Archive for November 22, 2016

Swiss report notes “it is the state’s duty” to protect local Jews but refuses to fund needed security

 

Swiss government refuses to follow neighbouring countries where Jews or Jewish institution may be targeted in violent attacks, saying, ‘There is no constitutional basis permitting the federal state in funding the costs.’

JTA

 

Switzerland’s Jews need to fund their own security costs, a Swiss government agency said in a report on anti-Semitism.

The unusual assertion came in a report published last week by the Swiss interior ministry’s Service for the Fight against Racism. It prompted a mixed reaction by the country’s Jewish communities, who welcomed the report’s naming of the problem but criticized its failure to offer alternative solutions. Continue Reading »

Report: Trump credited in French postponement of Paris Peace Summit 

 

London-based Arabic newspaper Al-Hayat reports president-elect’s team sent a clear message to Paris that their planned summit is unacceptable at this time.
• Palestinians: “The clearly biased position of President-elect [Donald] Trump and his people in favor of Israel will make it difficult to reach a solution to the conflict.”

By Daniel Siryoti and Israel Hayom Staff

 

The international peace summit seeking to reignite the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process, scheduled to be held in Paris in December, will be postponed and possibly even cancelled due to the result of the U.S. presidential elections.

Netanyahu and Hollande hold joint press conference – Photo: Koby Gideon, GPO

The reason, according to a Sunday report in the London-based Arabic newspaper Al-Hayat, is that the elected administration opposes the summit, Israel’s objections to it notwithstanding. Continue Reading »

In first TV interview by Israeli in 13 years Erdogan unabashed over Marmara flotilla fiasco

 

In the interview, Erdoğan said that claims made by Israeli commandos about violence perpetrated by those aboard the ship were “all lies” and “They cannot be believed,” Erdoğan said, “we have all the documents to prove it.”
(- Apparently he didn’t watch the [included below]video provide by the IDF that used onboard CCTV film and real-time footage taken by the IDF, documenting the event.)

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

For the first time in 13 years, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sat down for an interview with an Israeli TV station and called for opening a new chapter in relations between the two countries. Continue Reading »

Israel security forces nab 9 terrorists, confiscating weapons and terror funds in night-raids

 

In 3 overnight multi-agency operations across Judea and Samaria, the IDF, Border Police, Israel Police, and Shin Bet security agency, apprehended 9 wanted terrorists, while seizing firearms & cash used to promote terrorism.

By Arutz Sheva Staff

 

A joint overnight operation of the IDF, Border Police, and Judea and Samaria District police netted nine wanted terrorists and a large illegal weapon stash.

Four of the suspects arrested in the raids were wanted for past terror attacks targeting Israeli civilians and security forces.

Cache of weapon parts uncovered - IDF Spokesperson's Unit

Cache of weapon parts uncovered – IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

According to an IDF spokesperson, the suspects included three members of the Islamic Jihad terror group and two members of Hamas. Continue Reading »

Israel Military Industries held live artillery systems demonstration for buyers from 17 countries

 

IMI Systems demonstrated various types of advanced weapon systems for land, air, and naval forces, including the Magic Spear, a new 160mm precision guided rocket, a larger 155mm Artillery shell, as well as a 120 kg warhead that is fitted to the long-range EXTRA missile.

By Yoav Zitun

 

The Israel Military Industries (IMI) showcased some of its latest products to representatives from 17 foreign nations over the weekend.

The the Magic Spear (also known in Hebrew as 'Accular') precision rocket for the 40 km rang - Courtesy IMI Systems

The the Magic Spear (also known in Hebrew as ‘Accular’) precision rocket for the 40 km rang – Courtesy IMI Systems

The IMI conducted live demonstrations of several weapons, including an advanced artillery system.
Continue Reading »

Ashton Kutcher graciously defends Airbnb when Jewish BDS protester disrupts conference

view videoWATCH VIDEO: Jewish BDS protester was escorted offstage with the actor and investor telling the crowd, ‘This company is about bringing people together.’

By J. S. Herzog

 

A BDS protestor from the organization Code Pink forced her way onto the stage of the Airbnb Open 2016: A Festival of Hosting conference on Saturday night in Los Angeles, prompting Airbnb investor and famous actor Ashton Kutcher to defend the company.

The protestor, Ariel Gold, brandished a pink sign reading “Airbnb out of Settlements; @codepink,” the Twitter handle of “a women-led grassroots organization working to end U.S. Continue Reading »

Israeli court confirmed legality of confiscating ship that attempted to breach Gaza blockade

 

The Haifa naval court ruled that in accordance with the British Naval Prize Act of 1864, which applies in Israeli law, the state may confiscate the Swedish-registered Marianne, a ship which blatantly broke the law when it attempted to breach the internationally recognized blockade of Hamas-ruled Gaza.

Arutz Sheva Staff

 

Haifa Naval Court judge Ron Sokol approved Sunday the state’s request to confiscate the ship “Marianne,” which was stopped by the Israeli navy in June 2015 when it attempted to break Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip.

The fishing trawler, Marianne of Gothenburg – Google photos

The state filed the request to order the confiscation of the ship in accordance with the British Naval Prize Act of 1864, which applies in Israeli law. Continue Reading »

Lebanon constructs ‘security wall’ around Palestinian refugee camp to isolate violence

 

This week Lebanese authorities began construction on an ‘isolation wall’ to encompass the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp following a wide range of “security concerns.”

 

The first blocks of an isolation wall were erected around the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon this week, as a plan to build ‘security’ wall and watchtowers around Ain al-Hilweh came into effect.

The security wall forms part of an agreement between Palestinian factions and the authorities in Lebanon in attempt to contain recent confrontations between Palestinians inside the camp and the Lebanese army, Lebanese and Palestinian officials claim. Continue Reading »

Gaza’s health ministry reports Palestinian shot dead by IDF on border

 

IDF reports patrol being forced to use live fire after dozens of violent rioters ignored IDF calls to exit buffer-zone and stop their approach to the Israeli border fence.

By Elad Benari, Canada

 

Gaza’s health ministry said on Friday that Israeli soldiers shot dead a young Palestinian during clashes along the Gaza border, AFP reports.

IDF Soldiers of the Caracal Battalion, charged with guarding Israel's southern border - Photo courtesy IDF Spokespersons Unit

IDF Soldiers of the Caracal Battalion, charged with guarding Israel’s southern border – Photo courtesy IDF Spokespersons Unit

“Mohammed Abu Saada, 26, died after being shot in the chest by Israeli soldiers in clashes east of the Al-Bureij camp,” ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said in a statement quoted by the news agency. Continue Reading »

After Jerusalem, Western Wall, Temple Mount, Palestinians now turn to UNESCO to get Rachel’s Tomb

 

view videoThe Palestinians are trying to threaten Israel’s hold on Rachel’s Tomb by throwing pipe bombs & stones, as well as by fabricating a new history for the site by interjecting the identity of Bilal Ibn Rabah. And again, just as was done with Jerusalem, UNESCO is on their team solidifying their falsehoods into a reality.

By Nadav Shragai

 

As the argument over the muezzin bill in Israel heats up, security forces in the Bethlehem region and the outskirts of the Gilo neighborhood in Jerusalem seem bothered by one muezzin in particular: Bilal Ibn Rabah, an Ethiopian-Abyssinian who is recognized in Islamic tradition as a slave who served in the home of the Prophet Muhammad as the first muezzin to ever beckon believers for prayer five times a day. Continue Reading »

UN General Assembly passes Israeli resolution, “Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development”

 

Israel’s envoy to the UN, Danny Danon, says about the resolution passed in Friday’s General Assembly, “This resolution is further proof of the important contributions that Israel makes to the world as a leader in innovation and entrepreneurship.”

By DANIELLE ZIRI

 

NEW YORK – The United Nations General Assembly approved an Israeli-sponsored resolution on Friday, focusing on international innovation and development and ways to help some to remove the obstacles entrepreneurs face internationally.

The resolution, entitled “Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development,” states that by promoting entrepreneurship education through capacity-building, training programs, and business incubators, access and opportunities for women, youth and individuals with disabilities can increase as well. Continue Reading »

US demands from Israel intel information on drone given to Russian PM

 

view videoUS demands clarification as to whether the drone used by Israeli researchers, that Agricultural Minister Uri Ariel gave Russian PM Medvedev as a present, contained American technology.

By Itamar Eichner

 

An American official from the US Embassy in Israel has commented for the first time since Minister of Agriculture Uri Ariel gave Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev a drone as a gift worth 200,000 shekels which was being used by researchers at the Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center.

“The US demands information from the Israeli authorities in order to determine whether there was American technology in the drone,” the official said days after Uriel’s humiliating and potentially consequential blunder. Continue Reading »

Conference of Mayors from North & South America, Europe & Africa, hosted in Israel

 

Two American Jewish groups are hosting twenty-six mayors from around the world in Israel as part of a conference highlighting Israeli innovations for urban & city infrastructures, such as telecommunications, water uses, security technologies etc.

By JTA

 

Two American Jewish groups are hosting mayors from around the world in Israel as part of a conference highlighting Israeli innovation.

Jerusalem Old & New – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

Twenty-six mayors from North and South America, Europe and Africa are visiting the Jewish state through Friday as part of a forum organized by the American Jewish Congress and the American Council for World Jewry. Continue Reading »

US fingers Pollard’s ’86 ‘J’lem Post’ interview for strict sentencing & parole

 

United States Parole Commission say Jonathan Pollard’s 1986 interview to J’lem Post correspondent Wolf Blitzer was in violation of a signed plea agreement.

By GIL HOFFMAN

 

Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard’s strict parole conditions were set by the United States Parole Commission due in part to an interview he gave The Jerusalem Post nearly 30 years ago, documents submitted this week revealed.

That interview Pollard gave on November 20, 1986, to Post correspondent Wolf Blitzer was claimed at the time of sentencing to be in violation of a plea agreement he had signed – even though Pollard was in federal custody at the time of the interviews, which could only have taken place with the government’s permission, according to Pollard’s lawyer Eliot Lauer. Continue Reading »

Hamas forbids use of Israeli SIM cards in Gaza

 

Hamas is trying to stop sale of smuggled Israeli SIM cards into Gaza saying they pose a security risk, undercut local providers, and allow access to internet content that Hamas deems ‘unacceptable.’

By Reuters

 

Hamas-run authorities in Gaza are trying to stop the sale and distribution of pre-paid SIM cards from Israeli cellular providers, arguing the cards pose economic and security risks and allow users to access “immoral” content.

celcom-sims

Officials from the Palestinian telecommunications and interior ministries, which are overseen by Hamas, said there have always been restrictions on the use of Israeli SIMs in the territory, but now they are determined to stamp them out entirely. Continue Reading »