Israel News

Land Day: Lebanon on high alert

Lebanese army boosts security in south in effort to prevent repetition of last year’s border clashes. Haniyeh: Processions herald looming liberation of al-Aqsa mosque from defilement of occupation’

Israel’s neighbors gearing up for Land Day– Lebanese newspaper Daily Star on Friday reported that the country has raised its alert level ahead of Land Day protests planned by Palestinians living in Lebanon. Earlier this week, the newspaper reported that some 30,000 people are scheduled to participate in processions across the country.

According to the report, the Lebanese army set up two central checkpoints – one on the main road near the village of Zahrani, and another one on an inner road leading to southern Lebanon. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News, Mid-East News | Tags: Palestinian

israelandstuffcom | March 30, 2012

Tel Aviv braces for 25,000-strong marathon

Organizers are expecting some 100,000 spectators to come out to cheer the runners on; concerts and performances planned along the route.

More than 25,000 people are expected to take part in the Tel Aviv Gillette Marathon 2012 today, with about 1,750 runners registered for the full 42.2 kilometer event.

Organizers are expecting some 100,000 spectators to cheer on the runners, who will start at 6:45 A.M. at Charles Clore Park, on the beach. The full marathon will head north on Hayarkon Street, then to Allenby Road, via Rothschild Boulevard, to the Kirya and the Azrieli complex via Kaplan Street before circling back to Hayarkon Street and on to North Tel Aviv and back to Charles Clore Park via Ibn Gabirol, Frishman, Dizengoff and Nordau streets.

Category: Israel News |

Israeli drug could save stroke victims

Synthetic peptide significantly enhances the only currently approved drug to get blood flow moving to the brain after a stroke.

Could a new Israeli treatment help save millions of people from death and severe disability after a stroke?

The six-person team of the recently funded company Thrombotech believes they have a fighting chance. Their new drug amplifies the effects of one of the only existing stroke medications on the market, while preventing dangerous side effects.

There is a critical window of time needed to get to the hospital if you are having a stroke. If it is an ischemic stroke, meaning an artery to the brain is blocked, doctors must get the blood flowing to the brain quickly.

Category: Innovations & Discoveries, Israel News |

MK Uri Ariel Calls on Gov’t to Rescue Arab Seller in Hevron

MK Uri Ariel has called on the government to rescue the former Arab owner who sold a property to Jews near the Cave of the Patriarchs.

Knesset Member Uri Ariel (National Union) has called on the defense establishment to find a way to rescue the Arab who was the former owner of a property next to the Cave of the Patriarchs (Machpelah) recently sold to Jews in Hevron.

Jewish residents moved into the building overnight late Wednesday night, quietly, in an effort to avoid creating a disturbance in the area — but IDF forces immediately surrounded the building — newly named “Beit HaMachpelah” — and declared it a closed military zone. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News, Mid-East News | Tags: Hebron, Palestinian Authority, UNHRC

Pro-Palestinian activists to hold second ‘fly-in’

Organizers say they expect 1,500- 2,000 people to arrive in Ben-Gurion Airport to protest Israeli policy vis-a-vis Palestinians.

Pro-Palestinian activists plan to hold their second fly-in to Ben-Gurion International Airport just after Passover at staggered times on April 15 and 16.

According to one of the organizers, Mazin Qumsiyeh of Bethlehem, anywhere from 1,500 to 2,500 participants, ages 9 to 90, from 15 countries are expected to land in Israel on that day.

If they are allowed to enter the country, they will participate in a week of educational and volunteer activities in the West Bank, Qumsiyeh said. Last summer in an event labeled “Welcome to Palestine” activists also tried to board planes and land in Ben-Gurion in solidarity with the Palestinians and to protest Israel’s policy of banning such foreign activists.

Category: Israel News, Mid-East News | Tags: protest

Settlers take up residence in Hebron house

Several dozen settlers move into property located near Cave of Patriarchs; say they have legal ownership. Palestinian owner detained by PA police

Several dozen settlers have taken up residence in a Hebron house overnight, claiming they purchased it from its Palestinian owner.

Sources in Hebron said that the owner of the house, which is located near the Cave of the Patriarchs, was detained for questioning by the Palestinian police.

As soon as news of the move reached the defense establishment, large IDF forces arrived as the scene to maintain the order. No unusual events were noted on the premises overnight. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Hebron, Palestinian Authority

Rhodes Scholars in Israel to examine Arab-Jewish coexistence

Group of scholars hailing from Kenya, US Australia and New Zealand to meet with Israeli and Palestinian policymakers, academics, and government officials.

A delegation of 10 prominent Rhodes Scholars are in Israel March 24-29, for a first-hand look at the Jewish state, including its political, historical, cultural, technological, strategic and religious dimensions.

The educational seminar, which includes participants from the United States, Australia, Kenya, and New Zealand, is sponsored by Project Interchange, an educational institute of AJC.

During the course of their Project Interchange seminar in Israel, the Rhodes Scholars will participate in-depth briefings related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israeli and Palestinian politics and society, high tech solutions to world problems, Israel as a “Start Up Nation”, and meetings with Israeli and Palestinian policymakers, academics, and government officials. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News |

What’s the capital of Israel? Don’t ask the U.S. State Department

In statement issued this week, State Department spokeswoman listed a U.S. diplomat’s travel destinations as ‘Algeria, Qatar, Jordan, Jerusalem, and Israel’ – drawing fire from conservative reporters.

The status of Jerusalem has long been a controversial issue – even in the U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland echoed that fact this week while answering a question about Israel’s capital.

Earlier this week, the Department of State issued a routine statement announcing the visit of the Acting Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Kathleen Stephens to the Middle East. The statement said that Stephens was “to meet with a broad cross-section of government officials, students, NGOs, and exchange program alumni”.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Jerusalem, US

Peres to push Pollard’s release ahead of medal

Thousands sign petition that president should use presidential medal of freedom to press Obama over jailed Israeli agent.

President Shimon Peres said Tuesday that he would do whatever possible to bring about the release of Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard before he receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from US President Barack Obama.

Peres responded to a petition signed by more than 15,000 people calling upon him to take advantage of being granted the medal as an opportunity to push Obama to commute Pollard’s sentence to the more than 26 years of his life sentence he has already served.

“As president, I see it as very important to work determinedly to bring about Jonathan Pollard’s release,” Peres said.”We

Category: Israel News | Tags: Jonathan Pollard, Shimon Peres

NYC co-op votes against Israeli product boycott

Members of Brooklyn food co-op reject a boycott meant to protest Israel’s policies on Palestinians

A New York City co-op’s proposed boycott against Israeli products to protest the Israeli government’s policies toward Palestinians has been overwhelmingly defeated.

Tuesday night’s vote by members of the Park Slope Food Co-op in Brooklyn rejected a motion on whether to hold a referendum on the boycott, with 1,005 voting against and 653 in favor.

Anti-Israel protest (Illustration) Photo: Shani Bar-OZ

Public Advocate and Brooklyn resident Bill de Blasio said he was proud of his neighbors for doing the right thing, calling the proposal inflammatory and destructive. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: BDS, boycott

Pentagon wants more money for Israel’s Iron Dome

US Defense Department to ask Congress for additional funding for Israel’s short-range rocket defense system

WASHINGTON – The US Defense Department will ask Congress for additional funding for Israel’s Iron Dome defense system, Ynet learned Tuesday.

Pentagon press secretary George Little said in a statement that short-range rocket defense system has been critical in recent weeks, when nearly 300 rockets were fired at southern Israel from Gaza.

The Iron Dome system intercepted more than 80% of its targets.

Little said the Pentagon and Israel have discussed US support for buying additional Iron Dome systems and will ask Congress for money.

Continue reading at:

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By Yitzhak Benhorin

AP contributed to this report Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Iron Dome

Report: Israeli Arab killed in shooting incident near border with Egypt

IDF troops open fire after identifying suspicious figures crossing into Israel; incident took place hours after Netanyahu surveys progress of new border fence.

Two suspected smugglers, including what reports say was an Israeli Arab, were killed following a shooting incident involving Israel Defense Forces soldiers near the border with Egypt on Tuesday, less than two weeks after a similar incident resulted in the death of an Egyptian smuggler.

The incident took place hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surveyed the progress of the new fence being erected along Israel’s border with Egypt.

Earlier this month, four smugglers were fired upon after illegally crossing the border by both Egyptian and Israeli forces patrolling the border, resulting in one death.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Egypt, Sinai

Op-Ed: The Circus of the Absurd Called the UNHRC

If the UN circus chooses to use facts, then that would be most welcoming. If not, that doesn’t make the facts disappear.

March 22^nd, 2012 – the U.N. Human Rights Council decides to accept a resolution presented by Pakistan which calls for an international investigation into the settlements, or houses that contain Jews in the land of Judea and Samaria, otherwise known as the West Bank.

Normally, one would rejoice at this news. An international investigation? Perhaps the world will finally understand what the Fogel family murder represents! However, this is a probe launched by the U.N. Human Rights Council, which was described by U.S. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: UNHRC