Israeli Air Force Participating in U.S. Air Force’s ‘Red Flag’ Exercises in Nevada

Aircraft, pilots and specialists from the Israeli Air Force are participating in the US Air Force’s Red Flag exercises at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada this week alongside counterparts from several other countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan. “The ‘Red Flag’ exercise is a unique and high quality exercise” said the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit. “When the air force was invited to participate, it responded by accepting.”

The prestigious Academic Ranking of World Universities was released on Monday by the Center for World-Class Universities of Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China, and as usual Israeli institutions of higher learning were prominent. The Technion – Israel Institute of Technology was ranked No. 69, passing the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which was ranked in 87th place, for the first time. The Weizmann Institute of Science and Tel Aviv University also featured in the top 200 of world universities.

The international effort to Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) Israel suffered another defeat recently as a delegation of Israeli lawmakers travelled to Buenos Aries to sign a cooperation agreement with Argentine Vice President Gabriel Michetti and Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra. The areas of cooperation included agriculture and water technology but the near-term focus is on security.

The European Union issued a harsh statement Monday condemning Israel for demolishing illegally built Palestinian structures in the West Bank, even as Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman requested a delay in the decision over the Arab village of Sussiya in the South Hebron Hills region, which claims approximately 300 residents living in tents and modular structures. The agricultural lands claimed by the village have been argued over for many years by the residents and the Defense Ministry.