Israel News

EU promises ‘unprecedented’ aid to Palestinians & Israel to cement peace deal

28 EU foreign ministers in Brussels offer “package of European economic, political, and security support to both parties in context of a final status agreement”.

By HERB KEINON

The EU’s foreign ministers, who often fill their periodic conclusions on the “Middle East peace process” with vinegar toward Israel, decided this month to add some honey, promising unparalleled support for Israel and the Palestinians if a peace accord is signed.

The European Parliament building in Strasbourg – Photo: REUTERS/Vincent Kessler

“The EU will provide an unprecedented package of European political, economic and security support to both parties in the context of a final status agreement,” the conclusions read at the end of Monday’s monthly meeting of 28 EU foreign ministers in Brussels. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: EU, Palestinians, Peace Process

U.S. academic association endorses academic boycott of Israel

5,000 members strong, the American Studies Association, cites ‘Israel’s violation of int’l law & UN resolutions’ as reasons to boycott Israeli academic institutions.

By Haaretz and JTA

The American Studies Association has endorsed a boycott of Israeli academic institutions in a vote that took place over the past few days, the organization said on Monday.

Protester calling for a boycott of Israel – Photo: REUTERS

Out of the 1,252 members who participated in the vote, 66 percent voted in support of the boycott. The voting was conducted electronically

The decision to boycott Israeli academic institutions was made unanimously by the ASA’s 20-member national council on December 5. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: BDS, Israel boycott, Israel US

Failed Coup in South Sudan imperiled Israeli aid group in capital

President Salva Kiir, of South Sudan, announced on Monday that he had successfully put down a coup attempt by soldiers loyal to fired Deputy President Riek Machar. Because of tension in the capital, IsraAid put its operations in the country on lockdown.

By JTA

Intense fighting amid a coup attempt in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, has forced the Israeli aid group IsraAid to suspend its operations in the country and go on lockdown.

James Lago, a street merchant in Juba, South Sudan, with the Israeli flag. – Photo: Armin Rosen

The heavy gunfire in Juba began late Sunday night.

Category: Israel News | Tags: IsraAid, South Sudan

Amazing New & Successful Help for the Infertile

The “Embryoscope” being used in Rehovot has increased by an additional & impressive 11%, the success in achieving pregnancy in women with fertility problems.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH

After yearning for a baby for 15 years and numerous attempts at pregnancy, an Israeli couple have had a healthy baby – Shai-Li Vazana – with help from a device called an “embryoscope” at Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot. She was the first Israeli to be born thanks to the device, which raises the success rates of in-vitro fertilization (IVF).

SMILING MOTHER Miri holds her newborn son – Photo: Courtesy

Experts said the device has increased by an impressive 11 percent the success in achieving a pregnancy in couples with fertility problems.

Category: Innovations & Discoveries, Israel News | Tags: Birthrates, IVF, Kaplan Medical Center, Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science

With school still out in some parts of the country, Israelis flock to ski

Jerusalem, Safat & Ariel are among communities canceling classes Monday (List included) as mountainous regions are still under snow or iced-up .

Hundreds flock to Hermon for Israeli ski experience.

Icy conditions continue to close roads near Jerusalem, while 8,000 homes still without electricity.

By Ahiya Raved

Even though it’s stopped snowing, it’s not all business as usual. On Monday, schools in Jerusalem, Safed, the Upper Galilee and the West Bank canceled classes and kept their doors closed for another day.

Israelis flock to Hermon – Photo: Avihu Shapira

Meanwhile, hundreds of skiers made their way to the Mount Hermon Monday morning, after the snow site opened to visitors. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel weather, Mount Hermon, snow

IDF shoots at 2 Lebanese soldiers on border

Video: Israel’s Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon

‘Missing’ Lebanese soldier surfaces after Israeli killed on border.

By Jack Khoury and The Associated Press

The Lebanese soldier who reportedly went missing after opening fire at an Israeli military vehicle Sunday night on the northern border, killing an Israeli soldier, has returned to his base.

Israeli soldiers guard near the border between northern Israel and Lebanon, Monday, Dec. 16, 2013. – Photo: AP

The Israeli soldier who was killed, Master Sgt. Sholmi Cohen, 31, was a resident of Afula, according to the Israel Defense Forces. His family has been informed of his death and his funeral will be held in Haifa at 5 P.M. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: IDF, IDF soldier, Lebanon, Moshe Ya'alon

Lebanese Soldier Reports for Duty After Killing IDF Soldier

The Lebanese soldier who shot dead IDF Master Sgt. Shlomi Cohen spent the entire night ‘hiding in a bush’, before handing himself in this morning.

By Ari Soffer

The Lebanese soldier who shot dead IDF Master Sergeant Shlomi Cohen in an unprovoked attack Sunday evening has reportedly handed himself in to Lebanese authorities.

IDF Master Sergeant Shlomi Cohen ז”ל – Courtesy of the family

According to Lebanese media, after briefly disappearing in the aftermath of the attack and spending the night “hiding in a bush”, the unnamed soldier reported for duty at the Lebanese General Security post at the Ras al-Naqoura border crossing, surrendering himself as the site where he committed the shooting just hours earlier. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: IDF, lebanon border, Rosh Hanikra, Shooting Attack

Knesset Committee okay bill mandating 2/3 majority for dividing Jerusalem

The proposal, by MK Ya’acov Litzman (UTJ), was accepted by the committee after being brought back to a vote because Justice Minister Tzipi Livni appealed its introduction last October.

By LAHAV HARKOV

A bill requiring a two-thirds majority in the Knesset for negotiations to divide Jerusalem was approved by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation Sunday.

MK Ya’acov Litzman at the Knesset – Photo: Judy Siegel-Itzkovich

The proposal, by MK Ya’acov Litzman (UTJ), was brought back to a vote after Justice Minister Tzipi Livni appealed it in October.

Litzman’s bill mandates that 80 MKs are necessary to authorize any negotiations with the Palestinians on whether to give up any part of Jerusalem. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel Politics, Jerusalem, Knesset

Public committee to decide feasibility on Israeli ‘White House’ &/or Israeli ‘Air Force 1’

Cabinet ministers authorize the establishment of a public committee to examine the feasibility of purchasing a plane for Israeli PM and President, and the building of a new official PM Residence.

Lapid objects, ‘Gov’t must maintain modesty,’

By Moran Azulay

The government has authorized the establishment of a public that will look into purchasing a plane for the travel purposes of the prime minister and president.

Visualization of potential new PM residence planned in 2009

The committee will also examine the possibility of building a single structure to house the Prime Minister’s Office and his residence – the Israeli “White House.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel Politics, Prime Ministers Office, Shimon Peres, Tzipi Livni, Yair Lapid

IDF Soldier Killed by Sniper Fire on Lebanon Border

Lebanese sniper opens fire, 7 shots at IDF vehicle near Rosh Hanikra, on Israel’s northern border, killing 1 Israeli soldier.

By Gil Ronen and Elad Benari

An IDF soldier was killed on Sunday evening after being hit by sniper fire near Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.

The attack took place near Rosh Hanikra, in northwestern Israel, and was perpetrated by a soldier from the Lebanese army. A military source who spoke with Arutz Sheva said that the Lebanese soldier fired at least seven bullets at an IDF vehicle.

The soldier’s family has been notified.

Israel has filed a complaint with the UN over the incident, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: IDF, lebanon border, Rosh Hanikra

Latest Storm a Boost to the Kinneret

The “storm of the decade” that hit Israel this past weekend brought much needed water to the country’s aquifers and Lake Kinnert.

By David Lev

The “storm to end all storms” that hit Israel this past weekend will be remembered not only for how a major snowstorm brought many parts of the country to a halt, but for the unusual bounty of water it provided the country. According to the Meteorological Institute, over 200 millimeters of rain fell between Wednesday and Saturday on average in Israel.

That water, in the form of rain and melting snow, will eventually fill Israel’s aquifers, as well as the Kinneret, or Sea of Galilee. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel weather, Lake Kinneret, water

2nd incident in 24 hrs: IDF fires, lightly injures Palestinian on Gaza border

After group of Gazans refuse calls by the IDF to vacate the area, and they continued to carry out suspicious activity by border security fence, IDF opened fire.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN

A group of Palestinians approached the Israel-Gaza security fence on Sunday morning and began carrying out suspicious activity on the ground near the barrier, an IDF source said.

IDF Soldiers on southern border – Photo: Israel Spokesperson’s Unit

The army dispatched a unit to the area, which borders northern Gaza, and soldiers asked the suspects to vacate the area. The suspects refused, and soldiers opened fire, lightly injuring one of the men, the source added.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Gaza, Gaza border, IDF

Israeli start-up to eliminate expensive roaming charges

New Israeli start-up developed an app that turns any smartphone into a local phone, thus enabling travelers around world to pay inexpensive local rates without being surprised with pricey fees by their domestic wireless carriers when they get their phone bill.

By Associated Press

An Israeli startup is trying to combat a common fear for international travelers: getting socked with hundreds or thousands of dollars in unexpected roaming charges for using cellphones away from home.

Roaming Illustration – Photo: Reuters

Cell Buddy aims to turn any smartphone into a local one. Travelers can choose from an array of calling and data plans with carriers in dozens of countries. Continue Reading »

Category: Innovations & Discoveries, Israel News | Tags: cellphone, communications, Israel start-up, Israeli Technology