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1. Mt. of Olives: Jewish Neighborhood to Replace Police Station
by Hillel Fendel
A request to build a Jewish housing project of 104 units at the foot of Jerusalem’s Mt. of Olives, down the block from the Maaleh HaZeitim (Ras el-Amud) neighborhood, has been submitted. The location is currently populated predominantly by Arabs.
Jerusalem reclamation activist Aryeh King says that Jewish construction there, within walking distance of the Western Wall, is “of tremendous importance… This is the only way to prevent the division of Jerusalem.”
A Haaretz article on the topic sounds very alarmed at the prospect, warning against the prospect of a “Jewish settlement in the heart of” an Arab population center.
Haaretz reports that the “settlement of Maaleh Zeitim across the street” currently has 51 families, with another 66 housing units under construction, and that “when the two neighborhoods are completed and linked, a Jewish settlement of more than 1,000 people will be situated in the heart of Ras al-Amud, a neighborhood comprised of 14,000 Palestinians.”
The new neighborhood is to have a library, mikveh (ritual bath), and a synagogue, and will be connected to Maaleh Zeitim by a walkway.
The new project is likely to be approved by the municipality, as the area is zoned for housing and there is no dispute as to the ownership of the property. The site of the former Judea/Samaria District police station – 11 dunams (2.7 acres) in area – is owned by the Bukharim Association. However, a city spokesman told Army Radio, “The plan is being considered by the appropriate professional teams, and has not been approved for advancement because it does not correspond with the city planning policy for that area.”
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, relating to United States objections to Jewish construction in eastern Jerusalem, said, “What do we have to be afraid of? On the contrary, we have to prove here to the U.S. that we, too, don’t act in opposition to court rulings.”
The Ir Amim (City of Nations) organization, as expected, is opposed to the project, and says that everything must be done to prevent a Jewish take-over of areas in which Arabs live.
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by Hillel Fendel
A request to build a Jewish housing project of 104 units at the foot of Jerusalem’s Mt. of Olives, down the block from the Maaleh HaZeitim (Ras el-Amud) neighborhood, has been submitted. The location is currently populated predominantly by Arabs.
Jerusalem reclamation activist Aryeh King says that Jewish construction there, within walking distance of the Western Wall, is “of tremendous importance… This is the only way to prevent the division of Jerusalem.”
A Haaretz article on the topic sounds very alarmed at the prospect, warning against the prospect of a “Jewish settlement in the heart of” an Arab population center.
Haaretz reports that the “settlement of Maaleh Zeitim across the street” currently has 51 families, with another 66 housing units under construction, and that “when the two neighborhoods are completed and linked, a Jewish settlement of more than 1,000 people will be situated in the heart of Ras al-Amud, a neighborhood comprised of 14,000 Palestinians.”
The new neighborhood is to have a library, mikveh (ritual bath), and a synagogue, and will be connected to Maaleh Zeitim by a walkway.
The new project is likely to be approved by the municipality, as the area is zoned for housing and there is no dispute as to the ownership of the property. The site of the former Judea/Samaria District police station – 11 dunams (2.7 acres) in area – is owned by the Bukharim Association. However, a city spokesman told Army Radio, “The plan is being considered by the appropriate professional teams, and has not been approved for advancement because it does not correspond with the city planning policy for that area.”
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, relating to United States objections to Jewish construction in eastern Jerusalem, said, “What do we have to be afraid of? On the contrary, we have to prove here to the U.S. that we, too, don’t act in opposition to court rulings.”
The Ir Amim (City of Nations) organization, as expected, is opposed to the project, and says that everything must be done to prevent a Jewish take-over of areas in which Arabs live.
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2. US Skeptical on Iran 'Cooperation' on Nukes
by Hana Levi Julian
The United States is expressing caution in response to Iran's apparent cooperation with inspectors from the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Iran last week allowed the IAEA inspectors back into the country and lifted a year-long ban against visits to one of its nuclear facilities, according to the Associated Press. Investigators also said Iranian officials had reacted positively to their request to inspect a second site as well.
The United States, however, expressed skepticism in response to the report.
U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters at a briefing over the weekend that American officials are waiting to see the the IAEA's forthcoming report on Iran's compliance with the mandates set by the nuclear watchdog agency, the U.N. Security Council and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
"We expect [the repor will comprehensively address all issues associated with Iran's cooperation with IAEA," Kelly said. "We're going to withhold comment until that report is released. But I will underscore that Iran does have obligations to the IAEA and to the U.N. Security Council to suspend its enrichment and heavy-water reactor activities and to cooperate to address a full range of very serious questions that we have," he said.
Although Iran said it was taking steps to increase its transparency vis a vis its nuclear development activities, the Obama administration appeared to be taking a harder line than it has in the past, preferring to see the evidence rather than take Iranian claims at face value.
"Just a few comments on these reported steps that they apparently offered to make regarding improving surveillance of the Natanz plant and access to the Arak reactor," Kelly noted. "These reported steps would not address the reason for its noncompliance nor constitute the full and comprehensive cooperation that's required of Iran, and would fall well short of Iran's obligations," he pointed out.
"And finally, I'll just highlight that they still have not responded to our offer from April to join us in P-5+1 talks that the U.S. is willing to sit down and participate in," he added. "We have not given up on it. I think you've seen the President has said that our patience is not infinite, that the timetable is not indefinite, but the invitation is still out there."
Last week Western and Israeli diplomats told the Hebrew-language Haaretz news paper that the IAEA is deliberately withholding data on Iran's attempts to develop a nuclear weapon, an effort the Islamic Republic has repeatedly denied and which numerous international intelligence agencies have reported on. The diplomats, who were not named in the report, told the newspaper that the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency has not published evidence that its inspectors obtained over the past several months, and which was contained in a classified report signed by IAEA heads in Iran.
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by Hana Levi Julian
The United States is expressing caution in response to Iran's apparent cooperation with inspectors from the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Iran last week allowed the IAEA inspectors back into the country and lifted a year-long ban against visits to one of its nuclear facilities, according to the Associated Press. Investigators also said Iranian officials had reacted positively to their request to inspect a second site as well.
The United States, however, expressed skepticism in response to the report.
U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters at a briefing over the weekend that American officials are waiting to see the the IAEA's forthcoming report on Iran's compliance with the mandates set by the nuclear watchdog agency, the U.N. Security Council and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
"We expect [the repor will comprehensively address all issues associated with Iran's cooperation with IAEA," Kelly said. "We're going to withhold comment until that report is released. But I will underscore that Iran does have obligations to the IAEA and to the U.N. Security Council to suspend its enrichment and heavy-water reactor activities and to cooperate to address a full range of very serious questions that we have," he said.
Although Iran said it was taking steps to increase its transparency vis a vis its nuclear development activities, the Obama administration appeared to be taking a harder line than it has in the past, preferring to see the evidence rather than take Iranian claims at face value.
"Just a few comments on these reported steps that they apparently offered to make regarding improving surveillance of the Natanz plant and access to the Arak reactor," Kelly noted. "These reported steps would not address the reason for its noncompliance nor constitute the full and comprehensive cooperation that's required of Iran, and would fall well short of Iran's obligations," he pointed out.
"And finally, I'll just highlight that they still have not responded to our offer from April to join us in P-5+1 talks that the U.S. is willing to sit down and participate in," he added. "We have not given up on it. I think you've seen the President has said that our patience is not infinite, that the timetable is not indefinite, but the invitation is still out there."
Last week Western and Israeli diplomats told the Hebrew-language Haaretz news paper that the IAEA is deliberately withholding data on Iran's attempts to develop a nuclear weapon, an effort the Islamic Republic has repeatedly denied and which numerous international intelligence agencies have reported on. The diplomats, who were not named in the report, told the newspaper that the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency has not published evidence that its inspectors obtained over the past several months, and which was contained in a classified report signed by IAEA heads in Iran.
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3. Barak: Iran's Appoint. of Terrorist Shows Its True Colors
by Avraham Zuroff
Defense Minister Ehud Barak slammed the appointment of a new government minister by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over the weekend, noting that the new official had been involved in a terror attack on the Buenos Aires Jewish community center.
“The world must learn from this incident, and look into the intentions of the Iranian government, especially its leader, which has appointment a terrorist as its defense minister,” Barak added regarding Ahmad Vahidi's expected appointment Sunday.
Both Argentina and the United States have also criticized the appointment, which was announced Friday.
Argentina expressed outrage over the appointment, noting the terrorist was involved in the bombing of the Argentine Israeli Mutual Association (AMIA) Jewish Community Center, which left 85 dead and wounded more than 300 others in 1994. Teheran denies involvement in the attack.
The United States expressed its concern for the appointment. “If this report is true and if this man is confirmed as a cabinet minister and is wanted by Interpol for his involvement in a terrorist act, of course this would be disturbing,” State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters Friday. When asked what the U.S. would do if a criminal wanted by the Interpol would visit the U.S. as Iran’s Defense Minister, Kelly ducked the question.
"I'm really not sure. Just I'm not sure of the various regulations and immunities of a U.N. visit," he parried.
Ahmadinejad's media advisor accused both the U.S. and Argentina of conspiring in a "Zionist plot" in response to the criticism. The Iranian president's media advisor, Akbar Javanfekr told the AFP news agency, "Why didn't they bring this up in the past? Vahidi was a deputy defense minister and this is a very senior political position... Therefore it seems that this is a new trick being planned and is basically a Zionist plot."
Comment on this story
by Avraham Zuroff
Defense Minister Ehud Barak slammed the appointment of a new government minister by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over the weekend, noting that the new official had been involved in a terror attack on the Buenos Aires Jewish community center.
“The world must learn from this incident, and look into the intentions of the Iranian government, especially its leader, which has appointment a terrorist as its defense minister,” Barak added regarding Ahmad Vahidi's expected appointment Sunday.
Both Argentina and the United States have also criticized the appointment, which was announced Friday.
Argentina expressed outrage over the appointment, noting the terrorist was involved in the bombing of the Argentine Israeli Mutual Association (AMIA) Jewish Community Center, which left 85 dead and wounded more than 300 others in 1994. Teheran denies involvement in the attack.
The United States expressed its concern for the appointment. “If this report is true and if this man is confirmed as a cabinet minister and is wanted by Interpol for his involvement in a terrorist act, of course this would be disturbing,” State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters Friday. When asked what the U.S. would do if a criminal wanted by the Interpol would visit the U.S. as Iran’s Defense Minister, Kelly ducked the question.
"I'm really not sure. Just I'm not sure of the various regulations and immunities of a U.N. visit," he parried.
Ahmadinejad's media advisor accused both the U.S. and Argentina of conspiring in a "Zionist plot" in response to the criticism. The Iranian president's media advisor, Akbar Javanfekr told the AFP news agency, "Why didn't they bring this up in the past? Vahidi was a deputy defense minister and this is a very senior political position... Therefore it seems that this is a new trick being planned and is basically a Zionist plot."
Comment on this story
4. Israel Envoy: Progress in Settlement Talks with US
by Zalman Nelson
Israel and the United States are close to reaching an agreement on the issue of Jewish construction in Judea, Samaria and areas restored to Jerusalem in 1967, revealed the Prime Minister’s envoy to negotiations with the Obama administration Yitzhak Molcho at a Thursday night briefing.
The possible compromise involves freezing construction in Jewish communities, allowing the completion of buildings whose construction has already begun, and Arab countries offering gestures of normalizing ties with Israel, said Molcho. The agreement would allow for the completion of approximately 2,500 housing units currently being built. The American side continues to push for a complete freeze on construction in settlement areas, as well as Jerusalem communities which Israel believes will remain under its sovereignty if and when a permanent agreement is reached with the Palestinian Authority (PA).
The meeting of the six minister narrow forum was held at the Kirya base in Tel Aviv in preparation for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's meeting with U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell on Wednesday. The group includes Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Intelligence Minister Dan Meridor, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, MK Benny Begin, and Minister for Strategic Affairs Moshe Ya'alon.
The forum is reportedly at odds over the matter. Barak, Netanyahu and Meridor support a three to six month freeze in exchange for completing construction on already started housing units and normalization steps on the part of Arab countries and the PA.
Lieberman, Begin and Ya'alon are pushing for an outright rejection of American demands for a construction freeze.
Netanyahu is scheduled to leave Monday for a four-day visit to England and Germany where he’ll meet with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, before talks with Mitchell on Wednesday.
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by Zalman Nelson
Israel and the United States are close to reaching an agreement on the issue of Jewish construction in Judea, Samaria and areas restored to Jerusalem in 1967, revealed the Prime Minister’s envoy to negotiations with the Obama administration Yitzhak Molcho at a Thursday night briefing.
The possible compromise involves freezing construction in Jewish communities, allowing the completion of buildings whose construction has already begun, and Arab countries offering gestures of normalizing ties with Israel, said Molcho. The agreement would allow for the completion of approximately 2,500 housing units currently being built. The American side continues to push for a complete freeze on construction in settlement areas, as well as Jerusalem communities which Israel believes will remain under its sovereignty if and when a permanent agreement is reached with the Palestinian Authority (PA).
The meeting of the six minister narrow forum was held at the Kirya base in Tel Aviv in preparation for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's meeting with U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell on Wednesday. The group includes Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Intelligence Minister Dan Meridor, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, MK Benny Begin, and Minister for Strategic Affairs Moshe Ya'alon.
The forum is reportedly at odds over the matter. Barak, Netanyahu and Meridor support a three to six month freeze in exchange for completing construction on already started housing units and normalization steps on the part of Arab countries and the PA.
Lieberman, Begin and Ya'alon are pushing for an outright rejection of American demands for a construction freeze.
Netanyahu is scheduled to leave Monday for a four-day visit to England and Germany where he’ll meet with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, before talks with Mitchell on Wednesday.
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5. Sweden Funded Anti-Israel Allegations
by Hillel Fendel
Antagonism between Israel and Sweden over Swedish media accusation that IDF soldiers sold Arab body parts is heating up, in light of evidence that Sweden’s government funded the “research” for the story. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is expected to demand a Swedish government condemnation of the accusations.
News of the funding was broken Sunday morning by Maariv/NRG. Maariv’s correspondent in Sweden, Liran Lotker, reports that most of the material in last week’s controversial article is old, having appeared in a book written in 2001 by the author of the article. The book, entitled Inshallah, was funded by various bodies, including the Foreign Ministry of Sweden, Swedish labor unions, and some organizations based in the Palestinian Authority-controlled areas.
Interior Minister Eli Yishai said he would not grant work visas to Aftonbladet reporters in Israel, and the Government Press Office (GPO) says it will not, at this stage, grant press cards to Aftonbladet journalists. GPO Director Danny Seaman said newspapers such as Aftonbladet employ leftists in the guise of journalists, who later enter the country to participate in international protests against Israel.
The current controversy began last Tuesday, when Donald Bostrom authored an article in Sweden’s most popular newspaper, the Aftonbladet tabloid, accusing IDF soldiers of murdering Arabs and harvesting their organs. Bostrom based the story on testimony by several Arabs identified only by their first names, and told Voice of Israel government radio on Wednesday that he does not know for sure if their accounts are true.
To read the rest of this important story, click here!
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by Hillel Fendel
Antagonism between Israel and Sweden over Swedish media accusation that IDF soldiers sold Arab body parts is heating up, in light of evidence that Sweden’s government funded the “research” for the story. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is expected to demand a Swedish government condemnation of the accusations.
News of the funding was broken Sunday morning by Maariv/NRG. Maariv’s correspondent in Sweden, Liran Lotker, reports that most of the material in last week’s controversial article is old, having appeared in a book written in 2001 by the author of the article. The book, entitled Inshallah, was funded by various bodies, including the Foreign Ministry of Sweden, Swedish labor unions, and some organizations based in the Palestinian Authority-controlled areas.
Interior Minister Eli Yishai said he would not grant work visas to Aftonbladet reporters in Israel, and the Government Press Office (GPO) says it will not, at this stage, grant press cards to Aftonbladet journalists. GPO Director Danny Seaman said newspapers such as Aftonbladet employ leftists in the guise of journalists, who later enter the country to participate in international protests against Israel.
The current controversy began last Tuesday, when Donald Bostrom authored an article in Sweden’s most popular newspaper, the Aftonbladet tabloid, accusing IDF soldiers of murdering Arabs and harvesting their organs. Bostrom based the story on testimony by several Arabs identified only by their first names, and told Voice of Israel government radio on Wednesday that he does not know for sure if their accounts are true.
To read the rest of this important story, click here!
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6. Asian Terror Threat Big Boom for Israeli Armored Vehicles
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
An unidentified buyer in Asia, where al-Qaeda and Taliban are a growing threat, has pushed production at a Galilee armored vehicle factory into full capacity, after the company suffered a severe economic crisis only a few months ago.
The anonymous purchaser has ordered hundreds of Storm (Sufa) jeeps at the Nazareth-based Automotive Industries Ltd. factory, worth tens of millions of dollars. Globes reported. The demand for armored vehicles and protection for vehicles has resulted in current orders valued at nearly $1 billion and is a reaction to increasing sophisticated weapons obtained by terrorist organizations.
The armored all-terrain and patrol vehicles offer armies a tactical weapon to counter guerilla fighters, whose modern portable weapons often make massive tanks ineffective. Many terrorist organizations are armed with the RPG-29 anti-tank rocker launcher that can penetrate the armored tanks and vehicles built several years ago.
Automatic Industries was founded in 1966 as the industrial arm of Automotive Equipment Ltd. and has manufactured to date 90,000 vehicles, including buses, trucks, ambulances, command cars and jeeps, such as the Storm 4 x 4, and an “up-armored” version of the Hummer.
The U.S. Army is the largest customer of Israeli suppliers, and Globes said the demand has become unprecedented. Other suppliers include Kibbutz SASA, which last week received an order from an American vehicle manufacturer for armored protection kits worth several hundred million dollars, on top of a previous order for approximately the same amount.
Another company, called Arotech and listed on NASDAQ, produces the David ultra-light armored personnel carrier -- its backlog for orders now is worth $42 million.
Comment on this story
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
An unidentified buyer in Asia, where al-Qaeda and Taliban are a growing threat, has pushed production at a Galilee armored vehicle factory into full capacity, after the company suffered a severe economic crisis only a few months ago.
The anonymous purchaser has ordered hundreds of Storm (Sufa) jeeps at the Nazareth-based Automotive Industries Ltd. factory, worth tens of millions of dollars. Globes reported. The demand for armored vehicles and protection for vehicles has resulted in current orders valued at nearly $1 billion and is a reaction to increasing sophisticated weapons obtained by terrorist organizations.
The armored all-terrain and patrol vehicles offer armies a tactical weapon to counter guerilla fighters, whose modern portable weapons often make massive tanks ineffective. Many terrorist organizations are armed with the RPG-29 anti-tank rocker launcher that can penetrate the armored tanks and vehicles built several years ago.
Automatic Industries was founded in 1966 as the industrial arm of Automotive Equipment Ltd. and has manufactured to date 90,000 vehicles, including buses, trucks, ambulances, command cars and jeeps, such as the Storm 4 x 4, and an “up-armored” version of the Hummer.
The U.S. Army is the largest customer of Israeli suppliers, and Globes said the demand has become unprecedented. Other suppliers include Kibbutz SASA, which last week received an order from an American vehicle manufacturer for armored protection kits worth several hundred million dollars, on top of a previous order for approximately the same amount.
Another company, called Arotech and listed on NASDAQ, produces the David ultra-light armored personnel carrier -- its backlog for orders now is worth $42 million.
Comment on this story
7. Temple Mount Show: Will there be war before the redemption?
by IsraelNationalTV Staff
Broadcasting live overlooking the Temple Mount, Rabbi Tovia Singer & Jeremy Gimpel answer your questions on Israel and Judaism. Today's question: Will there be war before redemption?
The Hamas and Fatah from the South, the Hizbollah in the North and Iran getting closer to the Atom Bomb every day... Could the situation in the Middle East be the beginning of the end?
[weJe
Email readers, please click here to view the show!
The Singer & Gimpel Show is broadcast live Thursday 11PM Israel 4PM EST on www.IsraelNationalRadio.com. Call in with your questions at 1-800-270-4288.
More from Singer & Gimpel
Is Obama Destroying America?
Should We Embrace Christian Zionists?
Must Gentiles Keep the Sabbath?
Judaism & Spirituality
Does Hell Exist?
Life After the Destruction of the Holy Temple
Torah & Sacrifices
Who is the Jewish Messiah - Part 2
Who is the Jewish Messiah - Part 1
Do we pay for the sins of our fathers?
Bible - Can we rely on the translated version?
Why don't Jews proselytize?
Comment on this story
by IsraelNationalTV Staff
Broadcasting live overlooking the Temple Mount, Rabbi Tovia Singer & Jeremy Gimpel answer your questions on Israel and Judaism. Today's question: Will there be war before redemption?
The Hamas and Fatah from the South, the Hizbollah in the North and Iran getting closer to the Atom Bomb every day... Could the situation in the Middle East be the beginning of the end?
[weJe
Email readers, please click here to view the show!
The Singer & Gimpel Show is broadcast live Thursday 11PM Israel 4PM EST on www.IsraelNationalRadio.com. Call in with your questions at 1-800-270-4288.
More from Singer & Gimpel
Is Obama Destroying America?
Should We Embrace Christian Zionists?
Must Gentiles Keep the Sabbath?
Judaism & Spirituality
Does Hell Exist?
Life After the Destruction of the Holy Temple
Torah & Sacrifices
Who is the Jewish Messiah - Part 2
Who is the Jewish Messiah - Part 1
Do we pay for the sins of our fathers?
Bible - Can we rely on the translated version?
Why don't Jews proselytize?
Comment on this story
