Israel Matters!

U.S. Aides in Israel Give Assurances About IranPresident Obama and his senior advisers have said little publicly about Iran since the resumption of negotiations over its nuclear program in April, preferring to let the diplomats hash out the issues in the hope that tensions with Tehran can be managed, at least until the election in November. In Israel, however, the United States is saying plenty, with a stream of current and former officials traveling there to threaten additional sanctions on Iran and to reiterate President Obama’s readiness to use military action against Iran if diplomacy fails.click Israel Matters! 60 to read the complete issue.

US House Votes To Raise Security Ties With IsraelThe US House of Representatives on May 9th overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation that reaffirms and enhances US policy commitments to Israel’s security. The United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012, which was sponsored by House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor (RVa.) and House Minority Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), passed by a vote of 411-2. The two members that voted against the legislation were Reps. Ron Paul (R-Texas) and John Dingell (D-Mich.). Also, nine members of the House voted “present” on the legislation.click Israel Matters! 59 to read the complete issue.

Presbyterians Consider Divesting From Companies doing Business With IsraelA major body within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted recently to recommend that the church vote to stop investing in three companies “until they have ceased profiting from non-peaceful activities in Israel-Palestine.” The vote proposed by the General Assembly Mission Council on whether to continue investing in the corporations -- Caterpillar, Motorola Solutions, and Hewlett-Packard -- will happen at the church’s General Assembly, a national meeting of church leaders that will take place in late June and early July in Pittsburgh. The assembly meets every two years.click Israel Matters! 58 to read the complete issue.

Obama, Netanyahu Address Iran at AIPAC ConferenceOn March 5th, U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at the AIPAC Conference. Due to its significance, this online issue of Israel Matters! reproduces their speeches in their entirety.click Israel Matters! 57 to read the complete issue.

Obama: US In “Lockstep” With Israel On Iran NukesPresident Barack Obama says the United States is working in “lockstep” with Israel to solve the brewing crisis over Iran’s disputed nuclear program. Obama also said that the United States does not think Israel has decided whether to attack Iran, and that he hopes the standoff can be resolved diplomatically.Click Israel Matters! 56 to read the complete issue.

Technion-Israel and Cornell Win Global Competition To Create Super Science School in NYCNew York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Cornell University President David J. Skorton, and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology President Peretz Lavie recently announced an historic partnership to build a two million-square-foot applied science and engineering campus on Roosevelt Island in New York City. “Thanks to this outstanding partnership and groundbreaking proposal from Cornell and the Technion, New York City’s goal of becoming the global leader in technological innovation is now within sight,” said Mayor Bloomberg.Click Israel Matters! 55 to read the complete issue.

Mossad Linked to Iranian Military BlastReports claim the Israeli secret service, the Mossad, was recently behind a huge blast at an Iranian facility that killed an Iranian missile development pioneer. The blast, which killed 17 people and wounded15, gained widespread coverage in the Israeli media. While Iranian officials insisted the explosion at the Bid Ganeh base was accidental and caused by the movement of ammunition, claims from anonymous western and Israeli officials that the blast was a covert Israeli operation have gained momentum.Click Israel Matters! 54 to read the complete issue.

Canadians Rally Around Israel After Palestinian Success at UNESCOCanada joined the United States and Israel in cutting funding to UNESCO. The move comes after the vote by the 194 members of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to accept Palestine as a member. The Canadian government said it was withdrawing the voluntary contribution to the UN body in response to the recent decision to accept Palestine as a member.Click Israel Matters! 53 to read the complete issue.

Netanyahu Speaks at UN General Assembly. Israeli Prime Minister Responds to Palestinian Bid for Unilateral Statehood.On September 23rd, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at the U.N. focusing primarily on the Palestinians’ statehood bid. Due to its significance, this online issue of Israel Matters! reproduces that speech in its entirety.click Israel Matters! 52 to read the complete issue.

Turkey Suspends Trade, Defense Ties with Israel Warns Navy Will Defend New Gaza FlotillaTurkey says it is “totally suspending” all trade and military ties with Israel as relations between the two countries continue to worsen. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the freeze, a day after Turkey ordered all senior Israeli diplomats to leave the country. Erdogan also said he may visit the Gaza Strip, but would finalize plans after speaking to Egyptian officials.click Israel Matters! 51 to read the complete issue.