Israel

TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) said on Wednesday it has agreed with Israel-based Tactical Robotics to explore development of a ducted fan propulsion technology with potential uses for piloted and autonomous light aircraft.

Financial details were not disclosed.

Through a joint working group, the two companies will determine what opportunities may exist in developing, producing and marketing vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) products including Tactical Robotics’ own Cormorant autonomous vehicle.

20 Jan 2019; MEMO: The Israeli army has expressed its concerns that one-third of eligible Israeli youths have not enlisted so far this year for reasons related to “mental health”, Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Sunday.

20 Jan 2019; MEMO: Israeli police on Thursday detained five Finnish citizens, including a member of parliament, for allegedly attempting to cross the fence separating Israel and the blockaded Gaza Strip, according to local media, Anadolu reports.

The police detained Anna Kontula, a member of the Finnish parliament, and four other humanitarian activists, allegedly for trying to cross the fence in protest over the humanitarian crisis in the enclave, said the daily Haaretz.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel’s military announced on Sunday the start of construction of an underground network of sensors along the Lebanese frontier to detect any cross-border tunnel building.

The project is getting under way a year after the Israeli military said it had destroyed a series of infiltration tunnels dug by the Lebanese Hezbollah group.

“All the drilling is being done on the Israeli side of the blue line,” military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Jonathan Conricus, referring to the border demarcation with Lebanon, said in a conference call with journalists.

17 Jan 2019; MEMO: Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein is expected to announce a date at the beginning of next week for the plenum “to convene to pass the final proposal necessary to ensure that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s immunity will be removed”, reported The Jerusalem Post. 

17 Jan 2019; MEMO: An Ethiopian-Israeli protester accused of torching a police car during demonstrations against police violence in Israel is facing a six-year prison sentence.

Eitan Mahareto, 24, is being tried on charges of incitement, arson, and vandalism for setting fire to the car during massive protests in July after an off-duty police officer shot and killed Ethiopian-Israeli teen Solomon Teka.

15 Jan 2019; MEMO: Israel began pumping natural gas to Egypt for the first time today under a $15 billion, 15-year deal to liquefy and re-export the gas to Europe, Reuters reported.

Tel Aviv and Cairo’s energy ministries issued a rare joint statement announcing the implementation of the estimated $19.5 billion deal to pump gas from two offshore gas fields.

15 Jan 2019; MEMO: Israeli occupation authorities rearrested Palestinian Ismail Afanan as he was being released, Al-Quds newspaper reported yesterday.

The prisoner was taken out of Al Naqab Prison after completing an 18-year term but was rearrested and sent to Al Maskopia Detention Centre in Jerusalem.

Occupation authorities also issued summons to his brothers who were waiting for him at the prison gates.

15 Jan 2019; MEMO: Amnesty International has urged Israeli authorities to prevent notorious tech company NSO Group from exporting spyware products to human rights abusers, ahead of a court case starting tomorrow.

A judge at Tel Aviv District Court will tomorrow begin hearing arguments as to why the Israeli government should restrict the activities of NSO Group.

13 Jan 2019; MEMO: The Labor-Gesher and Meretz parties announced today that they will merge and run on a joint slate in the Israeli elections scheduled for 2 March, reported the Times of Israel.

In a statement confirming the “significant” move, Labor leader Amir Peretz and Meretz head Nitzan Horowitz said the merger “will ensure the ability to form a government of change and hope”.