Archive for Israel News

Israel’s police chief says ‘Time has come to re-examine marijuana prohibition’

 

The Israeli government and police should reexamine their policies on the use of cannabis and study how other countries are dealing with the matter, National Police Chief Yohanan Danino said Wednesday.

National Police Chief Yochanan Danino – Photo: Marc Israel Sellem

“I think the time has come for the Israel police, together with the state, to re-examine their stance on Cannabis. I think we must sit and study what’s happening around the world [with Cannabis].” Continue Reading »

ICC urges Israel to be forthcoming with material relating to ‘Operation Protective Edge’ probe

Chief ICC prosecutor warns that unless Israel provides the requested information, she may open ‘full-scale’ investigation into Hamas’ allegations of Israeli war crimes during last conflict with Gaza.

By The Associated Press

 

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court warned Israel Tuesday that if it doesn’t provide reliable information for her preliminary probe into possible war crimes in Palestinian territories she may be forced to decide whether to launch a full-scale investigation based on Palestinian allegations.

The International Criminal Court at The Hague – Photo: Gettyimages

Fatou Bensouda said in an interview with The Associated Press that she hasn’t received any information yet from either side regarding last summer’s Gaza war and urged Israel and the Palestinians to provide information to her.

Continue Reading »

IDF artillery tests Lance rocket system in successful exercise

The ‘Lance’ self-propelled mobile rocket system is designed for its precision strikes while offering cheaper costs than air-to-ground alternatives.

By Yoav Zitun

 

A new Israeli rocket system was tested for out in the field the first time during a military exercise last week where drone footage showed the accuracy and power of a strike of the “Lance” rocket.

Lance mobile rocket system – Ynetnews screenshot

The target vehicle before the rocket strike... (Photo: Yoav Zitun)
The target vehicle before the rocket strike. – Photo: Yoav Zitun

 

...and after. (Photo: Yoav Zitun)
…and after. – Photo: Yoav Zitun

The new weapons system delivers a total weight of 20 kilograms of explosives to a target specified by advanced GPS technology meant to minimize the chances of collateral damage to nearby civilians and structures. Continue Reading »

Landmark Court Verdict: Jerusalem Man Sentenced to Prison for Incitement on Facebook

In precedent-setting case, a Jerusalem Arab, father of 6 jailed for posting comments glorifying terrorist attacks, including the brutal murder of 3 Israeli teens.

By Shlomo Pyotrokovsky

 

A Jerusalem District Court judge has sentenced an Arab resident of the capital to nine months in prison, in a landmark case over incitement on social media.

Omer Shalbi incited terrorism on Facebook (illustrative) – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

Omer Shalbi was convicted for posts he made on Facebook over the past year, in which he expressed sympathy with the terrorists behind the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teens last summer, the Har Nof synagogue massacre, and the series of deadly attacks by “lone wolf” terrorists using vehicles and knives to target Israeli civilians and security personnel during that same period. Continue Reading »

Jewish State Initiates Christian Mission to Israel

Israel wants to bring young recognized Christian campus leaders to the Holy Land to reverse the rampant negative misconceptions at their universities.

By David Lazarus

 

Israel has initiated a mission intended to raise up a generation of Christian leaders who will support Israel. “It is critical to bring the next generation of leaders in the Christian community to Israel,” declared Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer at the annual Christian Solidarity Event at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC.


Pro-Israel Christian student activist Chloe Valdary caused a stir last year when accused pro-Palestinian propagandists of misappropriating the rhetoric of the black civil rights movement in America

The new program, titled “Covenant Journey,” is modeled in part after the highly successful Birthright project that has brought over 500,000 young Jewish Americans to Israel. Continue Reading »

Israelis Develop ‘Star Trek Replicator’ That Prepares Meals in Half a Minute

WATCH how your mobile app activates this revolutionary new food technology, developed by 2 Israeli entrepreneurs, to produce your favorite meal in just 30 seconds.

By Reuters

 

It’s a revolution in food technology that could deliver your food fantasy to your plate in less than a minute.


The replicator in Star Trek creating a cup of coffee. – Screenshot

The Genie, similar in size and appearance to a coffee maker, can produce an unlimited variety of meals using pods, that contain natural dehydrated ingredients. So whether salty or sweet, an appetizer or a dessert, the device can create the food you crave in 30 seconds. Continue Reading »

Israeli innovation combats stunted growth in children

Clinical trials with dietary supplement formulated by Israeli scientists have children growing 1-2 centimeters more than the group taking placebos.

 

A new dietary supplement developed at Schneider Children’s Medical Center in Israel has successfully helped children in the bottom 10th percentile for height and weight grow taller and gain weight. The supplement, named Up-Pro, will be available in stores in the near future.

A new dietary supplement has been shown to help children in the bottom 10th percentile for height and weight to grow taller and gain weight [Illustrative] – Photo: GettyImages

Studies show that children who took the supplement grew 1-2 centimeters taller than the control group, who were given placebos. Continue Reading »

Germany to build 4 corvette class warships for Israel’s Navy to defend gas rigs

In a major deal with Berlin, announced a day before Israel & Germany mark 50 years of diplomatic relations, they will provide the IDF with 4 vessels to protect Israel’s offshore gas rigs.

By Yoav Zitun

 

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen signed a contract Monday under which Israel will purchase four ships from Germany to protect its offshore gas rigs. The total cost of the vessels is estimated at about NIS 1.8 billion. The German government will finance a third of the deal, which was announced a day before Israel and Germany will mark 50 years of diplomatic relations. Continue Reading »

Meet the IDF’s ‘Royal Family’

Meet the 5 brothers, all serve as combat soldiers in IDF’s elite units, including the family dog, a decorated explosive-sniffing veteran.

By Yoav Zitun

 

A family living in a small community in the Arava region of southern Israel could be a definite contender for the title of the IDF’s “royal family”, with five of them serving as combat soldiers in elite units, both in regular service and in the reserves. Another member of the family is Toby, a Belgian Shepherd and former service dog in the Oketz canine unit.

Toby the Belgian Shepherd, another hero in the family – Photo: IDF Spokesman Unit

The five members of the family include Major J.,

Continue Reading »

Israel Police to Finally Issue Rules on Temple Mount Prayer for Jewish Visitors

Police in Jerusalem have finally agreed to distribute a set of rules they expect Jewish visitors to the Temple Mount abide by.

By Yaakov Levi

 

With dozens of Jews arrested for “violating the rules” on visits to the Temple Mount, the Students for the Temple Mount organization had a simple question for police: Just what are the rules in the first place?

Jews on Temple Mount – Arnon Segel

The answer to that question has not been a simple one; police have often refused to say what is permitted and what is not, and often arrest Jews after much hectoring by Arabs, who accuse Jews of violating their “no Jewish prayer” rule. Continue Reading »

Palestinians refuse to drop petition to suspend Israel from FIFA

FIFA President to meet with PM Netanyahu over Palestinian bid to eject Israel from football association.

By i24news

 

FIFA President Sepp Blatter will travel to the Middle East to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top Palestinian officials in a bid to head off a Palestinian bid to expel Israel from the sport’s governing body, FIFA said in a statement Sunday.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter is targeting a fifth term in office – Photo: Michael Buholzer/AFP

However, the Palestine FA (PFA) will not drop its proposal for a vote at the FIFA Congress to suspend Israel from international football although it will continue to pursue dialogue, its president Jibril Rajoub told Reuters on Sunday. Continue Reading »

WATCH: IDF & Israeli Medical Personnel Save the Life of Syrian Terrorist

Neither the IDF nor Israeli hospital personnel checked his nationality, political affiliation or his religion…only that he isn’t booby-trapped.

By Aviel Schneider

 

Israel’s commitment to human life knows no bounds. When soldiers guarding the northern border with Syria last week were asked to permit entry to a seriously wounded Syrian man, they did not hesitate, despite the fact that the patient was a member of the Al-Nusra Front, an offshoot of Al Qaeda.

Israeli military doctors received the wounded man at the border, and after a security check to make sure he was not wired with explosives, transported the patient to Ziv Medical Center in the Galilee town of Tsefat (Safed). Continue Reading »

Israel’s Elbit Defense Systems Goes From Ultra High-Tech UAVs to Electric Buses

The Jewish State’s largest private defense contractor seeks to expand into commercial markets by adapting their advanced military technologies for the public sector.

By Reuters

 

For two decades, Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems has designed some of the world’s leading weapons systems. But now it has its sights set on a somewhat different market – electric buses.

Elbit Systems Hermes 900 UAV

This venture from Israel’s largest listed defense company, whose drones and surveillance systems are top sellers around the world, is part of a broader strategy to use its military expertise to break into civilian markets.

It may seem a risky foray into a competitive market, but Elbit has a strong track record for adapting its technologies – often developed in secretive labs that employ cutting-edge research – into new applications. Continue Reading »

Israel re-approves 900 new homes for East Jerusalem neighborhood

US State Dept says plans are ‘damaging & inconsistent’ with resolving Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
•UN chief ‘concerned’ by plans to build homes in Jewish neighborhood.

By The Associated Press

 

Israel has approved 900 new homes in East Jerusalem Jewish neighborhood Ramat Shlomo, watchdog Peace Now said Thursday.

Construction in Ramat Shlomo – Photo: AFP/File

Israel first announced the plans in 2010 during Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel, sparking a diplomatic spat with Washington.

US State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke on Thursday called it “damaging and inconsistent” with resolving the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians with a two state solution. Continue Reading »

IDF Integrates Armed Robots Into Its Ground Forces

Having already excelled in it’s use of unmanned vehicles in the air and on the sea, a new robotic ‘advance guard’ unit will be introduced to open corridors for IDF infantry into enemy territory.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Israel is already a world leader in the research, production and military integration of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Now, it is successfully integrating robots into its ground forces, as well.

Robot wars?

At the International Ground Forces Conference held this week in Tel Aviv, Maj.-Gen. (res.) Eyal Ben Reuven revealed that just the week prior the IDF’s 7th Armored Brigade had become one of, if not the first ground force in history to train side-by-side with “advanced ground robotics.” Continue Reading »