Israel News

Bennett: Obama’s policies of land concession may lead to even more violence

Economics & Trade Minister Bennett: Second intifada showed concession of land didn’t lead to peace, but rather to even more violence.

Economics and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett became the first senior minister in Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s government to slam US President Barack Obama on Friday when he accused him of wishful thinking and warned that his policies could lead to the mass murder of Israelis.

Economic and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett meeting US President Barack Obama, March 2013. – Photo: Yosef Avi Yair

In a lengthy Hebrew post on his official Facebook page, Bennett said the atmosphere during Obama’s visit reminded him of the Oslo period.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Naftali Bennett, Obama's visit

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Al-Jazeera reporter in Sakhnin assaulted by Assad supporters

Dozens of Arab protesters who support the Syrian president assault an Al-Jazeera reporter & his his crew during Land Day procession in Sakhnin.

Channel 1 journalist, and 2 others were lightly injured.

By Hassan Shaalan

A scuffle broke out Saturday during a Land Day procession in Sakhnin. Several dozen protesters who support Syrian President Bashar Assad assaulted an Al-Jazeera reporter and his crew.

Land Day in Sakhnin – Photo: Mohammed Shinawi

The rioters hurled water bottles at the journalists claiming they were fabricating reports about the situation in Syria. The scuffle quickly spread to include other protesters. Three people were lightly injured including a Channel 1 journalist who sustained a minor head injury and was treated at a local clinic. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Land Day, Palestinian unrest

2 Soldiers Hurt in ‘Land Day’ Rock Throwing – IDF Jeep Overturns

Two IDF soldiers lightly hurt by Arab rock throwing and watch as Jeep overturns near Bethlehem.

By Gil Ronen

Two IDF soldiers were slightly hurt on Saturday when Arabs rioted near Kalkliya, about 10 kilometers northeast of Tel Aviv.

Hundreds of Arabs rioted near the Kalkilya checkpoint. Security forces responded with means for riot dispersal, including warning shots fired in the air.

In another attack, a four-year-old Jewish boy suffered slight wounds when Arab rioters hurled rocks at the car he was in, on the road leading to Tekoa, in Gush Etzion. He was taken to Hadassah Ein Karem Hospital in Jerusalem for medical treatment. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Land Day, Palestinian violence

The Gas is Flowing!!!

4 years after natural gas was found, Energy & Water Minister pledges domestic flow of gas will reduce cost of living for general public.

By SHARON UDASIN, JPOST.COM STAFF

Natural gas flow from the Tamar natural gas field began flowing on Saturday afternoon, Israel Radio reported.

Energy and Water Minister Silvan Shalom at Tamar natural gas rig, March 27, 2013. – Photo: Moshe Binyamin

The new Energy and Water Minister Silvan Shalom visited the Tamar production rig that is located 22 kilometers offshore from Ashdod on Wednesday.

Shalom pledged to improve the quality of life of Israelis as the country’s natural gas begins to flow, stressing that he would use this new influx of gas to reduce the cost of living for the general public.

Category: Israel News | Tags: energy, natural gas, Tamar Gas Field

One of the 3 brother’s body found on Ashkelon beach

2 days after Nahed, Suliman, & Ateff Sariye were swept off to sea at Delilah Beach, Suliman’s body discovered by divers.

Neri Brenner

A body discovered by rescue divers off Ashkelon‘s coast has been identified as Suliman Sariye, 19, one of the three brothers who were swept off to sea by a powerful current and presumed drowned on Thursday.

Suliman Sariye – Reproduction: Ze’ev Trachtman

Police helicopters, divers and volunteers on jet skis and speedboats continued to search for his brothers, Nahed (26) and Ateff (16).

At approximately 5 pm Thursday, the three brothers were swept away while swimming during a family outing at Ashkelon’s Delilah Beach, while ignoring instructions that forbade swimming in the area. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Ashkelon, Bedouin

Egyptian Copts visit Jerusalem

Following the death of the last patriarch, who banned visits to Jerusalem, & clear lack of policy on the matter by new leader, members of Coptic Church exploit the situation and fly to Israel for Easter.

By Roi Kais

Some 50 Copts arrived in Israel on Thursday on a direct flight from Egypt to celebrate Monday of the third week of Easter, which takes place on April 15.

Pope and Patriarch of the Church of Alexandria Theodoros II – Photo: EPA

The guests plan to tour holy sites in Jerusalem, despite a prohibition by Pope Shenouda III (the 117th Pope and Patriarch of the Church of Alexandria, who died in 2012) not to visit the Israeli capital as long as the city is under occupation. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Coptic Christian, Copts, Easter, Jerusalem

What happened in Jerusalem….

Obama offered the ritual incantations about settlements being unhelpful. Nothing new here. He could have called them illegal or illegitimate. It wouldn’t have mattered — because Obama officially declared them irrelevant.

By Charles Krauthammer

I honestly believe that if any Israeli parent sat down with those [Palestinian] kids, they’d say, ‘I want these kids to succeed.’

– Very true. But how does the other side feel about Israeli kids?

Consider that the most revered parent in Palestinian society is Mariam Farhat of Gaza. Her distinction? Three of her sons died in various stages of trying to kill Israelis — one in a suicide attack, shooting up and hurling grenades in a room full of Jewish students.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Israel settlements, Obama's visit, Palestinian Authority

‘J’lem Post’ poll: Huge rise in Israelis who see Obama as pro-Israel

Poll survey shows the number of those who consider President Obama pro-Palestinian, falls to 4-year low.

The more left-wing Israelis defined themselves, the more they see the Obama administration more pro-Israel.

By GIL HOFFMAN

US President Barack Obama’s trip to Jerusalem last week made a significant impression on Israelis, but not the impression he was trying to make, according to a Smith Research poll taken for The Jerusalem Post in the aftermath of the visit.

US President Barack Obama speaks in Jerusalem on March 21, 2013. – Photo: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post

The percentage of Israelis who consider the Obama administration more pro- Palestinian than pro-Israel fell by a whopping 20 percent since before the visit, the poll, taken on Sunday, found. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Barack Obama, Israel US, Obama's visit, pro-Israel

Three brothers missing off Ashkelon beach

Rescue divers continue searching for 3 brothers who were swept to sea off the Ashkelon beach, after 2 entered trying to save youngest.

‘I hope at least one survives,’ says father.

By Ilana Curiel

A diving team started searching on Friday morning for three brothers where last seen at a beach near Ashkelon Thursday night.

ההיערכות על החוף. כוחות רבים ממתינים (באדיבות משטרת ישראל)

Rescue teams at the beach – Photo: Courtesy of police

According to testimonies, the youngest brother bathed in the sea with a cousin. They shouted for help and the two elder brothers came to their rescue, but were swept into the sea themselves.

“I hope at least one of them survives,” said the father of Shenhad, 26, Suleiman, 19 and Ataf, 16. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Ashkelon, Bedouin, search and rescue

Christians descend on Jerusalem for Good Friday events in the Holy Land

Later today, Protestants & Roman Catholics to walk in processions following Jesus’ footsteps in Jerusalem’s Old City.

By The Associated Press

Hundreds of Christians are marking the crucifixion of Jesus in the Holy Land.

Worshipers have packed Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulcher church, where Jesus is believed to have been crucified, buried and resurrected, for a morning mass that started Good Friday events.

Roman Catholic clergymen hold candles as they circle the aedicule during the Holy Thursday mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem’s old city, March 28, 2013. – Photo: AFP

Roman Catholics and Protestants will walk in processions following Jesus’ footsteps in Jerusalem’s Old City later in the day. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Christians, Jerusalem

Obama tells Palestinians: Accept Israel as the Jewish State

While telling the Palestinians to accept Israel as the Jewish state is not the only shift in US policy announced during Obama’s Jerusalem trip (another: telling the Palestinians not to set preconditions for negotiations), this one looms largest because it starkly contravenes the Palestinian consensus.

By Daniel Pipes

One key shift in U.S. policy was overlooked in the barrage of news about U.S. President Barack Obama’s eventful fifty-hour visit to Israel last week. That would be the demand that Palestinians recognize Israel as the Jewish state, called by Hamas leader Salah Bardawil “the most dangerous statement by an American president regarding the Palestinian issue.”

Category: Israel News | Tags: Arab-Israel conflict, Mahmoud Abbas, Obama's visit, Palestinian Authority

Suspected terrorist cell nabbed near Bethlehem

An Israeli military tribunal indicted the men for the alleged production of arms, attempted murder & conspiring to commit crimes.

By JTA

Israeli security forces arrested and indicted some 30 Palestinians from the Bethlehem area who are suspected of belonging to a terrorist network.

Terrorists move missiles in Bethlehem after Christmas

The defendants were arrested in January and February in Beit Fajar, a village near the Palestinian city, Army Radio reported Thursday following the expiration of a gag order on the arrests.

They were arrested in an operation coordinated by Israel’s General Security Service and are believed to have belonged to the PLO. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Bethlehem, Palestinian terrorist

How the People of Turkey View Israel’s Apology

Turkey & Israel have always been friends. The only thing that has changed is that circumstances have reminded them that this friendship is even more important now.

By Aylin Kocaman

The apology took its time coming, and the peoples of Israel and Turkey heard it unexpectedly. With amazement.

Billboards put up in Ankara to thank Erdogan for getting Israel to apologize for Marmara incident. – Photo: REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Immediately in the wake of the communist terror organization, one of Turkey’s greatest problems over the last 30 years, speaking of “wanting peace.” At a time when everyone was constantly making comments regarding Turkish domestic policy. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: apology, Israel Turkey, Mavi Marmara, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Syria

Gilad Schalit’s imprisonment: His Account

The former IDF soldier who was held captive by Hamas in Gaza for 5 years gave IDF investigators an honest, painful & vivid account of the attack that led to his underground incarceration & the deaths of 2 of his fellow comrades.

By BEN CASPIT

In conversations with a psychologist after his return to Israel from five years in captivity, Gilad Schalit expressed fears over the Israel Defense Forces investigation he would undergo. Shalit knew exactly what he was worried about – he knew all too well the circumstances that led to his captivity. He knew that there would be no military glory in what had happened there, on that night.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Gaza, Gilad Schalit, hamas, IDF, Palestinians