Archive for Israel News

Abbas opts to celebrate Christmas Eve meeting with Fatah terrorists for Facebook posts

Palestinian autocrat Abbas spent part of Christmas eve meeting with Rafat Jawabra, current commander of Fatah’s main terrorist organization, al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades, who was recently released from prison for planning a suicide bombing attack against Israeli civilians 16 years ago.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spent part of Christmas eve on Sunday night meeting with a former senior commander of the al-Aksa Martys Brigades, Fatah’s military wing, recently released from prison for plotting a suicide bombing attack against Israel 16 years ago.

Rafat Jawabra was received in the PA president’s office on Sunday evening. Photos of the meeting were posted on Fatah’s official Facebook page and in the post, Jawabra is referred to as the commander of the al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades, a known terrorist organization. Continue Reading »

Christmas tourism in Bethlehem down due to Palestinian leadership’s call to violence

An unlit Christmas tree sits in the middle of a mostly empty plaza in central Bethlehem where shops depend on foreign tourists to boost its economy, but those making money this holiday season are “Only young kids [who] throw stones,” says a gift shop owner, “This is business… The municipality does nothing for us,” the shop owner said.
– WATCH Christmas message from PM Netanyahu.

By Ethan Freedman

 

A large Nativity scene flanked by an unlit Christmas tree sits in the middle of a mostly empty plaza in central Bethlehem, known as the birthplace of Jesus, where Palestinians and a handful of tourists are celebrating the holiday amid tensions over US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Continue Reading »

Arab leaders unimpressed with Abbas’ politics, seek alternative Jerusalem policy

Jordan teams up with Egypt and Saudi Arabia to devise new policy fearing Abbas’ strategy in response to President Trump’s Jerusalem declaration will undermine its special status as caretaker of the Temple Mount.

By Daniel Siryoti

 

Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are displeased with the way the Palestinian Authority has reacted to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and his decision to relocate the U.S. Embassy to the city, Israel Hayom has learned.

Some Arab Quartet states stopped their donations in mid-2016 in order to pressure PA President Mahmoud Abbas to initiate political reforms that will lead to peace with Israel.

Continue Reading »

Jerusalem’s mayor & US envoy look at properties for future embassy location

In a meeting held shortly after President Trump’s historic announcement, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, discussed potential locations for which the U.S. embassy may be moved to.

By UDI SHAHAM

 

In a meeting two weeks ago, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman discussed potential locations for which the US embassy might set up camp in the capital, Barkat said.

The meeting was held a week after US President Donald Trump announced the United States recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Nir Barkat, Mayor of Jerusalem – Wikimedia

Barkat did not specify which places were discussed, but stressed the initiative was discussed at the request of the Americans. Continue Reading »

Israel TV News reports Trump shelved upcoming peace plan after Abbas opted out

An unnamed White House official claimed Trump’s Mid-East peace team has postponed their plans to release its anticipated Mideast peace plan next month, after Palestinian autocrat Abbas completely rejected the United States as a neutral arbiter.

By David Rosenberg

 

The Trump administration will not be rolling out its much-anticipated Middle East peace plan in the near future – or possibly ever – according to a report Sunday by Israel’s Channel 2.

Citing White House officials, the Trump administration has abandoned its plans to offer a new framework for negotiations intended to lead to a final status agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Continue Reading »

Trump’s Jerusalem decision counters Obama’s spiteful UNSC vote that changed American policy

President Obama’s motive for changing the status quo of Jerusalem at the UN Security Council was personal, not patriotic. His decision to allow the immoral, anti-Israel vote to be passed was bad for America, for peace, and for America’s closest ally, Israel. Obama would never have done it except as a lame duck, for it was simply an act of a single vengeful individual who put a personal pique over American policy.

– Alan Dershowitz: The Jerusalem conflict is all Barack Obama’s Fault 

By Alan Dershowitz

 

The U.S. acted properly in vetoing a misguided U.N. Security Council resolution designed to undo President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Continue Reading »

Denmark cuts aid to Palestinian NGOs that engage in anti-Israel incitement

After Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu provided the Danish Foreign Minister with list of NGOs that have links to terrorist elements promoting boycotts against Israel, the Danish Foreign Ministry investigated, then publicly declared a financial freeze of Palestinian support.

By i24NEWS

 

Following an investigation the Danish Foreign Ministry officially announced on Friday that it will cut funding from a number of Palestinian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and simultaneously tighten aid donation conditions for others, after discovering some activities were of an anti-Israel nature.

“It is important that there is confidence that Danish assistance is going for the right purposes,” said Anders Samuelsen, Foreign Minister. Continue Reading »

In Interview: Czech President, ‘Israel is an inspiration…will seek embassy move to Jerusalem’

In interview, Czech President Milos Zeman says he fully intends to follow President Trump’s lead and relocate the Czech Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
• President Zeman, “We need real action, not just words….an incompatible culture of hatred is threatening the fundamental values of Judeo-Christian European culture. As I have already mentioned, Israel and its heroism is an inspiration for us.”

By Eldad Beck

 

The international backlash surrounding U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement earlier this month officially recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital caught Czech President Milos Zeman in the midst of his own domestic tumult: Next month, he will vie for reelection in the country’s presidential election. Continue Reading »

Netanyahu instructs Israel’s ambassador to UNESCO to submit formal withdrawal

Emmanuel Nahshon, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson released in a statement, “The letter will be submitted by Ambassador Carmel Sharma-Hacohen in the coming days, certainly before the end of the year.”

By EYTAN HALON

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Friday to submit a formal letter to the organization’s director-general announcing Israel’s departure from the UN body.

“The letter will be submitted by Ambassador Carmel Sharma-Hacohen in the coming days, certainly before the end of the year,” said Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Emmanuel Nahshon.

Israel’s UNESCO envoy, Carmel Shama-Hacohen – Ynet (not accredited)

The UNESCO constitution holds that a country’s withdrawal from the organization takes effect on 31 December of the year following that during which the notice was given.

Continue Reading »

Turkish tourists arrested at Temple Mount after skirmish with Israel Police

REPORT: Three tourists with dual Belgian-Turkish citizenships were arrested ascending the Temple Mount in Jerusalem after violent response when they were refused entry as long as they wore T-shirts with Turkish flag on them.

By Ynet

 

Three Turkish tourists were arrested on the slopes of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Turkish media outlets extensively reported Saturday. The tourists were arrested Friday for assaulting police officers, it was reported, and were still detained and interrogated.

Turkish paper Daily Sabah reported eye witness accounts purporting the Israel Police prevented a delegation of Turkish tourists—some of them children—to enter the Temple Mount complex. Continue Reading »

2 more family members of ‘Shirley Temper’ arrested for assaulting IDF soldiers

2 more female family members of arrested ‘Shirley Temper,’ were taken to an Israeli military court Thursday and charged with “assaulting a soldier, harming the security of the area, incitement, and other felonies.”

By AFP and Arutz Sheva Staff

 

Two more Arab women appeared in an Israeli military court Thursday after a viral video of an assault on Israeli soldiers in Judea and Samaria, an AFP journalist said.

Nariman Tamimi, 43, and Nour Naji Tamimi, 21, were detained in a case that has set Israeli and Arab social media alight.

The video filmed in the village of Nabi Saleh shows Nour and her cousin Ahed Tamimi, 17, approaching two Israeli soldiers, before shoving, kicking and slapping them while filming on mobile phones. Continue Reading »

Arab Leader Decries Palestinian Manipulation of Jerusalem Amid Real Regional Threats

In another blow to Palestinian leadership’s narrative, Bahrain’s FM says Palestinians fight over Jerusalem is another of their ‘side issues’ that’s distracting real threats to the Arab world.

By Israel Today Staff

 

The Foreign Minister of Bahrain on Wednesday suggested that who controls Jerusalem is little more than a “side issue” that shouldn’t be derailing the international community, and especially the Arab world, from focusing on more pertinent issues.

If US President Donald Trump’s Jerusalem declaration was a major win for Israel, then getting the bulk of the international community to publicly oppose that move has been a comparable victory for the Palestinians. Continue Reading »

Palestinians will be denied entry into Israel if debts remain unpaid

Under the new ministerial proposed procedure, Palestinians will be denied entry into Israel if they fail to settle debt to Israelis.
• New approach rectifies Palestinian officials who remained uninterested in enforcing laws.
• Minister: Total size of debt owed to Israelis is $870 million.

By Yair Altaman

 

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman will unveil Sunday a new measure to crack down on Palestinians who owe money to Israelis.

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman – Knesset photos

Under the proposed mechanism, Palestinians will be denied entry into Israel if they had not settled their debt. Continue Reading »

Former Israeli envoy to the US: ‘The era of American appeasement has ended’

Israel’s former ambassador to the US, Yoram Ettinger, says President Trump’s standing up to the United Nations shows America has returned as the leader of the free world.

By Benny Toker

 

Former Israeli ambassador Yoram Ettinger praised US President Donald Trump’s threat to cut off aid to any country which voted to condemn the US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel at the United Nations General Assembly today, arguing that under Trump, the US had regained its position as leader of the free world.

Speaking at the last Cabinet meeting of 2017, Trump said that the US would take note of the countries which receive hundreds of millions, and even billions, of dollars in US aid, yet still vote against the US at the UN over his acknowledgement of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Continue Reading »

Israelis go into high gear, when Obama slows Federal chase for Hezbollah bank accounts

Israel’s Mossad and an Israeli law NGO were going after Hezbollah’s finances before the US’s Operation Cassandra, but when Obama slowed the investigation down, agents turned to the Israeli NGO to keep the heat on the terrorists.

By YONAH JEREMY BOB

 

Long before the US ramped up the pressure against Hezbollah’s financial network in 2006, and then dialed it down in 2009-2010, the Mossad and an Israeli NGO were going after the terror group’s monetary oxygen.

In fact, even when the US returned to taking a backseat, Shurat Hadin – Israel Law Center – kept going after a major Hezbollah allied Lebanese bank and connected banks, winning a major US court decision in 2012. Continue Reading »