Peres, Netanyahu not to attend Mandela memorial

 

Prime Minister’s Office cites high costs of short-notice trip, problems on special security arrangements.

It’s unclear who will represent Israel at Mandela’s funeral.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, TOVAH LAZAROFF

 

 

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres have announced on Sunday that they will not travel to South Africa for the memorial of freedom fighter Nelson Mandela on Tuesday.

Netanyahu informs Peres that new gov’t has been formed at President’s Residence in J’lem, March 16 – Photo: Koby Gideon/GPO

A source at the Prime Minister’s office said the trip is too expensive and that there were “logistical concerns” preventing the prime minister from attending. Continue Reading »

Iranian media reports Saudi intel chief met with Israeli officials in Geneva

 

 

Iranian news agency cites reports that Israeli government officials met with the director general of Saudi Intelligence Agency in order to discuss:

1. containing Iran by any possible means
2. exercising stronger control over Syria’s Jihadist forces
3. sidelining Muslim Brotherhood

By Ynet

Director General of Saudi Intelligence Agency Bandar bin Sultan met several times with Israeli officials in Geneva, Iranian news agency Fars reported.

Secret talks? Israeli PM Netanyahu, Saudi King Abdullah (Photos: EPA, AP)

Secret talks? Israeli PM Netanyahu, Saudi King Abdullah – Photos: EPA, AP

The report is based on a Saudi Twitter account that is “well connected with the inner circles of the Saudi secret service”. Continue Reading »

2nd time Turkish students detained at Auschwitz for Nazi salute

 

The two Turkish students could face 2 years each in prison for public promotion of Nazi symbols.

By

 

 

Two Turkish tourists were detained by guards at the Auschwitz museum for appearing to make a Nazi salute.

The entrance to the former Nazi death camp of Auschwitz

The entrance to the former Nazi death camp of Auschwitz. – Photo: Reuters

The tourists, a man and a woman, both 22, were taking pictures of each other in front of the gate to the former Nazi death camp under the iconic sign “Arbeit macht frei,” or “Work makes you free,” and allegedly raised their right hands in the gesture of a Nazi salute. Continue Reading »

Israel Holds 1st Int’l Energy, Defense & Strategy Conference

The conference discussed security threats to energy supply on a national & int’l level – including nuclear issues – and also how to make Israel’s recent “energy bonanza” more available to consumers.

By Yoni Kempinski & Tova Dvorin

 

Israel held its first joint conference between the Defense and Energy industries in Herziliya Thursday. Arutz Sheva had the opportunity to speak to Dr. Gal Luft, Conference Head of Steering Committee and Co-Director of Institute for Analysis of Global Security.

Dr. Gal Luft“This is the first time in Israel that we are trying to create a meeting of the minds between the Energy Industry and the Defense Industry,” Luft stated.  Continue Reading »

‘The Congress’ an Israeli film wins European film award

 

Israeli film “Fill the Void,” wins the cinematography award.

Ari Folman’s animated futuristic fantasy starring American actress Robin Wright wins European Film Academy’s award for best animated feature.

Folman: Film created by 270 animators in six countries.

By Maya Cohen

 

Continue Reading »

RAF chopper makes emergency landing in West Bank – No casualties

 

IDF secured scene of chopper landing in Jordan Valley.

IDF spokeswoman denies report British military helicopter landed in minefield.

By REUTERS
 

 

JERUSALEM – A British military helicopter made an emergency landing on Sunday in the West Bank because of a “technical malfunction,” an IDF spokeswoman said.

A Black Hawk helicopter - File Photo: Reuters

A Black Hawk helicopter – File Photo: Reuters

There were no casualties in the incident on Sunday afternoon and IDF soldiers were “securing the scene,” she added.

Sky news website said the RAF helicopter had been en route from the Jordanian capital Amman to Cyprus when it was forced to land by engine failure. Continue Reading »

Israel’s Given Imaging bought by Covidien for $860 million

The combination of Covidien’s global presence and Given Imaging’s innovative capabilities has the potential to transform a $3 billion GI market.

By Reuters

 

 

Medical device maker Covidien is buying Israeli camera-in-a-capsule maker Given Imaging for $30.00 per share in cash, totaling $860 million, the companies said on Sunday.

The nex generation of Given Imaging’s PillCam capsules  are expected to boost sales.

The next generation of Given Imaging’s PillCam capsules are expected to boost sales.

Given Imaging developed a pioneering technique for non-invasive endoscopy. Its technology for visualising, diagnosing and monitoring the digestive system starts with the PillCam, a capsule containing a miniaturized video camera. Over the years Given Imaging, which operates out of Yokneam, developed a number of versions for the technology, including one for esophageal diagnostics. Continue Reading »

Israel’s Prime Minister: Teheran Must Renounce Genocide

At Saban Forum, Israel’s Prime Minister says stopping Iran’s nuclear program is not enough – Teheran’s policy must also change.

By Gil Ronen

 

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke Sunday at the Saban Forum and said that stopping Iran’s nuclear program is not enough – Iran’s policy of genocide must change, too.

Netanyahu quoted incendiary statements by Iran’s leaders, who called Israel “a rabid dog,” among other things.

The Iranian regime, he said, “is committed to our annihilation and I believe that there must be an uncompromising demand at the Geneva talks, for a change in Iran’s policy. In other words, there needs to be not just a change in the capability of Iran to arm itself, but also a change in its policy of genocide. Continue Reading »

Lebanon TV: Mossad orchastrated Hezbollah commander’s assisnation

 

The ‘Good News’: Lebanese TV station OTV reported Mossad’s “Kidon” unit successfully infiltrated south Beirut’s most highly guarded neighborhood in the middle of Hezbollah controlled Beirut to assassinate Hezbollah’s top General.

The ‘Bad News’: A Kuwaiti newspaper, however, reported that Hassan al-Laqqis was killed by his own organization for being an Israeli agent.

By Daniel Siryoti & Israel Hayom Staff

 

Continue Reading »

Middle East professor says Israelis no longer Believe in ‘2-State Solution’

 

 

Dr. Mordechai Kedar, a leading Israeli professor in Mid-Eastern Studies says after failed disengagement & return of Gaza, Israelis can no longer be fooled by talks of ‘peace’ with Arabs.

By  Israel Today Staff

 

Middle East expert Dr. Mordechai Kedar of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies says Israelis have almost totally lost their faith in the two-state solution to the Israeli-Arab conflict.

Dr Mordechai Keder - Photo: MER Screenshot

Dr Mordechai Keder – Photo: MER Screenshot

Whereas a decade or two ago a majority of Israelis viewed the internationally backed diplomatic effort as a harbinger of peace after 50 years of war, the number of Israelis who still feel that way can “fit in two telephone booths,” Kedar told Israeli radio station Arutz Sheva. Continue Reading »

Companies connected to Israel added $6.2 billion to Massachusetts economy

 

An independent study by a global strategic consulting and research firm, reveals that Israeli-founded businesses generate enormous jobs, revenue & capital activity in Massachusetts.

 

 

BOSTON — Companies with connections to Israel contributed $6.2 billion to the Massachusetts economy last year, a new study found.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick - Photo: New England - Israel Business Council

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick – Photo: New England – Israel Business Council

The study, released on Thursday, was conducted by the consulting firm Stax and supported by Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston. It found that, when accounting for other business spending, the full economic impact of companies with Israel ties contribute $11.9 to the state economy.

Continue Reading »

Winter in Israel has finally arrived

 

Although this year’s winter arrived considerably late, Saturday night’s showers served as a stark reminder that winter has finally arrived.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
 
Rain slammed down on Tel Aviv Sunday morning in a manner some would describe as violent.
A man stands on a bridge overlooking flooded railway tracks - Photo: Reuters

A man stands on a bridge overlooking flooded railway tracks – Photo: Reuters

Although winter arrived considerably late this year, Sunday’s post-Shabbat showers serve a stark reminder that winter has arrived.

The rarity of rain in the Holy Land usually makes for excitement, however the sudden downpour left Tel Aviv roads considerably dangerous today, says Tel Aviv resident Shahar Geist.

Although she is happy to see the Kinneret rise, Geist says the government doesn’t do enough to ensure road safety in extreme weather conditions.

Continue Reading »

Dutch PM cancels Israel trip because of Gaza dispute

 

 

Dutch premier’s trip to Israel goes sour after ‘Dutch made unexpected demands’ just prior to ceremonial installation of equipment, aimed at easing movement of goods into Gaza.

By AFP

A visit to Israel by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte Sunday was marred by a dispute over a new security scanner on the Gaza border, an Israeli official said.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte - Photo: AP

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte – Photo: AP

Rutte was to have inaugurated the scanner on the frontier with the Palestinian Islamist-ruled enclave, but the ceremony was put off because of the row.

“Installation of the Dutch scanner, which would have been used to verify the contents of containers from Gaza destined for export, was postponed after the Netherlands made unexpected demands,” the official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. Continue Reading »

Bennett Suggests Israel Annex Jewish Areas of Judea & Samaria

Economics Minister Bennett says making a deal with Abbas’ PA while Hamas controls Gaza is like ‘discussing the purchase of a car with only half its owners’.

By AFP and Arutz Sheva Staff

 

Economics Minister Naftali Bennett on Sunday reiterated his proposal that Israel should annex parts of Judea and Samaria under its full military control of Jewish areas, according to AFP.

“I favor implementation of Israeli sovereignty over the zone where 400,000 Jews live and only 70,000 Arabs,” said the Jewish Home (Bayit Yehudi) head. Bennett was referring to the “Area C” regions of Judea and Samaria, which under the Oslo Accords are still under Israeli military and civilian control. Continue Reading »

Ukrainian Jewish leader reports national protests puts Jewish community ‘on high alert’

Oleksandr Feldman, president of the Ukrainian Jewish Committee says, ‘To a considerable degree, the Ukrainian Jewish community supports promoting a path toward merger into the EU … but it is important to adopt a neutral & comprehensive position,’ 

By

 

 

Widespread protests in Ukraine have prompted the country’s Jewish communities to up security arrangements, a community leader from Kiev has said.

Students wave Ukrainian and European Union flags

Students wave Ukrainian and European Union flags as they shout slogans during a rally of the opposition in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on December 5, 2013.- Photo: AFP

“Now that streets across Ukraine are full of civilians, the community’s safety is becoming our primary concern,” Oleksandr Feldman, a Ukrainian lawmaker and president of the Ukrainian Jewish Committee, wrote in statement published Wednesday by the Israeli Ma’ariv daily. Continue Reading »