Mid-East News

Hezbollah claims responsibility for missile strike on Israel

Hezbollah took credit for the reported rocket attack, saying it had struck an ‘Israeli settlement’ in Northern Israel.

Israel launches major nation-wide army drill in preparation for possible war with Lebanese terrorist organization.

By Israel Today Staff

Lebanese media reported that a missile presumably fired by the Hezbollah terrorist militia landed in northern Israel late Sunday night. That report was backed up by resident of the Israeli border town of Metula, who spoke of a high-pitched whistle followed by a loud explosion.

Hezbollah rocket launcher Israeli and Lebanese forces were searching for evidence of the missile strike, but by mid-morning Monday no confirmation had been provided. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Hezbollah terrorism, IDF excercise, Metula, rocket attack

Scandinavian countries too intimidated to place Hezbollah on EU terror list

Israel focusing on getting Scandinavian countries to drop their opposition to the move since a decision would have to be unanimous within the EU for designating Hezbollah a terrorist organization.

By Shlomo Cesana

Israel is pushing for the U.S. and other Western countries to pressure Scandinavian countries to drop their opposition to adding Hezbollah to the European Union’s list of terrorist organizations.

Hezbollah supporters march in a Beirut suburb – Photo: Reuters

In recent weeks, there has been growing European support for adding Hezbollah to the list. But according to EU law, such a decision would have to be unanimous, meaning that any single country could block it.

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: blacklist, EU, Hizbollah

200 Activists in Ankara hold kissing rally against ‘policy of moral conservatism’

Kissing Demonstration was held as protest to public decree at subway station requesting public ‘to behave morally’.

By ARIEL BEN SOLOMON

Two hundred Turks held a mass kissing protest at Ankara’s Kurtulus subway station on Saturday as opposition protesters tried to intervene, according to a report in the Turkish Hurriyet Daily News.

Kissing Couple – Photo: Reuters

There was a heavy police presence that tried to block protesters from entering the station. The demonstration was called in response to a public announcement at the station – requesting passengers to behave morally, targeting young couples that were “acting inappropriately.” A conservative religious group shouted religious slogans and the police worked to prevent clashes between the groups, according to the report.Mustafa

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey

Quartet to invest $4 billion economic plan on Palestinians to make peace

Economic Plan headed by Quartet special envoy Tony Blair, will focus on developing the Palestinian private sector, allowing for an independent Palestinian economy to sustain state.

Kerry cautions: Success of plan depends on Palestinians reaching a diplomatic solution.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF

DEAD SEA, Jordan – US Secretary of State John Kerry unveiled on Sunday a $4 billion economic plan to revitalize the Palestinian economy, as he called on Israelis and Palestinians to forgive past wrongs and return to the negotiating table.

President Shimon Peres, US Secretary of State John Kerry and PA President Mahmoud Abbas. – Photo: World Economic Forum/Benedikt von Loebell

“The plan for the Palestinian economy is bigger and bolder and more ambitious than anything proposed since Oslo more than 20 years ago,” said Kerry as he spoke at the closing session of the World Economic Forum by the Dead Sea in Jordan.

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: John Kerry, Mahmoud Abbas, Tony Blair

Arab League nothing less than League of illusions

Op-ed:
Saudi peace initiative was actually introduced by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. The Arab League’s actions have always failed. Its initiatives to intervene in Syria failed, as in North Africa, Iraq and Lebanon.

Guy Bechor

Representatives of the Arab League are amending the “Saudi initiative” and turning it into a “peace” treaty with Israel. Certain elements in the Jewish state rushed to praise the idea, even going as far as claiming that the new initiative is important to Israel. Really?

Arab League conference The Arab League does not exist in reality. The new initiative was actually introduced by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry in order to increase Cairo’s influence in the Arab world. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Arab League, peace talks

One comment

Future Palestine refuses to accept Palestinian Refugees as citizens of new state

The Palestinian ambassador unequivocally says that Palestinian refugees would not become citizens of the sought for UN-recognized Palestinian state. “They are Palestinians, that’s their identity,” he says. “But … they are not automatically citizens.”

By Annie Slemrod of The Daily Star

BEIRUT: Palestinian refugees will not become citizens of a new Palestinian state, according to Palestine’s ambassador to Lebanon.

Ambassador Abdullah with Palestine’s symbolic U.N. seat in the foreground. – Photo by Mahmoud Kheir, The Daily Star

From behind a desk topped by a miniature model of Palestine’s hoped-for blue United Nations chair, Ambassador Abdullah Abdullah spoke to The Daily Star Wednesday about Palestine’s upcoming bid for U.N.

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Lebanon, Palestine, Palestinian refugees

Who will Kerry blame for failed peace-talks Netanyahu or Abbas?

John Kerry might not be returning to the region soon, but he will continue to pressure Abbas & Netanyahu into saying yes to his plan, the outlines of which are explained here.

By Barak Ravid

Secretary of State John Kerry tried to explain at a press conference at Ben-Gurion International Airport why he had been investing most of his time over the past months in a desperate attempt to renew the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, meeting with Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem May 23, 2013. – Photo: Reuters

He said that in every country he had visited – China, Japan, throughout Europe and in the Persian Gulf – and before coming here, during meetings with the foreign ministers of Brazil and New Zealand – the first question that came up was the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu, John Kerry, Mahmoud Abbas, Peace Process

Grad Rockets Fall on Hizbullah Neighborhood

Two Soviet-made Grad missiles explode in Hizbullah-dominated southern Beirut, injuring at least 4 people.

By Maayana Miskin

Two rockets exploded in southern Beirut on Sunday morning. The rockets hit the Hizbullah-dominated neighborhood of Dahiya, injuring at least four people.

Nasrallah supporter – Photo AP

It was not immediately clear who fired the rockets, or where they were fired from.

One possibility that has been raised in the Lebanese media is that the rockets were fired from a nearby “Palestinian refugee camp” housing Arabs descended from those who fled pre-state Israel in 1948.

The attack may have been linked to Hizbullah’s heavy involvement in the internal Syrian conflict. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Grad missiles, Hizbullah, Lebanon, Palestinian attack

Hezbullah’s Deputy Chief threatens EU Against Terror Blacklist

Hezbullah’s deputy, Sheikh Naim Qassem warns the EU it would be making a “big mistake” if it should label the group as a terrorist organization.

By Elad Benari, Canada

The deputy chief of the Hizbullah organization warned the European Union on Friday that it would be making a “big mistake” if it labeled the Lebanese Shiite group as a terrorist organization.

Hezbolla's #2 Sheikh Naim Qassem - Photo Reuters

Hezbollah’s no. 2 Sheikh Naim Qassem – Photo Reuters

Sheikh Naim Qassem told the Al Mayadeen television network that such threats “do not concern” or worry the group. He did not elaborate.

The EU has so far been reluctant to add Hizbullah to its list of terrorist organizations, but Britain this week filed a formal request to blacklist what is called the “military wing” of the Lebanon-based group. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: blacklist, EU, Hezbollah

Israel in UN: Assad Purposely Provoking Us

“This week’s events are part of a disturbing pattern of events intended to spark provocation with Israel,” said UN ambassador to Security Council.

By Arutz Sheva

Israel on Saturday accused Syrian forces of trying to provoke conflict following a border clash.

Tensions around Golan Heights ceasefire zone between the two rivals have escalated since Syrian forces fired across the UN-patrolled ceasefire line and hit an Israeli military vehicle on Tuesday.

“This week’s events are part of a disturbing pattern of events intended to spark provocation with Israel,” said Israel’s UN ambassador Ron Prosor in a letter to the UN Security Council. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Golan Heights, Ron Prosor, UNSC

Nasrallah promoses Hezbollah victory for Assad

Speaking from his secret underground bunker via a televised speech, the leader of Lebanese guerrilla movement Hezbollah, says his group will stay in the Syrian war “to the end of the road” and will accept all sacrifices and consequences of position.

By REUTERS, JPOST.COM STAFF

BEIRUT – The leader of Lebanese guerrilla movement Hezbollah said his group would stay in the Syrian war “to the end of the road” and bring victory to its ally President Bashar Assad.

Women are seen watching Nasrallah at an event marking Resistance and Liberation Day, May 25, 2013. – Photo: REUTERS

Hassan Nasrallah, head of the militant Shi’ite Muslim group, said in a televised speech on Saturday Syria and Lebanon were under threat from radical Sunni Islamists.

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Hassan Nasrallah, Hizbollah, Syrian unrest

Turkey erects ‘Apartheid’ wall at Syria border crossing

Following the death of 65 people in border town by terrorist bombings, Ankara, adapting Israel’s experience, constructs 2.5km long twins security walls, beefing up border security.

By REUTERS

ANKARA – Turkey is constructing 2.5-km-long (1.5 mile) twin walls at a border crossing with Syria to increase security at the frontier following three deadly bombings this year.

Officials work on one of the scenes of the twin car bomb attacks in the town of Reyhanli.

Officials work on one of the scenes of the twin car bomb terrorist attacks in the town of Reyhanli. – Photo: Reuters

The concrete walls will be built on either side of the road leading from the Turkish side of the crossing at Cilvegozu to the Syrian border gate and will be topped with barbed wire, the Turkish Customs Ministry said in a statement.

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Security wall, terrorist attack, Turkey