Ancient church and farmhouse unearthed outside Tel Aviv

(JNS.org) Israeli archaeologists have unearthed an impressive 1,500-year-old Byzantine Church and a 2,700-year-old farmhouse in the Israeli town of Rosh Ha-‘Ayin, which lies just east of Tel Aviv, during construction of a new housing development.

“The large farmhouse was preserved to a height of more than two meters (6 and a half feet). The building is 2,700 years old and included twenty-four rooms constructed around a central courtyard,” said Amit Shadman, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) excavation director.

According to the IAA, the farmhouse was eventually abandoned during the Hellenistic period. However, hundreds of years later, during the fifth century CE, another settlement wave led by Christians led to new construction in the area, including many churches and monasteries.

“A monastery dating to the Byzantine period was exposed on one of the hills in the area and included a church, an oil press, residential quarters and stables equipped with mangers and troughs, etc…” the IAA said.

The church that was built inside of the monastery was made with colorful mosaics that includes geometric patterns and other designs. Additionally, the IAA said, a Greek inscription to a priest named Theodosius, which was a common name of that era, was found in one of the mosaics.

“This place was built under Theodosius the priest. Peace be with you when you come, peace be with you when you go, Amen,” the inscription said.

The monastery was eventually abandoned and later destroyed during the Ottoman period.

The IAA said that the ancient remains will be preserved and displayed within communal areas of the new neighborhood.
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India successfully test-fires Indo-Israeli Barak 8 missile

(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) The Indian Navy successfully test-fired the Barak 8 surface-to-air missile, jointly developed with Israel, overnight Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, the India-based Economic Times reported.

Israel Aerospace Industries said in a statement that the system performed according to expectations and that two interceptor missiles hit their targets. The successful trials, according to IAI, signal that the “system is ready.”

In late November, the IDF ran its own test of the Barak 8, which the defense establishment believes can play a key role in securing Israel’s offshore gas installations and naval forces.

“The successful interception tests last night and this morning from the Indian navy ship represents a continuation of the successful Barak 8 test from the Israeli naval vessel a month ago, which doubly validates the system’s impressive operational capabilities,” IAI CEO Yossi Weiss said.
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Israel grants stipends to WWII North African Jews

(JNS.org) Jews of North African descent who were living under the Nazi regime during World War II will receive an annual stipend from Israel, the Finance Ministry announced on Monday.

Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon announced the grant during a special session hosted by the Knesset’s Labor, Welfare, and Health Committee, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Annual payments of NIS 3,600 ($923) will be provided to Jews who emigrated from Morocco, Iraq, and Algeria. Immigrants will also be exempt from paying prescription drugs.
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Iran transfers uranium to Russia as part of nuke deal

(JNS.org) Iran authorized the transfer of 25,000 pounds of low-enriched uranium to Russia, fulfilling a key obligation in last summer’s nuclear deal made by six world powers, US Secretary of State John Kerry announced on Monday.

“All the enriched uranium envisaged by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) has been removed from Iran’s territory with Russia’s assistance,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Iran was required to ship out all but 660 pounds of their low-enriched uranium, in an effort to reduce Iran’s ability to make nuclear weapons.

“The shipment included the removal of all of Iran’s nuclear material enriched to 20 percent that was not already in the form of fabricated fuel plates for the Tehran Research Reactor,” U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a written statement.

“This removal of all this enriched material out of Iran is a significant step toward Iran meeting its commitment to have no more than 300 kg of low-enriched uranium by Implementation Day,” Kerry added.
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Israel doubles down on Brazil ambassador nomination

(JNS.org) Israeli officials are standing firm in its nomination of Dani Dayan as the ambassador to Brazil in spite of not receiving formal approval from the Brazilian government over Dayan ties to Judea and Samaria.

Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotoveli (Likud) warned that if Brazil does not approve Dayan’s appointment, it will lead to a diplomatic crisis between Israel and Brazil, Israel’s Channel 10reported.

“We are waiting for a Brazilian answer,” Emmanuel Nahshon, the spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry, said on Monday. “It is clear that the longer we don’t get one, it is a kind of negative in diplomatic code. Basically no answer means ‘no,’” he added.

Following Dayan’s appointment in August, several Brazilian politicians and organizations began pressuring the Brazilian government to reject him due to his former position as the head of the Yesha Council, an umbrella organization of municipal governments for Judea and Samaria.

“We are examining options and scenarios, but it would be premature to speculate what happens if the Brazilians do not accept him,” Nahshon added.

A Brazilian government official told Reuters that he does not expect Dayan’s appointment to be accepted and that Israel will have to choose another ambassador.

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