Archive for Israel News

| May 8, 2012
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Left slams ‘dirty unity deal’

MK Horowitz blasts ‘mother of all dirty deals,’ Labor says unity government an ‘alliance of cowards’

 

Opposition parties slammed Tuesday’s unity agreement between Likud and Kadima, characterizing it as a “dirty deal” that will gravely undermine the public’s trust in Israel’s political system.

“This is an alliance of cowards and the most ridiculous zigzag in Israel’s political history,” Labor Party Chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich said, referring to Kadima leader Shaul Mofaz’s recent attacks on Netanyahu. Two months ago, Mofaz vowed not to enter the Likud-led government, and in recent days accused Labor of planning to join the coalition.

“Nobody will be forgetting this shady deal, and regrettably it will gravely harm the public’s trust in politics,” the Labor leader said. Continue Reading »

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| May 8, 2012
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Kadima Gets 16 Months Political Life Support; Bibi A Puzzle

It is easy to understand Kadima’s move, but it is harder to fathom Netanyahu’s.

A funny thing happened on the way to the September 4 Knesset elections. Instead of elections we got a ” Unity” government between the Likud and Kadima. The term “unity government” is a misnomer. Unity governments are formed between the leading party of the right and the leading party of the left.

Binyamin Netanyahu

Binyamin Netanyahu - Photo by Reuters

The Kadima party was an amphibious party in the 2006 elections, drawing support from both the right and the left. In the 2009 elections it had become a party of the left and essentially cannibalized Labor and Meretz to win its 28 seats in the Knesset. Continue Reading »

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| May 7, 2012
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‘Children die while you focus on haredim’

Knesset members give go-ahead to quickened ratification of bill aiming to move up election; MK Gafni accuses legislators of being unfairly preoccupied with haredim

 

Photos By: Ohas Zwigenberg, Ofer Amram, Haim Tzach, Ido Erez

 

The Knesset’s House Committee on Monday gave the green light to accelerate the ratification of a bill calling for the dissolution of the parliament.

The session quickly turned stormy as Knesset members debated the issue, as well as another piece of legislation that has found itself in the center of the political tumult – the Tal Law, which effectively grants army service exemptions to haredim.

MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) was called to order three times before being forced to leave the meeting. Continue Reading »

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| May 7, 2012
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The Israeli-French honeymoon is likely over

Following the decisive victory of socialist party candidate Francois Hollande, France will experience a series of characteristic, economic, and foreign policy changes, but Netanyahu has no reason to rejoice.

Regime change in a democracy is always a delightful moment. The cruelty and swiftness with which voters cast their ballots is a reminder of the fact that despite the corruption, filth, and unscrupulousness that exist in a functioning democracy, democracy is nonetheless an exceptional method of keeping resources that belong to the masses out of the hands of the few.

Newly elected president Francois Hollande May 6, 2012 in Tulle, France.

Newly elected president Francois Hollande waves after a speech following the results of the second round of the presidential election on May 6, 2012 in Tulle, France - Photo by AFP

In France, where the role of President still holds a smidgen of kingliness, removal from office is that much more cruel and impressive.

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| May 7, 2012
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Likud’s right flank sends a warning shot across Netanyahu’s bow

Pro-settlement elements torpedo the PM’s bid to take charge of the party’s convention, revealing new party paradigm

Conventional wisdom has it that Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud will sail to a second term as ruling party in new elections. But the chaotic party convention Sunday night in Tel Aviv — at which Netanyahu’s intended confirmation as the convention’s president was sabotaged — showed that choppy waters may be ahead.

On Sunday night, the Likud’s right wing flexed its muscle, showing the prime minister that he needs to remain steadfast in his support for the settlements if he wants their unwavering backing.

Netanyahu is still overwhelmingly likely to be re-elected as prime minister, whether he wins the Likud’s party convention presidency or not. Continue Reading »

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| May 7, 2012
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‘Victory will be greater if hunger strikers die’

Khader Adnan, who refused food for two months until Israel agreed to release him, says Palestinian prisoners’ strike will be hailed as victory regardless of its outcome

 

Israeli security officials fear that the death of any Palestinian prisoner as a result of the ongoing hunger strike, which has entered its 21st day, may lead to an eruption of violence in the territories, the Yedioth Ahronoth daily reported Monday.

Khader Adnan (Photo: Sebastian Scheiner)

Khader Adnan - Photo by Sebastian Scheiner

Some 1,600 Palestinian prisoners are protesting against the conditions of their incarceration, which were significantly worsened while Gilad Shalit was held captive by Hamas in Gaza. Continue Reading »

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| May 7, 2012
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‘Undercover Israeli combatants threw stones at IDF soldiers in West Bank’

Testimony by commander of the Israeli Prison Service’s elite ‘Masada’ unit sheds light on IDF methods in countering demonstrations against barrier.

Undercover soldiers hurled stones in the “general direction” of IDF soldiers as part of their activity to counter weekly demonstrations in the Palestinian village of Bil’in, the commander of the Israeli Prison Service’s elite “Masada” unit revealed during his recent testimony in the trial of MK Mohammed Barakeh (Hadash).

MK Mohammed Barakeh confronting IDF soldiers in Bil’in in 2005.

MK Mohammed Barakeh confronting IDF soldiers in Bil’in in 2005. - Photo by Reuters

Barakeh has been charged with assaulting a border guard in Bil’in who was attempting to arrest a demonstrator.

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| May 7, 2012
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Soldier Enlists in IDF Twice

Sgt. Efraim Disen, a combat soldier in the Nahal Brigade, completed his service and returned to U.S., then decided to do it again.

Sergeant Efraim Disen, an American Jew who became a combat soldier in the Nahal Brigade, has done what may seem impossible: he enlisted in the IDF twice.

Efraim Disen (left)

Efraim Disen (left) - IDF Website

The IDF Website reported that “For a long time, Efraim debated with himself about immigrating to Israel. When he finished high school in Chicago, he began to pursue studies in math and science and even completed a year and a half of university.

Disen told Rosa Lisninsky of the IDF Spokesman’s Unit, simply: “I decided that I wanted to enlist, so I enlisted.” Continue Reading »

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| May 6, 2012
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‘Couple behind Israel Loves Iran campaign deserves Nobel’

Iranian Facebook activist initiates petition pushing for Nobel Peace Prize nomination for Israelis Ronny Edry and Michal Tamir

 

A new Facebook initiative is pushing for a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for the Israeli couple behind the Israel Loves Iran campaign. An online petition called on web surfers to support Ronny Edry and Michal Tamir as Nobel nominees.

“If Ronny Edry and Michal Tamir would be honored with the Nobel Peace Prize this would be a significant affirmation for all those who seek peace. It would be an historic example,” the petition read.
הכרזה הצבעונית שהציתה את קמפיין האהבה עם איראן. רוני אדרי ובתו
Ronny Edry and his daughter in poster for campaign

 

“Internet gives new chances for democracy and also for the international peace movement and this prize could encourage people to join us and become activists as well,” Roya Mobasheri, the woman behind the petition, wrote. Continue Reading »

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| May 6, 2012
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Israel’s Haredi parties praying to stay in power

The Haredi parties may well find themselves in the opposition after the upcoming election. They hope to use ‘enemies’ like Yair Lapid and Avigdor Lieberman to unify the camp.

 

The ultra-Orthodox parties began their election campaign last week with an attempt to close ranks in the Lithuanian (non-Hasidic ) camp. Members of Knesset Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev of Degel Hatorah (the partner of the Hasidic party Agudat Yisrael in the United Torah Judaism faction ) visited the town of Elad in order to meet with a group of what can be called the “new ultra-Orthodox.” They have no clout in any node of power, certainly not in the party that sets the tone in the Haredi public.

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| May 6, 2012
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Netanyahu: Israel Needs a Leader with Experience

Prime Minister kicks off election campaign in Likud convention, lists his government’s achievements.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu kicked off the election campaign Sunday in a speech at the Likud convention in Tel Aviv, in which he took credit for making people feel safer in Israel.

“We have systematically struck those who planned to strike us,” Netanyahu said. “We took the initiative and we responded resolutely to every attack on us. We proved that we take care of security with force and with good judgment.”

“We did not forget,” he added, to a burst of applause. “We brought home our abducted soldier Gilad Shalit.” Continue Reading »

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| May 6, 2012
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Yisrael Beiteinu calls to delay Knesset dissolution to allow time to pass new IDF enlistment bill

Lieberman estimates that some 90 MKs will support Yisrael Beiteinu’s purposed law, but coalition chairman Elkin insists on dissolving the Knesset on Monday.

Yisrael Beiteinu has called Sunday for the delay on a vote to dissolve Israel’s Knesset, to allow time to pass the party’s new bill which promotes mandatory enlistment in the Israel Defense Forces for all Israeli citizens.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman - Photo by Olivier Fitoussi

Yisrael Beiteinu MK Robert Ilatov called on coalition chairman MK Zeev Elkin (Likud) to reschedule the vote on dissolving the Knesset from Monday to next week, in order to complete his party’s legislation that would be an alternative to the Tal Law.

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| May 6, 2012
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Israel to host Int’l Interpol Convention

Law enforcement missions from over 40 nations to arrive in Israel next week for three-day conference on crime fighting

Some 200 senior delegates from law enforcement agencies across 40 European nations will arrive in Israel next week, to attend the International Interpol Convention

Interpol logo

Interpol logo

This will be the first time Israel hosts the prestigious event

The Israel Police was selected to host the event, which aims to promote cooperation between law enforcement agencies and authorities worldwide.

The three-day conference will be held in Tel Aviv and headed by InterpolPresident Khoo Bon Hui and its Secretary-General Ronald Noble.

Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch and Police Commissioner Yohanan Daninowill attend the gala opening, as will the heads of all other law enforcement agencies in Israel. Continue Reading »

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| May 6, 2012
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Police Ban Jews from Temple Mount March on Tisha B’Av

The Women in Green have asked the High Court to cancel a police ban on Jews praying in a Tisha B’Av march near the Temple Mount.

 

The nationalist Women in Green organization has asked the High Court to cancel a police ban on Jews praying in a Tisha B’Av prayer march near the Temple Mount.

Prayer March around Temple Mount gates

Prayer March around Temple Mount gates - Israel news photo: Yisrael Maimon

Women in Green leaders Yehudit Katsover and Nadia Matar filed a petition to allow the march, which usually attracts thousands of worshippers and has been allowed for 18 years.

The police prohibited the march this year because of concerns of outbreaks of violence as a result of the date falling this year during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when tens of thousands Muslims swarm on to the Temple Mount. Continue Reading »

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| May 6, 2012
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Rhino arrives in Israel with a mission

One-and-a-half ton female from South Africa will live at the Ramat Gan Safari

 

A young South African female rhinoceros weighing one-and-a-half tons arrived in Israel Friday morning. She is being taken to the Ramat Gan Safari, where she will live in isolation for two weeks before being integrated into the existing rhino community.

With the help of a young male rhino who was recently born at the safari — which is also called The Zoological Center Tel Aviv — the South African female is expected to help enlarge the local rhino population.

 

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