Israel News

4.1 earthquake hits Israel

The epicenter of Saturday’s quake was located on the Dead Sea Rift, source of the majority of Israel’s strongest earthquakes.

By Zafrir Rinat

A magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck southern Israel, the Geophysical Institute of Israel said. The quake was felt across the country.

Earthquake – Photo: Alon Ron

The earthquake’s center was in the Dead Sea Rift, a system of faults prone to earthquakes, and the source of most of the powerful quakes which struck Israel.

Saturday’s earthquake was the first of its magnitude in this segment of the Rift in recent years. However, the earthquake doesn’t foretell of the frequency or magnitude of future earthquakes. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: earthquake, Environment & Nature

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Vatican Official: Pope Francis I Will Demand ‘Sovereign Palestine’

The Vatican’s Secretary of State says Pope Francis plans to talk about the ‘Palestinian right to a sovereign, independent homeland’ during his visit to Israel.

By Ari Yashar

The Vatican’s Secretary of State made a dramatic revelation ahead of Pope Francis’s visit to Israel next Sunday and Monday, declaring that the pope will talk about the “Palestinian people’s right to have a homeland, sovereign and independent.”

Vatican Sec’y of State Pietro Parolin – Reuters

Cardinal Pietro Parolin holds a role in the Vatican City State, located in the Italian capital of Rome, equivalent to that of a prime minister. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Avigdor Liberman, David's Tomb, Palestinian, Pope Francis I, Pope's visit 2014

Possible Pallywood Film Sparks Further Debate on 2 Palestinian Deaths

Israeli ballistics expert Dr. Yosef Yekutiel, said the rifle barrel used by the Border Policeman seen in the CNN footage was thicker than usual, which means it was adapted for firing rubber bullets.

By i24news

New footage published today by CNN, reportedly showing a group of Border Police officers firing towards a crowd of Palestinian protesters on Nakba Day, sparked a new round of debate on whether live ammunition or rubber bullets were used.

Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz – Photo: AFP

According to CNN, the footage was shot exactly at 13:45 last Thursday (May 15th), and it shows one of the Border Police officers aiming and firing his weapon towards a group of protesters. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Border Police, Nakba Day, Pallywood

Palestinian terrorist admits attempted kidnapping of Jews in northern Israel

West Bank native also admits to throwing Molotov cocktails at passing cars

Police & Shin Bet stress danger posed by Palestinian infiltrators, urge immediate repairs of breaches in security fence.

Daniel Siryoti and Lilach Shoval

A Palestinian infiltrator arrested in a joint operation by the Shin Bet and the Central Investigative Unit of the Northern District Police has admitted to trying to kidnap Israelis. Murad Mahmoud Hassan Ali-Hassin, 25, from the Palestinian village of Kabatiya, near Jenin, has also been accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at civilian cars in the western Galilee, as well as several other security crimes.

Category: Israel News | Tags: infiltration, kidnapping, Palestinian terrorist

‘Mavi Marmara’ group IHH opposes dropping lawsuit against Israelis

Turkish Flotilla organizer IHH is urging Ankara to reject Israel’s condition to drop court cases against IDF commandos in exchange for paid compensation.

By REUTERS

ISTANBUL – A Turkish relief agency said on Thursday it would oppose what it called an imminent Israeli offer to pay compensation for a deadly commando raid on its Gaza-bound aid flotilla in exchange for dropping lawsuits over the attack.

כרזות באנקרה עם תודה לארדואן ש"ניצח" את ישראל (צילום: EPA)

Ankara poster thanks Erdogan for ‘defeating’ Israel – Photo: EPA

The two nations, erstwhile allies, have been negotiating for months to end a diplomatic crisis over the Israeli commandos’ boarding of the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish ship challenging Israel’s naval blockade of Palestinian-run Gaza Strip in 2010. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel Turkey, lawsuit, Mavi Marmara

Israel’s Christians Disappointed by Papal Visit

Israel’s Catholic community put hope in Pope Francis I visit, but dreamed of a bit more face time with the pontiff.

By Alona Ferber

Catholic communities in Israel are praying for the success of Pope Francis’ visit, but excitement and joy are tinged with disappointment that the visit is so short, and that only one event on his schedule west of the Jordan River is truly open to the public.

Virgin Mary March in Haifa in 2010.- Photo: Tomer Neuberg

The pontiff lands in Amman on May 24, visiting Bethlehem and Jerusalem, before leaving on May 26. (John Paul II visited for five days in 2000, while Benedict XVI visited for eight days in 2009.)

Category: Israel News | Tags: Christians and Jews, Pope Francis I, Pope's visit 2014

It’s Beginning All Over Again: European Countries Are Boycotting Jewish Businesses

The European Union on Thursday officially banned the import of poultry & eggs from only Jewish businesses in Judea, Samaria & Jerusalem.

By Arutz Sheva Staff and AFP

The European Union on Thursday banned the import of poultry and eggs from Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, and from most of Jerusalem, the Walla news site reported on Thursday. The 28-nation bloc informed the Israeli Agriculture Ministry that it recognized the Ministry’s authority to supervise agricultural products only within the 1948 armistice lines. As a result, produce from Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria did not meet public health regulations for import, the website said. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: boycott, EU, EU boycott, Judea and Samaria boycott

Beijing buys Tnuva for NIS 8.6 billion ($2.45 billion)

The Chinese gov’t-owned Bright Food Group said all development, production & management will remain in Israel.

By GLOBES

The Chinese government’s Bright Food Group signed an agreement this morning to buy control of Tnuva Food Industries Ltd. from Apax Partners. The sale is being made at a company value of NIS 8.6 billion which will bring a profit of NIS 4 billion to Apax, which has a 56 percent stake in the company, on which it will not be required to pay any tax.

Tnuva cottage cheese Photo: REUTERS

As it stands neither the kibbutz movement, which has a 23% stake, nor Mivtach-Shamir Food Industries Ltd., Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: China, Israel China, Tnuva

Budget cuts make David’s Sling missile shield deployment in 2015 unlikely

Jerusalem temporarily freezes funding to Israel’s missile defense system’s manufacturer Rafael as part of defense dept’s austerity measures.

By Reuters

Israel’s US-backed David’s Sling missile shield is unlikely to be deployed by next year as originally scheduled, an Israeli defense official said on Wednesday, citing budget shortfalls.

David’s Sling, which is designed to shoot down various aerial threats using interceptor missiles manufactured by US firm Raytheon Co., is billed by Israel as a future bulwark against foes like Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Syria and Iran.

But with the Finance Ministry trying to reduce the defense budget, the government said it had frozen funding for David’s Sling manufacturer, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. Continue Reading »

Category: Innovations & Discoveries, Israel News | Tags: David's Sling, Military Aid, Rafael

Rachel Corrie Appeal Reaches Israel’s Supreme Court

Corrie’s parents accuse ‘the Israeli military of acting with impunity’ when daughter was crushed to death by an IDF bulldozer in 2003.

By AFP and Arutz Sheva Staff

Israel’s Supreme Court on Wednesday heard an appeal by the parents of a US activist who was crushed to death by an Israeli army bulldozer in 2003.

Rachel Corrie was accidentally killed by an Israeli army bulldozer in Gaza, as she stood in a spot where civilians were not allowed and she could not be seen by the driver, this at a time when Israel was acting in self-defense in an effort to curb terrorist activity in the area. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: IDF, Israel Supreme Court

Hard to comprehend, but, this is how Muslims think

“I wanted to kill 20, 50 Jews…yes, even babies and children”

By Dr. Arieh Eldad
Hadassah Hospital
Jerusalem, Israel

I was instrumental in establishing the “Israeli National Skin Bank”, which
is the largest in the world. The National Skin Bank stores skin for every
day needs as well as for war time or mass casualty situations.

Dr. Arieh Eldad

This skin bank is hosted at the Hadassah Ein Kerem University hospital in Jerusalem where I was the Chairman of plastic surgery.

This is how I was asked to supply skin for an Arab woman from Gaza , who
was hospitalized in Soroka Hospital in Beersheva, after her family burned
her.

Category: Israel News | Tags: anti-Israel, anti-Semitism, Hadassah Hospital

Introducing the IDF’s 1st Female Christian Officer

Yasmin Chayach has become Israel’s 1st female Arabic-speaking Christian to successfully complete the IDF’s Officers’ Course.

By Israel Today Staff

Yasmin Chayach has become the first female Arabic-speaking Christian to complete the Israeli army’s officers course.

Meet the IDF's First Female Christian Officer

Yasmin Chayach

Chayach was following family tradition by volunteering for service in the IDF, as her brother before her was also a proud Israeli soldier.

The Chayach siblings are part of a growing movement of young Arabic-speaking Israeli Christians who are choosing to do national service.

RELATED:

Many of these young people have come to understand, contrary to mainstream teachings in the Arab world, that Israel is not their enemy, but rather their safe haven. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: IDF, Israeli Christians

Pope Francis to pay tribute to President Peres during upcoming Israel trip

Pope Francis arrival in Israel on Sunday for “peace, faith & tolerance” includes joining 500 children at President’s Residence for a special prayer & song service dedicated to unity.

By Yori Yalon and Daniel Siryoti

Pope Francis will arrive in Israel on Sunday on a visit of “peace, faith and tolerance,” which he said would pay tribute to President Shimon Peres as his term in office draws to a close.

Pope Francis is expected to arrive in Israel on Sunday – Photo: AFP

Upon arriving on Sunday, the pope will travel to Bethlehem to conduct a Mass. The city is preparing for the visit by cleaning the streets and removing hazards, and have lined them with Vatican City flags alongside Palestinian flags.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Pope Francis I