OObama to U.S. Orthodox Jews: My administration is more attentive to Israel than to Palestinians

Obama told a White House meeting with leaders of Orthodox community that the window of opportunity for peace with the Palestinians might have already closed, but expressed hope that progress is possible.

U.S. President Barack Obama told a delegation of the U.S. Orthodox Jewish community at the White House on Tuesday that his administration is decidedly more attentive to Israel than it is to the Palestinians.

Obama was speaking at a meeting between White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew and leaders of the Orthodox Jewish community, including Dr. Simcha Katz, Rabbi Steven Burg and Nathan Diament of the Orthodox Union. Continue Reading »

PA Smugglers End up with 90,000 Broken Eggs

PA Arabs try to smuggle 90,000 eggs with faked stamps of approval. Israeli inspectors found them hidden behind mattresses.

An attempt by Palestinian Authority Arabs to smuggle from Samaria (Shomron) 90,000 eggs with faked stamps of approval was foiled by inspectors who found them hidden behind mattresses.

Eggs hidden behind mattresses

Eggs hidden behind mattresses - Israel news photo: Health Department

Illegal trafficking of meat, eggs, vegetables, animals and other items that could endanger the health of millions of Israelis is common at Judea and Samaria checkpoints.

The smugglers apparently thought they might get away scot-free by traveling in the wee hours of the night, but the inspectors were alert and ready. Continue Reading »

Netanyahu: I will fire any minister who votes to legalize Ulpana homes

PM’s office updates ministers that government position is to oppose a bill that would legalize settlement construction on privately-owned Palestinian land.

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a sharp warning to government ministers on Tuesday, threatening that anyone who votes for a bill to legalize homes on the settlement of Ulpana Hill, which was built on privately-owned Palestinian land, will be fired.

Settlers at the start of a three-day march from Ulpana to Jerusalem, June 4, 2012.

Settlers at the start of a three-day march from Ulpana to Jerusalem - Photo by Emil Salman

The Prime Minister’s Office has begun updating ministers on Tuesday that Netanyahu decided that the government position is to oppose a bill that would authorize settlement construction on privately-owned Palestinian land. Continue Reading »

Egypt Bans Film ‘Promoting’ Normalization of Ties with Israel

Egypt has ceased the production of a film for allegedly promoting the normalization of relations with Israel.

 

Egypt has ceased the production of a film for allegedly promoting the normalization of relations with Israel, Al-Ahram reported.

Mohamed Kenawy who wrote the film’s script, denied the accusation and said the film, titled Regheef Aish (Loaf of Bread), promotes peace and cooperation among all people regardless of sex, race and religion.

The story, which revolves around an Egyptian, a ‘Palestinian’ and an Israeli, examines life in the Arab world.

The film had been under production for two months before the production was halted. Continue Reading »

‘Netanyahu should be put on trial’

Hanin Zoabi says prime minister, senior IDF officials should be tried for oppressing Palestinians as court hears petition over partial revocation of Knesset privileges

 

According to Knesset Member Hanin Zoabi “The people who should be here in court are the people who are oppressing the Palestinian people – Ehud Barak, Benjamin Netanyahuand Gabi Ashkenazi.”

Hanin Zoabi Photo: Uria Tadmor

Hanin Zoabi - Photo: Uria Tadmor

The Balad MK made the comments on Tuesday at the end of a High Court hearing into the revocation of some of her parliamentary privileges, over her participation in the Gaza flotilla two years ago.

Zoabi was on board the Mavi Marmara when Turkish activists assaulted IDFcommandoes that were trying to take control of the ship in June 2010. Continue Reading »

Obama Orders Embassy to Remain in Tel Aviv

Obama for the seventh time exercises the “security” waiver to ignore a Congressional law for the US. embassy to be in Jerusalem.

President Barack Obama for the seventh time has exercised the “security” waiver allowing him to ignore a Congressional law that the U.S. embassy be relocated to Jerusalem.

The 1995 law requires the embassy to be located in the capital unless the president decides that doing so would endanger national security. Every American president has exercised the waiver but no detailed explanation has been offered as to why moving the embassy would endanger U.S. security.

The law states, “The President may suspend such limitations for an additional six-month period at the end of any period during which the suspension is in effect under this subsection if the President determines and reports to Congress in advance of the additional suspension that the additional suspension is necessary to protect the national security interests of the United States.” Continue Reading »

Jewish Tourists Stoned in Jordan over ‘Provocative Hats’

Arabic websites say religious Jewish visitors to Kerak were attacked with shoes and rocks.

 

Arabs in Kerak, Jordan, attacked Jewish tourists because they wore “provocative hats” and other items of clothing worn by religious Jews, according to Arab websites.

The incident took place Sunday afternoon, when a group of Jews visited the Jordanian tourist site, where a Crusader castle is located along with other attractions.

According to Al Jazeera, as translated by bloggers, “Salem Jeradat – who owns a grocery in the town – was surprised Sunday afternoon by a delegation of Jewish men and women who were wearing the clothing of religious Jews, which led him to throw his shoes at them.” Continue Reading »

Go with the flow to monitor kidney injuries

 

URINFO, a new medical device from Israel inspired by agricultural technology, takes the guesswork out of diagnosing a kidney injury.

In critical-care units, nurses monitor urine output hourly to help determine kidney function and detect possible damage from injury and illness.

But today’s tools for measuring urine output are primitive. Urine is collected in a container with a plastic bag and must be measured manually – the last of the vital signs still measured this way. The number can be rendered inaccurate just by holding the bag in the wrong spot.

URINFO electronically measures urine flow in real time.

URINFO electronically measures urine flow in real time.

A new medical device from Israel inspired by agricultural technology, already being used in Israeli hospitals, takes the guesswork out of urine monitoring and provides clearer and safer guidelines during surgery and after-care. Continue Reading »

PM: Iran giving Assad ‘personnel’ to kill his own people

Netanyahu tells German daily that Iran, Hezbollah supporting “brutality,” “butchery,” says Syria has “perfected the technique” for shelling its own civilians; avoids answering if West should intervene.

Iran is providing Syrian President Bashar Assad with both arms and personnel to butcher his people, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said in an interview published Tuesday in the German daily Bild.

“I think what is happening in Syria is awful, it is wholesale murder,” Netanyahu said. “And you have to understand who is supporting this brutality, this butchery – it is Iran and Hezbollah. I mean supporting them physically. Killers supporting killers, giving them weapons, personnel to actually do the killing.

Continue Reading »

2,000 year old treasure found in Kiryat Gat

Hoard of jewels, silver and gold coins from Roman period uncovered at rescue dig carried out by Antiquities Authority in south

Handmade earring with floral pattern Photo: Antiquities Authority

Handmade earring with floral pattern - Photo: Antiquities Authority

 

Worth its weight in gold: An impressive hoard of jewels, silver and gold coins from the Roman period was recently discovered at a rescue dig carried out by the Antiquities Authorityin the Kiryat Gat area.

The dig exposed the remnants of a structure from Roman and Byzantine times. When excavating near the structure’s courtyard the archeologists noticed a pit that was dug out and refilled.

To the archeologist’s surprise, the pit revealed an incredible treasure wrapped in cloth – scraps of which still remained among the findings. Continue Reading »

Netanyahu: German submarines prove commitment to Israeli security

German media reports about ongoing negotiations between Germany and Pakistan on the sale of nuclear submarines.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that submarines supplied by Germany to Israel are “a very important addition to our national security,” adding that “through them, [Germany] demonstrates its commitment to Israel’s security.”

The Dolphin-class submarine first entered service in 2000. – Photo- IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

Netanyahu made the remarks in an interview with Kai Diekmann, chief editor of the German tabloid Bild, Europe’s most popular newspaper, in Jerusalem.

On Monday, another German newspaper, Der Spiegel, reported that submarines produced by Germany and supplied to Israel as part of an extensive arms deal are capable of launching nuclear-tipped cruise missiles – despite insistence by German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the submarines provided to Israel are not nuclear-capable. Continue Reading »

IAF Chief Says ‘Nein’ to Volkswagen

Air Force Commander Eshel, son of Holocaust survivor, refused to upgrade his car to a German model

 

Recently appointed Israel Air Force Commander Major General Amir Eshel told the military that he does not want to upgrade his car to a Volkswagen Passat, although his advance to the rank of major general entitles him to do so.

Amir Eshel

Amir Eshel - IDF Photo

The reason for his refusal is the fact that the vehicle is manufactured in Germany. His refusal was immediate, and he said the decision came “from the head, but also from the gut.”

Eshel’s mother is a Holocaust survivor. Continue Reading »

Palestinians: US refugee amendment may delay peace deal

According to legislation, State Department must now differentiate between Palestinian refugees and descendants of refugees; former Abbas advisor: It can have a very bad reaction on the ground.

WASHINGTON – Palestinian advocates are warning that a new US Senate amendment dictating a reporting requirement on the issue of Palestinian refugees could set back efforts to reach a peace deal.

Dheisheh Refugee Camp near Bethlehem (file) - Photo: REUTERS

Dheisheh Refugee Camp near Bethlehem (file) - Photo: REUTERS

The amendment to a bill, recently approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee, mandates that the secretary of state must report how many of the Palestinians serviced by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency fled or left homes in Israelduring the War of Independence and how many are only their descendants.“It’s

Continue Reading »

IDF to establish three new ultra-Orthodox battalions ahead of new enlistment law

Military drawing up plans for mass recruitment of ultra-Orthodox men after successor to Tal Law goes into effect.

 

The Israel Defense Forces is preparing to absorb large numbers of ultra-Orthodox conscripts in anticipation of a new law setting out the terms of Haredi enlistment. The army has withdrawn its years-long opposition to the creation of new separate units, and is proposing the establishment of three new Nahal Haredi battalions that can be integrated into combat forces.

Ultra-Orthodox soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces.

Ultra-Orthodox soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces.

The army’s plan for taking on large numbers of yeshiva students after the successor to the Tal Law goes into effect was presented on Sunday, in broad outline, to a committee evaluating alternatives to that law, which the High Court of Justice declared unconstitutional. Continue Reading »

PA Glorifies Terrorist ‘Martyrs’ Whose Bodies Were Returned

PA officials glorified the 91 terrorists whose bodies were returned by Israel and referred to them as “shahids” (martyrs).

 

As was expected, the Palestinian Authority glorified the 91 terrorists whose bodies were returned by Israel, as a gesture by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

Mahmoud Abbas

Mahmoud Abbas - Reuters

The Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) research organization, which monitors and translates the PA-based media, has translated and presented on its website several incidents in which the PA glorified the dead terrorists. The PA gave the terrorists a military funeral for heroes, with the participation of Abbas, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and other PA dignitaries. Continue Reading »