The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has strongly criticized Secretary of State John Kerry’s statement, following a meeting with Palestinian Authority (PA) president Mahmoud Abbas in London, saying that “a final status agreement [between the Israelis and the Palestinians] is important in enhancing regional security and stability throughout the Middle East” (‘Kerry pledges to peace talks during Abbas meeting,’ Breitbart, September 9, 2013).
ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said, “Secretary Kerry’s statement is utter nonsense. If the history of recent years –– and indeed of the entire 65-year long period of the Arab war on Israel –– has made one thing clear, it is that the lack of a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians is manifestly not the cause of the Middle East’s conflicts, violence and bloodshed.
“In fact, it is totally unrelated and irrelevant to the present violence and conflict in Syria, Egypt, Libya, Iraq and Yemen. If Israel didn’t exist, the same problems between and within Arab countries would still exist.
Beersheva’s new Advanced Technologies Park is being hailed as a defining moment for the high-tech industry as it stands to date. During the official inauguration, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – who earlier this summer declared Beersheva the national cyber center — told the crowd gathered that “this is a day that will change the history of the State of Israel.”
Netanyahu, as well as leaders of the high-tech field, are on a mission to turn Beersheva into a Silicon Valley of Israel’s south. Earlier this summer, Netanyahu announced that IDF technology units will move to the city.
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“Over-pouring and theft are very big issues in the nightlife business,” explains Ori Fingerer, co-founder and vice president of business development at Weissbeerger, one of Tel Aviv’s most unusual high-tech startups. The company aims to be the Google Analytics — of beer.
Weissbeerger’s flagship product, Alcohol Analytics, aims to track how much beer is being consumed in a bar, at what times, and which brands are the most popular. It works by attaching monitors to the beer taps. How much flows through which taps is recorded, analyzed and sent wirelessly to the cloud, where the bar owner can view what’s happening in real time through a mobile iPad app.
Shots were fired overnight at security personnel protecting Israeli civilians who were praying at Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus.
The shots were fired during a large and violent riot in which Palestinians also threw rocks at security forces who responded with riot dispersal means. The IDF identified the suspected shooter and fired towards him in self defense. The suspect was moderately wounded and after receiving treatment by an IDF military doctor, he was transferred to a nearby Israeli hospital for further care.
Lt. Col. Peter Lerner: “The IDF ensures freedom of religion and worship throughout the region. Last night’s incident emphasized the challenges we have and the potential jeopardizing of religious beliefs. The IDF will continue to facilitate the religious needs of the various populations in the region.”
Regional Brigade Commander Col. Yossi Pinto said this week: terrorist infrastructure and planning in Judea and Samaria is on the rise.
US President Barack Obama has exchanged letters with his new Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani in recent weeks, and the two leaders may hold a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York later this month,The Los Angeles Timesquoted US officials as saying.
According to the Thursday report in theTimes, Washington and Tehran have been discussing the situation in Syria and tentatively laying the framework for direct talks over Iran’s disputed nuclear program.
Such face-to-face talks would mark the first such interaction between the countries since the severing of diplomatic ties in 1978.
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How soldiers on duty observe Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur is well known for its 25-hour fast, but there are also a variety of other traditions and religious laws for the day. During the holiday, which starts this year at sundown on Friday, September 13, observant Jews do not wash, bathe, apply lotions or oils to the skin or wear leather shoes.
The Mikvah: Some soldiers observe the custom of immersing in a ritual bath before Yom Kippur. For soldiers who do not have access to a ritual bath, they fulfill the tradition by taking a three-minute shower, the equivalent of 12.5 liters of water.
Leather Shoes: All soldiers are exempt from wearing the leather IDF boots that are part of the standard uniform. Soldiers are entitled to wear their own personal shoes made from canvas, rubber, or in some cases, sandals. Soldiers who are in areas that require sturdy footwear, such as in fields with snakes or scorpions, are permitted to wear theirleather bootsuntil they are finished with the work that requires the leather boots. They may afterward switch back into non-leather shoes.
Prayer: Almost every base has a synagogue in one form or another. Before the holiday, the IDF Rabbinate ensures that every IDF base has enough of the special Yom Kippur prayer books. Cantors are sent to many bases around Israel in order to lead the intense prayer services.
The Fast: Soldiers who are not on active duty are able to fast, but while on duty are allowed to have the equivalent of a capful of water and a tiny amount of food every nine minutes. The intervals are shortened depending on the intensity of the situation. Some soldiers are not able to fast at all due to their line of work. Refraining from food and water while on duty be dangerous for the soldier and for national security since it could distract from a soldier’s abilities.
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Now that we have announced the winners to this years Campus Essay Contest, it is time to sign up for the 2013-2014 ZOA Student Leadership Mission to Israel!! You definitely do not want to miss it!