Archive for Israel News

Over 150 Israelis & Palestinians faced off in Jerusalem

 

Veiled Palestinian women, ultra-orthodox Jews wearing black kippot (skullcaps), families, Jewish & Arab pushing strollers with excited children came to watch what was named, the “Jerusalem Double.”

By Daphne Rousseau

 

Jerusalem (AFP) – The Israelis and Palestinians were facing off in Jerusalem again — but this time they actually seemed to be enjoying each other’s company.

Dozens of Israelis and Palestinians, gathered for a backgammon tournament on August 31, 2016

Dozens of Israelis and Palestinians, gathered at a historic former train station in the divided city for a backgammon tournament on August 31, 2016 – Photo: AFP Photo/Gil Cohen-Magen

Dozens of Israelis and Palestinians, some dressed in yarmulkes on their head or headscarves, gathered at a historic former train station in the divided city on Wednesday night for a backgammon tournament. Continue Reading »

Israel’s PM considers entry of ICC reps into Israel, West Bank for public relations

 

CONFIRMED: PM Netanyahu is considering allowing Int’l Criminal Court representatives to come to Israel and the West Bank for a visit, and not for gathering ‘evidence’.

By YONAH JEREMY BOB

 

Multiple senior government sources confirmed to The Jerusalem Post on Friday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering allowing International Criminal Court representatives to come to Israel and the West Bank.

The entrance of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is seen in The Hague. – Photo: REUTERS

The trip would be for public relations in order to educate the Israeli public about the ICC and not to gather evidence regarding the 2014 war or the settlements. Continue Reading »

IDF set to deploy unmanned patrol vehicles on Gaza border

 

Currently the IDF aims to deploy the UGVs (Unmanned Ground Vehicles) on its Gaza border with plans to eventually deploy them on Israel’s other borders with Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.

By  James Rogers

 

Israel is planning to bolster its high-tech arsenal by deploying fully autonomous military vehicles along the country’s dangerous border with Gaza.

The Border Protector UGV – Photo courtesy: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

“This is the future — the border is a very dangerous place,” an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) official told FoxNews.com, citing the threat of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), snipers, anti-tank missiles and terrorist tunnels. Continue Reading »

Shin Bet Arrest Palestinian Who Transfers Cash to Hevron for Hamas

 

Israeli security forces arrested an Arab male from the Palestinian Authority yesterday, who took exploited his entry permit into Israel for smuggling money from Hamas in Gaza, to terrorists in Hevron.

By Kobi Finkler

 

Security officials on Wednesday interrogated Bashir Muhammed Younis Mustafa – a resident of Gaza, who has a license to enter Israel for commercial purposes.

During the interrogation, Mustafa admitted that during the past month he had ferried some $50,000 from Gaza-based Hamas to Hevron officials connected to Hamas.

He explained that an official of the transfer unit of Hamas, which operates south of the Erez Crossing, approached him since he had a permit to enter Israel. Continue Reading »

On First Day of School Israel’s PM Tells Kids to Study Bible, Seek Coexistence

On the first day of the new school year, PM Netanyahu has an important message for both Jewish & Arab children, ‘First of all, study the Bible….We are meant to live together.’

By Israel Today Staff

 

Much to the delight of parents, the new school year has begun in Israel, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had two related messages for students: study the Bible and seek peaceful coexistence.

Earlier this week, Netanyahu told his cabinet that he wants to “carry out an education revolution based on two things: excellence and Zionism.”

Central to achieve that is the study of the Bible, the prime minister insisted. Continue Reading »

US defense firm sues over Germany’s plan to lease Israeli drones

 

German plans to lease Israeli-made drones for 10 years has been suspended after American weapons manufacturer challenges decision in court for the ‘Blue & White’.

By i24news

 

Germany’s plans to lease Israeli-made drones has been put on hold after a legal challenge submitted by an American weapons manufacturer.

Israel’s Heron TP, or Eitan drone – Photo: AFP

The decision by the German army to lease the Heron TP drones from Israel Aerospace Industries was announced by Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen in January for temporary use until 2025 when development of a joint German, Italian, and French drone is expected to be completed. Continue Reading »

UCLA student president leaves due to ‘hostile & unsafe environment’ made by BDS

 

Chatterjee writes the University Chancellor that he has been attacked, harassed, bullied and discriminated against by pro-Palestinian groups because he “refused to support anti-Semitic, anti-Israel activity” while the administration watched and even assisted on certain instances.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

Milan Chatterjee, former UCLA student president and recipient of the American Jewish Committee’s inaugural Campus Courage Award, informed UCLA on Aug. 24 that he would be leaving the university due to a “hostile and unsafe campus climate” created by pro-BDS organizations.

UCLA campus – Photo: REUTERS

Continue Reading »

WATCH: Massive explosion rocked US Air Force Station prior to Israeli satellite launch

 

view videoTremendous explosion felt for miles around of an unmanned test rocket during a routine test destroyed the SpaceX launch site in Florida, which was supposed to carry an Israeli communications satellite over the weekend.

By The Associated Press

 

An explosion rocked a SpaceX launch site Thursday during a routine rocket test. SpaceX was conducting a test firing of its unmanned rocket when the blast occurred shortly after 9am, according to NASA. The test was in advance of a planned Saturday launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, which is next to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

Buildings several miles away shook from the blast, and multiple explosions continued for several minutes. Continue Reading »

VIDEO: Israel Air Force returns from USAF 2016 Red Flag aerial exercise

view videoA senior official from the Israeli team who participated in the ‘Red Flag’ exercise refused to comment on reports that the IAF had participated in the exercise with the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan Air Forces.

By Kobi Finkler

 

An Israeli air force team returned today (Thursday) from the renowned multi-annual “Red Flag” aerial training exercise that takes place at the Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and sometimes sees the participation of aerial teams from foreign countries.

The Israeli team included F-15 and F-16 fighter jets, in addition to a refueling plane.

The exercise is big – to the degree that it strives to simulate a war-time situation. Continue Reading »

Obama & Co. condemn Israel’s approval of West Bank Jewish home construction

 

The Obama administration issued a firm rebuke over additional Jewish housing in Samaria, condemning Jerusalem’s retroactive approval for existing homes and warning that Israel risked undermining “the prospects for a 2-state solution.”

By David Rosenberg

 

Hours after Israel’s Civil Administration gave approval to 463 housing units in Samaria, the Obama administration issued a firm rebuke, condemning the move and warning that Israel risked undermining “the prospects for a two-state solution”.

Ariel University Center of Samaria – Photo AP

Speaking to reporters Wednesday evening, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest expressed the administration’s “concern” for the Israeli government’s green-lighting of the housing projects, saying they posed a “growing threat” to the establishment of a Palestinian state. Continue Reading »

Israel Security closes another Palestinian radio station for incitement to violence

 

Israel Defense Forces, Shin Bet and Israel Police detain five employees of ‘Alsanabel’ station for publicly inciting listeners to violence, after closing the radio station and seizing its technical equipment.

By i24news

 

Israeli security forces carried out an overnight operation to shut down a Palestinians radio station near the city of Hebron for broadcasting incitement against Israel, Israeli media reports said Wednesday.

IDF soldiers remove broadcasting equipment as they close the al-Sabanel radio station in Dura for incitement to violence on August 31, 2016. – Photo courtesy: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

Armed with an order from Central Command, the IDF, Israel Police, and members of the Shin Bet raided the offices of the “Alsanabel” station, based out of the small town of Dora, just southwest of Hebron. Continue Reading »

#BDSfail: Brussels Airlines returns Israeli snack to menu after public protests

 

After thousands took to social media to expressed their outrage over the carrier’s capitulation to BDS pressure to remove the Achva halva snack, the Belgian Airline’s CEO pledged to keep Israeli products on its menus.

By Ilan Gattegno

 

Brussels Airlines announced Monday that it will reintroduce a popular Israeli snack to its menu. The item was removed from the Belgian carrier’s in-flight dessert options in July following pressure by a Palestinian group associated with the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement.

Brussels Airlines no longer boycotting Israeli made halva

The airline had allegedly decided to take the Achva brand halva, an Israeli sesame snack, produced in a factory located in the Barkan Industrial Park in Judea and Samaria, off its menu following pressure from the Palestine Solidarity Movement, a group that often encourages the boycott of Israeli products. Continue Reading »

#BDSfail: California state Assembly passed anti-BDS bill

 

In a major move to stop singling out just Israel, the California Combating BDS Act of 2016 was “overwhelmingly passed” in the state Assembly by the unanimous vote of 60-0.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

The State of California dealt another blow to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement Wednesday following the passage of a bill aimed at hampering businesses from participating in “discriminatory boycotts” against Israel, according to weekly publication The Jewish Journal.

California state legislature ‏- Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The California Combating BDS Act of 2016, also known as Assembly Bill 2844, was “overwhelmingly passed” by a vote of 60-0 in the state Assembly, which is now expected to be signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in the coming weeks. Continue Reading »

IDF Preparing for Highly Likely ISIS Sinai Attack

 

Knowing ISIS has amassed a considerable terrorist force in Egypt’s Sinai, Israel’s defense establishment is certain it will inevitably attack the Jewish state, so the IDF has taken steps to neutralize any such surprises.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Recent violence in the Sinai Peninsula is raising a lot of questions in Israel’s defense establishment. Most notably, there is growing concern that the thousands of ISIS terrorists currently operating there against the Egyptian army could attack southern Israel.

Hamas = ISIS

Attacks on southern Israel from the Sinai are not unprecedented. Just five years ago, Sinai-based terrorists launched a multi-pronged attack on the main highway leading to the southern resort town of Eilat. Continue Reading »

NGO Watchdog says Norway funds groups that finance BDS activities

NGO Monitor reports Norway has been funding groups that contributed millions to Palestinian NGOs that support anti-Israel activity and maintain relationships with recognized illegal terrorist organization.

By i24news

 

Norway’s government has donating to an organization that gives millions to groups supporting the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, the Jerusalem Post reports, citing NGO Monitor.

BDS supporters, London 2009 – Photo: CLAUDIA GABRIELA MARQUES VIEIRA/ WIKIPEDIA

Norway allocated more than $600,000 to the Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Secretariat for the second half of 2016, according to the report.

The Secretariat has over the past four years contributed $5.78 million to NGOs that support BDS – over half of its operating budget. Continue Reading »