Archive for December 21, 2013

PLO Official: Strip West Bank Residents of Their Israeli Citizenship

Former PA negotiators puts the blame on Israel for failures in peace talks, threatens to coerce other countries to strip ‘settlers’ of Israeli citizenship.

By Dalit Halevi, Tova Dvorin

 

Mohammed Shtayyeh, Member of the Central Committee of Fatah, a former Palestinian Authority (PA) cabinet minister, accused the Israeli government of avoiding political agreements and employing a policy of “settlement” expansion, house demolitions and “killing civilians.”

Shtayyeh was one of the negotiators who submitted his resignation to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas earlier this year.

Ma’an reports Friday that at a restaurant in the PA village of Beit Jala, Shtayyeh claimed the “so-called bilateral Palestinian-Israeli negotiations are not going to take us anywhere”. Continue Reading »

Putin Reputedly Supports Israel’s Security Needs in Middle East

Israel’s daily Maariv claims that in a private meeting between Netanyahu & Putin, a security pact for Israel’s safety was forged.

By Tova Dvorin and Ari Yashar

 

A pact was forged between Moscow and Jerusalem to ensure Israel’s security during a private meeting last month, according to a Friday Maariv report.

The report claims that a 90-minute conversation took place between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin during Netanyahu’s last-minute attempt to prevent an interim nuclear deal between Western powers and Iran.

While Moscow – which has been rumored to be involved in a nuclear arms deal with Tehran – refused to accede to Israel’s stance on the nuclear Iran issue, Putin did allegedly promise to ensure Israel’s security in the region. Continue Reading »

Declassified Secret Report: Mandela received Mossad training in Ethiopia

By JTA

 

 

Nelson Mandela received training from Israel’s Mossad in the 1960s, an Israeli government document has revealed.

Nelson Mandela Photo: Eli Weinberg -1961

Mandela, the former South African president and anti-apartheid leader who died earlier this month, was trained by Mossad agents in weaponry and sabotage in 1962, according to a report Thursday in Haaretz that was based on a document in the Israel State Archives labeled “Top Secret.”

The document, a letter sent from the Mossad to the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, said Mossad operatives also attempted to encourage Zionist sympathies in Mandela, Haaretz reported.

Continue Reading »

Gazan Killed, 3 Palestinians wounded in 3 separate border fence skirmishes with IDF

 

IDF shot dead a 22 yr-old Palestinian by the fence near Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza. One Palestinian source claimed the man was there trying to catch birds.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, REUTERS

 

 

Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian and wounded three others in three separate incidents of cross-border violence in the Gaza Strip on Friday, Palestinian officials said.

Explosive devices planted near Gaza security fence-  Photo: IDF Spokesperson

Explosive devices planted near Gaza security fence- Photo: IDF Spokesperson

The Israeli military, which has long said the area in Gaza along the border fence is off limits, said it was looking into the reports.

A 22-year-old Palestinian was shot dead by the fence near Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. Continue Reading »

Gaza’s BDS Advocate Wanted His Medical Care in Israel

Yet another Palestinian hypocrite who demanded nations to sever their ties with Israel, took a different path, when he needed what Israel had to offer.

And still, Jerusalem provided, even to Sarraj, the best medical care available.

By: Lori Lowenthal Marcus

 

Eyad El-Sarraj, Gaza psychiatrist and major BDS advocate, died. But first he sought medical treatment in Israel. Eyad El-Sarraj, Gaza psychiatrist and major BDS advocate, died. But first he sought medical treatment in Israel. Eyad El Sarraj, a prominent psychiatrist in the Gaza Strip, died on Wednesday, Dec. 18. El Sarraj was 70 years old. He died of complications from Leukemia. Continue Reading »

US Senate committee passes bipartisan US-Israel Energy Cooperation Enhancement Bill

 

The new Cooperation Enhancement Bill designed to foster partnership on developing natural gas, alternative fuels on academic, business & governmental levels.

Sen. Mary Landrieu, The US is “uniquely qualified to lead the effort to help Israel develop” its new-found hydrocarbon resources.

 

 

The United States Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday passed a bipartisan bill that aims to bolster collaborations between Israel and the US on energy issues.

A natural gas rig west of Haifa, Israel. - Photo: Albatross Aerial Perspective/AP

The Tamar gas rig off the coast of Israel – Photo: Albatross Aerial Perspective/AP

Led by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-Louisiana), alongside Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), the United States-Israel Energy Cooperation Enhancement Bill hopes to foster partnerships on developing resources such as natural gas and alternative fuels, on academic, business and governmental levels. Continue Reading »

Knesset Member: ‘Infiltrators bill – a different prison by a euphemistic name’

 

Opposition MKs say ‘Infiltration Prevention Bill’ is flawed and unjust. Disperse them around the country.

MK Regev responds, ‘we need to stop this marching carnival, orchestrated by leftist organization and irresponsible MKs’

By Omri Efraim

The asylum seekers’ march on Thursday from the Holot detention facility towards Beersheba led to much criticism within the political arena. “The Immigration Authority is violating the bill initiated by the government, since if the facility is open – it can be exited and walked to Beersheba from,” claimed Knesset Member Dov Khenin. “Their behavior (Thursday) only proves what we have said all along – the government initiated a new prison under a euphemistic name.” Continue Reading »

Erekat: PA Ready for 12-Month Interim Deal – If Israel Meets Our 5 Demands First

PLO official claims PA ready for interim deal. The catch: meeting the PA’s demands on a number of key issues: designating borders, land swaps, security arrangements, Jerusalem, & “refugees”.

By Dalit Halevy, Tova Dvorin

 

Saeb Erekat, chief of the Palestinian Authority’s negotiating team, declared to journalists in Bethlehem Friday that the PA is ready to accept a 12-month interim deal with Israel – as long as demands regarding borders, land swaps, security arrangements, Jerusalem, and “refugees” are met.

“The deal is much more than a declaration of principles,” Erekat stated, “but it would need to turn into a [permanent] peace agreement after a short period of 6-12 months.” Continue Reading »

Report: Teheran has Assad smuggling weapons to Hezbollah via Iraq

 

The weapons transfer through Iraqi airports is done to avoid Israeli air strike on weapons convoys traveling from Syria to Lebanon.

By YASSER OKBI, THE POST CORRESPONDENT

 

 

 

Iran and Syria are reportedly smuggling weapons to Hezbollah through Iraqi airports, to avoid IDF attacks on weapons convoys crossing the border from Syria to Lebanon, Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Seyassah reported.

Iranian weapons intercepted by Israeli commandos

Iranian weapons intercepted by Israeli commandos – Photo: REUTERS/Amir Cohen

According to the report, this method of smuggling arms has been agreed on by the two sides two months ago.

A source in the Iraqi ruling party told the paper that while senior Iraqi officials aide Tehran and Damascus in smuggling weapons to Hezbollah, Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is unaware of it. Continue Reading »

White House Promises Veto as Senate Promotes New Iran Sanctions

Barack Obama threatened to use his veto  against any new legislation that would impose additional sanctions on Iran.

By Elad Benari

 

The White House on Thursday threatened to use its veto power against legislation that would impose new sanctions on Iran, as senators continued to promote such legislation in defiance of President Barack Obama.

Barack Obama – AFP photo

The threat came hours after a bipartisan group of senators filed a new Iran sanctions measure, according to the Washington Free Beacon.

The bill, sponsored by Sens. Mark Kirk (R., Ill.) and Robert Menendez (D., N.J.), would impose tougher sanctions on Tehran if it refuses to dismantle its contested nuclear program after the end of a six-month negotiating period. Continue Reading »

Israeli Navy submarine service – isn’t for everybody

 

Senior recruiting Officer: ‘One doesn’t have to know how to swim, but a good sense of humor is important.’

 

 
 

For the time being, there is no chance for young Israelis to become astronauts, but young men who are highly motivated and intelligent, able to withstand long bouts away from civilization, suited for combat duty, capable of reacting immediately to orders and not disturbed by being cooped up for weeks on end in a small space are invited by the IDF and Israel Navy to apply for military service in a submarine.

Always ‘Watching & Listening” – Photo courtesy: IDF Spokespersons Unit

A 13-month-long preparatory course for the difficult but meaningful job has just been completed. Continue Reading »

EU threatens to label settlement goods if peace talks fail

Is Israel facing surge of support for boycott efforts?

Sanction debate could grow, says EU Mideast envoy, if peace negotiations end in failure, citing discussion to tag Jewish West Bank products, effectively facilitating consumers boycott. 

By Associated Press

Support in Europe for sanctioning Israel over its settlement policies is growing and could gain steam if the current Israeli-Palestinian negotiations fail, the outgoing EU envoy to the Middle East said Thursday.

A boycott sticker

A boycott sticker

For now, the European Union is dangling incentives before both sides to nudge them toward a deal, rather than threatening punishment but some commentators have been sounding the alarm regarding a possible surge in boycott efforts. Continue Reading »

Liberman has a new friend, China’s Foreign Minister

The Chinese minister’s visit succeeded in strengthening bilateral ties by discussing business growth and encourage tourism with increased airline service.

By Ari Yashar

 

Amid signs of an emerging alliance between the two nations, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Thursday, welcoming Wang’s first visit as another step in strengthening bilateral relations.

As part of the rapidly warming ties, the two agreed to upgrade the annual national dialogue between Israel and China to a more senior level.

Liberman in late November called on Israel to search for new allies amid tense relations with the US over the Iranian nuclear deal. Continue Reading »

Pentagon: Israel Should Keep ‘West Bank’ to Maintain Secure Borders

 

Because of a Pentagon analysis past American administrations used to support Israel’s control of Judea-Samaria, out of security concerns, but Arab intransigent has eroded this administration’s resolve.

By Israel Today Staff

 

 

A historical document dragged back out into the light by Israel National News reveals that, unlike today, in the wake of the 1967 Six Day War, the American government was of the opinion that Israel should retain control of the “West Bank.”

American Generals: Israel Should Keep 'West Bank'

American Generals: Israel Should Keep ‘West Bank’ – Photo source: Israel Today

Following the war, then US Secretary of State Robert McNamara asked the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon for their expert opinion on how Washington should approach the issue of Israel’s land gains. Continue Reading »

Washington Times: Israel may destroy Iran’s heavy-water reactor

 

Continue Reading »