Mid-East News

Israel, PA, & Jordan to sign historic trilateral Red Sea-Dead Sea pipeline plan

The project involves 180 km. of tunnels & pipelines, a tremendous desalination plant & 2 hydro-power plants.

Energy & Water Minister Silvan Shalom is due to attend “historic” signing ceremony at World Bank headquarters in Washington DC.

Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority were expected on Monday to sign an agreement on a Red Sea-Dead Sea pipeline project.

Energy and Water Minister Silvan Shalom was due to attend what he called the “historic” signing ceremony at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC.

“The program has garnered the Prime Minister’s support, along with the support of [Palestinian Authority President] Mahmoud Abbas among the Palestinians and of course the support of the King of Jordan,” Shalom told Army Radio. Continue Reading »

Category: Innovations & Discoveries, Mid-East News | Tags: Dead Sea, Jordan, Palestinian Authority, Red Sea, Valley of Peace

No longer able to smuggle stolen or cheap fuel & products from Egypt, Gaza struggles

Intended to block the smuggling of weapons, stolen goods, drugs & terrorists, Egypt’s tunnel clampdown is good for it’s security & public order, but for Hamas’ ‘gangster’ style government, many Gazans say they have never had it so tough.

By Reuters

Mohammed Al-Telbani, owner of one of Gaza’s biggest food factories, is the sort of businessman plucky enough to thrive despite an Israeli blockade of the Palestinian coastal enclave, but even he says he is finally running out of answers.

A Palestinian laborer works through a pile of steel reinforcement rods collected from destroyed homes in Gaza Strip on December 4, 2013.-

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Egypt-Gaza, fuel, Gaza, Gaza blockade, hamas, Palestinians, smuggler tunnels

Hamas: We Will Never Agree to Accords or Solutions That Cedes a Single Grain of Soil

Hamas celebrates 26 year anniversary of 1st Intifada, swearing it will never settle for less than a ‘Palestine from the sea to the river.’

By Dalit Halevy

The Secretary of the Hamas government in Gaza, Abd el-Salam Siam, said Sunday in a press release marking 26 years since the outbreak of the First Intifada that the Gaza government supports all forms of the struggle against “Israeli occupation,” including popular struggle, struggle through peaceful methods and armed struggle.

Siam said that the Palestinian people can develop new tactics in the struggle, and called on the Palestinian people to learn from the experience of the ‘rock intifada’ and unite its ranks. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: anti-Israel, hamas, Intifada

Iranian media reports Saudi intel chief met with Israeli officials in Geneva

Iranian news agency cites reports that Israeli government officials met with the director general of Saudi Intelligence Agency in order to discuss:

1. containing Iran by any possible means
2. exercising stronger control over Syria’s Jihadist forces
3. sidelining Muslim Brotherhood

By Ynet

Director General of Saudi Intelligence Agency Bandar bin Sultan met several times with Israeli officials in Geneva, Iranian news agency Fars reported.

Secret talks? Israeli PM Netanyahu, Saudi King Abdullah – Photos: EPA, AP

The report is based on a Saudi Twitter account that is “well connected with the inner circles of the Saudi secret service”. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Iran Nuclear threat, Israel Saudi Arabia

israelandstuffcom | December 8, 2013

Lebanon TV: Mossad orchastrated Hezbollah commander’s assisnation

The ‘Good News’: Lebanese TV station OTV reported Mossad’s “Kidon” unit successfully infiltrated south Beirut’s most highly guarded neighborhood in the middle of Hezbollah controlled Beirut to assassinate Hezbollah’s top General.

The ‘Bad News’: A Kuwaiti newspaper, however, reported that Hassan al-Laqqis was killed by his own organization for being an Israeli agent.

By Daniel Siryoti & Israel Hayom Staff

In the wake of last Wednesday’s reports about the assassination of Hassan al-Laqqis, the man said to be in charge of Hezbollah’s weapons and technology programs, new reports from Lebanon over the weekend pin the blame on “Kidon,” the Mossad unit allegedly responsible for employing lethal force.

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Hezbollah, Lebanon violence, Mossad

israelandstuffcom | December 6, 2013

ADL’s chief favors firm Iran sanctions, blasts White House ‘hysterical’ response

Jewish leader is embarrassed by Obama’s acquiescence to Teheran’s pressure, describes secret U.S. talks with Iran as ‘violation of special relationship with Israel.’

By Chemi Shalev

The head of the Anti-Defamation League Abe Foxman has come out in clear support of legislation of new sanctions on Iran while blasting what he describes as the administration’s “hysterical” reaction to possibility that Congress will enact them.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Iranian FM Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton attend meeting at the UN on Sept. 26, 2013. – Photo: AP

“I am embarrassed by how our government has accepted the threats of blackmail by the Iranians against even discussing new sanctions,” Foxman told Haaretz on Friday. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ADL, Iran, Iran nuclear, Iran sanctions, Iran US

israelandstuffcom | December 6, 2013

White House Plan to Invest $4 Billion in PA Economy is Sheer Nonsense

Abbas and the unelected, cynical, & morally bankrupt cronies in Mahmoud Abbas’s office, are responsible for creating an atmosphere that harms the Palestinian economy & drives away potential investors.

by Khaled Abu Toameh

The arrest of businessman Mohamed Al Sabawi is seen as part of a campaign by the Palestinian Authority to intimidate and extort money from prominent and wealthy businessmen who seek to help strengthen the Palestinian economy. The case of Al Sabawi will undoubtedly scare potential investors and convince them that investing in Ramallah and other Palestinian cities is a bad idea.

A Palestinian Authority security official said that the arrest was a “routine legal procedure” against an investor suspected of slander and obstructing the work of police officers.

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Authority, Palestinian Authority corruption

israelandstuffcom | December 6, 2013

UNRWA Deceives by Insinuating Gaza’s Fuel Shortage is Israel’s Fault

UNRWA purposefully doesn’t mention the Egyptian blockade on Gaza, with their closure of the tunnels that had provided smuggled (stolen?) fuel.

UNRWA also neglects to mention Hamas’ refusal to pay the PA fuel prices, or how Hamas is exploiting Gazans’ suffering to get a much lower price for fuel.

By: Elder of Ziyon

You know how UNRWA pretends to be non-political and even-handed?

Ann Dismorr, Director of UNRWA Affairs in Lebanon, with a map that shows all of Israel as “Palestine”.- Photo: Palestinian Media Watch.

Yeah, right:

“Everything stops,” says Daulat. She doesn’t just mean the refrigerator, the washing machine and other devices; this Palestine refugee mother means daily life in her neighbourhood of Shajaiya.

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: anti-Israel Propaganda, fuel, Gaza, hamas, Propaganda, UNRWA

israelandstuffcom | December 5, 2013

Sir Paul McCartney: Palestinians & Israelis need peace

Former ‘Beatle’ says all donations made to ‘OneVoice,’ the Israeli-Palestinian youth peace initiative, will be doubled after 5th of December.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

Former Beatles member and British music sensation Sir Paul McCartney is pledging to support a Middle East peace initiative because “Israelis and Palestinians deserve peace,” he said.

As of Thursday December 5, McCartney announced on his Twitter feed that all donations made to the organization, OneVoice, will be doubled beginning December 5th.

The youth organization, OneVoice, aimed at educating Israeli and Palestinian youth in Middle East conflict resolution, has developed a Youth Leadership Program, and have set a fundraising goal of £260,000, of which as of Thursday, £15,266 had been raised.

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Israel Palestine, Peace activist

israelandstuffcom | December 5, 2013

Palestinians immediately rejected U.S. ‘security proposal’ for Israel

The American security plan would ‘lead to prolonging & maintaining the occupation,’ unnamed Arab official explained.

By Reuters

The Palestinian Authority rejected ideas raised by visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday for security arrangements under a possible future peace accord with Israel, a Palestinian official said.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, speaks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013. – Photo: AP

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity and declined to elaborate on the proposals, said Kerry presented them to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after discussing them separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Israel Palestine, John Kerry, Mahmoud Abbas, Middle East peace, security

Canadian Arrested for ‘Insulting Abbas’

Mohammed Al Sabawi, the father of a Canadian businessman was arrested & held for 9 hours after calling for PA Chairman’s downfall. ‘Hurt his feelings and he’ll arrest you’.

By Ari Soffer

The father of a Canadian businessman was detained for nine hours by Palestinian Authority security forces after calling for the ouster of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Monday.

Khaled Al Sabawi said his 68 year-old father, Mohammed Al Sabawi, was arrested after PA police accused him of insulting Abbas when he refused to allow PA security forces to use his roof during the recent visit by French President Francois Hollande. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Freedom of Speech, Mahmoud Abbas, PA police

Every day delayed to initiate P1+5 nukes deal gives Iran time to acquire bomb

“Every day that goes by where Iran is not bound to roll back its nuclear program, but still can benefit from a shift in the market psychology, from fear to greed, puts money in the regime’s pocket, without doing anything to address their growing nuclear weapons capacity,” said the executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

By Ron Kampeas

WASHINGTON (JTA) — There’s the six-month interim deal on Iran’s nuclear program that trades some sanctions relief for a freeze on Iran’s nuclear program. And then there’s the interim before the interim begins.

Under the terms of an agreement reached last month, Iran has vowed not to make “any further advances of its activities” at its reactor in Arak.

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Iran Nuclear Program, Iran Nuclear threat, P5+1

Hezbollah: Israel assassinated terror group’s arms chief outside his home

The hit on terrorist Hassan al-Laqis marks biggest blow to Shiite terror group Hezbollah, since the assassination of Imad Mughniyeh.

Official Hezbollah statement: ‘Israel automatically held responsible for the crime.’

By Jack Khoury, Amos Harel and The Associated Press

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said Wednesday that one of its commanders has been “assassinated” outside of his home in southern Beirut. It blamed Israel for his killing, something an official there quickly denied.

Scene of assassination of Hezbollah arms chief - AP

A Hezbollah flag hangs on yellow police tape sealing off the scene where Hassan al-Laqis, a senior commander for Hezbollah, was gunned down outside his home, near Beirut, Lebanon, Dec.

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah, Lebanon

Ex-US & Israeli Intel Chiefs: Obama Let Iran become Nuclear

Both former American and Israeli intel chiefs agree: The P5+1 Geneva agreement has allowed Iran to become a nuclear power.

By Ryan Jones

Former Israeli and American intelligence chiefs this week said the deal US President Barack Obama and other Western leaders struck with Iran last week in Geneva had essentially allowed the Islamic Republic to become a “nuclear threshold state.”

fox

More accurately, former Israeli military intelligence chief Amos Yadlin said that the West had failed for decades to adequately confront the Iranian nuclear threat, and so had finally given up and signed a bad deal.

“The fact that Iran is a nuclear threshold state does not derive from this agreement, but because the Iranians have developed capabilities for years, and no one can stop them,” Yadlin said at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: Barack Obama, Iran Nuclear Program, Iran Nuclear threat, P5+1