Licensed U.S. Doctors can now practice in Israel without retaking medical exam

Israeli citizens who went to the U.S. for school and immigrant American doctors will no longer be required to retake medical licensing exam.

 

The Knesset Labor, Welfare and Health Committee voted Wednesday to exempt Israelis who studied medicine abroad, as well as immigrant physicians, from the Israeli medical licensing exam if they have passed the U.S. licensing exams.

Medical students at Hadera’s Hillel Yaffe hospital

The committee also approved the retroactive licensing of any physician who has passed the U.S. exam, the USMLE, during the past 10 years. However, the committee also ruled that candidates who failed the Israeli medical exam cannot take the USMLE instead. Continue Reading »

Pressured to OK Arab School, Mayor Gives Definitive No to Segregation

“The Upper Nazareth was founded to make the Galilee Jewish & we must preserve this role,” Mayor Gapso said responding to pressure to build an Arab school.

By Annie Lubin

 

In a definitive response to an appeal to create an Arab school in Upper Nazareth, the city’s Mayor rejected the proposal and vowed that no Muslim establishment would be erected on his watch – whether it be a mosque, a Muslim cemetery or an Arab school.

Nazareth Ilit

Mayor Shimon Gapso added Wednesday that the proposal, which was submitted on January 7th by the Association of Civil Rights in Israel, represents “a provocative nationalist statement intended to disrupt the status quo” and vowed that he would continue to fight the proposal and any similar ones that may arise in the future. Continue Reading »

‘Jewish terrorist’ Yaakov Teitel convicted of 2 counts murder

Jerusalem District Court rules radical rightist was sane at time of the murders and finds Teitel guilty on 2 counts of murder & 2 counts of attempted murder.

By Aviel Magnezi

 

Yaakov “Jack” Teitel, notoriously known as the “Jewish Terrorist,” was convicted of the murder to two Palestinians and the attempted murder of two other people.

Jack TeitelThe conviction, rendered by the Jerusalem District Court on Wednesday, stated that Teitel was in full control of his faculties at the time of the murders, thus debunking the defense’s repeated claims that he was legally insane and therefore should not be held responsible of his actions. Continue Reading »

50 Arabs Attack IDF soldiers with pipe & fire bombs at Rachel’s Tomb

A mob of around 50 regional Arabs hurled pipe bombs, fire bombs and rocks at Israeli security forces. One soldier lightly hurt.

By Gil Ronen

 

About 50 Arabs mounted an assault on Rachel’s Tomb, just outside Bethlehem, Wednesday evening. They threw pipe bombs, fire bombs and rocks at the security forces guarding the compound, injuring one soldier lightly.

The soldier, who was hit by a rock, received medical treatment on the spot and did not require hospitalization.

The IDF Spokesman said that the Arabs threw nine pipe bombs and 18 fire bombs. One of the pipe bombs caused some damage to the security wall surrounding the complex. Continue Reading »

US Justice Dept. refuses Chabad’s petition to fine Russia over confiscated Judaica

Russia resists saying it does not recognize the authority of the U.S. court, and insists the collection is part of the country’s heritage.

By JTA

 

The Chabad-Lubavitch movement asked a U.S. judge to fine Russia for refusing to hand over confiscated Jewish scriptures, but the U.S. Justice Department opposed the move.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin

According to the Associated Press, Chabad lawyer Seth Gerber last week asked Chief Judge Royce Lamberth of the U.S. District Court in Washington to fine Russia for not transferring tens of thousands of religious books and manuscripts about the group’s core teachings from its state library and military archive. Continue Reading »

Israel to UNSC: Prevent Syrian WMD transfer to Hezbollah

UN Ambassador Ron Prosor calls on UN Security Council to act immediately to prevent Assad’s chemical weapons from being transferred into Hezbollah’s hands.

By MICHAEL WILNER, JERUSALEM POST CORRESPONDENT

 

 

UNITED NATIONS — Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations Ron Prosor  said Tuesday that the prospect of Hezbollah acquiring chemical weapons — mishandled or handed over intentionally by the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad  — is “frightening,” and called on the Security Council to act immediately to prevent their proliferation.

Ron Prosor

Ron Prosor

 

Prosor’s comments came during a daylong debate at the UN on counter-terrorism efforts. The Israeli envoy contended that an end to terrorism required addressing the fundamental teachings of prejudice and hate.

Continue Reading »

UNHRC Reports: Israel requests ‘Rights Review’ postponed

UNHRC expresses concern that Israel may refuse to cooperate with annual Rights Review following its severing of ties over UN’s probe into West Bank construction

Associated Press

 

Members of a top UN top human rights body criticized by the US as too focused on Israel are concerned Jerusalem will not fully participate in a routine review of its record even after it appeared to be taking steps at restoring ties, a spokesman for the council said Tuesday.

UNHRCAll UN member nations are required to submit to a review by the Human Rights Council, but Israel said last year it would stop cooperating because of plans for an international fact-finding mission to look at Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. Continue Reading »

Arab Lawers: ‘Tourist’ Tents in E-1 Should Remain until May

Attorney argues that the tents put up by Arab activists in E-1 are tourist meeting points.

State’s attorney seeks immediate removal.

By Maayana Miskin

 

The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in the case of several tents put up by Palestinian Authority resident activists in the E-1 neighborhood of Maaleh Adumim. The tents were put up shortly after the PA objected to Israeli plans to build in the area.

מאחז באב אל-שאמס. המדינה מבקשת לפנותו  (צילום: אוהד צויגנברג)

The outpost – Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg

However, an attorney for the Arab activists argued Wednesday that the tents were not put up in an attempt to create “facts on the ground,” but rather, are a meeting point for tourists. Continue Reading »

Farmers from Gaza invited to Israel Agriculture Expo

If things are calm on the security front, there is no reason not to boost agricultural and economical ties.

By Israel Today Staff

 

In yet another piece of news contradicting claims that Israel “has it out” for the Palestinians, some 30 farmers from the Gaza Strip were invited to attend an agricultural expo in southern Israel earlier this month.

Palestinian farmer – Photo by Israel Today“Agriculture knows no borders,” Uri Madar from the agriculture department at Israel’s District Coordination Office told the Ynet news portal. “If things are calm on the security front, there is no reason not to boost agricultural and economical ties.”

Ahmed Shafi, the head of the Gaza City Agricultural Association, also refuted accusations that Israel is imposing a blanket siege against Gaza with the aim of crippling its economy. Continue Reading »

Ayalon: Israelis won’t need visas for entering US within 2 years

Unlike past efforts to add Israel to the visa-exemption list that did not succeed, thanks to Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, within 2 years, there will no longer be long lines around the block at the U.S. Embassy in Israel (for those waiting to request a visa).

By Yoni Hirsch and Israel Hayom Staff

 

The United States Congress began reviewing a proposal on Tuesday to add Israel to the list of countries where citizens do not require a visa to enter the United States.

We’re coming to America. Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon in Washington D.C. on Tuesday. – Photo: Shmulik Almani

The bill was drafted by Reps.

Continue Reading »

Hadassah wires $10 million to Israel to help cover hospital’s deficit

Spread out on 2 campuses, Ein Kerem and Mt. Scopus, Hadassah Medical Center is one of the largest hospitals in Israel & the only one specializing in head trauma.

By Gil Shefler

 

NEW YORK (JTA) — Hadassah transferred $10 million to Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem to help cover its subsidiary’s $50 million deficit.

The Hadassah University Hospital-Jerusalem

The New York Jewish Week reported Monday that the Zionist women’s group took the unusual measure after learning of the deficit run up by the hospital, which was founded nearly 80 years ago.

Meanwhile, the medical center’s director general, Ehud Kokia, has submitted his resignation. The medical center’s board chair, Esti Dominissin, will fill the position until a replacement is found. Continue Reading »

View video of Donald Trump endorsing Netanyahu

American real estate billionaire praises Israeli PM as “a terrific guy, a terrific leader, & great for Israel.”

 

American real estate mogul Donald Trump expressed frustration that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu cannot be president of the United States in an interview Tuesday with The Jerusalem Post.

Donald TrumpNetanyahu, who spent much of his childhood in a Philadelphia suburb, cannot be US president, because he was born in Israel. Trump led high profile, unsuccessful efforts to prove that US President Barack Obama was not born in America and even offered to donate money to charity if Obama produced his birth certificate. Continue Reading »

Inflation rate for 2012 was at 6-year low

Consumer price index in Israel up 0.2% in December, Central Bureau of Statistics reports. Annual inflation rate totals 1.6% compared to 2.2% in 2011, 2.7% in 2010

By Amnon Atad, Calcalist

 

Israel‘s annual inflation rate continued to fall in 2012, reaching its lowest level in the past six years, the Central Bureau of Statistics reported Tuesday.

2012 inflation rate at 6-year lowDecember’s consumer price index rose by a moderate 0.2%, after the previous two months recorded a negative CPI – down 0.5% in November and 0.2% in October. September’s CPI remained unchanged from August.

The inflation rate for 2012 totals 1.6%, compared to 2.2% in 2011 and 2.7% in 2010. Continue Reading »

Report: Construction in Judea & Samaria Highest in Years

A new report by Peace Now, meant to elicit a public backlash & anger against Israeli policy, has instead been met with cheers & praise from the residents of Judea and Samaria as well as int’l supporters of Israel.

By Annie Lubin

 

A new report by a radical left-wing organization meant to elicit backlash and policy changes has been met with cheers and praise from the Yesha Council and residents of Judea and Samaria.

According to a “Settlement Watch” report published Wednesday by Peace Now, 2012 was a record year for construction and development beyond the so-called “green line,” the 1949 armistice line.

Continue Reading »

Muslim Scholar: The Qur’an Says that the ‘Holy Land’ Belongs to Israel

The Qur’an expressly recognizes that Jerusalem plays the same role for Jews that Mecca has for Muslims. True Muslims must admit that there is no real link between al-Mi’raj and sovereign rights over Jerusalem, since the city was not under Islamic but under Byzantine administration.

By Professor Abdul Hadi Palazzi

 

Jerusalem: Three-Fold Religious Heritage for a Contemporary Single Administration

Any discussion of the problem of sovereignty over Jerusalem necessarily means involvement in a kind of investigation that has political, cultural, psychological and religious implications. For Jew or Muslim, religious or secular, thinking of Jerusalem means to feel reason and sentiment mingled together. Continue Reading »