Tag Archive for Israel US

| December 17, 2013
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IDF Military Academy Plans for Mount Scopus Delayed by PM Netanyahu

IDF military academy plans approved in 2012, but Netanyahu delays program – probably due to fears of an unpleasant US reaction.

By Tova Dvorin

 

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has delayed plans to move the IDF’s military training academy to Mount Scopus, probably due to international pressures, Maariv reported Tuesday. Sources say the IDF has begun looking for other sites for its military program as a result.

The District Planning and Building Committee of Jerusalem has prevented the program from advancing for over a year, despite its importance. The move is part of a greater initiative to strengthen Jerusalem’s position as the symbolic and practical capital of Israel. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , , ,
| December 16, 2013
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U.S. academic association endorses academic boycott of Israel


5,000 members strong, the American Studies Association, cites ‘Israel’s violation of int’l law & UN resolutions’ as reasons to boycott Israeli academic institutions.

By and

 

 

The American Studies Association has endorsed a boycott of Israeli academic institutions in a vote that took place over the past few days, the organization said on Monday.

Protester calling for a boycott of Israel - Photo: REUTERS

Protester calling for a boycott of Israel – Photo: REUTERS

Out of the 1,252 members who participated in the vote, 66 percent voted in support of the boycott. The voting was conducted electronically

The decision to boycott Israeli academic institutions was made unanimously by the ASA’s 20-member national council on December 5. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| December 16, 2013
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Susan Rice consults Israeli officials about Iran nuclear deal

Susan Rice, Obama’s national security adviser  met with her Israeli counterpart last week in hope of gaining support for P5+1 nuclear deal with Iran.

By Reuters

 

 

President Barack Obama‘s national security adviser Susan Rice played host to a series of meetings with Israeli officials last week to try to gain their support for an interim deal with Iran aimed at containing Tehran’s nuclear program.

U.S. national security adviser Susan Rice (R) with Secretary of State John Kerry and Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power in September 2013. – Photo: Reuters

The meetings, announced in a White House statement on Sunday, arose from talks between Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month as the United States tried to persuade a skeptical Israel to support the Iran deal. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| December 12, 2013
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Former Bank of Israel chief candidate to strengthen US economy as Deputy Fed

Stanley Fischer, the former Bank of Israel governor, who’s a dual Israeli-U.S. citizen, has been asked by the Obama administration to become Janet Yellen’s deputy head of the Federal Reserve Bank, when she takes over as chief.

By Reuters & Israel Hayom Staff

Stanley Fischer, who led the Bank of Israel for eight years until he stepped down in June, has been asked to become the Federal Reserve Bank’s next deputy head once the current vice chairwoman, Janet Yellen, takes over as chief of the U.S. central bank, a source familiar with the issue said on Wednesday.

Former Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer – Photo: Reuters

Fischer, 70, is widely respected as one of the world’s top monetary economists. Continue Reading »

Category: Jewish News | Tags: , ,
| December 12, 2013
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Former US envoy to the UN, Bill Richardson petitions Obama for Pollard’s release

Former governor of New Mexico Bill Richardson, who also served as the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., called for jailed Israeli Jonathan Pollard, to be released immediately.

WASHINGTON – Bill Richardson, the former U.N. ambassador known for his efforts to release American captives overseas, called on President Obama to free Jonathan Pollard immediately.

Bill Richardson, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations - Photo: AP

Bill Richardson, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations – Photo: AP

In a Dec. 10 letter to Obama, whom he endorsed after dropping out of the 2008 presidential race, Richardson noted that an increasing number of figures involved in government when Pollard was given a 1987 life sentence for spying for Israel now believe his sentence should be commuted.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| December 11, 2013
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Israeli officials: US admits Iran will get $20 billion in sanctions relief – not $7 billion as Obama said

 


U.S. administration officials admitted to Israeli colleagues that American negotiators greatly underestimated the economic benefits Iran would reap from Geneva’s P5+1 accord.

By

 

 

Senior officials in the administration of President Barack Obama have conceded over the past few days in conversations with colleagues in Israel that the value of the economic sanctions relief to Iran could be much higher than originally thought in Washington, security sources in Israel told Haaretz.

Tehran

The Iranian economy is already showing signs of growth. – Photo: AP

In official statements by the United States immediately after the agreement limiting Iran’s nuclear program was signed in Geneva between Iran and theF six powers at the end of November it was said that the economic relief Iran would receive in exchange for signing the agreement would be relatively low – $6 billion or $7 billion. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| December 5, 2013
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American Studies leaders back Israeli boycott, ask members to vote

The 20-member national council approved the boycott resolution unanimously, but full body endorsement is still pending.

The boycott will not inhibit collaboration with individual Israeli academics, the statement said.

By

 

 

The American Studies Association leadership on Wednesday endorsed a boycott of Israeli universities, but also sought the approval of the body’s 5,000 members.The decision follows a contentious debate at the group’s annual meeting last month and 10 days of deliberations that were supposed to last a morning. The boycott resolution was approved unanimously by the 20-member national council.
Students at an Israeli university relax on the lawn.

Students at an Israeli university relax on the lawn.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| November 27, 2013
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Obama’s Agenda & the goal of the White House’s foreign policy

 

The administration’s goal is not to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power. The goal of Obama’s foreign policy is to weaken the State of Israel.

By CAROLINE B. GLICK

 

 

It isn’t surprising that the US and the other five powers signed a deal with Iran on Saturday. Over the past few weeks, US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry made it clear that they were committed to signing a deal with Iran as quickly as possible.

US President Barack Obama - Photo Alexei Danichev, Host Photo Agency via Getty Images

US President Barack Obama – Photo: Alexei Danichev, Host Photo Agency via Getty Images

And it isn’t surprising that the deal these overeager leaders signed with the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism makes the world a much more dangerous place than it was before the agreement was concluded. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| November 26, 2013
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US Air Force & IAF hold largest joint-military exercise in Israel’s history

 

Greece, Italy, Israel and the U.S. are holding joint aerial training exercise above Israel with about 100 aircraft.

IDF points out: Joint exercise has nothing to do with Iran

By Yoav Zitun

Some 50 fighter jets belonging to Israel, Greece, the US and Italy took off Sunday morning from the Ovda air base, signaling the beginning of the largest military air exercise in Israel’s history.

Israel Air Force - Phot courtesy: IDF Spokesperson's Unit

Israel Air Force – Phot courtesy: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

The Blue Flag exercise is being hosted by Israel will continue until Thursday and will include more than 60 jet fighters among them the Tornado, AMX and F-15. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| November 25, 2013
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V-22 Osprey deal finalized

 

American Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel & Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon met Friday to complete V-22 Osprey deal.

 Israel the 1st to receive the aircraft from the U.S.

By Shlomo Cesana

The deal for the Israel Defense Forces to acquire American V-22 Osprey aircraft was finalized during Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon’s meeting with his American counterpart Chuck Hagel on Friday at a defense ministers’ conference in Halifax, Canada.

V-22 Osprey – Photo: GettyImages

Ya’alon thanked Hagel for expediting the deal and said that the planes that will be supplied to Israel in the near future will further strengthen the IDF.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| November 22, 2013
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U.S. General: United States in Greatest Danger Since 1930’s

Senior American military analyst Gen. McInerney warns that the U.S. is in comparable danger to the pre-WWII era, specifically from Russian & Iranian hegemonies.

By Ari Yashar& Orli Harari

Senior military analyst Lt. Gen. Thomas G. McInerney spoke to Arutz Sheva on Tuesday, warning that rising Russian and Iranian influence, coupled with America’s waning Middle East presence, has put the US in the most dangerous situation it has been in since the 1930s just prior to World War II.

General Thomas McInerney – Screenshot

McInerney addressed the global security situation following the “EMPact” conference in Washington DC, in which analysts warned that the US is unprepared for an Iranian “Electromagnetic Pulse” attack. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| November 21, 2013
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Israel’s Foreign Minister Liberman: Ties with US have Weakened

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman says Jerusalem needs to seek new allies that are not dependent on money from the Islamic world. 

By Gil Ronen

 

 

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman said Wednesday that Israel needs to seek allies other than Washington.

The hawkish, blunt-talking chief diplomat, who returned to office earlier this month after seeing off graft charges, spoke as major powers, including the United States, sought to seal a deal with Iran on its nuclear weapons program.

“The link between Israel and its main strategic partner the United States has weakened,” Liberman said.

“One can understand that,” he added. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| November 14, 2013
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Republicans condemn Kerry’s ‘anti-Israeli’ Senate briefing

Harsh rhetoric from Washington continues, with the U.S. blasting Israel’s ‘unreal’ evaluations of Iran accord and Netanyahu warning that Kerry’s ‘bad deal’ could lead region to war.

By

 

Tensions heightened and rhetoric escalated between Washington and Jerusalem on Tuesday as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry gave what was described as a “fairly anti-Israeli” briefing on Capitol Hill while his State Department dismissed Israeli evaluations of the proposed nuclear deal with Iran as “inaccurate, exaggerated and not based in reality.”

Kerry speaks with reporters.

Kerry speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill before testifying before a Senate panel. – Photo: AFP

Accompanied by U.S. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| November 12, 2013
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White House demands Israel explain 20,000 new West Bank homes

 

U.S. State Dept. expressed ‘deep concern’ over newest construction tenders, saying White House does ‘not recognize the legitimacy of settlements.’

And once again, Palestinian President Abbas threatens to call off peace talks.

By , &

 

The U.S. State Department said it is “deeply concerned” by Israel’s  announcement over the tenders issued for the construction of 20,000 new settlement units in the West Bank and that it is demanding explanations from Israel.

Construction in Har Homa - AP

Construction in Har Homa. – Photo: AP

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that Washington was taken by surprise and had no prior knowledge of the plans. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , , ,
| November 10, 2013
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ADL Chief: Sec. of St. Kerry’s ‘chutzpah’ should unite American Jews

In an Army Radio interview, Foxman weighed in on tensions in Israel-U.S. relations. He described the current tensions between the allies as a “crisis of trust,”

By

 

Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said Sunday morning that Kerry’s “outrageous behavior” will unite American Jews.

Abraham Foxman

Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League. – Photo: AP

“When there is a crisis the American Jewish community comes together,” Foxman told Army Radio. “I think Kerrys outrageous behavior will unite the American Jewish community. It is chutzpah to lecture Israel about the risks of peace and war, and so I think he (Kerry) will help unite” the community. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
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