Jerusalem Jews Concerned by Christian Symbols in Old City

Residents of the Jewish Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem troubled by the presence of Christian symbols as part of the Festival of Light.

 

The Jerusalem Festival of Light is taking place this week in the heart of the OId City of Jerusalem. The festival features innovative technology, lighting, art, music and shows.

The festival was initiated by the Jerusalem Development Authority and Ariel Municipal Company and features artists from Israel and abroad who use light in order to create statues, installations, performances and artwork.

Local Jewish residents, however, have expressed concerns over the increased presence of Christian symbols in the Jewish Quarter as part of the festival. Continue Reading »

IceCure removes breast cancer tumors without surgery

 

Israeli biomedical company destroys benign breast tumors with ice.

IceCure CEO Hezi HimmelfarbIceCure CEO Hezi Himmelfarb

The Israeli biomedical company, IceCure, has announced that it successfully removed benign breast cancer tumors from patients taking part in a clinical trial in Japan.

“The clinical trial destroyed small cancerous tumors by cryoablation, without the need for a surgical procedure. We believe that cryoablation, using the IceSense3, is an innovative approach best suited for treating small cancerous tumors in the breast,” said IceCure CEO Hezi Himmelfarb.

IceSense3 is an ultrasound-guided procedure that penetrates the tumor and then destroys it cryogenically – engulfing it with ice. Continue Reading »

‘Iran clearly developing nuclear weapons program’

FM tells Knesset Foreign Affairs, Defense C’tee that hyperactive chatter of former officials on Tehran damaging to Israel.

Iran is undoubtedly working on a nuclear program for military purposes, Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Wednesday.

“We know that they are attempting to enrich uranium over 20 percent. There is no doubt that this is a nuclear military plan, Liberman said. It is obvious to all that Iran is trying to hide proof of its nuclear program, but we can see proof in satellite photos.”

Interior of Bushehr nuclear plant

Interior of Bushehr nuclear plant - Photo: REUTERS/Stringer Iran

According to Liberman, Iran is prepared to pay a price for nuclear weapons, and sanctions will not stop their aspirations.

Continue Reading »

68% of Arab-Israelis prefer to live in Israel

Survey by Haifa University shows over two-thirds of Arab-Israelis are resigned to living in a Jewish state, but 63% don’t think it’s fair

 

Some 80% of Arabs living in Israel blame Jews for the Nakba, but 60% of them are resigned to Israel as a state with a Jewish majority, the Index of Arab-Jewish Relations for 2011, conducted by Prof. Sami Samuha of the University of Haifa shows.

The full results of the survey, which Samuha has run annually for the last 30 years, are due to be announced at a university conference on Thursday.

Despite the fact that most of the respondents accepted Israel as a majority Jewish state, 63% of Arabs polled believe that it was not fair. Continue Reading »

Arab Tries to Stab Security Guard on Light Rail

Arab man tries to stab a security guard with scissors at the Jerusalem Light Rail’s station in the French Hill neighborhood

An Arab man tried on Wednesday evening to stab a security guard at the Jerusalem Light Rail’s station in the French Hill neighborhood.

The man took out a pair of scissors and tried to stab one of the guards, but his colleagues drew their guns and managed to overtake the Arab. No one was hurt.

Police forces arrived on the scene and began investigating the incident.

A few weeks ago, passengers on the Jerusalem Light Rail were targeted by Arabs in the Beit Hanina neighborhood, located in the northern section of the capital. Continue Reading »

Netanyahu: 300 New Families to Join Beit El

PM says: “Those who want to use the courts to damage settlements are mistaken – the opposite will happen.”

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu issued a special statement Wednesday regarding the impending demolition of the Givat HaUlpana neighborhood.

“I am committed to safeguard the settlement enterprise,” he said. “The law that the Knesset rejected today would have harmed the settlement enterprise but the formula that I have decided upon – relocating the houses and widening the community of Beit El – strengthens the settlement enterprise.”

Netanyahu

Netanyahu - Reuters

“This is not a simple or easy day. Relocating the houses is certainly not an action that the government is eager to carry out, but the court made a decision and we respect the court system’s decisions. Continue Reading »

UNSC asks to visit Palestinian territories

Pakistani ambassador toUN says Security Council mission’s message is one of ‘peace and fact-finding’

 

The 120-member Nonaligned Movement of mainly developing countries says it will ask the UN Security Council to respond favorably to a Palestinian request to visit the Palestinian territories.

Nonaligned Movement says it will urge UNSC to accept invitation Photo: AFP

Nonaligned Movement says it will urge UNSC to accept invitation - Photo: AFP

Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Abdullah Hussain Haroon, whose country is a non-permanent council member, said the Nonaligned Movement decided at a meeting Wednesday to recommend the visit.

The Palestinians invited the Security Council to visit the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem in late February, but the invitation has languished. Continue Reading »

Dutch ban on kosher slaughter sidestepped by agreement

Slaughter according to Jewish, Islamic law has been a source of some debate after the Animal Rights Party proposed banning the practice.

Dutch Agriculture Minister Hans Bleker signed an agreement with Jewish and Muslim religious leaders and slaughterhouses which will prevent a ban on ritual slaughter.

Under the agreement signed Tuesday, animals can continue to be ritually slaughtered as long as they lose consciousness within 40 seconds of their throats being cut. After 40 seconds they must be stunned, which is prohibited under both Jewish and Islamic law.

A cow. Its Dutch brethren will continue being ritually slaughtered.

A cow. Its Dutch brethren will continue being ritually slaughtered. - Photo by Yuval Tebol

The agreement comes following Animal Rights Party leader Marianne Thieme withdrawal last December of a bill that would have required stunning of all animals before slaughtering, after a majority of senators expressed their objection to the ban on kosher slaughter, or shechitah. Continue Reading »

Erdogan Thumbs Nose at Israeli Tourism; ‘We Don’t Need You’

Erdogan, ignoring statistics that dropped to sixth place for Israeli exports, says his country does not need Israeli tourists.

Nine Turkish citizens were killed after they ambushed Navy commandos with knives and clubs, severely wounding several and kidnapping three until other commandos rescued them and overtook the ship.

Erdogan and Hamas leader Mashaal

Erdogan and Hamas leader Mashaal - Reuters

Erdogan has not forgotten the clash and still blames Israel, despite a United Nations report that Israel was within its right to try to stop the six-ship flotilla from reaching Hamas terrorist-controlled Gaza.

“We don’t need Israeli tourists in Turkey and we don’t feel their absence,”  Erdogan told journalists from two Israeli newspapers, Yediot Acharonot and Maariv during a reception in Istanbul yesterday. Continue Reading »

IDF continues to look for second JSF squadron

The decision to move forward comes despite reports of possible delays and rising costs.

The IDF plans to approve the procurement of a second squadron of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters at a meeting of the General Staff later this month which will convene to finalize the military’s future multi-year program.

Called Oz (Hebrew for Strength), the new multi-year program is scheduled to go into effect towards the end of the year. Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz will oversee deliberations on the program over the next few weeks and will bring the final plan to the government for approval.

The F-35 - Photo: REUTERS

The F-35 - Photo: REUTERS

One of the plan’s key elements is expected to be the procurement of a second squadron of F-35s despite reports of possible delays and a rise in cost.

Continue Reading »

Integration at Israel’s embassy in Norway

Druze professor appointed ambassador to Norway; Christian-Arab diplomat will serve as his deputy

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman may be trying to shake off Israel’s racist image in Norway by a recent round of diplomatic nominations. Druze professor Naim Araidiwill be appointed ambassador to Norway and Christian-Arab George Deek is to be his deputy, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Wednesday.

Naim Araidi Photo: Courtesy of the Araidi family

Naim Araidi Photo: Courtesy of the Araidi family

Israel suffers from a particularly bad reputation in the Scandinavian country. A recent poll initiated by Israel’s Foreign Ministry reveals alarming details: Most Norwegians consider Israelis as racist, aggressive, extreme in their views and anti-peace. Continue Reading »

French right-wing leader threatens Madonna with lawsuit over swastika image

At her recent concert in Ramat Gan Stadium, Madonna performed while showing a video of Marine Le Pen with a swastika affixed to her forehead.

 

Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s National Front party, said Wednesday that she will sue Madonna if the pop superstar uses a controversial image of Le Pen in her concerts in France.

 

The image of Marine Le Pen with a swastika on her forehead that was screened during concert.

The image of Marine Le Pen with a swastika on her forehead that was screened during Madonna’s concert in Tel Aviv on Thursday - Photo by YouTube

At her recent concert in Ramat Gan Stadium, Madonna performed the song “Nobody Knows Me” while showing a video in which her face was collaged with a number of well-known personalities. Continue Reading »

Arab Father: I Don’t Want This Baby; He’s Jewish

An Arab who fathered a baby with a Jewish woman rejected keeping him and said, “This boy is Jewish. I don’t want him.”

 

An Arab who fathered a baby with a Jewish woman rejected keeping him six months later, and he brought the boy to the mother, who had fled, and said, “This boy is Jewish. I don’t want him.”

The bizarre story was revealed by the anti-missionary Yad L’Achim organization, which also works to rescue Jewish women from Arab homes where they often are captive.

Circumcision for Jewish baby saved from Arabs

Circumcision for Jewish baby saved from Arabs - Photo: Yad L'Achim

The baby boy, now a circumcised Jew and in the hands of his mother, was born during the Sukkot holiday last year, when an anonymous nurse alerted Yad L’Achim that a young Jewish woman seems to be suffering anguish over the birth of her boy, fathered by an Arab. Continue Reading »

Elbit unveils new cyber-war simulator

Around 30 soldiers completed course and were assigned to the IDF’s various branches.

 

Days after the IDF admitted it uses cyberspace to attack its enemies, additional details were revealed Tuesday on the way soldiers are trained to defend military networks from cyber-attacks.

Elbit Systems, a leading Israeli defense contractor, unveiled its new cyber-simulator, which The Jerusalem Post has learned was already purchased by the IDF’s C4I Directorate.

The simulator was developed specifically to train government and military personnel how to protect critical infrastructure and sensitive computer networks, like those used by the IDF.The simulator offers training to prevent cyberwarfare events by simulating network protection scenarios.

Continue Reading »

IDF strikes Gaza in response to rocket fire

Army says two arms caches bombed in response to rocket fire; Palestinians report two injuries. Hamas evacuating military facilities

 

Air Force jets attacked targets in the Gaza Strip in response to the recent firing of rockets at Israel. Palestinian sources noted that Hamas was evacuating all of its military and security facilities fearing additional strikes.

Archive photo Photo: AFP

Archive photo Photo: AFP

It was initially reported that an attack on a base in northern Gaza city killed one person and injured two, but Gaza’s emergency services spokesman denied any fatalities and reported that two Palestinians sustained moderate and serious injuries.

Palestinians searched for survivors under the rubble. Continue Reading »