Netanyahu: Jerusalem is Our Heart – We’ll Never Divide Our Heart

At the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva, Prime Minister Netanyahu at the Jerusalem Day celebrations said Jerusalem is Israel’s eternity.

By Elad Benari

 

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday night that Jerusalem is the heart of Israel and, as such, will never be divided again.

Prime Minister Netanyahu at the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva

Prime Minister Netanyahu at the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva – Photo: Kobi Gideon/GPO

Netanyahu made the comments in a speech he gave at the annual Jerusalem Day celebrations at the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva.

The celebration at Merkaz Harav is traditionally attended by the important figures of Religious Zionist rabbinic and political leadership. This year the dais included, among others, Economy Minister and Jewish Home chairman Naftali Bennett, Housing Minister Uri Ariel, Chief Rabbis David Lau and Yitzchak Yosef, Former Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Dep. Continue Reading »

Israel flies in to rescue Ukrainian Jews stranded during fighting

 

Jewish Agency helps 2 families arrive safely in Israel who were stranded at embattled Donetsk airport in the Ukraine.

By Reuters

 

Israel’s Jewish Agency came to the rescue of two Jewish Ukranian families after rebels seized control of Donetsk airport as they were waiting to emigrate to Israel, an agency spokesman said on Tuesday.

File:El Al Boeing 737-8HX.jpg

El Al 737 – Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons.

The two families, numbering six people, were stranded at the airport when it was shut down on Monday. The agency then launched a “fast-paced operation,” spokesman Avi Mayer said.

The families were driven to the Ukrainian city of Dnepropetrovsk then flown to Kiev where they boarded a plane for Tel Aviv, Mayer said. Continue Reading »

Israeli Christians Ask Israel to Rebuild its 1948 Village

 

Israel’s Maronite Christians hope to exploit the Pope’s visit to spark revival of their ancient Galilee village.

By Ryan Jones

 

Another interesting aspect of Pope Francis’ visit to the region this week involved the Maronite Church, whose Lebanon-based patriarch defied hostile Arab voices and joined the pontiff in Israel.

Israeli Christians Urge Israel to Rebuild Their Village

Ruins of the ancient synagogue at Kfar Baram – Photo source: Israel Today

The Maronite Church is part of the broader Catholic Church. It has traditionally been far less hostile toward Israel than other churches in the Middle East. That is especially true of the Maronites living in Israel, a great many of whom volunteer to serve in the IDF. Continue Reading »

Jerusalem Christian site torched mere hours after Pope’s visit

 

Arson’s fire was set at Dormition Abbey, the location of Jesus’ Last Supper & the last stop of Pope Francis’ 2-day visit to Israel.

By Reuters & Israel Hayom Staff

 

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Iranian judge demands ‘Zionist CEO’ Zuckerberg’s appearance for breach of privacy

 

Iranian court opens case against Instagram & instant messaging services WhatsApp following the gov’t blocking of Twitter & YouTube.

By REUTER

 

DUBAI  – A conservative Iranian court opened a case against instant messaging services WhatsApp and Instagram while also summoning Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg over complaints of privacy violation, state news agency ISNA reported on Tuesday.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg – Photo: REUTERS/Sebastien Nogier

The case underscores the growing struggle between moderate Iranian president Hassan Rouhani’s drive to increase Internet freedoms and demands by the conservative judiciary for tighter controls.

The Iranian court in the southern province of Fars opened the cases against the social networks after citizens complained of breaches of privacy.

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Saudi Publishing House Condemned for Translating Israeli Book

 

Saudi Arabian press house sparks storm of protest after publishing translated into Arabic book by an Israeli researcher, with critics condemning action as ‘a form of cultural normalization with the Zionist enemy.’

By Roi Kais

 

A Saudi-owned publishing house called “Madarak”, based in Dubai, sparked a torrent of outrage in Saudi Arabia in recent weeks, after publishing an Arabic translation of an Israeli researcher’s book.

Cover of Professor Joshua Teitelbaum's book

Cover of Professor Joshua Teitelbaum’s book

The book, titled “Saudi Arabia and the New Strategic Landscape” was written by Prof. Joshua Teitelbaum and published in English in 2010. It deals with relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, focusing on issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Continue Reading »

Mayor of Jerusalem: Change code to Israel’s airport from TLV to JLM

 

Mayor of Israel’s capital revives idea of changing code of Ben-Gurion International Airport in order to boost tourism to Jerusalem.

 

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat Tuesday called on the Knesset to change the code letters of Israel’s Ben-Gurion airport from TLV to JLM, Israel National News reported.

Nir Barkat

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat – Photo: Emil Salman

Speaking at the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee, Barkat said, “Branding the airport with the letters symbolizing the capital of Israel will put Jerusalem at the center and accelerate tourism to the capital.”

The mayor was outlining general development projects in Jerusalem, according to the report.

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Terrorists Commission Contract to Kill Jewish Mayor for Being Friendly to Arabs

Among the signatories of the contract that ‘sentenced’ to death an Israeli Mayor, Avi Naim, was Fatah, headed by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

By Yaakov Levi

 

Terrorist groups have sent death threats to Avi Naim, the local authority head of Beit Aryeh, located in western Samaria – because of his insistence on maintaining positive relations with the leaders of Arab villages in the vicinity of his town.

Threats have been sent to Naim personally in the past, and this week fliers appeared in Arab towns and villages in the area saying that if Naim continued to hold meetings and conduct positive relations with the neighboring Arab village of Luban, “his blood should be considered free to spill.” Continue Reading »

Israel brings hope and medical attention to Uganda

AIDS patients are finally getting treated since The Art Joy Love organization sends Israeli volunteers to Africa

By Tami Harel

 

It takes a full day to get from Tel Aviv to the Island of Bussi in Uganda. The journey begins with a flight to Addis Ababa and continues with a long layover followed by a connecting flight to Entebbe. One crosses Lake Victoria by ferry and only after a long canoe cruise arrives to Bussi.

Uganda ( i24news )

Uganda – Photo: i24news

Bussi Island in Uganda. One of the many islands scattered on Lake Victoria and one of the world’s main focal points of AIDS. Continue Reading »

Israel to Become a Cashless Society

 

Netanyahu-appointed committee looks to end Israel’s massive black market by ending cash transactions therefore recovering lost tax revenues.

By Yossi Aloni

 

A special committee headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief of staff, Harel Locker, has recommended a three-phase plan to all but do away with cash transactions in Israel.

Israeli coins

10 New Shekel coin – Israel Today

The motivation for examining a cash-less economy is combatting money laundering and other tax-evasion tactics, thereby maximizing potential tax collection and greatly expanding the tax base. This is important considering the enormous strain put on Israel’s national budget by the army, healthcare system and other public services. Continue Reading »

PHOTO ALBUM: Israel Seen Through the International Instagram Photographers

 

StandWithUs hosts photographers from all over the world to travel throughout Israel, hoping that their special images captured will help share the country’s beautiful landscape & culture.

By Lital Shemesh

 

Nine photographers with 4 million followers on the social media photo sharing site Instagram are touring Israel for the first time.

Sunset at the Dead Sea – Photo: #paulodelvalle

During their time here, the photographers will visit sites from Tiberias to Masada and the Dead Sea, and cities from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. Through their Instagram pictures, their followers will be exposed to Israel’s landscapes and culture.

The visitors, who come from Brazil, Spain, Austria, Russia, Britain, and the U.S., Continue Reading »

The Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood: Dylan said go to Israel

 

Iconic musician, Bob Dylan, suggested that the band make ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ and perform in Israel on the Stone’s European tour this summer.

 

 

Ronnie Wood, guitarist for The Rolling Stones, revealed Monday that Bob Dylan put the idea in the Stones’ circle to include Israel as a tour stop.

Stones Ticket

Ticket to upcoming Stones concert in Tel Aviv – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

In an interview with Channel 2 in response to written questions ahead of the Stones’ Israel debut on June 4, Wood said that one time after seeing Dylan perform, the singer made the suggestion.

He was coming offstage and said “we’re going to Tel Aviv.” Continue Reading »

Saudi Prince declines invitation to Israel by ex-IDF intel chief

Former Israeli intelligence chief Amos Yadlin says Jerusalem rejects Saudi peace initiative because Arab League made it a ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ deal.

By

 

Saudi royal declined invitation by former Israeli intelligence chief to visit Jerusalem at a public talk in Belgium Monday, saying that the invitation was mere appeal to emotion aimed at distracting from the subject of the discussion – reaching peace based on the Saudi peace initiative.

Turki bin Faisal Al Saud

Turki bin Faisal Al Saud – Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Marc Müller

Amos Yadlin, who headed the Israel Defense Forces’ Military Intelligence Directorate for four years until 2010, made the statement during a public talk in Brussels with Turki bin Faisal Al Saud, director of the General Intelligence of Saudi Arabia from 1979 to 2001 and the youngest son of the late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. Continue Reading »

WANTED: Turkish court orders arrest warrants on 4 Israeli military commanders

 

Then IDF chief of staff Gantz, former Navy commander Marom, former IDF Intel chief Yadlin and former IAF Intel head Levi wanted for alleged involvement in Marmara raid.

By Ynetnews

 

A Turkish court has ordered the arrest of former IDF chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi, and three other IDF commanders that Turkey holds responsible for the Israeli Navy’s raid of a 2010 Gaza-bound flotilla, Turkish newspaper Hürriyet Daily News reported on Monday.

WANTED
The court has also asked for an Interpol Red Notice for the arrest of the then-top IDF brass – Ashkenazi, former Naval Forces commander Eliezer Marom, former Military Intelligence chief Amos Yadlin and former Air Forces Intelligence head Avishai Levi. Continue Reading »

193 Unique Facts About Israel

Israel, the 100th smallest country in the world, with less than 1/1000th of the world’s population, can make claim to the following 193 facts:

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  • Israeli researchers have found that red plums have higher antioxidant levels than pomegranates, red wine, and apples. One plum with your meal counters the oxidizing agents in a seven-ounce portion of red meat.
  • An Israeli teenager has developed a revolutionary device for the car which may cut pollution and save you up to 40% on your gas bills.
  • A new Israeli-Jordanian-Palestinian biofuel project will alleviate thousands of tons of organic waste and produce one million barrels of biofuel.
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