Archive for Mid-East News

| February 21, 2013
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Egypt floods Gaza tunnels with sewage to keep them from reopening

Hamas is not acting like a state, but as an armed movement, which justifies its violations of the law with excuses. There are also claims of terror cells, common criminals & thieves who exploit the tunnels daily for crimes in Egypt.

By: H. Varulkar, L. Lavi and C. Jacob*

 

Introduction

In recent days, the Egyptian military has increased its activity against tunnels between Egypt and Gaza, and has begun [1] According to one tunnel owner, Egypt is focusing this activity on areas with numerous tunnels, causing a significant decrease in smuggling.[2] Sources in Hamas claimed that the Egyptian military had increased its forces along its border with Gaza, and had dug artesian wells there to flood the tunnels.

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| February 21, 2013
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Hezbollah terror agent targeted kosher restaurants in Cyprus

A Lebanese with Swedish passport, Hossam Taleb Yaacoub 24, was arrested on attempts to harm Israeli tourists & Jewish targets in Cyprus.

Yaacoub denies the charges, but admits to being a member of Hezbollah.

By Ynet

 

While Jerusalem and Washington are trying to convince the European Union to add Hezbollah to terror black list, a Cyprus trial might help bring about this change.

NasrallahSix months after the arrest of Hossam Taleb Yaacoub, 24-year-old Lebanese who holds both Lebanese and Swedish passports, Yaacoub has admitted in court to membership in the Hezbollah, and gave information regarding his communications with his handler, the use of code words, and European activities of the Shiite organization, the New York Times reported Wednesday. Continue Reading »

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| February 21, 2013
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Nigeria Nabs Iran-Backed Terror Call Targeting Americans, Israelis & Jews

The Iranian sponsors requested that the terrorists identify & gather intel on  prominent hotels frequented by Americans & Israelis, and to provide specific details on the following targets: Zim Shipping Company & the Jewish Cultural Centre (Chabad) in Lagos.

By David Lev

 

Nigerian investigators have uncovered a plot by terrorists to attack Israeli and American tourists and businesspeople visiting the country. The group was also responsible for murdering a former top military official. Among their targets was a Chabad House, officials said.

NigeriaThe gang of three terrorists were arrested Wednesday night, among them the leader of the group. A fourth suspect is being sought. Continue Reading »

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| February 20, 2013
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Will Israel’s new gov’t be opportunity for fresh start with Turkey?

Israel desires mending its ties with Turkey, & there are many in the large Muslim nation that desire the same. A strong Turkey-Israel  alliance may affect positive ties with neighboring states.

By  Sinem Tezyapar

 

Two days before the last election in Israel, Turkish and Israeli politicians made an appearance on Turkey’s A9 TV and expressed the necessity of solving differences with love, friendship and brotherhood.

New government in Israel opportunity for fresh start with Turkey?

Adnan Oktar (center) welcomes his guests, Rabbi Nissim Zeev (right) and Dr. Shimon Shetreet (left).

The Israeli delegation, composed of a former government minister and two prominent members of the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party, was met by founders and former lawmakers from Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party. Continue Reading »

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| February 20, 2013
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EU’s designation of Hezbollah would disrupt its financing of terror

Israel’s Homefront Defense Minister Avi Dichter is in Paris to suggest designation of Hezbollah as terrorist group: “Europe, that’s the real base of Hezbollah. … If they won’t be able to gather money … in Europe, they are going to be in trouble.”

By Reuters and Israel Hayom Staff

 

 

A decision by the European Union to blacklist Hezbollah would interrupt the group’s financing because much of the money it uses to fund terrorist operations comes from European capitals, Homefront Defense Minister Avi Dichter said on Tuesday.

Homefront Defense Minister Avi Dichter. – Photo: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post

Bulgaria is pressing the EU to toughen its stance toward Hezbollah after it blamed the Lebanese Islamist movement for a bus bombing that killed five Israelis at a Bulgarian Black Sea resort last year.

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| February 20, 2013
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London’s Times reports: Tehran Overrun By Giant Rats

UK’s The Times reports that Tehran’s environmental agency is using sniper teams armed with infra-red sights, against huge rodents running rampant in 26 districts of capital.

By Ynet

 

As Iran continues to defy Western efforts to prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon, it appears the Islamic Republic has found itself a new enemy.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

The rats are now bigger, look different & have grown increasingly resistant to rat poison. They have grown to such a size cats are now smaller than them.

London’s Times newspaper reported Tuesday that Tehran’s environmental agency is dealing with rats running rampant in 26 districts of the Iranian capital. Continue Reading »

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| February 20, 2013
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How to Assassinate a Senior Hizbullah Terrorist

A Lebanese newspaper reports a detailed accounting of the assassination of Hizbullah terrorist Imad Mughniyeh inside Syria in 2008.

By Elad Benari

 

A report published on Tuesday in the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar purports to present a detailed account of the 2008 assassination of senior Hizbullah terrorist Imad Mughniyeh in Damascus.

Imad MughniyehAs expected, the report pointed the finger at the Israeli Mossad as being behind the operation.

According to Al-Akhbar, as soon as the 2006 Second Lebanon War ended, Hizbullah began the largest operation to restore its military organization and raise the level of its readiness and weaponry. Mughniyeh was put in charge of developing and enhancing the military abilities of the group in Lebanon. Continue Reading »

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| February 19, 2013
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Aqsa Martyrs terrorists demand PA pay raises…or else.

The Aqsa Martyrs Brigade gunmen, who had been pardoned from Israeli prisons, say the NIS 1,500 that each receives from the PA is not enough & may hunger-strike until pensions are increased.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

Former members of Fatah’s armed wing, Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, demanded Sunday that the Palestinian Authority raise their salaries.
Palestinian gunmen from Al-Aqsa brigades of Fatah

Palestinian gunmen from Al-Aqsa brigades of Fatah
Photo: REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

The gunmen, who had been pardoned by Israel, said that the NIS 1,500 that each one of them receives from the PA was not enough.

They threatened to launch protests in the West Bank if the PA government did not increase their salaries.

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| February 19, 2013
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Is Qatar funding the calm in Gaza?

Security source report how money is “flowing into Gaza,” as Qatar Emir’s cash is paying for new construction and infrastructure.

 

Israeli deterrence has so far successfully kept Hamas from violating the cease-fire reached after an eight-day round of violence in November, but a second factor might also be playing a role in upholding the unprecedented calm along the Gaza-Israel border: economics.

Qatari emir greeted in Gaza by Haniyeh

Qatari emir greeted in Gaza by Haniyeh – Photo: Reuters

Weeks before November’s Operation Pillar of Defense, the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, paid a landmark visit to the Hamasrun enclave, and nearly doubled his country’s investment to Gaza, raising it to 400 million dollars.

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| February 19, 2013
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Egyptian flooding of Hamas’ smuggling tunnels adds to unemployment

Egypt’s policy to shut down the smuggling tunnels to Gaza will mean unemployment for 10,000 Palestinians.

By Reuters

 

Egypt‘s campaign to shut down smuggling tunnels running under its border into the Gaza Strip threatens to throw thousands of Palestinians out of work in the Hamas-run enclave.

Gaza Egypt smuggling tunnel

Palestinian waits for a cart containing gravel inside a smuggling tunnel beneath the Egyptian-Gaza border in November 2012. – Photo by Reuters

The network of tunnels has been a vital lifeline for Gaza, bringing in an estimated 30 percent of all goods that reach the enclave and circumventing a blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt for more than seven years. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| February 18, 2013
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Israeli Submarines Spotted Off Coast of Lebanon

Israeli subs have allegedly been spotted cruising off of Lebanon’s coast between Sidon & Nakura.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

Israeli submarines have allegedly been spotted cruising off the coast of Lebanon between Sidon and Nakura, according to a report in Lebanese media.

The Dolphin-class submarine first entered service in 2000. – Photo- IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

French tracking installations informed the United Nations that the subs had been detected, according to the report, published in the Al-Dayar daily newspaper.

Israel Air Force jets regularly patrol the skies of Lebanon for a number of reasons, deterrence against weapons transports from Syria to the Hizbullah terrorist organization among them. Continue Reading »

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| February 18, 2013
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Could Pakistan become friends with Israel?

Israel & Pakistan could cooperate on the political & diplomatic levels. Both countries could pose as mediators. Pakistan can mediate between Israel & the Palestinians, whereas Israel can exert influence on India in the Indian-Pakistani dispute over Kashmir.

By Elizabeth Blade

 

It’s hard to imagine a Muslim state that would be cordial to Israel. Pakistan is no exception. Last year, it promised to retaliate against Israel in the event of a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Then – during Israel’s recent operation in the Gaza Strip – Pakistan condemned the effort to curb Hamas rocket fire, calling on the United Nations’ Security Council to demand an immediate cessation of Israel’s military action. Continue Reading »

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| February 18, 2013
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Bulgarian FM urges EU to recognize Hezbollah as terrorist organization

Sofia urges EU to blacklist Hezbollah as a terrorist organization & make an effort to prevent further attacks to EU members.

 

The European Union must take collective action against Hezbollah, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolai Mladenov said on Monday morning.
Relatives of a victim of the Burgas bomb attack

Relatives of a victim of the Burgas bomb attack – Photo: REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov

Mladenov attended a meeting in Brussels to brief his counterparts on an initial investigative Bulgarian report which blamed Hezbollah for the bombing outside the Burgas airport that killed five Israeli tourists and the Bulgarian bus driver last July.

“We believe the attack that happened in Burgas last year was organized by people connected to the military wing of Hezbollah,” Mladenov said.

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| February 18, 2013
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Israel supplies Turkey with military hardware for 1st time since Marmara

Under pressure from Boeing & White House officials, the Israeli gov’t capitulated & ended its freeze on advanced electronic warfare systems to Turkey’s Air Force.

 

Israel has supplied advanced electronic warfare systems to the Turkish Air Force, marking the first exchange of military equipment with Turkey since relations between the two countries deteriorated in the wake of the Israeli Navy raid on the Mavi Marmara ferry in May 2010.

AWACS plane.

A Turkish AWACS plane. – Photo by Seattle Aviator (Wikipedia)

The deal was reported on Sunday in the Turkish newspaper Zaman and confirmed today by a senior Israeli defense source. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| February 18, 2013
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EU rejects declaring Hezbollah a ‘terrorist organization’

EU sources report that if Hezbollah’s involvement in last July’s terrorist attack in Bulgaria is proven, the most the EU will do is consider implementing pinpoint sanctions against it, but the European Union will not call Hezbollah a terrorist organization.

By Dan Lavie, Daniel Siryoti & Israel Hayom Staff

 

If the required proof implicating Hezbollah in the terrorist attack in Bulgaria last July is provided, then the EU would lean toward implementing pinpoint sanctions against elements involved in the attack, but would refrain from formally declaring Hezbollah a “terrorist organization,” European Union sources said on Sunday.

The scene of the terrorist attack against Israeli tourists in Burgas, Bulgaria, last July.

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