5 dec 2017
Modesty sign in Beit Shemesh
Beit Shemesh municipality has two weeks to remove modesty sign blocking women from public streets; 'Israel will not have streets closed to women,' justices say, while mayor says signs are 'ideological.'
The Supreme Court issued an ultimatum on Monday to the Beit Shemesh municipality mandating the removal of modesty signs hung in the city's streets which demand women dress modestly by Haredi standards.
The justices ruled the signs exclude women from the public sphere and demanded the city's municipality finds a solution to prevent their recurrence.
"Women will not be excluded from the public sphere in Israel," they declared, after the city's Mayor, Moshe Abutbul, called them merely "ideological signs," and told the judges that similar signs exist in Meah Shearim.
"On Sunday, December 12th, the signs will come down," declared Justice Hanan Meltzer. "Israel does not have streets that are closed to women."
The court's instructions come in response to an appeal by the Beit Shemesh municipality against an earlier administrative court ruling that demanded the signs come down by July 2017, and fined the city NIS 10,000 for every day the signs remained up.
'The mayor is mocking us'
For almost three years, women in Beit Shemesh have been complaining about the city's refusal to remove the modesty signs, as instructed by the court in 2015 in response to a petition filed by attorney Orly Erez-Lahovsky.
The court at that time said that the signs are offensive and "cause serious harm to human dignity, equality, personal choice and autonomy." The court also said that the city has been negligent in not removing the signs and instructed them to compensate the supplicants NIS 60,000.
Two years have passes and the signs were not removed, so the women went to the administrative court which gave the city until July 2017 to remove the signs–with a fine for every day it had not done so.
The Beit Shemesh municipality appealed the decision to the Supreme Court and as part of the appeal removed the signs, but they were immediately hung again and nothing has been done since.
"We were glad to hear the determined and unequivocal statement against the signs and restricting women from certain streets. The judge was resolute in saying that there will not be streets closes to women and he said too that a dress code in public is unacceptable," said Miri Shalem, a Beit Shemesh resident and one of the petitioners, noting that "Most of the signs are on highly visible major streets and not on side streets in Haredi enclaves."
"The mayor is mocking us, he is inconsistent," Shalem added. "Thankfully our lawyer is persistent. It can be exhausting and we sometimes ask ourselves if it's even worth it, but it is an important battle for us."
In response to the court ruling, attorney Erez-Lahovsky said that "We are thankful for the unequivocal statement by the Supreme Court which ruled that modesty signs are offensive and we ought not to tolerate them."
"The order to remove the signs with a police escort and a constant police presence will send a strong message that the rights of the women of Beit Shemesh are important," said Lahovsky. "The ruling is a victory for the rule of law over the rule of lawlessness, a victory for the rights of women for respect and equality. We will continue to monitor and combat all instances of exclusion of women in Israel."
Beit Shemesh municipality has two weeks to remove modesty sign blocking women from public streets; 'Israel will not have streets closed to women,' justices say, while mayor says signs are 'ideological.'
The Supreme Court issued an ultimatum on Monday to the Beit Shemesh municipality mandating the removal of modesty signs hung in the city's streets which demand women dress modestly by Haredi standards.
The justices ruled the signs exclude women from the public sphere and demanded the city's municipality finds a solution to prevent their recurrence.
"Women will not be excluded from the public sphere in Israel," they declared, after the city's Mayor, Moshe Abutbul, called them merely "ideological signs," and told the judges that similar signs exist in Meah Shearim.
"On Sunday, December 12th, the signs will come down," declared Justice Hanan Meltzer. "Israel does not have streets that are closed to women."
The court's instructions come in response to an appeal by the Beit Shemesh municipality against an earlier administrative court ruling that demanded the signs come down by July 2017, and fined the city NIS 10,000 for every day the signs remained up.
'The mayor is mocking us'
For almost three years, women in Beit Shemesh have been complaining about the city's refusal to remove the modesty signs, as instructed by the court in 2015 in response to a petition filed by attorney Orly Erez-Lahovsky.
The court at that time said that the signs are offensive and "cause serious harm to human dignity, equality, personal choice and autonomy." The court also said that the city has been negligent in not removing the signs and instructed them to compensate the supplicants NIS 60,000.
Two years have passes and the signs were not removed, so the women went to the administrative court which gave the city until July 2017 to remove the signs–with a fine for every day it had not done so.
The Beit Shemesh municipality appealed the decision to the Supreme Court and as part of the appeal removed the signs, but they were immediately hung again and nothing has been done since.
"We were glad to hear the determined and unequivocal statement against the signs and restricting women from certain streets. The judge was resolute in saying that there will not be streets closes to women and he said too that a dress code in public is unacceptable," said Miri Shalem, a Beit Shemesh resident and one of the petitioners, noting that "Most of the signs are on highly visible major streets and not on side streets in Haredi enclaves."
"The mayor is mocking us, he is inconsistent," Shalem added. "Thankfully our lawyer is persistent. It can be exhausting and we sometimes ask ourselves if it's even worth it, but it is an important battle for us."
In response to the court ruling, attorney Erez-Lahovsky said that "We are thankful for the unequivocal statement by the Supreme Court which ruled that modesty signs are offensive and we ought not to tolerate them."
"The order to remove the signs with a police escort and a constant police presence will send a strong message that the rights of the women of Beit Shemesh are important," said Lahovsky. "The ruling is a victory for the rule of law over the rule of lawlessness, a victory for the rights of women for respect and equality. We will continue to monitor and combat all instances of exclusion of women in Israel."
1 dec 2017
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) along with Israeli police and Special Forces on Friday morning carried out a large-scale combing operation in Jabal al-Khalil area in the southern West Bank.
According to Quds Press, the IOF operation was aimed at looking for Palestinian resistance fighters who carried out, on Thursday evening, an anti-occupation stabbing attack in Arad town in the Negev area, south of 1948 Occupied Palestine resulting in the death of an Israeli soldier.
According to Quds Press, the IOF operation was aimed at looking for Palestinian resistance fighters who carried out, on Thursday evening, an anti-occupation stabbing attack in Arad town in the Negev area, south of 1948 Occupied Palestine resulting in the death of an Israeli soldier.
Ron Isaac Kokia 19
An Israeli soldier on Thursday evening was killed in a stabbing attack in Arad city, northwest of the Negev desert.
According to an Israeli satellite channel, a soldier was seriously injured in the attack and rushed to Soroka hospital in Beersheba, where he was proclaimed dead.
The soldier was stabbed outside a mall in the city after he left his military base on that day.
Preliminary police investigation described the incident as a nationalistically-motivated murder.
Police troops were searching the area for two suspects, setting up roadblocks on route 31 and at the entrance to the city. A helicopter also joined the search. Shin Bet officers and army forces were also deployed to help the police find the stabbers.
Israeli Soldier Stabbed to Death in Negev
An Israeli soldier was found lying unconscious, on Thursday evening, bleeding from stab wounds, outside of a mall in the city of Arad, in the Negev desert.
Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful and he was declared dead on the scene.
“When we arrived to the scene a young man in his twenties was found lying unconscious without a pulse, and was not breathing, with stab wounds to his upper body,” said a spokesman of Magen David Adom emergency responders, according to Haaretz.
The soldier was later identified as Ron Isaac Kokia, age 19 from Tel Aviv.
The Israeli Police said it initiated a search for the suspects, who are believed to have fled the area after the stabbing.
Checkpoints have been set up on Route 31 and at the city’s entrance, as Israeli authorities search for any possible suspects who might have fled the area.
According to Israeli news sources, Israeli Police speculated that the murder was by a Palestinian, without any evidence.
More info on the incident as it surfaces.
An Israeli soldier on Thursday evening was killed in a stabbing attack in Arad city, northwest of the Negev desert.
According to an Israeli satellite channel, a soldier was seriously injured in the attack and rushed to Soroka hospital in Beersheba, where he was proclaimed dead.
The soldier was stabbed outside a mall in the city after he left his military base on that day.
Preliminary police investigation described the incident as a nationalistically-motivated murder.
Police troops were searching the area for two suspects, setting up roadblocks on route 31 and at the entrance to the city. A helicopter also joined the search. Shin Bet officers and army forces were also deployed to help the police find the stabbers.
Israeli Soldier Stabbed to Death in Negev
An Israeli soldier was found lying unconscious, on Thursday evening, bleeding from stab wounds, outside of a mall in the city of Arad, in the Negev desert.
Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful and he was declared dead on the scene.
“When we arrived to the scene a young man in his twenties was found lying unconscious without a pulse, and was not breathing, with stab wounds to his upper body,” said a spokesman of Magen David Adom emergency responders, according to Haaretz.
The soldier was later identified as Ron Isaac Kokia, age 19 from Tel Aviv.
The Israeli Police said it initiated a search for the suspects, who are believed to have fled the area after the stabbing.
Checkpoints have been set up on Route 31 and at the city’s entrance, as Israeli authorities search for any possible suspects who might have fled the area.
According to Israeli news sources, Israeli Police speculated that the murder was by a Palestinian, without any evidence.
More info on the incident as it surfaces.
27 nov 2017
Haaretz Hebrew newspaper quoted sources of the Israeli army as saying that Palestinian cities and villages in northern 1948 Occupied Palestine are not provided with emergency shelters.
Haaretz pointed out that the residents of the area along the northern borders with Lebanon, where Palestinians constitute 70% of the population, lack real protection. It added that the cities and villages in that area are suffering shortage of security and safety means in cases of wars or natural disasters.
Israeli Finance Ministry refuted claims made by Israeli war minister Avigdor Lieberman last week in which he alleged that he tried in 2016 to uphold a plan to allocate 1.5 billion shekels for providing security in that area up to ten years, and said that the plan, however, remained pending the approval of the ministry.
Heads of local authorities and representative personalities in 1948 Occupied Palestine stated that no single attempt has been made to set maps that would meet the protection needs in that zone.
The Mayor of Sakhnin town in 1948 Occupied Palestine, Mazen Ghanayem, said that “The town has no shelter which is appropriate for the case of war or earthquakes”.
Haaretz pointed out that the residents of the area along the northern borders with Lebanon, where Palestinians constitute 70% of the population, lack real protection. It added that the cities and villages in that area are suffering shortage of security and safety means in cases of wars or natural disasters.
Israeli Finance Ministry refuted claims made by Israeli war minister Avigdor Lieberman last week in which he alleged that he tried in 2016 to uphold a plan to allocate 1.5 billion shekels for providing security in that area up to ten years, and said that the plan, however, remained pending the approval of the ministry.
Heads of local authorities and representative personalities in 1948 Occupied Palestine stated that no single attempt has been made to set maps that would meet the protection needs in that zone.
The Mayor of Sakhnin town in 1948 Occupied Palestine, Mazen Ghanayem, said that “The town has no shelter which is appropriate for the case of war or earthquakes”.
Grandson of the late president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, and member of the South African parliament, Mandla Mandela, on Monday said that Palestine is being subjected to the worst version of apartheid.
Mandela said in press statements, "The settlements I saw here (the occupied West Bank) reminded me of what we had suffered in South Africa because we also were surrounded by many settlements and were not allowed to move from one place to another freely," Quds Press reported.
These statements were voiced during a joint press conference with the Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah. Mandela on Monday arrived in the Palestinian territories in a first-of-its-kind visit that is scheduled to last for four days.
Hamdallah, who received Mandela at his Ramallah office, stressed the strength of the bilateral relations between the two countries and praised South Africa's support for the Palestinian people and their just cause in international forums.
He briefed the African official on the situation in the Palestinian territories as well as Israel's violations against the Palestinians including the settlement expansion and displacement projects which constitute a major obstacle to realizing the dream of establishing a Palestinian state.
Hamdallah and Mandela also discussed ways of advancing cooperation between Palestine and South Africa.
Mandela said in press statements, "The settlements I saw here (the occupied West Bank) reminded me of what we had suffered in South Africa because we also were surrounded by many settlements and were not allowed to move from one place to another freely," Quds Press reported.
These statements were voiced during a joint press conference with the Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah. Mandela on Monday arrived in the Palestinian territories in a first-of-its-kind visit that is scheduled to last for four days.
Hamdallah, who received Mandela at his Ramallah office, stressed the strength of the bilateral relations between the two countries and praised South Africa's support for the Palestinian people and their just cause in international forums.
He briefed the African official on the situation in the Palestinian territories as well as Israel's violations against the Palestinians including the settlement expansion and displacement projects which constitute a major obstacle to realizing the dream of establishing a Palestinian state.
Hamdallah and Mandela also discussed ways of advancing cooperation between Palestine and South Africa.
24 nov 2017
Hamas’s former chief, Khaled Mishaal, attributed the world’s apathy vis-à-vis the Palestinian cause to a set of intertwined causes, most notable among which being the Israel-U.S. pressure.
Speaking at a seminar staged by Al-Jazeera Center for Studies in Doha, Mishaal said the crises rocking the Middle East have resulted in declining support for the Palestinian cause.
“The nation’s enemies, with Israel being on top of the list, have been deliberately fueling sectarian and racial strife to divide the Arabs,” said Mishaal.
The Hamas leader also pointed out the ambivalence characterizing the world order, saying many superpowers, most notably the U.S., Russia, China, and India, are struggling to win the lion’s share.
“Every state has different interests and, therefore, a different position as regards the Palestinian cause,” explained Mishaal.
Commenting on the “Israeli factor”, Hamas’s former chief said Israel has been taking advantage of the weakness of the Palestinian leadership, internal division, and Arabs’ apathy vis-à-vis the cause.
“Israel has managed to establish strong bonds with a number of Arab States with the help of the U.S. President Donald Trump,” he stated.
Mishaal also attributed the declining back up for the Palestinian cause to the intra-Palestinian division.
He further warned of the upshots of the so-called “century’s deal” which he said aims to satisfy the U.S. and Israel by keeping pro-Israel regimes in power despite of the flagrant human rights violations perpetrated by such regimes.
“The U.S. has already received the deal. It just seeks to reproduce it, cover it up, and forward it to the world as an American peace project,” added Mishaal.
The Hamas leader also explained that the deal aims to prop up Israel’s sovereignty over Occupied Jerusalem and to eliminate the refugees’ right of return to their motherland instead of pushing for removing illegal settlements and establishing a Palestinian State on the 1967 borders. “A self-rule in the West Bank will, thus, be the utmost of what the Palestinians can get out of the deal.”
“Unfortunately, a number of Arab regimes have turned the Palestinian cause into a bargaining chip just to remain in power,” Hamas’s former chief concluded.
Speaking at a seminar staged by Al-Jazeera Center for Studies in Doha, Mishaal said the crises rocking the Middle East have resulted in declining support for the Palestinian cause.
“The nation’s enemies, with Israel being on top of the list, have been deliberately fueling sectarian and racial strife to divide the Arabs,” said Mishaal.
The Hamas leader also pointed out the ambivalence characterizing the world order, saying many superpowers, most notably the U.S., Russia, China, and India, are struggling to win the lion’s share.
“Every state has different interests and, therefore, a different position as regards the Palestinian cause,” explained Mishaal.
Commenting on the “Israeli factor”, Hamas’s former chief said Israel has been taking advantage of the weakness of the Palestinian leadership, internal division, and Arabs’ apathy vis-à-vis the cause.
“Israel has managed to establish strong bonds with a number of Arab States with the help of the U.S. President Donald Trump,” he stated.
Mishaal also attributed the declining back up for the Palestinian cause to the intra-Palestinian division.
He further warned of the upshots of the so-called “century’s deal” which he said aims to satisfy the U.S. and Israel by keeping pro-Israel regimes in power despite of the flagrant human rights violations perpetrated by such regimes.
“The U.S. has already received the deal. It just seeks to reproduce it, cover it up, and forward it to the world as an American peace project,” added Mishaal.
The Hamas leader also explained that the deal aims to prop up Israel’s sovereignty over Occupied Jerusalem and to eliminate the refugees’ right of return to their motherland instead of pushing for removing illegal settlements and establishing a Palestinian State on the 1967 borders. “A self-rule in the West Bank will, thus, be the utmost of what the Palestinians can get out of the deal.”
“Unfortunately, a number of Arab regimes have turned the Palestinian cause into a bargaining chip just to remain in power,” Hamas’s former chief concluded.
Former Dutch Prime Minister Dries Van Agt said that “Israel, for those who do not know, has a range of nuclear bombs, [and] is the most dangerous country in the Middle East.”
This came in a speech delivered by Van Agt during a discussion session on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, organized by the “Youth Socialists in the city of Utrecht,” on Thursday. Van Agt explained, according to Al Ray, that “Israel seems to the world public opinion as if living under constant threat, as a small place among a number of Arab countries,” he said.
“The whole world is turning a blind eye to the siege imposed on the Palestinian Gaza Strip, including the Netherlands,” he said.
“The interest in the Palestinian cause has decreased significantly over the past few years,” said Agt, who went on to defend Palestinian rights after leaving politics.
“There are several factors, but the most important thing is that people are beginning to look at it as something natural, along with the disintegration of the Middle East,” he said.
Van Agt led the Dutch government between 1977 and 1982, a member of the Christian Democratic Union Party, with a book called “An uprising against injustice, and the tragedy of the Palestinian people.”
This came in a speech delivered by Van Agt during a discussion session on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, organized by the “Youth Socialists in the city of Utrecht,” on Thursday. Van Agt explained, according to Al Ray, that “Israel seems to the world public opinion as if living under constant threat, as a small place among a number of Arab countries,” he said.
“The whole world is turning a blind eye to the siege imposed on the Palestinian Gaza Strip, including the Netherlands,” he said.
“The interest in the Palestinian cause has decreased significantly over the past few years,” said Agt, who went on to defend Palestinian rights after leaving politics.
“There are several factors, but the most important thing is that people are beginning to look at it as something natural, along with the disintegration of the Middle East,” he said.
Van Agt led the Dutch government between 1977 and 1982, a member of the Christian Democratic Union Party, with a book called “An uprising against injustice, and the tragedy of the Palestinian people.”
Israeli minister Naftali Bennett has reiterated his call for the occupied West Bank to be formally annexed, speaking on Monday evening at an event organised by pro-settler news site Arutz Sheva.
Education Minister and Diaspora Affairs Minister, Bennett declared that Israel has “a very rare opportunity now”, referring to US President Donald Trump.
“[There is] a President who thinks different, who thinks open,” Bennett told the audience, according to Days of Palestine.
“It’s not enough to move the embassy to Jerusalem. It’s now 50 years since we liberated Judea and Samaria [the West Bank]. It’s time to recognize them as Israel. It’s time for sovereignty,” he added, using the term often used by the Israeli right to refer to annexation.
Describing himself, in his capacity as diaspora affairs minister, as “effectively the Minister of the Jews”, Bennett said: “We need to understand that the Jewish State is not only the state of the Israeli citizen, it’s a state where every Jew in the world has a stake here.”
Describing himself, in his capacity as diaspora affairs minister, as “effectively the Minister of the Jews”, Bennett said: “We need to understand that the Jewish State is not only the state of the Israeli citizen, it’s a state where every Jew in the world has a stake here.”
“Today, throughout the world”, Bennett continued, “there’s millions of Jews that need us to go and to reach out to them. And we’re doing more than we’ve ever done.”
Archive IMEMC post: 05/17/15 Bennett Wants to See Palestinians Become ‘Water Carriers and Wood Hewers’ for Jews
Education Minister and Diaspora Affairs Minister, Bennett declared that Israel has “a very rare opportunity now”, referring to US President Donald Trump.
“[There is] a President who thinks different, who thinks open,” Bennett told the audience, according to Days of Palestine.
“It’s not enough to move the embassy to Jerusalem. It’s now 50 years since we liberated Judea and Samaria [the West Bank]. It’s time to recognize them as Israel. It’s time for sovereignty,” he added, using the term often used by the Israeli right to refer to annexation.
Describing himself, in his capacity as diaspora affairs minister, as “effectively the Minister of the Jews”, Bennett said: “We need to understand that the Jewish State is not only the state of the Israeli citizen, it’s a state where every Jew in the world has a stake here.”
Describing himself, in his capacity as diaspora affairs minister, as “effectively the Minister of the Jews”, Bennett said: “We need to understand that the Jewish State is not only the state of the Israeli citizen, it’s a state where every Jew in the world has a stake here.”
“Today, throughout the world”, Bennett continued, “there’s millions of Jews that need us to go and to reach out to them. And we’re doing more than we’ve ever done.”
Archive IMEMC post: 05/17/15 Bennett Wants to See Palestinians Become ‘Water Carriers and Wood Hewers’ for Jews
21 nov 2017
Israel’s Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz
Israel’s Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz revealed that the country maintains secret contacts within Saudi Arabia and many other Muslim and Arab countries, especially those with shared concerns from Iran.
Steinitz, a member of Netanyahu’s security cabinet, did not characterize the contacts or give details when asked why Israel was “hiding its ties” with Saudi Arabia, He replied: ”We have ties that are indeed partly covert with many Muslim and Arab countries, and usually we are not the party who is ashamed,” according to Reuters.
When asked about Israel’s interest in establishing relations with a state that does not have a parliament, does not contain opposition, and the king is appointed by the ruling family, he said: “This is not our way. We prefer democracy.”
He also added, according to the PNN, that Saudi Arabia is recently undergoing a process of moderation, escalating its stance against Iran, Hezbollah and terrorism; Saudi Arabia is our partner in the face of the Iranian threat.”
He revealed that “the diplomatic efforts by Israel with the US administration and the United Nations to reconsider the nuclear agreement with Iran is happening through contacts with the Saudi authorities and through their help.”
Israel’s Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz revealed that the country maintains secret contacts within Saudi Arabia and many other Muslim and Arab countries, especially those with shared concerns from Iran.
Steinitz, a member of Netanyahu’s security cabinet, did not characterize the contacts or give details when asked why Israel was “hiding its ties” with Saudi Arabia, He replied: ”We have ties that are indeed partly covert with many Muslim and Arab countries, and usually we are not the party who is ashamed,” according to Reuters.
When asked about Israel’s interest in establishing relations with a state that does not have a parliament, does not contain opposition, and the king is appointed by the ruling family, he said: “This is not our way. We prefer democracy.”
He also added, according to the PNN, that Saudi Arabia is recently undergoing a process of moderation, escalating its stance against Iran, Hezbollah and terrorism; Saudi Arabia is our partner in the face of the Iranian threat.”
He revealed that “the diplomatic efforts by Israel with the US administration and the United Nations to reconsider the nuclear agreement with Iran is happening through contacts with the Saudi authorities and through their help.”
20 nov 2017
Israeli government is planning to deport about 40,000 African asylum seekers to a third country, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday, Radar2.net reported.
These migrants, who are mostly form Eritrea and Sudan, are seen by the Israeli authorities as illegal, Radar2.net said, noting that Israel has only granted asylum status to few number of them.
According to the website, Netanyahu said that his government has three stages in dealing with the issue of the migrants. The first is building a fence on the borders with Egypt and this actually stopped the migrants’ influx.
The second stage, according to Radar2.net, is deporting 20,000 African migrants and this third is the intense deportation of 40,000 migrants without their consent, noting this became affordable thanks to an international deal.
It is worth mentioning that the migrants live in very poor neighbourhoods in the south of Tel Aviv and thousands of them are locked up in Holot Detention Centre in the south of Israel, which all the Israeli ministers voted on Sunday to close it.
The United Nations’ High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said that it was “seriously concerned by the Israeli plan to deport African migrants.”
In a statement, the UNHCR said: “Eritreans and Sudanese asylum-seekers and refugees would be compelled to accept relocation to countries in Africa or face imprisonment in Israel.”
The Israeli High Court of Justice approved in August the mass deportation policy to a third country without naming it, but media reports revealed that it is Rwanda and Uganda.
These migrants, who are mostly form Eritrea and Sudan, are seen by the Israeli authorities as illegal, Radar2.net said, noting that Israel has only granted asylum status to few number of them.
According to the website, Netanyahu said that his government has three stages in dealing with the issue of the migrants. The first is building a fence on the borders with Egypt and this actually stopped the migrants’ influx.
The second stage, according to Radar2.net, is deporting 20,000 African migrants and this third is the intense deportation of 40,000 migrants without their consent, noting this became affordable thanks to an international deal.
It is worth mentioning that the migrants live in very poor neighbourhoods in the south of Tel Aviv and thousands of them are locked up in Holot Detention Centre in the south of Israel, which all the Israeli ministers voted on Sunday to close it.
The United Nations’ High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said that it was “seriously concerned by the Israeli plan to deport African migrants.”
In a statement, the UNHCR said: “Eritreans and Sudanese asylum-seekers and refugees would be compelled to accept relocation to countries in Africa or face imprisonment in Israel.”
The Israeli High Court of Justice approved in August the mass deportation policy to a third country without naming it, but media reports revealed that it is Rwanda and Uganda.
An Israeli court recently issued a verdict ordering the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Palestinian prisoners to pay 62 million shekels ($17.6 million) in compensation to the families of Jewish settlers killed in a 2001 shooting attack.
According to Maariv newspaper, the verdict, which was issued by the Israeli district court in Jerusalem last Friday, accused the PA of funding and providing the means for acts of terrorism.
The ruling referred to a shooting attack that was carried out at the start of the second Intifada (uprising) by resistance fighters affiliated with al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of Fatah.
Such Israeli steps raise a question whether the PA will respond and file compensation lawsuits against Israel with international courts over the death of hundreds of Palestinians at the hands of its troops and settlers in the West Bank and Gaza.
According to Maariv newspaper, the verdict, which was issued by the Israeli district court in Jerusalem last Friday, accused the PA of funding and providing the means for acts of terrorism.
The ruling referred to a shooting attack that was carried out at the start of the second Intifada (uprising) by resistance fighters affiliated with al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of Fatah.
Such Israeli steps raise a question whether the PA will respond and file compensation lawsuits against Israel with international courts over the death of hundreds of Palestinians at the hands of its troops and settlers in the West Bank and Gaza.
16 nov 2017
In his first interview with a Saudi newspaper, Israeli army chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot said that his government is ready to exchange information and experience with Saudi Arabia and what he described as moderate Arab countries to confront Iran.
Eizenkot told the Saudi-owned Elaf newspaper that there is a "complete consensus" between Israel and Saudi Arabia on the issue of mutual arch-rival Iran, and that Israel is ready to share intelligence with one of the world's most powerful Muslim states.
Eizenkot, who is the first senior Israeli military officer to be interviewed by a Saudi media outlet, called Iran the "biggest threat to the region", and said that Israel and Riyadh are in complete agreement about Iran's intentions to dominate the Middle East.
However, Eizenkot said in the interview that Israel has no intention of initiating a conflict with "Iran's Lebanese proxy Hezbollah", saying that "I am very happy for the calm on both sides of the border, which lasted for 11 years."
“With [US] President Donald Trump (in office) there is an opportunity for a new international coalition in the region," he was quoted as saying.
"We need to carry out a major and inclusive regional plan to stop the Iranian threat. We are ready to exchange experiences with moderate Arab countries and exchange intelligence to confront Iran," he added.
When asked if information sharing was already underway with Saudi Arabia, he responded that "We are ready to share information if necessary. There are many common interests between us and [Saudi Arabia]."
Eizenkot told the Saudi-owned Elaf newspaper that there is a "complete consensus" between Israel and Saudi Arabia on the issue of mutual arch-rival Iran, and that Israel is ready to share intelligence with one of the world's most powerful Muslim states.
Eizenkot, who is the first senior Israeli military officer to be interviewed by a Saudi media outlet, called Iran the "biggest threat to the region", and said that Israel and Riyadh are in complete agreement about Iran's intentions to dominate the Middle East.
However, Eizenkot said in the interview that Israel has no intention of initiating a conflict with "Iran's Lebanese proxy Hezbollah", saying that "I am very happy for the calm on both sides of the border, which lasted for 11 years."
“With [US] President Donald Trump (in office) there is an opportunity for a new international coalition in the region," he was quoted as saying.
"We need to carry out a major and inclusive regional plan to stop the Iranian threat. We are ready to exchange experiences with moderate Arab countries and exchange intelligence to confront Iran," he added.
When asked if information sharing was already underway with Saudi Arabia, he responded that "We are ready to share information if necessary. There are many common interests between us and [Saudi Arabia]."
Israel’s military forces are expected to end on Thursday a round of air drills, believed to be the largest of their kind in years.
The military maneuvers kicked off on November 5 under the “Blue Flag” tag.
Hundreds of pilots and front-line fighters from the US, Greece, Poland, Germany, France, Italy, and India have taken hundreds of warplanes to Israel’s airspace in the two-week multinational drills. Observers from 40 nationalities have also been in attendance.
The entire drill is based at the Ovda Air Base north of Israel’s Red Sea town of Eilat. The forces are put through increasingly difficult war scenarios each day to test particular skill sets.
The Israeli army has claimed that the drills provide a sort of battle lab in which forces can hone a spectrum of skills needed to combat growing threats.
The military maneuvers kicked off on November 5 under the “Blue Flag” tag.
Hundreds of pilots and front-line fighters from the US, Greece, Poland, Germany, France, Italy, and India have taken hundreds of warplanes to Israel’s airspace in the two-week multinational drills. Observers from 40 nationalities have also been in attendance.
The entire drill is based at the Ovda Air Base north of Israel’s Red Sea town of Eilat. The forces are put through increasingly difficult war scenarios each day to test particular skill sets.
The Israeli army has claimed that the drills provide a sort of battle lab in which forces can hone a spectrum of skills needed to combat growing threats.
