Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

4 Jul 2008

Civilians as human shields: 10 Palestinians killed, dozens injured in Beit Lahiya "work accident" (June 12)

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

Anti-Israeli Terrorism in 2007 and its Trends in 2008 (IICC)

Increase in attacks on Christian institutions in Gaza (IICC)

French court overturns al-Dura libel judgment (JPost, May 21)

Bomb explodes at Christian school in Gaza city (JPost, May 16)

Gaza cancer patient who 'died' while waiting for treatment - still alive

The significance and implications of contemporary Arab-Muslim anti-Semitism (IICC) - April 2008

The Hamas military buildup in the Gaza Strip (IICC - updated April 2008)

The State of Israel celebrates 60 years of independence - List of major events

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

Der Spiegel (7 Feb): A Visit to a Gaza Rocket Factory

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Scene of terrorist attack in Jerusalem, July 2, 2008 (Photos: Reuters)

Scene of terrorist attack on Jaffa Road in downtown Jerusalem, July 2 (Photos: Reuters)

Behind the Headlines: Bulldozer attack in Jerusalem

Terror attack in Jerusalem

2 Jul 2008
Three people were killed and over 50 wounded in a terror attack in Jerusalem shortly before noon.
Driving a bulldozer against the traffic on Jaffa Road between the Central Bus Station and the Mahane Yehuda market, a terrorist - a construction worker on Jerusalem's light rail project - plowed into cars and pedestrians as well as two public buses (Egged buslines 13 & 60) carrying some 50 passengers. Police shot and killed the terrorist. (more...)

The victims: Elizabeth (Lili) Goren-Friedman, 54; Jean Relevy, 68; and Batsheva Unterman, 33 - all of Jerusalem.

Government approves agreement on release of Israeli soldiers in Lebanon

Behind the Headlines: Israel resolves to bring captives home

Cabinet Commuique - 29 June 2008

29 Jun 2008
The Israeli government on Sunday, 29 June 2008, approved the outline for the agreement on releasing the abducted soldiers in Lebanon:
The abducted soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev will be returned to Israel, a report on the disappearance of Ron Arad will be delivered to Israel and remains from the Second Lebanon War will also be received.

FM Livni: "The release of Samir Kuntar will remove the families' doubts as to the fate of the two abducted soldiers."

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Latest Releases

• Editorials 3-Jul-2008
• Cabinet Commuique 29-Jun-2008
• First MASHAV-WHO Europe regional course on Public Health and Emergency Management - June 2008
• Summary of IDF activity in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley (18-26 June 2008)
• PM Olmert interview with "A-Sharq al-Awsat" - excerpts 24-Jun-2008
• Environmental Cooperation Agreement signed between Israel and France 24-Jun-2008
• Address by FM Livni to INSS conference - The State of the Nation 22-Jun-2008
• Anti-Israeli Terrorism in 2007 and its Trends in 2008: Overview
• Terror from Gaza: 12-month update 16-Jun-2008
• Humanitarian assistance to Gaza since Feb 27 escalation in terror

FM Livni: Security situation continues to be difficult

FM Livni and PA PM Fayyad at the Berlin Conference (Photo: Reuters)

24 Jun 2008
FM Livni tells Berlin Conference in Support of Palestinian Civil Police and Rule of Law: "The situation in the Gaza Strip must change, and while coping with the problems Gaza creates, it must be clarified that none of us, including those sitting in this room, can permit ourselves to take a similar risk regarding the West Bank.
The actual security situation in the West Bank, and certainly in Gaza, continues to be difficult. Our ability to remove a roadblock is determined by the security of Israelis on its other side. "

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Great Isaiah Scroll on view to the public

The Isaiah scroll - the most complete biblical Dead Sea scroll ever found (Photo: The Israel Museum)

23 Jun 2008
On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel, the Israel Museum presents two major sections of the Great Isaiah Scroll in a special installation in the Shrine of the Book. This this is the first time the scroll has been on view to the public in 40 years.

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The European Union upgrades its relations with Israel

Israel FM Tzipi Livni and Slovenian FM Dimitrij Rupel at press conference afer Association Council meeting (Photo: Thierry Monasse/STA)

16 Jun 2008
An upgrade in the relations between Israel and the EU was announced on Monday (16 June) by the EU-Israel Association Council meeting in Luxembourg.

FM Livni: "I am pleased that at the end of a year of deliberations we are able to convene here in Luxembourg and to declare that Israel and the European Union have decided to upgrade their relations. I believe that the upgrading of our relations benefits us both, and opens a new phase in the growing and deepening ties between Israel and the EU."

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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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Today in history

33 year/s ago
14 killed, 80 wounded in Zion Square bombing in Jerusalem

32 year/s ago
Passengers of hijacked Air France plane rescued in Entebbe

Transfer of goods to Gaza Strip again halted after Kassam fire

Cement is delivered to Gaza via the Sufa crossing - 2 July 2008 (Photo: Rafael Ben-Ari/Chameleons Eye)

4 Jul 2008

Defense Minister Barak ordered a halt in the transfer of goods to the Gaza Strip after Palestinians again violated the state of calm, firing a Kassam rocket toward southern Israel on Thursday, July 3; no injuries were reported in the attack.
Israel views the rocket fire as a clear and flagrant violation of the understandings of the "state of calm." FM Livni: "I do not care which organization fired the rocket, Israel must respond militarily and immediately." (more...)

An Egyptian initiative to end terrorism from the Gaza Strip and the resulting Israeli military operations led to a "state of calm," which went into effect on Thursday morning, 19 June.

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MASHAV publishes its 2007 Annual Report

1 Jul 2008
MASHAV's extensive global capacity building programs in 2007 attracted thousands of participants from around the world. Some 2,468 professionals participated in 119 courses in Israel, while 4,765 people took part in 92 on-the-spot courses, offered in 29 host countries. In addition, MASHAV experts were dispatched throughout the world on 110 short-term consultancies and humanitarian medical missions to 43 countries, and 8 long-term experts served on MASHAV demonstration projects in 5 countries around the world.

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Two years in terrorist captivity

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

29 Jun 2008
Two years have passed since the unprovoked abduction of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit on the Israeli side of the border with Gaza on June 25, 2006.
Two other soldiers, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, were abducted on the Israeli side of the Lebanese border two weeks later, on July 12, 2006.
Defense Minister Barak (26 June 2008): "As a soldier, former commander and defense minister I say that we have a moral responsibility to bring the soldiers back home, dead or alive."

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Fish Cage Era in Eilat is Finally Over

Fish cages in the Gulf of Eilat. (Photo: Rani Amir)

24 Jun 2008
On June 17, 2008, Eilat's two fish farms carried out the terms of a cabinet decision from June 2005, which called on them to remove their fish cages from the Gulf of Eilat. The government decision was based on indications of ecosystem deterioration in the Gulf of Eilat, and the desire to save the unique coral reef in the Gulf of Eilat.

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A year since the Hamas takeover of Gaza

Rockets launched from Hamas-controlled Gaza to Israel

16 Jun 2008
A year has passed since the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip from the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority in mid-June 2007.

Hamas took over the Gaza Strip, neutralized the military and political strength of Fatah and the Palestinian security services and established a radical Islamic entity in the Gaza Strip.

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