Jerusalem march ends without incident

October 6, 2009


Palestinians shout at Israeli border police officers blocking the entrance to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City on Oct. 04, 2009. (Mohammar Awad / Flash 90 / JTA)JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Restrictions on worshipers at the Temple Mount remained in place as the annual Jerusalem march took place across the city.

Some 70,000 people from around the world participated in the march Tuesday.

The parade route, which began at Ammunition Hill, went to Mount Scopus before passing several eastern Jerusalem neighborhoods on the way to Sacher Park. From there the parade is marched through downtown Jerusalem during the afternoon.

Marchers passed the eastern Jerusalem city of Silwan, surrounded by police and border guard forces, with no incidents.

Police will remained on high alert for the 51st annual march, according to reports.


Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said during the march that he did not believe the recent violence in the city would spark a third intifada. "We have to be able to put the violence and provocation aside. These are specific events, emanating from hubs of violence. We have to find these hubs, isolate them, stop them and move on," he said, saying a violent uprising is "unlikely and it's in no one's interest,"

The march ended without incident.


http://jta.org/news/article/2009/10/06/1008338/restrictions-remain-as-jerusalem-march-begins

Jewish Agency leaders to meet Red Cross on Shalit

September 16, 2009

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Jewish Agency for Israel lay leaders and community representatives will meet with the Red Cross to discuss Gilad Shalit.

At the meeting Tuesday in Washington with Gail McGovern, CEO of the American Red Cross, and Mary Werntz, the head of delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Jewish leaders will deliver hundreds of postcards and thousands of names collected on an electronic petition asking the Red Cross to continue demanding that Shalit receive the full rights of an abducted soldier under international law.

The meeting culminates several events across the United States held in honor of Shalit's 23rd birthday. The Israeli soldier was taken from Gaza by Hamas in a cross-border raid more than three years ago.

“It is important for everyone to know that the American Jewish community and all Americans of conscience deplore the situation in which the Red Cross has been denied contact or verification of condition of an abducted soldier,” said Carole Solomon, chair of the Jewish Agency North American Council. “This was a grass-roots initiative in communities from Tulsa to Tucson, Phoenix to Minneapolis. These are the voices of Americans all across the country.”

http://jta.org/news/article/2009/09/16/1007917/jewish-agency-leaders-and-community-reps-to-meet-with-red-cross

IFCJ providing for needy Israelis for the holidays

September 14, 2009

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews is providing $4.6 million to help needy Israelis purchase food for the High Holidays.

The evangelical group is distributing 46,000 gift cards to be used at local supermarkets at a cost of $4 million, as well as distributing 15,000 food baskets through the Latet and Colel Chabad organizations at a cost of $600,000.

"This is the largest and most far-reaching food campaign ever in the history of Israel," said Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, the group's founder and president. "While we have supported tens of thousands of people in Israel with food each year for quite a while, especially before the New Year holiday period, the number of people in need has unfortunately skyrocketed this year."

The fellowship is coordinating the food campaign, which will reach hundreds of thousands of Israelis, with welfare offices across Israel.



http://jta.org/news/article/2009/09/14/1007839/ifcj-helping-hundreds-of-thousands-for-holidays

Watch this week's new Journey To Zion: The Role of Women in the Salvation and Redemption of the World

Journey to Zion is a unique and exciting weekly television program that will help Christians grow in their faith as they learn about the Jewish roots of Christianity, and strengthen Jewish-Christian relations by teaching Christians about Jewish history, traditions and culture. Each 30-minute show features Fellowship founder and president Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein teaching before a live audience and exploring issues related to Israel, Jewish faith and traditions, and Jewish-Christian relations.

The Role of Women in the Salvation and Redemption of the World
Does God have a special place for women in his plan for the redemption of the world? Explore the critical role of righteous women in the Bible, and the message their stories carry for our own lives. Then, journey to the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem to study an ancient Egyptian stone carving and learn how it ties in to a well-known biblical story.

Follow this link to view this episode of Journey To Zion and previous episodes: http://www.ifcj.org/site/PageNavigator/eng/programs/journey_to_zion/second_season

NEW Return to Zion: The Jesus Boat

Hosted by Rabbi Eckstein, these short two to five minute video programs explore many fascinating and important topics about Jewish life, the Jewish roots of Christianity, and the Bible.


The Jesus Boat
As the water in the Sea of Galilee continues to recede, more and more amazing artifacts are being uncovered. Recent discoveries have included a 1st century boat, just like the one described in the New Testament as being used by Jesus and his disciples. Gain a deeper understanding of Israel during the times of Jesus on this week's Returning to Zion.

Follow this link to view: http://www.ifcj.org/site/PageNavigator/eng/rabbi/return_to_zion

Israeli officials agree to freezing settlement construction

Israeli officials freezing settlement construction
August 18, 2009

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israeli officials reportedly have agreed to freeze construction in the West Bank until the beginning of 2010.

JTA first reported the unofficial freeze on July 6.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Housing Minister Ariel Atias have agreed to a moratorium on building in the settlements in order to give the peace process a chance to move forward, several news outlets reported this week.

"Since the government was established five months ago, no tenders have been issued for Judea and Samaria," Atias told Israel Radio on Tuesday, echoing what officials told JTA in early July. "The fact is, we are in a holding pattern; an attempt, I believe, to reach an understanding with the U.S. administration and a comprehensive peace agreement."

Netanyahu's office has not confirmed the freeze.

The freeze reportedly includes eastern Jerusalem, according to the French news agency AFP, but Peace Now told Reuters that the building of more than 1,000 previously approved housing units is continuing.

The United States has called on Israel to halt all construction in the West Bank. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has said that the Palestinians will not agree to resume peace talks until all settlement-building activities cease.

IDF: No Israeli soldier found to be kidnapped

IDF: No Israeli soldier found to be kidnapped
August 14, 2009

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- A previously unknown Palestinian group's claim that it kidnapped an Israeli soldier has turned out to be false, the Israel Defense Forces says.

The Israel military conducted an internal check Thursday night and did not discover any missing servicemen, according to reports.

A group calling itself the Al Quds Army released a statement Thursday announcing the abduction of an Israeli soldier.

"A group of our resistance fighters captured a Zionist soldier near Ben-Gurion Airport and withdrew along with the soldier without incident," said the statement sent to the Palestinian news agency Ma'an. "We will provide details about the captured soldier later."

In addition, a female soldier had filed a report earlier in the day claiming she saw two people forcing a soldier into a car near an Air Force base near the international airport, the IDF spokesman said in a statement Thursday evening, according to reports.

Army and police checkpoints were set up Thursday afternoon on roads near major Israeli cities as well as in the West Bank.

Ma'an reported that a soldier made a phone call to an unnamed person claiming to have been kidnapped.

A Palestinian security official told the Israeli news outlet Ynet that the Al-Quds Army is believed to have links to Hezbollah.

http://jta.org/news/article/2009/08/14/1007239/palestinian-group-claims-israeli-soldier-kidnapping