Tag Archive for Syrian unrest

| September 17, 2013
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Israel’s Ambassador to U.S. Oren: Israel wanted Assad out since Syrian war started

Ambassador Oren: Jerusalem prefers ‘bad guys who aren’t backed by Iran’, adding, ‘Assad’s overthrow could also weaken Hezbollah.’

By Reuters

 

Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren, says Israel has wanted to see Syrian President Bashar Assad removed from power since before the outbreak of war there – a shift from its publicly-stated position.

Michael Oren.

Michael Oren – Photo: Bloomberg

It sees his defeat by rebels who include Al Qaida-linked Islamists as preferable to his current alliance with Iran, Oren said.

His comments in an interview with the Jerusalem Post marked a move in Israel’s public position on the civil war in Syria. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| September 16, 2013
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TV series ‘Homeland’ stops filming in Israel, cites Syrian unrest

‘Homeland’ filming locations were switched to Morocco due to concerns over the uncertain situation in Syria.

JERUSALEM — Parts of the third season of the television series “Homeland” will not be filmed in Israel as originally planned.

A scene from "Homeland" showing Claire Danes as a CIA agent walking around in "Beirut," which was shot in Tel Aviv, as some Hebrew artifacts can be seen on the right side of the photo. (Showtime)

A scene from “Homeland” showing Claire Danes as a CIA agent walking around in “Beirut,” which was shot in Tel Aviv, as some Hebrew artifacts can be seen on the right side of the photo. (Showtime)

The filming was switched to Morocco due to concerns over the uncertain situation in Syria, according to Ynet. The show’s producers in Israel were told of the decision over the weekend, the news site reported, citing an unnamed source.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| September 14, 2013
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Wounded Syrians recovering in Israeli hospital urge U.S. to strike

 

Some 14 wounded Syrians hospitalized in Nahariya hospital, admit they want a U.S. air strike to oust President Assad.

All totaled, 86 Syrians have been treated in this Western Galilee hospital.

By Hassan Shaalan

Against the backdrop of recent talks of diplomatic solutions to the Syrian crisis, the bloodshed persists, prompting many injured Syrians to cross the border and arrive at Israeli hospitals.

Syrian wounded in Nahariya (Photo: Hassan Shaalan)

Syrian wounded in Nahariya – Photo: Hassan Shaalan

On Thursday, some 14 Syrians were still admitted to various wings in the Western Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya. Some of them told Ynet they were still hoping US President Obama would launch a military strike on Syria and topple Syrian President Bashar Assad. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| September 13, 2013
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Jewish groups, Israel covertly aiding Syrian refugees — sort of

“The Jewish community understands tikkun olam, understands humanitarian responsibility,” said Will Recant. “When they were made aware, they started to step forward just as they did for Darfur, Rwanda and other areas of humanitarian need.”

 

NEW YORK (JTA) — When Georgette Bennett decided a few months ago to help refugees from Syria’s civil war, she wanted to do it in a Jewish way.

Syrian refugees living in camps and tents in northern Jordan are receiving aid from Jewish and Israeli groups. (Courtesy IsraAid)

Syrian refugees living in camps and tents in northern Jordan are receiving aid from Jewish and Israeli groups. – Photo Courtesy: IsraAid

Citing a passage from Leviticus she said her late husband often quoted, “Thou shalt not stand idly by the blood of thy neighbor,” Bennett met with the CEO of a major Jewish aid group and quickly got him to agree to head a Jewish effort for the refugees. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| September 12, 2013
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2 Syrian Shells Again Fall in Israeli Golan Heights

IDF Analysis:  Syrian fire into Israeli territory likely unintentional.

3 more Syrians admitted into Israel for hospital attention.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

Two mortar shells fired from Syria landed in the southern Golan Heights adjacent to the Israeli-Syrian border on Thursday.

An IDF Lieutenant-Colonel (front) and comrades during a patrol along Israel's border with Lebanon.

An IDF Lieutenant-Colonel leads and comrades during a patrol along Israel’s border with Lebanon. – Photo: REUTER/Baz Ratner

Initial evidence suggests that the shells were a result of errant fire from Syria’s civil war that accidentally entered Israeli territory, the IDF stated.

No injuries or damage were reported in the incident. IDF soldiers were searching the area for the spent shells.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| September 10, 2013
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West should Forget Syria & target Iran

 

Political commentator suggests that Sunni Muslims who wish to protect their kin in Syria do so with their own plentiful petrodollars & large armies.

By Daniel Pipes

 

Here’s advice to the members of the U.S. Congress as they are asked to endorse an American-led attack on the government of Syria:

Congressional Seal

Start your consideration by establishing priorities, clarifying what matters most to the country. The Obama administration rightly points to two urgent matters: stopping the Iranian nuclear buildup and maintaining the security of Israel. To these, I add a third: re-establishing the U.S. deterrent credibility laid low by Barack Obama himself.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| September 9, 2013
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Russian news report: Syrian rebels planning chemical attack on Israel

 

Unconfirmed report by Russian Arab-language newspaper claims: ‘armed Syrian militants will use territories controlled by the Syrian regime to perpetrate their provocative plan’

By Roi Kais

Arabic-language Russian news site Rusiya Al-Yaum has reported that Syrian rebels are planning a chemical attack on Israel.

Syrian rebels – Photo: AFP

In the report, it was claimed that “armed Syrian militants will use territories controlled by the Syrian regime to perpetrate their provocative plan.”

The story was quick to spread through pro-Assad outlets, like the Hezbollah affiliated Lebanese stations Al Manar and Al Mayadeen. The Russian site is also known for its pro-Assad bias in covering the Syrian crises, what suggests that there is a possibility the story might propaganda. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| September 9, 2013
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Official: U.S. Will Warn Jerusalem Prior to Any Strike on Syria

An Israeli official reported that the White House will notify Israel hours prior to any attack made on Syria.

By Elad Benari

 

 

The United States would notify Israel hours in advance of an attack on Syria, an Israeli official told the Reuters news agency on Sunday.

Asked how much advance notice Israel would get from its U.S. ally about a strike in Syria in response to a chemical attack in August, the Israeli official, who was briefed on contacts with Washington, told Reuters, “Hours.”

Israel is formally on the sidelines of the Syria crisis but fears coming under reprisals from Syria should the United States launch strikes to punish Damascus for its use of chemical weaponry. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| September 8, 2013
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Syria to Receive Volunteers to Serve as Human Shields

The ‘Int’l Human Shields’ movement, led by Ken O’Keefe, an ex-US Marine, plans to bring to Syria civilians from countries around the globe.

By Gil Ronen

 

The ‘International Human Shields’ movement, founded by a group of activists in Britain and the US, plans to bring to Syria civilians from countries around the globe, who will try to deter US strikes on the country by staking out potential military targets and serving as human shields there.

Hamas Human Shields

Children as Human Shields – IDFblog

The British Telegraph said that Franklin Lamb, a lawyer recently appointed as the legal adviser for the group, said he had been “inundated” with requests from activists including from Canada, France, Italy, the US, and Britain. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| September 6, 2013
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Report: Iran threatens covert retaliation as US expanding Syrian attack plans

 

ABC News reports US attack on Syria to last 48-hours & include stealth B-2 bombers.

WSJ reports U.S. intercepted Iranian communique to Iraqi terrorists calling on them to attack US facilities in case of attack.

Meanwhile, U.S. Sec of St John Kerry attempts to revive int’l peace conference.

By Ynet

US media outlets including CNN, ABC and The New York Times have reported Fiday that the potential US strike on Syria could be larger than previously anticipated.

B-2 bomber

The possible US led air campaign could be two-days long and include long-range B-2 and B-52 stealth bombers which would takeoff from the US and fire guided missiles from beyond the range of Syria anti-air defense systems, Jonathan Karl of ABC News, who is traveling with President Barack Obama to Russia, reported. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| September 6, 2013
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Abbas’ PA Demands Jerusalem Provide it with Gas Masks

Although seeking independence & statehood, the Palestinian Authority claims it’s Israel’s responsibility to provide gas masks for its civilians that are not under Israel law, but under PA jurisdictions.

By Ari Soffer

 

A Palestinian Authority official has demanded that Israel provide civilians living in PA-controlled areas with gas masks in the event of a spillover of violence from Syria.

Trying on my gas-mask - Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

Trying on my gas-mask – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

Israel has been distributing gas masks to its citizens over the last two weeks amid fears of reprisals against the Jewish state, following anticipated US military intervention in neighboring Syria.

Syrian officials have repeatedly declared that in the event of a western-led intervention against the regime, they would respond by attacking Israel. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| September 6, 2013
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German Intel Report: Hezbollah Admitted that Assad used Chemical Weapons

German intel publicized it had intercepted a phone call where Hezbollah official admitted that Assad used chemical weapon on his own people.

By Elad Benari, Canada

 

 

German intelligence says that an official with the Hezbollah terror group admitted that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad ordered a poison gas attack last month.

Hezbullah flag – Reuters

According to a report in the Reuters news agency on Wednesday, Hezbollah considered the move a mistake which showed Assad was losing his grip.

Participants at a confidential meeting of German lawmakers on Monday said the head of the BND foreign intelligence agency told them it had intercepted a phone call believed to be between a high-ranking member of Hezbollah and the Iranian Embassy in Damascus. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| September 4, 2013
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After 6 weeks 15 yr-old Syrian Girl Released from Israeli Hospital

The young female teen was hospitalized for 6 weeks in northern Israel after incurring massive injuries from an explosion in Syria.

By Kochava Rozenbaum

 

A fifteen-year-old Syrian girl severely injured by a violent attack over a month ago, was released from the Ziv Medical Center in Tzfat on Tuesday, walking with crutches and wearing a smile.

Syrian Teen Smiles Leaving Ziv Medical Center – Hannah Bickle

Israel Defense Forces transferred the young girl to Israel from a field hospital in Syria where she underwent surgery for abdominal wounds and shrapnel injuries on both of her legs. The Syrian medics decided to amputate one of her legs, while the Israeli medical team was able to save the girl’s other leg from being amputated. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| September 4, 2013
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Syria: Frustration & Outright Disgust

 

Whether or not the US or the int’l community ultimately punish Syria, it is evident that the thousands of dead Syrian bodies mean little to the UN, the EU, the BDS people and the like.

By ALAN BAKER

 

 

 

It is questionable whether or not the US and other countries, and the international community will ultimately punish Syria for the indiscriminate and criminal use of chemical weapons against its own civilian population.

Syrian President Bashar Assad on Instagram

Syrian President Bashar Assad on Instagram – Photo: Instagram

Whatever they decide to do, one striking fact nevertheless stands out. Over a thousand innocent civilians were cruelly murdered in Syria, in one fell swoop over a week ago.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| September 1, 2013
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Russian weapons export shipments to Assad increasing

 

REPORT: The number of cargo ships sailing to Syria from a Ukrainian port used by Russia’s arms export monopoly has increased sharply.

By Reuters & Israel Hayom Staff

 

MOSCOW — More than two years into Syria’s civil war, President Bashar Assad is settling his bills for Russian arms orders through the Russian banking system to try to shore up ties with his most powerful ally, according to a Russian arms industry source.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (left) with Syrian President Bashar Assad – Photo: Reuters

The payments, which have increased in recent months, show how Assad has sustained his ties with his main diplomatic defender, a relationship that has come under the spotlight this week as Western countries plan military action to punish him for suspected chemical weapons attacks on civilians.

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