Shorts: Mideast

Report: Madonna eyes Tel Aviv apartment

Madonna is reportedly considering purchasing an apartment in Tel Aviv. Madonna, who spent Rosh Hashanah in Israel along with fellow Kabbalah enthusiasts, has voiced interest in a luxury residential complex going up in northern Tel Aviv, Yediot Achronot reported. Prices for apartments there begin at $1 million. Other prospective clients include Steven Spielberg, the paper said. When Madonna was in Israel two years ago, local media reported that she might buy a house in Rosh Pina, a village near the mystical town of Safed. — jta




Rabbi mends fences with IDF

Having sparked a media uproar with his remark that "soldiers die in war because they do not observer mitzvot," Rabbi Ovadia Yosef tried to mend fences with the IDF during a meeting with a group of soldiers in Jerusalem last week.

Yosef said his remarks had been taken out of context, saying that he was referring to wars fought by the Israelites, led by Moshe, who defeated strong kingdoms ahead of claiming the Land of Israel, not to current solidiers.

"Today everybody has sins, but God forgives the sins of soldiers who give their lives to save the people of Israel and protects them," Yosef said. He then told the soldiers he "loved them." — ynetnews.com




Evangelicals upset by call to shun event

Israeli rabbinic authorities called on Jews to shun a major Christian tourism event, baffling and upsetting evangelical groups that traditionally have been big supporters of the Jewish state.

More than 6,000 Christians from more than 90 nations were expected to arrive in Jerusalem this week to take part in the 28th annual Christian celebration of the weeklong Jewish holiday of Sukkot, organizers said.

Thousands of Christians take part in the celebration alongside Israelis. But this year the chief rabbinate urged Jews to stay away from the event, saying some of the groups want to convert them to Christianity. Proselytizing is illegal in Israel.

It is estimated the Sukkot event could infuse as much as $18 million into the local economy. — ap




Hooters plans to open in Israel in October

The American restaurant chain Hooters will open its first Israeli branch in Ramat Poleg sometime in October. The restaurant will feature an open kitchen and several large screen TVs.

The Israeli team is being trained in the chain's center in Atlanta, with the goal of offering Israeli diners the same experience they would encounter in any other branch: traditional American fare of hamburgers, buffalo wings, seafood, salads and alcoholic beverages served by buxom women in skimpy "athletic" uniforms.

The Israeli entrepreneurs responsible for the initiative are Ilana and Ofer Ahiraz, who used to visit Hooters branches every time they were in the United States. "The idea of opening a Hooters in Israel stemmed from the tremendous need people in this country have of breaking loose, having a good time and enjoying an atmosphere that is all about fun," the men said. — ynetnews.com




Barghouti could be next Fatah leader

A senior Israeli official believes Marwan Barghouti will be the next leader of the Palestinian people.

National Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer said Tuesday, Sept. 25 that Israel, which jailed the charismatic Fatah lawmaker and terrorist for life in 2003, should now consider freeing him as means of offsetting the influence of Islamist Hamas.

"Anyone who has the safety of life in Israel in mind knows there is no alternative to releasing Marwan Barghouti, because he is the strongest party on the Palestinian side," Ben-Eliezer told Army Radio. "In my humble opinion, this man will be the next leader of the Palestinians." — jta




Israeli 'Idol' may face court martial

A finalist in Israel's version of "American Idol" could be court-martialed for using drugs during his military service.

Shlomi Barel, who finished third in the most recent season of the hit television show "A Star is Born," was arrested by military police this week on suspicion of drug use. Military officials said he is under investigation ahead of a possible court-martial.

Viewers had praised Barel, 20, for being among the relatively few contestants who didn't secure an exemption from mandatory national service. His commanders allowed him to go on an extended furlough during the show's taping. Representatives of Barel had no immediate comment on the arrest. — jta




Hamas presses for summit boycott

Hamas on Tuesday, Sept. 25 called on Saudi Arabia and other nations to stay away from the upcoming U.S.-sponsored Mideast peace conference, tentatively scheduled for November. It is the first time Hamas has appealed directly to Arab states to stay away.

Hamas "warns against the fall meeting becoming a new door for capitulation to be offered by the negotiators, and a door to (Arab) normalization," the statement said.

Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries have said they would attend only if concrete results are achieved. Syria reportedly told the British Guardian on Tuesday that it will likely shun the event. — ap




Tennis star proud to serve in army

Shahar Peer, ranked No. 16 in women's tennis, made it to the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open in New York three weeks ago. She is now back in Israel in her army greens. Between her globetrotting schedule, practice sessions, media interviews and sports psychologist appointments, Peer serves as a military administrative secretary.

The army has awarded her an "outstanding athlete" status, essentially allowing her to serve a few hours a day at her own convenience. As a growing number of athletes and entertainers find ways to evade army duties, Peer has become one of Israel's most popular figures. "I want to do my part," she said.

The 20-year-old player also made the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, the fourth round of the French Open and the third round at Wimbledon — all career bests — and led Israel to the top division of the Fed Cup. She has earned nearly $750,000 in 2007, more than double her previous career earnings. — ap




Woman sues Justice Ministry for divorce

A woman who has been refused a divorce for 18 years filed a negligence suit against the Justice Ministry and her estranged husband on Sept. 19. The Justice Ministry was named in the suit, since the Rabbinical Courts are under its governance.

The woman is seeking $1.14 million in damages and is claiming that the Ashdod and Haifa Rabbinical Courts — which handled the divorce — were criminally negligent. The woman first filed for a divorce in 1976, citing domestic violence, but the rabbinical court ordered her and her husband to try and reach matrimonial reconciliation.

The violence, as she stated later, continued escalating, with her husband growing more and more abusive, raping her and threatening to kill her. She eventually left the couple's home, along with their six children.

The Justice Ministry has yet to file its motion to dismiss the suit. — ynetnews.com




Eilat of gold?

Large stores of gold ore may be waiting to be mined in southern Israel.

An Australian prospector, Rod Salfinger, has confirmed recent findings of gold deposits in the Eilat area, Yediot Achronot reported Monday, Sept. 24. The gold concentration in soil samples was found to be enough to warrant industrial mining, the newspaper quoted Salfinger as saying. Salfinger heads the Canada-based gold exploration company KiTov Resources.

Further digs are to be held in December. — jta




Barenboim named U.N. peace envoy

Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim was named a United Nations peace envoy. Barenboim joins a Jordanian princess, a Brazilian writer and a Japanese-American violinist as Messengers of Peace, a post in which he will promote peace around the world.

A world-renowned conductor and pianist, Barenboim co-founded an orchestra bringing together young Israeli and Arab musicians. He recently initiated a music education project in the Palestinian territories. — jta


Second Temple-era quarry found

A quarry believed to have supplied building blocks for the Second Temple was unearthed in Jerusalem.

The ancient quarry, filled with iron tools and other relics, was discovered in the northern Jerusalem district of Ramat Shlomo during infrastructure work for a new school. According to Israel's Antiquities Authority, the site shows evidence of having produced the giant blocks, some 24 feet long, used by King Herod for the Second Temple in the year 1 BCE. — jta