With mere weeks before retirement, Abbas finally seeks to aid Palestinian refugees

 

After years of saying “No”  PA president Abbas now calls on UN to demand that Israel allows over half a million desperate Palestinian refugees take shelter in Judea & Samaria, while opposition leader Herzog calls on Netanyahu to take in Syrian refugees.

By AFP

 

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called on the United Nations Saturday to press Israel to allow Palestinians from refugee camps in Syria to take shelter in the Palestinian territories, whose external borders are controlled by the Jewish state.

Palestinian refugee camp in Yarmouk, Syria – Photo: EPA

“President Abbas has asked the Palestinian representative to the UN to implement as quickly as possible, in coordination with the UN secretary general, measures for the return of Palestinian refugees from Syria to the Palestinian territories,” his office said. Continue Reading »

EU Chief: Labeling Only Jewish Products from West Bank Not Meant to ‘Boycott’

 

Policy chief Frederica Mogherini says the EU decision to label (only jewish) Judea & Samaria products for export is imminent, but foreign ministers caution that the demand was not meant as a ‘boycott Israel’ decision.

By Orli Harari

 

The European Union will soon render its decision on whether to label goods produced by Jews in Judea and Samaria.

Speaking at the conclusion of a summit of European foreign ministers in Luxembourg, EU foreign policy chief Frederica Mogherini said a special committee would soon submit its conclusions on the issue.

Federica Mogherini – Reuters

“The work of the committee dealing with the issue is coming to a close – these are the last steps before we submit the conclusions,” she said.
Continue Reading »

Years After Condemning Israel, European Countries Now Seek Similar Border Fence

 

In seeking solutions to help tackle the massive migrant crises enveloping European nations, Hungary & Bulgaria are inquiring about Israeli designed border fences & security systems.

By Reuters

 

Faced with a surge in migration from the Middle East and North Africa, two European countries are exploring the possibility of erecting towering steel security fences along parts of their borders, similar to Israel’s barrier with Egypt. 

Hungary and Bulgaria have made preliminary inquiries about buying the Israeli-designed fences, according to an Israeli business source who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the discussions.

A border fence in Hungary – Photo: Reuters

Both EU countries are beefing up their borders to deter migrants, many of them refugees from wars, who are seeking to use them as gateways to richer countries further north and west, particularly Germany.  Continue Reading »

Israeli Legal Aid Threatened GE with Lawsuit Over Union’s Supporting BDS

 

The Israeli NGO Shurat Hadin sent General Electric explicit warning of legal action for its blatant and open violations of numerous U.S. “state and federal statutes” if it doesn’t void union support of anti-Semitic boycott and their accusations of Israeli ‘ethnic cleansing’.

By Arutz Sheva Staff

 

Tel-Aviv based legal rights organization Shurat HaDin-Israel Law Center has taken on General Electric Co. on Thursday, urging the company to void GE’s labor accords with the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) in light of the union’s endorsement of the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

The letter, signed by Shurat HaDin president Nitsana Darshan-Leitner of Tel-Aviv and U.S. Continue Reading »

Increasing Number of Gaza Men Risk Life & Limb to Enter Israel

 

IDF has noticed a significant increase in the number of unarmed Gaza men fleeing the Hamas ruled enclave, seeking asylum in the Jewish state, even preferring Israeli prison with all the services it provides.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Palestinians raised in the Gaza Strip are taught to believe Israel is a blood-thirsty monster that desires nothing more than their destruction. Apparently, many aren’t buying the lies, as the number of Gazans risking it all to seek asylum in the Jewish state is growing.

Hamas rally in Gaza

Every day, Palestinians are crossing the border, and telling of impossible living conditions under the Hamas regime. Continue Reading »

After making wrong turn, 5 American tourists viciously attacked by Palestinians

 

Five American tourists who accidentally drove into Arab controlled Hebron were attacked by stones-throwers and firebombed, before finally being ushered away by lone man before being extricated by Israeli forces; leaving two injured.

By i24news

 

Five American tourists were on their way to visit the Cave of the Patriarchs, a Jewish holy site in the West Bank, when they got lost and entered a sector of the city of Hebron which is under Palestinian control. There were reports of clashes in the city in the aftermath of the event.

The car carrying the five came under attack from people throwing stones, and the car was fire-bombed. Continue Reading »

US medical device developer buys Israeli start-up for $920 million

 

In one of Israel’s most successful exits for a biomedical start-up, HeartWare Int’l, a U.S.-based medical device developer, acquires Valtech Cardio, a developer of heart valve repair & replacement technology.

By Hezi Sternlicht, Israel Hayom Staff & News Agencies

 

Israeli medical startup Valtech Cardio announced Wednesday that it had been acquired by global medical device developer HeartWare International. The deal is estimated at $920 million, making it one of the most successful exits for an Israeli biomedical company.

Valtech Cardio develops innovative surgical instruments – Screenshot: Valtech

Continue Reading »

Belgian Police Investigate EU Official After Directing Anti-Semitic Diatribe At Coworker 

 

 

A European Union official is the subject of a probe by  Belgian police after he allegedly physically and verbally attacked a co-worker, calling her a “dirty Jewess,” during an anti-Semitic diatribe. The Belgian League against anti-Semitism (LBCA) said Thursday that it had filed a complaint against 45-year-old Maltese official Stefan Grech, who is president of an EU labor union called Generation 2004, after the 50-year-old Italian complainant reached out to the organization, providing it with copies of the complaint she filed, as well as testimony from a friend and witness. Continue Reading »

SodaStream CEO accuses BDS boycotters of anti-Semitism

 

SodaStream chief says BDS only had a ‘negligible’ impact on the beverage maker, noting the closure of the West Bank factory & expansion to the new Negev facility led to hundreds of Palestinians losing their jobs.

By Associated Press 

 

The chief executive of SodaStream, the beverage maker that is shuttering its West Bank factory in the face of international boycott calls, accused his company’s critics Wednesday of anti-Semitism and hurting the interests of the Palestinian workers they claim to protect.

The SodaStream plant in Mishor Adumim. – Photo: Bloomberg

SodaStream, which produces machines that allow people to make fizzy drinks, has been targeted by an international campaign calling for boycotting, divesting and sanctioning Israeli companies. Continue Reading »

Israel Air Force Responds to Hamas Rifle Fire From Gaza

 

Israeli aircraft struck the terror military compound belonging to Hamas from which .50 cal. shots were fired at two homes in Southern Israel.

By Elad Benari

 

Israeli aircraft on Wednesday night attacked a military compound belonging to the Hamas terrorist< organization in northern Gaza from which shots were fired at two homes in the Hof Ashkelon region of southern Israel on Wednesday evening.

“The IDF holds the Hamas terrorist organization solely responsible for the Gaza Strip and for maintaining peace in the region”, the IDF Spokesperson stated.

IAF continues to defend Israel day and night. – Photo courtesy IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

At approximately 7 p.m. Continue Reading »

Palestinian Clerics Incite Arab Muslims Against Israelis Before Jewish Holidays

 

With claims that Israel is trying to “Judaize” the city of Jerusalem, leading Muslim clerics claim the Jews will try to build their Third Temple during Sukkot holiday visits to the Temple Mount.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Israeli media is warning of increased Palestinian violence during the upcoming Jewish High Holy Days in September and October.

During Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and the week-long Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), a great many Jews congregate publicly, especially at the Western Wall.

This year, some of those holidays coincide with Muslim holidays and Palestinian nationalist memorials. Yom Kippur and the Muslim feast of Eid al-Adha falls on the same day, and the anniversary of the eruption of the Second Intifada is during Sukkot. Continue Reading »

Israel’s Ahava cosmetics to be bought by the Chinese

Dead Sea based Ahava cosmetics announced at the Tel-Aviv stock exchange that the company is to be bought by Fosun International, a company based in China.

By i24news

 

The owners of Ahava, the cosmetics company based in the Dead Sea, reached a preliminary agreement to sell the Israeli company. The deal values Ahava at 300 million shekels ($76.30 million).

In an announcement at the Tel-Aviv stock exchange, Gaon Holdings, which owns 15.72 percent of Ahava, said that the buyers will be purchasing at least 51 percent of the company. Gaon did not provide the name of the buyer, but Globes, an Israeli news website, reported that it would be Fosun International, a company based in China. Continue Reading »

Survey: Vast majority of Israeli reservists feel IDF ‘service is a duty’

 

Survey by IDF’s Behavioral Science Department finds overwhelming majority of reservists believe in Israel’s army, have faith in their commanders, and say IDF can secure decisive victory in future conflict.

By Lilach Shoval & Israel Hayom Staff

 

The vast majority of IDF reservists — 83% — believe in the military’s ability to secure a decisive victory should hostilities with Gaza Strip-based terrorist groups resume, a survey by the Behavioral Science Department at the IDF’s Personnel Directorate has found.

The IDF surveys reservists twice a year to gauge issues believed to affect their motivation to perform reserve service.

The latest poll was held on the one-year anniversary of Operation Protective Edge and following an IDF decision to release 100,000 reservists from active duty and divert funds to training regular army units. Continue Reading »

Watch: How Israeli Naval Commandos Protect & Defend Vital Natural Gas Rigs

 

view videoIn a recent off-shore exercise, Israel’s elite naval forces drilled its troops’ response to a developing & very real underwater incursion threat posed by Hamas & Hezbollah.

By Yoav Zitun

 

The Israeli Navy on Wednesday revealed a series of exercises and experiments conducted this year aimed at improving reactions to nascent threats. The exercises included one simulating incursion and another simulating rocket fire at oil rigs off Israel’s coast.

The scenario in which seaborne terrorists make an incursion into Israel’s northernmost coastal region, between Rosh Hanikra and Nahariya, is grounded in reality; a similar attempt took place during last summer’s Operation Protective Edge, in which Hamas frogmen disembarked on a southern shore. Continue Reading »

Arab Terrorist With Pipe-Bomb in Hand Shot by Israel Security Forces

 

With no casualties to Israeli security forces, Arab male shot in leg and neutralized near Bethlehem when terrorist attacked.

By Matt Wanderman

 

Security forces were carrying out an operation in the Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem when they were attacked by a man holding a pipe bomb.

The soldiers shot the terrorist in the leg without sustaining any casualties themselves.

The bomb was neutralized by explosives experts on the scene.

The terrorist is considered lightly wounded and is now being held at a nearby checkpoint. He is being treated for his wound and will be sent to a hospital for further treatment before being taken in for interrogation. Continue Reading »