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| Sunday, Sep 27 '09, Tishrei 9, 5770 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
1. US: Too Late to Stop Iran by Hana Levi Julian  A top official in the Obama Administration has at last admitted what intelligence agents and Israeli government officials have been warning about for years: Iran intends to build a nuclear arsenal. In media interviews with American television news networks scheduled to air Sunday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said bluntly, "The Iranians have the intention of having nuclear weapons." The statement was made just days after the discovery of a covert uranian enrichment site in Iran. Even as the world expressed its outrage, however, Gates pointed out that there was little left to be done about it. "The reality is there is no military option that does anything more than buy time," he told CNN. "The estimates are three years or so." In a separate interview with ABC News, he noted that Iran had engaged in "a pattern of deception and lies... from the very beginning," even as it claimed it was developing nuclear power for peaceful domestic energy purposes. "If this were a peaceful nuclear program, why didn't they announce this site when they began to construct it?" Gates asked. "Why didn't they allow IAEA inspectors in from the very beginning?" International Outrage, Demand for Disclosure International leaders demanded the Islamic Republic immediately disclose all its nuclear efforts, including any programs involving weapons development, or face the consequences. "The Iranian government must now demonstrate through deeds its peaceful intentions, or be held accountable to international standards and international law," said U.S. President Barack Obama following the discovery. In a statement made at the G-20 meeting in Europe, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Obama ordered Iran to allow the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect the newly revealed site. "We will not let this matter rest," Brown said. Sarkozy noted that the G-6 had given Iran until December to comply or face additional, intensified economic sanctions. Iranian War Games on Yom Kippur While Iran is to meet with the U.S. and others next week to discuss its nuclear program, however, it is planning to conduct war games on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. The announcement of the drill, which will include firing missiles that can hit Israel, was made at the same time the covert uranium enrichment site was revealed. "Allah willing, this plant will be put into operation soon and will blind the eyes of the enemies," boasted Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani, the head of the office of the Supreme Leader. The Revolutionary Guards website said over the weekend that military exercises, including the simultaneous firing of missiles at targets, will begin Sunday and last for several days. IDF: 'All Options Open' Israeli officials do not necessarily agree that the military option would be ineffective. IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi last week politely warned the Islamic Republic that the Jewish State is prepared to defend itself against any nuclear or other attack it might launch. "We all understand that the best way of coping [with the Iranian nuclear threa is through international sanctions," Ashkenazi told an interviewer on IDF Army Radio. However, he added, "Israel has the right to defend itself, and all options are open. The IDF's working premise is that we have to be prepared for that possibility, and that is exactly what we are doing." Comment on this story 2. Yom Kippur in Iran: War Games and Missile Drill by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu  Iran will conduct war games and fire missiles that can hit Israel while Jews around the world are praying on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. The Revolutionary Guards website said that military exercises, including the simultaneous firing of missiles at targets, will begin Sunday and last for several days “to raise the deterrence capability of the Iranian armed forces." Yom Kippur begins Sunday night. Several months ago, Iran said it had tested a missile that could reach Israel as well as American bases in the Middle East. The announcement regarding the planned military exercises came at the same time that the Islamic Republic revealed it is building a second uranium enrichment facility. Iranian officials added that the new site is open for inspection by the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). "Allah willing, this plant will be put into operation soon, and will blind the eyes of the enemies," Head of Supreme Leader's Office Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani said in Tehran Saturday. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu) demanded that the Western world issue an “unequivocal response” to the announcement of a new enrichment plant. He added, “The revelations of this second nuclear enrichment site in Iran prove beyond any doubt that this country wants to equip itself with nuclear weapons. "Without wasting time, we must work towards the overthrow of the mad regime of Tehran. We are not surprised by the recent revelations, because we have been saying that Iran is developing its nuclear activities for military purposes, and the facts prove it now." Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu called Congressional leaders Saturday night and told them it is urgent that the United States respond to the growing threat that Iran will produce a nuclear warhead for a missile aimed at Israel. He asked House of Representatives Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Dan Inouye "If not now, then when?" Israel has conducted missile drills the past year in preparation for an aerial attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, according to foreign media. Most military analysts have questioned whether Israel has the capability to destroy Iranian’s nuclear plants, which are buried under concrete deep underground. The United States is pushing for stiffer economic sanctions against Iran and apparently has the support of Russia. Russia and China, both of which have huge investments in helping Iran build the plants, previously have forced the United Nations Security Council to soften sanctions. On October 1, six major powers – the U.S. Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China – are scheduled to hold direct talks with Iran. Comment on this story  3. Arab Riots on the Temple Mount by Hana Levi Julian  Two police officers and two Muslims were injured Sunday morning when Arab riots erupted on the Temple Mount. The area was immediately shut down, although the Western Wall plaza remained open to Jewish worshippers. One police officer lost his temper and cursed the Jews. [weJe Email readers, please click here to view the video footage. Warning: Video footage contains strong language. Eight suspects were arrested in eastern Jerusalem following the incident, according to Israel Police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld, who said that scattered disturbances were continuing around the area, primarily near the gates to the Old City and in Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem. A security presence has been beefed up in the area, he added. The riots began after Jewish worshippers arrived to begin preparations for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which begins Sunday at sundown. Arabs who worship at the mosque on the site started hurling rocks at approximately 7:30 a.m. as a group of 100 Israeli Jews attempted to enter the Temple Mount.  It's all because of you religious Jews!  A mob of some 150 Muslim worshippers surrounded the Jews, according to Rosenfeld, who told Israel National News that officers on the scene fired stun grenades at the rioters, and were able to bring the riot to a halt. A dialogue was opened with Muslim Waqf officials in an attempt to calm the situation, but ultimately riot control procedures were required. Police closed the Temple Mount, but the Western Wall plaza was kept open, contrary to prior reports. "I was there this morning and everything was proceeding as usual, people were praying as always. It was open," said Rosenfeld. A number of Jewish eyewitnesses present at the scene told the Hebrew-language Arutz Sheva that minutes after the riot some police officers began cursing the Jews who had been hoping to pray at the site. "It's all because of you religious [Jew," one policeman said bitterly, according to an eyewitness who requested anonymity. The source said the police officer added insults and curses that could not be published. Jerusalem police should deal with Arab rioters and not violate the freedom of Jewish worshippers who want to pray. The Jerusalem district police spokesman denied the charge, and told Arutz Sheva that the claim was a "provocation" by some Jewish worshippers and said "if that is what they say about police officers endangering themselves for them, they should be ashamed." Following the incident, MK Michael Ben-Ari sharply criticized the conduct of the police officers. "Jerusalem police should deal with the Arab rioters and not violate the freedom of Jewish worshippers who want to pray," he said. Large numbers of Jews visited the Western Wall (Kotel) overnight Saturday for the final Selichot prayer service before Yom Kippur. The central Selichot service was held at 12:30 PM Saturday night, led by former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and current Chief Rabbis Shlomo Amar and Yonah Metzger. Police estimated that more than 100,000 worshippers attended that service alone. Yom Kippur Curfew in Judea, Samaria A curfew was imposed midnight Saturday in Judea and Samaria, and will be lifted at midnight after the end of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. During that period, Palestinian Authority Arabs will only be allowed to cross the pre-1967 border into areas solely controlled by Israel for unusual medical and humanitarian reasons. Each individual case will require the approval of the Civil Administration. Comment on this story 4. First Time Since Cast Lead: IAF Bombs Terrorists' Car by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu  The Israeli Air Force Friday night killed three terrorists as they were traveling to attack Israel with rockets. The raid near Gaza City was the first time since the end of Operation Cast Lead last January that Israel has carried out an attack on terrorist’ vehicle, according to the Chinese news agency Xinhua. [weJe Email readers, please click here to view the video. IDF spokesmen said that the Air Force bombed an Islamic Jihad rocket launching cell that was behind numerous rocket attacks on Israel the past several weeks, including one that hit Sderot on the Rosh HaShanah New Year holiday last week. Arab terrorists attacked Israel with approximately 50 mortar shells and rockets over the past several weeks, bringing to more than 250 the number of strikes since the end of the Operation Cast Lead counterterrorist terrorist campaign that ended in mid-January. One of the Islamic Jihad terrorists killed was the son of a commander killed during the Second Intifada, also known as the Oslo War. During his funeral, army soldiers shot at several terrorists approaching the Gaza separation fence. Arab media reported that the soldiers shot on and wounded more than a dozen terrorists and supporters attending the funeral. Masked terrorists fired machine guns and small arms at the funeral, ignoring a previous order by Hamas authorities banning the public display of weapons. The Islamic Jihad blamed the trilateral talks in New York for encouraging Israel to carry out the raid. "The Israeli occupation utilized the resumption of political meetings with the Palestinian National Authority to commit new crimes against the Palestinian people," the movement said in a statement. Saturday morning, an Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades cell claimed responsibility for a Kassam attack on the Western Negev. No injuries or damage was reported In Judea and Samaria, the IDF will enforce a general closure from midnight Saturday until midnight Monday because of the Yom Kippur holiday. The army will allow passage of Arabs needing urgent medical care as well as the passage of humanitarian aid, clerics and members of several other professional groups. Comment on this story  5. Givat Sefer Destroyed by Gov't Security Forces by IsraelNN TV  Security forces on Friday destroyed the first hareidi-religious outpost in Samaria, Givat Sefer, just hours before the Sabbath. The site of the budding community is located next to the hareidi-religious city of Kiryat Sefer. [weJe Email readers, please click here to view the video report. Comment on this story 6. Heightened State of Alert as Yom Kippur Approaches by Hana Levi Julian  The State of Israel is on a heightened state of alert across the country as the start of the holiest day of the Jewish year approaches, and remain that way throughout Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. A curfew was initiated at midnight Saturday in Judea and Samaria, and will be lifted at midnight after the end of Yom Kippur. During that period, Palestinian Authority Arabs will only be allowed to cross the pre-1967 border into the areas of Israel controlled solely by Jerusalem for unusual medical or humanitarian reasons. Each individual case will be first reviewed and approved by the Civil Administration. Prior to the start of the Day of Atonement, security is being provided at cemeteries around Jerusalem. On Yom Kippur itself, vehicular traffic from eastern Jerusalem will be blocked from passing into the other areas of the city. The measure was taken as a means of minimizing the security risks as well as any friction between Arabs and Jews. Security forces will also be deployed around synagogues in the city. Last year, an Arab driver nearly ran down a group of Jews in the street in Akko on the evening of Yom Kippur. Although not officially illegal, it is considered unacceptable to drive in Israel on this day, other than emergency vehicles, so the car raised suspicions -- especially since earlier in the year, there had been a spate of terror attacks by Arabs driving bulldozers, and one in a car. The Jews, fearing a terror attack, stoned him, prompting days of Arab rioting in response. Arabs from other neighborhoods flooded into the majority-Jewish area, breaking windows, setting fires and vandalizing Jewish property in other ways. Dozens of stores and vehicles were smashed. Police increased forces in mixed cities around the country following the attacks, starting with Akko. Nonetheless, police do not presently have any plans to beef up deployment in mixed cities for this year's Yom Kippur, according Mickey Rosenfeld, spokesman for Israel Police. Rosenfeld told Israel National News on Sunday that although the police presence had been intensified around the capital in response to the Arab riots on the Temple Mount earlier in the day, there were no plans to do likewise elsewhere around the country. Magen David Adom on Highest Alert Level Magen David Adom has also increased its presence in the Old City of Jerusalem as result of Sunday morning's Arab riots. MDA has also placed its volunteers and workers on the organization's highest alert level throughout the rest of the country in preparation for Yom Kippur. Workers and volunteers will be available throughout the holiday to take care of emergencies, injuries, and births, with emergency vehicles available to transport those in need to hospitals. MDA officials asked Sunday morning in a statement to the media that Israelis make way for emergency vehicles that need to speed to hospitals. Comment on this story 7. Chabad: 219 'Open Synagogues' for Yom Kippur by Hillel Fendel  Chabad-Lubavitch invites the public at large to take part in secular-friendly Yom Kippur services in 218 halls, tents and other buildings around Israel.Chabad spokesman Rabbi Menachem Brod explained, "The demand for synagogue seats around the country is higher than supply, and so we have initiated these 219 'open synagogues,' where the public can show up and pray without signing up beforehand or paying. Yarmulkes and prayer books will be available, as well as guides who will help those who are not familiar with the services find their way around the prayers." Some of the "open synagogues" are located in Ramat Aviv Gimmel, Neot Afekah, and northern Tel Aviv - bastions of secular Judaism - as well as in many other locations. In addition, the Tzohar Rabbis Organization continues its nine-year-old tradition of special Yom Kippur services for the unfamiliar as well. It will conduct over 170 such services around the country. Comment on this story | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Everyday of Freedom is an Act of Faith for my writings ============> http://robertoscaruffi.blogspot.com for something on religions ===> http://scaruffi1.blogspot.com
Sunday, 27 September 2009
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