Israel’s Christian community divided on IDF enlistment campaign

 

Pre-Christmas military ceremony honoring contribution of Christian volunteers into the IDF highlights Jerusalem’s new push to recruit its minorities.

Arab enlistment opponents use intimidation & scare tactics against those who sign up.

Christian soldier: ‘We are held hostages’ of Muslim Arab community

By The Associated Press

Dozens of Israeli soldiers respectfully rose from their seats as the Israeli national anthem began playing. The recording of “Hatikva,” an ode to the Jewish yearning for the Land of Israel, wrapped up a ceremony, held in Hebrew, during which speakers thanked the troops and handed out awards.

Elinor Joseph, was born 1991 into a Christian family from the Arab village of Jish, is the first Arab woman ever to serve in a combat role in the I.D.F.

Elinor Joseph, was born 1991 into a Christian family from the Arab village of Jish, is the first Arab woman ever to serve in a combat role in the I.D.F.

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Two Rockets Hit Northern Israel; IDF Responds with Artillery Fire

Two Katyusha rockets fall just outside of Kiryat Shmona; no casualties reported.


IDF artillery unit fires rounds at Lebanese village identified as the source.

By Tova Dvorin

 

Two Katyusha rockets fell in Israel’s North Sunday.

Katyusha Rocket shot at Galilee (archive) – IsraelandStuff/PP

Katyusha Rocket shot at Galilee (archive) – IsraelandStuff/PP

The rocket fire was heard at about 7:00 am, near the city of Kiryat Shmona. Kiryat Shmona is close to the Lebanese border.

No casualties have been reported.

Local residents reported explosions and alerted security forces, who then combed the area to locate the points of impact and the launch site. Residents reported clouds of smoke billowing from the impact sites. Continue Reading »

Next group of Palestinian terrorists to be release on December 30

After threats from the EU & US, now the Palestinian Authority warns Israel not to announce new construction in response to prisoner release.

By Reuters and

 

 

Israel has informed the United States of plans to release the next group of Palestinian prisoners on Dec. 30 under a U.S.-brokered peace plan, the State Department said on Friday.

Protest against release of Palestinian prisoners - AFP

Israeli protesters hold placards as they demonstrate in the city of Tel Aviv on December 26, 2013 against the release of Palestinian prisoners. – Photo: AFP

“Although we had expected the release to occur on December 29, we have been informed that technical issues made it necessary to do the release a day later,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement. Continue Reading »

Earthquake Hits Northern Israel

Mediterranean earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale shakes Cyprus and was felt as far east as the Haifa area.

By Tova Dvorin

 

An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale shook Cyprus Saturday night, with the effects felt as far east as Northern Israel. The two areas primarily affected were Haifa and the Krayot.

The quake’s epicenter was about 50 kilometers deep in the Mediterranean Sea, and about 80 kilometers from Antalya, Turkey.

No casualties are reported and no further aftershocks are expected.

Orit, a resident of the Kiryat Shmuel neighborhood in Haifa, described the quake to Arutz Sheva. Continue Reading »

NY Bill to Withdraw Public Funding to Schools Supporting ASA Boycott

New York State politicians are proposing a bill that will withdraw public financial assistance from colleges & universities supporting the ASA boycott of Israel because it only targeted discrimination against Israel and betrays the values of academic freedom that are held dear.

By Tova Dvorin

 

Two New York lawmakers are fighting an anti-Israel boycott with a campaign of their own: to stop the flow of public funds to schools involved in the scandal.

The New York Daily News reported Friday that Senate co-leader Jeffrey Klein and Assemblyman Dov Hikind are proposing a bill that would give colleges and universities in the state of New York 30 days to withdraw their support from groups boycotting Israel – or lose state funding. Continue Reading »

More illegal African aliens choosing to leave Israel

 

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Portuguese plumbers discover 600 year old mikvahs

This  find, in the basement of a building on Rua do Visconde da Luz, Coimbra, may be considered among the oldest mikvahs ever discovered in Europe.

By JTA

 

Plumbers fixing a water leak in central Portugal discovered what appears to be a cluster of 600-year-old Jewish ritual baths.

1of 3 -The mikvahs of Coimbra may be considered among the oldest mikvahs ever discovered in Europe  - Photo sourse:  DR/Publico.pt

1 of 3 -The mikvahs of Coimbra may be considered among the oldest mikvahs ever discovered in Europe – Photo source: DR/Publico.pt

The discovery was made earlier this year in the city of Coimbra as the plumbers were replacing the piping of an old building in what used to be the Jewish part of the Old City, according to a report Thursday by the Publico daily.

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Jerusalem Started Encouraging Greater French Aliyah

The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs is planning a 3-pronged program to encourage mass aliyah of  French Jews with a focus on jobs, education & housing.

By Tova Dvorin

 

The Israeli government has been planning a new program to encourage French Jews to make Aliyah, Maariv reports Friday.

The program, which will be implemented over a 3-year period, is intended to help French Jews emigrate to Israel on a large scale – following reports that French Jewry has been leaving en masse due to anti-semitism.

The program will also receive state funding, according to the report.

According to information gathered at the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, tens of thousands of French Jews emigrated in 2013 to London, Canada and the United States. Continue Reading »

Israel TV: Kerry consider freeing Pollard in gesture for Palestinian prisoners release

Israel’s Channel 10 reports Sec. of State Kerry to examine proposal to tie release of imprisoned Israeli agent to release of remaining 52 convicted  Palestinian terrorists, but officials in Jerusalem say President Obama will never approve proposal.

By JPOST STAFF.COM
 

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry will reportedly consider Israeli calls to release Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard as a condition to the release of the remaining 52 Palestinian terrorists, Channel 10 reported on Friday, quoting Israeli officials.

Jonathan Pollard red, white and blue - Photo: CourtesyIsrael has agreed to release 104 Palestinian security prisoners with blood on their hands in four phases as a part of a deal to restart peace talks with the Palestinian Authority. Continue Reading »

Published in U.S.: Buried Secret Israeli Report on Temple Mount Irregularities

News Report published by American Jewish media on Israeli authorities’ negligence regarding supervision of Muslim digs at Temple Mount, was buried by the Israeli gov’t in 2007.

 

 

The American news website The Jewish Voice has published a translation of an Israeli State Comptroller’s report on Israeli authorities’ conduct regarding digs at Jerusalem’s Temple Mount in 2007. In Israel, a gag order was placed on the report due to fears it would harm Israel’s foreign relations and spark violent confrontations at the Temple Mount. News of the Jewish Voice report was first published in the Israeli weekend newspaper Sof Hashavua. Continue Reading »

In Pictures: 38 Members of ‘Lost Tribe’ From India Make Aliyah

Amid the tears & celebrations, the ‘historic’ flight of Bnei Menashe finally landed in Ben Gurion yesterday & are now at home.

By Arutz Sheva Staff

 

 

Tears flowed freely as a group of 38 Bnei Menashe, descendants of a Lost Tribe of Israel, were greeted by relatives at Ben Gurion Airport after making Aliyah yesterday from India.

Tearful reunions as Bnei Menashe olim arrive at Ben Gurion airport – Shavei Israel

The immigrants, who hail from the northeastern Indian state of Mizoram, were brought to Israel by the organization, which recently received permission from the Israeli government to bring 900 Bnei Menashe to the Jewish state over the next 15 months. Continue Reading »

Defense Minister Ya’alon: Israel Has no Peace-Partner Among Palestinian Leadership

Ya’alon spoke with 3 members of ‘Breaking the Impasse’, a group of Palestinian & Israeli businesspeople aimed at promoting a durable peace accord.

 

Among those who met with Ya’alon last week were Yossi Vardi, a founder of Israel’s high-tech industry; Shlomi Fogel, a close friend of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the controlling owner of Ampa Capital; and Mooly Eden of Intel Israel.

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon – Photo: Olivier Fitoussi

The three are members of Breaking the Impasse, which consists of some 200 Israeli and Palestinian businesspeople. The group, which defines itself as apolitical, aims to help the political leaders in Jerusalem and Ramallah agree on a peace deal and bring economic prosperity to both peoples. Continue Reading »

Again, Gaza is Without Fuel, Hamas Blames Israel for Power Blackouts

Gaza’s lone power plant closes down just 12 days after having being restarted with Qatar bought fuel via the Palestinian Authority.

Israel blamed, although it was Egypt’s siege that has cut off Hamas’ lucrative fuel smuggling.

By Ari Yashar

 

Gaza’s only power plant ground to a halt again on Friday, only 12 days after being brought back online following a 7 week shutdown due to fuel shortages. The shutdown was announced by Gaza’s electricity firm, reports AFP.

An official of the company claimed “the plant stopped working on Friday morning due to a lack of fuel caused by Israel’s closure of the Kerem Shalom crossing.” Continue Reading »

Ministers to decide on Palestinian prisoner release list

 

Palestinians officials outraged at planned announcement of new Israeli settlement constructions plans, alongside the release of jailed Palestinian terrorists.

By HERB KEINON, KHALED ABU TOAMEH
 

 

The ministerial committee tasked with selecting the list of Palestinian security prisoners to be released is scheduled to meet on Saturday night to decide on those to be freed late Monday night, in the third out of four such releases.

A released Palestinian prisoner at the Erez crossing between Israel and the northern Gaza Strip.

A released Palestinian prisoner at the Erez crossing between Israel and the northern Gaza Strip. – Photo: REUTERS

Soon after the prisoner release, Israel is expected to announce plans for construction beyond the Green Line. Continue Reading »

Palestinian to pay Israel $315M in owed electric bills

 

Palestinian Authority debt owed for electricity supplied to West Bank & E. Jerusalem reaches NIS 1.1B.

PA begins to cover funds, but Israel’s Ministers of Finance and Energy concerned sum will rise.

Israel Electric Corporation to end year with heavy debt.

By Lior Gutman

The Palestinian Authority has begun to pay back the money it owes the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC), Calcalist has learned. The debt, accumulated by West Bank and east Jerusalem residents stands at NIS 1.1 billion, the Electric Corporation claims.

Electricity on the way to the Palestinians

Electricity for the Palestinian Authority – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

According to Calcalist, the Ministries of Finance and Energy have expressed concern that the debt will continue to rise, reaching NIS 1.3 billion by the end of the year, thus posing a heavy financial burden for the Electric Corporation. Continue Reading »