prev next prev next (ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, MAY 15 - Poland's ambassador to Israel was physically and verbally attacked on Tuesday by a passerby while he was near the embassy in downtown Tel Aviv, Yediot Ahronot reported on Wednesday. The paper said the diplomat was able to photograph his assailant who was apprehended by police shortly after the attack. The Israeli ambassador to Poland, Anna Azari, on Wednesday morning was summoned by the Polish foreign ministry for clarifications. Polish Premier Mateusz Morawiecki reacted on Twitter: "I am very worried in hearing of a racist attack against Poland's ambassador to Israel, Marek Magierowski. Poland forcefully condemns this xenophobic attack. Violence against diplomats or any other citizen must never be tolerated". The incident was reported a few days after Poland cancelled a meeting with an Israeli delegation to discuss the issue of the handover of assets of Jewish Polish citizens who were killed in Nazi concentration … [Read more...] about Israel: Polish ambassador victim of ‘racist’ attack, Krakow
Israel
Israel’s Eurovision webcast hacked with fake attack warning
Hackers have succeeded in flashing a fake rocket attack warning during a webcast of a Eurovision song contest semi-final in an incident Israel's public broadcaster blamed on Islamist group Hamas. KAN's online coverage of Tuesday evening's first semi-final in Tel Aviv was interrupted by what appeared to be satellite imagery of the seaside city superimposed with graphics of a smoke plume suggesting a rocket strike. It ended with the sound of an air raid siren and a message in English resembling an official Israeli military warning of impending attack. Regular television coverage was not affected. "At a certain point, there was a takeover -- apparently by Hamas -- of our digital broadcast," KAN chief Eldad Koblenz said Wednesday. "I'm happy to say that within a matter of minutes we managed to overcome the attack," he said in an interview with Israeli army radio. "I think it was Israel's quickest victory over Hamas in history." The Jewish state won the job of hosting this year's 64th … [Read more...] about Israel’s Eurovision webcast hacked with fake attack warning
Madonna defends decision to perform at Eurovision in Israel
Madonna has defended her decision to perform at the Eurovision Song Contest in Israel amid calls to boycott the show. Pro-Palestinian activists have asked performers to shun the annual contest, which is set to take place in Tel Aviv after Israeli singer Netta Barzilai won last year with her song Toy. Madonna said that she will never bow to “someone’s political agenda” and will continue to speak out “against violations of human rights” in a statement to Reuters. “I’ll never stop playing music to suit someone’s political agenda nor will I stop speaking out against violations of human rights wherever in the world they may be,” she said. “My heart breaks every time I hear about the innocent lives that are lost in this region and the violence that is so often perpetuated to suit the political goals of people who benefit from this ancient conflict. “I hope and pray that we will soon break free from this terrible cycle of … [Read more...] about Madonna defends decision to perform at Eurovision in Israel
Polish ambassador spat at in Israel
Poland's ambassador to Israel has been spat at while sitting in his car in Tel Aviv, Israeli police say, amid rising tensions between the two countries."I am very worried to hear of a racist attack on @PLinIsrael ambassador @mmagierowski. Poland strongly condemns this xenophobic act of aggression. Violence against diplomats or any other citizens should never be tolerated," Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki wrote in a tweet on Wednesday.An Israeli police spokesman said on Wednesday a 65-year-old Israeli man was arrested over Tuesday's spitting incident.Israel's Walla News site said the suspect was brought to court on Wednesday and released on bail. It quoted the judge as saying the alleged attack against a foreign diplomat was shameful.The Polish Foreign Ministry summoned Israel's ambassador to Warsaw, Anna Azari, over the matter, a ministry spokeswoman told the state-run news agency PAP."The event is under police investigation. We express our fullest sympathy to the ambassador … [Read more...] about Polish ambassador spat at in Israel
Rugby: Israel Folau hints at end of future with Rugby Australia
Controversial rugby star Israel Folau has dropped another strong hint that his time with Australian rugby is about to come to an end. Last week, an independent three-person panel found Folau guilty of a high-level code of conduct breach for his anti-gay outburst on social media. He's now waiting to hear whether his contract with Rugby Australia will be terminated. But it seems the 30-year-old may already be resigned to losing that $4 million deal, after he removed pictures of himself in Waratahs and Wallabies gear from his Instagram and Twitter accounts. He's replaced both with religious imagery, including a number '1' made up of the word 'God' repeated many times alongside a biography that reads "Living for Jesus Christ #TeamJesus". An emotional Folau was captured at a Sydney church service last week saying he'd resisted the "temptation" of a settlement with Rugby Australia that may have allowed him to retain his contract. Folau breaks down during church sermon Folau guilty of … [Read more...] about Rugby: Israel Folau hints at end of future with Rugby Australia