Ofer Petersburg
Published: 02.15.07, 08:46 / Israel Money
Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is in negotiations to build a hotel on Tel Aviv's coastline.
Two architects have already started working on the project. The one is Bin Talal's private architect, who had worked with him on oriental hotels across the world, Basel al-Beiti. The other is former Tel Aviv Chief City Engineer, Yisrael Gudovich.
The planned project is a joint venture with the Abulafya family, which owns a structure on a 1-acre plot on Herbert Samuel Street.
According to the blueprints submitted to the Tel Aviv Municipality, an eight-story, 150-room hotel is planned to be built on the site.
Bin Talal is the nephew of the late Saudi King Faisal, and is believed to be worth $26.4 billion.
The prince's empire includes holdings in banks, financing and investment firms, hi-tech and communications companies, leading hotels in the United States, Europe and the Arab world, and tourist sites.
Source
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Discovery of mosaic halts work at Jerusalem walkway
By Donald Macintyre in Jerusalem
Published: 15 February 2007
The planned walkway at the centre of the furious dispute over Jerusalem's holiest site could be further delayed by the discovery of a Byzantine mosaic.
The geometric patterned fragment was exposed by archaeological workers yesterday at the bottom of an underground shaft where one of the walkway pillars is intended to go, as The Independent examined excavation work in the area.
"We have a real time discovery," reported Gideon Avni, director of excavations and surveys at the Israel Antiquities Authority.
Dr Avni said further excavations would now be needed to see whether the mosaic, probably from the fifth or sixth century AD, was part of a larger decorated room or house. He said it was too early to say whether the pillar would have to be moved. If the fragment turned out not to extend further, it could possibly be extracted and exhibited.
The discovery was the latest in a series of twists in the conflict over access through the Mugrabi Gate to the compound sacred to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif - noble sanctuary.
Seventeen policemen and 23 Palestinians were injured last Friday during demonstrations against the building of the new walkway, where the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque - Islam's third holiest site - is located. The work, is being carried out close to the Western Wall, the remains of the second Jewish Temple destroyed by the Romans AD70, and most sacred place in Judaism.
On Monday, Jerusalem's ultra-Orthodox Mayor, Uri Lupolianski, won praise from Israeli liberals when he unexpectedly announced work on the new walkway would be frozen to allow time for objections, including by Muslims, under a formal planning procedure. But the Israeli government said the archaeological "salvage digging" customary when construction work is carried out in the area, would continue.
Dr Avni vehemently denied claims by some Islamic leaders - and echoed by demonstrators from Cairo to Damascus - that the excavations posed a threat to the foundations of the mosques, saying they were all taking place in a limited area outside the walls of the compound. The Israeli authorities are arranging for webcam pictures of the dig to prove his case.
And while archaeology in Jerusalem is often complicated by religious and political overtones, Dr Avni virtually ruled out the possibility that the digs will discover remnants of the Jewish temple period.
Pointing to arches from Ottoman and Mameluke structures below the ramp, he added: "I don't believe that they will even reach the early Islamic period."
The eminent Israeli novelist Amos Oz yesterday praised the Mayor's decision to put work on the walkway on hold but added in an article in Yedhiot Ahronot: "It would be appropriate if this argument would also lead to the postponement of the archeological excavations - these excavations are also sparking the fires of religious dispute over the question of who in fact is the proprietor of the Temple Mount holy sites."
Source
Published: 15 February 2007
The planned walkway at the centre of the furious dispute over Jerusalem's holiest site could be further delayed by the discovery of a Byzantine mosaic.
The geometric patterned fragment was exposed by archaeological workers yesterday at the bottom of an underground shaft where one of the walkway pillars is intended to go, as The Independent examined excavation work in the area.
"We have a real time discovery," reported Gideon Avni, director of excavations and surveys at the Israel Antiquities Authority.
Dr Avni said further excavations would now be needed to see whether the mosaic, probably from the fifth or sixth century AD, was part of a larger decorated room or house. He said it was too early to say whether the pillar would have to be moved. If the fragment turned out not to extend further, it could possibly be extracted and exhibited.
The discovery was the latest in a series of twists in the conflict over access through the Mugrabi Gate to the compound sacred to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif - noble sanctuary.
Seventeen policemen and 23 Palestinians were injured last Friday during demonstrations against the building of the new walkway, where the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque - Islam's third holiest site - is located. The work, is being carried out close to the Western Wall, the remains of the second Jewish Temple destroyed by the Romans AD70, and most sacred place in Judaism.
On Monday, Jerusalem's ultra-Orthodox Mayor, Uri Lupolianski, won praise from Israeli liberals when he unexpectedly announced work on the new walkway would be frozen to allow time for objections, including by Muslims, under a formal planning procedure. But the Israeli government said the archaeological "salvage digging" customary when construction work is carried out in the area, would continue.
Dr Avni vehemently denied claims by some Islamic leaders - and echoed by demonstrators from Cairo to Damascus - that the excavations posed a threat to the foundations of the mosques, saying they were all taking place in a limited area outside the walls of the compound. The Israeli authorities are arranging for webcam pictures of the dig to prove his case.
And while archaeology in Jerusalem is often complicated by religious and political overtones, Dr Avni virtually ruled out the possibility that the digs will discover remnants of the Jewish temple period.
Pointing to arches from Ottoman and Mameluke structures below the ramp, he added: "I don't believe that they will even reach the early Islamic period."
The eminent Israeli novelist Amos Oz yesterday praised the Mayor's decision to put work on the walkway on hold but added in an article in Yedhiot Ahronot: "It would be appropriate if this argument would also lead to the postponement of the archeological excavations - these excavations are also sparking the fires of religious dispute over the question of who in fact is the proprietor of the Temple Mount holy sites."
Source
Target "for the resistance" LOL
Islamic Jihad Issues Death Threat Against U.S. Sec'y of State Condoleezza Rice Over $5M Reward for Leader’s Capture; Al-Quds Brigades Threatens Violence to U.S. Interests
In response to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's signing of a decision to reward $5 million to anyone helping in the arrest of Islamic Jihad secretary-general Ramadan Abdallah Shelah, the Islamic Jihad sent a threat to kill Rice.
The Islamic Jihad spokesman in the Gaza Strip said: "Any attempt to harm Dr. Shelah means that Rice and the one who carries out the decision are at the top of the list of wanted individuals and are a target for the resistance."
Source
I gues that the word "resistance" has a different meaning in ME...
In response to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's signing of a decision to reward $5 million to anyone helping in the arrest of Islamic Jihad secretary-general Ramadan Abdallah Shelah, the Islamic Jihad sent a threat to kill Rice.
The Islamic Jihad spokesman in the Gaza Strip said: "Any attempt to harm Dr. Shelah means that Rice and the one who carries out the decision are at the top of the list of wanted individuals and are a target for the resistance."
Source
I gues that the word "resistance" has a different meaning in ME...
Intelligence Reports On Hezbollah's Immense Firepower
Hezbollah can fire approximately 150 Katyusha rockets into Israel per day for four months, according to a current intelligence assessment that has reached Jerusalem.
High-ranking political officials said that Hezbollah is becoming stronger at an alarming rate and has already succeeded in rehabilitating its capability almost entirely. One of the things that worries Israel the most is the smuggling of Iranian Zelzal rockets that have reached Lebanon by way of Syria. A high-ranking political source said that at present, Hezbollah has dozens, if not hundreds, of Zelzal rockets. As Yedioth Ahronoth reported, according to information that reached Israel, the Syrians recently sent Hezbollah shipments of new Kornet anti-tank rockets.
Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted publicly for the first time that Russian anti-tank rockets have trickled from Syria to Hezbollah. In statements he made during the Munich Conference, he said: "There are boxes of our anti-tank systems in Lebanon, that is true. Our Israeli partners told me about that immediately." Jerusalem officials say that the Russians did not use their supervisory apparatus, as they had promised, and did not prevent the trickle. The quantity is not at the level that it was before the war, but rather at the beginning of a worrying trend.
EU Will Not Work With Palestinian Gov't That Does Not Recognize Israel
The European Union foreign ministers decided Monday night at a meeting in Brussels not to engage in talks with a Palestinian unity government that failed to meet the three threshold conditions that were set by the Quartet - recognition of Israel, recognizing agreements that were previously signed by the Palestinian Authority and forswearing terrorism.
A statement issued by the foreign ministers noted that the council of foreign ministers welcomed the Mecca agreement and praised PA Chairman Abu Mazen for his efforts to form a national unity government and the contribution of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to resolve the differences between the Palestinian factions. "The EU stands ready to work with a legitimate Palestinian government that adopts a platform reflecting the Quartet principles and welcomed the Quartet statement of 9 February (which made such dialogue contingent upon the Palestinian government accepting the three conditions)," read the EU foreign ministers' statement.
The statement of the European foreign ministers was preceded by intensive efforts that were made by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in talks that she held with European foreign ministers. Livni spoke with the foreign ministers of Germany, the U.K., Spain, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia, Austria and with EU foreign policy director Javier Solana. The statement that was issued by the European foreign ministers constitutes a significant achievement for Israel, since other European Union officials actively supported lifting the economic siege on the Palestinian Authority even without the Palestinian unity government's acceptance of the three threshold conditions.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, who is also the leader of Hamas, delivered a speech Monday that was broadcast by Palestinian television. In the speech he said: "The Mecca agreement to form a national unity government is the will of the Palestinian people and was signed in accordance with the decision of its representatives. Please, respect the new government."
Haniyeh called on the Quartet to recognize the unity government and to help it play its role, mainly by lifting the economic and political siege on the Palestinians. He called on Palestinians to close ranks, to stop bickering and to end the bloodshed in Palestinian society. Haniyeh made no mention of the kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit in his speech and made no reference to Israel. Haniyeh will resign his post tomorrow as prime minister, as obliged by law, so as to allow Abu Mazen to present him with the task of forming the new government. This is expected to occur tomorrow. Four of the cabinet ministers in the new Palestinian government are currently in Israeli prison.
Israeli Army Sees More Ethiopian Immigrant Than Native-Born Recruits
Ninety percent of the members of the Ethiopian community join the IDF compared with 74 percent of native-born Israelis, according to statistics that the IDF presented to the Knesset's Absorption Committee.
Brig. Gen. Nissim Bardah, director of the planning and personnel unit in the IDF's human resources department, presented the statistics.
Despite the gap in the recruitment statistics, native-born Israelis still lead among those who serve in combat units: 46.9 percent of the native-born Israelis who serve in the army go to combat units as compared to 40 percent of Ethiopian immigrants, 39.5 percent of new immigrants (up to two years in Israel) and 35 percent of long-time immigrants.
One comparative statistic shows that as compared with 74 percent of native-born Israelis born in 1987 who joined the army, the rate of enlistment among long-time immigrants reached 72 percent. The rate of enlistment among those defined as new immigrants reached only 31 percent, but IDF officials explained that the low rate stems from the fact that many new immigrants move to other countries or return to their countries of origin after receiving the absorption basket.
The statistics are equal among women. The share of women recruits is identical among native-born Israelis and long-time immigrants, and stands at 58 percent. But also among women, those of Ethiopian origin are the champions: 69 percent of the young women of the community join the army.
Source
High-ranking political officials said that Hezbollah is becoming stronger at an alarming rate and has already succeeded in rehabilitating its capability almost entirely. One of the things that worries Israel the most is the smuggling of Iranian Zelzal rockets that have reached Lebanon by way of Syria. A high-ranking political source said that at present, Hezbollah has dozens, if not hundreds, of Zelzal rockets. As Yedioth Ahronoth reported, according to information that reached Israel, the Syrians recently sent Hezbollah shipments of new Kornet anti-tank rockets.
Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted publicly for the first time that Russian anti-tank rockets have trickled from Syria to Hezbollah. In statements he made during the Munich Conference, he said: "There are boxes of our anti-tank systems in Lebanon, that is true. Our Israeli partners told me about that immediately." Jerusalem officials say that the Russians did not use their supervisory apparatus, as they had promised, and did not prevent the trickle. The quantity is not at the level that it was before the war, but rather at the beginning of a worrying trend.
EU Will Not Work With Palestinian Gov't That Does Not Recognize Israel
The European Union foreign ministers decided Monday night at a meeting in Brussels not to engage in talks with a Palestinian unity government that failed to meet the three threshold conditions that were set by the Quartet - recognition of Israel, recognizing agreements that were previously signed by the Palestinian Authority and forswearing terrorism.
A statement issued by the foreign ministers noted that the council of foreign ministers welcomed the Mecca agreement and praised PA Chairman Abu Mazen for his efforts to form a national unity government and the contribution of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to resolve the differences between the Palestinian factions. "The EU stands ready to work with a legitimate Palestinian government that adopts a platform reflecting the Quartet principles and welcomed the Quartet statement of 9 February (which made such dialogue contingent upon the Palestinian government accepting the three conditions)," read the EU foreign ministers' statement.
The statement of the European foreign ministers was preceded by intensive efforts that were made by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in talks that she held with European foreign ministers. Livni spoke with the foreign ministers of Germany, the U.K., Spain, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia, Austria and with EU foreign policy director Javier Solana. The statement that was issued by the European foreign ministers constitutes a significant achievement for Israel, since other European Union officials actively supported lifting the economic siege on the Palestinian Authority even without the Palestinian unity government's acceptance of the three threshold conditions.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, who is also the leader of Hamas, delivered a speech Monday that was broadcast by Palestinian television. In the speech he said: "The Mecca agreement to form a national unity government is the will of the Palestinian people and was signed in accordance with the decision of its representatives. Please, respect the new government."
Haniyeh called on the Quartet to recognize the unity government and to help it play its role, mainly by lifting the economic and political siege on the Palestinians. He called on Palestinians to close ranks, to stop bickering and to end the bloodshed in Palestinian society. Haniyeh made no mention of the kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit in his speech and made no reference to Israel. Haniyeh will resign his post tomorrow as prime minister, as obliged by law, so as to allow Abu Mazen to present him with the task of forming the new government. This is expected to occur tomorrow. Four of the cabinet ministers in the new Palestinian government are currently in Israeli prison.
Israeli Army Sees More Ethiopian Immigrant Than Native-Born Recruits
Ninety percent of the members of the Ethiopian community join the IDF compared with 74 percent of native-born Israelis, according to statistics that the IDF presented to the Knesset's Absorption Committee.
Brig. Gen. Nissim Bardah, director of the planning and personnel unit in the IDF's human resources department, presented the statistics.
Despite the gap in the recruitment statistics, native-born Israelis still lead among those who serve in combat units: 46.9 percent of the native-born Israelis who serve in the army go to combat units as compared to 40 percent of Ethiopian immigrants, 39.5 percent of new immigrants (up to two years in Israel) and 35 percent of long-time immigrants.
One comparative statistic shows that as compared with 74 percent of native-born Israelis born in 1987 who joined the army, the rate of enlistment among long-time immigrants reached 72 percent. The rate of enlistment among those defined as new immigrants reached only 31 percent, but IDF officials explained that the low rate stems from the fact that many new immigrants move to other countries or return to their countries of origin after receiving the absorption basket.
The statistics are equal among women. The share of women recruits is identical among native-born Israelis and long-time immigrants, and stands at 58 percent. But also among women, those of Ethiopian origin are the champions: 69 percent of the young women of the community join the army.
Source
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
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