Archive for Mid-East News

| October 18, 2013
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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 »

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| October 18, 2013
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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 »

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| October 18, 2013
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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 »

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| October 18, 2013
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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 »

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| October 17, 2013
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Erdoğan’s unprecedented act of betrayal against Israel

 

Analysis: If Ankara did blow cover of Israeli undercover-agents, it would violate universally accepted code of conduct between allied intelligence agencies.

By YOSSI MELMAN
 

 

In April 2012, Iran announced that it had uncovered a spy ring numbering 15 operatives working at the behest of Israel. Iranian authorities fingered the operatives as being responsible for the killings of nuclear scientists in recent years. Tehran had long suspected the Mossad as the mastermind of these operations. In announcing the arrests, Iran touted the apprehension of “Zionist spies” and the revelations regarding “Zionist” intelligence activity in a neighboring country.

Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan & Israeli PM Binyamin Netanyahu – Photo: REUTERS

The announcement, which didn’t garner much attention at the time, takes on added importance Thursday just hours after The Washington Post reported that Turkish intelligence revealed the identities of 10 Iranian spies working for Israel.

Continue Reading »
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| October 16, 2013
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British Experts Warn of Al Qaeda Chemical Weapons Threat

Experts in the UK warn of “grave danger” to global security over Syrian bio-weapons proliferation.

The British experts say Al Qaeda may already possess lethal WMDs.

By Ari Soffer

 

As international attention in Syria focuses on efforts to dismantle the Assad regime’s chemical weapons stockpile, British experts are warning of another, potentially more lethal threat.

Illustration: WMD antiterrorism drill – Reuters

Experts from the Henry Jackson Society (HJS) have issued a stark warning over what they say is the “clear and present danger” of Al Qaeda gaining possession of the Assad regime’s stockpile of biological weapons, claiming to have substantial evidence that Al Qaeda-linked groups may already have possession of toxic agents. Continue Reading »

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| October 16, 2013
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Hezbollah Jails Israeli ‘spy eagle’ in Lebanon

The kestrel allegedly captured with ‘spy’ receiver implanted on its body & suspicious ring on its foot with incriminating markings from Tel Aviv University.

By YASSER OKBI, THE POST CORRESPONDENT

 

 

 

An alleged avian Israeli agent has been captured in Lebanon, Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV station reported on Wednesday.

File:Common Kestrel 1.jpg

Common Kestrel – Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

The eagle was captured by amateur hunters in the the town of Ashqout in the Keserwan district of the country, which is north east of Beirut.

The eagle was carrying an implanted receiver and a brass ring was found around its foot with markings in English that connected the suspect to Tel Aviv University, according to the report.

Continue Reading »
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| October 16, 2013
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Libyan coastguard shoot boat with fleeing Syrian Palestinians

 

An Action Group in Syria said 70 refugees survived the attack of the 374 Palestinians that were aboard the boat, which left the Libyan port of Zwara late Thursday.

The PA reported 32 refugees died.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
 

 

Hamas called on Palestinians fleeing Syria to come to the Gaza Strip instead of risking their lives at sea while searching for asylum, on Tuesday.

Syrian and Palestinian refugees at Catania harbour in the island of Sicily October 8, 2013.

Syrian and Palestinian refugees at Catania harbour in the island of Sicily October 8, 2013. – Photo: REUTERS

The call, which was made by Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, came after the Libyan coastguard opened fire at a boat carrying 374 Palestinian refugees from Syria.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags:
| October 15, 2013
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Hamas seeks renewed ties with Assad after Egyptian blacklisting

 

Hamas’ Deputy Politburo Chief Abu Marzouk says Khaled Mashal wrongly choose to support Syrian Rebels & now doesn’t rule out chance of reconciliation with Syrian regime.

By Elior Levy

Hamas’ Deputy Politburo Chief Moussa Abu Marzouk interviewed for Assad affiliated channel Al Mayadeen on Monday, saying Khaled Mashal was wrong in raising the flag of Syrian opposition, and that Hamas had no official ties with any rebel organizations.

Khaled Mashal – Photo: AP

Last June a dramatically important meeting was held in Lebanon concerning the shaken relationship between Hamas and some of the Arab and Muslim world. Group senior Moussa Abu Marzouk conferred there with officials from Iran and from Hezbollah to work out differences that have occurred between Hamas and then in the past two years over the Syrian civil war. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags:
| October 15, 2013
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In Vancouver ad war, StandWithUs fights Palestinian propaganda


Pro-Israel StandWithUs advocacy group launches campaign against untrue anti-Israel political ads on Vancouver buses & light rail stations.

By

 

An Israel advocacy group has launched a transit campaign in opposition to anti-Israel ads on Vancouver buses and light rail stations.

Interior of the Canada Line trains used on the Vancouver SkyTrain system.

Interior of the Canada Line trains used on the Vancouver SkyTrain system. – Photo courtesy: Wikipedia

StandWithUs, a right-leaning Israel advocacy group, began running two advertisements on Monday meant to combat the ads put up by the Palestine Awareness Committee.

The pro-Israel ads include one series of three maps purporting to show “Jewish Loss of Land” and are dated from 1000 BCE until “Today.” Continue Reading »

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| October 14, 2013
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European Court: Palestinians ‘lost’ €1.95 billion of aid money

 

A still unpublished EU report reveals extensive & widespread Palestinian corruption as €1.95 billion, transferred by Belgium to Abbas’s PA in the West Bank and to Hamas’ Gaza Strip over past several years, were wasted or ‘lost’.

By Ynet

 

One billion Euros in EU aid funds to the Palestinians has been wasted or “lost” due to corruption – according to a harsh report leveling severe criticisms published by the European Court, the official institution located in Luxembourg. This was reported on Sunday in the British Sunday Times, which added that the report has not yet been published.

The Palestinian Authority president, Fatah's Mahmoud Abbas (right) and the prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, of Hamas. - Photo: Khalil Hamra/AP

The Palestinian Authority president, Fatah’s Mahmoud Abbas (right) and the prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, of Hamas.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags:
| October 14, 2013
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2 Turkish students arrested for Nazi salute in concentration camp

The Turkish students, who saluted Israeli youths, could face up to 3 years in Polish prison for ‘promoting fascist propaganda’.

By

 

 

Two students from Turkey were arrested in Poland for using a Nazi salute on a group of Israeli students visiting the Majdanek concentration camp.

Majdanek

A joint Israeli-Arab youth delegation visits the Majdanek concentration camp, Poland, January 23, 2012. – Photo Courtesy of Amal

The Turkish students were taken into custody in Poland. The incident last week was reported in the Turkish media on Friday, according to Today’s Zaman.

The students reportedly made the Nazi salute and said “Heil Hitler” when they met a group of students from Israel. Continue Reading »

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| October 14, 2013
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Palestinians in Syria allowed to Eat ‘Cats & Dogs’

Under siege & starving, since PA President Mahmoud Abbas refused to assist fellow Palestinians from the al-Yarmouk camp in Syria, the local imam has given them permission to eat cats and dogs.

By Dalit Halevy

 

 

In his Friday sermon, an imam at the Palestinian Al-Yarmouk camp south of Damascus gave local residents permission to eat dead cats and dogs. The camp has been under siege for three months, the humanitarian situation there has severely deteriorated and the supply of food has not been steady, reports Shalom Toronto.

FSA fighters in Yarmouk camp – Reuters

Palestinians in Syria are, generally speaking, loyal to Bashar al-Assad’s regime, but gunmen from the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) entered the strategically located Yarmouk camp in large numbers, prompting the Syrian army to attack the camp. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| October 13, 2013
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Syrian Rebels Fight Each Other – 50 Killed

About 50 rebel fighters left dead in 3 days of skirmishes between jihadists & mainstream rebels in Aleppo.

Atrocities committed include publicly beheading a Catholic priest.

By Elad Benari

 

 

Almost 50 rebel fighters have been killed in three days of skirmishes between jihadists and mainstream rebels in the Syrian city of Aleppo, reports Al Arabiya.

Syrian supporters of the Al-Nusra group – Photo: AFP

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday that the violence began on Thursday between members of the al-Qaeda-linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and a battalion linked to the Arab and Western-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA), both of which are fighting to overthrow Syria’s embattled President Bashar Al-Assad. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| October 12, 2013
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Tunisian tennis player told not to enter match with Israeli sportsman

After Malek Jaziri withdrew from match against Israeli player, Amir Weintraub advances to semifinals of Tashkent tournament.

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Tunisia’s tennis federation ordered the country’s top player to withdraw from a match against an Israeli at a tournament in Uzbekistan.

Israel's Amir Weintraub at the World Group play-off Davis Cup tennis in Antwerp, Belgium

Israel’s Amir Weintraub at the World Group play-off Davis Cup tennis in Antwerp, Belgium, Sept. 15, 2013. – Photo: AP

Malek Jaziri had been scheduled to play Israel’s Amir Weintraub on Friday in the quarterfinals of an ATP Challenger tournament in Tashkent. He withdrew before the match and Weintraub advanced to the semifinals of the lower-tier event.

“Following a meeting this afternoon with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, I have the immense regret to inform you that you are ordered not to play against the Israeli player,” the federation said in an email to Jaziri. Continue Reading »

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