Security threats make Israel ‘global power’ in cyber defense, deputy FM Elkin says
(JNS.org) Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Ze’ev Elkin said at a major global conference on cyber-security in South Korea that due to security threats faced by Israel, the Jewish state has “a record number of young people who enter the fields of technology and cyber defense every year.”
“Israel is a global power in the realm of cyber defense,” Elkin said Thursday at the Seoul Conference on Cyberspace, which gathered more than 1,000 representatives from some 90 countries, Israel Hayom reported. “Due to the constants threats, Israel uniquely serves the global community as a live lab for new technologies. We have turned the threat of cyber attacks into an opportunity for knowledge and growth.”
According to February’s Global Cyber Defense Report by McAfee and Security & Defense Agenda, Israel works with Finland and Sweden against potential cyber attacks.
Turkey disclosed Mossad spy network to Iran, report says
(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Turkey exposed the identities of up to 10 Iranians working for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency in Iran, according to a report in The Washington Post on Thursday by columnist David Ignatius.
According to sources quoted in the report, relations between Israel and Turkey had deteriorated so greatly early last year that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave the order to “shop” Israeli agents to Iran.
The spies in question were Iranian nationals who would meet with their Mossad handlers inside Turkey. The Turkish-Iranian border is relatively easy to cross.
Ignatius wrote that Israel and Turkey have cooperated on intelligence for more than 50 years, and Israel was blind-sided by the Turkish betrayal, which was described by knowledgeable sources as a “significant” loss of intelligence and “an effort to slap the Israelis.”
Anti-Semitism has no place in the 21st century, UN’s Ban Ki-moon says
(JNS.org) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that the U.N. shares common goals with American Jewry in pursuit of “peace and human dignity for all” at the 50th anniversary tribute gala of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations on Tuesday in New York.
Ban praised American Jews for their efforts in fighting injustice and extremism.
“My position is unequivocal: anti-Semitism has no place in the 21st century… Too much is at stake to allow such discrimination to persist,” he said. “Our doors are open to American Jewish organizations across the spectrum of our work.”
Breast Cancer Awareness Month yields partnership between NEXT Birthright division and Sharsheret
(JNS.org) NEXT: A Division of Birthright Israel Foundation is partnering during Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Sharsheret, a national non-profit organization supporting young Jewish women facing breast cancer and their families.
The two organizations are holding their second annual NEXT/ Sharsheret Pink Shabbat® from Oct. 25-26. Birthright Israel alumni can receive resources on how to create a meaningful Shabbat with their friends, as well as education materials about breast cancer and giveaways from Sharsheret.
“This partnership helps young Jewish adults join together to create a special Shabbat for Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” said Morlie Levin, CEO of NEXT.
Iranian official, fielding questions from Israeli reporters, hints at diplomatic thaw
(JNS.org) Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi fielded questions from Israeli reporters in Geneva, saying that an agreement with the West on the Iran nuclear program would “open new horizons.”
“Any agreement reached will open new horizons in [our] relations with all states,” Araqchi told Israel Radio reporter Gideon Kutz. Araqchi also responded with a “yes” when asked whether Israel would be able to live in peace with a deal between the West and Iran.
When asked by a correspondent from Yedioth Ahronoth about whether an agreement would open a new horizon between Iran and Israel, Araqchi said, “It’s completely different; it has nothing to do with this negotiation. Any breakthrough in this nuclear issue will open new horizons.”
Later, when the Yedioth Ahronoth correspondent identified herself to the Iranian official to follow up with more questions, Araqchi replied, “You know I can’t do that.”
Facebook ‘amazed’ by amount of talent in Israel
(JNS.org) One of Facebook’s top executives said that the social media giant, upon acquiring the Israeli technology startup Onavo, was “amazed” by the amount of talent it came across in Israel.
“Facebook was amazed by the amount of talent in such a small country like Israel,” Nicola Mendelsohn—a Facebook vice president who heads the company’s European, Middle East and Africa branch—told Israeli President Shimon Peres at a technology conference in Tel Aviv just days after its acquisition of Israeli startup Onavo, Globes reported.
Facebook’s acquisition of Onavo will enable it to establish its first headquarters in Israel.
“It was a momentous decision for Facebook to open its first R&D center outside the U.S. We chose Israel in the knowledge that the best talent is found here,” Mendelsohn added.
George W. Bush to Conference of Presidents: Iran can’t be trusted
(JNS.org) Former U.S. President George W. Bush made a surprise appearance at the 50th anniversary tribute gala of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations on Tuesday in New York, saying Iran cannot be trusted when it says its nuclear program has peaceful intentions, according to an attendee of the event.
The attendee, speaking anonymously because Bush’s comments were off the record, said Bush quoted from his May 2008 speech to the Israeli Knesset. In that speech, the president said America stands with Israel “in firmly opposing Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions.”
“Permitting the world’s leading sponsor of terror to possess the world’s deadliest weapon would be an unforgivable betrayal of future generations,” Bush told the Knesset in 2008.
Bush on Tuesday also spoke about his relationship with the Conference of Presidents, the umbrella group of more than 50 national Jewish organizations. The event honored Malcolm Hoenlein, the umbrella’s executive vice chairman since 1986.
Alan Solow, former chairman of the Conference of Presidents, told JNS.org regarding Bush’s appearance, “I was delighted that he joined us at this event.”
The gala also included an opening video message from U.S. President Barack Obama. Hoenlein said the fact that remarks from both Obama and Bush were featured demonstrates the Conference of Presidents’ objective of “unity, with diversity.”
“We brought all kinds of people from different points of view [to the gala],” Hoenlein told JNS.org.
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