OECD rates Israel’s roads as most congested in developed world

Organization reports Israel’s “green tax” has backfired by prompting Israelis to buy 400,000 new cars in the past 18 months, although the Jewish State’s battle against ‘polluting cars’ saw “tremendous” success.

By Zeev Klein

 

Israel has the highest road congestion among developed nations, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said in a new policy paper last week.

Heavy traffic in the heart of Tel Aviv [Illustrative] – Photo: Ronen Bar-Leb

According to the paper, Israel has the greatest average traffic density among OECD members, with more than 2.7 million vehicle-kilometers driven per kilometer of road. The data used for the paper is from 2014. Continue Reading »

Historical discovery of Egyptian statue with hieroglyphic script found at Tel-Hazor

 

Tel Hazor, north of the Sea of Galilee, is Israel’s largest biblical-era site, a UNESCO Heritage Site, and where the only monumental Egyptian statues found so far in 2nd millennium contexts in the entire Levant.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD

 

In a historic find, a large limestone fragment of an Egyptian statue depicting an ancient official’s feet, was discovered at Tel-Hazor, north of the Sea of Galilee, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem announced on Monday.

Continue Reading »

Saudi Delegation Visit Jerusalem to Meet IDF, Foreign Ministry Officials

 

Retired Saudi general Anwar Eshki visits Israel with businessmen & academics to promote the 2002 ‘Arab Peace Initiative’, including a meeting with the IDF’s head of the unit that coordinates Israeli activities in the West Bank & Gaza.

By AFP

 

The head of a rare Saudi delegation to Israel and the West Bank met a senior Israeli government official during his trip, the Foreign Ministry told AFP on Sunday.

Gold in a previous meeting with Eshki

Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said the meeting between retired Saudi general Anwar Eshki and ministry Director General Dore Gold took place at the prestigious King David hotel in west Jerusalem but did not give further details. Continue Reading »

Record Number of Women Requesting Enlistment Into IDF Combat Units

Stats reflect a 40% increase in requests by female high school students for combat positions among the 2016 summer female draftees.

By Uzi Baruch

 

Tomorrow (Monday) marks the date of the Summer draft for IDF field units.

As in all drafts, new draftees are required to fill out a questionnaire in which they indicate their preference of type of IDF service, maximizing the chance that each person will be placed in the unit in which he prefers to serve.

A survey of the replies on the questionnaire indicates that motivation for combat positions among incoming soldiers has remained steady since the last draft.
Continue Reading »

Israel approves high-speed train, Tel Aviv to Tiberias in 1 hour

 

The one hour Tiberias to Tel Aviv train is forecasted for operation within 7 years: ‘We will connect the Galilee with the start-up & high-tech Israeli nation.’ says Public Transport Minister Yisrael Katz.

By Ofer Petersburg

 

An express train which will enable travellers to travel between Tel Aviv and Tiberias in just one hour is being planned by Public Transport Minister Yisrael Katz.

Building the railroad between Afula and Tiberias - Photo source: Ynet

Building the railroad between Afula and Tiberias – Photo source: Ynet

Katz approved the continuation of the high speed train between Afula and Tiberias as part of a project to expand the train network in the north on Wednesday.
Continue Reading »

Israeli plastics giant sells 80% of company for $1.7 billion

 

Israeli business daily Globes reports of Israel’s Keter Plastic Ltd. reportedly selling 80% of its stock to BC Partners for $1.7 billion.

By JTA

 

The Israeli plastics firm Keter reportedly has sold 80 percent of its stock at a price of $1.7 billion.

Keter products

BC Partners, a private equity firm with offices in London, Paris, Hamburg and New York, has been in exclusive talks to buy a stake in Keter, according to the Israeli business daily Globes.

Keter Plastics owner Sami Sagol reportedly had been trying to sell full ownership of the company for $2 billion. BC will still have an option of buying the remaining shares, according to Globes. Continue Reading »

The Muslim African country of Guinea signs diplomatic relations with Israel

 

In a bi-lateral agreement signed in Paris, the sub-Saharan Muslim state of Guinea commenced diplomatic relations with Israel on Wednesday after severing ties in 1967.

By Michael Zeff/TPS

 

Foreign Ministry Director General Dore Gold and the secretary of the Guinean president signed an official agreement establishing diplomatic ties on Wednesday evening in Paris.

Foreign Ministry Chairman Dore Gold opened relations with the African nation of Guinea

The Republic of Guinea, a Muslim country in sub-Saharan West Africa, used to be a territory within French West Africa. The state was established in 1958 after it gained independence from France. Continue Reading »

PM Netanyahu: ‘Wall’ in South Hebron Hills is important for Israel’s security

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “We will prevent illegal residents and attackers from reaching Israel’s cities.”

By HERB KEINON

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu inspected the construction work being done on a new security barrier in the South Hebron Hills area on Wednesday, saying completing it was important for the country’s security.

Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu flies plane over West Bank. – Photo: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST

“We said that we will close the breaches,” he said. “We will prevent illegal residents and attackers from reaching Israel’s cities.”

Netanyahu said that protecting the cities was complicated, and included – in addition to building the new security barrier – dealing as well with employers hiring Palestinians without the proper permits; those who help them get into Israel; and those who give them accommodations. Continue Reading »

German media reports Israeli aircraft fires missile at target in Syria

Contrary to a Hizbollah report attributing an explosion in Syria to al-Qaeda, German media quoted a Syrian security official who said an Israeli jet fired on positions in the Syrian Golan Wednesday, killing one and injuring others.

By Roi Kais

 

An Israeli jet launched missiles at a military checkpost in the Quneitra Governoratein the Golan on Wednesday morning, according to a senior Syrian security official quoted by a German news agency.

R

An official from the opposition uploaded to the internet this picture of smoke rising from a building in Quneitra, Syria seemingly damaged by the alleged attack.

The report claimed that the attack resulted in the death of a civilian who crossed the border by mistake and the wounding of three more Syrian soldiers. Continue Reading »

Europe looks to Israel for counter-terror surveillance technology

 

Knowing increased European terror-attacks by Muslims without connections to organized Islamic terror-groups has Israeli Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz urging governments work together against radical Islamic terrorism, allowing Israel share intelligence-gathering technologies.

By i24news

 

A concerned Europe is turning to Israeli-developed technology in the search for ways to identify dangerous domestic militants based on online activity, Reuters reports, citing a senior EU security official.

Photo: LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/FILE

The challenge of spotting potential dangers has become increasingly difficult as attacks increase by individuals with no contact to any organizations.

Social media and other internet companies are avoiding having to monitor their platforms for materials that could indicate potential danger, arguing that there was simply too much content to manually inspect and interpret, Reuters quoted EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove as saying.”So Continue Reading »

Israel amends ‘Flag and Emblem Law’: Flag burners can now get 3 years in jail

Israel’s Knesset amends state’s Flag and Emblem Law (1949), which now categorizes desecrating the national flag as a criminal offense, punishable by ₪58,400 shekel fine, or up to 3 years in jail.

By Gideon Allon

 

The Knesset on Monday passed an amendment to Israel’s Flag and Emblem Law (1949) that will make burning the Israeli flag a criminal offense punishable by a 58,400 shekel (about $15,100) fine or up to three years in jail.

Flag burning in east Jerusalem [Archive] – Photo: Lior Mizrahi

The amendment passed a second and third hearing by a majority of 38 MKs to 12. Continue Reading »

Trump sees in Israel’s PM Netanyahu all the things that are lacking in Obama

 

Top Trump advisor David Friedman says Republican White House would see settlement annexation legitimate, if Abbas’ PA continues to avoid making peace.

By DANIELLE ZIRI

 

CLEVELAND – Israeli annexation of settlements in the West Bank could be viewed by a Trump administration as a legitimate way for Israel to move forward if the Palestinians continue to avoid a real and genuine peace deal, David Friedman, a senior advisor to Donald Trump, told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday.

David Friedman & Donald Trump in Manhattan – Photo: Courtesy

Speaking as the Republican Party convention entered its second day in Cleveland, Friedman, who advises Trump on matters related to Israel, said that in his view, settlements in the West Bank were not illegal and were not the real impediment to peace with the Palestinians. Continue Reading »

Aliyah ‘airlift’ begins Tuesday bringing 2000 new immigrants from US, Canada

 

The first of the Summer 2016 chartered Nefesh B’Nefesh planes is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, carrying 220 olim who chose to turn down potentially lucrative job offers.

By Efrat Forsher

 

Some 220 North American Jews are expected to make aliyah Tuesday on a chartered plane under the auspices of the Nefesh B’Nefesh organization.

North American Jews arrive on a Nefesh B’Nefesh flight in 2015, escorted by then-Absorption Minister Zeev Elkin – Photo: Yossi Zeliger

The organization says it plans to fly almost 2,000 olim from Canada and the United States this summer, joining the 45,000 who have made aliyah through the organization over the years. Continue Reading »

Major shift against Palestinians seen in several international forums

 

view videoExcept for kick-starting the French initiative, which has of yet yielded any significant difference, the Palestinian leadership is experiencing a number of setbacks with a few of its international partners.

By ADAM RASGON

 

Since the failure of the latest round of peace talks in May 2014, the Palestinian leadership has renewed its international strategy to achieve statehood. Its efforts have focused on joining international institutions such as the International Criminal Court and gaining support abroad for its political positions. While the Palestinian leadership has achieved some successes, such as kick-starting the French initiative, more recently it has experienced a number of setbacks with its international partners. Continue Reading »

Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara, in 1st state visit by a president of Paraguay to Israel

 

In making the first state visit by a president of Paraguay to Israel, President Reuven Rivlin welcomes his Paraguayan counterpart acknowledging Paraguay as a true friend to Israel.

By Hezki Baruch

 

President Reuven Rivlin on Monday hosted at his residence an official welcome ceremony for the President of Paraguay, Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara, making the first state visit by a president of Paraguay to Israel.

President Rivlin and President Cartes of Paraguay – Photo: Mark Neiman/Israel’s GPO

Rivlin welcomed his guest on the red carpet as the two Presidents stood for the national anthems, reviewed a guard of honor, before going on to deliver brief public statements. Continue Reading »