The E-1 Plan – What, Where & Why

The E-1 Plan

About 15,000 residential homes along with an area police station, an industrial zone, hotels, a waste disposal facility and a cemetery to be shared by Jerusalem & Ma’ale Adumim are planned.

E1 area, officially called Mevaseret Adumim, located in the Judean Desert – Screenshot

The disputed E1 area, officially called Mevaseret Adumim, located in the Judean Desert and spans the area between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim. The land in question comprises about 12,000 dunams, which is roughly 12 square kilometers (4.6 sq mi).

If or when the E-1 plan is fully implemented Palestinians could, theoretically, travel between the northern Samaria and southern Judea via a road – that at this time does not exist – through the Judean Desert, looping around the Ma’ale Adumim bloc and the expanded area of Jerusalem whose outskirts would stretch nearly to Jericho. Continue Reading »

Commander of Elite Sayeret Matkal: Stop leaking secrets to the press

IDF commander of one of Israel’s most elite units writes letter after Israeli media outlets publish information of Sayeret Matkal’s secret activities, including fatal training accidents & past assassinations.

By Lilach Shoval

 

The commander of the Israel Defense Forces’ secretive and elite Sayeret Matkal (General Staff Reconnaissance Unit) has posted a message asking all former members of the unit to stop sharing classified information with the press. Lt. Col. G. asked the former commandos to “return to a policy of discretion regarding the unit’s confidential operations and keep the unit away from the media.”

IDF training exercises – Photo- IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

“In the past years, and even more so recently, we have witnessed increased exposure of our unit’s activities in the media,” Lt.

Continue Reading »

Australia’s Woodside buys 30% of Israel’s largest gas well, the Leviathan

Country’s 2nd largest gas producer agrees to $696m. initial payment

CEO: We’ll pursue a Liquified Natural Gas  plant (for

export from Israel ) as quickly as we can.

By BLOOMBERG, JPOST.COM STAFF

 

Woodside Petroleum, Australia’s second-largest gas producer, agreed to pay an initial $696 million for a stake in Israel’s largest natural gas field.

Leviathan holds 453 billion cu.m. of gas. - Photo: Albatross

Leviathan holds 453 billion cu.m. of gas. – Photo: Albatross

Woodside will acquire a 30 percent interest in the Leviathan field, estimated to contain 17 trillion cubic feet of gas, from partners Noble Energy Mediterranean Ltd., Delek Drilling, Avner Oil Exploration and Ratio Oil Exploration, the Perth-based company said Monday in a statement.

Continue Reading »

France & UK mull recalling their Israel ambassadors

Great Britain is considering withdrawing their ambassador to Israel and suspending all trade in protest against ‘settlement construction plans’.

France, Germany, Russia and Sweden echo criticism

By Reuters

 

Britain and France on Monday weighed measures against Israel to protest at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s decision to expand settlement building after the United Nations’ de facto recognition of Palestinian statehood.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron – Photo: AP

Sky News reported that the suspension of trade agreements with the Jewish state is also among the sanctions under consideration in the UK

Germany urged Israel to refrain from expanding settlements and Russia said it viewed plans to put more new homes in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem with serious concern. Continue Reading »

Axe-Wielding Arab Shot Dead After Attacking Shin Bet Agents

Initial details from Samaria: Unknown Arab rammed his vehicle into IDF soldiers’ jeep, then he attempted to stab & kill them.

By Gil Ronen

 

A terrorist was shot dead near Shavei Shomron in Samaria Monday after he attacked a Shin Bet agent with an axe.

The overturned jeep

The overturned jeep – Police Spokesperson

According to initial details, the terrorist rammed his vehicle into an IDF jeep in the course of IDF security activity. As a result, the jeep overturned.

Four Shin Bet men who were in the jeep suffered slight injuries.

The terrorist then emerged from his vehicle and attacked two of the agents with an axe, wounding one of them moderately. Continue Reading »

YouTube Video: The Culture of Peace & Incitement in the PA

Special Briefing on Incitement in the Palestinian Authority

The Prime Minister’s Office – Jerusalem 2 December 2012

by

 

Pursuant to Abu Mazen’s incitement speech at the UN General Assembly, the Cabinet, received a special briefing on incitement in the Palestinian Authority.

The briefing was presented by Strategic Affairs Ministry Director-General Yossi Kuperwasser, the coordinator of the professional team that is monitoring the issue and which is constantly updating the “Culture of Peace and Incitement Index in the Palestinian Authority.”

Palestinian Schoolbook is still teaching their children: Seek out Jews and Kill Them! – YouTube screenshot

In the period under review there was a negative record in expressions of hatred and incitement against Israel as seen in remarks by senior Palestinian Authority officials, on official websites, in the media and in the Palestinian Authority education system. Continue Reading »

Syria war scares Druze students from enrolling

A Traditionally robust enrollment of Druze students to Syrian universities shrinks considerably as only a quarter applied to war-torn Syria for 2012

Hassan Shaalan

 

Against the backdrop of Syria’s ongoing war between Bashar Assad‘s loyalists and rebel forces, academic institutions in Syria have seen a drop in the number of Druze applicants. Up until last year, some 200 students applied to Syrian universities annually, but this year, Syrian academies said that only 58 Israel-based Druze students, a Syrian source reported.

Bombing in Syria – Photo: AP

A resident of the Druze town of Majdal Shams in Israel’s Northern Golan Heights told Ynet that over the past year as a student in a Syrian university she felt her life was in danger. Continue Reading »

10 Thousand rally in Budapest after rightist demands list of Jewish ‘security risks’

On Tuesday, a Hungarian far-right politician urged the gov’t to draw up a list of Jews who pose ‘national security risk’, stirred outrage among Jewish leaders.

 

 

Thousands attended an anti-Nazi rally Sunday in Hungary organized by Jewish and civic groups to protest a far-right lawmaker’s call to screen Jews for national security risks.

Hungary - AP

Participants wave Hungarian national flags and a flag of Romas, right, as thousands of people attend a protest called Mass Demonstration Against Nazism in Budapest, Hungary, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. – Photo by AP

The rally was unusual because politicians from both the government and opposition parties shared a stage outside parliament. Continue Reading »

Netanyahu: Human Trafficking in Israel is a Thing of the Past

PM Binyamin Netanyahu declared the problems of human trafficking & illegal immigration “have been solved.”

By David Lev

 

At an annual event discussing ways to end human trafficking, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu declared that the problem of illegal immigration into Israel “has been solved.” With no more than a few dozen illegals managing to get into Israel in recent months, Netanyahu said that for all intents and purposes, his government had managed to put an end to illegal immigration, and with it, the problem of human trafficking.

At the ceremony celebrating the end of human trafficking in Israel

At the ceremony celebrating the end of human trafficking in Israel
Koby Gideon

“Human trafficking, human torture, and murder of children were phenomena that accompanied the parade of illegals that entered the country. Continue Reading »

Countries around the world seeking to obtain Iron Dome System

Following impressive interception rate in Gaza conflict with Hamas, South Korea & Singapore reportedly seeking to purchase the Iron Dome defense system 

Clinton: The Iron Dome system knocked rockets out of the sky like never before.

By Israel Hayom Staff

 

Following the Iron Dome missile defense system’s success in last month’s conflict with Hamas, several nations have expressed interest in purchasing the Israeli-created and American-funded system, The New York Times reported Thursday.

While experts note that Iron Dome has limitations — it was designed to intercept unsophisticated rockets with a range of less than 50 miles — countries such as South Korea and Singapore have reportedly been in discussions to purchase the system.

Continue Reading »

Devoutly Anti-Israel Journalist to Host ABC’s Jewish Roots Program

ABC News has chosen overtly anti-Israel journalist Christiane Amanpour, to host prime-time TV special on the history of the Land of Israel.

By Rachel Hirshfeld

 

In what Breitbart.com has described as “an affront to religious Jews and religious Christians everywhere,” ABC News has chosen journalist Christiane Amanpour to host a two-part primetime special about the history of the land of Israel. Breitbart.com says Amanpour is vehemently anti-Israel and anti-Christian.

Titled “Back to the Beginning”, ABC News invites viewers to embark on “the ultimate road trip” as Amanpour “travels to the lands of the Bible to explore the powerful stories from Genesis to the Birth of Jesus.” Continue Reading »

Hamas’ leader: ‘Remove Hamas from list of terrorist orgs’ – We’re a State

‘PM of Palestine’ Ismail Haniyeh calls on EU & US to recognize Hamas as a national liberation movement, defending against “Israeli aggression.”

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

 

“The time has come for the US and EU to remove Hamas from the list of designated terrorist organizations,” Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Sunday.

Hamas victory 521 - Photo: Ahmed Zakot/Reuters

Hamas victory 521 – Photo: Ahmed Zakot/Reuters

Haniyeh’s appeal came during a meeting in Gaza City with a visiting European mission in solidarity with the Palestinians.

“Hamas and the Palestinian groups are national liberation movements that are defending themselves against Israeli aggression on our people,” Haniyeh told the delegation.

Continue Reading »

Hundreds in Manila march for Israel

Despite their gov’t’s pro-Palestinian vote at UN, hundreds of Filipinos take to the streets to express their solidarity with Israel, with Hebrew songs blasting from loudspeakers & shofar blowing.

By Shay Yellin, Manila

 

Not long after the historical UN vote upgrading the Palestinians’ diplomatic status to a non-member observer state over the weekend, hundreds of Filipinos held a colorful and festive march in Manila in support of Israel, despite the fact that the Philippines government voted for the Palestinian status upgrade.

Some 300-400 Filipinos gathered in a busy Manila business district, some armed with huge signs, Israeli flags, white and blue balloons, loudspeakers booming songs in Hebrew, and even some shofarot. Continue Reading »

Intelligence Report: Signs of activity at Syria’s chemical weapons caché

U.S. int’l official tells the NYT that Assad’s forces are ‘doing some things that suggest they intend to use the weapons.’

By

 

Western intelligence officials said that they have been seeing new signs of activity at Syrian sites used to hold chemical weapons, the New York Times reported on Sunday.

A satellite image of al-Safir, Syria's main chemical weapons facility, near Aleppo.

A satellite image of al-Safir, Syria’s main chemical weapons facility, near Aleppo. Photo by GlobalSecurity.org

The officials said they were not sure whether the forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad were preparing to employ the chemical weapons, or rather use them to deter the West from aiding the rebels. Continue Reading »

Israel will no longer pass Tax Funds to PA

Israel has decided to withhold taxes collected for the PA that were to be transferred next month.
No more free electricity.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

Israel has decided to withhold taxes collected for the Palestinian Authority that were to be transferred later in the month. Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz made the announcement Sunday morning at the weekly government Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.

The move is being made in response to the United Nations vote to approve a new status for the PA as a nonmember observer state — in effect, recognizing the PA as a de facto sovereign state. It allows the PA access to numerous U.N. Continue Reading »