1 may 2016
INS Rahav
Although relations between the offices of Merkel and Netanyahu are strained, the security relationship with Germany is Israel's most important after the US.
The Israeli-German relationship experienced problems over the weekend as it ran over a political pothole. The German weekly Der Spiegel published that the German government was weighing the possibility of withdrawing from Chancellor Angela Merkel's obligations to maintain Israel's security and right to exist as Germany's top priority.
Senior politicians from the governing parties told the weekly that the German government has the impression that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is taking advantage of Germany's obligations to Israel and that his government's current policies in the West Bank are making finding a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict more difficult without contributing to the preservation of Israel's Jewish and democratic character.
Even 71 years after the Second World War, any damage such as this in relations is overly charged. For all these years, with the cloud of history hovering above, Germany has taken pains to fund a significant portion of Israel's security expenditures.
In exchange for its financial contributions, the German government apparently expected to receive better treatment by Netanyahu and a larger influence on his policies. According to Der Spiegel, it did not receive this.
Submarines, ships, missiles—and guilt
Just a fortnight ago, a new peak was reached in German-Israeli security relations: the commander of the Israeli Air Force (IAF), Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel, received an extraordinary honor from Berlin when he was awarded the Bundeswehr Gold Cross of Honor from the German ambassador to Israel, Dr. Clemens von Goetze, and the commander of German Air Force Inspector Gen. Karl Müllner. According to an IAF statement, the ambassador stated when awarding the medal, "Our two air forces operate more closely and in a more trustful way than ever in times characterized by normal security challenges."
Beneath the diplomatic statements and against the background of the political tension between Merkel and Netanyahu's offices as revealed over the weekend, the medal revealed a small amount of Israel's most important security relationship with a foreign country besides the United States.
Germany (then West Germany) and Israel's security relationship began in the 50s, largely against the background of and following processes that led to the Reparations Agreement. Initially, these relations were kept secret, and only after the establishment of official diplomatic relations in 1965 did they become public.
Over the years, these relations included the exchange of military information and providing weapons, principally, but not exclusively, from Germany to Israel. In recent years, the trend of Israeli weapon sales to the German army, particularly to the air force, has grown. This trend included the leasing last year of enormous Eitan drones to Germany in the amount of millions of dollars.
Thus it was last year when the deal to purchase four German patrol ships by the Israeli Navy was signed, at a price of 1.8 million shekels, a third funded by Germany. These are the largest, most powerful and most advanced warships in the IDF's fleet. Officially, their objective is defending the gas rigs, but, in practice, the Navy can apparently use them for a variety of defensive and offensive purposes, both in times of war and peace.
The Navy of course received an additional, significant piece of German industry: the submarine fleet that it controls today. This consists of five submarines, three of which are the relatively older Dolphin model, received at the end of the 1990s and beginning of the 2000s. Two additional submarines were added in the last year—the INS Tanin and INS Rahav—at a cost of half a billion dollars each. The two of them are more than ten times more stealthy underwater than their predecessors. In another three years, a sixth German submarine is to join them.
In recent years, the European media have reported that Israeli companies were selling to Germany defense systems for airplanes in trilateral and quadrilateral deals with additional countries. According to foreign reports, one may add to those Germany's purchase of advanced Spike missiles, produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, for use by local land forces.
Training together aerially
The security connection between the countries also includes operational knowledge. In the last decade, joint training by the IDF and the German armed forces has increased, particularly between the air forces, including joint fighter plane exercises over the Mediterranean. In the last year, it was even agreed for the first time that Israeli combat helicopter pilots would travel to Germany for training, which will include training on the German Tiger helicopters, and a reciprocal German delegation will undergo similar training on Israeli fighter helicopters.
Sources in the IAF noted the importance of cooperation with Germany. Head of Helicopters Air Division Brig. Gen. Yaron Rozen stated last year on the IAF's website, "From an historic perspective, there is extraordinary importance to the very existence of cooperation, for professional meetings between the air forces and particularly for personal relationships between German officers and Israeli officers."
Maj. Ayalon of the Air Division added, "In recent years, the significant development of cooperation has begun, including joint learning at every level, squad exchanges, joint training and courses, operational dialogue, dialogue on topics of maintenance, and expanded dialogue on training issues."
Although relations between the offices of Merkel and Netanyahu are strained, the security relationship with Germany is Israel's most important after the US.
The Israeli-German relationship experienced problems over the weekend as it ran over a political pothole. The German weekly Der Spiegel published that the German government was weighing the possibility of withdrawing from Chancellor Angela Merkel's obligations to maintain Israel's security and right to exist as Germany's top priority.
Senior politicians from the governing parties told the weekly that the German government has the impression that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is taking advantage of Germany's obligations to Israel and that his government's current policies in the West Bank are making finding a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict more difficult without contributing to the preservation of Israel's Jewish and democratic character.
Even 71 years after the Second World War, any damage such as this in relations is overly charged. For all these years, with the cloud of history hovering above, Germany has taken pains to fund a significant portion of Israel's security expenditures.
In exchange for its financial contributions, the German government apparently expected to receive better treatment by Netanyahu and a larger influence on his policies. According to Der Spiegel, it did not receive this.
Submarines, ships, missiles—and guilt
Just a fortnight ago, a new peak was reached in German-Israeli security relations: the commander of the Israeli Air Force (IAF), Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel, received an extraordinary honor from Berlin when he was awarded the Bundeswehr Gold Cross of Honor from the German ambassador to Israel, Dr. Clemens von Goetze, and the commander of German Air Force Inspector Gen. Karl Müllner. According to an IAF statement, the ambassador stated when awarding the medal, "Our two air forces operate more closely and in a more trustful way than ever in times characterized by normal security challenges."
Beneath the diplomatic statements and against the background of the political tension between Merkel and Netanyahu's offices as revealed over the weekend, the medal revealed a small amount of Israel's most important security relationship with a foreign country besides the United States.
Germany (then West Germany) and Israel's security relationship began in the 50s, largely against the background of and following processes that led to the Reparations Agreement. Initially, these relations were kept secret, and only after the establishment of official diplomatic relations in 1965 did they become public.
Over the years, these relations included the exchange of military information and providing weapons, principally, but not exclusively, from Germany to Israel. In recent years, the trend of Israeli weapon sales to the German army, particularly to the air force, has grown. This trend included the leasing last year of enormous Eitan drones to Germany in the amount of millions of dollars.
Thus it was last year when the deal to purchase four German patrol ships by the Israeli Navy was signed, at a price of 1.8 million shekels, a third funded by Germany. These are the largest, most powerful and most advanced warships in the IDF's fleet. Officially, their objective is defending the gas rigs, but, in practice, the Navy can apparently use them for a variety of defensive and offensive purposes, both in times of war and peace.
The Navy of course received an additional, significant piece of German industry: the submarine fleet that it controls today. This consists of five submarines, three of which are the relatively older Dolphin model, received at the end of the 1990s and beginning of the 2000s. Two additional submarines were added in the last year—the INS Tanin and INS Rahav—at a cost of half a billion dollars each. The two of them are more than ten times more stealthy underwater than their predecessors. In another three years, a sixth German submarine is to join them.
In recent years, the European media have reported that Israeli companies were selling to Germany defense systems for airplanes in trilateral and quadrilateral deals with additional countries. According to foreign reports, one may add to those Germany's purchase of advanced Spike missiles, produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, for use by local land forces.
Training together aerially
The security connection between the countries also includes operational knowledge. In the last decade, joint training by the IDF and the German armed forces has increased, particularly between the air forces, including joint fighter plane exercises over the Mediterranean. In the last year, it was even agreed for the first time that Israeli combat helicopter pilots would travel to Germany for training, which will include training on the German Tiger helicopters, and a reciprocal German delegation will undergo similar training on Israeli fighter helicopters.
Sources in the IAF noted the importance of cooperation with Germany. Head of Helicopters Air Division Brig. Gen. Yaron Rozen stated last year on the IAF's website, "From an historic perspective, there is extraordinary importance to the very existence of cooperation, for professional meetings between the air forces and particularly for personal relationships between German officers and Israeli officers."
Maj. Ayalon of the Air Division added, "In recent years, the significant development of cooperation has begun, including joint learning at every level, squad exchanges, joint training and courses, operational dialogue, dialogue on topics of maintenance, and expanded dialogue on training issues."
26 apr 2016
After 83 US senators send a letter to the White House, urging President Obama to sign a military aid deal with Israel, White House official says, 'We are prepared to sign an MOU with Israel that would constitute largest single military pledge' in US history.
The United States plans to offer Israel the largest military assistance package in US history, according to an Obama administration official.
"We are prepared to sign an MOU (memorandum of understanding) with Israel that would constitute the largest single pledge of military assistance to any country in US history," a White House official told Reuters.
The statement came hours after 83 US senators sent a letter to President Obama, urging him to reach a military assistance deal with Israel.
"In light of Israel's dramatically rising defense challenges, we stand ready to support a substantially enhanced new long-term agreement to help provide Israel the resources it requires to defend itself and preserve its qualitative military edge," said the letter.
The US and Israel have been engaged in intense negotiations in recent months to outline US military aid to Israel for the next 10 years.
In February, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will wait for the next US president to take office, if the military package offered by the Obama administration does not sufficiently address Israeli security concerns, according to Israeli media.
However, Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Tuesday that Netanyahu would like to reach a military deal with Obama, fearing the uncertainty of the next US president's positions.
The United States plans to offer Israel the largest military assistance package in US history, according to an Obama administration official.
"We are prepared to sign an MOU (memorandum of understanding) with Israel that would constitute the largest single pledge of military assistance to any country in US history," a White House official told Reuters.
The statement came hours after 83 US senators sent a letter to President Obama, urging him to reach a military assistance deal with Israel.
"In light of Israel's dramatically rising defense challenges, we stand ready to support a substantially enhanced new long-term agreement to help provide Israel the resources it requires to defend itself and preserve its qualitative military edge," said the letter.
The US and Israel have been engaged in intense negotiations in recent months to outline US military aid to Israel for the next 10 years.
In February, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will wait for the next US president to take office, if the military package offered by the Obama administration does not sufficiently address Israeli security concerns, according to Israeli media.
However, Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Tuesday that Netanyahu would like to reach a military deal with Obama, fearing the uncertainty of the next US president's positions.
25 apr 2016
More than 80 percent of American senators signed a letter addressed to US President Barack Obama urging him to reach an agreement on an increased military aid package to Israel.
"In light of Israel's dramatically rising defense challenges, we stand ready to support a substantially enhanced new long-term agreement to help provide Israel the resources it requires to defend itself and preserve its qualitative military edge," news agency Reuters quoted the letter as saying.
A reported 83 of the 100 Senators in US Congress signed the letter, including aspiring Republican presidential nominee Ted Cruz, but excluding Senator Bernie Sanders, who is running in the Democratic presidential primaries.
Discussions regarding a new aid agreement have been ongoing for the past several months.
Israel reportedly requested at least $5 billion in annual military aid from the US that would be fixed for the ten years to follow, far surpassing the $3 billion per year currently received by Israel through a military aid agreement set to end by 2018.
After the terms of the agreement became unclear in February, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a cabinet meeting that he would wait for the next US president to sign a deal, if the current administration was “unable to meet Israel’s security needs.”
Earlier this month, Netanyahu reportedly backtracked, telling Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who led the letter, that he would prefer to have a deal signed before Obama leaves office.
According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the United States government has offered up two possible ten-year military aid packages for when the current one expires: one which would increase the total amount of aid given between 2018 and 2028 to $40 billion, on the condition that Israel not lobby the US Congress for more money during that time period; and another in which the US commits to giving $34 billion over ten years, but without the aforementioned lobbying restrictions.
The Israeli government has reportedly been unhappy with both options, despite them representing a $4 to $6 billion increase from the previous ten-year deal.
While US-Israel relations have seen a series of diplomatic disputes during Obama’s administration, Israel remains the number one long-time recipient of US military aid, and US representatives have largely neglected efforts to hold Israel accountable for violations of Palestinian rights and international law.
More than 90 percent of the United States House of Representatives signed earlier this month letter urging Obama to veto “any resolution at the United Nations that sets parameters for Israeli-Palestinian talks.”
"In light of Israel's dramatically rising defense challenges, we stand ready to support a substantially enhanced new long-term agreement to help provide Israel the resources it requires to defend itself and preserve its qualitative military edge," news agency Reuters quoted the letter as saying.
A reported 83 of the 100 Senators in US Congress signed the letter, including aspiring Republican presidential nominee Ted Cruz, but excluding Senator Bernie Sanders, who is running in the Democratic presidential primaries.
Discussions regarding a new aid agreement have been ongoing for the past several months.
Israel reportedly requested at least $5 billion in annual military aid from the US that would be fixed for the ten years to follow, far surpassing the $3 billion per year currently received by Israel through a military aid agreement set to end by 2018.
After the terms of the agreement became unclear in February, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a cabinet meeting that he would wait for the next US president to sign a deal, if the current administration was “unable to meet Israel’s security needs.”
Earlier this month, Netanyahu reportedly backtracked, telling Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who led the letter, that he would prefer to have a deal signed before Obama leaves office.
According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the United States government has offered up two possible ten-year military aid packages for when the current one expires: one which would increase the total amount of aid given between 2018 and 2028 to $40 billion, on the condition that Israel not lobby the US Congress for more money during that time period; and another in which the US commits to giving $34 billion over ten years, but without the aforementioned lobbying restrictions.
The Israeli government has reportedly been unhappy with both options, despite them representing a $4 to $6 billion increase from the previous ten-year deal.
While US-Israel relations have seen a series of diplomatic disputes during Obama’s administration, Israel remains the number one long-time recipient of US military aid, and US representatives have largely neglected efforts to hold Israel accountable for violations of Palestinian rights and international law.
More than 90 percent of the United States House of Representatives signed earlier this month letter urging Obama to veto “any resolution at the United Nations that sets parameters for Israeli-Palestinian talks.”
26 mar 2016
On 25th March 2016, Israeli forces at Ofer military prison injured 8 Palestinians with various kinds of weapons, and later on attacked the nearby village of Beitunia, injuring even more.
A demonstration, against the Israeli military occupation and for the freedom of the prisoners, held in Ofer military prison – often in so called ‘administrative detention’ where the accused can not even expect to be charged or have a trial – was violently attacked by Israeli forces.
They shot endless rounds of tear gas at protestors, as well as rubber-coated metal bullets which injured 8 Palestinians. Additionally, Israeli forces used a new kind of stun grenade and fired live ammunition, including 0.22 caliber bullets, directly at protestors. 5 Palestinian protestors were detained by the army and taken to an unknown destination.
Later, on the same day, Israeli forces attacked the nearby village of Beitunia, where the army again used an excessive amount of stun grenades, rubber-coated metal bullets, live ammunition, and showered the village in tear gas. During this assault, 5 more people sustained injuries from rubber-coated metal bullets. In total 13 Palestinians were injured, including one in the head and one in the chest with rubber-coated metal bullets.
Israeli forces regularly use excessive force and injure protestors in demonstrations against the illegal settlements and Israeli occupation throughout the West Bank.
A demonstration, against the Israeli military occupation and for the freedom of the prisoners, held in Ofer military prison – often in so called ‘administrative detention’ where the accused can not even expect to be charged or have a trial – was violently attacked by Israeli forces.
They shot endless rounds of tear gas at protestors, as well as rubber-coated metal bullets which injured 8 Palestinians. Additionally, Israeli forces used a new kind of stun grenade and fired live ammunition, including 0.22 caliber bullets, directly at protestors. 5 Palestinian protestors were detained by the army and taken to an unknown destination.
Later, on the same day, Israeli forces attacked the nearby village of Beitunia, where the army again used an excessive amount of stun grenades, rubber-coated metal bullets, live ammunition, and showered the village in tear gas. During this assault, 5 more people sustained injuries from rubber-coated metal bullets. In total 13 Palestinians were injured, including one in the head and one in the chest with rubber-coated metal bullets.
Israeli forces regularly use excessive force and injure protestors in demonstrations against the illegal settlements and Israeli occupation throughout the West Bank.
14 mar 2016
The Israeli police intensified during the last two years the use of a dangerous type of foam bullets against the Palestinians, resulting in killing one Palestinian and increasing the number of the Palestinians injured.
However, no charges were filed against police officers for violating the laws on the uses of this type of bullets. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz said on Sunday that the police fired about 60 thousand black sponge-tipped bullets during the last two years, the majority of which are of a new type and more dangerous.
Haaretz pointed out that more than ten Palestinians from Jerusalem have lost their eyes because of these dangerous bullets, others suffered from fractures in their faces, their hands and feet, while one of the wounded suffered serious damage in the brain.
Another two Palestinians suffered from ruptures of the spleen and liver as a result to being shot with this type of bullets, it elaborated.
According to the data handed over by the Israeli police to the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the police fired more than 35 thousand sponge-tipped bullets in 2014, mostly in eastern Jerusalem, and 22 thousand bullets of the same type last year.
In 2013, the police fired 7,162 sponge-tipped bullets, 5,859 in 2012, 3,608 in 2011. Data showed that the police had been using blue sponge-tipped bullets before but since 2014 they have been using the same type of bullets but in black, which are heavier and more dangerous.
In the past year the rate of the usage of these bullets has increased to about 94%, according to the newspaper. According to Haaretz, as a result of the use of this dangerous type of foam bullets, dozens of Palestinians were wounded, including minors and children.
By this practice the Israeli police are violating their own systems, though no accusation of violating regulations was drawn against any policeman. In order to justify the use of this dangerous type of foam bullets, the Israeli police claims that the purpose of using such bullets is to protect the lives of policemen from any threat, while the police regulations prohibit using this type of bullets towards the elderly, children, and pregnant women, and, if used, it should be shot towards the lower part of the body but the police have violated all of these instructions.
The Israeli Police Investigation Unit has opened until today 15 investigation files related to the use of this type of dangerous bullets, but it closed four files of them, and the investigation is still underway on the other files, including the case of the death of a child and cases of several others wounded.
However, no charges were filed against police officers for violating the laws on the uses of this type of bullets. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz said on Sunday that the police fired about 60 thousand black sponge-tipped bullets during the last two years, the majority of which are of a new type and more dangerous.
Haaretz pointed out that more than ten Palestinians from Jerusalem have lost their eyes because of these dangerous bullets, others suffered from fractures in their faces, their hands and feet, while one of the wounded suffered serious damage in the brain.
Another two Palestinians suffered from ruptures of the spleen and liver as a result to being shot with this type of bullets, it elaborated.
According to the data handed over by the Israeli police to the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the police fired more than 35 thousand sponge-tipped bullets in 2014, mostly in eastern Jerusalem, and 22 thousand bullets of the same type last year.
In 2013, the police fired 7,162 sponge-tipped bullets, 5,859 in 2012, 3,608 in 2011. Data showed that the police had been using blue sponge-tipped bullets before but since 2014 they have been using the same type of bullets but in black, which are heavier and more dangerous.
In the past year the rate of the usage of these bullets has increased to about 94%, according to the newspaper. According to Haaretz, as a result of the use of this dangerous type of foam bullets, dozens of Palestinians were wounded, including minors and children.
By this practice the Israeli police are violating their own systems, though no accusation of violating regulations was drawn against any policeman. In order to justify the use of this dangerous type of foam bullets, the Israeli police claims that the purpose of using such bullets is to protect the lives of policemen from any threat, while the police regulations prohibit using this type of bullets towards the elderly, children, and pregnant women, and, if used, it should be shot towards the lower part of the body but the police have violated all of these instructions.
The Israeli Police Investigation Unit has opened until today 15 investigation files related to the use of this type of dangerous bullets, but it closed four files of them, and the investigation is still underway on the other files, including the case of the death of a child and cases of several others wounded.
3 mar 2016
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is expected to pop in Israel on Tuesday for a two-day stopover.
The visit is set to discuss possible ways to increase U.S. military funds to Israel.
Over recent days, the U.S. administration expressed concern over the projected announcement, during Biden’s stopover, of new Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and in Eastern Occupied Jerusalem, as was the case in a similar visit by Biden some six years ago.
The visit is set to discuss possible ways to increase U.S. military funds to Israel.
Over recent days, the U.S. administration expressed concern over the projected announcement, during Biden’s stopover, of new Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and in Eastern Occupied Jerusalem, as was the case in a similar visit by Biden some six years ago.
28 feb 2016
The U.S. administration decided to increase its annual military aid to Israel by as much as $800 million, on top of the millions of dollars and war arsenal dispatched to Israel per every single year, an Israeli newspaper reported Sunday.
The Israel Hayom newspaper quoted political sources as saying that the U.S. administration approved an Israeli request to provide Tel Aviv with four billion dollars in military aid for ten years, with an increase of $800 million from last year.
Israeli news outlets said the move came following the recently-struck U.S.-Iran nuclear deal. Israeli news outlets said there is a striking gap between the Israeli and U.S. positions as regards the increase in military aid as of the end of 2018.
The Israel Hayom newspaper quoted political sources as saying that the U.S. administration approved an Israeli request to provide Tel Aviv with four billion dollars in military aid for ten years, with an increase of $800 million from last year.
Israeli news outlets said the move came following the recently-struck U.S.-Iran nuclear deal. Israeli news outlets said there is a striking gap between the Israeli and U.S. positions as regards the increase in military aid as of the end of 2018.
26 feb 2016
Cameron describes East Jerusalem as "shocking"
Secretary of State John Kerry, on Wednesday, urged Israeli and Palestinian officials to resume a “genuine” peace process, stressing that continued settlement construction is not helpful.
According to World Bulletin/Al Ray, the top diplomat warned of a “downward spiral” in violence in the absence of an active process.
In order to dampen the uptick in violence, Kerry said it was imperative to have a process that people “can grab onto and understand with respect to the creation of a state.”
“If that can happen, then I think it's possible to have progress, but you know, it's not in our hands,” he told a congressional committee, acknowledging difficulties in gaining momentum on all sides of the conflict. "I don't think that the situation is helped by additional settlement construction and building," he added.
In related news, British Prime Minister David Cameron severely criticized the Netanyahu government's policy and said that construction in east Jerusalem settlements is "genuinely shocking."
The British prime minister was speaking during a parliamentary question period in response to a query from opposition Labor MP Imran Hussain, who asked: "Does the prime minister agree with me that illegal settlements and constructions are a major roadblock that hinder peaceful negotiations?"
Cameron replied: “I am well-known as being a strong friend of Israel, but I have to say the first time I visited Jerusalem and had a proper tour around that wonderful city and saw what has happened with the effective encirclement of occupied East Jerusalem it is genuinely shocking."
He stressed that British government is a supporter of Israel, but it does not support the illegal settlements. He explained that they do not support what is happening in east Jerusalem and that it is very important to maintain Jerusalem in the way it was in the past.
Haaterz reported that senior Israeli officials noted that his criticism may have been meant to balance his government's recent decision against boycotts of Israel. The UK has been reported to give over £6billion to Israel, annually, in aid, and a similar amount in arms -- over twice the official figure attributed to the US.
Secretary of State John Kerry, on Wednesday, urged Israeli and Palestinian officials to resume a “genuine” peace process, stressing that continued settlement construction is not helpful.
According to World Bulletin/Al Ray, the top diplomat warned of a “downward spiral” in violence in the absence of an active process.
In order to dampen the uptick in violence, Kerry said it was imperative to have a process that people “can grab onto and understand with respect to the creation of a state.”
“If that can happen, then I think it's possible to have progress, but you know, it's not in our hands,” he told a congressional committee, acknowledging difficulties in gaining momentum on all sides of the conflict. "I don't think that the situation is helped by additional settlement construction and building," he added.
In related news, British Prime Minister David Cameron severely criticized the Netanyahu government's policy and said that construction in east Jerusalem settlements is "genuinely shocking."
The British prime minister was speaking during a parliamentary question period in response to a query from opposition Labor MP Imran Hussain, who asked: "Does the prime minister agree with me that illegal settlements and constructions are a major roadblock that hinder peaceful negotiations?"
Cameron replied: “I am well-known as being a strong friend of Israel, but I have to say the first time I visited Jerusalem and had a proper tour around that wonderful city and saw what has happened with the effective encirclement of occupied East Jerusalem it is genuinely shocking."
He stressed that British government is a supporter of Israel, but it does not support the illegal settlements. He explained that they do not support what is happening in east Jerusalem and that it is very important to maintain Jerusalem in the way it was in the past.
Haaterz reported that senior Israeli officials noted that his criticism may have been meant to balance his government's recent decision against boycotts of Israel. The UK has been reported to give over £6billion to Israel, annually, in aid, and a similar amount in arms -- over twice the official figure attributed to the US.
Dozens of Israeli soldiers attacked, Friday, the weekly nonviolent protest against the Annexation Wall and colonies, in Bil’in village, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah.
The protest started from the center of the village, when locals, Israeli and international peace activists marched towards the villagers’ orchards, and the soldiers fired many gas bombs on them.
Haitham Khatib, a Palestinian cameraman and a well-known nonviolent activist against the Wall and colonies in Bil’in in Bil'in, said the soldiers used a new type of gas bombs that actually detonate after they hit their target.
"This is a very dangerous weapon; innocent peace-loving Palestinians are being used by the army to test Israel’s newest weapons," he said, "We have the right to assemble peacefully, and protest on our lands! We will continue our struggle."
The protest started from the center of the village, when locals, Israeli and international peace activists marched towards the villagers’ orchards, and the soldiers fired many gas bombs on them.
Haitham Khatib, a Palestinian cameraman and a well-known nonviolent activist against the Wall and colonies in Bil’in in Bil'in, said the soldiers used a new type of gas bombs that actually detonate after they hit their target.
"This is a very dangerous weapon; innocent peace-loving Palestinians are being used by the army to test Israel’s newest weapons," he said, "We have the right to assemble peacefully, and protest on our lands! We will continue our struggle."
23 feb 2016
Israeli film-director Udi Aloni, 56, who won the top audience at Berlin Film Festival on Saturday, has labelled the Israeli government “fascist” and urged Germany to cease its military support to Israel.
At a Q&A session about his award-winning film Junction 48 hours before being presented with the Panorama Audience Award for best fiction film, Mr Aloni said Germany should stop supporting the “fascist regime of Israel”:
“Merkel does not mention the occupation and sells submarines to Netanyahu to continue such things.”
The 56-year-old also called Israel a “democracy of white people” and added that “in contrast to the [Israeli] prime minister who spreads hatred, my movie spreads love and co-existence.”
By the end of the session, he mentioned the Palestinian hunger-striker Mohammed al-Qiq as an example “non-Jews’ lack of rights in Israel”, saying that Qiq was dying in administrative detention without being accused of committing a crime.
In a response to Aloni’s comments, according to the Israeli Media, the Israeli Culture Minister Miri Regev said that Israel should not fund films that slander it, refering to the financial support that Aloni’s film received from Israel’s Culture Ministry.
“Aloni’s statements were a clear proof that artists who subvert the state, defame it and hurt its legitimacy should not be funded by the tax payer. A sane country should not assist slanderers and denouncers who malign it, immediately after drinking from its coffers,” Regev stated.
The Israeli film director later clarified to Channel 10 that his comments “were directed against the Israeli government and not against the country, which I love. In contrast to the prime minister who spreads hatred, my movie spreads love and co-existence.”
Last year, more than 3,000 artists, including some of the country’s most prominent actors and directors, signed a petition against Ms Regev’s policies.
“Junction 48” – whose is a Arabic-language film that features mostly Palestinian actors – tells the story of a Palestinian rap star and his girlfriend who live near Tel Aviv in the mixed Jewish-Palestinian city of Lod, known until recently as one of the main drug-running centers of the Middle East.Actress Samar Qupty said it should be easy for Palestinians to identify with the movie, even though it depicts people living lives that are radically different from strict Muslim traditions.
Her character, for example, allows a picture of her face to be used on a poster advertising a hip-hop concert, prompting members of her family to say they plan to injure her if she performs.
“It’s still a revolutionary movie because it doesn’t talk about the way we Palestinians are usually represented in the world,” Qupty said.
“We are representing ourselves by the new generation without trying to prove anything to anyone, with our ‘goods’ and ‘bads’,” she told Reuters in an interview. “We are trying to present what is the real new generation trying to do without making the reality looking any better or any worse.”
At a Q&A session about his award-winning film Junction 48 hours before being presented with the Panorama Audience Award for best fiction film, Mr Aloni said Germany should stop supporting the “fascist regime of Israel”:
“Merkel does not mention the occupation and sells submarines to Netanyahu to continue such things.”
The 56-year-old also called Israel a “democracy of white people” and added that “in contrast to the [Israeli] prime minister who spreads hatred, my movie spreads love and co-existence.”
By the end of the session, he mentioned the Palestinian hunger-striker Mohammed al-Qiq as an example “non-Jews’ lack of rights in Israel”, saying that Qiq was dying in administrative detention without being accused of committing a crime.
In a response to Aloni’s comments, according to the Israeli Media, the Israeli Culture Minister Miri Regev said that Israel should not fund films that slander it, refering to the financial support that Aloni’s film received from Israel’s Culture Ministry.
“Aloni’s statements were a clear proof that artists who subvert the state, defame it and hurt its legitimacy should not be funded by the tax payer. A sane country should not assist slanderers and denouncers who malign it, immediately after drinking from its coffers,” Regev stated.
The Israeli film director later clarified to Channel 10 that his comments “were directed against the Israeli government and not against the country, which I love. In contrast to the prime minister who spreads hatred, my movie spreads love and co-existence.”
Last year, more than 3,000 artists, including some of the country’s most prominent actors and directors, signed a petition against Ms Regev’s policies.
“Junction 48” – whose is a Arabic-language film that features mostly Palestinian actors – tells the story of a Palestinian rap star and his girlfriend who live near Tel Aviv in the mixed Jewish-Palestinian city of Lod, known until recently as one of the main drug-running centers of the Middle East.Actress Samar Qupty said it should be easy for Palestinians to identify with the movie, even though it depicts people living lives that are radically different from strict Muslim traditions.
Her character, for example, allows a picture of her face to be used on a poster advertising a hip-hop concert, prompting members of her family to say they plan to injure her if she performs.
“It’s still a revolutionary movie because it doesn’t talk about the way we Palestinians are usually represented in the world,” Qupty said.
“We are representing ourselves by the new generation without trying to prove anything to anyone, with our ‘goods’ and ‘bads’,” she told Reuters in an interview. “We are trying to present what is the real new generation trying to do without making the reality looking any better or any worse.”
Page: 2 - 1
