Encouraged Kushner & Greenblatt have new ideas to facilitate a lasting peace deal

Trump’s mid-East “peace team” seeks to facilitate an equitable deal, without dictating terms as the previous administration, for a lasting congruous arrangement to improve the lives of Israelis and Palestinians, using tools serendipitously made available from the changing political winds.

By MICHAEL WILNER

 

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump’s point men on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have diligently listened to its key players for 10 months, studying the region’s storied past, working to earn the trust of both sides and leveraging the serendipitous alignment of interests that has recently formed between the Jewish state and its Arab neighbors.

Donald J. Trump’s Special Representative Jason Greenblatt – Screenshot: Facebook

Their listening tour continues, but the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, as well as his special representative for international negotiations, Jason Greenblatt, have in their short time in diplomatic service formed some ideas of their own. Continue Reading »

Court Verdict: 6 illegal Arab high-rise buildings in Jerusalem to be leveled

The controlled explosive demolition of 6 illegally constructed apartment buildings, all six stories or taller, will be led by City of Jerusalem officials, and carried out in a joint operation by Israel Police, IDF demolition experts, and the Shin Bet internal security agency.

By David Rosenberg

 

The City of Jerusalem, in conjunction with Israeli security forces, is planning a massive demolition operation against an illegal neighborhood on the northern edge of the city.

Legal & licensed construction in Jerusalem – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

According to a report by Kan 11 Sunday night, the Jerusalem municipality is taking aim at six illegally-built high-rise apartment buildings in the village of Kafr Aqab, which sits inside the municipal boundaries of the capital. Continue Reading »

Prince Charles penned letter: ‘Jewish emigration to Israel is root of terrorism’

In a newly released letter written to a close friend in 1986, Prince Charles attributed the Mid-East turmoil to the ‘influx of foreign Jews,’ expressing his hopes that ‘some U.S. president will have the courage to stand up to the Jewish lobby,’ because it’s Jewish emigration to Israel that’s the root cause of terrorism.

By Ynet

 

Prince Charles has come under attack following revelations that he penned a letter advocating for the US administration to “take on the Jewish lobby” and attributing unrest in the Middle East to “the influx of foreign Jews,” according to reports first published in The Mail on Sunday. Continue Reading »

REPORT: Gal Gadot refuses ‘Wonder Woman’ sequel with involvement of Brett Ratner

Israeli actress Gal Gadot, who already pulled out of one event honoring Brett Ratner, reportedly refused to participate in the ‘Wonder Woman’ sequel unless the producer, who faces 6 allegations of sexual harassment, was totally divorced from the project.

By i24NEWS

 

Israeli actress Gal Gadot has reportedly threatened not to reprise her starring role in a ‘Wonder Woman’ sequel unless filmmaker Brett Ratner, who faces multiple allegations of sexual harassment, is completely removed from the project.

Brett Ratner – Photo: Wikimedia/David Shankbone and Gal Gadot – Photo: Wikimedia/Gage Skidmore

According to a report by entertainment news outlet Page Six, Gadot has demanded that Warner Bros. Continue Reading »

Dore Gold tells US Congress: Palestinian have consistently destroyed Jewish historical sites

Testifying before the US congress, Israel’s former U.N. ambassador details the historic failures of the UN & Palestinians in protecting religious sites in Jerusalem, and pointed out “arrangements for the holy city that plainly have not worked in the past, will undoubtedly fail in the future… Only a free and democratic Israel will protect Jerusalem for all the great faiths.”

By Shlomo Cesana and Israel Hayom Staff

 

Dr. Dore Gold, president of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs and former Israeli ambassador the United Nations, addressed the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on National Security on Wednesday under the title of “Moving the American Embassy to Jerusalem: Challenges and Opportunities.” Continue Reading »

Germany charges Palestinian who targeted Christians in knife attack, with murder

For his stabbing rampage at a supermarket in Germany, in reaction to Arab media’s incitement at Israel for placing metal detectors at the entrance to Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, a federal prosecutor charged the Palestinian terrorist with murder, and 6 counts of attempted murder.

By BENJAMIN WEINTHAL

 

Germany’s federal prosecution charged a Palestinian man on Friday with murder and six counts of attempted murder.

Ahmad A., 26, wanted “to kill as many German nationals of the Christian faith as possible,” the prosecutor’s office said, according to the indictment. He wanted his actions “to be viewed in the context of an Islamic attack, and understood as a contribution to worldwide jihad.”
Continue Reading »

IDF launches Patriot missile interceptor, destroys UAV sent from Syria

The IDF used a Patriot Missile to destroy a (Syrian,Hezbollah or Iranian) UAV that attempted to infiltrate Israeli airspace in the Golan Heights.
– Def. Min. Lieberman warned that ‘Israel will respond with force to any provocation and violation of its sovereignty.’

By Ahiya Raved and Yoav Zitun

 

The IDF launched a Patriot missile on Saturday, which successfully intercepted an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) coming from Syria approaching Israeli airspace near the Golan Heights border. The Patriot was launched from the area surrounding the northern city of ​​Safed, with residents of the area reportedly hearing explosions.

After hearing Explosion, the ‘puff’ seen over Golan Heights, Saturday morning – Photo not accredited

 

The IDF fired a Patriot missile from the same area two months ago, following the discovery of a UAV nearing Israel’s airspace. Continue Reading »

IDF’s most elite units host Indian special forces in joint training exercises

While a contingent from the Indian Air Force were participating in the Blue Flag exercise, 16 visiting Indian commandos, part of their 45-man delegation, were training with the Israeli Air Force’s elite Shaldag unit and Unit 669, the Airborne Combat, Search & Rescue Unit.

By ANNA AHRONHEIM

 

A contingent of Indian Garud commandos are in Israel taking part in exercises with elite Israeli special forces as part of the Blue Flag aerial drill.

“The roles of the commandos of the two nations are similar. We carry out what others cannot do,” wing commander K. Baharat told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.
Continue Reading »

WATCH: Israel’s Prime Minister Personally Meets 3 Millionth Tourist for Tour in Jerusalem

In Photos: Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu surprised the 3,000,000th tourist to Israel, Ioana Isac, along with her partner Mihai Georgescu, in Jerusalem at the Tower of David Museum for a personally guided tour.
– Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, who surprised the couple at the airport, accompanied them on the tour.

By Yossi Aloni

 

Israel has had a record year for tourism. And on Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed his appreciation by surprising tourist number 3 million to arrive in 2017 with a personal welcome to the Jewish state.

Ioana Isac, 31, and her partner, Mihai Georgescu, suspected nothing as they arrived at Ben Gurion Airport from their native Romania. Continue Reading »

Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia all call on citizens to leave Lebanon immediately

Reported by Saudi state news agency SPA, a foreign ministry source called on Saudis not to travel to Lebanon because of “the situation” in the country.
– Meanwhile in Lebanon, the FM issued a statement demanding the return of PM Hariri, who they contend is being held in Saudi Arabia.

By i24NEWS

 

Both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia on Thursday have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon “as soon as possible,” days after Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri announced his resignation while visiting the kingdom in a shocking announcement.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R), meets with Lebanese PM Saad Hariri (L) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Continue Reading »

Judge denounces latest case against Israeli PM’s wife as ‘Made for Media’ not ‘court worthy’

In a complete turnaround from the harsh attention Israel’s media has allocated to besmirch Sara Netanyahu, the Jerusalem Labor Court President admonished plaintiff’s attorney saying, “When I read the lawsuit, the impression I got was that it was clearly meant for the ears of someone other than the court.”
• Netanyahu family: We have no doubt the truth will come out in court.

By Yair Altman

 

The Jerusalem Labor Court on Wednesday leveled harsh criticism at a lawsuit filed by a former employee at the Prime Minister’s Residence, saying it was clearly meant to influence “someone other than the court.” Continue Reading »

Taylor Force Act expected to pass with bipartisan support to end Palestinian ‘Pay to Slay’

The bill, named after an American Army veteran murdered by a Palestinian terrorist in Tel Aviv last year, expected to pass having bipartisan congressional support, is aimed at slashing financial support that goes directly to convicted murderers’ monthly pensions, or monthly stipends to the families of killed terrorists.
– WATCH Ambassador Danny Ayalon’s informative video of what this bill entails.

By MICHAEL WILNER

 

 

WASHINGTON — A congressional bill that would compel the Palestinian Authority to end its compensation program for the families of convicted terrorists in Israel with the threat of an aid cut will reach a critical vote in the House Foreign Affairs Committee next Wednesday. Continue Reading »

Natalie Portman Wins Israel’s Prestigious Genesis Prize

The annual $1 million award honors extraordinary individuals who serve as an inspiration to the next generation of Jews through their professional achievements, commitment to Jewish values, the Jewish people and/or the State of Israel.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Hollywood A-lister Natalie Portman has been awarded the 2018 Genesis Prize, commonly referred to as the “Jewish Nobel.”

The Genesis Prize is awarded to those who serve as an inspiration to the next generation of Jews through their outstanding professional achievement, commitment to Jewish values and to the Jewish people.

Natalie Portman, Holding her Oscar at the 83rd Academy Awards, 2011 – Photo: US Army/Staff Sgt.

Continue Reading »

UNCONFIRMED: Summoned to Riyadh, King Salman exhorted Abbas to accept US peace plan

Sources in Saudi Arabia say Abbas was summoned to fly with haste to meet with Saudi King & Crown Prince on Sunday to agree to Trump’s peace deal that’s supported by the Palestinian’s greatest benefactors, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt.

By Mohammad Al-Kassim

 

The Trump administration’s plan to revive the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks involves convincing Israel to impose a new settlement-building freeze and generous financial aid from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, a source with direct knowledge of a meeting between Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Wednesday. Continue Reading »

Deutsche Bank report: Israeli shekel becomes second strongest currency

With Israel’s Shekel rising 6.1% against the world’s major currencies during the past year and nearing historically high levels, the Bank of Israel is expected to depreciate the shekel to boost exports.

Israel Hayom

 

The Israeli shekel is currently the world’s second-strongest currency, according to a new report by German global banking and financial services company Deutsche Bank. The report ranked China’s yuan as the world’s strongest currency.

Lots of Israeli shekels and some American dollars- Photo: Israel Police

Deutsche Bank’s strategic foreign currency analyst Dr. Gautam Kalani reported that over the past 12 months, the shekel has appreciated 6.1% against the basket of currencies of Israel’s main trading partners, such as the U.S. Continue Reading »