Intel Minister Steinitz: Iranian economy 18 months to total collapse

 

 

US led Sanctions on Iran have cost its economy $100 billion in damage. “The pressure works, it is effective,” Steinitz said. “If we add to this pressure a credible military threat, the chances will be greatly improved.”

 

 

The Iranian economy is 18 months away from collapse, Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz said Monday.

Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz - Photo: Hadas Parush

Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz – Photo: Hadas Parush

Steinitz, speaking at a conference at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, said that over the last 18-24 months the international sanctions have caused about $100 billion in damage to the country’s economy, which has an annual $450 billion GDP.

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Israeli University Scientists Discover New Therapy For Brain Cancer

Israeli researchers at the Hadassah Medical School of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem made a ground breaking discovery of a cancer-driving protein.

By Kochava Rozenbaum

 

Regina Golan-Gerstl, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow at the Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, has successfully identified a genetic protein which is involved in the development of the most common and aggressive type of brain cancer found in adults called glioblastoma.

Rotem Karni and team in the lab – Photo from Facebook

For the 22,000 American citizens who are diagnosed each year with brain cancer, these never before known molecular aspects can provide new diagnosis and treatment options for patients. Continue Reading »

Undocumented mother unable to register her newborn son

 

Dalia, a Black Hebrew Israelite from Dimona, cannot register her newborn son with Interior Ministry since she was never registered herself.

In the meantime, undocumented newborn baby cannot receive state medical attention.

By Mati Siver

Dalia Mor-Wit, 20, who was born and raised as part of the Black Hebrew Israelite community in Dimona, has lived her entire life without an identification card. As far as the state is concerned, she does not exist.

Dalia, Yaniv with neworn Liel-Hilay (Photo: Yisrael Yosef)

Dalia, Yaniv with neworn Liel-Hilay – Photo: Yisrael Yosef

Last month, she gave birth to her first child, a son named Liel-Hilay. But authorities refused to register the baby. Continue Reading »

More than half a million mourners at Rabbi Ovadia Yosef’s funeral

1920-2013ברוך דיין אמת

Funeral follows death earlier Monday of Shas spiritual leader and former chief rabbi.

Jerusalem streets closed to traffic as funeral procession makes its way through city.

 

More than half a million mourners on Monday took part in Rabbi Ovadia Yosef‘s funeral procession in Jerusalem, Israel Police estimated, following his death earlier that day at the age of 93.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, escorts the body of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, escorts the body of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef during his the funeral in Jerusalem, Monday, Oct. 7, 2013. – Photo: AP

 

The procession left the Porat Yosef Yeshiva at 6 P.M. Continue Reading »

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, 93, has Died

Israel’s Former Sephardi Chief Rabbi & leading Halakhic authority served as Shas’ spiritual leader since its founding.

By Arutz Sheva staff

 

Cries of mourning could be heard from the halls outside the hospital room in Jerualem where Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, 93, returned his soul to his Maker on Monday, 3 Heshvan, October 7, 2013 at 1:30 p.m.

Maran (our rabbi and mentor), as he was called reverently by his followers, was  the Sephardic Chief Rabbi (Rishon Letzion) of Israel from 1973-1983, a world recognized Talmudic scholar with a photographic memory, foremost halakhic authority and master orator. He served as the spiritual leader of the Shas political party since founding the party in 1982. Continue Reading »

Shoah Foundation honors George Clooney for humanitarian work

 

Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation honors George Clooney for his humanitarian work in Darfur. Spielberg says ‘George is a humble humanitarian.’

By Israel Hayom Staff & News Agencies

 

 

Steven Spielberg and George Clooney go way back in show business. In fact, it was Spielberg who gave Clooney his big break on the TV show “ER,” the actor recalls.

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American TV celebrities become advocates for Israel

 

C.S. Lee from ‘Dexter’ & ‘Back to the Future’ actress Lea Thompson are just two of the top actors taking part in “American Voices in Israel” tour, which has included visits to Yad Vashem, Tel Aviv and the Golan Heights.

By JTA

 

 
Israel has received an influx of American talent this week. There are those here for work, and others on vacation.
Dexter star C.S Lee prepares to pop open a bottle of Yarden Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine

Dexter star C.S Lee prepares to pop open a bottle of Yarden Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine – Photo: Courtesy Golan Heights Winery

A group of TV actors are currently on a week-long tour of the country with American Voices in Israel, a program aiming to bolster Israel’s image in the United States by bringing over celebrities who will then hopefully become friends of Israel.

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Star of David is Forbidden on Temple Mount

Police forced a First Aid volunteer from Magen David Adom  to remove his jacket with the organization’s emblem before entering the Temple Mount.

By Elad Benari

 

A volunteer with the Magen David Adom first aid service was forced on Sunday to remove his jacket with the organization’s emblem before he was allowed to enter the Temple Mount. The emblem of Magen David Adom is a red Star of David.

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.

 

The volunteer, Yonatan Tal, recalled the incident in a conversation with Arutz Sheva.

“I went up to the Temple Mount as I usually do. Continue Reading »

Saudi Report: Hezbollah received chemical weapons from Assad

 

The Saudi newspaper Al Watan quotes a Lebanese parliament member as saying that under Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ supervision and despite int’l agreement to surrender its chemical weapons, the Syrian regime has delivered to Hezbollah long-range missiles capable of carrying chemical warheads.

By Israel Hayom Staff

 

As Syria prepared to surrender its chemical weapons in compliance with international efforts, the Saudi newspaper Al Watan quoted a Lebanese parliamentarian on Sunday as saying that Syrian President Bashar Assad has already transferred large stores of chemical weapons to his ally, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.

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Chief PLO negotiator dismayed by Czech president’s call to move embassy to Jerusalem

PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat sends letter to Arab League saying move would undermine peace process, wants meeting on the issue.

 

 

 

Czech President Milos Zeman’s proposal to move the Czech Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem prompted Saeb Erekat, chief negotiator in the peace talks with Israel, to send a letter of protest to Prague stating that such a move would undermine the peace process.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat at construction site for Route 4, March 14, 2013.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat at construction site for Route 4, March 14, 2013. – Photo: TOVAH LAZAROFF

Zeman publicly voiced his views on the subject at the opening of the annual Days for Israel forum in Hradec Kralove in East Bohemia last week.

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Iran reports 4 arrested for attempts to sabotage nuclear site

Iran’s head of their Atomic Energy Organization announced individuals ‘were caught red-handed & their interrogations are ongoing,’

By Reuters and

 

 

At least four people have been arrested in Iran for trying to sabotage a nuclear site, Iranian media reported Sunday.

Rohani addresses UN, Sept. 26, 2013, Reuters

Iran’s President Hassan Rohani addressing a UN meeting on nuclear disarmament, New York, September 26, 2013. – Photo: Reuters

The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation, Ali Akbar Salehi, said officials had monitored and then arrested a “number of saboteurs” before they could carry out their plan.

“Four of these individuals were caught red-handed and their interrogations are ongoing,” he said, according to the Mehr news agency on Sunday. Continue Reading »

Netanyahu points out Palestinian Leadership to Nazis

In a somewhat calm but powerful and frank speech, Prime Minister tells students the conflict with Palestinians began in 1921 and not in 1967.

By Gil Ronen

 

In a surprisingly powerful and frank speech at Bar Ilan University, delivered in a calm and almost informal manner, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu tied between the Palestinian national movement and the Nazi regime in Germany.

At the heart of the oration was the determination that Arab rhetoric notwithstanding the “territories” and “settlements” are not the heart of the territorial conflict between Jews and Arabs – but that the conflict stems from the historic refusal of the Arabs to accept a Jewish state. Continue Reading »

Israel’s controversial rail route to Eilat gets approval in gov’t committee

 

New rail-line draws fire from social activists, environmentalists, and Ephraim Halevy, an ex-Mossad chief warned that Chinese involvement might harm Israeli interests.

By  

‘The fast track to approve the train to Eilat is liable to turn into a fast track to destroying nature in the Negev and damaging the Gulf of Eilat,’ said the Enviornment Protection Ministry.

Eilat train

A ministerial committee approved on Sunday a train route between Tel Aviv and Eilat, the most expensive transportation project Israel has ever undertaken. – Photo: Dov Greenblatt – Simulation: Tomer Harari

Environmental Protection Minister Amir Peretz was the only one who opposed the rail line. Continue Reading »

Israel Police Arrest 18 in Israeli-Arab Weapons Ring

Israel Police bust ring of 18 young men from the Israeli Arab town of Kfar Kassem for smuggling Palestinian weapons into Israel.
By Maayana Miskin

 

Police swept into the Israeli Arab city of Kfar Kassem in central Israel early on Sunday morning and arrested 18 people in connection with a weapons smuggling ring.

weapons collection (illustrative) - IsraelandStuff/PP

weapons cache (illustrative) – IsraelandStuff/PP

Border police were involved in the operation, which followed an investigation into illegal weapons trade in the area.

Sixteen of those arrested are men in their 20s, and an additional two are minors, police said. Additional arrests are expected.

The suspects are accused of having smuggled weapons into Israel from Palestinian Authority-controlled territories in Judea and Samaria (Shomron). Continue Reading »