Israel News

US Spied on Israel, But Won’t Give Pollard a Break

Leaked report that U.S. spy network listened in on Israeli military targets raises hope among campaign for release of Israeli spy, Jonathan Pollard. ‘The report increased the family’s expectation that the serious considerations in favor of his release will now receive renewed attention,’ head of campaign for Pollard’s release says.

By Michal Margalit

The family of Jonathan Pollard is heavy hearted at the news that the US will not forgive and release him, even after the United States was caught spying on Israeli targets, the manager of the campaign to release Pollard said on Sunday in response to a New York Times article that claimed that the National Security Agency (NSA) was eavesdropping on Israeli military targets. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Jonathan Pollard, Spies

Fatah May Have Informed Israel about Hamas Tunnel

An Arabic-language website published documents it claims were sent via Ramallah intelligence to Israel, revealing Hamas’ tunnels’ locations.

By Dalit Halevy

Arabic-language website awraqq.com has published two documents that it says were sent by Palestinian Authority (PA) intelligence to Israel’s intelligence organizations, and which expose the location of two tunnels that Hamas dug from Gaza into Israel.

This information is what made it possible for Israel to prevent the tunnels from being used for terror attacks, according to the website.

According to the report, one tunnel was prepared by the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, the Al-Quds Brigades, and the other by the armed wing of Hamas – the Al-Qassam Brigades. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Fatah-Hamas, tunnels

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South African ministers will not engage with the Israel regime

South Africa’s Int’l Relations Minister says fellow ministers don’t visit Israel as expression of solidarity with Palestinian Arabs.

MK Avigdor Lieberman calls SA minister’s comments “a combination of hypocrisy & classic anti-Semitism,” says a pogrom is only a matter of time.

By Israel Hayom

Relations between Jerusalem and Pretoria appear to be on a further downswing after South African International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said over the weekend that her fellow cabinet members refrain from visiting Israel as an expression of solidarity with the Palestinians.

South African Int’l Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane: “The last time I saw a map of Palestine, I couldn’t go to sleep” – Photo: Reuters

“Our Palestinian friends have never asked us to disengage with Israel.

Category: Israel News | Tags: anti-Israel, Israel South Africa

NYT Report: NSA spied on Israel’s military targets

Based on Snowden documents, New York Times reports how National Security Agency tracked ‘high priority Israeli military targets’, including Black Sparrow missile system & it’s drone aircraft.

By Yitzhak Benhorin

WASHINGTON – The National Security Agency spied on “high priority Israeli military targets,” a New York Times report says. Based on documents provided by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, the report shows how the agency shares information with governments that are themselves important NSA targets, “notably Israel.”

The Snowden documents describe collaboration with Israel’s Sigint National Unit, Unit 8200, which gets raw NSA eavesdropping material and provides it in return. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: NSA, Spies

Israel’s PM: Arab’s Refusal to Recognize Jewish State is Root of Conflict

PM Netanyahu reminds Palestinian Arabs on the 96th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, that recognizing Israel as a Jewish State is precondition for peace.

By Tova Dvorin

In cabinet meeting this morning (Sunday), Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reiterated the importance of international recognition of Israel as a Jewish state in helping bring peace to the Middle East, as part of remarks commemorating the 96th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration.

PM Netanyahu – Screenshot

“The declaration championed the rights for the Jewish nation to have a national home in the Land of Israel,” Netanyahu stated. “There is no doubt that the international recognition of the right to a Jewish homeland and its historical significance is fundamental. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran, Palestinians, UN, Yesha

Israel Steaming Over White House Leaks That Endanger Israel

Israeli gov’t officials angered by the White House’s exposing of Israel as being behind the attacks on Syrian missiles Thursday. The exposure could facilitate a much broader area conflict.

By Gil Ronen

Israeli officials expressed anger Friday at the White House’s decision to disclose that Israel carried out the two attacks on targets in Syria Thursday. The attacks in Latakiya and Damascus are believed to have targeted SA-8 missiles that were about to be transferred to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

An Obama administration official confirmed to CNN that the target of the Israeli strike was “missiles and related equipment the Israelis felt might be transferred to Hezbollah.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: IAF strike, Syrian missiles, White House

israelandstuffcom | November 2, 2013

Gaza Terrorists Fire Shells into Southern Israel

Luckily, no physical injuries or damages as Hamas allows Mortar shell to be fired by Gaza terrorists into Eshkol Regional Council.

By Elad Benari, Canada

Terrorists from Hamas-controlled Gaza fired a mortar shell at southern Israel on Friday evening.

Once Again The mortar exploded in an open area in the Eshkol Regional Council. There were no physical injuries or damages.

Local residents said that the “Red Alert” siren which usually warns them about rocket attacks did not sound.

Several days ago, the “Red Alert” siren was heard in the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council and in communities in the Gaza belt. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Gaza Terror Attacks, mortar attacks

Israel to get 6 V-22 Osprey aircraft for Special Units

U.S. Defense Secretary Hagel says delivery of tilt-rotor aircraft would be ‘expedited’, meaning as early as within next 2 years.

By Ynet

The United States will provide Israel with six 22 Osprey aircraft as part of its military aid, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced at an Anti-Defamation League conference in New York on Thursday.

V-22 Osprey – Photo: EPA

The tilt-rotor aircraft were used by the US military in Afghanistan.

Hagel said the delivery would be “expedited,” meaning “Israel will get six V-22s out of the next order to go on the assembly line, and they will be compatible with other (Israeli defense) capabilities.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Chuck Hagel, Israel US

Monumental Law to Allow Jews to Pray on Temple Mount

Bayit Yehudi advances groundbreaking new bill to facilitate regular prayer hours for Jews on the Temple Mount, without police opposition or interference. Reversal of policy since 1967.

By Tova Dvorin

Bayit Yehudi (Jewish Home) has advanced new laws this morning (Friday) that would enact the establishment of regular prayer hours for Jews visiting the Temple Mount, Yediot Ahronot reports.

According the the new laws, which have already begun to undergo legal processing through the Ministry of Religious Services, daily prayer hours would be set for Jewish groups visiting Judaism’s holiest site. Currently, Jews have faced frequent attacks of discrimination against them by Israeli Police during Temple Mount visits, in accordance with a ban on Jewish religious activity there stemming from pressure from Palestinian Arab and Muslim groups. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Bayit Yehudi, Temple Mount

Israel’s shadow war against the Syria-Iran-Hezbollah armament shuffle

Jerusalem faces a daily dilemma on when to intervene to keep Hezbollah from acquiring sophisticated armaments – a step that could trigger an area wide conflict – and when to step back and allow Hezbollah’s weapons buildup to continue.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN

Thursday’s strike on a Syrian air defense missile base near Latakia could be the latest chapter in a long, covert Israeli campaign to disrupt Iran’s massive program to arm Hezbollah via Syria.

Israel’s F-16I sufa – Photo Courtesy: IDF Spokesperson’s Office

Iran continues to try to supply Hezbollah with advanced weapons for use against Israel, and the Assad regime, which owes its survival to Tehran and Hezbollah, has never been more compliant with Iranian requests to transfer or provide weapons to the Shi’ite terror organization in Lebanon.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Hezbollah, Iran, Israel, Syria

5 IDF Soldiers Wounded in Gaza; 4 Hamas Terrorists Killed

5 IDF soldiers wounded in an explosion as they worked along the Gaza border fence destroying a tunnel. 4 terrorists from Hamas were killed in the ensuing gun battle.

By Elad Benari, Tova Dvorin

Five IDF soldiers were wounded near the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Thursday evening.

Gaza (archive) – Reuters

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement that terrorists detonated an explosive device as IDF soldiers were working to blow up parts of the terror tunnel that was recently discovered by IDF soldiers, leading from Gaza into an Israeli kibbutz.

As the soldiers crossed the border fence, the device was detonated, wounding the five soldiers – one seriously, one moderately and three lightly. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Gaza border, IDF. Gaza, terrorists killed

Following release of terrorists Israel announces building new homes

Israel faces widespread condemnation for its announcement of new housing in Jewish towns. 1,500 new housing units approved for construction.

PA: “Continued settlement construction may lead political process to a deadlock.”

By Shlomo Cesana, Yoni Hirsch & Daniel Siryoti

Israel is facing widespread criticism over its decision to approve settlement construction in Judea and Samaria following Tuesday night’s release of Palestinian prisoners.

The community of Maaleh Adumim in Judea and Samaria [Archive] – Photo: Reuters

On Wednesday, Israel Hayom revealed the list of 1,500 units approved for building in the Ramat Shlomo and Gilo neighborhoods of Jerusalem and in other areas beyond the Green Line.

Category: Israel News | Tags: housing, new construction, Peace Process