reuters

Cell Buddy aims to turn any smartphone into a local one. Travelers can choose from an array of calling and data plans with carriers in dozens of countries. Continue Reading »

Tax on Anti-Israel NGOs approved by Ministerial Committee for Legislation

Ministers Approve Anti-Israel NGOs to pay 45% tax on foreign donations.

Justice Minister Tzipi Livni to appeal, forcing committee to vote on the bill again.

By Tova Dvorin

 

 

The Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved the “NGO Law” Sunday by a large margin of 8 to 4 despite opposition from Justice Minister Tzipi Livni (Hatnua). Livni said that she intends to appeal the decision. This means that the Committee will have to vote on the bill again at a later date.

Ministers Approve Tax on Anti-Israel NGOs – Thinkstock

Bills approved by the Committee stand a very good chance of passing in the Knesset, because they can expect to have the Coalition’s support. Continue Reading »

Thousands escaped Jerusalem During Historic Winter Storm

Israel Railways took the unprecedented step of running trains for the first time into and out of Jerusalem during Shabbat to aid people escape the worst of the storm.

By Ryan Jones

 

The massive three-day winter storm that slammed Israel over the weekend finally came to an end on Sunday, though its effects were still being felt throughout the country, especially in Jerusalem and the Galilee.

Thousands Fleeing Jerusalem During Massive Winter Storm – Photo source: Israel Today

During the height of the storm, hundreds of people were stranded on the roads leading in and out of Jerusalem, and thousands fled the capital via train. Continue Reading »

More pets flying with Israeli owners more frequently than ever before

 

Continue Reading »

Cabinet to discuss Netanyahu’s proposal to purchase plane for PM & President

Finance Minister Lapid objects to PM’s proposal, saying gov’t should demonstrate austerity in times of financial hardship.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
 

 

The cabinet will discuss Sunday a proposal by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to purchase a private airplane for official state trips as well as building a new office and official residence for the prime minister.

PM Netanyahu boards a plane – Photo: Baz Ratner/Reuters

Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres are expected to make use of the airplane.

If passed by the cabinet, a public committee will be formed to examine the cost-effectiveness of the proposal.

Finance Minister Yair Lapid expressed objection to the proposal on Sunday morning, saying there is no financial justification to purchasing an airplane and building a new residence. Continue Reading »

Israel sends Hamas fuel for Gaza power plant

 

 

As cold weather & flooding takes its toll on Gaza, Hamas & Fatah come to agreement for Israel to begin transferring fuel to the only power plant in Hamas-ruled Strip after a 50-day shutdown.

By AFP

Israel began transferring fuel to the Gaza Strip’s sole power plant Sunday, a Palestinian official said, as the Hamas-ruled enclave struggled to deal with massive flooding caused by winter downpours.

Household gas enters Gaza - Screenshot from  Coordinator of Government Activities in Territories

Household gas enters Gaza – Screenshot from Coordinator of Government Activities in Territories

Raed Fatuh, a Palestinian Authority official in charge of the transfer of goods between Gaza and Israel, said Israel would be transferring 450,000 liters of fuel to the plant, which has been shut down for some 50 days. Continue Reading »

Knesset Considers Bill That Would Levy Heavy Tax on Anti-Zionism Support

Anti-boycott Bill would put 45% tax on support for involvement of foreign entities that contradict the decisions of the State of Israel.

By Tova Dvorin

 

An anti-leftist, anti-boycott bill which was discussed under the previous Knesset will come to the fore again Sunday, according to Maariv. The Knesset hearing will be headed by MK Ayelet Shaked (Bayit Yehudi/Jewish Home) and Robert Ilatov (Yisrael Beytenu).

The bill has sparked controversy for imposing a 45% tax on foreign donations to leftist groups. The goal of the bill is to “reduce the involvement of foreign entities within the affairs of the state of Israel.” Continue Reading »

IDF Chopper Gets Expectant Mother to Hospital on Time

IDF’s elite search and rescue unit, Unit 669, managed to land a helicopter in a snowbound Shomron community to fly a woman in labor to hospital in time to deliver. 

By Arutz Sheva Staff

 

A woman living in the snowbound hilltop community of Yitzhar in the Shomron (Samaria) phoned the town’s crisis center on Shabbat (Saturday) morning and informed them that she is in labor.

Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk Entered into service in 1994. A transport helicopter which features in rescue and evacuation missions, as well as tactical assault transport actions. Its Hebrew nickname is ‘Yanshuf’ (‘Owl’). - IDF Spokesperson Unit

Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
Entered into service in 1994. A transport helicopter which features in rescue and evacuation missions, as well as tactical assault transport actions. Its Hebrew nickname is ‘Yanshuf’ (‘Owl’). – IDF Spokesperson Unit

The community’s medical team was rushed to the house and advised that she be taken to the hospital immediately. Continue Reading »

Time to acknowledge the truth: Abbas doesn’t aspire to reach any peace deal with Israel

If Israel’s P.M. Netanyahu offered Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas an interim deal, the truth would be revealed — Abbas doesn’t have the will nor the capability to sign any sort of peace agreement with Israel.

By Dan Margalit

 

The government is operating as if it was a carousel or a roller coaster. What was promised has not been fulfilled and what was decided has not been guaranteed.

President Mahmoud Abbas – Photo: Reuters

Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid and Habayit Hayehudi leader Naftali Bennett will not leave the government, mainly because they are replaceable. There are bench players waiting to take their places on the court. Continue Reading »