A new anti-Israel tactic

New tactic aims to silence pro-Israel professors at US colleges through claims of intimidation

The pro-Palestinian mantra revolves around the belief that the Palestinians are the Arab world’s underdog; Israel is the Goliath and the Palestinians are the David. This message has been exported to the West and has engendered global sympathy for the Palestinian cause, as the quintessence of an injustice at the hands of the brutal, colonialist West.

Liberal and leftists groups ranging from women’s rights, LGBT groups and human rights activists have all championed the Palestinian cause as a common denominator that unites or even embodies their respective causes. Continue Reading »

Speaking during tour of southern Lebanon, Ahmadinejad’s press adviser says possible Iranian counterstrike would reach beyond ‘Zionist regime,’ include U.S. bases.

 

Israel is too weak to fulfill its threats against Iran, an adviser to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said during a visit to southern Lebanon on Wednesday, adding that Iran’s counter attack in case of an assault against it would include U.S. targets.

iran missile - AP - April 18 2011

A Yasser missile is displayed during Iranian army parade, marking national Army Day, in front of the mausoleum of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khamenei near Tehran, Iran, April 18, 2011. Photo by AP

The Iranian official’s remarks came after, on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an apparent reference to the possibility of an attack of Iran’s nuclear facilities, said that Israel didn’t always heed to U.S.

Continue Reading »

Yaalon: We Will Retaliate Until They Beg Us to Stop

Deputy PM Moshe Yaalon vowed no mercy for Gaza terror gangs who continue to fire rockets at Israel’s south.

Minister of Strategic Affairs Minister and deputy premier Moshe Yaalon on Thursday said Israel would make terrorists “beg us to stop.”

“As long as they fire, it isn’t over,” Yaalon said as rocket fire on Israel’s south enters seventh straight day despite a theoretical cease-fire brokered late Monday evening.

“Anyone threatening us is risking his life. We will retaliate until they beg us to stop,” Yaalon said. “They have to realize that the consequences of the rocket fire are not worth it.” Continue Reading »

Israel passes US, Europe in bottle recycling

In total, Israel collected about 77% of all beverage containers in 2011, exceeding the government’s target of 73%.

New bottle collection bin features blossoming tree - Photo by Yael Kaplan

New bottle collection bin features blossoming tree - Photo by Yael Kaplan

 

Israelis recycled 50 percent of the country’s plastic bottles in 2011, overtaking Europe and the United States, with figures of 48% and 29%, respectively, the ELA recycling company reported.

While the country only recycled about 16,000 tons of plastic PET bottles in 2010, the 2011 figures reached about 20,000 tons, according to ELA.

In total, Israel collected about 77% of all beverage containers – plastic and glass – requiring deposit in 2011, exceeding the government’s target of 73% and amounting to about 600 million beverage containers, ELA said.

Continue Reading »

Turks outraged by Israel’s travel advisory

Turkish elements claim Israeli decision to warn tourists against visiting Turkey motivated by desire for revenge over Erdogan statements

Heightened tensions: Turkish elements expressed outrage over Israel’s travel advisory to Turkey issued by the Counter Terrorism Bureau on Tuesday, Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Thursday. The Turks claim that the warning is based on “vengeful political considerations aiming to portray Turkey as failing to  protect Jews and Israelis.”

Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan Photo: EPA

Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan - Photo: EPA

It was also claimed that Turkey is putting great efforts into securing local Jewish and Israeli institutions and that the diplomatic crisis with Israel does not effect its determination to fight terror. Continue Reading »

Three rockets fired at Be’er Sheva on seventh day of Israel-Gaza violence

Palestinian militants fired three Grad rockets toward the southern Israeli city of Be’er Sheva on Thursday morning, after the Israel Air Force launched several strikes on the Gaza Strip overnight.

Early Thursday, a Gaza rocket landed near Netivot in southern Israel and shortly afterward, three Grad rockets were fired toward Be’er Sheva. Two of them were intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile system.

Islamic Jihad has denied any involvement in Thursday’s rocket fire.

Gaza after Israeli air strike - AFP - March 14, 2012

Palestinian fire fighters extinguish a fire at a Gaza building following an Israeli air strike, March 14, 2012. - Photo by AFP

Despite an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire between the sides which went into effect early Tuesday morning, Palestinian militant groups continued to fire rockets sporadically into Israel on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Continue Reading »

Soldier Wounded in Light Rail Stabbing Attack

In the first major terror attack reported on Jerusalem’s light rail, a female soldier was stabbed by an Arab, who fled the scene

An Israeli female soldier in her early 20s was stabbed while riding on Jerusalem’s light rail Thursday morning. The stabber was an Arab who ran away from the scene of the stabbing, witnesses said. The stabbing occurred as the train was traveling through the Pisgat Ze’ev neighborhood in northern Jerusalem. Service has been suspended on trains in the north of the city.

At the scene of Thursday's light rail attack

At the scene of Thursday's light rail attack - Photo by Hezki Ezra

Police have opened an investigation. Continue Reading »

IAF strikes Gaza targets after rockets fired at Beersheba

Israeli aircraft respond to Grad rockets fired at South, striking rocket launching site, smuggling tunnel; IDF might need large ground operation in Strip, OC Southern Command Russo says.

 

The Israel Air Force struck a rocket launching site in northern Gaza and a smuggling tunnel in the southern Strip overnight Wednesday. Palestinians did not immediately report any injuries in the strikes.

IAF plane takes part in maneuvers

By IDF spokesperson

The IAF strikes came after the Egyptian-brokered cease-fire that went into effect on Tuesday appeared to collapse earlier on Wednesday night when Gazans fired two Grad-model Katyusha rockets into Beersheba.

The assessment within the army is that the rockets were fired by small, splinter terrorist groups and not by Islamic Jihad, which was behind the bulk of the rocket fire into Israel since Friday. Continue Reading »

Report: Iran officials told Assad to focus on Israel to divert attention from Syria crisis

Emails said to have been intercepted by Syria opposition and released by the Guardian show advisers indicated Syrian President should verbally attack Israel, center on Palestinian cause in a planned speech.

Syrian President Bashar Assad was advised by Iranian officials to divert attention toward Israel and the Palestinian cause in an effort to deflect criticism of his brutal crackdown, emails said to have been intercepted by Syrian opposition and released by the U.K.’s the Guardian indicated on Wednesday.

Bashar Assad and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Syria President Bashar Assad and Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - Photo: AP

According to the Guardian, the messages were said to have been intercepted by the opposition’s Supreme Council of the Revolution between June of 2011 and February 2012, and include missives from Assad’s private account as well as that belonging to his wife, Asma.

Continue Reading »

Turkish Airstrikes Target PPK in Northern Iraq

One day after Turkey’s prime minister castigated Israel for striking terrorists in Gaza, Ankara strikes at terrorists in Iraq.

Turkish warplanes launched a series of air strikes on northern Iraq late on Tuesday

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan - Photo by Reuters

The region is home to several bases used by Kurdish separatists from the PKK that Ankara regards as terrorists – and frequently targets with its military.

“After 10:00 last night, the Turkish warplanes hit some areas near the border in three locations,” Colonel Hussein Tamr told the media.

“It lasted more than an hour. We went there after the attacks finished. Continue Reading »

FIDF raises $26 million for Israel

The US-based Friends of the IDF organization (FIDF) held its annual fundraiser on Tuesday and raised $26 million – NIS 98 million – in favor of the Israeli military.

Over 1,300 prominent business and philanthropic leaders attended the $1,000-a-plate gala dinner, which was held at New York’s Waldorf Astoria hotel.

Among those attending the gala were Israel’s Military Attaché in Washington Major-General Gadi Shamni, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, founder and president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) and FIDF National Director Maj-Gen (Res.) Jerry Gershon.

גלעד שליט מברך בכנס (צילום: שחר עזרן)

Gilad Shalit's video message - Photo: Shahar Azran

The evening was held under the banner of the “IDF’s Special Forces,” and included a special live satellite link allowing the donors to meet members of the military’s elite unit and tour their base. Continue Reading »

Potable water system wins Intel competition

Netanya high school pupils developed a system  to disinfect & clean water supplies.

 

A pair of Netanya high school pupils who developed a system using solar rays to disinfect and clean water supplies so they are suitable for drinking won the Intel-Israel 15th Annual Young Scientists Competition on Tuesday.

Avishai Katko and Maya Braun

Avishai Katko and Maya Braun - Photo By Sasson Tiram

Avishai Katko and Maya Braun of Sharett High School found a way to expose polluted water to ultraviolet light using renewable energy at low cost. The device, if produced commercially, could be used in any home, the pupils said.

The system is modular, mobile and suitable for use in places with a severe shortage of potable water that also enjoy sunlight most of the year.The

Continue Reading »

Azerbaijan arrests 22 suspects in plot to attack Israeli, U.S. targets

Azerbaijan’s national security ministry says Iran’s Revolutionary Guards is behind plot to carry out attacks against Israeli, U.S. embassies in Baku.

Azerbaijan authorities have arrested 22 people suspected of plotting to attack the Israeli and American embassies in the capital Baku, AFP reported on Wednesday.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards was reportedly behind the plan to attack Israeli and U.S. targets in the country, according to Azerbaijan’s national security ministry.

A month ago, the national security ministry said it had arrested several activists belonging to the Iranian intelligence service and Hezbollah. The operatives were suspected of planning terrorist attacks against foreigners in Baku.

Continue Reading »

‘Death of Palestinian boy raises Gaza death toll to 27’

7-year-old reportedly succumbs to his wounds after IAF strike on eastern Gaza City; Netivot municipal head: Only half of students show up for class despite cease-fire and no rocket attacks.

Palestinians pass rubble from IAF strike, Gaza

Palestinians pass rubble from IAF strike, Gaza - Photo: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters

A seven-year-old Palestinian boy in the Gaza Strip has died from wounds sustained during an IDF strike on terrorist operations in the coastal territory this past weekend, Gaza news portal Al Resalah reported, raising the death toll of last weekend’s spasm of violence between Gaza and Israel to 27.

Birka Salama al-Maghrabi was injured in an Israeli air strike in an eastern part of Gaza City, the largest city in the Palestinian territories. Continue Reading »

Nasrallah, Hamas: Israel ‘tested’ Gaza factions ahead of possible Iran strike

Hezbollah leader meets top Islamist group figures in Lebanon; according to local newspaper, they claimed Israel instigated latest round of violence in south to gauge terrorists’ readiness to take part in regional conflict

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah met with senior Hamas figures on Monday to discuss regional developments, Lebanese newspaper Al-Sapir reported.

Hassan Nasrallah Photo: EPA

Hassan Nasrallah - Photo: EPA

According to the report, published Wednesday, Hamas’ delegation was headed by Deputy Politburo Chief Moussa Abu Marzouk. The meeting in Lebanon focused on the latest round of violence between Israel and Gaza, the uprising in Syria and the Muslim Brotherhood’s ties to Hezbollah and Iran. Continue Reading »