UN demands Assad & Rebels halt all military activity in Golan Heights

UN Security Council extends mandate of UNDOF deployed on Syrian-Israeli border.

By Reuters and

 

 

The UN Security Council has demanded a halt to all military activity by the Syrian government and opposition fighters on the Golan Heights and called for stepped up measures to protect peacekeepers who have been caught in crossfire.

UN peacekeeping soldiers from Austria near the Quneitra border crossing between Israel and Syria, June 2013. - Photo by Reuters

UN peacekeeping soldiers from Austria near the Quneitra border crossing between Israel and Syria, June 2013. – Photo by Reuters

A resolution adopted unanimously by the council on Thursday extended the mandate of the UN force monitoring the disengagement of Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights until December 31. Continue Reading »

Golan Peacekeepers now to be Armed with Machine Guns

UNSC upgrades UNDOF peacekeepers with machine guns, extra body armor & more armored vehicles.

By Gil Ronen

 

The UN Security Council on Thursday backed UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights carrying machine guns, as fallout from the Syria war increases in the ceasefire zone, AFP reported.

UN base outside of Quneitra, Golan Heights – Photo IsraelandStuffPP

UN base outside of Quneitra, Golan Heights – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP 

The 15-member council passed a resolution to extend the mandate of the force, which monitors a three-decade-old ceasefire between Syria and Israel, but which called on Syrian government and opposition fighters to stay out of the zone.

The council strongly condemned three abductions of UN peacekeepers in the Golan since March and expressed “grave concern” at violations of the 1974 ceasefire accord. Continue Reading »

Victory for Syrian rebels may bring broader regional war

 

Rebel forces being trained and armed by Washington are mostly radical Islamists, with many of them loyal to Al Qaeda.

By Israel Today Staff

 

A cousin and outspoken critic of embattled Syrian dictator Bashar Assad warned that if the rebel forces that America is now arming succeed in taking over the country, it will lead to a regional war including Israel and Turkey.

Warning: Victory for Syrian rebels means regional war

Syrian rebels – Photo from Israel Today

 

Speaking to Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz from New York, Ribal Assad noted that the rebels making up the Free Syrian Army are primarily Islamic extremists “who are worse than Nazis.” Continue Reading »

New housings in Jerusalem approved on eve of Kerry visit

The additional housing units are part of a 1,000-housing unit project approved in August 2011 for Har Homa and other Jerusalem neighborhoods.

 

 

JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Jerusalem municipality issued construction permits to build 69 new housing units in the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa.

Har Homa neighborhood in Jerusalem, – Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Wednesday’s approval comes a day before the planned arrival of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry as he attempts to bring Israel and the Palestinians back to the peace negotiating table.

The housing units are part of a 1,000-housing unit project approved in August 2011 for Har Homa and other nearby communities.

Continue Reading »

Archbishop of Canterbury visits Yad Vashem with Israeli President

After numerous visits to Israel, Welby meets Peres for very first time and is clearly moved at Yad Vashem, saying peace is a “challenge.”

By GREER FAY CASHMAN, JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

 

Although he has been to Israel many times before, for Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, his meeting on Thursday with President Shimon Peres was a first.
Archbishop of Canterbury in Jerusalem, June 27, 2013.

Archbishop of Canterbury in Jerusalem, June 27, 2013. – Photo: REUTERS

In saying what a privilege it was to meet the President, “and a great privilege to always come to this land.”

Peres, who had come to the meeting at his residence directly from the Herzl Day Commemoration where he was the keynote speaker, also refrained from directly mentioning the name of the country and called it “the Holy Land”.

Continue Reading »

Arab countries fail to block an Israel sponsored UN conference

Despite Arab states’ attempt to block Israeli initiative

, Israel’s UN ambassador holds special event showcasing Israeli products & technology in bid to aid developing countries.

By Yitzhak Benhorin

WASHINGTON – Arab states have failed to block Israel from leading a UN conference in which advanced tools would be showcased for developing countries.

המזכ"ל באן והשגריר פרושאור בכנס "כחול לבן" (צילום: שחר עזרן)

UN Sec. Gen Ban Ki-moon with Israeli Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor and others at the Blue & White Conference – Photo: Shachar Azran

Despite the fact that 141 countries voted in favor of the event a number of weeks ago, opponents from Tunisia, Bahrain and Kuwait luanched Wednesday a last ditch effort to block the event, but failed.  Continue Reading »

Illegal Arab Chased by Police ‘Escapes’ into the Hospital

An Arab illegally in Israel, was trying to escape from pursuing Border Police officers & almost got away – until he jumped off a bridge.

By David Lev

 

 

An illegal Arab trying to escape from pursuing Border Police officers almost got away – until he made a near-fatal miscalculation. Now, after jumping off a bridge, the Arab was being treated in an Israeli hospital, suffering from serious injuries.

The incident occurred Thursday morning at the Kesem Junction, at the intersection of two busy highways, outside the city of Rosh Ha’ayin. Border Guards had pursued the Arab, who snuck into Israel illegally, from the direction of Ariel, and caught up with him on a bridge over Road 444. Continue Reading »

Jordan’s king: Palestinians may launch Arab Spring if peace talks don’t resume

London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reports King Abdullah II warning of ‘new intifada or a new cycle of violence and counter violence’ if Palestinians feel prospects for a peaceful settlement of their conflict with Israel have reached a dead end.

By Reuters

Jordan‘s King Abdullah believes that Palestinians could launch an Arab Spring-style revolt if they felt prospects for a peaceful settlement of their conflict with Israel had reached a dead end, a pan-Arab newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Jordan's King Abdullah speaks in Amman, February 20, 2011.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II – Photo: Reuters

He welcomed efforts by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, but warned of a narrowing window for peace due to Israeli settlement building, according to the report in the London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper. Continue Reading »

Defense Minister: Reserve Combat Units ‘Likely to Be Called Up Soon’

Yaalon hints of a major military operation during his visit to the Golan Heights.

By Maayana Miskin

 

Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon hinted Wednesday that Israel may call up its combat soldiers for a major operation in the near future.

Yaalon spoke as he and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu observed a Golani Brigade drill in the Golan.

“I was impressed by the Golani Brigade’s capability, preparedness and skill,” he said.

“Golani, like many other IDF combat units, is likely to be called to operational service on short notice,” he added. “That’s why this exercise, like other drills in recent days, has special meaning at this time and in this place.” Continue Reading »

5 Anti-Israel Defense Force Lies Which Went Viral

 

In the propaganda battle over public opinion, much has been said about the IDF & Israel. Here are 5 smear campaigns about the IDF, from the least-known to the most famous, which all turned out to be 100% fake.

By IDF News

5. IDF Soldier Stepping on Girl

 

In February, a photo showing a girl being stepped on by an IDF soldier went viral, sparking outrage online against Israel. First debunked by ElderofZiyon, the photo was in fact part of a 2009 street theater showin Bahrain.

Fake Photo of IDF Soldier Stepping on Palestinian Girl Which Circulated Online

The photo which circulated online

 

Fake Photo of IDF Soldier Stepping on Palestinian Girl

The full picture

 

4.

Continue Reading »

Poll: Soccer melts hatred between Jewish & Palestinian kids

Due to separation & a poor education by PA gov’t, most Palestinian kids hate all Israelis, but after getting to know some by engaging in sports, one group of Arab kids say they no longer think that way.

By Yossi Aloni

 

Despite the political stalemate between Israel and the Palestinians, research conducted by an American professor reveals that there is still hope for reconciliation and coexistence between the two peoples…via soccer.

Kids playing football - Israel Today

Kids playing football – Israel Today

 

Prior to the study, which had the children from both sides play a number of soccer games against one another, 52 percent of the Palestinian participants said they hated all Israelis. Continue Reading »

Once again UNESCO resolution censures Israel’s activities in Jerusalem

 

UNESCO World Heritage conference in Cambodia becomes battlefield as its members pass a Palestinian-sponsored, Jordanian-authored resolution condemning Israel’s activities in its capital.

Saudi newspaper: Israel razing Al-Aqsa mosque to build Second Temple.

By Israel Hayom Staff

Israel is irate at UNESCO for having adopted a Palestinian-sponsored resolution that denounces Israel’s activities in Jerusalem’s Old City. The resolution was presented to the 37th World Heritage Convention in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Sunday, where it passed with a narrow majority of 8:3 with 10 abstentions.

Entrance to Jaffa Gate - IsraelandStuff/PP

Jaffa Gate Entrance to the Old City – IsraelandStuff/PP

Continue Reading »

Ancient Roman Road Uncovered North of Jerusalem

The Beit Hanina section was part of a Roman road that ran to the coast following the same path as the modern Route 443.

 

JERUSALEM (JTA) — A section of a 1,800-year-old ancient road from the Roman period running from Jerusalem to Jaffa was uncovered in northern Jerusalem.

Route 443 – Google Earth

The road was discovered during excavations by the Israel Antiquities Authority in the Israeli-Arab neighborhood of Beit Hanina in advance of the installation of a drainage pipe.

The road made of large, flat stones and bound on both sides by curbstones is badly worn in some areas, indicating that it was used extensively and repaired several times.

Continue Reading »

McDonald’s refuses to open a branch in Ariel mall

McDonald’s said that its refusal to operate in the West Bank “had always been the restaurant chain’s policy,”

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

 Israel has refused an offer to open a branch of its restaurant chain in a mall slated to be built in the West Bank settlement of Ariel, according to a report in the Calcalist newspaper.

The McDonald's Golden Arches.

The McDonald’s Golden Arches. – Photo: Reuters

Tzahi Nahmias, the realtor who is marketing the mall’s commercial space, told the paper that McDonald’s refused to open a branch because Ariel is located beyond the Green Line.

McDonald’s confirmed to that it did not intend to open in Ariel and said that its refusal to operate in the West Bank “had always been the restaurant chain’s policy,” according to the report.

Continue Reading »

Brokered deal with Obama, broken – Israel falls prey

After extracting Israeli apology for the Marmara raid, Turkey has yet to fulfill its end of White House brokered reconciliation deal.

‘Time to make Ankara pay diplomatic price for its nasty behavior,’ top official says.

By Shimon Shiffe

Despite the fact that Israel apologized to Turkey over the Mavi Marmara incident some three months ago, Ankara has yet to fulfill any of the commitments it took upon itself as part of the reconciliation agreement brokered by US President Barack Obama, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Wednesday.

Terrorist ambush on deck (Photo: IDF Spokesman's Office)

Marmara raid – Photo: IDF Spokesman’s Office

Senior Israeli officials who are familiar with the situation described Turkey’s conduct as humiliating and disrespectful, adding that it exposes IDF soldiers and officers who took part in the 2010 raid on the Gaza-bound Turkish ship to lawsuits by the victims’ families. Continue Reading »