Archive for November 21, 2012

BREAKING NEWS: After 8 day of conflict, ceasfire at 21:00

Egypt FM announces that Israel and Hamas have agreed that a cease-fire will go into effect at 9pm local time.

By REUTERS

 

 

Kamal Amr makes formal announcement of truce in joint press conference with Clinton in Cairo; sources say Israel will not lift Gaza blockade; Netanyahu tells Obama he’s ready to give cease-fire a chance.

Egypt announced on Wednesday that a cease-fire had been reached to end eight days of  fighting between Israel and the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, starting at 9 p.m.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr made the announcement in a joint news conference with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

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Gaza in possession of Iranian missile technology

Gen. Mohammed Ali Jafari said Iran has supplied technology to Gaza for missiles to be produced ‘quickly’ reports Iran’s Semiofficial ISNA news agency.

By

 

Iran has supplied Hamas in Gaza with the technology to “quickly” produce longer-range missiles on their own without needing direct shipments, said a report Wednesday that quoted the head of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard.

An Iranian Fajr-3 missile.

An Iranian Fajr-3 missile. – Photo by AP

The comments by Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari offer some of the clearest insights on Iran’s weapons support for Hamas, whose Iranian-engineered Fajr-5 missiles have struck near Tel Aviv and Jerusalem during weeklong battles with Israel. Continue Reading »

Seeking an end, Israel expected to hold its fire without deal

Despite terror attack in Tel Aviv & massive rocket fire from Gaza, Israel expected to announce it is ceasing attacks.

Jerusalem assumes  gesture will pressure terror groups into entering ceasefire.

By Ron Ben-Yishai

 

Following a week in which hundreds of rockets were fired from Gaza and just hours after a terror attack on a Tel Aviv bus left nearly 30 people injured, Israel is expected to announce that it is holding its fire and ending Operation Pillar of Defense, which began with targeted the killing of top Hamas commander Ahmed Jabari.

Strike in Gaza – Photo: AFP

Officials estimated Wednesday evening that if Israel holds fire, Hamas and other Palestinian groups in Gaza will face heavy pressure to do so as well. Continue Reading »

Arabs Celebrate Tel Aviv Bus Bombing by Lighting Fireworks

Arabs celebrated after a bomb ripped through a bus in Tel Aviv Wednesday, injuring over 20 people.

By Rachel Hirshfeld

 

Arabs living in Lebanese refugee camps celebrated Wednesday after a bomb ripped through a bus in Tel Aviv, injuring over twenty people.

Arab terrorists

Arab terrorists – Reuters

In Nahr al-Bared camp in north Lebanon muezzins sang out words of praise to G-d via their megaphones, while fireworks lit the sky and terrorists handed out sweets, AFP reported.

In Ain al-Hilweh near the southern city of Sidon, fighters shot live rounds into the air and chanted religious texts.

The blast took place following the meeting between U.S. Continue Reading »

Egypt intercepts 108 explosive warheads from Libya via Sinai & onto Gaza

Egyptian security officials confiscated trucks carrying a variety of small-arms ammunition and 108 explosive warheads for Soviet-designed Grad rockets, that were smuggled from Libya.

By the Associated Press and Israel Hayom Staff

 

Egyptian security officials said Wednesday that authorities have confiscated trucks carrying explosive warheads and a variety of small-arms ammunition smuggled from Libya.

Grad rockets are fired at Israel by Palestinian and Sinai-based terrorist groups. [Illustrative] – Photo: Reuters

They said authorities seized the pickup trucks, carrying some 108 warheads for Soviet-designed Grad rockets, near Marsa Matruh, 430 kilometers (270 miles) northwest of Cairo on the Mediterranean coast.

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Op-Ed: This is What Israel Must Do

Will all Israeli leaders continue the same timid & fearful policies that too many have shown when dealing with the U.N, the Obama Administration, the Quartet, & the EU?

By Victor Sharpe

 

Israel must choke off the endless supply of weapons and missiles into Gaza by repossessing the Philadelphi Corridor — the narrow strip of land separating Egypt from the Gaza Strip. It should do this as a most basic but vital military act for its own security and survival. It can still do so while only Hamas rules in the Gaza Strip and should have done so long ago.

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‘Tear Gaza into Two’ says Naftali Bennett

Habayit Hayehudi chairman harshly criticizes gov’t, says:  a “country that cannot protect its residents is degrading itself in the eyes of the world. A country that protects its residents is respected.

“I think there is weakness of spirit a loss of fighting spirit, Jewish spirit, Zionist spirit on the part of the government.”


By Ynet

 

Amid growing signs of a ceasefire, Habayit Hayehudi Chairman Naftali Bennett harshly criticized the government on Wednesday. “They’ve lost all common sense,” he said on Ynet’s TV studio.

Israel’s political party,Habayit Hayehudi (The Jewish Home) Chairman, Naftali Bennett

The newly-elected chairman called on the government to expand Operation Pillar of Defense and “tear the Gaza Strip into two.” Continue Reading »

Terrorist Attack Bus in Tel Aviv; Hamas Celebrates Carnage

Terrorist blows up a bus in central Tel Aviv. 

3 people are seriously wounded.

Suspect terrorist denies involvement.

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

 

A terrorist blew blown up a Dan local bus on Shaul HaMelech street in central Tel Aviv aroun noon. Three people were seriously wounded. No one was killed.

Seventeen people have been evacuated to Icholov Hospital, most of them with lesser injuries. Others are being treated for emotional shock.

Eyewitnesses said that that the terrorist boarded the bus, placed a suspicious package there and then fled. Police said they have caught a suspect, who denies any connection with the attack.. Continue Reading »

Gaza rocket hits house in Be’er Tuviya, none hurt

Terrorist shoot at least 180 rockets Israel in the past 24 hours.

Rocket hits house in Be’er Tuviya, none hurt.

IAF strikes 100 terror targets overnight, kills 31 Gazans

Palestinians report 1 dead in IDF drone strike in Jabaliya.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN, JPOST.COM STAFF

 

Gazan rocket fire at southern Israel resumed on Wednesday morning after a relatively quiet night on the Israeli side.

Smoke rises after IAF strike in Gaza

Smoke rises after IAF strike in Gaza – Photo: Mohammed Salem/Reuters

Terrorists fired 23 rockets at various cities and communities in the South, with one person mildly injured according to Magen David Adom. One rocket hit a house in Be’er Tuviya directly.

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Gen. Gantz: Carry on attacks as if there are no diplomatic talks

IDF continues to hit Gaza targets but senior officers say most painful blow yet to come.

Bridges struck for first time.

Gaza residents begin to move towards coast.

By Yoav Zitun

 

IDF officials said Wednesday that talk of an imminent ceasefire is irrelevant. Late Tuesday night, IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz authorized strikes on dozens of Gaza targets and instructed commanders to “carry on as if there is no diplomatic dialogue.”

Gantz, Barak and Netanyahu – Photo: Kobi Gideon, GPO

The Palestinians reported a total of 133 fatalities, half of which they said were civilians.

The IDF is stepping up its assaults on prominent Hamas governmental facilities and hit the internal security ministry, police headquarters and a bank on Tuesday night. Continue Reading »

Worried expatriate workers head to airport’s departure gates

Europeans who sought jobs outside their recession-stricken country, rediscover the charms of home.

 

Missile attacks in the south and center have upset plans by several companies and institutions that were counting on foreign experts and commercial representatives who are here on long-term contracts.

Heading for the exit from Israel at Ben Gurion Airport.

Heading for the exit from Israel at Ben Gurion Airport. Photo: Nir Keidar

Einat Gez, manager of Relocation Jobs, a company that brings in highly qualified foreign workers, estimates that out of 5,000 experts and employees of foreign companies in the country, 200 had left by the end of last week. Continue Reading »

Salafists take responsibility for firing rockets into Israeli cities

Gaza Salafists groups, opposed to Hamas, admit firing rockets into Israel.

In its statement Jaish al- Ummah, whose name means “Army of the Nation,” says Muslims are called to jihad to confront the infidels America & Israel as well as those who follow them.

 

 

Gaza-based Salafist-Jihadists with ties to al-Qaida have claimed responsibility for perpetrating several of the recent rocket attacks against Israel, according to statements published by several jihadist groups in the past days.

Army of Islam terrorists in Gaza [file photo]

Army of Islam terrorists in Gaza – Photo: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters

The Gaza-based jihadi group Jaish al-Ummah published two statements on jihadist forums on Monday claiming responsibility for a series of attacks against Israel.

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With no truce reached, it’s an intensive night as IDF pounds Gaza

Diplomatic pressure to end conflict between Israel & Gaza moves forward but fails to secure ceasefire agreement

Clinton arrives in Israel, calls for ‘durable outcome’ to violence.

IDF intensifies strikes on Hamas & Associates

Yoav Zitun, AP

 

A diplomatic push to end the hostilities between Israel and Gaza terror groups gained momentum Tuesday, with Egypt‘s president predicting that airstrikes would soon end, the US secretary of state racing to the region and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying the Jewish state would be a “willing partner” to a ceasefire with Hamas.

IDF artillery fire – Photo: AFP

As international diplomats worked to cement a deal, a senior Hamas official said an agreement was close even as relentless airstrikes and rocket attacks between the two sides continued. Continue Reading »

Without trial Hamas thugs executes 6 suspected Israel collaborators

Masked Hamas gunmen publicly kill 6 men suspected of working with Israel, then drag 1 through the streets while screaming ‘Spy!, Spy!‘

 

 

Masked gunmen publicly shot dead six suspected collaborators with Israel in a large Gaza City intersection Tuesday, witnesses said. An Associated Press reporter saw a large mob surrounding five of the bloodied corpses shortly after the killing.Hamas’ military wing claimed responsibility.

Palestinian gunmen drag suspected collaborator

Palestinian gunmen drag the body of a man suspected of working for Israel in Gaza City, Nov. 20, 2012. – Photo by Reuters

Some in the crowd stomped and spit on the bodies. Continue Reading »

U.S. Secretary of State: Our Commitment to Israel is Rock Solid

PM Netanyahu welcomed Sec. Clinton to Jerusalem & commented how Israel was fighting against terrorists who fire rockets against innocent civilians.

By Elad Benari

 

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Israel on Tuesday night for meetings with officials, in an attempt to achieve a ceasefire in the fighting between Israel and Gaza.

Clinton and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu made statements to the press shortly before they met one on one.

Netanyahu welcomed Clinton to Jerusalem and noted that Israel was fighting against terrorists who fire barrages of rockets against innocent civilians.

“President Obama asked me to come to Israel with a very clear message. Continue Reading »