Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., November 16, 2008 Cheshvan 18, 5769 | | Israel Time: 01:51 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File

News in Brief Newly elected Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat is considering thanking the city's ultra-Orthodox Ger community for their support in the elections by handing their representatives the municipality's planning and construction portfolio. Barkat met with MK Yakov Litzman (United Torah Judaism), who represents the Ger community, at his house yesterday for a lengthy meeting. "We don't give details on meetings that were either held or not held with public officials," a Barkat spokesman said. The Ger Hasidic dynasty voted en masse in favor of the secular Barkat, causing a split with the rest of the ultra-Orthodox community who largely supported the candidacy of Meir Porush. (Yair Ettinger). Israel refused the entry of 20 diplomats from the European Union into the Gaza Strip yesterday. The diplomats, who wanted to tour a waste treatment facility that is being upgraded with EU funds and learn about the humanitarian situation there were turned away by the Israel Defense Forces because of the recent escalation in violence with the Palestinians. "They were told on Wednesday that they wouldn't be let in and they showed up anyway," Peter Lerner, an IDF spokesman, said. An official from the French embassy said that it was the highest ranking delegation that the IDF has refused to allow to enter Gaza. (Amira Hass) Advertisement President Shimon Peres will be made an honorary Knight of the Realm by Queen Elizabeth II next week during his visit to London, the British embassy confirmed yesterday. British officials said the Queen will make Peres a member of the Order of Saint Michael and St. George in a festive ceremony at Buckingham Palace next Thursday, after which he will meet with the heir to the crown, Prince Charles. Because Peres is not a British subject, he will not be allowed to use the honorific title of sir. In the past, the honor of the order has been bestowed upon individuals such as former UN head Kofi Annan. (Anshel Pfeffer) Hamada Mahisan was killed early Thursday morning when the vehicle he was in crashed into a poll on the side of the Kibbutz Galuyot bridge in Tel Aviv. The driver, an 18-year-old woman from Tel Aviv who never passed a driving test, fled the scene, leaving Mahisan seriously wounded in the car. He was pronounced dead by a Magen David Adom team shortly after. "We began trying to track down the driver who ran away until we found her," Mark Zana, a police officer, said. "We found her in her home. She took her mother's car without her knowledge." (Amira Hass) State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss has been investigating state authorities' handling of drivers with a history of traffic violations over the past few months. In March 1997, a ministerial committee ordered the police to draw up guidelines to determine which drivers would be considered prone to traffic violations and submit their recommendations on how to curb irresponsible driving. However, the police have failed to meet the committee's request, the comptroller has found. In his last report, Lindenstrauss found that police had given regular fines for various traffic violations to drivers who were also found driving without a valid license. (Tomer Zarchin) Health Ministry officials yesterday announced that Similac Top 3 baby formula conformed to its health standards, ending a two week health scare surrounding the product. The scare began when parents wrote in a forum on the internet that their toddlers vomited immediately after consuming the formula. As erroneous rumors that Similac 3 was being tested by government officials spread, the Health Ministry announced it would carry out extensive tests to make certain it complied with standards. "There is no restriction to use the product," a Health Ministry official said. (Ronny Linder-Ganz) Bookmark to del.icio.us   Enough is enough Livni says time will come when Israel tells Gaza militants: Enough! Oxbridge anti-Semitism Report: Oxford students face anti-Semitism charges over 'pretty Jewish girls' party.

Read & React Israel infuriated by U.K. plan to distinctly label West Bank produce Responses: 586 Rahm Emanuel apologizes for father's disparaging remarks about Arabs Responses: 216 In 2006 letter to Bush, Hamas' Haniyeh offered compromise with Israel Responses: 184 Olmert: Israel will not reconcile with Gaza rocket fire Responses: 219 IDF soldiers filmed humiliating bound Palestinian face court martial Responses: 102 More Headlines 01:04 Report suggests Obama press Israel over nuclear program 01:25 Ceasefire shaky after western Negev struck by 17 missiles 15:26 Russia seeking to purchase Israeli-made spy planes 01:47 ANALYSIS / As Israel's leaders bicker, Hamas is calling the shots 20:38 Lebanon approves security coordination with Syria 23:59 GA special feature / An online battle for Israel's legitimacy 16:41 GA Magazine / Failing the taste test 15:47 GA special report / Anti-graft group calls for suspension of UJC Israel chief 22:40 Abbas calls Gaza blockade 'war crime' as UN closes food aid centers 21:44 Founder of Israeli NRA seeks to import American gun culture 11:51 Olmert: Israel will not tolerate Gaza rocket fire 22:53 Israel infuriated by U.K. plan to label West Bank produce 05:25 Rahm Emanuel apologizes for father's disparaging remarks about Arabs 09:12 In 2006 letter to Bush, Haniyeh offered compromise with Israel 08:04 How white were the Israelites? Facial reconstruction may be surprising 07:24 Barak approved settlement expansion despite Road Map Previous Editions Select Day 14 nov 13 nov 12 nov 11 nov 10 nov 09 nov 07 nov 06 nov 05 nov 04 nov 03 nov 02 nov

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