Archive for Israel News

| January 30, 2013
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Christians United For Israel press to block Hagel confirmation

CUFI  presence in Hagel’s opposition shows conservatives’ determination in stopping Chuck Hagel’s confirmation

By Ron Kampeas

 

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Chuck Hagel has made strides in his bid to secure Senate confirmation as defense secretary, winning the endorsement of leading Jewish Democratic senators and meeting with the leaders of major American Jewish groups.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn, shown speaking to CPAC, a convention of political conservatives, in February 2012, has been key to the Republican pushback against the nomination of Chuck Hagel as defense secretary. (Gage Skidmore/creative commons)

Texas Sen. John Cornyn, shown speaking to CPAC, a convention of political conservatives – Photo: Gage Skidmore/creative commons

But conservative pro-Israel opposition remains fierce, bolstered by the pivotal role being played by Christians United For Israel, the Texas-based group founded by Pastor John Hagee.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), the first senator to come out against Hagel’s nomination, did so at Hagee’s behest, both men revealed on Monday. Continue Reading »

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| January 29, 2013
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The not ‘Jewish enough’ Ms. Margolis

The granddaughter of Holocaust survivor who came to Israel as child and serves as IDF an officer was stunned to find Rabbinate does not deem her ‘Jewish enough’ to marry under religious law.

Reuven Weiss

 

In less than four months, Rita Margolis, 26, will marry 27-year-old Captain A. Despite the fact that her fiancé serves in a combat unit and Margolis is a combat hummer operator, who repeatedly finds herself in reserve duties, the State of Israel is disallowing the two to marry, “by law.”

Rita Margolis Photo: Shaul Golan

Rita Margolis – Photo: Shaul Golan

Due to the sensitivity of his military position, Captain A. Continue Reading »

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| January 29, 2013
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Israel’s Shin Bet Reports it Prevented 100 ‘Serious’ Terror Attacks in 2012

For the 1st time in 4 decades, 2012 saw no Israelis killed in terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria. BUT, despite the lack of deaths in Judea and Samaria, there was an increase in the number of attacks there.

By JNS.org

 

Israel’s domestic spy agency, the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), says it thwarted 100 “serious” terror attacks in 2012, of which a third were planned kidnappings, the agency revealed in a report published Thursday. The Shin Bet said it arrested 2,300 terror suspects, which led to 2,170 indictments.

Shabak (Shin Bet) Emblem

Half of the planned kidnapping attacks were planned roadside bombs followed by small-arms fire. Continue Reading »

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| January 29, 2013
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Anti-Semitic incidents in Australia rise by 5% for 2012

Jews were pelted with eggs and other objects while walking to synagogue.

Comments yelled at Jewish people in Australian streets such as “Hitler didn’t do his job properly,” and “It’s a pity that the Germans didn’t burn the lot of you.” were common.

By JTA

 

SYDNEY, Australia  – Anti-Semitic incidents in Australia rose by five percent over the previous 12-month period, according to a new report.

anti-Semitic bannerJeremy Jones, a former president of the Executive Council of Australia Jewry, released data this week showing that during the 12-month period from October 2011 until September 2012, there were 543 incidents of “racist violence” against Jewish Australians documented by Jewish organizations. Continue Reading »

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| January 29, 2013
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Israel becomes first country to boycott UNHRC review

Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor says Jerusalem has no plans to change policy of withholding contact with the overtly biased UN body.

 

Israel is likely to become on Tuesday afternoon the first country to boycott a United Nations Human Rights Council periodic review that all 193 member states participate in.

UNHRCIt is the council which Israel objects to, not the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of its human rights record, which it underwent in 2008.

Israel cut its ties with the UNHRC in March after the council approved a fact-finding mission to investigate Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank.

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| January 29, 2013
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Arabs Caught Red Handed Robbing Ancient Burial Cave

Three Arab suspects were caught inside the 1st century cave near Kibbutz Metzer, with digging tools in hand.

By Gil Ronen

 

A protracted surveillance operation led to the capture of three suspects who were caught red handed robbing an ancient grave near Kibbutz Metzer.

The arrest of the suspects

The arrest of the suspects – Antiquities Authority

Inspectors for the Unit for Prevention of Theft in the Antiquities Authority caught the suspects inside a burial cave dating from the 1st century CE.

The suspects are Arabs from the town of Baka el Gharbiya and the village of Zamer. They were in possession of numerous digging tools. Continue Reading »

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| January 28, 2013
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IDF shoots 2 ‘would-be terrorists’ in attempted infiltration from Egypt

2 armed men shot after ignoring warning from IDF soldiers in attempted infiltration of Israel-Egypt border, IDF spokeswoman says.

 

Two men were shot and injured during an attempted infiltration of the Israel-Egypt border on Sunday night, the IDF said.

IDF On Southern BorderSeveral unidentified gunmen approached the Israeli border from the Sinai Peninsula, and attempted to cross the border fence, an army spokeswoman said. At the same time, a vehicle arrived from the Israeli side, and approached the border fence, driving towards the men, and entering a closed military zone.

Soldiers shouted out warnings to the suspects to stop, but were ignored, an army spokeswoman said.

Continue Reading »
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| January 28, 2013
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Op-Ed: Israel Without A Real Winner – Stepping Back To Square One

When the new governing coalition is formed, where will it start from & where can it go?

By Italian MP Fiamma Nirenstein

 

Sent by the writer in translation from Il Giornale

The entire punditry got it wrong, television, press, and politicians from all over the world who were warning against the incumbent victory of Benjamin Netanyahu, “King Bibi” as he had been dubbed by Time Magazine, featuring his “unsettling” image as its front cover. He will get a crushing majority, they said, flanked by a growing right.

Let it be clear, they insisted in countless columns (see for instance Jodi Rudoren’s article in the Herald Tribune the day before the elections) that Israel is lurching to the right, to the radical right, into the depths of black holes of the currents ethical mainstream, against Obama, against Europe, against the UN – so they maintained.

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| January 28, 2013
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Israel is at ‘Battle Stations’

The State of Israel will not tolerate Hezbollah or any of the global jihad movements taking possession of Syria’s chemical or biological weapons, but any premature military operation could give the embattled Syrian regime an excuse to turn their weapons on Israel.

By Yoav Limor

It is hard to overstate the severity of the Syrian threat, and the sharpness of the pounding headache created by it. Every possible scenario is dangerous, and any choice available to Israel goes from bad to worse.

Israel Air Force F-16 fighter planes. - Photo: AFP

Israel Air Force F-16 fighter planes. – Photo: AFP

Recent reports out of Syria indicate the immediacy of the issue.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| January 28, 2013
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European Jewish Congress: Sunday Times cartoon ‘sickening’

European Jewish Congress president calls for apology from British newspaper for a particularly offensive caricature drawn of Israel’s PM Netanyahu published on Int’l Holocaust Day

Ynetnews

 

European Jewish Congress President Dr. Moshe Kantor has called for an apology from the Sunday Times, which published a cartoon on International Holocaust Remembrance Day of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu building a wall on the bodies of Palestinians, depicting their blood as cement.

Cartoon shows Netanyahu building wall on bodies of Palestinians – Photo: Emil Salman

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

“This cartoon would be offensive at any time of the year, but to publish it on International Holocaust Remembrance Day is sickening and expresses a deeply troubling mindset,” Dr. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| January 27, 2013
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Kinneret Rises 10.5 Centimeters as Winter Rains Continue

In what is being seen as the most bountiful rainy season in a decade, Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) is continuing to rise!

By Chana Ya’ar

 

Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) is continuing to rise in what is being seen as the most bountiful rainy season in a decade.

Winter rains raised Kinneret level

Winter rains raised Kinneret level
Photo: Hana Levi Julian

In the past week, the lake rose by 10.5 centimeters (4.13 inches), bringing the level of the country’s largest single source of drinking water up to 210 meters (689 feet) and 80 centimeters (31.5 inches) below sea level.

More rain is predicted for Sunday night, and again later in the week, which Israelis hope will raise the level of the lake even higher. Continue Reading »

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| January 27, 2013
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Six new MKs required to renounce foreign citizenship before entering Knesset

Newly elected members of the 19th Knesset will first have to give up their foreign citizenship before they are sworn in as MKs.

 

Six incoming members of the 19th Knesset will have to give up their foreign citizenship before they are sworn in as new MKs on February 5.

Moshe Feiglin

The Knesset requires any citizen with dual citizenship to cancel his or her additional nationalities before being sworn in. Knesset Secretary Yardena Maller-Horowitz has already contacted incoming MKs to inform them of the law.Two new MKs – Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett and Yesh Atid’s Dov Lipman – will no longer be American citizens.

Continue Reading »
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| January 27, 2013
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Pro-Palestinian group protests against Israeli Soccer at UEFA offices

Anti-Israel Protesters chanted slogans & carried banners & placards in protest against Israel’s hosting of the European Under-21 Championship Games.

 

A group of pro-Palestinian activists occupied UEFA’s headquarters and met with its president Michel Platini on Friday to protest Israel’s hosting of the European Under-21 Championship.

Pro-Palestinian protesters at the UEFA headquarters, January 25, 2013.

Pro-Palestinian protesters at the UEFA headquarters, January 25, 2013. – Photo by AP

Protesters chanted slogans and carried banners and placards critical of Platini before some were invited into his office following a meeting of his executive committee.

Olivia Zemor, a spokeswoman for the group, said they told Platini that UEFA was “encouraging war crimes” by choosing Israel to host the eight-nation event in June. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| January 26, 2013
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Ariel Sharon, the former PM, shows positive signs in latest MRI

Ex-aide to comatose Ariel Sharon says “there was some kind of positive indication” in brain scans performed on Israel’s former PM.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

Brain scans performed on former prime minister Ariel Sharon this week suggested there was a chance for some improvement in his condition, an aide to the former prime minister told AFP on Friday. Sharon has been comatose since he suffered a stroke seven years ago.

Ariel SharonRaanan Gissin said that Sharon underwent MRI scans at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba on Thursday. “The test was routine, but the results not entirely so,” Gissin told AFP. “There was some kind of positive indication.”

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| January 25, 2013
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PM offers Lapid Foreign Ministry or Treasury portfolios

According to sources, PM Netanyahu offers Yesh Atid chairman foreign or finance cabinet posts. Analysts believe Lapid is in fact keener on Ministry of Construction & Housing or the Ministry of the Interior portfolios

Ynet reporters

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has offered Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid a choice between the foreign affairs or finance portfolios, sources close to the two said.

The two met at the prime minister’s residence on Thursday away from the public eye in a meeting that kicked off the coalition negotiations.

In a post on his Facebook page, Lapid said in response: “What’s happening now is neither a coalition negotiation nor the beginning of one. Continue Reading »

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