5 may 2015
The Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced Monday that he will be quitting his post as foreign minister, and that his right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party will not be part of the next government.
"We have reached the clear and unequivocal conclusion that it would not be right from our perspective to join the present coalition," Haaretz Hebrew newspaper quoted Lieberman as saying.
During the Israeli elections held on March, Lieberman's extremist anti-Palestinian party won only six seats.
Lieberman's announcement came just two days before a deadline for Netanyahu to present his new government, which he had hoped to win a majority of 67 instead of 61 of the parliament's 120 seats.
Netanyahu's Likud party is due to form its fourth government after winning the March 17 election with 30 parliamentary seats.
Lieberman, who will step down as foreign minister, said his departure was related to a dispute over "principles".
"We have reached the clear and unequivocal conclusion that it would not be right from our perspective to join the present coalition," Haaretz Hebrew newspaper quoted Lieberman as saying.
During the Israeli elections held on March, Lieberman's extremist anti-Palestinian party won only six seats.
Lieberman's announcement came just two days before a deadline for Netanyahu to present his new government, which he had hoped to win a majority of 67 instead of 61 of the parliament's 120 seats.
Netanyahu's Likud party is due to form its fourth government after winning the March 17 election with 30 parliamentary seats.
Lieberman, who will step down as foreign minister, said his departure was related to a dispute over "principles".
4 may 2015
Ultra-Orthodox party also receives Religious Affairs and Negev and Galilee ministries, as well as deputy minister in Finance Ministry.
The ultra-Orthodox Shas party signed a coalition agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party on Monday evening, effectively joining the government.
The Sephardic haredi party is the third party to join the fourth Netanyahu government, after Ashkenazi haredi party United Torah Judaism and Moshe Kahlon's Kulanu party joined the coalition on Wednesday. Netanyahu only has Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett left to recruit, after Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman announced earlier Monday he would not join the new government.
Shas leader Aryeh Deri will head the Economy Ministry, replacing Bennett. Shas will also receive the Religious Affairs Ministry and the Ministry for the Development of the Negev and Galilee, as well as a deputy minister position in the Finance Ministry.
Despite winning the battle with Bayit Yehudi over the Religious Affairs portfolio, the disputed issue of conversions will be under the Prime Minister's Office's authority.
The Likud party said it made an "unprecedented offer" to Bayit Yehudi leader Bennett, which includes the Education Ministry, the Diaspora Affairs portfolio, the Agriculture Ministry, the Culture and Sport Ministry and a deputy ministerial position in the Defense Ministry.
In addition, Bennett was offered membership in the Security Cabinet, and control of the Settlement Division.
"If Bayit Yehudi rejects this offer, there's only one alternative to a national Likud government: A left-wing government headed by Herzog, in which there will be no representation to the religious-Zionists. A left-wing government that will evacuate settlements, compromise on Jerusalem, hurt the religious-Zionist public and capitulates to international pressures," the Likud said in a statement.
"I promised and I kept my promise. The things we promised before the election: 0% VAT (on basic foodstuff), the public housing reform and (raising) minimum wage," Deri said. He called on Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog to join the government, after Lieberman's decision to opt out of the coalition leaves Netanyahu with a narrow 61-members government (out of the existing 120 Knesset members).
"There's a true opportunity for a socially-oriented government," Deri said.
After winning 30 seats in the elections, it appeared Netanyahu would have a relatively time forming his fourth government. But now, he is left with only two days to form a coalition that would have the minimum number of members.
"Sixty-one is a good number, but 61 plus is better," Netanyahu said, noting he intends to try to expand the government further.
Related: Israel’s Orthodox Rabbis: ‘Palestinians to the Ovens!’
The ultra-Orthodox Shas party signed a coalition agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party on Monday evening, effectively joining the government.
The Sephardic haredi party is the third party to join the fourth Netanyahu government, after Ashkenazi haredi party United Torah Judaism and Moshe Kahlon's Kulanu party joined the coalition on Wednesday. Netanyahu only has Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett left to recruit, after Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman announced earlier Monday he would not join the new government.
Shas leader Aryeh Deri will head the Economy Ministry, replacing Bennett. Shas will also receive the Religious Affairs Ministry and the Ministry for the Development of the Negev and Galilee, as well as a deputy minister position in the Finance Ministry.
Despite winning the battle with Bayit Yehudi over the Religious Affairs portfolio, the disputed issue of conversions will be under the Prime Minister's Office's authority.
The Likud party said it made an "unprecedented offer" to Bayit Yehudi leader Bennett, which includes the Education Ministry, the Diaspora Affairs portfolio, the Agriculture Ministry, the Culture and Sport Ministry and a deputy ministerial position in the Defense Ministry.
In addition, Bennett was offered membership in the Security Cabinet, and control of the Settlement Division.
"If Bayit Yehudi rejects this offer, there's only one alternative to a national Likud government: A left-wing government headed by Herzog, in which there will be no representation to the religious-Zionists. A left-wing government that will evacuate settlements, compromise on Jerusalem, hurt the religious-Zionist public and capitulates to international pressures," the Likud said in a statement.
"I promised and I kept my promise. The things we promised before the election: 0% VAT (on basic foodstuff), the public housing reform and (raising) minimum wage," Deri said. He called on Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog to join the government, after Lieberman's decision to opt out of the coalition leaves Netanyahu with a narrow 61-members government (out of the existing 120 Knesset members).
"There's a true opportunity for a socially-oriented government," Deri said.
After winning 30 seats in the elections, it appeared Netanyahu would have a relatively time forming his fourth government. But now, he is left with only two days to form a coalition that would have the minimum number of members.
"Sixty-one is a good number, but 61 plus is better," Netanyahu said, noting he intends to try to expand the government further.
Related: Israel’s Orthodox Rabbis: ‘Palestinians to the Ovens!’
Armored personnel carrier overturns in Golan Heights during training exercise, three soldiers taken to hospital in Safed in light condition.
One IDF soldier was left in serious condition and three soldiers were lightly hurt Monday morning, when the armored personnel carrier in which they were traveling overturned on the Golan Heights.
Emergency personnel from Magen David Adom and the IDF evacuated the three to hospital in Safed.
The accident occurred during an extensive training exercise carried out by a reserve brigade of the Golan Heights Command Center. The exercise was stopped as a result of the accident and high-ranking officers from the 340 division of the Central Command arrived at the scene to investigate the accident.
According to reports, the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing the carrier to roll over. The IDF is investigating whether the APC was driving at excessive speed and whether the soldiers inside the APC were wearing helmets and flak jackets or vests.
In a seperate incident on Sunday, an IDF soldier was lightly wounded when an APC overturned during a training exercise in the Jordan Valley.
The soldier was evacuated to Belinson Hospital in Petah Tikva. The IDF launched an investigation into the incident.
One IDF soldier was left in serious condition and three soldiers were lightly hurt Monday morning, when the armored personnel carrier in which they were traveling overturned on the Golan Heights.
Emergency personnel from Magen David Adom and the IDF evacuated the three to hospital in Safed.
The accident occurred during an extensive training exercise carried out by a reserve brigade of the Golan Heights Command Center. The exercise was stopped as a result of the accident and high-ranking officers from the 340 division of the Central Command arrived at the scene to investigate the accident.
According to reports, the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing the carrier to roll over. The IDF is investigating whether the APC was driving at excessive speed and whether the soldiers inside the APC were wearing helmets and flak jackets or vests.
In a seperate incident on Sunday, an IDF soldier was lightly wounded when an APC overturned during a training exercise in the Jordan Valley.
The soldier was evacuated to Belinson Hospital in Petah Tikva. The IDF launched an investigation into the incident.
The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) on Sunday hailed Morocco for backtracking an earlier invitation extended to the former Israeli president Shimon Peres to pop in the Kingdom to attend the Clinton Global Initiative's First Middle East and Africa Conference.
PLC deputy Mohamed Faraj al-Ghoul praised Morocco’s brave rescinding of Peres’ projected stopover in the Kingdom, calling for keeping up serious work in the face of normalization with the Israeli occupation.
In a telephone call, MP al-Ghoul briefed Abdullah Bouano, head of the Justice and Development party at the Moroccan House of Representatives, on Israel’s crimes perpetrated against the Palestinian people, particularly in Occupied Jerusalem.
He further applauded the positions adopted by the Justice and Development parliamentary bloc to boost Palestinians’ steadfastness all along the national liberation struggle.
For his part, Dr. Bouano said such a stance is the least Morocco can offer to the Palestinian people, whose resistance and patience have always been a source of pride to Moroccans.
He said the Palestinian cause remains a priority on the agenda of Morocco’s parliament and government.
Earlier, informed sources said Morocco rescinded the invitation it had issued earlier to the notorious former Israeli PM Shimon Peres after his projected stopover stirred up a hornet's nest among the Kingdom’s pro-Palestine activists and organizations.
Four Moroccan lawyers pushed for the arrest of Peres on accounts of the crimes he committed against Palestinians and Muslims.
PLC deputy Mohamed Faraj al-Ghoul praised Morocco’s brave rescinding of Peres’ projected stopover in the Kingdom, calling for keeping up serious work in the face of normalization with the Israeli occupation.
In a telephone call, MP al-Ghoul briefed Abdullah Bouano, head of the Justice and Development party at the Moroccan House of Representatives, on Israel’s crimes perpetrated against the Palestinian people, particularly in Occupied Jerusalem.
He further applauded the positions adopted by the Justice and Development parliamentary bloc to boost Palestinians’ steadfastness all along the national liberation struggle.
For his part, Dr. Bouano said such a stance is the least Morocco can offer to the Palestinian people, whose resistance and patience have always been a source of pride to Moroccans.
He said the Palestinian cause remains a priority on the agenda of Morocco’s parliament and government.
Earlier, informed sources said Morocco rescinded the invitation it had issued earlier to the notorious former Israeli PM Shimon Peres after his projected stopover stirred up a hornet's nest among the Kingdom’s pro-Palestine activists and organizations.
Four Moroccan lawyers pushed for the arrest of Peres on accounts of the crimes he committed against Palestinians and Muslims.
3 may 2015
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A protest in Tel Aviv Sunday against racism and police brutality initiated by Ethiopian Israelis left 68 injured and 43 arrested, according to the Israeli occupation police updates Monday.
Violence engulfed Tel Aviv's Rabin Square on Sunday night as thousands of demonstrators rallied following a march across major sectors of the city, the Jpost reported. The protesters "spun out of control," shut down the roads, turned cars upside down, raided shops, threw rocks and bottles at police, who fired stun grenades and charged the square repeatedly on horseback. |
The protest came after video footage surfaced last week, depicting two police officers assaulting an Israeli soldier of Ethiopian decent in an apparently unprovoked incident.
Sunday's protest in Tel Aviv followed a similar one in Jerusalem on Thursday
Sunday's protest in Tel Aviv followed a similar one in Jerusalem on Thursday
Mass demonstration that clogged Tel Aviv's roads devolves to violent skirmishes between police and protesters at Rabin Square; 23 officers wounded; flash grenades used to disperse protesters.
At least 46 people were wounded, including at least 23 law enforcement officers, in clashes at Tel Aviv's Rabin Square on Sunday evening.
At least 26 people were arrested. Thousands protested in Tel Aviv on Sunday against treatment of Israeli Ethiopians, days after a similar rally in Jerusalem that followed two incidents of apparent police brutality.
Demonstrators snarled traffic throughout central Tel Aviv, causing the major Ayalon Highway to be closed for three hours. The protest moved to Rabin Square, where Tel Aviv's city hall is located, in the evening.
Violent clashes broke out at the square, wounding 11 police officers and four demonstrators. Police officers used stun grenades and pepper spray in an attempt to disperse the crowd after rioters turned over a police cruiser.
Some demonstrators threw stones and bottles towards law enforcement, and some had their faces covered. The police summoned the Public Security Minister and the district commander to city hall.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich on Sunday night and urged calm and a return to order. "There is room to examine all the claims," he said, "but there is no room for violence and such law breaking."
Earlier on Sunday, hundreds of members of the Israeli Ethiopian community protested against discrimination and police brutality in Tel Aviv, calling out "Not black, not white, we're all human beings."
Protesters marched from the the Azrieli towers to Kiryat HaMemshala (government offices), shutting down traffic on the Ayalon Highway in both directions. They blocked the Kaplan-Begin junction, while police closed other main traffic arteries in central Tel Aviv.
Clashes between police and protestors erupted near the Azrieli Center, and the Ayalon Highway was reopened after three hours.
The protesters, who were joined by social activists, were crossing their hands over their heads, to symbolize being handcuffed, and calling "a violent cop should be jailed."
Brig. Gen. Yoram Ohayon, deputy commander of the police's Tel Aviv district, accused social activists and organizations of "inciting members of the community to keep protesting after the police has already reached understandings with them."
At least 46 people were wounded, including at least 23 law enforcement officers, in clashes at Tel Aviv's Rabin Square on Sunday evening.
At least 26 people were arrested. Thousands protested in Tel Aviv on Sunday against treatment of Israeli Ethiopians, days after a similar rally in Jerusalem that followed two incidents of apparent police brutality.
Demonstrators snarled traffic throughout central Tel Aviv, causing the major Ayalon Highway to be closed for three hours. The protest moved to Rabin Square, where Tel Aviv's city hall is located, in the evening.
Violent clashes broke out at the square, wounding 11 police officers and four demonstrators. Police officers used stun grenades and pepper spray in an attempt to disperse the crowd after rioters turned over a police cruiser.
Some demonstrators threw stones and bottles towards law enforcement, and some had their faces covered. The police summoned the Public Security Minister and the district commander to city hall.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich on Sunday night and urged calm and a return to order. "There is room to examine all the claims," he said, "but there is no room for violence and such law breaking."
Earlier on Sunday, hundreds of members of the Israeli Ethiopian community protested against discrimination and police brutality in Tel Aviv, calling out "Not black, not white, we're all human beings."
Protesters marched from the the Azrieli towers to Kiryat HaMemshala (government offices), shutting down traffic on the Ayalon Highway in both directions. They blocked the Kaplan-Begin junction, while police closed other main traffic arteries in central Tel Aviv.
Clashes between police and protestors erupted near the Azrieli Center, and the Ayalon Highway was reopened after three hours.
The protesters, who were joined by social activists, were crossing their hands over their heads, to symbolize being handcuffed, and calling "a violent cop should be jailed."
Brig. Gen. Yoram Ohayon, deputy commander of the police's Tel Aviv district, accused social activists and organizations of "inciting members of the community to keep protesting after the police has already reached understandings with them."
Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman, Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri, and Bayit Yehudi Leader Naftali Bennett - soon together in same gov't?
With three days to go before deadline to form the new government, Netanyahu will have to solve dispute between Shas and Bayit Yehudi on Religious Affairs portfolio, and recruit Lieberman's support to avoid narrow government.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could have no choice but to form a narrow 61-member government after Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman raised objections to the coalition agreement signed with United Torah Judaism, saying it could be a deal breaker.
Coalition negotiations entered the final stretch, with three days to go before the extended deadline President Reuven Rivlin gave Netanyahu to form a new government.
Until then, Netanyahu will have to solve the dispute between Shas and the Bayit Yehudi, as well as recruit Lieberman's support.
Netanyahu met with Shas leader Aryeh Deri late Saturday night, after he agreed earlier this week to the party's coalition demand to cancel the VAT placed on staple foods. Deri has already announced that he is no longer demanding control of the Interior Ministry, and is expected to be appointed Economy Minister instead, replacing Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett.
Along with the Economy Ministry, Deri is also expected to receive the Religious Affairs portfolio – however, this issue is a sticking point in coalition talks, as Bayit Yehudi vehemently objects to giving Shas total control of the office.
Sources within the Likud examined several options for resolving the dispute, including appointing a Deputy Religious Affairs Minister from the Bayit Yehudi, but Deri has stressed in recent meetings that he does not have any interest in having a deputy, as the division of powers between minister and deputy would be unclear. If this dispute is resolved, and the cancellation of VAT on staple foods is included in the agreement, it is likely that Shas will be the next party to join the new government.
Bennett's party, meanwhile, will receive the three following portfolios: Education, Agriculture, Sport and Education. However, the Bayit Yehudi leader insists on a budget increase of NIS 1 billion to the entire education system and as part of this increase, demands that the extra funds for the Haredi education institutes be taken from the Treasury and not from the budget for his ministry.
Meanwhile, after Netanyahu promised Lieberman he would remain as foreign minister, and that MK Sofa Landver will continue as immigrant absorption minister, the Yisrael Beytenu leader says that the agreement signed with the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party last week is a deal breaker. The coalition agreement with UTJ effectively cancels out the achievements of the previous government in which Lieberman served.
Under the deal, the new government will freeze ongoing reforms to Israel's conversion laws, cancel the cuts to children's benefits and revoke the criminal penalties in the universal enlistment law.
Lieberman confirmed in closed-door meetings that the deal with UTJ was an obstacle to his joining the coalition. "The agreement that was signed is a big problem for us," he said.
Another barrier standing in Lieberman's way is Netanyahu's opposition to the foreign minister's demand of making MK Orly Levy-Abekasis, number two on the party's list, chairman of the Knesset's Labor, Welfare and Health Committee. Lieberman still insists on making the Yisrael Beytenu party platform a significant part of the government's overall policies, including principles such as toppling the Hamas rule in Gaza and the continued construction in Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem.
Difficult negotiations with potential coalition partners forced Netanyahu to show more flexibility than he would have wanted to show, and agree to fund reforms demanded by the right-wing parties that could amount to NIS 8-9 billion a year.
According to the agreement with Kulanu party leader Moshe Kahlon, who is the future finance minister, the new state budget will be approved after Sukkot and will be brought to a vote as a bi-annual budget. Until then, Kahlon, will have to find quite a few sources of funding for commitments made by Netanyahu in the different coalition agreements.
UTJ decided not to fight over portfolios in the upcoming government and announced ahead of the talks it was willing to settle for a deputy minister position in the Health Ministry and for the chairmanship of the Knesset's Finance Committee. However, the party's budgetary demands were much bigger and were incorporated into the coalition agreement it signed with the Likud.
According to political sources, at least NIS 1 billion have been allocated for Haredi education institutes as part of the coalition agreement with UTJ.
With three days to go before deadline to form the new government, Netanyahu will have to solve dispute between Shas and Bayit Yehudi on Religious Affairs portfolio, and recruit Lieberman's support to avoid narrow government.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could have no choice but to form a narrow 61-member government after Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman raised objections to the coalition agreement signed with United Torah Judaism, saying it could be a deal breaker.
Coalition negotiations entered the final stretch, with three days to go before the extended deadline President Reuven Rivlin gave Netanyahu to form a new government.
Until then, Netanyahu will have to solve the dispute between Shas and the Bayit Yehudi, as well as recruit Lieberman's support.
Netanyahu met with Shas leader Aryeh Deri late Saturday night, after he agreed earlier this week to the party's coalition demand to cancel the VAT placed on staple foods. Deri has already announced that he is no longer demanding control of the Interior Ministry, and is expected to be appointed Economy Minister instead, replacing Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett.
Along with the Economy Ministry, Deri is also expected to receive the Religious Affairs portfolio – however, this issue is a sticking point in coalition talks, as Bayit Yehudi vehemently objects to giving Shas total control of the office.
Sources within the Likud examined several options for resolving the dispute, including appointing a Deputy Religious Affairs Minister from the Bayit Yehudi, but Deri has stressed in recent meetings that he does not have any interest in having a deputy, as the division of powers between minister and deputy would be unclear. If this dispute is resolved, and the cancellation of VAT on staple foods is included in the agreement, it is likely that Shas will be the next party to join the new government.
Bennett's party, meanwhile, will receive the three following portfolios: Education, Agriculture, Sport and Education. However, the Bayit Yehudi leader insists on a budget increase of NIS 1 billion to the entire education system and as part of this increase, demands that the extra funds for the Haredi education institutes be taken from the Treasury and not from the budget for his ministry.
Meanwhile, after Netanyahu promised Lieberman he would remain as foreign minister, and that MK Sofa Landver will continue as immigrant absorption minister, the Yisrael Beytenu leader says that the agreement signed with the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party last week is a deal breaker. The coalition agreement with UTJ effectively cancels out the achievements of the previous government in which Lieberman served.
Under the deal, the new government will freeze ongoing reforms to Israel's conversion laws, cancel the cuts to children's benefits and revoke the criminal penalties in the universal enlistment law.
Lieberman confirmed in closed-door meetings that the deal with UTJ was an obstacle to his joining the coalition. "The agreement that was signed is a big problem for us," he said.
Another barrier standing in Lieberman's way is Netanyahu's opposition to the foreign minister's demand of making MK Orly Levy-Abekasis, number two on the party's list, chairman of the Knesset's Labor, Welfare and Health Committee. Lieberman still insists on making the Yisrael Beytenu party platform a significant part of the government's overall policies, including principles such as toppling the Hamas rule in Gaza and the continued construction in Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem.
Difficult negotiations with potential coalition partners forced Netanyahu to show more flexibility than he would have wanted to show, and agree to fund reforms demanded by the right-wing parties that could amount to NIS 8-9 billion a year.
According to the agreement with Kulanu party leader Moshe Kahlon, who is the future finance minister, the new state budget will be approved after Sukkot and will be brought to a vote as a bi-annual budget. Until then, Kahlon, will have to find quite a few sources of funding for commitments made by Netanyahu in the different coalition agreements.
UTJ decided not to fight over portfolios in the upcoming government and announced ahead of the talks it was willing to settle for a deputy minister position in the Health Ministry and for the chairmanship of the Knesset's Finance Committee. However, the party's budgetary demands were much bigger and were incorporated into the coalition agreement it signed with the Likud.
According to political sources, at least NIS 1 billion have been allocated for Haredi education institutes as part of the coalition agreement with UTJ.
Morocco has backtracked an earlier invitation extended to the former Israeli president Shimon Peres to pop in the Kingdom to attend the Clinton Global Initiative's First Middle East and Africa Conference set to kick off on May 5 in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh.
Morocco rescinded the invitation it had dispatched earlier to the notorious former Israeli PM Shimon Peres after his projected stopover stirred up a hornet's nest among the Kingdom’s pro-Palestine activists and organizations.
Earlier, on Friday, a series of protest rallies staged in observance of the International May Day also voiced firm rebuff of Peres’s stopover.
Morocco’s National Federation of Labor, affiliated with the Justice and Development Party, called for ceasing all policies of normalization with the Israeli occupation.
Meanwhile, the Moroccan Association to support the nation's causes has organized 25 protest vigils throughout the country.
At the same time, 30 civil and political committees called on the government of Morocco, in a joint statement, to halt normalization with Israel and cancel Peres’s visit without further shilly-shallying.
Shimon Peres was born in Poland and served as the 9th president of Israel and twice as a prime minister. Peres is responsible for several crimes against Palestinians and Lebanese and is always accused of war crimes. Peres is responsible for the Qana Massacre in 1996, when the Israeli warplanes murdered more than 200 Lebanese civilians.
Morocco rescinded the invitation it had dispatched earlier to the notorious former Israeli PM Shimon Peres after his projected stopover stirred up a hornet's nest among the Kingdom’s pro-Palestine activists and organizations.
Earlier, on Friday, a series of protest rallies staged in observance of the International May Day also voiced firm rebuff of Peres’s stopover.
Morocco’s National Federation of Labor, affiliated with the Justice and Development Party, called for ceasing all policies of normalization with the Israeli occupation.
Meanwhile, the Moroccan Association to support the nation's causes has organized 25 protest vigils throughout the country.
At the same time, 30 civil and political committees called on the government of Morocco, in a joint statement, to halt normalization with Israel and cancel Peres’s visit without further shilly-shallying.
Shimon Peres was born in Poland and served as the 9th president of Israel and twice as a prime minister. Peres is responsible for several crimes against Palestinians and Lebanese and is always accused of war crimes. Peres is responsible for the Qana Massacre in 1996, when the Israeli warplanes murdered more than 200 Lebanese civilians.
Tunisian police near site of attack
The Tunisian government has rejected claims by the Israeli prime minister that Jews and Israelis are under the threat of terrorism in the North African Country.
"We have nothing on that. There are no threats," said a Tunisian interior ministry official on Saturday.
In an apparent publicity campaign to portray Jews as victimized, the Israeli regime said earlier in the day that there were “concrete threats” of attacks against “Jewish and Israeli targets” in Tunisia.
The office of Israel’s hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a Saturday statement, "Information indicates that there are plans for terrorist attacks against Israelis or Jews in Tunisia."
The statement further claimed that the threats are connected to the Lag BaOmer Jewish festival in the country, urging “Jews” not to travel to Tunisia for the May 6 event.
According to press reports, thousands of tourists visit the tombs of famous rabbis for Lag BaOmer, including the tombs on Tunisia's holiday island of Djerba, in the Gulf of Gabes off the coast of Tunisia, where lives one of the last Jewish communities in the Arab world.
Several thousand Israelis as well as Jews from France annually visit the island, where 19 people were killed in an attack on the ancient El Ghriba synagogue in 2002, which was blamed on al-Qaeda.
Meanwhile, the Israeli regime has issued a number of false claims of potential terror attacks against Israeli or Jewish targets around the globe aimed at showing that Jewish communities are under persisting and increased threats in order to encourage Jews to immigrate to occupied Palestinian territories.
The development came against the backdrop of a fatal assault on March 18, when gunmen in fatigues stormed the National Bardo Museum in the capital Tunis. Twenty foreign tourists, two Tunisians, and a police officer were killed in the attack, one of the worst n the country.
The ISIL Takfiri terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack, which lasted for about four hours.
The people of Tunisia, the birthplace of pro-democracy protests across North Africa and the Middle East, revolted against the Western-backed dictator, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011. Despite the recent political stability, insurgency and terrorist activities still threaten the North African country.
Israel warns of terror attack threat against Jews in Tunisia
Counter-Terrorism Unit advises Israelis against visiting Tunisia in view of 'concrete threats' as Tunisian official denies claims of risk.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday Israel had learned of "concrete threats" of terror attacks against Jewish or Israeli targets in Tunisia.
The Tunisian government quickly denied the claims, saying no such threats existed.
A statement from Netanyahu's office said: "Information indicates that there are plans for terrorist attacks against Israelis or Jews in Tunisia."
But a senior official in the Tunisian interior ministry, who asked not to be named, told AFP: "We have nothing on that. There are no threats."
The threats are connected to the Lag BaOmer Jewish festival, which will be celebrated on May 7, Netanyahu's statement said.
It urged Jews not to visit Tunisia during the festival.
Thousands of pilgrims visit the tombs of famous rabbis for Lag BaOmer, including on Tunisia's holiday island of Djerba, where one of the last Jewish communities in the Arab world still lives.
Several thousand Jews from France and Israel make the trip to the island every year, where 19 people died in an attack on the ancient El Ghriba synagogue in 2002 blamed on Al-Qaeda.
The Israeli Counter-Terrorism Unit said it was advising people against visiting Tunisia in view of the "threats".
The Tunisian interior ministry official insisted the police and army were ready to ensure security.
"All measures have been taken... to ensure the success of the pilgrimage to El Ghriba," the official said.
Tunisia has been trying to reassure foreign visitors they will be safe since 21 tourists were killed in a jihadist attack on the Bardo National Museum in Tunis in March.
The Tunisian government has rejected claims by the Israeli prime minister that Jews and Israelis are under the threat of terrorism in the North African Country.
"We have nothing on that. There are no threats," said a Tunisian interior ministry official on Saturday.
In an apparent publicity campaign to portray Jews as victimized, the Israeli regime said earlier in the day that there were “concrete threats” of attacks against “Jewish and Israeli targets” in Tunisia.
The office of Israel’s hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a Saturday statement, "Information indicates that there are plans for terrorist attacks against Israelis or Jews in Tunisia."
The statement further claimed that the threats are connected to the Lag BaOmer Jewish festival in the country, urging “Jews” not to travel to Tunisia for the May 6 event.
According to press reports, thousands of tourists visit the tombs of famous rabbis for Lag BaOmer, including the tombs on Tunisia's holiday island of Djerba, in the Gulf of Gabes off the coast of Tunisia, where lives one of the last Jewish communities in the Arab world.
Several thousand Israelis as well as Jews from France annually visit the island, where 19 people were killed in an attack on the ancient El Ghriba synagogue in 2002, which was blamed on al-Qaeda.
Meanwhile, the Israeli regime has issued a number of false claims of potential terror attacks against Israeli or Jewish targets around the globe aimed at showing that Jewish communities are under persisting and increased threats in order to encourage Jews to immigrate to occupied Palestinian territories.
The development came against the backdrop of a fatal assault on March 18, when gunmen in fatigues stormed the National Bardo Museum in the capital Tunis. Twenty foreign tourists, two Tunisians, and a police officer were killed in the attack, one of the worst n the country.
The ISIL Takfiri terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack, which lasted for about four hours.
The people of Tunisia, the birthplace of pro-democracy protests across North Africa and the Middle East, revolted against the Western-backed dictator, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011. Despite the recent political stability, insurgency and terrorist activities still threaten the North African country.
Israel warns of terror attack threat against Jews in Tunisia
Counter-Terrorism Unit advises Israelis against visiting Tunisia in view of 'concrete threats' as Tunisian official denies claims of risk.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday Israel had learned of "concrete threats" of terror attacks against Jewish or Israeli targets in Tunisia.
The Tunisian government quickly denied the claims, saying no such threats existed.
A statement from Netanyahu's office said: "Information indicates that there are plans for terrorist attacks against Israelis or Jews in Tunisia."
But a senior official in the Tunisian interior ministry, who asked not to be named, told AFP: "We have nothing on that. There are no threats."
The threats are connected to the Lag BaOmer Jewish festival, which will be celebrated on May 7, Netanyahu's statement said.
It urged Jews not to visit Tunisia during the festival.
Thousands of pilgrims visit the tombs of famous rabbis for Lag BaOmer, including on Tunisia's holiday island of Djerba, where one of the last Jewish communities in the Arab world still lives.
Several thousand Jews from France and Israel make the trip to the island every year, where 19 people died in an attack on the ancient El Ghriba synagogue in 2002 blamed on Al-Qaeda.
The Israeli Counter-Terrorism Unit said it was advising people against visiting Tunisia in view of the "threats".
The Tunisian interior ministry official insisted the police and army were ready to ensure security.
"All measures have been taken... to ensure the success of the pilgrimage to El Ghriba," the official said.
Tunisia has been trying to reassure foreign visitors they will be safe since 21 tourists were killed in a jihadist attack on the Bardo National Museum in Tunis in March.