Archive for October 20, 2013

Ankara Blames Israel for Report on Turkey Exposing Spies to Iran

Officials in Ankara charge Israel in trying to make Turkey look bad by leaking information about how its intelligence chief betrayed ally in exposing covert operatives to Iranian authorities.

By Elad Benari

 

Turkey is blaming Israel for a report in the Washington Post this week which said that Turkey handed over to Tehran a list of Israeli agents in Iran.

 “We see this media campaign as an attack and there might be an Israeli effort behind it,” a Turkish intelligence source said told the Turkish daily Hurriyet.

The Washington Post report was written by David Ignatius who, the Turkish newspaper noted, was the moderator at the World Economic Forum panel in Davos in 2009 when Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan walked out when Israeli President Shimon Peres walked in. Continue Reading »

Column One: Israel vs. Obama & EU Appeasement Path

 

Tehran gives no indication that they will suspend all uranium enrichment and still the White House sees “level of seriousness and substance that we had not seen before.”

 

 

 

Speaking to the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Wednesday, Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz explained Israel’s concerns about the nuclear negotiations with Iran in Geneva. “We’re worried Geneva 2013 will end up like Munich 1938.”
Catherine Ashton, Saeed Jalili during before talks

Catherine Ashton, Saeed Jalili during before talks – Photo: REUTERS/Tolga Adanali/Pool

Well, the time for worrying has passed. The statements from the Obama administration and the EU following the closing of the first round of talks all made clear that Geneva 2013 is Munich 1938.

Continue Reading »

Likud MK: Returning to 1967 Borders will Bring Down Gov’t

Deputy Minister in PM’s Office Ofir Akunis, says the current terror spike is the result & fault of the Palestinian Authority’s continued public support of terrorists and their calls of incitement.

By Gil Ronen

 

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), MK Ofir Akunis (Likud), said at week’s end that “an Israeli government that presents a diplomatic accord that is based on a return to [pre-]1967 borders and uprooting of communities will not survive politically and will lose in a plebiscite as well.”

MK Ofir Akunis (Likud)

MK Ofir Akunis, Likud – Photo: Marc Israel Sellem

Akunis also made clear that Israel is placing the blame on the Palestinian Authority (PA) and its head, Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), for the recent spike in terror acts by Arabs against Jews.

Continue Reading »

Arabs Leaders are Realizing Israel Is Not Their Enemy

 

 

As multiple crises in the Mid-East mounts & Washington’s influence wanes, some Arab states have begun covertly cooperating with Israel.

By Ryan Jones

 

One of the very few positive outcomes of the regional crises engulfing the Middle East is that a number of Arab states are beginning to realize that Israel is not the true enemy.

flags“For the first time in Israel’s existence, there is an understanding in the Arab world, that Israel is not the enemy of the Arabs. On many issues, we are united,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the opening of the Knesset’s winter session earlier this week. Continue Reading »

Egypt eliminates homes, groves & more of Hamas’ tunnels on Gaza border

 

Egyptian military officials reportedly had 6,000 square meters (64,500 feet) of olive groves leveled, explaining how terrorists use them for camouflage to launch military assaults against Egyptian border guards, & to smuggle stolen fuel, goods, drugs & weapons.

By Israel Hayom Staff & News Agencies

 

The Egyptian military has leveled large tracts of olive groves near the city of Rafah, destroying smuggling infrastructure and detonating several thousand liters of fuel, according to Palestinian and Egyptian reports.

Continue Reading »

Second earthquake in week – 3.6-mag hits Northern Israel

 

For 2nd time in 3 days, mild earthquake shakes Kinneret, Hula Valley region.

Israel’s northern residents were woken from sleep as 3.6 magnitude tremor shook homes during night: ‘Bed, windows really moved,’ resident reported.

By Maor Buchnik

 

 

A mild earthquake was felt in the Lake Kinneret and Hula Valley region at around 2:30 am Saturday night, the Geophysical Institute of Israel has confirmed.

3.6 on Richter scale — Photo: Reuters

According to the institute, the quake – the second in Israel this week – registered a light 3.6 on the Richter scale. No injuries or significant damage was reported. Continue Reading »

Kidnapped Lebanese Shi’ite pilgrims in Syria finally freed

Possible 3-way deal included release of 2   Turkish pilots held by Lebanese militants  & hopefully will also secure the release of female prisoners jailed by Assad’s gov’t.

 

Nine Shi’ite pilgrims from Lebanon kidnapped in Syria were freed late Friday night as part of a negotiated hostage deal that could see two Turkish pilots held by Lebanese militants released, officials said.

Lebanese Army soldiers patrol the road leading to Beirut international airport

Lebanese Army soldiers patrol the road leading to Beirut international airport, following the kidnap of a Turkish airlines pilot and his colleague in Beirut, August 9, 2013. – Photo: Reuters

The complicated three-way deal also potentially includes the release of female prisoners now held by the embattled government of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Continue Reading »

Hamas Threatening to Kidnap Soldiers Again

Two years after Gilad Shalit’s return, Hamas threatens Israel that it will begin kidnapping  soldiers again & “continue the resistance.”

By Elad Benari, Canada

 

Hamas issued a threat to Israel on Friday, warning that it will kidnap more Israeli soldiers in order to bring about the release of all Palestinian Authority Arab prisoners.

The terror group which controls Gaza made the threats in a statement posted on its website on the second anniversary of the release of Gilad Shalit.

Shalit, who was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in 2006 and was held for more than five years, was released in October of 2011 in exchange for the release of over 1,000 terrorists who had been in prison in Israel, including many mass murderers. Continue Reading »

From Protecting Queen of Denmark to Israel & the IDF

 

Benjamin Schultz parts with family & friends in Denmark, joins IDF’s Givati Brigade in Hebron after service in Danish Royal Life Guard left him seeking ‘more action’

By Yaron Kelner

From Queen of Denmark to IDF : Benjamin Schultzer, a 24-year-old Dane who at the age of 21 was recruited to the Danish army, is now serving as an IDF soldier in Hebron. At first he served with the Danish Royal Life Guard, the Danish monarchy’s guard unit, and then, during his army service, he was assigned to the UN force in Lebanon. Not once did he look over to Israel – to which he always felt great fondness. Continue Reading »

Saudi Arabia passes on UNSC seat, cites ‘double standards’ for Mid-East


Saudi Foreign Ministry claims the UN Security Council’s ‘double standards’ keep it from properly administrating its responsibilities to forward world peace.

By Reuters

 

Saudi Arabia, in an unprecedented show of anger at the failure of the international community to end the war in Syria and act on other Middle East issues, said on Friday it would not take up its seat on the United Nations Security Council.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal Saudi arabia

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal speaks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry during a news conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Monday, March 4, 2013. – Photo: AP

The kingdom condemned what it called international double standards on the Middle East and demanded reforms in the Security Council. Continue Reading »

Israeli Officials: Normalization Talks With Ankara ‘Stuck’

 

While Israel refrains from making official comment on reports of Turkey’s leaking to Teheran of local anti-nuclear spy network, Israeli officials stress recent security cooperation with Turkey as ‘very limited’.

By Attila Somfalvi

The Washington Post’s report about Turkey’s disclosure to Iran of an Israeli spy network might have failed to elicit an official Israeli response, but state officials admit that security relations with Ankara are extremely limited and went as far as saying that reconciliation talks surrounding the Marmara raid are “stuck.”

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan – Photo: AFP

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan – Photo: AFP

“The Turks are destroying any attempt to reach understandings,” an Israeli official close to the talks said. Continue Reading »

Supreme Court Judge Strikes Down Likud Ad for Offending Muslims

Likud political ad promising to end noisy Muslim call to prayer in early morning is nixed by Supreme Court Justice Salim Joubran for its offensive content.

By Maayana Miskin

 

A Likud ad promising to end loud Muslim prayers in the early morning hours has been nixed by Supreme Court Justice Salim Joubran, who heads the Central Elections Committee, Maariv/nrg reports.

The ad reads, “Silencing the muezzin in Yafo? Only the Likud can.” The muezzin is the prayer leader who broadcast the Muslim call to prayer over a loudspeaker five times a day.

Member of Knesset Omer Bar-Lev of the Labor party complained to the Elections Committee about the ad. Continue Reading »

Palestinians Hurt While Torturing Cattle in Gaza

 

The Gazans did not contend themselves to simply slaughtering the animals, but first engaged in torture. The cattle predictably responded by attacking their tormenters.

By Israel Today Staff

 

 

At least 125 Palestinians in Gaza were wounded while torturing and slaughtering cattle in the streets as part of the Muslim holiday of Eid al Adha, Palestinian media reported.

Palestinians Torturing Cattle - screenshot

Palestinians Torturing Cattle – screenshot

Gaza has five official slaughterhouses, but wait times were hours long, so a great many Gazans decided to do their own public butchering for the holiday, which is typically accompanied by much feasting.

But, as videos and pictures posted to the Internet revealed, many of the Palestinians did not contend themselves to simply slaughtering the animals, but first engaged in what can only be described as torture. Continue Reading »

Israel’s EMS Magen David Adom loses funding for West Bank stations

 

Magen David Adom has been facing pressure from the ICRC to defer EMS response in the West Bank to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

By HENRY ROME
 

 

Magen David Adom has lost funding to operate the majority of its stations in the West Bank, the ambulance service said on Thursday, citing an NIS 5 million shortfall in appropriations from the state.
MDA paramedics evacuating woman to hospital in Jerusalem.

MDA paramedics evacuating woman to hospital in Jerusalem. – Photo: Magen David Adom spokesman

An MDA spokesman said the impending closure of 13 West Bank ambulance stations out of the agency’s 17 stations there is unrelated to pressure by the International Committee of the Red Cross, which has been highly critical of MDA’s operations in the West Bank.

Continue Reading »

Speaking With ‘Forked-Tongue’ Abbas Calls for Peace & Praises Terror

When speaking to the int’l community, PA Chief spoke of living in harmony with Israel, but went on to praised a vicious killer of Israelis when speaking to the Arab world – all on the same day.

By David Lev

 

On the day Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas spoke at the UN of finalizing an agreement with Israel, essentially recognizing Israel’s existence, a speech he had written for an event in the Palestinian Authority (PA) lavishly praised a PA terrorist whose actions murdered and injured dozens of Israelis.

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas – Photo Mark Israel Sellem

The paradox was uncovered by the Palestinian Media Watch group, which compared the speech Abbas made at the UN on September 27, to remarks he prepared for an event on the same day that celebrated the life of Ahmad Abu-Sukar, a notorious terrorist best known for his 1975 “refrigerator bomb” attack that killed 15 and injured 77. Continue Reading »