Archive for Mid-East News

| March 3, 2014
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Lebanese Military Officials: Hezbollah Probably Behind Mt. Hermon Rocket Attack

Multiple military sources, told The Daily Star that the rocket attack on Mt. Hermon was most likely staged by Hezbollah in retaliation for last week’s airstrikes.

By Elad Benari

 

Hezbollah was likely behind a rocket attack near an IDF post in Mount Hermon early Saturday morning, security and military sources told Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star on Sunday night.

Hezbollah members rally in Beirut in Nazi salute - Photo: Reuters

Hezbollah members rally in Beirut in Nazi salute – Photo: Reuters

The officials said that the attack was Hezbollah’s retaliation for alleged Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets near the Lebanese-Syrian border.

Two rockets were fired at Israel in the attack, and no injuries or damages were reported. Continue Reading »

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| March 3, 2014
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Exiled Fatah leader Mohammad Dahlan aspires to replace Abbas

 

Fatah officials deny rumors that ousted Dahlan is vying to replace Palestinian President, but Palestinian voters may welcome him.

By Abdullah H. Erakat,  the Media Line

 

RAMALLAH – Mohammad Dahlan, the former leader of Fatah in Gaza who was expelled from the party three years ago, has quietly begun his campaign for president of the Palestinian Authority, a political analyst says.

Mohammed Dahlan during an interview with The Associated Press - Photo: Majdi Mohammed

Mohammed Dahlan during an interview with The Associated Press – Photo: Majdi Mohammed

A spokesperson for Fatah, the largest faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has called the news “rumors.”

“He’s a fact that nobody can ignore in the daily political life,” Khalil Shaheen, a Palestinian political analyst, told The Media Line. Continue Reading »

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| March 2, 2014
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Nasrallah’s Deepening Dilemma

 

The Arab & Muslim world, which once hailed Nasrallah as a hero, are now referring to Hezbollah as the “devil’s party”, insomuch as Sunni clerics have even advocated eradicating the Shiites in Lebanon.

By Prof. Eyal Zisser

 

As the Syrian civil war marks its third anniversary, Hezbollah finds itself at one of its lowest points ever. The strategic distress that now plagues Hezbollah was best described by Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, who a few months ago said that the flames of the Syrian revolution were licking at the hem of Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah’s robe.

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| March 2, 2014
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Obama tells Jerusalem: ‘Stop killing Iran’s nuclear scientists’

 

CBS News reports: White House officials seek an end to the Iranian assassinations, believed to be the handiwork of Israel’s Mossad.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
 

The United States is reportedly pressuring Israel to stop assassinating Iranian nuclear scientists, a number of whom have been mysteriously killed in a campaign thought to be carried out by Mossad.

Prime Minister Netanyahu and US President Obama meet at the Oval Office, September 30, 2013.- Photo: Koby Gideon/GPO

Prime Minister Netanyahu and US President Obama meet at the Oval Office, September 30, 2013.- Photo: Koby Gideon/GPO

According to CBS News, Obama administration officials have communicated to Israeli intelligence their wish for a cessation of the targeting of scientists in order to allow diplomatic negotiations aimed at rolling back Iran’s nuclear program to take their course.

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| March 1, 2014
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Palestinian official: Gaza Woman killed on border with Israel

 

Gaza sources claim Palestinian woman was killed by IDF gunfire Friday night after approaching Israel’s security fence.

IDF says it opened fire on group of Palestinians marching towards security barrier.

By The Associated Press

 

A Gaza health official said Saturday that a woman was shot and killed on the border with Israel, the morning after Israel said troops fired on Palestinians suspiciously approaching the boundary.

Explosive Devices Planted near the Gaza Security Fence

Explosive Devices Planted near the Gaza Security Fence. – Archive photo: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit

It was not clear if the two incidents were linked. Ashraf Al Kedra said the body of a 58-year-old woman was retrieved Saturday morning. Continue Reading »

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| March 1, 2014
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IAF Destroys Hamas Rocket Launcher in Gaza

In a pre-emptive strike, IAF aircraft hit a Hamas rocket launcher in northern Gaza preventing a planned attack on southern Israel.

By Elad Benari, Canada

 

An Israel Air Force (IAF) aircraft on Friday evening hit a rocket launcher in northern Gaza.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said that the attack “was meant to remove the immediate threat of rocket firing into Israel.”

Gaza rocket attacks have been on the increase in recent weeks. Two Fridays ago, the calm of Shabbat was interrupted in southern Israel as terrorists from Hamas-controlled Gaza fired a Kassam rocket at the region.

The rocket exploded in an open area in the Eshkol Regional Council. Continue Reading »

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| February 28, 2014
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Egypt still closing tunnels, keeping the pressure on Hamas

Egyptian security personnel warn Gaza’s ruling militant group that they will be held responsible for any terrorism near their border.

By i24news

 

Egypt security officials issued a strict warning to Hamas on Friday, telling the militant group that it would not accept the use of smuggling tunnels between the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula, according to a report by Israel Radio.

Vue d'un tunnel creusé en territoire israélien depuis la bande de Gaza, le 13 octobre 2013 ( David Buimovitch (AFP) )

Gaza Tunnel – David Buimovitch/AFP

Egypt also warned that Hamas would be held responsible for any incursions near the border.

Since the overthrow of Morsi, Egyptian security forces have sealed and destroyed most of the 1,200 tunnels that used to bring food, cars and weapons into Gaza. Continue Reading »

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| February 28, 2014
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Egypt’s gov’t & Muslim Brotherhood accuse one anther of being ‘Jewish’

 

Egyptian daily columnist Magdi Salama reports Muslim Brotherhood is carrying out ‘Protocols of the Elders of Zion.’

By ARIEL BEN SOLOMON
 

The violent struggle for power in Egypt between the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of Egyptian army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has led to mutual accusations of being Jewish and implementing The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

Egypt's Army Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meeting with Russian delegation in Cairo, Nov 14.

Egypt’s Army Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meeting with Russian delegation in Cairo, Nov 14. – Photo: REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Supporters of the current regime have compared the Brotherhood to Jews and Zionists, even claiming that the group’s founder, Hassan al-Banna, was Jewish, according to a new report by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI). Continue Reading »

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| February 28, 2014
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After threat from terrorist group, Jerusalem warns Lebanon to control Hezbollah

 

Lebanon lodges formal protest with UN over alleged Israeli attack claiming airstrike on (smuggled Hezbollah advanced) missile system is a serious violation of 2006 ceasefire agreement.

By Roi Kais

 

Israel is treating Hezbollah’s threat to retaliate to an alleged Israeli airstrike from last Monday seriously.

S-300 anti-air missile system mounted on a trailer [Archive] – Photo: Reuters

S-300 anti-air missile system (launcher) mounted on a trailer [Archive] – Photo: Reuters

The Lebanese paper Al Nahar reported that Israel has raised its level of alertness along the border and have sent the Lebanese government a message according to which it views it as responsible for any retaliation launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon. Continue Reading »

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| February 28, 2014
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Iranian Official: ‘Teheran is Preparing to Liberate Jerusalem’

Islamist militia carries out military exercise for invasion of Israel’s capital. General: ‘The Muslim world is waiting for Iran to call them to battle.’

By Dalit Halevy, Tova Dvorin

 

The Islamist Basij militia force in Tehran ran a special military exercise Thursday and Friday preparing for an Iranian takeover of Jerusalem. 

Jerusalem, Old & New – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

​The exercise, entitled “March to Al-Maqdis (Jerusalem),” included training in the event of such a takeover, including drills for the protection of cities, assistance and rescue, dealing with social unrest, the protection of sensitive and important military centers, dealing with the invasion and landing of “enemy” (IDF) forces from helicopters, and carrying out complicated tactical maneuvers at night. Continue Reading »

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| February 27, 2014
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NYT Report: US President to Take Active Role in Mid-East Peace Talks

 

US President plans to pressure Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu & the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas into accepting U.S. framework proposal. U.S. official tells The New York Times, “Now is a very timely opportunity for him [Obama] to get involved,”.

By Daniel Siryoti, Israel Hayom Staff & News Agencies

 

U.S. President Barack Obama plans to take a more active role in the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, The New York Times reported on Wednesday, quoting Obama administration officials.

U.S. President Barack Obama plans to become more involved in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks – Photo: AP

Obama will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday at the White House and will push him to agree to the framework deal currently being drafted by U.S.

Continue Reading »
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| February 27, 2014
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PLO official: If peace fails, Abbas’ replacement might return to ‘armed resistance’

 

According to a PLO official, should peace talks fail, the next Fatah leader could ‘give up and return to the old way’, speculating Abbas’ future successor could be outsider (Hamas) or person currently jailed (Marwan Barghouti) in Israel.

By Ynetnews

 

A senior official within the Fatah movement warned that the next Palestinian leader might return to violent resistance should peace talks fail, Israel Radio reported.

Who will succeed Abbas as Fatah' leader (Photo: EPA)

Who will succeed Abbas as Fatah’ leader – Photo: EPA

“It is not detached from reality,” the official said regarding the possibility that the yet unknown political heir to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will choose to return to an armed struggle should a peaceful solution failed to be reached. Continue Reading »

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| February 26, 2014
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Hezbollah: Israel attacked our base, we’ll respond at our convenience

 

Shiite terrorist group denies anyone died in airstrike, contradicting earlier reports that 4 Hezbollah fighters were killed, including a senior commander in the strike near Lebanon-Syria border.

By Reuters

 

After almost two days, Hezbollah admitted Wednesday that an airstrike in Lebanon widely attributed to Israel did hit one of its bases on the Lebanon-Syria border, but insisted that no one had been killed, and vowed revenge.

S-300 anti-air missile system mounted on a trailer [Archive] – Photo: Reuters

“The new aggression is a blatant assault on Lebanon and its sovereignty and its territory…The Resistance (Hezbollah) will choose the time and place and the proper way to respond to it,” a statement on the group’s Al-Manar television station. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| February 26, 2014
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Hamas Thinks It Found Gas Field Off Gaza’s Shore

MP in Hamas gov’t claims gas was found just off Gaza’s coast, but Hamas deputy PM isn’t convinced.

By Ari Yashar

 

 

An MP in the terror organization Hamas’s Gaza government reported Tuesday that a natural gas field has potentially been found off the Gaza coast.

Salem Salama, chair of Hamas’s economic committee, said “preliminary tests carried out by experts from the Islamic University suggest that there is a natural gas field near the coast,” reports AFP.

In recent weeks the test were conducted by Hamas after fishermen reported large bubbles in the water roughly 300 meters (just under 1,000 feet) off the coast, reported Salama. Continue Reading »

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| February 25, 2014
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Analysis: Hezbollah exploited stormy weather for missiles transfer – and failed

 

Is it safe to believe Lebanese reports of a midnight airstrike against Hezbollah targets near the Lebanese-Syrian border last night, and it is safe to infer the IAF was behind it.

By Ron Ben-Yishai

 

Judging by the quantity and level of accuracy of the reports in the Lebanese media, it is safe to infer that there was indeed a strike against targets on the ground on Monday night, likely on both sides of the Lebanese-Syrian border. One can also assume, judging by the nature of the reports, that there was intensive Israel Air Force activity during those hours.

Area of reported Israeli strikes (Photo: Google Maps)

Area of reported Israeli strikes – Photo: Google Maps

From all of that, it appears that it would not be far fetched to infer that Hezbollah attempted to smuggle advanced weaponry into Lebanon last night. Continue Reading »

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