Report: Egyptian army given green light to strike Gaza
(JNS.org) The Egyptian military has received authorization from the country’s government to carry out strikes in the Gaza Strip, Egyptian media reported on Sunday.
According to the reports, the Egyptian government’s legal adviser sanctioned the legitimacy of an attack in Gaza following a Supreme Court decision on Saturday to label Hamas a terrorist group. Senior Egyptian officials believe the likelihood of an Egyptian military attack in Gaza is slim, and that the court decision was likely made as a deterrent measure and to hint that the military option is on the table in light of Hamas involvement in terrorist attacks in Egypt.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met with King Salman of Saudi Arabia in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on Sunday, as part of efforts to create a united Arab front against Islamist extremism.
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IDF holds surprise drill in Judea and Samaria
(JNS.org) The Israel Defense Forces on Sunday held a wide-ranging surprise exercise across Judea and Samaria that involved air, ground, and intelligence forces, as well as several special forces’ units. The drill has been described as the largest exercise the IDF has held in the area in three years.
Citing a military source, Israel Hayom reported that the unannounced drill was ordered by new IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot in an effort to gauge military readiness for a possible security escalation in the area. Brig. Gen. Nadav Padan, commander of the IDF’s 162nd Division, headed the exercise, during which thousands of regular soldiers and some 13,000 reservists were mobilized.
Given the Palestinian Authority’s dire economic situation, the deadlocked Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, and the overall instability in the Middle East, the IDF is said to be preparing for various scenarios in Judea and Samaria. Accordingly, the exercise simulated soldiers’ abductions, riots, and clashes between civilians and security forces.
A senior IDF officer said the exercise was set up as soon as Eizenkot took office and did not represent any change in the military’s alert level in the area.
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Israel’s natural gas royalties hit record high
(JNS.org) Israel’s state royalties from natural gas exploration, drilling, and harvesting reached a record-high $180 million in 2014, an increase of 39 percent from 2013, the country’s National Infrastructure, Energy, and Water Ministry said in a statement Sunday.
According to the statement, the ministry collected $106 million in royalties from the companies operating the Tamar offshore gas field in the second half of 2014 alone. The bulk of the royalties derived from fees related to natural gas, while some $2.25 million came from fees related to oil explorations. Minerals and phosphate mining-related fees amounted to $2.75 million, and various other royalties yielded $1.5 million in revenue.
“The increase in royalties paid for natural gas, oil, and natural resources is a blessing for the Israeli economy, and it helps reduce the high cost of living,” Israeli National Infrastructure, Energy, and Water Minister Silvan Shalom (Likud) said.
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Joint Arab List party head accused of inciting against Arab IDF soldiers
(JNS.org) A complaint has been lodged against Ayman Odeh, head of Israel’s Joint Arab List political party, demanding that he be investigated for alleged incitement against Israeli soldiers.
Attorney Hor Uriel Nizri submitted the complaint to Israeli Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein and to the Jerusalem District Police, alleging that Ouda—who is also chairman of the Hadash Arab-Jewish Communist Party—has called Israeli Arabs and Aramean Christians who serve in the Israel Defense Forces “pathetic” and has termed a program to encourage Arameans to join the military “a pathetic plan.”
Current Israeli law does not require most Arabs to serve in the military. But in April 2014, the IDF launched a campaign to encourage more Arameans to volunteer, mailing out enlistment forms to potential recruits. The information detailed the process of volunteering for service and spelled out the possible roles available for the recruits, including combat positions. Some 128,000 Arameans live in Israel.
Odeh said in response to the complaint, “We are in favor of young people volunteering, but we absolutely oppose any attempt to make civil rights conditional upon volunteer work or volunteering via the Defense Ministry.”
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More than 70% of U.S. legislators skipping Netanyahu’s speech endorsed by J Street
(JNS.org) More than 70 percent of the federal legislators who have announced their intent to skip Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s March 3 speech to a joint session of Congress about the Iranian nuclear threat are endorsed by the left-wing lobby J Street.
J Street has endorsed 18 of 24 House of Representatives members and two of four U.S. senators who are skipping Netanyahu’s speech, according to the lobby’s announcements of endorsements for elections in 2010, 2012, and 2014.
In advance of Netanyahu’s speech, J Street distributed an online petition opposing the speech on the grounds that the prime minister of Israel “is not the spokesman for all Jews.”
“Add your name. Help us let [Israel’s Ambassador in Washington, Ron Dermer, know that—as an American, as a Jew—Benjamin Netanyahu doesn’t speak for you,” the J Street petition said.
The J Street-endorsed members of Congress skipping Netanyahu’s speech include U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), as well as U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenaur (D-Ore.), James Clyburn (D-S.C.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Donna Edwards (D-Md.), Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), John Lewis (D-Ga.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), and John Yarmuth (D-Ky.).
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At AIPAC, Sens. Cardin and Graham call for strict oversight of Iran nuclear program
(JNS.org) At the start of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference on Sunday, U.S. Sens. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) both called for strict oversight of the Iranian nuclear program in any deal with the Islamic Republic.
Graham said he is “glad we’re negotiating” with Iran because nobody wants a war. But Congress should “look at the deal, debate the deal, and vote on the deal” that the P5+1 powers reach with Iran, he said. The deadline for a political framework agreement in the Iran talks is March 24.
“Between now and when that day [a deal is reached] comes, let us commit ourselves to make sure that as many eyes are on this deal before it becomes binding,” said Graham, who said that a bad deal with Iran would constitute “locking in place an enrichment program that is only monitored by the U.N. (United Nations).”
Cardin said the nuclear deal “has to be a very transparent agreement” with “inspectors there on the ground, [with] total access to all parts of Iran.”
One of 11 Senate Democrats who currently supports increased sanctions against Iran if no framework deal is reached by March 24, Cardin said sanctions are the only reason that Iran is negotiating with the U.S. and other world powers.
“We’ve got to keep the heat on. … I have no doubt that Congress will pass stronger sanctions if there’s no agreement reached,” he said.
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Jewish foundation opens competition for $250K disability inclusion prize
(JNS.org) The Ruderman Family Foundation—an organization headquartered in both Boston and Israel that promotes the inclusion of people with disabilities in the Jewish community—on Monday launched its fourth annual Ruderman Prize in Inclusion global competition, which equally splits a $250,000 prize among five organizations who have demonstrated a commitment to Jewish disability inclusion “through innovative programs and services.”
“Innovative organizations in the global Jewish community are leading the way in promoting the full inclusion of people with disabilities in our society,” said
Ruderman Family Foundation President Jay Ruderman said he hopes that as a result of the prize, “our Jewish community will be inspired by [the prize recipients’] example and seek to become a more inclusive community for all.” The foundation is accepting submissions for the prize until April 20.
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Netanyahu says he won’t form government with Zionist Union
(JNS.org) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will not include the Zionist Union alliance in any coalition he establishes if his Likud party wins the March 17 Israeli Knesset election.
In an interview with the haredi radio station Kol Berama, Netanyahu said that Habayit Hayehudi, Kulanu, Yisrael Beiteinu, and the haredi parties are Likud’s natural coalition partners.
“The ones who were not and will not be a partner is the Left under Tzipi and Buji,” Netanyahu said. “Tzipi criticized my decision in our government a few months ago to build in the Jewish neighborhoods of Jerusalem. Buji said he would divide Jerusalem. Tzipi says that I can’t build in Jerusalem? In Gilo? In Ramot? If a Jew can’t build in Jerusalem, where can a Jew build?”
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Italian parliament becomes latest European body to back Palestinian statehood
(JNS.org) The Italian legislature became the latest European body to back a non-binding resolution supporting the unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Italy’s Chamber of Deputies voted 300-45 to pass the measure, which was presented by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s Democratic Party. Palestine Liberation Organization execution committee member Hanan Ashrawi quickly praised the move, but lamented that the resolution “did not commit to the unconditional and official recognition of the state of Palestine.”
Similar resolutions were recently passed in European countries including Ireland, the U.K., France, Portugal, and Spain. The European Parliament also approved a non-binding Palestinian statehood resolution. Sweden has been the only country to go further by granting official government recognition to a Palestinian state.
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Jewish actor Leonard Nimoy, Spock of ‘Star Trek,’ dies at 83
(JNS.org) Jewish actor Leonard Nimoy, most famous for his iconic role as Dr. Spock on “Star Trek,” died on Friday in Los Angeles at the age of 83.
Born in Boston in 1931 to Orthodox Jewish parents who were immigrants from Ukraine, Nimoy began acting at age 8 in a local theater. In 1949, he traveled to Hollywood, where he eventually landed several small movie roles. He also served in the U.S. Army for two years, rising to the rank of sergeant.
After appearing in several small films and TV shows including the Twilight Zone, Nimoy’s big break came with the premier of Gene Roddenberry’s “Star Trek” television series in 1966. His role as the half-human, half-Vulcan Spock made him a television and film icon who inspired generations of fans.
Nimoy’s famous Vulcan hand gesture is modeled after the hand gesture used by the Jewish kohanim, which he observed at services as a child.
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Madonna warns of growing anti-Semitism in Europe
(JNS.org) Madonna said in an interview with Europe 1 radio that “anti-Semitism is at an all-time high” throughout Europe, and that we are living in a time that “feels like Nazi Germany.” In particular, she said that France is no longer a beacon of tolerance.
“[France] was a country that embraced everyone and encouraged freedom in every way, shape or form – artistic expression of freedom,” Madonna said. “Now that’s completely gone. … France was once a country that accepted people of color, and was a place artists escaped to, whether it was Josephine Baker or Charlie Parker.”
In January, Islamist terror attacks in Paris killed 12 people at the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine and four people at the Hyper Cacher kosher supermarket.
Madonna has defied the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel by performing in the Jewish state on numerous occasions.
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