Israel’s Foreign Ministry has today published a video found among belongings of Turkish flotilla passenger.
Footage from the The video shows Bulent Yildirim, leader of the IHH group speaking to activists on the ship saying, 'We don't want to be recorded in Allah's book as cowards. If you send commandos, we will throw you down from here'
The video below shows an Egyptian parliament member shouting to the crowd: "Millions of martyrs marching to Gaza," and the response from the passengers echoing his call for "millions of martyrs marching to Gaza!"
"They (Israel) are so weak that for 4-5 days they have been engaging in propaganda (against us)…they have been humiliated in front of the whole world… now they are saying that they will launch a fleet (against us)… that they will send the commandos here (to the ship)."
"And we say: 'If you send the commandos, we will throw you down from here and you will be humiliated in front of the whole world," Yildirim tells the passengers.
Read more and watch video at News from Jerusalem
Friday, June 18, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Hamas Threatens life of kidnapped Israeli Soldier in cartoon - Could they be any more disgusting?
Fathi Hamad, a key Hamas figure involved in negotiations for Gilad Shalit's release has a three-year-old daughter who was transferred to Jordan for urgent medical treatment. Israel allowed the transfer on humanitarian grounds.
A defense establishment official explained that despite the unusual request and the fact that the girl's father is a Hamas man, Israel decided to approve the humanitarian move in order to save the girl's life.
The source added that it would have been wrong to turn down the request, despite the fact that Hamad is a senior Hamas member involved in the negotiations aimed at securing the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit.
And how did Hamas respond to the goodwill gesture? With a manipulative animated video depicting Gilad Shalit's return in a coffin to an old and gray father. The video ends with a renewed Hamas threat to kidnap more Israeli soldiers.
Read more at News from Jerusalem
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
MIND-BOGLING FACTS ABOUT ISRAEL ...!!! Did you know??
MIND-BOGLING FACTS ABOUT ISRAEL ...!!! Did you know??
Geography:
Israel is only 1/6 of 1% of the landmass of the Middle East .
Israel is roughly half the size of Lake Michigan .
The Sea of Galilee , at 695 ft. Below sea level, is the lowest freshwater lake in the world.
The Dead Sea is the lowest surface point on earth, at about 1,373 feet below sea level.
Israel is the only nation in the world that entered the 21st century with a net gain in it's number of trees.
Jericho is the oldest continuously inhabited town in the world.
The Mount of Olives in Jerusalem is the oldest, continually used cemetery in the world.
Demographics:
Israel 's population is half the size of Metro New York City.
Israel has only 2% of the population of the Middle East .
Israel has the highest ratio of university degrees per capita in the world.
Israel produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation in the world - by a large margin.
Israel has the highest number of scientists and technicians per capita in the world - by a large margin.
Israel has the highest number of engineers per capita in the world.
Israel has the highest number of PhD's per capita in the world.
Israel has the highest number of physicians per capita in the world.
Israel has the largest percentage of it's workforce employed in technical professions in the world.
Israel is the largest immigrant-absorbing nation in the world, per capita.
Israel is the only country in the Middle East where the Christian population has grown over the last 50 years.
Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Christians, Muslims and Jews are all
free to vote.
Israel is the only country in the Middle East where women enjoy full political rights.
Economics:
Israel has the largest number of startup companies per capita in the world.
Israel is the world's largest wholesale diamond center, finally surpassing Antwerp in the 1970's. Most of the cut & polished diamonds in the world come from Israel .
Israel has the largest number of NASDAQ listed companies outside of the US and Canada.
Israel was the first country to have a free trade agreement with the United States .
Apart from the Silicon Valley, Israel has the highest concentration of hi-tech companies in the world.
Electronics:
The cell phone was developed in Israel at Motorola's largest development center.
The Voice Mail technology was developed in Israel .
In the early 80's, IBM chose an Israeli-designed computer chip as the brains for it's first personal computers.
The first anti-virus software for computers was developed in Israel in 1979.
Most of the Windows NT and XP operating systems were developed in Israel by
Microsoft.
Both the Pentium-4 and Centrino processors were entirely designed, developed and produced in Israel .
The Pentium MMX Chip techn! ology was designed in Israel at Intel.
Israel has the highest number of home computers per capita in the world.
The technology for the AOL Instant Messenger and ICQ was developed in 1996 by 4 young Israelis.
Israel was the first Middle Eastern country to launch a satellite, the Ofek 1, on September 19, 1988.
Culture:
Hebrew is the only case of a dead national language being revived in all of world history. Hebrew had not been spoken as a native tongue by anyone for centuries. Today it is the native tongue of millions of people.
Israel has more museums per capita than any other nation in the world.
Israel has more orchestras per capita than any other nation in the world.
Israel publishes more books per capita than any other nation in the world.
Israel publishes more books translated from other languages than any other nation in the world.
Israel reads more books per capita than any other nation in the world.
The most independent and free Arabic press in the Middle East is in Israel.
Military/Security:
Israel has the largest fleet of F-16 aircraft outside of the US .
Israel has the world's most impenetrable airline security.
Israel spends more money per capita on its own protection than any country in the world.
Other:
Israel 's dairy cows are the most productive dairy cows in the world. They average
25,432 pounds of milk per cow per year, compared to just 18,747 pounds from American cows; 17,085 from Canadian cows; 13,778 from European Union cows; 10,207 from Australian cows; and 6,600 from Chinese cows.
Israel has more in-vitro fertilization per capita than anywhere in the world, and it's free.
Israelis, per capita, are the world's biggest consumers of fruits and vegetables.
Of the 175 UN Security Council resolutions passed before 1990, 97 were directed against Israel . Of the 690 UN General Assembly resolutions voted on before 1990, 429 were directed against Israel!
More News from Jerusalem
Geography:
Israel is only 1/6 of 1% of the landmass of the Middle East .
Israel is roughly half the size of Lake Michigan .
The Sea of Galilee , at 695 ft. Below sea level, is the lowest freshwater lake in the world.
The Dead Sea is the lowest surface point on earth, at about 1,373 feet below sea level.
Israel is the only nation in the world that entered the 21st century with a net gain in it's number of trees.
Jericho is the oldest continuously inhabited town in the world.
The Mount of Olives in Jerusalem is the oldest, continually used cemetery in the world.
Demographics:
Israel 's population is half the size of Metro New York City.
Israel has only 2% of the population of the Middle East .
Israel has the highest ratio of university degrees per capita in the world.
Israel produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation in the world - by a large margin.
Israel has the highest number of scientists and technicians per capita in the world - by a large margin.
Israel has the highest number of engineers per capita in the world.
Israel has the highest number of PhD's per capita in the world.
Israel has the highest number of physicians per capita in the world.
Israel has the largest percentage of it's workforce employed in technical professions in the world.
Israel is the largest immigrant-absorbing nation in the world, per capita.
Israel is the only country in the Middle East where the Christian population has grown over the last 50 years.
Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Christians, Muslims and Jews are all
free to vote.
Israel is the only country in the Middle East where women enjoy full political rights.
Economics:
Israel has the largest number of startup companies per capita in the world.
Israel is the world's largest wholesale diamond center, finally surpassing Antwerp in the 1970's. Most of the cut & polished diamonds in the world come from Israel .
Israel has the largest number of NASDAQ listed companies outside of the US and Canada.
Israel was the first country to have a free trade agreement with the United States .
Apart from the Silicon Valley, Israel has the highest concentration of hi-tech companies in the world.
Electronics:
The cell phone was developed in Israel at Motorola's largest development center.
The Voice Mail technology was developed in Israel .
In the early 80's, IBM chose an Israeli-designed computer chip as the brains for it's first personal computers.
The first anti-virus software for computers was developed in Israel in 1979.
Most of the Windows NT and XP operating systems were developed in Israel by
Microsoft.
Both the Pentium-4 and Centrino processors were entirely designed, developed and produced in Israel .
The Pentium MMX Chip techn! ology was designed in Israel at Intel.
Israel has the highest number of home computers per capita in the world.
The technology for the AOL Instant Messenger and ICQ was developed in 1996 by 4 young Israelis.
Israel was the first Middle Eastern country to launch a satellite, the Ofek 1, on September 19, 1988.
Culture:
Hebrew is the only case of a dead national language being revived in all of world history. Hebrew had not been spoken as a native tongue by anyone for centuries. Today it is the native tongue of millions of people.
Israel has more museums per capita than any other nation in the world.
Israel has more orchestras per capita than any other nation in the world.
Israel publishes more books per capita than any other nation in the world.
Israel publishes more books translated from other languages than any other nation in the world.
Israel reads more books per capita than any other nation in the world.
The most independent and free Arabic press in the Middle East is in Israel.
Military/Security:
Israel has the largest fleet of F-16 aircraft outside of the US .
Israel has the world's most impenetrable airline security.
Israel spends more money per capita on its own protection than any country in the world.
Other:
Israel 's dairy cows are the most productive dairy cows in the world. They average
25,432 pounds of milk per cow per year, compared to just 18,747 pounds from American cows; 17,085 from Canadian cows; 13,778 from European Union cows; 10,207 from Australian cows; and 6,600 from Chinese cows.
Israel has more in-vitro fertilization per capita than anywhere in the world, and it's free.
Israelis, per capita, are the world's biggest consumers of fruits and vegetables.
Of the 175 UN Security Council resolutions passed before 1990, 97 were directed against Israel . Of the 690 UN General Assembly resolutions voted on before 1990, 429 were directed against Israel!
More News from Jerusalem
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
PM: Jerusalem is not a settlement
Speaking at AIPAC conference Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "Jerusalem is not a settlement," but Israel's capital.
"The connection between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel cannot be denied. The connection between the Jewish people and Jerusalem cannot be denied.
The Jewish people were building Jerusalem 3,000 year ago and the Jewish people are building Jerusalem today. Jerusalem is not a settlement. It is our capital."
He went on to say "As the world faces monumental challenges, I know that Israel and America will face them together"
The conference, a major show of pro-Israel power was attended by almost half of the members of Senate. At one point, two women from and anti-war group called Code Pink disrupted the prime minister's speech, causing him to stop for a few seconds. The demonstrators were quickly removed from the hall.
In his address, Mr. Netanyahu said that, although Israel cherishes its homeland, it also recognizes that Palestinians live there, as well.
"We don't want to govern them. We don't want to rule them. We want them as our neighbors, living freely in security, dignity and peace," he said.
Addressing the conference, Ms. Clinton implied Israel faced rising isolation on the world stage if it did not make concessions the United States says are necessary for the Palestinians to eventually get a state of their own.
More News from Jerusalem
"The connection between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel cannot be denied. The connection between the Jewish people and Jerusalem cannot be denied.
The Jewish people were building Jerusalem 3,000 year ago and the Jewish people are building Jerusalem today. Jerusalem is not a settlement. It is our capital."
He went on to say "As the world faces monumental challenges, I know that Israel and America will face them together"
The conference, a major show of pro-Israel power was attended by almost half of the members of Senate. At one point, two women from and anti-war group called Code Pink disrupted the prime minister's speech, causing him to stop for a few seconds. The demonstrators were quickly removed from the hall.
In his address, Mr. Netanyahu said that, although Israel cherishes its homeland, it also recognizes that Palestinians live there, as well.
"We don't want to govern them. We don't want to rule them. We want them as our neighbors, living freely in security, dignity and peace," he said.
Addressing the conference, Ms. Clinton implied Israel faced rising isolation on the world stage if it did not make concessions the United States says are necessary for the Palestinians to eventually get a state of their own.
More News from Jerusalem
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Rocket from Gaza kills man in Israel
rocket into Israel from the Gaza Strip on Thursday killed a Thai agricultural worker, while the European Union's foreign affairs chief was visiting Hamas-controlled Gaza.
Baroness Catherine Ashton, the EU's top diplomat, had just crossed into the Gaza Strip from Israel about an hour before the attack.
"A Color Red alert was sounded," one of the community's residents related to a YNet reporter. "We ran to find cover. There were about 20 seconds until we heard a very loud explosion."
Paramedics, who transported the injured man to a medical facility on Moshav Nativ Ha'asara in the Ashkelon Coast Regional Council, were unable to save him.
An unknown Gaza group, Ansar al-Sunna, claimed responsibility for the attack, launched a day before the international Quartet of Middle East peace mediators was to meet in Moscow to discuss ways to revive Israeli-Palestinian talks.
The attack marks the third time rockets have been fired into Israeli territory in the last 24 hours.
More News from Jerusalem
Baroness Catherine Ashton, the EU's top diplomat, had just crossed into the Gaza Strip from Israel about an hour before the attack.
"A Color Red alert was sounded," one of the community's residents related to a YNet reporter. "We ran to find cover. There were about 20 seconds until we heard a very loud explosion."
Paramedics, who transported the injured man to a medical facility on Moshav Nativ Ha'asara in the Ashkelon Coast Regional Council, were unable to save him.
An unknown Gaza group, Ansar al-Sunna, claimed responsibility for the attack, launched a day before the international Quartet of Middle East peace mediators was to meet in Moscow to discuss ways to revive Israeli-Palestinian talks.
The attack marks the third time rockets have been fired into Israeli territory in the last 24 hours.
More News from Jerusalem
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Report: U.S. Mobilizing for Strike on Iran
Hundreds of powerful US “bunker-buster” bombs are being shipped from California to the British island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean in preparation for a possible attack on Iran according to Scottish Newspaper report.
The Sunday Herald said they can reveal the US government signed a contract in January to transport 10 ammunition containers to the island. According to a cargo manifest from the US navy, this included 387 “Blu” bombs used for blasting hardened or underground structures.
Experts say that they are being put in place for an assault on Iran’s controversial nuclear facilities. There has long been speculation that the US military is preparing for such an attack, should diplomacy fail to persuade Iran not to make nuclear weapons.
Although the story was not confirmed at the time, the new evidence suggests that it was accurate.
Dan Plesch, director of the Center for International Studies and Diplomacy at the University of London and co-author of a recent study on US preparations for an attack on Iran was quoted by the Scottish newspaper as saying, “They are gearing up totally for the destruction of Iran. US bombers are ready today to destroy 10,000 targets in Iran in a few hours."
The preparations were being made by the US military, but it would be up to President Obama to make the final decision. He may decide that it would be better for the US to act instead of Israel, Plesch argued.
Diego Garcia is used by the US as a military base under an agreement made in 1971 with the British.
Neither the United States nor Israel have ruled out military action if diplomacy fails to resolve the long-running row over Iran's disputed nuclear ambitions.
According to The Herald, a shipping company based in Florida, Superior Maritime Services, will be paid $699,500 to carry many thousands of military items from Concord, California, to Diego Garcia.
Crucially, the cargo includes 195 smart, guided, Blu-110 bombs and 192 massive 2000lb Blu-117 bombs.
“The US is not publicising the scale of these preparations to deter Iran, tending to make confrontation more likely,” he added. “The US ... is using its forces as part of an overall strategy of shaping Iran’s actions.”
According to Ian Davis, director of the new independent thinktank, Nato Watch, the shipment to Diego Garcia is a major concern. “We would urge the US to clarify its intentions for these weapons, and the Foreign Office to clarify its attitude to the use of Diego Garcia for an attack on Iran,” he said.
The British Ministry of Defence has said in the past that the US government would need permission to use Diego Garcia for offensive action. It has already been used for strikes against Iraq during the 1991 and 2003 Gulf wars.
More News from Jerusalem
The Sunday Herald said they can reveal the US government signed a contract in January to transport 10 ammunition containers to the island. According to a cargo manifest from the US navy, this included 387 “Blu” bombs used for blasting hardened or underground structures.
Experts say that they are being put in place for an assault on Iran’s controversial nuclear facilities. There has long been speculation that the US military is preparing for such an attack, should diplomacy fail to persuade Iran not to make nuclear weapons.
Although the story was not confirmed at the time, the new evidence suggests that it was accurate.
Dan Plesch, director of the Center for International Studies and Diplomacy at the University of London and co-author of a recent study on US preparations for an attack on Iran was quoted by the Scottish newspaper as saying, “They are gearing up totally for the destruction of Iran. US bombers are ready today to destroy 10,000 targets in Iran in a few hours."
The preparations were being made by the US military, but it would be up to President Obama to make the final decision. He may decide that it would be better for the US to act instead of Israel, Plesch argued.
Diego Garcia is used by the US as a military base under an agreement made in 1971 with the British.
Neither the United States nor Israel have ruled out military action if diplomacy fails to resolve the long-running row over Iran's disputed nuclear ambitions.
According to The Herald, a shipping company based in Florida, Superior Maritime Services, will be paid $699,500 to carry many thousands of military items from Concord, California, to Diego Garcia.
Crucially, the cargo includes 195 smart, guided, Blu-110 bombs and 192 massive 2000lb Blu-117 bombs.
“The US is not publicising the scale of these preparations to deter Iran, tending to make confrontation more likely,” he added. “The US ... is using its forces as part of an overall strategy of shaping Iran’s actions.”
According to Ian Davis, director of the new independent thinktank, Nato Watch, the shipment to Diego Garcia is a major concern. “We would urge the US to clarify its intentions for these weapons, and the Foreign Office to clarify its attitude to the use of Diego Garcia for an attack on Iran,” he said.
The British Ministry of Defence has said in the past that the US government would need permission to use Diego Garcia for offensive action. It has already been used for strikes against Iraq during the 1991 and 2003 Gulf wars.
More News from Jerusalem
Saturday, March 13, 2010
U.S Secretary of State Clinton Slams Israel
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in an almost unprecedented rebuke in decades of strong ties with Israel telephoned Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to personally scorn his decision to build new housing units for Jews in Jerusalem.
Clinton said the announcement to construct these new homes sent a "deeply negative signal" about Israel's ties to its top ally.
The Middle East Quartet made up of the European Union, the United States, Russia and the United Nations also slammed Israel in a statement saying it “condemns Israel's decision to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem." The statement also said "The Quartet has agreed to closely monitor developments in Jerusalem and to keep under consideration additional steps that may be required to address the situation on the ground"
US frustration with Israel’s announcement of the housing project as Vice President Joe Biden was on a visit to Israel was delivered by State Department spokesman Philip Crowley who told reporters that Israel’s move ran "counter to the spirit of the vice president's trip" saying also that it had harmed “the bilateral relationship.”
After speaking with Netanyahu Hillary Clinton heaped further scorn on the Jewish state in a CNN interview saying "The announcement of the settlements, the very day that the vice president was there, was insulting," adding "It was just really a very unfortunate and difficult moment for everyone, the U.S., our vice president who had gone to reassert America's strong support for Israeli security, and I regret deeply that that occurred and made that view known."
Since Obama came to office relations with Israel have been strained, and Biden’s trip was intended as a fence-mending mission. Now it has led to the biggest crisis between the two countries in two decades.
More News from Jerusalem
Clinton said the announcement to construct these new homes sent a "deeply negative signal" about Israel's ties to its top ally.
The Middle East Quartet made up of the European Union, the United States, Russia and the United Nations also slammed Israel in a statement saying it “condemns Israel's decision to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem." The statement also said "The Quartet has agreed to closely monitor developments in Jerusalem and to keep under consideration additional steps that may be required to address the situation on the ground"
US frustration with Israel’s announcement of the housing project as Vice President Joe Biden was on a visit to Israel was delivered by State Department spokesman Philip Crowley who told reporters that Israel’s move ran "counter to the spirit of the vice president's trip" saying also that it had harmed “the bilateral relationship.”
After speaking with Netanyahu Hillary Clinton heaped further scorn on the Jewish state in a CNN interview saying "The announcement of the settlements, the very day that the vice president was there, was insulting," adding "It was just really a very unfortunate and difficult moment for everyone, the U.S., our vice president who had gone to reassert America's strong support for Israeli security, and I regret deeply that that occurred and made that view known."
Since Obama came to office relations with Israel have been strained, and Biden’s trip was intended as a fence-mending mission. Now it has led to the biggest crisis between the two countries in two decades.
More News from Jerusalem
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