Archive for Israel News

| February 4, 2013
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NGO and IDF Prevents Environmental Catastrophe by Arabs in Samaria

The Israel Civil Authority, along with the assistance of the IDF have cleared out 20,000 cubic tons of garbage from an illegal Arab dump in Samaria.

By David Lev

 

The Civil Authority and the IDF has cleared out 20,000 cubic tons of trash from an illegal Arab dump in Samaria, after ongoing appeals from an environmental organization. The Yarok Achshav (“Green Now”) group expressed its satisfaction at the resolution of the issue, preventing further damage to the environment by Arabs in the area.

The site of the dump, near the Arab village of Kafr Duma, was situated right atop a well that tapped directly in into the large aquifer that runs under Samaria. Continue Reading »

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| February 4, 2013
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Terrorist apprehended in West Bank, including 2 Hamas MPs

IDF special forces conduct overnight sweep in major Palestinian cities in Judea & Samaria; 9 Hamas legislators among the 25 Palestinians taken in for questioning

By Elior Levy

 

Palestinian sources reported Monday that Israeli security forces conducted an overnight sweep in the West Bank, arresting 25 Palestinians including nine senior members of Hamas.

PFLPIDF forces arrested nine of the Islamist movement’s members in Nablus and two of its parliament members – Hatem Qafisheh and Mohammed al-Tal in Hebron.

Hamas MP Ahmed Atun was detained in Ramallah and another MP was arrested in the West Bank city of Qalqilya.

All of the men were taken in for questioning by security forces. Continue Reading »

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| February 3, 2013
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Sunday Times finally apologizes for anti-Netanyahu cartoon

UK’s weekly the last to issue apology after publishing cartoon showing PM building wall with Palestinians’ bodies on Int’l Holocaust Remembrance Day. ‘It crossed a line, we would never set out to offend the Jewish people,’ paper wrote.

By Ynet

 

The Sunday Times issued an apology Sunday for a cartoon it published last week showing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu building a wall with Palestinian blood and bodies.

הקריקטורה משבוע שעבר (איור: ג'ראלד סקארף, סאנדיי טיימס)

Gerald Scarfe’s cartoon

The apology noted that the cartoon, which many described as anti-Semitic, was a mistake and had “crossed a line.”

The cartoon, drawn by Gerald Scarfe, includes a caption stating: “Israeli elections – will cementing peace continue?” Continue Reading »

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| February 3, 2013
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Habayit Hayehudi wants Sunday as day off

As part of Habayit Hayehudi negotiations,  Naftali Bennett is expected to call for revival of long-weekend initiative. ‘Move will benefit families, designating Sunday for shopping, leisure & trips,’ party official reports.

Moran Azulay

 

Bennett strives to shorten work week: The Habayit Hayehudi party is expected to revive the proposal to turn Sunday into a sabbatical, extending the Israeli weekend to Sunday while turning Friday into a short work day.

Bennett revives long weekend Photo: Ido Erez

Bennett revives long weekend – Photo: Ido Erez

The proposal will be presented Sunday during the initial stages of government coalition negotiations between Bennett‘s Habayit Hayehudi and representatives of the Likud-Beiteinu. Continue Reading »

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| February 3, 2013
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Shin Bet arrests Islamic Jihad cell plotting to kidnap IDF soldiers

Israeli Arab & 2 Palestinians detained at road block in Sharon region.

Israeli Arab suspected of purchasing weapons on behalf of cell also nabbed.

By Yaniv Kubovich and Gili Cohen

 

The Shin Bet and Israel Police last month uncovered an Islamic Jihad cell suspected of plotting to kidnap an Israeli soldier or civilian, it emerged on Sunday after a gag order on the case was lifted.

Yusef Warda, Anas Jabarin, Tawfiq Agbariya, Said Jassr

Suspects, from right, clockwise: Yusef Warda, Anas Jabarin, Tawfiq Agbariya, Said Jassr.

Three of the suspects – Tawfiq Agbariya and Said Jassr of the West Bank city of Jenin, and Yusef Warda of Tira – were detained just after midnight on New Year’s Eve at the Eyal Junction, a checkpoint in the Sharon region of Israel, based on an intelligence tip. Continue Reading »

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| February 2, 2013
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82 MKs from 6 parties recommended Netanyahu to President Peres for PM

After accepting the president’s invitation to form the next coalition gov’t, PM urges Abbas to return &  resume peace talks, says main objectives of new gov’t are dealing with the Iranian threat, equalizing national burden and improving economy.

 

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu called on all factions in the 19th Knesset to join a unity government, after accepting President Shimon Peres’ invitation to form the coalition on Saturday night.

PM Binyamin Netanyahu accepts President Peres' invitation to form next gov't

Netanyahu called on leaders of parties that announced they would not sit in his government to reconsider and stressed the need to form the broadest coalition possible in order to deal with issues the State of Israel is facing, both domestically and internationally.

Continue Reading »
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| February 1, 2013
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Israel’s Northern Border Towns Getting ‘Ready’

With IAF jets flying overhead, Kiryat Shmona is carrying out maintenance of its bomb shelters, in case of unexpected escalation.

By Gil Ronen

 

Civilians in Israel’s northern communities are carrying on with their daily routines, but there is tension following the reported attack on a Syrian chemical weapons factory and ensuing threats from Iran and Syria.

As of Friday morning, the IDF has not instructed authority heads to take any special steps, but Kiryat Shmona, Israel’s northernmost city, has embarked on a project of cleaning and maintenance of its bomb shelters.

The Home Front Command noted Thursday that no special instructions have been issued, and there is no need to raise the level of alert. Continue Reading »

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| February 1, 2013
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Lieberman: UNHRC Baseless Report Belongs in Garbage Heap of History

Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman: “The UN Human Rights Council once again proved today that there is no connection between its name and its nature,”

By Elad Benari

 

Yisrael Beytenu chairman, former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman,on Thursday evening launched a scathing attack on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) which said earlier that Israel must withdraw all of its citizens from the regions of Judea and Samaria.

Avigdor Lieberman

Avigdor Lieberman – Photo: Hezki Ezra

“The UN Human Rights Council once again proved today that there is no connection between its name and its nature,” said Lieberman, noting that the UNHRC does not show any interest in the ongoing mass murders in Syria. Continue Reading »

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| January 31, 2013
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Geneva to receive the annual UNHRC report on Jewish settlements

The annual settlements investigation is the 6th council probe into Israeli activity in the Palestinian territories, or at its borders.

 

A UN Human Rights Council fact-finding mission on West Bank settlements is set to release its report in Geneva late Thursday morning.

UNHRCIsrael cut its ties with the council when it first ordered the probe last March. Jerusalem refused to cooperate with the three-member mission or to allow it entry into Israel, including into Area C of the West Bank, where the settlements are located.

The settlements probe is the sixth council investigation into Israeli activity in the Palestinian territories or on its borders, including in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. Continue Reading »

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| January 30, 2013
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US Law Enforcement Officials in Israel for Counter-Terrorism Training

15 U.S. participants from 6 North-East states begin a counter-terrorism training program in Israel.

By Rachel Hirshfeld

 

A delegation of law enforcement executives from the United States is participating this week in a counter-terrorism training program in Israel sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League.

The 15 participants from Connecticut, Maine, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania are meeting with commanders from the Israel National Police, security experts and intelligence analysts to learn how the nation prevents and responds to terror attacks.

The group is attending high-level briefings on the operational response to terrorism, border and airport security, maintaining safety and access to holy sites, the role of advanced technology in policing, and the effective use of the media during a crisis. Continue Reading »

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| January 30, 2013
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Israel reach historic agreement with Vatican, seating them at Last Supper site

The Pope will finally have official seat in the Last Supper room on Mount Zion, Jerusalem

Outgoing Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon: This is a historic achievement and a symbol that will encourage Christian tourism.

By Shlomo Cesana

 

 

A historical agreement has been signed between Israel and the Vatican, ending a 20 year dispute. Israel has granted the pope an official seat in the room where the Last Supper is believed to have taken place, on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.

Pope Benedict XVI and Benjamin Netanyahu

Israel did not give up its control over the room, as the Vatican had demanded, but Israel did decide to allow Vatican representatives a special modicum of control over the site.

Continue Reading »
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| January 30, 2013
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Cartoonist of anti-Israel illustration apologizes for timing of publication

“I am not, and never have been, anti-Semitic.” declares Gerald Scarfe

By JTA

 

The illustrator of an editorial cartoon depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu building a wall on the bodies of Palestinians and using their blood as cement apologized for the timing of its publication.

This anti-Israel cartoon that appeared in the Sunday Times of London on International Holocaust Remembrance Day was called a 'modern day evocation of the ancient blood libel charge.' (From Sunday Times)

Anti-Israel cartoon appeared in the Sunday Times of London on Int’l Holocaust Remembrance Day

In a statement printed on his official website, Gerald Scarfe emphasized that “I am not, and never have been, anti-Semitic.”

He said the drawing, published Jan. 27 — International Holocaust Memorial Day — in the Sunday Times, was “a criticism of Netanyahu, and not of the Jewish people: there was no slight whatsoever intended against them.” Continue Reading »

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| January 30, 2013
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Zionist Rabbi Teaches: ‘Equal Burden’ Means More Work for Everyone

Leading Zionist Rabbi warns that forcing hareidi men to join the IDF could become a bigger burden to the army. He suggests learning from kibbutz, for alternative idea.

By Maayana Miskin

 

Coercing hareidi-religious men into joining the IDF could make life harder for all Israelis by creating a burden on the military, Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed warned Wednesday, speaking to Arutz Sheva. Rabbi Melamed is a leading figure in the religious-Zionist world, where army service is valued as a mitzvah (positive command) and is dean of the Beit El Yeshiva in Binyamin as well as rabbi of the community. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News, Jewish News | Tags: ,
| January 30, 2013
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High Court overrules Rabbinical Court, man refusing divorce stays jailed

High Court blocks Rabbinate in unprecedented move, to allow wife’s civil damages suit against husband to be heard as he remains jailed.

 

In an unprecedented move, the High Court of Justice last week intervened in a case being heard by the Supreme Rabbinical Court and blocked the release of a husband who had been jailed for refusing to divorce his wife.

The High Court of Justice

The High Court of Justice – Photo by Michal Fattal

 

The rabbinical court − the top court of appeals in the state rabbinical court system − was chaired by Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar and included Rabbi Tzion Boaron and Rabbi Eliezer Igra, a candidate for the post of chief rabbi. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News, Jewish News | Tags: ,
| January 30, 2013
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Rivlin: Time for Knesset to pass constitution

Knesset speaker Reuven Rivlin says conditions are ripe for permanent constitution, saying “The election results show that Israelis have reset their priorities & prove that many are no longer resigned to having the peace process top the agenda,”

By Gideon Allo

The next Knesset is more likely to draft a constitution, Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin told a forum at the Israel Democracy Institute on Monday.

Speaker Reuven Rivlin says Israel may get a constitution because of the election results. – Photo: Dudi Vaaknin

“In the 19th Knesset conditions are going to be more ripe for drafting a constitution. The election results show that Israelis have reset their priorities and prove that many are no longer resigned to having the peace process top the agenda.

Continue Reading »
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