Official figures report increased settlement construction

Central Bureau of Statistics’ report detailing overall construction starts, shows West Bank building at highest level since last year as compared to other regions throughout Israel.

Associated Press

Official Israeli figures show housing starts in West Bank settlements rose significantly in the first three months of 2013 compared to the same period last year – numbers that are likely to cast a shadow on the upcoming visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Settlement construction (Archive photo: Reuters)

Settlement construction – Archive photo: Reuters

A document on housing starts released by the Central Bureau of Statistics showed that building in the West Bank jumped from 313 housing starts between January and March last year to 865 the same period this year. Continue Reading »

Egypt’s highly influential Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi: Hizbullah ‘Party of Satan’

Influential Egyptian Muslim Scholar reconsiders stand on Iran & Hizbullah, after years of supporting them.

By Gil Ronen

 

The highly influential Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, president of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, retracted his previous defense of Hizbullah and Iran, in an interview with Al Arabiya aired on Sunday.

Hezbollah flag - Photo: AFP

Hezbollah flag – Photo: AFP

“When Hizbullah was fighting against Israel, I defended it. I stood against the Muslim scholars in Saudi Arabia, the most renowned scholars who warned us against Hizbullah,” he said.

“They warned us against Hizbullah’s plans to sow discord. They warned us against their ideology and intentions. Continue Reading »

Secret EU funding for inciting Palestinian NGO’s and BDS leader

NGO Monitor issues report saying the EU’s funds conflict & violence to groups that were centrally involved in 2001 Durban Forum’s strategy of ‘political warfare & demonization of Israel’

By Ynet news staff

 

In a new report presented to members of the European Parliament, NGO Monitor details the damaging impact of “highly secretive EU funding for radical political advocacy NGOs.”

 

EU flags – Photo: AFP

According to NGO Monitor, EU funds are going to organizations involved in anti-Israel boycotts and violent demonstrations, which “undermine the EU’s efforts to secure peace in the Middle East.”

According to NGO Monitor, the report, titled “Lack of Due Diligence and Transparency in European Union Funding for Radical NGOs,” shows how EU-funded NGOs lead the campaigns to demonize Israel through the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) – actions that “totally contradict the EU’s proclaimed objectives of supporting peace and democratic development.” Continue Reading »

Iran sets up space tracking center to monitor objects in orbit

Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported that the Defense Minister said the space-center was for Iran’s space-related security but that Tehran would share the acquired data with other countries.

Iran said Sunday that it set up its first space tracking center to monitor objects passing in orbit overhead.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Ahmad Vahidi - AP - 18.4.2012

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, second left, listening to his Defense Minister, Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, as a rocket is paraded during army parade ceremony marking National Army Day outside Tehran, April 18, 2012. – Photo: AP

 

Defense Minister Gen. Ahmad Vahidi said the center was for Iran’s space-related security but that Tehran would also share the acquired data with other countries, the official IRNA news agency reported. Continue Reading »

Israeli PM: Tehran Stepping Up Cyber-War against Israeli Targets

Iran now has Hizbullah and Hamas working with them to carry out cyber-warfare against Israeli targets.

By Gil Ronen

 

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Iran has been stepping up its cyber-attacks on Israel.

Netanyhau arrives for weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusaelm, May 26, 2013 - Photo: REUTERS/Menahem Kahana/Pool

Netanyhau arrives for weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusaelm, – Photo: REUTERS/Menahem Kahana/Pool

“In the last few months,” he said, “we have identified a meaningful surge in the scale of cyber-attacks by Iran, which are being carried out directly by Iran and its proxies, Hizbullah and Hamas.”

Netanyahu spoke at the International Cybertechnology Conference of the National Cyber Council in the Prime Minister’s Office, held in cooperation with the Yuval Ne’eman Workshop at Tel Aviv University. Continue Reading »

Women of the Wall service this month ends without arrests

Large number of Jerusalem Police & Border Police deploy to Western Wall to encounter only several dozen haredim, so there wasn’t a recurrence of last month’s violent clashes between women & ultra-Orthodox protesters.

By Israel Hayom Staff

 

Despite fears of a showdown, the Women of the Wall went ahead with their monthly prayer service at Jerusalem’s Western Wall on Sunday morning, in a morning that turned out to be relatively uneventful.

Continue Reading »

Google to acquire Israeli navigation app Waze for $1.3billion

 

Sources says Google’s acquisition of Israel’s navigation app set to be completed shortly.

By GLOBES/HAGAI GOLAN, TZACHI HOFFMAN

 

 

 

The acquisition of the Israeli navigation app and traffic report start up will be completed after months of speculation involving Google, Facebook and Apple.

Waze traffic software Photo IsraelandStuff PP

Waze traffic software – Photo IsraelandStuff/PP

Sources inform ”Globes” that Google Inc. will acquire Waze for $1.3 billion. The acquisition of the Israeli navigation app and traffic report start-up will be completed after months of reports that Waze would be sold to either Google or Facebook Inc.

Ra’anana-based Waze has almost 50 million users. This is a big number for an Israeli company, which probably helped it achieve the hoped-for exit.

Continue Reading »

El Al ‘racist’ airline says East Jerusalem Arab

Islam Abu Ziad an East Jerusalem attorney says he & a coworker were subjected to humiliating security checks at Ben Gurion Airport, then prevented from boarding their flight to Holland despite their clean record.

By Hassan Shaalan

 

 

Attorney Islam Abu Ziad, 35, a resident of east Jerusalem, was planning to fly to a conference in Holland a few weeks ago, but he did not make the flight.

"פתאום קראו לנו ברמקול ואמרו שאסור לנו לטוס" (צילום: בני דויטש)

‘Discrimination and racism in El Al’ – Photo: Benny Doutsh“The next day I found a different flight to the Netherlands with a different airline and there was no problem,” Al Ziad added.

Continue Reading »

UN Forces Have Proven Israel Cannot Depend On Them For Security

PM Netanyahu told Russia’s President Putin that Israel won’t fire at Syria if Syria doesn’t fire first.

The PM also said the Syrian conflict has repeatably demonstrated that Israel can’t depend on the UN for security in the Golan Heights.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told Russia’s President Vladimir Putin over the weekend that Israel will hold its fire against Syria – as long as Syria holds its fire against Israel.

In a statement at the opening of the government’s regular Sunday morning Cabinet meeting Netanyahu said he had discussed the situation with Putin in a phone conversation, warning him that “the situation is becoming daily more complex. Continue Reading »

Arab MK intimidating Arab girls who do national service, they won’t find husbands

 

MK Jamal Zahalka (National Democratic Assembly) threatens that not only will Israeli Arabs who perform national service be ostracized, but their marriage prospects will suffer. “This is cause for battle,” he says.

By Israel Hayom Staff

Israeli Arab Knesset member Jamal Zahalka (National Democratic Assembly) has spoken out against national service for Israeli Arabs, saying that young people who volunteer will be ostracized.

“Anyone who does national service should be ashamed,” Zahalka said on Saturday. “A young woman needs to know that if she performs national service, there is a chance no one will marry her and she will be ostracized. Continue Reading »

Hezbollah opens fire on unarmed protesters outside Iran’s embassy in Beirut

 

Hezbollah gunmen opens fire on unarmed civilian anti-Hezbollah demonstrators as they were arriving at the Iranian Embassy in Beirut.

One dead, several wounded.

By REUTERS
 

 

BEIRUT – A Lebanese protester was killed outside the Iranian embassy in Beirut on Sunday after gunmen from the Iranian-backed Shi’ite militia Hezbollah opened fire when anti-Hezbollah Shi’ite demonstrators approached, witnesses and officials said.

Hezbollah supporters attack a bus carrying anti-Hezbollah protesters in front of the Iranian embassy - Photo  Reuters

Hezbollah supporters attack a bus carrying anti-Hezbollah protesters in front of the Iranian embassy – Photo: Reuters

The Lebanese army deployed tanks and erected roadblocks across Beirut following the shooting, fearing a flare-up in sectarian and factional hostility. Protesters had condemned Iranian and Hezbollah backing for the Syrian president in a civil war that has been spreading across Lebanon’s border.

Continue Reading »

Palestine is being built….and in Israel-dominated Area C

 

Palestinian construction in Judea & Samaria, especially Israel-dominated Area C, is intended to create territorial continuity, laying down foundations for future Palestinian state.

By Akiva Novick

Six cities, two airports, a high-tech complex, a university and a system of highways to connect all of the above are included in the new Palestinian construction plan aimed at setting facts on the ground and creating a territorial continuity in the West Bank.

Salam Fayyad - Photo EPA

Salam Fayyad – Photo EPA

Dozens of sites in the West Bank are part of the new trend of construction, as the authorities refuse to wait for the revival of peace talks and are laying down the foundations and infrastructures for an independent state. Continue Reading »

Caught On Tape: British MP calling Israeli soldier a ‘bloody Jew’… ‘with a rifle up my nose’

MP Patrick Mercer made his antisemitic remark to a BBC reporter posing as a lobbyist, when referring to his recent trip in Israel.
Mercer is currently under investigation in a corruption scandal.

By
 

A British member of parliament under fire in a corruption scandal was caught on camera describing an Israeli soldier as a “bloody Jew.”

British MP Patrick Mercer being taped by reporter

British MP Patrick Mercer being taped by reporter. – Photo by Screenshot

Patrick Mercer made the remark to a BBC reporter posing as a lobbyist in the investigation. The footage was broadcast Thursday.

Female IDF officer - Illustrative - with plaited  hair and open-toe sandals

Female IDF officer – Illustrative – with plaited hair and open-toe sandals

Mercer told of entering an “intelligence establishment” during a recent Israel visit and facing a security guard. Continue Reading »

US, UK & Canada Denounces Falk’s ‘Outrageous Abuse’ of his UN Position

A ‘MUST WATCH’ video from UN watch exposing the U.N. Human Rights Council Rapporteur Richard Falk for his exaggerated anti-Israel bias, and his ‘outrageous abuse of the position he holds.”

By Rina Tzvi

 

The Anti-Defamation League welcomed on Friday the condemnation from the United States of the latest report by U.N. Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Richard Falk on the human rights situation of Arabs living in Israel, and called on other member states of the Council to “denounce Falk and his outrageous abuse of the position he holds.”

UNHRCAmbassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe, the U.S. Representative to the Human Rights Council, stated that the U.S. Continue Reading »

UNSC: Israel said they would attack Syrian tanks on Golan Heights

Document submitted to UN Security Council says IDF told UN commander they would ‘take action’ if Syrian army tanks entered into agreed buffer zone during Quneitra battle with rebel.

By Ynet

 

The fierce battles in the Quneitra region between the Syrian army and rebels trying to overthrow President Bashar Assad threatened to result in a significant military confrontation between Israel and Syria, American blogger Nabil Abi Saab reported on Saturday.

פקחים, תצפיתנים ודריכות. אזור הקרבות בקונייטרה (צילום: AP)

UN vehicles near Quneitra battle zone – Photo: AP

The report was based on a document submitted to the Security Council by Herve Ladsous, UN Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations. Continue Reading »