News Archives - Page 28 of 48

3rd Spanish municipality reverses own BDS vote following legal action

hzFebruary 24, 2017February 24, 2017News

JTA

The Spanish municipality of Petrer, which is known internationally for hosting mock battles celebrating crusaders, rescinded its support for boycotts against Israel following legal action against the city.

The City Council of Petrer, a city of 95,000 located 200 miles southeast of Madrid, voted Thursday to withdraw its support, which was given in a resolution from 2016, for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel, or BDS, according to a statement by the pro-Israel ACOM group Friday.

ACOM has launched dozens of successful lawsuits in recent months against institutions that adhered to BDS principles, arguing their actions are discriminatory and infringing on the principle of equality as well as the jurisdiction of local authorities.

hzFebruary 24, 2017February 24, 2017News

JTA

Israel is refusing to issue a visa to an American employee of Human Rights Watch over his group’s alleged bias against the Jewish state, the Guardian daily reported.

The Israeli decision on one of the world’s most prominent nongovernmental organizations in its field emerged after Israeli authorities turned down a visa for its new Israel and Palestine director, Omar Shakir, who is a U.S. citizen, The Guardian reported Friday. The rejection had been advised by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to the report.

In a letter rejecting Shakir’s visa application seen by the Guardian, Israel accused the New York- based group of “public activities and reports [and being] engaged in politics in the service of Palestinian propaganda, while falsely raising the banner of ‘human rights’.’’

hzFebruary 23, 2017February 23, 2017News

Times of Israel

Senator Lindsey Graham

Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham will reintroduce legislation next week that would cut US funding to the Palestinian Authority if it continues to provide monetary support to the families of those who commit acts of terror against Israelis and others.

The bill, known as the Taylor Force Act, was first introduced last year by Graham with former Indiana Republican Sen. Dan Coats and Missouri Republican Sen. Roy Blunt. It was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the time, but never came up for a vote.

hzFebruary 22, 2017News

YouTube

hzFebruary 22, 2017February 22, 2017News

Times of Israel

The Israeli Defense Ministry completed a series of successful tests of an improved version of the anti-rocket Iron Dome missile system, the ministry said on Wednesday.

The Missiles Defense Agency, along with the main contractor for the project, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, successfully put the system through its paces with a series of complex tests, a statement said. The system passed with flying colors.

The Iron Dome fires Tamir interceptor missiles to engage and destroy incoming rockets. The latest iteration of the interceptors were made with components manufactured by US defense contractor Raytheon under Israeli supervision.

hzFebruary 22, 2017February 22, 2017News

Times of Israel

An Israel Air Force F-15

Syrian media reported that Israeli aircraft targeted Syrian Army positions, including a convoy bearing weapons for the Hezbollah terrorist group, early Wednesday morning.

The strike was said to have occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m., in the Qalamoun Mountains, northeast of Damascus, close to the Lebanese border.

hzFebruary 21, 2017February 22, 2017News

JTA

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt and King Abdullah of Jordan met Tuesday in Cairo.

“The two sides discussed future movements to break the gridlock within the Middle East peace process, especially with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration taking power,” read a statement issued after the meeting.

“They also discussed mutual coordination to reach a two-state solution and establish a Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as a capital which is a national constant that cannot be given up.”

The leaders also reportedly discussed Jerusalem and the maintenance of the status quo on the Temple Mount.

hzFebruary 20, 2017February 20, 2017News

JTA

Netanyahu visited a local Singapore synagogue on Sunday

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with his counterpart in Singapore, during the first visit to the country by an Israeli prime minister.

In a statement issued after the meeting Monday with Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Netanyahu called Loong’s visit to Israel in April, the first by a Singapore leader, “an historic visit” and said that he was “following in your footsteps.”

“I believe that Israel and Singapore are kindred spirits. We’re small nations that have become in many areas global powers, and I believe that our cooperation makes us even more successful, cooperation in every field,” Netanyahu said. He cited a joint R&D fund that has already funded 150 projects for Israeli and Singapore companies working together in a variety of fields.

Israel and Singapore established diplomatic relations in 1969.

hzFebruary 20, 2017February 20, 2017News

Times of Israel

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Feb. 19, 2017

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said he is optimistic that Arabs and Israelis can reach a peace deal in 2017.

Speaking four days after US President Donald Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at a White House press conference about the possibilities of a regional peace agreement, Adel al-Jubeir told delegates at the Munich Security Conference on Sunday that the contours of an Israeli-Palestinian accord were clear, and that Saudi Arabia and other Arab states would work to bring it to fruition.

“I believe progress can be made in the Arab-Israel conflict, if there is a will to do so,” he said. “We know what the settlement looks like, if there is just the political will to do so. And my country stands ready with other Arab countries to work to see how we can promote that.”

hzFebruary 19, 2017News

Algemeiner

An imam at an Islamic center in Montreal calls for the destruction of the Jewish people

The Canadian government must “finally get serious about addressing antisemitism,” the CEO of the country’s branch of a prominent Jewish organization said on Friday.

In a letter to group members, B’nai Brith Canada’s Michael Mostyn wrote, “Over the last few years, several clear instances of antisemitic hate crimes have occurred throughout the country, though appropriate charges were never laid. [We have] been diligent in reporting these hate crimes and demanding that the perpetrators be brought to justice. However, lawmakers have been silent when it comes to prosecuting these promoters of hatred and antisemitism.”

3rd Spanish municipality reverses own BDS vote following legal action

Citing ‘bias,’ Israel denies visa to Human Rights Watch regional director

US senator to reintroduce bill cutting funds to PA for payouts to terrorists

PM Netanyahu and Australian PM Turnbull at Event with Jewish Community

Israel successfully tests improved version of Iron Dome

Israeli jets strike outside Damascus – Syrian media

Egypt and Jordan: Don’t give up on two-state solution

Netanyahu meets president, prime minister of Singapore in historic visit

Praising Trump, Saudi FM urges progress toward peace with Israel

Jewish Group Calls on Canadian Government to ‘Finally Get Serious About Addressing Antisemitism’