Archive for Israel News

| July 31, 2012
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Video: White House Rejects Romney Naming Israel’s Capital

The White House criticized Romney for seeking  a position on Jerusalem that is contrary to previous administrations.

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

 

The White House criticized Mitt Romney on Monday for adopting a policy on Jerusalem that is different from previous administrations’.

White House press conference
Photo: YouTube screenshot

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee declared in Jerusalem that the city is the capital of Israel, while the Obama administration and predecessors have refused to do because it includes areas of the city unrecognized by the United States.

Josh Earnest, White House spokesman, responded at a press conference to a reporter’s question on Romney’s remarks and criticized the Republican candidate for disagreeing with previously stated policies. Continue Reading »

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| July 30, 2012
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Let My People Know: Barack Obama Is Not Good for Israel

At a recent press conference when insistent journalists asked James Carney, Obama’s press secretary, what the White House considered Israel’s capital, Carney, adamantly evasive, refused six times to say Jerusalem.

By Aliza Davidovit

 

There is the old joke that if you have two Jews in a room you will have three opinions. But thanks to President Barack Obama, he has been able to accomplish what even Moses couldn’t do, create a consensus among Jews, well at least Israeli Jews. They have by a strong majority united on one thing: They don’t like President Obama. A recent poll commissioned by the Begin Sadat Center at Bar Ilan University and the Anti-Defamation League revealed that only 32% of Israelis have a positive view of Obama as compared to 2009, when his likeability among them was at 54%. Continue Reading »

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| July 30, 2012
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Court Order Lifted: Golan Druze Spied for Syria

Druze resident from the Golan Heights has been charged with aiding Syria by turning over intel on IDF patrols & activities.

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

 

 

A Golan Heights Druze resident has been charged with aiding Syria by turning over information on IDF patrols and giving Syria equipment for wiretapping. A gag order on the arrest was lifted Monday.

Golan Druze resident Juri indicted for spying

Golan Druze resident Juri indicted for spying
Israel news photo: Israel Security Agency

Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and Golan Heights police arrested Iyad Jamad Assad Juhri of the Druze city of Majdal Shams, located adjacent to the Syrian border. He has admitted to gathering information  for Syrian intelligence and to transferring to Syria equipment that might be used for wiretapping. Continue Reading »

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| July 30, 2012
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Latvian boy’s right hand now fixed by Israeli surgeons

Kyril, a 12 year old boy from Latvia whose congenital defect made it impossible for him to use his right hand, will soon to return home.

 

Kyril, a 12-year-old boy from Latvia whose congenital defect made it impossible for him to eat, scratch or do anything else with his right hand, is now able to function normally and return home, thanks to surgeons at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa.

KYRIL lived until now with only one working hand
Photo: Courtesy Rambam Medical Center

Kyril suffered from brachial plexus palsy, a defect that occurs in one in 3,000 to 5,000 births.

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| July 30, 2012
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Romney calling Jerusalem ‘Israel’s capital’ is ‘unacceptable,’ says Palestinian’s Erekat

In a speech that followed a day of meetings with Israeli leaders, Romney said it was a ‘moving experience to be in Jerusalem, Israel’s capital.’

 

Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said on Monday that presumptive Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s assertion that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital is “absolutely unacceptable.”

In a speech in Jerusalem on Sunday evening that followed a day of meetings with Israel’s leaders, Romney said it was a “moving experience to be in Jerusalem,” and described the city as “Israel’s capital.” He suggested that he would move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem if he were elected president. Continue Reading »

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| July 29, 2012
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The Italian Olympic Team Commemorates the Munich Massacre

About 30 Italians, including the Minister of Sport, stand in silence at the entrance to the Israeli team’s quarters.

By Gil Ronen

 

The Italian Olympic team at the London Olympic Games made a noble gesture Sunday and stood in silence outside the quarters of the Israeli team, in memory of the 11 athletes slain in the Munich Olympics 40 years ago, Voice of Israel radio reported Sunday.

About 30 Italians were present at the ceremony, including Italy’s Minister of Sport, the heads of the Italian Olympic Committee and athletes. Israeli Olympic Committee head Tzvi Varshaviak and Olympic delegation leader Efraim Zinger also took part. Continue Reading »

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| July 29, 2012
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US defense legislation to equip Israel with tanker-refueling jets

Signed legislation aims to enhance US-Israeli security.  Cooperation was more than an attempt by Obama to upstage Romney, it allows Israel to acquire equipment that could facilitate Iran strike.

By Yitzhak Benhorin

 

 

WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama‘s well-publicized signing of a bill aiming to enhance security cooperation between the US and Israel appears to have been timed to upstage Republican challenger Mitt Romney‘s trip to Israel, but officials say the measure was more than just a strategic photo op. The legislation could mark a significant step towards acquiring military equipment Israel has long sought to have. Continue Reading »

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| July 29, 2012
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Netanyahu & Romney discus danger of a nuclear Iran during Jerusalem meeting

The PM mentions long friendship with Romney, agrees wholeheartedly with his stance on Iran.

Presumptive Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney was warmly received Sunday morning by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who emphasized the need for a credible military threat against Iran.

Netanyahu meets Mitt Romney in Jerusalem - Reuters - July 29, 2012

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets U.S. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in Jerusalem July 29, 2012. – Photo by Reuters

“You said the greatest danger facing the world is of the ayatollah regime possessing a nuclear capability,” Netanyahu told Romney. “Mitt, I couldn’t agree with you more.”

“All the sanctions and diplomacy so far have not set back the Iranian program by one iota. Continue Reading »

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| July 29, 2012
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Netanyahu flatly denies AP story on Israel’s spying on the CIA

“Counterintelligence is the art of protecting national secrets from spies. This means the CIA believes that US national secrets are safer from other Middle Eastern governments than from Israel,”

 

Earlier on Saturday, the Associated Press had run an in-depth report quoting anonymous US intelligence officials incriminating members of Israeli security services. The article, which was headlined by AP, “US sees Israel, tight Mideast ally, as spy threat,” described certain instances where Central Intelligence Agency officers stationed in Israel found that their secured locked boxes had been “tampered” with. In a different case, a CIA officer’s fridge had been “rearranged.”

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| July 29, 2012
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US sees Israel as ‘a frustrating ally & a genuine counterintelligence threat’

CIA links Israeli intelligence to home break-ins in Tel Aviv; said to consider Israel a top spy threat in Near East Division. – Israel denies report

By Yitzhak Benhorin, AP

 

WASHINGTON – The homes of several CIA agents residing in Israel have been broken into recently and according to the United States government, it is likely that Israeli intelligence is linked to the cases.

CIA headquarters in Virginia – Photo: Reuters

In the most recent case, the CIA station chief stationed in Tel Aviv discovered that sensitive equipment he used to communicate with CIA headquarters in Virginia was tampered with it. Continue Reading »

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| July 29, 2012
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The US Increasing Iron Dome Defenses by 2013

IDF sources report that 2 more Iron Dome anti-missile defense systems are to be delivered to Israel early next year.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

Two more Iron Dome anti-missile defense systems are to be delivered to Israel by early next year.

In addition, U.S. President Barack Obama signed a bill over the weekend that expanded America’s defense cooperation with Israel. The bill included a $70 million allocation for the Iron Dome that was approved by the Congress two months ago.

The Iron Dome system is equipped with a battery of three launchers and uses Tamir interceptor missiles to intercept and destroy rockets at ranges of 4 to 70 kilometers. Continue Reading »

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| July 28, 2012
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Syria’s Assad loosing support from the Golan Heights Druze

Druze families in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights are divided between supporters of the revolt and backers of the regime.

By The Associated Press

 

The raging civil war just across the cease-fire line in Syria is posing an uncomfortable political choice for the Druze people in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.

Do they maintain their traditional loyalty to the government of Bashar Assad, whose family has vowed to take back the territory? Or should they support the burgeoning Arab revolt against Assad’s harsh rule?

In the shifting sands of the Middle East, the Druze again find themselves a people caught in the middle. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| July 27, 2012
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Lebanon’s judo squad refuses to train next to the Israelis

Lebanon’s Olympic judo team has refused to train next to the Israeli competitors at sessions ahead of London 2012.

By Danny Caro and Marcus Dysch

 

Olympic officials were forced to erect a special screen at the Excel venue following a complaint from a member of the Lebanese delegation.

Alice Schlesinger, who is on the Israeli judo team

Alice Schlesinger, who is on the Israeli judo team

It is understood the two squads had been warming up next to each other when the complaint was made on Friday afternoon.

An Israeli official at the venue confirmed a partition had been used to block the view and said the session had then continued with minimum disruption. Continue Reading »

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| July 27, 2012
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Obama signs bill giving Israel $70M in military aid

President Obama releases additional aid while signing bill that underscores Washington’s ‘unshakable commitment to Israel.’ Romney camp: Bill does nothing to address Obama Administration’s evasiveness recognizing Jerusalem as capital of Israel

By Yitzhak Benhorin, AP

 

 

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama said Friday he is releasing an additional $70 million in military aid for Israel, a previously announced move that appeared timed to upstage Republican rival Mitt Romney‘s trip to Israel this weekend.

The stepped-up US aid, first announced in May, will go to help Israel expand production of a short-range rocket defense system. The system, known as Iron Dome, has proved successful at stopping rocket attacks fired at Israeli civilians from close range, including from Gaza. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| July 27, 2012
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20,000 Londoners hold moment of silence for Munich 11

Throughout venues across London, the British Zionist Federation’s ‘Minute for Munich’ is marked by people in memory of the 11 Israeli athletes killed in the 1972 Munich Olympics.

By JTA

 

More than 20,000 people in various venues in London attended the British Zionist Federation’s “Minute for Munich” program that was promoted via social media.

A short memorial service at the Israeli Embassy that was organized by the Zionist Federation was streamed live online today, according to the London Jewish Chronicle.

The river Thames in London, the Olympics host, July 27, 2012.

The river Thames in London, the Olympics host, July 27, 2012. Photo by AFP

About 200 people marked the Minute for Munich in Trafalgar Square, reciting memorial prayers and lighting memorial candles. Continue Reading »

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