israelandstuffcom

White House to end Israel’s use of military aid to fund its own weapons research

The new aid-deal: The Obama administration is removing the unique provision allowing Jerusalem to invest money for research & development of future Israel-made products.

By i24news

The White House is seeking to cancel a provision in its upcoming 10-year arms deal with Israel that allows the Mideast ally to spend part of the funds on Israeli-made goods, Foreign Policy reports.

IDF tanks equipped with Israel’s Rafael’s Trophy defense system – Courtesy of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems

Since the 1980s, Israel has been permitted to dedicate some of the money to home-produced arms, thus boosting the country’s defense sector. But in 2015, Israeli security companies sold $5.7 billion worth of arms – almost double what it exported in 2003, according to the magazine. Continue Reading »

Category: The Diaspora |

#BDSfail: California follows New Jersey’s lead, passes anti-BDS law

This newest legislation, the second of its kind, prohibits all State of California bodies from maintaining ties with organizations (BDS) intended to penalize, inflict economic harm on, or otherwise limit commercial relations by singling out only the State of Israel.

By Israel Hayom Staff

The Israeli American Council marked a significant achievement this week when the California legislator passed a bill barring all state bodies, including universities, from maintaining ties with organizations that support anti-Israel boycott, divestment and sanctions activities, Israel Hayom learned Thursday.

Israel American Coalition for Action head Shawn Evenhaim – Photo: Uri Lenz

The bill prohibits state bodies from investing in companies “engaging in actions that are politically motivated and are intended to penalize, inflict economic harm on, or otherwise limit commercial relations with the State of Israel, or companies based in the State of Israel or in territories controlled by the State of Israel.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: #BDSfail, BDS, California, Israel boycott, Israel California

Comments Off

Analysis: Is former PM/DM Barak’s allegation that Bibi endangered Israel correct?

Former Defense Minister Barak criticized PM Netanyahu for not having accepted the US station advanced weapons in Israel, something which may have presented a significant leap in Israeli technological & operational capabilities, as well as upgrading the security cooperation between the two countries.

By Alex Fishman

A year and a half ago, the professional leadership of the Israeli security apparatus, with the support of Former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, gave a recommendation to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept the aid proposal that Israel would receive as a result of the nuclear deal with Iran.In addition to increasing the amount of aid for the next decade, the US proposal included other deals which would have had dramatic impacts on security cooperation between the two countries and on Israel’s strategic abilities. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Ehud Barak, Israel US, Military Aid

REPORT: Arab League drops push for resolution on Israel’s nuclear facilities

Arab League member states decided to break away from tradition and refrain from seeking a vote on a resolution regarding the oversight of Israel’s nuclear program.

By Ben Ariel

The Arab states, led by Egypt, plan to refrain this year from seeking a vote on a resolution regarding the oversight of Israel’s nuclear facilities during the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) general conference next month, Haaretz reported Thursday, citing a cable sent to several Israeli embassies abroad.

IAEA headquarters – Photo: iStock

Three Israeli diplomats who are privy to the content of the classified telegram, sent by Tamar Rahamimoff-Honig, head of the Foreign Ministry’s Arms Control Department, said it stated that the Arab League member states had made the decision not to demand a vote on a resolution regarding Israel’s nuclear program. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Arab League, IAEA

2 Palestinian Authority police officers in Nablus killed during factional infighting within Fatah

Akram Rajub, governor of Nablus, said that two Palestinian Authority policemen had been killed in the operation as well as two gunmen, both of whom he said were on a police wanted list.

By ADAM RASGON

Two Palestinian police officers were killed and two other police officers were wounded in Nablus on Thursday afternoon in clashes with gunmen, according to Palestinian Authority security service spokesperson Adnan al-Damiri.

Palestinian Authority police officers stand guard in the West Bank [File]. – Photo: REUTERS

“At 6PM on Thursday evening, security forces were exposed to gunfire in Nablus’s Old City while pursuing criminals, leading to the death a number of security forces,” Damiri told Wafa, the official PA news site. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Nablus, PA police

IDF welcomes a Native American Jewish soldier

Having recently found out that he’s of Native American descent, Benjamin Barmeyer is excited about joining the IDF, saying, “I fell in love with Israel 4 years ago when I first visited.”

By Noam Dvir

Benjamin Barmeyer of Texas, 22, of Native American descent, is among the diverse pool of young people from abroad who have chosen to join the Israel Defense Forces and enrich the military with their variety.

During a pre-IDF course, Benjamin Barmeyer – Photo courtesy

Barmeyer, who came to Israel with the Garin Tzabar program, found out about his heritage only recently. He was adopted as a baby by Larry and Don Barmeyer, who raised him as Jewish and held a bar mitzvah ceremony for him. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Aliyah, IDF volunteers, new immigrants

Int’l animal rights org to take Gaza’s remaining animals closing ‘world’s worst zoo’

The closure of the Gaza zoo means a new life for the tiger and the other 16 starving animals residing at the Khan Younis Zoo, which up to now have wasted their lives away without proper medical attention in small, desolate cages.

By SHARON UDASIN

The sole surviving tiger in a southern Gazan cage will soon make a cross-continental journey from the Middle East to South Africa, as Four Paws, an international animal rights organization, rushes to close the “worst zoo in the world.”

Laziz the tiger at the Khan Yunis Zoo. – Photo: FOUR PAWS

Along with the 16 other animals still residing at the Khan Yunis Zoo, “Laziz the tiger,” is set to leave his desolate home in the coming days, the Vienna-based Four Paws group announced on Thursday. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: animal cruelty, Four Paws, Gaza zoo, zoo

PLO chief livid as Europe fails to back BDS, gives empty support for Palestinian cause

#BDSfail: Erekat sends op-ed to Newsweek expressing his ‘astonishment’ at European officials now opposing the anti-Israel BDS movement, demanding that the EU issue fresh statements reversing such positions.

By Ryan Jones

Saeb Erekat, the Palestinian Authority’s chief “peace” negotiator and current secretary-general of the PLO terrorist organization, lashed out this week over Europe’s failure to more substantially support efforts to boycott Israel.

Erekat penned an op-ed for Newsweek in which he asserted that the Palestinians were “astonished” by recent statements by European officials opposing the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

The Palestinian official was shocked that European leaders had recently praised Israel’s human rights record, tacitly approved the import of Jewish “settler” products, and, at least in the UK, taken steps to criminalize boycotts against Israel.

Category: Israel News | Tags: #BDSfail, BDS, boycott, EU, Saeb Erekat

Israel Air Force begins in USAF’s Red Flag exercise with Pakistan, UAE

Not only is the IAF currently participating in a joint military exercise alongside the UAE, Pakistan and Spain, but next month Israeli pilots are to carry out a ‘first of its kind’ exercise in India.

By i24news

The Israel Air Force is taking part in the ongoing Red Flag aerial exercise alongside UAE, Pakistan and Spain, a US military spokesperson told i24news, the first official confirmation of Pakistan and the UAE’s heavily rumored participation.

Israeli fighter jets at Red Flag in 2015 – Photo: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

The advanced training exercise kicked off Monday and will go on until August 26.

Category: Israel News | Tags: IAF, Israel India, Israel Pakistan, Israel UAE, Red Flag

Israeli Defense Minister seeks direct dialogue with pro-coexistence Palestinian public

The Defense Minister announced a series of steps to forge a direct line of communication with the Palestinian population, in what Lieberman called a path meant to “bypass” Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, whose rejected every opportunity for peace, and refuses to end inciting propaganda that maintains the conflict.

Lilach Shoval

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman met Wednesday with top officers in the IDF General Staff in Tel Aviv and presented them with the principles of his plan to fight terrorism across Judea and Samaria.

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman – Photo: Dudi Vaaknin

Dubbing the measures “carrots, sticks and strikes,” Lieberman said he plans to pursue measures that would undercut Palestinians involved in terrorist activity while offering benefits to those who reject terrorism. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Arab-Israel conflict, Avigdor Liberman, Mahmoud Abbas

Jewish woman escapes Iraq before Muslim husband sold her to ISIS

Iraqi Jewish woman reunites with her family in Israel after previously-secular husband threatened to sell her to Islamic terror group if she doesn’t convert.

Arutz Sheva Staff,

Liza – Israel TV2 Screenshot

A Jewish woman was reunited this week with her family in the town of Patish in southern Israel after she fled northern Iraq, following threats by her husband to sell her into slavery with the ISIS terror organization.

According to a report by Channel 2, the woman, a member of the Avrahami family, was married to a previously secular Muslim man, who had recently embraced a radical form of Islam – and demanded she do the same. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News, Jewish News | Tags: ISIS, Israel Iraq, Jewish, Judaism

WATCH: Hezbollah video shows its UAV dropping Chinese-produced cluster munition on Syrians

Unlike he other UAVs Hezbollah has sent into Israel, the Shiite terror group uploaded a video showing that it is now in possession of and extremely cheap but dangerous tactical drone, which the Pentagon is already taking steps to neutralize.

By Roi Kais

Despite the thousands of Hezbollah terrorists in Syria, one of the most worrying things to the West is the newest weapon the terrorist organization has added to its arsenal—a cheap UAV.

After Hezbollah launched over the last few years UAVs toward Israel, last week the organization publicized a video showing UVA attacks on the outskirts of Aleppo. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Drone, Hezbollah, UAV

High Court document states IDF may demolish 30 structures in Palestinian Sussiya

Israel’s Prime Minister has until the end of October to assess the situation and decide whether or not the IDF will take action against the illegal structures in the Palestinian herding village.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF

The IDF could demolish 30 of the 100 illegal structures in the Palestinian herding village of Sussiya, according to a draft of the state’s response to the High Court of Justice, submitted on Wednesday. The draft also says the question of the West Bank village’s overall fate rests with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and not solely with Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman.

Sussiya – Photo: TOVAH LAZAROFF

The High Court of Justice mandated that the state submit its opinion on demolitions at Sussiya by the end of Wednesday. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: house demolition, Illegal Arab Construction, illegal construction, Sussiya