Archive for Israel News

| April 24, 2012
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Memorial Day: Israel’s Flag at Half Mast

PM Binyamin Netanyahu attended a flag-lowering ceremony in Jerusalem, saying ‘it cuts your life in two’ when a family member dies in war

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, and Israel’s Chief Rabbis on Tuesday attended a flag-lowering ceremony in Jerusalem as Memorial Day is set to begin.

Binyamin Netanyahu, Memorial Day

Binyamin Netanyahu, Memorial Day - Photo by Reuters

“For bereaved families, time stops when you get the terrible news… it cuts your life in two: what was before, and what will never be again,” Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told more than 200 soldiers and bereaved families gathered for the Yad Lebanim Memorial for the Fallen in Israel’s Wars. Continue Reading »

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| April 24, 2012
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True heroes of Israel

Op-ed: Israel must rectify mistakes in way it treats widows of IDF soldiers who have fallen in battle – by MK Danny Danon

There is one day in the year when all Israelis feel the excruciating pain endured by our heroic bereaved families. On Remembrance Day the anguish, the sorrow, the sense of loss envelopes all of us, yet also pride that these families feel on a daily basis, evident on the faces of all Israelis.

We Israelis know how to argue and debate with one another in a fashion that sometimes seems overly wrought with emotions to outsiders, but when it comes to the honor and respect we feel for these brave families, our unity knows no bounds. Continue Reading »

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| April 24, 2012
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El and Al? Israeli airline mulls splitting into two companies

One of the two companies would specialize in premium long-haul flights to destinations such as the U.S. and the Far East, while the second would compete against low-cost airlines on European routes.

El Al Israel Airlines is considering splitting into two companies as part of a new strategic plan – a low-cost carrier and a premium carrier.

Indeed, the airline needs efficiency measures and might face new competition due to the open-skies agreement that Israel signed with the European Union.

One of the two companies would specialize in premium long-haul flights to destinations such as the United States and the Far East, while the second would compete against low-cost airlines on European routes.

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| April 24, 2012
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Israel housing prices rising 3rd-fastest in world

Prices fall 1.2% in 2011 but social justice protest fail to make significant dent in prices; global housing prices continue to fall around the world.

 

Despite the recent social justice protests, Israel has held on to its spot as the third-hottest housing market in the world, according to a survey by CNBC, based on data from real estate agents Knight Frank. The survey found that housing prices in Israel jumped more than 21percent in 2009 and16% in 2010.

Israel ranked third with a five-year growth of 54.5%, bumping Singapore into fourth place with five-year growth of 50.5%, but well behind China in top spot with five-year growth of 110.9% and Hong Kong in second place with growth of 93.7%.

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| April 24, 2012
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Netanyahu was briefed on efforts to stop ’60 Minutes’ report on Israel’s Christians

PM was fully updated by Israeli ambassador to U.S. Michael Oren on his attempts to halt an investigative report on Israel’s treatment of its Christian community which he thought would harm Israel’s interests.

 

The attempts by Israeli ambassador Michael Oren to halt the broadcast of a “60 Minutes” investigative report on the Christian community in Israel and the West Bank were carried out after a series of consultations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his political adviser Ron Dermer.

Benjamin Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu - Photo by: Reuters

It is unclear whether Netanyahu or Dermer were the ones who instructed or suggested that Oren directly address the president of CBS in an attempt to prevent the broadcast, but the two were fully informed on the affair almost since its start.

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| April 23, 2012
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Druze professor appointed ambassador to New Zealand

FM Lieberman chooses Hebrew Literature Professor Naim Araidi to represent Israel in New Zealand

 

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has appointed Druze Professor for Hebrew Literature Naim Araidi as Israel’s ambassador to New Zealand, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Sunday. This is the first time a member of the Druze community is appointed an ambassador in a political appointment.

Naim Araidi Photo: Courtesy of the Araidi family

Naim Araidi Photo: Courtesy of the Araidi family

Born in Kfar Maghar, Araidi, 62, wrote his doctorate on the poetry of Uri Zvi Grinberg. He gives regular classes at the Haifa and Bar-Ilan universities, serves as the dean at the Arab Academic College for Education and is a member of the Sapir Prize board. Continue Reading »

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| April 22, 2012
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Ethiopian demonstrators claim double standard on right to protest outside Netanyahu’s home

The authorities say Ethiopian Israelis’ protest camp near the Prime Minister’s Residence is disturbing the neighbors. Funny, they never said that about other demonstrations.

 

For nearly two years now the sidewalk outside attorney David Hagoel’s home in Jerusalem has been blocked. As someone who lives on the corner of Ramban Street opposite the Prime Minister’s Residence, Hagoel is used to protesters pitching their tents nearby. It doesn’t bother him anymore.

Yayo Avraham.

Yayo Avraham. 'People will come to Jerusalem from every corner of the country - Photo by: Emil Salman

“The protest vigil doesn’t infringe on my right and my family’s right to privacy,” Hagoel wrote last week.

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| April 20, 2012
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‘Memory of 6 million must never be trivialized’

US Congress marks Holocaust Day; Israeli Ambassador to DC warns: “We cannot ignore similarities between conditions that fostered Holocaust, those we now witness daily’

WASHINGTON – The US Congress marked Holocaust Remembrance Day during its Thursday session.

Michael Oren Photo: AP

Michael Oren - Photo by AP

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren addressed Congress and warned of the similarities between pre-WWII climate and the one prevalent today.

“Human history is rife with atrocities, massacres, and wars, but nothing can be equated with the enormity of the Holocaust,” he said. “It is profoundly, unbearably, unique.”

The legacy of the Holocaust, he added, “Endows us with a double duty. Continue Reading »

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| April 20, 2012
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Israeli Volunteers Provide Free Surgery to Thousands in Ethiopia

The Israeli volunteer organization Eye from Zion is providing free cataract surgery to thousands of people in Ethiopia.

The Israeli volunteer organization Eye from Zion is providing free cataract surgery to thousands of patients in Ethiopia, according to a press release issue by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.

When the delegation of volunteers first arrived in Ethiopia in February, they were expecting to treat dozens of patients. Instead, they were confronted with thousands of people in need of medical care, who were on the verge of being blinded by cataracts.

“They told us 70, and when we arrived there were 1,400 waiting for us,” said Nati Marcus, Founder of Eye from Zion. Continue Reading »

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| April 20, 2012
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Israeli Harvard students take to ‘Hasbara’

After Harvard hosts controversial “One-State Solution” conference, Israelis try to change students’ perceptions on home country.

 

Israeli students at Harvard University have long felt that many aspects of their country get overlooked in the campus dialogue. This week, they hope that will change.

Harvard University - Photo: Thinkstock

Harvard University - Photo: Thinkstock

Last month, Harvard students hosted the controversial ‘One-State Solution’ conference. But long before that meeting took place, a group of Israeli Harvard students has been hard at work planning a two-day inaugural Israel Conference at Harvard to shine a light on the reality of Israel.

On April 19 and 20, a group of non-partisan Israeli Harvard students will gather to feature a confab of top leaders in Israeli discourse and innovation to promote another face of Israel.The

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| April 19, 2012
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‘Tamar gas may be available before April 2013’

Noble Energy CEO tells PM Netnayahu that he would make every effort to meet and even beat April 2013 target date for Tamar gad field production

 

The Energy Ministry is claiming that Noble Energy has not supplied the ministry with essential data pertaining to the production of natural gas in Israel.

In a meeting held on Monday between Energy Minster Uzi Landau and Noble Energy CEO Charles Davidson who is currently visiting Israel, ministry officials laid out a list of claims regarding the company’s recent actions.

(Illustration: Shutterstock)

Tamar may be operational next year - Photo Illustration: Shutterstock

Davidson and Noble Energy Director of Eastern Mediterranean Operations, Lawson Freeman also met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his office. Continue Reading »

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| April 19, 2012
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Israeli airline Arkia stops flights to Stockholm over security inspections

Swedish capital’s international airport refuses to allow Israeli methods of security inspections dictated by the Shin Bet security service; easyJet set to launch a new line between Tel Aviv and Manchester in November.

Arkia has to stop flying to Stockholm because the Swedish capital’s international airport now refuses to allow Israeli methods of security inspections dictated by the Shin Bet security service, TheMarker learned yesterday. Thus, Stockholm’s airport joined those in Malmo, Sweden and in Copenhagen in refusing to allow Israeli security inspections, which involve ethnic and personal profiling, extensive questioning and selective inspections based on the perceived degree of risk to security.

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Category: Israel News |
| April 18, 2012
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Jerusalem hospital shows off vaccine that destroys cancer in 2 shots.

Early human test results suggest a vaccine can train cancer patients’ bodies to seek out and destroy tumour cells.

The therapy, which targets a molecule found in 90 per cent of cancers, eventually could provide an injection that would allow patients’ immune systems to fight off common cancers including breast and prostate cancer.

The first results of trials in people, at the Hadassah Medical Centre in Jerusalem, suggest the vaccine can reduce levels of disease. The human work is so preliminary it has yet to be published in a scientific journal.The scientists behind the vaccine hope to conduct more extensive trials to prove it can be effective

against a range of cancers. Continue Reading »

Category: Innovations & Discoveries, Israel News |
| April 18, 2012
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Israeli universities received NIS 1.5b. for R&D

2008-2009 figure rose over 5 percent from the previous year, according to Central Bureau of Statistics.

Psychology building in Bar-Ilan University

Psychology building in Bar-Ilan University - Photo by Avishai Teicher

Research expenditures at the universities granted by outside sources and intra-university grants – excluding funding from the universities’ budgets – totaled NIS 1.5 billion shekels during the last recorded 2008-2009 academic year, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics.

The CBS relied on data from the Science and Technology Minister’s National Council for Research and Development.

Announced on Tuesday, the figure rose over 5 percent from the previous year, in which research using “special financing” reached NIS 1.45 billion.

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| April 18, 2012
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Netanyahu among Time’s 100 most influential people

Prime minister described as ‘iconic’ leader who deserves credit for drawing world’s attention to Iranian threat

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world.

Netanyahu. 'The right leader for Israel' Photo: Haim Tzach

Netanyahu. 'The right leader for Israel' - Photo: Haim Tzach

Netanyahu was described as an “iconic, strong and determined leader who has excelled during a lifetime of service to the state of Israel.”

“Bibi’s accomplishments and service as a soldier, a diplomat, an economic reformer who took on the difficult and politically perilous task of challenging the status quo, and a two-time Prime Minister rank him among the world’s great leaders,” it was stated. Continue Reading »

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