Kibbutzniks are no longer core of the IDF officer corps

 

Relatively high enlistment rates for combat duty by Kibbutzniks continue, but it hides a decline for those continuing on into IDF officer corps.

New joint project hopes to overturn recent trend, hoping a return of kibbutz sabras to forefront of IDF command.

By Matan Tzuri

 

On Sunday morning, nearly 1,200 young kibbutzniks from across the country will hit the road for a bicycle trek in the south. They will ride 160 km (100 mi) on roads and trails in the Negev, as well as a portion of the Israel-Jordan border. The journey will last a week. Its purpose: Create a connection between the kibbutzniks and the IDF, and motivate them to serve in its combat units

High School kids going to Enlistment center (illustration) - Photo: Yaron Brener

High School kids going to Enlistment center (illustration) – Photo: Yaron Brener

Additionally – the organizers of the trek hope – the trip will imbue these young Israelis with the will to return to serve as officers, like in the good old days remembered by the older kibbutzniks. Continue Reading »

Teheran: Saudis plotting with Israel on new computer worm to sabotage Iranian nuclear program

The Iranian state-owned news agency reports that last week, the Saudi spy agency & Israel’s Mossad hashed out a proposal for production of malware ‘worse than the Stuxnet.’

 

 

Israel and Saudi Arabia are reportedly collaborating to create a new destructive computer worm to “spy on and destroy the software structure” of Iran‘s nuclear program, the semi-official Iranian news agency Fars said over the weekend.

Uranium conversion facility in Isfahan, Iran

A technician checks valves at the uranium conversion facility in Isfahan, Iran, February 3, 2007.- Photo: Reuters

Fars, the outlet of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, quoted “an informed source” close to the Saudi secret service as saying that Saudi spy chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan and Mossad head Tamir Pardo each sent a representative to Vienna on November 24 with the purpose of increasing the “‘two sides’ cooperation in intelligence and sabotage operations against Iran’s nuclear program.” Continue Reading »

Caught on car-cam: Arab terror-Rock Ambush

Jewish victim’s car-cam films young Arab terrorist in the act of throwing a large stone at his car as it drives by.

By Gil Ronen

 

A Jewish resident of Mahane Yatir, in southern Mount Hevron, was ambushed by a rock-wielding Arab youth Friday as he drove toward the community of Carmel, not far from the Zif Junction.

Rock attack caught on video - Arutz7 Screenshot

Rock attack caught on video – Arutz7 Screenshot

The event was caught on video by the man’s car cam. This may be the first time such an attack is caught on video in real time, although rock attacks are common in Judea and Samaria, and have become regular occurences in Jerusalem as well. Continue Reading »

Fitch financial ratings agency reaffirms Israel’s ‘A’ credit rating

 

FINANCE

New York city-based int’l credit ratings agency upgrades Israel’s credit outlook from “stable” to “positive”.

Fitch Ratings Inc. reports: Israel’s Gov’t’s “debt management, high domestic & external financing flexibility, are a rating strength.” 

By Zeev Klein & News Agencies

 

The Fitch Ratings Inc. agency on Friday upgraded Israel’s credit outlook to positive and affirmed Israel’s “A” rating — its sixth-highest investment grade. The company cited Israel’s shrinking deficit and debt-cutting efforts as the reason for the revised outlook.

Israel’s outlook positive. Fitch Ratings headquarters in New York – Photo: Reuters

According to Bloomberg, Fitch predicts that Israel’s budget deficit will fall to 3 percent of gross domestic product in 2014 from 3.8% in 2013. Continue Reading »

UK news report: Israel’s PM orders Mossad to gather proof Teheran violating Geneva accord

London’s ‘Sunday Times’ quotes Israeli defense sources as saying Israel wants to discredit the P5+1 Geneva deal by producing evidence of Iranian covert duplicity.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

 

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has ordered both the Mossad and Military Intelligence to search for evidence that Iran is continuing nuclear activities forbidden under the Geneva accord signed with world powers last week, The Sunday Times quoted Israeli defense sources as saying.

Satellite photos show Iran 'sanitizing' Parchin

Satellite photos show Iran ‘sanitizing’ Parchin – Photo: REUTERS

Proof that Iran was violating the terms of the six-month interim deal would complicate US President Barack Obama’s push to delay the passage of new congressional sanctions against Iran while a long-term deal with Iran is being negotiated. Continue Reading »

President Peres: Praver Bill must be carried out

 

President Peres says plans to resettle Bedouins in Negev must be followed through. ‘Talks must be held with patience, while maintaining law’, Peres claims

By Eyal Lehman

 

In the aftermath of Saturday’s protests against the Praver Bill, President Shimon Peres said Sunday that the plan to resettle Bedouins in the Negev must be pursued.

President Shimon Peres taking care of buisness - Photo courtesy GPO

President Shimon Peres taking care of buisness – Photo courtesy GPO

“Millions of shekels were invested in this plan and I’m sure the intentions are good. Backing down would mean a step back for the Bedouins as well,” Peres said.

The president, on a visit to Mexico, noted that “one might expect this having great resistance, but the law must be abided and diplomacy utilized… The government does not mean any harm and talks must be held with patience and while maintaining the law.” Continue Reading »

Despite PA denial Al-Qaida-linked group claims substantial growth in West Bank

Majles Shura al-Mujahideen confirms 3 of their members were killed by Israel special forces last week, denounces the current peacemaking efforts & threatens attacks on Israel as well as Abbas’ Palestinian Authority.

By Reuters

 

An Al-Qaida-linked group has confirmed that the three militants killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces last week were its members, and said that their presence there proved that the Islamist network has taken root in the Palestinian territory.

Funeral of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces.

The funeral of three Al-Qaida linked Palestinians killed by Israeli forces near Hebron, November 27, 2013 – Photo: Reuters

Al-Qaida has struggled to build up significant support in the West Bank, analysts say, and the Palestinian Authority that administers the area last week denied an Israeli report that the men were linked to the organization. Continue Reading »

Temple Mount Closed to Jewish Visitors After Group Sang Hanukkah Songs

Watch Video:

Despite the fact that the location is the place of the Hanukkah miracle – the defeat of Zionists over Greek invaders – Israel Police close down the Temple Mount to Jewish visitors.

By Tova Dvorin

 

Israeli police closed the Temple Mount Sunday after Jewish visitors to the Mount – which is Judaism’s holiest site and the exact spot of the events of the Hanukkah holiday – broke out into Hanukkah songs, enraging Muslim worshippers.

The Temple Mount, Judaism's holiest site for well over 3,000 years.

The Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site for well over 3,000 years.

Following the song a scuffle broke out between Jews and Muslims. Four people were arrested. Continue Reading »

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Israel in 3 weeks

 

Continue Reading »

Fire destroys part of Belarus’ oldest functioning Synagogue

No one injured as fire consumes dining room & part of 2nd floor of Grodno’s 500 yr-old Great Choral Synagogue.

By

 

 

One of Europe’s oldest functioning synagogues sustained heavy damage in a fire that broke out in the city of Grodno in Belarus.

Fire raging at the Great Choral Synagogue in Grodno, Belarus.

Fire raging at the Great Choral Synagogue in Grodno, Belarus – Screenshot from ONT Channel report.

The flames erupted Tuesday night as a result of malfunctioning heating system and consumed the dining room and part of the second floor of Grodno’s Great Choral Synagogue, according to a report Wednesday by the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Continue Reading »

Israel finally invited to join UN’s Western nations WEOG group in Geneva

 

Officials in Jerusalem sees move as beginning of “normalization” of relations between Israel and the numerous UN bodies in Geneva.

 


The United Nations is expected to formally invite Israel to join its group of Western nations in Geneva on Monday, a move that is critical for Israel’s continued involvement in the United Nations Human Rights Council.

 

OVERVIEW OF the Human Rights Council at the UNHRC – UN Photo/Pierre Albouy

Israel is part of the Western European and Others Group at the UN’s headquarters in New York. But until Friday, that group’s counterpart (also called WEOG) in the United Nations Office at Geneva had refused to allow Israel to be a member.

Continue Reading »

Infuriated Netanyahu, condemns Druze discrimination saying ‘they are our flesh & blood’

 

 

PM remarks on incident where Druze soldiers were denied entry during security drill at Dimona facility, saying ‘they are our flesh & blood, they should be treated as equals’

By Attila Somfalvi

 

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on an incident in which Druze soldiers were not allowed to enter the Dimona reactor as part of a security drill and said that lessons must be drawn from it. “Our brothers the Druze are our flesh and blood. They serve in combat units in the IDF and should be treated as equals,” he said.

Prime Minister Netanyahu at a Likud Beytenu faction meeting, November 4, 2013.- Photo: Marc Israel Sellem/The J'lem Post

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu – Photo: Marc Israel Sellem

The incident occurred several weeks ago and was first reported by Yedioth Ahronoth. Continue Reading »

U.K. minister promises to end Shabbat discrimination against Orthodox Jews

Employment minister pledges to introduce new regulations to allow religious Jews who refuse to work on Shabbat eligible for welfare benefits.

By

 

 

Britain’s employment minister said she would introduce new regulations to make Jews who refuse to work on Shabbat eligible for welfare benefits.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews in London.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews in Stamford Hill, North London, U.K., November 2013 – Photo: Tal Cohen

Employment Minister Esther McVey and Jobcentre National Director Neil Couling have told the Jewish employment charity JCom that rules would be “tweaked” to end the practice of denying job seekers’ allowance to observant Jews, The Jewish Chronicle of London reported Friday. Continue Reading »

Canadian PM Harper to Announce 1st Trip to Israel

 

Prime Minister Stephen Harper reportedly planning to make his visit to Israel announcement at upcoming JNF event Sunday evening.

By Dalit Halevi and Arutz Sheva Staff

 

 

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to announce his his first trip to Israel at the Jewish National Fund’s (JNF) annual dinner tomorrow (Sunday) in Toronto, according to Shalom Toronto.

Harper, who has been Prime Minister since being elected for the first of his two terms in 2006, has been a staunch supporter of Israel, a stance which found its expression shortly after his election, when he stood by the Jewish state during the Second Lebanon War against Iranian-backed terrorist group Hezbollah. Continue Reading »

Year after UN observer status, Palestinians eye diplomatic avenues against Israel

 

Pressure mounts on PA leaders to exploit UN observer status as most Palestinians believe peace talks will not yield results.

PA chief Abbas swears to ‘never give up ounce of Palestinian demands’

By AFP

A year after the Palestinians were granted non-member observer status by the United Nations, pressure is mounting on their leaders to exploit that rather than pursue peace talks few see bearing fruit.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Photo: AP)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas – Photo: AP

No official ceremony was scheduled Friday in the Palestinian territories to mark the historic November 29, 2012 vote of the UN General Assembly.

But in comments published Thursday by official news agency Wafa, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas pledged to do everything possible to establish a Palestinian state with its capital in Israeli-annexed Arab east Jerusalem. Continue Reading »