Archive for Israel News

| March 3, 2013
No comments

Amb. Oren opens AIPAC: PM has taken risks for peace, Palestinians also must

Ex-U.S. diplomats Elliot Abrams & Dennis Ross also speak at opening session of AIPAC conference in Washington.

Abrams jokes, on Obama’s upcoming visit, the  president needs to convince Israel he’s undergone a ‘kishke transplant.’

 

Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren opened AIPAC’s 2013 Policy Conference on Sunday, telling delegates that the Palestinians must follow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s lead and take risks for peace.

People arrive to attend the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) annual policy conferenc

People arrive to attend the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) annual policy conference in Washington on March 3, 2013. – Photo by AFP

Oren and former U.S. diplomats Dennis Ross and Elliott Abrams were the first to speak at the opening plenary session of the three-day American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference at the Washington Convention Center on Sunday. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
| March 3, 2013
No comments

Sea of Galilee Still Rising as Winter Slowly Ends

The water level of the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret) is still steadily rising as the rainy season slowly comes to an end.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

The water level of Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) is still rising as the winter season begins to wind down.

winter skies in the Galilee

Winter skies in the Galilee – IsraelandStuff/PP

The surface of the lake rose by four centimeters over the weekend, according to Water Authority officials. Over the Purim holiday last week, the water level rose by two centimeters, and by four centimeters more over the prior weekend due to Sabbath rains.

The surface of the lake now stands at 210 meters and 16 centimeters below sea level, just one meter and a few centimeters away from the upper “red line” – 208.80 meters below sea level – the point marking the lake as full. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| March 3, 2013
No comments

Booming Business gets Babes Busted

Police arrest woman known as the ‘Jezreel Valley madame’, suspected of running a number Afula brothels.

Her booming business caused complaints followed by a police raid over weekend.

By Yisrael Moskovich

 

A woman in her 50s was arrested over the weekend for allegedly running a prostitution ring in Afula, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Sunday.

Brothel ring

Brothel ring – Photo: Shutterstock

The woman, nicknamed “Jezreel Valley madame,” has has been convicted several times but never jailed, and allegedly kept operating her business, lately even expanding it.

The woman is suspected of renting three Afula apartments and using them as brothels, each apartment housing several prostitutes, with a man stationed outside to watch out for the police and alert those inside in case of a raid. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags:
| March 3, 2013
No comments

PA accusation: Arab Collaborators murdered prisoner Jaradat

The PA Prisoners Affair Ministry reports that prisoner Jaradat was transferred to a cell with Palestinian ‘collaborators’ to elicit his confession.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

 

The Palestinian Authority claimed Saturday that Arafat Jaradat, the 30-year-old Palestinian who died in Megiddo Prison last week, was killed by Palestinian “collaborators.”

Palestinians carry body of Arafat Jaradat during his funeral in the village of Se'eer, Feb 25, 2013

Palestinians carry body of Arafat Jaradat during his funeral in the village of Se’eer, Feb 25, 2013 – Photo: Ammar Awad/Reuters

The PA Prisoners Affairs Ministry said that Jaradat died two days after being transferred to a cell where “collaborators” were being held.

According to the ministry, Jaradat was moved to the cell so that the “collaborators” would be able to extract a confession from him after his Israeli interrogators failed to do so. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags:
| March 3, 2013
No comments

Ministry launches ‘Palestinian bus routes’ in West Bank

Transportation Ministry sets up new bus lines for Arab passengers in West Bank towns & insists the additional lines are for general public, even though only Palestinian villages have been advised of their schedules.

By Itamar Fleishman

 

Racial segregation or transportation mitigation? The Transportation Ministry announced that starting Sunday it will begin operating designated lines for Palestinians in the West Bank.

Afikim busThe bus lines in question are meant, according to the ministry, to transport Palestinian workers from the West Bank to central Israel. The ministry alleges that the move is meant to ease the congestion felt on bus lines used by Jews in the same areas, but several bus drivers told Ynet that Palestinians who will choose to travel on the so-called “mixed” lines, will be asked to leave them. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| March 2, 2013
No comments

Sen. Rand Paul: It’s not America’s Business Where Israelis Build Houses

The senator, along with 2 dozen Congresspersons & Senators spoke at The Iron Dome Congressional Tribute, a celebration of the U.S.-Israel alliance.

By Arutz Sheva

 

Spring may not have come yet to Washington, DC, but at week’s end, the unique relationship between the United States and Israel was in full bloom.  Senator Rand Paul

Several hundred Jewish leaders from across the U.S. journeyed to the capital to offer their gratitude to members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives for their staunch support of the U.S.-Israel relationship.  Nearly two dozen Members of Congress, ranging from ultra-conservative to extremely liberal in their political ideologies, put partisanship aside and participated in this special program in order to stand united with the State of Israel. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| March 2, 2013
No comments

Oren: Jerusalem trying to maintain US-Israel military projects

In light of US gov’t cuts in spending, Israel’s ambassador says Jerusalem will try to safeguard funding for Arrow, Iron Dome & David’s Sling.

By GLOBES/RAN DAGONY

 

Jerusalem is working to salvage some of the military aid the US provides Israel, after US President Barack Obama was forced to approve $85 billion in automatic government budget cuts on Friday night. These cuts are expected to shave off up to $729 million annually from American aid to Israel, as well as aid in funding for missile defense systems such as Iron Dome, Arrow and David’s Sling.

Ambassador to US Michael Oren

Israel’s Ambassador to US, Michael Oren – Photo: Hyungwon Kang / Reuters

Obama formally ordered broad cuts in US government spending after he and congressional Republicans failed to reach a deal to avert automatic reductions that could dampen economic growth and curb military readiness.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| March 2, 2013
One comment

Every Year More Israeli Arabs volunteer for National Service

Around 3000 Arab Israelis are now volunteering to enter National Service, & the number is growing each year.

By LINDA GRADSTEIN/THE MEDIA LINE

 

Ein Naquba – When Nasim Awadallah finished high school two years ago, he didn’t have many prospects. His grades were not good enough to get into university. He worked at a minimum wage job for a few months but was not satisfied.

Women walking in the mixed Arab-Jewish city Lod

Women walking in the mixed Arab-Jewish city Lod – Photo: REUTERS

So he volunteered for Israel’s national service, an alternative to army service, which is under the control of the Defense Ministry. He works at the same school he attended in his village. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| March 1, 2013
No comments

Ceasefire Broken: Southern Israel Under Fire by Gaza Terrorists

Gaza-based terrorists opened fire on the Shaar Hanegev region in southern Israel. It’s the 2nd time in less than a week that Gaza terrorists have violated the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire agreement with Israel that was reached at the end of Operation Pillar of Defense.

By Elad Benari, Canada

 

For the first since the end of the IDF’s Pillar of Defense counterterrorism operation, Gaza-based terrorists opened fire on Friday afternoon towards the Shaar Hanegev region in southern Israel.

'Guardium' unmanned ground vehicle patrols Gaza borderNo one was hurt but a military vehicle belonging to a commander of the IDF’s Gaza Division sustained damage.

While Friday’s incident was the first time since November that shots were fired from Gaza towards Israel, it marks the second time in less than a week that Gaza terrorists have violated the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire agreement with Israel that was reached at the end of Operation Pillar of Defense. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| March 1, 2013
No comments

Israel US – As close as ever

 

In a speech at the Washington Institute in April 2010, Obama’s first National Security Adviser General James Jones remarked: “I can say from long experience that our security relationship with Israel is important for America.”

Israeli military intelligence was not only focusing on Israel’s intelligence needs; it also was collecting and analyzing intelligence “whose main beneficiary is the U.S.”

By Dore Gold

A dramatic front-page New York Times story on Jan. 8, 2013 gave readers a rare glimpse into the level of intelligence cooperation between the U.S. and Israel. According to the article, written by two of the newspaper’s leading reporters David Sanger and Eric Schmitt, several months earlier senior IDF officers had received satellite intelligence that showed Syrian forces mixing chemical weapons at two sites and filling 227 kilogram bombs.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags:
| March 1, 2013
No comments

Gold given to Ethiopian runner in annual Jerusalem Marathon

PA called for runners & sponsors to boycott marathon for political reasons.

Int’l participants have increased, from 800 two years ago to 1,700 on Friday.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, MELANIE LIDMAN

 

Ethiopian runner Abraham Kabeto Ketla won the third annual International Jerusalem Winner Marathon on Friday, setting a new record for the event with a time of 2:16:29.25.
The leaders in the Jerusalem Marathon at the 5k mark, March 1, 2013

The leaders in the Jerusalem Marathon at the 5k mark, March 1, 2013 – Photo: Melanie Lidman

In second and third place were Luka Kipkemoi Chelimo of Kenya who finished in 2:19:01.95 and Vincent Kiplagat Kiptoo of Kenya who completed the run in 2:20:12.60.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| March 1, 2013
No comments

Security forces ready for week-end of Palestinian protests

Arab demonstrations expected in East Jerusalem & across Judea & Samaria, in solidarity with fellow Arab prisoners in Israel.

 

Palestinian protests, mainly over the issue of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, are expected to resume on Friday with both organized and spontaneous marches throughout the West Bank and Jerusalem.

Palestinian protester uses sling to throw stone in clashes near Nablus West Bank

Palestinian protester uses sling to throw stone at Israeli military jeeps in clashes near the West Bank city of Nablus on February 25, 2013. – Photo: Reuters

In Jerusalem, demonstrations in support of the prisoners are slated to take place Friday morning at the Old City’s Damascus Gate and the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on the Temple Mount. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| March 1, 2013
No comments

Bayit Yehudi Vindicated as Coalition Planing Goes into Overtime

Political Analysis: Likud’s strategy reflects the reasoning behind Naftali Bennett’s decision to enter into a pact with Yair Lapid was appropriate.

By Gil Ronen

 

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will meet President Shimon Peres Saturday evening and ask him for a two-week extension in which to put together a coalition of parties and form a new government.

Peres will grant Netanyahu the two-week extension.

If Netanyahu fails to cobble together a coalition within a fortnight, however, he will be in serious trouble. Peres could decide to task someone else with creating a coalition, or new elections could be called.

We are, therefore, entering the “money time” of coalition crafting. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| March 1, 2013
No comments

In automatic US budget cuts, Israel too will be hurting

US budget cuts set to go into effect will eat into US military aid programs to Israel.

Joint programs like the Arrow missile defense system & David’s Sling will possibly be affected. If so, thousands of Americans will be out of work.

 

In 1996, then-Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu dropped jaws when he stood before a joint session of the US Congress and declared that Israel intended to wean itself from the billions it received in annual American assistance.

Netanyahu, Kerry at the US Capitol, March 23, 2010.

Netanyahu, Kerry at the US Capitol, March 23, 2010.
Photo: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

“I believe there can be no greater tribute to America’s long-standing economic aid to Israel than for us to be able to say: We are going to achieve economic independence,” he said.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| March 1, 2013
No comments

Obama may cancel Israel visit if no gov’t formed

U.S. President Obama’s visit was expected to take place after a new Israeli gov’t was in place, with the assumption that this would happen by mid-March.

PM is still struggling to form a gov’t.

By
 

President Barack Obama will cancel his planned visit to Israeli next month if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is unable to form a coalition by March 16, Israel’s Channel 10 reported on Thursday.

Obama and Netanyahu meeting in Washington

U.S. President Barack Obama meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, March 5, 2012. – Photo: AP

After the Israeli elections on January 22, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was tasked with forming Israel’s new governing coalition. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
« Older Entries   Recent Entries »