Archive for May 26, 2014

Israel High Court ruling: 10,000 non-working haredim to lose monthly stipend

Israel’s Supreme Court decision addresses only directly-paid subsidies & does not impact the new major law that reset the entire balance of ultra-Orthodox obligations regarding serving in the army etc.

 

 

An expanded seven justice panel of the High Court unanimously threw out as unconstitutional approximately NIS 1,000 per month in subsidies which the state has been paying directly to around 10,000 haredim for studying in yeshivot and not working.

Haredim

Haredim – Illustrative photo: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post

Though Supreme Court President Asher D. Grunis presided, justice Elyakim Rubinstein wrote the court’s opinion, including an anecdote at the end stating that members of a synagogue he attends recently told a young haredi man asking for charity that he should “go find a job.” Continue Reading »

In Technology: Israel attracts Chinese investments

 

The ‘Start-up Nation’ draws in Chinese firms, who offer Israel funding & access to one of the world’s largest markets in return.

By Reuters

 

China’s purchase of a controlling stake in Israel’s largest food maker reflects a broader surge in Chinese investment in an economy largely tethered to Western markets.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in his Jerusalem office with Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong. May 19, 2014 – Photo: Amos Ben Gershom, GPO.

The deal, announced on Thursday, gives China access to Israel’s high tech expertise, cachet among consumers made wary by domestic food production scandals and an alternative place to put their money amid trade obstacles from a wary United States. Continue Reading »

2 Jewish men attacked leaving synagogue outside Paris just after Brussels killings

 

After Saturday evening’s Brussels Attack when 4 Jews were shot dead, 2 Jews were attacked leaving a synagogue outside Paris.

French police ordered to increase security at Jewish establishments after wave of European anti-Semitism.

 

 

France’s interior minister says that two Jewish men have been attacked as they left a synagogue in the Paris area.

French Jews marching in Paris in March 2012.

French Jews marching in Paris in March 2012.- Photo: Reuters

Bernard Caseneuve ordered police around France to increase security at Jewish houses of worship and other Jewish establishments, according to a statement Sunday.

There were no immediate details on the Saturday night attack on two men leaving the synagogue in Creteil, southeast of Paris.

Continue Reading »

4th Victim Confirmed Dead in Brussels Jewish Museum killings

Closed-circuit security footage of suspect at Jewish Museum attack is released, as Jewish institutions placed on high alert.

By AFP and Arutz Sheva Stafj

 

A fourth victim was pronounced dead Sunday and Belgium’s Jewish community was placed on high alert as police hunted down a gunman who opened fire at the Brussels Jewish Museum in an attack blamed on growing anti-Semitism.

Gunman firing at victims. (Screenshot)

An Israeli tourist couple and a French woman died from gunshots to the face and neck after a man apparently acting alone fired two successive rounds into the museum on Saturday afternoon before escaping minutes later on foot. Continue Reading »

WATCH LIVE: Pope Francis I in Jordan appeals for urgent steps to end Syria war

 

Under tight security arrangements, the pontiff lands in Jordan to kick off his 1st visit to region as head of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Pope is scheduled to arrive in Israel on Sunday.

By REUTERS

 

Pope Francis called for urgent steps to end Syria’s three-year-old civil war as he arrived in neighboring Jordan on Saturday, starting a Middle East trip aimed at bringing hope to the region’s dwindling Christian population.

Pope in Jordan - CTV Screanshot
Pope Francis I in Jordan – CTV Screenshot

Addressing Jordan’s King Abdullah at the start of his first visit as pope to the Holy Land, Francis praised the Western-backed kingdom for its efforts to “to seek lasting peace for the entire region.”

Continue Reading »

IDF Counsels NATO Conference on ‘Women in the Military’

 

Western nations seeking to successfully integrate more women into their perspective militaries learn of Israel’s success during recent NATO conference.

By Aryeh Savir, Tazpit

 

The Women’s Affairs Advisor to the IDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Rachel Tevet-Wiesel, participated this week in the annual conference of NATO’s Committee on Gender Perspectives, which took place at the organization’s headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Representatives from some 30 countries attended the conference to discuss the integration of women in militaries throughout the world.

. Gen. Tevet-Wiesel speaks at the NATO conference. (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

Gen. Tevet-Wiesel speaks at the NATO conference. – Photo: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

During the conference, Brig. Gen. Tevet-Wiesel spoke to global military representatives on the IDF’s opportunities for women, which are considered advanced relative to those of other militaries. Continue Reading »

Jerusalem Judge Vetoes Israel Police, Allows Anti-Pope Protests

Jerusalem Magistrates’ Court Judge overrules Police remand of youths who put up posters calling on ‘impure’ Pope to leave Israel.

By Orly Harari, Gil Ronen

 

Jerusalem Magistrates’ Court Judge Shmuel Herbst rejected early Friday afternoon a request by police to place two youths under house arrest for seven days, distance them from Jerusalem and slap them with a security deposit after they were caught putting up posters hostile to Pope Francis.

Judge Herbst

Judge Herbst – Courts Website

The posters said, among other things, that Christianity is an “accursed” religion that is complicit in the murder of millions of Jews, and that its leaders dream of “annihilating the Jewish state.” Continue Reading »

4.1 earthquake hits Israel

 

The epicenter of Saturday’s quake was located on the Dead Sea Rift, source of the majority of Israel’s strongest earthquakes.

 

A magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck southern Israel, the Geophysical Institute of Israel said. The quake was felt across the country.
 - Alon Ron

Earthquake – Photo: Alon Ron

The earthquake’s center was in the Dead Sea Rift, a system of faults prone to earthquakes, and the source of most of the powerful quakes which struck Israel.

Saturday’s earthquake was the first of its magnitude in this segment of the Rift in recent years. However, the earthquake doesn’t foretell of the frequency or magnitude of future earthquakes. Continue Reading »

PA art exhibit for Papal visit presents Jesus as Palestinian

Official PA presidential committee requested the exhibit. As seen by a few examples, the exhibit shows parts of classical paintings of biblical scenes merged with photos of Palestinians.

By Itamar Marcus & Nan Jacques Zilberdik

 

 

For Pope Francis’ visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority next week, the PA has commissioned an art exhibit that includes works of art portraying Palestinians as Jesus.

The exhibit consists of visual displays merging classical paintings of biblical scenes with photos of Palestinians and have been “designed by the Palestinian Museum at the request of the Presidential Higher Committee for Church Affairs.” [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, May 20, 2014]

As Palestinian Media Watch has documented, the PA has misrepresented Jesus for years, claiming he was not a Judean as in Christian tradition, but rather a “Palestinian,” thereby claiming a Palestinian history dating back to the time of Jesus. Continue Reading »

Sinai terrorist leader assassinated with 3 others by local tribesmen

 

The leader of anti-Israel terrorist group, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, is reported dead in Sinai after shooting attack.

The assassination deals strategic blow to terrorist group responsible for attacks on Israel.

By Roi Kais

 

The top leader of an al-Qaeda-inspired group in Egypt’s restive Sinai and three of his associates were killed in a drive-by shooting in the peninsula on Thursday, senior Egyptian security officials said.

KilledThe development deals a heavy blow to the militant group, which has claimed scores of deadly attacks across Egypt and in Israel since the ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi last July. It is also a boost for Egypt’s military-backed authorities ahead of the country’s presidential elections next week. Continue Reading »

Vatican Official: Pope Francis I Will Demand ‘Sovereign Palestine’

The Vatican’s Secretary of State says Pope Francis plans to talk about the ‘Palestinian right to a sovereign, independent homeland’ during his visit to Israel.

By Ari Yashar

 

The Vatican’s Secretary of State made a dramatic revelation ahead of Pope Francis’s visit to Israel next Sunday and Monday, declaring that the pope will talk about the “Palestinian people’s right to have a homeland, sovereign and independent.”

Vatican Sec'y of State Pietro Parolin

Vatican Sec’y of State Pietro Parolin – Reuters

Cardinal Pietro Parolin holds a role in the Vatican City State, located in the Italian capital of Rome, equivalent to that of a prime minister. Continue Reading »

Possible Pallywood Film Sparks Further Debate on 2 Palestinian Deaths

 

Israeli ballistics expert Dr. Yosef Yekutiel, said the rifle barrel used by the Border Policeman seen in the CNN footage was thicker than usual, which means it was adapted for firing rubber bullets.

By i24news

 

New footage published today by CNN, reportedly showing a group of Border Police officers firing towards a crowd of Palestinian protesters on Nakba Day, sparked a new round of debate on whether live ammunition or rubber bullets were used.

AFP

Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz  – Photo: AFP

According to CNN, the footage was shot exactly at 13:45 last Thursday (May 15th), and it shows one of the Border Police officers aiming and firing his weapon towards a group of protesters. Continue Reading »

Media Misquotes Hamas to Demonize Israel

International community wants so badly to blame Israel as the obstacle to peace, that mainstream media is willing to overtly misquote Hamas.

By Ryan Jones

 

Diplomats, media and peace activists apparently eager to paint Israel as the main obstacle to peace have been quick to publish and point to numerous reports that Hamas is being encouraged and has even agreed to recognize Israel as part of its unity agreement with the Palestinian Authority.

Never Mind, No One Told Hamas to Recognize Israel...

Hamas protesters – Israel Today

It would seem that those reports were either premature or purposely embellished, and that those who latched on to them should have first done some rudimentary fact-checking. Continue Reading »

Palestinian terrorist admits attempted kidnapping of Jews in northern Israel

 

West Bank native also admits to throwing Molotov cocktails at passing cars

Police & Shin Bet stress danger posed by Palestinian infiltrators, urge immediate repairs of breaches in security fence.

Daniel Siryoti and Lilach Shoval

 

Continue Reading »

‘Mavi Marmara’ group IHH opposes dropping lawsuit against Israelis

Turkish Flotilla organizer IHH is urging Ankara to reject Israel’s condition to drop court cases against IDF commandos in exchange for paid compensation.

By REUTERS
 

 

ISTANBUL – A Turkish relief agency said on Thursday it would oppose what it called an imminent Israeli offer to pay compensation for a deadly commando raid on its Gaza-bound aid flotilla in exchange for dropping lawsuits over the attack.

כרזות באנקרה עם תודה לארדואן ש"ניצח" את ישראל (צילום: EPA)

Ankara poster thanks Erdogan for ‘defeating’ Israel – Photo: EPA

The two nations, erstwhile allies, have been negotiating for months to end a diplomatic crisis over the Israeli commandos’ boarding of the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish ship challenging Israel’s naval blockade of Palestinian-run Gaza Strip in 2010. Continue Reading »