Israel News

 Palestinians Blame Israel for Paris Attack Due to EU Product Labeling of Settlement Products

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and American President Barack
Obama meet at the White House on November 9, 2015.

Netanyahu and Obama Strengthen Ties at the White House

“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.  Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.”  (Psalm 127:1)

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with United States President Barack Obama at the White House — the first meeting between the two in a very eventful year. For two and a half hours, Netanyahu and Obama discussed (in the words of Obama), “some of the most pressing security issues that both our countries face,” including “how we can blunt the activities of ISIL, Hezbollah [and] other organizations in the region that carry out terrorist attacks.” Despite the strain created by Netanyahu’s opposition to the Iran nuclear deal, the meeting went well with Netanyahu calling it “one of the best meetings I’ve had with him [Obama].”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his
wife Sara embark for Washington D.C.

The leaders sought to weigh Iran’s implementation of the nuclear agreement with Iran’s destabilizing activities in the Middle East, address the chaos in Syria, and lower tensions between the Israelis and Palestinian Authority. Those tensions have sharply risen since the Jewish New Year, after which Palestinian and Israeli Arabs have been committing multiple attacks against other Israelis and Jews. “I don’t think that anyone should doubt Israel’s determination to defend itself against terror and destruction; but neither should anyone doubt Israel’s willingness to make peace with any of its neighbours that genuinely want to achieve peace with it,” Netanyahu said. In reference to the Islamic State’s savagery and Iranian aggression and terror, Netanyahu stated, “The combination of turbulence has now displaced millions of people, has butchered hundreds of thousands, and we don’t know what will transpire.”

 

President Obama and PM Netanyahu shake hands
at the White House. 

“I think this is a tremendously important opportunity for us to work together to see how we can defend ourselves against this aggression, this terror, how we can roll it back; it’s a daunting task,” Netanyahu added “Equally I want to make it clear that we have not given up our hope for peace; we’ll never give up our hope for peace,” he said.  “And I remain committed to a vision of peace of two states for two peoples, a demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes the Jewish state.” The president described Netanyahu’s visit as “an opportunity to discuss some of the concerns that both of us have about the violence in the Palestinian territories,” seemingly ascribing Palestinian status to Judea and Samaria.  Yet he did not ask Netanyahu to freeze settlement building, the prime minister said the next day. To the press, Obama said, “I want to be very clear that we condemn in the strongest terms Palestinian violence against innocent Israeli citizens, and I want to repeat once again it is my strong belief that Israel has not just the right but the obligation to protect itself.” For the US, “the military assistance that we provide, we consider not only an important part of our obligation to the security of the State of Israel, but also an important part of US security infrastructure in the region, as we make sure that one of our closest allies can not only protect itself but can also work with us in deterring terrorism and other security threats,” Obama had said minutes before, naming Israel’s security as one of his top foreign-policy priorities. The two leaders also discussed updating the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 1981, which outlines strategic cooperation policies and procedures between the US and Israel regarding the Soviet threat in the region.  The agreement is currently slated to expire in 2017. “We’re with each other in more ways than one, and I want to thank you for this opportunity to strengthen our friendship [and] our alliance,” Netanyahu said to Obama.  “I think it’s rooted in shared values; it’s buttressed by shared interests; it’s driven forward by a sense of a shared destiny.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the General Assembly
of the Jewish Federation.

Netanyahu to Jewish Americans: Unity Is Paramount

"'At that time,' declares the LORD, 'I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be My people.'"  (Jeremiah 31:1)

On Tuesday, 3,000 attended a meeting of the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the need for unity among the Jewish People around the world. "No matter what disagreements there have been within the Jewish community, maintaining the unity of our people is of paramount importance," Netanyahu said. "Whether Jews decide to live in Israel or not, I want to guarantee one thing to each and every one of you:  As Prime Minister of Israel, I will always ensure that all Jews can feel at home in Israel — Reform Jews, Conservative Jews, and Orthodox Jews— all Jews," he added. Netanyahu announced the establishment of a round table to address the concerns of the different streams of Judaism in Israel. "That's significant.  That's a governmental decision," he said.  "And now, for the first time, the Government of Israel is joining with the Jewish Agency to invest in strengthening Reform and Conservative communities within Israel.  I am also hopeful that we will soon conclude a long overdue understanding that will ensure that the Kotel [Western Wall] is a source of unity for our people, not a point of division." "There is only one Jewish people.  There is only one Jewish state.  And now, more than ever, we must work together to unite the Jewish people and secure the Jewish state," he said. Netanyahu reported to the Jewish Federations' General Assembly that Obama had promised "to maintain Israel's qualitative military edge so that Israel can ‘defend itself, by itself,’ against any threat." "Obama's commitment to bolster Israel's security for the next 10 years" comes in return for Israel's "assistance almost on a daily basis, in intelligence and many other things," Netanyahu said.
 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara listen to a speaker
at the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly.

Ethiopian Aliyah Promises Final 9,000 Immigrants

"He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over His flock like a shepherd."  (Jeremiah 31:10)

In fulfillment of Bible prophecy, God continues to draw His people home to the Holy Land.  The Jewish state's 125,000 Ethiopian Israelis will grow by another 9,146 if Ethiopia's Jewish-descendant community receives approval for aliyah (immigration) from the Israeli Cabinet. A draft proposal submitted by Israel's Interior Minister Silvan Shalom this past week seeks to secure citizenship for an updated list of Ethiopians waiting in the Ethiopian cities of Gondar and Addis Ababa for aliyah to Israel. The so-called Falash Mura, a somewhat pejorative term meaning converted falasha (foreigners/exiles), are Ethiopians who have Jewish ancestry but who converted in the 19th and 20th centuries in the face of persecution and economic discrimination. Some adopted Christian beliefs without abandoning Judaism; others never practiced Judaism, and due to this, "the Israelis saw them as non-Jews," writes Jewish Virtual Library. Beta Israel (the Ethiopian Jewish community) also did not recognize the Falash Mura as part of their community.  Still, many are inarguably relatives of Beta Israel families.
 

Ethiopian women at the Kotel (Western Wall) in Jerusalem during
Chol HaMoed (the week of) Passover.

The first wave of 8,000 Ethiopian olim (immigrants) came over a seven-week period from November 1984 to January 1985 during the clandestine Operation Moses.  Many Falash Mura came to Israel with Beta Israel in 1991 during Operation Solomon, when Israel covertly transported over 14,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel in 36 hours. The last immigration wave came through Operation Dove's Wings, which brought another 7,000 or so "eligible" Falash Mura to Israel in August 2013.  (Jewish Agency) As a result of these operations, many families were separated. "While some members of their families came to Israel, after having met the conditions of the various cabinet decisions regarding the Falashmura," the proposal states, these descendants of Jews were not recognized as Jews.  They had, therefore, "remained in Addis Ababa and Gondar, living a Jewish life, with active synagogues, ritual baths, Sabbath and holiday observance, study of Hebrew and Judaism, etc." Those who didn't qualify for aliyah in 2013 remained in Addis Ababa and Gondar even though they had already left their villages, homes, land and cattle behind.  Everything they owned was forfeited and claimed by others.
 

An Ethiopian Falash Mura woman and her baby, part of a group of 81
new olim who are being transported by bus after arriving at Ben Gurion
Airport.  

The Jewish Agency operation left questions "about the fate of those left behind and whether the government's determinations on who was eligible to make aliyah were valid," wrote Michal Shmulovich for the Times of Israel in August 2013. The two criteria to receive an entry permit to Israel in 2013 were that the olim be "descended from Ethiopian Jews on their mothers' side, and that they appear on one of the lists attached to the government decisions in question," Shalom's proposal states. However, "some in Gondar say they were given a false sense of hope, stemming from a confusing selection process amid shifting government criteria, only to find out, years later, that they weren’t eligible for aliyah," Shmulovich said. Objectors to the immigration of the group said that the Beta Israel community already had enough trouble preserving their Jewish faith and don't need an influx of members who are weak in the Jewish faith or don't practice it at all. Shalom's proposal helps to remedy this concern by requiring applicants who have been waiting in these two Ethiopian cities since before January 1, 2013, to state their intention to convert in Israel — to be recognized formally as Jews. The proposal comes after a lengthy public campaign that was started in late 2010 by Ethiopian Israelis, volunteer groups, and members of the Knesset.
 

Ethiopian Falash Mura immigrants disembark after arriving at Ben Gurion
Airport in January 2009.  (Photo by Brian Hendler)

Shalom's proposal to restore the Ethiopian families of Israel might link to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech before the Jewish Federation of North America this past week when he said, "I will always ensure that all Jews can feel at home in Israel — Reform Jews, Conservative Jews, Orthodox Jews — all Jews." Optimistically, perhaps, Israel's intentions toward a deeper recognition of the various streams of Judaism would include recognition of Jews by paternal descent and more varied expressions of the Jewish faith. Meanwhile, Shalom's proposal describes itself as "the last state-organized aliyah of Ethiopians to Israel" and the last hope perhaps for the Falash Mura to reach Israel.
 

An Ethiopian woman prays toward the Temple Mount.

Palestinians Say Israel Perpetuated Paris Attack as Retaliation for EU Labeling of Settlement Products

"But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.  For what You have done I will always praise You in the presence of your faithful people."  (Psalm 52:8–9) On Wednesday, in a move that is tantamount to a boycott of Israeli products and a punishment of Israel for the absence of a renewed peace process, the European Parliament adopted a resolution to label as "settlement products" goods produced by Israelis or Jews across the pre-1967 lines. A large majority of the Parliament voted to support the Interpretative Notice resolution which, when implemented, will distinguish between products made in "pre-1967 Israel" and products made by Israelis in "post-1967 Israel" — the Golan Heights, Judea, Samaria, and eastern Jerusalem. The European Union (EU) insists the move is a compliance measure to provide correct information about point of origin and not a boycott of Israel. US State Department spokesman Edgar Vasquez backed that sentiment saying, "We do not believe that labeling the origin of products is equivalent to a boycott.  And as you know, we do not consider settlements to be part of Israel.  We do not view labeling the origin of products being from the settlements as a boycott of Israel.”
 

Lychees grown in Israel

Thirty-six US senators responded to EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini, who led the product labeling efforts saying, "We believe strongly that these efforts are unwarranted, dangerous and damaging to the prospects of a negotiated solution to this conflict." Indeed, the labeling will be damaging to peace efforts between the Israelis and the Palestinian Authority. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) commented on the EU decision as a "step in the right direction but insufficient," pushing that "products of a war crime must be banned, not just labeled." Palestinian media, Fatah, and the Palestinian Authority also exploited the recent terror attacks on France to imply or outright state a that Israel orchestrated the attacks because they were unhappy with the EU decision. “It is not a coincidence that human blood was exploded in Paris at the same time that certain European sanctions are beginning to be implemented against settlement products, and while France leads Europe in advising the security council that will implement the two-state solution, Palestine and Israel — which the Israelis see as a warning of sudden danger coming from the direction of Europe, where the Zionist, occupying, settling endeavor was born.. The wise and correct thing is to look for who benefits.  In short: They need to search the last place reached by the octopus arms of the Mossad...  It is clear that its ‘Mossad’ will burn Beirut and Paris in order to achieve [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s goals.  He, who challenged the master of the White House, hides in his soul enough evil to burn the world.”  (PalWatch translation of Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Nov. 15, 2015) To further demonize Israel, Fatah falsely claimed on its Facebook page that Israel is perpetrating the same acts of terror that occurred in Paris against Palestinians — not only that but the post stated that the Jewish state is responsible for violence around the world. “As a people who suffer daily aggressions by Israel we understand the suffering of the injured and the families of those who were killed in a cold blood.  Palestinians know the bitter taste of losing beloved ones as the Israeli army is killing civilians in Palestine almost by the hour...  We in the Fatah movement look forward to see the entire world winning this battle against terror especially in the Middle East.  We know that restoring peace and stability in the Middle East is the first step to dry the sources of terrorism throughout the world.  It is time to end the brutal Israeli occupation which breeds violence in the entire world.”
 

PM Netanyahu meets with the United States Senate leadership.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the European Union should be "ashamed of itself,” saying product labeling is hypocritical. For instance, the EU does not label goods from northern Cyprus, which Turkey took control of in 1974, and merely describes it as "an internal issue." International legal expert professor Eugene Kontorovich of Northwestern University School of Law agrees that the move is hypocritical. "It is entirely inconsistent with EU policies towards other areas where they do not recognize a country's sovereignty. …  For example, in Western Sahara, the EU does not recognize Moroccan sovereignty but insists it is OK to label goods from there 'Made in Morocco," he said. "It creates an atmosphere of delegitimization, and paves the way for further and more severe restrictions, which are surely coming if these measures are not defeated.  The goal is to create a legal ghetto for Israel," he said, urging Israel to fight the decision in court while it can.  "But if Israel just decides that [this labeling issue] is only about settlements, only about a small amount of trade, and not worth fighting for, it will soon face far more serious restrictions."

GPO graphic

Israeli leaders rejected product labeling as "grave," "damaging," and "a shameful step giving a prize to terrorism and the people behind it." The State of Israel is considering legal action through the World Trade Organization, whose treaties establish the European action as illegal. Netanyahu rejects the labeling saying it is a means to target "the side that is being attacked by terrorism." Tzipi Hotovely, Israel's deputy foreign minister, told the EU via Israel's Channel 2 TV:  "We say you can't be involved in what is going on in the Middle East while you are taking such an extreme step of labeling products … boycotting us." The Foreign Ministry also issued a statement condemning the EU's decision, adding, "We regret that the EU chose for political reasons to take an unusual and discriminatory step which is drawn from the realm of boycotts, just as Israel is facing a wave of terror directed at all citizens." Senior commentator Dan Margalit in an opinion piece for Israel HaYom calls the labeling efforts "the 2015 version of the yellow Star of David" and "blatantly anti-Israel."

Israel Boosts India's Crop, Milk, Floral Production

"If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the Lord your God will keep His covenant of love with you, as He swore to your ancestors. … He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land — your grain, new wine and olive oil — the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land He swore to your ancestors to give you."  (Deuteronomy 7:12–13) Israel's largest agricultural project abroad, the Indo-Israel Agriculture Project (IIAP), continues to boost quality and productivity of India’s farmers. "Israel is a leading authority and pioneer in irrigation, purifying and water recycling techniques for agriculture, due to its vast regions of arid and semi-arid land," writes Fresh Fruit Portal. As well, it is a leader in agritech innovations that have been boosting agriculture quality and production in many nations, including India.

The Head of MASHAV Ambassador Gil Haskel; Israel's Minister of
Agriculture Yair Shamir; India’s Minister of Food Processing Industries
Harsimrat Kaur Bada; and Israel's Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon
hold fresh produce grown on one of the Indo-Israel MASHAV Centres
of Excellence.

Israel is sharing its innovation and expertise in greenhouse, irrigation and fertigation methods via workshops to 25,000 farmers a year in ten Indo-Israel Centres of Excellence (CoE) in nine states of India. Thirty centres across India are in various stages of development thanks to a partnership that began in 2008 by MASHAV, Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation and India's Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture as well as state governments and the Israeli embassy in India. Training centres are dedicated to "growing vegetables, flowers, citrus, mango, pomegranates, dates, [and performing] beekeeping and dairy husbandry," the MASHAV website states.  "Over the last four years, since the Karnal centre was set up, over 2,500 farmers from Punjab and Haryana have started using greenhouse farming for higher yield and newer varieties."
 

The Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence for Mango

At the centres for vegetables and fruits, farmers can purchase and plant seeds for a nominal fee.  When the seedlings are ready, the farmers transplant them in their own fields. "[It] is not possible for a single farmer to get the infrastructure that this centre has. ...  Huge numbers [of seedlings] we wanted; it would be more risky if we grow the seedlings ourselves.  So that's how we approached the centre," said Ramandeep Singh Sandhu, a farmer who utilizes the CoE at Punjab. Farmers are now growing about 6 million vegetable seedlings annually. This is a significant increase since the first centre opened in 2011 when area farmers were only growing about half a million seedlings.  Moreover, to increase diversity and profits, farmers are learning to grow different kinds of vegetables, such as chili, tomato, capsicum, cabbage, and broccoli. Indian farmers are also learning about water-use improvements, including optimized water management, water quality and micro-irrigation, and the soil-water-plant relationship. "We will set up the remaining centres in the third phase of the project 2015–18.  We will also focus on modern dairy management, post harvesting and sewage water treatment for reuse in agriculture," said Dan Allof, Counselor at MASHAV.
 

Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence for Fruits (Citrus)

Meanwhile, in January, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to Israel to help introduce a "white revolution" in India — an increase in milk production. In the birthplace of Hinduism where the cow is deified, the per capita output of milk is the lowest in the world, according to Algemeiner.  In Israel, on the other hand, dairy cows are the most productive in the world; they produce 10 percent more than cows in the United States and 50 percent more than those in Germany. Soon after, on April 15, MASHAV signed a Memorandum of Understanding with India on setting up a Centre of Excellence in India's dairy sector in the state of Haryana where two other CoEs are located.  (Deccan Herald) In the Memorandum, MASHAV committed to helping Haryana build "customized modern dairy sheds for 110 cows (with a potential of expanding it to 300 cows), calves barns, heifer sheds, a feed centre, a milking parlor, mini dairy plant, class room, a visitors' gallery and a waste-water treatment facility." Last year, the trade officer for Indo-Israel trade facilitation at the Embassy of Israel in New Delhi, Akhil Choudhary said with Israel's effect on India's production, "we are talking about a three-fold increase in milk production with the same cattle population with better, hygienic and cost-effective processing facilities."

 

Women prepare to transport their seedlings to their farm.

Beyond introducing cooling systems, biometrics and milk meters to India, MASHAV also has committed to orchestrate the transfer of viable cow embryos and frozen seed to introduce Israeli stock into India's cattle population. In April of this year, Israel also established the first Centre of Excellence for Cut Flowers, located in India's number-one flower-producing state, Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu already provides a quarter of India's flower production; through the flower centre, Israel will "provide training, technology and expertise" to increase the productivity and impact of the state's flower farmer.