Iran praises Hamas for refusing to end armed attacks on Israel

Although, it will never happen, ‘officially’ both the US & Israel released statements that they expect the new Palestinian unity gov’t to commit to disarming the radical Islamic group, Hamas.

By i24NEWS

 

Top aide to Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei applauded Hamas’ refusal to lay down its arms and abandon its struggle against Israel during meetings with a visiting delegation from the Islamist movement in Tehran on Saturday.

Ali Khamenei with Hamas leader Ismail Haniya

“We congratulate you for declaring that you will not set your weapons aside and for describing it as your red line,” Khamenei’s international affairs adviser Ali Akbar Velayati was quoted as saying by the semi-official Fars news agency. Continue Reading »

Palestinian city dedicates Saddam Hussein memorial as “emblem of heroism, honor”

The tawdry monument dedicated to the mass murderer in the Palestinian town of Qalqilya was erected to honor “the glorious deeds of the martyr Saddam Hussein” as “an emblem of heroism, honor, originality and defiance,” according to Palestinian leaders.

By Tal Polon

 

The city of Qalqilya, under PA jurisdiction, has recently erected a memorial and named a street in honor of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, MEMRI reported. Arab leaders expressed appreciation for Hussein at the dedication ceremony, hailing him as “an emblem of heroism, honor, originality and defiance.”

The monument bears the slogan “Arab Palestine from the River to the Sea.”

Continue Reading »

IDF hits Syria hard, destroys multiple artillery positions after firing on Israel

— SPECIAL SECURITY REPORT —

Having ascertained Israel had been fired on 5 times, and maintaining its policy that no attack on its sovereignty go unreciprocated, the IDF Saturday morning delivered precision hits, destroying three Syrian regime artillery positions, one for each projectile that landed inside Israel.

By HAGAY HACOHEN, ANNA AHRONHEIM

 

Three of the five projectiles landed in open territory in Israel’s northern Golan Heights, causing no damage or injuries.

“Even if this is spillover, this is an exceptional event, and the continuation of such events will only exacerbate Israel’s response,” the army said in a statement, adding that “the IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm the sovereignty of the State of Israel and her citizens. Continue Reading »

Israel’s Prime Minister lobbies world leaders to support Iraqi Kurds

Hoping to prevent further setbacks to Iraqi Kurds’ lands from being controlled by Iraqi forces, Israeli PM Netanyahu is lobbying world powers to back a Kurdish bid for independence.

By Reuters

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is lobbying world powers to prevent further setbacks to Iraqi Kurds as they lose ground to Baghdad’s army, Israeli officials say.

Israel has been the only major power to endorse statehood for the Kurds, partly, say analysts, because it sees the ethnic group—whose population is split among Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Iran—as a buffer against shared adversaries.

Kurdistan’s futire border would be the area of their red, white & green national flag

Iraqi armed forces retook the oil-rich Kirkuk region this week, following a Sept. Continue Reading »

Israel jails Arab Israeli couple who joined ISIS

The Israeli Arab couple, Wissam and Sabreen Zbedat from Sakhnin in northern Israel, were found guilty and jailed for leaving Israel in 2015 with their three young children, to an enemy country and taking part in terrorist activities.

By Arutz Sheva Staff

 

A court in Haifa on Thursday sentenced an Arab Israeli man to more than five years in jail for joining the Islamic State (ISIS) jihadist group.

The court said in a statement that it sentenced Wissam Zbedat to 70 months in prison and a 14,000 shekel ($4,000) fine for travelling to Syria to fight for ISIS.

The prosecution accused Zbedat and his wife, Sabreen, of leaving the country in 2015 with their three children then aged three, six and eight for Syria to join ISIS. Continue Reading »

FDA approves Israeli-developed, personally tailored cancer-killer drug

Developed by researchers at Israel’s Weizmann Institute and Sourasky Medical Center, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration fast-tracked the approval for their cancer treatment Yescarta, based on technology that uses the patient’s immune system to destroy cancer cells.
• List price in U.S. for the personally tailored drug is $373,000.

By Hezi Sternlicht & Israel Hayom Staff

 

Kite Pharma, founded by Israeli-American Professor Arie Belldegrun in 2009, has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted regular approval for its cancer treatment Yescarta.

California-based Gilead Sciences bought Kite Pharma for $12 billion in August this year.

Professor Arie Belldegrun – Photo: Kite Pharma

The product, which was approved on a fast-track process, is based on innovative technology that recruits the body’s immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells. Continue Reading »

After Egyptian-led reconciliation of rival Palestinian faction, Hamas leaders go to Iran

Under the auspices of the Egyptian leadership, Hamas & Fatah finally signed a long sought after reconciliation agreement, but instead of solidifying its new relationship with Egypt, Hamas leaders travelled to Iran to enhance mutual cooperation, to Cairo’s pique.

By ADAM RASGON

 

A high-level Hamas delegation led by Hamas Deputy Politburo chief Salih al-Arouri arrived in Tehran on Friday to meet with Iranian officials, Hamas’s official website reported.

The delegation’s arrival in the Iranian capital came just a week after Hamas and Fatah signed an agreement to advance national reconciliation efforts under the auspices of Egypt. Iran and Egypt have cold ties. Continue Reading »

Done Deal: Israel signs new MoU for more German Dolphin class submarines

This version of Memorandum of Understanding enables Germany to withdraw if developments on corruption case in Israel shows cause, and allows Israel to purchase another 3 Dolphins, in addition to the 6 already acquired.

By Ronen Bergman

 

Germany approved a secret Memorandum of Understanding Thursday night with Israel which will see the latter purchase three more Dolphin submarines, on top of the six already previously acquired, Yedioth Ahronoth has learned.

Israel navy Dolphine class sub. – Photo: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

The MoU underwent several changes in the last week following pressure exerted by senior German officials who sought to create a framework which would enable Germany to easily pull out of the deal in accordance with developments relating to the ongoing investigation into the submarine scandal investigation, also known as Case 3000. Continue Reading »

Israel’s Defense Minister: “We will defend our interests in every way we see fit.”

In Jerusalem, Israel’s Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman tells U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis, “We will not tolerate a situation in which Iran and its satellites sit along our borders, and we will defend our interests in every way we see fit, according to our red lines.”

By Elad Benari

 

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman on Thursday met in Washington with U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis. During the meeting, the two discussed regional strategic issues and ways to strengthen security and intelligence cooperation between the United States and Israel. Earlier, Liberman met at the White House with National Security Adviser General Herbert McMaster. Continue Reading »

IDF retaliates after errant Syrian projectile lands in Golan Heights

Having identified the source of the stray fire on Israel, the IDF retaliated holding the Syrian government responsible for attacks from its territory.

By i24NEWS

 

The Israeli army conducted a strike on a site in Syria on Thursday hours after a stray projectile from Syria landed in the northern Golan Heights, the military said.

The military said it struck the source of the errant fire and reiterated its policy that considers the Syrian government responsible for whatever occurs within its territory.

IDF artillery fire (file) – Photo IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

Projectiles have sporadically landed in northern Israel throughout Syria’s years-long civil war. Continue Reading »

Israel continues funding feeding sanctuaries for millions of migrating Great White Pelicans

Israel’s Agriculture Ministry announced it will continue funding rest sanctuaries and food for the vast amount of Great White Pelicans that migrate over the country annually.
• The project keep the birds from emptying the fish farms, protecting the farmers, and their fish.

By Associated Press and Israel Hayom Staff

 

Migrating pelicans can once again stop by for a mouthful of fish in Israel.

The Agriculture Ministry said Wednesday it would keep funding a pet project to feed thousands of Great White Pelicans who fly annually over the country.

The idea is to centralize their feeding ground at a central Israeli reservoir so the birds do not harm the livelihood of farmers by poaching fish from nearby breeding grounds. Continue Reading »

EU countries seek compensation after Israel destroyed its illegally erected structures

8 EU countries sue Israel for compensation after demolishing unlicensed, illegally constructed structures they financed and erected in Area C of the West Bank, a violation of Israel’s & international laws.
– Must-see video articulates EU’s illegal construction.

By JOY BERNARD

 

Eight member states of the EU are taking an unprecedented move by penning a letter demanding that Israel reimburse them for its decision to take apart infrastructures in the West Bank that were slated to serve as equipment for local schools (serving mostly the Beduin community), France’s daily Le Monde reported Wednesday night.

The eight countries also expressed their dismay with Israel’s confiscation of solar panels that were paid for by the EU headquarters in the West Bank. Continue Reading »

US Special Envoy issues statement to Hamas: Disarm, adhere to the Quartet principles

Supporting PM Netanyahu’s cabinet policy regarding the PA-Hamas reconciliation agreement, President Trump’s Special Envoy Jason Greenblatt says Hamas must disarm, abide by Quartet decisions, “and recognize the State of Israel.”

By Uzi Baruch

 

US Special Envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt on Wednesday issued a statement regarding the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) recent reconciliation agreement with the Hamas terror group.

President Donald Trump’s international negotiations adviser, Jason Greenblatt (left), meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem – Photo: Kobi Gideon/GPO

“All parties agree that it is essential that the Palestinian Authority be able to assume full, genuine, and unhindered civil and security responsibilities in Gaza and that we work together to improve the humanitarian situation for Palestinians living there,” Greenblatt said. Continue Reading »

REPORT: Iran procurement activities include nuclear warhead components for ballistic missile

German security official: “Despite the nuclear agreement [lead by Obama in July 2015], Iran has not given up its illegal activities in Germany,” by pursuing to acquire banned components to construct nuclear warheads for their ongoing ballistic missile program.

By BENJAMIN WEINTHAL

 

German security officials have accused the Iranian regime of pursuing its goal to build missiles armed with nuclear warheads, the Berlin daily Der Tagesspiegelreported.

“Despite the nuclear agreement [reached with world powers in July 2015], Iran has not given up its illegal activities in Germany. The mullah regime also made efforts this year to obtain material from [German] firms for its nuclear program and the construction of missiles, said security sources,” Der Tagesspiegel wrote on Friday. Continue Reading »

UN & EU call for Israel to cancel new home construction plans for Jews in West Bank

With the Trump administration recognizing Jewish construction has not been the reason for lack of peace, Israel approves plans for new home building in West Bank, so now the EU Foreign Service reiterates their objection to the ‘illegal Jewish settlements’ and the Palestinian envoy to the UN said Israel’s gov’t ‘opposes peace, disregards international law.’
– Meanwhile EU & UN ignore PA & Hamas’ reconciliation, with Hamas sworn to destroy Israel.

By Elisha Ben Kimon

 

Israel must halt new building plans for settler homes in the West Bank, the European Union’s Foreign Service said in a statement on Wednesday, warning that such settlements threaten any future peace deal with the Palestinians. Continue Reading »