Rare Archaeological Artifacts Found Near Jerusalem

{image_1}Israel’s Antiquities Authority (IAA) archaeologists have uncovered a rare temple and religious figurines dating back some 2,700 years to the Judean period. The unique discoveries were made at Tel Motza, west of Jerusalem, during emergency archaeological work taking place ahead of new road construction of the Tel Aviv–Jerusalem Highway 1.

World’s First King Herod Exhibition

{image_1}The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, premieres the world’s first exhibition on the life and legacy of Herod the Great, one of the most influential—and controversial—figures in ancient Roman and Jewish history. The landmark exhibition, “Herod the Great: The King’s Final Journey,” will present approximately 250 archaeological finds from the king’s recently discovered tomb at Herodium, as well as from Jericho and other related sites, to shed new light on the political, architectural, and aesthetic impact of Herod’s reign from 37 to 4 BC. 

Many Israelis Update Gas Masks

{image_1}The defense establishment’s concerns about the potential threat of chemical weapons from Syria and Hezbollah have not gone unnoticed by the Israeli public. The Israel Postal Service reported the number of Israelis changing their nonconventional warfare protection kits nearly tripled in the month of January alone.

IDF Sets up Cyber War Room

{image_1}Syrian hackers are working for President Bashar Assad's regime; criminal elements worldwide are trying to down banks' websites; and Israel has also recently experienced an unprecedented cyber attack as retaliation for the Israel Defense Forces’ [IDF's] Operation Pillar of Defense in Gaza. The IDF's Computer Services Directorate responded to the rise in the number of cyber attacks in Israel by setting up a special cyber war room meant to protect its computer systems by detecting virtual attacks by hostile elements and launching a counter attack.

Officials “Concerned” About Syrian Uranium Stockpile

{image_1}Nuclear experts in the US and Middle East have raised concerns about the security of up to 50 metric tonnes [55 US tons] of un-enriched uranium in Syria, the Financial Times reported. Such a stockpile could be a vital resource to building a nuclear bomb and could have disastrous implications if seized by Iran.

Tell Them, “I Love You!”

{image_1}There is a saying among Israeli cooks: If you want to say “I love you” with food, make memulaim, the Hebrew name for stuffed vegetables. Usually involving peppers or egg plant, this delightful tradition came to Israel in an endless variety of forms from all over the Diaspora. Although a little labor intensive, the following recipe is bound to communicate warmth and welcome to the friends and family around your table.

Another Side of War

{image_1}This will give you a glimpse into the daily lives of Israelis during Operation Pillar of Defense (November 14–21).

A Surprise Announcement

{image_1}The Ramat Gan Safari Park announced that Anya, a western lowland gorilla, had given birth to a female baby. Two weeks later the Safari announced that yet another baby gorilla had been born to Lia. The sex of the newest arrival is still not known, as the keepers prefer to leave new babies undisturbed with their mothers for the first few weeks following their birth. The Safari's alpha male, Lucas, has so far fathered ten infant gorillas since he came to the Safari from Holland in 1997.

Delayed Bar Mitzvah

{image_1}Twenty Holocaust survivors from the central Israeli town of Ramat Hasharon celebrated their bar mitzvah at the Kotel (Western Wall). The ceremony, which marks a boy’s coming of age, is usually celebrated at age 13.

Israel Successfully Tests Magic Wand System

{image_1}Israel's Defense Ministry and the US's Missile Defense Agency have completed the first round of tests on the Magic Wand system. The tests were reportedly successful, raising the chances of future investment. The interceptor missile system is being developed for the Defense Ministry by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the US's Raytheon Co. It was designed to intercept Hizbullah missiles fired from Lebanon.

Netanyahu Vows: Israel Will Defend Her People!

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Israel Will Continue to Build

Addressing the weekly cabinet meeting after Palestinian unilateral action at the United Nations, Netanyahu clarified that Israel will “continue to build in Jerusalem and in all the places of the State of Israel's map of strategic interests. The PA's unilateral move at the UN is a blatant violation of agreements, and therefore the Israeli government rejects the General Assembly resolution.

The Heart of Hatred

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We Will Free Jerusalem

Khaled Meshaal, Hamas Politburo Chief, speaking at a rally commemorating the 25th anniversary of Hamas was quoted as saying, “Jihad and the armed resistance is the only true path to liberation. We will free Jerusalem, inch by inch, stone by stone…”