DNA Evidence Argues Ancient Biblical Villain Philistines Have European Ancestors

The Roman name for the region including Israel—which evolved into “Palestine”—may have been derived from the name of the Philistine people who once lived on the coast, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. Yet ironically, it turns out at least some of the Philistine’s ancestors are not only not from Israeli …

Israel—An Ancient King of Making Glass

Centuries before the Land of Israel was a hub for the high-tech industry, the region was among the world leaders in another profession involving science, skill, and specialized knowledge: glass making. The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced in a press release on Monday that they have discovered 1,600-year-old kilns used …

Terror Foiled: Israel Arrests Teen’s Killers, Stops Gaza Attacks

It was an intense start to the weekend in Israel, as security forces apprehended the terrorists believed to be behind the terror stabbing of 18-year-old Dvir Sorek and shut down an attempted attack at the Gaza border—twice—in just two days. On Saturday, a group of four terrorists from Gaza sought …

Israel Honors Security Agency that Helped Nab Teen Killers, Stop Hundreds of Attacks

The Israel Security Agency (ISA) recently made the news for their role in apprehending two suspects believed to have murdered 18-year-old Dvir Sorek in a stabbing terror attack. But behind the scenes, they’ve been responsible for preventing hundreds of other terror attacks from even taking place. “You caught Dvir’s murderer …

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Amidst Regional Tensions, Russia, US and Israel to Hold ‘Unprecedented’ Trilateral Meeting

June 18, 2019 Peace and Conflict

The United States’ Bolton, Israel, and Russia will all meet next week. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with US National Security Advisor John Bolton in Jerusalem. Illustrative. Photo: Amos Ben Gershom GPO

National Security officials from Israel, the United States and Russia are set to meet together next week in what Israel’s leader has called an “historic and unprecedented meeting in Jerusalem.” Netanyahu made the comments on Tuesday, one day after the United States increased its troop deployment to the Middle East again amidst tensions with Iran.

The trilateral world power meeting in Jerusalem has been planned for weeks, with a report in May from The Times of Israel saying the meeting was expected to focus on Syria­­, including Iran’s military buildup in that country and US troop pullout from there. On Tuesday in comments published by his office, Netanyahu said the meeting “is a very important summit for ensuring stability in the Middle East during turbulent times.”

He continued, “What is important about this trilateral meeting, of the two superpowers in the State of Israel is that it greatly attests to the current international standing of Israel among the nations.” … Continue Reading

Iran Will Exceed Fuel Limits in Nuclear Deal Later This Month

June 17, 2019 Peace and Conflict

Illustrative photo of Netanyahu discussing Iran’s “secret nuclear files”. Photo courtesy of: Amos Ben-Gershom (GPO)

Following the Iranian decision to withdraw from some of the limitations under their nuclear deal with world powers, the Islamic Republic’s nuclear fuel supply has increased to the point that they will exceed the limits on nuclear fuel storage under the atomic agreement on June 27. Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi informed the world of Iran’s progress on Monday, noting that his country intends to walk away from more of their requirements if their economic demands of Europe are not met by the end of their 60-day deadline on July 7.

Enriching uranium for nuclear fuel beyond what is needed for civilian power—including significant enhancement to medical research levels previously reached by the regime’s program before the deal—is on the table according to the spokesman. Nuclear weapons enrichment-levels—an even further step in nuclear fuel efforts—were not mentioned in the report.

Still, the specter of Iran speeding back to activity levels achieved prior to the nuclear deal hangs threateningly, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes Iran should be punished by the world community if they exceed what’s permitted under the accord. “Should Iran make good on its current threats, and violate the nuclear agreement, the international community will need to immediately impose the sanctions regime that was agreed upon in advance, the ‘snapback sanctions,’” Netanyahu was quoted by his office as saying Monday. “In any case, Israel will not allow Iran to achieve nuclear weapons.” … Continue Reading

Israel Approves Town of ‘Trump Heights’ in Golan in Honor of US President

June 16, 2019 News

Golan Heights Cabinet meeting recognizing “Trump Heights”.
Photo courtesy of Kobi Gideon / Israeli GPO

United States President Donald Trump made history earlier this year by recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the strategic Golan Heights region at Israel’s northern border, and on Sunday, Israel made history in return by naming a town for a US President for the first time in 70 years. Ramat Trump, or “Trump Heights” in English, was formally approved by the Israeli cabinet and a sign with the special name was unveiled in a special ceremony in the Golan.

“This is an historic day for us,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in comments released by his office. “We are going to do two things: Establish a new community on the Golan Heights, something which has not been done for many years. This is an act of settlement and of Zionism of the first order.

“The second thing is to honor our friend, a very great friend of the State of Israel, President Donald Trump, who recently recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. He is the first international leader to have done so. He tore the mask off this hypocrisy, which does not recognize what is self-evident.” … Continue Reading

US Accuses Iran of Another Attack on Oil Shipping, Threatening ‘International Peace’

June 13, 2019 News

Iran is attacking oil shipping. Oil Tanker. Illustrative. Photo Courtesy of U.S. Navy. Photo by Mass Communication 2nd Class Nathan Schaeffer

The United States took less than one day to publicly accuse Iran of another attack on oil shipping the Middle East, while also saying Iran is threatening “international peace and security.” And it’s not just world peace that’s at stake. The same day, an organization representing shipping warned the situation could threaten the oil supply of the “entire Western world.”

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday listed off a series of threats and attacks carried out by Iran in the last two months, starting with a warning to disrupt the sea-borne oil trade in the region’s Strait of Hormuz. Since then, he said, Iran or its proxies have attacked multiple ships, oil pipelines, US soldiers, and an airport in Saudi Arabia.

“Taken as a whole, these unprovoked attacks present a clear threat to international peace and security, a blatant assault on the freedom of navigation, and an unacceptable campaign of escalating tension by Iran,” said Pompeo in comments to the press published on the State Department website. … Continue Reading

Israel Scores against BDS as 30 Financial Accounts of Orgs Promoting Boycotts Shut Down Due to Terrorist Ties

June 10, 2019 News

Israel is pushing back against the boycott movement and their ties to terror. Israeli flags. Illustrative. By Joshua Spurlock

Organizations in the “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions” (BDS) movement against Israel are trying to harm the Jewish State financially in an effort to achieve anti-Israel political goals. Recently, Israel’s government and partner groups have turned the tables on them, exposing the links between dozens of those groups to terrorists and pushing financial entities to close their accounts. So far, 30 financial accounts of such anti-Israel organizations have been shut down, according to an Israeli press release.

Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Gilad Erdan, in a press release by his ministry on Monday, said, “boycott promoters” raised tens of millions of euros from Western countries by disguising themselves as “human rights activists”. Now, the truth comes out.

“We have revealed that the supposed ‘human rights’ NGOs are in reality, filled with anti-Semitic operatives with deep ties to terrorist groups fixated on destroying the State of Israel,” Erdan was quoted as saying. “As a result of our actions, countries and financial institutions are now distancing themselves from these organizations. Our efforts have drastically undermined the boycott campaign, leading to it having much less finances to operate, and barred from receiving financial services.” … Continue Reading

UN Nuclear Watchdog Says Iran Increasing Nuclear Fuel Production

June 10, 2019 Iran Nuclear Program, Peace and Conflict

Radiation Warning Symbol. Public Domain.

The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog on Monday said Iran’s nuclear material production was growing, the BBC reported, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) leader also expressed he was “worried” about the overall situation. That same day, Iran’s Foreign Minister had the audacity to point the finger at Israel’s defensive nuclear program as a threat in the region.

Per a report by the Fars News Agency, Mohammed Zarif referenced comments made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a year ago outside the Dimona nuclear plant warning Israel’s enemies in general of the severe consequences of attacking Israel. That not-so-subtle self-defense rhetoric, however, pales in comparison to the Iranian comments about destroying Israel, in self-defense or otherwise. And Netanyahu pointed to that hostility in turning the tables on Zarif in comments on Monday.

“Zarif is lying again. Iran is the one that openly threatens, every day, to destroy the State of Israel. Iran continues to entrench itself militarily in Syria. And today, the IAEA reports that Iran is accelerating its nuclear program,” said Netanyahu in comments released by his office. “I repeat: Israel will not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons that threaten our existence and endanger the entire world.” … Continue Reading

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