| April 18, 2014
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South Africa Muslim leader accuses rival party’s pro-Israel stance as ‘paid-for’

 

Al Jama-ah leader asked whether South Africa’s second largest political party’s pro-Israel position was based on donations.

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A month ahead of national elections, a question is being asked: Does the Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s second largest political party, smile on Israel because it’s funded by pro-Israel sources?

James Selfe, leader of the DA.

James Selfe, leader of the DA. – Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

That’s the question asked by the leader of a rival party, Al Jama-ah, a shopkeeper named Imraahn Ismail-Mukaddam, according to Independant Online, which aggregates the websites of the country’s largest media group.

The DA for its part said it doesn’t have to answer his questions, and didn’t comment on his allegations.

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Category: The Diaspora | Tags: ,
| April 18, 2014
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John Kerry: Anti-Jewish demands in Ukraine city are ‘grotesque’

 

Pamphlets were distributed to Donetsk’s Jews requiring them to register assets with pro-Russian separatists or face forced deportation.

By i24news

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday notices were sent to Jews in a Ukrainian city asking them to identify themselves as Jews, a move he condemned as “grotesque.”

Pro-Russia activists stand in front of a placard bearing the logo of Ukraine's disbanded elite Berkut riot police reading "Glory to Berkut" as they guard a barricade in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on April 14, 2014 ( Alexander Khudoteply (AFP) )

Pro-Russia activists stand in front of a placard bearing the logo of Ukraine’s disbanded elite Berkut riot police reading “Glory to Berkut” as they guard a barricade in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on April 14, 2014 – Photo: Alexander Khudoteply/AFP

“In the year 2014, after all of the miles travelled and all of the journey of history, this is not just intolerable, it’s grotesque.

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Category: Mid-East News, The Diaspora | Tags: , ,
| April 18, 2014
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Egyptian Christians Condemned for Easter Pilgrimage to Israel

 

Despite Egyptian Christians still officially  forbidden from visiting Israel by their religious leaders, Egypt’s airlines have tripled from the normal 4 per week to Tel Aviv.

By Dr. Ashraf Ramelah

 

While Jews around the world celebrate Passover, Christians from Egypt visit the Holy Land for their week of Holy Pascha (the Passion of Christ). For this pilgrimage, Egyptian Christians (Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical) leave Cairo by the thousands on daily flights to Israel. Egypt’s airlines have increased departures to 12 flights per week from the normal four. In spite of the regularity of this annual event, rumors vilifying Israel propagate throughout the Egyptian press. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| April 17, 2014
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Putin sends Passover greeting saying Russian Jews make huge contribution

Putin praises the Jewish community’s  work to ‘preserve stability & consensus in the general public and actively participates in the education of the younger generation as well as charity & humanitarian endeavors.’

By JTA

 

Russian Jews are making an enormous contribution to strengthening Russian society’s cohesion, President Vladimir Putin wrote in a holiday greeting to the Jewish community.

Rabbi Berel Lazar, a chief rabbi of Russia, at the Kremlin in Moscow.

Putin meets with Rabbi Berel Lazar, a chief rabbi of Russia, at the Kremlin in Moscow. – Photo: Shturem.net

Putin sent the greeting on Monday, the news site shturem.net reported Thursday, after meeting Rabbi Berel Lazar, a chief rabbi of Russia, at the Kremlin in Moscow.

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Category: Jewish News | Tags: , ,
| April 17, 2014
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IN PHOTOS: Passover Seder held by the Jews of Kaifeng, China

 

The Kaifeng Jews according to some, are direct descendants of Sephardi Jewish traders who settled in China during the 8th or 9th century.

By SAM SOKOL


The community of Kaifeng held one of the first Seder meals to be held by indigenous Chinese Jews in generations this week.

Kaifeng

Kaifeng Jews, Burning of unleavened bread (Chametz). 
There are around 1,000 residents of Jewish descent in the city, one of China’s former imperial capitals. The Seder, was organized by Jerusalem-based Shavei Israel.Burning of the unleavened bread (Chametz).

The Shavei Israel organization aims at helping people of Jewish descent to “rediscover or renew their link with the people of Israel.”

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Category: Jewish News, The Diaspora | Tags: ,
| April 17, 2014
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10 Israeli backpackers injured as bus overturns in Argentina

 

10 Israeli backpacking tourists were injured in a road accident on Seven Lakes Route with one suffering a severe head injury. All were taken to local hospitals.

By Itay Blumenthal

 

A bus carrying Israeli backpackers overturned Thursday morning in the area of the Seven Lakes Route in Argentina. One of the Israelis suffered a severe head injury, and the nine others were in light condition.

Overturned bus in Argentina

Overturned bus in Argentina – Screenshot

The Foreign Ministry has been notified and representatives of the Israeli consulate in Buenos Aires were expected to arrive to the area within the next few hours to visit the hospitalized Israelis and check on their condition. Continue Reading »

Category: The Diaspora | Tags: ,
| April 17, 2014
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Upon return from visiting Lebanon, Israeli Arab journalist arrested

 

Israeli court removes gag order on investigation of Majd Kayyal, a pro-Palestinian journalist/activist who blatantly visited a ‘hostile country at war with Israel’ to attend a 40-yr anniversary bash by the Lebanese newspaper he writes for.

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The Israel Police and Shin Bet security service arrested Israeli Arab journalist and political activist Majd Kayyal on Saturday, on his way back to Israel from a three-week visit to Beirut.

Majd Kayyal

Majd Kayyal. – Photo: Panet

Kayyal, a resident of Haifa, was stopped at the Jordan River crossing. He was arrested on suspicion of visiting a hostile country and contacting foreign agents. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| April 17, 2014
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Israeli still in Indian Prison After Neglected Bullet Found in Backpack

Steve Silvenchev is another of several post-IDF Israelis who are or have been imprisoned abroad for the ‘crime’ of forgetting to clean out a backpack that was used during his army service.

By Yosef Berger

 

Steve Silvenchev, an Israeli tourist in India, had been in jail in Mumbai for seven months, after authorities there found a bullet in a backpack that he had used at times during his stint in the IDF. They were detected when he went through security in Mumbai when he arrived on what was planned to be a post-army hike. Equipment at Ben Gurion Airport did not pick up the bullets. Continue Reading »

Category: The Diaspora | Tags: , ,
| April 17, 2014
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Abbas agrees to extend peace talks by 9 months for map, freeze & prisoners

 

State Dept. says US special envoy Martin Indyk is en route to Israel to continue work on extending talks as Abbas hints to Israeli MKs he is willing to extend talks on condition they focus on core issues.

By Yitzhak Benhorin

 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has expressed his willingness to extended talks by an additional nine months, on the condition that talks held during this time focus on core issues – namely final border arrangements.

Abbas with Labor MK Yehiel (Hilik) Bar (Photo: AFP)

Abbas with Labor MK Yehiel (Hilik) Bar – Photo: AFP

The position was insinuated by Abbas and PA officials during a Wednesday meeting Abbas held with leftwing Israeli MKs from the Labor party and Meretz, and came as US Special Envoy Martin Indyk was en route to the region in a bid to reach an agreement to extend negotiations beyond their end-of-April deadline. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| April 17, 2014
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Africa overland aid convoy due to arrive in Gaza next week

The overland convoy includes some 30 activists from European & Arab countries and is carrying medical supplies & other humanitarian aid for Gaza’s hospitals.

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An overland aid convoy headed for the Gaza Strip is expected to arrive via the Rafah crossing next Sunday, according to the Palestinian news agency Ma’an.

The Miles of Smiles convoy.

The Miles of Smiles convoy. – Photo: Screenshot

Known as “Miles of Smiles 26,” the convoy includes over 30 activists from Arab and European countries and is carrying humanitarian aid and medical supplies to hospitals in Gaza.

The convoy was organized by a group calling itself the National Committee to Break the Siege.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| April 17, 2014
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The U.S. still Jerusalem’s best friend, but no longer Israel’s only friend

 

Israel is no longer an embattled, impoverished, emotionally needy client state. It is an emerging int’l power with options it never had before.

By Zev Chafets

 

 

Late last month the United States introduced a U.N. resolution condemning Russia’s de facto seizure of Crimea from Ukraine. As expected, the resolution passed the General Assembly easily. Unexpected, though, was the decision by Israel, long America’s most reliable U.N. vote (and vice versa), to absent itself from the ballot.

MP14-0147 2nd Israel C-130J 5742 first flight 20140115

The Hercules “Samson” C-130J will reinforce Israel’s air superiority, giving it better carrying capacity and mid-air refueling ability. Better than ever before, Israel will be able to neutralize threats both near and far.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| April 17, 2014
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Amsterdam collected fines from Holocaust survivors for unpaid property tax

Amsterdam’s current mayor is undertaking an investigation with the purpose of reimbursing the survivors who paid a total of $14.5 million in fines from 1942 to the end of the war.

By i24news

 

Amsterdam’s municipal authorities have reportedly been collecting property tax, including fines for late payments, from Jewish survivors of the Holocaust, billing them over time periods spent in Nazi concentration camps, or in hiding.

Photo courtesy Yad Vashem

The reported policy is potentially all the more scandalous as the Dutch have been widely lauded for their compassionate treatment of Jews during the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands in the course of WWII, including concealing many Jews from their German persecutors. Continue Reading »

Category: Jewish News | Tags: ,
| April 16, 2014
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Al-Quds medical doctors caught in fight over Jerusalem

 

While Israeli court ruling allows Al-Quds medical school graduates to take qualifying examinations enabling them to practice medicine in Israel, Health Ministry does not promise decision will become policy.

By Associated Press

 

ABU DIS, West Bank – Since graduating from a local medical school nine years ago, Basel Nassar has been barred from serving his community in east Jerusalem, despite a shortage of doctors there.

Hamas rally at Al-Quds University in Jerusalem. - Photo: Facebook

Hamas rally at Al-Quds University in Jerusalem. – Photo: Facebook

Like dozens of other Palestinian doctors, Nassar has been caught in the political battle between Israel and the Palestinians over east Jerusalem. The Palestinians seek the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip – territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War – for a future state. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| April 16, 2014
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Missouri lawmakers seek to open economic development office in Israel

Missouri’s office in Israel would be focused on developing joint business partnerships in biotechnology, agriculture & other emerging fields.

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JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri – Some Missouri lawmakers want the state to open an economic development office in Israel.

The Gateway Arch of Saint Louis, Missouri. April 2, 2014

The Gateway Arch of Saint Louis, Missouri, as seen from Saint Louis University School of Law on April 2. – Photo: AP/St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Laurie Skrivan

A spending plan embraced by a Senate committee would insert $200,000 into the next state budget to open an office in Israel.

The Senate and House have each passed bills that would require the Department of Economic Development to establish an office in Israel.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| April 16, 2014
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Hamas Appears to Have Taken Control of the Temple Mount

PM Natanyahu criticized for condemning Abbas’ Palestinian Authority incitement while completely ignoring Hamas incitement after 2 days of violence on the Temple Mount.

By Ari Soffer

 

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has been accused of hypocrisy after criticizing Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas for incitement, while simultaneously “turning a blind eye” to Hamas-led incitement in the heart of Jerusalem.

Hamas flags, Muslim Brotherhood symbols on Temple Mount – Photo: Yehuda Glick

The past few days have seen renewed activity by Hamas on the Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site, with Islamists literally taking it over for several hours on the eve of the Jewish festival of Pesach (Passover), in a successful bid to keep Jews from visiting the site. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
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