Israel and Stuff

Gaza Ruling Hamas Gov’t is Quick to Deny Responsibility for Rocket Attack on Israel

Israel TV10 Reports: Hamas official signals to Israel that it is not responsible for Thursday night rocket attack on southern Israel. – Israeli security officials not buying it.

By Elad Benari

Hamas has signaled to Israel that it is not responsible for Thursday evening’s rocket attack on southern Israel and that it is working to find and arrest the shooters, Channel 10 News reports.

A senior security official said, however, that Israel views Hamas as being responsible for the attack.

“We see Hamas as responsible, and expect it to enforce order in Gaza. Hamas is the ruling power in the region and is must maintain quiet; if not it will be held responsible. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Gaza, hamas, IAF strike, rocket attack

israelandstuffcom | April 24, 2015

Israel’s Air Force hit Gaza ‘terror site’ in response to Independence Day rocket attack

Hamas rocket falls in southern Israel in 2nd unprovoked attack since last summer’s ‘Operation Protective Edge’.

By 124news

Israeli military forces struck a target in the northern Gaza Strip late Thursday night, hours after a rocket fired from the coastal enclave struck southern Israel, violating an already shaky truce between the sides.

Ceasefire broken by Hamas with rocket fired at Israel; the IAF continues to defend Israel day and night. – Photo courtesy: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

The Israel Defense Forces said it targeted a “terror site” belonging to the Hamas terror group near Beit Hanoun.

“In response to rocket attack against Israel, the #IDF targeted a terrorist infrastructure in northern #Gaza,” military spokesperson Peter Lerner wrote on Twitter.

Category: Israel News | Tags: IAF strike, IAF-Gaza

Interview with IDF’s Golani Brigade Commander: ‘Our job is to win wars’

Golani Brigade Commander Col. Rasan Alian believes that the expectation of sterilized warfare, without casualties or glitches, is unreasonable. “We are setting the bar so high that we will never be able to live up to it,” he warns.

By Yoav Limor

This week, in which we observe Israel’s Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day immediately followed by Independence Day, belongs to the Israel Defense Forces’ Golani Brigade in many respects. It is true every year, but especially this year: The brigade has lost 16 of its men in last summer’s Operation Protective Edge — a painful reminder of the toll living in this country takes, but also of the fact that Golani is always there, on the front line, where results are needed and determined. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Golani Brigade, IDF, Operation Protective Edge

Russia’s Removal of S-300 Missile Ban to Iran was Decision of Principle, not Practice

Tass media in Moscow cites Russia’s deputy FM as saying gesture alone of removing weapons sales ban was important but no transfer of advanced weaponry is expected in near future.

By REUTERS

MOSCOW – Supplying Iran with Russian S-300 missile defense systems is not a matter of the nearest future, TASS news agency quoted a Foreign Ministry official as saying on Thursday.

S-300 mobile missile launching systems – Photo: REUTERS

“It is more important that a political and legal decision, which opens up such a possibility, is taken,” Sergei Ryabkov, a deputy foreign minister, said according to TASS.

On Tuesday, US President Barack Obama warned that the United States could “penetrate” Iran’s S-300 supply if Russia sold the advanced missile defense system to the Islamic Republic. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Iran Nuclear threat, Russia Iran, S-300 Missiles

US District Judge allows ‘Islamic Jew-Hatred’ ads on NYC buses

US District Judge rejects opposing argument that it could incite terrorism, since it’s already been published on a Hamas YouTube Music video for a while.

By i24news

New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority must allow the display of an ad showing Muslims killing Jews, a federal judge ruled.

Screenshot from Palwatch YouTube: Killing Jews is worship that draws us close to Allah – Hamas music video

US District Judge John Koeltl in Manhattan on Tuesday ruled that the ad, which includes the statement “Killing Jews is Worship that draws us close to Allah,” as protected speech under the First Amendment and said it must be run on public transportation. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: American Freedom Defense Initiative, anti-Israel Propaganda, NYC, Pamela Geller, US District Court

On Israel’s Independence Day, Canada’s PM Reaffirms Support for Jewish State

Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper says “The Government of Canada remains resolute in our commitment to defend Israel’s right to exist. We believe this right is absolute and non-negotiable.”

By Elad Benari

Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a staunch supporter of Israel, on Wednesday reaffirmed his country’s support for the Jewish state, in a statement released in celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day.

“Tonight at sundown marks the 67th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel – the realization of the Jewish people’s longstanding dream to establish a modern Jewish state in their historic homeland,” said Harper. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Independence Day, Israel Canada, Stephen Harper, Yom Ha’atzmaut

Arab Family Request Son’s Plaque Removed From Israel’s Victims of Terror Memorial

At request from murdered Palestinian teen’s family, Mohammad Abu Khder’s name was removed from the Victims’ Memorial at Har Herzl, but they want to keep receiving the financial benefits.

By Gil Ronen

Following a request from Mohammad Abu Khder’s family, the murdered teenager’s name has been removed from the Victims of Acts of Terror Memorial at Mount Herzl.

Mohammed Abu Khdeir – Photo: Reuters

The Abu Khder family say that they do not consider themselves Israelis, and that they only found out about Mohammad’s inclusion from the media.

The inclusion of Abu Khder raised many eyebrows since Abu Khder was not murdered by enemies of Israel. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Memorial Day, Mohammed Abu Khdeir, Mt. Herzl, Victims of Acts of Terror Memorial

The Jewish State Remembers Its Fallen, Then Celebrates Israel’s Victory

Since 1948, 23,320 Israelis of all religions have fallen in war, or murdered in terrorist attacks.
• Israel honors their sacrifice on Wednesday, and the victory it had won after 2 millennia in exile.

By Israel Today Staff

As we do every year, Israelis on Wednesday made the incredible transition from deep mourning to bounding joy as we first marked the Memorial Day for our fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism before moving immediately into Independence Day.

PHOTO: Israel Defense Forces Facebook page

Nationwide sirens on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning brought Israel to a standstill to remember 23,320 fallen soldiers and victims of anti-Israel terrorism.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Independence Day, Memorial Day, Remembrance Day

Israel’s Top Bank Hires Former President Shimon Peres For $30K a Month

Israel’s Bank Hapoalim denies putting ‘Peres & Associates’ on monthly retainer of $30,000 is aimed to help block projected government reforms.
• Peres’ company says revenues generated “goes to philanthropic & social projects, and to charity.”

By Hezi Sternlicht, Zeev Klein, and Israel Hayom Staff

Bank Hapoalim, Israel’s largest bank, has retained the services of former President Shimon Peres to promote some of its business interests, the financial daily The Marker reported Monday.

Former President Shimon Peres – Photo: Reuters

According to the report, the bank pays Peres and Associates, a company owned by the former president and managed by his son, Chemi Peres, a monthly retainer of $30,000 in consulting fees. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Bank Hapoalim, Shimon Peres, Tikon Olam

IDF court: Arab terrorist to pay damages to terror victims’ family NIS 3.3m ($825K)

Palmers were ambushed in 2011 by rock throwing duo causing car accident, resulting in deaths of father & son.

By YONAH JEREMY BOB

A three-judge panel of the IDF’s Judea Military Court granted approximately NIS 3.3 million in punitive damages on Tuesday to the family of Asher and Yonatan Palmer, victims of a 2011 terror attack by Ali Saada and Waal al-Arjeh.

Ali Saada, along with Waal al-Arjeh, killed Asher Palmer and his baby son Yonatan in 2011 by throwing rocks at their vehicle. – Photo COURTESY: KIRYAT ARBA LOCAL COUNCIL

Despite the unanimous ruling to grant at least some symbolic damages to the family, though, the judges were split 2-1 about granting such a massive punitive compensatory damage award, with judges Amir Dahan and Steve Berman voting in favor and judge Ze’ev Afik voting for a lower amount. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Asher Palmer, IDF court, Military Court

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Arabs Replacing Carpet at Dome of the Rock Quickly Cover Millennium Old Mosaic Tiles

Remodeling at Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa sparks verbal ‘holy war’ as Israel’s gov’t authorities plead that the work be halted because it could cause irreparable damage, while Jordan’s Waqf officials forbid Jewish involvement.

By The Associated Press

It began as a routine remodeling project: Muslim authorities replacing an old carpet worn thin by masses of worshippers at the Dome of the Rock, the iconic, gold-topped shrine that overlooks the Old City of Jerusalem.

Workers place carpets over ancient floor designs in the cave under the Dome of the Rock shrine – Photo: AP

But there is no such thing as routine remodeling when it comes to the most contested piece of real estate in Jerusalem, where the presence of a mere screwdriver can threaten to ignite religious tensions. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Al Aqsa, Dome of the Rock, Temple Mount, Waqf

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Pulitzer-prize Winning WSJ Editor Counsels Israel to Ignore World after Obama’s Betrayals

Pulitzer-prize winning foreign-affairs columnist Bret Stephens tells Jerusalem to revive its past strategies, when Israel wasn’t afraid to go ‘rogue,’ because since Obama, the US isn’t the US anymore.

By Ari Yashar

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Pulitzer-prize winning journalist and deputy-editor of the paper Bret Stephens argued on Monday that due to US President Barack Obama’s irreversible actions, the US doesn’t have Israel’s back anymore – and Israel should learn to stand on its own.

Lee C. Bollinger, President of Columbia University (left), presents the 2013 Pulitzer Prize on Commentary to Bret Stephens of The Wall Street Journal.

Category: Israel News | Tags: Barack Obama, Bret Stephens, Israel US, WSJ

israelandstuffcom | April 21, 2015

How Far Can Israel Push Putin Before Angering the Bear?

Jerusalem continues to consider its options with Russia, like abandoning its neutrality on Ukraine and sending low-level representative to WWII celebration, but one Israeli expert suggests the Jewish State needs to play its cards very carefully.

By Gedalyah Reback

Yesterday, it was announced that Israel would be represented by its ambassador in Moscow at Russia’s annual World War II victory parade. It does not sound like such a remarkable thing, but this is an event that often draws major dignitaries – Russia did capture Berlin, after all. Israel has sent major representatives to the event in the past, but this year’s lack of a Prime Minister, President or minister of note is likely a clear repudiation of Russia’s decision to resell the S-300 missile system to the Iranians. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: Crimea, Israel Russia, S-300, Ukraine

israelandstuffcom | April 21, 2015