Secret Funding of NGOs by EU members ‘Grossly Infringes’ on Democratic Process

Jerusalem-based NGO Monitor Reports: “For over a decade, the EU has acted with impunity in funding political advocacy NGOs with near total secrecy.”

By Rachel Hirshfeld

 

In a decision concerning a petition brought by Jerusalem-based research institute NGO Monitor, the European Union Court of Justice confirmed that the EU fails to act transparently in its funding of non-government organization (NGOs). The Court’s decision, issued November 27, 2012, permitted these secret procedures, in violation of transparency and democracy norms, said NGO Monitor.

“For over a decade, the EU has acted with impunity in funding political advocacy NGOs with near total secrecy,” said Prof. Continue Reading »

Britain ‘very disappointed’ with Ariel University’s upgrade

UK Minister Alistair Burt says it’s ‘disappointing’ that Israel decided to recognize West Bank institution as full-fledged university. He asserts it creates ‘another obstacle to peace’ & lauds PA’s ‘measured response’ to Israeli settlement plans.

Elior Levy

 

Alistair Burt, Britain’s minister for the Middle East, has condemned Israel‘s decision to officially recognize the Ariel University Center of Samaria as a full-fledged university, saying “We are deeply disappointed by the decision to upgrade Ariel’s university center. Ariel is beyond the Green Line in a settlement that is illegal according to international law.”

הבריטים מגנים. האוניברסיטה באריאל (צילום: AP)

Ariel college, ‘Illegal according to international law.’ – Photo: AP

“This decision will deepen the presence of the settlements in the Palestinian territories and will create another obstacle to peace,” he said in a statement released Thursday. Continue Reading »

NOT as BBC reported! Suha Arafat Admits 2000 Intifada of Terror was Premeditated

Arafat’s widow Suha admits in TV interview that her husband decided long before Sharon’s visit to Temple Mount that he would launch war of terror, another Intifada against Israel.

By Rachel Hirshfeld

 

Yasser Arafat’s widow, Suha, admitted that the late leader of the “Palestinian” people had decided long before former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s contentious visit to the Temple Mount that he would launch a war of terror, a.k.a. “Intifada”, against the Jewish state.

According to BBC News Thursday, 19 July, 2001: “It was Mr Sharon’s controversial visit to one part of the disputed compound last year, which lit the fuse of the Palestinian uprising.”

Continue Reading »

Report: US special forces preparing to join IDF elite operating in Syria

Israel’s real fear is that Syria’s chemical weapons will fall into the hands of the rebels, who are not the “good-guy freedom fighters” most in the West portray them to be.

 

By Ryan Jones

 

Various Western, Arab and Israeli media reports have been claiming for over a month now that Israeli special forces are on the ground in Syria in an effort to keep tabs on its chemical weapons stockpile.

IDF soldiers

IDF soldiers (illustration) – Photo courtesy I.D.F.

Those reports mesh well with news that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited neighboring Jordan this week to discuss with King Abdullah a possible air strike on the bulk of Syria’s weapons of mass destruction. Continue Reading »

Vice Prime Minister Ya’alon: US preparing for possible Syria intervention

 

Vice premier reports that the U.S. will intervene if chemical weapons are used on Syrian citizens, or if WMD’s fall into wrong hands

Jordan’s King Abdullah & PM Netanyahu met secretly to discuss Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal

Assad is reportedly seeking asylum in Venezuela.

By Daniel Siryoti, Shlomo Cesana, Eli Leon, News Agencies & Israel Hayom Staff

 

 

The U.S. is gearing up for a possible military intervention in Syria in the event that chemical weapons are used on Syrian citizens or alternately fall into the wrong hands, Strategic Affairs Minister and Vice Prime Minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya’alon told Israel Radio on Thursday.

Continue Reading »

Rabbis offer plan for non-Orthodox Jewish prayer at Western Wall

National-religious rabbis offer suggestions for women’s or non-Orthodox praying at the Western Wall

Prime Minister’s Office: There are no changes in the prayer arrangements.

 

 

Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, dean of the Hesder Yeshiva in Petah Tikva, said one solution could be to designate different hours for Orthodox and non-Orthodox prayer.

Tisha Be'av at the Western Wall

Two leading national-religious rabbis have expressed support for accommodating non-Orthodox prayer at the Western Wall. – Photo: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post

“Jerusalem is at the heart of the Jewish people, and if we want all of the Jewish people to feel connected there then we need to find a place for all parts of the Jewish people at the Western Wall,” Cherlow told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.

Continue Reading »

New IDF brigade establishes to protect Eilat

IDF formed Eilat Territorial Brigade to neutralize Sinai terrorist threat.

New border-fence to be completed by mid-2013

Yoav Zitun

 

The IDF‘s Southern Command on Wednesday welcomed a new territorial brigade tasked with protecting the city of Eilat and the nearby communities.

הגדר בהרי אילת. השלמת העבודות תתעכב עד אמצע 2013 (צילום: אריאל חרמוני, משרד הביטחון)

Fence in Eilat mountains – Photo: Ariel Hermoni, Defense Ministry

The brigade is part of the Edom formation which defends 30% of Israel‘s territory. It was created to address the growing terrorist threat emanating from the Sinai region in the backdrop of Egyptian instability.

Col. Roi Be’eri will lead the new brigade. The first order of business will be to secure the construction of the fence in the 15 kilometer stretch of the Eilat mountains. Continue Reading »

Iran: Stop Israeli plans to attack, UN’s Nuclear agency can inspect Parchin

Iran has so far said it is not legally obliged to expose non nuclear site to int’l inspectors, but, Deputy FM Ghashghavi lays down condition for IAEA access to military site where nuclear activity is suspected, according to Iranian news agency.

By DPA

 

Iran has said it will allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect a military site near Tehran if threats of Israeli attacks on the country’s nuclear facilities are defused, an Iranian news agency reported Thursday.

The base in Parchin where Iran conducted nuclear tests - Google Earth, GeoEye

The base in Parchin where Iran conducted nuclear tests. – Photo: Google Earth, GeoEye

Iran and the IAEA – the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog – plan to continue negotiations in mid-January on inspecting the Parchin military site, where, according to Western intelligence reports, nuclear weapons parts have been tested. Continue Reading »

Court Protects Caesarea’s Antiquities over Construction Plans

A local court recently ruled that building plans for a new neighborhood in Caesarea would have to be put on hold due to the important archaeological artifacts in the area.

By Yoni Kempinski

 

After a long legal battle, a court recently ruled that building plans for a new residential neighborhood in the city of Caesarea would have to be put on hold because of the presence of important archaeological artifacts in the land where the construction is planned.

 Ruins of the Roman aqueduct at Caesarea Maritima - Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Ruins of the Roman aqueduct at Caesarea Maritima – Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

The ruling is a victory for the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). Continue Reading »

Israel Electric Company plans to fire 2,000 employees

IEC chairman also reports the benefit of free electricity for employees will be cut as a part of a future reform.

 

The Israel Electric Corporation’s chairman promised on Wednesday to slash the benefit of free electricity for its employees, as well as lay off 2,000 of its permanent workers in a future comprehensive reform of the company.

electricity line old – Photo: Marc Israel Sellem

Stressing the importance of entirely overhauling the IEC – which has a debt of over NIS 70 billion – as soon as possible, chairman Yiftah Ron-Tal discussed the provisions of a prospective reform at a Knesset Economic Affairs committee meeting, headed by MK Carmel Shama-Hacohen.

Continue Reading »

Trouble-making Palestinians, Why the Arabs Hate And Kill Them

The Arab League did not hold an emergency meeting to discuss what Palestinians describe as “massacres ” against the refugees in a Syrian camp, home to more than 50,000 people. Those who meddle in the internal affairs of Arab countries should not be surprised when bombs start falling on their homes. Palestinians are not always innocent victims. They bring tragedy on themselves and then want to blame everyone else but themselves.

By Khaled Abu Toameh

 

More than 800 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds others injured since the beginning of the crisis in Syria nearly two years ago.

In the past two weeks, thousands of Palestinians were forced to flee the Yarmouk refugee camp near Damascus after Syrian jets bombed their homes, killing dozens of people. Continue Reading »

Israel stops issuing VIP cards to PA officials

Palestinian Authority official reports that the gov’t move was a response to Ramallah’s successful bid to upgrade UN status to non-member state.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

 

Israel is refusing to renew the VIP cards of several senior Palestinian Authority officials, a Palestinian official in Ramallah said Wednesday.

IDF checkpoint – Photo: REUTERS

IDF checkpoint – Photo: REUTERS

The Israeli-issued cards, which enable their holders freedom of movement in the West Bank and Israel, had been granted to dozens of top PA officials over the past two decades.

One of the PA officials affected by the new policy is Nabil Sha’ath, member of the Fatah Central Committee and a former negotiator with Israel. Continue Reading »

Israel now eases Gaza ban on private construction material

Defense Ministry reports that more restrictions eliminated if calm persists

Palestinian official says private companies & individuals now allowed to import previously restricted construction materials following Egyptian-mediated truce deal between Hamas & Israel.

 

By AFP

 

Israel is to begin allowing materials for private construction into Gaza, easing its blockade under the terms of a truce deal, Israeli and Palestinian officials said on Wednesday.

Kerem Shalom crossing (archives) – Photo: Yoav Zitun

The decision will allow private companies and individuals to import construction materials that were previously restricted exclusively to international aid groups under the terms of Israel’s blockade. Continue Reading »

Netanyahu went to Jordan for secret talks with the King on Syrian WMD

Just confirmed on Israel Channel 2 that Israel’s PM Netanyahu traveled to Jordan for secret talks with King Abdullah II on Syrian chemical weapons facilities.

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a secret meeting in Jordan with King Abdullah II, the London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported on Wednesday.

Netanyahu with Jordan’s King Abdullah

Netanyahu with Jordan’s King Abdullah, during a past meeting in Amman. – Photo by GPO / Archive

 

According to the report, which has yet to be confirmed by Israeli officials, the meeting focused on the possibility that Syrian President Bashar Assad would use chemical weapons against rebels in the ongoing sectarian conflict raging in that country. Continue Reading »

Rare Find of Temple Era Artifacts on Highway 1 near Jerusalem

Road excavation have unearthed a rare cache of artifacts, testimony of a pagan ritual cult before the Jewish Kingdom abolished them.

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

 

The discovery, like may others, was made during road excavation, this time at a new section of the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem Highway, known as Highway 1. The archaeological site is known as Tel Motza, at the Motza turnoff less than five miles west of Jerusalem.

History discovered near Jerusalem

History discovered near Jerusalem – Israel news photo: IAA

A ritual building and a cache of sacred vessels date back approximately  2,750 years.

“The ritual building at Tel Motza is an unusual and striking find, in light of the fact that there are hardly any remains of ritual buildings of the period in Judae at the time of the First Temple,” according to Anna Eirikh, Dr. Continue Reading »