Israel News

Jerusalem Christian site torched mere hours after Pope’s visit

Arson’s fire was set at Dormition Abbey, the location of Jesus’ Last Supper & the last stop of Pope Francis’ 2-day visit to Israel.

By Reuters & Israel Hayom Staff

Fire set by a suspected arsonist damaged a guest book at a Jerusalem holy site marking the location of Jesus’ Last Supper, in an attack on Monday that occurred several hours after Pope Francis had visited the site.

A priest shows burnt wooden crosses following a fire at the Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem on Monday – Photo: Reuters

Police spokesman Chief Insp. Micky Rosenfeld said authorities believed the arsonist was not Jewish and that an investigation was being conducted into the motive for the attack.

Category: Israel News | Tags: arson, Pope's visit 2014

Saudi Publishing House Condemned for Translating Israeli Book

Saudi Arabian press house sparks storm of protest after publishing translated into Arabic book by an Israeli researcher, with critics condemning action as ‘a form of cultural normalization with the Zionist enemy.’

By Roi Kais

A Saudi-owned publishing house called “Madarak”, based in Dubai, sparked a torrent of outrage in Saudi Arabia in recent weeks, after publishing an Arabic translation of an Israeli researcher’s book.

Cover of Professor Joshua Teitelbaum’s book

The book, titled “Saudi Arabia and the New Strategic Landscape” was written by Prof. Joshua Teitelbaum and published in English in 2010. It deals with relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, focusing on issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel Saudi Arabia

Mayor of Jerusalem: Change code to Israel’s airport from TLV to JLM

Mayor of Israel’s capital revives idea of changing code of Ben-Gurion International Airport in order to boost tourism to Jerusalem.

By Haaretz Staff

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat Tuesday called on the Knesset to change the code letters of Israel’s Ben-Gurion airport from TLV to JLM, Israel National News reported.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat – Photo: Emil Salman

Speaking at the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee, Barkat said, “Branding the airport with the letters symbolizing the capital of Israel will put Jerusalem at the center and accelerate tourism to the capital.”

The mayor was outlining general development projects in Jerusalem, according to the report.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Ben Gurion International Airport, Israel tourism, Jerusalem

Terrorists Commission Contract to Kill Jewish Mayor for Being Friendly to Arabs

Among the signatories of the contract that ‘sentenced’ to death an Israeli Mayor, Avi Naim, was Fatah, headed by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

By Yaakov Levi

Terrorist groups have sent death threats to Avi Naim, the local authority head of Beit Aryeh, located in western Samaria – because of his insistence on maintaining positive relations with the leaders of Arab villages in the vicinity of his town.

Threats have been sent to Naim personally in the past, and this week fliers appeared in Arab towns and villages in the area saying that if Naim continued to hold meetings and conduct positive relations with the neighboring Arab village of Luban, “his blood should be considered free to spill.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: incitement to violence, Palestinian terrorism, ‘Palestinian’ incitement

Israel brings hope and medical attention to Uganda

AIDS patients are finally getting treated since The Art Joy Love organization sends Israeli volunteers to Africa

By Tami Harel

It takes a full day to get from Tel Aviv to the Island of Bussi in Uganda. The journey begins with a flight to Addis Ababa and continues with a long layover followed by a connecting flight to Entebbe. One crosses Lake Victoria by ferry and only after a long canoe cruise arrives to Bussi.

Uganda – Photo: i24news

Bussi Island in Uganda. One of the many islands scattered on Lake Victoria and one of the world’s main focal points of AIDS. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: AIDS, Israel Uganda, medical attention, Tikon Olam

Israel to Become a Cashless Society

Netanyahu-appointed committee looks to end Israel’s massive black market by ending cash transactions therefore recovering lost tax revenues.

By Yossi Aloni

A special committee headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief of staff, Harel Locker, has recommended a three-phase plan to all but do away with cash transactions in Israel.

10 New Shekel coin – Israel Today

The motivation for examining a cash-less economy is combatting money laundering and other tax-evasion tactics, thereby maximizing potential tax collection and greatly expanding the tax base. This is important considering the enormous strain put on Israel’s national budget by the army, healthcare system and other public services. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel economy, taxes

PHOTO ALBUM: Israel Seen Through the International Instagram Photographers

StandWithUs hosts photographers from all over the world to travel throughout Israel, hoping that their special images captured will help share the country’s beautiful landscape & culture.

By Lital Shemesh

Nine photographers with 4 million followers on the social media photo sharing site Instagram are touring Israel for the first time.

Sunset at the Dead Sea – Photo: #paulodelvalle

During their time here, the photographers will visit sites from Tiberias to Masada and the Dead Sea, and cities from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. Through their Instagram pictures, their followers will be exposed to Israel’s landscapes and culture.

The visitors, who come from Brazil, Spain, Austria, Russia, Britain, and the U.S., Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Hasbara, Instagram, tourism in Israel

The Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood: Dylan said go to Israel

Iconic musician, Bob Dylan, suggested that the band make ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ and perform in Israel on the Stone’s European tour this summer.

By DAVID BRINN

Ronnie Wood, guitarist for The Rolling Stones, revealed Monday that Bob Dylan put the idea in the Stones’ circle to include Israel as a tour stop.

Ticket to upcoming Stones concert in Tel Aviv – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

In an interview with Channel 2 in response to written questions ahead of the Stones’ Israel debut on June 4, Wood said that one time after seeing Dylan perform, the singer made the suggestion.

He was coming offstage and said “we’re going to Tel Aviv.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel culture, The Rolling Stones

Observation: Israel replacing the EU by shifting eastward for economic growth

Europe’s economic & political stagnation, constant condemnation of Israeli policies and deep rooted legacy of anti-Semitism set it apart from East Asia.

By Moshe Arens

Slowly but surely Israel is pivoting toward the East. Years ago that would have been a most unexpected development. After all, most of Israel’s population originated from Europe, and most of its leadership had its roots in Europe. For many years Israel might have been considered, for better or for worse, an outpost of Europe in the Middle East. Whether Europe loved Israel or hated Israel, Europe remained Israel’s closest connection to Western civilization.

Category: Israel News | Tags: economic cooperation, Europe, Israel economy, Israel EU

Israeli Teacher That Attacked IDF in Class Gets Canned

Adam Verete says he’s not sure if his sacking was connected to the controversy he aroused earlier this year.

By Gil Ronen

Adam Verete, the teacher who caused a public storm when he told students before enlistment that the IDF was an immoral army, has been informed that he will not continue to teach next year at the ORT Kiryat Tivon high school, according to IDF Radio.

Verete told the military radio station that he was recently summoned to a hearing and told by the school’s management that the Jewish Thinking track in which he teaches will be shut down in the next school year. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Education, ORT

In Israel, Pope Francis calls for 2-state solution

The Vatican said the main reason for the visit was a meeting in Jerusalem with Bartholomew I, the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople, and “to pray for peace in that land, which has suffered so much.”

By i24news

Pope Francis joined with Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I for a historic unity service Sunday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, Christianity’s holiest site.

Pope Francis and Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I in Jerusalem ( )

Arriving to Jerusalem, Francis met with Orthodox Patriarch to lead historic joint service – Photo: Mark Neiman

The two met at the ancient shrine inside the walled Old City after signing a landmark pledge to work together to further unity between the eastern and western branches of Christianity. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Pope's visit 2014

From the French Army to the IDF to contribute & defend Israel

A year ago, Ron Abukrat had never been to Israel and did not speak Hebrew. “I understood that Israel was under attack and that it wasn’t easy to live there, but I knew that the information was not really accurate & not favorable. I decided that I had to go to Israel myself to see what was really happening there.”

By Danny Brenner

Ron Abukrat served as a combat soldier in the French army. His twin brother is a police officer in Paris and his older brother was a fighter pilot in the French Air Force. At only 24, Abukrat has already completed a B.A.

Category: Israel News | Tags: IDF, IDF volunteers, Lone Soldiers

Israel High Court ruling: 10,000 non-working haredim to lose monthly stipend

Israel’s Supreme Court decision addresses only directly-paid subsidies & does not impact the new major law that reset the entire balance of ultra-Orthodox obligations regarding serving in the army etc.

By YONAH JEREMY BOB

An expanded seven justice panel of the High Court unanimously threw out as unconstitutional approximately NIS 1,000 per month in subsidies which the state has been paying directly to around 10,000 haredim for studying in yeshivot and not working.

Haredim – Illustrative photo: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post

Though Supreme Court President Asher D. Grunis presided, justice Elyakim Rubinstein wrote the court’s opinion, including an anecdote at the end stating that members of a synagogue he attends recently told a young haredi man asking for charity that he should “go find a job.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Haredim, High Court, ultra-Orthodox

israelandstuffcom | May 25, 2014

In Technology: Israel attracts Chinese investments

The ‘Start-up Nation’ draws in Chinese firms, who offer Israel funding & access to one of the world’s largest markets in return.

By Reuters

China’s purchase of a controlling stake in Israel’s largest food maker reflects a broader surge in Chinese investment in an economy largely tethered to Western markets.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in his Jerusalem office with Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong. May 19, 2014 – Photo: Amos Ben Gershom, GPO.

The deal, announced on Thursday, gives China access to Israel’s high tech expertise, cachet among consumers made wary by domestic food production scandals and an alternative place to put their money amid trade obstacles from a wary United States. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: economic cooperation, Israel China, Israel high-tech, Israel technology

israelandstuffcom | May 24, 2014