Israel News

American born Amb. Michael Oren returns home to Israel

Completing his 4 years in office Michael Oren, Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S. talks of his close relations with U.S. officials, getting Obama’s help during Carmel fire disaster & ‘yelling’ at Washington Post editor over doctored photo.

By Yitzhak Benhorin

WASHINGTON – Michael Oren finds it tremendously painful when people doubt his “Israeliness”. He spent long periods of time in Israel in the 1970s, made official aliyah in 1979, joined the IDF‘s Paratroopers Brigade and fought in the 1982 Lebanon War.

45 מאמרי דעה בתקשורת האמריקנית. אורן (באדיבות שגרירות ישראל בוושינגטון)

Amb. Michael Oren – Photo: Courtesy of the Israel Embassy in DC

This week, after it was decided to appoint Ron Dermer as the next Israeli ambassador to the United States, Oren told Ynet: “I’m still surprised that some people, even advisers in the Prime Minister’s Office, ask me if I’m Israeli.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Michael Oren

israelandstuffcom | July 28, 2013

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Full Text: PM Netanyahu’s Open Letter to Israelis

In a rare communiqué, the Prime Minister explains his rationale for releasing terrorists, despite harsh opposition from the public.

By Gil Ronen

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu took the rare step Saturday evening of publishing a long missive to the Israeli public. In it, he explains why he has agreed to release 104 terrorists as a “gesture” accompanying “peace talks” with the Palestinian Authority. He also states that the talks need to last at least nine months.

Netanyahu’s messages to the public are usually delivered through much shorter communiques, or in interviews. His decision to opt for a relatively long letter may reflect his awareness that the Israeli public is solidly opposed to the terrorist prisoner release, and is generally fed up and cynical about “peace talks” that have been going nowhere for 20 years. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Binyamin Netanyahu, Palestinian prisoners, peace talks

Europe’s ‘holier than thou’ attitude to Israel maintains momentum

In direct opposition to UN 242, the EU has unilaterally dictated the outcome of the Israeli-Arab peace talks, and is biasly working to ensure its anti-Jewish agenda is carried out.

By Tsvi Sadan

The European Union’s new guidelines concerning withdrawal of financial support from Israeli “entities” working in the “occupied territories” didn’t surprise Israelis. For a long time now the EU’s biased stand toward Israel has caused Israeli governments to keep the EU at arm’s length, especially when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Careful reading of the EU’s latest declaration shows that Europe sees negotiation between the parties as superfluous since the outcome has already been decided: Israel will withdraw fully from all territories captured in 1967. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: EU santions, Resolution 242

Japan gives Israel, Jordan & Palestinians a new industrial complex in Jericho

Israel’s Regional Development Minister Silvan Shalom said yesterday in Jericho, “The industrial sector will provide jobs to thousands of workers & is part of a series of projects whose goal is to aid the Palestinian economy & promote regional cooperation.”

By Daniel Siryoti

Israel, The Palestinian Authority, Jordan and Japan inaugurated a new industrial complex in Jericho on Thursday, a project funded by Japan that will bolster the Palestinian economy.

Regional Development Minister Silvan Shalom (right) shakes hands with Palestinian Authority Interior Minister Said Abu-Ali – Photo: Uri Lenz

“The industrial complex in Jericho was built for the betterment of the Palestinian economy.

Category: Israel News | Tags: economic cooperation, Israel Japan, Israel Jordan, Palestinian aid, Silvan Shalom

Op-Ed: Poland’s goal of good Jewish relations remains clear

Polish democracy may take a few missteps every once in a while, but its goal of good Jewish relations remains clear by their actions and investments.

By Tad Taube

SAN FRANCISCO (JTA) — For the past decade, the Taube Foundation for Jewish Life & Culture and I myself, as Poland’s honorary consul in the Bay Area, have been involved directly in furthering the renaissance of Jewish life in Poland. The renaissance is viewed as a “miracle” in Poland and around the world.

shechita ritual – Photo: Nati Shohat/Vosizneias.com

At my foundation, we receive communications every day from all corners of the globe congratulating and thanking us for our leadership in the rebirth of Jewish life and culture in Poland. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Jewish Culture, Jewish World, kosher, Poland

Israel increases number of terrorists to be pardoned to precipitate Peace talks

Israel’s decision to release 22 additional terrorists convicted of murder comes after Abbas threatened to scuttle peace talks.

All of the original 82 have so far been imprisoned a minimum of 20 years.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

Israel has decided to raise the number of prisoners that it will release from 82 to 104 as a condition for the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table Israel Radio reported on Saturday.

Netanyahu and Abbas were unsuccessful in 2010, will this time around be different? – Photo: REUTERS

Israel increased the number of people to be freed after the Palestinians threatened that they would not return to the opening meeting of talks that is scheduled to take place next week in Washington according to the report that cited a source with knowledge of the negotiations. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Ami Palmor, Palestinian prisoners, peace talks

Abbas: Sunday should bring welcomed news about PA prisoners

As Israel confirms gov’t to vote on peace talks and terrorists prisoner release;

Palestinian president at Ramallah press conference says Sunday will bring wonderful news for Arab prisoners held by Israelis.

By Elior Levy

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held a press conference Friday in Ramallah and said that Sunday will see “good news” for the Palestinians locked in Israeli jails, but failed to be more specific. Abbas also confirmed that Tuesday peace negotiations were scheduled to begin in Washington.

אבו מאזן מציג לחברי אש"ף את תוצאות השיחות עם ג'ון קרי (צילום: EPA)

Abbas talks with PA officials after talks with Kerry – Photo: EPA

Sunday, Ynet has learned, the government is expected to authorize the beginning of peace talks, as part of its weekly meeting, and form a special ministerial committee charged with prisoner release. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian prisoners, Peace Process

Israel stopped aiding EU representatives entering Gaza, European diplomat reports

Diplomat says recent lack of cooperation is part of Israeli response to EU’s new settlement (boycott) guidelines.

Ashton’s spokesperson: The European Union has not received any official communication on orders to limit work with EU on the ground & is seeking ‘urgent clarifications’ from Israel.

By Reuters and Haaretz

Several European aid staff have been barred from entering Gaza as part of Israeli measures in the wake of new EU guidelines barring cooperation with settlements, a western diplomat said Friday.

Palestinian workers at the Erez border crossing. – Photo: AP

The diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the humanitarian aid staff had failed to receive permits to enter the Gaza Strip. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: EU, EU santions, Gaza, Judea and Samaria boycott

Deputy FM Elkin: PM to Give Abbas’ PA 86% of Judea & Samaria for Peace

Deputy Foreign Minister: The ‘Bad News’…Netanyahu would relinquish 86% of Judea & Samaria to the Palestinians, but the ‘Good News’ is they will never settle for that.

By Elad Benari, Canada

Deputy Foreign Minister Zeev Elkin (Likud) believes that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu would be willing to give more than 80% of Judea and Samaria to the Palestinian Authority as part of a future peace agreement.

In an interview with the Maariv daily newspaper which was published on Friday, Elkin said that former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had spoken with the PA about Israel keeping 14% of the so-called “settlement blocs” and handing the remaining 86%. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Judea and Samaria, Netanyahu, Peace Process, peace talks, Zeev Elkin

Increasing number of Israeli Christians volunteering for national service

Even some Muslim youth are interested as Israeli Christians are doing military and/or national service despite boycotts & denouncements by Arab public figures.

Zeidan Baha’s heartwarming story of how his volunteering as a firefighter was a way to ‘payback’ for his life being saved.

By Daniel Siryoti

In recent weeks the activity of the forum to recruit Israeli Christians to the Israel Defense Forces has made headlines. Israeli Arab public figures, both Muslim and Christian, have spoken out against the increasing numbers of young Christians who are interested in enlisting and want to share the burden along with other minorities such as the Bedouin and Druze.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Christian Arabs, Israeli Christians, national service

Two opposing women’s groups vie for status quo settlement at Western Wall

‘Women for the Wall’ strenuously oppose ‘Woman of the Wall’, for their attempts to force a change in the status quo at the Kotel.

By Ben Sales

JERUSALEM (JTA) — On the morning of July 8, at the beginning of the Hebrew month of Av, the Western Wall plaza was a cacophonous mess.

Women of the Wall, the activist group that holds women’s prayer services each month at the site known as the Kotel, loudly sang festive prayers at a spot far from the wall itself. Police had barricaded them there, ostensibly for their own protection. A few feet away, a group of harediOrthodox boys shouted at them, called them Nazis, blew whistles, waved signs and raised a primal scream.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Kotel, Western Wall

Morsi recaptured & charged for conspiring with Hamas & murder

Charges against the deposed president relate to his escape from prison with other top Brotherhood leaders.

Morsi is also accused of “collaboration with Hamas to undertake aggressive acts” in Egypt.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, REUTERS

CAIRO – The Egyptian army is detaining ousted President Mohamed Morsi over accusations of kidnapping, killing soldiers and other charges, the state news agency said on Friday.

Mohamed Morsi

The army had previously said it was holding Morsi for his own safety and the report was likely to stoke tension before mass rallies on Friday billed as shows of strength between supporters and opponents of the Islamist Morsi, Egypt’s first freely elected leader.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Egypt Unrest, Mohammed Morsi, Muslim Brotherhood

‘Quiet’ Arrest Turns Into Shootout in Jenin

One terrorist shot & hurt as terrorists & rock-throwers clash with soldiers in northern Samaria.

By Maayana Miskin

Terrorists launched an attack on an IDF unit in northern Samaria early on Friday morning, IDF sources have revealed.

Attackers opened fire on IDF troops near the Palestinian Authority-controlled city of Jenin. At the same time, other Arab attackers hurled rocks at the soldiers.

Soldiers were in the area to arrest a PA Arab man suspected of terror-related crimes.

Soldiers returned fire, hitting one attacker and wounding him. The wounded man was taken to a local PA hospital for treatment.

The troops managed to arrest the suspect they had come for despite the attack. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: IDF, Jenin, Palestinian attack, Samaria, terrorist, West Bank