| Press Review n°214. By Gilberte Jacaret |
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ISRAEL
MFA officials visited the capitals of member countries, were active at CERN headquarters in Geneva and presented Israel's scientific achievements.Israel joins the CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research)... Communicated by the Foreign Minister's Bureau. December 16, 2010 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman stated today (Thursday, December 16 2010) that the announcement by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) regarding the initiation of the process enabling Israel to join the organization marks the successful end of a strenuous two-year diplomatic effort spearheaded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.... FM Liberman stated further that the announcement today is based on international recognition of these achievements, and places Israel in its rightful position, at the forefront of international scientific endeavor. CERN is the OECD of international science, and we thank the members and management of the organization for the trust they place in the State of Israel in general and in Israeli science in particular. Haifa Police Chief succumbs to burns from Carmel fire.... December 16, 2010 Dep.-Cmdr. Ahuva Tomer dies after being fatally injured in wild-fire when she raced to scene of Prison Service bus caught in flames; had been in critical condition for 4 days. Israeli firefighter dies of injuries sustained in Carmel blaze... Ynet, December 18, 2010 Danny Hayat was burned on 65 percent of his body after trying to rescue prison service cadets from burning bus; his death marks the 44th person killed in the blaze. The firefighting forces included 35 aircrafts, 24 of which were provided by foreign countries Israel considering buying water-scooping aircraft... Jerusalem Post. December 8, 2010 IAF, defense ministry instruct military attachés around world to begin survey of firefighting planes following Carmel fire. The Israeli Air Force and Defense Ministry have instructed their military attachés stationed throughout the world to begin conducting a survey of firefighting aircraft that Israel is considering purchasing following the Carmel Forest fires. One of the leading candidates is the Bombardier 415 – also known as the Canadair CL-415 – which is made in Canada and is believed to be suitable for Israel since it has the ability to scoop up water from the sea. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman will leave on Sunday afternoon (December 5, 2010) for a visit to Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.... Communicated by the Foreign Minister's Bureau. At his meetings in Sofia with President Georgi Parvanov, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, and Foreign Minister Nikolai Mladenov, FM Liberman will thank them for the assistance which Bulgaria extended to Israel in the efforts to extinguish the Carmel forest fire, an expression of the true friendship between the two countries. Israel sends aid to help Albania fight floods... Communicated by the Foreign Minister's Bureau. Israel's MASHAV is sending tents to help families evacuated from their homes in the worst flooding in 50 years. Mariaschin Visits Bulgaria... B'nai B'rith International News, December 16, 2010 Executive Vice President Dan Mariaschin visited Sofia, Bulgaria this week. He presented a plaque, in the presence Deputy Interior Minister Vuchkov, to Bulgarian National Fire Commissioner Nikolay Nikolov and three senior firefighters in recognition of the bravery and courage of the nearly 100 Bulgarian firefighters who helped fight the Mt. Carmel forest fires in Israel. B’nai B’rith has a lodge in Sofia, and Mariaschin met with leaders of B’nai B’rith in Sofia, and with leaders of the Bulgarian Jewish community. He also held separate meetings with Israel’s ambassador to Bulgaria, Noah Gendler-Gal, Sofia Mayor Jordanka Fandakova, and the U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria, James Warlick. Israel antiquities chief: Caeserea storm damage a 'national disaster'... Haaretz. December 15, 2010 Authorities are working to clean up Caeserea National Park, which was hit hard during last weekend's strong winter storm. ANTI-SEMITISM Latvia: Swastikas spray-painted on 100 Jewish gravestones... Ynet, December 9, 2010 White swastikas painted on tombstones in Riga cemetery, which was desecrated in the past; police launch investigation, mayor condemns act The same cemetery was desecrated in September of 2003 by five teenagers, who were sentenced to prison terms ranging from six months to three years. Before World War Two the Jewish community in Latvia numbered some 85,000 people, but 70,000 of them were killed in Nazi death camps. To-day there are less than 10,000 Jews in the country. |