Israel News

Huge Explosion Heard in Northern Golan Heights

Explosion felt near IDF vehicle on patrol on the Golan Heights near the Syrian border caused no injuries but did do minor damage. IDF investigating but waiting for first light to examine area.

By Elad Benari, Canada

A powerful explosion was heard on Friday evening in the Golan Heights, near an IDF vehicle that was on routine patrol along the Syrian-Israeli border, near the slopes of Mount Hermon.

No one was injured as a result of the explosion, but damage was caused to the rear window of the military vehicle.

The explosion was so powerful that it was heard for kilometers away, and many forces were called to the scene to investigate. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Golan Heights, IDF, Syrian border

Canadian Protestant church launches boycott campaign against Israel

‘By boycotting Keter Plastic Ltd., SodaStream & Ahava, which have factories in the West Bank, we join with many others striving to bring peace with justice to the Holy Land’ wrote churchgoer to Church members.

By JTA

TORONTO — Canada’s largest Protestant church launched a campaign to boycott goods made in the West Bank.

The United Church of Canada campaign, dubbed “Unsettling Goods: Choose Peace in Palestine and Israel,” encourages “economic action” against three Israeli companies: Keter Plastic Ltd., SodaStream and Ahava, which all have factories in the West Bank.

“With these efforts, we join with many others striving to bring peace with justice to the Holy Land,” the church’s moderator, Gary Paterson, wrote in a November letter to church members announcing the launch of the campaign.

Category: Israel News | Tags: anti-Zionists, BDS, Judea and Samaria boycott

Insightful exposé‎: Did Israel lose the Negev?

Among the Bedouin communities, Israeli laws prohibiting polygamy are ignored like background noise, and no one has ever considered requesting a building permit.The Bedouin have all but taken over the Negev and turned it into a foreign township.

By Emily Amrousi

From 2,000 feet over land, one can take quite a despairing view of the Negev. Perhaps the time has come to just relinquish the entire thing. Give them the Beersheba-Arad-Yeruham triangle and spare us the headache, the blood, and the tears.

In every direction in which one looks, the Negev is “flourishing.” David Ben-Gurion would certainly have been proud to see it. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Bedouin, Negev

Poll: Lapid – Most unpopular minister

Finance Minister came dead last when 505 respondents were asked to evaluate the job performance of all 23 ministers.

By GIL HOFFMAN

Finance Minister Yair Lapid scored the lowest among the cabinet’s 23 ministers in a Panels poll sponsored this week by The Jerusalem Post’s Hebrew sister publication, Sof Hashavua.

Finance Minister Yair Lapid. – Photo: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post

The poll of 505 respondents representing a statistical sample of the Israeli population was asked to rate the job performance of all the ministers on a score of one to 100.

The average score given to the ministers was only 50. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel Politics, poll

Police break into Temple Mount in pursuit of stone-throwing Arabs

Israel police officers stationed at the Mughrabi Gate break into Temple Mount to disperse rioters after being pelted by stone-throwers.

By Noam (Dabul) Dvir

Police forces who were pelted with stones in Jerusalem’s Mughrabi Gate stormed the Temple Mount compound on Friday. Police said several Arab youths were hurt while running away from officers, who used shock grenades.

Israel Police enter Mughrabi Gate – Photo: Adam Ze’evi

The worshippers were removed from the site. No arrests were reported.

Last Sunday, Jerusalem police closed the Temple Mount following a scuffle between Jews and Muslims. The clash erupted after several Jews began to sing Hanukkah songs. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel Police, stone throwers, Temple Mount

Most Popular University Course of Jailed Palestinian Terrorists – Genocide

After evaluation of State released info in response to petition to return academic courses for jailed terrorists, MK Regev says: ‘terrorists should rot in jail.’

By Ari Yashar

In response to a petition to reinstate academic courses for jailed terrorists in Israeli prisons, the state released a document noting the most popular course among jailed terrorists in 2011 was “Genocide.”

Palestinian prisoners in an Israeli jail – Photo: Tal Cohen

Jailed terrorists were allowed to study at Israel’s Open University from prison until 2011, when the benefits were cancelled during negotiations to free Gilad Shalit, who was being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel Supreme Court, Open University, Palestinian prisoners, Palestinian terrorists, Prisoners

Peres & Netanyahu mourn Mandela’s passing, ‘a freedom fighter who opposed violence’

“The world has lost a venerable leader who changed the path of history,” said Israel’s President Shimon Peres.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

Israeli leaders mourned the loss of former South African president Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday evening.

Then-South African president Nelson Mandela with Shimon Peres during Mandela’s 1999 visit to Israel. – Photo: REUTERS

Mandela was “the father of his nation, a man of vision, a freedom fighter who opposed violence,” Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu wrote on his Facebook page late Thursday night.

“He posed as a personal example to his people in the many years he spent in jail, and never became haughty,” Netanyahu wrote. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News |

Lebanese& Sudanese students enroll in Israel’s Open University

Free open online internet courses attract students & scholars from all over the world.

Even countries that do not recognize Israel are welcome: ‘Our belief is that it’s the right thing to do,’ says school’s manager, ‘In my eyes, it’s a revolution’

By Shahar Chai

Earlier this year, the Open University joined the international project of distant-learning, MOOCs, massive open online courses, which draw students from around the globe, including Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and even Sudan.

The Open University on strike in 2009 – Photo: Yaron Brenner

One of the program’s students is Najud Hassan, a resident of Khartoum, the Sudanese capital. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Open University

Ben Gurion Airport to shut Terminal 3 on Friday for security system check

Passengers will be directed to Terminal 1 as new screening system, intended to replace invasive questioning, will be checked in final evaluation.

By Haaretz

Ben-Gurion International Airport will close its main terminal for the day on Friday to test its new luggage screening system, aimed at improving the airport’s method of conducting personal security checks.

Terminal 3 at Ben-Gurion International Airport. – Photo: Alon Ron

During the closure, passengers will check in at Terminal 1, the old main terminal. They will then be transported straight to Terminal 3’s duty-free shopping center and will board their flights from the gates at Terminal 3. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Ben Gurion International Airport

Mossad’s Best Receive Honors

Israel’s President Peres gives Israel’s Citation of Excellence to 12 of the spy agency’s very best men & women.

By Gil Ronen

A ceremony honoring the Mossad intelligence agency’s best officers took place Thursday evening at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.

President Shimon Peres gave citations of excellence to 12 of the espionage agency’s finest, with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Mossad Head Tamor Pardo in attendance.

The officers honored received the citations for standing at the forefront of the effort to thwart the unconventional weapons threat, the war on terror and the prevention of other therats against Israel. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Mossad, Shimon Peres

Norwegian delegation asks for Israel’s forgiveness in Jerusalem

Norway’s Christian leaders arrive at the Knesset, asking forgiveness over Norway’s attitude, pledging their support for Israel and hopes in forming a new Christian political party, saying Israel belongs to the Jews.

By Yoni Kempinski, Ari Yashar

Pastor Terje Ligerod, head of the Norwegian delegation of roughly 40 Christian leaders visiting Israel this week, told Arutz Sheva that his group came to ask forgiveness for Norway’s antagonism towards Jews, and to pledge support for the Jewish state.

Norway Delegation at Israel’s Knesset, Asks for Forgiveness – IsraelNationalTV Screenshot

Ligerod noted “we believe we are called as a nation to be an ally and to support Israel, and we as leaders want to work for change in our country, and for a repentance among the Christians in our country, we want to support Israel.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel Norway, Knesset

Report: Facebook/YouTube Trojan Horse Virus Hit Israel in November

An IT security company reports a Trojan horse viruses on YouTube & Facebook were among the top threats to Israeli computer users last November.

By Maayana Miskin

The ESET company has revealed the top three threats to Israeli computer-users for the month of November. All three are viruses that have been spread primarily on Facebook and YouTube.

Targeting Israel on the internet – IsraelandStuff/PP

The top ranked threat was the JS/FBOOK virus, a Trojan horse virus spread over links on YouTube and Facebook. The virus is spread via links on popular sites that lead to websites that spread the virus. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: computer virus, Facebook, Internet, YouTube

Ron Dermer, Israel’s New Ambassador to U.S. presents credentials to Obama

Ron Dermer officially becomes Israel’s 18th ambassador to the U.S.

Amb. Dermer jots a few words to Obama in White House guest book: “I look forward to working with you and your administration to make the bonds between Israel and America stronger than ever.”

Shlomo Cesana, Yoni Hirsch and Israel Hayom Staff

Ron Dermer presented his credentials to U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House on Tuesday, officially becoming Israel’s 18th ambassador to the U.S.

U.S. President Barack Obama and new Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer – Photo: Courtesy of the White House

Dermer, a former top aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is a 42-year-old Florida native who studied at the University of Pennsylvania and Oxford University before immigrating to Israel in 1997. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Ron Dermer, White House

Kinneret rises & snow on Mount Hermon in Israel’s 1st winter storm of season

Scattered showers from the Galilee to the Negev broke the unseasonably warm weather.

Rain & lower temperatures forecasted to continue over weekend.

By SHARON UDASIN, JPOST.COM STAFF

The first winter storm of the season hit Israel on Thursday as the unseasonably warm weather experienced throughout November gave way to rainfall and even snow.

A SOLDIER enjoys the weather on Mt. Hermon – File Photo: IDF Spokesman

Lake Kinneret rose for the first time since April on Thursday morning – by 1 centimeter – as a direct result of ongoing rains, the Water Authority said.

The Kinneret’s water level is now 211.40 meters below sea level, 2.6 meters from full capacity. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel weather, Lake Kinneret, Mount Hermon, rainfall, snow