Tag Archive for Israel US

| July 4, 2014
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Israeli PM: If Hamas continues to Fire rockets at Israel, IDF troops near Gaza will respond

 

At 4th of July celebration PM calls on Israel, whose “heart is hurting & blood is boiling,” to act and speak with restraint, especially since it’s only a few days after the burial of kidnapped teens, and rockets are falling on the South from Gaza.

 

As rockets and mortar shells continued to fall on Israel from Gaza on Thursday, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu warned that if quiet in the region was not restored, than the beefed up IDF forces amassed there will act “with power.”

Netanyahu speaks at Fourth of July celebration, July 3, 2014.

Netanyahu speaks at Fourth of July celebration, July 3, 2014. – Photo: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM

“The security of our citizens comes before anything,” he said at a speech at the annual Fourth of July celebration at the US ambassador’s residence in Herzliya. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| June 26, 2014
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Israel’s President Peres at White House, talks Pollard & Iraq with Obama

 

Shimon Peres’ final foreign trip as President of Israel yields reported breakthrough in the efforts to release the American born spy, Jonathan Pollard.

By i24news

 

Israeli President Shimon Peres met with his American counterpart Barack Obama on Wednesday, to discuss the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank, the sectarian violence ripping through Iraq and the issue of Jonathan Pollard, a US-born Israeli spy who was arrested in Washington in 1985 and jailed for life.

Shimon Peres sits with Barack Obama in Washington 25 June 2014 – Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP

Washington was reportedly considering releasing Pollard early in exchange for Israeli concessions in the troubled peace process with the Palestinians brokered by the United States, which has since foundered. Continue Reading »

Category: Jewish News | Tags: , ,
| June 24, 2014
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Mike Huckabee: United States must help Israel bring back abducted teens

During his speech at the Knesset in Jerusalem, the ex-governor declares the kidnapping as “nothing less than an act of rabid anti-Semitic hatred.”

 

The United States must declare that the kidnapping of three teenagers in Gush Etzion will not be tolerated and work to bring them home, Former Arkansas Governor and TV and radio personality Mike Huckabee said in the Knesset Monday.

Mike Huckabee at Knesset

Mike Huckabee at Knesset – YouTube Arutz Sheva TV screenshot

The kidnapping is “nothing less than an act of anti-Semitic, rabid hatred,” he declared.

In light of the fact that one of the boys, Naftali Fraenkel, is a US citizen, Huckabee said the US “must speak out boldly and clearly and say this is unacceptable. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| June 20, 2014
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Are there really 750,000 Israelis residing in the United States?

Precise data differ between the different governmental sources or Jewish organizations, not to mention, how does one define an Israeli?

By Haim Handwerker

 

NEW YORK – It’s not easy to find accurate data about the number of Israelis living in the United States. The Israeli government and the Jewish Agency are in5e simple fact that no one has precise numbers. Be that as it may, the numbers being bandied about these days range from 200,000 to 1 million.
A recent event organized by IAC in Los Angeles.

A recent event organized by IAC in Los Angeles. An estimated 15,000 Israelis attended. – Source: Haaretz

Drawing on estimates of Israeli government ministries and the Agency, Sagi Balasha, CEO of the Los Angeles-based Israeli American Council which represents Israelis and promotes their interests, believes that there are between 500,000 and 800,000 Israelis living in the United States.

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Category: Jewish News, The Diaspora | Tags: , , ,
| June 15, 2014
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Kerry looks at Hamas as kidnappers of 3 Jewish teens in Israel

U.S. secretary of state recommends full cooperation between Palestinian security forces and Israeli to return teens.

Worldwide condemnations made for kidnapping.

 

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry condemned Sunday the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank, adding that “many indications point to Hamas’ involvement.”

John Kerry

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Lebanon. June 4th, 2014. – Photo: AP

In a statement to the press, Kerry called for the immediate release of the three victims, who went missing Thursday from the Gush Etzion cluster of settlements, and stated that the United States is still “seeking details on the parties responsible.”

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , , ,
| June 10, 2014
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U.S. senators question additional aid to Israel as Jerusalem cuts its military budget

The U.S. allocates $3.1 billion in military projects a year for Israel, not including special assistance for specific programs like the Iron Dome.

By

 

 

The debate over the size of the Israeli defense budget has reached the U.S. Senate too. In a committee session held at the beginning of June, senators raised, for the first time, the question of whether the United States needs to continue granting such a large amount of military aid to Israel.

rockets - AFP - April 10 2011

An Iron Dome missile responding to a rocket launch from the Gaza Strip.
Senators debate $175 million in aid for missile defense system.-

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| May 7, 2014
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Israel calls allegations of massive spying against US, absurd

 

Israel slams a Newsweek report based on unnamed sources, claiming Jerusalem is involved in attempts to steal US ‘industry & technical secrets’.

A senior diplomatic source in Jerusalem said the report has a ‘whiff of anti-Semitism’.

By Attila Somfalvi

 

Israel on Tuesday hit back at a Newsweek report claiming American officials believe Israeli intelligence-gathering efforts in the US have “crossed red lines.”

US Entry Visa

US Entry Visa

The Israeli embassy in Washington issued a denial, saying that “Israel does not conduct any spying activities (against the US), and condemns any attempt to tarnish Israel with false allegations.”

A senior diplomatic source in Jerusalem said Israel would send the US a strong message over the report, even going so far as to argue that parts of it were “tainted with a whiff of anti-Semitism.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| May 4, 2014
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U.S. envoy Indyk said to resign for collapse of peace-talks

Special U.S. envoy for peace talks Martin Indyk said to blame Israel for breakup of peace negotiations.

By
The U.S. special envoy for peace talks, Martin Indyk, is considering resigning following the blowup of talks between Israel and the Palestinians, and in light of President Barack Obama’s intention to suspend American mediation, according to Israeli officials in Jerusalem who are close to the matter. The officials asked to remain anonymous due to the issue’s sensitivity.
Kerry and Indyk.

Kerry and Indyk at the State Department in Washington. – Photo: Reuters

The officials said Indyk had already informed the Brookings Institute – where he is vice president and director for foreign policy – that he might soon be returning to his post, from which he took a leave of absence nine months ago.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| May 1, 2014
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IRS to receive American’s account information from Israeli banks

 

The 2010 Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act requires international banking institutions to inform the IRS of all financial information on their American clients.

By NIV ELIS

 
The Finance Ministry reached an agreement to turn information on US citizens’ bank accounts over to the United States’ Internal Revenue Service, in compliance with a tough US law designed to counter tax evasion.
Bank Hapoalim

Bank Hapoalim – Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski

The 2010 Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), requires international financial institutions to turn over all the information on their US account holders, or else face tough sanctions from the US.

Though expatriate Americans don’t know it, they are required to file their income with the IRS each year with a 1040 tax form.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| April 29, 2014
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U.S. twice promised to support Israeli position on Palestinian unity gov’t

NYT reported: American commitment was given both at the start of Obama’s presidency & again after his re-election.

By

 

An Israeli official told the New York Times on Monday that Israel had in the past received “a specific commitment from the American administration” that it would not be expected to negotiate with a Palestinian unity government if Hamas did not meet the criteria set by the Middle East Quartet: recognition of Israel, renunciation of terror and a commitment to honor past agreements.

Obama and Netanyahu.

Obama and Netanyahu in the Oval Office of the White House, September 30, 2013. Photo: Bloomberg

The Middle East Quartet – comprising the United Nations the United States, the European Union and Russia – has been involved in mediating the peace process since 2002. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| April 22, 2014
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U.S. Supreme Court reviews president’s refusal to abide by Jerusalem birthplace law

 

The U.S. Supreme Court will review the State Department’s refusal to enforce a 2002 law that allows U.S. citizens born in Jerusalem to have Israel listed as their birthplace.

By Reuters

 

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to weigh the constitutionality of a law that was designed to allow American citizens born in Jerusalem – the historic holy city claimed by Israelis and Palestinians – to have Israel listed as their birthplace on passports.

Jerusalem

American passports do not recognize Jerusalem as being in Israel. – Photo; AFP

The case concerns a long-standing U.S. foreign policy that the president – and not Congress – has sole authority to state who controls Jerusalem.

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Category: The Diaspora | Tags: , , , ,
| April 19, 2014
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U.S. intelligence claims visa waiver for Israel would facilitate espionage

 

According to a report in Roll Call, the House Judiciary Committee warned that allowing Israelis entry into the U.S. without a visa would make it easier for Israelis to spy.

By

 

Officials in the United States intelligence community are opposing admitting Israel to the Visa Waver program – a program easing foreigners’ entry to the country – for fear that this would facilitate espionage, Roll Call reported, Friday. The Visa Waver program, already including 38 countries, would allow Israelis to visit the U.S. for up to 90 days without taking out a visa.

Israelis stand in line for visas at the United States Consulate in East Jerusalem.


Israelis stand in line for visas at the United States Consulate in East Jerusalem.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| April 18, 2014
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State Dept. working to add Israel to U.S. visa waiver program

Israel is working with U.S. so Israelis will no longer be required to apply for entry visas before visiting the United States.

By JTA

 

The United States and Israel are creating a working group to help Israel advance toward joining the visa waiver program.

Israel Passport - Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

Israel Passport – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

“This is a goal of both the United States and Israel, and it would make travel easier for citizens of both countries,” Julia Frifield, the assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs, said in a letter sent Thursday to Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.).

The Department of Homeland Security is also part of the working group, Frifield said. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| April 17, 2014
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The U.S. still Jerusalem’s best friend, but no longer Israel’s only friend

 

Israel is no longer an embattled, impoverished, emotionally needy client state. It is an emerging int’l power with options it never had before.

By Zev Chafets

 

 

Late last month the United States introduced a U.N. resolution condemning Russia’s de facto seizure of Crimea from Ukraine. As expected, the resolution passed the General Assembly easily. Unexpected, though, was the decision by Israel, long America’s most reliable U.N. vote (and vice versa), to absent itself from the ballot.

MP14-0147 2nd Israel C-130J 5742 first flight 20140115

The Hercules “Samson” C-130J will reinforce Israel’s air superiority, giving it better carrying capacity and mid-air refueling ability. Better than ever before, Israel will be able to neutralize threats both near and far.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| April 16, 2014
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Missouri lawmakers seek to open economic development office in Israel

Missouri’s office in Israel would be focused on developing joint business partnerships in biotechnology, agriculture & other emerging fields.

By

 

 

 

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri – Some Missouri lawmakers want the state to open an economic development office in Israel.

The Gateway Arch of Saint Louis, Missouri. April 2, 2014

The Gateway Arch of Saint Louis, Missouri, as seen from Saint Louis University School of Law on April 2. – Photo: AP/St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Laurie Skrivan

A spending plan embraced by a Senate committee would insert $200,000 into the next state budget to open an office in Israel.

The Senate and House have each passed bills that would require the Department of Economic Development to establish an office in Israel.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
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