Archive for Mid-East News

| May 4, 2013
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Google recognizes Palestine

Google changed tagline on Palestinian edition from “Palestinian territories” to “Palestine.”

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

Internet giant Google took a symbolic step this week, changing the tagline on the homepage of its Palestinian edition from “Palestinian territories” to “Palestine.”

Google's Palestinian edition homepage

Google’s Palestinian edition homepage

The move marks another victory for the Palestinian Authority, after it won a historic upgrade at the United Nations General Assembly in November, gaining the status of non-member observer state. Following the vote, the PA officially changed its name to the State of Palestine, with stamps, signs and letterheads reflecting the decision.

“We’re changing the name ‘Palestinian Territories’ to ‘Palestine’ across our products,” Google spokesman Nathan Tyler told the BBC on Friday.

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| May 3, 2013
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Lebanon reports IAF warplanes buzz Beirut

Lebanese news site reports

Israeli reconnaissance jets in violation of airspace & that

the warplanes have become regular, but the last 2 days’ air traffic ‘unusually high’

By Roi Kais

Two Israeli warplanes penetrated Friday morning into Lebanese airspace and soared for about three hours above the capital Beirut, according to a report by the Lebanese military.

File photo of IAF planes - Photo EPA

File photo of IAF planes – Photo EPA

Earlier in the day Lebanese news site El-Nashra reported IAF aircraft were hovering in the country’s aerial space near the southern towns of Bint Jbeil and Marjayoun and were apparently carrying out simulated attacks. A military source quoted by the site said, “These are simulated attacks the likes of which we have not seen.” Continue Reading »

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| May 3, 2013
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China invites Netanyahu & Abbas to Beijing talks

Chinese Foreign Ministry official says that solving Palestinian issue would promote peace & stability for the entire world.

A senior Israeli source writes-off any likelihood of the meeting taking place.

By

The Chinese government announced on Friday that it would arrange a meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas next week, when both leaders simultaneously visit the country, should the leaders be willing to do so.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, left, walks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, left, walks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, at his residence in Jerusalem, Israel Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010. – Photo: AP

During a daily press briefing, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said his country would be happy to facilitate such a meeting. Continue Reading »

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| May 3, 2013
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The UN is only effective when Hezbollah is quiet

Hezbollah has begun taking control in southern Lebanon by replacing Lebanese Army units as they withdraw.

Once again Israel is left asking: ‘What about those thousands of UNIFIL peace keepers stationed there?’

By  Aviel Schneider

 

Tensions along Israel’s northern border are growing as Hezbollah forces tighten their grip on southern Lebanon.

The UN is only effective when all is quiet

The UN is only effective when all is quiet – Israel Today

Hezbollah and allied terror groups have moved back into the border region in force in violation of the UN resolution (1701) that brought an end to the Second Lebanon War in 2006. The terrorists are exploiting the fact that the Lebanese army has had to send so many troops to the Syrian border in the east. Continue Reading »

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| May 3, 2013
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Analysis: Egypt & Iran vie in power struggle over Gaza

While Tehran voices it’s dissatisfaction on the cease-fire between Hamas & Israel, Cairo is doing its utmost to maintain calm.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN


 

 

Egypt and Iran are locked in a power struggle over their influence and conflicting aims in the Gaza Strip, and Egypt appears to have the upper hand.

IDF soldier sits atop a tank just outside northern Gaza - Photo REUTERS-Amir Cohen

IDF soldier sits atop a tank just outside northern Gaza – Photo: REUTERS-Amir Cohen

While Tehran is dissatisfied with the relative durability of the cease-fire between Hamas and Israel, and is pushing Palestinian armed factions to violate the truce, Cairo is doing its utmost to reinforce the calm, which it views as serving Egypt’s national interest.

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| May 3, 2013
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Pentagon to Israel: Our Redesigned bomb can destroy Fordo nuke plant

The 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator, has adjusted fuses to maximize its burrowing power, upgraded guidance systems to improve its precision & high-tech equipment to allow it to evade Iranian air defenses in order to reach & destroy the Fordo enrichment complex.

By Ynet

 

 

The Pentagon has redesigned its biggest “bunker buster” bomb with more advanced features intended to enable it to destroy Iran’s most heavily fortified and defended nuclear site, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday, adding that American officials, showed Israeli military and civilian leaders secret Air Force video of an earlier version of the bomb hitting its target in high-altitude testing. Continue Reading »

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| May 2, 2013
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Fatah seeking closer ties with Iran

Senior Fatah members are seeking closer ties with Iran. In wake of Arab League’s peace plan, ‘peace partners’ looking for closer ties with those overtly seeking Israel’s destruction.

By Maayana Miskin

 

 

Senior Fatah member Jabril Rajoub has suggested that Fatah seek closer ties with Iran, according to Iran’s IRNA news agency.

Mahmoud Abbas - Photo Reuters

Mahmoud Abbas – Photo Reuters

Rajoub made his statements in a meeting with Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon. He expressed hope that with Iran’s help, Arabs would succeed in “freeing our land.”

Also present was Ashraf Dabour, the PA ambassador to Lebanon.

The three spoke about the attempts at reconciliation within the PA. Continue Reading »

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| May 2, 2013
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Hamas tightened Gaza security with its Kassam Brigade to stop rocket fire

‘Asharq Al-Awsat’ reports Hamas deployed Kassam Brigade fighters to border, replacing local police in areas previously used for rocket launching at Israel.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

Hamas has replaced policemen at the Gaza Strip border areas with fighters from its Kassam Brigades in an effort to stop rocket fire at southern Israel, the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat reported on Wednesday.

Hamas's Kassam Brigades [file].

Hamas’s Kassam Brigades [file]. – Photo: REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

The paper quotes a Palestinian source as saying that Israel passed messages to Hamas through Egyptian mediators threatening to launch another large-scale operation in the Gaza Strip if the rocket fire doesn’t stop.Hamas’s Kassam Brigades have set up fixed and mobile roadblocks and have begun searching cars in areas near the border.

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| May 2, 2013
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Court: Kenya Finds 2 Iranians Guilty of Plotting Terror Attacks Against Israelis

The 2 Iranians were found guilty by a Kenyan court on Thursday for possessing a military strength chemical explosive allegedly for use in bomb attacks against Israeli targets.

By Arutz Sheva staff

 

Two Iranians were found guilty by a Kenyan court Thursday for possessing explosives allegedly for use in bomb attacks.

Ahmed Mohammed and Sayed Mansour, who were arrested last June, were found guilty of possessing 15 kilos (33 pounds) of the powerful explosive RDX. The court said they had suspected links to a terror network planning bombings in Mombasa and Nairobi, the AFP news agency reported.

The men, who have both denied all charges, are said to have hidden the explosives in the port city of Mombasa. Continue Reading »

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| May 2, 2013
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4 Muslim Terrorist Arrested by Italian Police

An Italian Jihadist cell that planned attacks in Israel, Italy the U.S. & have been arrested. The Italian police are still searching for 2 more suspects.

By Ari Soffer

 

Italian police arrested four men on Tuesday, who are suspected of planning terrorist attacks in Italy, the US and Israel, reports Reuters News. One of the arrested men is believed to be a Tunisian former imam at a mosque in the city of Andria, in the southern Italian region of Puglia, where police said the terror cell was based. According to paramilitary police, the men aimed to train terrorists and send them to fight abroad, and are suspected of conspiracy to commit international terrorism and incite racial hatred. Continue Reading »

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| May 1, 2013
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Lebanese soldiers catches Israeli sneaking crossed border

Lebanese newspaper reports Israeli citizen caught jumping border fence and is now being interrogated by there security forces.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, YAAKOV LAPPIN

 

 

The Lebanese army apprehended intoIsraeli citizen who crossed the border from Israel into Lebanon on Wednesday, the Lebanese Daily Star quoted security sources as saying.

Lebanese soldier peers at Israel along border

Lebanese soldier peers at Israel along border – Photo: Ali Hashisho/Reuters

According to the report, the 34-year-old man jumped over the border fence between the countries south of the city of Nakoura, where the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is located.

Lebanese authorities were interrogating the man, the report added. Continue Reading »

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| May 1, 2013
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Iranian Official Accuses Jews of Practicing Sorcery Against Iran

An Iranian leader with ties to the Supreme Spiritual Leader Ali Khamenei recently accused the Jews controlling “God’s decisions, by using sorcery methods”.

By Arutz Sheva staff

 

An Iranian leader with close ties to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei recently accused the Jews of engaging in sorcery and employing it against Iran, the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) reported.

MEMRI

MEMRI

“The Jews are currently subjecting us to an unprecedented trial. As you read in the Koran, [King] Solomon ruled the world… and God ordered a group of sorcerers to come out against him. The Jews have the greatest powers of sorcery, and they make use of this tool,” said Mehdi Taeb, who heads Khamenei’s Ammar Base think tank. Continue Reading »

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| May 1, 2013
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Poll: Palestinians lead Muslim world advocating suicide bombings

 

40% of Palestinian Muslims see suicide bombing attacks on civilians justified, while half take opposite opinion.

By Israel Hayom Staff

Out of all the Muslim respondents in a global survey, Palestinian Muslims polled highest in favor of suicide bombings as a justifiable means “to defend Islam.”

Girl dressed as a suicide bomber at a Hamas rally in the Gaza Strip – Photo: Reuters

A new Pew Research Center survey of Muslims around the globe finds that most adherents of the world’s second-largest religion are deeply committed to their faith and want its teachings to shape not only their personal lives but also their societies and politics.

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| May 1, 2013
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Ottoman era Jewish cemetery unearthed during construction work in Turkey

The remains were found in the area below the Archeology Museum, seven meters below the ground. Excavations are ongoing, since there is a possibility that more bones might be found.

By JTA

 

Gravestones and bones from an ancient Turkish Jewish cemetery were unearthed during construction work.

The remains were found in the area below the Archeology Museum. – DHA photo

The remains in the Turkish city of Izmir were found more than 20 feet below the ground, during construction work on an underground tunnel, the Hürriyet Daily News reported Wednesday.

According to Hurriyet, the gravestones were left in the ground and the bones were delivered to representatives of Izmir’s Jewish community. Continue Reading »

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| May 1, 2013
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Report: Hezbollah replaces Lebanese Armed Forces on Lebanon-Israel border

UNIFIL personnel say the Lebanese Army  is gradually withdrawing from Israel border area, leaving it in Hezbollah control.

By Ynet

As tensions build up in the north, Hezbollah continues to tighten its grip on southern Lebanon while the Lebanese Armed Forces gradually withdraw their troops from the border area. Meanwhile, UNIFIL is reporting heightened standoffs with Hezbollah, Lebanon’s Daily Star reported Wednesday.

UNIFIL in southern Lebanon - Photo Reuters

UNIFIL in southern Lebanon – Photo: Reuters

UNIFIL patrols are finding paths blocked and former temporary observation points suddenly out of bounds in what is being interpreted as Hezbollah seeking to flex its muscles on the ground at a time of heightened regional uncertainty and aggressive postures by Israel, the paper reported. Continue Reading »

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