Archive for Israel News

| February 24, 2013
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Yesh Atid initiates a new Knesset Bible study group

Having been labeled anti-religious by some ultra-Orthodox leaders, Yesh Atid has since been the most dominant party getting  Israelis to study the Bible.

By  Israel Today Staff

 

We have already reported several times on Benjamin Netanyahu’s revival of the Prime Minister’s Bible Study group in Israel. Now the Knesset is getting in on the trend with the establishment of its own weekly sessions of scriptural enlightenment.

Bible – israeltoday.co.il

The initiative came from one of the new Knesset parties, the centrist Yesh Atid, which fields both secular and religious lawmakers.

Despite running an election campaign that emphasized an end to army exemptions for and exaggerated welfare payouts to the ultra-Orthodox Jewish sector, and subsequently being labeled anti-religious by ultra-Orthodox leaders, Yesh Atid has since the election been the most outspoken party about getting more Israelis to study the Bible. Continue Reading »

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| February 24, 2013
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Arabs report 9 people wounded in clashes with Jewish residents near a Palestinian village

A 30 year-old Palestinian prisoner dies of a heart attack in Megiddo jail while another Palestinian reportedly hospitalized because of gunshot wound.

By Gili Cohen , and

 

Violent clashes erupted on Saturday near the West Bank village of Qusra, south of Nablus, between villagers and Jewish settlers from nearby Jewish outpost. IDF forces arrived on the scene and employed crowd-control measures.

Qusra - AFP

A Palestinian protestor (R) clashes with an Israeli settlers in the West Bank village of Qusra near Nablus on February 23, 2013.- Photo: AFP

The Palestinians reported nine people wounded, among them seven from rubber bullets. Continue Reading »

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| February 22, 2013
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Did Mofaz Switch Teams Because his Demand to be Defense Minister was Rejected?

Mofaz reportedly joined the pact between Bayit Yehudi & Yesh Atid because his demand to be Defense Minister in the next gov’t was not accepted by Likud Beytenu negotiators.

By Elad Benari, Canada

 

Kadima chairman MK Shaul Mofaz joined the pact between Bayit Yehudi and Yesh Atid because his demand to be appointed Defense Minister was rejected, Channel 2 News reported on Friday.

MK Shaul MofazAccording to the report, Mofaz’s representative, Attorney Alon Geller, arrived at the coalition talks with the Likud Beytenu negotiating team and presented Mofaz’s demand that he be appointed as Defense Minister in the next government.

The Likud Beytenu reportedly rejected the demand on the spot, leading to Mofaz deciding to join the pact with Bayit Yehudi and Yesh Atid and form a united front against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Continue Reading »

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| February 22, 2013
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IDF & Residents Ready for a possible ‘Volatile’ Golan Heights

The conflict in Syria has drawn many Druze residents of the Golan closer to Israel. More & more have requested Israeli citizenship.

By Maayana Miskin

 

The IDF is prepared for a new reality in the Golan as Syria continues to descend into chaos, Brigadier-General (ret.) Kobi Marom told Arutz Sheva.

“The IDF has prepared for the new reality that will be in the Golan,” he said. “There are fears of an escalation, and serious concern that if there is violence [in the region] the target will not be Assad.”

“It’s a problematic reality, and the IDF has prepared accordingly,” he continued. Continue Reading »

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| February 22, 2013
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VIDEO: Haifa’s Technion students do the Purim Harlem Shake

Israel’s Institute of Technology students release their latest in a series of Jewish holiday dance videos intended to demonstrate the Technion as the hip institution, that it is.

 

The Technion has just released its latest in a new series of Jewish holiday videos – part of a campaign to promote itself as a hip institution.

Screenshot of Technion Purim dance video

Photo by Screenshot of Technion Purim dance video (below)

Its latest Purim video, just released on YouTube, shows a group of physics students doing their own version of the Harlem Shake, a 1980s dance recently re-popularized that has individuals dressed in strange attire jerking themselves around to the sounds of an electronic dance track. Continue Reading »

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| February 21, 2013
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Arab couple denied Doctor home visit

Arab resident from Beit Safafa calls Natali medical services to order a doctor’s visit for feverish husband only to be told ‘No doctor will go to an Arab neighborhood’

Noam (Dabul) Dvir

 

Are residents of Arab neighborhood expected to go without medical care due to their place of residence? Natali Seculife, a medical and emergency services company refused to send a physician for a house-call in Beit Safafa, a resident of Jerusalem‘s Arab neighborhood said.

Beit SafafaA call center representative told the resident that a company doctor will not visit an “Arab area.”

The incident occurred a week ago, when Sonia Alias, a resident of Beit Safafa, called the service and asked for a house-call for her feverish husband. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| February 21, 2013
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Byzantine era wine press excavated from under the streets of Jaffa

Excavation believed to be part of wine press or for other fruit-based alcohol from the fertile fields of Jaffa

By Yori Yalon & Israel Hayom Staff

 

A Byzantine winepress was recently uncovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority in an archaeological dig in Jaffa, near Tel Aviv. The excavation is taking place under Rabbi Hai Gaon Street near the city’s central artery, Jerusalem Boulevard, and provides a rare glimpse into the town’s past.

Under the bustling streets of Jaffa, remnants of its past. – Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority

The excavations were conducted before the start of a massive project to modernize city infrastructure for tourist and residential purposes. Continue Reading »

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| February 20, 2013
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Arab Gang Kidnapped & Beat Israeli Cabbie

A Palestinian Authority gang kidnapped a 70 year-old Israeli taxi driver, beat him, & then threw him out along the road to Ramallah.

By Maayana Miskin

 

Two Palestinian Authority resident Arab men have been arrested in connection to the kidnapping and beating of an elderly Israeli cab driver. The attack in question took place in January, but was under a gag order until Wednesday.

 

The attack began when the cab driver, 70, picked up three Arab men as passengers. The three asked him to stop, then pounced on him and tied a rope around his neck and beat him. Continue Reading »

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| February 20, 2013
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PHOTO GALLERY: Barbie & Ken love Israel

Currently on show in Milan is a pop-up photography project where an Italian couple use their iconic dolls as “alter egos” while on vacation in Israel.

 

Iconic children’s dolls Barbie and Ken took a well-deserved break from keeping kids around the world entertained and took a vacation in Israel lat summer. And they have the photos to prove it.

Barbie and Ken: Tel Aviv beach

Barbie and Ken: Tel Aviv beach – Photo: Enrico Pescantini and Maria Giovanna Callea

Barbie and Ken are in fact the alter egos of Italian couple Enrico Pescantini and Maria Giovanna Callea and the so-called holiday snaps are the final result of a pop-art project the two undertook during a vacation last August, aptly called “Barbie Loves Israel.” Continue Reading »

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| February 20, 2013
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Jewish Agency head won’t seek solution over Women of the Wall until new gov’t is formed

The ‘Kotel is in complete captivity & in the hands of an extremist group,’ head of the Jewish Conservative movement of Israel tells the Jewish Agency board.

 

Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky said Tuesday morning that he does not intend to present recommendations on resolving the conflict over prayer regulations at the Western Wall until a new coalition has been formed.

 

Anat Hoffman

Anat Hoffman, leader of Women of the Wall, being arrested in December while praying at the Western Wall. – Photo by Michal Fattal

“I proposed that we keep the issue quiet so that it would not be influenced by the coalition negotiations,” he told participants at a session of the Jewish Agency Board of Governors, which is meeting in Jerusalem this week. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News, Jewish News | Tags: , ,
| February 20, 2013
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U.S. Budget cuts could endanger aid to Jordan, Israel & Egypt

Both Obama & Kerry warn that deep spending cuts could limit US military operations abroad.

By HILARY LEILA KRIEGER, JERUSALEM POST CORRESPOND

 

WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama warned Tuesday that steep spending reductions could jeopardize America’s military involvement abroad, adding pressure on Republicans to make a deal to avoid automatic cuts set to take effect on March 1.
Mine warfare ship USS Defender [illustrative]

Mine warfare ship USS Defender – Photo: US Navy/Ryan C. McGinley

“Already, the threat of these cuts has forced the navy to delay an aircraft carrier that was supposed to deploy to the Persian Gulf,” Obama said during public remarks attended by first-responders whose positions would be affected by the automatic cuts, known as budget sequestration.
Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| February 20, 2013
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Red Sea – Mediterranean Sea railway path approved

New train tracks planned for Eilat will go through desert & wildlife reservations despite environmental groups objections. Tracks planed to become operational in 2019

Amir Ben-David

 

The Southern Zoning Committee approved a bid by the Israel National Roads Company to build new train tracks in the country’s south, despite an environmental impact report that deemed the project harmful, Yedioth Aharonoth reported.

Illustration - Photo by Index OpenThe train track are expected to run though plant and wildlife reservations, as well as known hiking trails, but unlike similar projects that aimed to minimize their environmental impact, the new project will not make use of the usual solution of tunnels, as suggested by the Environmental Protection Ministry Israel Nature and National Parks Service. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| February 20, 2013
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After Hatnuah, Shas likely to be next to join Bibi’s coalition

Members of Likud-Yisrael Beiteinu suggested that Netanyahu may try to build a coalition of 57 MKS – including Shas, United Torah Judaism, Kadima & Hatnuah and then present Naftali Bennett with an ultimatum.

 

Likud officials in charge of coalition negotiations said that Hatnuah Chairman Tzipi Livni‘s consent to join Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government was the “first domino” to fall, believing that more parties would now follow.

Yishai, Netanyahu, and Bennett

Benjamin Netanyahu and Naftali Bennett. – Photo by Archive

Shas and Kadima are expected to join the coalition quickly, but the Likud officials also expect that Livni’s move will apply pressure on Yesh Atid and Habayit Hayehudi, as well. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| February 19, 2013
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Women Drivers Escape Terrorist Ambush

Jewish women drivers escaped  Palestinian Authority gang’s carjacking attempts.

By Arutz Sheva Staff

 

Palestinian Authority resident criminal gangs continue to target Israeli drivers for theft, and women traveling alone in particular. Two women escaped attempted carjackings at the last minute on Monday evening.

The two told Arutz Sheva their stories.

“At around 9 p.m. I passed through the Hizme junction on my way home, and suddenly I lost control of the car,” one recalled. “There was something on the road that made the car slip sideways.”

She pulled over to see what was wrong, and a car immediately pulled up behind her. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| February 19, 2013
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Suicide-proof cell…with all the extras: A stool, a sheet & bars on window

Ben Zygier reportedly told the guards he was taking the sheet to the bathroom to wash it. Then Zygier hanged himself by standing on a stool then tying his bed sheet to the steel bars on the bathroom window-bars.

By Israel Hayom Staff

 

Israel’s Maariv newspaper reported on Tuesday that alleged Mossad agent Ben Zygier hanged himself in Ayalon Prison by tying a bed sheet to the steel bars of the window in his cell’s bathroom, and then standing on a stool.

An article about Zygier on the front page of an Australian newspaper last week. – Photo: AFP

Citing the Israel Prison Service report written up immediately after Zygier’s suicide in December 2010, Maariv reported that Zygier woke up on the morning of Dec.

Continue Reading »

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