Archive for Mid-East News

| April 7, 2013
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Iranian ship with thousands of weapons seized by Egyptian navy

 

According to Egypt’s Interior Ministry, the weapons & ammunition were likely earmarked for extremist Salafist groups operating in the Sinai & for Palestinian terrorist groups in Gaza.

Ten crewmen of various nationalities were taken into custody.

By Daniel Siryoti, Dan Lavie, News Agencies & Israel Hayom Staff

Egyptian naval forces seized an Iranian ship carrying tens of thousands of weapons, likely earmarked for Palestinian terrorist groups and extremist Salafist groups operating in Sinai, as it entered Egyptian territorial waters in the Red Sea late on Wednesday, an Egyptian military spokesman said on Thursday.

The ship was found 12 nautical miles north of Ras Muhammad in the Sinai Peninsula, general staff spokesman Ahmed Mohamed Ali said.

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| April 6, 2013
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Report: Western spies arrested in Gaza

Gaza-based terrorist group claims to have detained spies from EU countries & the U.S., half of whom allegedly confessed to collaborating with Israel.

Hamas security chief claims Gaza “swarming with Western intelligence agencies.”

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

Hamas claimed it arrested Western spies from the US, UK, France and Germany that were operating in the Gaza Strip and targeting the organization, AFP reported on Saturday.

Photo REUTERS-Suhaib Salem

“The Gaza Strip is swarming with Western intelligence agencies, such as the American, British, French and German services,” Mohammed Lafi, a security chief, was quoted in the Hamas Interior Ministry website as saying.Hamas has a “list of collaborators who will be arrested once the time for them to repent has run out,” Lafi was quoted as saying.

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| April 6, 2013
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Abbas demands map for future Palestinian from Netanyahu as precondition

 

Abbas demands Netanyahu present US with map on 1967 borders for future Palestinian state before resumption of peace talks with Israel.

AFP

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has demanded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu present a map for a future Palestinian state before any peace talks can resume, an aide said on Friday.

Mahmoud Abbas - Photo Reuters

Mahmoud Abbas – Photo: Reuters

Abbas “wants to know, through a map to be presented by Benjamin Netanyahu to (US Secretary of State John) Kerry, what the prime minister’s view of a two-state solution would be, especially the borders,” political adviser Nimr Hammad told AFP.

The remarks came just days ahead of a visit by Kerry, who will hold fortnightly meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, local media say, as he tries to revive the stalled peace process. Continue Reading »

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| April 6, 2013
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Complains of Financial Crisis, but PA Pays Salaries to Jailed Terrorists

Despite constant complaining that it is suffering from a severe financial crisis, the Palestinian Authority sees its commitment of paying ‘salaries/pensions’ to terrorists in Israeli prisons at $55.5 million a year a top priority.

By Elad Benari, Canada

 

 

The Palestinian Authority, despite complaining constantly that it is suffering from a severe financial crisis, is continuing to provide monthly payments to terrorists serving time in Israeli prisons, the Makor Rishon newspaper reported Friday. This is not the first time that the enormous salaries the PA pays terrorists have been exposed.

According to Friday’s report, which was based on data collected by the research department of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, at least 4% of the PA government’s budget is allocated for terrorists’ salaries. Continue Reading »

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| April 5, 2013
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Syrian rebels trained by Hamas

London ‘Times’ reports the Hamas’ Kassam Brigades began training members of opposition in Damascus after braking ties with former ally Assad.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

The military unit of Hamas has broken ties with former ally Syrian President Bashar Assad and began training members of the opposition’s Free Syrian Army in Damascus, the Times of London reported on Friday.

Member of the Free Syrian Army

Member of the Free Syrian Army – Photo: REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

Anonymous diplomatic sources told the Times that members of the Izzadin Kassam Brigades were training FSA units in the rebel-held neighborhoods of Yalda, Jaramana and Babbila in the Syrian capital.

“The Kassam Brigades have been training units very close to Damascus.

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| April 5, 2013
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UNIFIL’s mandate to track Hezbollah arms a disaster

 

Israel’s national security adviser reports UNIFIL fails to report on Hezbollah armaments, as mandated by the UN.

UNIFIL spokesman: ‘Peacekeepers haven’t witnessed entry of illegal weapons into area of operations’.

Reuters

 

UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon have failed to report on Hezbollah guerrilla armaments as required, a senior Israeli official said on Thursday, arguing that Israel could not rely on foreign intervention for its security.

UNIFIL troops – Photo: Reuters

The remarks underscored the conservative strategies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as instability rocks Israel’s neighbors and world powers urge it to roll back its West Bank occupation to make way for Palestinian state. Continue Reading »

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| April 5, 2013
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UN aid distribution suspended in Gaza after rioters demanded more cash

66% of Gaza’s population, some 800,000 Palestinians have become dependent on the United Nations Relief & Works Agency’ free handouts of food & cash.

By Reuters

 

The main UN humanitarian agency for Palestinians said on Thursday it was suspending operations in the Gaza Strip after demonstrators angered by aid cutbacks stormed its headquarters.
The Shati refugee camp, Gaza City, October 6, 2012.


A Palestinian boy sits behind bags of flour donated by various aid agencies as part of their food assistance programs, in the Shati refugee camp, Gaza City, October 6, 2012. – Photo: AP

 

Some 800,000 Palestinians, two-thirds of Gaza’s population, depend on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the shuttering could exacerbate hardship caused by Israeli and Egyptian controls on the isolated enclave’s borders. Continue Reading »

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| April 5, 2013
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Hamas Arrests 2 Salafists for Rocket Attacks on Israel

Gaza’s ruling Hamas terrorist movement has arrested 2 hardline Islamists for their participation on rocket attacks at Israel.

By Elad Benari

 

 

The Hamas terrorist movement, which rules Gaza, has arrested two hardline Islamists in connection with rocket attacks on Israel, sources close to a Salafist group told AFP on Thursday.

Gaza Salafists wave Al-Qaeda flag during protest – Photo: AFP

The Hamas interior ministry, however, denied that any arrests had been made for “resistance against the occupation.”

Hamas’s “internal security apparatus in the last two days arrested two mujahedeen. One was released after several hours. The other is still detained,” a Salafist source told AFP on condition of anonymity. Continue Reading »

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| April 4, 2013
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Israeli Tourists Kept in Jordan After Cop Disappears

An Israeli tourist group in Jordan have been held there because their Jordanian police officer assigned to the group went missing.

By David Lev

 

 

Touring Jordan

Touring Jordan – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

A group of Israeli tourists in Jordan have been stuck there since Wednesday, and are not allowed to leave their lodgings, because the Jordanian police officer assigned to the group has gone missing.

The group of 21 Israelis left for Jordan last Sunday on a tour of the country’s northern hills. They had been set to return to Israel on Wednesday night via the Hussein Bridge, over the Jordan River. Continue Reading »

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| April 4, 2013
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ICC rejects Palestinian bid to investigate Israeli war crimes during Operation ‘Cast Lead’

The ICC in The Hague says reason for rejection is Palestine is currently recognized by the UN as an ‘observer,’ not a ‘Non-member State’.

 

The International Criminal Court prosecutor announced Tuesday that he has rejected a bid by the Palestinian Authority to have the war crimes tribunal investigate Israeli conduct during ‘Operation Cast Lead’ in Gaza.

IAF uses white phosphorus in air strike during Operation Cast Lead

Gazans flee an Israeli air strike in Beit Lahiya during Operation Cast Lead on January 17, 2009. – Photo: AFP

The reason for his decision was that under the ICC’s founding treaty, the Rome Statute, only internationally recognized states can join the court. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| April 4, 2013
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Marmara passenger will donate his compensation to Hamas & Islamic Jihad

Mehmet Tunc, participant in Gaza flotilla of 2010 says he’ll not touch even ‘1 Turkish Lira’ of Israeli compensation, instead plans to donate it to Palestinian terror groups.

By Roi Kais

 

A Turkish citizen who was a passenger on the Mavi Marmara flotilla announced Wednesday that he will donate any compensation from Israel to Hamas and Islamic Jihad .

פעולת צה"ל על המרמרה (צילום: AP)

IDF boards Marmara – Photo: AP

Mehmet Tunc declared that he would not touch even he would not touch even “one Turkish Lira.”

Tunc told reporters in Istanbul that nine of his friends had been “martyred” by the Israeli forces when IDF soldiers acted “against international law.” Continue Reading »

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| April 3, 2013
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IDF targets source of cross-border fire from Syria

After 2 incidences of cross-border fire from Syria on Tuesday evening, IDF tanks target the source.

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon visited the borders with Syria & Lebanon earlier on Tuesday saying, ‘We will respond to all fire from Syria’.

By Danny Brenner and Lilach Shoval

 

Israel was struck twice on Tuesday by cross-border fire from Syria. In the first incident, a mortal shell exploded in the Tel Fares area of the Golan Heights on Tuesday evening. Shortly afterward, Israeli soldiers near the Tel Hazeka military post came under fire from Syria. There were no injuries or damage in either incident.

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| April 3, 2013
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Kerry to visit Turkey, Jordan & Israel in hopes of restarting dialogue

US Sec. of State will return to Mid-East in hopes of finding formula to restart negotiations.

Canadian FM Baird also scheduled to visit region.

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry will return to Israel Saturday night as part of his efforts to restart negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

US Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with Netanyahu, March 20, 2013.

US Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with Netanyahu, March 20, 2013.- Photo: REUTERS/Larry Downing

Kerry, who held four hours of talks with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on March 23, following the visit of US President Barack Obama to Israel, will also be meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Jordan during his visit.

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| April 2, 2013
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Hamas Law Bans Co-Education & ‘Zionist’ Ties in Gaza

The newly approved education law in Gaza forbids the “receipt of gifts or aid aimed at normalizing (relations) with the Zionist occupation (Israel).”

By Arutz Sheva staff

 

A law banning “normalizing ties with the Zionist occupation” as well as co-education schooling in the Gaza Strip has entered into force, the education minister for Hamas, said on Monday.

Arab schoolgirls - Photo AFP file

Arab schoolgirls – Photo AFP file

The law, which was issued on February 10, was approved by the Islamist movement’s legislative council and went into effect on Sunday, Osama Mazini told a news conference.

Article 46 of the law, obtained by the AFP news agency, will “ban the mixing of students from the two sexes in educational establishments after the age of nine, and work to ‘feminize’ girls’ schools.” Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| March 31, 2013
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Palestinians & Jordan sign agreement to protect Jerusalem holy sites

Abbas, during his visit to Amman with King Abdullah, signs agreement regarding the protection of Christian & Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem.

By Eilor Levy

 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan’s King Abdullah signed Sunday an agreement by which they pledge to cooperate on protecting holy sites in Jerusalem.

The two leaders signing the agreement – Photo Gettyimages

The agreement was signed during Abbas’s visit in Jordan, in the presence of Palestinian Minister of Religious Affairs Mahmoud al-Habash and his Jordanian counterpart.

According to al-Habash, the agreement was devised in order to coordinate the protection of the al-Aqsa Mosque and all the Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. Continue Reading »

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