Archive for April 6, 2014

U.S. Congressmen Request Increased Missile Defense Aid to Israel

United bipartisan request to House committee for additional funding cites increased threat from Iran & Hezbollah, noting the aid is ‘in America’s interest’.

By Ari Soffer

 

 

US lawmakers have called on Congress to increase funding for Israeli missile defense projects.

Last Thursday, Chief Deputy Whip Peter Roskam (R-IL) and Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, urged a key House of Representatives panel to increase funding for Israel’s Iron Dome, Arrow, Arrow 3, and David’s Sling missile defense systems.

Specifically, they called for an increase of $175.9 million over the President’s budget and $130.9 million above fiscal year 2014 funding for the Iron Dome system. Continue Reading »

It’s time for Israel to refuse American Foreign Aid

 

 

Israel receives from the U.S. about $3.2 billion each year from its Foreign Aid budget, and both houses of Congress are expected to up the sum for the next 10 years. It’s time Jerusalem said: ‘Thank you very much but we don’t need it, anymore!’

By David Guy

 

Anyone who frequents an open forum on the Middle East (let’s face it the M.E. is usually reduced to Israel ignoring what goes on in the other states and um ’disputed areas’) or reads online newspapers will eventually come across a comment or post like this: America should punish Israel for her crimes/put pressure on Israel for her own good and stop sending it money. Continue Reading »

Abbas and the hollow Palestinian threat of running to the ICC

The General Assembly’s vote from November 2012 defines “Palestine” as a state for the purpose of the ICC’s jurisdiction. But since Israel is not a member of the ICC, the Court can only have jurisdiction over the virtual “State of Palestine” – a territory that is not defined in law.

By Emmanuel Navon

 

The 20-year-old circular “negotiations” between Israel and the PLO, and Israel’s acquiescence to release murderers for the mere sake of pursuing those negotiations, are perhaps best summarized by a famous scene from the 1964 James Bond movie “Goldfinger.” Tied to a table by Dr. Goldfinger, Bond helplessly watches the approaching laser beam about to cut him in half. Continue Reading »

Bulgaria seeks extradition from Lebanon of 2 Hezbollah bus bomb terrorists

Bulgaria’s Chief prosecutor: 3rd Bombing suspect in the terror attack on an Israeli tour bus to Burgas has been officially identified, but not publicly revealed.

 

 

Bulgaria’s chief prosecutor  Sotir Tsatsarov said on Friday that the authorities transferred the investigation of the terror attack on an Israeli bus to Burgas; the  Black Sea resort which was the location of the 2012 attack resulting in the deaths of five Israelis and their Bulgarian bus driver.

Israeli ZAKA emergency rescue team examining the remains of the bus at the scene of the Hezbollah terrorist attack in Burgas, Bulgaria. – Photo: JTA

Israeli ZAKA emergency rescue team examining the remains of the bus at the scene of the Hezbollah terrorist attack in Burgas, Bulgaria. – Photo: JTA

Tsatsarov said again on Friday the identity of the third suspect—the alleged bomber who died during the terrorist attack on Israelis tourists— has been identified, but not revealed.  Continue Reading »

Israel Air Force Retaliates After Rocket Attack, Hitting 5 Terror Targets in Gaza

Residents in Israel’s southern town of Sderot  reported a series of explosions that caused panic in the city, after a Gaza rocket hits open field in Hof Ashkelon Regional Council.

By Ynetnews

 

 

The Israel Air Force attacked five terror targets in the Gaza Strip on Saturday night in response to a rocket fired towards southern Israel earlier. An IDF statement said all targets were hit.

IAF F15 - Photo courtesy IDF Spokesperson's Unit

IAF F15 – Photo courtesy IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

The rocket fell in an open field in the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council. No one was hurt from the rocket fire and no damage was caused. Continue Reading »

Study Determines Circumcision Comparable to Vaccination

American-Australian medical research team finds 50% of uncircumcised males will contract an adverse medical condition caused by their foreskin.

By

 

An Australian-American team of researchers recommended circumcising infant males to avoid diseases, in a new study that compared the practice to vaccination.

A mohel doctor is surround by other rabbis and relatives as he holds a boy at his circumcision.

A mohel is surround by other rabbis and relatives as he holds a boy at his circumcision. Photo: AP

The team, led by Brian Morris of the School of Medical Sciences at the University of Sydney, asserted in their newly published study that half of uncircumcised males will contract an adverse medical condition caused by their foreskin. Continue Reading »

Quick Acting Police Thwart Arab Terrorist Attack Outside Jerusalem

Israel police save the day by catching Palestinian terrorist on the verge of committing a potentially deadly knife-attack in Maale Adumim, just outside of Jerusalem.

By Uzi Baruch

 

An attempted terrorist attack in the city of Maale Adumim, east of Jerusalem, was thwarted Friday, it has been cleared for release this evening.

On Friday afternoon Jerusalem police received reports that a local security patrol had stopped a suspicious looking man, who appeared to be “drunk”, standing at the entrance to the city.

Police dispatched a patrol car and when officers arrived and began questioning the suspect, they noted he appeared very nervous and was answering their questions in a suspicious manner. Continue Reading »

Two Spectacular Archaeological Finds in Israel This Week

 

Israel Police nab Jerusalem tomb raiders in unauthorized ossuary transaction, while archaeologists find impressive dining room floor of Byzantine monastery located in the Negev.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Israeli archaeologists recently made two sensational finds, one thanks to the work of the police.

Spectacular Archaeological Finds in Israel

Dining room floor in Byzantine monastery located in Negev – Photo courtesy: Israel Antiquities Authority

Earlier in the week, Israeli police publicized the recent arrest of tomb raiders who had stolen 11 coffin boxes dating back to the time of Jesus. The coffins were from the Jerusalem area.

Meanwhile, in the southern Negev region, an ancient Byzantine-era monastery was discovered together with its ornate and intricate mosaic floor (pictured). Continue Reading »

400,000 Israelis flying abroad for Passover

 

Top destinations for Israeli travelers are the U.S., England, France, Italy, Russia & Germany with 20,000 Israelis expected to fly to Turkey, despite security travel warning.

Increase in travel attributed to low cost airline tickets entering the Israeli market.

By Ilan Gategno

 

Continue Reading »

Lapid: Abbas’ incessant unreasonable demands guarantee cessation of talks

Finance Minister & Yesh Atid party leader Lapid, still supports diplomatic solution but says Abbas is working against himself by making new set of demands. There’s doubt that PA leader Abbas really wants an agreement.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

There is great doubt that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is interested in reaching a peace agreement with Israel, Finance Minister Yair Lapid said on Friday morning.

Finanace Minister Yair Lapid

Finance Minister Yair Lapid in the Knesset – Photo: Reuters

Lapid implied that his party, Yesh Atid, was disappointed by a list of demands published on Thursday by the PA for continuing talks past the end of April. Continue Reading »

US Congressional bill proposal will widen American sanctions against Hezbollah

 

The Hezbollah Int’l Financial Prevention Act targets the terrorist organization’s fundraising activities & will restrict the Shiite terror group’s ability to use its funds to support global terrorist activities.

By Ynet news

 

The US House Foreign Affairs Committee was set to introduce new legislation that would toughen economic sanctions against Hezbollah, the committee announced Thursday.

Screenshot from webpage“Hezbollah continues to represent a threat to the United States, Israel and the entire region,” Congressman Brad Schneider, one of the bill’s authors, said in a press release.

If passed, the Hezbollah International Financial Prevention Act would impose severe new sanctions on the Shiite organization’s fundraising channels, as well as restrict the Lebanese terror organization’s ability to use its funds to support global terrorist activities. Continue Reading »

After IAF Retaliation for Rockets Fired Thursday, Gaza Terrorists Fire Rockets Again

— SECURITY REPORT UPDATE —

Sirens sound on Ashkelon coast, less than 24 hours after multiple rockets fired into Israel, additional rockets fired Friday morning, with no injuries reported.

By Tova Dvorin

 

Sirens were sounded in the Ashkelon region Friday. According to Channel 2, only one rocket has been fired and no one was reportedly hurt in the attack.

The sirens sounded less than 24 hours after skirmishes broke out between the IAF and Hamas. Four Kassam rockets were fired into southern Israel on Thursday night; there were no injuries reported. The IAF responded by eliminating a number of terror targets in Gaza shortly thereafter. Continue Reading »

Meet ‘Morty’ – IDF’s 1st GPS guided mortar shell

 

Israel Military Industries develops the first GPS-guided 120mm mortar shell for the IDF, solving accuracy issue, offering pinpoint military accuracy for Gaza terrorist cells.

By Yoav Zitun

 

Could this be the answer to rocket launching terror cells in Gaza? The IDF is set receive a new model of a GPS-guided mortar shell, developed by Israel Military Industries. The weapon is designed to deliver a quick strike against terrorist cells, especially those in the Gaza Strip, and was given the original name “Morty” (Patzmi, a play on the Hebrew acronym for mortar).

'Morty' IDF new mortar shell

Morty’ IDF new mortar shell – IDF

“Mortar shells were always considered an inaccurate weapon that hit only the target area and not the target itself,” a security source told Ynet. Continue Reading »

Jerusalem Building Committee passes controversial City of David visitors’ center

Elad group received permission for a 16,600 square-meter building as gateway to City of David in Jerusalem.

 

 

The Jerusalem Regional Planning and Building Committee approved the construction of a controversial visitors’ center for the City of David just outside the Old City walls. The committee heard objections to the huge project for eight hours before approving it Thursday evening.

Illustration: IDF soldiers during a tour of The City of David in East Jerusalem.

IDF soldiers during a tour of The City of David in East Jerusalem. – Photo: Emil Salman

Residents of Silwan, where the center will be located, claimed the large structure, which is intended for serving tourism and educational services for the City of David National Park, does not take the needs of local residents into consideration.

Continue Reading »

IAF Strikes Back Following Salvo of Kassam Rockets From Gaza

—  SPECIAL SECURITY REPORT  —

Israel Air Force hits several Hamas targets after terrorists fired salvo of rockets towards the town of Sderot.

By Elad Benari

 

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) struck in Gaza on Thursday night, hours after terrorists fired several rockets towards Sderot and the surrounding communities.

According to Kol Yisrael radio, Palestinian Arab sources that targets in Gaza City and in northern Gaza were hit. These targets, they said, included two Hamas outposts.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said that a total of five terror targets were hit, four of them in northern Gaza and one in central Gaza. Continue Reading »