February 2014 Archives

200 Palestinian Terror Attacks at Rachel’s Tomb in 2013

Palestinian Attacks on ancient tomb of Jewish matriarch Rachel was discussed in Israel’s Knesset, noting at least 119 explosives thrown at site during 2013.

By Ari Yashar

The Interior Committee discussed a bill presented by MK David Azulai (Shas) on Tuesday, which addressed the “continuous harassment of Jews visiting Kever Rachel,” the tomb of the Jewish matriarch Rachel from the Torah.

During the course of the discussion, which was moderated by MK Zevulun Kalfa (Jewish Home), Azulai explained he had raised the issue due to the increase in the frequency of terrorist attacks around Kever Rachel.

He noted the 1993 Oslo Accords guaranteed Jews prayer access to the site, adding, “if this is what the agreements look like, we need to be very concerned.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Knesset, Palestinian terrorism, Rachel's Tomb

Erdoğan says ‘No normalization with Israel until Gaza siege lifted’

Turkish PM Erdoğan cools talks of progress on normalization, saying apology and compensation for 2010 flotilla victims is not sufficient.

By i24NEWS

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan put a damper on reports that Ankara and Jerusalem were approaching normalization of ties Tuesday, demanding a written Israeli promise that it will lift its blockade of the Gaza Strip as a condition for signing a reconciliation agreement.

Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan addresses members of the parliament from his ruling AK Party (AKP) during a meeting at the Turkish parliament in Ankara on January 28, 2014 – Photo: Adem Altan /AFP

Addressing reporters in Ankara alongside Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, Erdoğan said that negotiations with Israel have progressed, but have not ended. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Egypt, Gaza, Israel Turkey, Mavi Marmara, Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Micronesia Presents Israel’s President with an Island

During a ceremony when President Peres received Letters of Credence from 4 new ambassadors, the Micronesian envoy gushed with love & praise for Israel.

By Yossi Aloni

New ambassadors from Hungary, Serbia Turkmenistan and the tiny island nation of Micronesia recently submitted their credentials to President Shimon Peres at an official ceremony in Jerusalem.

Ambassador Asterio R. Takesy from Micronesia presents credentials to Israel’s President Shimon Peres – Photo: Mark Neiman/GPO

In light of the special frienship that has blossomed between Israel and Micronesia – which has a strong record of voting in favor of the Jewish state at the United Nations – Ambassador Asterio R. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: diplomacy, Israel Micronesia

Israel to legislate the end of plastic bags in supermarkets

In order to prevent further pollution, the Environmental Protection Ministry is drafting a law that bans distributing plastic bags in chain stores.

By Dan Lavie

Plastic bags have long been part of the Israeli landscape — for better or (mostly) for worse. In fact, Israelis are practically addicted to these bags, with every citizen consuming some 275 plastic bags on average a year, playing their part in polluting the environment. But now the Environmental Protection Ministry aims to put a stop on this: The office is drafting a bill that will prohibit retail chain stores do distribute free plastic bags.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Environment, Israel Environment

Israel’s Foreign Minister Liberman: ‘Israel’s isolation is being greatly exaggerated’

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman announced Israel’s new membership in 2 int’l groups, a UN group known as JUSCANZ and also gained observer status in the Pacific Alliance in Latin America.

By HERB KEINON, NIV ELIS

Reports of Israel’s international “isolation” have been greatly exaggerated, Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman said Tuesday, announcing Israel’s new membership in two international groupings.

OVERVIEW OF the Human Rights Council at the UNHRC – UN Photo/Pierre Albouy

“Next time you hear reports of diplomatic isolation or a wave of boycotts threatening Israel, know that the reality is very different,” he wrote on his Facebook page, announcing Israel’s membership in a UN grouping known as JUSCANZ and the observer status it gained in the Pacific Alliance in Latin America. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Avigdor Liberman, JUSCANZ, UNHRC

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Israeli figure skating duo qualify for Sochi finals

Andrea Davidovich & Evgeni Krasnopolski set their hopes on Israel’s 1st ever medal at the Winter Olympics.

By Haaretz

Israeli athletes Evgeni Krasnopolski and Andrea Davidovich qualified on Tuesday for the figure skating finals at the Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Israel’s Andrea Davidovich, left, and Evgeni Krasnopolski perform during pairs free skating of the Golden Spin figure skating competition in Zagreb, Croatia, Dec. 7, 2013.- Photo: AP

The two scored 56.90 points on their total segment score at the Pairs Short Program.

The Chinese team scored the most points (70.59), followed by the U.S. (67.44) and France (65.36).

The finals will take place on Wednesday at 7:45 P.M.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel sport, Olympics

Watch: Israel’s History – À la Facebook

Impressive video looks at Israel’s past from the founding of the modern state to present, in the Facebook ‘A Look Back’ format.

By Yoni Kempinski, Ari Yashar

An inspiring new video offers a walk down memory lane in Israel’s history. The film, which draws on Facebook’s “A Look Back” feature compiling past images and events in a video format, was produced by Jerusalem U.

The story of Israel’s defiance of all historical odds to come back into existence after 2,000 years has been nothing short of miraculous; in the 65 short years since the founding of the modern state, Israel has become the tenth most powerful nation in the world according to recent research. Continue Reading »

Category: Video's worth Viewing | Tags: Facebook, Israel, Jerusalem U

Portman confronts local resistance over filming in Jerusalem

Israeli directorial debut to be shot in Haredi neighborhood of capital, to the chagrin of its residents.

By i24NEWS

Ultra-Orthodox residents of Jerusalem are reportedly trying to forestall Hollywood star Natalie Portman from shooting scenes from her upcoming directorial debut in Israel’s capital, increasingly defined by its religious majority.

Natalie Portman – Photo: AFP

According to the Haaretz daily, Portman, is set to film in an ultra-Orthodox part of the Nahlaot neighborhood. While she coordinated the shoot with the Jerusalem Municipality, officials apparently failed to inform the residents, who wrote a letter complaining that the filming will take place near synagogues and yeshivot. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Haredi, Israel culture, Jerusalem, Natalie Portman, ultra-Orthodox

WATCH: Israel Hayom Debate Marijuana Legalization in Israel

Israel Hayom editor Steve Ganot moderates debate between fellow editor Elia Berger & contributor Simona Weinglass on the legalization of cannabis for recreational use in Israel.

By Israel Hayom Staff

With a number of European countries, Uruguay, and Colorado and Washington in the United States, legalizing recreational cannabis, will Israel follow suit?

Israel Hayom editor Elia Berger – screenshot

Around 9 percent of Israelis regularly smoke cannabis, and 26% support legalizing it as a recreational drug. Israel is considered a pioneer in research and use of medical marijuana — which has been legal since the 1990s — yet is tightly regulated. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News |

Israeli jets strike 2 Hamas targets following Gaza rocket attacks

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit reported that the IAF had successfully destroyed an underground rocket launcher in central Gaza in retaliation for Palestinian rocket attacks.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN

Following Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel, the Israel Air Force launched air strikes on two targets in Gaza overnight Tuesday.

A Palestinian man removes shattered glass from a window of a building after witnesses said it was hit in an Israeli air strike at Nusseirat in the centre of the Gaza Strip – Photo: REUTERS

The IDF said an underground rocket launcher in central Gaza, and a second terrorism target in the north of the Strip were hit in the air strikes, adding that both targets were accurately struck before fighter jets returned to base safely. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: IAF strike, IAF-Gaza

WATCH: Israeli Company Testing Unpiloted Flying Ambulance

The drone ambulance, named AirMule can fly with up to 800 pounds of cargo in search and rescue operations.

By Lily Wilf, The Scroll

Israeli startup Urban Aeronautics is testing a flying ambulance drone they hope to release before 2020, Business Insider reports. The vehicle, which is called the AirMule, would be used to perform rescues in places like dense urban environments, where helicopter maneuvering is difficult. The AirMule is directed and controlled remotely and it can fly unpiloted with up to 880 pounds of cargo.

The AirMule, an unmanned emergency rescue vehicle. (Tactical Robotics)

Its primary purpose is to assist with rescues during military operations:

A much quieter, remotely-piloted aircraft like this would be a game changer for military personnel.

Category: Innovations & Discoveries, Israel News, Video's worth Viewing | Tags: innovations, search and rescue

Poached Pet Parrot Battles Burglar, Catches Criminal

Beside the obvious empty parrot cage police notice hat that may have been knocked off robber’s head while tackling the pet. DNA sample leads detectives to parrot poacher.

By Matan Tzuri

Police were able to locate and detain a man who robbed a home in southern Israel after the burglar accidentally left his hat behind due to a fierce struggle with the house’s pet parrot. The bird has yet to be found, and it is suspected thief took the pet away with him and sold it to someone else.

Detective parrot cracks the case – Photo: Yaron Brener/Illustration

About a month ago, a resident of one of the communities in southern Israel filed a complaint with the police after his home was broken into. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel crime

Viber, Israeli rival to Skype, negotiating $300m sale to Chinese buyer

Israeli Mobile app Viber, allows free phone calls, text messaging and picture sharing from phone and computer.

By Orr Hirschauge and Reuters

Viber, the Israeli mobile application that allows users to make phone calls and send text messages for free, is in talks with a potential Chinese buyer for a deal that could be worth around $300 million.

Viber logo

The news comes some six months after Viber approached investment banking firm Goldman Sachs to help it find a buyer. Viber has a large user base in Southeast Asia, although the negotiations are said to be proceeding at a slow pace with the Chinese firm.

Category: Innovations & Discoveries, Israel News | Tags: Israel high-tech, Israel start-up, Israeli Technology

Arab MK Accused by Christian IDF Recruits of Acting ‘Like a Mafia Member’

Forum for Christian IDF Soldiers filed a formal complaint against Arab Muslim MK Hanin Zoabi, after she threatened their Christian representative in the Knesset.

By Tova Dvorin

Sha’adi Halul, the spokesman for the Forum of Christian IDF Soldiers, filed a request to the Attorney General’s Office asking for the removal of immunity for MK Hanin Zoabi (Balad).

The request, which was submitted by legal representative for the forum Attorney Uri Shenhar, calls out Zoabi for turning to Halul in a Knesset Committee meeting last week and calling him a “coward” who “can’t walk the streets of Nazareth and Kfar Kana and present his position” and threatened him, saying that if “you go through the streets of Nazareth and say what you want – they will give you a proper response.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Christian Arabs, Hanin Zoabi, Israel Politics, Knesset