Archive for February 2, 2014

| February 2, 2014
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Was Scarlett Quitting Oxfam About Human Rights Issues or Dollar Signs?

Now that Coca-Cola is revealed as one of Oxfam’s major donors, was corporate donations  what motivated the NGO’s attack on Israeli soda company SodaStream?

By Maayana Miskin

 

The Israeli company SodaStream has come under fire in recent weeks over the fact that it has a factory in Maale Adumim, a Jerusalem suburb that lies east of the 1949 armistice line.

Fanta products

Coca-Cola products – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

The controversy hit a new high last week with the Oxfam charity’s criticism of actress Scarlett Johansson, who has signed on as a spokeswoman for SodaStream. Johansson has said she will stick with her commitment to SodaStream – and has stepped down as an ambassador for Oxfam in protest of its anti-Israel stance. Continue Reading »

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| February 2, 2014
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Analysis: Breaking down the economic impact of Israeli-Palestinian peace

 

Will a peace deal bring economic growth to both sides or will the only ‘boom’ be that of rockets bringing down Israel’s economy?

By NIV ELIS
 

 

A rift has emerged between the two ministers most responsible for shaping Israel’s economy, Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Economy Minister Naftali Bennett.

A McDonald's restaurant in Israel. - Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

A McDonald’s restaurant in Israel. – Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Though normally allies, even “brothers” on economic issues, politics pulled them apart in the past two weeks over the economic implications of peace talks with the Palestinians.

Bennett fired the first salvo. At a Bayit Yehudi faction meeting on January 20, he declared George H.W. Continue Reading »

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| February 2, 2014
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Finance Minister stops money transfers to settlements

 

 

Following Friday evening’s news magazine on Channel 2 suggesting funds intended for West Bank settlements were illegally transferred to Yesha Council for anti-gov’t campaigns, Minister Lapid orders his office to freeze funds transfers pending examination.

By Ynet

 

Finance Minister Yair Lapid ordered a halt on all money transfers to the settlements pending the clarification regarding their specific use, a statement on his behalf said Saturday evening.

Finance Minister Yair Lapid

Finance Minister Yair Lapid – Photo: Yair Sagi

The decision was made after Channel 2 television reported Friday evening that settlements were misusing government funds. Additional information also reached the finance minister, claiming funds were illegally transferred from the settlements to Yesha (Judea, Samaria and formerly Gaza) Council. Continue Reading »

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| February 2, 2014
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Denmark’s largest bank boycotts Israel’s Hapoalim over new home construction

Danske Bank accuses Bank Hapoalim of violating rules of int’l humanitarian law.

Danish bank already withdrew investments from 2 Israeli firms.

By

 

Denmark’s largest bank decided to blacklist Bank Hapoalim because of its involvement in the funding of settlement construction.

Construction site in the West Bank settlement of Modiin Illit.

Construction site in the West Bank settlement of Modiin Illit. – Photo: AP

Danske Bank added Bank Hapoalim to its list of companies in which the company cannot invest due to its corporate accountability rules.

In an announcement posted on its website, the bank stated that Bank Hapoalim was acting against the rules of international humanitarian law.

Israeli website Walla reported on the Danish bank’s decision earlier on Saturday. Continue Reading »

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| February 1, 2014
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Israel’s Intelligence Minister: Israel Must Invade Gaza & Destroy Hamas

Minister Yuval Steinitz responds to Friday night’s rocket on Eilat, warning that at this rate the IDF will have to invade Gaza & replace Hamas with Abbas’ PA.

By Ari Yashar

 

After a rocket was fired at Eilat by Al Qaeda-inspired Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (Partisans of Jerusalem) Friday night, and shot down by Iron Dome, Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz warned Saturday that at the current rate, Israel will soon have to once again enter Gaza to destroy Hamas, the Islamist terrorist group which currently controls the territory.

“In the last year or two there has been an improvement in the security situation, fewer rockets have been fired at Israel and fewer Israelis have been injured,” noted Steinitz. Continue Reading »

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| February 1, 2014
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Kerry brings up Israel boycott – AGAIN – if peace deal not made

 

US secretary of state makes another such remark, now at Munich Security Conference.

Deputy defense minister Danon condemns  Kerry’s remarks, responding that Israel will “not negotiate with gun to its head.”

By REUTERS, JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry believes Israel could face an economic boycott if the current round of peace negotiations with the Palestinians do not lead to a final deal. Kerry made the remarks on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference.

US Secretary of State John Kerry at the Munich Security Conference in Germany Photo: REUTERS

US Secretary of State John Kerry at the Munich Security Conference in Germany – Photo: REUTERS

“There’s an increasing de-legitimization campaign that has been building up. Continue Reading »

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| February 1, 2014
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Sinai’s Salafis claim responsibility for last night’s rocket fire on Eilat

 

 

In message to Jerusalem, radical Salafi terrorist organization promises to continue fight against Israel for supporting Egypt.

IDF Spokesperson’s Unit says Iron Dome intercepted rocket with no injuries or damage reported.

By: Meir Ohayon

The radical Salafi organization Ansar Bait al-Maqdis took responsibility for the rocket fired towards Eilat Friday night.

Egyptian forces disperse Morsi supporters in a violent demonstration, January 2014.

Egyptian security forces try to disperse supporters of Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi protesting against the government in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 31, 2014. Photo by AP

In an announcement by the al-Qaeda affiliate, the organization said the rocket was launched towards the Jewish State because of the “cooperation between Egypt and Israel and the bombing of Gazan residents.” Continue Reading »

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| February 1, 2014
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IDF shot Palestinian rioter throwing molotov cocktail

 

Riots in Jalazoun refugee camp comes 2 days after a terrorist from the camp was killed shooting at IDF.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

An IDF official said that ten Palestinians were injured on Friday when the army dispersed a riot in the Jalazoun refugee camp near Ramallah. The IDF Spokesperson confirmed that one Palestinian was injured by IDF live gunfire and was evacuated by the Red Crescent to hospital.

Palestinian Arab is about to throw a molotov cocktail towards Israeli soldiers during clashes with the IDF in the streets of Hebron April 2013. Photo: EPA/ABED AL HASHLAMOUN

Palestinian Arab is about to throw a molotov cocktail towards Israeli soldiers during clashes with the IDF in the streets of Hebron April 2013. Photo: EPA/ABED AL HASHLAMOUN

According to Palestinian news agency Ma’an the riot took place to mark two days since the IDF killed Muhammad Mubarak who was from the Jalazoun. 

Continue Reading »
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| February 1, 2014
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Palestinian youths occupy abandoned houses outside of Jericho

 

Encourage by Israeli activists, some 300 Palestinians occupy remnants of abandoned homes in West Bank, in protest of Israel’s  continued construction of homes & refusal to withdraw from the Jordan Valley.

By AFP

 

 

Some 300 Palestinians accompanied by Israeli activists occupied around a dozen abandoned houses Friday near Jericho in the West Bank, an AFP journalist said.

Photo: AFP

Some 300 Palestinians gathered – Photo: AFP

The protest was aimed at denouncing the repeated refusal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to dismantle Jewish settlements and agree to a pullout from the Jordan Valley.The protesters arrived by bus and car and paraded a banner proclaiming “No peace with settlements,” signed by the Youth Against Settlements group. Continue Reading »

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| February 1, 2014
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Terrorist rocket fired at Eilat intercepted by Iron Dome

Police searching the area for remnants after the 2nd Sinai attack on Israel’s southern vacation city this month.

By and

 

An Iron Dome battery deployed near the southern city of Eilat intercepted on Friday a rocket fired from Sinai.

Iron Dome

Iron Dome intercepting rocket launches.- Photo:Eyal Toueg

There were no reports of damage or injuries.

Rocket alert sirens went off on Friday evening in Eilat. Residents reported hearing at least two strong blasts at around 9:40 P.M. The municipality called on residents to go into sheltered areas.

Police started combing the area to find the projectile shortly after the blasts. Continue Reading »

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