American official: Kerry will drop peace process if Israelis & Palestinians aren’t serious

Abbas isn’t responding to American or Jordanian pressure. Abbas reiterated to Judeh that a freeze on settlement construction  AND the release of Palestinian prisoners is the way to restart negotiations.

 

 

 

 

 

If U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry determines that Israelis and Palestinians are not serious about the peace process, he will abandon his efforts on the matter, a senior U.S. official told Reuters.

John Kerry (C) with President Shimon Peres (L) and President Mahmoud Abbas.


John Kerry (C) with President Shimon Peres (L) and President Mahmoud Abbas at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa on May, 26. – Photo: Reuters

 

In an article by Arshad Mohammed, the Reuters journalist responsible for covering the State Department in Washington, the reporter cited those who called Kerry a “Lone Ranger” condemning the Middle East peace process, and that many involved call Kerry “naive.” Continue Reading »

Hamas Would-Be Kidnapping Terrorist Nabbed by Israel Security

A Hamas terrorist who was preparing to carry out terror attacks was arrested. Under questioning, it was learned that his handler was a terrorist released in the Gilad Shalit deal. That violation makes him a target now.

By David Lev

 

Israeli security personnel announced Monday that they had arrested Bachar Attalah Samiach Sa’ad, a Hamas terrorists who planned several terror attacks against Israelis. Sa’ad was arrested in a joint action by the Shabak, Israel Police and IDF.

Sa’ad, a resident of a village near Ramallah, planned to kidnap an IDF soldier, amid a shooting attack he planned. His handler was Hasham Abed Alkhader Ibrahim Hajaz, a Hamas terrorist who was deported from Israel after he was released from an Israeli prison in the deal to free kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Continue Reading »

Int’l Report: Israel possess 80 nuclear weapons

 

Annual global military assessment by Swedish think tank says Israel possess least number of warheads of all nations known to have viable nuclear weapons

By Ryan Jones

 

 

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reports in the 2013 edition of its annual global security review that Israel possesses some 80 nuclear warheads.

Nuclear

 

According to SIPRI, 50 of Israel’s warheads are built for use atop medium-range ballistic missiles, while the other 30 are designed to be attached to bombs carried by aircraft. The Jewish state is also believed to have developed smaller, tactical nuclear munitions, such as artillery shells. Continue Reading »

Ancient Samaria archaeological site neglected by politics

 

The ancient town of Sebastia of the biblical Kingdom of Israel, under the name of Samaria, has been largely neglected by both sides for the past two decades, as it’s caught between conflicting Israeli & Palestinian jurisdictions.

Historian working on restoration says no one is doing maintenance, protection or cleaning of the site.

By The Associated Press

 

The ancient town of Sebastia is one of the major archaeological sites of the Holy Land, with its overlapping layers of history dating back nearly 3,000 years. But today the hilltop capital of biblical kings, later ruled by Roman conquerors, Crusaders and Ottomans, is marred with weeds, graffiti and garbage.

Continue Reading »

World Health Organization approves Israeli-developed circumcision device

The PrePex, an Israeli-developed non-surgical tool, is the only circumcision method, aside from conventional surgery, to gain WHO approval to date.

By JTA

 

The World Health Organization approved an Israeli-developed non-surgical circumcision device that could soon be used throughout Africa to help control AIDS.

The PrePex is the only circumcision method, aside from conventional surgery, to gain World Health Organization approval to date

The PrePex is the only circumcision method, aside from conventional surgery, to gain World Health Organization approval to date.

WHO on Friday approved PrePex, a disposable and easy-to-use device made up of rubber bands, that obviates the need for anesthesia, stitches or a sterile setting, the New York Times reported.

The foreskin dies of lack of oxygen and either falls off on its own or is easily cut off, according to reports.

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Baghdad warns Israel not to use its airspace to attack Iran

Iraqi minister says the gov’t has informed Israel that “if they violate Iraqi airspace, they will have to bear the consequences”.

Washington has assured Baghdad that Israel won’t use airspace to attack nuclear facilities.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

Baghdad has warned Israel against violating its airspace in order to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, Hussein al-Shahristani, Iraq’s deputy prime minister responsible for energy affairs told AFP on Monday.

F-16i Sufa

Shahrishtani said that the US had already assured Iraqi officials that it would not use Iraqi airspace in order to attack Iran.

“The (Americans) have assured us that they will never violate Iraqi airspace or Iraqi sovereignty by using our airspace to attack any of our neighbors,” Shahristani told AFP.

Continue Reading »

Making Hamdallah Palestinian Prime Minister puts $Billions into Abbas’ pockets

 

 

As long as Fayyad was prime minister, it was almost impossible for Abbas and Fatah to lay their hands on the hundreds of millions of dollars of international aid. Unlike Fayyad, Hamdallah will serve as the obedient and faithful servant of Abbas, as well as the Fatah and PLO leadership. On the political arena, the appointment will have no impact whatsoever.

By Khaled Abu Toameh

 

 

The appointment of Palestinian academic Rami Hamdallah as Palestinian Authority Prime Minister is a big victory for Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah faction.

Palestinian PM Rami Hamdallah Photo from YouTube Screenshot

Palestinian PM Rami Hamdallah – Photo from YouTube Screenshot

 

Hamdallah, who had served as president of An-Najah University since 1998, has been chosen by Abbas to replace Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, who decided to quit in April following years of tensions and disagreements with the Palestinian Authority president and Fatah. Continue Reading »

Barbra Streisand: ‘Israel, a shining beacon of hope in the world’

Streisand & 60-piece orchestra to perform in Israel on June 20, 22 with her son Jason Gould, her sister Roslyn Kind.

 

Barbra Streisand called Israel “a shining beacon of hope in the world,” ahead of her arrival in three weeks for two performances and an appearance honoring President Shimon Peres on his 90th birthday.
Jerusalem's Hebrew University to honor Barbra Streisand

Happy Birthday, Mr. President.

In a promotional interview released on the eve of the debut concert of her new tour that took place Saturday night in London, Streisand praised the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where she will be granted an honorary doctor of philosophy degree on June 17.“Of
Continue Reading »

After EU Pressure, Greek party finally backs tough anti-racism law

Only after condemnation from EU, Greek PM’s party ‘reevaluates’ its opposition to new tougher bill that outlaws Holocaust denial.

By JTA

 

ATHENS – Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and his conservative New DemewThe about-face on Thursday apparently was in response to widespread condemnation over the party’s stance from the European Union, as well as to Greek and international Jewish groups that had urged Athens to take stronger steps against the ultranationalist, neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party.

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras - Photo Greek Press Office

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras – Photo: Greek Press Office

New Democracy had refused to back the bill sponsored by two smaller parties in the ruling coalition, saying that existing legislation was sufficient to deal with racist attacks that have been spawned by Golden Dawn.

Continue Reading »

JNF paid $500,000 for Clinton’s Speech at Peres Academic Center

 

Former US president received hefty sum for a 45-min lecture at Peres’ birthday celebration

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The tab was picked up by the Jewish National Fund, Peres Academic Center.

By Ofer Petersburg

 

How much does a 45-minute lecture by former US President Bill Clinton cost? $500,000 is what The Jewish National Fund (JNF) has paid, one-year in advance, for the speech at the Peres Academic Center in Rehovot.

Bill Clinton - Photo: AP

Bill Clinton – Photo: AP

The event, which will be held on June 17, is part of the Israeli president’s 90th birthday celebrations.

The money for Clinton’s lecture was raised last year through the college’s supporters in cooperation with the Jewish National Fund. Continue Reading »

Anti-Semitic NGOs are Funded by European Countries

Prof. Gerald Steinberg, head of NGO Monitor explains which anti-Semitic NGOs use Christian blood libels in their claims against Israel

By Yoni Kempinski

 

Anti-Semitic NGOs, which receive funding from official authorities such as the United States and the European Union, use classic Christian blood libels in their claims against Israel, said Professor Gerald Steinberg, head of NGO Monitor.

Prof. Gerald Steinberg, head of NGO Monitor.

Prof. Gerald Steinberg, head of NGO Monitor.

Steinberg spoke to Arutz Sheva at the 4th conference of the Global Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism which was held in Jerusalem.

Steinberg named MIFTAH, a Palestinian Authority-based NGO, as an example of a group which uses the old Christian blood libel that accuses Jews of using the blood of Christians to bake matzah on Passover, as part of its anti-Israel propaganda. Continue Reading »

Iran to sue Russia for not supplying S-300 missiles

 

Tehran reportedly sues Russian arms-export company Rosoboronexport for $4 billion in an int’l court in Switzerland, & will only drop the suit if Moscow supplies them with the 5 battalions of the advanced S-300 systems that were ordered.

By Israel Hayom Staff, Shlomo Cesana, Yoni Hirsch, & Eli Leon

Iran is suing Russia over its cancellation of a sale of the advanced S-300 surface-to-air missile system, which they had signed to do in 2007 but pulled out of after U.S. and Israeli pressure, according to a report by Russian news outlet Novosti on Friday.

Continue Reading »

Palestinian boy saved by Jewish kidney donation

Palestinian child saved by family who’s son suffered brain death

Peres: We are proud of your contribution to peace.

 

Sarit and Avi Naor, who donated a kidney from their son Noam to a 10-year-old Palestinian boy on dialysis for seven years, received a phone call from President Shimon Peres on Sunday.

Palestinian boy who got a kidney donation from Jewish boy.

Palestinian boy who got a kidney donation from Jewish boy. – Photo: Courtesy Schneider Medical Center

Noam suffered irreversible lower-brain death after falling from a fourth-story window in his home to the second floor below.

“This is one of the most moving contributions to peace. It exploded all prejudices,” Peres told the parents.

Continue Reading »

Israeli Arab charged with passing intel to Hezbollah

 

An Israeli organizer of pilgrimages to Mecca for the Haj says he never knew the men he met were operatives of the Shiite terror organization.

By Ahiya Raved

 

 

A 45-year-old resident of Shfaram, a predominantly Arab-populated city in northern Israel, was indicted Sunday at the Haifa Magistrate’s Court on a series of security-related charges including contact with a foreign agent, handover of potentially valuable information to the enemy and aiding an unlawful association.

נאשם בעבירות ביטחוניות. זאהר עומר יוספין בבית המשפט (צילום: אבישג שאר-ישוב)

Zaher Omar Yusefin in court on Sunday – Photo: Avishag Shaar-Yashuv

According to the indictment, Zaher Omar Yusefin traveled to Saudi Arabia for the Haj when he allegedly met members of Hezbollah and Palestinian groups, helped them hold meetings with Israeli youth who also arrived at the country and gave information on IDF bases in northern Israel. Continue Reading »

Lebanon pissed-off: Israeli warplanes flying over Beirut

Lebanese official confirmed the IAF overflights on Sunday & said they presence were among the most intense recently.

Israel has no comment.

 

Lebanese security officials and the state-run news agency reported Sunday that low-flying Israeli warplanes were violating its air space, overlying territory including the capital Beirut.

IAF planes – Photo EPA

The warplanes flew over southern Lebanon, Beirut, the eastern Bekaa Valley and the city of Baalbek, the National News Agency said.

Israeli warplanes regularly enter Lebanese airspace. A Lebanese security official confirmed the Sunday overflights and said they were among the most intense recently. Continue Reading »