Land of Israel Fund Appeals to Jews Worldwide to Purchase Land in E1 Area

Amid severe int’l condemnations of late, the Israel Land Fund is attempting to assemble a group of Zionist investors to purchase & build the land.

By Rachel Hirshfeld

 

Amid severe and unremitting international condemnations over Israeli plans to build new Jewish homes in the E1 area of Jerusalem, the Israel Land Fund is tirelessly at work in an attempt to assemble a group of investors to purchase and build the land.

Founded in 2007, the registered non-profit organization “was created to continue the original efforts by the Jewish Forefathers, and in more recent history, over a century ago, by pioneers of The State. Continue Reading »

Merkel’s message: Promote the peace process or face world seclusion

PM Netanyahu will be meeting German Chancellor Merkel in Berlin on Wednesday evening to discuss Palestinian issues.

 

With Israel and European Union states embroiled in a diplomatic crisis, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel Wednesday night in Berlin.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel – Photo by AP

Merkel, who has had a rocky relationship with Netanyahu over the past four years, is expected to stress that the Israeli leader must choose between promoting the peace process, including establishing a Palestinian state, or facing international seclusion.

Despite the diplomatic crisis and the tension with Netanyahu, Merkel insisted on holding the government summit with Israel in Berlin. Continue Reading »

NATO Agrees to Turkey’s request of Patriot Deployment

NATO approves Turkey’s request to deploy US-made Patriot missiles along their border with Syria.

By Elad Benari

 

NATO on Tuesday agreed to deploy Patriot missiles along the border of member state Turkey as requested by Ankara to help it defend its territory against threats from Syria, AFP reports.

Patriot missile

Patriot missiles – AFP photo

“NATO has agreed to augment Turkey’s air defense capabilities in order to defend the population and territory of Turkey and to contribute to the de-escalation of the crisis along the alliance’s border,” a statement quoted by AFP said.

Turkey formally asked its NATO partners to deploy the U.S.-made Continue Reading »

UK to Israel: Europe will consider further steps if you don’t reverse settlement expansion

UK Foreign Secretary Hague: Europe unlikely to open economic sanctions against Israel

Brazil, Ireland, Australia & Finland join other countries in summoning their Israeli ambassador

US State Department: Palestinian UN vote nor Israel response, brings us closer to 2-state solution.

By and Reuters

 

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Tuesday that European sanctions against Israel in response to its latest plans to build more settlements on disputed land were not an option, but said further steps would need to be considered if the expansion plans were not rescinded.

William Hague speaking during a news conference

British Foreign Secretary William Hague speaking during a news conference on the continuing situation in Syria at the United Nations headquarters in New York, August 30, 2012.

Continue Reading »

Video: How do Technion Students Light Hanukkah Candles?

Students at the Technion in Haifa have come up with an original way to light Hanukkah Candles.

Arutz Sheva

 

The holiday of Hanukkah is just around the corner, and students at the Technion in Haifa have come up with an original way to light the menorah.

Hanukkah 101 at the Technion – Screenshot

The students, Eyal Cohen and Tomer Wassermann from the Mechanical Engineering faculty and Matan Orian and Dvir Dukhan of Industrial Engineering and Management, took on the challenge of building a Rube Goldberg machine that lights the menorah.

While this is probably too much of a challenge for “ordinary” people, it is a lot of fun to watch. Continue Reading »

U.S. Senators send Morsi letter: Halt Hamas arms smuggling

“Preventing Hamas from re-arming is just one step in helping to prevent violence from erupting again.”

 

WASHINGTON (JTA) — A bipartisan slate of U.S. senators urged Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi to crack down on arms smuggling into the Gaza Strip.

“In order for the cease-fire to hold, it is imperative that your government bolster its efforts to halt all weapons smuggling taking place via both overland and underground routes,” said the letter, which was initiated by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), and signed by another 16 senators.

In the letter, sent Tuesday, the senators said they were “encouraged” by the “constructive role” Morsi played in brokering a cease-fire to the most recent Hamas-Israel conflict in the Gaza Strip. Continue Reading »

Abbas: Israel must be held accountable, a ‘rogue state’

In a letter to UN Sec.-Gen. Ban, Palestinians call Israel a “rogue state” & claim settlement expansion is a “war crime”

Australia & Brazil summon envoys over settlements.

By REUTERS

 

UNITED NATIONS – The Palestinians accused Israel in a letter to the United Nations of planning to commit further “war crimes” by expanding Jewish settlements after the Palestinians won de facto UN recognition of statehood, and warned that Jerusalem must be held accountable.

PA President Abbas and Ban Ki-moon at the UN

PA President Abbas and Ban Ki-moon at the UN – Photo: Chip East/Reuters

In the letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the UN Security Council, the Palestinians said Israel was behaving “in a rogue, hostile and arrogant manner, contravening all principles and rules of international law and reacting with contempt to the will of the international community.” Continue Reading »

Al-Arabiya presents: Jewish Beauties for Knesset

Saudi-based Al-Arabiya news service dedicates special elections feature to what it headlines ‘surge of beautiful women in Israeli politics’

By Roi Kais

 

Saudi Arabia’s Al-Arabiya news network devoted a special feature Tuesday to the rise of beautiful women in Israeli politics, following the recent primaries in Labor and the Likud, and the foundation of Tzipi Livni’s Hatnua.

"היפות מובילות בבחירות בישראל". חילו, מיכאלי וחוטובלי

Hotovely (L) Michaeli (M) and Hilo (Screenshot)

The feature, titled “Beauties lead Israeli Politics,” said that “The fair sex is in the midst of a Knesset race,” adding that “The lists of the parties running for Knesset electionsin 2013 are enveloped in perfume.” Continue Reading »

Jordanian King to Visit Ramallah to Help Abbas Establish ‘State of Palestine’

Jordan’s King Abdullah II is set to arrive in Ramallah for a visit. 

The King is the 1st Arab leader to visit since the PA was granted an upgraded status at the UN General Assembly.

By Rachel Hirshfeld

 

Jordan’s King Abdullah is set to arrive in Ramallah on Thursday on the first visit of an Arab leader to the area since the Palestinian Authority was granted UN recognition as a non-member observer state.

Jordan's King Abdullah meets with PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas

Jordan’s King Abdullah meets with PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas – Reuters

“King Abdullah will visit the state of Palestine the day after tomorrow, on Thursday, in the first visit by a top official to the Palestinian state after we received UN recognition,” Nimr Hammad, political adviser to Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmud Abbas, told AFP on Tuesday. Continue Reading »

Alanis Morissette rocks Tel Aviv in amazing concert

Canadian singer performs new songs & signature hits at sold-out concert

Despite pressure by pro-Palestinian groups to cancel the show, Morissette chooses Israel to wrap-up her world tour

Eran Suissa

 

More than 8,000 Israeli fans arrived at Tel Aviv’s Nokia Arena on Monday night to watch beloved Canadian singer Alanis Morissette perform in Israel for the first time since 2000.

Head over feet: Beloved Canadian singer Alanis Morissette performs to a cheering audience in Tel Aviv, Monday. – Photo: KOKO

After an hour’s delay and wild cheers from the audience, the singer entered the stage shortly after 10 p.m., opening the sold-out show with “I Remain,” a song from her latest album. Continue Reading »

Hamas recruits Fatah: Let’s fight Israel together

Mahmoud Zahar tells Fatah to “stop wasting time & effort” on peace process

Join our [armed] resistance & the liberation of Palestine.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar on Monday called on Fatah to join his movement in the fight against Israel and to stop wasting time and effort with the peace process.

Zahar’s call came as Hamas and Fatah representatives stepped up their efforts to end their differences and achieve “national reconciliation.”

Fatah activists arrive in Gaza - Photo: REUTERS

Fatah activists arrive in Gaza – Photo: REUTERS

Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told reporters in Ramallah that his top priority now was to end the rivalry with Hamas, and said he saw no reason why the two sides could not reach an agreement on holding presidential and parliamentary elections.

Continue Reading »

UN Resolution calls on Israel to open nuclear facilities for inspection

UN General Assembly approves resolution calling on Israel to allow IAEA inspection of nuclear program & sign NPT

(Reminder: UNGA Resolutions are not legally binding, but do carry political weight.)

Associated Press

 

The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution Monday calling on Israel to quickly open its nuclear program for inspection and backing a high-level conference to ban nuclear weapons from the Middle East which was just canceled.

Dimona reactor – Photo: Tsafrir Abayov

All the Arab nations and Iran had planned to attend the conference in mid-December in Helsinki, Finland, but the United States announced on Nov. 23 that it wouldn’t take place, citing political turmoil in the region and Iran’s defiant stance on nonproliferation. Continue Reading »

U.S. Report: Syria Preparing Chemicals for using Sarin Gas

U.S. official report that Syrian Engineers that are working for Assad are combining the 2 chemical precursors needed to weaponize sarin gas.

By Elad Benari

 

Engineers working for President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime in Syria have begun combining the two chemical precursors needed to weaponize sarin gas, an American official with knowledge of the situation told Wired.com’s Danger Room on Monday.

International observers are now more worried than they’ve even been that the Damascus government could use its nerve agent stockpile to slaughter its own people, the report said.

The U.S. doesn’t know why the Syrian military made the move, which began in the middle of last week and is taking place in central Syria, nor are they sure why the Assad government is transferring some weapons to different locations within the country, as the New York Times reported on Monday. Continue Reading »

France: Israeli settlement plan won’t bring sanctions, yet

French President says to Israel’s envoy in Paris at French Foreign Ministry:  ‘extremely concerned’ by Israel’s decision to build 3,000 new homes, but adds ‘we don’t want to shift into sanctions mode.’

Prime Minister’s Office: We won’t succumb to pressure

By Attila Somfalvi, agencies

 

French President Francois Hollande criticized a new Israeli settlement-building drive on Monday as contrary to peacemaking with Palestinians but said Paris was not ready to impose sanctions on the Jewish state.

Speaking after Israel‘s envoy in Paris was summoned to the French foreign ministry, Hollande said he was “extremely concerned” by Israel’s announcement that it would build 3,000 new settler homes in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, after a de facto UN recognition of Palestinian statehood. Continue Reading »

Report: Jordan says ‘No’ to Israel’s request to Bomb Syrian WMDs

The Atlantic reports: Israel asked for Jordan’s approval to bomb Syria’s chemical weapons caches.  Reportedly, Jordan said ‘no’.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

Israel has consulted with Jordan twice over the issue of Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal, according to a report published Monday by The Atlantic, both times with plans to take out multiple sites. According to intelligence officials in two countries quoted by correspondent Jeff Goldberg, “Israel has been seeking Jordan’s ‘permission’ to bomb these sites, but the Jordanians have so far declined” to agree.

As Goldberg pointed out, Israel does not need Jordan’s approval to bomb an arsenal that could prove to be an existential threat to its citizens. Continue Reading »