Mid-East News

Bahrain’s king meets WJC Rabbi, reportedly seeking Arab League to blacklist Hezbollah as terror group

World Jewish Congress VP Rabbi Marc Schneier has been received in the Gulf state of Bahrain by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to discuss regional concerns in the Middle East.

By JEREMY SHARON

The King of Bahrain has reportedly recommended that the recent designation of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization by the Gulf Cooperation Council be taken up by the Arab League as well.

World Jewish Congress VP Rabbi Marc Schneier has been received in the Gulf state of Bahrain by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. – Photo courtesy

King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa, head of the tiny island nation, has been one of the most ardent proponents for labeling the Lebanese Shi’ite militia as a terrorist group as part of efforts to fight back against growing Iranian hegemony in the region. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Arab League, Hezbollah, Iran, Israel, Middle East, Rabbi Marc Schneier, Rabbis, World Jewish Congress

israelandstuffcom | March 3, 2016

Palestinian terrorist dead as 5th Hamas terror-tunnel collapses since January 26

Resumption of death curse with yet another terrorist killed and 5 more wounded in Gaza, as fifth Hamas terror-tunnel collapses, raising total Palestinian terrorist killed to 12.

By Ari Yashar

A Hamas terrorist was killed on Thursday and five other terrorists were wounded when a tunnel collapsed in Khan Yunis, located in southern Gaza.

The Hamas health ministry identified the killed terrorist as 31-year-old Mohammed Mussa al-Astal.

The death restarts the series of tunnel fatalities in Gaza after a break of nearly a month. Early last month the tally reached as high as 11 Gazanswho died while digging tunnels, in collapses that came in quick succession. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Egypt-Gaza, floods, Gaza, smuggler tunnels, terror tunnel, tunnel collapse

israelandstuffcom | March 1, 2016

Newly obtained Hamas anti-aircraft unit debuts in Gaza parade

A Soviet-made anti-aircraft gun, most likely taken out of Libya, was seen in Gaza last week at a Hamas military parade.

By David Rosenberg

The Hamas terror group is acquiring anti-aircraft weaponry, the Al-Masdar news agency reported on Monday.

A Soviet-built Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23 anti-air heavy machine gun was reportedly spotted during a Hamas military parade in Gaza last week.

The weapon is believed to have been smuggled into the Gaza Strip via the Sinai Peninsula by ISIS cells operating in the area. If confirmed, this would validate suspicions of expanding cooperating between Hamas and ISIS cells in the Sinai. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: hamas, weapons smuggling

Dropping like flies: Hamas searching for 5 missing terrorists in collapsed terror-tunnel

In 4th collapsed Gaza tunnel since January, Hamas search & rescue teams are trying desperately to recover the 5 members of its military wing who disappeared.

By Daniel Siryoti

Yet another tunnel dug by Hamas in the Gaza Strip has collapsed. Palestinian media outlets reported Sunday that five members of Hamas’ Izzedine al-Qassam military wing had been trapped when a tunnel collapsed on them east of Zeitoun in the Gaza Strip.

The opening to one of Hamas’ tunnels leading into Israel from Gaza – Photo: Reuters

Their condition was unknown. Hamas cordoned off the scene and search and rescue teams were looking for the five operatives. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Egypt-Gaza, floods, smuggler tunnels, terror tunnel, tunnel collapse

Egypt President Sisi Says Palestinian Conflict Exploited For Int’l Terror Groups

Speaking at the Japanese Parliament Monday, Egypt’s President Sisi said, “It is no secret that terror organizations use the Palestinian issue…as an excuse for their atrocious operations & in the propaganda they spread to recruit new members.”

By MAAYAN GROISMAN

Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi said Monday that Egypt is committed to maintaining its peace treaty with Israel and promoting an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which he claimed “feeds international terror organizations.”

Speaking at the Japanese Parliament Monday, the Egyptian president claimed that “Egypt was the pioneer of the peace process in the Middle East and it remains committed to its peace treaty with Israel notwithstanding the difficulties it has experienced in the past few years.”

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, Israel Egypt, Japan

Irony: Israeli drone sold to Russia used to defend Assad in Syria

What appears to be an Israeli-made drone was photographed in the Syrian skies, suggesting that a UAV sold to Russia is now being used by Assad’s army against the rebels.

By Yoav Zitun & Roi Kais

An image released Sunday appears to show an Israeli-made drone flying over Syria. Israel Air Industries (IAI) sold the same model of drones to Russia, which may explain the aircraft’s presence in the country. Thus, in a stroke of irony, an Israeli drone is helping the Assad regime and its allies, Iran and Hezbollah, to maintain its rule and beat the rebels.

An IAI drone alleged to be the same model seen in the image – Photo: Israel Aerospace Industries

Syrian social media accounts claimed that the Israeli drone was sold by Russia to Assad’s army, but the photo and information were not published in official media outlets, so the accuracy of this claim is unclear. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Drone, IAI, Syrian unrest

Palestinians reject Iranian cash to killed terrorists’ families that bypass PA coffers

It didn’t take long for the Palestinian Authority to condemn direct cash payments to their constituents, calling it “illegal interference in internal Palestinian affairs.”

By i24news

The Palestinian Authority on Sunday said direct financial assistance by Iran to the families of Palestinians killed in a five-month wave of violence would be unacceptable.

Palestinians mourners carry the bodies of teenagers Nihad Waked and Fuad Waked after they were shot dead by Israeli security forces as they reportedly fired on Israeli soldiers on February 14, 2016 during their funeral in the village of Araka – Jaafar Ashtiyeh (AFP)

Tehran announced last week assistance would be offered to families of Palestinians killed in the wave of violence that erupted in October, but the PA says such aid must follow official channels.

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Palestinian corruption, Palestinian terrorism

israelandstuffcom | February 26, 2016

Trump: ‘I will be Israel’s true friend in the White House, if I win.’

Businessman Donald Trump says in interview, ‘I like the idea of relocating the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.’

By Boaz Bismuth

Everything has already been said about the stand-out Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump — that the Republican establishment is wary of him, that he intentionally makes provocative declarations, that in the grand scheme of the 2016 election he is nothing more than a passing fad, that he will ultimately fail. So what? In the meantime, the billionaire from New York has won three consecutive primaries and managed to draw support from almost every sector, making him the race’s hottest commodity. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News, Mid-East News | Tags: Donald Trump, politics

israelandstuffcom | February 25, 2016

Obama’s release of Iranian assets allows Teheran to reward killed Palestinian terrorists’ families

Israeli Foreign Ministry: Iran’s announcement to pay $7,000 rewards to Palestinian terrorists’ families, and another $30,000 whose homes were demolished for butchering Jews, “demonstrates again Iran’s role in encouraging terror.”

By Daniel Siryoti, Shlomo Cesana, Lilach Shoval, Reuters & Israel Hayom Staff

Iran will offer monetary rewards to the families of Palestinian terrorists killed while attacking Israelis or whose homes have been demolished by Israel, the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon said on Wednesday.

“The decision firstly includes giving an amount worth $7,000 to every family of a martyr of the intifada in Jerusalem,” Ambassador Mohammad Fathali said at a Beirut news conference. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Palestinian terrorism

israelandstuffcom | February 16, 2016

After Cancer Treatment In Iran, Hezbollah’s Nasrallah Furious Sunni States’ Warming Ties With Israel

An outraged Nasrallah asks Sunni Arabs, “You are free to consider Iran an enemy but how can you consider Israel a friend and an ally?”

By ZACK PYZER

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah spoke out on Tuesday against Israel’s warming ties to Sunni Arab states in the region, and boasted that Hezbollah and Lebanon have nothing to fear from a future conflict with Israel.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah speaking on live television about the death of terrorist Samir Kuntar Photo By: screenshot

Just another time Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah speaking on live television from his hidden underground bunker. – Photo: screenshot

Speaking in a televised address, Nasrallah said “The Israelis believe that they are before two opportunities. The first is establishing relations and alliances with the Sunni Arab states through taking advantage of the confrontation with Iran, and the other is changing the regime in Syria.”

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Hassan Nasrallah

israelandstuffcom | February 15, 2016

WATCH:Palestinian cleric teaches husbands to beat their wives, but don’t make them ugly

PA mufti of Gaza on official TV teaches men that one should not beat their wife so badly that the police intervene to protect her.

By David Rosenberg

Hit her, but don’t make her ugly.

That’s the message of an official Palestinian Authority (PA) television show in Gaza teaching Muslim men how to keep their wives “in line,” as translated by Palestinian Media Watch.

“When she makes a mistake,” explains the PA Mufti of Gaza, Hassan Al-Laham, “he will explain: you shouldn’t do this and that.” After this warning stage, advises the Mufti, men should “separate” from their wives until they change their behavior. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Palestinian culture

israelandstuffcom | February 15, 2016

Palestinian FM says in Japan: Face-to-face talks with Israelis will never happen

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Al-Malki said in Japan, “We will never go back and sit again in direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.”

By i24news

One-on-one talks with Israel are out of the question, Palestinian foreign minister Riad Al-Malki said Monday.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki attends the raising ceremony for the Palestinian flag on October 13, 2015 at the United Nations Office in Geneva – Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI (AFP/FILE)

“We will never go back and sit again in a direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations,” Malki said in a press conference in Japan.

He is visiting Japan with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, who met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe later Monday. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Japan, peace talks

israelandstuffcom | January 27, 2016

Reported, then denied: 7 Palestinian terrorists dead after terror tunnel collapses

The Palestinian terrorists were killed when heavy rains cause the terror-tunnel to collapse, burying them alive while rebuilding Hamas tunnels with humanitarian supplies meant for the Gazan’s.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

At least 7 Hamas militants were killed digging underground tunnels after heavy rains northeast of Gaza City caused the tunnel to collapse, according to a report by Israel Radio citing Palestinian sources.

A Hamas terrorist in an underground tunnel in Gaza‏. – Screenshot

Stormy weather led to the collapse of a tunnel in al-Tuffah, which is in northern Gaza. According to the media reports, the militants were killed during the tunnel’s collapse and were buried alive.

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: terror tunnel, work accident

israelandstuffcom | January 27, 2016