Archive for Mid-East News

| December 31, 2012
No comments

Palestinian Authority Makes It Official: Palestine is all of Israel

Heading the PLO as well as the Palestinian Authority,  Mahmoud Abbas, officially adopts their new logo: All of Israel as Palestine.

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

 

The Fatah party, headed by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, has made official what it has been saying quietly and has adopted a new logo showing all of Israel as Palestine.

The logo marks the 48th anniversary of the founding of Fatah by Yasser Arafat and includes a map with the PA flag and a map of Israel that appears to be a depiction of the black and white checkered kefiyah, a symbol of the violent intifada, and the slogan “the state and victory.” Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags:
| December 30, 2012
No comments

Arab League Sec-Gen: Palestinians will advance statehood status at UN

Is the Arab League Secretary-General trying to muster the int’l community to intervene & impose a solution to the conflict between Israel & the Palestinians?

By News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff

 

 

Two decades of talks with Israel have been “a waste of time” and Palestinians will soon take a new statehood bid to the U.N, Arab League chief: Palestinians will advance statehood bid in UN Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby said on Saturday.

Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby speaks during a press conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Saturday. – Photo: AP

“We will return to the U.N.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| December 30, 2012
No comments

Palestinians: US pressuring Arab FMs not to visit Ramallah

Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Amru accompany Arab League Secretary-General in his 1st visit to Ramallah while 4 other Arab foreign ministers cancel their visit at the last minute.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

 

Palestinian officials in Ramallah on Saturday accused the US of putting pressure on Arab foreign ministers not to visit Ramallah.

The accusation came as Arab League Secretary- General Nabil Elaraby arrived in Ramallah for talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Nabil Elaraby visiting Ramallah.- Photo: REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman

Nabil Elaraby visiting Ramallah.- Photo: REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman

This was the first visit to the West Bank by an Arab League secretary-general.

Four Arab foreign ministers who were supposed to accompany Elaraby backtracked at the last minute.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| December 30, 2012
No comments

Egypt Seeks Warm Ties with Hizbullah

Egyptian ambassador to Lebanon admits that Egypt is pursuing a relationship with Hizbullah as a “real political and military force”.

By Elad Benari

 

Egypt will pursue a relationship with the Hizbullah terror group as a “real political and military force” on the ground in Lebanon, the Egyptian ambassador to Lebanon told the Lebanese newspaper Daily Star on Saturday.

Speaking after Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood-backed new constitution was signed in to law, Ambassador Ashraf Hamdy said Egypt would keep contacts “tight,” even with its enemies.

“We are stretching our hand out in the proper, balanced way to all regional powers, but of course, we will continue to develop our foreign policy according to our interests,” he said. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| December 30, 2012
One comment

Hezbollah’s Cocaine Business Buys Weapons

With decreasing Iranian funding, the Shiite terror group partners up with the Mexican drug cartels.

From the millions of dollars in drug revenues, they support their weapon acquisition habit.

By Eldad Beck

 

MEXICO – Chiapas is one of Mexico’s most exotic federal districts. But the magical forests, appealing Indian communities, colorful towns and intriguing archeological sites – that serve as main tourist attractions – hide a political hell.

Hezbollah Chief Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah – Photo: AFP

The Islamic terror groups are eager to make money, so they can fund their nefarious aspirations.

In the mid-1990s, a leftist resistance group which calls itself The Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) made Chiapas its home. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| December 30, 2012
No comments

UK Arab Human Rights group accuse the PA of inhumane practices

Arab human rights group reports: Between 2007-2011, Mahmoud Abbas’ PA detained 13,271 Palestinians,  torturing 96% of them that resulted in 6 deaths.

By JONNY PAUL, JERUSALEM POST CORRESPONDENT

 

LONDON – An Arab human rights group based in London accused the Palestinian Authority of inhumane practices and human rights violations against Palestinian civilians in a scathing report published on Friday.

PA police grapple with Hamas supporters

PA police grapple with Hamas supporters – Photo: Ammar Awad/Reuters

The Arab Organization for Human Rights has put the primary blame for the human rights abuses on PA President Mahmoud Abbas and called on the UN, Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation to take urgent action. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| December 30, 2012
No comments

Arab League Turns to Obama for Support

Arab League asks Obama to be “proactive on peace” after the $100 million the Arab League promised to provide the Palestinians monthly, have yet to be delivered.

By Gil Ronen

 

Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi on Saturday called on US President Barack Obama to be “proactive” in ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in his forthcoming term, according to AFP.

Nabil Al-Arabi

Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi – Reuters

“We hope that the new American administration adopts a policy of conflict resolution rather than conflict management,” Arabi said during a visit with Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohammed Kamel Amr to the Ramallah headquarters of Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmud Abbas. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| December 29, 2012
No comments

Have Israel’s Hands Been Tied by the Palestinians?

Egypt is far from being the only country to support the militant group. It is no longer a secret that Hamas is also backed by Iran and the Gulf states (particularly Qatar).

By Elizabeth Blade

 

On Sunday, several foreign and Israeli news outlets reported that the radical Gaza-based group Hamas was preparing to take over the West Bank, determined to oust the current Western-backed Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

According to reports, the Islamists were emboldened by their recent war with Israel and the alleged victory that followed.

Militants claimed that Israel failed to cripple their ability (and will) to launch attacks against civilian targets, with some going as far as to suggest that Hamas left the battleground if not victorious, then at least stronger diplomatically. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| December 29, 2012
No comments

Egyptian Foreign Minister & Arab League chief, meet with Abbas in Ramallah

The Arab leaders will seek ways to revive moribund Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

After the Egyptians succeeded in talking Hamas into a ceasefire, now their attentions are aimed at Abbas

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

RAMALLAH – Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Al-Arabi and Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohammad Kamel Amr arrived in the West Bank on Saturday, Palestinian news agency Ma’an reported.

Nabil al-Arabi - Reuters

Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi – Photo by Reuters

The two were expected to meet with PA President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah to discuss pledged financial aid to the Palestinian Authority.Palestinian envoy to the Arab League Muhammad Sbeih earlier in the day said the visit was meant to demonstrate Arab solidarity with the Palestinians following the PA’s successful bid to upgrade its UN status to non-member state.According
Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| December 28, 2012
No comments

NYT Reports: Iran slowing down uranium enrichment program

NYT Reports: Tehran signaling it wants to avoid direct confrontation over its nuclear program.

Analysts believe Iran now interested in deal to end standoff with the West & Israel.

By Ynet

 

Iran is slowing down its uranium enrichment efforts and appears to be signaling that it wants to avoid a direct confrontation over its nuclear program, United States and other Western officials estimate.

אחמדינג'אד במתקן העשרת אורניום. הצנטריפוגות עדיין מסתובבות, לאט (צילום: AP)

Ahmadinejad in uranium enrichment facility – Photo: AP

According to the New York Times, the action has led some analysts to conclude that Iran’s leaders are showing signs that they may be more interested in a deal to end the nuclear standoff with the West. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags:
| December 28, 2012
No comments

Lieberman on Abbas’ Repeated Threats: Please Quit, We Can’t Wait

Lieberman welcomes Abbas’ threat to step down. “We congratulate [Abbas] for reaching the correct conclusion”

By Maayana Miskin

 

Yisrael Beiteinu head Avigdor Lieberman, until recently the Foreign Minister, reacted with joy Friday as Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas threatened to quit if negotiations do not resume. Abbas has refused to negotiate in absence of several Israeli concessions, including a complete freeze on construction east of the 1949 armistice line.
According to Lieberman, Israel “can’t wait” for Abbas to follow through on his threat.

“We congratulate Abu Mazen [Abbas] for reaching the correct conclusion, that only his leave from the PA leadership will allow the diplomatic process to resume,” Lieberman said.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| December 27, 2012
No comments

Report: US special forces preparing to join IDF elite operating in Syria

Israel’s real fear is that Syria’s chemical weapons will fall into the hands of the rebels, who are not the “good-guy freedom fighters” most in the West portray them to be.

 

By Ryan Jones

 

Various Western, Arab and Israeli media reports have been claiming for over a month now that Israeli special forces are on the ground in Syria in an effort to keep tabs on its chemical weapons stockpile.

IDF soldiers

IDF soldiers (illustration) – Photo courtesy I.D.F.

Those reports mesh well with news that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited neighboring Jordan this week to discuss with King Abdullah a possible air strike on the bulk of Syria’s weapons of mass destruction. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| December 27, 2012
No comments

Vice Prime Minister Ya’alon: US preparing for possible Syria intervention

 

Vice premier reports that the U.S. will intervene if chemical weapons are used on Syrian citizens, or if WMD’s fall into wrong hands

Jordan’s King Abdullah & PM Netanyahu met secretly to discuss Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal

Assad is reportedly seeking asylum in Venezuela.

By Daniel Siryoti, Shlomo Cesana, Eli Leon, News Agencies & Israel Hayom Staff

 

 

The U.S. is gearing up for a possible military intervention in Syria in the event that chemical weapons are used on Syrian citizens or alternately fall into the wrong hands, Strategic Affairs Minister and Vice Prime Minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya’alon told Israel Radio on Thursday.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| December 27, 2012
No comments

Iran: Stop Israeli plans to attack, UN’s Nuclear agency can inspect Parchin

Iran has so far said it is not legally obliged to expose non nuclear site to int’l inspectors, but, Deputy FM Ghashghavi lays down condition for IAEA access to military site where nuclear activity is suspected, according to Iranian news agency.

By DPA

 

Iran has said it will allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect a military site near Tehran if threats of Israeli attacks on the country’s nuclear facilities are defused, an Iranian news agency reported Thursday.

The base in Parchin where Iran conducted nuclear tests - Google Earth, GeoEye

The base in Parchin where Iran conducted nuclear tests. – Photo: Google Earth, GeoEye

Iran and the IAEA – the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog – plan to continue negotiations in mid-January on inspecting the Parchin military site, where, according to Western intelligence reports, nuclear weapons parts have been tested. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| December 27, 2012
No comments

Trouble-making Palestinians, Why the Arabs Hate And Kill Them

The Arab League did not hold an emergency meeting to discuss what Palestinians describe as “massacres ” against the refugees in a Syrian camp, home to more than 50,000 people. Those who meddle in the internal affairs of Arab countries should not be surprised when bombs start falling on their homes. Palestinians are not always innocent victims. They bring tragedy on themselves and then want to blame everyone else but themselves.

By Khaled Abu Toameh

 

More than 800 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds others injured since the beginning of the crisis in Syria nearly two years ago.

In the past two weeks, thousands of Palestinians were forced to flee the Yarmouk refugee camp near Damascus after Syrian jets bombed their homes, killing dozens of people. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
« Older Entries   Recent Entries »