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1. Barkat's Vision for Jerusalem
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Secular high tech millionaire Nir Barkat, who defeated hareidi religious Meir Porush Tuesday night to become the ninth mayor of Jerusalem, envisions 10 million tourists and 150,000 new jobs within the decade.
In an interview in perfect English several weeks ago with IsraelNationalNews radio, he described his plan to make Jerusalem an international city with economic prosperity, more housing for students and increased tourism.
can't see player? click here)
Barkat said that there is no reason the capital cannot compete with New York and Paris, which draw 40 million tourists a year compared with two million for Jerusalem. He explained that mroe tourism will create more jobs, which along with more housing will keep people from leaving.
Cleaning up the city and improving the city's transportation system also are part of his program.
Barkat defeated hareidi religious Meir Porush Tuesday night to become the ninth mayor of Jerusalem. He succeeds Mayor Uri Lupolianski, the capital's first hareidi orthodox mayor who was elected in 2003 and succeeded Ehud Olmert, now the outgoing Prime Minister. Prior to Olmert, Teddy Kollek ruled the city since 1965.
Barkat's victory returns the city to secular hands, but he won wide support from national religious Jews and even from part of the hareidi religious community that did not want to see Porush, from the Vishnitz community, in power. Knesset Member Avigdor Lieberman, head of Israel Is Our Home (Yisrael Beiteinu), also endorsed Barkat.
He vowed to fight to retain Jerusalem as Israel's undivided capital and specifically condemned Olmert for his plan to give away most if not all of eastern Jerusalem to the Palestinian Authority. Several national religious leaders reasoned that Barkat's secular image would give him a better position than Porush in the fight to retain Jerusalem's status.
His predecessor Lupolianski was involved in the community for years and founded the Yad Sarah organization to help the elderly and disabled, but he has been accused of favoring his own religious community. Porush offended many voters by his campaign statement that large hareidi religious community in Israeli cities soon will be in power because of their high birthrate.
Barkat won the contest by 10 percent, and he and Porush left Russian-born billionaire Arcadi Gaydamak with less than four percent of the vote.
The new mayor was born in 1959. Like Lupolianski, he served in the army. He left the IDF after serving for six years and reaching the rank of major in the paratrooper's brigade.
Following university, he founded the BRM company that developed anti-virus software and turned it into an engine that helped Checkpoint and other companies get off the ground. Barkat served as chairman of Checkpoint for four years, and his BRM Capital venture fund was worth $150 million. He quit business in 2003 to devote his time to politics and was elected to the city council.
His non-profit New Spirit program is designed to help students in Jerusalem, and he is a strong proponent of pluralism.
Comment on this story
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Secular high tech millionaire Nir Barkat, who defeated hareidi religious Meir Porush Tuesday night to become the ninth mayor of Jerusalem, envisions 10 million tourists and 150,000 new jobs within the decade.
In an interview in perfect English several weeks ago with IsraelNationalNews radio, he described his plan to make Jerusalem an international city with economic prosperity, more housing for students and increased tourism.
can't see player? click here)
Barkat said that there is no reason the capital cannot compete with New York and Paris, which draw 40 million tourists a year compared with two million for Jerusalem. He explained that mroe tourism will create more jobs, which along with more housing will keep people from leaving.
Cleaning up the city and improving the city's transportation system also are part of his program.
Barkat defeated hareidi religious Meir Porush Tuesday night to become the ninth mayor of Jerusalem. He succeeds Mayor Uri Lupolianski, the capital's first hareidi orthodox mayor who was elected in 2003 and succeeded Ehud Olmert, now the outgoing Prime Minister. Prior to Olmert, Teddy Kollek ruled the city since 1965.
Barkat's victory returns the city to secular hands, but he won wide support from national religious Jews and even from part of the hareidi religious community that did not want to see Porush, from the Vishnitz community, in power. Knesset Member Avigdor Lieberman, head of Israel Is Our Home (Yisrael Beiteinu), also endorsed Barkat.
He vowed to fight to retain Jerusalem as Israel's undivided capital and specifically condemned Olmert for his plan to give away most if not all of eastern Jerusalem to the Palestinian Authority. Several national religious leaders reasoned that Barkat's secular image would give him a better position than Porush in the fight to retain Jerusalem's status.
His predecessor Lupolianski was involved in the community for years and founded the Yad Sarah organization to help the elderly and disabled, but he has been accused of favoring his own religious community. Porush offended many voters by his campaign statement that large hareidi religious community in Israeli cities soon will be in power because of their high birthrate.
Barkat won the contest by 10 percent, and he and Porush left Russian-born billionaire Arcadi Gaydamak with less than four percent of the vote.
The new mayor was born in 1959. Like Lupolianski, he served in the army. He left the IDF after serving for six years and reaching the rank of major in the paratrooper's brigade.
Following university, he founded the BRM company that developed anti-virus software and turned it into an engine that helped Checkpoint and other companies get off the ground. Barkat served as chairman of Checkpoint for four years, and his BRM Capital venture fund was worth $150 million. He quit business in 2003 to devote his time to politics and was elected to the city council.
His non-profit New Spirit program is designed to help students in Jerusalem, and he is a strong proponent of pluralism.
Comment on this story
2. Livni-Olmert: Political Divorce
by Gil Ronen
Tzipi Livni, the leader of ruling party Kadima, distanced herself Tuesday from outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's recipe for peace, as outlined by him Monday. Livni said that she was under no obligation to follow Olmert's ideas and that she would follow Kadima's platform instead.
"We can carry out negotiations my way without reaching the points presented by the outgoing Prime Minister," she said in a press statement she released in response to Olmert's speech Monday in which he called for a retreat to pre-1967 borders.
"As the chairwoman of the Kadima party, I am bound not by what the outgoing Prime Minister said but by the Kadima platform which I wrote, which I believe in and which sets precisely the principles for carrying out the negotiations," she explained.
Livni said that negotiations should not just yield a departure by Israel from parts of its homeland, but should also safeguard Jewish security and national interests. "This is how I intend to continue to manage this," she said. "Everyone accepts it, including the Palestinians and including the world."
Principles
She explained that Israel had set principles for negotiations at the 2006 Sharm el-Sheikh summit "together with the Palestinians, and with the support of the entire world."
"There were, there are and there will be disagreements between me and the outgoing Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister said. "When we wrote the Kadima platform, too, Olmert spoke in terms of 'convergence' by unilateral moves – which I think is a mistake, because you can't just throw the keys over to the other side and hope for the best…certainly not in Judea and Samaria," she explained.
Bibi or Tzipi?
Livni said that "the future of the state of Israel and of the [negotiatin process and of the region depends on the choice made by Israel's citizens [in the upcoming general election." She added that the choice people had to make was between her and Likud Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu.
The Likud has sharpened distinctions between its platform and Kadima's by stating that it will not give up the Golan Heights and will retain Jerusalem as Israel's undivided capital. Livni has not said she supports surrendering the areas but has insisted that the issues will be decided in negotiations.
Comment on this story
by Gil Ronen
Tzipi Livni, the leader of ruling party Kadima, distanced herself Tuesday from outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's recipe for peace, as outlined by him Monday. Livni said that she was under no obligation to follow Olmert's ideas and that she would follow Kadima's platform instead.
"We can carry out negotiations my way without reaching the points presented by the outgoing Prime Minister," she said in a press statement she released in response to Olmert's speech Monday in which he called for a retreat to pre-1967 borders.
"As the chairwoman of the Kadima party, I am bound not by what the outgoing Prime Minister said but by the Kadima platform which I wrote, which I believe in and which sets precisely the principles for carrying out the negotiations," she explained.
Livni said that negotiations should not just yield a departure by Israel from parts of its homeland, but should also safeguard Jewish security and national interests. "This is how I intend to continue to manage this," she said. "Everyone accepts it, including the Palestinians and including the world."
Principles
She explained that Israel had set principles for negotiations at the 2006 Sharm el-Sheikh summit "together with the Palestinians, and with the support of the entire world."
"There were, there are and there will be disagreements between me and the outgoing Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister said. "When we wrote the Kadima platform, too, Olmert spoke in terms of 'convergence' by unilateral moves – which I think is a mistake, because you can't just throw the keys over to the other side and hope for the best…certainly not in Judea and Samaria," she explained.
Bibi or Tzipi?
Livni said that "the future of the state of Israel and of the [negotiatin process and of the region depends on the choice made by Israel's citizens [in the upcoming general election." She added that the choice people had to make was between her and Likud Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu.
The Likud has sharpened distinctions between its platform and Kadima's by stating that it will not give up the Golan Heights and will retain Jerusalem as Israel's undivided capital. Livni has not said she supports surrendering the areas but has insisted that the issues will be decided in negotiations.
Comment on this story
3. Abbas Lauds Suicide Bombers
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Palestinian Authority Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas, speaking in Ramallah in memory of his predecessor Yasser Arafat, praised "the path of the shahids [martyr--"the path we cherish." He added, "It is aimed at upholding the Palestinians' nationalist and sovereign resolutions."
Israeli and Western governments almost always describe Abbas a as a "moderate," particularly when comparing him with leaders of Hamas, which the same governments have defined as a terrorist organization.
Abbas told thousands at the rally, "The Palestinian leadership will continue to follow Yasser Arafat's path until a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital is established." Arafat carried out or ordered dozens of terrorist attacks before he died four years ago.
Israeli Arab Knesset Member (United Arab List—Ta'al) Ahmed Tibi also addressed the rally at Ramallah, saying that "we miss Arafat's keffiyeh - a symbol for all revolutionaries, freedom-seekers worldwide." He expressed the hope that Arafat will "rise from the grave and lead" Arabs.
Foreign media generally omitted Abbas's remarks on martyrs, which usually refers to suicide bombers, and highlighted his comments on the need for PA unity. The Bethlehem-based Maan news agency, considered to be close to the PA, told readers, "Abbas said the Palestinians were determined to pursue the 'peace of the brave that Arafat stood for.' Alluding to Hamas, Abbas added that 'the Palestinian nationalist resolution will not be dictated by external elements.'"
Both Maan and foreign media reported that Hamas banned Gaza rallies in memory of Arafat, who established and headed the Fatah party until his death. Maan stressed Abbas's call for unity and added that Fatah believes in democracy "even if we do not like the outcome."
The Greek AKI news service headlined Hamas's declaration of a state of alert in Gaza, where marches were banned, "effectively preventing Fatah supporters from commemorating his death." It briefly mentioned later in its report that "Abbas said Arafat and other important Palestinian 'martyrs' should be remembered regardless of their faction."
The Chinese news agency Xinhua also highlighted Hamas's ban on marches and the use of violence against offenders. It quoted a 16-year-old student, "They stopped every student who has the Keffiyeh on his shoulder and beat him, describing us and Abu Amar (Arafat) as infidel seculars."
The French news agency AFP also headlined Abbas's "bitter attack" on Hamas, accusing it of sabotaging efforts to reach a unity agreement with Fatah. No mention was made of Abbas's praise of martyrs.
Comment on this story
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Palestinian Authority Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas, speaking in Ramallah in memory of his predecessor Yasser Arafat, praised "the path of the shahids [martyr--"the path we cherish." He added, "It is aimed at upholding the Palestinians' nationalist and sovereign resolutions."
Israeli and Western governments almost always describe Abbas a as a "moderate," particularly when comparing him with leaders of Hamas, which the same governments have defined as a terrorist organization.
Abbas told thousands at the rally, "The Palestinian leadership will continue to follow Yasser Arafat's path until a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital is established." Arafat carried out or ordered dozens of terrorist attacks before he died four years ago.
Israeli Arab Knesset Member (United Arab List—Ta'al) Ahmed Tibi also addressed the rally at Ramallah, saying that "we miss Arafat's keffiyeh - a symbol for all revolutionaries, freedom-seekers worldwide." He expressed the hope that Arafat will "rise from the grave and lead" Arabs.
Foreign media generally omitted Abbas's remarks on martyrs, which usually refers to suicide bombers, and highlighted his comments on the need for PA unity. The Bethlehem-based Maan news agency, considered to be close to the PA, told readers, "Abbas said the Palestinians were determined to pursue the 'peace of the brave that Arafat stood for.' Alluding to Hamas, Abbas added that 'the Palestinian nationalist resolution will not be dictated by external elements.'"
Both Maan and foreign media reported that Hamas banned Gaza rallies in memory of Arafat, who established and headed the Fatah party until his death. Maan stressed Abbas's call for unity and added that Fatah believes in democracy "even if we do not like the outcome."
The Greek AKI news service headlined Hamas's declaration of a state of alert in Gaza, where marches were banned, "effectively preventing Fatah supporters from commemorating his death." It briefly mentioned later in its report that "Abbas said Arafat and other important Palestinian 'martyrs' should be remembered regardless of their faction."
The Chinese news agency Xinhua also highlighted Hamas's ban on marches and the use of violence against offenders. It quoted a 16-year-old student, "They stopped every student who has the Keffiyeh on his shoulder and beat him, describing us and Abu Amar (Arafat) as infidel seculars."
The French news agency AFP also headlined Abbas's "bitter attack" on Hamas, accusing it of sabotaging efforts to reach a unity agreement with Fatah. No mention was made of Abbas's praise of martyrs.
Comment on this story
4. Fischer Slashes Interest Rate
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Bank of Israel Governor Prof. Stanley Fischer slashed the interest by half a percent Tuesday night, dropping the prime rate to a record low 3 percent in a frantic attempt to block a recession. The cut reflected a sense of urgency because the central bank usually decides on rate changes toward the end of the month, after the previous month's consumer price index is reported.
The move follows by several days Fischer's comments that he is worried about the economy. "We expect 2.7% growth in 2009, and we are accused of over-optimism," he stated. "In such times, if you want to be serious, you should be worried, and I am really worried. Wise men won't tell you that there is nothing to be worried about."
Investment firm Excellence's chief economist Shlomo Maoz has cut his growth forecast for Israel's economy in 2009 to 1.7%, Globes reported Tuesday.
The slowdown in Israel, which up until this year was considered one of the world's steadiest growing and strongest economies, is part of a global pattern and is a direct reaction to the financial tsunami that has hit the United States.
The results have been a classic case of falling dominoes.
Bank and finance investment house bankruptcies and colossal debts by overdrawn companies have sunk stock market indices by 50 percent and some stocks have lost 90 percent of their value.
The bankruptcies and credit cutbacks have forced people out of work. In addition, the market crash has left pension funds and private investors with a huge reduction in wealth, with gambling casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson losing more than half the value of his $20 billion empire.
The bottom line is there is less money for consumption, the driving force behind the economic boom that has gone bust. That means a drop in sales for companies, which lay off even more people as profits drop.
Good news for consumers has come in the form of dropping prices after a one-way skyrocketing ride that ended up with the price of flour, bread, and gasoline going through the roof.
The plunge in commodity prices - crude oil hit a two-year low of under $60 a barrel Tuesday - has reversed expectations of high inflation, allowing central banks around the world to slash rates, and Fischer has followed suit.
However, the slash also caused the shekel-dollar rate to soar to nearly 3.90 Tuesday night before dropping back to slightly under 3.88 shekels to the dollar. A higher interest rate has an inflationary effect for renters and homebuyers whose contracts are in dollars.
Comment on this story
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Bank of Israel Governor Prof. Stanley Fischer slashed the interest by half a percent Tuesday night, dropping the prime rate to a record low 3 percent in a frantic attempt to block a recession. The cut reflected a sense of urgency because the central bank usually decides on rate changes toward the end of the month, after the previous month's consumer price index is reported.
The move follows by several days Fischer's comments that he is worried about the economy. "We expect 2.7% growth in 2009, and we are accused of over-optimism," he stated. "In such times, if you want to be serious, you should be worried, and I am really worried. Wise men won't tell you that there is nothing to be worried about."
Investment firm Excellence's chief economist Shlomo Maoz has cut his growth forecast for Israel's economy in 2009 to 1.7%, Globes reported Tuesday.
The slowdown in Israel, which up until this year was considered one of the world's steadiest growing and strongest economies, is part of a global pattern and is a direct reaction to the financial tsunami that has hit the United States.
The results have been a classic case of falling dominoes.
Bank and finance investment house bankruptcies and colossal debts by overdrawn companies have sunk stock market indices by 50 percent and some stocks have lost 90 percent of their value.
The bankruptcies and credit cutbacks have forced people out of work. In addition, the market crash has left pension funds and private investors with a huge reduction in wealth, with gambling casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson losing more than half the value of his $20 billion empire.
The bottom line is there is less money for consumption, the driving force behind the economic boom that has gone bust. That means a drop in sales for companies, which lay off even more people as profits drop.
Good news for consumers has come in the form of dropping prices after a one-way skyrocketing ride that ended up with the price of flour, bread, and gasoline going through the roof.
The plunge in commodity prices - crude oil hit a two-year low of under $60 a barrel Tuesday - has reversed expectations of high inflation, allowing central banks around the world to slash rates, and Fischer has followed suit.
However, the slash also caused the shekel-dollar rate to soar to nearly 3.90 Tuesday night before dropping back to slightly under 3.88 shekels to the dollar. A higher interest rate has an inflationary effect for renters and homebuyers whose contracts are in dollars.
Comment on this story
5. Cabinet Nixes Home Protection
by Hana Levi Julian
The Security Cabinet voted against a proposal Wednesday to fortify homes in Jewish communities located 4.7 kilometers from the Gaza security barrier against Kassam rocket attacks. Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Finance Minister Ronnie Bar-On (Kadima) led the opposition to the proposal.
Prime Minister Olmert contended, “The High Court [of Justi cannot dictate to the government where to fortify.” His remark came in response to a petition that was filed with the court by Gaza Belt residents who demanded that their homes be protected.
Kadima MK Shai Hermesh, a resident of Kfar Aza, accused the government of abandoning the Gaza Belt communities.
The allocation of NIS 500 ($128 million) million would have paid for special reinforcement to protect 4,400 homes that are located within the current range of terrorist rockets from Gaza.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai both stridently demanded during the Cabinet meeting on Sunday that the government allocate the funds. It was decided to refer the issue to the Security Cabinet.
The homes are located too close to the Gaza perimeter to fall under the protective net of the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system, and fewer than half of those would be fortified under the current budget of NIS 327 million ($127.5 million)
A new strategy is currently under consideration by the cabinet to deal with the issue. The proposal, presented jointly by Vice Premier Chaim Ramon and Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann, calls for the IDF to raza Gaza villages to the ground using artillery if they become rocket-launching pads for terrorist groups. The residents of the villages would be given 24 hours’ notice in which to leave.
Comment on this story
by Hana Levi Julian
The Security Cabinet voted against a proposal Wednesday to fortify homes in Jewish communities located 4.7 kilometers from the Gaza security barrier against Kassam rocket attacks. Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Finance Minister Ronnie Bar-On (Kadima) led the opposition to the proposal.
Prime Minister Olmert contended, “The High Court [of Justi cannot dictate to the government where to fortify.” His remark came in response to a petition that was filed with the court by Gaza Belt residents who demanded that their homes be protected.
Kadima MK Shai Hermesh, a resident of Kfar Aza, accused the government of abandoning the Gaza Belt communities.
The allocation of NIS 500 ($128 million) million would have paid for special reinforcement to protect 4,400 homes that are located within the current range of terrorist rockets from Gaza.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai both stridently demanded during the Cabinet meeting on Sunday that the government allocate the funds. It was decided to refer the issue to the Security Cabinet.
The homes are located too close to the Gaza perimeter to fall under the protective net of the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system, and fewer than half of those would be fortified under the current budget of NIS 327 million ($127.5 million)
A new strategy is currently under consideration by the cabinet to deal with the issue. The proposal, presented jointly by Vice Premier Chaim Ramon and Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann, calls for the IDF to raza Gaza villages to the ground using artillery if they become rocket-launching pads for terrorist groups. The residents of the villages would be given 24 hours’ notice in which to leave.
Comment on this story
6. Terror Powder Keg in Yesha
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Security officials revealed Tuesday night that they have discovered hundreds of pounds of explosives in Judea and Samaria since September.
"In recent months the IDF, Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), the Civil Administration, the [Ga Crossing Administration and the Israeli Police have been operating in order to uncover dangerous substances, based on ISA intelligence," military spokesmen stated.
Among the substances found were naphthalene and fertilizers that are used to manufacture weapons and explosives.
Israeli nationalists and many military officials have warned since the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza three years ago that it was only a matter of time until terrorists would smuggle explosives and weapons into Judea and Samaria.
In September, security forces and soldiers uncovered more than 30 pounds and 20 gallons of materials in Kalkilya. The city is located adjacent to Kfar Saba, on the 1949 Armistice Line, and is several miles west of large communities in Samaria, including Emanuel, Kedumim, Karnei Shomron and Ginot Shomron.
Hazardous substances also were found in Ramallah, several miles north of Jerusalem and adjacent to the town of Beit El, and north of Jericho, east of Jerusalem.
Earlier this year, the IDF prevented several suicide bombing attacks by nabbing terrorists at checkpoints, which the United States has been pressuring Israel to remove.
Comment on this story
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Security officials revealed Tuesday night that they have discovered hundreds of pounds of explosives in Judea and Samaria since September.
"In recent months the IDF, Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), the Civil Administration, the [Ga Crossing Administration and the Israeli Police have been operating in order to uncover dangerous substances, based on ISA intelligence," military spokesmen stated.
Among the substances found were naphthalene and fertilizers that are used to manufacture weapons and explosives.
Israeli nationalists and many military officials have warned since the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza three years ago that it was only a matter of time until terrorists would smuggle explosives and weapons into Judea and Samaria.
In September, security forces and soldiers uncovered more than 30 pounds and 20 gallons of materials in Kalkilya. The city is located adjacent to Kfar Saba, on the 1949 Armistice Line, and is several miles west of large communities in Samaria, including Emanuel, Kedumim, Karnei Shomron and Ginot Shomron.
Hazardous substances also were found in Ramallah, several miles north of Jerusalem and adjacent to the town of Beit El, and north of Jericho, east of Jerusalem.
Earlier this year, the IDF prevented several suicide bombing attacks by nabbing terrorists at checkpoints, which the United States has been pressuring Israel to remove.
Comment on this story
7. WUJS Reopens Israel Office
by IsraelNN TV
The World Union of Jewish Students has reopened its offices in Israel after recovering from a round of financial difficulties. Israel National News TV has the story.
Can't see the video player? Click here to view the report.
Comment on this story
by IsraelNN TV
The World Union of Jewish Students has reopened its offices in Israel after recovering from a round of financial difficulties. Israel National News TV has the story.
Can't see the video player? Click here to view the report.
Comment on this story
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