Israel’s Defense Ministry issues letter of apology to U.S. Sec.of State John Kerry

 

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon ‘apologizes if Secretary Kerry was offended by words attributed to the defense minister,’ letter of apology says.

Israeli official reports Prime Minister Netanyahu contacted top U.S. official in attempt to smooth over controversy accredit to the defense minister’s comments

By Reuter

 

The office of Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon issued a statment on Tuesday, saying:

Israel and the United states share a common goal to advance the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians led by Secretary Kerry.

We appreciate Secretary Kerry’s many efforts towards that end. The defense minister had no intention to cause any offense to the secretary, and he apologizes if the secretary was offended by words attributed to the minister.

Continue Reading »

Israel business news: Teva stock jumps after U.S. Federal Court’s vindication

 

U.S. Federal judge acquits the Israeli pharmaceutical concern, Teva of infringing on 5 patents of the painkiller, OxyContin.

Teva shares shot up 6.7% in one day gain.

By Reuters

 

 

A federal judge said Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd did not infringe five patents related to the painkiller OxyContin, helping push shares of the world’s largest generic drug manufacturer up 6.7 percent on Tuesday.

Teva

Teva’s factory in Hungary. – Photo: Bloomberg

Earlier in the day, Teva executives said at a JPMorgan healthcare conference that they were confident a new version of its multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone that requires less frequent dosing will soon win regulatory approval for use in the United States. Continue Reading »

Growing up as a Gaza Muslim, Jewish youth celebrates his Bar Mitzvah

After escaping the abuse from her ‘family’ in Gaza, the son of a Jewish woman tricked into marrying and living with a Palestinian, now celebrates his Bar Mitzvah in Israel.

By Ari Yashar

 

An unusual bar mitzvah ceremony was held on Tuesday for the son of a Jewish woman tricked into marrying and living with an Arab man in Gaza for years. The mother and her children recently managed to escape violent abuse and restart their lives as Jews.

“I lived for years as a Muslim. Today I stand as a proud Jewish youth,” remarked the bar mitzvah boy, referred to as D., Continue Reading »

Twitter closes Hamas’s Qassam Brigades account without notice

 

Hamas’ military wing in Gaza blames closure of Twitter account on the Christians & Zionists and then opened new social media account just days later.

By Ynet

Twitter suspended the official English account of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades – the military wing of Hamas – without warning the group, the Palestinian news site Safa reported over the weekend.

Hamas graduation ceremony

Hamas graduation ceremony

The supervisor of the terrorist group’s account said the social media organization suspended the organization’s account on Thursday after being pressured by Zionist groups and Christians.

In a statement on the Qassam Brigades’ website, the account manager said Twitter closed the account because of an image published depicting Palestinian resistance to the West. Continue Reading »

Palestinian Media Reports: Armored IDF Vehicles ‘Entered Gaza’

Maan, the Palestinian Authority-based news agency says the IDF’s operation was a ‘limited incursion’ for surveillance.

By Gil Ronen

 

Palestinian Authority-based news agency Maan reported Tuesday that Israeli military vehicles crossed into northern Gaza for surveillance activities on Monday.

Bayt Lahiya region – Google Earth

The limited incursion took place in a border region near Beit Lahiya, witnesses told Maan. Separately, Israeli warships opened fire at Palestinian “fishermen” off the coast near al-Sudaniyya west of Beit Lahiya.

No injuries were reported, but the fishermen fled and were unable to continue fishing, the outlet said.

 

View original Arutz Sheva publication at: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/176276#.UtV3GbSPlgh Continue Reading »

Israeli PM in hot water with U.S. after Defense Minister calls Kerry “delusional”

 

U.S. State Dept. issues harsh rebuke after Ya’alon reportedly calls Sec. of State Kerry, “messianic, delusional”.

Netanyahu says to the U.S. “Even when we have disagreements with the US, they are always on the heart of the matter, not on the merits of an individual.”

By LAHAV HARKOV/REUTERS

 

 

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu did damage control on the Israel-US relationship in his speech in honor of the Knesset’s 65th birthday, following Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon’s comments about US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon on a tour of the Syrian-Israeli border on Tuesday, December 3, 2013.

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon on a tour of the Syrian-Israeli border in December 2013.- Photo: Ariel Hermoni/Defense Minister

“Even when we have disagreements with the US, they are always on the heart of the matter, not on the merits of an individual,” Netanyahu said in an apparent dig at Ya’alon, who, according to a Yediot Aharonot report, accused Kerry of being “messianic” and “delusional” when it comes to negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Continue Reading »

Palestinian PM gets into altercation with traffic-cop over driver’s reckless driving

 

Israeli Police Officers made every attempt to release the Palestinian PM quickly, even after vocally abusing one of the policemen, but he demanded an immediate apology from the police officers for forcing the drive to stop.

By Elior Levy

 

Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah got into a row with Israeli policemen who stopped him Tuesday for reckless driving near Ramallah, calling one of them a “dog”.

A crowd gathers around Palestinian PM Hamdallah (Photo: Studio Farah, Ramallah)

A crowd gathers around Palestinian PM hHamdalla – Photo: Studio Farah, Ramallah

After the prime minister and his convoy were pulled over on Route 60, a crowd of Palestinians gathered around the vehicles. Continue Reading »

Arab Weapons Smugglers Busted in Palestinian Town By Israel Police

Border Guard police along with police from Maaleh Adumim discovered a weapons cache in the PA-controlled village of Azariya, just outside of Jerusalem.

By Ari Yashar

 

Police officers from Maaleh Adumim and border police have discovered an illegal weapons cache in the Palestinian Authority (PA) controlled village of Azariya, located off Highway 1, several minutes outside of Jerusalem on the way to Maaleh Adumim.

Captured weapons from Azariya smuggling – Police Spokesperson Unit

During the police search, components of various weapons models were found, along with tools to clean and equip them, as well as ammunition consisting of over 100 bullets of different types. Continue Reading »

Turkey no longer protecting IHH: Sends police to detain members over Al-Qaida links

 

IHH, the Turkish aid organization behind the Gaza-bound flotilla & Mavi Marmama in 2010, reports storage facility near Syrian border was searched & employee was taken away by Police.

 

 

Turkish media said police have carried out raids in six Turkish cities, detaining several people allegedly linked to Al-Qaida, including an employee of a prominent Islamic charity.

Mavi Marmara

A crowd greets the Mavi Marmama, the lead ship of the ‘Gaza flotilla,’ upon its return to Istanbul, Dec. 26, 2010. – Photo: AP

The aid organization, IHH, confirmed Tuesday that its storage facility near the Syrian border was searched and an employee was detained. Continue Reading »

U.S. VP Biden: Palestine & Israel could be an ‘island of stability’ in Mideast

 

Secretary of State Kerry is expected back in the region in the coming weeks to present his ‘framework’ for a future peace agreement.

 

 

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Monday tried to give a boost to the flagging Mideast peace process, saying he believes Israel and a future Palestine could become an “island of stability” in a turbulent region and expressing hope that leaders would make the “difficult decisions” needed for compromise.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Vice President Joe Biden – Photo: Matty Stern/US Embassy Tel Aviv

Biden made his comments at a sensitive time. Continue Reading »

IDF’s New Huge Negev Complex to be Named After Sharon

The IDF’s new 4CI Branch training complex being built in the Negev & currently known as ‘Ir HaBahadim’, will be named after former General/PM.

By Elad Benari

 

The IDF’s new training complex in the Negev, known as Ir HaBahadim (lit. the city of training bases), will be named after former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, it was announced on Sunday evening.

IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz and Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon received and approved the recommendation of a military names committee to name the complex after Sharon.

The town will be built on an area of 1,065 dunams (263 acres) and will house the IDF’s Armaments School, Logistics Training School, Military Police, and more. Continue Reading »

Arab Leader: We get Jerusalem, or No Peace

 

Despite John Kerry’s efforts, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas again signals everyone just how unrealistic a true peace deal really is.

By Ryan Jones

 

The Palestinian leadership at the weekend again signaled how far we are from reaching a bilateral, final status peace agreement, the determined and ongoing efforts of US Secretary of State John Kerry notwithstanding.

Palestinians: Give Us Jerusalem, or No Peace

Mahmoud Abbas (center) – Photo source: Israel Today

In a previous report, Israel Today pointed out how Israelis see control over Jerusalem as the next, and most significant stumbling block on the road to peace.

Polls over the past decade have consistently shown that an overwhelming majority of Israelis are opposed to surrendering to the Palestinians the eastern half of their ancient capital, including the Old City and its Temple Mount. Continue Reading »

New legislation seeks to bar all use of Nazi slurs & symbols

 

Continue Reading »

Special Tribunal to try Hezbollah defendants for assassinating Lebanese PM Hariri

 

Special Tribunal for Lebanon will open trial  against Hezbollah defendants in absentia, charged with assassinating former Prime Minster Rafik Hariri and the 21 also killed in the 2005 massive car-bomb explosion.

 

 

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) is set to open the trial in absentia on Thursday against the Hezbollah defendants alleged to have assassinated former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri and killed 21 others on February 14, 2005.

Billboards of Rafik Hariri in Sidon

Billboards of Rafik Hariri in Sidon – Photo: Ali Hashisho / Reuters

To date, the case has riled, divided and inflamed already hot disputes between Lebanon’s Sunni and Shiite population, with Sunnis demanding justice and Hezbollah claiming the case was pushed forward by Western countries trying to reduce and besmirch its name (even though the court was formed with Lebanon’s consent.) Continue Reading »

Earthquake shakes Galilee again

 

After a series of Galilee area earthquakes in October, tremors shake the region again. ‘We felt the ground moving,’ residents said, but is Israel prepared?

By Michal Margalit

 

A light earthquake was felt Monday afternoon in the Upper Galilee. Director of the Geophysical Institute of Israel, Dr. Uri Frieslander, reported that magnitude of the quake was 3.5 on the Richter scale.

3.5 on Richter scale — Photo: Reuters

The epicenter was documented in the area of Almagor, north of the Sea of Galilee.

Shortly after 3:00 pm, the quake was felt in the area of the Sea of Galilee and Upper Galilee. Continue Reading »