New Israeli Air Force drone’s star set to rise
(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) The Israeli Air Force introduced a new unmanned aerial vehicle into its operational lineup Tuesday, in a move a senior officer said would “revolutionize the drone world.”
The Hermes 900 Kochav (“Star”), which became operational this week, is a medium-size multi-payload unmanned aerial vehicle, designed for long-endurance tactical reconnaissance, surveillance, and communications missions.
Manufactured by Elbit Systems, the Hermes 900 can remain airborne for more than 30 hours, and can fly at an altitude of 30,000 feet. The innovative drone is equipped, among other things, with state of the art electro-optical and infrared sensors, synthetic aperture radar capabilities, and advanced communications and electronic intelligence systems.
The Hermes 900 is the first drone included in the IAF’s UAV lineup in 16 years, and it means to improve on its predecessor, the Hermes 450, an advanced drone that can remain airborne for 20 hours.
A military source told Israel Hayom that the Hermes 900 was first used during 2014’s Operation Protective Edge in the Gaza Strip, when the IAF decided to put the then still-under-development UAV to the test, which it passed with flying colors.
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Netanyahu reportedly urges Obama to recognize Israeli Golan Heights
(JNS.org) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly urged President Barack Obama to recognize Israel’s claim over the Golan Heights during their meeting at the White House on Monday.
During the meeting, Netanyahu told Obama that he is doubtful that Syria could be reunited again into a functioning state and that the current situation “allows for different thinking” about the future status of the Golan Heights, Haaretz reported, citing sources familiar with the situation.
Obama reportedly did not reply to Netanyahu’s suggestion. Several Israeli figures have recently called for Netanyahu to urge the U.S. to recognize the Golan Heights. Earlier this week, former Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren urged Netanyahu “to ask for American recognition of full Israeli sovereignty on the Golan Heights through a presidential declaration and accompanying letter.”
Israel took control of the Golan Heights during the 1967 Six-Day War and has controlled the territory since, with only a brief Syrian incursion occurring during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. In 1981 Israel annexed the territory and extended Israeli civilian control over the region. Israel’s move was not recognized by the international community, including the U.S.
At various times, Israel has secretly negotiated with Syria over the status of the Golan Heights, with the most recent talks held in 2011, only months before the outbreak of the Syrian civil war. In those talks, Israeli proposals included ceding territory in the Golan Heights for either a peace deal with Syria or a promise to cut ties with Iran and its terror proxy Hezbollah.
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Israel sees tourism spike in October despite terror wave
(JNS.org) Israel saw a spike in tourism during October despite the ongoing wave of terrorism that has plagued the country during the fall season.
According to the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), approximately 290,000 tourists visited Israel in October, compared to 224,000 tourists in September, a 29-percent increase.
At the same time, 5 percent more tourists came to Israel in October 2015 than during the same period in 2014.
Around 257,000 tourists visited Israel in October by airplane, with the remaining tourist entries coming through border crossings. About 25,000 tourists came through the Jordanian border, and 8,000 from Egypt.
The Israeli CBS cited the International Astronautical Congress convention in Jerusalem, which drew more than 2,000 people from 60 countries, as one of the factors in the spike in tourism during October.
According to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, since the beginning of October, there have been 77 Palestinian/Arab terror attacks in Israel, including 62 stabbings, seven shootings, and 8 car-rammings. Twelve Israeli Jews were killed and 158 wounded in those attacks.
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House and Senate letters urge EU not to label Judea and Samaria products
(JNS.org) A group of U.S. House members and senators sent official letters to the European Union discouraging the EU from implementing a policy of labeling Israeli products from Judea and Samaria.
The House letter, led by U.S. Reps. Douglas Lamborn (R-Colo.) and Randy Weber (R-Texas), was signed by 36 lawmakers.
“As members of the United States Congress we are concerned that such measures will undermine decades-long American efforts to achieve a bilateral negotiated peace accord between Israel and the Palestinians,” the letter stated. The EU’s guidelines would “constitute the de-facto boycotting of Israel, its economy and commodities, due to the burden on importers to apply and adhere to them,” added the letter.
U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) led a group of 36 senators in addressing Federica Mogherini, the EU foreign policy chief, on the Judea and Samaria products issue.
“As allies, elected representatives of the American people, and strong supporters of Israel, we urge you not to implement this labeling policy, which appears intended to discourage Europeans from purchasing these products and promotes a de-facto boycott of Israel, a key ally and the only true democracy in the Middle East,” the senators wrote.
The senators expressed concern that “at a time of significant instability in the region…the EU is considering a proposal intended to impose more diplomatic and economic pressure on Israel.”
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Israeli start-up offers disposable charger dubbed ‘energy drink’ for cell phones
(JNS.org) The Israeli start-up mobeego launched an inexpensive disposable cellphone charger in Israel and abroad on Monday.
Mobeego’s self-described “energy drink for the mobile phone” can be charged up to four hours and costs about 10 Israeli shekels—or roughly $2.50. The design of the charger looks like an energy drink can and is an environmentally friendly alternative for Android and Apple IOS smartphones as well as most older cellphone models. Users can throw away the charger at a mobeego-designated point of sale.
Mobeego, founded in 2014 by Israeli entrepreneurs, plans to set up franchises globally, particularly in developed countries. They are currently in negotiations with the United States, Israel, Germany, France, and South Africa to distribute and sell hundreds of thousands of chargers in months and millions per year.
A newer model in the works will allow for customers to receive a deposit back when they recycle the battery.
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Palestinian youths, ages 12 and 13, stab Israeli guard on Jerusalem light rail
(JNS.org) Two Palestinian minors, ages 12 and 13, stabbed and wounded an Israeli security guard on Jerusalem’s light rail on Tuesday. Train passengers held the 12-year-old terrorist until security forces arrived.
One minor was shot and disarmed by the wounded guard while train passengers “took control of the second attacker until the rapid arrival of police,” Israel Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said. The guard and train passengers were praised for their actions.
“The rapid determination of the guard and tram passengers prevented more innocent people from being harmed,” Chief Superintendent Avi Cohen of the Israel Police said in a statement.
The uncle of the two attackers, who resides in the Shuafat refugee camp, was allegedly calling for terrorism against Jews over the last six weeks, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.
Two other knife attacks occurred on Tuesday in Jerusalem, but security forces killed the terrorists.
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Amnesty International slams New Zealand measure on Israelis and Palestinians
(JNS.org) Amnesty International criticized New Zealand’s recently proposed resolution to the U.N. Security Council that calls for the resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) as well as halting the Palestinian campaign to bring Israel to trial at the International Criminal Court.
Amnesty said it is “deeply concerned” about New Zealand’s proposal, which asks both Israel and the PA to cease from “referring a situation concerning Israel or the occupied Palestinian territories to the International Criminal Court.”
The proposal “disregards the situation of Palestinian and Israeli victims… and would not address the impact of the long-standing impunity in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories,” Amnesty Executive Director in New Zealand Grant Bayldon wrote.
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