Israel Releases Details About Gaza Blockade Measures

Among the protocols taken by the blockade, the amount of calories were calculated by the IDF to avoid a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

By Scott Krane

 

 

The IDF has said that a mathematical formula was devised to set the food needs of Gazans in order to avoid a humanitarian crisis during the blockade that started in September 2007.

The Israeli pro-Hamas NGO Gisha denies this information.

“The official goal of the policy was to wage ‘economic warfare’ which would paralyze Gaza’s economy and, according to the defense ministry, create pressure on the Hamas government,” reads the Gisha report.

The blockade of the region, populated by 1.5 million people was meant to weaken the abilities of militants to commit acts of terror. Continue Reading »

IAF Retaliates in Gaza After Rocket Barrage on Sderot

Israel Air Force strike terror activity center in northern Gaza after terrorists fire on Sderot.

By Elad Benari

 

IAF aircraft struck a terror activity center in northern Gaza on Tuesday night, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit announced.

According to the statement, direct hits at the target were detected. All Israeli aircraft safely returned to their bases.

The attack came in response the constant rocket attacks into Israeli territory.

“The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers and will continue to operate against anyone who carries out terror attacks against Israel,” said the IDF statement.

Several hours before the air strike, terrorists in Hamas-controlled Gaza fired a barrage of at least seven rockets at the city of Sderot and the nearby area. Continue Reading »

Gaza Terrorists Shoot Anti-Aircraft at IAF & Fire Qassams at Civilians

 

As rockets & mortar are shot at civilians, Gaza Arab terrorists debut new weaponry at Israeli aircraft.

By Scott Krane

 

A Qassam rocket attack by Gaza Arab terrorists on southern Israel prompted a “red alert” Tuesday evening, Channel 2 reported. The alarm was sounded after terrorists in the Gaza Strip fired an anti-aircraft missile at an Israeli aircraft. Officials said terrorists fired a Strela shoulder-fired missile at an IDF helicopter, however, missed the target.

IAF Apache (Saraph) Photo: IAF facebook page

In the last few weeks, more than 60 rockets and mortar shells have been fired at Israeli towns in the western Negev. Continue Reading »

Sinai Islamists vow revenge for deadly IAF Gaza strikes

After Israel Air Force strikes kill 5 terrorists last weekend, including leader of al-Qaida-inspired terror-group, Ansar Bayt al-Maqdes vows revenge.

By REUTERS

CAIRO – An Islamist group in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula bordering Israel said on Tuesday it will take revenge against the Jewish state for the killing of Palestinian terrorists in Gaza over the weekend.

Funeral for Gaza terrorist killed by IDF - Photo: Reuters

Funeral for Gaza terrorist killed by IDF – Photo: Reuters

“We, Ansar Bayt al-Maqdes group tell the Jews that the blood of our brothers in Palestine is ours and their revenge is ours… So wait for our painful reply and revenge,” the group said in a statement posted on Islamist websites.

Continue Reading »

Abbas: UN recognition would foster peace with Israel

U.S. envoy to UN, Rice says Palestinian status bid jeopardizes peace process.

Abbas’ letter to Obama, says Palestinians ready to resume Israel talks if UN bid succeesful

By Reuters and

 

 

The Palestinians fended off on Tuesday U.S. criticism of their bid for upgraded status at the United Nations, saying the move would improve prospects for a peace accord with Israel, not damage them.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sent a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday, saying he is ready to resume talks with Israel if he succeeds in obtaining UN recognition for the Palestinians.

Abbas and Obama

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, left, and U.S.

Continue Reading »

Iran Very upset over Shutdown of its Satellite TV Channels

EU’s Decision to shut down 19 Eutelsat TV channels draws Tehran’s ire.
Netanyahu commends new EU sanctions.

By Gil Ronen

 

Iran is upset over the European Union’s decision to shut down all 19 Iranian satellite channels carried by Eutelsat, including Press TV and the Al-Alam channel in Arabic.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met with European Union member state ambassadors Tuesday and commended the EU for the sanctions package it approved Monday against Iran.

“I first want to congratulate the EU for receiving the Nobel Peace Prize,” he said. “Would that we could replicate in the Middle East what was achieved in Europe. Continue Reading »

Israeli expatriates returning home in record numbers

Immigration Ministry brings back 22,470 Israelis living abroad in 2.5 years; mostly from the US & Canada.

A record number of 22,470 Israelis who were living abroad returned to Israel in the past two-and-a-half years, according to a report by the Immigrant Absorption Ministry released on Monday.m
El Al airplanes sit on the runway - Photo: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

El Al airplanes sit on the runway – Photo: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

The ministry initiated a campaign to bring back Israeli citizens living abroad in May 2010.

Until then, a smaller number of Israelis returned each year; in the early 2000s, about 4,000 came back every year.

The amount started growing since 2008 and reached a peak in 2010 when about 11,000 citizens returned.

Continue Reading »

Electrocuted Palestinian Boy Taken to Settlers For Treatment

Parents of the severely injured child, go to Neve Tzuf, where Jewish medics stabilize 6 yr-old until ambulance evacuates him to Israeli hospital

Itamar Fleishman

 

A six-year-old Palestinian who was electrocuted was treated by Jews from Neve Tzuf on Monday after his parents, seeking medical attention, brought him to the settlement’s gate.

Palestinian boy evacuated from Neve Tzuf Photo courtesy of Neve Tzuf security chief

Palestinian boy evacuated from Neve Tzuf – Photo courtesy of Neve Tzuf security chief

The child, who sustained severe injuries, was treated by a medic who resides in the West Bank settlement. He was later evacuated to the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer for further treatment.

Neve Tzuf, which is located in the Binyamin Regional Council, has been at the center of tensions between local Jews and Arabs. Continue Reading »

Despite high prices, ‘poverty’, iPhone 5 snapped up in Gaza

Prices ranged from NIS 4,500 ($1,175) for the 16-gigabyte model to NIS 5,700 ($1,490) for 64 gigabytes.

By Reuters

 

Apple’s new iPhone 5 is selling well in the Gaza Strip despite inflated prices, reaching Palestinians via smuggling tunnels even before it comes to Israel.

Using the map function of Apple's iPhone 5.

Using the map function of Apple’s iPhone 5. – Photo by Reuters

The cutting-edge smartphone is being snapped up for almost double what it costs in the United States, its price jacked up by middlemen on its circuitous delivery route from Dubai via tunnels linking the blockaded territory with Egypt.

The iPhone 5 will not be available until December from mobile operators in tech-mad Israel, which along with Egypt maintains a partial blockade of Gaza to prevent the entry of anything that could be used for military purposes. Continue Reading »

Elections set for January as Knesset Dissolves

Knesset approves bill to dissolve itself by a vote of 100 to 0.

Elections will be held January 22.

By Elad Benari

 

The Knesset officially voted on Monday night to dissolve itself and head for elections.

Shortly before midnight, the Knesset Committee approved the bill calling for the dissolution of the Knesset for a second and third reading. 15 members of the committee supported the bill and no one opposed or abstained.

The bill was then passed to the Knesset, which approved its second reading by a majority of 97 to one (the one who “opposed” was MK Tzipi Hotovely who had mistakenly pressed the button voting against the motion) and then approved its third reading by a majority of 100 MKs. Continue Reading »

Israeli inventor says his Cardboard bicycle can change the world

 

Once the shape has been formed & cut, the cardboard is treated with a secret concoction made of organic materials to give it its waterproof & fireproof qualities.

By Ori Lewis and Lianne Gross | Reuters

 

MOSHAV AHITUV, Israel (Reuters) – A bicycle made almost entirely of cardboard has the potential to change transportation habits from the world’s most congested cities to the poorest reaches of Africa, its Israeli inventor says.

Izhar Gafni, 50, is an expert in designing automated mass-production lines. He is an amateur cycling enthusiast who for years toyed with an idea of making a bicycle from cardboard.

Continue Reading »

16 year-old Jewish Athlete Organ Donor, Saves 6 Patients

Gilad Veturi, 16,  died after collapsing at the finish line of a 60 meter sprint, donated his organs to save the lives of 6 people & aid others see again.

Nine organs were donated on Sunday by the family of Gilad Veturi, a 16-year-old student at Ilan Ramon High School in Hod Hasharon, after he collapsed and during running practice and died two days later.
Surgeons preparing organ transplant (illustrative) - Photo: Michael Ainsworth/Dallas Morning News/MCT

Surgeons preparing organ transplant (illustrative) – Photo: Michael Ainsworth/Dallas Morning News/MCT

His lifesaving organs were transplanted into six patients, while his corneas were saved for transplant at a later date.

The teenager, who collapsed Thursday at the finish line of a 60-meter sprint, was known to be an excellent athlete who was in good health. Continue Reading »

Hebrew University: Jews are less than 0.2% of mankind

Hebrew University study reveals global Jewish population reached 13.75 million in 2012

43% of world’s Jewish population lives in Israel

Anav Silverman, Tazpit

 

The global Jewish population reached 13.75 million in the past year, with an increase of 88,000 people, a study by Hebrew University Professor Sergio Della Pergola reveals.

One out of every 514 people in the world is Jewish

One out of every 514 people in the world is Jewish

According to the study, one out of every 514 people in the world is Jewish, less than 0.2% of mankind.

About 43% of the world’s Jewish community lives in Israel, making Israel the country with the largest Jewish population. Continue Reading »

Alvin Roth, an American Jewish professor, shares Nobel Prize in economics

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said: The work of Roth & Lloyd Shapley has sparked a ‘flourishing field of research’ & helped improve the performance of many markets.

Two Americans were awarded the Nobel economics prize on Monday for studies on the match-making taking place when doctors are coupled up with hospitals, students with schools and human organs with transplant recipients.

The presentation of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences 2012.

Per Krusell, Staffan Normark, Peter Gardenfors & Tore Ellingsen of the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences present the winners of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in Stockholm – Photo by Reuters

The work of Alvin Roth and Lloyd Shapley has sparked a “flourishing field of research” and helped improve the performance of many markets, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. Continue Reading »

IDF Begins to Draft Hareidi, Ultra-Religious Youth

The IDF will draft hareidi ultra-religious 16-19 year-olds, but “will wait till after elections” for 20-28 year-olds, Defense Minister Barak says.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

The IDF will begin to draft hareidi-religious 16 to 19-year-olds, but “will wait till after elections” for 20 to 28 year olds, says Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

The IDF will send out the orders within the next few weeks, summoning about 15,000 hareidi-religious Jews for interviews at induction centers, Barak said at a Knesset committee hearing on Monday.

The IDF’s Netzach Yehuda combat battalion and the Shachar high-tech training unit were two of the hareidi service programs Barak said would be expanded to meet the increased recruitment of hareidi-religious Israelis. Continue Reading »