From World Bnei Akiva to Israeli Politics

Israel said to weigh lawsuits against top Palestinian officials at ICC

An Israeli official told Reuters on Saturday that Israel was “weighing the possibilities for large-scale prosecution in the United States and elsewhere” of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and other top officials, a day after the PA submitted documents to the United Nations to join the International Criminal Court.

The official added that Palestinian leaders “ought to fear legal steps” as a response to their move toward ICC membership.

“(Hamas) … commits war crimes, shooting at civilians from civilian populated areas,” the official said, in reference to the 50-day conflict Israel fought with Hamas and other terror groups in and around Gaza. Israel lost 66 soldiers and six civilians, and a Thai agricultural worker, in the month-long conflict, while the Palestinian death toll surpassed 2,100, according to Hamas officials in Gaza. Israel said half of the Gaza dead were gunmen and blamed Hamas for all civilian deaths because it operated from residential areas, placing Gazans in harm’s way.

A second official told the news agency that Israel may push these cases via non-governmental organizations and pro-Israel legal groups who can file lawsuits abroad.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that it is the Palestinians who will find themselves in the dock for Hamas’s terrorism and indiscriminate rocket fire at Israel if they join the ICC. Netanyahu has accused Abbas of collaborating with the terror group after a unity deal was signed between the two rivals in April.

The Palestinians moved to join the court after suffering a defeat in the UN Security Council, which rejected a resolution that called on Israel to pull out of the West Bank and East Jerusalem within three years.

The International Criminal Court has recognized the UN General Assembly’s recognition of Palestine as an observer state. Handing over the paperwork is the last formal step for Palestine to become a member of the ICC, which would take at least 60 days.

Israel has threatened retaliation if the Palestinians join the court, and the United States has also vehemently opposed the move as an obstacle to hopes of reaching an Israeli-Palestinians peace deal. The US may also pull funding from the PA, to the tune of $400 million, if the Palestinians pursue claims against Israel at the ICC.

timesofisrael

Israël wil Palestijnse leiders aanklagen

Exodus from France Leads Aliyah to 10-Year High

President Ruby Rivlin greets new Olim as they step off the plane. (Photo Credit: Mark Neyman/GPO/ FLASH90)

Immigration to Israel hit a 10-year high in 2014 with the arrival of approximately 26,500 new immigrants, 32 percent higher than last year’s 20,000 new “olim.”

France for the first time topped the list of countries of origin for immigrants, with nearly 7,000 Jews moving to Israel in 2014, double the 3,400 who came last year.

The other unusual rate of aliyah was from the Ukraine, from where 5,820 Jews moved to Israel, nearly three times the 2,020 who made aliyah in the previous year.

Jewish Agency Natan Sharansky chairman said, “2014 was a year of record-breaking Aliyah. This year also saw a historic shift: for the first time in Israel’s history, the number of immigrants who came to Israel from the free world is greater than that of immigrants fleeing countries in distress.

“This trend is evidence of Israel’s attractiveness as a place where it’s good to live, as well as of the success of our joint efforts to promote aliyah and strengthen connections between Jews around the world and the State of Israel.”

Minister of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption Sofa Landver said that she expects that another 10,000 new immigrants will come from France in 2014.

jewishpress

2014 recordjaar voor emigratie naar Israël

Keren Hayesod - 94 years of Zionism in action

Promoted by: CZON

JPost News January 1

Netanyahu must abandon the Two-State Disaster illusion once and for all.

Pray for Ayala

Update: Firebomb attack victim Ayala Shapira wakes up

PA's Statehood Resolution Defeated at Security Council

In a big victory at the UN for the U.S., Israel, and all who understand that there is no shortcut to Israeli-Palestinian peace, the unilateral resolution put forth by the Palestinians was defeated this evening!

We want friends of Israel to know exactly how each of the 15 countries on the UN Security Council voted on this crucial resolution. Nine votes were needed to adopt the resolution, but the Palestinians couldn't muster more than eight.

PA's Statehood Resolution Defeated at Security Council

Blessed 2015 to You and Israel

Jewish Girl Critical After Palestinian Firebomb Attack

Western media and even some politicians have in the past described stone-throwing and the hurling Molotov cocktails (firebombs) by Palestinians as “peaceful protest.” But a number of incidents over the past several years have demonstrated that stones and firebombs can kill just as easily as bullets, especially when targeting Jewish vehicles traveling on local highways.

That’s what happened on Thursday evening, when Palestinian assailants lobbed a firebomb at the car of Avner Shapira, who was driving home to the Jerusalem-area community of Ma’aleh Shomron with his 11-year-old daughter, Ayala.

Both father and daughter were injured in the attack. Ayala suffered third degree burns over most of her body and had to be placed in a medically-induced coma as doctors worked frantically to save her life.

By Friday afternoon, Ayala had reportedly improved slightly after doctors managed to open a small airway through her severely burned throat.

Earlier on Friday morning, a knife-wielding Palestinian Muslim stabbed two Israeli police officers following Islamic prayer services atop the Temple Mount. The assailant managed to flee the scene after stabbing one officer in the neck and the other in the hand. Both victims were listed in light condition.

These two incidents are in addition to the numerous rock, firebomb and other physical assaults against Jews in and around Jerusalem that did not result in injury, and where therefore not widely reported.

Local residents continue to speak of a “Silent Intifada,” a wave of low-profile terrorist violence that has the city’s Jewish inhabitants increasingly on edge.

israeltoday

Joods meisje zwaar gewond na aanval met brandbom

Pally molotov-terrorist

Synagogue Where Jesus Preached Uncovered

A synagogue where Jesus likely preached has been uncovered on the western shores of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. The 1st century Jewish house of prayer was discovered amidst the ruins of the ancient town of Magdala, home to the most well known female disciple of Jesus, Mary Magdalene.

"This is the first synagogue ever excavated where Jesus walked and preached," said Father Eamon Kelly of the Catholic organization developing the property. "This is hugely important for both Jews and Christians,” he added. The synagogue is one of only seven dating back to the time of Jesus uncovered anywhere in the world.

There is a very high probability that Jesus preached in this very synagogue. Before Tiberius was built, Magdala was the only town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Matthew 15:39 tells us that Jesus landed here as he "he took a boat, and came to the coast of Magdala." According to the New Testament, Jesus traveled extensively through this area teaching and preaching in local synagogues.

Magdala is just a few kilometers south of Capernaum, the fishing village where Jesus met Simon Peter, and not far from the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached his legendary Sermon on the Mount. The town is also situated on the road that Jesus walked from Nazareth and Bethsaida to Capernaum.

This area is on the Via Maris - an ancient trade route that ran from Egypt along the Mediterranean and then up the western shores of the Sea of Galilee all the way to Syria. Jesus spent much of his time here as it provided an important opportunity for him to teach the multitudes passing through.

People tend to think of Bethlehem or Jerusalem as central places in the life of Jesus, but actually Jesus spent most of his life and ministry in the Galilee and northern Israel. "Eighty percent of Jesus' public life was right here," says Father Kelly, pointing to the Galilee region.

In the times of Jesus, the local synagogue was not just a place for prayer, but also a community center where people would gather to discuss the news or share information about current events. Whenever a new rabbi came to town, it was custom for him to come to the local synagogue meet with the people and teach.

According to archaeologists, the Magdala synagogue was destroyed in 67 or 68 CE by the Romans. A sculpted limestone relief depicting a menorah was uncovered in the center of the synagogue. It is the oldest stone-etched menorah ever found.

Archaeologists have also found fishing pools and Jewish ritual baths at the site, which is now open for visitors.

israeltoday

Synagoge blootgelegd waar Jezus mogelijk predikte