Video: Watch Christmas Mass in Bethlehem

 

Manger Square packed as thousands celebrate a merry Christmas in Bethlehem, the town where Jesus is believed to have been born.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas attends Christmas Eve mass at the Church of the Nativity.

By News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff

 

 

Thousands of Christians from across the world packed Manger Square in Bethlehem on Monday to celebrate the birth of Jesus in the ancient Judean town where it is believed he was born.

Oh, come all ye faithful. Manger Square in front of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. – Photo: AP

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, led the Christmas Eve mass at Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity, thought by millions of Christians to be located at the exact spot of Jesus’ birth.

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Israeli UNICEF Chairwoman resigns amid facebook controversy

Judy Shalom Nir Mozes resigns after facebook campaign launched against her over comments she made on facebook during Israel’s Operation Pillar of Defense.

The initiator of the recently launched campaign against Judy Shalom Nir Mozes as Chairwoman of the Israeli branch of UNICEF, Ari Remez told the Jerusalem Post on Monday that “she was using the international position for her owns personal means.”

unicef

Shalom Nir Mozes decided to step down of her position at the UN’s organization for children’s rights last week.

She had been nominated to represent UNICEF in Israel two months ago and joined a sparkling list of celebrities who have been ambassadors of the organization in the past years including David Beckham, Sarah Jessica Parker, Shakira, Queen Rania of Jordan and even Kate and William of the British royal family.

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Approval granted, Gilo gets 1,200 new housing units

Despite int’l criticism, new building plans in Gilo, Jerusalem’s southern neighborhood, just beyond ‘Green Line’ approved.

Interior and Housing ministries ready to offer construction tenders.

By Noam (Dabul) Dvir

 

The Interior Ministry announced Monday that the Jerusalem District Zoning Committee has decided to promote the construction of 1,200 housing units in the capital’s Gilo neighborhood.

Gilo is located in south Jerusalem, beyond the Green Line.

The decision followed a hearing on several objections filed against the plan – some by Gilo residents.

The Interior and Housing ministries said that once the final approval is given, construction tenders for the area will be issued. Continue Reading »

Netanyahu Vows to Return Illegal African Infiltrators Back Home

Now that infiltration of illegal African immigrants is down to almost zero, Netanyahu vows to apprehend & return home those who’ve already entered illegally.

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

 

Infiltration of illegal African immigrants is down to almost zero, and Netanyahu vows to send back home those who already have entered Israel.

The long-absent fence along the Egyptian Israeli border from Eilat to Gaza is to be completed by the end of next month, and Arutz Sheva has learned from military sources that Africans finally have understood that they have little chance of illegally crossing the border and entering the country, let alone staying here. Continue Reading »

New Israel Navy submarine ‘sinks enemy ships’

Ahead of arrival of latest German-made Dolphin-class submarine, Navy releases rare video of INF underwater vessel’s drill

Yoav Zitun

 

The Israel Navy (INF) released a rare video Monday, allowing a sneak peak at its most expensive weapon – the stealth submarine.

Secret weapon (Illustration) Photo: Shutterstock

The video shows an exercise in which the submarine’s crew fires torpedoes at “enemy warships.”

The exercise was held as part of the INF’s preparations to receive its fourth German-made submarine, which is currently making its way to Israel. A fifth submarine has been contracted.

The Navy plans to add more sailors to its elite submarine unit and the current submarine crewmen course graduation will mark a new record in their numbers. Continue Reading »

Hamas Refutes Reports to Take Over Judea, Samaria from Fatah

Hamas, the Gaza based terrorist organization denies reports of its intent to replace by force the Palestinian Authority-controlled areas of Judea & Samaria.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

The Hamas terrorist organization is denying reports of its intent to take over Palestinian Authority-controlled areas of Judea and Samaria.

Spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri was quoted in a report posted on the terror group’s Al Qassam website as telling the Quds Press the reports were nothing more than “Israeli incitement” aimed at dividing PA factions. Abu Zuhri made the comment in response to an article published in the UK-based Sunday Times that alleged Hamas intends to launch a coup in the Fatah-led regions. Continue Reading »

Bethlehem’s war on Jesus

But in Israeli controlled Nazareth, no such  intimidation exists. Quite the contrary, the Christian population is flourishing without threats or violence.

By Brian Schrauger

 

It is Christmas Eve in Bethlehem in 2012. Tonight on Manger Road, in Manger Square and on all its thoroughfares, Bethlehem is lit with many-colored lights. Like rivulets they stream down the city’s face, falling in-between vibrant shapes of snowmen and Santas, stars and trees. Why does Bethlehem weep luminescent tears disguised as twinkling strings of light?

Until one week ago there was not a single place in its public square that even gave a hint of the reason for this pagan day’s redemptive transformation into a holy day. Continue Reading »

Haifa mayor declares war on English…of all things!

 

As mayor, Yona Yahav abolished use of English words in official municipal documents & seeks to obligate businesses to use Hebrew signs instead of, or next to the English ones.

By Daniel Siryoti

 

 

With increasing frequency, Israelis are making use of English words in their day-to-day lives. The English language envelops Israeli consumer culture, from the word for music, “muzika,” to simply saying iPhone with an Israeli accent and including so many other instances.

Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav wants English words off the street. – Photo: Herzi Shapira

English is the language of the “app generation” and prevades Israeli children’s education.

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Video: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Christmas Greeting 2012

 

Prime Minister Netanyahu says Christian community in Israel flourishing, unlike in neighboring Islamic countries where Christians are endangered.

Unlike other countries in the Middle East, where Christian communities are shrinking and many of them are in danger, in Israel there is a strong and growing Christian community that participates fully in the life of the country, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Monday in a taped Christmas greeting.
Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher [file]

Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher – Photo: Ammar Awad / Reuters

“Israel is proud of its record of religious tolerance and pluralism, and Israel will continue to protect freedom of religion for all,” Netanyahu said.

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Germany Reports: elite Israeli, American, French units in Syria to take WMD

Opposition activists tell Al-Jazeera poisonous ‘Sarin-like gas’ sprayed by Assad’s forces in Homs neighborhood kills 7.

German weekly says elite French, American & I.D.F. units operating deep inside Syria will take control of Assad’s chemical arms arsenals.

By Ynet

 

Seven people were killed in Homs’ rebel-held neighborhood of al-Bayyada when they inhaled a poisonous gas sprayed by Syrian Army forces, opposition activists told Al-Jazeera early Monday.

Syrian treated for gas inhalation

Syrian treated for gas inhalation – Screenshot

According to the activists, scores of others suffered from side effects, including nausea, relaxed muscles, blurred vision, and breathing difficulties.

Residents said they did not know the nature of the gas sprayed. Continue Reading »

Hamastine: the 1st terrorist state created & recognized by the EU & UN

By Amin Farouk

 

In a field near the Islamic University — where PhD theses are written on topics such as “The role of the Muslim mother in preparing her sons to be shaheeds [martyrs] of the resistance” — the Gaza Strip stronghold of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, and the other terrorist organizations, a large outdoor rally was recently held to glorify, celebrate and promote anti-Semitism and genocide. Continue Reading »

Human Rights Watch: Gaza Committed Numerous War Crimes

FINALLY: Human Rights Watch says Gaza “armed groups” commit war crimes by targeting Israeli civilians. HRW also blamed Gaza terrorists for firing rockets & missiles from densely populated areas.

HRW also blamed Iran for provided technical information to Gaza terrorists for building their own  Fajr 5 missiles that were fired on Tel Aviv & Jerusalem.

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

 

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a rare condemnation of Gaza terrorists on Monday for war crimes – without the usual “balancing act” of blaming Israel.

Terrorist groups boast by publishing their rocket fire emanating from civilian areas within Gaza. - Screenshot

Terrorist groups boast by publishing their rocket fire emanating from civilian areas within Gaza. – Screenshot

HRW did not go so far as to describe “Palestinian armed groups” as terrorists, but the categorical censure of rocket launchers marks a drastic change in the attitude towards Israel and Hamas. Continue Reading »

Egyptian blogger visiting Israel says Egyptians want peace

An Egyptian blogger, Maikel Nabil Sanad is in Israel & is being hosted by Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

‘There is a peace-seeking community in Egypt’ says Sanad

By Roi Kais

 

Egyptian blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad, 27, carried an unusual speech at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and was interrupted by pro-Palestinian activists who broke into the hall and shouted at him “Shame on you, this is Palestine.”

Egyptian blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad – Photo:Ohad Zwigenberg

Sanad has been known to express views about Israel, which caused him to be heavily criticized in Egypt.

On the one hand, Sanad is a social activist, one of the leaders of the revolution that resulted in the ouster of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Continue Reading »

IDF Captures 2 Palestinians Attempting to Infiltrate from Gaza

IDF soldiers patrolling along the border fence with Gaza earlier on Sunday evening, caught two Gaza residents when they tried to infiltrate the Negev in the Kissufim area.

By Elad Benari

 

IDF soldiers patrolling along the border fence with Gaza fired into the air on Sunday night, to deter several Palestinian Authority Arabs who approached the fence.

An IDF statement said that the soldiers had called on the Arabs to back away and return to Gaza. When the Arabs refused to heed the calls, the soldiers fired into the air.

The IDF said that there were no known injuries among the Arabs, who likely took off after the shooting. Continue Reading »

Russia: Assad consolidated chemical weapons into 1 or 2 sites

 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov: “The Syrian gov’t has concentrated the stockpiles in 1 or 2 centers, unlike in the past when they were scattered across the country”

Report says Russia & the U.S. have given 2 options to Assad: Step down & receive asylum, or a transfer of power will be arranged without you.

By News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff

 

 

The U.S. and Russia have come to an agreement on the fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to a report in the London-based international Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat.

The message given to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad: Either step down from power, or be sidestepped out of power.

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