13 feb 2014
Gaza children drinking from a broken pipe.
Israeli households use three times as much water as Palestinian ones do; but figure that caused Knesset uproar expresses just one aspect of a large discrepancy in access, development and use of resources.
Israelis - including those in the settlements - use three times as much water a day in their households as West Bank Palestinians do, according to figures provided by Palestinians and aid organizations. That is just one aspect of the large discrepancy between Israelis and Palestinians in access, development and use of water resources -- a discrepancy that has only increased since the signing of the Oslo Accords.
Some 113,000 Palestinians in the West Bank, in some 70 villages and communities, are still not connected to the water network and are dependent on water transported in tanker trucks, which raises the price significantly. In many of these communities, which are extremely poor, the families are forced to spend up to 40 percent of their income on this basic commodity. In these communities in Area C (under exclusive Israeli control) the average water consumption per day is about 20 liters per capita. Often a pipe of Israel’s Mekorot water company that reaches the settlements runs nearby, but the Palestinians are not allowed to connect to it.
In most areas of the West Bank the water supply in the summer is sporadic, with municipalities required to stagger the water supply between neighborhoods. In various cities, especially in the southern West Bank, there is no running water in houses for weeks and even months at a time. Consequently, according to estimates of international aid organizations, almost a million Palestinians do not reach the minimal average daily usage of 60 liters, set by the World Health Organization. On average Palestinians use 73 liters of water a day -- just a third the amount consumed by Israelis.
The Oslo Accords determined that the water system in the Gaza Strip would be independent and self-contained, separate from the rest of Israel and the territories. That system relies only on the aquifer within Gaza’s borders without taking into account population growth. That is why the Gaza Strip suffers from accumulated overpumping of water and a drop in the level of the groundwater. Some 90 percent of the water used in Gaza is not fit for drinking because of salinity and the infiltration of sewage.
The Oslo Accords left full control of the water sources in the West Bank in Israel’s hands. The agreement was intended to allow the Palestinians to expand their water system by drilling independent wells. According to it, the Palestinian Authority is permitted to produce 118 million cubic meters of water a year from the water sources in the West Bank -- based on a calculation of Palestinian water usage from 20 years ago. Israel is allowed to use 483 million cubic meters a year.
But since 1995, instead of the Palestinians increasing the amount of water they produce, the figure actually dropped by 20 million cubic meters a year, to just 86.9 million, according to the Palestinian Water Authority. The reasons for this include: drought, dried up springs, Israel’s refusal to allow the rehabilitation of agricultural wells, and the fact that new drilling does not compensate for the old wells used when the area was under Jordanian control.
Israeli households use three times as much water as Palestinian ones do; but figure that caused Knesset uproar expresses just one aspect of a large discrepancy in access, development and use of resources.
Israelis - including those in the settlements - use three times as much water a day in their households as West Bank Palestinians do, according to figures provided by Palestinians and aid organizations. That is just one aspect of the large discrepancy between Israelis and Palestinians in access, development and use of water resources -- a discrepancy that has only increased since the signing of the Oslo Accords.
Some 113,000 Palestinians in the West Bank, in some 70 villages and communities, are still not connected to the water network and are dependent on water transported in tanker trucks, which raises the price significantly. In many of these communities, which are extremely poor, the families are forced to spend up to 40 percent of their income on this basic commodity. In these communities in Area C (under exclusive Israeli control) the average water consumption per day is about 20 liters per capita. Often a pipe of Israel’s Mekorot water company that reaches the settlements runs nearby, but the Palestinians are not allowed to connect to it.
In most areas of the West Bank the water supply in the summer is sporadic, with municipalities required to stagger the water supply between neighborhoods. In various cities, especially in the southern West Bank, there is no running water in houses for weeks and even months at a time. Consequently, according to estimates of international aid organizations, almost a million Palestinians do not reach the minimal average daily usage of 60 liters, set by the World Health Organization. On average Palestinians use 73 liters of water a day -- just a third the amount consumed by Israelis.
The Oslo Accords determined that the water system in the Gaza Strip would be independent and self-contained, separate from the rest of Israel and the territories. That system relies only on the aquifer within Gaza’s borders without taking into account population growth. That is why the Gaza Strip suffers from accumulated overpumping of water and a drop in the level of the groundwater. Some 90 percent of the water used in Gaza is not fit for drinking because of salinity and the infiltration of sewage.
The Oslo Accords left full control of the water sources in the West Bank in Israel’s hands. The agreement was intended to allow the Palestinians to expand their water system by drilling independent wells. According to it, the Palestinian Authority is permitted to produce 118 million cubic meters of water a year from the water sources in the West Bank -- based on a calculation of Palestinian water usage from 20 years ago. Israel is allowed to use 483 million cubic meters a year.
But since 1995, instead of the Palestinians increasing the amount of water they produce, the figure actually dropped by 20 million cubic meters a year, to just 86.9 million, according to the Palestinian Water Authority. The reasons for this include: drought, dried up springs, Israel’s refusal to allow the rehabilitation of agricultural wells, and the fact that new drilling does not compensate for the old wells used when the area was under Jordanian control.
The Israeli human rights group, B’Tselem, said Wednesday that Israel does discriminate in water allocation between Palestinians and Israelis and that Palestinians get much less water than Israelis. B’Tselem was responding to allegations by Israeli officials that there was no discrimination in water allocations as claimed by the president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, during a speech he made at the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.
Israelis interrupted Schulz and walked out of the building when he said Palestinians get much less water than Israelis.
“Is there discrimination in terms of the quantity of water available to Israelis and Palestinians?” asked B’Tselem rhetorically. “Yes, there is discrimination in water allocation and Israeli citizens receive much more water than Palestinian residents of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip,” it answered.
It said the government of Israel is largely responsible for this discrimination due its water policy.
“Minimal amounts of water are supplied to Palestinians and water from shared resources is unequally divided,” it said, adding that “existing infrastructure with high levels of water loss is not upgraded, no infrastructure is developed for communities that are not connected to the water grid and water infrastructure projects in areas located inside the Palestinian Authority are not approved.”
B’Tselem said data provided by the Israeli national water company, Mekorot, shows that while the average household water consumption in Israel is between 100 and 230 liters per person per day, way above the World Health Organization’s recommended a minimum of 100 liters per person per day, this is not the case for Palestinians.
“Palestinians living in the occupied Palestinian Territory can be divided into three groups according to the amount of water available to them, which is less than the Israeli average in all three cases,” it said.
It said average daily consumption among Palestinians connected to a running-water network is about 73 liters. Even those who are connected do not necessarily have access to running water throughout the day or the year, and water is supplied intermittently, following a rotation program.
Palestinians not connected to the water supply network, who number around 113,000 people living in 70 communities, 50,000 of them in Area C of the West Bank, which is under full Israeli control, rely on rainwater, which they store in cisterns, and on water sold in tanker trucks by private dealers.
In the southern West Bank, said B’Tselem, about 42 communities consume less than 60 liters per person per day and shepherding communities in the northern Jordan Valley consume only 20.
It also said that average consumption in the Gaza Strip is 70 to 90 liters per person per day and the quality of the water is extremely poor.
Israelis interrupted Schulz and walked out of the building when he said Palestinians get much less water than Israelis.
“Is there discrimination in terms of the quantity of water available to Israelis and Palestinians?” asked B’Tselem rhetorically. “Yes, there is discrimination in water allocation and Israeli citizens receive much more water than Palestinian residents of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip,” it answered.
It said the government of Israel is largely responsible for this discrimination due its water policy.
“Minimal amounts of water are supplied to Palestinians and water from shared resources is unequally divided,” it said, adding that “existing infrastructure with high levels of water loss is not upgraded, no infrastructure is developed for communities that are not connected to the water grid and water infrastructure projects in areas located inside the Palestinian Authority are not approved.”
B’Tselem said data provided by the Israeli national water company, Mekorot, shows that while the average household water consumption in Israel is between 100 and 230 liters per person per day, way above the World Health Organization’s recommended a minimum of 100 liters per person per day, this is not the case for Palestinians.
“Palestinians living in the occupied Palestinian Territory can be divided into three groups according to the amount of water available to them, which is less than the Israeli average in all three cases,” it said.
It said average daily consumption among Palestinians connected to a running-water network is about 73 liters. Even those who are connected do not necessarily have access to running water throughout the day or the year, and water is supplied intermittently, following a rotation program.
Palestinians not connected to the water supply network, who number around 113,000 people living in 70 communities, 50,000 of them in Area C of the West Bank, which is under full Israeli control, rely on rainwater, which they store in cisterns, and on water sold in tanker trucks by private dealers.
In the southern West Bank, said B’Tselem, about 42 communities consume less than 60 liters per person per day and shepherding communities in the northern Jordan Valley consume only 20.
It also said that average consumption in the Gaza Strip is 70 to 90 liters per person per day and the quality of the water is extremely poor.
Schulz addresses the Knesset in occupied Jerusalem on on February 12, 2014.
The Gaza-based Palestinian government hailed president of the European parliament Martin Schulz for demanding Israel, during his address to the Knesset on Wednesday, to lift its blockade on the Gaza Strip. The government, in a press release Thursday, also deplored the scathing attack on Schulz by extreme-right Knesset members and Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu because of his stance on Gaza siege.
Palestinian advisor for foreign affairs Basem Naim stated that this improper attitude towards the president of the European parliament was part of a counter-campaign launched by Israel recently against the European union and other western countries to confront the boycott economic campaign it is exposed to in Europe.
Naim expressed his belief that Israel wants to terrorize the European nations against any attempt to discredit its image which it had hardly embellished at the expense of the Palestinian people's rights.
The advisor urged other European officials to follow suit and confront Israel's racist and criminal practices in Palestine.
In another incident, the government strongly denounced the Israeli occupation regime for preventing speaker of the Danish parliament Mogens Lykketoft a few days ago from visiting the besieged Gaza Strip.
It said that such desperate attempts by the Israeli regime to bar European officials from visiting to Gaza or terrorize them into changing their positions would not protect the apartheid government of Israel from the tidal wave which swept the world against its violations in Palestine.
The Gaza-based Palestinian government hailed president of the European parliament Martin Schulz for demanding Israel, during his address to the Knesset on Wednesday, to lift its blockade on the Gaza Strip. The government, in a press release Thursday, also deplored the scathing attack on Schulz by extreme-right Knesset members and Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu because of his stance on Gaza siege.
Palestinian advisor for foreign affairs Basem Naim stated that this improper attitude towards the president of the European parliament was part of a counter-campaign launched by Israel recently against the European union and other western countries to confront the boycott economic campaign it is exposed to in Europe.
Naim expressed his belief that Israel wants to terrorize the European nations against any attempt to discredit its image which it had hardly embellished at the expense of the Palestinian people's rights.
The advisor urged other European officials to follow suit and confront Israel's racist and criminal practices in Palestine.
In another incident, the government strongly denounced the Israeli occupation regime for preventing speaker of the Danish parliament Mogens Lykketoft a few days ago from visiting the besieged Gaza Strip.
It said that such desperate attempts by the Israeli regime to bar European officials from visiting to Gaza or terrorize them into changing their positions would not protect the apartheid government of Israel from the tidal wave which swept the world against its violations in Palestine.
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Right-wing Israeli MKs stormed out of the Knesset on Wednesday during a speech by European Parliament President Martin Schulz, accusing the EU official of propagating "lies" about Palestinian water consumption.
During an address to the Israeli Knesset, Schulz told MKs that the EU would always stand by Israel's side and mentioned the importance of remembering the Holocaust. A day earlier, the German official had said that the EU would not boycott Israel. But comments about the disparity between Israeli and Palestinian water |
consumption and Israel's seven-year blockade of the Gaza Strip prompted a walk-out by members of the far-right Jewish Home party.
Party leader Naftali Bennett demanded on Facebook that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "demand an immediate correction in the name of honor of the State of Israel," Ynet reported.
"I will not accept an untrue sermon on morality directed at Israel in Israel's parliament. Definitely not in German," he added.
Speaking to German newspaper Die Welt on Thursday, Schulz expressed surprise at the reaction as he claimed to have given a "pro-Israel speech."
Several MKs decided to boycott Schulz's speech in advance on the basis that he was to address the Knesset in German.
Likud official Moshe Feiglin wrote on Facebook: "I see no value in having the parliament of the Jewish state hear a speech in the language used to force our parents onto trains and into furnaces."
In reaction to the walkout, Israeli rights group B'Tselem released a statement on Wednesday describing "undeniable discrimination" in the amount of water allocated Palestinians.
"Yes, there is discrimination in water allocation and Israeli citizens receive much more water than Palestinian residents of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip," a statement said.
"The Government of Israel is largely responsible for this discrimination due its water policy."
According to The Emergency Water, Sanitation and Hygiene group, or EWASH, Israelis, including settlers, have access to 300 liters of water per day while the West Bank average is around 70 liters, below the World Health Organization's recommended minimum of 100 liters per day for basic sanitation, hygiene and drinking.
In the south Hebron hills, average water consumption varies between 10-60 liters per day, similar to consumption levels in sub-Saharan Africa or Haiti.
Truth behind stealing Palestinian water irritates Israeli officials
The speech of European Parliament President Martin Schulz delivered Wednesday inside the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) raised a wave of anger among the Israeli officials. The speech referred in detail to several aspects of Palestinian suffering due to the Israeli occupation of their land.
The outrage sparked over the European Parliament President by the walkoutof the chairman of Bayit Yehudi party, Naftali Bennett, and the mocking respond by the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
The speech of European Parliament President was about several aspects of Palestinian suffering and the Israeli discrimination against the Palestinians, in the field of water.
" Is it true that the Israeli citizen consumes 70 litres of water a day compared with 17 liters for the Palestinian citizen?" Schulz asked sarcastically. His comment on Gaza, in which he said that "the Gaza siege leads to hard economic conditions that do not allow growth", triggered the furious response from the Bayit Yehudi MKs.
Schulz’s words on peace, in which he said that: "Palestinians, like Israelis, want to live in their country with freedom of movement and no limitations. The Palestinians have the right to self-definition and justice", made the MKs angry; they started to jamming the speech.
Party leader Naftali Bennett demanded on Facebook that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "demand an immediate correction in the name of honor of the State of Israel," Ynet reported.
"I will not accept an untrue sermon on morality directed at Israel in Israel's parliament. Definitely not in German," he added.
Speaking to German newspaper Die Welt on Thursday, Schulz expressed surprise at the reaction as he claimed to have given a "pro-Israel speech."
Several MKs decided to boycott Schulz's speech in advance on the basis that he was to address the Knesset in German.
Likud official Moshe Feiglin wrote on Facebook: "I see no value in having the parliament of the Jewish state hear a speech in the language used to force our parents onto trains and into furnaces."
In reaction to the walkout, Israeli rights group B'Tselem released a statement on Wednesday describing "undeniable discrimination" in the amount of water allocated Palestinians.
"Yes, there is discrimination in water allocation and Israeli citizens receive much more water than Palestinian residents of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip," a statement said.
"The Government of Israel is largely responsible for this discrimination due its water policy."
According to The Emergency Water, Sanitation and Hygiene group, or EWASH, Israelis, including settlers, have access to 300 liters of water per day while the West Bank average is around 70 liters, below the World Health Organization's recommended minimum of 100 liters per day for basic sanitation, hygiene and drinking.
In the south Hebron hills, average water consumption varies between 10-60 liters per day, similar to consumption levels in sub-Saharan Africa or Haiti.
Truth behind stealing Palestinian water irritates Israeli officials
The speech of European Parliament President Martin Schulz delivered Wednesday inside the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) raised a wave of anger among the Israeli officials. The speech referred in detail to several aspects of Palestinian suffering due to the Israeli occupation of their land.
The outrage sparked over the European Parliament President by the walkoutof the chairman of Bayit Yehudi party, Naftali Bennett, and the mocking respond by the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
The speech of European Parliament President was about several aspects of Palestinian suffering and the Israeli discrimination against the Palestinians, in the field of water.
" Is it true that the Israeli citizen consumes 70 litres of water a day compared with 17 liters for the Palestinian citizen?" Schulz asked sarcastically. His comment on Gaza, in which he said that "the Gaza siege leads to hard economic conditions that do not allow growth", triggered the furious response from the Bayit Yehudi MKs.
Schulz’s words on peace, in which he said that: "Palestinians, like Israelis, want to live in their country with freedom of movement and no limitations. The Palestinians have the right to self-definition and justice", made the MKs angry; they started to jamming the speech.
The Israeli Government of Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that Tel Aviv does not agree to the Turkish demand to lift the siege on the Gaza Strip in exchange for a reconciliation agreement between Tel Aviv and Ankara.
The Turkish demand came on Tuesday when Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stated during a press conference in Ankara that his country received an apology from Israel, and talks for compensating the families of nine Turkish peace activists, killed by the Israeli Navy while sailing to Gaza in 2010, are still ongoing.
The Turkish solidarity ship, Mavi Marmara, part of the Freedom Flotilla that was sailing to Gaza to challenge the illegitimate Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip and deliver humanitarian supplies, was attacked in international water, and nine Turkish activists were killed by Israeli fire.
Erdogan said that lifting the deadly blockade on Gaza is one of the conditions that his country will not drop, and that without lifting this siege, there cannot be normalization with Israel.
Israeli daily, Haaretz, has reported that the Office of Netanyahu said “the Turkish conditions will not be met”, explaining that Tel Aviv will not lift the siege on the coastal region, and will never, sign a written agreement pledging to lift the siege.
The statements came after Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, stated last Monday that Tel Aviv and Ankara are very close to signing an agreement normalizing the relations between the two countries.
In a study published by Haaretz a week ago, Israel made an offer to pay the families of the nine Turkish victims, and those hurt in the attack, $20 Million, and that Netanyahu even authorized his envoys to pay up to $23 Million.
Tel Aviv is seeking to have Turkey drop lawsuits filed against its officers involved in the attack, and to normalize relations between the two countries.
It also wants Turkey to pass a law that would cancel all pending lawsuits files against it, and to ensure the law blocs any future legal actions, locally and internationally.
Haaretz said Tel Aviv does not only want a symbolic normalization of relations, but also full relations, including diplomatic talks, mutual visits of officials and ministerial talks.
PM Erdogan, Condition for Negotiations: Lift the Gaza Blockade
Chris Carlson - IMEMC & Agencies, Wed, 12 Feb 2014 17:30:31
Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, demanded that Israel lift its blockade on the Gaza Strip in order to secure his signature on an agreement between the two countries.
According to the Palestinian News Network (PNN), Erdogan said, in a press conference held in Ankara with his Spanish counterpart Mariano Rakhoi, Wednesday night, that significant progress had been made in the talks with Israel.
Israel Channel 2 quoted an Israeli official as saying that Israel will not agree to ease the Gaza blockade as a part of the deal it is negotiating with Turkey.
Relations between Ankara and Jerusalem became strained after a raid on the Turkish-owned vessel, the Mavi Marmara, in May of 2010, to enforce a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Nine Turkish citizens were killed in the raid.
The Turkish demand came on Tuesday when Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stated during a press conference in Ankara that his country received an apology from Israel, and talks for compensating the families of nine Turkish peace activists, killed by the Israeli Navy while sailing to Gaza in 2010, are still ongoing.
The Turkish solidarity ship, Mavi Marmara, part of the Freedom Flotilla that was sailing to Gaza to challenge the illegitimate Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip and deliver humanitarian supplies, was attacked in international water, and nine Turkish activists were killed by Israeli fire.
Erdogan said that lifting the deadly blockade on Gaza is one of the conditions that his country will not drop, and that without lifting this siege, there cannot be normalization with Israel.
Israeli daily, Haaretz, has reported that the Office of Netanyahu said “the Turkish conditions will not be met”, explaining that Tel Aviv will not lift the siege on the coastal region, and will never, sign a written agreement pledging to lift the siege.
The statements came after Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, stated last Monday that Tel Aviv and Ankara are very close to signing an agreement normalizing the relations between the two countries.
In a study published by Haaretz a week ago, Israel made an offer to pay the families of the nine Turkish victims, and those hurt in the attack, $20 Million, and that Netanyahu even authorized his envoys to pay up to $23 Million.
Tel Aviv is seeking to have Turkey drop lawsuits filed against its officers involved in the attack, and to normalize relations between the two countries.
It also wants Turkey to pass a law that would cancel all pending lawsuits files against it, and to ensure the law blocs any future legal actions, locally and internationally.
Haaretz said Tel Aviv does not only want a symbolic normalization of relations, but also full relations, including diplomatic talks, mutual visits of officials and ministerial talks.
PM Erdogan, Condition for Negotiations: Lift the Gaza Blockade
Chris Carlson - IMEMC & Agencies, Wed, 12 Feb 2014 17:30:31
Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, demanded that Israel lift its blockade on the Gaza Strip in order to secure his signature on an agreement between the two countries.
According to the Palestinian News Network (PNN), Erdogan said, in a press conference held in Ankara with his Spanish counterpart Mariano Rakhoi, Wednesday night, that significant progress had been made in the talks with Israel.
Israel Channel 2 quoted an Israeli official as saying that Israel will not agree to ease the Gaza blockade as a part of the deal it is negotiating with Turkey.
Relations between Ankara and Jerusalem became strained after a raid on the Turkish-owned vessel, the Mavi Marmara, in May of 2010, to enforce a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Nine Turkish citizens were killed in the raid.
12 feb 2014
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan addresses the media in Ankara
Turkish Prime Minister, Receb Taayib Erdogan, said Tuesday that Israel should lift the siege over the Gaza Strip as a condition for signing a reconciliation agreement and normalizing relations between the two countries. Erdogan said at a press conference in Ankara alongside Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, that Turkey will not accept less than a written approval from Israel to lift the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported yesterday.
The Turkish Prime Minister pointed out that there is a progress in the ongoing negotiations with Israel but it is not over yet. He added that Turkey has received an apology from Israel, and that talks over compensation for the families of those killed and wounded on the Mavi Marmara ship in 2010 are ongoing. "Nothing will happen without lifting the siege on Gaza," he said.
Hebrew media reported recently that the negotiations on compensation for the families of those killed on the Mavi Marmara has progressed significantly and that Israel has offered to pay $20 million in compensation to the families.
Turkish Prime Minister, Receb Taayib Erdogan, said Tuesday that Israel should lift the siege over the Gaza Strip as a condition for signing a reconciliation agreement and normalizing relations between the two countries. Erdogan said at a press conference in Ankara alongside Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, that Turkey will not accept less than a written approval from Israel to lift the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported yesterday.
The Turkish Prime Minister pointed out that there is a progress in the ongoing negotiations with Israel but it is not over yet. He added that Turkey has received an apology from Israel, and that talks over compensation for the families of those killed and wounded on the Mavi Marmara ship in 2010 are ongoing. "Nothing will happen without lifting the siege on Gaza," he said.
Hebrew media reported recently that the negotiations on compensation for the families of those killed on the Mavi Marmara has progressed significantly and that Israel has offered to pay $20 million in compensation to the families.
11 feb 2014
The strike that is currently ongoing at the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem has resulted in the doctors quitting their jobs as well as patients not being able to receive treatment.
The reason for the ongoing strike is the stalling of the Israeli government in the negotiations of expanding the overall budget of the hospital.
The hospital both employs Palestinians as well as trains them and thus the strike influences patients and doctors that are not only Israeli.
The Israeli and Palestinian staff at the hospital are striking due to salary cuts, created by the hospitals inability to leave its current economic crisis. The staff only received half of their wages for the month of January.
Since the strike began Tuesday last week, the hospital are only treating patients who need emergency treatment.
Patients who are not in this category are currently urged to seek medical assistance elsewhere, in other hospitals or medical clinics, Ynet News report.
Hadassah employs over 850 doctors, 1,940 nurses, 1,020 paramedical and support staff, and nearly 900 managers who work across two campuses. The two facilities have a total of 1,150 beds, 31 operating rooms, and nine specially-oriented intensive care units, the hospital's website says.
The reason for the ongoing strike is the stalling of the Israeli government in the negotiations of expanding the overall budget of the hospital.
The hospital both employs Palestinians as well as trains them and thus the strike influences patients and doctors that are not only Israeli.
The Israeli and Palestinian staff at the hospital are striking due to salary cuts, created by the hospitals inability to leave its current economic crisis. The staff only received half of their wages for the month of January.
Since the strike began Tuesday last week, the hospital are only treating patients who need emergency treatment.
Patients who are not in this category are currently urged to seek medical assistance elsewhere, in other hospitals or medical clinics, Ynet News report.
Hadassah employs over 850 doctors, 1,940 nurses, 1,020 paramedical and support staff, and nearly 900 managers who work across two campuses. The two facilities have a total of 1,150 beds, 31 operating rooms, and nine specially-oriented intensive care units, the hospital's website says.
9 feb 2014
Site of blast in Tel Aviv, Saturday
An Israeli police official said on Sunday the recent assassinations in Israeli occupation cities and were carried out with the use of ‘IDF explosives’. "The source of most of the explosives is the Israeli Defense Forces," the ynetnews.com reported the statement of the police commissioner.
"No police force in the world knows how to totally prevent these kinds of incidents. I hope we manage to make significant progress in this area. We thwart (such incidents) practically on a weekly basis; (the public) is unaware of most of our thwarting efforts," he said.
The Hebrew edition of the Israeli daily said 12 booby-trapped cars exploded since last Summer.
The daily quoted official statistics as showing that seven Israelis were killed in the recent bombings and dozens wounded in Israeli mafia violence, most recently the southern "Tel Aviv" incident which took place on Saturday evening in which an Israeli was killed.
It added that Tel Aviv yesterday [Saturday] joined the list of ghost towns of Askelan, Ashdod, Petah Tikva and Rehovot, given the police impotence in the face of such crimes.
The daily wondered whether Israel would launch 'Operation Defensive Shield' anew against the mafia gangs after Israelis got their security lost, referring to so-called ‘Operation Defensive Shield’ against West Bank cities in 2002 during Second Intifada, which claimed the lives of some 250 Palestinians.
An Israeli police official said on Sunday the recent assassinations in Israeli occupation cities and were carried out with the use of ‘IDF explosives’. "The source of most of the explosives is the Israeli Defense Forces," the ynetnews.com reported the statement of the police commissioner.
"No police force in the world knows how to totally prevent these kinds of incidents. I hope we manage to make significant progress in this area. We thwart (such incidents) practically on a weekly basis; (the public) is unaware of most of our thwarting efforts," he said.
The Hebrew edition of the Israeli daily said 12 booby-trapped cars exploded since last Summer.
The daily quoted official statistics as showing that seven Israelis were killed in the recent bombings and dozens wounded in Israeli mafia violence, most recently the southern "Tel Aviv" incident which took place on Saturday evening in which an Israeli was killed.
It added that Tel Aviv yesterday [Saturday] joined the list of ghost towns of Askelan, Ashdod, Petah Tikva and Rehovot, given the police impotence in the face of such crimes.
The daily wondered whether Israel would launch 'Operation Defensive Shield' anew against the mafia gangs after Israelis got their security lost, referring to so-called ‘Operation Defensive Shield’ against West Bank cities in 2002 during Second Intifada, which claimed the lives of some 250 Palestinians.
New legislation promises to ease requirements for descendants of Jews exiled in 1492 to reclaim their Spanish citizenship, but hurdles remain
In recent months, rumors of Spanish intentions to grant dual nationality status for the descendants of Jews expelled in 1492 sent many Israelis to lawyers and the Latin American Olim Association to find out if they would be eligible for the coveted citizenship.
Some in that demographic say this "rights a historical wrong." For others, Spain is a financial springboard to Europe. But it is likely that these potential Spaniards will have to wait awhile before they actualize their new-found right to their citizenship. Over the weekend, 522 years after King Fernando II and Queen Isabella I signed an edict ordering the expulsion of Sephardic Jews, the government in Madrid approved a law permitting the descendants of those expelled to claim Spanish citizenship without conceding the citizenship of the country of their residency.
Estimates place the size of the eligible demographic at 3.5 million Jews. The amendment to the law grants citizenship upon request, provided the applicants prove their ancestry through their family name, language skills, inheritance, or their cultural ties to Spain.
Chairman of the Olim Association of Latin America, Spain, and Portugal Leon Amiras is skeptical of the Spanish legislature's intentions: "On one hand there is the feeling of coming full circle, but on the other hand it doesn't look like this will proceed successfully because of bureaucratic problems." He said, "The authority given to the Jewish Federation in Madrid to decided who is entitled to the citizenship will be complicated because the federation is staffed by volunteers who can't process the mass amount of applications that will be submitted simultaneously." More than a few Israelis boast about their Spanish roots, including noted actor Moni Moshonov who was born to Bulgarian immigrants. "They say our roots link to Spain and – honestly – until today I wasn't interested in this topic," he admitted.
"I think Spain could be the opening for a lot of Israelis who want to go to Europe, whether for pleasure or for work. Personally, I'm not interested. As of now, I'm staying in Israel and I have no intention to leave." 'Ticket to a better future' Unlike Moshonov, many Sephardic Jews have turned to professionals for document translations to prove their Spanish roots. Olim Association chair Amiras urged patience: "Until I see the Spanish approving citizenships, I'll continue to doubt this move, which I think was intended for public relations."
He expressed an additional concern: "Another hurdle could be residents of Peru or Colombia who have Jewish surnames from the past, but today live with no connection to Judaism. For them Spanish citizenship is a ticket to a better economic future in Europe." Maya Weiss-Tamir, a lawyer who handles Israeli applications for Spanish citizenship, says that current standards require Israeli applicants to live in Spain for two years and give up their previous passport; the new legislation will remove these barriers. Mordechai Ben-Abir, an 88-year-old man from Beersheba, made aliyah under the name Marcus Cabalero.
He had previously tried to get Spanish citizenship, but was asked to concede his Israeli passport. "I would never give it up. The fact that it is no longer required is a tremendous achievement. I have been consumed by this issue and I believe I will be the first to act on getting the Spanish citizenship, righting a wrong against Sephardic Jews." Ben-Abir said he finished his doctorate thesis at the age of 82, "only to discover my Spanish roots. I think I'm the only person in the world who has scientifically proven his connection to the Spanish expulsion. I managed to trace my roots from 1200 to today."
Despite the growing interest, Weiss-Tamir has lower expectations: "In November it was announced they would write new legislation to grant automatic citizenship to anyone who can prove that he is a descendant of Spanish Jews. Not much has happened since then, until yesterday when they discussed the proposal – an amendment that will facilitate the citizenship process."
She added: "It's still ongoing. The law will lighten the burden on the descendants of the expelled and will define their unusual circumstances. The law will allocate a specific time frame for submitting applications. A certificate from the federation of the Jewish community in Spain, a well-known organization, is required, but they have yet to receive from the authorities the criteria for issuing the certificate – so it's all up in the air."
Weiss-Tamir's office is inundated with files of Spanish exiles: "People want to work, to live there, and there are sentimental considerations too." Still, the descendants of the men and women expelled from the Iberian peninsula are running into difficulties proving their familial ties from centuries ago, "On the way proof was lost, and there was a Holocaust, but there are people who have data that goes back many years."
In recent months, rumors of Spanish intentions to grant dual nationality status for the descendants of Jews expelled in 1492 sent many Israelis to lawyers and the Latin American Olim Association to find out if they would be eligible for the coveted citizenship.
Some in that demographic say this "rights a historical wrong." For others, Spain is a financial springboard to Europe. But it is likely that these potential Spaniards will have to wait awhile before they actualize their new-found right to their citizenship. Over the weekend, 522 years after King Fernando II and Queen Isabella I signed an edict ordering the expulsion of Sephardic Jews, the government in Madrid approved a law permitting the descendants of those expelled to claim Spanish citizenship without conceding the citizenship of the country of their residency.
Estimates place the size of the eligible demographic at 3.5 million Jews. The amendment to the law grants citizenship upon request, provided the applicants prove their ancestry through their family name, language skills, inheritance, or their cultural ties to Spain.
Chairman of the Olim Association of Latin America, Spain, and Portugal Leon Amiras is skeptical of the Spanish legislature's intentions: "On one hand there is the feeling of coming full circle, but on the other hand it doesn't look like this will proceed successfully because of bureaucratic problems." He said, "The authority given to the Jewish Federation in Madrid to decided who is entitled to the citizenship will be complicated because the federation is staffed by volunteers who can't process the mass amount of applications that will be submitted simultaneously." More than a few Israelis boast about their Spanish roots, including noted actor Moni Moshonov who was born to Bulgarian immigrants. "They say our roots link to Spain and – honestly – until today I wasn't interested in this topic," he admitted.
"I think Spain could be the opening for a lot of Israelis who want to go to Europe, whether for pleasure or for work. Personally, I'm not interested. As of now, I'm staying in Israel and I have no intention to leave." 'Ticket to a better future' Unlike Moshonov, many Sephardic Jews have turned to professionals for document translations to prove their Spanish roots. Olim Association chair Amiras urged patience: "Until I see the Spanish approving citizenships, I'll continue to doubt this move, which I think was intended for public relations."
He expressed an additional concern: "Another hurdle could be residents of Peru or Colombia who have Jewish surnames from the past, but today live with no connection to Judaism. For them Spanish citizenship is a ticket to a better economic future in Europe." Maya Weiss-Tamir, a lawyer who handles Israeli applications for Spanish citizenship, says that current standards require Israeli applicants to live in Spain for two years and give up their previous passport; the new legislation will remove these barriers. Mordechai Ben-Abir, an 88-year-old man from Beersheba, made aliyah under the name Marcus Cabalero.
He had previously tried to get Spanish citizenship, but was asked to concede his Israeli passport. "I would never give it up. The fact that it is no longer required is a tremendous achievement. I have been consumed by this issue and I believe I will be the first to act on getting the Spanish citizenship, righting a wrong against Sephardic Jews." Ben-Abir said he finished his doctorate thesis at the age of 82, "only to discover my Spanish roots. I think I'm the only person in the world who has scientifically proven his connection to the Spanish expulsion. I managed to trace my roots from 1200 to today."
Despite the growing interest, Weiss-Tamir has lower expectations: "In November it was announced they would write new legislation to grant automatic citizenship to anyone who can prove that he is a descendant of Spanish Jews. Not much has happened since then, until yesterday when they discussed the proposal – an amendment that will facilitate the citizenship process."
She added: "It's still ongoing. The law will lighten the burden on the descendants of the expelled and will define their unusual circumstances. The law will allocate a specific time frame for submitting applications. A certificate from the federation of the Jewish community in Spain, a well-known organization, is required, but they have yet to receive from the authorities the criteria for issuing the certificate – so it's all up in the air."
Weiss-Tamir's office is inundated with files of Spanish exiles: "People want to work, to live there, and there are sentimental considerations too." Still, the descendants of the men and women expelled from the Iberian peninsula are running into difficulties proving their familial ties from centuries ago, "On the way proof was lost, and there was a Holocaust, but there are people who have data that goes back many years."
Former CIA Director James Woolsey
Former CIA Director James Woolsey says anti-Semitism could be a factor in the U.S. refusal to release a Jewish American jailed for spying for Israel.
Woolsey's told Israeli Channel 10 TV Saturday that Americans who spied for other countries including Korea and Greece were freed after short sentences, while Jonathan Pollard is still jailed after 25 years.
Pollard was a civilian intelligence analyst for the U.S. Navy when he gave thousands of classified documents to his Israeli handlers. He was arrested in 1985 and later sentenced to life in prison.
"I certainly don't think that it is universally true, but in the case of some American individuals, I think there is anti-Semitism at work here," Woolsey said.
He said others who did the same as Pollard were freed quickly.
Former CIA Director James Woolsey says anti-Semitism could be a factor in the U.S. refusal to release a Jewish American jailed for spying for Israel.
Woolsey's told Israeli Channel 10 TV Saturday that Americans who spied for other countries including Korea and Greece were freed after short sentences, while Jonathan Pollard is still jailed after 25 years.
Pollard was a civilian intelligence analyst for the U.S. Navy when he gave thousands of classified documents to his Israeli handlers. He was arrested in 1985 and later sentenced to life in prison.
"I certainly don't think that it is universally true, but in the case of some American individuals, I think there is anti-Semitism at work here," Woolsey said.
He said others who did the same as Pollard were freed quickly.
8 feb 2014
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An Israeli was killed after a car bomb exploded in mysterious circumstances in south Tel Aviv on Saturday evening.
Israeli sources reported that the explosion targeted a car on Sheshet Hayamim (Six Days) street in the neighborhood of Kfar Shalem. The sources added that a large force of police and ambulance rushed to the scene of the explosion, and that police had begun an investigation into the causes of the blast, which were not immediately clear. Israeli news site Walla reported that the car belonged to a woman from the Israeli city of Nahariya, |
but it was not clear if she was present in the car at the time of the explosion.
The car bomb is the latest in a series of at least 10 bombings inside Israel in recent months that have killed four and injured five more.
The majority of these attacks have been linked to domestic criminal networks. Organized crime has become a major issue inside Israel in recent years.
The car bomb is the latest in a series of at least 10 bombings inside Israel in recent months that have killed four and injured five more.
The majority of these attacks have been linked to domestic criminal networks. Organized crime has become a major issue inside Israel in recent years.
7 feb 2014
The unemployment rate among Arab men in Israel is twice higher than that of Jewish people amid rising economic disparity between Jews and the Arab minority there, a recent survey has revealed.
According a study funded by the Bank of Israel and released last month, the jobless figure among Arab men in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian lands is twice that of their Jewish peers and it is on the rise.
The report also shows that Jewish men earn roughly twice as much as Arabs residing in Israel. Arab women are also three times less likely to have a job than Jewish women, the report says.
Economic experts have blamed the rising trend in job discrimination on the Israeli regime’s “ghettoization” of the Arabs living in the occupied Palestinian territories.
In November 2012, a survey jointly conducted by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the Israeli social organization of Abraham Fund Initiatives showed that voting levels among the Arab minority who live in the occupied Palestinian territories dropped from 75 percent in the 1999 elections to 53.4 percent in 2009.
The percentage of the voting levels is likely to decline even further in the future, according to the poll.
According to a report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in December 2012, Israel has one of the highest rates of poverty among 35 member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
According a study funded by the Bank of Israel and released last month, the jobless figure among Arab men in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian lands is twice that of their Jewish peers and it is on the rise.
The report also shows that Jewish men earn roughly twice as much as Arabs residing in Israel. Arab women are also three times less likely to have a job than Jewish women, the report says.
Economic experts have blamed the rising trend in job discrimination on the Israeli regime’s “ghettoization” of the Arabs living in the occupied Palestinian territories.
In November 2012, a survey jointly conducted by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the Israeli social organization of Abraham Fund Initiatives showed that voting levels among the Arab minority who live in the occupied Palestinian territories dropped from 75 percent in the 1999 elections to 53.4 percent in 2009.
The percentage of the voting levels is likely to decline even further in the future, according to the poll.
According to a report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in December 2012, Israel has one of the highest rates of poverty among 35 member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
6 feb 2014
Israeli municipal teams in the city of Jaffa in 148 occupied Palestine removed banners of Arabic names from the streets of several neighborhoods in the city and re-named them in Hebrew. Sheikh Suleiman Satel, a preacher from Jaffa, said in a press statement on Thursday morning that the municipality renamed the streets after Jewish leaders and rabbis in an attempt to give a Jewish character to the city and its neighborhoods.
He stressed, however, that the Israeli authorities' procedures will never change the Arab reality of the city of Jaffa.
He stressed, however, that the Israeli authorities' procedures will never change the Arab reality of the city of Jaffa.
Former Fatah strongman Muhammad Dahlan on Thursday denied media reports that he had met with an Israeli official as part of discussions to be a potential replacement for President Mahmoud Abbas.
Earlier, Israeli daily Maariv reported that Benjamin Netanyahu had sent his political adviser Yitzhak Molcho to Dubai to meet with the former Fatah official.
The move was described as an attempt to build good relations with Dahlan as a potential political partner if Israel and the PLO fail to reach an agreement in ongoing peace talks.
Israeli officials reportedly believe that Dahlan's popularity in both the Gaza Strip and West Bank make him a suitable replacement for Abbas, Maariv said.
Dahlan told Ma'an that he has not met with Yitzhak Molcho for personal or political reasons since the late 1990s, when both officials were involved in negotiations.
"If the Palestinian people's interest requires that I meet with any Israeli personality at a lecture, a conference or any other occasion, I do not do that secretly behind the scenes as some Palestinians did while Israel besieged our late leader Yasser Arafat," he said.
Dahlan called the Maariv report pure "fiction" and said that people like him would never accept what the Israelis are proposing in peace talks.
A former security chief in the Gaza Strip under Fatah, Dahlan fled the West Bank after his ouster from the party in 2011, after which security forces raided his home.
Fatah's Central Committee said at the time that he was expelled for harming Palestinian national interests and coercing outside parties to commit crimes over a number of years.
The committee said that Dahlan had led a racket which stole money from the Palestinian Investment Fund and controlled crossings and the movement of goods and people.
Leaked reports also said that the former Fatah strongman in Gaza was building a private armed militia in the West Bank. Dahlan denied the allegations.
Earlier, Israeli daily Maariv reported that Benjamin Netanyahu had sent his political adviser Yitzhak Molcho to Dubai to meet with the former Fatah official.
The move was described as an attempt to build good relations with Dahlan as a potential political partner if Israel and the PLO fail to reach an agreement in ongoing peace talks.
Israeli officials reportedly believe that Dahlan's popularity in both the Gaza Strip and West Bank make him a suitable replacement for Abbas, Maariv said.
Dahlan told Ma'an that he has not met with Yitzhak Molcho for personal or political reasons since the late 1990s, when both officials were involved in negotiations.
"If the Palestinian people's interest requires that I meet with any Israeli personality at a lecture, a conference or any other occasion, I do not do that secretly behind the scenes as some Palestinians did while Israel besieged our late leader Yasser Arafat," he said.
Dahlan called the Maariv report pure "fiction" and said that people like him would never accept what the Israelis are proposing in peace talks.
A former security chief in the Gaza Strip under Fatah, Dahlan fled the West Bank after his ouster from the party in 2011, after which security forces raided his home.
Fatah's Central Committee said at the time that he was expelled for harming Palestinian national interests and coercing outside parties to commit crimes over a number of years.
The committee said that Dahlan had led a racket which stole money from the Palestinian Investment Fund and controlled crossings and the movement of goods and people.
Leaked reports also said that the former Fatah strongman in Gaza was building a private armed militia in the West Bank. Dahlan denied the allegations.
Mohamed Dahlan in Dubai
Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu sent a few days ago his personal envoy Yitzhak Molcho to Dubai to meet with former Fatah leader Mohamed Dahlan, a notorious Palestinian strongman, according to a report by Maariv newspaper on Thursday. Maariv expressed its belief that Israel seems interested in restoring its contacts with Dahlan in preparation for the possible resignation of Mahmoud Abbas from his post as president of the Palestinian Authority.
It noted that there are top Israeli officials who think that Dahlan could be a good peace partner rather than Abbas who would, most likely, not be able to sign a permanent settlement agreement with Israel.
Fatah expelled Dahlan from the party in June 2011 because of his repeated criticism of Abbas.
Dahlan has once accused Abbas of being a weak leader and allowing his sons to benefit financially from his rule.
Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu sent a few days ago his personal envoy Yitzhak Molcho to Dubai to meet with former Fatah leader Mohamed Dahlan, a notorious Palestinian strongman, according to a report by Maariv newspaper on Thursday. Maariv expressed its belief that Israel seems interested in restoring its contacts with Dahlan in preparation for the possible resignation of Mahmoud Abbas from his post as president of the Palestinian Authority.
It noted that there are top Israeli officials who think that Dahlan could be a good peace partner rather than Abbas who would, most likely, not be able to sign a permanent settlement agreement with Israel.
Fatah expelled Dahlan from the party in June 2011 because of his repeated criticism of Abbas.
Dahlan has once accused Abbas of being a weak leader and allowing his sons to benefit financially from his rule.
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Israel's Finance Ministry said on Wednesday it was cutting funds to seminary students exempt from compulsory military service, in the latest battle between the Jewish state majority and an ultra-Orthodox minority.
Seminary students, many of whom rely on state stipends, have for decades been excused from army service under blanket exemptions that have long stoked resentment in a country whose other citizens are called to duty at the age of 18. The issue is at the heart of an emotional national debate. "If you do not take on the duties, then why are you asking to get the |
privileges?" said Finance Minister Yair Lapid on Army Radio in an admonition to ultra-Orthodox Jews after halting the funding in line with a ruling from Israel's Supreme Court.
The court ordered the government on Tuesday to stop paying stipends to some seminary students, infuriating ultra-Orthodox community leaders who noted that in the absence of a new law, deferrals were still being issued by the Defence Ministry.
The ruling from the Supreme Court, which in 2012 struck down a "service deferral law", demonstrated its dissatisfaction with foot-dragging in parliament over passage of new legislation that would open the way for wider enlistment of ultra-Orthodox men.
Israel's ultra-Orthodox Jews, or "Haredim" - a Hebrew term meaning "those who tremble before God" - say the study of holy scriptures is a foundation of Jewish life and that scholars have a right to devote themselves full time to the tradition.
"The Supreme Court has declared war on us and we will wage war back on it," Haredi lawmaker Moshe Gafni told Army Radio.
"He who studies Torah will continue to study Torah even if he is thrown in jail or if his funding is stopped."
The court ordered the government on Tuesday to stop paying stipends to some seminary students, infuriating ultra-Orthodox community leaders who noted that in the absence of a new law, deferrals were still being issued by the Defence Ministry.
The ruling from the Supreme Court, which in 2012 struck down a "service deferral law", demonstrated its dissatisfaction with foot-dragging in parliament over passage of new legislation that would open the way for wider enlistment of ultra-Orthodox men.
Israel's ultra-Orthodox Jews, or "Haredim" - a Hebrew term meaning "those who tremble before God" - say the study of holy scriptures is a foundation of Jewish life and that scholars have a right to devote themselves full time to the tradition.
"The Supreme Court has declared war on us and we will wage war back on it," Haredi lawmaker Moshe Gafni told Army Radio.
"He who studies Torah will continue to study Torah even if he is thrown in jail or if his funding is stopped."
5 feb 2014
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at an awards ceremony for distinguished resisters to the illegal slave trade, declaring: "Israel is described as a war criminal and serial abuser of human rights, while around us the worst horrors are happening."
He said: "This hypocrisy hurts the effort to root out evil and promote good." Netanyahu stressed that "We will not be deterred; we will continue our effort to be a light unto the nations, if they will only want to see the light."
He said: "This hypocrisy hurts the effort to root out evil and promote good." Netanyahu stressed that "We will not be deterred; we will continue our effort to be a light unto the nations, if they will only want to see the light."
Jewish refugees from Egypt
State Comptroller opinion reveals only 14,000 claim forms were filed until 2009. Property rights of those forced to flee Arab states, Iran were not adequately defended by Jewish State's administration
Israel did not properly document Jewish property in the Arab states from which they were forced to flee, wrote State Comptroller ret. Judge Yosef Shapira on Wednesday afternoon.
Compensations for Jewish refugees was included in the framework agreement presented by the Americans to Israelis and Palestinians, which will grant indemnifications to those who were forced to flee their homes and property without being able to recoup their losses.
According to the opinion by the state comptroller, many Israelis will find it difficult to receive the compensation because – despite numerous, conflicting government decisions to document and evaluate the massive amounts of property left behind – the issue was not handled properly over the years.
The figures presented by the state comptroller show that in 1948 more than one million Jews lived in Arab lands and in Iran, and the value of their property stood at billions of dollars.
About two-thirds of these Jews came to Israel, and in 1969 the Israeli government decided that the Justice Ministry will begin investigating and collecting legal documentation regarding the financial and physical harm directed at Jews who left Iraq, Syria, Egypt, and Yemen.
In March of 2002, the government widened the scope of the investigation to include all Arab states and Iran. Between 2003 and 2007, the government approved a number of decisions on the matter of collecting the data on private and communal Jewish property in the aforementioned states, but from 1969 to 2009 only 14,000 claim forms were filled out in full.
As such, the government collected information that would explain the circumstances of the affected Jewish communities, the legislation which discriminated against them, the confiscation of their property, and the harassment the community members faced. In October 2009 the case was transferred to the Pensioners' Affairs Ministry.
State Comptroller opinion reveals only 14,000 claim forms were filed until 2009. Property rights of those forced to flee Arab states, Iran were not adequately defended by Jewish State's administration
Israel did not properly document Jewish property in the Arab states from which they were forced to flee, wrote State Comptroller ret. Judge Yosef Shapira on Wednesday afternoon.
Compensations for Jewish refugees was included in the framework agreement presented by the Americans to Israelis and Palestinians, which will grant indemnifications to those who were forced to flee their homes and property without being able to recoup their losses.
According to the opinion by the state comptroller, many Israelis will find it difficult to receive the compensation because – despite numerous, conflicting government decisions to document and evaluate the massive amounts of property left behind – the issue was not handled properly over the years.
The figures presented by the state comptroller show that in 1948 more than one million Jews lived in Arab lands and in Iran, and the value of their property stood at billions of dollars.
About two-thirds of these Jews came to Israel, and in 1969 the Israeli government decided that the Justice Ministry will begin investigating and collecting legal documentation regarding the financial and physical harm directed at Jews who left Iraq, Syria, Egypt, and Yemen.
In March of 2002, the government widened the scope of the investigation to include all Arab states and Iran. Between 2003 and 2007, the government approved a number of decisions on the matter of collecting the data on private and communal Jewish property in the aforementioned states, but from 1969 to 2009 only 14,000 claim forms were filled out in full.
As such, the government collected information that would explain the circumstances of the affected Jewish communities, the legislation which discriminated against them, the confiscation of their property, and the harassment the community members faced. In October 2009 the case was transferred to the Pensioners' Affairs Ministry.
4 feb 2014
Tal Nachman 21
An Israeli officer was killed overnight Monday by friendly fire near the northern Gaza border, Israel's army said.
"The IDF confirms an IDF officer was killed overnight following misidentified discharge during routine activity adjacent to the security fence in the northern Gaza Strip. The circumstances of the incident are being investigated," an Israeli army spokeswoman told Ma'an.
An Israeli soldier mistakenly shot the officer after believing he was a "terrorist," Israeli news site Ynet reported.
The officer was on top of an armored personnel carrier when he shot and was no more than 20 meters from the other soldier, Ynet said.
An Israeli officer was killed overnight Monday by friendly fire near the northern Gaza border, Israel's army said.
"The IDF confirms an IDF officer was killed overnight following misidentified discharge during routine activity adjacent to the security fence in the northern Gaza Strip. The circumstances of the incident are being investigated," an Israeli army spokeswoman told Ma'an.
An Israeli soldier mistakenly shot the officer after believing he was a "terrorist," Israeli news site Ynet reported.
The officer was on top of an armored personnel carrier when he shot and was no more than 20 meters from the other soldier, Ynet said.
A website set up by political analysts with close ties to Israeli intelligence has predicted that Israel’s support for Egyptian military coup mastermind General Abdal-Fattah al-Sisi will backfire. Noting the increase of rocket attacks on Israel from Sinai-based groups such as Ansar Bait al-Maqdis, the Debkafile website implied that Israel was taking a huge risk in cooperating with Al-Sisi, who ousted the elected president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.
The southern Israeli city of Eliat has particularly been put in danger by instability in Sinai, the website reported.
The Egyptian army has been targeting pockets of anti-coup resistance since Morsi’s ouster.
The southern Israeli city of Eliat has particularly been put in danger by instability in Sinai, the website reported.
The Egyptian army has been targeting pockets of anti-coup resistance since Morsi’s ouster.
3 feb 2014
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said on Sunday that Jordan is against recognizing Israel as a Jewish state and Jordan will not be an alternative home for Palestinians. Speaking during a parliament session which dealt with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s peace plan, Judeh reiterated that Jordan will not be an "alternative home for anybody."
He stressed " There are no formulas or U.S. documents written to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict, but a frame work agreement,” noting that” it is up to Palestinians and Israelis to singe it or not."
"Jordan is integrally involved in and has big role in the Palestinian-Israeli talks," he added.
Judeh stressed that Jordan is not absent from the peace negotiations and will not accept any solution that contradicts with the country’s interests and national security. "Jordan will not negotiate on behalf of Palestinians regarding their envisioned state’s borders with Israel," Judeh added.
Judeh described American efforts to push peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a "serious attempt" to reach tangible results.
Martin Indyk, U.S. Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations revealed on Friday that Secretary of State John Kerry’s framework agreement would address compensation for Palestinian refugees but did not mention any thing about Palestinian refugees' right of return .
Explaining the security arrangement for the border between Jordan and the West Bank, Indyk said a new security zone would be created, with new fences, sensors and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Kerry's peace plan ,which will be presented within weeks, involving semi cancel of Palestinians refugee's right of return which means transferring the problem into Jordan which half of its population are of Palestinian origin and 15% of them do not hold the Jordanian citizenship.
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said on Sunday that Jordan is against recognizing Israel as a Jewish state and Jordan will not be an alternative home for Palestinians. Speaking during a parliament session which dealt with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s peace plan, Judeh reiterated that Jordan will not be an "alternative home for anybody."
He stressed " There are no formulas or U.S. documents written to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict, but a frame work agreement,” noting that” it is up to Palestinians and Israelis to singe it or not."
"Jordan is integrally involved in and has big role in the Palestinian-Israeli talks," he added.
Judeh stressed that Jordan is not absent from the peace negotiations and will not accept any solution that contradicts with the country’s interests and national security. "Jordan will not negotiate on behalf of Palestinians regarding their envisioned state’s borders with Israel," Judeh added.
Judeh described American efforts to push peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a "serious attempt" to reach tangible results.
Martin Indyk, U.S. Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations revealed on Friday that Secretary of State John Kerry’s framework agreement would address compensation for Palestinian refugees but did not mention any thing about Palestinian refugees' right of return .
Explaining the security arrangement for the border between Jordan and the West Bank, Indyk said a new security zone would be created, with new fences, sensors and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Kerry's peace plan ,which will be presented within weeks, involving semi cancel of Palestinians refugee's right of return which means transferring the problem into Jordan which half of its population are of Palestinian origin and 15% of them do not hold the Jordanian citizenship.
1 feb 2014
A Knesset member accused U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry of having "anti-Semitic undertones," Israeli media reported Saturday. Moti Yogev of Habayit Hayehudi told Israel Radio on Thursday that Kerry puts "obsessive pressure" on Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to move so-called peace process forward.
Netanyahu has to maneuver under Kerry's relentlessness and "unprofessionalism, which may also have anti-Semitic undertones to it," said Yogev, who claimed that many Likud members share his view.
Kerry has "anti-Israel elements to him," which is why he does not seek compromise but only "unequivocal answers that could only mean shrinking Israel's borders." The right-wing MK added.
Habayit Hayehudi, which means The Jewish Home, is one of the far-right Israeli parties. Voices within the party have been stressing an unequivocal position asking Palestinian negotiators to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
Israel's pressure on Palestinians to recognize it as a Jewish state is an attempt to legalize "racism," PLO official Hanan Ashrawi said on Saturday, January 11, 2014.
A "Jewish state" recognition would exempt Israel from its responsibility toward the Palestinian refugees who were forcibly displaced from their homes in 1948, Ma’an quoted Ashrawi.
Netanyahu has to maneuver under Kerry's relentlessness and "unprofessionalism, which may also have anti-Semitic undertones to it," said Yogev, who claimed that many Likud members share his view.
Kerry has "anti-Israel elements to him," which is why he does not seek compromise but only "unequivocal answers that could only mean shrinking Israel's borders." The right-wing MK added.
Habayit Hayehudi, which means The Jewish Home, is one of the far-right Israeli parties. Voices within the party have been stressing an unequivocal position asking Palestinian negotiators to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
Israel's pressure on Palestinians to recognize it as a Jewish state is an attempt to legalize "racism," PLO official Hanan Ashrawi said on Saturday, January 11, 2014.
A "Jewish state" recognition would exempt Israel from its responsibility toward the Palestinian refugees who were forcibly displaced from their homes in 1948, Ma’an quoted Ashrawi.
Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepted a rocket fired at Eilat Friday and destroyed it, police said, the second time the Red Sea resort has been targeted this month.
The rocket was destroyed by an Iron Dome battery deployed outside Eilat and there were no injuries or damage in the foiled attack, a police spokeswoman said.
On Jan. 20, a rocket struck the outskirts of Eilat and the following day an Egypt-based Wahhabi militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.
The al-Qaeda-inspired Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, which has claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in Egypt in recent months, said it fired the rocket because Israel was the Muslim world's top enemy.
Eilat was also targeted in August and the army said at the time that the Iron Dome anti-missile system had intercepted a rocket.
A Gaza-based group called the Mujahedeen Shura Council said it carried out that attack.
Since the ouster of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak in Feb. 2011, Israel's border with Sinai has seen multiple security incidents, with militants using the relatively lawless peninsula to stage attacks on the country.
The rocket was destroyed by an Iron Dome battery deployed outside Eilat and there were no injuries or damage in the foiled attack, a police spokeswoman said.
On Jan. 20, a rocket struck the outskirts of Eilat and the following day an Egypt-based Wahhabi militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.
The al-Qaeda-inspired Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, which has claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in Egypt in recent months, said it fired the rocket because Israel was the Muslim world's top enemy.
Eilat was also targeted in August and the army said at the time that the Iron Dome anti-missile system had intercepted a rocket.
A Gaza-based group called the Mujahedeen Shura Council said it carried out that attack.
Since the ouster of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak in Feb. 2011, Israel's border with Sinai has seen multiple security incidents, with militants using the relatively lawless peninsula to stage attacks on the country.