Archive for Mid-East News

| June 6, 2013
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Which will be victorious, Hezbollah or Al-Qaida ?

With Al-Qaida forces fighting in a dozen countries, can Hezbollah stand up to their battlefield experience?

By Clifford D. May

 

Back during the George W. Bush administration, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage famously called Hezbollah the “A-team of terrorists,” adding that “al-Qaida is actually the B-team.” How do these two organizations compare today?

Hezbollah rocket launcherLast week, the State Department released its annual “Country Reports on Terrorism 2012.” At a background briefing , a “senior administration official” highlighted an alarming trend: a “marked resurgence of terrorist activity by Iran and Hezbollah. The tempo of operational activity was something we haven’t seen since the 1990s. Continue Reading »

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| June 6, 2013
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Ireland leads opposition in having Hezbollah blacklisted by EU

Jerusalem officials accuse Ireland of heading EU opposition to having Hezbollah’s “military wing” rightly placed on continent’s blacklist.

By HERB KEINON

 

 

Government officials in Jerusalem accused Ireland on Wednesday of leading opposition inside the EU to placing Hezbollah, or at least its “military wing,” on the European Union’s terrorist black list.

Hezbollah terrorists - Photo by EPA

Hezbollah terrorists – Photo by EPA

According to the officials, Ireland – which holds the EU’s rotating presidency – was supported in this position by Sweden and Finland at a working group on Tuesday that debated the issue.

A consensus of the EU’s 27 states will be needed to blacklist Hezbollah’s “military wing,” a move now even backed by Germany and France.

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| June 6, 2013
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Syrian Group of Al-Qaeda Rebels Now Positioned on Israeli Border

The IDF confirmed reports that Syrian rebel forces, most likely affiliated with Al Qaeda, now control areas of the Syrian Golan city of Kuneitra.

By David Lev

 

The IDF verified reports Thursday morning that Syrian rebel forces had conquered parts of the Golan city of Kuneitra, placing them directly on the border with Israel. IDF officials said that the takeover of the area by rebel forces was a “significant development.”

During the battle between rebel and Syrian army forces, a mortar shell fell on a UN observer base in the area. A UN worker was injured. IDF officials have advised agricultural workers in the border area to stay away from the border until the security situation can be clarified. Continue Reading »

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| June 5, 2013
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Iran’s Bushehr nuclear reactor reportedly damaged by 2 earthquakes

 

Saudi Arabia & other Arab diplomats say they are particularly worried because they have received information that the Bushehr reactor was damaged during recent earthquakes, with long cracks appearing in at least one section of the structure.

By The Associated Press and Israel Hayom Staff

Several countries monitoring Iran’s nuclear program have picked up information that the country’s only power-producing nuclear reactor was damaged by one or more of several recent earthquakes, with long cracks appearing in at least one section of the structure, two diplomats said Tuesday.

The Bushehr nuclear reactor in Iran – Photo: AP

Iran is under U.N.

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| June 5, 2013
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For 12th time Abu Bluff threatens to dismantle Palestinian Authority

PA minister for civilian affairs says Palestinian President Abbas is giving Kerry until June 20 to revive the peace talks….or else.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
 

 

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has threatened to dismantle the PA should US Secretary of State John Kerry fail to “salvage the peace process,” a senior PA official said Tuesday.

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas - Photo Mark Israel Sellem

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas – Photo: Mark Israel Sellem

Hussein al-Sheikh, the PA minister for civilian affairs, said that Abbas has informed Kerry that the PA’s functional role would end if current efforts to revive the peace process did not succeed.

“Israel, as an occupying force, would then have to assume full responsibility [over the Palestinian population],” Sheikh told the PA’s Voice of Palestine radio station.

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| June 5, 2013
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UK’s push to blacklist Hezbollah encounters EU opposition

A few European countries are concerned the blacklisting would increase instability in the Middle East.

By Reuters

A British request to blacklist the armed wing of Hezbollah ran into opposition in the European Union on Tuesday, with several governments expressing concern that such a move would increase instability in the Middle East.

Nasrallah speaking in Beirut

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah addresses supporters during a Jerusalem Day rally in Beirut, August 17, 2012. – Photo: Reuters

Britain has argued that the militant Shi’ite Muslim group should face European sanctions because of evidence that it was behind a bus bombing in Bulgaria last July that killed five Israelis and their driver. Continue Reading »

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| June 3, 2013
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Another Palestinian journalist arrested by Abbas’ security for reporting on Fatah

Abbas’s Security forces arrest Palestinian journalist for reporting on leaflet calling for the resignation of Bethlehem’s Mayor

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

 

 
Palestinian Authority security forces on Monday arrested Palestinian journalist George Canawati, director of Bethlehem Radio 2000, for reporting about a leaflet distributed by Fatah’s armed wing, Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.
A masked militant from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of the Fatah movement in Hebron, August 3, 2008. - Photo REUTERS-Nayef Hashlamoun

A masked militant from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of the Fatah movement in Hebron, August 3, 2008. – Photo: REUTERS/Nayef Hashlamoun

The PA prosecutor-general ordered the arrest of Canawati for 48 hours.
Canawati is accused of reporting on his radio station about the leaflet, which attacked Bethlehem Mayor Vera Baboun, and called for her resignation.

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| June 3, 2013
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American official: Kerry will drop peace process if Israelis & Palestinians aren’t serious

Abbas isn’t responding to American or Jordanian pressure. Abbas reiterated to Judeh that a freeze on settlement construction  AND the release of Palestinian prisoners is the way to restart negotiations.

By

 

 

 

 

 

If U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry determines that Israelis and Palestinians are not serious about the peace process, he will abandon his efforts on the matter, a senior U.S. official told Reuters.

John Kerry (C) with President Shimon Peres (L) and President Mahmoud Abbas.


John Kerry (C) with President Shimon Peres (L) and President Mahmoud Abbas at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa on May, 26. – Photo: Reuters

 

In an article by Arshad Mohammed, the Reuters journalist responsible for covering the State Department in Washington, the reporter cited those who called Kerry a “Lone Ranger” condemning the Middle East peace process, and that many involved call Kerry “naive.” Continue Reading »

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| June 3, 2013
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Int’l Report: Israel possess 80 nuclear weapons

 

Annual global military assessment by Swedish think tank says Israel possess least number of warheads of all nations known to have viable nuclear weapons

By Ryan Jones

 

 

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reports in the 2013 edition of its annual global security review that Israel possesses some 80 nuclear warheads.

Nuclear

 

According to SIPRI, 50 of Israel’s warheads are built for use atop medium-range ballistic missiles, while the other 30 are designed to be attached to bombs carried by aircraft. The Jewish state is also believed to have developed smaller, tactical nuclear munitions, such as artillery shells. Continue Reading »

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| June 2, 2013
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Iran to sue Russia for not supplying S-300 missiles

 

Tehran reportedly sues Russian arms-export company Rosoboronexport for $4 billion in an int’l court in Switzerland, & will only drop the suit if Moscow supplies them with the 5 battalions of the advanced S-300 systems that were ordered.

By Israel Hayom Staff, Shlomo Cesana, Yoni Hirsch, & Eli Leon

Iran is suing Russia over its cancellation of a sale of the advanced S-300 surface-to-air missile system, which they had signed to do in 2007 but pulled out of after U.S. and Israeli pressure, according to a report by Russian news outlet Novosti on Friday.

S-300 anti-air missile system mounted on a trailer – Photot: Reuters

According to the report, Iran is pushing forth with a $4 billion lawsuit against Russian arms-export company Rosoboronexport in an international court in Switzerland, and will only drop their suit if Russia supplies them with five batteries of the advanced S-300 system.

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| June 2, 2013
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Lebanon pissed-off: Israeli warplanes flying over Beirut

Lebanese official confirmed the IAF overflights on Sunday & said they presence were among the most intense recently.

Israel has no comment.

By

 

Lebanese security officials and the state-run news agency reported Sunday that low-flying Israeli warplanes were violating its air space, overlying territory including the capital Beirut.

IAF planes – Photo EPA

The warplanes flew over southern Lebanon, Beirut, the eastern Bekaa Valley and the city of Baalbek, the National News Agency said.

Israeli warplanes regularly enter Lebanese airspace. A Lebanese security official confirmed the Sunday overflights and said they were among the most intense recently. Continue Reading »

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| June 2, 2013
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Iran’s Arak reactor beginning to worry Western and Israeli leaders

Iran’s research reactor could easily yield plutonium for bombs. Islamic Republic says the use is for civilian purposes only, there will be no reprocessing.

By Reuters

 

 

Iran aims to start a reactor next year which the West fears could arm an atomic bomb; Israel, which has bombed such construction sites around the Middle East before, may try to stop the plant being completed.

Arak heavy-water research plant – Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons

The timetable for the planned start-up of the Arak heavy-water research plant is closely watched: Israeli and Western experts say any attacker would probably prefer to act before it becomes operational – to avoid generating radioactive fallout. Continue Reading »

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| June 2, 2013
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Dozen of rockets fired from Syria but now Hezbollah stronghold in Lebanon hit

Lebanese officials say 16 rockets fired by Syrian rebels have struck eastern region of Baalbek, Lebanon for first time.

By

 

Lebanese security officials say 16 rockets fired from Syria have struck the eastern region of Baalbek.

House damaged by rockets fired by Syrian rebels on Lebanese region of Hermel.


House damaged by rockets fired by Syrian rebels on Lebanese region of Hermel, Wednesday May 29, 2013. – Photo: AP

 

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters, say the rockets caused a fire in fields without casualties.

The area that was struck is a stronghold of Lebanon‘s militant Hezbollah group that is fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar Assad‘s forces against rebels who are trying to remove him from power. Continue Reading »

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| June 1, 2013
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16 rockets fired from Syria reported to have hit Lebanon

Lebanese daily reports no one hurt in 2nd attack of rockets which come amid Hezbollah’s unwanted interference into Syrian unrest.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

More than 16 rockets were fired from Syria into Lebanon early Saturday morning landing in the Bekaa Valley region, The Lebanese Daily Star quoted a security source as saying.

The Bekaa Valley in Lebanon - Photo: Steve Crisp-Reuters

The Bekaa Valley in Lebanon – Photo: Steve Crisp/Reuters

There were no injuries in the attacks, according to the report, but a rocket did cause a fire to break out near the town of Sireen al-Fawqa.

The Daily Star quoted Lebanese state media as reporting that four Syrians had been arrested in connection with the rocket attacks.

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| June 1, 2013
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Another Major BDS Movement Defeat in U.S.

A Palestinian inspired resolution calling for the boycott of Israeli firms will be ignored at the upcoming TIAA-CREF shareholders meeting.

By Elad Benari, Canada

 

 

A resolution calling for the boycott of Israeli firms will not be put to a vote at the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association – College Retirement Equities Fund’s (TIAA-CREF) upcoming shareholders meeting.

Protester calling for a boycott of Israel – Photo: REUTERS

The move comes after the pension fund giant received approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to “take no action” on a submission by pro-Palestinian Authority Arab activists. This followed the company’s warning by an Israeli civil rights group that passage of the resolution would violate NY and Federal law. Continue Reading »

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