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17 May 2010 22:32

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Politics: Israel treats political scholar Noam Chomsky like a new iPad

  • The funny part is that he totally seems good natured about the whole thing. Chomsky, a lefty through and through who’s also Jewish, was blocked from entering the country with his daughter. He was supposed to give a speech at Bir Zeit University in the occupied West Bank. This guy has a lot of controversial opinions, sure, but we’re guessing Israel’s miffed that he’s not going to speak at one of their universities. source

25 Apr 2010 09:26

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Tech, World: Question: Is the iPad banned in Israel anymore?

  • NO customs came to their senses, approved the tablet source

15 Apr 2010 09:39

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Tech: Don’t bring iPads to Israel; it doesn’t fit their standards for tablets

  • They must have at least five commandments on them, minimum. Seriously, though, the iPad apparently does not meet standards for wi-fi in the country, which are the same as Europe’s. Kind of a stupid reason, by the way, considering there are MILLIONS of devices that support the form of wi-fi the iPad does. source

28 Mar 2010 10:02

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World: Benjamin Netanyahu’s probably gonna fire the guy who said this

  • We’ve got a real problem. You could say that Obama is the greatest disaster for Israel – a strategic disaster.
  • An anonymous quote from a Benjamin Netanyahu confidante • Regarding the Obama administration, who Netanyahu had a fun meeting with last week. The quote, which was paraphrased in a banner headline in Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, was bashed by Netanyahu’s office in a statement: “The prime minister emphatically rejects the anonymous quotes about President Obama that a newspaper attributed to one of his confidants, and he condemns them.” Who’s getting fired? source

25 Mar 2010 08:53

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World: The U.S. can’t shake an Israel deal out of Benny Netanyahu

  • I think we have found the golden path between Israel’s traditional policies and our desire to move forward toward peace.
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu • On leaving the U.S. without an agreement on that whole settlement thing that really pissed off the U.S. In perhaps the strongest sign that this statement isn’t entirely accurate, the two countries didn’t issue a joint statement about their peace talks. In other news, yet another Jerusalem settlement in a Palestinian area is getting built. Because, hey, why the heck not? source

23 Mar 2010 11:06

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World: Israeli West Bank settlement drama partly an economic thang

  • Real estate prices on the west side of the fence are the lowest, security arrangements are better than on the east side and (offer) better access to the major cities allows settlers to work in Israel.
  • A analysis piece by the Tel Aviv Macro Centre for Political Economics • Regarding why settlement-building in the West Bank is still an ongoing thing, with 6,657 new structures since 2004 alone. While the U.S. and EU say that the buildings get in the way of peace talks (and have caused the country’s latest blow-up), it’s notable that the structures often have significant economic benefits (that have nothing to do with a land debate), too. “Israelis do not want to live beyond the separation barrier” splitting the east and west sides of the West Bank, the report also notes. source

23 Mar 2010 10:08

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World: The U.K. doesn’t think James Bond stuff funny when Israel does it

  • 27 suspects in the killing of Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, 26 of which used forged European or Australian passports
  • one unlucky Israeli diplomat just got kicked out of the U.K. for the country’s suspected role in the killing and forged passports source
 

14 Mar 2010 11:30

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World: Benny Netanyahu: We done (#^&(@ up that settlement thang

The Israeli Prime Minister admits it was a bad idea – “It was hurtful and certainly it should not have happened” – but won’t back down in the row with the U.S. source

10 Mar 2010 10:15

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World: Israel learns building stuff on the West Bank unpopular with the U.S.

  • Yesterday the decision by the Israeli government to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem undermines that very trust, the trust that we need right now in order to begin … profitable negotiations.
  • Vice President Joe Biden (in tandem with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) • Regarding Israel’s decision to begin building Jewish settlements on the West Bank, which was great timing because Joe-boy just happened to be in town. Abbas wants Israel to reverse its decision. This is also bad because Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu put a halt to all housing starts for ten months back in November. For those playing at home, it hasn’t been ten months. And Netanyahu is pissed. source

02 Mar 2010 11:01

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World: Yo, Israelis: Don’t think you’re headed to Dubai anytime soon

  • action Israel is suspected in the
    assassination of a senior Hamas official in a Dubai hotel, complete with dozens of spies and loads of controversy.
  • reaction The United Arab Emirates has blocked all Israelis from entering the country. People with twin citizenship, however, can enter without a problem. source