Israel's Space Budget Lifts Off: From NIS 10M to 165M
Finance Minister and Science and Technology Ministers agree on huge boost to Israel's space projects.
By Gil Ronen
First Publish: Arutz Shev -1/29/2012, 9:57 PM
Minister of Finance Yuval Steinitz and Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Daniel Hershkovitz have agreed on a huge rise in Israel's investment in space technologies. The Jewish state will invest 165 million shekels in the space program in the next two years – up from about 10 million shekels for the previous two year period.
The funding will go toward medium sized and small firms engaged in research and development of space technologies in which Israel enjoys a relative advantage. Some money will also go toward academic research and educational projects.
The investment follows a decision by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres two years ago, to appoint a team that would draw up a plan for making Israel a leading player in the world space market.
Israel is already one of nine countries that are able to place satellites in space orbit.
President Peres and Minister Hershkowitz both addressed the 7th Ilan Ramon International Space Conference held Sunday at the Fisher Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies.
The government approved on Sunday the appointment of Menachem Kidron, who has spent the last 40 years in a variety of research, development and administration roles at Rafael, to be the Manager of the Israeli Space Agency. He replaced Dr. Tzvi Kaplan.
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Pentagon Hopes to Develop 'Mother of All Bombs'
The Pentagon is reportedly working on the "mother of all bombs" -- a bunker buster to destroy an Iranian underground nuclear power plant.
By Chana Ya'ar
First Publish: Arutz Sheva -1/29/2012, 3:20 PM
The Pentagon is reportedly working on the development of the "mother of all bombs" -- a bunker buster than can destroy an Iranian underground nuclear power plant.
According to a report published by the UK-based Daily Mail newspaper, America's top military authority has secretly asked Congress for funds to create its largest bomb ever.
A 13.6-ton Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) already exists -- the deepest-penetrating "bunker buster" in the American arsenal, it was presented to the U.S. Air Force last September.
The Obama administration reportedly was considering arming Qatar with the huge bunker buster bombs, raising the possibility of an American-Israel-Arab attack on Iran. The bombs are reportedly built to fit the Boeing Stratofortress B-52 long-range bomber or the Northrop Grumman B-2 stealth bomber.
But the 30,000-pound bomb, which is nearly six times larger than that that currently in use, and which can penetrate concrete bunkers containing nuclear, biological or nuclear weapons, is apparently still not strong enough to penetrate all the bunkers in Iran, according to sources in Washington D.C.
Iran has buried new nuclear plants in rocky mountainous areas and deep under concrete to minimize the damage of an aerial attack, even if bunker buster bombs are used.
As a result, U.S. military officials are determined to make it better, even though Pentagon spokesman Capt. John Kirby officially denied that the bomb was being designed for use against Iran.
Kirby was quoted by the British newspaper as saying in November that the MOP would provide "a far greater capability to reach and destroy an enemy's weapons of mass destruction that are located in well protected underground facilities to a magnitude far greater than we have now."
Iran is the only nation believed to have buried its nuclear development facilities so far underground.
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Chinese Women Fight for Anti-Terror Training in Israel
Five swimsuit-clad women are the only ones out of 20 that survived grueling training in China to compete for the chance to train in Israel.
By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
First Publish: Arutz Sheva -1/29/2012, 6:08 PM
Israeli security training awaits rugged Chinese women
Israel News photo: Int'l Security Academy
Five swimsuit-clad Chinese women are the only ones out of 20 that survived grueling training in China to compete for the chance to train under the auspices of the International Security Academy, a top-notch private security training agency in Israel.
The women went through rugged training that is suited for combat soldiers, all part of their ambition to be private guards for celebrities and executives with an accompanying high salary, the Chinese Peoples' Daily reported.
Their backgrounds range from finance to modeling, and those who survive further training will fly to Israel’s International Security Academy.
So far, they have carried weights, engaged in boxing contests, hostage rescue exercise and island survival for 20 hours a day. They had one hour to eat meals and three hours to sleep while they trained at China's Sanya beach, known for its beauty and iits rough topography that challenged the women.
After six days, 15 of the 20 dropped out, two of them giving up on the first day, Chinese security consultant official Chen Yongqing told the Chinese daily.
He said the women were selected not only for their ability to fight but also for their appearance and general quality.
Israel’s International Security Academy, founded in 1987, says it is “devoted to developing innovative and effective methods of combating violent offenders and terrorists.
Its website says that its program includes low and high-risk protection, maritime protection and counterterrorism training that is aimed to prepare its students to handle potential attackers, kidnappers, stalkers and terrorists.
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