From The Israeli Consulate

Israel Update
Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest
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Wednesday, December 24
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Happy Hanukkah from the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest


Consul General, Orli Gil, Deputy Consul General, Gershon Kedar, and all the staff at the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest wish you and your families a happy, healthy Hanukkah.



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The articles in this newsletter (with the exception of Israeli Government statements) reflect the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs website - Click for the latest news, official statements, videos, and presentations relating to the current conflict as well as views of the Israel behind the headlines.

Deputy Consul General Speaks on Chicago Public Radio

Deputy Consul General Gershon Kedar was interviewed about the Israeli perspective on the situation in Gaza on Chicago Public Radio, WBEZ, 91.5 FM, on Tuesday, December 16. The program can be found on the WBEZ website. To hear the entire program, click here.





Statement following adoption of UN Security Council resolution 1850


Israel welcomes the unequivocal support expressed today by the Security Council for the direct bilateral negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, in the framework of the Annapolis process. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs website)
The Security Council endorsed, for the first time, the three Quartet principles, as the basis for international legitimacy and support for any Palestinian government. In so doing, the international community has delivered an unequivocal message to the Hamas terrorist regime in Gaza.

Iran
Sanctions Against U.S. front for Bank Melli


The Bush Administration clamped down financially on a New York business suspected of acting as a front for Iran's Bank Melli, which has been accused of providing support to Iran's nuclear program. Click here to read more. (Chicago Tribune)
Palestinian Authority


Death Sentences Surge in West Bank, Gaza (Human Rights Watch)

Palestinian officials should announce an immediate moratorium on the death penalty and eliminate its use in Palestinian law, Human Rights Watch said this week in letters to Palestinian officials. In 2008, Palestinian civil and military courts have sentenced 11 people to death, including a defendant who was a child at the time of the alleged offense. The last time a Palestinian court sentenced someone to death or Palestinian authorities carried out an execution was in 2005. Under Palestinian law, the president of the Palestinian Authority (PA), Mahmoud Abbas, must ratify all death sentences prior to implementation.






Business

MRI, Israeli firm will create renewable energy technology center
(Kansas City Business Journal)


Midwest Research Institute and Rotem Industries Ltd. will jointly establish a renewable energy technological center in Dimona, Israel, to develop and commercialize new technologies.
Kansas City-based MRI will provide expertise in technical screening and evaluation of potential projects, and Rotem Industries, based in Beer Sheva, Israel, will provide the facilities, MRI said in a release Wednesday. The center is expected to be ready for operation in January. Both entities will organize and manage the center.
MRI spokeswoman Linda Cook said she couldn't attach a dollar amount to the creation of the center because MRI and Rotem each will provide in-kind work for the project. The center will have about 25 mostly part-time employees, she said.
MRI and Totem will share revenue and expenses, Cook said.

Israeli Blog

Don't forget to check out the Israeli Blog:
www.isrealli.org
We hope you enjoyed this week's Israel Update!


Shabbat Shalom,



Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest