News Archives - Page 19 of 48

UN chief reaffirms Jewish ties to Temple Mount, vows to curb bias on Israel

hzMarch 27, 2017News

JNS

An aerial view of the Temple Mount

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reaffirmed his recognition of Judaism’s historic ties to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount last week, during a meeting with World Jewish Congress (WJC) President Ronald Lauder in New York.

The meeting took place just hours after the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) debated its controversial Agenda Item 7, which makes alleged Israeli “human rights abuses” a permanent discussion item.

The WJC released a statement affirming the secretary-general reiterated comments similar to those he had previously made on Israeli radio, in which he said, “It is completely clear the Temple that the Romans destroyed in Jerusalem was a Jewish temple.”

hzMarch 27, 2017News

Times of Israel

US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley

Thrilling a crowd of almost 18,000 at AIPAC’s annual policy conference on Monday, US envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley promised a new era at the world body — one in which America is an unabashed and unequivocal ally of Israel and any other nation that stands in the way will feel its wrath.

“I wear high heels and it’s not for a fashion statement,” she said. “It’s because if I see something wrong, I will kick it every single time.”

Taking her diplomatic assignment just a few weeks after former president Barack Obama allowed an anti-settlements UN Security Council resolution to pass — by foregoing the US veto power — Haley told the spirited audience that such an episode would not transpire again on her watch.

hzMarch 26, 2017News

Times of Israel

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi on Sunday discussed US-Egypt relations, Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and his upcoming trip to the White House with World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder.

Sissi is slated to visit the White House to meet US President Donald Trump during the first week of April, and the peace process is expected to be one of the items on the agenda.

“The next stage requires strengthening… of Egyptian-American relations at all levels,” Sissi told Lauder, describing the current relations between Washington and Cairo as “close, extensive and of a strategic nature,” according to an Egyptian readout of the meeting published by the Turkish Anadolu agency.

hzMarch 26, 2017News

Times of Israel

Ron Dermer speaking at AIPAC

In a clearly intended rebuke to former US president Barack Obama, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer told a packed crowd at the annual AIPAC policy conference that President Donald Trump’s administration has brought a level of closeness between the two allies that has eluded his predecessors.

“For the first time in many years, perhaps even many decades, there is no daylight between our two governments,” he said.

hzMarch 26, 2017March 26, 2017News

Times of Israel

Palestinians prepare to cross from Israel into the Gaza Strip at the Erez Crossing,

The Hamas terror group shut a key crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel on Sunday after blaming the Jewish state for the assassination of one of its officials in the Palestinian enclave.

A statement from the interior ministry in Gaza, run by Islamist movement Hamas, said it was shutting the Erez crossing for an indefinite period as it investigates the killing on Friday.

Israel did not immediately comment in detail on Sunday’s closure but said its side of the crossing remained open.

Hamas officials have blamed Israeli intelligence agency Mossad for the killing of Mazen Faqha, 38, who was shot dead by unknown gunmen in the Gaza Strip on Friday.

hzMarch 24, 2017News

Times of Israel

The Human Rights Council

The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted five resolutions critical of Israel on Friday, despite opposition from the US and an unprecedented critique from the UK.

Britain supported two of the five resolutions, but threatened to vote against any future such motions against the Jewish state because of the “bias” by the UN body.

“We are putting the Human Rights Council on notice,” Britain warned in a statement. “If things do not change, in the future we will adopt a policy of voting against all resolutions concerning Israel’s conduct in the Occupied Syrian and Palestinian Territories.”

hzMarch 24, 2017News

Algemeiner

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon

An Israeli resolution aimed at eliminating workplace sexual harassment has been adopted by consensus by the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

“The adoption of this resolution at the UN is a noteworthy achievement and an additional step towards the realization of Israel as a significant player at the UN,” Israeli UN envoy Danny Danon said in a statement on Friday. “Israel is proud to promote this important cause as we strive to put an end to this unacceptable scourge. The struggle against sexual harassment, and the successful promotion of women in the workplace, are of utmost importance and deserve suitable attention at the UN.”

hzMarch 24, 2017March 24, 2017News

Reuters

Firebomb attack (illustration, Arutz 7)

Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian and wounded three others on Thursday in the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian health official said. The Israeli army said they had attacked a settlement with petrol bombs.

The Palestinian health source said the dead man was 17 and that one of the three wounded was in critical condition.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said three assailants got out of a car and threw petrol bombs toward the settlement of Beit El, near Ramallah when troops opened fire and confirmed hitting the men. She said the car then fled the scene.

hzMarch 24, 2017March 24, 2017News

JTA

Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey (March 5, 2013)

A bipartisan slate of senators has introduced new sanctions targeting Iran for its missile testing and destabilizing actions days before AIPAC’s national conference.

The Countering Iran’s Destabilizing Activities Act of 2017 was introduced Thursday by Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J. Overall, 14 senators, from both parties, co-sponsored the measure.

The act establishes new sanctions targeting Iran’s testing of ballistic missiles and its backing for terrorism, and also seeks to block the property of any entity involved in the sale of arms to or from Iran. It does not reintroduce sanctions lifted from Iran as part of the 2015 nuclear deal.

hzMarch 24, 2017News

Times of Israel

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated his recognition of ancient Jewish ties to Jerusalem during a meeting with World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder.

A statement Wednesday by the WJC said Lauder and Guterres met earlier in the week in New York, and that Guterres repeated comments he had made to Israeli radio in which he noted the existence of a Jewish temple in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago.

UN chief reaffirms Jewish ties to Temple Mount, vows to curb bias on Israel

The days of Israel-bashing at the UN are over, Nikki Haley tells AIPAC

Egyptian president meets with US Jewish leader ahead of White House trip

Dermer: For first time in decades, ‘no daylight’ between US and Israel

Hamas shuts Gaza crossing, blames Israel for official’s killing

After UNHRC adopts 5 anti-Israel resolutions, UK vows to oppose all future such moves

UN Commission Adopts Israeli Resolution Aimed at Ending Workplace Sexual Harassment, Marking ‘Noteworthy’ Diplomatic Achievement for Jewish State

Israeli troops kill Palestinian petrol bomb thrower in West Bank

Senate introduces bipartisan bill with new Iran sanctions on eve of AIPAC conference

UN secretary-general reaffirms ancient Jewish ties to Jerusalem