Israeli study shows: Plants ‘talk’ through the roots

The Ben-Gurion University team discovers plants can transmit distress signals to each other through their roots.

Israeli scientists have uncovered messages transmitted underground – not by enemy agents, but by garden pea plants.

The Ben-Gurion University team discovered that plants can transmit distress signals to each other through their roots. An injured plant “communicates” to a healthy one, which in turn relays the signal to neighboring plants, possibly enhancing the other plants’ ability to deal with stress in the future, according to the study, recently published in the periodical PLoS (Public Library of Science One ).

The researchers, headed by plant biologist Ariel Novoplansky of the Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, exposed five garden pea plants to drought conditions.

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One Shekel Worth $1.1 Million – at Auction

 

The 'Million Dollar' shekel
The ‘Million Dollar’ shekel
Israel news photo: official photo from Israel Museum

An unidentified American East Coast collector plucked down $1.1 million for an ancient Judean shekel coin at a New York auction.

The coin was sold by a collector from the Los Angeles area who paid $240,000 for it in 1991, giving him a five-fold profit in 21 years.

The silver coin was dated to the year 66, four years before the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans. The modern shekel, which does not contain silver, is worth a fraction more than 26 cents.

The auctioned coin is one of two prototype silver shekels, the secnd is on display at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Continue Reading »

Iraq militia stones youths to death for ’emo’ style

Within one month, at least 14 youths stoned to death for sporting the Western style.

BAGHDAD – At least 14 youths have been stoned to death in Baghdad in the past three weeks in what appears to be a campaign by Shi’ite militants against youths wearing Western-style “emo” clothes and haircuts, security and hospital sources say.

Militants in Shi’ite neighborhoods where the stonings have taken place circulated lists on Saturday naming more youths targeted to be killed if they do not change the way they dress.

The "emo" look [illustrative]

"emo look" (illustrative) - By iStockphoto

The killings have taken place since Iraq’s interior ministry drew attention to the “emo” subculture last month, labeling it “Satanism” and ordering a community police force to stamp it out.”Emo”

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Assad tells Annan ‘terrorists’ block Syria solution

Syrian president claims country ready for ‘any honest effort’ to end year of unrest, as bloody crackdown continues

 

UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday to press for a political solution to Syria‘s year-long uprising and bloody crackdown in which thousands of people have been killed.

UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan Photo: EPA

UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan - Photo BY EPA

Assad told Annan his country was ready for “any honest effort” to end a year of unrest, but blamed “terrorist groups” for blocking a solution, the state news agency said.

“Syria is ready to make a success of any honest effort to find a solution for the events it is witnessing,” SANA quoted Assad as saying. Continue Reading »

Clinton: Israel has the Right to Defend Itself

EU’s Catherine Ashton urges “all sides” to re-establish calm. PA’s Abbas blames Israel.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Saturday condemned the rocket fire from Gaza onto Israel while meeting with opposition leader Tzipi Livni in New York. Clinton said Israel has the right to defend itself. Livni thanked Clinton, saying “the international community must speaking out clearly, in one voice, against terror against the citizens of Israel’s South.”

Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton Reuters

Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, maintained neutrality in her statement Saturday:

“The EU is following with concern the recent escalation of violence in Gaza and in the south of Israel. Continue Reading »

Report: Hamas leaders head to Cairo

Arab media outlets say delegation of senior Hamas members arrive in Egypt in order to discuss escalation between Palestinians, Israel

 

Arab media reported Saturday that a delegation of Hamas leaders headed by Mahmoud al-Zahar, have left the Gaza Strip for Cairo in order to discuss the escalation in violence between the Palestinians and Israel, and the energy crisis in the Strip.

According to the reports, the delegation also includes other top Hamas officials.

The latest round of violence, which began on Friday after the assassination of Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) commander Zuhir al-Qaisi, has resulted in the deaths of 15 Palestinian terrorists and more than 100 rockets fired from the Gaza Strip. Continue Reading »

Palestinians fire 92 rockets at southern Israel

Iron Dome intercepts 25 rockets aimed at city centers; 8 injured, including 1 critically from rocket shrapnel on Friday night in rural region; Safety instructions in place for residents living within 40 km of Gaza.

Car damaged from Gaza rocket on March 10, 2012

Car damaged from Gaza rocket on March 10, 2012 - Photo By IDF Spokesman's Office

 

Palestinian terrorists in Gaza targeted cities, towns, and farming regions in southern Israel with waves of rockets throughout Friday and Saturday, setting off air raid sirens and injuring eight people

Ninety two rockets – Kassams and the longer-range Grads – were fired by midday Saturday at civilian regions. Of those, the Iron Dome anti-rocket system intercepted 25 projectiles heading directly into city centers in Ashdod, Beersheba and Ashkelon.

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Obama makes the case for an Israeli strike on Iran

 

Obama makes the case for an Israeli strike on Iran

By: Caroline Glick

Obama tough talk.jpg
   In his commentary in Maariv’s Friday news supplement, the paper’s senior diplomatic commentator Ben Caspit laid out a hypothetical lecture that Obama might give Netanyahu when the two leaders meet alone in the Oval Office this afternoon. In Caspit’s scenario, Obama used the one-on-one to set out the law to the Israeli premier. If you bomb Iran’s nuclear installations before the November elections, in my second term Israel will no longer be able to buy spare parts for its weapons systems from the US. So too, Caspit’s Obama said, the US will end its support for Israel at the UN Security Council if Israel dares to take it upon itself to prevent Iran from crossing the nuclear threshold before the US elections.
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80 rockets fired at Israel since Friday

Palestinians launch rockets, mortar shells at Israel’s south prompting IAF to strike Gaza terror cells, killing 12 Islamic Jihad operatives. Iron Dome intercepts Grads fired at Ashdod, Beersheba

 

Palestinians from northern Gaza fired rockets at Beersheba, Ashdod and Gan Yavne early Saturday morning as the Color Red alert was sounded across Israel‘s southern cities.

Iron Dome Photo: Avi Rokach

Iron Dome - Photo by Avi Rokach

The IDF estimates that over 80 rockets have been fired at Israel since Friday, 65 exploded in the south. A Home Front Command official said: “The Command’s instructions have proven to save lives and they should be followed. Continue Reading »

U.S. senator calls for naval blockade of Iran

Chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee says blockade should precede military action, in bid to pressure Iran to cease its drive for nuclear weapons.

An international naval blockade of Iranian oil exports should be considered before any resort to air strikes against the country’s disputed nuclear program, the chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee said on Friday.

Iran Navy Jan. 3, 2012 (Reuters)

Iranian naval vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, Jan. 3, 2012. - Photo by: Reuters

“That’s, I think, one option that needs to be considered” to boost pressure on Iran to curb its nuclear program in line with UN Security Council resolutions, Democratic Senator Carl Levin said in an interview taped for C-SPAN’s “Newsmakers” program. Continue Reading »

Hamas Beats Reporters in Gaza

Three reporters covering a mass wedding in Gaza City were brutally beaten by Hamas security forces.

Three reporters were attacked by Hamas security forces while covering a mass wedding in Gaza City on Thursday.

Reports identified the three as local Sky News reporter Mohammad al-Mashharawi, BBC reporter Adnan al-Dorosh and Amer Abu Omar, a Gaza-based journalist.

Witnesses told the Bethleham-based Maan News Agency that the the three were severely beaten in a nearby playground.

The Palestine News Network said that al-Mashharawi was detained by Hamas and that his location is currently unknown.

Gaza’s Ministry of Interior issued a statement shortly after the incident condemning the attack. Continue Reading »

Gaza militants fire rockets at Israeli south; casualties, damage reported

More than 40 rockets fired into southern Israel; eight people wounded, one seriously; Iron Dome intercepts six rockets fired at Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Be’er Sheva; Israel launches Gaza strikes and kills three Islamic Jihad militants.

 

Rocket barrage from Gaza continues. Over 40 rockets were fired from Gaza to Israel’s southern cities and towns. Eight people were injured, some damage was reported.

Rockets had also fallen in Be’er Sheva, Ashdod, Kiryat Malachi, Netivot, and Ashkelon; these rockets either fell in open area or were intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile system, causing no damage, or casualties.

rocket Casualty - Eli Hershkovitz - 10092012
Casualty from rocket barrage fired from Gaza being rushed to hospital.
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“You Don’t Use a Neutron Generator to Make Popcorn”

Former Chief of Staff to PM Netanyahu: Iran’s headed for nuclear weapons. Devastating sanctions are needed now.

 

Naftali Bennett, former Chief of Staff for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, responded on Thursday to the reports that Iran had cleaned up the Parchin military site from radioactive traces possibly left by tests of a nuclear-weapon trigger.

Naftali Bennett, former Chief of Staff for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu

Naftali Bennett, former Chief of Staff for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu

Speaking to Fox News, Bennett explained that there is no other explanation for the evidence that was found other than the fact that Iran is developing a nuclear weapon.

“As the UN inspector said, the Iranians are testing a neutron generator,” Bennett said. Continue Reading »

IDF foils major attack; kills 2 terrorists in Gaza strike

Air strike kills PRC commander Qaisi, who was at final stages of planning large-scale terror attack against Israeli targets, says IDF; Ahmad Hanini, released in Schalit prisoner swap also killed in blast.

Palestinians look at the remains of exploded vehic

Palestinians look at the remains of exploded vehic - Photo By REUTERS

 

The IAF struck a vehicle in Gaza on Friday, killing two senior officials of the Popular Resistance Committee (PRC), in a move to thwart a large-scale terror attack that was in its last stages of preparation, according to the IDF spokesperson.

The IDF confirmed that the two killed in the attack were: commander of the PRC Zuhair Qaisi; and Ahmad Hanini, a senior PRC member freed in the Schalit prisoner swap.

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Judean Desert eagles at risk

Nature and National Parks Service warns Israel’s eagle population in danger of disappearing

 

Israel Nature and National Parks Service has expressed serious concern over the country’s dwindling eagle population, Yedioth Ahronoth reported.

Disappearing? Photo: Israel Nature and National Parks Service

Disappearing? Photo: Israel Nature and National Parks Service

According to the NNPS, while some 380 eagles roamed Israel’s skies in 1999, in 2010 there were only 70 eagles in northern Israe and 87 in its south, and in 2011 their numbers dropped to an alarming 49 in the south and 63 in the north.

The NNPS noted that some of the eagles were affected by the urban sprawl biting into their natural habitat, others were poached and some were poisoned due to the State’s faulty enforcement of preservations laws, especially in areas where farmers illegally spread poison to ward animals away from crops. Continue Reading »