Expert: Israel’s gas to benefit Europe but won’t eliminate dependence on Russia

 

With Israel’s 400 billion cu.m. worth of proven gas reserves that are eligible for export, Europe’s dependance on Russia’s gas is not about to end soon.

 
Although a Europe seeking to diversify its natural gas sources could potentially benefit from turning to the Eastern Mediterranean reservoirs, the continent’s dependency on Russian supplies will remain for the foreseeable future, experts say.
Leviathan gas field - Albatross - 09012012

A drilling rig in the Leviathan gas field in the Mediterranean.- Photo: Albatross

Gas exports from Israel to Europe would be “nice to have, but Europe will remain very dependent on Russian gas, and its dependence will probably grow as its own indigenous supplies dwindle,” Gina Cohen, a lecturer at the Technion’s Natural Gas and Petroleum Engineering Graduate Study Program and a consultant in the gas industry, told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.

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Watch: Netanyahu goes to California, visits Whatsapp, Apple & dines with DiCaprio

 

Israel’s PM flies to the West coast with an objective: Advancing Israel’s high-tech industry.

After dinning with Hollywood stars, he sent them a clear message: Make movies about Israel.

By Ynetnews

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had an eventful trip to the West Coast. Netanyahu, his wife Sara and son Yair attended a star-studded event at the home of Israeli businessman Arnon Milchan.

The Netanyahu family poses with Kate Hudson (Photo: Avi Ohayon, GPO)

The Netanyahu family poses with Kate Hudson – Photo: Avi Ohayon, GPO

The mega-producer has managed to get a distinguished list of actors, directors, scriptwriters and all the managers of the most important Hollywood studios to participate in a Q&A session with the Israeli prime minister. Continue Reading »

Israeli hospital receives 1st of 7 Ukrainian wounded in demonstrations

 

Israeli surgeons at Kaplan Hospital ready to reconstruct Alexander S.’s shrapnel-ridden hand.

 

 

A Ukrainian wounded on the streets of Kiev in clashes between protesters and police arrived for treatment in Israel on Wednesday and six more expected were to arrive Thursday, according to a report by Walla news website.

Ukrainian Alexander S. hospitalized in Israel

Ukrainian Alexander S. hospitalized in Israel. – Photo Courtesy: Kaplan Hospital

Surgeons at Kaplan Hospital in Rehovot will attempt in the next couple of days to reconstruct the crushed and shrapnel-ridden hand of 20-year-old Alexander S., the first Ukrainian to arrive in Israel after riots and demonstrations that brought down the country’s president.

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Egypt Detained 100 Female European & American Activists On Way to Gaza

American & European activists who had planned to spend Int’l Women’s Day in Gaza, are being held due to the Egyptian crackdown on Hamas, for “the timing was not appropriate…”

By Ari Yashar

 

A group of 100 European and American activist women were stopped by Egypt on Thursday, as they attempted to cross Sinai to spend International Women’s Day on Saturday in Gaza.

Egyptian soldiers (Illustration) – Reuters

Egyptian authorities stopped the women at the Cairo airport. Among the group, Northern Irish Nobel Laureate and anti-Israel activist Mairead Maguire was already deported on Wednesdaythe same happened to American activist Medea Benjamin on Tuesday. Continue Reading »

European youth group votes “No” on boycotting Israel

 

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Netanyahu & Calif. Gov. Brown sign multilevel partnership agreement

 

BY JTA

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed an economic and research partnership agreement with California Gov. Jerry Brown.

Prime Minister Netanyahu signs a strategic partnership agreement with California Governor Edmund G. (“Jerry”) Brown, Jr. to promote economic relations between Israel and California. – Photo: Avi Ohayon, GPO

The agreement signed Wednesday will enhance cooperation between Israel and California in a number of areas, including water conservation, alternative energy, cybersecurity, health and biotechnology, education and agricultural technology, according to a news release from Brown’s office.

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Israel in Ukraine providing emergency care training to Jewish communities in Kiev

In case of deterioration of the Ukrainian conflict, Israeli rescue organizations are training the Jewish Hatzalah (aid & rescue) unit in Kiev to deal with mass casualties.

 

 

The United Hatzalah and ZAKA rescue organizations are training Jews in Kiev’s Hatzalah so they can respond to mass casualty emergencies in the troubled and violent Ukraine if the crisis escalates.

Anti-government protesters advance through burning barricades in Kiev's Independence Square February 20, 2014 - Photo REUTERS

Anti-government protesters advance through burning barricades in Kiev’s Independence Square February 20, 2014 – Photo REUTERS

In cooperation with the Isralife Foundation, the two organizations — which recently merged — are training local Jews in emergency, rescue and search techniques. Continue Reading »

Behind the scenes & IDF preparations to seize Iran weapons ship

 

UAV, riot gear, advanced medical facilities & full documentation of events: the IDF Command has learned lessons from the Mavi Marmara incident.

By Yoav Zitun

 

 

‘Operation Full Disclosure’

There may be an air of festivity among the defense establishment in Israel over the successful operation to seize an Iranian weapons ship. But the way back to Israel is still perilous for the troops escorting the Klos C, captured Tuesday night 1,500 km from Israel’s shores.

The Klos C being escorted by Israeli Shayetet 13 commandos - Courtesy IDF Spokesperson's Unit

The Klos C being escorted by Israeli Shayetet 13 commandos – Courtesy IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

The IDF has not yet ruled out the chances of an attack on the flotilla of Israel Navy gunships accompanying the Klos-C on its journey to port in Eilat. Continue Reading »

Palestinians tell Obama: ‘We Have Nothing Left to Make Concessions On’

Palestinian Authority statement adds that the dream of peace is slowly fading away & any 2-state solution is ‘evaporating.’

 

The Palestinians responded Wednesday to U.S. President Barack Obama’s promise to pressure Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas “to make tough decisions” in their March 17 meeting, saying they have nothing left to make concessions on.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo, November 11, 2013. – Photo: Reuters

A top U.S. official told Haaretz that Obama made the promise to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their meeting in Washington Monday.

The Palestinian Authority said in a statement Wednesday, “It is important for you to know Mr. Continue Reading »

Jewish refugees from Arab countries recognized by Canada

 

Canadian cabinet in Ottawa stressed the ‘recognition of the experiences of Jewish refugees does not diminish or compete with the situation of the Palestinian refugees.’

By

 

 

Canada has formally recognized the plight of Jewish refugees from Arab lands.

Jewish refugees from Iraq - Pavel Wolberg / Reproduction

Jewish refugees from Iraq. – Photo by Pavel Wolberg/Reproduction

On Monday, Ottawa accepted a report tabled last year that called on the federal government to “officially recognize the experience of Jewish refugees who were displaced from states in the Middle East and North Africa after 1948.”

The federal cabinet approved the report March 3, according to the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA).

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Gaza Based Terrorists Fire Rocket at Southern Israel

Rocket fired at Israel’s southern city of Sderot explodes in an open field, not having required Iron Dome activation.

There were no physical injuries or reported damages.

By Elad Benari

 

Gaza-based terrorists fired a rocket at the southern Israeli city of Sderot on Wednesday night.

The rocket exploded in an open field, causing no physical injuries or damages.

Earlier on Wednesday evening, Gaza terrorists fired a rocket at southern Israel, but that rocket exploded within Gaza.

On Monday, a Gaza rocket was fired into the Ashkelon coast. It, too, exploded in an open area, and no physical injuries or damages were reported. Continue Reading »

Beauty From Southern Israel Named Miss Israel 2014

 

A high-school arts major & computer graphics student Mor Maman, 18, named Israel’s new Miss Israel in yesterday’s pageant held in Haifa.

The soon-to-be Israeli Air Force soldier is currently managing a Facebook group promoting nutrition among teens.

By Eran Suissa

 

 

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With Venezuela collapsing into chaos, Jewish numbers are dwindling

 

The Venezuelan Jewish community has shrunk by more than half. Now at about 7,000, down from 25,000 in the 1990s, many of those who left were community leaders.

By Uriel Heilma
 

(JTA) — They left after Venezuelan secret police raided a Jewish club in 2007, and after the local synagogue was ransacked by unidentified thugs two years later.

A man uses a slingshot against national guard troops following one of the largest anti-government demonstrations yet on March 2, 2014 in Caracas, Venezuela. (John Moore/Getty Images)

A man uses a slingshot against national guard troops following one of the largest anti-government demonstrations yet on March 2, 2014 in Caracas, Venezuela. – Photo: John Moore/Getty Images

They left after President Hugo Chavez expelled Israel’s ambassador to Caracas, and when he called on Venezuela’s Jews to condemn Israel for its actions in Gaza in 2009. Continue Reading »

Israeli defense firm to help secure US border with Mexico

Israeli defense firm Elbit wins $145 million contract to build surveillance towers along Arizona’s border with Mexico.

By i24NEWS

 

The Israeli defense company Elbit Systems confirmed on Wednesday that they had received a $145 million contract by the United States Department of Homeland Security to build security towers on Arizona’s border with Mexico.

Arizona’s border fence with Mexico – Photo: AFP

The company wrote in a press release on their website that the “Integrated Fixed Tower Project” would be implemented “over an approximately 12-month period.”

The work, which will apparently include cameras and radars with the capability to detect human movement, will be carried out by Elbit Systems of America, which is the company’s US subsidiary. Continue Reading »

Liberman tells Abbas: Israel refuses to accept conditions to continue talks

 

Foreign Minister Liberman says of the Palestinian Authority “Those who want to set conditions should look for other partners.”

 

 

Israel will not accept any conditions for a continuation of talks with the Palestinians, foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman said Wednesday, rejecting new Palestinian demands that Israel freeze settlement construction and release more Palestinian prisoners in order to continue negotiations past their late April deadline.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman – Photo: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post

“There will be no conditions,” Liberman said Wednesday at a meeting in Tel Aviv of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Israel.

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