Standard & Poor’s upgrades Israel’s global credit rating

In a press release, S&P reports the financial upgrade was due to an improvement in the Israel’s fiscal policy.
– Israel’s Finance Minister welcomed the announcement.

By Ben Ariel

 

Financial services company S&P on Friday upgraded Israel’s credit rating to AA- from A+ with a stable outlook.

The company said in a press release that the upgrade was due to an improvement in the Israeli government’s fiscal policy.

S&P predicted that the Israeli economy will grow by an average of 3.3% between 2018 and 2021. The main growth factors in these years are expected to be private consumption, continued investment by corporations, and strong performance in the export of services. Continue Reading »

Palestinian killed by IDF, 125+ injured rushing Gaza’s border with Israel

The IDF issued a statement estimating the number of “violent rioters” at 8,000, and to those that infiltrated into Israel hurling firebombs and explosive devices, the IDF was “responding with riot dispersal means and operating according to standard operating procedures.”

By i24NEWS

 

A 25-year-old Palestinian was killed Friday evening and at least 120 more were injured, most from live fire in clashes with the Israeli army on the border, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Ahmed Yaghi was killed by a sniper east of Gaza City, spokesman Ashraf Al-Qudra said.

The IDF issued a statement earlier, estimating the number of “violent rioters” at 8,000, “gathering in five locations along the Gaza Strip border, attempting to sabotage security infrastructure,” after protests broke out Friday afternoon. 

Continue Reading »

Israel mum to Syrian claims IAF jets destroyed 3 Iranian targets in Syria

Syrian State media claims regime’s air defenses “engaged & destroyed ‎hostile targets,” including a drone near the capitol, noting Israeli ‎fighter jets bombed 3 Iranian ‎posts, but was unclear to number of casualties.
• Adhering to policy, IDF declines to comment on foreign speculations.

Daniel Siryoti, Reuters & Israel Hayom Staff

 

Syrian state media said late Thursday that Syrian air defenses were triggered by Israeli fighter jets that had allegedly bombed three Iranian positions in Syria.

The Syrian defense systems “engaged and destroyed ‎hostile targets” near the capital of Damascus, the report said.

IAF jet takes off on mission to defend Israel.

Continue Reading »

As Assad retakes Golan Heights, IDF closes Field Clinic for internal refugees

IDF closes it’s Golan Heights medical field clinic, the Mazor Ladach, that had provided treatment to some 6,800 displaced and deprived Syrians that had no access to medical help or medicines in their war-torn country.

By ANNA AHRONHEIM

 

A field clinic built by the IDF and providing care to injured Syrians has been closed, the IDF’s Spokesperson’s Unit announced on Friday.

The Mazor Ladach (whose name translates into Bandaging Those In Need) was a field clinic opened in August 2017 and located in an unused military post in the southern Golan Heights on the Syrian border.

IDF medics provide urgent medical assistance to Syria refugees, June 30, 2018.

Continue Reading »

Captain of seized Gaza bound boat accuses IDF of breaking int’l law

Captain of the Norwegian vessel that ignored the Gaza blockade claims the Israeli Navy illegally boarded his ship in international waters (actually that’s a requirement under maritime law when enforcing a legal blockade – I&S) and used violent force against activists (who “were reluctant to cooperate and to follow orders,”).

By AFP

 

The captain of a Norwegian boat carrying pro-Palestinian activists en route to Gaza has accused Israeli authorities of violating the law by boarding the vessel in international waters and using violent force against its crew, who were arrested.

Norway has asked Israel to explain the circumstances surrounding the arrests and “the allegations of excessive use of force,” a Norwegian government spokesman told AFP on Thursday. Continue Reading »

Netanyahu nixed important Colombia trip, citing Gaza as reason

PM Netanyahu’s South America trip wasn’t just to bolster exports and much-needed diplomatic support in int’l forums, the Prime Minister wanted to attend the inauguration ceremony of Colombia’s new president, and Israel supporter, Ivan Duque, so the cancelation may be a sign of things to come regarding Gaza.

By i24NEWS

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cancelled a planned trip to Colombia next week due to the volatile security situation on the Gaza border, the premier’s office announced Thursday.

Netanyahu had been slated to meet with South American heads of state during the August 6-9 trip to Bogota for the swearing-in of Colombia’s new president Ivan Duque. Continue Reading »

IDF air-strike kills 7 ISIS terrorists in Syria, issues warning to Assad

IDF fighter-jets killed 7 armed Islamic State terrorists in the Syrian part of the southern Golan Heights on Wednesday night, and after search of the area this morning, explosive belts and an AK-47 assault weapon were recovered.
• ‘IDF is on high alert.’

By Arutz Sheva Staff,

 

Israeli planes attacked a number of armed terrorists in the southern part of the Syrian Golan Heights on Wednesday night, killing seven terrorists.

After the area was searched this morning, explosive belts and a Kalashnikov rifle were found.

7 armed ISIS terrorists approching Israeli border in Syrian Golan Heights before IDF eliminated them 2 Aug 2018.

Continue Reading »

158 volunteers from 18 countries arrive in Israel to volunteer for the IDF

Majority of the new IDF recruits, new immigrants and foreign volunteers, come from North America, followed by 43 volunteers from France, 16 from the UK.

By ANNA AHRONHEIM

 

IDF volunteers from 18 different countries arrived in Israel over this summer, the Defense Ministry’s Social Defense Branch announced Wednesday.

The 158 new recruits comprised of 120 male volunteers and 38 females, the majority from North America with 69 volunteers (45%) followed France with 43 volunteers (30%).

Gathering of the 158 volunteers from 18 different countries arrive in Israel to volunteer for the IDF. – Photo courtesy: Israel’s Defense Ministry

According to the Defense Ministry, the number of volunteers from Australia has “quadrupled” since last year with eight volunteers, and the number from Britain doubled with 16 volunteers this year. Continue Reading »

Israel’s Defense Minister warns Iran of Israel’s wrath should Red Sea be blocked

Israel’s DM Liberman warns Iran of repercussions if it blockades Bab al-Mandab Strait: ‘I want to emphasize, in such a case we will be less selective, and the damage to our enemies will be far more acute.’

By Gary Willig

 

Prime Minister Binyaamin Netanyahu warned Iran not to attempt to block a key naval passage connecting Israel to the Red Sea.

PM Netanyahu addresses 2018 Naval Officers’ Graduation ceremony. – Photo: Haim Zach/Israel’s GPO

“The sea provides us with many opportunities. Above all it increases the small size of the State of Israel and allows us to deploy our vessels above and below the waves across a vast area. Continue Reading »

REPORT: ISIS beaten, driven out of last Syrian villages near Golan Heights

Despite the fact that the IDF have forcefully engaged both ISIS and Syrian rebel groups when they’ve attacked Israel, the Syrian regime continues to assert the narrative that describes ISIS as part of a resistance force created by the US, Israel, and Syrian rebels.

By SETH J. FRANTZMAN

 

Islamic State was driven out from the last major villages it still held near the Golan Heights – in an area called the Yarmouk Basin – on Monday, according to the Syrian regime and local websites.

The ISIS affiliate group, Jaysh Khalid bin Walid, has held the area for several years but has only clashed with Israeli forces once. Continue Reading »

Palestinian religious leaders issue fatwa forbidding participation in J’lem elections

Determined to remain ‘occupied’ and ‘stateless’ the Muslim religious jurists of Abbas’ Palestinian Authority forbids all of the 300,000 Palestinian Arab residents of East Jerusalem from holding office, or even voting in Jerusalem’s municipal election.

By i24NEWS

 

The highest Muslim religious authority in the Palestinian territories issued a fatwa, or directive, on Monday forbidding participation in Jerusalem’s upcoming municipal election.

The some 300,000 Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem have traditionally boycotted local elections in the city because they do not want to legitimize Israel’s 1967 annexation of its eastern neighborhoods.

Jerusalem, East and West meet. – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

However this year at least two Palestinian residents have said they want to stand as candidates and a recent poll by found nearly 60 percent of Arab East Jerusalemites wanted to take part in the vote, scheduled for October 30. Continue Reading »

US lawmakers introduce new legislation to seriously reduce funding to UNRWA

Palestinian Leaders In A Panic:

U.S. congressmen seek to penalize U.N. agency that was specifically tailored to maintain & support refugees for generations by intentionally inflating the number of actual Palestinian refugees from a modest 20,000 to a whooping 5.2 million.
• Trump administration likely to release classified Obama report on UNRWA within a few weeks.
• WATCH:  U.S. Amb. to UN Nikki Haley lambasts Arab member states of the United Nations.

By Ariel Kahana

 

U.S. lawmakers have introduced a new piece of legislation that would drastically reduce U.S. funding for the United Nations relief agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA. Continue Reading »

Tunisia must grant Israeli chess prodigy visa or won’t host World Chess match

FIDE secretary Polina Tsedenova said the World Chess Federation will forbid Tunisia from hosting the international chess competition for kids, should they still refuse a visa to the 7 yr-old European School Individual Chess champion, an Israeli.

By ELIANA SCHREIBER

 

Tunisia, which is currently scheduled to host the 2019 World Schools Chess Championship, could have its hosting privilege revoked if the country refuses to grant a visa to a seven-year-old Israeli girl.

The country, which has no diplomatic ties with Israel, does not permit Israelis to enter its borders, and is refusing to make an exception for Liel Levitan, the European School Individual Chess champion in her age group, for the upcoming World Chess Federation (FIDE) tournament. Continue Reading »

Israel arrests ‘journalists’ charged with incitement, operating Hamas TV channel

IDF detains 20 in a large-scale joint IDF-Shin Bet-Israel Police operation, with forces apprehending five Hamas terrorist operatives as well as a number of Al-Quds TV employees, suspected of incitement relating to their role in operating the Hamas run television channel, which is defined as a terrorist organization.

By Arutz Sheva Staff

 

The IDF arrested twenty wanted suspects over their involvement in terrorism and rioting against both security forces and civilians.

The operation was held in conjunction with the Shin Bet internal security service and the Israel Police.

Internal-memory removed by IDF forces – Screenshot: Al-Quds TV report, Facebook

In a joint IDF-Shin Bet operation in the Ephraim Regional Brigade, forces detained five Hamas terrorist operatives in Qalqilya who are suspected in promoting Hamas terror activities in recent months. Continue Reading »

Hamas Official Says Gaza Protests are Peaceful, Then Calls To Slaughter Jews

Hamas Interior Minister insists border protests are peaceful, then says, “O Muslims, wherever you find a Zionist Jew, you must kill him because that is an expression of your solidarity with the al-Aqsa Mosque.”

By Israel Today Staff

 

One of the top Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip last week again claimed that ongoing demonstrations along the coastal enclave’s border with Israel are “peaceful” in nature. With his very next breath, he encouraged local Muslims to slaughter every Jew they can get their hands on.

Speaking a funeral at the Great Omari Mosque in Gaza City, Fathi Hamad hailed the “success” of what he called “peaceful” protests at the Gaza security fence that have been going on since the end of March. Continue Reading »