Syrian military arming their chemical weapons

NBC reports that Assad’s forces have ‘loaded chemical weapons into bombs’ and are now awaiting orders to strike rebels with deadly sarin gas-bombs

By Ynet

 

Could Syrian President Bashar Assad be gearing to use chemical weapons on rebel forces? NBC News reported Wednesday that the Syrian military “has loaded the precursor chemicals for sarin, a deadly nerve gas, into aerial bombs.”

Archives Photo: AP

Archives – Photo: AP

Citing US intelligence officials, the report said that Assad, who has been fighting to stay in power since March 2011, is prepared to use chemical weapons against his own people.

Syria is believed to have the largest stockpile of non-conventional weapons in the world, and according to the report, Damascus’ military is now awaiting the president’s order to strike rebel forces. Continue Reading »

Egyptian military deploys outside presidential palace to protect Morsi

5 killed and more than 350 injured in clashes between protesters & police as Morsi’s deputy seeks an end to the crisis.

By , DPA and Reuters

 

At least four tanks deployed outside the Egyptian presidential palace Thursday on a street where supporters and opponents of President Mohamed Morsi had been clashing, witnesses said.

Egyptians walk past an army tank deployed near the presidential palace in Cairo Thursday.

Egyptians walk past an army tank deployed near the presidential palace in Cairo Thursday. – Photo: AFP

Three armored troop carriers were also in the street outside the palace. The soldiers’ badges identified them as members of the Republican Guard, whose duties include guarding the presidency. Continue Reading »

Video: US Rep. Bachmann says ‘Concessions to Arabs Suicidal for Israel’

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann underlines that the White House’s demands for more Israeli concessions to the Palestinians are suicidal for the Jewish State.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

U.S. Representative and former GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann underlined Sunday night at the Bet El Institutions Dinner in New York City that U.S. demands for more Israeli concessions are suicidal for the Jewish State. “Israel is G-d’s idea. All we are trying to do is following His leading,” she began.

Michele Bachmann – Screenshot

During her keynote address, Bachmann told a packed audience of her numerous trips to Israel. “Leaving Gaza seven years ago, which I fervently opposed… I knew what would happen… I knew that the events of the last month (the need for Operation Pillar of Defense to silence terrorist rocket fire -ed.) Continue Reading »

Israel’s SodaStream commercial at Super Bowl XLVII

“We’re going after Coke & Pepsi in their ‘prime time’ slot of the year,” SodaStream reports.

 

Israel’s SodaStream International will compete with Coca Cola and Pepsi on their own turf on February 3, when it advertises on CBS during the broadcast of Super Bowl XLVII.

Soda Stream commercial still shot

Soda Stream commercial still shot – Photo: screen shot

-The world’s largest manufacturer of home beverage carbonation systems sells its products at more than 15,000 retail stores in the United States. It is hoping to attract a larger share of the soda market after participating in the biggest event on the American sports calendar. Continue Reading »

PA seeks UN Security Council action over E-1 settlement

Following threats to seek Int’l Criminal Court action over E-1 building plans, Palestinians seek Security Council’s assistance in stopping Israeli settlement construction.

US tells both sides to stop ‘war of words’

Elior Levy, agencies

 

The Palestinians are demanding urgent action by the UN Security Council and the international community to halt Israel’s “illegal settlement campaign.”

UN Security Council – Photo: AP

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday that he is determined to block the settlement building near Jerusalem with all legal and diplomatic means at his disposal.

“The settlement plans that Israel announced, especially E1, are a red line,” Abbas said, adding that “this must not happen.” Continue Reading »

Global Warming Targets Arab Countries

World Bank reports that global warming could devastate Middle East farming & tourism.

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

 

Global warming could devastate Middle East farming and tourism, without any distinction between Arabs and Jews, according to a World Bank report issued Wednesday.

Northern Dead Sea

Northern Dead Sea – Israel news photo: Hana Levi Julian

Average temperatures in the region are likely to rise by as much as three degrees Celsius (5.4 Fahrenheit) by 2050 — and double that for night-time temperatures, said the report released at UN climate talks in Doha.

Strangely, Israel was not mentioned in AFP coverage of the report and in several World Bank comments. Continue Reading »

Netanyahu to Czech Republic for support at UN: Thank You!

In visit to Prague, PM says UN vote ‘completely ignored Israel’s security needs’.

Czech Republic only European country that rejected UN resolution, to protect Israel.

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Prague on Wednesday to thank his counterpart Petr Necas for friendship and courage in his country’s vote at the UN against recognizing a Palestinian state.

The Czech Republic was the only European country and one of nine that voted last week to reject the resolution upgrading the Palestinians’ status to a nonmember observer state. It passed 138-9, with 41 abstentions.

Netanyahu in Prague - AP

Czech Republic’s Prime Minister Petr Necas, right, talks to Benjamin Netanyahu, at the government headquarters in Prague, Dec.

Continue Reading »

Syria Fires Mortar that Falls in Golan

IDF reports: The mortar shell fired from Syria fell on the Israeli side of the border fence on the Golan Heights Wednesday afternoon.

By David Lev

 

A mortar shell fired from Syria fell on the Israeli side of the border fence on the Golan Heights Wednesday afternoon, security sources said Wednesday night. The incident occurred near the Tel Azeka IDF post on the Golan. IDF sources said that they did not believe that the shell was fired on purpose, but was a stray shell that was misfired by either government or rebel forces engaged in fierce fighting on the Syrian side of the border. Continue Reading »

Double trouble in Syrian: WMDs with jihadis on Israel’s border

Israel may take part in a joint military operation against the weapons of mass destruction, along with the armed forces from the US, Turkey & Jordan

Israeli intel: Assad is only in power due to the Syrian Air Force, but even this power is being eroded as rebels bring down more & more helicopters & fighter-jets.

Foreign jihadis massing along Golan border.

By Yoni Hirsch, Shlomo Cesana, Daniel Siryoti & News Agencies

 

There is growing concern in Israel that the faltering regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will use its stockpiles of chemical weapons as a last resort. According to a report in The Times of London and Maariv, Israel would take part in a joint military effort against the weapons of mass destruction, together with armed forces from the U.S.,

Continue Reading »

A common destiny of American & Israeli Jews

We live in one of the most felicitous times in Jewish history. Together, we can usher in a genuine Golden Age.

By MICHAEL OREN

 

As someone born and raised in the United States, I get to represent the land of my forefathers to the land of my father.

I have the best job in the world, though sometimes it’s tough.

American and Israeli flags

I have to describe the monumental challenges facing Israel on a daily basis: The tens of thousands of terrorist rockets aimed at our homes. The entire Middle East roiling around us while the Iranian centrifuges continue to spin.

I explain how Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, his government, and the Israel Defense Forces are grappling with these threats and defending the people of Israel. Continue Reading »

BBC beats IDF

Op-ed: Israel gov’t mistakenly fails to respond to repeated violations of journalistic norms by ‘impartial’ BBC

By Trevor Asserson

 

The only force in the Middle East that can beat the Israeli army is a bunch of ragged reporters. Had it not been for the fear of world opinion the Army would have rooted out Hamas and its rockets. That job remains on the “to do” list.

BBC coverage of TA bus bombing

World opinion matters because Israel’s natural friends are democracies. Politicians in democracies will follow public opinion. If the voters hate Israel, their businessmen will not purchase Israeli products, their politicians will cease to support Israel and anti-Israeli legislation will be passed. Continue Reading »

Netanyahu speaks to National Public Diplomacy Forum

Netanyahu: Conflict with the Palestinians is Not About Settlements. The entire conflict between Israel and the Arabs is over their denial of Israel’s right to exist. There is no way to fight their lies except with the truth.

By Elad Benari

 

The entire conflict between Israel and the Arabs is over their denial of Israel’s right to exist and not about Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday.

Netanyahu spoke at the meeting of the National Public Diplomacy Forum to summarize the recent Operation Pillar of Defense, which targeted Hamas’s terror infrastructure in Gaza. Continue Reading »

Israeli PM, ‘Israel has right to respond to PA provocation’

PM Netanyahu departs for Germany, where he will ask the EU to use their influence with Palestinians to prevent further unilateral & provocative actions.

 

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu departed for Germany Wednesday morning, where he was expected to push the message that if the Europeans want to prevent Israel from responding further to the recent Palestinian victory at the UN, they should “encourage a positive Palestinian dynamic” and keep the PA from “further provocative actions,” diplomatic officials said on Tuesday.

PM Netanyahu, wife Sarah depart from B-G Airport

PM Netanyahu, wife Sarah depart from B-G Airport – Photo: GPO/Amos Ben-Gershom

Netanyahu is scheduled to dine with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and hear sharp criticism of plans to build 3,000 housing units in the settlement blocs and east Jerusalem, as well as push forward the planning of E1 in Ma’aleh Adumin.

Continue Reading »

Arab Media’s Dissemination Of Fabrications, Conspiracy Theories

Since the Arabs are generally obsessed with conspiracy theories, especially with stories about sex, this fabricated report spread like wildfire in the Arabic media, both in the printed press and on websites, which all reported it as the unvarnished truth.

 

In an article titled “Why Do The Arabs Prefer Lies Over Truth?,” Arab-Israeli writer Dr. Salman Masalha slammed the Arab media for spreading ridiculous fabrications and conspiracy theories instead of presenting its readers with true facts.

The following are excerpts from the article, which was posted November 26, 2012 on the website Elaph.com

“Everybody doubtless remembers how, a few years ago, some Arab media spread stories about a bizarre Israeli plot, namely that the Mossad had sent trained sharks to attack tourists on the beaches of Sinai. Continue Reading »

Abbas Threatens ICC Charges Over Israeli Housing Plans

Palestinian Authority warns that it may file war crimes charges against Israel with the Int’l Crimes Court if it doesn’t halt east Jerusalem building plans

News agencies

Israel is moving forward with plans for two major settlement projects in east Jerusalem, a spokeswoman said Tuesday, even as a senior Palestinian official warned that his government could pursue war crimes charges if Israel does not halt such construction.

International anger over Israeli settlement construction has snowballed in recent days, following the UN’s decision to upgrade the Palestinian Authority’s status to that of a “nonmember state” last week.

Israel retaliated by announcing plans to build 3,000 homes in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, as well as preparations for construction of an especially sensitive project near Jerusalem, known as E1. Continue Reading »