Archive for December 28, 2013

More illegal African aliens choosing to leave Israel

 

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Portuguese plumbers discover 600 year old mikvahs

This  find, in the basement of a building on Rua do Visconde da Luz, Coimbra, may be considered among the oldest mikvahs ever discovered in Europe.

By JTA

 

Plumbers fixing a water leak in central Portugal discovered what appears to be a cluster of 600-year-old Jewish ritual baths.

1of 3 -The mikvahs of Coimbra may be considered among the oldest mikvahs ever discovered in Europe  - Photo sourse:  DR/Publico.pt

1 of 3 -The mikvahs of Coimbra may be considered among the oldest mikvahs ever discovered in Europe – Photo source: DR/Publico.pt

The discovery was made earlier this year in the city of Coimbra as the plumbers were replacing the piping of an old building in what used to be the Jewish part of the Old City, according to a report Thursday by the Publico daily.

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Jerusalem Started Encouraging Greater French Aliyah

The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs is planning a 3-pronged program to encourage mass aliyah of  French Jews with a focus on jobs, education & housing.

By Tova Dvorin

 

The Israeli government has been planning a new program to encourage French Jews to make Aliyah, Maariv reports Friday.

The program, which will be implemented over a 3-year period, is intended to help French Jews emigrate to Israel on a large scale – following reports that French Jewry has been leaving en masse due to anti-semitism.

The program will also receive state funding, according to the report.

According to information gathered at the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, tens of thousands of French Jews emigrated in 2013 to London, Canada and the United States. Continue Reading »

Israel TV: Kerry consider freeing Pollard in gesture for Palestinian prisoners release

Israel’s Channel 10 reports Sec. of State Kerry to examine proposal to tie release of imprisoned Israeli agent to release of remaining 52 convicted  Palestinian terrorists, but officials in Jerusalem say President Obama will never approve proposal.

By JPOST STAFF.COM
 

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry will reportedly consider Israeli calls to release Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard as a condition to the release of the remaining 52 Palestinian terrorists, Channel 10 reported on Friday, quoting Israeli officials.

Jonathan Pollard red, white and blue - Photo: CourtesyIsrael has agreed to release 104 Palestinian security prisoners with blood on their hands in four phases as a part of a deal to restart peace talks with the Palestinian Authority. Continue Reading »

Published in U.S.: Buried Secret Israeli Report on Temple Mount Irregularities

News Report published by American Jewish media on Israeli authorities’ negligence regarding supervision of Muslim digs at Temple Mount, was buried by the Israeli gov’t in 2007.

 

 

The American news website The Jewish Voice has published a translation of an Israeli State Comptroller’s report on Israeli authorities’ conduct regarding digs at Jerusalem’s Temple Mount in 2007. In Israel, a gag order was placed on the report due to fears it would harm Israel’s foreign relations and spark violent confrontations at the Temple Mount. News of the Jewish Voice report was first published in the Israeli weekend newspaper Sof Hashavua. Continue Reading »

In Pictures: 38 Members of ‘Lost Tribe’ From India Make Aliyah

Amid the tears & celebrations, the ‘historic’ flight of Bnei Menashe finally landed in Ben Gurion yesterday & are now at home.

By Arutz Sheva Staff

 

 

Tears flowed freely as a group of 38 Bnei Menashe, descendants of a Lost Tribe of Israel, were greeted by relatives at Ben Gurion Airport after making Aliyah yesterday from India.

Tearful reunions as Bnei Menashe olim arrive at Ben Gurion airport – Shavei Israel

The immigrants, who hail from the northeastern Indian state of Mizoram, were brought to Israel by the organization, which recently received permission from the Israeli government to bring 900 Bnei Menashe to the Jewish state over the next 15 months. Continue Reading »

Defense Minister Ya’alon: Israel Has no Peace-Partner Among Palestinian Leadership

Ya’alon spoke with 3 members of ‘Breaking the Impasse’, a group of Palestinian & Israeli businesspeople aimed at promoting a durable peace accord.

 

Among those who met with Ya’alon last week were Yossi Vardi, a founder of Israel’s high-tech industry; Shlomi Fogel, a close friend of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the controlling owner of Ampa Capital; and Mooly Eden of Intel Israel.

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon – Photo: Olivier Fitoussi

The three are members of Breaking the Impasse, which consists of some 200 Israeli and Palestinian businesspeople. The group, which defines itself as apolitical, aims to help the political leaders in Jerusalem and Ramallah agree on a peace deal and bring economic prosperity to both peoples. Continue Reading »

Again, Gaza is Without Fuel, Hamas Blames Israel for Power Blackouts

Gaza’s lone power plant closes down just 12 days after having being restarted with Qatar bought fuel via the Palestinian Authority.

Israel blamed, although it was Egypt’s siege that has cut off Hamas’ lucrative fuel smuggling.

By Ari Yashar

 

Gaza’s only power plant ground to a halt again on Friday, only 12 days after being brought back online following a 7 week shutdown due to fuel shortages. The shutdown was announced by Gaza’s electricity firm, reports AFP.

An official of the company claimed “the plant stopped working on Friday morning due to a lack of fuel caused by Israel’s closure of the Kerem Shalom crossing.” Continue Reading »

Ministers to decide on Palestinian prisoner release list

 

Palestinians officials outraged at planned announcement of new Israeli settlement constructions plans, alongside the release of jailed Palestinian terrorists.

By HERB KEINON, KHALED ABU TOAMEH
 

 

The ministerial committee tasked with selecting the list of Palestinian security prisoners to be released is scheduled to meet on Saturday night to decide on those to be freed late Monday night, in the third out of four such releases.

A released Palestinian prisoner at the Erez crossing between Israel and the northern Gaza Strip.

A released Palestinian prisoner at the Erez crossing between Israel and the northern Gaza Strip. – Photo: REUTERS

Soon after the prisoner release, Israel is expected to announce plans for construction beyond the Green Line. Continue Reading »

Palestinian to pay Israel $315M in owed electric bills

 

Palestinian Authority debt owed for electricity supplied to West Bank & E. Jerusalem reaches NIS 1.1B.

PA begins to cover funds, but Israel’s Ministers of Finance and Energy concerned sum will rise.

Israel Electric Corporation to end year with heavy debt.

By Lior Gutman

The Palestinian Authority has begun to pay back the money it owes the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC), Calcalist has learned. The debt, accumulated by West Bank and east Jerusalem residents stands at NIS 1.1 billion, the Electric Corporation claims.

Electricity on the way to the Palestinians

Electricity for the Palestinian Authority – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

According to Calcalist, the Ministries of Finance and Energy have expressed concern that the debt will continue to rise, reaching NIS 1.3 billion by the end of the year, thus posing a heavy financial burden for the Electric Corporation. Continue Reading »

The Cameri Theater performs in Ariel but without 3 actors

The director of the Ariel theater, “We don’t want those who don’t want to come here.”

The Cameri said in its statement, “Those who are not interested are replaced by their colleagues.”

 

 

Three Cameri and Beit Lessin actors have been excused from performing in a play staged at a cultural center in the West Bank settlement of Ariel.

'Best Friends.'

Members of the cast of ‘Best Friends.’ – Photo by Courtesy Cameri

The cast members will be replaced by understudies for the performances of the play “Best Friends,” the theaters said in a statement.

The Cameri said in its statement that it respects the political views of its employees.  Continue Reading »

EU Official Threatens Israel Over Planned Construction Announcement

EU official warns Israel to expect a “strong reaction” if Jerusalem announces new housing construction in Judea & Samaria.

By Elad Benari

 

The European Union (EU) is unhappy with reports that Israel plans to publish tenders for the sale of 1,400 housing units in Judea and Samaria, Channel 10 News reported on Thursday.

A senior EU official who spoke to the channel issued a direct warning to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, saying that the EU would not tolerate new construction in Judea and Samaria.

“There will be very little understanding on the part of European governments regarding any announcement of construction in the territories now under negotiations. Continue Reading »

Israel Police to Open New Tel Aviv Unit to Deal with African Infiltrators

 

520 new municipal police jobs to be established, including a new Police unit for illegal migrant crime in south Tel Aviv.

Public Security Ministry: Municipal police forces have led to a decrease in crime & a greater sense of personal safety.

By Itzik Saban

 

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Palestinian from Gaza arrested for planning sniper attack on Israelis

Abu Amsa, 32, admitted under questioning that he had planned to carry out a sniper attack on IDF troops patrolling the Gaza border fence with Israel.

By JTA

 

A Palestinian man from Gaza who had entered Israel to receive medical treatment was arrested for planning sniper attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers.

A masked militant from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of the Fatah movement in Hebron, August 3, 2008. - Photo REUTERS-Nayef Hashlamoun

A masked militant from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades – Photo: REUTERS/Nayef Hashlamoun

Mohammed Abu Amsa, 32, was arrested earlier this month in a joint operation of the Israel Shin Bet security agency and the Israel Police. A gag order on the case was lifted on Thursday.

Amsa postponed his planned sniper attack in order to receive treatment at a Ramallah hospital to restore his eyesight.

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Likud submitting bill in Knesset to annex Jordan Valley

 

If legislature becomes law, Netanyahu would be unable to accept White House offer to place Jordan Valley, border crossing under Abbas’ Palestinian Authority control.

 

 

Likud ministers and lawmakers are trying to limit Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s freedom in peace talks, with MK Miri Regev submitting a bill on Thursday to annex the Jordan Valley.

Miri Regev at the Knesset Interior and Environmental Affairs Committees, April 17, 2013. - Photo: Courtesy Knesset

Miri Regev at the Knesset Interior and Environmental Affairs Committees, April 17, 2013. – Photo Courtesy: The Knesset

If Regev’s bill becomes law, Netanyahu would be unable to accept the American offer to put the Jordan Valley and border crossings into Jordan under Palestinian control, with IDF soldiers posted at the border and the US providing additional security. Continue Reading »