Archive for Israel News

| February 12, 2013
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Gov’t agency fines army for negligently exposing its troops to asbestos

Israel’s Environmental Protection Ministry to impose NIS 3,830,469 worth of financial fines on the IDF for its negligence.

 

The Environmental Protection Ministry will impose NIS 3,830,469 worth of financial sanctions on the IDF due to the army’s negligence with respect to asbestos removal, the ministry announced on Monday evening.

asbestosDespite the fact that the Environment Ministry had ordered the army to evacuate an asbestos hazard from an area adjacent to Beersheba’s Natan Shalid base seven months ago, the IDF has failed to do so, according to the ministry.

Instead, panels laden with asbestos have sat exposed to the open air and have caused health hazards to soldiers, the ministry explained.

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| February 12, 2013
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EU to exploit legal loophole to boycott ‘settlement’ goods

Germany’s Der Spiegel says EU to make serious effort on boycotting products produced in West Bank & Golan Heights by using import laws’ loopholes

By Ynet

 

Germany’s German Der Spiegel magazine claimed Monday that Israeli producers evade European Union legislation and falsely mark products made in the Golan Heights and the West Bank as “made in Israel.”

Grape vines in the Golan Heights Photo: Rina Nagila

Golan Heights vineyards – Photo: Rina Nagila

The report cited EU regulation that say that certain products, such as wine from the Golan Heights, must be marked with their exact place of production, in order to adhere with various European country’s preference not to import or sell products made in what Brussels deems as “illegal settlement.” Continue Reading »

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| February 12, 2013
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Bennett will be 1st to sign Coalition Agreement, 1st to pick Portfolios

Naftali Bennett’s religious Zionist party will have 1st choice at cabinet portfolios & Knesset committees.

By Gil Ronen

 

Bayit Yehudi will be the first party to sign an agreement on joining the ruling coalition being assembled by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, according to a report in Yisrael Hayom, a daily newspaper which is considered to be close to the Prime Minister.

BennettNetanyahu met with Bayit Yehudi boss Naftali Bennett Monday and the two men are expected to meet again later this week.

A senior source in the coalition negotiations team explained that the offer to make Bayit Yehudi the first party to join the coalition is very meaningful because Bennett will have the choice of important portfolios for his party to hold. Continue Reading »

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| February 12, 2013
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Lapid: There must be equal share of the burden

Addressing Knesset for 1st time Yair Lapid says issue of equal share of burden cannot be ignored; says ‘10% of public can’t threaten the other 90% with a civil war’

By Moran Azulay

 

Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid made his first Knesset speech on Sunday and said he sees his allegiance to the state as a life’s mission. “We must not ignore the issue of equal share of the burden,” he warned. “There will be no civil war. Ten percent of the population cannot threaten the remaining 90% with a civil war.”

לפיד וטיבי במליאה (צילום: אוהד צויגנברג)

With Ahmad Tibi – Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg

The Yesh Atid leader warned that Israel is in the midst of a crisis, adding “the sooner we recognize it, the sooner we can fix it.” Continue Reading »

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| February 12, 2013
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Police Charge 2 Fans With ‘Racist Speech’ at Football Match

Police moved quickly Monday to indict a pair of Jerusalem residents on charges of racism, because of their catcalls made at a soccer game on Sunday night.

By David Lev

 

Police moved swiftly Monday to indict two Jerusalem residents on charges of racism over catcalls they made Sunday night at a soccer game Sunday night between Beitar Jerusalem and the Bnei Sakhnin team. Hundreds of police were present at the game in order to prevent racial tension, with fans of Beitar and visiting Arab teams often facing off with each other over insults and threats mounted by each side against the other. Continue Reading »

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| February 11, 2013
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Hamas profits a $1,000,000 a Day in ‘Taxes’ on Smuggling tunnels

Senior IDF officer reported Monday that Hamas is making at least a $1million a day in extortion money from Gaza smugglers.

By David Lev

 

Hamas is making at least a million dollars a day in “tax” money from Gaza smugglers, a senior IDF officer said Monday. Colonel Wael Tafesh, who is a top IDF officer in the IDF’s coordination unit with the Palestinian Authority, said that Hamas provided “protection” to smugglers and collected payments for the service, and often used the smugglers to order goods for their own use.

Smuggler in tunnelAccording to Wafesh, Hamas is in full control of what goes in and comes out of the smuggling tunnels. Continue Reading »

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| February 11, 2013
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Nazareth Christians are becoming a dwindling minority

 

Nazareth’s Muslims have even more reason to hate their Christian neighbors, many of whom are loyal to the State of Israel and even send their children to the IDF.

By Ryan Jones

 

Israeli business newspaper Globes recently ran a feature story on the fast dwindling number of Christians living in Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth in northern Israel.

Nun in Nazareth – Israel Today

The article notes that while the city once had a strong Christian majority, today a mere one-third of residents are Christians. In reality, Nazareth today is a Muslim city, and local Christians are feeling the squeeze. Continue Reading »

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| February 11, 2013
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Gov’t gives final approval for 90 new housing units in Beit El

Israel’s Army Radio reports that the permits for the new units are part of a ‘compensation plan’ for the evacuation of the Ulpana outpost.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

The building of 90 new housing units in the Beit El settlement is underway, Army Radio reported Monday. The Civil Administration on Judea and Samaria removed the final obstacle and issued a statement of validation for the construction, according to the report.

Ulpana outpost near Beit El

Ulpana outpost near Beit El – Photo: REUTERS/Nir Elias

Within a few weeks, permits were set to be issued for the 90 new units, as part of a compensation plan for the evacuation of the Ulpana outpost agreed upon eight months ago. Continue Reading »

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| February 10, 2013
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3 Israelis surfing in Hawaii rescue 8 drowning kids

The 3 young Israelis were hailed as heroes by the parents who watched helplessly from shore as their children were being pulled out to sea.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

Three Israeli surfers went to the aid of eight children struggling in the waters off Hawaii on Saturday, Channel 2 television reported, after huge waves began surging toward the coast. The three – Tzvika  Elias, Yair Naftali and Gabi Liptz – were hailed as heroes by the children’s parents.
Surfers in Hawaii

Surfers in Hawaii – Photo: Reuters

“We had gone to a remote beach half an hour from Honolulu,” 30-year-old Elias, who lives in New York, told Channel 2.

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| February 10, 2013
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In Be’er Sheva You Have ‘57 Seconds’ Before a Rocket Explodes

A new organization has begun raising awareness about the need for far more bomb shelters in Be’er Sheva to protect its residents from the onslaught of future missile attacks from Hamas’ Gaza.

By Hana Levi Julian

 

A new organization has been formed to raise awareness about the vulnerability of Be’er Sheva residents to missile attacks, and their need for more bomb shelters.

missile attack in Be'er Sheva“57Seconds” was founded by Yoav Kaufman, a U.S. immigrant who attended the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS) program in the northeastern Negev city of Arad prior to moving to Be’er Sheva.

“Try to imagine right now that a city just 26 miles (42 km) from you is firing live rockets at you,” he suggested. Continue Reading »

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| February 10, 2013
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IDF Paratroopers’ K-9 Unit hounding for new ‘draftees’

Military spokesperson says IDF’s Oketz Unit will be indispensable in case of any upcoming conflict with the Hezbollah

Yoav Zitun

 

Israel’s defense establishment is closely monitoring the situation on the northern border, as concerns grow over the possibility that Hezbollah may get hold of Syrian President Bashar Assad‘s chemical weapons arsenal; considered the largest in the world.

Ears perked and finger on the trigger – Oketz soldier and his dog define collaboration – Photo Courtesy Israel Defense Forces

But the GOC Northern Command and the Home Front Command are not the only ones gearing for all scenarios: The IDF’s Oketz Canine Unit has been placed on high alert as well, over the IDF’s concerns that should another violent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah ensue, the military’s reconnaissance and rescue dogs would be indispensable. Continue Reading »

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| February 10, 2013
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Car exploses in Tel Aviv, 2 people wounded

Police Investigators believe explosion is criminal assassination attempt.

Car exploded as it was driving on Ben Zvi Road.

By Yaniv Kubovich

 

One person was seriously wounded and another moderately hurt on Saturday evening when an explosion occurred in a car driving on Ben Zvi Road in Tel Aviv, near the Abu Kabir Institute of Forensic Medicine.

car bomb in Tel Aviv

The car that exploded in Tel Aviv. – Photo by Tomer Appelbaum

Though an investigation is still in its early stages, experts believe the incident was a criminal assassination attempt. Police have begun scanning the scene for evidence.

A month ago, a car exploded in central Tel Aviv, wounding at least seven people. Continue Reading »

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| February 10, 2013
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Lieberman: Yair Lapid won’t be Foreign Minister

Yisrael Beytenu head says former deputy FM Ayalon “changed his views by 180 degrees.”

By Gil Ronen

 

Former foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman accused his former deputy, Danny Ayalon, of a lack of integrity, in a Saturday television interview. Ayalon said earlier in the day that the Foreign Ministry under Lieberman “speaks loudly and carries a mini carrot.”

Until Ayalon learned that he was excluded from the Yisrael Beytenu list for the next Knesset, Lieberman told Channel 2, “he had only praise for his superior, Avigdor Lieberman. In the course of one day, after he was not included in the Knesset list, he says exactly the opposite. Continue Reading »

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| February 9, 2013
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Israel Speaks Loudly & Carries a Mini Carrot, According to Ayalon

Outgoing deputy FM said he doesn’t know why Avigdor Lieberman dismissed him from his position.

By Gil Ronen

 

Former deputy foreign minister Danny Ayalon said Saturday that he does not know why former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman dismissed him from his position in the Foreign Ministry.

Former deputy foreign minister Danny AyalonWhen asked why Lieberman does not like him, Ayalon replied: “I don’t know. I was collegial toward Lieberman. He did not explain to me why he fired me but he should at least have given explanations to the party and to supporters.

“In the last four years,” Ayalon said at a live interview panel event in Holon. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| February 9, 2013
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IDF to seek solutions to Ethiopian troops’ adjustment problems

Brig.-Gen. Eli Shermeister, who heads the Israel Defense Forces Education & Youth Corps, set up the unit last month to tackle the anomaly.

 

By JTA

A new IDF unit will work on integrating Ethiopian recruits, who are over-represented in army prisons.

In its policy of supporting diversity in the IDF, new immigrants from Ethiopia and IDF officers plant trees for tomorrow. Israel has 120,000 Ethiopian citizens, many of whom proudly serve in the IDF. – Photo Courtesy of IDF Spokesperson Unit.

Army Radio reported that Brig.-Gen. Eli Shermeister, who heads the Israel Defense Forces Education and Youth Corps, set up the unit last month after senior IDF officers learned that half of all Ethiopian soldiers were sentenced to prison at some time during their military service. Continue Reading »

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