Hunger striking Palestinian prisoner exiled to Gaza

Ayman Sharawna released from Israeli prison for the 2nd time, arrives in Gaza where he’s been exiled to for 10 years.
Palestinian official: ‘This is punishment not release’

By Elior Levy

 

Hunger striking Palestinian prisoner Ayman Sharawna, has arrived in the Gaza Strip after reaching a deal with Israel stating he would be released from Prison and deported to the Gaza Strip for a period of 10 years went ahead.He received a hero’s welcome upon arrival.

Demonstrations in support of hunger striking prisoners (Illustration)

Sharawna, a Hamas operative from the Dura village near Hebron was arrested in 2002 and sentenced to 38 years in prison after being convicted for laying the explosives in the Beersheba terror attack in which 18 people were wounded. Continue Reading »

Over 5000 Cops to Protect Obama

Israel will be dedicating a great deal of its resources and security services to ensure a successful visit for the U.S. President.

By David Lev

 

Israel will be dedicating a great deal of its resources to ensuring a successful visit for U.S. President Barack H. Obama, due here Wednesday. Thousands of police will be taken off their usual crime-fighting patrols and be deployed in the service of Obama’s large contingent.

ObamaOver 5,000 police will be directly involved in providing security for Obama and his entourage, while hundreds of others will be helping out in indirect ways. For example, over 100 officers will be added to the police help line specifically to deal with issues called in by citizens relating to the Obama visit. Continue Reading »

Former FM: IDF should open fire on rock-throwers

Former FM Liberman urges IDF to make appropriate changes to military rules of engagement, claiming “only this kind of change will stop targeting of citizens.” Too many civilians seriously hospitalized or killed by stone throwers.

By JPOST.COM STAF

 

Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman urged incoming Defense Minister, Moshe Ya’alon, on Sunday to change the IDF’s rules of engagement to instruct soldiers to open fire at “rock-throwing terrorists.”

Bus damaged by stones on Route 5 near Ariel, March 14

Bus damaged by stones on Route 5 near Ariel, March 14 – Photo: Channel 10

Liberman asserted that “rock-throwing [should] be treated like shooting using firearms,” adding that “only this kind of change will stop civilians and soldiers from being targeted by Arab rioters and prevent disasters.”

Continue Reading »

Netanyahu appoints Sa’ar as Interior Minister & Ya’alon as Defense Minister

 

PM says Ya’alon has all the necessary experience to deal with ‘turmoil around us’ & that Erdan will be the Home-Front defense minister, placed in charge of strategic talks with the U.S.

Gideon Sa’ar to head the Interior Ministry.

Moran Azulay

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed Likud Knesset Member Moshe Ya’alon that he will be replacing Ehud Barak as defense minister.

Ya’alon, who currently serves as minister of strategic affairs, was one of several Likud members who were summoned to the Prime Minister’s Office Sunday morning. Many of the lawmakers from the ruling party expected a promotion.

“During such a crucial time for the security of the State of Israel, when everything is in turmoil around us, it is important that a man with Moshe Ya’alon’s experience hold this position,” Netanyahu said. Continue Reading »

‘Human rights’ are again ignored by UN, except as weapon against Israel

This isn’t about human rights at all. Twisted beyond recognition, ‘human rights’ at the UN is simply a weapon in the political arsenal of Israel’s enemies. Millions & millions of human rights victims are left by the wayside in the UN’s stampede to denounce & defeat the Jewish state.

By Anne Bayefsky

 

Today at the United Nations in New York City, the UN’s top women’s rights body, the Commission on the Status of Women, will wrap up its annual session by condemning only one state for violating the rights of women anywhere in the world. Not Syria, or China, or Saudi Arabia.  Continue Reading »

Bennett to head panel to break up power consortiums & lower living costs

Bennett to push legislation already submitted to the Knesset on the dismantlement or limits of corporate concentration of economic power.

 

Habayit Hayehudi party leader Naftali Bennett is not only slated to become the new government’s minister of industry, trade and labor − he is also tabbed to head a cabinet committee to seek ways of reducing the cost of living and breaking up the concentration of economic power. Meanwhile, Bennett’s ministry is to be renamed the Economics and Trade Ministry.

Naftali Bennett

Habayit Hayehudi leader Naftali Bennett. – Photo: AP

In negotiations on the formation of a new government, Bennett demanded that efforts be made to pass legislation already submitted to the Knesset on the issue of corporate concentration of economic power. Continue Reading »

First Time no Religious ‘Status Quo’ in Gov’t Agreement

For the very 1st time in Israel’s history, there’s coalition agreement without a demand to maintain the religious-secular “status quo.”

By Maayana Miskin, Chana Ya’ar

 

For the first time in Israel’s history, the new coalition agreement finalized and presented to President Shimon Peres on Saturday night does not include a commitment to the religious-secular “status quo.” Hareidi-religious parties are concerned, while the religious-Zionist sector celebrates.

The Status Quo agreements, instituted when the state was created, essentially state that the public observance of Jewish tradition will continue as it was in 1948, with no addition or decrease.

Among other things, the agreement means that cities that did not have public transportation on the Sabbath at that time will not add Sabbath bus lines, and marriage, divorce and conversion for Jews will remain under the auspices of the Rabbinate. Continue Reading »

Yesh Atid deal makes $millions for Holocaust survivors available

Coalition agreement signed with Yesh Atid guarantees major increase in funds for the treatment of survivors. MK Kariv: It’s our duty.

Omri Efraim

 

The coalition agreement between Yesh Atid and Likud-Beiteinu calls to increase the services package for Holocaust survivors by NIS 110 million (about $30M) in 2013 and by an additional NIS 500 million ($135M) in the next four years.

Ynet has learned that in light of the agreement, the Foundation for the Benefit of Holocaust Victims in Israel will announce later this week the cancellation of its decision to cut nursing hours for some 6,000 Holocaust survivors with various disabilities. Continue Reading »

The Real Apartheid in the Middle East

Arab/Muslim apartheid comes in many forms, and too many victims have been subjected to multiple forms.

By EFRAIM KARSH

 

In light of Israel Apartheid Week, which hit cities and campuses throughout the world recently, supporters of the Jewish state find it difficult to agree on the best response to this hate fest. Some suggest emphasizing Israel’s peacemaking efforts, others propose rebranding the country by highlighting its numerous achievements and success stories. Still others advocate reminding the world of “what Zionism is – a movement of Jewish national liberation – and what it isn’t –racist.” Each of these approaches has its merits yet none will do the trick.

Continue Reading »

View & Decide if White House Video Confirm Obama is Boycotting Ariel U?

Why were students from Ariel University not invited to Obama’s speech?
White House video gives an ‘explanation’.

By Gil Ronen

 

White House video which states that President Barack Obama’s planned speech before Israeli university students is the centerpiece of his visit, also appears to confirm that the White House deliberately left Ariel University students out of the event.

Ariel University Center of Samaria – Photo:  AP

Ariel University Center of Samaria – Photo: AP

The spokesman in the video, Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes, says in it that the universities chosen to send students to the event were the ones that “partner” with the U.S. Embassy.

This explanation places responsibility for leaving out Ariel – while including all of Israel’s other universities – on the U.S. Continue Reading »

Amb. Oren: Obama’s itinerary demonstrates his support for Zionism

Ambassador Oren says Obama’s visit sends message of support to Israelis at a time when “the Middle East is burning.”

 

US President Barack Obama’s itinerary shows his deep commitment to Zionism and to Israel as a Jewish state that is historically routed in this region, Israel’s Ambassador to the US Michael Oren told Channel 2 on Saturday night during its Meet the Press program.

Ambassador to US Michael Oren

Ambassador to US Michael Oren – Photo: Hyungwon Kang/Reuters

“This will be Obama’s first trip outside the United States in his second term. Out of more than 190 countries around the world, he chose to come to us,” said Oren.

Continue Reading »

And What About Those Talks with Iran

 

In contrast to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, the Saudis, (like Israel) are one of the few who fully understand the Iranians’ diplomatic technique of exploiting nuclear talks with the West to play for time and further advance their nuclear program.

By Dore Gold

 

The reports coming out of the last round of talks between the P5+1 and Iran, held in Kazakhstan, were surprisingly positive. The Washington Post headlined its Feb. 27 report on the subject, “Iran nuclear talks end on upbeat note.” Saeed Jalili, the head Iranian negotiator, told reporters that the two sides might be getting to a “turning point” in the talks between them.

Continue Reading »

Bulgaria won’t seek EU terror classification for Hezbollah

Bulgaria’s new PM Raikov reports that despite proof implicating Hezbollah in Burgas bombing, Sofia won’t push EU to recognize group as terrorist; move likely as concession to opposition groups who, like many of their EU partners, are scared & intimidated by Hezbollah.

By REUTERS

SOFIA – Bulgaria’s new interim prime minister said on Saturday he would not initiate any move to impose EU sanctions on the Islamist group Hezbollah, even though the country had implicated the Islamist movement in a bombing at a Black Sea resort.

Truck carries bus damaged in terrorist attack

Truck carries bus damaged in terrorist attack – Photo: Stoyan Nenov/ Reuters

Marin Raikov did not give a reason for his decision – but it will likely be seen as a concession to Bulgarian opposition groups, who have argued the country could open itself up to more attacks if it takes the lead in blacklisting Hezbollah.

Continue Reading »

US poll: Support for Israel highest in decades

Recent survey reflects highest percentages since 1st Gulf War – 64% support for Israel among Americans, versus a mere 12% for the Palestinians

By Ynet

 

According to a Gallup survey released Friday, 64% of Americans sympathize with Israelis, versus 12% who sympathize with the Palestinians and 23% who said they did not support either.

Israelis prepare for Obama's visit - Photo:  AFP

Israelis prepare for Obama’s visit – Photo: AFP

Support for Israel has been exceeding 60% for the last three years, but the recent poll sees the highest percentage in the last 22 years.

The last time that 64% of Americans expressed their support for Israelis was in 1991, during the Gulf War. Continue Reading »

Jaffa celebrates 150 years of teaching Muslims, Christians & Jews together

Two Scottish sisters founded the Tabeetha School to provide the children of the Holy Land with an education that celebrates diversity.

 

With a student body of Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Druze and Buddhists, the Tabeetha School, now commemorating its 150th anniversary, is like no other in the country.

Headmaster Antony Short, at the Tabeetha School.

Headmaster Antony Short, at the Tabeetha School. The students celebrate Christmas, but also mark Ramadan and Id Al-Fitr, and get dressed up for Purim. – Photo by Nir Keidar

It was the mid-19th century, and Jane Walker-Arnott, a blue-eyed Scotswoman of delicate health, decided to leave her windswept lowlands home and travel to the Holy Land, her sister Emilia in tow, to soak up the Mediterranean sun and volunteer with a Christian mission in Jaffa. Continue Reading »