Archive for Mid-East News

| June 10, 2015
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Hamas terror government being terrorized by ISIS in Gaza

Gaza-based expert says local population exposed to the views of Salafi groups that embrace a more radical version of Islam, but offer an alternative to Hamas’ corruption.

By Elizabeth Blade

 

Earlier this month Hamas “police” stormed the Gaza home of Yunis Hunnar, believed to be a member of a Salafi group linked to ISIS. A Hamas spokesman later said Hunnar had carried out attacks against the ruling group in May. Nor was it the first time Hamas’ rule had been challenged by Islamists more radical than itself.

In 2006 – in tight cooperation with Hamas’ military wing – a Salafi cell called “Soldiers of Allah” kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| June 9, 2015
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Survey: Most Gazans dissatisfied with Hamas

Half of the Palestinians want to emigrate from Gaza if they could, with 63% wanting a truce with Israel in exchange for lifting the blockade.

By i24news

 

Gaza residents are unhappy with Hamas regime and with its war with Israel last summer, a new Palestinian poll released Tuesday shows.

A Palestinian shepherd rides a donkey as he herds livestock past residential buildings, that witnesses said were heavily damaged by Israeli shelling during a 50-day war last summer, in Beit Lahiya town in the northern Gaza Strip May 25, 2015. – Photo: REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

According to The Associated Press the poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research shows that 50 percent of Gaza residents want to emigrate, compared to 25 percent in the West Bank. Continue Reading »

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| June 8, 2015
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Survey: 82% of Saudis don’t see Israel as greatest threat

Israel is no longer considered as a major threat to Saudi Arabia & the majority of Saudis surveyed are willing to live in peace with Israel under the Saudi-Arab Peace Initiative.

By ARIEL BEN SOLOMON

 

Most Saudis support the Arab Peace Initiative with Israel and say their country must obtain nuclear weapons if Iran does, a survey conducted by the Institute for Policy and Strategy at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya shows.

Man takes a selfie in Meeca, Saudi Arabia. – Photo: REUTERS

Only 18 percent of Saudis see Israel as the greatest threat to their country. Iran was deemed the biggest nemesis (53%) followed by Islamic State (22%) and then Israel. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| June 7, 2015
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Cyprus arrests 2nd Lebanese man in connection with Hezbollah bomb plot

Cyprus arrests 2nd Lebanese national, accused by Israel as Hezbollah agent, over the discovery of 5 tons of smuggled in ammonium nitrate, used in manufacturing bombs.

By Reuters

 

Cyprus detained a Lebanese man for questioning on Saturday over the discovery of five tons of chemical fertilizer capable of making explosives, in a case Israel says is a Hezbollah militant plot.

A Hezbollah rally in Lebanon (Photo:AFP)
A Hezbollah rally in Lebanon – Photo:AFP

 

The 62-year-old man, a resident of the Cypriot capital Nicosia, is the second to be arrested following the discovery of large amounts of ammonium nitrate at a home in the coastal city of Larnaca in late May. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News, The Diaspora | Tags: , , ,
| June 6, 2015
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Rajoub now detested by Arab nations after FIFA backstep is stuck in Ramallah

Former terrorist & heroic symbol of Palestinian resistance, Rajoub is now in Ramallah, deemed persona non grata, and unable to travel to Jordan, Dubai as well as Israel.

By Smadar Perry

 

Up until last Friday morning, Jibril Rajoub was still viewed as a symbol of the Palestinians’ struggle against Israel. Rajoub, the chairman of the Palestinian Football Association, arrived then at the FIFA congress in Switzerland with the objective of getting Israel booted out of all international soccer tournaments and competitions, and only a last-minute and behind-the-scenes deal prevented a vote on the matter. Today, Rajoub finds himself under attack from all sides. Continue Reading »

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| June 6, 2015
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Drenched in Mistrust, Corruption & Personal Interests, Palestinian Leadership Block Elections

Fatah & Hamas are only concerned about its own interests, while at the same time lying to the world that it’s Israel’s fault. Both parties continue to incited and reward violence, & Hamas continues to invest reconstruction aid in digging new attack tunnels for its next war with Israel.

By Khaled Abu Toameh

 

One year after Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas announced the establishment of the Palestinian Fatah-Hamas “national consensus” government, the two rival parties remain as far apart as ever.

Mahmoud Abbas (L) & Ismail Haniyeh (R) More interested in Palestinian money than Palestinian interests. – Google Images

The “national consensus” government, headed by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, was formed after a series of “understandings” between Fatah and Hamas on the basis of previous “reconciliation” agreements between the two sides.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| June 5, 2015
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Hamas Terrorist Dies When Gaza Terror Tunnel Collapses

Hamas ‘armed wing’ reported one of their members died after collapse of ‘resistance tunnel,’ with source revealing ‘work-accident’ occurred during terror activities.

By Arutz Sheva Staff

 

A member of the Al-Qassam, the “armed wing” of the Hamas terrorist organization, died Friday when an attack tunnel he was in collapsed in Gaza near the Israeli border, Hamas and medical sources said.
Al-Qassam Brigades showing Gaza tunnel post-operation – Photo: Reuters
The sources did not say why the tunnel, located in eastern Shejaiya in northern Gaza, collapsed, according to AFP.

A statement from the Al-Qassam Brigades said a member was killed in the collapse of “a resistance tunnel.”  Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| June 3, 2015
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Human Rights Group: Palestinian Suffering More Now Than Ever Before

Palestinian human rights are the worst ever, not because of increased Israeli security measures, but inflicted by the hands of their leader.

By Israel Today

 

In one of its more recent reports on human rights in the Palestinian-controlled territories, the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights said the situation had reached an all-time low, but not because of Israel.

Hamas prepares 3 Gazans before execution- Source: Israel Today

While the advocacy group does routinely lambast Israel for security measures that inflict hardships on average Palestinians, the reason highlighted for the worsening human rights was corrupt and abusive governance by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| June 2, 2015
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Palestinian Authority seeks energy independence from Israel

With a debt over $500 million that the Palestinian authorities owe the Israel Electric Company from refusing to pay for its energy, the PA is seeking donors to build them an alternative power supply.

By Linda Gradstein, The Media Line

 

Palestinians plan to begin using solar, wind and geothermal power in an effort to cut their dependence on Israeli energy and save money at the same time.

Solar thermal collectors in Tirat Carmel – Photo: Mohammad Shinawi

The Palestinian Authority has approved a national plan to reach ten percent power generation from renewable sources by 2020, and a new energy law set to be approved soon calls for energy generation programs. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| May 31, 2015
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ICC Mum On Amnesty’s Report Supporting Lawsuit Against Hamas Chief Khaled Mashaal

Despite Amnesty International’s corroborating war crime report charging Hamas, the ICC seems to be ‘Stonewalling’ lawsuit already brought by NGO Shurat HaDin (Israel Law Center).

By Ari Yashar

 

Amnesty International made waves last Tuesday with its report detailing how Hamas executed citizens in Gaza last summer in war crimes at the close of Operation Protective Edge, but just what impact will the development have on the legal struggle to bring the terrorist organization to justice?

Hamas terrorist leads ‘collaborator’ to execution – Reuters

To find out Arutz Sheva spoke with attorney Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, Director of the legal NGO Shurat HaDin (Israel Law Center) which is currently in the midst of a lawsuit against Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal and other terrorist leaders at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , , , ,
| May 26, 2015
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Syria’s Ancient City of Palmyra Still Remains Intact

Jewish presence at Palmyra is exhibited by the opening verses of the Shema carved into a stone doorway, to-date, the longest carved Hebrew inscription found from antiquity.

By REUTERS

 

BEIRUT – The Syrian government’s antiquities chief said on Tuesday the historical city of Palmyra had been unharmed since the Islamic State group seized it from state control last week.

The Shema inscription found in a doorway in Palmyra, photogrphed in 1884 . – S. Landauer

Maamoun Abdulkarim said was still afraid the jihadist group would blow up ancient ruins at Palmyra including tombs and the Temple of Bel, which would be viewed as idolatrous in its puritanical vision of Islam. Continue Reading »

Category: Jewish News, Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| May 23, 2015
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Erdogan boasts about Turkish APC, but mum it was jointly manufactured with Israel

After much nationalistic bravado at the Int’l Defense Industry Fair in Istanbul, Erdoğan unveiled the Hurricane, a vehicle that was manufactured jointly with an Israeli firm, Hatehof.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, had to figuratively wipe egg of his face this weekend.

The Hurricane, manufactured jointly with an Israeli firm, Hatehof - Photo: Hatehof, LTDThe Hurricane, manufactured jointly with an Israeli firm, Hatehof – Photo: Hatehof, LTD

According to a report in the Turkish daily newspaper Zaman, the firebrand leader paid a visit to the pavilion hosting the International Defense Industry Fair in Istanbul, during which he boasted of his nation’s growing influence in the global arms trade. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| May 23, 2015
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Substantial Losses in Syria Forces Hezbollah to Publicize Success With Tunnels to Israel

As the militant Shiite organization is mired in Assad’s war in Syria, Hezbollah invites a reporter to visit its upgraded tunnels & fortifications, emphasizing that the border with the Zionists is still their central frontline.

By Roi Kais

 

A rare glimpse into Hezbollah’s underground tunnels was provided on Friday by Lebanese publication As-Safir, which is associated with the militant organization.

Purported Hezbollah tunnel, from As-Safir

 

The report praised Hezbollah’s activities and painted it as a strong army ready for battle. While it is difficult to verify the claims in the article, it contained a rare discussion of the tunnels by Hezbollah members. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| May 22, 2015
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World Bank: Unemployment rate in Gaza is among highest in the world

The World Bank’s report said that to rebuild Gaza’s economy, “a unified Palestinian gov’t in both the West Bank & Gaza” was required.

By i24news

 

The Gaza Strip has the world’s highest unemployment and Palestinians, Israelis and donors must take action to avoid a “dangerous fiscal crisis,” the World Bank said Friday.

UNRWA continues to distribute food to 830,000 refugees in Gaza. – Photo: UNRWA

The report, prepared ahead of the bi-annual meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) which coordinates international donor support for the Palestinians, comes nearly a year after the 50-day conflict between Gaza militants and Israel, in which around 2,200 Palestinians were killed. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| May 21, 2015
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No Honor Between Terrorists: Iran Stops Sending Cash to Palestinian Islamic Jihad Group

Palestinian paper reports the dispute between Iran & the Palestinian Islamic Jihad erupted after the terror organization refused to issue a statement of support for the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels fighting the Saudis in Yemen.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

 

Iran has stopped funding the Palestinian Islamic Jihad organization, which is already facing a severe financial crisis, the Palestinian daily Al-Quds reported on Wednesday.

Islamic Jihad
An Islamic Jihad militant attends an anti-Israel rally in Rafah. – Photo: REUTERS

According to the paper, the organization has not been able to pay salaries to its members for the past four months due to the crisis. Continue Reading »

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