Archive for Mid-East News

| August 15, 2013
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As Syrian crisis deepens, young Druze from Golan seeking Israeli citizenship

 

 

More & more Druze opt to live and study in Israel for fear of that rebel Islamists in Syria might ‘slaughter’ them.

Expert: This could boost Israel’s claim to annexed Golan Heights territory

Aine Pennello

In the Golan Heights, a seemingly banal decision – where to go to college – is fast becoming the source of dozens of Israeli citizenship applications among young Druze, which could help legitimize Israel’s claim to the contested territory, experts say.

Golan Heights, Druze village square in Majdal Shams - Photo: Avihu Shapira

Golan Heights, Druze village square in Majdal Shams – Photo: Avihu Shapira

A small religious sect with a peaceful reputation, the Druze in the Golan Heights have long maintained a tradition of studying in Syria, home to approximately half the world’s Druze population. Continue Reading »

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| August 15, 2013
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Morsi supporters & Muslim Brotherhood torch Egyptian churches

 

Canadian MP Irwin Cotler reports how anti-Coptic violence is taking place throughout the country within “a general culture of impunity,”

By BENJAMIN WEINTHAL
 

 

Islamic supporters of Egypt’s ousted president Mohamed Morsi launched on Wednesday arson attacks against churches, resulting in the destruction of at least three buildings. Muslim Brotherhood supporters wreaked havoc on Coptic Christian businesses and property throughout the country.

ISLAMISTS TAKE cover as they battle riot police and soldiers in Cairo’s Rabaa Adawiya Square, Aug 14

ISLAMISTS TAKE cover as they battle riot police and soldiers in Cairo’s Rabaa Adawiya Square, Aug 14 – Photo: REUTERS

There may have been more than 20 incidents of burning of churches and attacks on Christian institutions, based on unconfirmed reports on Twitter from Coptic leaders and organizations who are closely following the outbreak of anti-Christian violence.

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| August 15, 2013
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Syrian Palestinians are Being Displaced at best, or Slaughtered

Where are the Palestinian leaders? Where are the Palestinian representatives? Where are the  ‘pro-Palestinians advocates?

Where’s Abbas, Barghouti, Ashrawi, Haniya, Zoabi, Zahar, Erekat, Mashaal, or Ashrawi?

Thousands of Palestinians are suffering or butchered and the world is silent. No ‘flotillas’ of aid or rescue are on the drawing-board. No one cares only because they can’t demonize,  delegitimize or blame Israel.

By Khaled Abu Toameh

 

 

As Israeli authorities issued permits last week to hundreds of thousands of West Bank Palestinians to visit Israel, the Lebanese government decided to ban Palestinian refugees fleeing the war in Syria from entering Lebanon.

The Wavel refugee camp for Palestinians, near Baalbek in Lebanon.

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| August 14, 2013
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UN rights chief urges Hamas to cancel prisoner executions in Gaza

 

Pillay “deeply concerned” after Hamas declares that men sentenced to death are to be executed as planned after Ramadan.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
 

 

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Wednesday urged Hamas in the Gaza Strip not to carry out planned executions.

Hamas forces executes Majdi Mikkawi [file]

Hamas forces executes Majdi Mikkawi [file] – Photo: REUTERS/Stringer

In a statement, Pillay expressed deep concern “at the possibility that executions might be carried out over the course of the next weeks in Gaza and urgently appeal to the de facto authorities there not to implement any death sentences.”

The attorney general in Gaza made several announcements during Ramadan that after the Eid al-Fitr celebrations, which have just ended, executions of people sentenced to death would take place. Continue Reading »

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| August 14, 2013
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Islamist terror organization Hamas getting closer to Iran

 

 

Resumption of peace talks only intensifies internal disagreements between Palestinian factions.


Most Palestinians are still skeptical about results of peace negotiations.

By The Media Line

The Islamist Hamas movement has sharply criticized the Palestinian Authority for resuming peace talks with Israel, saying that President Mahmoud Abbas is giving in to American pressure. The criticism comes as Hamas moves toward a rapprochement with Iran, despite differences over Syria.

Members of Hamas police take part in a graduation ceremony in Gaza City, Dec. 17, 2012. - Photo REUTERS-Suhaib Salem

Members of Hamas police take part in a graduation ceremony in Gaza City,. – Photo REUTERS-Suhaib Salem

“The (Israeli-Palestinian) negotiations will not lead to anything – it’s just wasting time,” Hamas deputy foreign minister Ghazi Hamad told The Media Line. Continue Reading »

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| August 14, 2013
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Israel Air Force Hits Terrorist Targets in Gaza Strip

An IAF aircraft  successfully targeted Hamas’ concealed rocket launchers in northern Gaza, in response to rockets fired onto Israel by local terrorists.

By Elad Benari

 

An IAF aircraft targeted concealed rocket launchers in northern Gaza on Tuesday night, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement.

Directs hits were confirmed.

“The IDF air strikes were conducted in response to the rocket launched at the civilians living in the Sha’ar HaNegev regional council yesterday (Tuesday) evening,” said the statement. “This is an absurd situation that would not be tolerated anywhere else in the world.”

“The IDF is charged with, and will continue to operate in order to safeguard Israel’s civilians, and combat terror and its infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. Continue Reading »

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| August 14, 2013
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Dispite Public Outcries Abbas & Kerry Knew in Advance of Israel’s Building Plans

 

US Secretary of State admitted in a press conference in Brazil, that from the very start, Netanyahu had been “completely up front” about Israel’s building plans.

By Ari Soffer

 

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry revealed Tuesday that he and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas were fully aware that the Israeli government intended to continue building in parts of Judea and Samaria which “will not affect the peace map” when the decision was made to restart talks.

Kerry and Abbas – AFP photo

As such, despite the “outcry” by the Palestinian Authority, Abbas is still committed to talks with Israel over the next nine months, he said. Continue Reading »

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| August 13, 2013
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Egypt’s post-Morsi gov’t limits Palestinian visitors from Gaza

Recent restrictions on Palestinians are ‘not a punishment’ for Hamas  says Egyptian official, but limiting foreigners during escalated fighting against Sinai militants.

By Reuters

 

Egypt has sharply cut the number of Palestinians allowed to enter from the Gaza Strip since its military ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi last month, Gaza’s Hamas leaders said on Monday.

Palestinian youths take a nap as they wait with other passengers to cross into Egypt at Rafah border

Palestinian youths take a nap as they wait with other passengers to cross into Egypt at Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip. August 12, 2013. – Photo: Reuters

An Egyptian official said the curbs were “not a punishment” for Hamas’s Islamist leanings but an effort to reduce civilian traffic as Egypt has stepped up military operations against Islamist militants in the Sinai region bordering Gaza. Continue Reading »

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| August 13, 2013
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Palestinian Authority Denies Jews Any Rights to Western Wall

 

Decree is just another example in a string of anti-Israel propaganda, as “peace talks” are set to begin.

By Ari Soffer

 

In what is being described as yet another example of Palestinian Authority (PA) denial of the Jewish connection to Jerusalem and the very legitimacy of the State of Israel, the Presidential Guard of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has claimed the Western Wall as an Arab and Islamic site.

Last week, a picture of the Western Wall was posted onto the PA Presidential Guard’s official Facebook page with a PA flag superimposed on it, along with the words “The Al Buraq Wall – Public Relations and Information – The Presidential Guard – Palestinian youth know their rights.”

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| August 12, 2013
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Egyptian Christian Leader tells the EU & US to back off in ‘Open Letter’

 

 

Western maneuvering to quietly reinstate the Muslim Brotherhood baffles Egypt’s frightened & persecuted Christians.

By Ashraf Ramelah

 

The following is an open letter from Egyptian Christian Dr. Ashraf Ramelah, director of Voice of the Copts, to European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton, who, together with leading American officials, has been working to reinstall Muslim Brotherhood rule in Egypt.

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I have followed with great interest your latest visit to my native country of Egypt — particularly your request to free former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi.

Sources in Egypt inform me that Egyptians fear that your aim to have Morsi and Muslim Brotherhood leaders released from custody and dismissed from their day in court. Continue Reading »

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| August 12, 2013
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Minister Livni: The European Union will not dictate Israel’s borders

Israel’s Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who’s also Israel’s lead negotiator in peace-talks with the PA, said during a meeting with German foreign minister, that any final status agreement relating to Israel’s borders will be determined only through negotiations with the Arabs and not by any EU decision.

By Yori Yalon & Edna Adato

 

 

Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who is also Israel’s chief negotiator in talks with the Palestinian Authority, said on Sunday during a meeting in Jerusalem with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle that in any final status agreement pertaining to the country’s borders will be determined only through negotiations by Israel and the Palestinians.

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| August 12, 2013
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US Congressman: No one’s suggesting US troops as part of Arab peace agreement

 

U.S. Congressman Steny Hoyer (Dem.) says U.S. prepared to play leading role in ensuring security in the West Bank, but unlikely to deploy American troops.

By HERB KEINON
 

 

On the eve of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations that will ultimately have to discuss security guarantees for Israel, US Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) told The Jerusalem Post that the deployment of US troops anywhere in the West Bank was very unlikely.

Democratic Congressman Steny Hoyer during a visit to Israel in 2011.

Democratic Congressman Steny Hoyer during a visit to Israel in 2011. – Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Hoyer, who led a delegation of 36 Democratic congressmen to Israel over the past week, said during an interview on Thursday that the issue was not raised in meetings the congressional group held either with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu or with PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat.

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| August 12, 2013
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PA tells US: Stop Tenders for New Homes or Talks are Off

 

The decision to announce the new tenders for construction of new homes around Jerusalem has exposed some of the rifts within the Israeli coalition gov’t.

“Let Netanyahu make peace with Bennett,” a senior PA official said, according to Voice of Israel radio.

By Gil Ronen and Ari Soffer

 

The Palestinian Authority (PA) is demanding that Israel cancel its decision to market about 1,200 new housing units in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, even before the next round of “peace talks” scheduled for Wednesday.

Voice of Israel public radio quoted an anonymous senior PA official as saying the PA leadership has informed the United States of this decision and is awaiting a response. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| August 12, 2013
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Jailed Arab Murderers Collect $3,400 a Month from PA

Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Elkin opposes concept that “releasing terrorists brings peace, & building a kindergarten prevents peace.”

By Gil Ronen

 

Deputy Foreign Minister Ze’ev Elkin (Likud) had harsh criticism Sunday for the government he is a part of, over the decision to release terrorist murderers. He admitted that he, too, shares in the blame for the decision, although he opposes it.

“I am angry at the approach that says that releasing terrorists brings peace nearer, and building a kindergarten prevents peace,” he said – in a reference to the “peace camp” and its criticism of construction for Jews in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. Continue Reading »

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| August 11, 2013
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Egypt army reports 12 militants killed in Sinai following alleged Israeli drone strike


Egyptian Military spokesman says Islamic militants were wanted for the attack that killed 16 Egyptian soldiers last year & the abduction of 7 security forces earlier this year.

By

 

Egyptian helicopters fired on a meeting of suspected militants in the country’s Sinai Peninsula, officials said Sunday, killing at least 12 people as authorities stepped up their attacks following an Israeli drone strike in the region.

Sinai attack - archive

People check the scene where a car bomb exploded in near the port town of El-Arish in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula July 24, 2013. – Photo: Reuters

 

The helicopter attack came as Egyptian and Israeli officials tried to downplay the drone strike Friday in the largely lawless Sinai, fearing popular criticism in a country already roiled by last month’s military coup that ousted President Mohammed Morsi. Continue Reading »

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