Archive for Israel News

| April 25, 2014
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SodaStream stocks jump with talks of merger with Starbucks

 

2 months after Keurig Green Mountain announces joint venture with Coca Cola, SodaStream stocks rally after Israeli daily reports brewing deal with Starbucks.

Starbucks &  SodaStream declined to comment.

By Hili Yacobi-Handelsman, Reuters & Israel Hayom Staff

 

SodaStream International Ltd. shares rose as much as 17 percent on Wednesday in the wake of a Globes report that the coffee giant Starbucks was in advanced talks to buy 10% of the Israeli-based home soft-drink maker.

SodaStream and Starbucks may be close to a partnership deal, a new report claims – Photo: AP

“There are always rumors surrounding the company.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| April 24, 2014
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Gaza detonates improvised explosive device on border in failed attack on IDF

—- SPECIAL SECURITY REPORT —-

No injuries reported as IDF returned fire.

Current data released by IDF show over 100 rockets fired from Gaza at Israel this year, compared to the 9 rockets fired in 2013.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
 

 

Palestinian terrorists detonated an explosive device in a failed attempt to attack soldiers carrying out routine security work along the northern border with Gaza on Thursday evening.

Gaza

IDF on Gaza border, March 13, 2014.- Photo: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM

The army fired back at the source of the blast, an IDF spokesperson said. There were no injuries reported in the incident.

Earlier, the IDF uncovered two bombs planted on the border in southern Gaza. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| April 24, 2014
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IDF Bedouin soldier ‘Exiled’ from his village finds new home on kibbutz

 

Having been attacked in his home village & unable to return for volunteering for the IDF, Sergeant Adham Saab found comfort & safety on a kibbutz in Southern Israel.

By Israel Moskovitz

 

Twenty-one-year-old Sergeant Adham Saab dreamt of volunteering to serve in the IDF since the age of 10, but it was just two years ago, one month after beginning his service, that his dream became a nightmare when he was attacked in his village by more than 10 men who disapproved of his choice to serve.

Sergeant Adham Saad (Photo: Chayam Hornstein)

Sergeant Adham Saad – Photo: Chayam Hornstein

Saab is a member of Israel’s Bedouin community. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| April 24, 2014
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Israel Court Rules: Arab Stone Thrower to Pay Jewish Victim $750,000

Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court orders Arab rock-throwing attacker to pay his ultra-Orthodox Israeli victim NIS 2.5 million compensation ‘as an example’ for brutal assault.

By Moshe Cohen

 

A Jerusalem court on Thursday ordered a Jerusalem Arab to pay a haredi Israeli NIS 2.5 million (over $750,000) as compensation for an attack he carried out against a Jewish worshipper.

The incident took place in 2008, when the victim was on his way to pray at the Tomb of Shimon the Righteous (Kever Shimon HaTzaddik), a Talmudic sage. The Tomb is located in a predominantly Arab area of Jerusalem, although there is a Jewish community there. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| April 24, 2014
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Palestinian unity agreement may be ruse to terminate duplicitous negotiations

 

Officials in Jerusalem were not convinced that the reconciliation effort was sincere, said one Israeli source. “We have seen such moves in the past; it may all be a charade.”

By Elior Levy

 

Even as Palestinian officials protested that the reconciliation with Hamas did not doom the negotiations with Israel, sources in Jerusalem cast doubt Thursday on the sincerity of the historic unity agreement.

Photo: AFP

Photo: AFP

A senior Palestinian official said Wednesday that the reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas does not signal an end to the peace process and that “any agreement signed between the Palestinian Authority and Israel will include the Gaza Strip.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| April 24, 2014
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U.S. Supports Israel’s Decision to Discontinue Peace Talks with Palestinians

State Department spokeswoman agrees that Israel can’t be expected “to negotiate with a gov’t that does not believe in its right to exist.”

By Elad Benari

 

The United States on Wednesday expressed support for Israel’s decision to cancel a planned session of peace talks with the Palestinian Authority, in the wake of an announced Hamas-Fatah reconciliation deal.

John Kerry with Jen Psaki at right -Photo: Reuters

“It’s hard to see how Israel can be expected to negotiate with a government that does not believe in its right to exist,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters, according to AFP. Continue Reading »

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| April 23, 2014
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Israel’s psychic spoon-bender to assist Israelis defy disasters

 

Spoon-bending Uri Geller will participate in a new Home Front Command commercial to educate the Israeli public on how to find shelter during a rocket attack.

By Reuters

 

Celebrity psychic Uri Geller is the beaming new face of Israeli disaster-readiness, starring in army-sponsored TV and Internet advertisements on how to take shelter from missile attacks or earthquakes.

Uri Geller - Photo: UriGeller.com

Uri Geller – Photo: UriGeller.com

Launched on Wednesday, the campaign marks Geller’s return to his native country from Britain and aims to keep Israelis vigilant, though public fears of any imminent war with Iran, Syria or Lebanese and Palestinian guerrillas have receded. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| April 23, 2014
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Israel Air Force Strikes Gaza as Hamas Rocket Launching Squad Takes Aim

—- SPECIAL SECURITY REPORT —-

Several Palestinians injured with IAF airstrike against rocket launcher terrorist cell getting ready.

By AFP and Arutz Sheva Staff

 

An Israeli warplane struck the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday wounding six people, one very seriously, the territory’s Hamas rulers said.

The raid came as thousands took to the streets of Gaza City to celebrate the announcement by Hamas and the PLO of an agreement to form a unity government to end seven years of divided administration. There seems to be no direct connection between the two developments.

The IDF Spokesman said that in a joint anti-terror operation by the IDF and Israel Security Agency (ISA, or Shin Bet), an attack was carried out in northern Gaza. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| April 23, 2014
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Defense Minister introduces reciprocal measures for ‘violent’ settlements

 

Defense Minister Ya’alon orders police, military & Civil Administration to prioritize razing structures built illegally without permits & licenses in Judea & Samaria outposts and/or settlements where the residents have a history of violently attacking Israel’s security forces.

By Israel Hayom Staff

 

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon has instructed Israel Defense Forces commanders across Judea and Samaria to accelerate the razing of illegally built structures in settlements and outposts where security forces meet violence from extremists, Army Radio reported Wednesday.

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon – Photo: Dudi Vaaknin

According to the report, the order, which was given in a closed forum, extends to police and Civil Administration forces in the area as well.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| April 23, 2014
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ADL Chief: Washington believes US Jews are not loyal

Anti-Defamation League head: Washington’s concerns about Israeli tourist espionage are “almost irrational… It’s a prejudice”, since both countries co-operate at the highest levels of new security/military technologies.

By SAM SOKOL

 

 

The Anti-Defamation League has reacted harshly to reports that several members of US Congress and representatives of the country’s intelligence community have cautioned against admitting Israel into the State Department’s visa waiver program due to concerns over espionage.

Israeli Passport - Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

Israeli & US Passport holder – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

During an interview with The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday, ADL National Director Abraham Foxman said he could not square such worries with the “special relationship” and high level of intelligence cooperation between the two nations. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| April 23, 2014
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Fatah & Hamas prepare to implement reconciliation agreement

Palestinian factions are to finalize details on Wednesday morning, says Abbas representative in Gaza.

Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu tells Austria FM: Abbas must choose between peace with Hamas or peace with Israel.

By and

 

 

Hamas and Fatah were preparing to implement a historic reconciliation deal on Wednesday, nearly seven years after a schism between the rival Palestinian factions.

Fatah and Hamas May 4 2011

Jubilant Palestinians releasing balloons in the colors of the Palestinian flag during a Fatah & Hamas May 4 2011 rally. – Photo: AP

“There has been great progress, and we are near ready to sign a deal, at 11 A.M.,” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| April 23, 2014
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Israel Need Not Fear US or EU Threats of Isolation

 

Since the beginning of the year, there has been a flow of many distinguished present & former heads of state and leading politicians demonstrating that Israel is definitely not alone.

By Yossi Aloni

 

Israel is fearful that a collapse of peace talks with the Palestinians could result in an international boycott and isolation. In fact, even the Americans have been warning of such an outcome.

Former Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar, Friends of Israel. - Photo: Screenshot / HJS.

Former Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar, Friends of Israel.
Photo: Screenshot / HJS.

But, it is important to remember that Israel has no shortage of loyal friends. Some of those friends recently came to Israel under the banner of the “Friends of Israel Initiative” to hold their annual meeting. Continue Reading »

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| April 23, 2014
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Israel Electric Company Wants to ‘Cut Off PA Tomorrow’

IEC chief Yiftah Ron-Tal discusses the energy ‘revolution’ of Israel’s Tamar natural gas fields and the damage the ‘Arab Spring’ caused to Israel’s electricity.

By Yoni Kempinski, Ari Yashar

 

Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yiftah Ron-Tal, Director of the Israel Electric Company (IEC), spoke Thursday at the Ramle Conference on financial policy, where he addressed the Palestinian Authority (PA) electricity debts of 1.4 billion shekels (nearly half a billion dollars).

“If it were up to me, I would cut off their electricity tomorrow,” commented Ron-Tal. “Any private company would have cut off their electricity a long time ago. We’re demanding the PA to pay every last penny.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| April 22, 2014
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Lieberman: Bennett’s threat to leave coalition is a bluff

 

Foreign Minister Lieberman says threats by Habayit Hayehudi leader to quit the gov’t if incarcerated Israeli Arab murderers are freed, should ‘not be taken seriously.’

On the stalled peace talks, Lieberman says the ‘ball is in Palestinian court.’

By

 

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Tuesday that he does not believe Habayit Hayehudi party will leave the coalition if Israel releases Israeli Arab prisoners as part of a deal to extend peace talks with the Palestinians.

Foreign Minister Lieberman at press conference in Knesset, March 25, 2014.

Foreign Minister Lieberman at press conference in Knesset, March 25, 2014. Photo: Olivier Fitoussi

Speaking at a press conference with his Austrian counterpart Sebastian Kurz, Lieberman was referring to recent threats made by Habayit Hayeudi leader and Economy Minister Naftali Bennett.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| April 22, 2014
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Israel’s Director of Homefront Ministry Resigns

Having once written ‘Home Front Defense Ministry is ‘unnecessary’,now the director says his ministry ‘does not have a leg to stand on,’ Major General (res.) Dan Ronen writes in his letter of resignation.

By Gil Ronen

 

The Director of the Home Front Ministry, Major General (res.) Dan Ronen, tendered his resignation Tuesday.

top 3Ronen explained that the ministry does not have the necessary tools to successfully discharge its responsibilities. “The ministry was founded unprofessionally in 2011 without a leg to stand on,” he fumed in his letter of resignation.

There has been extensive bickering between the Defense Ministry and the Home Front Ministry over the responsibility and authority to be granted to the latter. Continue Reading »

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