Israel News

U.S. strikes Israel from patent blacklist

American drug manufactures no longer worry over Teva Pharmaceutical Industries ability to operate without legislative parameters since the Knesset passed patent changes in 2011.

Israel has been removed from a U.S. government blacklist of countries that allegedly condone the violation of intellectual property rights, Washington announced over the weekend.

A Teva lab technician. Intellectual property rights are important for Israeli R&D, too. – Photo: Ofer Vaknin

Israel had been on the list for years, in part due to pressure from U.S. drug manufacturers contending that Israeli legislation let Teva Pharmaceutical Industries violate patents. Teva is the world’s largest maker of generic drugs.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel business, Teva Pharmaceutical

IEC Warns Palestinians: Pay Your Electric Bill or be Switched Off Grid

Sunday, the Israel Electric Company issued the Palestinian Authority a final warning to pay their debt of over one billion shekels, or the grid supplying them electricity will be turned off.

By David Lev

The Israel Electric Company on Sunday issued a final warning to the Palestinian Authority (PA) – pay up or get cut off. The IEC gave the PA three days to come up with NIS 1.4 billion (nearly half a billion dollars) the Authority owes it. If it does not get the money, the company will cut power to the PA.

Electricity on the way to the Palestinians – IsraelandStuff/PP

The PA is in this jam because it has habitually failed to pay its electric bill, despite the fact that it received money specifically for this purpose from various international donors. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: electricity, IEC, Palestinian Authority

IDF Celebrates Diversity Week

Israel allows its IDF recruits to pledge allegiance on a Bible, the New Testament or Koran; women can fill almost any military role.

By Israel Today Staff

The IDF may be the army of the Jewish state, but that doesn’t mean it’s comprised solely of Jewish men and women. Many from among Israel’s minorities choose willingly to join the IDF and take part in the defense of this nation that has provided them with civil rights and freedoms unprecedented throughout the rest of the Middle East.

Pvt. Muhammad Atrash, Arab Muslim from the Galilee, volunteered to defend Israel by enlisting in the IDF – Courtesy of IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

To celebrate this fact, the IDF last week marked its annual diversity week, “a celebration of the differences that unite Israeli soldiers,” according to the army’s official blog. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: IDF, IDF soldier

Miley Cyrus threaten lawsuit over Israeli game mocking ‘Wrecking ball’ hit

Unimpressed by game that has been downloaded millions of times, Miley Cyrus’ lawyers threaten lawsuit over Israeli game that parodies her song, ‘Wrecking ball’.

By Sagi Cohen

An Israeli soldier has found himself at the heart of dispute with world-famous pop star Miley Cyrus over an app parodying her hit video “Wrecking Ball.”

Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball – Screenshot

When 20-year-old Tal Dahabani developed the “Flying Cyrus” game, he never imagined he would get a lawsuit threat from the famous singer.

In the game, the player is required to help a drawing of Cyrus’s head to avoid hammers and wrecking balls. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: app, court

Jerusalem’s roads closed in for Ultra-Orthodox protest against IDF draft

Haredi demonstration expected to bring transportation chaos to Israel’s capital.

Jerusalem’s light rail & local buses to be seriously affected.

By Yair Ettinger and Nir Hasson

Traffic chaos is expected in Jerusalem this afternoon due to the scheduled mass demonstration by Haredim (Ultra-Orthodox) opposed to the government’s proposed military draft law.

Ultra-Orthodox protesters make their way to a rally against the military draft bill, March 2, 2014.- Photo: Emil Salman

Jerusalem Police expect hundreds of thousands to attend the demonstration, which will take place in the area of the Bridge of Strings, at the main entrance to Jerusalem, and in the roads leading to it. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Haredim, Israel Police, Jerusalem, protesters, ultra-Orthodox

Palestinian Arabs Vandalize IDF Security Checkpoint

Graffiti at the security checkpoint notes that the vandalism was ‘retaliation’ for Israeli security personnel killing wanted Arab terrorist as incitement after funeral continues.

By Dalit Halevi, Tova Dvorin

Masked Palestinian Arabs broke into a IDF checkpoint near the Palestinian Authority (PA) settlement of Beit Furik, northeast of Shechem, after they cut through barbed wire fence surrounding the post.

A video surfaced on YouTube over the weekend showing masked men, who were armed with a chainsaw and hammers, sawing through checkpoint gate, smashing the windows of the armored guard position, and vandalizing the checkpoint. Graffiti at the site read, “Boycott Israel, in memory of the martyr Motazz Washaha.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: IDF Checkpoint, Muslim vandals, Palestinian terrorist, PFLP, vandalism

israelandstuffcom | March 1, 2014

Israel signs agriculture cooperation agreement with Nigeria

Israel’s Agriculture Minister Yair Shamir & his Nigerian counterpart signed an agreement to focus on bolstering Nigeria’s crop quality, strengthen professionalism & increase water efficiency.

By SHARON UDASIN

Agriculture Minister Yair Shamir and his Nigerian counterpart Dr. Akinwumi Adesina signed on Friday a joint declaration toward increasing agricultural cooperation between the two countries.

Israeli and Nigerian ministers sign agreement. – Photo: AMNON LIEBERMAN

The ministers signed the agreement, which will focus on bolstering food security, in the Nigerian capital city of Abuja that day. As part of the agreement, Israel will help Nigerians expand the amount of land they cultivate, increase their water sector efficiency, improve crop quality and strengthen professionalism of those engaged in agriculture, according to Shamir’s spokesman. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: agriculture, cooperation, Israel Nigeria

israelandstuffcom | March 1, 2014

Syria Fires Rockets at Israel

Although 2 Syria rockets land on Israel’s Mt. Hermon, Israeli military suggest incident was a result of stray fire from Syria.

IDF stationed in Israel’s north are on high alert following alleged IAF airstrike on Hezbollah’s missile transfers into Lebanon.

By Gili Cohen

Two rockets were found on Mt. Hermon in northern Israel on Saturday morning, hours after explosions were reported in the region during the night.

Israeli soldiers standing on a tank near the northern border with Syria on June 6, 2011, as troops in the Golan Heights remained on high alert after Naksa Day.- Photo: AFP

The IDF estimates the rockets were not launched deliberately at Israel, but were the result of stray fire by one of the warring factions in Syria’s civil war.

Category: Israel News | Tags: IDF, Lebanon, Syria

israelandstuffcom | March 1, 2014

IDF units on alert on Syrian border following alleged airstrike on Hezbollah

Fearing Syrian reaction to rumored Israeli airstrike on Syria-Lebanon border, IDF command gives patrolling forces armored vehicles.

By Yoav Zitun, Roi Kais

The tensions on the northern border following Israel’s alleged strike in Lebanon have not skipped over the Golan Heights. The IDF Northern Command’s decision to raise the level of alert fearing a Hezbollah retaliation also affects the border with Syria, that has turned into a border as dangerous and as sensitive as the Lebanese border.

IDF tank unit preparing for the evening – IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

Troops on the Golan Heights were also instructed to raise the level of alert out of concern retaliatory strikes will come from the Syrian side of the border. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: IDF, Israel Syria

Tel Aviv Marathon won in record time by Kenyan runner

Top 3 runners all Kenyans with winner, Ezekiel Koech, 28, finishing in 2:14:40.

Despite excellent weather, 85 of 40,000 participants required medical assistance during race.

By Ilan Lior

Kenyan runner Ezekiel Koech, 28, won the Tel Aviv Marathon on Friday, finishing the race with a record-breaking time of 2:14:40.

Ezekiel Koech, far right, won the Tel Aviv Marathon Friday, February 28, 2014.- Photo: Hadar Cohen

The second- and third-place finishers at the 42-kilometer (26.2-mile) race were also Kenyans who came to Israel especially for the marathon.

Despite the comfortable weather Friday, 85 runners required medical treatment during the race.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv Marathon

Arabs Set E. Jerusalem Police Station on Fire

Jerusalem councilman Aryeh King decries endemic lawlessness rampant in capital this week.

By Ari Yashar

Jerusalem Arabs set ablaze a police station next to the Lions’ Gate in the capital’s Old City on Wednesday.

Aryeh King, nationalist Jerusalem city councilman and member of the municipality’s Emergency and Security Committee, was present at the attack and managed to document it. According to King, police officers fled the scene.

“Unfortunately the prime minister is instructing the authorities to avoid eastern Jerusalem, and these are the results,” charged King.

“Last night the funeral of a terrorist was held there, they marched from the Mount of Olives towards the Lions’ Gate attacking everything in their path and didn’t let Jews pass,” reported King. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Arab arson, East Jerusalem, PA Crime, Palestinian violence

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Israeli PM Vowed Gov’t Won’t Change Temple Mount Status Quo

Netanyahu’s conciliatory promises to Muslim world followed a stormy Knesset debate on possible extension of Israeli sovereignty over Temple Mount

By Ryan Jones

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday vowed that his government would not alter the status quo regarding the Temple Mount, a day after Israel’s Knesset held its first ever debate on extending Jewish sovereignty over Judaism’s holiest site.

Temple Mount – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

“The policy of the government of Israel has been and continues to be the maintenance of the status quo at the Temple Mount, including freedom of access for all faiths to the holy sites,” Netanyahu spokesman Mark Regev told The Jerusalem Post. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Al-Aqsa Mosque, Benjamin Netanyahu, Knesset, Temple Mount

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Gas mask distribution centers closed after 23 years of service

Defense officials determined the present threat to Israelis has decreased substantially due to the int’l teams dismantling of Syria’s chemical weapons.

Decisions on future distribution will be made based on upcoming threat assessments.

By Shlomi Diaz, Shlomo Cesana & Lilach Shoval

Gas mask kits will no longer be handed out in Israel as of Thursday, in accordance with a government decision to close distribution centers.

Trying on my gas-mask – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

The decision stemmed from the defense establishment’s belief that the threat to Israeli citizens has decreased substantially due to the dismantling of Syria’s chemical weapons.

After Thursday, gas mask production will be limited and the kits will be distributed to emergency service teams alone.

Category: Israel News | Tags: gas mask, Home Front Command

Unique Israeli study examines after-effects of medical marijuana

Israeli Health Ministry expert says no similar in-depth research has been performed anywhere.

By Ido Efrati

Medical cannabis has been getting a lot of good press in recent years. Reports and patients’ testimonies of how they benefited from ingesting the plant or its extract have spread rapidly and the Health Ministry’s medical cannabis unit issues some 50 new permits for using it weekly.

Medical cannabis. – Photo: Emil Salman

But while the demand for cannabis is soaring, many questions remain open regarding its effects. An Israeli study now aims for the first time to find out whether patients experience any after-effects, how many of them stop using it and why.

Category: Innovations & Discoveries, Israel News | Tags: cannabis, Health Ministry, Health News, Israel Health, marijuana

israelandstuffcom | February 27, 2014