Archive for Israel News

| July 26, 2013
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Foreign Ministry to Kerry: Pre-’67 borders as basis for talks contravenes US commitments

 

Alan Baker says any US guarantee to the Palestinians over borders violate a US promise previously written to Israel.

By HERB KEINON

 

 

Any US guarantee to the Palestinians that the upcoming negotiations with Israel will be based on the pre-1967 lines would be a violation of written US commitments given to then-prime minister Ariel Sharon, former Foreign Ministry legal adviser Alan Baker wrote in a letter sent this week to Secretary of State John Kerry.

IDF tanks and ambulance on the Gaza border - Photo: Ronen Zvulun / Reuters

IDF tanks and ambulance on the Gaza border – Photo: Ronen Zvulun / Reuters

Baker wrote the letter on behalf of the Legal Forum for Israel, along with another attorney with the group, Yossi Fuchs.

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| July 26, 2013
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UN human rights chief slams Bedouin reorganization bill

 

UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights criticizes Prawer Bill, claims Israeli ‘gov’t must respect rights of its Bedouin communities, including recognition of Bedouin claims of land ownership. 

By the Associated Press

The UN human rights chief on Thursday criticized Israel’s plan to demolish dozens of Bedouin villages and move up to 40,000 Arab residents to Israeli-built communities.

מאהל בדואי מזרחית לרהט (ארכיון) (צילום: באדיבות Lowshot)

An unrecognized Bedouin village – Photo: Lowsho

High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said the Prawer Bill working its way through the Knesset would wipe out legitimate land claims for the Bedouins in the Negev. Her office said the bill, introduced Wednesday, could pass by the end of July. Continue Reading »

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| July 26, 2013
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Prime Minister to refer referendum bill for cabinet vote Sunday

Proposed bill would not require public approval for withdrawal from Judea and Samaria because Israeli law isn’t applicable there, but PM says he has way around that.

By

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to bring in the referendum bill for a cabinet vote on Sunday, and then submit it to the Knesset for a preliminary vote on Wednesday before the parliament disbands for summer recess.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Knesset, July 22, 2013.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Knesset, July 22, 2013. – Photo: AFP

The bill stipulates that if an agreement that is reached with the Palestinians calls for Israeli withdrawal from erritory, the public would have to approve it in a referendum for it to take effect. Continue Reading »

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| July 26, 2013
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Defense Ministry minimizes cooperation with EU after bias ban

 

As a result of EU’s decision to ban funding of Israeli activities in pre-’67 borders, Israel’s defense minister decides to reciprocate by refusing to cooperate with EU representatives and halts their assistance to EU projects. From now on ‘they’re tourists,’  Ya’alon says.

By Attila Somfalvi

In response to the European Union’s decision to ban contracts with Israel pertaining to disputed territories, Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon instructed the IDF and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories to stop cooperating with EU representatives in the West Bank and Gaza.

Moshe Yaalon - Photo Reuters

Moshe Yaalon – Photo Reuters

The instruction came recently and included orders to halt any assistance the IDF might be granting EU representatives working in infrastructure projects in the territories. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| July 25, 2013
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IDF snatches Palestinian suspected of shooting at Israeli buses in West Bank

Palestinian, thought be responsible for past shootings, was seen aiming his handgun at bus passing near Arab village.

By Gili Cohen

 

A Palestinian suspected of shooting at buses in the Judea and Samaria District of the West Bank was arrested Thursday by the Israel Defense Forces.

The gunman's possessions.

The gunman’s possessions. – Photo courtesy IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

 

According to authorities, an IDF soldier was riding a bus near the West Bank village of Hawara Thursday afternoon when he saw a Palestinian aiming a handgun at the bus. The suspect was about 15 meters away from the bus, the soldier reportedly told authorities. Continue Reading »

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| July 25, 2013
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ex-PA official: Abbas is a dictator

 

Mohammed Dahlan, a former PA security chief and member of the Fatah Central Committee has filed an int’l lawsuit against Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, threatening to provide evidence exposing the vast corruption that continues to plague the Palestinian Authority.

The Palestinian state America & Europe are forcing on Israel will be as corrupt & repressed as Iran, Gaza or most other Islamic states.

By Ryan Jones

 

 

The Palestinian state that America and Europe are pressuring Israel to help create by surrendering its biblical heartland will be a repressive dictatorship on par with the region’s worst regimes, according to a leading Palestinian official. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| July 25, 2013
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IDF had plans to abduct Hamas military head Ahmed Jabari in 2008

 

The IDF set out to capture Ahmed Jabari alive to use him as a bargaining chip in exchange for captive soldier Gilad Schalit, but Jabari’s car changed direction & escaped the IDF’s ambush.

By Israel Hayom Staff

In 2008, the Israel Defense Forces attempted to kidnap then head of Hamas’ military wing, Ahmed Jabari, to use him as a bargaining chip for captive Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit, the Walla news web site reported on Thursday.

Precise hit on Ahmed Jabari . The Israel's air strike destroyed the Hamas commander's car.

Precise hit on Ahmed Jabari . The Israel’s air strike destroyed the Hamas commander’s car & driver.

The IDF later killed Jabari in a pinpoint attack in 2012, about a year after Hamas released Schalit in exchange for over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| July 25, 2013
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Better Place closed, 6 weeks later Israelis still backing electric cars

2 initiatives are now trying to rejuvenate the remains of Better Place & keep electric-powered rubber on Israel’s roads.

By Ben Sales

TEL AVIV (JTA) — It was perhaps the biggest startup failure in Israel’s history.

Five years of bombastic hype. $850 million of funding burned. Networks planned in at least seven countries. A founder who spoke of changing the world.

Solar energy entrepreneur Yosef Abramowitz speaking at an event promoting support of electric transportation in Israel, June 7, 2013. (GoElectricIL)

Solar energy entrepreneur Yosef Abramowitz speaking at an event promoting support of electric transportation in Israel, June 7, 2013. – GoElectricIL

When the electric car company Better Place declared bankruptcy in May, it marked an unhappy, though perhaps unsurprising setback for those who dreamed of Israel revolutionizing the global auto industry and freeing drivers from the tyranny of volatile oil prices.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| July 25, 2013
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Bulgaria releases ID of 2 suspects in Burgas terrorist bombing

 

The Sofia report into the Hezbollah suicide bombing that killed 5 Israelis & a local, names a Canadian & an Australian citizen as prime suspects.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

The Bulgarian authorities have released the names of two people believed to be involved in the Burgas bus bomb terrorist attack last year that killed five Israelis and their Bulgarian bus driver according to the Bulgarian news agency Focus.

Meliad Farah and Hassan El Hajj Hassan, who are suspected of involvement in the Burgas bus bombing.

Meliad Farah and Hassan El Hajj Hassan, who are suspected of involvement in the Burgas bus bombing. – Photo: Bulgaria Interior Ministry

The two were identified as 32-year-old Australian citizen Meliad Farah, also known as Hussein Hussein, and 25-year old Canadian Citizen Hassan El Hajj

In the days around the attack, the suspects had been noticed in Ruse, Varna and Nesebar, the Sunny Beach resort, and in the village of Ravda, according to the report.

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| July 25, 2013
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Ankara: Israel’s Compensation for Marmara Deaths Not Enough

Turkey’s Deputy PM says his country isn’t satisfied with Israel only paying compensation for the Marmara victims.

By Elad Benari

 

Despite Israel’s apology to Turkey over the Mavi Marmara incident and the talks on compensation to the victims, Turkey is continuing to make reconciliation between the two countries difficult.

Mavi Marmara – AFP photo

On Wednesday, Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said that his country will not be satisfied with Israel simply paying compensation to the Marmara victims. The Jewish state, he said, must acknowledge that the money it is paying to the victims is a result of its committing a wrongful act. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| July 25, 2013
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Victim of Arab Stabbing in Jerusalem Attempted to Drive Himself to Hospital

Not realizing the extent of his wounds the  victim of a stabbing attack in Jerusalem tried to drive himself to the hospital.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

The victim of a stabbing Wednesday afternoon at Liberty Bell Park (Gan Hapa’amonim) in Jerusalem tried to drive himself to the hospital after the attack, not fully aware of how seriously he was wounded.

The man, age 40, was discovered in the Katamon neighborhood either in or near his car, ready to drive himself to a doctor to get medical treatment.

Medics said he was not fully aware of the seriousness of his injuries at the time. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| July 25, 2013
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Tel Aviv Adopts Plan to Assimilate New Western Immigrants

 

A shift in demographic have caused Tel Aviv to accept “a strategy that puts more focus on the unique needs of the ‘new olim’ community.”

By BEN HARTMAN
 

 

If you’ve spent the past decade or so in Tel Aviv, you’ve probably noticed the change. The city has increasingly found itself in the global spotlight, and English speakers – once relatively rare in the city – are hard to avoid on any street corner in central Tel Aviv. Even in the city’s south and in Jaffa, native English-speakers have become a prominent fixture of the first Hebrew city.

View of Tel Aviv

View of Tel Aviv – Photo: Yoni Cohen

This influx hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Tel Aviv Municipality, which on Wednesday unveiled what it said was a “strategic plan to better integrate Western immigrants.”

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| July 24, 2013
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Generals report: Hamas & Hezbollah rocket threat outpacing Israel’s defensive capabilities

Brig. Gen. reports in a war that could last a month, as many as 1,500 short- to mid-range rockets might be launched at the north alone each day.

By
 

The Israeli response to the rocket threat still lags behind progress being made by Hezbollah, Hamas and other groups, according to a report published this week by Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies.

Iron Dome anti-missile system in Haifa

The Iron Dome anti-missile system in Haifa deployed in January. – Photo: Rami Shlush

Brig. Gen. (res.) Meir Elran, head of the institute’s Homeland Security Program, told Haaretz that Israel hasn’t closed the gaps. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , , ,
| July 24, 2013
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Israel’s secret ‘Power’ at the United Nations

 

 

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach said “that, based on her comments and her unabashed display of emotional attachment to the security of the Jewish people…they would never again question her commitment to Israel’s security.”

By Connie Fieraru

 

Samantha Power is set to be the next US ambassador to the UN following overwhelming approval during her Senate Foreign Relations Committee appearance on Tuesday. Power made special note of her intention to defend Israel in the world body and work to secure a seat for the Jewish state on the Security Council by 2018.

Israel's new 'Power' at the UN

Power & Obama – Israel Today

After her approval by all but two of the 18-member Senate committee, Power is expected to easily win confirmation from the rest of the Senate. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| July 24, 2013
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Nothing new at the UN, Palestinians charge Israel with war-crimes

Despite resumed talks between Israel & Palestinians, at UN Security Council debate, Palestinian rep charges Israel commits war crimes, continues to build settlements and confiscates their land.

Israeli ambassador criticized the EU ban.

By Yitzhak Benhorin

 

While the Americans are trying to close out the invitations of the Israeli and Palestinian representatives to direct talks in Washington, in New York the two sides are continuing to go head-to-head. Palestinian representative to the UN, Riyad Mansour, stated Tuesday that Israel was committing “war crimes” against his people.

Ron Prosor – Photo: Shahar Azran

At the monthly meeting of the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, Mansour said that Israel continues to build in the West Bank, confiscating land, clearing land, removing residents from their land, and supporting extremists who commit “terror” against Palestinians in the West Bank. Continue Reading »

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