Naftali Bennett: Turkish PM doing his best to make Israel regret its apology

Newly-appointed minister says ‘no country is doing Israel a favor by renewing diplomatic ties’ & Erdoğan should know  Israel’s response will be no less harsh on future acts of terrorism.

By and

Newly-appointed minister of industry, trade and labor Naftali Bennett, chairman of Habayit Hayehudi, sharply criticized Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday for his comments regarding Israel over the last few days.

Turkey-Israel - AP

A billboard with photos of Netanyahu and his Turkish counterpart Erdogan, celebrating Israel’s apology, in Ankara, March 25, 2013 – Photo: AP

Referring to Israel’s apology over the loss of life on the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara in 2010, Bennett said: “It seems Erdogan is doing everything in his power to make Israel regret it, while conducting a personal and crude campaign at the expense of Israeli-Turkish ties.” Continue Reading »

Saudi Arabia May Ban WhatsApp, Skype & Viber

Saudi Arabia may ban WhatsApp Viber and Skype, if the software firms don’t give the gov’t with a way to monitor user communications.

By Chana Ya’ar

Saudi Arabia may ban Skype, WhatsApp and Viber if the software firms don’t provide the government with a way to monitor user communications.

Skype

Skype on Computer – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

The kingdom’s Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) is threatening to block audio-visual communication programs and applications because they use encrypted connections, according to an Arabic daily newspaper quoted by Gulf in the Media.

Two sources employed at local telecommunications firms allegedly told the daily that heads of telecom companies and the CITC have been debating the issue over the past three weeks. Continue Reading »

Assad Appeals to Int’l Economic Forum to Help ‘dry sources of terrorism’ in Syria

Assad’s appeal to non-Islamic countries, India, China, Brazil, Russia, & South Africa comes a day after the Arab League endorsed Syria’s Western-backed opposition coalition, delivering another blow to the regime in Damascus.

 

Syria’s increasingly isolated President Bashar Assad on Wednesday appealed to the leaders of a five-nation economic forum meeting in South Africa to help end his country’s two-year conflict.

Syrian President Bashar Assad - Photo by AP

Syrian President Bashar Assad – Photo: AP

Assad’s appeal came a day after the Arab League endorsed Syria‘s Western-backed opposition coalition, delivering another blow to the regime in Damascus.

Assad sent a letter urging the leaders of the five nation BRICS forum – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – to “work for an immediate cessation of violence that would guarantee the success of the political solution” in Syria. Continue Reading »

Israel’s Natural Gas Pipeline to Begin Flowing Before End of Pesach

“With the introduction of natural gas from the Tamar field, we will see a significant achievement and a tremendous contribution to Gross National Product,”

By Arutz Sheva Staff

 

Minister of Energy and Water Silvan Shalom visited the natural gas pipeline project off the coast of Haifa on Wednesday. He was accompanied by Yitzhak Tshuva of the Tamar energy company.

Tamar natural gas well

The opening of the natural gas pipeline is said to reduce power generation costs and lower electric company prices.

Minister Shalom complemented the people behind the project. The gas is set to start flowing at the end of the week. “With the introduction of natural gas from the Tamar field, we will see a significant achievement and a tremendous contribution to Gross National Product,” Minister Shalom stated. Continue Reading »

Australian FM cries to US about wanting answers on Zygier case

Speaking in Washington after meeting with U.S. VP Joe Biden, Bob Carr, Australia’s Foreign Minister complained that Israel has yet to provide Australia with a “comprehensive accounting” on the arrest, incarceration & suicide of Australian citizen & reputed Mossad agent, Ben Zygier.

By Eli Leon, Israel Hayom Staff and News Agencies

 

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr on Tuesday said that Israel has yet to provide Australia with a “comprehensive accounting” of the arrest, detention and suicide of Ben Zygier.

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr in U.S. – Photo  AP

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr in U.S. – Photo AP

Foreign media outlets have reported that Zygier, an Israeli-Australian dual national, worked as a Mossad spy.

Continue Reading »

Anti-Israeli Billboards Posted in N.Y. & Conn. Train Stations

 

Billboards calling for end to U.S. aid to Israel were posted along the platforms at several Metro-North train stations this week with a very anti-Israeli message.

By JTA

 

 

Billboards calling for an end to U.S. aid to Israel were erected this week at 25 train stations in suburban New York and Connecticut.

Screenshot - ABC News clip

Screenshot – ABC News clip

The billboards that went up Tuesday, on the first day of Passover, in Metro North train stations are sponsored by a group called American Muslims for Palestine.

The ad also calls Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza a form of apartheid, and features a quote by South African social rights activist Desmond Tutu. Continue Reading »

Palestinian Authority Against Turkish PM’s visit to Gaza

Senior official in the PA says that since Gaza is not an independent Palestinian state & Hamas is not the legitimate representative of the Palestinians,  diplomatic visits should be via Ramallah.

By KHALED ABBU TOAMEH

 

The Palestinian Authority is opposed to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s intention to visit the Gaza Strip, a senior PA official in Ramallah said Wednesday.

Mashaal and Erdogan meet in Ankara

Mashaal and Erdogan meet in Ankara – Photo: REUTERS

“The Palestinian Authority leadership has informed the Turkish government that we are opposed to such a visit because it would deepen divisions among the Palestinians,” the PA official said. “The Gaza Strip is not an independent Palestinian state and Hamas is not the legitimate representative of the Palestinians.” Continue Reading »

Again, Syrian wounded seek treatment in Israel

Number of Syrians wounded  in critical condition secretly transferred to hospital in Israel with IDF chief’s authorization. One Died.

Maor Buchnik

 

A number of injured Syrians made their way to the border with Israel Wednesday morning, the IDF said. Two of the Syrians, who were critically wounded, were evacuated to Israeli hospitals with the authorization of IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz.

Illustrative – Photo Courtesy IDF Spokesperson’s Office

The two, who are in their 30s, were initially taken to the Ziv Medical Center in Safed, but were later transferred to a hospital in Nahariya. One of them was pronounced dead several hours after being hospitalized. Continue Reading »

Palestinian officials reports Israel arrested Hamas MP….Again

An IDF spokeswoman is checking claims that Hamas lawmaker Muhammad Natsheh was arrested again by Israel, after recent release from 6-month detention.

By DPA

 

Israel on Wednesday arrested four leaders of the Islamist movement Hamas, including lawmaker Mohammed Natsheh, in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, Hamas officials said.

Hamas supporters in Ramallah - AP - Nov. 16, 2012

Palestinian Hamas supporters march in support of the people of the Gaza Strip and against Israel’s military operations, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Friday, Nov. 16, 2012. – Photo by AP

The Palestine News Network said nine Palestinians, including four youths, were arrested in the raid. Continue Reading »

Turkey Expects ‘Tens of Millions’ from Israel in Compensation

In a meeting with Turkish officials, Minister Livni discussed Israel’s willingness to compensate the families of those killed on the Marmara.

By David Lev

 

Justice Minister Tzippy Livni on Sunday spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, discussing the possibility that Israel would pay reparations to the families of nine Turkish supporters of Hamas who were killed in 2010 aboard the Mavi Marmara, after they attempted to attack and murder IDF soldiers as part of the Gaza flotilla.

Turkey’s vice-premier, Bulenbt Arink, told Turkish media Sunday that a meeting and discussion in compensation had taken place, but gave no details. Continue Reading »

Muslim World still propagating Blood Libel against Jews

Prof. Moshe Sharon of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem says: Unfortunately, the “matzah blood libel” is alive & well.

By David Lev

 

It may seem hallucinatory in this day and age, but unfortunately, the “matzah blood libel” is alive and well. In a discussion with Arutz Sheva, Professor Moshe Sharon of Hebrew University said that there were still many instances of the false accusations against Jews for allegedly using the blood of non-Jews to make matzah, but that these accusations today are made in the Muslim world, not the Christian world, where the libel originated in 1144 with the fabricated story of William of Norwich, England. Continue Reading »

Israel considers creating Syrian buffer zone with aid of local villages

 

Maj. Gen. Yair Golan said, “One of the defensive measures that we of course cannot rule out is creating a defensive buffer zone on the other side of the border, together with interlocutors who will have an interest in cooperating with us against other elements who threaten them too,”

By Yoav Limor

OC Northern Command Maj. Gen Yair Golan, the man who is staring down the barrel of a disintegrating Syria, so to speak, has assessments that point to the possibility that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s army has already used small amounts of chemical weapons against rebel forces.

 

Maj.

Continue Reading »

Qatar proposes $1 billion fund for de-Judaization of Jerusalem

 

Qatar’s Emir calls to establish a $1 billion fund to keep Jerusalem Muslim & promises to contributed $250 million to it.

By REUTERS, JPOST.COM STAFF

 

Qatar called on Tuesday for the immediate establishment of a $1 billion fund to help Palestinians in east Jerusalem, and offered to contribute $250 million to it.

E1 area, officially called Mevaseret Adumim, located in the Judean Desert – Screenshot

Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, made the proposal at the opening of an Arab summit in Doha that is expected to focus on the crisis in Syria and stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Continue Reading »

Kidnapped in the Sinai, Israeli & Norwegian hostages are released

Israeli Arab, Amir Omar Hassan, 23 & a Norwegian tourist were released by their captors.
Hassan, in interview to Egyptian press: ‘There were hard days, but they didn’t harm us’

By Hassan Shaalan

 

The family of the kidnapped Israeli-Arab from Nazareth and MK Ahmad Tibi have reported that both he and the Norwegian tourist who where kidnapped last Friday in the Sinai Peninsula have been released into the custody of Egyptian authorities.

Hassan, Phillip, after release - Photo ONA

Hassan & Phillip, after their release – Photo: ONA

Before dawn, Amir Omar Hasan, 23, who was captured together with a Norwegian national by a group of armed Bedouins while vacationing in Sinai, called his family to inform them of his release. Continue Reading »

We are f***ing powerless: Jon Stewart mocks Obama’s visit to Jerusalem

WATCH as the Daily Show’s takes on U.S. President Barack Obama’s recent trip to Jerusalem & the failures of past American presidents on peace between Israel & the Palestinians.

 

Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show returned after two weeks off the air by poking fun at the outcome of President Barack Obama’s recent trip to Israel and the West Bank, and lamenting the failures of past U.S. presidents in the peace process.

A screen shot of Jon Stewart on the Daily Show.

A screen shot of Jon Stewart on the Daily Show.

Stewart mocked Obama’s Jerusalem speech, in which the president combined what Stewart described as “a stunning declaration of American support for Israel’s right to exist,” with a call for recognition of “the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, right to justice.” Continue Reading »