Archive for Israel News

| February 19, 2013
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Belgrade bloggers captivated over Israel

6 young, influential Serbian bloggers fall in love with the Jewish State after finding ‘wonderful people, outstanding food, and soldiers with big guns & huge smiles’

By Itamar Eichner

 

“If we could, we would stay in Tel Aviv forever. The people are wonderful, the food is outstanding, the views are splendid, the soldiers walk around with big guns and huge smiles and they are much nicer than our civil servants.”

Serbians "like" Israel (Archives) Photo: Desa Fogel

Serbians “like” Israel – Photo: Desa Fogel

This is the impression Israel made on bloggers from Belgrade, Serbia who returned to their country enamored with the Jewish state.

The six skillful and curious bloggers who write on an array of topics were brought to Israel on a joint Foreign Ministry-Tourism Ministry venture. Continue Reading »

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| February 19, 2013
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A fishy performance at Jerusalem’s Int’l Ice Festival

Jerusalem’s Mayor Nir Barkat guarantees new & improved content at Jerusalem’s 2nd Int’l Ice Festival.

By Reuters

 

Visitors to Jerusalem were greeted with a chilly spectacle on Monday, as the Holy City’s second International Ice Festival exhibition began.

An ice carver from China.

An ice carver from China chips colored ice as he works on an ice sculpture for the Ice Festival in Jerusalem, – Photo by Reuters

“It’s the ice festival’s second year. This year is dramatically improved and enriched. We’ve heard lots of comments and new ideas and innovations. This is fascinating experience for people that are never been to the ice city,” said Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat. Continue Reading »

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| February 19, 2013
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A-G Weighing Legal Action Against MKs who Leaked Zygier Affair

The Attorney General reported that pre-planned statements are not protected under MKs’ immunity.

By Gil Ronen

 

Attorney General and Government Legal Advisor Yehuda Weinstein is considering a request by MK Miri Regev (Likud) to open a criminal investigation against MKs Ahmed Tibi (Raam-Taal), Zehava Galon (Meretz) and Dov Chenin (Hadash), who rendered ineffective a gag order on the Zygier affair by speaking about the affair in the Knesset plenum.

Once the MKs spoke about the affair in the plenum, where deliberations are broadcast live on the televised Knesset Channel, other Israeli news outlets felt free to report about it, too. Continue Reading »

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| February 19, 2013
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Knesset Legal Counsel warns MKs: Leak secrets & be prosecuted

After 3 MKs exposed ‘Zygier affair’ during live broadcast from plenum, Knesset’s Legal Counsel says immunity won’t protect lawmakers disclosing state secrets.

Moran Azulay

 

After a number of Knesset members urged Justice Minister Yaakov Ne’eman to address allegations that an Australian national committed suicide in an Israeli prison, thereby blowing the cover off the “Prisoner X” affair, the issue of parliamentary immunity upon revealing State secrets has become a sensitive matter.

MK Ahmed TibiKnesset Legal Advisor Eyal Yinon determined Monday that Knesset members cannot disclose state secrets to the Knesset plenum and then utilize their parliamentary immunity.

Immunity for revealing State secrets would be applied to an MK if he or she spoke without preplanning, “in the heat of an argument or in response to things said,” Yinon said, but “preplanning a statement – that is in fact a felony that cannot be protected by immunity and a member of Knesset can be prosecuted for the said felony, as can any other person.” Continue Reading »

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| February 18, 2013
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Habayit Hayehudi MKs say they want to start afresh with Likud

Habayit Hayehudi MKs say that if Bennett keeps us out of coalition, he will have no more support, & that the main goal of coalition talks should be joining the gov’t, with or without Yesh Atid.

By Mati Tuchfeld & Yehuda Shlezinger

 

Some Habayit Hayehudi MKs have called on their party leader Naftali Bennett and Likud-Beytenu officials to put aside past inter-party rivalries and conduct “serious coalition negotiations.”

Habayit Hayehudi head Naftali Bennett. – Photo: Yakov Felbergaum

These Habayit Hayehudi MKs emphasized that they still trusted Bennett to manage the coalition talks, but said that the main goal of these talks should be to join the government, “with or without [Yesh Atid leader] Yair Lapid.”

Continue Reading »
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| February 18, 2013
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Police arrest ‘modesty squad’ that ‘terrorized’ Beitar Illit

 

The two ultra-Orthodox men that have been harassing the city’s female residents for what they claim is unchaste behavior, have been caught & arrested.

By Eli Senyor

 

Two ultra-Orthodox men were arrested Monday for instilling what allegedly heading a “modesty squad” that terrorized the female residents of Beitar Illit over what they deemed their “immodest behavior.”

Two ultra-Orthodox menThe two, both in the 30s, are believed to be responsible for what the police called “a reign or terror.”

The two are suspected of a line of violent acts including threats, beatings, kidnappings and more, against what they believe are indecent women, and at times – men. Continue Reading »

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| February 18, 2013
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Tzipi Livni to be Justice Minister

Hatnua chairwoman Tzipi Livni, will reportedly be appointed as Justice Minister in Netanyahu’s new coalition & will hold a key position in peace talks with the Palestinians.

By Elad Benari

 

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, frustrated with the Bayit Yehudi and Yesh Atid parties, has reportedly once again turned to Hatnua chairwoman Tzipi Livni. Reports several weeks ago indicated that the two had been holding talks.

Channel 10 News reported on Sunday that Livni’s party is probably the closest to joining Netanyahu’s coalition. The report indicated that Livni is in constant touch with the Likud Beytenu’s number 2, Avigdor Lieberman, and that understandings between the two parties are beginning to emerge. Continue Reading »

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| February 17, 2013
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Swift IDF Action Nabs Arab Terrorists

2 Arabs arrested after caught firing shots at Kibbutz Migdal Oz in the Etzion Bloc.

By Gil Ronen

 

A quick IDF operation led to the arrest of two Arabs who fired shots at the kibbutz (cooperative community) of Migdal Oz in the Etzion Bloc Saturday night.

IDF PhotoThe shots were fired from the nearby village of Bayt Fajar.

A military source told Arutz Sheva that the source of the gunfire was identified shortly after the shooting began, and that a force from the Nachshon Battalion of the Kfir Brigade, which was on routine assignment in the area, was alerted.

The soldiers carried out the normal procedure for arresting suspects and fired in the air. Continue Reading »

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| February 17, 2013
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Australia’s very own, the ASIO ‘burned’ Zygier

Analysis: Australian intel agencies’ conduct played key role in low level Mossad operative’s decision to end his life.

By Ron Ben-Yishai

 

Ben Zygier was a victim. From details that have already been published by British and Australian media we learn that he was a victim of his own personality and also of the over-enthusiasm and lack of caution on the part of his handlers in Israel. Most infuriating is the fact that people who worked for the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) purposely got the Mossad operative in hot water and indirectly contributed to his decision to commit suicide.

Ben Zygier

According to the details that have surfaced so far, Zygier and two of his colleagues, who were also born in Australia and held Australian citizenship, were recruited to Mossad at the beginning of the last decade. Continue Reading »

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| February 17, 2013
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Arabs: Keep Marathon Runners Away from Temple Mount

The PLO threatened Israel not to use the upcoming annual Jerusalem Marathon as an attempt to “Judaize” Jerusalem

By David Lev

 

With the Jerusalem Marathon set to take place March 1, the Palestinian Authority is warning Israel not to use the race to “Judaize” the city, presenting it as a “unified capital of Israel,” said the chairman of the PLO’s action committee, Ahmed Qureia. Qureia is also the head of the “Al-Aqsa Department” in the PA, and on Sunday he warned Israel to ensure that marathoners stay away from the Temple Mount, where the mosque is located.

Runners from some 50 countries are expected at this year’s marathon. Continue Reading »

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| February 17, 2013
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Do the Palestinians actually deserve a state of their own?

Op-ed: All the regional Arab countries have been unsuccessful in their attempts at annihilating Israel militarily, but their lust to have Israel eliminated has never diminished.

By Dan Calic

 

With President Obama coming to Israel soon, let me ask what some consider a rhetorical question- do the Palestinians actually deserve a state of their own?

Rally in Hebron ahead of UN vote

Obama and most of the international community think they do. Yet if we take a closer look at the situation there are serious issues which should not be ignored. For example, would it be a peaceful, productive neighbor with Israel? This can best be answered by reviewing some guiding principles of the PLO and Fatah, which is the dominant political party of which Mahmoud Abbas is chairman. Continue Reading »

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| February 17, 2013
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Abandoned quarries being rehabilitated into parks, lakes, amphitheaters

Used quarries throughout the country have been amazingly rehabilitated by the Quarry Rehabilitation Fund.

 

As the sun set on Thursday in the Avital Valley – a few kilometers from the Syrian border – miniature replicas of cone-shaped volcanoes that once erupted at the site glowed again in an automated light show.

The once volcanic Avital, which later became a valued quarrying spot, is to be inaugurated as a park this Passover. It is one of several quarries throughout the country being rehabilitated by the Quarry Rehabilitation Fund.

In an effort to ensure that mine and quarry lands are economically viable after projects are completed, the fund collects royalties from developers while the quarrying is being carried out, the percentage of which depends on the value of the minerals being harvested.

Continue Reading »
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| February 17, 2013
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Ex-FM Lieberman’s trial to begin

3 judge panel to preside over Yisrael Beiteinu chief’s fraud trial.

State prosecutor will also pursue a moral turpitude conviction, that may bar him from politics for 7 years.

Lieberman pleaded ‘not guilty’ on all charges.

Aviel Magnezi

 

Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman and former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman‘s trial began Sunday at the Jerusalem District Court.

Israel's previous Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman

Israel’s previous Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman

The former minister faces fraud and breach of trust charges over his alleged involvement in the promotion of former Israeli Ambassador to Belarus Zeev Ben Aryeh within the Diplomatic Corps – to the post of ambassador to Latvia. Continue Reading »

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| February 17, 2013
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Likud-Yisrael Beiteinu plans to draft 60% of Haredim up to age 24

Likud-Yisrael Beiteinu proposal submitted to  Habayit Hayehudi & Yesh Atid as part of coalition negotiations.

Prof. Eugene Kandel on Saturday publicly presented the main points of his proposal for distributing the burden of military service more equally. The proposal was submitted last week to Yesh Atid and Habayit Hayehudi by Likud-Yisrael Beiteinu during the latter’s coalition negotiations with the two parties.

Ilan Assayag

Eugene Kandel – Photo by Ilan Assayag

The program calls for drafting more than 60 percent of ultra-Orthodox men up to the age of 24, while offering government incentives to these conscripts and the yeshivas from which they they were drafted. Continue Reading »

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| February 17, 2013
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Minister Yaalon: Steps against “Prisoner X” Saved Lives

Yaalon condems left wing MKs who irresponsibly exposed the affair, says they knew they could have employed more discreet channels.

By Gil Ronen

 

Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Strategic Affairs Moshe Yaalon (Likud / Yisrael Beytenu) said Saturday evening that the steps taken against “Prisoner X” Ben Zygier were necessary in order to save lives.

“We are a unique country in terms of our security situation,” Yaalon told Channel 2‘s Meet the Press.”

Asked why Zygier was arrested, he said, “Out of considerations of pikuach nefesh [the halakhic precept that refers to the saving of lives], we needed to take such a step.

Continue Reading »
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