Prime Minister to refer referendum bill for cabinet vote Sunday

Proposed bill would not require public approval for withdrawal from Judea and Samaria because Israeli law isn’t applicable there, but PM says he has way around that.

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to bring in the referendum bill for a cabinet vote on Sunday, and then submit it to the Knesset for a preliminary vote on Wednesday before the parliament disbands for summer recess.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Knesset, July 22, 2013.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Knesset, July 22, 2013. – Photo: AFP

The bill stipulates that if an agreement that is reached with the Palestinians calls for Israeli withdrawal from erritory, the public would have to approve it in a referendum for it to take effect. Continue Reading »

Defense Ministry minimizes cooperation with EU after bias ban

 

As a result of EU’s decision to ban funding of Israeli activities in pre-’67 borders, Israel’s defense minister decides to reciprocate by refusing to cooperate with EU representatives and halts their assistance to EU projects. From now on ‘they’re tourists,’  Ya’alon says.

By Attila Somfalvi

In response to the European Union’s decision to ban contracts with Israel pertaining to disputed territories, Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon instructed the IDF and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories to stop cooperating with EU representatives in the West Bank and Gaza.

Moshe Yaalon - Photo Reuters

Moshe Yaalon – Photo Reuters

The instruction came recently and included orders to halt any assistance the IDF might be granting EU representatives working in infrastructure projects in the territories. Continue Reading »

Hamas closes Al Arabiya & 2 other media offices in Gaza

 

Security forces even closed down the Palestinian news agency Maan, all for
“reporting false news, fabrications and lies.”

By REUTERS
 

 

Gaza’s Islamist rulers Hamas closed the offices of three media companies, including the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television and Palestinian news agency Maan, on Thursday, employees and a Hamas spokesman said.

PALESTINIAN SECURITY forces loyal to Hamas patrol the border area between Egypt and southern Gaza.

PALESTINIAN SECURITY forces loyal to Hamas patrol the border area between Egypt and southern Gaza.- Photo: REUTERS

Al Arabiya and Maan employees said Hamas security men had arrived at their offices with an order from the attorney general to shut down immediately and a Hamas spokesman said the step was temporary, until an investigation was concluded.

Continue Reading »

IDF snatches Palestinian suspected of shooting at Israeli buses in West Bank

Palestinian, thought be responsible for past shootings, was seen aiming his handgun at bus passing near Arab village.

By Gili Cohen

 

A Palestinian suspected of shooting at buses in the Judea and Samaria District of the West Bank was arrested Thursday by the Israel Defense Forces.

The gunman's possessions.

The gunman’s possessions. – Photo courtesy IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

 

According to authorities, an IDF soldier was riding a bus near the West Bank village of Hawara Thursday afternoon when he saw a Palestinian aiming a handgun at the bus. The suspect was about 15 meters away from the bus, the soldier reportedly told authorities. Continue Reading »

Israeli Historian Proves Ancient Jewish-Roman ‘Friendship’ Decree

Bronze Tablet turns the world of historical research upside down, proving ancient Jewish warrior Judas Maccabeaeus recognized by Rome

By Hana Levi Julian

 

 

An independent historian from the small northern Negev city of Arad has turned the world of historical research upside down with controversial new research published in a Danish journal.

JMThe article authored by Dr. Linda Zollschan, which appears in Classica Et Mediaevalia, the Danish Journal of Philology and History, Volume 63, proves a long-gone bronze tablet displaying ‘friendship’ between Rome and Israel’s Jews did indeed exist. The research has overturned previous assertions to the contrary.

Ancient writers – Josephus, Justinus and Eusebius – have all made reference to the fact that the Jews received “friendship” (a technical term for diplomatic ties, just below formal diplomatic relations) from the Romans.
Continue Reading »

ex-PA official: Abbas is a dictator

 

Mohammed Dahlan, a former PA security chief and member of the Fatah Central Committee has filed an int’l lawsuit against Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, threatening to provide evidence exposing the vast corruption that continues to plague the Palestinian Authority.

The Palestinian state America & Europe are forcing on Israel will be as corrupt & repressed as Iran, Gaza or most other Islamic states.

By Ryan Jones

 

 

The Palestinian state that America and Europe are pressuring Israel to help create by surrendering its biblical heartland will be a repressive dictatorship on par with the region’s worst regimes, according to a leading Palestinian official. Continue Reading »

IDF had plans to abduct Hamas military head Ahmed Jabari in 2008

 

The IDF set out to capture Ahmed Jabari alive to use him as a bargaining chip in exchange for captive soldier Gilad Schalit, but Jabari’s car changed direction & escaped the IDF’s ambush.

By Israel Hayom Staff

In 2008, the Israel Defense Forces attempted to kidnap then head of Hamas’ military wing, Ahmed Jabari, to use him as a bargaining chip for captive Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit, the Walla news web site reported on Thursday.

Continue Reading »

Better Place closed, 6 weeks later Israelis still backing electric cars

2 initiatives are now trying to rejuvenate the remains of Better Place & keep electric-powered rubber on Israel’s roads.

Five years of bombastic hype. $850 million of funding burned. Networks planned in at least seven countries. A founder who spoke of changing the world.

Solar energy entrepreneur Yosef Abramowitz speaking at an event promoting support of electric transportation in Israel, June 7, 2013. (GoElectricIL)

Solar energy entrepreneur Yosef Abramowitz speaking at an event promoting support of electric transportation in Israel, June 7, 2013. – GoElectricIL

When the electric car company Better Place declared bankruptcy in May, it marked an unhappy, though perhaps unsurprising setback for those who dreamed of Israel revolutionizing the global auto industry and freeing drivers from the tyranny of volatile oil prices.

Continue Reading »

Bulgaria releases ID of 2 suspects in Burgas terrorist bombing

 

The Sofia report into the Hezbollah suicide bombing that killed 5 Israelis & a local, names a Canadian & an Australian citizen as prime suspects.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

The Bulgarian authorities have released the names of two people believed to be involved in the Burgas bus bomb terrorist attack last year that killed five Israelis and their Bulgarian bus driver according to the Bulgarian news agency Focus.

Meliad Farah and Hassan El Hajj Hassan, who are suspected of involvement in the Burgas bus bombing.

Meliad Farah and Hassan El Hajj Hassan, who are suspected of involvement in the Burgas bus bombing. – Photo: Bulgaria Interior Ministry

The two were identified as 32-year-old Australian citizen Meliad Farah, also known as Hussein Hussein, and 25-year old Canadian Citizen Hassan El Hajj

In the days around the attack, the suspects had been noticed in Ruse, Varna and Nesebar, the Sunny Beach resort, and in the village of Ravda, according to the report.

Continue Reading »

Iranian family buy Israeli passports to emigrate

 

 

7 family members detained in Vancouver after amusing faults in Israeli passports reveal they are actually Iranians carrying fake papers.

Itamar Eichner

An Iranian family, wishing to immigrate to Canada with no visas, bought stolen Israeli passports in the black market and added false information. The Canadian airport uncovered the fraud and quickly arrested the seven suspects.

Israeli Passport - Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

Israeli Passport – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

The family – either a couple or siblings, and five children – were arrested at the Vancouver International Airport. The Iranian family used the name “Solomons”, while pretending to be an Israeli family supposedly residing in Rehovot. Continue Reading »

Ankara: Israel’s Compensation for Marmara Deaths Not Enough

Turkey’s Deputy PM says his country isn’t satisfied with Israel only paying compensation for the Marmara victims.

By Elad Benari

 

Despite Israel’s apology to Turkey over the Mavi Marmara incident and the talks on compensation to the victims, Turkey is continuing to make reconciliation between the two countries difficult.

Mavi Marmara – AFP photo

On Wednesday, Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said that his country will not be satisfied with Israel simply paying compensation to the Marmara victims. The Jewish state, he said, must acknowledge that the money it is paying to the victims is a result of its committing a wrongful act. Continue Reading »

Victim of Arab Stabbing in Jerusalem Attempted to Drive Himself to Hospital

Not realizing the extent of his wounds the  victim of a stabbing attack in Jerusalem tried to drive himself to the hospital.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

The victim of a stabbing Wednesday afternoon at Liberty Bell Park (Gan Hapa’amonim) in Jerusalem tried to drive himself to the hospital after the attack, not fully aware of how seriously he was wounded.

The man, age 40, was discovered in the Katamon neighborhood either in or near his car, ready to drive himself to a doctor to get medical treatment.

Medics said he was not fully aware of the seriousness of his injuries at the time. Continue Reading »

Tel Aviv Adopts Plan to Assimilate New Western Immigrants

 

A shift in demographic have caused Tel Aviv to accept “a strategy that puts more focus on the unique needs of the ‘new olim’ community.”

 

 

If you’ve spent the past decade or so in Tel Aviv, you’ve probably noticed the change. The city has increasingly found itself in the global spotlight, and English speakers – once relatively rare in the city – are hard to avoid on any street corner in central Tel Aviv. Even in the city’s south and in Jaffa, native English-speakers have become a prominent fixture of the first Hebrew city.

View of Tel Aviv

View of Tel Aviv – Photo: Yoni Cohen

This influx hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Tel Aviv Municipality, which on Wednesday unveiled what it said was a “strategic plan to better integrate Western immigrants.”

Continue Reading »

Generals report: Hamas & Hezbollah rocket threat outpacing Israel’s defensive capabilities

Brig. Gen. reports in a war that could last a month, as many as 1,500 short- to mid-range rockets might be launched at the north alone each day.

 

The Israeli response to the rocket threat still lags behind progress being made by Hezbollah, Hamas and other groups, according to a report published this week by Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies.

Iron Dome anti-missile system in Haifa

The Iron Dome anti-missile system in Haifa deployed in January. – Photo: Rami Shlush

Brig. Gen. (res.) Meir Elran, head of the institute’s Homeland Security Program, told Haaretz that Israel hasn’t closed the gaps. Continue Reading »

Hizbullah is feeling the crunch of heavy losses in Syria

 

 

The Lebanon-based terrorist group has buried up to 250 fighters thus far, including a few high ranking officials. Their political loss in the EU doesn’t help any.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

The Lebanon-based Hizbullah terrorist organization is taking heavy losses in Syria, according to a report released by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC).

Coffin of Hizbullah terrorist killed in Syria – Reuters

The assessment, sent to media this week, indicates the terror group’s involvement in the two-year-long savage civil war across Israel’s northern border has cost Hizbullah more than 180 men.

In addition, several hundred more of its guerrilla fighters have been wounded in the effort to keep Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in power, ITIC estimates. Continue Reading »