Central bank may intervene to weaken the Israeli Shekel since lowering its benchmark interest rate, now at 1.75%, could further inflame housing prices, which have rallied 50% in past 4 years.

EU preparing guidelines for labeling West Bank products

EU pursuing efforts to ensure labeling of settlement goods.

Israeli postal codes placed on exported products already alert European custom officials that products originate over the 1967 line.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF

The European Union is working on legal guidelines for any member states that might choose to clearly label products produced in West Bank settlements, according to diplomatic sources.

Activists march through Modi’in Illit supermarket – Photo: REUTERS

“We are pursuing efforts to ensure correct labeling of settlement goods as tasked by the council,” an EU spokesperson told The Jerusalem Post on Monday.

The work now underway in Brussels to create guidelines for the sale of West Bank settlement products follows a December 2012 conclusion by an EU meeting of foreign ministers that all agreements with Israel “must unequivocally and explicitly indicate their inapplicability to the territories occupied by Israel in 1967, namely the Golan Heights; the West Bank, including east Jerusalem; and the Gaza Strip.”

Category: Israel News | Tags: EU, settelments, West Bank

israelandstuffcom | April 23, 2013

Israel Capitulates to Hunger-Striking Terrorist

In exchange for his early release, imprisoned terrorist Samer Issawi has reportedly agreed to end his hunger strike which has lasted more than 8 months.

By Elad Benari

Israel has reached a deal with a Palestinian Authority Arab terrorist prisoner who has been on a long-term hunger strike, officials in the PA said on Monday night.

The terrorist, Samer Issawi, has reportedly agreed to end an on-off hunger strike which lasted for more than eight months in exchange for an early release, the officials told Reuters.

Issawi agreed to a deal brokered by Israeli and PA officials to serve eight months for violating bail conditions, after which he will be freed to his Jerusalem home, according to Qadura Fares, head of the Palestinian prisoner organization. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: hunger strikers, Palestinian prisoners, terrorism

EU Favors Labelling of ‘Settlement Products’

Report: EU foreign ministers support efforts to label products from Judea, Samaria & ‘East-Jerusalem’.

By Elad Benari, Canada

EU foreign ministers, among them Britain’s William Hague and Laurent Fabius of France, have said they will back EU efforts to label products from Israeli communities in Judea, Samaria and eastern Jerusalem, according to a letter obtained by AFP on Friday.

“We warmly welcome your commitment to work with fellow commissioners to prepare EU-wide guidelines on the labelling of settlement produce,” said the letter by 13 ministers, addressed to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and dated April 12.

“This is an important step to ensure correct and coherent application of EU consumer protection and labelling legislation, which is in fulfillment of our previous commitments and is fully consistent with long-standing EU policy in relation to Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories,” the letter said, according to AFP. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: boycotts, EU, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, William Hague

Open Skies Cause Turbulence for Israeli airlines

Israeli airlines may strike Sunday if the cabinet approves new ‘Open Skies’ agreement with the EU.

Transportation Ministry: Airline agreement is good for economy & the public.

By Israel Hayom staff

Barring a last-minute compromise, Israeli airlines El Al, Arkia and Israir will go on strike on Sunday to protest the government’s expected approval of a new comprehensive civil aviation agreement with the European Union.

El Al and other Israeli airlines will strike if the government approves the Open Skies agreement on Sunday. – Photo: Moshe Shai

The cabinet is expected to vote on the agreement when it holds its weekly session on Sunday.

Category: Israel News | Tags: El Al, EU, Israel EU

Israel set to buy new US aircraft & missiles

NYT Report: Israel will be the 1st country to buy the V-22 Osprey, the U.S.-made military tiltrotor aircraft with both a vertical takeoff and landing.

By JTA

WASHINGTON — Israel is set to become the first nation to buy the V-22 Osprey, an U.S.-made military aircraft which combines helicopter maneuverability with airplane speed and range.

A Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey – Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons

The sale, which according to The New York Times will be finalized during the Middle East visit next week by U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, would also supply Israel with new missiles designed to take out an adversary’s air-defense radars. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: huck Hagel, V-22 Osprey

IDF to produce ‘Jenin Jenin’ counter-film

IDF spokesperson chief Brig. Gen. Mordechai explains the media’s influence on warfare & reveals that the IDF is producing a film about Jenin, for internal educational use for it’s soldiers.

Yoav Zitun

During a conference held by the Israeli Lawyer’s Guild in the southern town of Eilat, IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Yoav “Polly” Mordechai spoke about the important role media and culture have on the workings of the IDF, focusing on the influence of hasbara on the IDF’s legitimacy.

הפצ"ר עפרוני ודובר צה"ל מרדכי, בכנס אילת (צילום: עידן מילמן)

Mordechai, Efroni – Photo: Idan Milman

“Hence, in an age when war is screened live, before the camera’s lenses, spokespersons and hasbara have an increasingly critical role and influence military operations’ legitimacy. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Hasbara, IDF, Yoav Mordechai

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5 Palestinians planned to kill Jewish worshipers at Temple Mount

5 Arab residents of Jerusalem were arrested over plots to attack Jews praying at the Temple Mount, open fire on police, and kidnap & murder an Israeli hitchhiker.

By Ryan Jones

A Jerusalem court on Thursday heard charges against five Arab residents of the holy city who were accused of planning to attack Jewish worshipers at the Temple Mount and Western Wall.

Palestinian gang planned to kill Jewish worshipers at Temple Mount – Israel Today

The five men, all aged between 20 and 25, had contacted terrorist organizations in Judea, Samaria and Gaza in order to buy weapons and explosives and obtain arms training. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Palestinian terrorist, Temple Mount

Netanyahu: ‘Israel has the right to prevent WMDs from falling into the wrong hands’

Netanyahu: Nonconventional weapons in the hands of terrorists would be regional game changer. Stopping militants from obtaining such weapons is “in other countries’ interest as well.”

By Israel Hayom Staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel “has a right to prevent weapons from falling into the wrong hands in Syria.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talking with the BBC on Thursday. – Photo: BBC screenshot

In a special interview with the BBC, given during an official visit by the prime minister to London, where he attended former British Premier Margaret Thatcher’s funeral and also met with British Prime Minister David Cameron, Netanyahu said that should terror groups in Syria, especially Hezbollah and al-Qaida, manage to seize anti-aircraft and chemical weapons “it could be a game changer” in the Middle East.

Category: Israel News | Tags: BBC, Iran, Syria, WMD

Cal-Berkeley student senate accepts divestment measures against Israel

The resolution calls on the school to divest more than $14 million in university and Associated Students funds from Caterpillar, Hewlett Packard and Cement Roadstone Holding.

By JTA Staff

NEW YORK — A student senate at the University of California, Berkeley narrowly passed a measure calling on the school to divest from three companies with dealings in the West Bank.

University of California, Berkeley

Following 10 hours of sometimes heated debate, the Associated Students of the University of California senate early Wednesday morning passed the resolution in an 11-9 vote, the student newspaper, the Daily Californian, reported.

The resolution calls on the school to divest more than $14 million in university and Associated Students funds from Caterpillar, Hewlett Packard and Cement Roadstone Holding, saying they profit from Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Jewish settlements there. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: BDS, University of California at Berkeley

Peres grants humanitarian pardon to terminally ill Palestinian prisoner

Seriously ill

security prisoner Mohammed al-Taj, who served 2/3 of prison term, receives amnesty by President Peres

Raanan Ben-Zur

President Shimon Peres approved Thursday the release of Palestinian security prisoner Mohammed al-Taj, in accordance with Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and the security echelon’s advice.

Mohammed al-Taj

Hospitalized in a Prison Service medical facility, Al-Taj will be released due to medical reasons. Upon his release, he will be taken for further treatment in Ramallah, the Maan Palestinian news agency reported.

Al-Taj has served until now about two-thirds of his prison term. “The decision to release him was made for humanitarian reasons, since the prisoner is ill with a very serious disease,” said the president’s statement on the matter. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: humanitarian, Palestinian prisoners, Shimon Peres

israelandstuffcom | April 18, 2013

Bank of Israel tested in new battle to tame Shekel

Central bank may intervene to weaken the Israeli Shekel since lowering its benchmark interest rate, now at 1.75%, could further inflame housing prices, which have rallied 50% in past 4 years.

Reuters

After standing by for months, the Bank of Israel has finally run out of patience and could face a lengthy battle to rein in the shekel as Japan’s massive stimulus drives funds into emerging markets.

Israeli shekel. Gained more than 5% over past four months, posing risk to exports – Photo: Shutterstock

The shekel has gained more than 5% over the past four months against the dollar and the euro, posing a risk to Israel’s exports which account for 40% of economic activity. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: housing, Israel economy, natural gas, shekel

israelandstuffcom | April 17, 2013

Palestinian-American teen sentenced for stone throwing

American-born Mohammad Khalek was sentenced to 2 weeks in prison & fined $850 by an Israeli military court, reported the Palestinian prisoner rights group Addameer.

By Gili Cohen and The Associated Press

A lawyer for Palestinian-American teenager Mohammad Khalek says an Israeli military court has sentenced the boy to two weeks in prison for throwing rocks at Israeli vehicles.

A Palestinian stone thrower bearing the Hamas flag, right, uses a sling shot to throw stones with his comrade towards Israeli security forces, April 3, 2013. – Photo: AFP

Mahmoud Hassan of the Palestinian prisoner rights group Addameer said Wednesday the court also ordered 14-year-old Khalek to pay an $830 fine.Hassan

Category: Israel News | Tags: IDF, Palestinians, stone throwers, West Bank

israelandstuffcom | April 17, 2013

Barghouti accuses Abbas of not securing his release from prison

Imprisoned Fatah leader blames his continued incarceration in Israel on “Palestinian leadership’s shortcomings & negligence”; says PA leadership remains silent while parliamentarians “detained, harassed & tortured.”

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

Jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti on Tuesday accused the Palestinian Authority of not doing enough to secure secure his release.

Barghouti’s accusations came on the 11th anniversary of his imprisonment for his role in terror attacks against Israelis.

Marwan Barghouti – Photo: REUTERS

In 2004, Barghouti, who is an elected member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, was convicted of five counts of murder.

In statements to a number of Palestinian media outlets, Barghouti said: “It’s impossible to explain the official silence.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Fatah, Marwan Barghouti, Palestinian prisoners

israelandstuffcom | April 17, 2013