Israel’s secret ‘Power’ at the United Nations

 

 

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach said “that, based on her comments and her unabashed display of emotional attachment to the security of the Jewish people…they would never again question her commitment to Israel’s security.”

By Connie Fieraru

 

Samantha Power is set to be the next US ambassador to the UN following overwhelming approval during her Senate Foreign Relations Committee appearance on Tuesday. Power made special note of her intention to defend Israel in the world body and work to secure a seat for the Jewish state on the Security Council by 2018.

Israel's new 'Power' at the UN

Power & Obama – Israel Today

After her approval by all but two of the 18-member Senate committee, Power is expected to easily win confirmation from the rest of the Senate. Continue Reading »

Another Ancient Olive Press Unearthed in Jerusalem

 

Excavations by the Israel Antiquities Authority have discovered a cave housing an ancient olive press near Jerusalem College of Technology.

Researchers are still trying to ascertain the artifact’s date, saying this proves of “centrality of olive trade to Jerusalem’s agrarian economy.”

By Yori Yalon and Israel Hayom Staff

 

A cave housing an ancient olive press was recently discovered during archeological excavations at a site near the Jerusalem College of Technology, the Israel Antiquities Authority said in a statement Tuesday.

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French politician files appeal for overturning libel conviction on al-Dura video

French court in 2008 overturned Karsenty’s original conviction after reviewing the full video footage, but last month France 2 successfully appealed the case.

Karsenty has now filled an appeal to France’s supreme court.

By JTA

 

 

Philippe Karsenty, a French Jewish politician, has appealed to France’s supreme court to overturn his conviction of defamation for accusing a television channel of doctoring a video allegedly showing the death of a Palestinian boy.

Mohammed al-Dura cowering behind his father's back - Screenshot

Mohammed al-Dura cowering behind his father’s back – Screenshot

Karsenty, deputy mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine near Paris, was convicted of defamation in 2006 for saying France 2 and its reporter Charles Enderlin had doctored the 2000 video showing the alleged death of Mohammed al-Dura, a 12-year-old boy.

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EU law officials to begin receiving intel on Hezbollah from Israel

Israeli officials say EU agencies will need tons of information on the Hezbollah to curtail its exploitation of operational agendas on the continent.

Israel’s UN ambassador Prosor says EU allowed Hezbollah to operate freely (in all it’s nefarious operations) for decades.

 

 

Now that the EU has decided to designate Hezbollah’s military wing a terrorist organization, Israel will begin providing EU law enforcement officials with intelligence material so they can enforce the decision, Israeli diplomatic officials said Tuesday.

HEZBOLLAH SUPPORTERS march through the streets of Beirut last year.

HEZBOLLAH SUPPORTERS march through the streets of Beirut last year. – Photo: Khalil Hassan/Reuters

Law enforcement authorities, homeland security officials and intelligence agencies in the EU’s 28 countries will need a plethora of information to make sure that Hezbollah’s military wing does not continue to operate on the continent, the officials added.

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Nothing new at the UN, Palestinians charge Israel with war-crimes

Despite resumed talks between Israel & Palestinians, at UN Security Council debate, Palestinian rep charges Israel commits war crimes, continues to build settlements and confiscates their land.

Israeli ambassador criticized the EU ban.

By Yitzhak Benhorin

 

While the Americans are trying to close out the invitations of the Israeli and Palestinian representatives to direct talks in Washington, in New York the two sides are continuing to go head-to-head. Palestinian representative to the UN, Riyad Mansour, stated Tuesday that Israel was committing “war crimes” against his people.

Ron Prosor – Photo: Shahar Azran

At the monthly meeting of the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, Mansour said that Israel continues to build in the West Bank, confiscating land, clearing land, removing residents from their land, and supporting extremists who commit “terror” against Palestinians in the West Bank. Continue Reading »

Pentagon Reports: U.S. military actions in Syria could run $1b a month

NYT Reports: General Dempsey in a letter to Congress warns that the decision to use force in military options against Assad, ‘is no less than an act of war’.

 

The Pentagon has provided Congress with the first list of detailed options for military intervention in Syria, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.

U.S. Navy photo shows the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis

This photo provided by the U.S. Navy shows the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis. – Photo: AP

The scenarios were presented in a letter by chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, and enumerate that strikes on Syrian military targets will costs billions of dollars. Continue Reading »

Rockets Fired into Southern Israel From Gaza

Once Again Palestinian terrorists fire rockets into Israeli cities.

Residents alarmed as “Color Red” warning system fails to activate

By Chana Ya’ar

 

Two rockets slammed into Israel’s southern region Wednesday morning, surprising residents who had no warning of the attack.

Once AgainThe Color Red incoming rocket alert siren somehow malfunctioning and did not activate, according to local sources in the area.

Miraculously, both short-range missiles reportedly exploded in open areas and did not damage property – nor was anyone physically injured.

A number of residents in the area were traumatized in the attack, however.

Local officials and psychotherapists are activating to take the routine steps to address the anxiety and stress resulting from the attack. Continue Reading »

US refuses Israeli request for Pollard’s release when pressured to release Arab prisoners

PM Netanyahu asked the U.S. to release Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard as part of peace talks deal with Palestinians.

Israeli official: Government determined to release Pollard, but only through standard procedures in their prison system.

By Shlomo Cesana, Yori Yalon and Israel Hayom Staff

U.S. President Barack Obama has refused another Israeli request for the release of imprisoned Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard. During talks that preceded the announcement of the renewal of Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, Netanyahu asked for Pollard’s release and was rebuffed by the Americans.

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Unlike McCartney & Keys, Eric Burdon cancels Israel following threats

 

Unable to stand firm, ex-Animals giant falls and will not be appearing with 80’s local favorites, Tislam.

 

 

British rock legend Eric Burdon has canceled a scheduled August 1 appearance of Eric Burdon and The Animals in Israel after receiving threats, his management announced Tuesday.
Musician Eric Burdon performs at Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York

Musician Eric Burdon performs at Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York – Photo: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

“We’ve been receiving mounting pressure, including numerous threatening emails, daily.

The last thing I intend do is put Eric in jeopardy,” said a statement released by Burdon’s management. Burdon, 71, and his reconstituted Animals were scheduled to appear at the Zappa Shoni Amphitheater on a bill with 1980s local favorites Tislam.

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Polish Religious Minister asks Jews to sue over ritual slaughter in Constitutional Court

Boni met with two Jewish representatives Monday in Warsaw and asked them to challenge a de facto ban on ritual slaughter that has been in effect since January. The Polish parliament earlier this month defeated a bill that would have allowed ritual slaughter.

By JTA

 

A Polish government minister asked Jewish and Muslim representatives to petition the country’s Constitutional Court to sort out conflicting laws that have led to a ban on ritual slaughter.

Michał Boni, Polish Minister responsible for Religious Affairs

Michał Boni, Polish Minister responsible for Religious Affairs

According to a statement Monday by the office of Michal Boni, the Polish minister responsible for religious affairs, the minister asked the representatives to petition the court with regard to the 1997 Act on the Relation of the State to the Jewish Communities in Poland, which states that ritual slaughter may be performed in accordance with the needs of the local Jewish community.

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Hamas claims Egypt is attempting to reclaim sovereignty over Gaza

 

Ahmed Assaf, a Fatah spokesman in the West Bank, called on Hamas to stop meddling in the internal affairs of Egypt of other Arab countries, saying this was causing grave damage to Palestinians.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
 

 

Hamas is concerned that Egypt may be trying to restore its sovereignty over the Gaza Strip, Mousa Abu Marzook, a senior Hamas official, said Monday.

An Egyptian military helicopter flying over Alexandria [file].

An Egyptian military helicopter flying over Alexandria [file]. – Photo: REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

Abu Marzook wrote on his Facebook page that by sending helicopters to fly over the Gaza Strip, “Egypt is signaling that it trying to restore its sovereignty over the area, which it lost after the 1967 aggression.”Over

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2012 best year for Israel’s arms exports

Just weeks after serious budget cuts, Defense Ministry reveals Israel’s arms export totaled $7.4 billion for 2012

By Yoav Zitun

Israel‘s export of defense-related products registered an all time record in 2012 totaling $7.4 billion, compared to $5.8 billion in 2011, according to Defense Ministry data.

Iron Dome

Israel’s Anti-rocket system, Iron Dome – Photo courtesy IDF Spokesperson’s Office

The main export destinations were markets in Asia and the Pacific Ocean. The two most lucrative deals were the sale of a satellite and advanced spy planes to Italy.

Shmaya Avieli, head of the Foreign Defense Assistance and Defense Export Department estimated that export in 2013 will total some $4.3 billion adding that Israel is considering new deals with Turkey. Continue Reading »

US Court: Americans born in J’lem can’t have ‘Israel’ designated ‘place of birth’

 

US federal appeals court strikes down 2002 law designed to allow U.S. citizens born in Jerusalem to list Israel as their place of birth.

By Reuters
 

A federal appeals court on Tuesday invalidated a U.S. law that was designed to allow American citizens born in Jerusalem to choose to have Israel listed as their birthplace on passports contrary to long-standing U.S. foreign policy.

Jerusalem, Israel. The Old & the new – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

A unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the president – and not lawmakers – had sole authority to say who controls the historic holy city claimed by Israelis and Palestinians. Continue Reading »

Four more seriously injured Syrians sent to Israeli Hospital

8 yr-old girl among the 4 Syrians sent to a Ziv Hospital in Northern Israel after they were seriously wounded in their civil war.

A total of 45 Syrians have received treatment at Ziv since Syria’s civil war broke out.

By Gil Ronen

 

Four Syrians including an eight-year-old girl were brought to a hospital in Israel after they were wounded by fighting in the war-torn country, a medical source said on Tuesday.

“Yesterday night an injured eight-year-old girl and her 48-year-old mother were treated for fractures to their arms and legs from shrapnel,” said a spokesman for Ziv hospital in Tzfat, north of the Sea of Galilee. Continue Reading »

Palestinians leaders say peace talks may not begin unless Israel agrees to preconditions

John Kerry’s announcement is starting to look premature as Palestinian spokesmen say Abbas has not yet agreed to start Peace Talk.

By Ryan Jones

 

 

While American and Israeli leaders are already patting themselves on their respective backs over the reported resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, the other party to the talks, the Palestinian Authority, is saying everyone should instead hold their respective horses.

Palestinians say peace talks might not happen, after all

Nabil Abu Rudeineh and Yasser Abed Rabbo, official spokesmen for Abbas

Israel is already setting up negotiating teams, and the Obama Administration is praising itself over ostensibly “closing the gaps” that had previously seemed like insurmountable obstacles. Continue Reading »