Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

13 Oct 2008

Daily news alert from Israel

Ahmadinejad: Iran will support Hamas until collapse of Israel (Haaretz, 16 Sept)

Hamas's Gluttony - Asharq Alawsat

Video: Women in Gaza prepare to become suicide bombers

Hamas military build-up: Palestinian women being trained for suicide bombings

What Iranian leaders really say about doing away with Israel (JCPA)

Israel Radio launches foreign language portal for on-line news broadcasts

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Prime Minister’s Conference for Export and International Cooperation

Sukkot - The Feast of Tabernacles

Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, will be celebrated this year from October 14-21. During this holiday, Jews commemorate the exodus from Egypt by building sukkot - booths for temporary dwelling, resembling the booths in which the Israelites lived in the desert after their exodus from Egypt - and give thanks for a bountiful harvest.
The Jerusalem Municipality is erecting its central sukkah - the largest in the country - in Safra Square. This year, inspired by the Green Revolution, it will contain an exhibition of recycled material artifacts.

While we will keep you informed of any important events, our office will be closed during the holiday week. Regular service will resume on Wednesday, October 22.

Foreign Ministry Conference for Policy and Strategy

Opening address by FM Tzipi Livni

5 Oct 2008
The three-day Foreign Ministry Conference for Policy and Strategy opened on Sunday (5 Oct) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss Israeli policy and strategy issues for the coming year and the impact that the international arena might have on Israeli foreign policy.
Opening speeches were delivered by FM Tzipi Livni, Deputy FM Majalli Whbee, Director General Aaron Abramovich, French FM Bernard Kouchner, Palestinian FM Dr. Riyad al-Malki, and former German FM Joschka Fischer.

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Latest Releases

• General closure of Judea and Samaria during Sukkot holiday 12-Oct-2008
• Cabinet Communique 12-Oct-2008
• Editorials 12-Oct-2008
• Deputy FM Whbee has returned from official visit to Adygea 7-Oct-2008
• FM Livni meets with Quartet envoy Blair 6-Oct-2008
• Security forces prepare for Palestinian olive harvest 6-Oct-2008
• FM Livni responds to Ahmadinejad's UN speech 24-Sep-2008
• Behind the Headlines: Calm in the South
• Humanitarian assistance to Gaza since Feb 27 escalation in terror

Peres at UN: Ahmadinejad a disgrace to Islam, to the UN

President Shimon Peres addresses UN General Assembly (Photo: Reuters)

24 Sep 2008
Yesterday, on this very stage, the Iranian leader renewed the darkest anti-Semitic libel - the Protocols of the Elders of Zion...

Iran continues to develop enriched uranium and long range missiles. They introduce a religion of fear, opposing the call of the lord in respect of life... The Iranian people are not our enemies. Their fanatic leadership is their problem and the world's concern. Their leader is a danger to his people, the region and the world.

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MFA DG Abramovich addresses UN General Assembly meeting on development

22 Sep 2008
The people of Israel remain committed to working to meet the challenges facing Africa and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Israel's international cooperation arm - MASHAV - began in 1958, as a modest program focused on grassroots-level human capacity building. It has since blossomed into an extensive program of cooperation, not only in Africa but throughout the developing world, with the aim of promoting sustainable development and social equity.

- Address by MFA DG Abramovich to the donor states

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Israel, the Conflict and Peace: Answers to frequently asked questions

Updated November 2007

• What is Israel's position on a Palestinian state?
• Does Israel have partners for making peace in the Arab world?
• Why is Israel a Jewish state?
• How does Israel's legal system protect human rights and basic freedoms?
• Is Palestinian terrorism part of international terrorism?

Read the answers to these and many more questions.

Now also available in French, German, Spanish, Italian and Russian (pdf).

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Excavations north of Jerusalem reveal sarcophagus fragment inscribed "Son of the High Priest"

Second Temple sarcophagus fragment inscribed &quot;Ben HaCohen HaGadol&quot; - &quot;Son of the High Priest&quot;

Second Temple sarcophagus fragment inscribed "Ben HaCohen HaGadol" - "Son of the High Priest" (Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority)

6 Oct 2008
A unique discovery was revealed in excavations that were conducted north of Jerusalem: a fragment of a sarcophagus cover was found that is engraved with square Hebrew script, characteristic of the Second Temple period. The fragment (length 0.60 m, width 0.48 m) is made of hard limestone, is meticulously fashioned and bears a carved inscription that reads: "…Ben HaCohen HaGadol…" - "Son of the High Priest."

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Israel builds its first 'eco-friendly' town

Mt. Gilboa will be the site of Israel's first green town (Photo: Israel 21C)

5 Oct 2008
The Gilboa Regional Council is planning to establish the first planned, eco-friendly community in Israel, with infrastructure and services designed not just to encourage, but to actually enforce environmentally responsible behavior.

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President charges FM Livni with forming government after resignation of PM Olmert

President Shimon Peres charges FM Tzipi Livni with forming new government (Photo: Reuters)

22 Sep 2008
Peres: "With the power vested in me by the Basic Law: The Government, and after having consulted with all of the factions of the Knesset, I have decided to bestow the task of forming the next government on Knesset Member Tzipi Livni. Knesset Member Tzipi Livni has agreed to take this task upon herself."

Livni: "The first and right choice for Israel is a stable government that will serve until the end of the current Knesset's term. I have every confidence in my ability to lead the State of Israel, with the full, honest and genuine cooperation of all the parties invited to join the coalition."

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Israel - A paradise for birds and bird watchers

White storks at the fish ponds of Kibbutz Ma'agan Michael (Photo: Israel Ministry of Tourism)

23 Sep 2008
Every fall, the skies of Israel fill with the sight of 500 million birds, migrating south from Europe to warmer climates in Asia and Africa - a paradise for bird watchers. Israel's unique strategic location, the only land bridge between Europe, Asia and Africa, provides the migrating birds with a large variety of habitats and the warm air currents they need for perfect soaring conditions.

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Two years in terrorist captivity

Over two years have passed since IDF soldier Gilad Shalit on the Israeli side of the border with Gaza on June 25, 2006. Gilad recently turned 22, his third birthday in captivity.

Video: Children reading Gilad Shalit's story - "When the Shark and the Fish First Met"

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