While enforcement of the 10-month construction ban throughout Yehuda and Shomron appears to remain a high priority for Defense Minister Ehud Barak, it appears a Knesset committee does not share his enthusiasm. The minister’s request for an additional NIS 12 million in funding to hire an additional 29 Civil Administration inspectors was rejected. Coalition chairman (Likud) [...]

Valley National Bancorp today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Valley National Bank, assumed  all deposits and received certain assets of Manhattan-based LibertyPointe Bank from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), which was appointed the receiver for LibertyPointe Bank. Gerald H. Lipkin, Chairman, President and CEO commented that, “We welcome LibertyPointe Bank customers to Valley National Bank [...]

Jerusalem police this week released statistics pertaining to 2009, revealing a sharp increase in car thefts in the capital in the past year, an increase of 10.7%. Rock-throwing attacks were also on the increase, from 1,023 incidents in 2008 to 1,215 incidents in 2009, representing an 18% increase. (Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

There was nothing remarkable in the address in Tel Aviv University delivered on Thursday by US Vice President Joe Biden, who used the standard terms to express America’s commitment to Israel’s security, the need to advance the diplomatic process with the PA (Palestinian Authority), his criticism of the planned construction in Yerushalayim and America’s firm [...]

The PA (Palestinian Authority) has backed down from plans to hold a ceremony today, Thursday, to dedicate a square in memory of arch terrorist Dalal Mughrabi, who was responsible for the deaths of 37 people, as was reported earlier in the week by YWN-Israel (http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/article.php?p=50646). Israel turned to the White House to apply pressure on the [...]

A Jewish family arriving from Iran was placed under arrest in Ben-Gurion International Airport on Wednesday after it was determined that they were carrying 14.5 kilograms (40 lbs) of pure opium. According to police, they were searched upon their arrival, adding the parents and their 17-year-old son have been under surveillance for about three months. Police [...]

An Arab motorist was killed in a collision with a bus at Rimonim Ckpt. in Shomron. Two bus passengers sustained light injuries. **Numerous Chevron area stone throwing attacks reported. **Two people were lightly injured in a blaze that erupted in a four-story Netanya building. **Holon: A fire truck responding to a blaze in Bat Yam was involved in [...]

Tragically, the matter of Gilad Shalit’s ongoing captivity seems to have vanished from the media, but the anguish of the soldier and his family continues, one day at a time. Gilad’s father Noam is not resting however and on Wednesday, he met in France with the President of the EU Parliament, Prof. Jerzy Buzek. They discussed [...]

Facing growing political pressure, Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Thursday that he will appoint an independent counsel to take over his office’s investigation into the Paterson administration’s response to a domestic violence case. Mr. Cuomo said he will appoint Judith S. Kaye, the former Chief Judge of New York, to lead the inquiry, along [...]

After the media announced Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s apology to US Vice President Joe Biden, the two spoke on the phone and according to the prime minister, “the crisis is behind us”. The ‘crisis’ surrounded the announcement by the Jerusalem District Planning Board to build 1,600 housing units in Ramat Shlomo. The announcement led to condemnations [...]