Erekat warns of ‘retaliation’ from US & Israeli after UN bid

Top PLO negotiator says Washington & Jerusalem may take punitive measures in response to Palestinian bid to upgrade to non-member state, says Palestinian Authority need to prepare for reactions to “avoid a state of internal chaos.”

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

The Palestinians must be prepared for the possibility that the US and Israel may impose severe economic restrictions on the Palestinian Authority the day after the UN upgrades the status of a Palestinian state to non-member, Chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat warned Thursday.

“It’s very important to be prepared for Israeli reactions to the upgrading of the Palestinian state’s status so as to avoid a state of internal chaos [in the Palestinian territories],” Erekat said in an report about the implications of the statehood bid.

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What Irks Israeli Tourists the Most?

Israel’s Tourism Ministry receives 571 complaints (86.5% from Israelis & only 13.5% from foreign visitors) regarding tourism services in Israel from January-August 2012 

By Ynet news

 

The Tourism Ministry has received 571 complaints regarding tourism services in Israel between January-August 2012. Of these, 493 (86.5%) were made by Israelis and only 78 (13.5%) came from foreign visitors.

Highest number of complaints relate to hotel industry – Photo: AP

As the government body charged with supervision and control of tourism quality, the Tourism Ministry offers an open line of communication for tourists and visitors who wish to complain about the tourism services they have received while on vacation in the country. Continue Reading »

Tunisian Law Enforcement Foil Plot to Kidnap Local Jews

4 people arrested for allegedly plotting to kidnap Jews for ransom.
With less than 2,000 Jews remaining in Tunisia, they claim they are the victims of an ‘intimidation campaign.’

By Reuters

 

Tunisian security forces arrested four people for allegedly plotting to kidnap local Jews and hold them for ransom, an Interior Ministry official said on Thursday.

Jews in Tunisia - AP

Pilgrims, most of them Jewish, walk towards the synagogue of El-Ghriba, in DJerba island, southern Tunisia – Photo by AP

There are less than 2,000 Jews in Tunisia, mostly living in Zarzis and the nearby island of Djerba in the south of the country. Continue Reading »

Israel Establishes Dual Cyber Security Program

Israel is creating dual cyber security program to promote research & development, serving both civilian & defense needs.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

Israel will create a dual cyber security program to promote research and development to serve both civilian and defense goals, the PMO says.

The government is to create a dual cyber security program to promote research development that will serve both civilian and defense goals, the Prime Minister’s Office announced Wednesday.

The project, to be named MASAD, will be a joint effort of the Israel National Cyber Bureau and Ministry of Defense Directorate for Research and Development.

The program is intended “to strengthen and advance Israel’s capabilities in cyberspace, turn it into a leading country in cyber technology and thereby serve as a new growth engine for the Israeli economy,” the PMO said in a statement. Continue Reading »

Israel Arrests Gazan for Smuggling $Millions to Hamas

 

Gaza metal merchant with legal authorization to enter Israel confesses to smuggling large cash amounts to Hamas 

Suspect also sold metal components for the construction of military posts, tunnels & bunkers for Hamas.

By Lilach Shoval

 

The Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), in cooperation with the Israel Police, recently arrested a Gaza metal merchant involved in transferring millions of dollars into the Gaza Strip and to Hamas. In addition, the man reportedly sold metal components to the Hamas military wing, used to build tunnels, military posts and bunkers.

Metals seized by the police, allegedly destined for Hamas use in the Gaza Strip.

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Defense Minister Reports: Israel won’t even outsource its security to most trusted allies

Defense Minister Barak says Jerusalem will not rely even on “closest, most trusted allies” to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

 

Israel will not outsource its vital security interests to anyone, “not even to our closest and most trusted allies,” Defense Minister Ehud Barak said in London on Wednesday.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak - Photo: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post

Defense Minister Ehud Barak – Photo: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post

Speaking at the British Israel Communications and Research Center, Barak addressed Iran’s uranium enrichment program: “All options are on the table to prevent Iran from crossing the point of no return. We expect all those who say it to mean it; we mean it.”

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IDF searches the world for cyber teen prodigies

 

IDF’s cyberwarfare program searches Jewish communities abroad for teen geniuses for lack of recruits

Yossi Yehoshua

 

With cyberattacks increasing in frequency and potency in recent years, the IDF has begun scouring Jewish communities abroad for young computer prodigies willing to join its ranks, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Thursday.

Illustration Photo: Shutterstock

Illustration Photo: Shutterstock

Over the past year, the army has dramatically increased the resources allotted for its cyber program, which operates within the Intelligence Corps’ Unit 8200. Military Intelligence Chief Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi has recently allocated NIS 2 billion (roughly $515 million) towards developing the program.

Furthermore, the Teleprocessing Corps last year founded a new unit charged with protecting the IDF’s communication systems from hackers and viruses. Continue Reading »

IDF & Police Clash with Settlers Over Demolition of Jewish Outpost

Large numbers of Border Police & IDF troops descended on the community of Yitzhar during the wee hours of Thursday morning to destroy several illegal buildings.

By David Lev

 

Large numbers of IDF troops and border police descended on the community of Yitzhar overnight Wednesday and destroyed several buildings in a new section of the town, called Haseruga. The government contends that the section is an illegal outpost. The section was established about six months ago, after several attempts to build a community there were thwarted.

Yitzhar, Wednesday night

Yitzhar, Wednesday night
Yitzhar spokesperson

A spokesperson for Yitzhar said that police acted in a brutal and vicious manner, tying up the security guard of the town and confiscating his cellphone – so he could not alert residents to the raid, which took place at 3:30 AM. Continue Reading »

Isn’t it time to refuse American Foreign Aid?

Every Presidential, Congressional & Senate inquiry over the years has come to the same conclusion: American aid to Israel is in America’s interest.

An Israel without foreign aid leaves the way open for elimination of aid to Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority. Isn’t that a win-win for Israel?

By David Guy

Here’s a radical thought. Israel receives about $US3.2 billion each year from the US Foreign Aid budget. Let’s tell them, Thank you very much but we don’t need it, anymore!

Five Minutes for Israel

Five Minutes for Israel

Anyone who frequents an open forum on the Middle East (let’s face it the M.E. Continue Reading »

Jimmy Carter supports Christian leaders’ letter threatening military aid to Israel

Former One-Term Democratic President calls for investigation into Israel’s human rights record.
His Carter Center says it ‘has long been concerned about Israel’s disregard for stated U.S. policy.’

By JTA

 

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter commended a letter from Christian leaders to Congress calling for an investigation of Israel’s human rights record and criticizing U.S. military aid to the country.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter – Photo by Reuters

“Like these church leaders, The Carter Center has long been concerned about Israel’s disregard for stated U.S. policy,” said a statement issued Wednesday from the human rights group named for and headed by Carter. Continue Reading »

French Officials Confirm Future Exhumation of Arafat’s Body

French officials confirm that criminal investigators will order the exhumation of former PA Chairman Yasser Arafat’s body in November.

By Elad Benari

French officials said on Tuesday that criminal investigators will order to exhume former Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat’s body from his Ramallah grave next month, to try to discover the cause of his death.

According to the officials, they will visit Ramallah from November 26 to 28.

The Palestinian Authority confirmed the scheduled visit and said that a Swiss investigation team will conduct a separate visit to Ramallah at the same time. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is still in progress. Continue Reading »

Irish TV host: Israel “Cancer” and claim “They stole the land from the Arabs”

Vincent Browne says Israel “the cancer in foreign affairs.”
His remarks lead to sharp rebuke from Israel’s deputy ambassador, Nurit Tinari-Modai

By JONNY PAUL, JERUSALEM POST CORRESPONDENT

 

LONDON – A well-known Irish broadcaster has referred to Israel as a “cancer” in foreign affairs as it “stole land from the Arabs.”

Jewish Museum in Ireland

Jewish Museum in Ireland – Photo: irishcentral.com

In a topical discussion about the final American presidential debate last week – which focused on foreign policy – Vincent Browne, the host of Ireland’s TV3 “Tonight” program, complained that the “issue of Israel” was hardly mentioned.

“Israel,” he said. “Is the cancer in foreign affairs.” Continue Reading »

Female IDF Soldier: Haredi man spat on me and my mother

IDF soldier says man spat on her & her mom while the 2 were sitting inside their car in Jerusalem.
Police scanned the area, searching.

By Yoav Zitun

 

Suspect was photographed by soldier Photo: Haleli Yitzhak

Suspect was photographed by soldier Photo: Haleli Yitzhak

A female IDF soldier filed a police complaint against a haredi man whom she claims spat on her and her mother while the two were sitting inside their car on the Bar Ilan road in Jerusalem.

Police scanned the area but could not trace the man. “I felt helplessness and frustration,” Haleli Yitzhak said.

According to the soldier, the haredi man shouted the words “Good women, good women” at her and then spat at her mother. Continue Reading »

Hollande & Netanyahu call for tougher sanctions on Iran

Israel’s PM meets with French president in Paris where Hollande backs more EU sanctions on Tehran, urges ‘unconditional’ resumption of peace talks but rejects possible military action.

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and French President Francois Hollande called Wednesday for firmer sanctions on Iran to keep it from developing nuclear weapons.

France's President Francois Hollande and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - Reuters.

France’s President Francois Hollande, left, and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attending a joint news conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, October 31, 2012. – Photo by Reuters

In a visit to Paris on Wednesday, Netanyahu praised French pressure on Iran and called for “even tougher sanctions.” Continue Reading »

EXPOSÉ: Italy, The Land of Islam, the First to Fall

Italy’s Education minister: Islam be taught in public schools
Italian court: Nazification of Israel ruled free speech.
Vatican Spoksman: Burning Star of David defended as “freedom of expression”

By Giulio Meotti, Italy

 

The Italian authorities have capitulated to hatred.

Last week Italian education minister Francesco Profumo proposed that Islam be taught in public schools alongside the traditional teaching of Catholicism, while Bishop Mariano Crociata, secretary general of the Italian Episcopal Conference, announced that the Vatican is in favor of building new mosques in Italy.

The European Bishops met with European Muslims in Turin to proclaim the need for the “progressive enculturation of Islam in Europe”. Continue Reading »