Hezbollah TV shows alleged IDF weapons found in town recently recaptured by Regime&#8217;s forces.

Egypt’s highly influential Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi: Hizbullah ‘Party of Satan’

Influential Egyptian Muslim Scholar reconsiders stand on Iran & Hizbullah, after years of supporting them.

By Gil Ronen

The highly influential Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, president of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, retracted his previous defense of Hizbullah and Iran, in an interview with Al Arabiya aired on Sunday.

Hezbollah flag – Photo: AFP

“When Hizbullah was fighting against Israel, I defended it. I stood against the Muslim scholars in Saudi Arabia, the most renowned scholars who warned us against Hizbullah,” he said.

“They warned us against Hizbullah’s plans to sow discord. They warned us against their ideology and intentions. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Hezbollah, Iran

Secret EU funding for inciting Palestinian NGO’s and BDS leader

NGO Monitor issues report saying the EU’s funds conflict & violence to groups that were centrally involved in 2001 Durban Forum’s strategy of ‘political warfare & demonization of Israel’

By Ynet news staff

In a new report presented to members of the European Parliament, NGO Monitor details the damaging impact of “highly secretive EU funding for radical political advocacy NGOs.”

EU flags – Photo: AFP

According to NGO Monitor, EU funds are going to organizations involved in anti-Israel boycotts and violent demonstrations, which “undermine the EU’s efforts to secure peace in the Middle East.”

According to NGO Monitor, the report, titled “Lack of Due Diligence and Transparency in European Union Funding for Radical NGOs,” shows how EU-funded NGOs lead the campaigns to demonize Israel through the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) – actions that “totally contradict the EU’s proclaimed objectives of supporting peace and democratic development.” Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: BDS, EU, NGO, NGO Monitor

Iran sets up space tracking center to monitor objects in orbit

Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported that the Defense Minister said the space-center was for Iran’s space-related security but that Tehran would share the acquired data with other countries.

By The Associated Press

Iran said Sunday that it set up its first space tracking center to monitor objects passing in orbit overhead.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Ahmad Vahidi - AP - 18.4.2012

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, second left, listening to his Defense Minister, Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, as a rocket is paraded during army parade ceremony marking National Army Day outside Tehran, April 18, 2012. – Photo: AP

Defense Minister Gen. Ahmad Vahidi said the center was for Iran’s space-related security but that Tehran would also share the acquired data with other countries, the official IRNA news agency reported. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, space

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Hezbollah opens fire on unarmed protesters outside Iran’s embassy in Beirut

Hezbollah gunmen opens fire on unarmed civilian anti-Hezbollah demonstrators as they were arriving at the Iranian Embassy in Beirut.

One dead, several wounded.

By REUTERS

BEIRUT – A Lebanese protester was killed outside the Iranian embassy in Beirut on Sunday after gunmen from the Iranian-backed Shi’ite militia Hezbollah opened fire when anti-Hezbollah Shi’ite demonstrators approached, witnesses and officials said.

Hezbollah supporters attack a bus carrying anti-Hezbollah protesters in front of the Iranian embassy – Photo: Reuters

The Lebanese army deployed tanks and erected roadblocks across Beirut following the shooting, fearing a flare-up in sectarian and factional hostility. Protesters had condemned Iranian and Hezbollah backing for the Syrian president in a civil war that has been spreading across Lebanon’s border.

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Beirut, Hezbollah terrorism, Lebanese Army

UNSC: Israel said they would attack Syrian tanks on Golan Heights

Document submitted to UN Security Council says IDF told UN commander they would ‘take action’ if Syrian army tanks entered into agreed buffer zone during Quneitra battle with rebel.

By Ynet

The fierce battles in the Quneitra region between the Syrian army and rebels trying to overthrow President Bashar Assad threatened to result in a significant military confrontation between Israel and Syria, American blogger Nabil Abi Saab reported on Saturday.

פקחים, תצפיתנים ודריכות. אזור הקרבות בקונייטרה (צילום: AP)

UN vehicles near Quneitra battle zone – Photo: AP

The report was based on a document submitted to the Security Council by Herve Ladsous, UN Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: IDF, Quneitra, Syrian rebels, UNDOF, UNSC

israelandstuffcom | June 8, 2013

New Palestinian PM facilitates return to days of Arafat’s corruption

Abbas replaced strong, internationally-backed PM, with little-known academic who is ill-equipped to challenge his corruption or agenda.

By Ryan Jones

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas this week appointed a new Palestinian Authority prime minister to take the place of the ousted Salam Fayyad, a respected, US-educated economist that the international community fought long and hard to keep in the position.

Palestinian Prime Minister, Rami Hamdallah

The new Palestinian prime minister is Rami Hamdallah, a mild-mannered academic who for the past 15 years has served as dean of al-Najah University in Nablus. Hamdallah has absolutely no political experience, so many in Israel see his appointment as a maneuver by Abbas to regain the absolute control once exercised by Yasser Arafat. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Authority corruption, Rami Hamdallah

israelandstuffcom | June 8, 2013

The Arab world sees the ‘Safavid’ seeking regional domination

A nuclear weapon in the hands of a status-quo state with a defensive orientation, is a very different story, than nuclear weapons in the hands of a state that wants to totally change the international status quo.

By Dore Gold

In an interview on Al-Jazeera this past May, the commander of the Free Syrian Army, Brig. Gen. Salim Idris, explained that the diversion of Hezbollah forces from Lebanon to Syria to take part in the civil war was part of a “Safavid” plan for the Middle East region.

Hezbollah soldiers – Photo by EPA

This past January, an article in the influential Lebanese daily As-Safir accused Iraq’s Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of receiving assistance from his “Safavid allies.”

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: islamists, Shiite

israelandstuffcom | June 8, 2013

UN: No Russians Allowed in Golan Heights Force

The UN reported that Russia is banned from participating in the Golan Heights peacekeeping force, UNDOF.

By Elad Benari, Canada

The United Nations said on Friday that Russia cannot send troops to the Golan Heights peacekeeping force, after President Vladimir Putin said he was ready to bolster the force, AFP reported.

Russian soldiers march in Moscow

Putin offered troops after Austria decided to withdraw its 377 soldiers from the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) between Syria and Israel because of growing spillover from the Syria conflict.

However, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said later on Friday that Russia was banned from taking part in the force because it is one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Austria, Golan Heights, Syrian border, UNDOF

Hezbollah showcases Israeli flares & weapons found in al-Qusair

Hezbollah TV shows alleged IDF weapons found in town recently recaptured by Regime’s forces.

IDF: They’re ‘left-overs’ from the Israeli 2000 pullout from Lebanon

By Roi Kais

The Hezbollah affiliated Al Manar TV channel reported that weapons bearing Hebrew inscriptions have been found in the Syrian town of al-Qusair, recently retaken by Bashar Assad‘s forces and Hezbollah fighters.

Assad’s forces in war-toen al-Qusair – Photo: Reuters

The channel’s reporter showed the various weapons, including a 120mm flare.

In the broadcast, the reporter explained that “Israeli side-arms and heavy weapons” were found in the town, including “Uzis, found more than once, Israeli communications devices and heavy rockets.” Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Hezbollah, Syrian unrest

Russia war flotilla move to the Mediterranean

President Vladimir Putin sent 16 warships, three ship-based helicopters to the region, saying, “This is a strategically important region and we have tasks to carry out there to provide for the national security of the Russian Federation”.

By Reuters and Israel Hayom Staff

Russia has deployed a naval unit in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time since the Soviet era, a move Russian President Vladimir Putin says is aimed at defending Russian security, but which comes as Moscow faces off with the West over Syria.

Russian President Vladimir Putin: Deployment is not “saber-rattling” and not meant as a threat to any nation – Photo: AP

Russia’s military chief of staff said on Thursday that Russia had stationed 16 warships and three ship-based helicopters in the region.

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Mediterranean, Russia

New & Improved U.S. ‘bunker buster’ underwent successful test

Hebrew daily reports: The U.S.’s upgraded bunker buster bomb destroyed a replica of Iran’s underground nuclear facility in its recently conducted test.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

In an effort to show Israel and other ally states that it is capable of striking Iran’s nuclear plants, the US has recently conducted a test of its bunker buster bomb, destroying a replica of an underground nuclear facility, Hebrew daily Yediot Aharonot reported on Friday.

The nuclear facility replica, that cost millions of dollars to build, was made of concrete and buried under dozens of feet of dirt and rocks, Yediot reported.

The results of the test were reported to the US’s ally states, among them Israel, to show that Washington is serious about its intentions to strike Tehran’s nuclear facilities, and to demonstrate its ability to specifically target Iran’s underground Fordow uranium enrichment plant near the city of Qom.

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: GBU-57 B, Iran Nuclear Program

Putin: Russia prepared to replace Austrian (UN) peacekeepers in Golan Heights

Putin commits Russian troops just a day after Vienna announced it would recall its forces from the UN monitoring force, due to worsening fighting in Syria.

By Jack Khoury, Barak Ravid and Reuters

President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia is ready to send peacekeepers to the Golan Heights to replace Austrian forces after Vienna said it would recall its troops from a UN monitoring force due to worsening fighting in Syria.

Clashes at Quneitra on the Israel-Syria border caused brush fire that crossed into Israel. – Photo: Gil Eliyahu

“We could replace the leaving Austrian contingent in this region on the border between Israeli troops and the Syrian army,” Putin told the RIA Novosti news agency. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Bashar Assad, Golan Heights, Russia, Syria, UN, UNDOF, Vladimir Putin

Syrian MP threatens Jordan – Jordan threatens to expel Syrian envoy

Syrian Envoy attacked kingdom’s deployment of US patriots so Jordan FM gives Syrian ambassador a final warning

By REUTERS

AMMAN – US ally Jordan threatened on Thursday to expel Syria’s ambassador, after he warned the kingdom Syrian missiles could be used against Patriot batteries due to be deployed soon along their border.

Jordanian FM Nasser Judeh after GCC conference – Photo: Reuters/Susan Baaghil

Foreign Minister Nasser Joudeh told state news agency Petra ambassador Bahjat Suleiman had violated diplomatic protocol.

“The Syrian ambassador has breached all norms and diplomatic practices by his behavior … This is considered as a final warning to abide by the rules of diplomatic practice and to stop any meetings or statements that are deemed harmful to Jordan,’ Joudeh said.

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Jordan, Jordan Syria, Patriot missiles, Syria