Archive for December 2, 2013

24 hrs later: Still no word from Hassan Nasrallah

With no word from Hezbollah, and no other sources to confirm the report on a Lebanese website that Hezbollah’s leader was injured in a blast that killed 22 of his men, the Free Syrian Army reports to have injured the Shiite terrorist group’s leader.

By Gil Ronen

 

Syrian rebel forces claim that they have succeeded in injuring Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, a Lebanese website reported this morning, citing a Facebook message. No other source has confirmed the report.

Free Syrian Army

The Lebanese report was cited by JerusalemOnLine, which did not name the website that carried the news.

According to the report, a commander of the Free Syrian Army announced that members of Jabhat Al-Nusra, an Islamist Sunni rebel group linked to Al Qaeda, succeeded in the early morning hours in blowing up the headquarters where Nasrallah lives in Bint Jbeil, Lebanon. Continue Reading »

Israel’s PM Netanyahu chats with Pope Francis I

 

Netanyahu meets with pontiff at Vatican for 1st time since his ordination in March.

The 2 discuss the Iranian nuclear program, Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Christians in Israel & the Mideast.

PM expected to invite Pope Francis to Jerusalem.

By ERIC J. LYMAN
 

VATICAN CITY – Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met with Pope Francis in a 25-minute closed-door meeting Monday, with a host of geo-political and religious issues on the agenda as well as a formal invitation for the pontiff to visit the Holy Land next year.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahy with Pope Francis at the Vatican, December 1, 2013.-  Photo: Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahy with Pope Francis at the Vatican, December 1, 2013.- Photo: Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO

 

It was the first time the two leaders met face to face, and they discussed the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the escalating worries about Iran’s nuclear program, the Syrian civil war, the welfare of Christians in Israel, as well as the pope’s expected visit to Israel.

Continue Reading »

Poll: Which country suffers most in ‘Suffering index’ – Not Israel!

 

 

Gallup poll released the results of a survey measuring suffering worldwide: Bulgaria takes dubious 1st place 3rd time in row.

How miserable are Americans, Israelis or even Iranians?

By Ynet

Despite the great affection for complaining and occasional self-loathing, Israel still ranks quite high on surveys measuring happiness and optimism. A Gallup survey released Monday, which purports to measure global suffering, ranks Israel in a low and encouraging spot: Only 4% of Israelis who responded to the organization’s questions were defined as people whose lives causes them misery.

sadness illustrated – Photo Courtesy

Bulgaria takes the dubious first place for the third year in a row, with 39% of the respondents defined as “suffering”. Continue Reading »

IDF retaliates into Syria after gunmen shoot at Israeli soldiers on Golan Heights

 

IDF statement reads ‘hit confirmed’ on Syria gunmen.

Mortar shell falls on Israeli side hitting Druze village of Majdal Shams, leaving no casualties, in apparent spillover from Syria civil war.

By Reuters &

 

 

The Israeli army fired into Syria on Monday after its troops were shot at on the Golan Heights, the military said.

Israeli soldiers sit atop a tank as they watch the border with Syria

Israeli soldiers sit atop a tank as they watch the border with Syria near the Quneitra border crossing between Israel and Syria, on the Golan Heights July 3, 2013.- Photo: Reuters

“Gunfire was opened from Syria toward IDF soldiers in the central Golan Heights. Continue Reading »

Israeli Navy Expects ‘Exiting Gaza Flotillas’

Gaza protest group plans to sail from Gaza to confront Israel’s naval ships enforcing the strip’s blockade.

By Gil Ronen

 

The IDF and Israel Navy are prepared to encounter what has been dubbed a “reverse flotilla” from Gaza, reports Israel Hayom Monday. The political flotilla will be coming at the Israeli ships from Gaza and going westward, as opposed to previous political flotillas that came from the west toward Gaza, hence the name “reverse flotilla”.

Israeli navy ship – Israel news photo: IDF spokesman

The IDF estimates that dozens of Arab and European activists will be on the flotilla, and that it will include several boats. Continue Reading »

1000 Palestinians plan to protest Canadian PM’s appearance at JNF event

 

JNF-KKL event honoring Canadian PM Harper expected to attract 1,000 strong Palestinian protesters against Israel’s Bedouin resettlement bill.

‘JNF’s trees are soldiers in Zionist army of occupation’ says Palestinian.

By Ofer Petersburg

Canadian police forces are currently preparing for a Palestinian protest against Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper who is expected to participate in a Jewish National Fund of Canada event.

The event is a dinner being held in the prime minister’s honor and the protest is expected to be attract at least 1,000 people. According to the protest’s organizers, the demonstration is being held in wake of the Praver Plan to resettle Bedouins. Continue Reading »

Israel’s Prime Minister to meet Pope Francis Monday

Prime Minister Netanyahu lights candles for 5th night of Hanukkah with Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta at Rome synagogue.

 

 

 

Prime Minister Benjamin visited the Great Synagogue of Rome on Sunday with his Italian counterpart, Premier Enrico Letta.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Italian Premier Enrico Letta

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Italian Premier Enrico Letta light a candle for Hanukkah at the Great Synagogue of Rome on Dec. 1, 2013.- Photo: AFP

During their visit, Letta said his country’s economic crisis is feeding “the forces of extremism, hatred and intolerance” in Italy.

He pledged, “We will resist always the forces of violence, first verbal then physical, intolerance, xenophobia and racism, and these temptations that are a detriment.” Continue Reading »

PA Threat #83: Cancel Building Tenders Or Peace Talks Finished

Abbas claims Israel didn’t really cancel the construction tenders for new homes announced several weeks ago, so they are once again threatening to end talks.

By Elad Benari

 

 

The Palestinian Authority (PA) is threatening once again to pull out of the peace talks with Israel over its plans to build in Judea and Samaria.

Channel 2 News reported on Sunday that the PA is accusing Israel of not having really cancelled tenders that were issued several weeks ago for 20,000 new homes in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reprimanded Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel over the construction and cancelled it, but the PA is now claiming, according to Channel 2, that the announcement of the tenders appeared as “active” on the Housing Ministry’s website until at least this past Thursday. Continue Reading »

Watch: Australian Peace Activist Shocked to the Core by the Real Israeli-Arab Conflict


 

Australian peace activist returned to back the ‘Palestinian cause,’ but was shaken by reality & left the Palestinians, convinced the Arabs never really wanted peace.

By Israel Today Staff

 

 

Like many people abroad, Darly Johns of Australia was taken in by propaganda that showed dead and wounded Palestinian children, purportedly the victims of heartless Israeli aggression.

Every year, during school and summer camps, Palestinian children are systematically indoctrinated into seeking the death of Jews & the annihilation of Israel.

But when Johns decided to do something about the situation and come volunteer in “Palestine,” she was greeted by a far different reality wherein local Arab children are actually the victims of child abuse from their own society. Continue Reading »

Binyamin Netanyahu: I won’t ‘shut up’ when Israel’s interests are at stake

 

Netanyahu responds to criticism from previous PM on his approach to Iranian deal.

Olmert: Netanyahu has “declared war” on the U.S. by slamming closest ally’s role in brokering interim accord. Olmert continued saying Israel should urge the U.S. to lead efforts on preventing a nuclear Iran.

By HERB KEINON, HENRY ROME
 

 

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his predecessor Ehud Olmert battled over Israel’s Iran policy Sunday, with Olmert slamming Netanyahu for “waging war” against the US administration and Netanyahu responding that he would speak out loudly when Israel’s security is at stake.

“As opposed to others, when I see that interests vital to the security of Israel’s citizens are in danger, I will not be quiet,” Netanyahu said in Rome in a clear reference to comments Olmert made earlier in the day. Continue Reading »

Kibbutzniks are no longer core of the IDF officer corps

 

Relatively high enlistment rates for combat duty by Kibbutzniks continue, but it hides a decline for those continuing on into IDF officer corps.

New joint project hopes to overturn recent trend, hoping a return of kibbutz sabras to forefront of IDF command.

By Matan Tzuri

 

On Sunday morning, nearly 1,200 young kibbutzniks from across the country will hit the road for a bicycle trek in the south. They will ride 160 km (100 mi) on roads and trails in the Negev, as well as a portion of the Israel-Jordan border. The journey will last a week. Its purpose: Create a connection between the kibbutzniks and the IDF, and motivate them to serve in its combat units

High School kids going to Enlistment center (illustration) - Photo: Yaron Brener

High School kids going to Enlistment center (illustration) – Photo: Yaron Brener

Additionally – the organizers of the trek hope – the trip will imbue these young Israelis with the will to return to serve as officers, like in the good old days remembered by the older kibbutzniks. Continue Reading »

Teheran: Saudis plotting with Israel on new computer worm to sabotage Iranian nuclear program

The Iranian state-owned news agency reports that last week, the Saudi spy agency & Israel’s Mossad hashed out a proposal for production of malware ‘worse than the Stuxnet.’

 

 

Israel and Saudi Arabia are reportedly collaborating to create a new destructive computer worm to “spy on and destroy the software structure” of Iran‘s nuclear program, the semi-official Iranian news agency Fars said over the weekend.

Uranium conversion facility in Isfahan, Iran

A technician checks valves at the uranium conversion facility in Isfahan, Iran, February 3, 2007.- Photo: Reuters

Fars, the outlet of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, quoted “an informed source” close to the Saudi secret service as saying that Saudi spy chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan and Mossad head Tamir Pardo each sent a representative to Vienna on November 24 with the purpose of increasing the “‘two sides’ cooperation in intelligence and sabotage operations against Iran’s nuclear program.” Continue Reading »

Caught on car-cam: Arab terror-Rock Ambush

Jewish victim’s car-cam films young Arab terrorist in the act of throwing a large stone at his car as it drives by.

By Gil Ronen

 

A Jewish resident of Mahane Yatir, in southern Mount Hevron, was ambushed by a rock-wielding Arab youth Friday as he drove toward the community of Carmel, not far from the Zif Junction.

Rock attack caught on video - Arutz7 Screenshot

Rock attack caught on video – Arutz7 Screenshot

The event was caught on video by the man’s car cam. This may be the first time such an attack is caught on video in real time, although rock attacks are common in Judea and Samaria, and have become regular occurences in Jerusalem as well. Continue Reading »

Fitch financial ratings agency reaffirms Israel’s ‘A’ credit rating

 

FINANCE

New York city-based int’l credit ratings agency upgrades Israel’s credit outlook from “stable” to “positive”.

Fitch Ratings Inc. reports: Israel’s Gov’t’s “debt management, high domestic & external financing flexibility, are a rating strength.” 

By Zeev Klein & News Agencies

 

The Fitch Ratings Inc. agency on Friday upgraded Israel’s credit outlook to positive and affirmed Israel’s “A” rating — its sixth-highest investment grade. The company cited Israel’s shrinking deficit and debt-cutting efforts as the reason for the revised outlook.

Israel’s outlook positive. Fitch Ratings headquarters in New York – Photo: Reuters

According to Bloomberg, Fitch predicts that Israel’s budget deficit will fall to 3 percent of gross domestic product in 2014 from 3.8% in 2013. Continue Reading »

UK news report: Israel’s PM orders Mossad to gather proof Teheran violating Geneva accord

London’s ‘Sunday Times’ quotes Israeli defense sources as saying Israel wants to discredit the P5+1 Geneva deal by producing evidence of Iranian covert duplicity.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

 

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has ordered both the Mossad and Military Intelligence to search for evidence that Iran is continuing nuclear activities forbidden under the Geneva accord signed with world powers last week, The Sunday Times quoted Israeli defense sources as saying.

Satellite photos show Iran 'sanitizing' Parchin

Satellite photos show Iran ‘sanitizing’ Parchin – Photo: REUTERS

Proof that Iran was violating the terms of the six-month interim deal would complicate US President Barack Obama’s push to delay the passage of new congressional sanctions against Iran while a long-term deal with Iran is being negotiated. Continue Reading »