Israel's leading
robotic industries displayed their latest innovations, designed for combat use in the armed forces as well as for medical and home use. Some of the robots on show included robots produced by Israel's Elbit Systems for the army, including one that could be carried into battle to search for perpetraters, sniff explosives and detect enemy ambushes.
Despite a nationwide security alert, merry-making dominates the streets of Jerusalem as
Purim arrives. 3/20/2008
Knesset Speaker Rueven Rivlin said Winston Churchill would have been a war criminal had the same standards from the Goldstone Report been applied to Britain during World War II. His statement comes in advance of an EU debate of the report, which European leaders believe signifies the Continent’s desire to get involved in the problems plaguing the Middle East. Rivlin says it is Israel alone that pays the price, and that Goldstone had no distinction between attacker and defender.
Russia says it delayed shipments of a missile air defense system to Iran, and won’t say when the shipment will happen. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov hinted the decision came over concerns that supplying Iran with the equipment would tamper with the regional power balance. He said Russia never takes actions that destabilize one region or another.
Brazil doesn’t seem too concerned about Iran. In fact, President Lula says he’s visiting Iran in May, and he plans to buy as much as he can while he’s there. Brazil holds a friendly relationship with the Islamic Republic, and supports Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s drive to go nuclear. Lula claims peace does not involve isolating others - in this case Iran.
A mini riot broke out in the Palestinian village of Azoun when Israeli police entered the town in pursuit of a car thief. Police in Kfar Saba had been pursuing a man from Azoun who had stolen a truck. When he crossed into the P-A controlled area, police continued after him. They were met with stone throwers, and had to shoot in the air in order to get out. No one was injured.
President Shimon Peres believes scuffles with the Palestinians over declaring the Cave of the Patriarchs a Jewish holy site are artificial. His statement comes after Islamic Jihad threatened violence inside Israel for the Government’s decision to put both the Cave and Rachel’s Tomb on the list of Jewish heritage sites. Peres said everyone - regardless of their religion - will always have the right to visit both places. Palestinian President Salam Fayyad called on the international community to deny Israel’s connection to the sites.
Tnuva will enter the Canadian market following its success in the United States. The Israeli brand produces kosher products such as cheese and frozen pastries. Tnuva’s entrance into Canada marks a rising trend among Israeli food producers to sell internationally. Straus and Osem already sell cheese and humus abroad.
The Sunday Times reports that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu authorized al-Mabhouh’s assassination, and wished agents good luck. The report also claims that the Mossad has temporarily suspended its operations in the Middle East following the exposure of several agents. The agency knew about the extensive security cameras in the hotel al-Mabhouh was staying in, but was surprised by the ability of Dubai police to piece together the footage.
Dubai police think someone within Hamas leaked information about the recently slain al-Mabhouh’s trip to the Emirate. The police chief suggested Hamas launch an investigation to get the bottom of the situation. Meanwhile, it is likely new revelations regarding al-Mabhouh’s killing will be exposed in the near future. Dubai police said they have damning information about the killers’ use of diplomatic passports to enter Dubai.
The Arab League is calling for the United Nations General Assembly to convene immediately to discuss the Goldstone Report. That call comes with demands for another resolution that would require U.N. Chief Ban Ki Moon to report on progress made in adopting Goldstone. Such a resolution could start the process of prosecuting Israel at the International Court of Justice. France, Britain and the United States opposed adopting the Goldstone Report due to reservations about the investigation’s findings.
A man hurled a crude bomb at the Cairo Shaare Shamayim synagogue from a hotel across the street. Police are still looking for the man, but authorities say he threw a suitcase filled with gasoline canisters using sulfuric acid to ignite the device. No one was injured in the attack. The synagogue only holds services on major holidays. Those familiar with the building say they’re glad the building wasn’t damaged. The synagogue stores more than 20,000 rare books in its basement.
Chief Rabbi Metzger joined other public figures to dedicate a state-of-the-art soup kitchen near Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda market to survivors of the Shoah.
For several years, Chabad Lubavitch has been running a free or"pay as you can’ soup kitchen for the elderly, many of them Shoah survivors. At least 80 people eat at the soup kitchen daily. For many who come, it may be the only meal of the day.
The horrors of the Shoah are deeply entwined in the consciousness of Brazil’s Fox family.
Opposition Head Tzipi Livni cast harsh words about not finding peace. She said Israel will turn into an Arab state if solutions are not found. Livni predicted that at some point, there would be a country between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea in which every person had the right to vote. The eventual Arab majority would obviously mean Israel would be an Arab state.
Tel Aviv gets another air route to Europe, this time to Geneva. Easy Jet expanded its Tel Aviv service to include non-stops to Switzerland - all for just 68 Euros including tax. The service marks Easy Jet’s second Israel route. The first one goes to London Luton. The budget carrier flies no-frills Airbus 320 aircraft, and charges passengers according to services used.
