New Dolphin-class submarine leaves Germany for Israel
(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) The INS Rahav, the fifth in a planned fleet of six Israeli submarines, on Thursday left the shipyard in Kiel, Germany, and is scheduled to arrive in Israel in January. The submarine is carrying some 50 crew members, including a senior Israeli Navy officer.
The new Dolphin-class vessel will travel 3,000 miles from Germany to Haifa and will make a scheduled stop 270 miles off the coast of Israel to honor the INS Dakar, an Israeli Navy submarine that sank there in 1968 with a crew of 69 on board. The fourth submarine, the INS Tanin, held a similar memorial service on its way to Haifa when it arrived in September.
At 223 feet in length, both the Rahav and the Tanin are longer than the Israeli Navy’s older submarines (187 feet). Both feature air-independent propulsion systems, which allow them to stay underwater for significantly longer than conventional submarines without resurfacing, using fuel cells to supplement their diesel-electric engines.
Dolphin-class submarines are multipurpose vessels capable of carrying out a diverse range of missions. The Rahav is equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance and countermeasures systems, allowing it to avoid detection by enemy vessels, as well as satellite communications capabilities and other systems for electronic warfare. Each Dolphin-class submarine costs around $500 million, a third of which was sponsored by the German government.
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17 Knesset members back bill labeling foreign NGOs as ‘plants’
(JNS.org) Member of Knesset Yoav Kisch’s (Likud) new bill proposing the characterization of certain NGOs that receive funding from entities outside Israel as foreign “plants,” or agents working against the state from within, is gaining momentum.
Seventeen Knesset members, including some from the opposition, have signed the bill, and 25,000 Israelis have expressed support for it on social media sites.
The proposal comes as a recent report issued by the Zionist group Im Tirtzu, titled “Shtulim (Plants) 2015,” argues that “there are Israeli organizations perceived by society as ‘leftist’ or ‘human rights’ groups but in fact they are not as such. They are foreign agents, extensively funded by foreign governments, and operating from within against Israeli society, against IDF soldiers, undermining Israel’s ability to defend itself in the war on terror.”
Kisch’s bill, which was first reported by Israel Hayom, proposes compelling NGOs listed as “plants” to divulge all funding sources and banning them from collaborating with government bodies or the IDF, with exceptions to be approved by the justice minister. The bill says it aims to provide the authorities and the public with the tools to “confront the erosion of democracy and the internal delegitimization of Israel, funded by foreign institutions and states.”
Under the proposal, an NGO classified as a “plant” that fails to comply would be fined $25,700. It proposes allowing Israel’s Registrar of Nonprofit Associations to petition the courts to dismantle any organization involved in activity deemed hostile toward the state.
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Czech lawmakers reject EU labels for Israeli products made beyond 1967 lines
(JNS.org) The Czech Parliament has passed a resolution rejecting the European Union’s decision to remove “Made in Israel” labels from products originating in Judea Samaria, eastern Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights.
According to Czech media reports, the resolution against the EU measure passed by an overwhelming majority. Czech Culture Minister Daniel Herman said during the debate that it is “absolutely necessary to reject the efforts to discriminate against the only democracy in the Middle East.”
The Czech Republic is one of Israel’s strongest allies in Europe. The Jewish state’s ambassador to the country, Gary Koren, thanked the Czech lawmakers for their decision.
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Ben Carson cancels trip to Israel
(JNS.org) Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson has canceled an upcoming trip to Israel and three African nations.
According to the Washington Post, Carson campaign spokesman Doug Watts said in a statement that the “trip has been canceled due to significant security concerns,” without elaborating on the concerns. Carson’s decision comes on the heels of Republican frontrunner Donald Trump’s decision to also cancel a visit to Israel this month.
A retired neurosurgeon, Carson has seen his poll numbers dip recently over voter concerns that he lacks experience on foreign policy, especially in the wake of the Paris and San Bernardino terror attacks. The upcoming trip was seen as a way to bolster his experience in that area. Carson recently visited Jordan, where he met with Syrian refugees.
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Turkey and Israel reach preliminary deal to normalize relations
(JNS.org) Israel and Turkey are close to signing a deal to normalize diplomatic ties following a secret meeting in Switzerland between senior officials.
Reports indicate that incoming Israeli Mossad chief Yossi Cohen and Joseph Ciechanover, who is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s top envoy with Turkey, met with Turkish Foreign Ministry Director-General Feridun Sinirlioglu in Geneva to hash out an agreement.
According to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, the two sides agreed that Israel would establish a compensation fund to pay the families of the nine Turks killed on the Mavi Marmara vessel in 2010, that all Turkish legal claims against Israel will be dropped, and that ambassadors will return to both countries.
Hamas terrorist leader Salah al-Arouri, who Israel believes was behind the kidnapping and murder of three Jewish teens in Gush Etzion in June 2014, will no longer be allowed to reside in Turkey or operate from there. Additionally, the two countries will commence talks about a gas pipeline from Israel and the sale of Israeli gas in Turkey.
Turkish-Israeli relations broke down following the 2010 Gaza flotilla incident, in which Israeli commandos boarded the Mavi Marmara, which was attempting to break the blockade of Gaza. After Turkish militants attacked Israeli commandoes, nine Turkish citizens were killed in clashes. In 2013, at the request of U.S. President Barack Obama, Netanyahu apologized over the phone to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the flotilla incident.
Israel and Turkey have been close to normalizing ties before. In April 2014, Erdogan told Charlie Rose of PBS that a deal for “normalization” would be signed within a few weeks. But shortly afterward, Israel’s Operation Protective Edge was launched in Gaza, leading to scathing condemnations of the Jewish state by Turkish leaders.
Then, during the United Nations climate change conference in Paris this month, Erdogan told an Israeli reporter that he believed it was possible for Turkey and Israel to repair frayed ties.
Turkey is dealing with a number of geopolitical challenges—including tension with Russia over shooting down its fighter jet in November, the continued destabilization of Syria, and the threat of the Islamic State terror group—that may have led the country to seek warmer ties with Israel.
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Christian-Jewish aid group plans to double aliyah efforts in 2016
(JNS.org) The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (“The Fellowship”) humanitarian aid group said it plans to double its organizing of immigration to Israel (aliyah) in 2016.
During 2015, aliyah flights initiated by The Fellowship brought more than 2,000 immigrants to Israel from the Ukraine, France, Moldova, North Africa, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela, and an unnamed Arab country. Due to the rise of anti-Semitism and violence against Jews worldwide, The Fellowship said it expects to help 4,000 Jews move to Israel this coming year, and that it will increase its aliyah efforts in countries such as Spain and Russia.
“The historic focus on aliyah as Israel’s national program to rescue the world’s Jews and build the Jewish state has dimmed, but we are ramping up a new, independent aliyah movement to help Jews from around the Diaspora who are still threatened by anti-Semitism and economic hardship,” said Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, founder and president of The Fellowship.
Over the course of 15 years, The Fellowship has contributed more than $200 million to the cause of aliyah, helping bring about 725,000 immigrants from Ethiopia, India, the former Soviet Union, and other countries to Israel. Additionally, 10 years ago, a $2 million seed gift from The Fellowship helped launch the Nefesh B’Nefesh aliyah agency.
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Palestinian Fatah students celebrate Christmas with terrorist-decorated tree
(JNS.org) Palestinians from a Fatah student group decorated a Christmas tree with pictures of terrorist “martyrs” as well as Palestinian leaders who were known for inciting terrorism against Israelis, Palestinian Media Watch reported.
Among the terrorists pictured were Muhannad Halabi, who recently stabbed and murdered two Israelis, and Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, a founder of the Hamas terrorist group.
On its official Facebook page, the Shabiba group at Birzeit University in Ramallah posted pictures of themselves standing next to the Christmas tree. Behind them was a sign that read,
“The way to freedom is a bullet and a martyr, a pen and a prisoner, an olive tree and a wounded, a crescent and a cross; Merry Christmas, [Fatah] Shabiba student movement, Birzeit University.”
Meanwhile, the official television station of the Palestinian Authority earlier this month broadcast a program for children emphasizing that the state of Israel is temporary and will cease to exist, according to Palestinian Media Watch. In one episode of the program, “Children’s Talk,” the host said regarding the Israeli cities of Haifa, Jaffa, Acre, and Nazareth, “The occupation (Israel) must know that we fully believe and are confident that all of this land belongs to us, the ’48 [lands] are all ours and will return to us, right?”
In another episode, the host claimed that all of Israel will “return to Palestine, and to Palestinian rule, and to the state of Palestine, and it will all exist under the name of ‘the State of Palestine.’”
Mahmoud Abbas heads both the Palestinian Authority and Fatah.
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Groundbreaking held for first Israeli university in China
(JNS.org) The Haifa-based Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and China’s Shantou University broke ground on the first Israeli university in China.
On Wednesday, the first cornerstone of the Guandong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) was laid at a ceremony in Shantou.
“The combination of the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of Israel and the unbelievable scale and resources of China will result in a great partnership. Together we will create a major research institute that will help not only China and Israel, but also mankind in general,” said Technion President Peretz Lavie.
China’s Li Ka Shing Foundation is providing $130 million in funding for the university project. Enrollment will commence in 2016 with an initial class of 200 students, and the student body is expected to reach 5,000 students by 2025.
Former Israeli president Shimon Peres led the groundbreaking ceremony alongside GTIIT vice chancellor, Technion professor and Nobel Laureate Aaron Ciechanover; Israeli Minister of Science, Technology and Space Ofir Akunis; Hong Kong business leader and philanthropist Li Ka-shing; and GTIIT Chancellor Li Jiange.
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Middle East Quartet and Israeli officials discuss how to halt terror wave
(JNS.org) Representatives from the Middle East Quartet (European Union, United Nations, United States, and Russia) on Wednesday met with Israeli officials to discuss diplomatic avenues to help end the current Palestinian terror wave in Israel.
“The Envoys of the Middle East Quartet are in Israel and Palestine. They continue their efforts to promote significant steps on the ground, consistent with prior agreements that can restore hope to the Palestinian people and preserve the viability of a negotiated two-state solution,” U.N. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov said in a video conference briefing to the U.N. Security Council, according to Haaretz.
The Quartet delegation met in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office following a two-month postponement of the planned visit.
“A long, matter-of-fact, and serious discussion took place on ways to stop the violence and reinstate security and stopping the [Palestinian] incitement, as well as a discussion on possible future prospects for the peace process,” Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesman Emanuel Nahshon said.
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