Archive for February 28, 2014

| February 28, 2014
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Egypt still closing tunnels, keeping the pressure on Hamas

Egyptian security personnel warn Gaza’s ruling militant group that they will be held responsible for any terrorism near their border.

By i24news

 

Egypt security officials issued a strict warning to Hamas on Friday, telling the militant group that it would not accept the use of smuggling tunnels between the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula, according to a report by Israel Radio.

Vue d'un tunnel creusé en territoire israélien depuis la bande de Gaza, le 13 octobre 2013 ( David Buimovitch (AFP) )

Gaza Tunnel – David Buimovitch/AFP

Egypt also warned that Hamas would be held responsible for any incursions near the border.

Since the overthrow of Morsi, Egyptian security forces have sealed and destroyed most of the 1,200 tunnels that used to bring food, cars and weapons into Gaza. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| February 28, 2014
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Egypt’s gov’t & Muslim Brotherhood accuse one anther of being ‘Jewish’

 

Egyptian daily columnist Magdi Salama reports Muslim Brotherhood is carrying out ‘Protocols of the Elders of Zion.’

By ARIEL BEN SOLOMON
 

The violent struggle for power in Egypt between the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of Egyptian army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has led to mutual accusations of being Jewish and implementing The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

Egypt's Army Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meeting with Russian delegation in Cairo, Nov 14.

Egypt’s Army Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meeting with Russian delegation in Cairo, Nov 14. – Photo: REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Supporters of the current regime have compared the Brotherhood to Jews and Zionists, even claiming that the group’s founder, Hassan al-Banna, was Jewish, according to a new report by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI). Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| February 28, 2014
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After threat from terrorist group, Jerusalem warns Lebanon to control Hezbollah

 

Lebanon lodges formal protest with UN over alleged Israeli attack claiming airstrike on (smuggled Hezbollah advanced) missile system is a serious violation of 2006 ceasefire agreement.

By Roi Kais

 

Israel is treating Hezbollah’s threat to retaliate to an alleged Israeli airstrike from last Monday seriously.

S-300 anti-air missile system mounted on a trailer [Archive] – Photo: Reuters

S-300 anti-air missile system (launcher) mounted on a trailer [Archive] – Photo: Reuters

The Lebanese paper Al Nahar reported that Israel has raised its level of alertness along the border and have sent the Lebanese government a message according to which it views it as responsible for any retaliation launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| February 28, 2014
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Tel Aviv Marathon won in record time by Kenyan runner

Top 3 runners all Kenyans with winner, Ezekiel Koech, 28, finishing in 2:14:40.

Despite excellent weather, 85 of 40,000 participants required medical assistance during race.

By

 

 

Kenyan runner Ezekiel Koech, 28, won the Tel Aviv Marathon on Friday, finishing the race with a record-breaking time of 2:14:40.

Ezekiel Koech

Ezekiel Koech, far right, won the Tel Aviv Marathon Friday, February 28, 2014.- Photo: Hadar Cohen

The second- and third-place finishers at the 42-kilometer (26.2-mile) race were also Kenyans who came to Israel especially for the marathon.

Despite the comfortable weather Friday, 85 runners required medical treatment during the race.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| February 28, 2014
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Iranian Official: ‘Teheran is Preparing to Liberate Jerusalem’

Islamist militia carries out military exercise for invasion of Israel’s capital. General: ‘The Muslim world is waiting for Iran to call them to battle.’

By Dalit Halevy, Tova Dvorin

 

The Islamist Basij militia force in Tehran ran a special military exercise Thursday and Friday preparing for an Iranian takeover of Jerusalem. 

Jerusalem, Old & New – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

​The exercise, entitled “March to Al-Maqdis (Jerusalem),” included training in the event of such a takeover, including drills for the protection of cities, assistance and rescue, dealing with social unrest, the protection of sensitive and important military centers, dealing with the invasion and landing of “enemy” (IDF) forces from helicopters, and carrying out complicated tactical maneuvers at night. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| February 28, 2014
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Arabs Set E. Jerusalem Police Station on Fire

Jerusalem councilman Aryeh King decries endemic lawlessness rampant in capital this week.

By Ari Yashar

 

Jerusalem Arabs set ablaze a police station next to the Lions’ Gate in the capital’s Old City on Wednesday.

Aryeh King, nationalist Jerusalem city councilman and member of the municipality’s Emergency and Security Committee, was present at the attack and managed to document it. According to King, police officers fled the scene.

“Unfortunately the prime minister is instructing the authorities to avoid eastern Jerusalem, and these are the results,” charged King.

“Last night the funeral of a terrorist was held there, they marched from the Mount of Olives towards the Lions’ Gate attacking everything in their path and didn’t let Jews pass,” reported King. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| February 28, 2014
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Israeli PM Vowed Gov’t Won’t Change Temple Mount Status Quo

 


Netanyahu’s conciliatory promises to Muslim world followed a  stormy Knesset debate on possible extension of Israeli sovereignty over Temple Mount

By Ryan Jones

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday vowed that his government would not alter the status quo regarding the Temple Mount, a day after Israel’s Knesset held its first ever debate on extending Jewish sovereignty over Judaism’s holiest site.

Temple Mount - Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

Temple Mount – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

“The policy of the government of Israel has been and continues to be the maintenance of the status quo at the Temple Mount, including freedom of access for all faiths to the holy sites,” Netanyahu spokesman Mark Regev told The Jerusalem Post. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| February 28, 2014
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Gas mask distribution centers closed after 23 years of service

Defense officials determined the present threat to Israelis has decreased substantially due to the int’l teams dismantling of Syria’s chemical weapons.

Decisions on future distribution will be made based on upcoming threat assessments.

By Shlomi Diaz, Shlomo Cesana & Lilach Shoval

 

Gas mask kits will no longer be handed out in Israel as of Thursday, in accordance with a government decision to close distribution centers.
Trying on my gas-mask - Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

Trying on my gas-mask – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

The decision stemmed from the defense establishment’s belief that the threat to Israeli citizens has decreased substantially due to the dismantling of Syria’s chemical weapons.

After Thursday, gas mask production will be limited and the kits will be distributed to emergency service teams alone.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| February 28, 2014
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Unique Israeli study examines after-effects of medical marijuana

Israeli Health Ministry expert says no similar in-depth research has been performed anywhere.

By

 

 

Medical cannabis has been getting a lot of good press in recent years. Reports and patients’ testimonies of how they benefited from ingesting the plant or its extract have spread rapidly and the Health Ministry’s medical cannabis unit issues some 50 new permits for using it weekly.

Medical cannabis.

Medical cannabis. – Photo: Emil Salman

But while the demand for cannabis is soaring, many questions remain open regarding its effects. An Israeli study now aims for the first time to find out whether patients experience any after-effects, how many of them stop using it and why.

Continue Reading »
Category: Innovations & Discoveries, Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| February 28, 2014
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Israeli PM off to Silicon Valley to meet WhatsApp co-founder

Prime Minister Netanyahu is scheduled to sign a “strategic cooperation” agreement with California’s Governor Jerry Brown to promote closer Israel-California economic ties.

By HERB KEINON

 

 

Last week Jewish WhatsApp cofounder Jan Koum sold his company to Facebook for $19 billion; next week he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to discuss hi-tech opportunities in Israel.

WhatsAppNetanyahu, traveling Sunday to Washington and a meeting with US President Barack Obama, is to go to Silicon Valley on Wednesday in an effort to promote hi-tech investments in Israel. In addition to Koum, Netanyahu is expected to meet with heads of Apple, Flextronics, Linkedin, Ebay and the Sequoia Venture Capital fund. Continue Reading »

Category: Jewish News | Tags: , ,
| February 27, 2014
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African asylum seekers leaving Israel break records each month

 

With a $3,500 Israeli gov’t grant in their pockets, about 1,705 illegal African migrants left this past month, mostly back to their country of origin.

By

 

 

A record 1,705 African asylum seekers left Israel in February, Interior Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced Thursday. He also predicted that the wave of departures would continue in the coming months.

Thousands of African asylum seekers stage protest

Thousands of African asylum seekers during their recent protest – Photo: AFP

“This figure for the last month surprises me for the better,” Sa’ar said at a conference of Population and Immigration Authority directors in Ashkelon. “If the trend we identify continues, and I’ve been informed that it will continue into March, there will be a departure of enormous proportions from Israel this year.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| February 27, 2014
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Arab League Considering UN Intervention Over Al-Aqsa Issue

Arab League tabled the likelihood of voicing a complaint to the UN Security Council over alleged “Israeli attacks on the Al-Aqsa compound.”

By Elad Benari

 

The Arab League discussed on Wednesday the possibility of filing a complaint to the UN Security Council over alleged “Israeli attacks on the Al-Aqsa compound”, the Palestinian Authority-based Ma’an news agency reported.

The discussion was part of an “emergency session” that the Arab League called on Tuesday, at the request of the Palestinian Authority (PA) envoy.

The discussion came in response to Tuesday’s Knesset debate about extending Israeli sovereignty over the Temple Mount.

According to Ma’an, the Arab League council called upon the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to spread awareness regarding the “dangers” threatening the compound in order to gain support for the complaint. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| February 27, 2014
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Watch Debate: Would a 1-State Solution Work for Israel?

 

Calev Myers, an Israeli human rights lawyer debates Benjamin Rutland, in favor of a 1-state solution to the Israeli-Arab conflict.

By Ryan Jones

 

Opponents of the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are often asked what alternative they would propose, assuming that that status quo is unsustainable. The simple answer for many has been to propose a one-state solution whereby Israel annexes Judea and Samaria and grants the Arabs living there Israeli citizenship.

Would a One-State Solution Work for Israel?

That was precisely the argument offered by Israeli human rights lawyer Calev Myers, who has done much to defend Israel in a recent debate on i24News (see video below). Continue Reading »

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| February 27, 2014
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NYT Report: US President to Take Active Role in Mid-East Peace Talks

 

US President plans to pressure Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu & the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas into accepting U.S. framework proposal. U.S. official tells The New York Times, “Now is a very timely opportunity for him [Obama] to get involved,”.

By Daniel Siryoti, Israel Hayom Staff & News Agencies

 

U.S. President Barack Obama plans to take a more active role in the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, The New York Times reported on Wednesday, quoting Obama administration officials.

U.S. President Barack Obama plans to become more involved in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks – Photo: AP

Obama will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday at the White House and will push him to agree to the framework deal currently being drafted by U.S.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| February 27, 2014
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Israeli NGOs take their expertise to Africa

Israeli humanitarian NGOs bringing their expertise to meet the needs of camps in Kenya, has turned into a fruitful endeavor in Africa.

 

NAIROBI, Kenya (JTA) — When they first arrived in northern Kenya in 2011 at the height of a massive drought, the Israeli refugee aid organization IsraAid planned to offer food and other core necessities to the 100,000 residents of the Kakuma refugee camp.

Regina Muthoni, left, and Kenneth Gitau of the Nairobi dance group Kreative Generations, learned to farm with the help of the nonprofit Israel for Africa. (Ben Sales)

Regina Muthoni, left, and Kenneth Gitau of the Nairobi dance group Kreative Generations, learned to farm with the help of the nonprofit Israel for Africa.- Photo: Ben Sales

When the drought subsided a year later, IsraAid’s directors saw that this sort of assistance was becoming less crucial. Continue Reading »

Category: Innovations & Discoveries, The Diaspora | Tags: , , , ,
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