Archive for Mid-East News

| April 19, 2014
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Lebanese daily post before & after satellite photos of alleged IAF strike

 

Lebanese paper publishes satellite images of reported arms depot in Hezbollah-controlled Lebanon and images photographed 10 days after alleged Israeli airstrike showing scorched earth.

By Ynet

 

Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star published photos on Friday that reportedly show a Hezbollah arms storage facility in the Bekka Valley before and after it was allegedly bombed by Israel two months ago.

The Google Earth satellite images from March 6, ten days after the alleged Israeli strike, reportedly show scorched earth and possible traces of a building that was, until recently, at the side of a dirt road south of the town of Janta. Continue Reading »

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| April 18, 2014
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Thailand prevents Hezbollah terror plot to kill Israeli tourists

 

‘Bangkok Post’ reports that police arrested 2 Muslim men suspected of planning terror attack, 1 of whom admitted to being a Hezbollah agent.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 
Thai authorities thwarted a plan by Hezbollah agents to attack Israeli tourists during this Passover season, a Thailand-based newspaper is reporting on Thursday.
Thailand police confiscate explosives.

Thailand police confiscate explosives. – Photo: REUTERS

According to the Bangkok Post, investigators in Thailand managed to extract a confession from one of two suspected terrorists held in custody for allegedly planning to strike at Israelis in the country.

Two of the men – Daoud Farhat, a French-Lebanese national, and Youssef Ayad, who is of Lebanese-Filipino extraction – were arrested for alleged ties to Hezbollah, the Bangkok Post reported.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| April 18, 2014
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Abbas’ move at signing international treaties could backfire, bigtime

 

An Israeli lawyer reveals that if the PA president decides to use the new formal status as signatory to Geneva Conventions to file war crimes charges against Israelis, it may simply open himself up to past & future counter-complaints.

By Itamar Eichner

 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ recent grand gesture in front of the cameras, asking to join 14 international treaties and conventions, could open him and other Palestinian officials up to prosecution for war crimes, according to one Israeli lawyer.

PA leader Abbas may face charges in the Hague. (Photo: AP)

PA leader Abbas may face charges in the Hague. – Photo: AP

Last year, Mordechai Zivin filed a complaint against Abbas and senior members of Hamas at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Continue Reading »

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| April 18, 2014
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John Kerry: Anti-Jewish demands in Ukraine city are ‘grotesque’

 

Pamphlets were distributed to Donetsk’s Jews requiring them to register assets with pro-Russian separatists or face forced deportation.

By i24news

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday notices were sent to Jews in a Ukrainian city asking them to identify themselves as Jews, a move he condemned as “grotesque.”

Pro-Russia activists stand in front of a placard bearing the logo of Ukraine's disbanded elite Berkut riot police reading "Glory to Berkut" as they guard a barricade in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on April 14, 2014 ( Alexander Khudoteply (AFP) )

Pro-Russia activists stand in front of a placard bearing the logo of Ukraine’s disbanded elite Berkut riot police reading “Glory to Berkut” as they guard a barricade in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on April 14, 2014 – Photo: Alexander Khudoteply/AFP

“In the year 2014, after all of the miles travelled and all of the journey of history, this is not just intolerable, it’s grotesque.

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Category: Mid-East News, The Diaspora | Tags: , ,
| April 18, 2014
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Egyptian Christians Condemned for Easter Pilgrimage to Israel

 

Despite Egyptian Christians still officially  forbidden from visiting Israel by their religious leaders, Egypt’s airlines have tripled from the normal 4 per week to Tel Aviv.

By Dr. Ashraf Ramelah

 

While Jews around the world celebrate Passover, Christians from Egypt visit the Holy Land for their week of Holy Pascha (the Passion of Christ). For this pilgrimage, Egyptian Christians (Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical) leave Cairo by the thousands on daily flights to Israel. Egypt’s airlines have increased departures to 12 flights per week from the normal four. In spite of the regularity of this annual event, rumors vilifying Israel propagate throughout the Egyptian press. Continue Reading »

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| April 17, 2014
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Africa overland aid convoy due to arrive in Gaza next week

The overland convoy includes some 30 activists from European & Arab countries and is carrying medical supplies & other humanitarian aid for Gaza’s hospitals.

By

 

 

An overland aid convoy headed for the Gaza Strip is expected to arrive via the Rafah crossing next Sunday, according to the Palestinian news agency Ma’an.

The Miles of Smiles convoy.

The Miles of Smiles convoy. – Photo: Screenshot

Known as “Miles of Smiles 26,” the convoy includes over 30 activists from Arab and European countries and is carrying humanitarian aid and medical supplies to hospitals in Gaza.

The convoy was organized by a group calling itself the National Committee to Break the Siege.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| April 16, 2014
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Palestinians call Al Quds professor who took university students to Auschwitz ‘traitor’

 

“I believe a trip like this, for an organized group of Palestinian youth going to visit Auschwitz, is not only rare, but a first. I thought there would be some complaints, then it would be forgotten.” says Al Quds University Professor Mohammed Dajani.

By Dan Lavie

 

An Al-Quds University professor who took 27 students to see the Nazi death camps two weeks ago in Poland was met with condemnation and calls of being a traitor by his Palestinians peers.

The Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, where Nazi Germany murdered at least 1.1 million people – Photo: AP

Professor Mohammed Dajani of Al-Quds University took students from his university as well as Birzeit University in Ramallah on a Holocaust education trip in March, as part of a joint Israeli-Palestinian program that seeks to expose each side to other’s suffering with hope of fostering tolerance. Continue Reading »

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| April 16, 2014
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3 Palestinians killed in possible ‘work accident’ in Gaza

 

Hamas-affiliated media source in Gaza reports “martyrs” killed & several more wounded in Khan Younis explosion.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
 

 

Three people were killed and several others were injured in an accidental explosion Wednesday in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestinian news portal Al Resalah reported.

Smoke from explosion in Gaza Strip [file] Photo: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters

Smoke from explosion in Gaza Strip [file] – Photo: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters

The injured, between the ages of 20 and 30, were transferred to the European Hospital in Khan Younis in stable condition.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| April 14, 2014
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EU official with common sense: Europe should reevaluate funding policy to PA

European Court: Palestinians ‘lost’ €1.95 billion of aid money:

* EU aid funds terrorist, their families and pensions for convicted murders

* EU aid funds launching of missiles into civilian cities

* EU aid made 1000’s of millionaires from lack of transparency

European Parliament budget committee chairman reports, “The Palestinian Authority is the only body that receives EU funds regardless of its human rights record or economic performance.”

By Yoni Hirsch & Israel Hayom Staff

 

Citing the dangers of corruption and lack of transparency, European Parliament Budget Committee Chairman Michael Theurer authored an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal last week calling on the European Union to reconsider its funding to the Palestinian Authority.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| April 13, 2014
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al-Assad Livid at Syrian Rebel’s Desire of Peace with Israel

Dr. Kamal Al-Labwani advocates for Israel,  “This is what Israel wants: to distance itself from Assad, from the pact between Iran and Hezbollah, but also to prevent Al Qaeda from taking control.”

Al-Labwani also sends message to Assad not to preach to him about morality.

By Tova Dvorin

 

The calls of Syrian opposition activist Dr. Kamal Al-Labwani to make peace with Israel have caused a furor in Damascus Sunday, after he provided an interview with Israeli media and expressed support for the Jewish state.

President Bashar al-Assad – AFP photo

“We have the same enemies and similar interests,” Al-Labwani stated Friday evening, in a special interview with Walla! Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| April 12, 2014
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Low in ammo, Hamas introduces laser training

 

Developed with homegrown technology, Hamas’ quiet indoor electronic shooting-range is less likely to attract Israel Air Force’s targeting.

By Associated Press

 

GAZA CITY — In a long hallway that looks more like a videogame arcade than a military base, Hamas security forces are holding target practice using assault rifles fitted with lasers — all without firing a bullet.

(Photo: Reuters)

Palestinian laser training – Photo: Reuters

For the cash-strapped Hamas government, the system is a much-needed money saver that eliminates the need to train with live ammunition, which is in short supply in Gaza. Hamas also says the quiet, indoor facility is less likely to attract the attention of the IDF than the open-air firing ranges that are frequently targeted in airstrikes. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| April 11, 2014
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Fleeing Palestinians from Syria seek refugee status in Thailand

 

A year after hundreds of Palestinians fled Syria for Thailand, the UNHCR has yet to grant refugee status. Too busy investigating Israel, perhaps?

By DPA

 

 

Dozens of Palestinians stranded in Thailand after fleeing war-torn Syria a year ago on Thursday petitioned the United Nations to speed up the process of granting them refugee status.

Civilians clean a street from rubble of damaged buildings at the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk

Civilians clean a street from rubble of damaged buildings at the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk, south of Damascus, February 12, 2014. – Photo: Reuters

The Palestinian petitioners, most of them children, gathered outside the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Bangkok in a bid to draw attention to their increasingly desperate plight in the kingdom.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| April 9, 2014
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Jerusalem ‘deeply disappointed’ by Kerry’s biased remarks on peace talks

 

In 1st response to Kerry’s pointing blame only on Israel for talks failure, Jerusalem says, ‘remarks hurt the negotiation’ process.

By i24news

 

Israel said on Wednesday that it was “deeply disappointed” by Secretary of State John Kerry’s remarks Tuesday, placing the blame for derailing the negotiations on Israel’s approval of more Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem, The New York Times reported.

Israeli protestors hold signs during a demonstration outside US Secretary of State John Kerry's hotel in Jerusalem, against the release by Israel of Palestinian prisoners, on March 31, 2014 ( Ahmad Gharabli (AFP) )

Israeli protestors hold signs during a demonstration outside US Secretary of State John Kerry’s hotel in Jerusalem, against the release by Israel of Palestinian prisoners, on March 31, 2014 – Photo: AFP/Ahmad Gharabli

Israel responded that it was the Palestinians who had “violated their fundamental commitments” by applying last week to join 15 international agencies of the UN. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| April 9, 2014
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Lebanese TV reports: IAF drones survey southern Lebanon

 

 

Israel has not confirmed a Hezbollah TV station report of artillery fire in the Mount Dov area, on the northern Golan Heights of the Israel-Lebanon border.

By Roi Kais, Yoav Zitun

 

Hezbollah’s television station Al-Manar reported Wednesday on sounds of artillery fire in the Mount Dov area on the Israel-Lebanon border. Another Lebanese report said that Israeli Air Force drones were flying over southern Lebanon.

An IDF 155mm mobile artillery Howitzer on the Golan Heights – Photo courtesy: IDF Spokesperson Unit

These reports have not been confirmed by Israel.

Similar reports of IAF plane activity over southern Lebanon also surfaced on Tuesday night. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| April 8, 2014
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Palestinian Ambassador in Prague likely killed by book-bomb

 

In contradiction to initial Palestinian claims, evidence suggests plastic explosive laden book caused blast that killed PA envoy in January.

By Reuters

 

The Palestinian ambassador to Prague who died in a blast in January was most likely killed by a decades-old charge of Semtex plastic explosive concealed in a book, a newspaper reported on Tuesday citing a police investigator.

Jamal al-Jamal - Photo: Michal Krumphanzl/AP

Jamal al-Jamal – Photo: Michal Krumphanzl/AP

Police had decided Jamal al-Jamal was not assassinated, but had simply unwittingly opening a book booby-trapped years earlier, the source told daily newspaper Mlada Fronta Dnes.

“It was an unfortunate accident. The ambassador was a thorough man who wanted to put some old things in order, and among them there were two books with explosives,” the paper quoted the source as saying. Continue Reading »

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