Archive for September 14, 2017

Antiquities thieves vandalize burial site, skeletons at ancient Judean Desert fortress

The desecrated cave, at one of the seven Hasmonean fortresses ordered built by King Herod to protect the eastern border of the Judean Kingdom, came under attack by antiquities robbers since they’re unprotected due to a systematic lack of funding.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD

 

Tomb raiders recently destroyed human skulls and skeletal remains buried in a mysterious cave near the ancient Hasmonean fortress of Horkania in the northern Judean Desert between Jericho and the Dead Sea.

The fortress, believed to have been constructed around 120 BCE by its namesake, John Hyrcanus, was one of seven ordered built by King Herod to protect the eastern border of the Judean Kingdom from the Edomites and other enemies. Continue Reading »

Israel’s navy holds exercises to neutralize any surprise Hezbollah attack

In the largest IDF drill since 1998, tens of thousands of people participated from the different military branches, including reservists, to bolster their preparedness for the next war on Israel’s northern frontier.

By Yoav Zitun

 

The Navy is drilling fighting off Hezbollah naval commandos mounting a surprise attack on Israel as part of a large-scale amphibious training exercise taking place in the north this week.

Among other scenarios, the Israeli sailors faced a swarm of jet skis and small motorboats carrying Hezbollah fighters, divers and suicide bombers.

IDF NAVY drill – Photo: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

The drills are designed to prepare the navy for the most extreme scenarios in any future opening of a military campaign launched by Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. Continue Reading »

Israel TV10 News Report: McMaster scolds Israel – ‘Hezbollah not a terror group’

During an August meeting with US officials, according to reports, the conversation grew heated when H.R. McMaster yelled at senior Israeli defense officials, rejecting Israel’s concerns about Hezbollah, denying it was a terror group.

By Tzvi Lev

 

A new bombshell report alleges that a meeting between high-level Israeli officials and their American counterparts last month deteriorated when National Security Adviser H.R McMaster brushed off Israel’s concerns about Hezbollah, at one point backing up an aide who denied that Hezbollah is a terror organization.

Hezbollah recruits salute

According to the report on (Israel’s) Channel 10 (news) and PJ Media, McMaster yelled at Israeli officials, and denied that the Iran-backed militia is a terrorist group. Continue Reading »

Israel puts White House on notice: If necessary, Israel will attack Syria again

Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer, warns gathering of senior US officials, Israel has, and will continue unencumbered to respond with force in Syria whenever PM Netanyahu’s 2 ‘red-lines’ are crossed.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Israel sent a clear message to the Trump Administration that it will not hesitate to again attack neighboring Syria if forces embroiled in a bloody civil war there cross two red lines.

Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer condemns Obama’s backstabbing. – Screenshot: YouTube

Speaking at a pre-Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) gathering that included a large number of senior US officials, Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer, stated:

“Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has been very clear about Israeli red lines in Syria, and Israel has acted to enforce those red lines.” Continue Reading »

Prime Minister Netanyahu says Israel endorses Kurdish independence

Israel becomes the first country to officially endorse Kurdish independence as PM Netanyahu announced that the Jewish State “supports the legitimate efforts of the Kurdish people to attain a state of its own.”
• The referendum which takes place in Turkey, Iraq and Iran on Sept. 25, have all three countries opposing the vote.

By the Associated Press and Israel Hayom Staff

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel supports Kurdish independence.

The statement, made ahead of a key referendum on the matter set for Sept. 25, said that Israel rejects the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, and considers it a terrorist organization, but noted that Israel “supports the legitimate efforts of the Kurdish people to attain a state of its own.” Continue Reading »

UN World Tourism Organization postpones Palestinian membership bid for 2 years

With the assistance of the United States, Israel succeeded in nixing the PA from becoming a member in the UN agency…since the “State Of Palestine” does not exist.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, TOVAH LAZAROFF

 

The United Nations’ World Tourism Organization has announced that will postpone until its next session, in two years, a decision on allowing the Palestinian Authority to join its ranks.

The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Tourism applied for membership for “Palestine” into the organization last year.

Palestinian Museum opens to little fanfare. – Facebook Page

Had the bid been successful, the UNWTO would have been the second UN organization, after UNESCO, to which the Palestinians gained full membership. Continue Reading »

WATCH: Rabid anti-Israel Arab MK Hanin Zoabi compares Israel to Nazi Germany

A brawl broke out after Hamas supporter Zoabi accused Israel of ‘becoming a fascist state’ as her Birmingham audience accused the Palestinian MK of inciting violence.

By i24NEWS

 

A scuffle broke out between audience members after firebrand Arab Israeli lawmaker Hanin Zoabi (Joint List) said Israel was “becoming a fascist state” during a speech in Birmingham on Tuesday.

Zoabi delivered a controversial speech, comparing Israel to Nazi Germany, which sparked a brawl between hecklers from the audience who accused her of incitement.

“We must admit that Israel is becoming a fascist – began to have fascist laws. And a lot of critical Israelis describe Israel as, and compare Israel – and what I say here, and you record it, we say in Israel, we say it inside the Knesset – it is suitable to compare, logical to compare Israel, and this is a public opinion, with Germany in the 30s,” Zoabi said. Continue Reading »

In Israel: Amnesty International to face sanctions under provisions of anti-boycott law

After Amnesty International launched its campaign calling on the world to “ban Israeli settlement goods” over alleged war crimes, Israel’s Finance Minister is poised to enact an anti-boycott law for first time, meaning Amnesty could lose tax status and other legal consequences under the law.

By Yair Altman

 

Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon has decided to use his authority under a 2011 anti-boycott law to punish Amnesty International, making it the first organization to face legal consequences under the provisions of the law.

Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon. – Photo: Wikimedia\dikla bassist shafrir

The anti-boycott law, officially known as the Prevention of Damage to the State of Israel through Boycott Law, allows the finance minister to impose civil sanctions on entities that promote or take part in an economic, cultural or academic boycott against an institution or person under Israeli control because of their “affiliation with Israel.” Continue Reading »

Next conflict with Hezbollah will force Israel to reoccupy parts of Southern Lebanon

In order to trade for a serious UN resolution that improves & maintains the security situation on its northern border, the IDF will be forced to retain & occupy Southern Lebanon when Hezbollah forces the next war on Israel.

By ANNA AHRONHEIM

 

In the event of another war with Hezbollah, the IDF’s objective would be to occupy parts of southern Lebanon where the group has support and infrastructure, in order to force a UN resolution that improves the security situation on the northern border, a senior IDF officer said on Monday.

Thousands of soldiers from the 319th Armored Division, aka the Mapatz (“Bang”) Formation, the majority of them reservists, are currently drilling such a scenario during the second and final week of the Northern Command’s Or Hadagan exercise, the IDF’s largest in nearly 20 years. Continue Reading »

Israeli aid group first to arrive after Caribbean island devastated by Hurricane Irma

The Israeli organization, Rescuers Without Borders, has arrived and set up their humanitarian mission on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin.
– “Every patient or resident that sees us says ‘Thank you Israel, you Israelis got here first.’ It’s a great honor.”

By Moshe Glantz

 

When Hurricane Irma hit the Caribbean, it claimed many lives and caused a lot of damage on the island of Saint Martin, where a delegation from the Israeli organization Rescuers Without Borders (SSF) is working to save lives and provide assistance.

Damage in Saint Martin – Photo: SSF

“Crazy bedlam, complete chaos, gunfire on the streets, insane vandalism, a lot of injuries, and doctors are talking about over a thousand fatalities,” Fernand Cohen-Tannoudji, a resident of Raanana and am SSF volunteer, described the situation on the island. Continue Reading »

Human rights groups refuse to assist Arab victims of Palestinian Authority torture

Palestinian Human Rights NGOs refused medical assistance to Arabs suing the Palestinian Authority, after having suffered from physical, psychiatric, and/or urological disabilities that stem from torture during their unlawful detention.
– ‘We only help those that hurt Israel.’

By Tzvi Lev

 

In July, the Jerusalem District Court gave an unprecedented ruling stating that the Palestinian Authority (PA) was responsible for the unlawful detention and torture of collaborators with Israel since the 1990’s, which cleared the way for victims to file a lawsuit against the PA.

Palestinian police officers beat a protester during clashes at a demonstration against the U.S.-sponsored

Continue Reading »

Satellite images of alleged Israeli airstrike in Syria show heavily damaged facility

The Israeli company ImagesSat International, released pictures of the Syrian military facility before and after it sustained heavy damage in an airstrike last week, that has been attributed to Israel’s Air Force.

By Lilach Shoval and Israel Hayom Staff

 

Satellite images taken this weekend and published on Sunday have exposed the damage caused by an airstrike, attributed to Israel, on a military facility in northwest Syria.

A statement from the Syrian army said that Thursday’s strike took place near the town of Masyaf, about 25 miles north of the Lebanon border, and warned against the “dangerous repercussions of this aggressive action to the security and stability of the region.” Continue Reading »

Palestinians arrest peaceful Arab for hosting Jewish Knesset Member in Hebron

Because Muhammed Jaber, “a man of peace and coexistence” from Hebron allowed MK Yehuda Glick make a ‘Happy Birthday’ visit, the Palestinian leader’s secret police arrested & jailed him.
– MK Glick:  “His arrest shows that the Palestinian Authority is not interested in dialogue and normalization.”

By ADAM RASGON

 

The Palestinian Authority General Intelligence Service on Sunday arrested Muhammed Jaber, a Hebron resident, several days after he hosted right-wing MK Yehuda Glick at his home.

A senior PA official in Hebron on Monday confirmed Jaber’s arrest to The Jerusalem Post, but said he cannot discuss the details of his detainment. Continue Reading »

Israeli company wins tender to build prototype smart-wall for US-Mexico border

A subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries was named 1 of the 4 companies to win the gov’t tender to build a prototype of a ‘smart border wall’ US Pres. Trump wants between the US and Mexico.
– Elta, the IAI subsidiary, will receive a $300,000-500,000 grant to develop a working model.

By Udi Etsion

 

An Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) subsidiary is on the shortlist to construct the new border wall between the United States and Mexico, an enormous project and long-touted campaign promise by President Donald Trump.

Elta North America, the aforementioned IAI subsidiary, was announced Saturday as one of only four companies to construct a prototype for a “smart border” wall, after winning a US Customs tender. Continue Reading »

Arabic news outlet reports Saudi heir apparent to the throne covertly visited Israel

Online Arabic news outlet identified the ‘Saudi official’ who made a secret visit to Israel as Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, the Defense Minister of Saudi Arabia and heir apparent to the throne.

By David Rosenberg

 

A member of the Saudi royal family visited Israel during a secret trip last week, despite his country’s refusal to recognize the Jewish state.

According to a report by the Israel Broadcasting Corporation, a senior member of the Saudi royal family held high-level talks with Israeli officials during a clandestine trip to the Jewish state.

“A prince from the Royal Court visited the country in secret over the past few days and discussed the idea of pushing regional peace forward with a number of senior Israeli officials,” the IBC reported, citing the Russian Sputnikmedia outlet. Continue Reading »