Israel News

IDF troops complete training with Americans on V-22 Osprey

Joint military exercise of IDF infantry units & U.S. Marines ended Thursday.

Israeli Air Force trained on the Osprey, that lifts off & lands like a helicopter but transforms mid-flight into a high-speed turboprop aircraft. The IAF is planned to begin taking delivery in 2016 of the 6 purchased aircraft.

By Lilach Shoval

The Israeli Air Force trained this week with its American counterpart on the Boeing-made V-22 Osprey plane-copter, which can lift off and land like a helicopter, and can transform mid-flight into a high-speed turboprop aircraft.

The V-22 Osprey is primarily used by the U.S. military for Special Forces operations – Photo: GettyImages

The exercise, which concluded on Thursday, also included U.S.

Category: Israel News | Tags: IDF excercise, Israel US, US forces - IDF

Israel dispatches IAF to intercept Approaching Syrian Warplanes

The Israel Air Force guaranteed a secure border, with no contact between two air forces on Friday afternoon, but it was a close call.

By Tova Dvorin

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) was deployed Friday afternoon after Syrian warplanes approached the Israel-Syrian border, according to Channel 2.

F15 I,’Ra’am’ (‘Thunder’) A multipurpose long-range fighter jet, mainly used for attack and interception strikes. – Photo: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

The Syrian warplanes were within just a few hundred kilometers to Israel Friday, according to the daily, as it struck rebel outposts near Al Quneitra.

The two air forces did not come into contact with one another, but the IDF does not take threats to Israeli airspace lightly – especially in light of recent spillover from the ongoing Syrian Civil War. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: IAF

Expert: Israel’s gas to benefit Europe but won’t eliminate dependence on Russia

With Israel’s 400 billion cu.m. worth of proven gas reserves that are eligible for export, Europe’s dependance on Russia’s gas is not about to end soon.

By SHARON UDASIN

Although a Europe seeking to diversify its natural gas sources could potentially benefit from turning to the Eastern Mediterranean reservoirs, the continent’s dependency on Russian supplies will remain for the foreseeable future, experts say.

Leviathan gas field - Albatross - 09012012

A drilling rig in the Leviathan gas field in the Mediterranean.- Photo: Albatross

Gas exports from Israel to Europe would be “nice to have, but Europe will remain very dependent on Russian gas, and its dependence will probably grow as its own indigenous supplies dwindle,” Gina Cohen, a lecturer at the Technion’s Natural Gas and Petroleum Engineering Graduate Study Program and a consultant in the gas industry, told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel EU, natural gas, Russia

Watch: Netanyahu goes to California, visits Whatsapp, Apple & dines with DiCaprio

Israel’s PM flies to the West coast with an objective: Advancing Israel’s high-tech industry.

After dinning with Hollywood stars, he sent them a clear message: Make movies about Israel.

By Ynetnews

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had an eventful trip to the West Coast. Netanyahu, his wife Sara and son Yair attended a star-studded event at the home of Israeli businessman Arnon Milchan.

The Netanyahu family poses with Kate Hudson – Photo: Avi Ohayon, GPO

The mega-producer has managed to get a distinguished list of actors, directors, scriptwriters and all the managers of the most important Hollywood studios to participate in a Q&A session with the Israeli prime minister. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu, hi-tech

Israeli hospital receives 1st of 7 Ukrainian wounded in demonstrations

Israeli surgeons at Kaplan Hospital ready to reconstruct Alexander S.’s shrapnel-ridden hand.

By Haaretz

A Ukrainian wounded on the streets of Kiev in clashes between protesters and police arrived for treatment in Israel on Wednesday and six more expected were to arrive Thursday, according to a report by Walla news website.

Ukrainian Alexander S. hospitalized in Israel. – Photo Courtesy: Kaplan Hospital

Surgeons at Kaplan Hospital in Rehovot will attempt in the next couple of days to reconstruct the crushed and shrapnel-ridden hand of 20-year-old Alexander S., the first Ukrainian to arrive in Israel after riots and demonstrations that brought down the country’s president.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel Health, Tikon Olam, Ukraine

European youth group votes “No” on boycotting Israel

Youth of the European People’s Party votes to end all boycotts in Judea & Samaria. YEPP calls on EU not to harm Israeli businesses.

Hungary conference is 1st in Europe to vote contrary to boycott movement.

By Efrat Forsher

The Youth of the European People’s Party — a center-right political youth organization representing 39 European countries — has cast the first-ever vote against boycotting products and factories in Judea and Samaria. The Samaria Regional Council in tandem with Likud and Yisrael Beytenu youth leaders successfully lobbied to pass the vote against the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, which took place at the YEPP conference in Hungary.

Category: Israel News, The Diaspora | Tags: anti-Israeli, BDS, Judea and Samaria boycott

Netanyahu & Calif. Gov. Brown sign multilevel partnership agreement

Gov. Brown’s office said Israel-California cooperation will encompass water conservation, health, education, alternative energy, cyber-security, biotechnology & agricultural technology.

BY JTA

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed an economic and research partnership agreement with California Gov. Jerry Brown.

Prime Minister Netanyahu signs a strategic partnership agreement with California Governor Edmund G. (“Jerry”) Brown, Jr. to promote economic relations between Israel and California. – Photo: Avi Ohayon, GPO

The agreement signed Wednesday will enhance cooperation between Israel and California in a number of areas, including water conservation, alternative energy, cybersecurity, health and biotechnology, education and agricultural technology, according to a news release from Brown’s office.

Category: Israel News | Tags: California, cooperation, Israel California

Behind the scenes & IDF preparations to seize Iran weapons ship

UAV, riot gear, advanced medical facilities & full documentation of events: the IDF Command has learned lessons from the Mavi Marmara incident.

By Yoav Zitun

‘Operation Full Disclosure’

There may be an air of festivity among the defense establishment in Israel over the successful operation to seize an Iranian weapons ship. But the way back to Israel is still perilous for the troops escorting the Klos C, captured Tuesday night 1,500 km from Israel’s shores.

The Klos C being escorted by Israeli Shayetet 13 commandos – Courtesy IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

The IDF has not yet ruled out the chances of an attack on the flotilla of Israel Navy gunships accompanying the Klos-C on its journey to port in Eilat. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: IAF, IDF, Iran, Klos C, weapons smuggling

Gaza Based Terrorists Fire Rocket at Southern Israel

Rocket fired at Israel’s southern city of Sderot explodes in an open field, not having required Iron Dome activation.

There were no physical injuries or reported damages.

By Elad Benari

Gaza-based terrorists fired a rocket at the southern Israeli city of Sderot on Wednesday night.

The rocket exploded in an open field, causing no physical injuries or damages.

Earlier on Wednesday evening, Gaza terrorists fired a rocket at southern Israel, but that rocket exploded within Gaza.

On Monday, a Gaza rocket was fired into the Ashkelon coast. It, too, exploded in an open area, and no physical injuries or damages were reported. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Gaza, Rocket attacks, Sderot

Beauty From Southern Israel Named Miss Israel 2014

A high-school arts major & computer graphics student Mor Maman, 18, named Israel’s new Miss Israel in yesterday’s pageant held in Haifa.

The soon-to-be Israeli Air Force soldier is currently managing a Facebook group promoting nutrition among teens.

By Eran Suissa

Mor Maman from Beersheba was named Miss Israel 2014 in a pageant held in Haifa on Tuesday evening. The 18-year-old high school arts major and computer graphics student, will join the Israeli Air Force in a few months.

Miss Israel 2014, Mor Maman – Photo: Channel 2 Screenshot

Prior to the Miss Israel pageant, Maman had lost 30 kilograms (66 pounds).

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel culture, Miss Israel

Israeli defense firm to help secure US border with Mexico

Israeli defense firm Elbit wins $145 million contract to build surveillance towers along Arizona’s border with Mexico.

By i24NEWS

The Israeli defense company Elbit Systems confirmed on Wednesday that they had received a $145 million contract by the United States Department of Homeland Security to build security towers on Arizona’s border with Mexico.

Arizona’s border fence with Mexico – Photo: AFP

The company wrote in a press release on their website that the “Integrated Fixed Tower Project” would be implemented “over an approximately 12-month period.”

The work, which will apparently include cameras and radars with the capability to detect human movement, will be carried out by Elbit Systems of America, which is the company’s US subsidiary. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: economic cooperation, Elbit, Israel US, security fence

Liberman tells Abbas: Israel refuses to accept conditions to continue talks

Foreign Minister Liberman says of the Palestinian Authority “Those who want to set conditions should look for other partners.”

By HERB KEINON

Israel will not accept any conditions for a continuation of talks with the Palestinians, foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman said Wednesday, rejecting new Palestinian demands that Israel freeze settlement construction and release more Palestinian prisoners in order to continue negotiations past their late April deadline.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman – Photo: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post

“There will be no conditions,” Liberman said Wednesday at a meeting in Tel Aviv of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Israel.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Avigdor Liberman, Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Authority, Peace Negotiations

israelandstuffcom | March 5, 2014

REPORT: U.S. State Dept. denies visas to Israeli defense officials

Maariv reports: Mossad, IDF & Shin Bet officials were rejected entry visas. American Embassy says, ‘All visa requests examined individually.’

By Haaretz

The United States is denying visa requests from Israeli military, defense establishment and intelligence officials, according to a report in Maariv.

American visa in a passport (illustrative) – Photo: Dreamstime

Israeli defense establishment officials have discussed the matter in private meetings, after noticing a pattern emerging: Hundreds of individuals with ties to Israel’s defense establishment have been denied entry to the U.S. in the past year, or have been allowed in for only three months, according to the report.

Category: Israel News | Tags: IDF, Israel US, Mossad, Shin Bet, visas

israelandstuffcom | March 5, 2014

IDF Shoots Dead 2 Hezbollah Terrorists Placing Bomb on Border with Syria

IDF soldiers engaged and then killed two terrorists last night who tried blowing up border fence on Golan Heights.

By Ari Yashar

IDF forces clashed with terrorists on Tuesday night in the northern Golan Heights. Soldiers opened fire on terrorists who placed an explosive on the border fence with Syria.

“Earlier today, two Hezbollah-affiliated terrorists were identified attempting to plant an explosive device near the Israel-Syria border in the northern Golan Heights. IDF forces… fired towards the suspects (and) hits were identified,” the army said in a statement.

A group of suspicious figures approached the fence in the middle of the night, and attempted to blow up the barrier.

Category: Israel News | Tags: border fence, Golan Heights, Hezbollah, IDF, Israel Syria

israelandstuffcom | March 5, 2014