Over 250 meters long, staffed with over 1,000 crewmen, the American carrier, the USS Kearsarge will remain in Israeli dock for several days.

Livni: Bennett Won’t Decide on Kotel

Tzipi Livni says she won’t allow Naftali Bennett to decide on Women of Wall.

By Gil Ronen

Justice Minister Tzipi Livni announced Wednesday that she will not allow Minister of Religion, Naftali Bennett (Jewish Home party), to solve the Women of the Wall (WoW) controversy by promulgating new regulations for Kotel prayer.

“I am informing you of my principled stand on the matter, before you make any new regulations,” she announced, in what she said was a letter that she sent to Bennett. “I accept the court’s decision and I, too, believe that it will make a meaningful contribution to the advancement of women in Israeli and religious society.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Naftali Bennett, Tzipi Livni, Women of the Wall

israelandstuffcom | May 15, 2013

Israel found to be the poorest of all developed countries

“Unfortunately, (Israel’s) economic plan includes things that create poverty instead of solutions to get out of poverty,” said Opposition leader Shelly Yacimovich (Labor)

By JPOST.COM STAFF, REUTERS

Israel has the highest rate of poverty of all developed countries, according to a report released by the 33-nation Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Wednesday.

A homeless man lies on a sidewalk – Photo: Marc Israel Sellem

The OECD found that Israel’s poverty rate stands as almost 21%.

It also put Israel at fifth place among countries with the widest gaps between rich and poor, after Chile, Mexico, Turkey and the United States, while Iceland, Slovenia, Norway and Denmark were the most egalitarian societies.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel economy, OECD, Shelly Yacimovich

israelandstuffcom | May 15, 2013

Defense Minister Yaalon ‘Freezes’ New City Construction Near Jericho

Yaalon stops a new PA city being planned that would have encroached onto 500 acres of Israeli land outside it’s jurisdiction.

By Elad Benari, Canada

Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon has frozen a plan to build a new Palestinian Authority Arab city which would have taken away 2,000 dunams of Israeli land, the Ma’ariv daily reported on Tuesday.

The ‘Oldest City in the World’ – Jericho

Yaalon’s decision came a day after the same newspaper reported that the Civil Administration for Judea and Samaria is working diligently on advanced plans for establishing a new PA city near Jericho.

Ma’ariv reported that Nu’aimah, as the city stands to be called, is intended to house tens of thousands of residents and that Israel will transfer close to 2,000 dunam (500 acres) of land from the Jordan Valley Regional Council to the PA for the ambitious project. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Jericho, Moshe Ya'alon, new construction, Palestinian Authority

israelandstuffcom | May 15, 2013

El Al dedicates Torah scroll on int’l flights for country’s leaders

El Al unveils Torah scroll that will accompany Israel’s political leaders on future int’l flights.

President Shimon Peres, PM Netanyahu, along with the heads of security services lent a hand in inscribing the scroll.

By Israel Hayom Staff

In honor of the Shavuot holiday this week, when Jews worldwide celebrate God’s giving of the Torah to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai, Israeli airline El Al presented a special Torah that will accompany Israel’s leaders on their trips with the airline.

El Al says its Torah will travel with Israeli leaders on int’l trips – Photo: Siwan Farj

Hundreds of dignitaries, among them Israel Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky, attended a ceremony on Monday marking the completion of the carrier’s new Torah scroll.

Category: Israel News | Tags: El Al, Torah

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Russian warship docked in Haifa, US aircraft carrier in Eilat Port

Over 250 meters long, staffed with over 1,000 crewmen, the American carrier, the USS Kearsarge will remain in Israeli dock for several days.

By Yoav ZItun

The USS Kearsarge, an American Navy aircraft carrier, has docked on Tuesday morning in Eilat‘s port and will remain there for the next few days as part of the Navy’s routine operations in the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf.

הספינה אמריקנית בנמל אילת, הבוקר (צילום: מאיר אוחיון)

The American warship docked in Eilat Port – Photo: Meir Ohayon

In addition to combat jets, the ship also carries several V-22 Ospreys aircraft, which can take off and land like helicopters and fly at a cargo plane’s velocity. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News |

Germany plans to replace Israel in the 2018 UN Security Council

Israel has long sought a position on the security council, and it appeared likely when it was scheduled for a seat in 2018, but Germany’s decision to seek the spot eliminates Israel, who lacks the stature to rival Germany’s bid.

By Shlomo Cesana

Israel issued a formal complaint against Germany for blocking it from serving on the U.N. Security Council in 2018. Israel has never held a position on the council, although nations such as Syria and Iran have.

The U.N. Security Council – Photo: AP

The Security Council comprises five permanent and 10 rotating members, elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms and chosen from regional groups. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Germany, Germany Israel, UNSC

Pascale Bercovitch an Israeli Paralympian aims at the 2016 Games in Rio

At age 17, the Parisian-born athlete lost her legs in a train accident, went on to represent Israel twice in the Paralympics & became one of the 1st wheelchair-bound volunteers in the IDF.

By Ben Sales

TEL AVIV (JTA) – Pascale Bercovitch has a firm handshake and a ready smile. She’s hard to keep up with as she takes an elevator to a cafe on the ground floor of her gym in northern Tel Aviv and talks about her hopes to compete in 2016 in Rio De Janeiro.

Israeli Paralympic handcyclist Pascale Bercovitch

Pascale Bercovitch, an Israeli handcyclist who competed in the 2012 London Paralympics, has overcome the loss of her legs to become a world-class athlete.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Olympics, Paralympics, sports

ex-President Katzav’s Accuser is Accused of Stalking

Coincidence, that a woman who played a central role in the trial of ex-president Katzav faces accusations of stalking, blackmail and caught falsely accusing her prey?

By Gil Ronen

A woman who played a central role in the public trial of ex-president Moshe Katzav, now in jail for rape, is facing accusations of stalking.

Known to the public only as “Aleph of the President’s Residence,” the woman was the first to publicly accuse Katzav of raping her. The matter became public when Katzav went to the attorney general and complained that Aleph was blackmailing him, and demanding $200,000.

Israel’s media featured Aleph’s complaints against Katzav in an unprecedented live press conference that disguised her identity through pixellation, as she hurled extreme and explicit accusations at Katzav. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Courts, Moshe Katzav

IDF removes old land mines from Arab fields outside of Bethlehem

IDF demonstrates no ill will toward Palestinian Arabs by clearing Jordanian mines from field next to Bethlehem suburb.

By Israel Today Staff

Once again demonstrating that it harbors no ill will toward the Palestinian Arabs, the Israeli army recently got to work clearing land mines from Arab-owned fields in the vicinity of Bethlehem.

IDF clears land mines from Arab fields near Bethlehem – Photo from Israel Today

Well, of course the Israeli army should do so, it probably planted those mines in the first place! Except that, no, the IDF didn’t do so. The mines were planted by the Jordanian army prior to the Six Day War in 1967. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Bethlehem, IDF, Minefields

IDF tells High Court: Phosphorous shells use only in 2 exceptional cases

Yesh Gvul contends IDF’s use of phosphorous shells in 2009 Gaza op was ‘illegal & immoral’

IDF answers petition to High Court saying will use incendiary munitions in urban areas only in ‘extreme cases.’

By Aviel Magnezi

The IDF will refrain from using white phosphorous shells in populated areas, the State informed the High Court of Justice on Monday in response to a petition filed by human rights groups asking to ban the incendiary munitions.

White Phosphorus (WP) – YouYube screenshot

However, the army said it would continue to use the shells in two exceptional cases, which were specified to the court behind closed doors. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: High Court, IDF, Phosphorous

Russian warship docks in Haifa for 1st time

Russian Crew & orchestra to honor Israel with a Victory Day concert.

‘Moscow now sees that Israel is the most stable & reliable ally in the region’

By Yossi Aloni

For the first time since the establishment of the State of Israel, a Russian warship docked at the port city of Haifa earlier this month. The “Azov” of Russian’s Black Sea Fleet came to Israel at the request of the Association of Russian War Veterans to help celebrate the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany.

Russian warship “Azov” of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, docks in Israel for first time

Jewish veterans of the Red Army who later immigrated to Israel were invited to participate in a ceremony aboard the massive ship. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Haifa Port, Israel Russia

East Jerusalem building plan delayed for political considerations

Construction bidding for 1,500 housing units for the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood has been delayed for 3 weeks

By JPOST.COM STAFF

Tenders to build 1,500 units in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood of east Jerusalem have been delayed by at least three weeks, despite Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s announcement last week that there was no change in policy on settlement building in the area, Army Radio reported Monday.

JERUSALEM’S RAMAT SHLOMO neighborhood.
Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski/The Jerusalem Post

Ramat Shlomo is one of five Jerusalem ring neighborhoods, along with Gilo, Ramot, Pisgat Zev, and East Talpiyot, which are located across the 1967 Green Line. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: East Jerusalem, housing, new construction

Families of those killed on the Mavi Marmara vow to press on with lawsuits

The families said that they would look to an int’l court claiming the Turkish judiciary did not properly perform its duties, if the trials are dropped in Turkey.

By JTA Staff

JERUSALEM–- Families of the Turkish nationals injured in Israel’s raid on the Mavi Marmara said they will sue Israeli soldiers and their commanders despite an agreement between Turkey and Israel.

Pro-Palestinian activists wave Turkish and Palestinian flags welcoming the Marmara.

Pro-Palestinian activists wave Turkish and Palestinian flags during the welcoming ceremony for cruise liner Mavi Marmara at the Sarayburnu port of Istanbul December 26, 2010. – Photo: Reuters

Under the agreement, the families would receive up to 20 times the amount of compensation they are seeking in their civil lawsuits, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınc told the Turkish Daily Zaman, the news service reported Sunday.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Courts, Israel Turkey, Mavi Marmara