Technology can be used for many different reasons; it can be used to send an old friend an email, to look up information for a school project, to take pictures of family and loved ones, or to keep up-to-date with current trends. Israel, however, has found new technology, Facebook in particular, to be used as a way to keep the peace with hostile countries, such as Egypt.
Joel Leyden from the Israel News Agency wrote an article stating why social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter can be used in such a manner.
"We need to take to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and let the Egyptian hear directly from us that...we share similar goals and values. That our past, our present and future historical, cultural and political ties should be determined by all we have in common - not by any differences that can be exploited by Jihadists who wish to destroy any healthy relationship," wrote Leyden.
Leyden and several others at the Israel News Agency urged Israelis to change their profile pictures on Facebook to that of the Egypt and Israel flags, and to post their statuses and comments in their native Arab language that Israel only wishes for peace and stability for Egyptians.
Leyden hopes that by using social media to promote these ideals, Egyptians will take their words to heart and keep up peace treaty with Israel.
Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, and it has a large population of Facebook and other social media network users. Social media sites have become very popular and are very integrated in the lives of the Israeli's, and because of the democratic society, many Israeli's use the internet to keep up to date with what's going on between them and the Egyptians. Leyden ultimately wants to use that to Israel's advantage and have everyone help promote the peace.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Tensions continue to rise as more deaths accumulate
It seems as if tensions and border disputes between the Palestinians and the Israelis are continuing to rise, with one Israeli dead and four others wounded at West Bank on Sunday.
The man wounded was identified as Ben-Yosef Livnat, a mid-twenties Jerusalem man, nephew to a prominent cabinet member of the ruling Likud Party. There are suspicions that lead to believe that may be one of the reasons he was attacked in the first place.
The shooter has not been formally identified, but he has been identified as a Palestinian policeman, and attacked the group while they were praying.
Israel has had border issues with West Bank in the past, and the incident has shown increase in these tensions as well.
-information from aljazeera.com
The man wounded was identified as Ben-Yosef Livnat, a mid-twenties Jerusalem man, nephew to a prominent cabinet member of the ruling Likud Party. There are suspicions that lead to believe that may be one of the reasons he was attacked in the first place.
The shooter has not been formally identified, but he has been identified as a Palestinian policeman, and attacked the group while they were praying.
Israel has had border issues with West Bank in the past, and the incident has shown increase in these tensions as well.
-information from aljazeera.com
Sunday, April 17, 2011
High Internet Usage Allows for Larger Flow of Information
Many countries in the Middle East and around the world suffer several consequences due to their lack of flow of information. Israel, however, seems to be the exception in the Middle East.
Israel, with a population in 2010 of about 7,300,000 had an internet user percentage of about 71.6%. Other countries in the Middle East, such as Iraq, who has over four times the population size of Israel, had an internet user percentage of only 1.1% in 2010.
Due to the high number of people living in Israel that have regular access to the internet, Israel has become the exception to the suppression of political and social information in the Middle East. The people living in Israel have access to the free flow of information, and currently Israel is the only country in the Middle East with a democratic government. This free flow of information definitely encourages the spread of such democracy throughout the country.
Most other countries in the Middle East reported an internet user percentage of less than 50%.
-information collected from http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats5.htm
Israel, with a population in 2010 of about 7,300,000 had an internet user percentage of about 71.6%. Other countries in the Middle East, such as Iraq, who has over four times the population size of Israel, had an internet user percentage of only 1.1% in 2010.
Due to the high number of people living in Israel that have regular access to the internet, Israel has become the exception to the suppression of political and social information in the Middle East. The people living in Israel have access to the free flow of information, and currently Israel is the only country in the Middle East with a democratic government. This free flow of information definitely encourages the spread of such democracy throughout the country.
Most other countries in the Middle East reported an internet user percentage of less than 50%.
-information collected from http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats5.htm
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Controversy over Hamas commander's death
Tayser Abu Snima, a Hamas commander that is believed by the Israeli military to be involved in the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shilat, was pronounced dead due to air strikes on the Gaza Strip on Saturday by Israel's army.
However, Abu Ubaida, spokesperson for Hamas's armed wing, rejected the Israeli military claim, saying, "The enemy does not have the information about Shalit's capture to be able to say who among our leaders had a role in its execution."
This sparks even more controversy over the Gaza-Israel border disputes, as both militaries seem to be only giving out the information that they want the public to know, not necessarily what is really happening.
Shilat was captured during a cross-border raid in 2006 through a prisoner swap, but disagreements are still arising about whether Israel will choose to try to free Shilat or another prisoner. Shilat is believed to be held captive in the costal enclave and is probably still alive.
The death toll in Gaza is now up to 18, and air raids and attacks on both sides still are continuing without any sign of an agreement being reached.
-information collected from aljazeera.com
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Israel Launches its new "Iron Dome" rocket shield
Israel is now launching its new "Iron Dome" rocket shield to help track and destroy air attacks from neighboring gaza, due to recent attacks the country has faced.
This new Iron Dome system, just north of Beersheba, will provide increased security by helping to locate rockets and destroy them before they land and cause any destruction in Israel. The system uses high-tech radar and cameras to locate these rockets, predict where they will land, and then destroy them before they get a chance to damage any towns. If it is assessed that the rocket will land in an open area, the technology of the Iron Dome system will allow it to land safely, since no harm to Israeli's will be likely to occur.
"I do not want to create an illusion that the Iron Dome system, which we are deploying for the first time today, will provide a full or comprehensive response," said Mr. Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel.
This new technology is expected to be up and fully running within just a few months, and will hopefully provide extra security to the Israeli population.
-from aljazeera.com
This new Iron Dome system, just north of Beersheba, will provide increased security by helping to locate rockets and destroy them before they land and cause any destruction in Israel. The system uses high-tech radar and cameras to locate these rockets, predict where they will land, and then destroy them before they get a chance to damage any towns. If it is assessed that the rocket will land in an open area, the technology of the Iron Dome system will allow it to land safely, since no harm to Israeli's will be likely to occur.
"I do not want to create an illusion that the Iron Dome system, which we are deploying for the first time today, will provide a full or comprehensive response," said Mr. Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel.
This new technology is expected to be up and fully running within just a few months, and will hopefully provide extra security to the Israeli population.
-from aljazeera.com
from: www.defensetech.org
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Israel Strikes Gaza again, but is it legitimate?
Israel reportedly seized a Liberian-flagged vessel on Tuesday, due to charges that that weaponry on board was intended to be used for terror organizations that are currently operating in the Gaza Strip, according to a statement released by the Israeli military.
However, Ramin Mehmanparast, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, denied the allegations made by Israel and said that the Israeli military was producing these statements as a way to create propaganda for themselves.
This poses the question, what media can be trusted? Israel seems to be more stable than Libya, according to recent news, but does that make the media trustworthy? Numerous problems between Libya and Israel have been occurring for several years, and with the unrest in Libya, it is hard to determine between truth and exaggeration in the media.
The crew on the ship didn't put up an struggle and will be transported to an Israeli port for further questioning and investigation.
-information collected from aljazeera.com
However, Ramin Mehmanparast, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, denied the allegations made by Israel and said that the Israeli military was producing these statements as a way to create propaganda for themselves.
This poses the question, what media can be trusted? Israel seems to be more stable than Libya, according to recent news, but does that make the media trustworthy? Numerous problems between Libya and Israel have been occurring for several years, and with the unrest in Libya, it is hard to determine between truth and exaggeration in the media.
The crew on the ship didn't put up an struggle and will be transported to an Israeli port for further questioning and investigation.
-information collected from aljazeera.com
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Israel's News Freedom
"Freedom House is deeply concerned about the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the damage being done to the prospects for peace in the Middle East as Israel and Hamas escalate their attacks on one another. Freedom House calls on the United States government to intervene energetically to effect a durable ceasefire." --freedomhouse.org
Israel itself has a relatively free news system, but because of its surrounding borders, the news has often been censored. Due to the continuing unrest between the Gaza-Israeli border, censorship of the media still does exist.
Israel itself has a relatively free news system, but because of its surrounding borders, the news has often been censored. Due to the continuing unrest between the Gaza-Israeli border, censorship of the media still does exist.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Looking for help from the U.S.
Due to all of the recent revolts and uprisings in the Middle East, Israel is considering asking the United States for approximately $20 billion in security assistance to help protect Israel and it's borders.
The changes are a "movement in the right direction," said Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak. However, the changes still pose a threat to Israel, and precautions need to be taken.
About 9% of Israel's gross national product is spent on protection and prevention of potential threats. It doesn't appear that Israel is in immediate danger of any threats, but precautions are being taken in order to keep Israel out of the uprisings in the Middle East.
TelAviv has been keeping an eye out on all the government protests in Egypt and across the Middle East in order to keep protests and uprisings from reaching Israel borders.
-information from alJazeera Magazine: www.aljazeera.com
The changes are a "movement in the right direction," said Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak. However, the changes still pose a threat to Israel, and precautions need to be taken.
About 9% of Israel's gross national product is spent on protection and prevention of potential threats. It doesn't appear that Israel is in immediate danger of any threats, but precautions are being taken in order to keep Israel out of the uprisings in the Middle East.
TelAviv has been keeping an eye out on all the government protests in Egypt and across the Middle East in order to keep protests and uprisings from reaching Israel borders.
-information from alJazeera Magazine: www.aljazeera.com
Defense Minister Ehud Barak
photo from: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.fcas.nova.edu/arts/distinguished_speakers_series/ehud_barak/grfx/Barak_Ehud_250.jpg
Friday, March 4, 2011
Israel Still Pushes for Peace Negotiations with Palestine
New efforts to create peace with the Palestinians were brought up on Wednesday, but as of now, it seems as if Israel will have to step back from reaching some sort of framework agreement and resolve some of the core issues going on between the two countries.
Instead of having a finalized peace and border agreement by fall, Israel is considering pushing for an interim arrangement as a step toward a two-state solution, potentially without the approval or agreement by the Palestinians.
It seems unlikely, though, that the Palestinians would be peaceful with such an arrangement. They have consistently rejected similar proposals since 2003 and all attempts to implement such a plan have never made it past the first stage without revolts.
Saleh Raafat, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee, commented that "the position of the P.L.O is unchangeable. We have strictly rejected all Israeli and non-Israeli offers that call on the establishment of a Palestinian State with temporary borders. The P.L.O. has also affirmed its refusal of all interim and partial solutions."
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Israel Continues its attacks on Gaza Border
Palestinian sources reported that Israel war planes have once again attacked the Gaza Border. The jets dropped bombs on two training camps, but no immediate casualties have been reported at this time.
Tel Aviv has spread their attacked on these besieged areas to both ground and air attacks, shooting at civilians from all areas. The Israel military, however, did not comment on the addition of ground attacks as well as air attacks.
Attacks also happened earlier this week on Wednesday and Thursday on the Gaza Strip, causing for major problems and some injuries to civilians in the area.
Gaza is currently dealing with many issues, including poverty, unemployment, and lack of medicine, and the United Nations has stepped in and has warned of a humanitarian crisis to Gaza's 1.5 million residents.
Information collected from aljazeera.com
Tel Aviv has spread their attacked on these besieged areas to both ground and air attacks, shooting at civilians from all areas. The Israel military, however, did not comment on the addition of ground attacks as well as air attacks.
Attacks also happened earlier this week on Wednesday and Thursday on the Gaza Strip, causing for major problems and some injuries to civilians in the area.
Gaza is currently dealing with many issues, including poverty, unemployment, and lack of medicine, and the United Nations has stepped in and has warned of a humanitarian crisis to Gaza's 1.5 million residents.
Information collected from aljazeera.com
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Three "Fishermen" from Gaza Killed in Israel
Three suspected militants were killed in Israel on Thursday on due to suspicions that they were plotting to plant explosives.
The Palestinians were inspected by Gaza's ministry on health and were determined to be fishermen using their nets on shore when they were killed. Jihad Khalaf, 20, Talaat al-Awagh, 25 and Ashraf al-Kteifan, 29 were later identified by Adham Abu Selmiya, a spokesman for the Hamas-run emergency services.
Due to increased tensions with the Gaza border, several strikes have been carried out by Israel on Hamas-ruled Gaza.
information collected from : http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/201121775215281864.html
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
H.E. Anders Fogh Rassmussen at the Herzliya Conference 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xQwyQaLnbpg#at=39
Possibility of NATO Stepping in
NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, has extended an offer to Israeli-Palestinian peace issues on three conditions: if peace between the two nations can be reached, if both parties will help NATO implement the the agreement, and the UN endorses NATO helping the nations.
However, those conditions are very far from being met. Secretary General Fogh Rasmussen spoke with Mr. Netanyahu about getting NATO involved in several Israeli problems, but not much information was given out about what was discussed.
Previous rulers of both Israel and Palestine had agreed on having NATO step in and help in the past, Mr. Netanyahu has expressed the concern that there would have to be some sort of Israeli presence along the eastern boarder in order to create a separate Palestinian state, and that just NATO's third party would not be sufficient to create one.
Israel, however, is the only reliable ally for NATO in the Middle East, and that cooperation between Israel and the alliance needs to be strengthened.
Rasmussen pointed out that as events in Egypt and the Middle East keep unfolding, the possibility of NATO stepping in may increase or decrease, and that ensuring democracy and full human rights is a necessity.
information collected from...
http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=207559
However, those conditions are very far from being met. Secretary General Fogh Rasmussen spoke with Mr. Netanyahu about getting NATO involved in several Israeli problems, but not much information was given out about what was discussed.
Previous rulers of both Israel and Palestine had agreed on having NATO step in and help in the past, Mr. Netanyahu has expressed the concern that there would have to be some sort of Israeli presence along the eastern boarder in order to create a separate Palestinian state, and that just NATO's third party would not be sufficient to create one.
Israel, however, is the only reliable ally for NATO in the Middle East, and that cooperation between Israel and the alliance needs to be strengthened.
Rasmussen pointed out that as events in Egypt and the Middle East keep unfolding, the possibility of NATO stepping in may increase or decrease, and that ensuring democracy and full human rights is a necessity.
information collected from...
http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=207559
Friday, February 4, 2011
Problems in Egypt spread to Israel
With Egypt and other neighboring countries in upheaval, Israel is having a very difficult time making peace with the Palestinians (and anyone else for that matter) extremely tough.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Parliament on Wednesday, saying that the future of Israel lies in the ability to "[bolster] the might of the state of Israel." (NYT, A13) Mr. Netanyahu spoke with the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, but both felt that the gaps between the two sides may be too wide to attempt to form peace treaties.
The two peace treaties that Israel currently has- one with Jordan and one with Egypt- are unfortunately both signed with dictator leaders, while Israel is run through a more democratic system.
Many problems unfortunately face Israel and the safety of its borders and people. Many people believe that if any chance exists to solve the unrest, it may be now.
Original Peace Treaty between Israel and Egypt, March 26, 1979
-New York Times Article; "Egypt's Upheaval Hardens Israel's Stance on Peace" by Isabel Kershner
February 3, 2011
-picture from http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Basic Facts about Israel
- Israel declared it's independence in May 14, 1948 from the Palestinian Mandate. The Arabs living in the Palestinian Mandate and in the Arab State attack, but Israel is victorious and gains their freedom.
- Current Prime Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu
- Capital of Israel: Jerusalem
- General Democratic System
- The Jerusalem Post-- Israel's oldest English-language newspaper
- Current Population in Israel: 7,695,000
Information collected from...
http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=201430
http://www.factsofisrael.com
http://www.wikipedia.com
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Politics/how_govt_works.html
Picture...
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.washingtonpac.com/ISRAElpolmap.gif
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