Archive for May 18, 2016

Israel Navy successful in live-fire interception test of ‘Naval Iron Dome’

 

The Tamir interceptor system was designed to protect and defend Israeli economic assets at sea, such as its offshore natural-gas rigs.

By i24news

 

The IDF has conducted a successful live-fire interception test of its Tamir weapons system, which it describes as a “sea-borne Iron Dome”.

Successful live-fire test of its Tamir navel weapons system, which it describes as a ‘sea-borne Iron Dome’. – Photo: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

The system can be installed aboard navy vessels and is intended to protect Israeli economic assets at sea, including gas rigs.

The test was conducted a few weeks ago from aboard the INS Lahav naval vessel, with a number of test rockets fired from onshore and successfully intercepted by the Tamir interceptor, which works in tandem with Adir radar systems. Continue Reading »

Avigdor Liberman enters Netanyahu’s gov’t, replaces Moshe Ya’alon as Defense Minister

 

Israel’s TV2 Reports: Former foreign minister Avigdor Liberman, agreed to PM Netanyahu’s offer to enter current coalition, and will replace Moshe Ya’alon as Israel’s Defense Minister.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

Yisrael Beytenu chief Avigdor Liberman has agreed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s offer to supplant Moshe Ya’alon as Israel’s next defense minister.

Liberman and Ya’alon. – Photo MARC ISRAEL SELLEM, J’lem Post

Netanyahu and Liberman agreed on Wednesday to form negotiating teams whose mandate will be to finalize the terms of a deal that would expand the Likud-led governing coalition.

News of the agreement between Liberman and Netanyahu was first reported by Ben Caspit, the senior political commentator for The Jerusalem Post’s Hebrew-language corporate sister publication Ma’ariv. Continue Reading »

Photo Essay: Israel Navy participates in Noble Dina 2016 Joint Exercise with US, Greece

 

Israeli rescue helicopters, missile boats, swiftboats, patrol boats, along with para-rescue soldiers from the IDF’s elite 669 unit with search & rescue vessels took part in the joint naval drill held at the NATO facility in the Greek islands.

By Yoav Zitun

 

A joint training exercise between the US, Greek and Israeli navies held at a NATO facility in the Greek islands has recently concluded.

The drill included several training missions, with Israeli missile boats, patrol boats, swiftboats, rescue helicopters with para-rescue soldiers from the elite 669 unit, and search and rescue vessels all took part in the exercise. Continue Reading »

$24 million ‘Palestinian museum’ opens – with no exhibits or artifacts

Since the ‘Palestinian’ culture is young, having only been declared in the mid 1960’s, more time will be needed before genuine archaeological exhibits are added.

By Hillel Fendel

 

The world has long had its absolutely shortest books – “Light Jewish Cuisine,” and “Tips on Courting Israel” by Barack Obama,” to name a couple – but now it has its emptiest museum, and this time for real: The Palestinian Museum of Art, History and Culture – with absolutely nothing in it.

The EMPTY Palestinian Museum – Facebook Page

The museum is actually named the Palestinian Museum, it cost $24 million, and it is scheduled to celebrate its opening today in Birzeit, just outside Ramallah (and Beit El). Continue Reading »

Iran tells Hezbollah: Back off Israel, focus all attention on Saudi Arabia

 

According to the UK based report in the Middle East Eye, Iran’s instructions demonstrate the hostile & drastically spiraling relations between Tehran & Riyadh.

By i24news

 

Iran has told Hezbollah’s military arm to stop attacking Israel and instead turn its sights to Saudi Arabia, according to a report in Middle East Eye (MEE).

Hezbollah fighters carry the coffin of top commander Mustafa Badreddine — who was killed in Syria — during his funeral of Mustafa in the Ghobeiry neighbourhood of Beirut, on May 13, 2016 – Photo: ANWAR AMRO/AFP

The instructions come amid the aftermath of the killing of Hezbollah military commander in Syria Mustafa Badreddine, which the Lebanese Shi’ite grouped blamed on hardline “takfiri” forces backed by Saudi Arabia. Continue Reading »

Watch: Pro-Israel supporters neutralize BDS mob protesting in London

 

WATCH: The UK’s Israel Advocacy Movement mobilized activists, including a number of pro-Israel Muslims, seriously outnumbering the bewildered group of ignorant far-left extremists who were waving their Palestinian flags upside down.

By Ari Soffer

 

Things didn’t go quite as planned for a group of anti-Israel activists, who hoped to force the closure of an Israeli-owned shop in honor of “Nakba Day” – the day dedicated to mourning the failure of combined Arab armies to destroy the State of Israel at birth.

Several dozen members of the London Palestine Action organization targeted the Sabon cosmetics store on Sunday, mimicking campaigns by other anti-Israel boycotters – belonging to the so-called Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS) – to force the closure of businesses owned by Jewish Israelis. Continue Reading »

Israel’s drip irrigation giant opens first manufacturing plant in China

 

view videoNetafim CEO released a statement that the location for their first plant in China was chosen due to its low rainfall levels that has led to an increasing interest by local farmers to find innovative ways in water conservation.

By MICHELLE MALKA GROSSMAN

 

Drip irrigation and other water-saving technology will be getting a major boost in China, after Israeli drip irrigation leader Netafim opened its first production plant there on May 9. Netafim announced the inauguration of the plant in Yinchuan, the capital of the northwestern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Stephan Titze, Eitan Neubauer, Israeli Ambassador to China Matan Vilnai and David Zeng, Managing Director for China at Netafim.

Continue Reading »

US judge: Synagogue members can take control of oldest US Shule

 

Judge rules in favor of Rhode Island congregation in conflict about the U.S.’s 1st Jewish congregation in NYC against the 250 yr-old Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island for selling its ceremonial Torah-bells.

By The Associated Press

 

The congregation that worships at the nation’s oldest synagogue prevailed Monday in a bitter legal fight that threatened its existence, as a federal judge ruled it may now control its own destiny and decide what to do with a set of ceremonial bells worth millions.

Touro Synagogue, Photo: AP

Touro Synagogue – Photo: AP

The lawsuit pitted congregants at the 250-year-old Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, against the nation’s oldest Jewish congregation, Shearith Israel in New York City. Continue Reading »

Netanyahu welcomes Egypt’s President El-Sisi’s call for regional peace & stability

 

Israel’s PM Netanyahu welcomes Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s call to “join forces” to make regional peace more possible.

By Arutz Sheva Staff

 

I welcome Egyptian President El-Sisi’s remarks and his willingness to make every effort to advance a future of peace and security between us and the Palestinians and the peoples of the region,” Netanyahu said in response.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi. (AP) & sraeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu (Amos Ben Gershom)

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi. (AP) & Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu (Amos Ben Gershom)

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu responded to the President of Egypt’s call for a peace agreement with the Palestinian Authority earlier Tuesday.

“Israel is ready to participate with Egypt and other Arab states in advancing both the diplomatic process and stability in the region. Continue Reading »

Israel to clear landmines around ancient churches and monasteries near Jericho

Once HALO Trust, a humanitarian organization, has cleared the landmines, the land & churches along the western bank of the Jordan River can be visited once more in safety.

By Lilach Shoval

 

Qasr al-Yahud, a site just north of the Dead Sea near Jericho, where many Christians believe Jesus was baptized, will be cleared of landmines and other ordnance, a half-century after Israel took control of the area during the 1967 Six-Day War.

Qasr al-Yahud is located just north of the Dead Sea – Photo: Ministry of Defense

The Defense Ministry will carry out the clearing operation together with the HALO Trust, which describes itself as “the world’s largest humanitarian mine clearance organization.” Continue Reading »

In Directorial Triumph: Coldplay uses Israeli direction in their latest music video

 

view videoWATCH the 4-minute music video that is so rich in imagery and creative content that Coldplay’s Chris Martin refers to it as “one of best ever made.”

 

It is rare that one comes across a music video so rich in imagery and creative content that makes it actually worth watching. Coldplay’s video for it’s single “Up&Up,” directed by Israeli-creatives Vania Heymann and Gal Muggia, is one of those rarities.

Released on Monday, the video has already garnered close to 3 million views, and is the third single released from Coldplay’s new album titled A Head Full of Dreams. Continue Reading »

#BDSfail: Louis CK will perform his comedy act in Jerusalem

 

The int’ly renowned stand-up comedian & movie personality will be coming to perform his routine in Israel, on 18th of August, at the Payis Arena in the capital, for one night only, so get your tickets now!

By Raz Shechn

 

It’s not a rumor anymore; Louis CK will perform in Israel on August 18 at the Payis Arena in Jerusalem, with tickets already on sale.

Louis CK is a groundbreaking and revolutionary comedian. He both writes for and stars in the wildly successful show Louie, which has raised the bar and set new standards for sitcoms across the board. Continue Reading »

French Mideast peace-summit postponed despite Erekat’s assurances of Kerry’s attendance

 

As US State Department evades question of Kerry’s attendance, French President Francois Hollande announces that the peace summit would be postponed, despite PA lead negotiator Erekat’s assurances of Sec. of State Kerry’s participation.

By David Rosenberg

 

A planned Middle East peace summit hosted by the French government has US Secretary of State John Kerry in a bind, pitting the Obama administration’s hopes that the meeting will rekindle stalled talks against the State Department’s long standing support for bilateral negotiations.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, (right), PLO leader Saeb Erekat (center) and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (left) – Photo: AP

While Kerry has suggested that scheduling issues could prevent his attendance, France has stated the summit will be postponed to fit with the Secretary’s other commitments. Continue Reading »

Texas Governor to ignore Iran nuclear deal & maintain sanction

 

Texas’ Governor Abbott formally responded on Monday to President Obama’s April 8th letter, stating that “Texas will maintain its sanctions against Iran.”

By DANIELLE ZIRI

 

New York – Texas will not lift its sanctions on Iran and will take no part in the Obama administration’s nuclear deal with the Islamic republic, which has made the world a “more dangerous and compromised” place, Texas Governor Greg Abbott told Jewish media at a special meeting in New York on Monday afternoon.

Activists gather at a Capitol Hill rally against the Iran nuclear deal in Washington September 9, 2015. – Photo: REUTERS

The Governor formally responded on Monday to a letter sent out by President Barack Obama on April 8 requesting that Texas “review” its economic sanctions against Iran as part of the deal concluded last year. Continue Reading »

Jordan joins Egypt in restricting movement of Gazans

 

Travelers & human rights groups say that Gazans are experiencing difficulties receiving Jordanian permits, preventing patients, university students and others with business abroad from leaving the Hamas ruled enclave.

By Associated Press

 

Gazans who endured a border blockade by neighboring Egypt and Israel for almost a decade thought they were finally catching a break when Israel slightly eased restrictions on travel from the Hamas-ruled territory in recent months.

Gazans at a rally – Photo: EPA

But now Jordan appears to be emerging as an obstacle, routinely denying transit permits for Gazans and effectively preventing patients, university students and others with business abroad from leaving the territory. Continue Reading »