March 5, 2018
Danon: Instead of confronting Iran, UN is “targeting Israel”
The United States and Israel will cooperate to confront the Iranian regime, with or without help from the UN, a senior Israeli diplomat said Sunday (4th).
Speaking at the 2018 American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference in Washington, DC Sunday (4th), Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon slammed the UN for “wasting” its “time and energy” harassing the Jewish state, while he claimed it ignored the growing threat emanating from Tehran.
“It is vital that the UN focus on the real problems of the world, like Iran,” said Danon.
“We all know just how dangerous this threat is, but the UN is wasting time and energy on votes and reports against Israel,” he told the AIPAC audience.
Danon expressed confidence that “Israel and the United States will succeed in stopping the Iranians and will halt the expansion of their regime from the Gulf to the Mediterranean.”
PM Benjamin Netanyahu is to address the conference on Tuesday (6th).
(israelnn.com)
Netanyahu arrived in U.S., will speak to Trump about Iran
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took off for the United States Saturday night (3rd), where he will speak at the annual AIPAC policy conference and meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.
He said that during his visit, he will thank Trump for his decision to move the US Embassy in May, and will also discuss the Iranian nuclear issue and Iran’s aggressive behavior in the region.
Before leaving Israel the prime minister said, “I am going on behalf of all the citizens of Israel, as I understand it, to achieve three goals: Security, peace and economic prosperity for all the citizens of Israel – for our country.”
He is to meet with President Trump on Monday (5th).
(timesofisrael.com; jta.org)
Arab motorist wounds 4 in car-ramming terror attack in Acre
An Arab motorist rammed his car into two IDF soldiers, a Border Policeman and a pedestrian on Sunday morning (4th)
“The investigation of the incident, as well as the findings at the scene and documentary materials, indicated that this was a nationalistic attack,” police said in a statement. The driver, 51, is from the northern Arab-Israeli town of Shfar’am.
The victims were taken to the hospital in Nahariya with light and moderate injuries. The injured Border Policeman managed to shoot and neutralize the assailant.
(worldisraelnews.com)
Hamas praises ‘heroic and brave’ Acre car-ramming
The Hamas terror organization praised the “heroic and brave” car-ramming in Acre in northern Israel on Sunday (4th), that police have labeled a nationalistic attack
Israel Radio quoted the terror group as stressing the importance of “continuing the resistance against the occupation (Israel).”
(israelradio.org)
Not just the US: Guatemala plans Jerusalem embassy move by May
The U.S. Embassy won’t be the only foreign mission relocating from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem this spring.
According to a report Sunday evening (4th) by Channel 2 TV, Guatemala, which announced plans to transfer their embassy to the Israeli capital city in December following President Donald Trump’s historic recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, is expected to layout the time-frame for the embassy move this week.
Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales, an Evangelical Christian and strong supporter of Israel, is expected to announce a timetable for the transfer of his country’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move that is expected to be completed in May.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Morales are scheduled to meet in Washington during the current annual AIPAC Conference.
(israelnn.com)
Bahrain says arrested 116 members of ‘Iran-linked terror cell’
Bahrain said on Saturday (3rd) it had rounded up 116 members of an armed network established and supported by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, suspected of plotting attacks on Bahrain government officials and security forces.
The Bahraini Interior Ministry said in a statement that investigators found sites used by the militants to manufacture and store explosives intended to be used for “terrorist attacks.”
The island kingdom is strategically located in the Persian Gulf between regional arch-rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran and is home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet.
(israelhayom.com)
Israel’s IAI announces innovative aerial defense system
Israel’s Aerospace Industries has introduced an innovative electronic warfare system designed to protect a variety of aircraft against surface-to-air missiles.
The ELL-8270, which was developed by the ELTA division of IAI – utilizes a towed decoy as “bait” when an aircraft in flight is in danger of being struck by enemy missiles.
The decoy is towed at a safe distance from the aircraft. By means of a transponder, it diverts any incoming missile away from the plane to prevent the craft itself from being hit.
The device is a completely autonomous, lightweight system that requires minimal pilot control.
The system, which is active only when a hostile missile threatens an aircraft, can handle a multiple threat simultaneously.
(jpost.com)
Israel builds first dairy farm in Papua New Guinea – Abigail Klein Leichman
Since 1990, civil engineer Ronen Feigenbaum has used Israeli technology and knowhow to set up dairy farms in China, England, India, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, Philippines, Romania, South Africa, Vietnam and now Papua New Guinea. Until now, the country didn’t have a dairy and all dairy products were imported. “Israeli dairy farms are the best in the world,” said Feigenbaum. “Each Israeli Holstein averages over 40 liters per day, some as much as 60.” The U.S. average is 30 liters per day, and in Britain 21 liters.
(israel21c.org)
Unemployment rate in Israel falls to record low – Tali Heruti-Sover
The unemployment rate in Israel fell in January to a historic low of 3.7%, the Central Bureau of Statistics reported Wednesday (2/28).
(haaretz.com)
Mississippi looking to invest in Israeli bonds
JACKSON, Miss – The Mississippi Legislature may authorize the state treasury to invest in Israeli bonds.
The House passed Senate Bill 2051 Wednesday (2/28) by a 118-2 vote. If enacted the law would allow the state to use excess general funds to invest in bonds issued by Israel.
The bill says these investments must be made in US currency and are capped at $20 million.
State Treasury Chief of Staff Michelle Williams says the treasury invests most of its excess funds in state banks, then into the U.S. treasury. The bill would give the treasury another option for investment– one that Williams said is safe but with a higher rate of return.
Now the bill heads back to the Senate for debate.
(ynetnews.com; ap.com)
