Israel News

Israel’s Natural Gas Pipeline to Begin Flowing Before End of Pesach

“With the introduction of natural gas from the Tamar field, we will see a significant achievement and a tremendous contribution to Gross National Product,”

By Arutz Sheva Staff

Minister of Energy and Water Silvan Shalom visited the natural gas pipeline project off the coast of Haifa on Wednesday. He was accompanied by Yitzhak Tshuva of the Tamar energy company.

Tamar natural gas well

The opening of the natural gas pipeline is said to reduce power generation costs and lower electric company prices.

Minister Shalom complemented the people behind the project. The gas is set to start flowing at the end of the week. “With the introduction of natural gas from the Tamar field, we will see a significant achievement and a tremendous contribution to Gross National Product,” Minister Shalom stated. Continue Reading »

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

Australian FM cries to US about wanting answers on Zygier case

Speaking in Washington after meeting with U.S. VP Joe Biden, Bob Carr, Australia’s Foreign Minister complained that Israel has yet to provide Australia with a “comprehensive accounting” on the arrest, incarceration & suicide of Australian citizen & reputed Mossad agent, Ben Zygier.

By Eli Leon, Israel Hayom Staff and News Agencies

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr on Tuesday said that Israel has yet to provide Australia with a “comprehensive accounting” of the arrest, detention and suicide of Ben Zygier.

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr in U.S. – Photo AP

Foreign media outlets have reported that Zygier, an Israeli-Australian dual national, worked as a Mossad spy.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Ben Zygier, Prisoner X

Again, Syrian wounded seek treatment in Israel

Number of Syrians wounded in critical condition secretly transferred to hospital in Israel with IDF chief’s authorization. One Died.

Maor Buchnik

A number of injured Syrians made their way to the border with Israel Wednesday morning, the IDF said. Two of the Syrians, who were critically wounded, were evacuated to Israeli hospitals with the authorization of IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz.

Illustrative – Photo Courtesy IDF Spokesperson’s Office

The two, who are in their 30s, were initially taken to the Ziv Medical Center in Safed, but were later transferred to a hospital in Nahariya. One of them was pronounced dead several hours after being hospitalized. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: humanitarian aid, IDF, Syrian unrest, Ziv Medical Center

Palestinian officials reports Israel arrested Hamas MP….Again

An IDF spokeswoman is checking claims that Hamas lawmaker Muhammad Natsheh was arrested again by Israel, after recent release from 6-month detention.

By DPA

Israel on Wednesday arrested four leaders of the Islamist movement Hamas, including lawmaker Mohammed Natsheh, in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, Hamas officials said.

Hamas supporters in Ramallah - AP - Nov. 16, 2012

Palestinian Hamas supporters march in support of the people of the Gaza Strip and against Israel’s military operations, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Friday, Nov. 16, 2012. – Photo by AP

The Palestine News Network said nine Palestinians, including four youths, were arrested in the raid. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: hamas, IDF, Palestinians, West Bank

Qatar proposes $1 billion fund for de-Judaization of Jerusalem

Qatar’s Emir calls to establish a $1 billion fund to keep Jerusalem Muslim & promises to contributed $250 million to it.

By REUTERS, JPOST.COM STAFF

Qatar called on Tuesday for the immediate establishment of a $1 billion fund to help Palestinians in east Jerusalem, and offered to contribute $250 million to it.

E1 area, officially called Mevaseret Adumim, located in the Judean Desert – Screenshot

Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, made the proposal at the opening of an Arab summit in Doha that is expected to focus on the crisis in Syria and stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Arab summit, E-1, Jerusalem, Palestinians, Qatar, UN

We are f***ing powerless: Jon Stewart mocks Obama’s visit to Jerusalem

WATCH as the Daily Show’s takes on U.S. President Barack Obama’s recent trip to Jerusalem & the failures of past American presidents on peace between Israel & the Palestinians.

By Haaretz

Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show returned after two weeks off the air by poking fun at the outcome of President Barack Obama’s recent trip to Israel and the West Bank, and lamenting the failures of past U.S. presidents in the peace process.

A screen shot of Jon Stewart on the Daily Show.

Stewart mocked Obama’s Jerusalem speech, in which the president combined what Stewart described as “a stunning declaration of American support for Israel’s right to exist,” with a call for recognition of “the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, right to justice.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Barack Obama, Middle East peace, Palestinians, West Bank

Israeli-Arab Conflict: 10 Myths Preventing Peace

Obama smiled a lot & hit all the right notes to make Israelis like him just a little bit more, but many of the same old misconceptions & deceptions were never addressed.

By Ryan Jones

US President Barack Obama’s visit to Israel was widely seen as a success, given that the primary goal was to win over the hearts of an Israeli public that had been, at best, suspicious of the American leader.

Obama speaking in Jerusalem – Photo by AFP

But behind all the praise and admiration Obama heaped upon Israel, there was a gentle chiding that showed he still views the lack of peace in the region as primarily the fault of the Jewish state. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Arab-Israel conflict, Obama's visit

Despite Chief Rabbinate’s disapproval, kosher cigarettes for Passover

Israel’s Chief Rabbinate says life-threatening practices like smoking have no place on any kosher list, and not just during Passover.

By The Associated Press

Observant Jews in Israel craving a smoke during the week-long Passover holiday that started at sundown Monday can now enjoy a rabbi-approved puff.

A man smoking a cigarette – Photo: Bloomberg

It’s the first time cigarettes have joined the long list of goods stringently checked to ensure they comply with Passover rules on what items are allowed, or kosher for the holiday – meaning they have not come in contact with grains or other forbidden ingredients. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: kosher, Passover

Turks Appreciate Israel’s Apology

Netanyahu did the right thing in the right manner and with the right words.

The Turkish newspaper’s headline reads: “Sorry.”

By: Sinem Tezyapar

It is unpleasant when two long-friendly countries behave like enemies. Many have been uneasy seeing Israel and Turkey growing distant, even if only in the political arena. Friendship, love, trust and affinity are most valued universally, so I would like my Israeli friends to know that we, the Turkish nation, cherish our friendship with the Israelis and thus appreciate the prime minister’s apology as a virtuous act, and we are excited to leave this regrettable incident behind and to be able to move forward. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Peace activist, Turkey

Entry from the PA Areas Closed by IDF until Tuesday Midnight

Defense Minister imposed a general closure from PA-assigned areas ahead of the Passover holiday. Closure remains in effect until Tuesday at 11:59 p.m.

By Elad Benari

The IDF imposed a general closure on the Palestinian Authority-assigned areas of Judea and Samaria ahead of the holiday of Passover. The closure went into effect as of 11:59 p.m. on Sunday evening, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit announced.

The decision on the closure was made by Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon following an assessment of the current situation. It will be removed on Tuesday at 11:59 p.m., pending another assessment of the situation.

During the closure, entry from the PA into Israel will be allowed only in humanitarian, medical and other exceptional cases, all subject to the approval of the Civil Administration. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: IDF, Palestinian Authority, Passover, Temple Mount

Lapid refused diplomatic passport by Foreign Ministry

Foreign Ministry workers refuse to issue the new Finance Minister a diplomatic passport, as part of a heated labor dispute.

By Itamar Eichner

Employees of the Foreign Ministry are turning up the heat in a recent labor dispute by refusing to provide passport services to government officials. They are protesting an administrative stock regulation and the use of temporary workers to fill positions, plus they are demanding benefits for employees stationed in far-flung countries.

Finance Minister, Yair Lapid – Photo: Hezki Ezra

One of the responsibilities of employees at the ministry is to issue diplomatic passports to ministers and new Knesset members. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Foreign Ministry, Israel Politics, Yair Lapid

New Interior Minster Sa’ar to consider extending Daylight Savings Time

Public uproar caused legislatures to expended Daylight Savings Time to 193 days. Because some say it is not enough, new Interior Minister Sa’ar says he will examine the issue.

By Omri Efraim

On Monday Israel welcomes the spring, and will transition into Daylights Savings Time (DST) during the weekend it, pushing the clocks one hour forward.

Ynet

This year, in the wake of new legislation, Daylight Savings Time will stay in effect longer than usual and end on October 6, three weeks after its original ending – Yom Kippur – which falls on September 13, and two weeks later than it did last year – September 23. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Daylight Savings Time, Eli Yishai

israelandstuffcom | March 24, 2013

Mossad man Zygier suckered & exposed names of Lebanese spies

For 5 years he worked for the Mossad, and then took his own life: Ben Zygier, also known as Prisoner X, according to a SPIEGEL investigation, sought followers of Hezbollah, betrayed secret information – with serious consequences, and then got caught.

By Der Spiegel staff

Ben Zygier, the Mossad agent who hanged himself in an Israeli jail cell on 15 December 2010, had apparently passed sensitive information before his death to the Hezbollah. That in turn led to the arrest of several Lebanese informants who were watching the Hezbollah. This information is the results of an investigation, by the German news magazine SPIEGEL. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Mossad, Prisoner X

israelandstuffcom | March 24, 2013