Israel News

US condemns ICC over ‘tragically ironic’ war crimes probe of Israel

The U.S. State Dept ‘strongly disagrees’ with ICC prosecutor’s decision, saying it is a “tragic irony” that Israel, which has suffered under thousands of Palestinian rockets fired at its civilian towns & cities, is now itself being scrutinized by the Int’l Criminal Court.

By Yitzhak Benhori

The US State Department late on Friday condemned the International Criminal Court’s decision to open a preliminary probe into possible war crimes in Palestinian territories, calling it a “tragic irony.”

International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague – Photo: Shutterstock

“We strongly disagree with the ICC Prosecutor’s action today. As we have said repeatedly, we do not believe that Palestine is a state and therefore we do not believe that it is eligible to join the ICC,” State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said in a statement.

Category: Israel News | Tags: ICC, Palestinian terrorism, US State Department

israelandstuffcom | January 17, 2015

After controversial anti-Israel tweets and stab at ‘cripples’, CNN’s Jim Clancy resigns

Debate on Twitter over the meaning of the Charlie Hebdo cartoons gets award winning CNN anchor looking for new job.

By JTA

Veteran CNN anchor Jim Clancy stepped down on Friday, one week after a series of Twitter posts in which he mocked pro-Israel tweeters on a thread discussing the Charlie Hebdo massacre.

Jim Clancy – Photo: Screenshot

Neither CNN nor Jim Clancy gave a reason for his departure, which was reported by AdWeek. Clancy had worked at CNN for 34 years.

Although Clancy’s Twitter account no longer existed as of Thursday, the tweets have been preserved on a number of websites, including Twitchy and Mediaite, and by Tablet journalist Yair Rosenberg. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: CNN, twitter

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Indo-Israel Relations are Modi-flying

From energy to cyber & missiles to irrigation, the once low-key, clandestine ties are now booming under India’s PM Narendra Modi.

By Aditi Bhaduri

“A lot of history and a lot of geography”– was how some years back the then Israeli ambassador to India had explained to this writer, the fascination India had for the numerous Israelis pouring into India. This legacy of history and geography is of course leavened with more mundane factors like a large market, cheaper goods and services and a relaxed milieu. In turn many Indians too have been looking to Israel – mostly for its spirit of enterprise and innovation. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: economic cooperation, Israel India, Narendra Modi

Israel Becomes Battleground in Mid-East Ketchup war

The Israeli company Osem, that almost holds monopoly on local ketchup sales, conducted its own tests on their competitor’s product, concluding Heinz does not meet Ministry’s criteria for ketchup.
• Heinz: Claims have no substance.

By Orna Yefet, Calcalist

Osem has launched a campaign against its main ketchup competitor Heinz, claiming the latter’s sauce does not meet the criteria for ketchup and instructing retailers to remove it from their shelves.

Ketchup wars: Heinz and Osem

After conducting lab tests on the Heinz product at its own initiative, Osem on Tuesday morning sent a letter to retailers asking them to remove the Heinz product from their ketchup section, and not place it next to Osem’s own product.

Category: Israel News | Tags: food, Health Ministry

Watch Netanyahu’s Clip Showing Livni & Herzog Squabbling Over Answering Obama’s Phone-call

Netanyahu’s campaign releases a video spoof depicting what would ‘really’ happen if left-wing Labor were to receive a phone-call from the White House.

By Tova Dvorin

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has released a humorous response to accusations from Labor-Hatnua leaders Yitzhak Herzog and Tzipi Livni Friday, after both accused him of “ignoring” US-Israel relations.

Labor-Hatnua leaders Yitzhak Herzog and Tzipi Livni in spoof ad, whining over who’s turn it is to answer Obama’s call. – screenshot

“The question of this election is not who will answer the phone in Jerusalem at three in the morning – but which Prime Minister will answer a phone call from Washington at three in the morning,” Livni fired in an Army Radio interview Friday.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel Politics

Amb. Michael Oren explains Koolanu’s approach for ‘2-state situation’

As Michael Oren steps into politics, Israel’s former ambassador to the United States says “peace is the means for achieving the goal. Peace is not an end in itself.”

By FRONTLINES PODCAST

Michael Oren, Israel’s former ambassador to the United States who is running as the diplomatic voice in Moshe Kahlon’s Koolanu party in the March elections, unveiled his approach to the Palestinian problem on Wednesday.

Former Israeli ambassador to US Michael Oren – Photo: Bloomberg

“We all want the same thing, we want an Israel that is strong, an Israel that is democratic, an Israel that is Jewish, we want an Israel that is economically prosperous.

Category: Israel News |

France Honors Muslim Who Saved Jews in Terrorist Attack With French Nationality

An official ceremony will be held on Jan 20, giving Lassana Bathily his French passport for his bravery during the hostage taking in the Hyper Casher market.

By Reuters

A Malian Muslim who hid shoppers from an Islamist gunman during an attack on a Jewish supermarket in Paris will be given French nationality, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday.

Lassana Bathily – Photo: Le Parisien

After the gunman had already killed people during a hostage taking in the store on Friday, 24-year old shop attendant Lassana Bathily hid several people.

Bathily saved the lives of six people whom he took to the supermarket’s freezer – sparing them from the scarring scene that was underway. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News, The Diaspora | Tags: Israel-France, Jewish World, Paris Attack

israelandstuffcom | January 15, 2015

After Palestinian Recognition Swedish Foreign Minister ‘persona-non-grata’ in Israel

Stockholm’s ‘utterly unfriendly’ decision to recognize the ‘state of Palestine’, without any previous consultation, leaves Minister Margot Wallstroem officially unwelcomed in Jerusalem by foreign ministry.

By Arutz Sheva

Israel said Thursday that Sweden’s foreign minister was not welcome for an official visit in the country, with relations strained over Stockholm’s recognition of “Palestine.”

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstroem – Photo: Reuters

The minister, Margot Wallstroem, last week postponed a trip to Israel indefinitely, with Israeli media reports suggesting that Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman did not want to meet her.

Sweden’s decision in October to recognize “Palestine” – the first major EU nation to do so – infuriated Israel, which temporarily recalled its ambassador to Stockholm.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel Sweden

israelandstuffcom | January 15, 2015

Israel’s Supreme Court Ruling: Terrorist working to destroy Israel cannot sue State

Lebanese terrorist, Mustafa Dirani, who was kidnapped by Israel & claims to have been tortured by interrogators, cannot have access to Israel’s legal institutions after “acting against the state and working to destroy it .”

By i24news

Israel’s Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that Lebanese terrorist Mustafa Dirani, who claims he was tortured in an Israeli prison, has no right to sue Israel.

Mustafa Dirani (C) in 2004 – Photo: AFP

The expanded panel of seven justice narrowly overturned its earlier 2011 ruling which had allowed the $1.5 million suit to go forward.

Diranu was the head of security of the Amal movement in Lebanon, which is associated with Syria.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel Supreme Court, Mustafa Dirani, terrorist

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US consulate in Jerusalem arms Palestinian guards in breach of Israeli law

Ignoring Israeli law, the U.S. consulate’s chief security officer is arming 35 Palestinian security guards, prompting the Israeli guards, who resigned in protest.

By Itamar Eichner

A scandal has erupted in the American Consulate in Jerusalem, as three Israeli security guards have quit following a plan to hire 35 armed Palestinian guards from East Jerusalem. The Palestinians have been undergoing weapons training in Jericho in recent days.

The American Consulate in west Jerusalem

The decision to hire and arm the Palestinian security personnel was made by the consulate’s chief security officer, Dan Cronin. The plan is to employ them mostly as escorts to American diplomats’ convoys in the West Bank.

Category: Israel News | Tags: US Consulate

Hamas Blackmail: Pay to Rebuild Gaza or Face “the consequences”

Hamas terrorist organization makes ironic demand, warning delay in aid (that is exploited to rebuild terrorist attack tunnels) may make the Gaza Strip ripe for ‘extremism & terrorism.’

By Ari Yashar

An official with the Hamas Islamist terrorist organization warned on Wednesday that Gaza could “become” a breeding ground for extremism, unless the world forks over more funds to rebuild after Hamas’s latest terror war against Israel.

“Our message to the world, which is scared of terrorism and extremism, is that the delay in rebuilding Gaza and the continuing blockade against it will make it a ripe environment for the spread of extremism and terrorism,” Khalil al-Haya told a Gaza City meeting of Hamas MPs.

Category: Israel News | Tags: hamas

Bennett: Paris victims’ families won’t be burdened with costs of plots & funeral

After Jewish burial association planned to charge Paris Jewry 40,000 shekels per burial plot and 10,000 per funeral for each victim of the kosher market terror attack, Minister Naftali Bennett decided Israel would cover the costs.

By Akiva Novik

Minister of Religious Services Naftali Bennett announced Tuesday night that the Jewish community of Paris will not have to pay for the burial plots and funerals of the Hyper Cacher victims.

Each of the families of the four Paris kosher market victims, laid to rest Tuesday in Jerusalem, was asked to pay 50,000 shekels to the Chevra Kaddisha for the burial plot and funeral, Ynet was told, after refusing to bury their loves ones in multi-storey tombs. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Diaspora Jews, Israel-France, Jewish World, Naftali Bennett, Paris Attack

China’s ‘5-Star’ Hainan Airlines to begin new Tel Aviv-Beijing route

China’s largest privately owned & managed airline, Hainan Airlines, submitted request with Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority to run 3 weekly direct flights between Beijing & Ben-Gurion Int’l Airport
• Flights scheduled for Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays.

By Ilan Gattegno and Israel Hayom Staff

China’s Hainan Airlines has filed a request with Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority to operate three weekly direct flights between Beijing and Tel Aviv from September.

A Hainan Airlines Airbus 330 – Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons/Paul Spijkers

The flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, days on which Israel’s El Al Airlines does not operate flights on the Tel Aviv-Beijing route.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel China, tourism

israelandstuffcom | January 13, 2015