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Saturday, June 5, 2010

CNN Blatantly Gives Cover for "Israeli Apology" (update,then changed the title)

Just a short while ago, CNN published an article on their website titled "Israeli government office apologizes for flotilla video"

UPDATE::::: Woo Hoo, CNN changed the name of the article, link to it and the article is now titled "Israeli government office links to video mocking flotilla" I wonder how many people complained about the title because I did. I tweeted Octavia Nasr where I picked it up from her twitter http://twitter.com/octavianasrCNN

In part: the Government Press Office of Israel issued a statement to media outlets reading (although CNN does not say whether or not this is the complete statement released by Israel)

"It was not intended for general release," the statement said. "The contents of the video in no way represent the official policy of either the Government Press Office or of the State of Israel."

The video, titled "We Con the World" -- set to the tune of the 1985 hit, "We are the World"-- was put together by Caroline Glick, a former member of the Israel Defense Forces and columnist for the Jerusalem Post.




Now, since CNN is certainly supposed to title their articles in non-deceptive manner, why is it that at the end of the article Marc Regev (who currently serves as spokesman for the Israeli embassy in Washington) states the following:

"I called my kids in to watch it because I thought it was funny," he said. "It is what Israelis feel. But the government has nothing to do with it. The GPO distributes non-government items, things that we think that show our side of the story."

I guess Marc Regev didn't get the memo. Israel "apologized" for the release of the video on their website. They did NOT apologize for the content-but they said it isn't a government video. If you read the statement as published by CNN and furthermore Regev thought it is "funny" and "it is what Israelis feel"

Which Israelis Mr. Regev? Since you are the SPOKESMAN for Israel here in the United States then I suggest you explain yourself. Either YOU represent your government or you don't.

Just utterly disgusting. In case you haven't viewed this despicable video in which Carolyn Glick herself of JPost appears, view it HERE.

LatmaTV is who produced this video. Let's see who their domain is registered to:

domain: latma.co.il
descr: Center for Security Policy RA
descr: 1901 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 201
descr: Washington, DC
descr: 20006
descr: USA
phone: +001 202 8359077
e-mail: info AT centerforsecuritypolicy.org
admin-c: LD-SB12052-IL
tech-c: LD-SB12052-IL
zone-c: LD-SB12052-IL
nserver: dns.netvision.net.il
nserver: nypop.elron.net
validity: 09-09-2010
status: Transfer Locked
changed: domain-registrar AT isoc.org.il 20080909 (Assigned)
changed: domain-registrar AT isoc.org.il 20081013 (Changed)
changed: domain-registrar AT isoc.org.il 20081013 (Changed)

person: Shlomo Blass
address: Halamed He 17B
address: Jerusalem
address: 93661
address: Israel
phone: +972 2 5665383
e-mail: seblass AT yahoo.com
nic-hdl: LD-SB12052-IL
changed: Managing Registrar 20080824

registrar name: LiveDns Ltd
registrar info: http://domains.livedns.co.il

NOW: who is the Center for Secure Policy? Well, Frank Gaffney is the President and look at all the people in our own government who have signed his letters to Congress HERE

Frank Gaffney at Wiki


Latma is the initiative of the Center for Security Policy's Middle East media project that I run in my capacity as the CSP's senior fellow for Middle Eastern Affairs. Our work is financed completely from donations by private citizens. If you are interested in supporting our work, please contact the CSP here. The mailing address is:

The Center for Security Policy
1901 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 201
Washington, DC 20006



And who is Shlomo Blass? He's an Israeli film producer who on his Facebook likes and Netanyahu and Sheldon Adelson. Ah, Sheldon Adelson, Shlomo "likes" people in high places.

So there you have it. According to CNN Israel's press office "apologized" for this video being put up on their website, it does "not represent government policy" and you have Marc Regev telling us "it is how Israelis feel" and he thought the video was "funny"

Way to go CNN!!!! I've never quite seen an "apology" like this before.

As updated above, CNN changed the title of the article.

UPDATE: June 20, 2010 Surprise Surprise, Latma changed their domain registry to PRIVATE

Who are you guys wanting to hide from? Carolyn wrote on her blog Aug. 28, 2009:

By the way, Latma is fully funded through generous donations from philanthropists to the Washington DC-based Center for Security Policy's Middle East media program which I run in my capacity as the CSP's Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Affairs.

And again on June 12, 2010

Latma is not a business. We're a public service, educational initiative funded from tax exempt donations through the Center for Security Policy in Washington where I serve as senior fellow for Middle East affairs.
We could use all the help we can get.
To contribute to our efforts, please click on this link. It takes you to Network for Good's dedicated page for online contributions to the Center for Security Policy.
To make sure your contribution goes to Latma, in the box marked "designation" please write "Latma."
Thanks very much. Together we will make sure that the voice of truth is heard.








Friday, May 28, 2010

June 19 Screening of "Lt. Watada" in Little Tokyo, LA

GO HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS VIA PAYPAL






For Immediate Release May 24, 2010-05-24

Special Screening of Academy Award- Winning Director Frieda Mock’s New Documentary “Lt Watada”

The Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress (NCRR) and the Asian American Vietnam Veterans Organization (AAVVO) will screen Freida Mock’s documentary, “Lt. Watada” on June 19, 2010 at the David Henry Hwang Theatre at 7:00 PM. “Lt. Watada” is an in-depth look a the case of Lt. Ehren Watada, the first commissioned officer to refuse to deploy to Iraq on the grounds that the war was illegal and immoral. He was inspired to join the army after 9/11 and in preparing to lead his soldiers to fight in Iraq, he was encouraged by his battalion commander to learn everything he could about Iraq and the war. His research led him to the conclusion that the U.S. invasion was an act of aggression based on lies. Watada believed that, as an officer, it was his duty to uphold the Constitution and that he could not obey an order he knew to be illegal. In June 2006, Lt Watada refused the order to deploy to Iraq. He was charged with “missing a movement” and “conduct unbecoming an officer,” and faced up to eight years in prison and a dishonorable discharge.

Freida Mock is an Academy and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, credited with producing films about a wide variety of historical and contemporary subjects. She is a co-founder of the American Film Foundation with her husband, Terry Sanders.Mock's diverse production credits include "Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision", "Sing!" (about a Los Angeles community children's choir), "Rose Kennedy: A Life to Remember", "To Live or Let Die", and "Return with Honor", presented by Tom Hanks. (wikipedia) . Both “Sing” and “Lt. Watada” were recently screened at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. (quote from Freida) Mock’s “Lt Watada” charts Watada’s emergence as a public speaker and activist and chronicles the tense days of his court martial trial in February 2007 which ended in a mistrial. This thoughtful and incisive documentary is both an inspirational portrait of one man’s act of conscience and a powerful investigation into questions that threaten to unravel the government’s justification for the Iraq war.

Watada’s actions helped educate people nationwide and created dialogue in the Asian American community about the illegality of the war in Iraq. In October 2006, NCRR and AAVVO sponsored a speaking tour with Bob Watada and Rosa Sakanishi, Ehren’s father and stepmother. Before the court martial in February 2007, the two organizations organized a march and rally in Little Tokyo led by Carolyn Ho, Ehren’s mother. Bob Watada and Rosa Sakanishi as well as Carolyn Ho will answer questions at the screening along with filmmaker Freida Mock. They will all be available at the reception following the screening.

General admission for the screening is $15/ Seniors and Students: $10. The VIP ticket for $100 (tax-deductible) includes admission, reserved seating and a special pre-release copy of the “Lt Watada” DVD signed by the filmmaker Freida Mock and the Watada Family. To order tickets: visit www.NCRR-LA.org For more information about the event or to order tickets by phone, call (213) 284-0336.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Hebrew University Sues GM over Einstein Image: How is Bill Gates Involved?

The story hit the news wires today that Hebrew University has filed a lawsuit over what has been termed in the media as the unauthorized use of Einstein's photo on top of a buff body in an ad placed last November in People Magazine, "The Sexiest Men" issue.

Upon reading the lawsuit filed though, it is clear that Hebrew University is claiming something different also. That by use of the photo it appears that Einstein is endorsing the GM Terrain and since Hebrew University hold the rights to most of Einstein's images, it brings a loss to them because they do not endorse the Terrain vehicle. That's what it's about, Hebrew University's business interests. Read the full lawsuit HERE (you have to read it page by page and click again to enlarge-note that Greenlight is named in the suit)


“At the end of the day, it's our ad. But the mechanics of creating the ad, including purchasing images from stock photo houses that guarantee they have proper usage rights, fall to the agency; in this case, Leo Burnett,” wrote Ryndee Carney, GM's manager of dealer and advertising communications, in an e-mail toCrain's.

“There was no negligence in this case. It's something that's done virtually every day in the advertising business and the stock photo house that was used is well-known and highly reputable.”

The stock photo house? That would be Greenlightrights which is also named in Hebrew University's lawsuit (though is not a party to the lawsuit)

And who owns Greenlight?


So there you have it folks. Hebrew University is stating in their lawsuit that it looks like Einstein (who is dead) is endorsing a GM product.

Hebrew University is claiming that the use of the photo as used in the GM ad was not authorized by them and that the use has somehow brought loss to the university.

Who screwed up? Greenlightrights owned by Bill Gates or Leo Burnett? The case has not been tried yet but it is General Motors left holding the lawsuit bag.

Who are all the players involved in this lawsuit?


Our very own downtrodden American auto manufacturer, General Motors. (the entity named)

Leo Burnett, listed in 1998 as the ninth largest advertising firm in the world. (not being sued)

Greenlightrights which is owned by Bill Gates. (not being sued)

Oh, and don't forget Einstein, dead since 1955 who Hebrew University claims the ad makes it look like he is endorsing a car made NOW.

http://library.ias.edu/hs/einsteininfo.php

Institute for Advanced Study, Einstein Drive, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 USA (609) 734-8000

Corbis
The Corbis (previously Roger Richman Agency) represents Hebrew University in the United States for granting licensing for the use of Einstein's image in print, television and film. Anyone seeking permission to use images of Einstein, other than for scholarly publication, should be referred to this agency. Corbis/Roger Richman website
Roger Richman Agency 9777 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 700
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
phone: (310) 276-7000 - fax: (310) 276-8023

Corbis is owned by Bill Gates. In 2008 they restructured to name their Rights Services Division Greenlightrights. Greenlight is named in the lawsuit as who the picture was purchased from.

http://einstein.biz/photos

GreenLight LLC and its affiliates exclusively represent publicity, trademark, and related rights of Albert Einstein on behalf of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. "Albert Einstein" and "Einstein" are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

So, my question, did GM legally purchase the photo of his head from Greenlight as they say they did through Burnett as it was and then Burnett tweeked it to be on top of a buff body? Did Burnett not ask what the stipulations for use of the photo were, or did Greenlight not tell them? Because GM stated clearly to Crains that the photo was purchased and Hebrew University is not claiming in their lawsuit that they were not paid for it as some media outlets have stated. They are claiming that the use of it was not authorized by them.


MUST READ: Einstein Inc.






Friday, May 21, 2010

Please write to the president of Pratt who is hosting "Moo-Ham-Mud" exhibition

Today I came across an article concerning an art exhibit that is being hosted at the Steuban Gallery at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. Read the article HERE about the "Moo-Ham-Mud" exhibit which is beginning next week.

I called the office of the president at Pratt to voice my concerns. His name is President Schutte.
He was not available but I spoke to the receptionist. I told him that I was calling from Los Angeles and as someone who works in interfaith peace and justice I wished to voice my absolute disdain that their institute would be hosting an exhibit such as this. I informed him I am NOT anti-free speech, I am voicing my concern over the nature and the NAME of this exhibit and that I am NOT a Muslim. He asked me to write to the office of the president at Pratt. This is President Schutti's email presoff@pratt.edu

I wrote the following:

Dear President Schutti,
Today I came across an article stating that an exhibit named "Moo-Ham-Mud" by Joseph Stulman will be hosted next week in a gallery at your institution

http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/33/21/24_prattartist_2010_05_21_bk.html?comm=1

Allow me to state to you that I am not Muslim myself, I am Catholic. Let me state furthermore that I work in interfaith groups in the Los Angeles areas. Let me state also that I have many Muslim friends and family, none of whom have ever supported any sort of violence against past Mohammed cartoons. Violence in action is not why I am writing you. Violence in word and art using the guise of free speech is why I am contacting you. Being a very liberal person myself, I do not wish to stifle free speech. I do however speak out when I see hate speech.

Joseph Stulman's exhibit which Pratt is hosting next week titled "Moo-Ham-Mud" is hate speech. While Congress has failed to pass federal laws concerning hate speech and religion,
any reasonable person seeing the prophet Mohammed's name PBIH distorted in such manner would label the name of this exhibit hateful towards an entire religion, Islam.

Interestingly while doing research prior to writing to you, I found an article penned by Pratt's
chair of the Religious Affairs Committee, Rabbi Simcha Weinstein concerning the recent South Park episode concerning Islam. I found this sentence of the rabbi's very interesting,

Like Islam, Jewish tradition also prohibits the making of graven images. (That’s the Second Commandment, so it’s pretty important.) This explains why synagogues have no pictures of any kind on display.

However, Judaism doesn’t extend that prohibition to non-Jews, or threaten and intimidate those who create images we might find disturbing. Given our contributions to, and reverence for, literature and the arts throughout the ages, and our own rich tradition of satire, that would be a very “un-Jewish” thing to do.



I am now after reading the rabbi's article not inclined to ask you to censor this exhibit due to hate speech. I am inclined to appeal to you on sheer decency. While growing up my mother taught me one thing, the only person you can control is yourself. In your case President Schutte, the buck stops with you as to what is allowed at Pratt Institute. This exhibit titled "Moo-Ham-Mud" is simply indecent. It is inflammatory when inflaming hatred against Muslims is so far reaching in our country. By hosting this exhibit President Schutte you are allowing an endorsement of this and adding in your own contribution.

Again sir, I am not Muslim. I am Catholic and work in interfaith work in my community. While realizing that art is often inflammatory and is not censored, many art institutes in our country have done just that when it concerns banning exhibits because they did not reflect what they wanted to reflect for their own public image. Or, they censored under outside pressure.

My request is for decency on the part of your institution to not host this exhibit next week. Should you not decide to censor, I ask for your own opinion on the merit, the MERIT President Schutti, of an exhibit titled in such manner.

Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you prior to the scheduled opening of the exhibit next week.
****************************
More, Joshua Stulman has been censored before at Penn State. He stated then, "It's not about hate. I don't hate Muslims. This is not about Islam"

That is why Joshua has shown such respect for the prophet Mohammed PBUH in titling this exhibit, "How to paint Moo-Ham-Mud" I take it.



Pratt Institute’s community is one of diversity, which is a hallmark of an urban academic environment. The Institute is committed to the recognition and preservation of each individual’s human rights and does not discriminate or tolerate harassment on the basis of gender, race, color, religion or creed, marital status, age, sexual orientation, status as a veteran, political beliefs, disability, citizenship, genetic information, and national or ethnic origin with respect to the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to all members of its academic community.

*******************************

Now, there it is in writing, their own policy does not tolerate harassment on the basis of religion. Yet this exhibit titled. "How to Paint Moo-Ham-Mud" is going to open next week.


From what I found, there is a Muslim Student Association at Pratt.

**********************


















Oh now, here's something really interesting. Joshua Stulman wrote a term paper on narcissism in art

"Narcissism exists in art in the form of arrogance and the characteristic of craving attention."

SO, Joshua SUED Penn State

OOOOH BOY, Joshua has been an active little critter over on a forum I found where he has been posting. First I found THIS where he invites people to his exhibit and still hasn't come back to answer my question (as Holly Tree) to his statement, "So to make a remark that the exhibit is anti-Muslim makes no sense whatsoever"

But lets go looking for what ELSE Joshua has written in this forum concerning Islam (there are several posts there) He wrote in a thread concerning the painting of Mohammed

"Thanks for the comments. FYI if anyone wants to know where NOT to be, don't be in Brooklyn in May or anywhere near the Pratt Institute"
Regards-Joshua

OH, here's some really interesting posting by Joshua. He got really hot when someone said something crude concerning Jews controlling Hollywood. Just go ahead and read this thread to see Joshua's reaction. "Clam" was the one who wrote the remark and then claimed it was a joke. Well THEN Joshua wrote: (His screen name is

Flounnderr



Clam,

Just don't make the joke, it's not funny and quite tasteless.
I have no need to quarrel with you over this anymore, i just hope you will pay more attention to what you write. This is a community and not a private conversation.

BTW I haven't seen the Joe movie and i'm a big time joe collector because it looked like a waste (same as TF2), if i see it at one of those supermarket 1.00 rentals, then maybe.

regards
joshua

OH REALLY JOSHUA!!!! And what is titling your "exhibit" "How to Paint Moo-Ham-Mud" and then writing in this forum to people where NOT to be when your exhibit is showing, anywhere near the Pratt Institute.

And IF the administration says anything to you about this, what are you going to do? Sue them?

Joshua Stulman, you are nothing but a little twirp hiding behind your "free speech" rights to provoke, by your own term paper, a NARCISSIST. Twirp Joshua, a racist provocative TWIRP!

And now Pratt Institute, he's YOURS.


OOH Joshua is conversing with me over HERE

Saturday, May 15, 2010

On the Commemoration of the 62nd Nakba


I Come From There

Mahmoud Darwish


I come from there and I have memories

Born as mortals are, I have a mother

And a house with many windows,

I have brothers, friends,

And a prison cell with a cold window.

Mine is the wave, snatched by sea-gulls,

I have my own view,

And an extra blade of grass.

Mine is the moon at the far edge of the words,

And the bounty of birds,

And the immortal olive tree.

I walked this land before the swords

Turned its living body into a laden table.

***

I come from there. I render the sky unto her mother

When the sky weeps for her mother.

And I weep to make myself known

To a returning cloud.

I learnt all the words worthy of the court of blood

So that I could break the rule.

I learnt all the words and broke them up

To make a single word: Homeland.....


The Universal Declaration of Human Rights


Friday, May 14, 2010

HRW 113 pg Report: "“I Lost Everything” Israel's Unlawful Destruction of Property during Operation Cast Lead"

To read full 113 page report LINK

Israel unlawfully destroyed Gaza property, says report

THE ISRAELI army wantonly destroyed civilian property during its 22-day offensive against Gaza, Human Rights Watch has reported.

The human rights group says Israeli forces targeted buildings and other facilities that had no “no military significance” in “grave” breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

In a 116-page document, entitled I Lost Everything: Israel’s Unlawful Destruction of Property in the Gaza Conflict , the report documents the complete destruction of orchards and farms as well as 189 buildings. These included 11 factories, eight warehouses and 170 residential buildings, rendering 971 people homeless during Operation Cast Lead which began on December 27th, 2008 and ended on January 18th, 2009.

The report said that a dozen specific targetings documented in the report account for only 5 per cent of the homes, warehouses and factories destroyed during the conflict. The report stated: “These cases describe instances in which Israeli forces caused extensive destruction of homes, factories, farms and greenhouses in areas under [Israeli] control without any evident military purpose”.

Read further>>>>>>>>

Monday, May 10, 2010

Hey Elton: Must See Video, CANCEL YOUR CONCERT IN ISRAEL!!

Totally amazing & timely video from Canadian filmmaker John Greyson! A call for Elton John to cancel his upcoming Tel Aviv concert. Make it go viral! Pass it on to your friends.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Lena Horne 1917-2010

Inducted into the Civil Rights Walk of Fame

Photo essay




One of America's greatest women has died.

Watch James Gavin who wrote her biography. She always felt she needed to be all things to everyone. Just watch. Now she is gone, a lady...............

Monday, April 26, 2010

Free Gaza Sailing in Three Weeks "Cements Their Support" (video)

One Man's Personal Nakba

Reposted from Desert Peace http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2010/04/26/one-familys-personal-nakba/


We constantly hear of the Nakba and what it means to the people of Palestine. The following will bring it closer to home as we describe the impact it has had on just one family…. the Sabbah family.

Haitham Sabbah is a fellow blogger, one that I proudly refer to as my brother. He is a Palestinian but is not allowed to live here….. he’s not even allowed to visit. I have to chuckle to myself every time I think of Haitham, in Hebrew his family name means Grandfather. Although he is 25 years younger than myself I think of him as the Grandfather of the Palestinian Blogesphere as he is the one with the most wisdom and personal experiences in the struggle. He is always there to offer his advice and guidance, without which our message would never reach the number of people it does on a daily basis. We are all eternally grateful to him for his dedication to the cause.

The following, from his own Blog is a bit about himself….

Haitham Sabbah is a Palestinian activist and blogger. He was born in exile in Kuwait on 2nd April 1969. The last time he was allowed to visit his homeland, Occupied Palestine was in 1986. He has never been allowed entry to his homeland since then. He has lived in many countries throughout the Arab world including Jordan, UAE and currently resides in Bahrain. He graduated in 1990 from Birla Institute of Technology – India with a degree in Engineering, Electronics and Communication.

He is now employed in the capacity of senior manager at Zain Bahrain – part of a leading global telecommunication company – and is a professional blogger during his personal time.

Haitham is one of the founders of the blogosphere in the Middle East and he continues to be one of the most famous bloggers there, as well as having a very large global readership. He is a well known online activist and his writing focuses on Israel’s occupation of Palestine, War, Human Rights, Culture and Religious issues in the Middle East. He integrates into the sites and blogs he manages the innovations the medium allows as well as maintaining its essential character as a space of exchange of information and community.

He has participated in several conferences and workshops related to blogging and activism in the Middle East and his blog has received several awards over its years of existence (2000 – present). He has also participated in many blogging and Web 2.0 projects, some of which are well known references today, such as Palestine Blogs Aggregator, and Global Voices Online. He is also a co-founder of Palestine Think Tank, which, like all of his sites, is primarily in English, but also includes material in Arabic.

Why do I blog?

The main reason behind my blogging is to unleash the truth hidden by the main stream media about the Middle East and how it is presented to the world online, TV and newspaper. I find the international media in general to be biased and censored and does not reflect the truth about Arab nation culture, religion and politics. Another reason (which is related to the first) is the weak media of the Arab world, direct towards non-Arab and non-Muslims.

I blog because I want to correct the wrong perception about my nation and to present the facts which are hidden (by design) from being presented to West, specially when it comes to Israeli occupation of Palestine and the truth about what is terrorism and what is resistance.

‘Born in exile’….. can you even imagine what that means? ‘Not being allowed to visit your Homeland’ ….. can you imagine what that means? And WHY? Did he commit a crime?? Did his parents??? NO! His (their) ‘crime’ is the fact that they are Palestinian. They were among the first victims of the ongoing ethnic cleansing of the state of Israel.

BUT…. it doesn’t end with Haitham. Last week a close relative of his was the first Palestinian that was deported from the West Bank to Gaza under the new military order. A young man from the same town, guilty of the same crime, HE IS A PALESTINIAN. You can read about this by clicking HERE.

AND …. it won’t end with Ahmed unless YOU do something about it. Of all the ‘laws’ that have been passed by the zionist entity since 1948, this new military order is one of the most unjust. It not only legalises ethnic cleansing, it officially puts Israel on the road to fascism. This MUST NOT be tolerated by the rest of the world. We are talking about the lives of innocent people,NOT TERRORISTS. We are talking about people with families, with children, with livelihoods. We are talking about ordinary people living in daily terror. THIS MUST END NOW … and only YOU can end it…. Israel won’t do it on its own.

Don’t wait until they come for you….. PROTEST NOW… write to every Israeli Embassy throughout the worldDEMANDING Freedom for the Palestinian people and an end to the unjust military order. Details of the order can be read HERE.

Contact information for Israeli Missions abroad can be found HERE.

Also….

Letters demanding the revocation of the amended order should be sent to:

Ehud Barak, Minister of Defence, Ministry of Defence
37 Kaplan Street, Hakirya, Tel Aviv 61909, Israel
Fax: +972 3 691 6940
Email:
minister@mod.gov.il This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Salutation: Dear Minister

Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs: +972-2-530-3111

The Israeli Ambassador in your own country

Your own national embassy in Israel