Archive for Israel News

| December 27, 2012
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Israel Electric Company plans to fire 2,000 employees

IEC chairman also reports the benefit of free electricity for employees will be cut as a part of a future reform.

 

The Israel Electric Corporation’s chairman promised on Wednesday to slash the benefit of free electricity for its employees, as well as lay off 2,000 of its permanent workers in a future comprehensive reform of the company.

electricity line old – Photo: Marc Israel Sellem

Stressing the importance of entirely overhauling the IEC – which has a debt of over NIS 70 billion – as soon as possible, chairman Yiftah Ron-Tal discussed the provisions of a prospective reform at a Knesset Economic Affairs committee meeting, headed by MK Carmel Shama-Hacohen.

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| December 26, 2012
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Rare Find of Temple Era Artifacts on Highway 1 near Jerusalem

Road excavation have unearthed a rare cache of artifacts, testimony of a pagan ritual cult before the Jewish Kingdom abolished them.

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

 

The discovery, like may others, was made during road excavation, this time at a new section of the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem Highway, known as Highway 1. The archaeological site is known as Tel Motza, at the Motza turnoff less than five miles west of Jerusalem.

History discovered near Jerusalem

History discovered near Jerusalem – Israel news photo: IAA

A ritual building and a cache of sacred vessels date back approximately  2,750 years.

“The ritual building at Tel Motza is an unusual and striking find, in light of the fact that there are hardly any remains of ritual buildings of the period in Judae at the time of the First Temple,” according to Anna Eirikh, Dr. Continue Reading »

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| December 26, 2012
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Athens put Israel 1st in line to buy up Greece’s infrastructure

The further Erdoğan pushes Israel away, the closer Athens is to Jerusalem.

 

By: Yossi Aloni

Israeli companies, with the encouragement and assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are taking advantage of the economic crisis in Greece to find some bargains while helping to advance the privatization efforts of the Greek government.

Port of Piraeus, Athens, Greece - Photo courtesy Piraeus Port Authority

Port of Piraeus, Athens, Greece – Photo courtesy Piraeus Port Authority

As a means of coping with the ongoing crisis, the Greek government has decided to privatize dozens of government companies, including the national lottery, the old Athens airport, the national oil company, refineries, the ports of Piraeus and Thessaloníki, local water companies, large industrial plants and more. Continue Reading »

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| December 26, 2012
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Widow of Canadian (UN) soldier killed by IDF says Harper’s gov’t protecting Israel

Hezbollah was using UN post as a ‘shield’

“This has not been deliberate targeting, but rather due to tactical necessity.”

December 26, 2012

By JTA

The widow of a Canadian soldier killed by Israeli forces says the country’s Defense Department removed a report of his killing from its website in an effort to shield Israel.

Aftermath of IDF airstrike on UN patrol base Khiam, Lebanon, 2006 – Photo courtesy: Wikipedia commons

Maj. Paeta Hess-von Kruedener and three other United Nations observers were killed in 2006 when Israel’s military shelled their outpost in southern Lebanon during the 2006 Second Lebanon War.

Hess-von Kruedener’s widow, Cynthia, says that the report was removed because of reluctance on the part of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government to criticize Israel, the Ottawa Citizen reported. Continue Reading »

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| December 26, 2012
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Tzipi Livni reportedly has her sights on Foreign Ministry

Former Foreign Minister Liberman was questioned yesterday for 40 minutes by police.

Report says representatives for Livni and the PM are in talks over Foreign Ministry position.

 

Former foreign minister Tzipi Livni has her sights set on returning to her former post, and has already sent messengers twice to speak to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s confidants about joining forces in the coalition he is expected to form following the upcoming election, Israel Radio diplomatic analyst Chico Menashe reported on Tuesday.

Binyamin Netanyahu and Tzipi Livni - Photo: Reuters

Binyamin Netanyahu and Tzipi Livni – Photo: Reuters

The report came amid increasing indications that Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman would not be able to be a minister for the foreseeable future due to the ongoing legal investigation against him. Continue Reading »

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| December 26, 2012
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The Kangaroo Court’s ‘Inhuman’ Rights Council.

Op-ed: The UN Human Rights Council’s long honored noble principles are not being applied  when it comes to Israel

By Dan Calic

 

Have you ever given much thought to the United Nations and whether it’s fulfilling the principles of its charter with equality? Has it occurred to you that this organization, which in theory is supposed to be an unbiased adjudicator of justice, is at times anything but, especially when it comes to Israel?

UN Human Rights Council – Photo: AFP

A closer look at the UN, its charter and how the organization actually functions provides some interesting revelations. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| December 25, 2012
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Busted! Arab Terror Cell That Planned Kidnappings Nabbed

The Shabak, Israel Police & IDF revealed that they had eliminated an Arab terror cell that planned to kidnap Jews.

By David Lev

 

The Shabak, IDF and Israel Police on Tuesday revealed that they had discovered and eliminated an Arab terror cell that operated in the Binyamin area, whose main activity was attempting to kidnap Israelis.

Israeli hitchhiker waits for a ride in Samaria

Israeli hitchhiker waits for a ride in Samaria- Hillel Meir

The cell, led by two terrorists and based in Ramallah, is part of the Popular Front terror group. They were recently arrested and admitted under interrogation that they had planned to kidnap an Israeli, who would be held captive while the terrorists negotiated for the release of Ahmed Sa’adat, the arch-terrorist who, among other things, was responsible for the murder of former Tourism Minister Rachamim Ze’evi.

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| December 25, 2012
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Christmas Culinary Delights in the Holy Land

Christmas time celebrations consist of more than just trees & decorations. Delicious holiday treats are also an important part the unique festivities in Israel.

By BEATA ANDONIA, TRAVELUJAH

 

Christmas is a time of celebration and reunion. Therefore, it is a common practice among Holy Land Christian communities to visit members of their families and neighbors during this festive period. The families visit in two groups – one family will visit while another is hosting guests at home.

It can be useful to know the specific traditions when visiting local Christian families. When entering a home, it is appropriate for the guest to admire all the beautiful Christmas decorations, lights, Christmas tableware, and, of course, the very decorative Christmas trees with mghrara – a cave representing the Nativity scene, made from colorful paper and containing olive wood figures of the Holy Family, Magi and shepherds. Continue Reading »

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| December 25, 2012
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EU court rejects NGO Monitor petition to release information on Israeli NGOs

The right-wing group, NGO Monitor, which tracks the activity of left-wing organizations & NGOS in Israel, has been trying to obtain their documents for 10 years.

The European Court of Human Rights throws out the suit, saying the information may be used to harm the NGOs.

 

After four years of legal battles, the European Court of Human Rights rejected the request of the right-wing organization NGO Monitor to receive documents regarding the funding of 16 projects of human rights organizations in Israel.

European Union

The European Union flag. – Photo by Archive

NGO Monitor is a right-wing group that keeps track of the activity of left-wing non-profit organizations, in order to point out “foreign intervention” in Israeli affairs. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| December 25, 2012
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Israeli UNICEF Chairwoman resigns amid facebook controversy

Judy Shalom Nir Mozes resigns after facebook campaign launched against her over comments she made on facebook during Israel’s Operation Pillar of Defense.

The initiator of the recently launched campaign against Judy Shalom Nir Mozes as Chairwoman of the Israeli branch of UNICEF, Ari Remez told the Jerusalem Post on Monday that “she was using the international position for her owns personal means.”

unicef

Shalom Nir Mozes decided to step down of her position at the UN’s organization for children’s rights last week.

She had been nominated to represent UNICEF in Israel two months ago and joined a sparkling list of celebrities who have been ambassadors of the organization in the past years including David Beckham, Sarah Jessica Parker, Shakira, Queen Rania of Jordan and even Kate and William of the British royal family.

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| December 25, 2012
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Approval granted, Gilo gets 1,200 new housing units

Despite int’l criticism, new building plans in Gilo, Jerusalem’s southern neighborhood, just beyond ‘Green Line’ approved.

Interior and Housing ministries ready to offer construction tenders.

By Noam (Dabul) Dvir

 

The Interior Ministry announced Monday that the Jerusalem District Zoning Committee has decided to promote the construction of 1,200 housing units in the capital’s Gilo neighborhood.

Gilo is located in south Jerusalem, beyond the Green Line.

The decision followed a hearing on several objections filed against the plan – some by Gilo residents.

The Interior and Housing ministries said that once the final approval is given, construction tenders for the area will be issued. Continue Reading »

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| December 25, 2012
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Netanyahu Vows to Return Illegal African Infiltrators Back Home

Now that infiltration of illegal African immigrants is down to almost zero, Netanyahu vows to apprehend & return home those who’ve already entered illegally.

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

 

Infiltration of illegal African immigrants is down to almost zero, and Netanyahu vows to send back home those who already have entered Israel.

The long-absent fence along the Egyptian Israeli border from Eilat to Gaza is to be completed by the end of next month, and Arutz Sheva has learned from military sources that Africans finally have understood that they have little chance of illegally crossing the border and entering the country, let alone staying here. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| December 24, 2012
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New Israel Navy submarine ‘sinks enemy ships’

Ahead of arrival of latest German-made Dolphin-class submarine, Navy releases rare video of INF underwater vessel’s drill

Yoav Zitun

 

The Israel Navy (INF) released a rare video Monday, allowing a sneak peak at its most expensive weapon – the stealth submarine.

Secret weapon (Illustration) Photo: Shutterstock

The video shows an exercise in which the submarine’s crew fires torpedoes at “enemy warships.”

The exercise was held as part of the INF’s preparations to receive its fourth German-made submarine, which is currently making its way to Israel. A fifth submarine has been contracted.

The Navy plans to add more sailors to its elite submarine unit and the current submarine crewmen course graduation will mark a new record in their numbers. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags:
| December 24, 2012
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Bethlehem’s war on Jesus

But in Israeli controlled Nazareth, no such  intimidation exists. Quite the contrary, the Christian population is flourishing without threats or violence.

By Brian Schrauger

 

It is Christmas Eve in Bethlehem in 2012. Tonight on Manger Road, in Manger Square and on all its thoroughfares, Bethlehem is lit with many-colored lights. Like rivulets they stream down the city’s face, falling in-between vibrant shapes of snowmen and Santas, stars and trees. Why does Bethlehem weep luminescent tears disguised as twinkling strings of light?

Until one week ago there was not a single place in its public square that even gave a hint of the reason for this pagan day’s redemptive transformation into a holy day. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| December 24, 2012
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Haifa mayor declares war on English…of all things!

 

As mayor, Yona Yahav abolished use of English words in official municipal documents & seeks to obligate businesses to use Hebrew signs instead of, or next to the English ones.

By Daniel Siryoti

 

 

With increasing frequency, Israelis are making use of English words in their day-to-day lives. The English language envelops Israeli consumer culture, from the word for music, “muzika,” to simply saying iPhone with an Israeli accent and including so many other instances.

Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav wants English words off the street. – Photo: Herzi Shapira

English is the language of the “app generation” and prevades Israeli children’s education.

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