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1. Terrorists Fire Two Rockets at Be'er Sheva; IDF Retaliates
by Maayana Miskin and Elad Benari
Gaza terrorists fired two Grad rockets at Be'er Sheva on Wednesday
evening. The rockets hit the city. One rocket exploded in a building and
caused heavy damage to the place. Police forces are scouring the area
trying to locate the second rocket.
Six adults and four children were taken to Soroka Hospital in Be'er
Sheva after suffering from trauma following the explosion, the hospital
spokeswoman said.
The attack was the first of its kind since the conclusion of Operation
Cast Lead in early 2009. It follows a steady trend of escalation of
terrorism in Gaza. During Cast Lead terrorists hit Be'er Sheva seven
times, causing injuries and massive damage to property.
In response to the attack on Be'er Sheva, the IAF targeted a terrorist
squad in the Northern Gaza Strip a short time after the attack, in the
same location from where the rockets had been fired towards. A direct
hit was confirmed.
The IDF noted that it "will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli
civilians or IDF soldiers, and will continue to respond harshly to
terror. The IDF holds the Hamas terrorist organization solely
responsible for maintaining the calm in the Gaza Strip and for any
terrorist activity emanating from it."
On Wednesday morning Gaza terrorists fired five mortar shells at soldiers and civilians in the Negev. The IDF responded by firing on several terrorists, injuring them. One of the terrorists later died of his injuries.
While Hamas initially claimed that the wounded terrorists were in fact
civilians collecting building material, the deceased man has been
claimed by Islamic Jihad as a member of the terrorist group.
Terrorists in Gaza have been escalating their attacks on Israel for several months. In November, terrorists fired on Ofakim for the first time since Cast Lead; attacks on Ofakim and Netivot continued in January. Terrorists also began using phosphorous rockets.
In early January, terrorists fired on Ashkelon, hitting greenhouses near the city.
2. Report: Qaddafi Ordered the Lockerbie Bombing
by Maayana Miskin
A Libyan minister who has rebelled against dictator Muammar Qaddafi over the latter's brutal assault on protesters
has alleged that Qaddafi personally ordered the Lockerbie bombing.
Former Justice Minister Mustafa Mohamed Abud Al Jeleil made his claim
Wednesday in an interview with the Swedish newspaper Expressen.
Al Jeleil said he has proof that Qaddafi “gave the order for
Lockerbie.” The report did not specify the evidence Jeleil claims to
hold.
The 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie killed 270 people.
Libyan man Abdel Basset al-Megrahi was convicted in the attack.
Megrahi was released in 2009 for health reasons after doctors said he had just three months to live, but has since far outlived
their predictions. According to Jeleil, Qaddafi worked hard to obtain
Megrahi's release. “He did everything in his power to get Megrahi back
from Scotland,” said Jeleil, who stated that Qaddafi was acting in order
to conceal his own role the deadly attack.
“He [Qaddafi] ordered Megrahi to do it,” Jeleil said.
Jeleil resigned Monday in protest of violence in Libya, where Qaddafi's
regime has killed an estimated 1,000 demonstrators. His interview with
Expressen was given in an undisclosed location.
3. New Zealand Quake Was '1 of 5000 Aftershocks'
by Chana Ya'ar
The deadly 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck the city of
Christchurch, New Zealand this week was one of thousands, according to a
sculptor whose family lives in the city.
Writing on a stone sculptors' Internet listserve, Richard Musgrove said the earthquake was actually just another aftershock.
“They have had 5000, say that again...5000... 'aftershocks' in
Christchurch since the big one in September,” Musgrove wrote. “Many of
those [were] in the high 5's and several including this latest one in
the 6's – a whole new earthquake, really, as it originated on a
different fault.”
A 4.1-magnitude aftershock rattled the ruins of the city just after midnight on Wednesday.
The Richter scale, which rates the severity of an earthquake, is a
logarithmic scale, “so a 5 is 32 times greater than a 4, and a 6 is one
thousand times greater than a 4,” explained the artist. This week's
earthquake, he wrote, “was so destructive because it was so shallow (5
kilometers / 3 miles below the surface - ed.) and so close to
Christchurch.”
The general feeling of the population at this point, he said, “is best
described as “gutted.” Musgrove added, “The aftershocks continue...”
Death Toll Still Rising
The death toll is still rising as rescue workers race the clock in
their grim search for survivors. At least 98 people were killed and 226
others were listed as missing after the temblor struck the city Tuesday
at 12:51 p.m. local time.
More than 2,500 people were injured in the quake, including 164
admitted to hospital with serious injuries, and 431 others treated and
released at the emergency room. Another 2,000 were seen for minor
injuries at various medical centers around the city, according to a
report by DPA.
Many victims were trapped in the rubble of crumbled buildings, but
according to local media, no one has been rescued alive from the ruins
since Wednesday.
Damage estimates could run as high as $12 billion, Prime Minister John Key said Thursday.
Israelis Feared Dead
It is feared that four Israelis may be among the dead, including
23-year-old Kibbutz Magal resident Ofer Mizrachi. The backpacker's
friends reported that they saw him struck by a concrete beam crashing into a car in which he was a passenger, and were unable to extricate him.
In addition, the Chabad House in the center of the city was destroyed, according to Chabad-Lubavitch emissary Rabbi Samuel Freedman, though no one was hurt there.
It was estimated that approximately 120 Israelis were traveling or
residing in the area when the quake struck, although most were not in
the city itself, according to Israeli Consul to New Zealand, Teddy
Poplinger.
4. A7 Exclusive: Tunisian Protesters Shouted 'Death to the Jews!'
by Chana Ya'ar
Protesters demanding the ouster of their new unity government in Tunisia are also now calling for 'Death to the Jews.'
A local source who spoke exclusively with Israel National News on
condition of anonymity for fear of retribution warned this week “the
situation is not getting better for the Jews,”
Tunisians took to the streets Sunday demanding the ouster of the
country's prime minister, Mohammed Ghanoucci, whom they denounced as
part of the former regime, toppled three weeks ago. The
demonstration followed by one day the resignation of four members of
the country's nascent unity government formed in the wake of the
ex-ruler's ouster.
What was not reported in the media, however, is the fact that in
Sunday's demonstration many of the hundreds of protesters were screaming
as they marched, “Death to the Jews!”
“This is a new phenomenon,” said the source. “Until now, we have not
heard this. Perhaps the people were thinking it, but we have not heard
it. Now they feel free to say what they wish, what is in their hearts.”
Members of the Jewish community are meanwhile staying out of sight, the
source said. “Jews are very afraid, and trying not to show themselves.”
Two days earlier, on Friday, a smaller group of dozens of Islamists held an anti-Jewish rally
outside the country's main synagogue shouting, “Jews wait, the army of
Mohammed is coming back. “We'll redo the battle of Khaibar!” – a
reference to the slaughter of Jews in what is now Saudi Arabia at the
hands the founder of Islam.
Jewish community leader Roger Bismuth subsequently met with Ghanoucci
to request increased security in light of the new threat. Officials in
the Tunisian Interior Ministry said the government would “spare no
effort to safeguard” civic rights and freedoms, including respect for
peaceful co-existence.
Kosher hotels might provide the safety valve necessary to keep the Jewish community out of harm's way, the source observed.
As Tunisia struggles to reboot its economy, it is working to
re-establish its former credibility as a haven for tourists in the wake
of mass cancellations by tour operators this month.
The kosher hotels are filled to capacity for most Jewish holidays. With
Passover barely two months away, the Jewish community is hoping the
need for tourism will outweigh the anti-Semitic thirst of the Islamist
mob.
“The interim government appears to be doing all it can to get this under control and calm people down,” the source said. “No Jew has been touched.”
5. Where is Obama? Explaining US Caution on Libya
by Amiel Ungar
Where is Obama?
This was the question posed by the Washington Post's and formerly
Commentary blogger Jennifer Rubin. As opposed to staking out a clear
position as he had done in the Egyptian crisis, the president of the
United States has been surprisingly reticent on Libya. The restrained
comments that were issued on Libya have been delegated to Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton and the new Press Secretary Jay Carney.
Libya was ostensibly a no brainer, since Libyan strongman Qaddafi
is universally loathed in the United States. The level and ferocity of
the repression that he has launched against what he calls 'the rats'
invites a strong response.
Whereas in Egypt, American politicians were cautious, on Libya they
have been more up front. Republican Senators John Kyl and Mark Kirk
released a joint statement calling upon Obama to speak out clearly in
support of the Libyan people. Some Republicans. such as former House
Speaker Newt Gingrich enjoyed goading the president. Gingrich accused
Obama of practicing a conspiracy of silence when dealing with
anti-American governments such as Libya and Iran.
At a Tea Party event in South Carolina, another Republican presidential
hopeful and conservative favorite, representative Michele Bachman, gave
her audience plenty of sound bites when she accused "Our Peace
Prize-winning president" of fawning over dictators and potentates. She
then came up with the ultimate put down: Obama was "accomplishing
something nobody thought even possible: He's making Jimmy Carter look
like a Rambo tough guy."
Noted columnist Charles Krauthammer repeated the accusation: "If you
are ally of the United States, Israel, Egypt, Honduras, elsewhere; Obama
is not a friend. If you are an enemy of the United States he might give
you a pass,"
The calls for firmer action are coming from all parts of the political
spectrum in the United States. John Kerry, the Democratic standard
bearer in the 2004 elections and chairman of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, called for imposing the sanctions that were lifted
by President Bush in 2004 after Qaddafi abandoned his nuclear program
""These are concrete steps that must be taken now and in the days ahead
to show that the world will respond with actions, not just words, when a
regime wields reprehensible violence against its own people."
Even representatives of the realist line, such as the Washington Post's
David Ignatius, urged action and presidential visbility "President
Obama should recognize that this is a moral issue and find his voice.
Yes, he has to worry about the U.S. diplomats remaining in Libya. But
the Arab world is watching, and it will remember what Obama says and
does. This is a clear case of right and wrong, and the United States and
its allies should show they mean it when they describe Gaddafi's
behavior as "unacceptable."
So what makes Barack Obama hesitant? Ignatius apparently picked up on
what Hillary Clinton called the greatest priority-the need to secure the
safe exit of Americans from Libya. It is not a simple matter to
arrange that. The last thing the administration needs is a hostage
situation resembling Iran in 1979.
In addition, Qaddafi has threatened to blow up the oil wells. If the
turmoil has already caused a spike in oil prices, imagine the
repercussions that will be caused by the long-term disablement of Libyan
oil production.
When Obama practiced similar circumspection during the demonstrations
by the green movement in Iran last year, he claimed that he did not want
to play into the hands of the regime by letting them identify the
demonstrators with the United States. He may be thinking the same in
Libya. Qaddafi may realize this as he chose to stage his defiant speech
near a former headquarters that had been bombed out by the Americans in
the 1980s. Therefore it is easier for the administration to say that the
job of deposing Qaddafi belongs to the Libyans themselves.
As hard as it is to play defense attorney for Obama, it is unclear that
Obama can do anything besides utter grand words, even if he does want
to take a stand. The re-imposition of sanctions could possibly work in
the long term, assuming that they were not circumvented or diluted as
Saddam Hussein was on the verge of doing prior to the invasion of Iraq.
Weapons and demonstration control equipment have already been delivered
to Qaddafi and he is using them.
It is difficult for an administration committed militarily in Iraq and
Afghanistan to contemplate another prolonged military action in Libya.
Moreover, it is far from certain that the United States can secure UN
Security Council approval or even unanimous NATO approval for military
action. This leaves only the option of a "coalition of the willing", as
in Iraq, but who is currently ready and willing given the economic
crisis and the disillusionment with other military intervention ?
Opinion polls demonstrate a clear reluctance amongst the American
public. Obama has read these polls and they drive his reaction.
6. EU and US Consider Sanctions on Libya
by Elad Benari
France and Germany called on the European Union on Wednesday to
consider sanctions on Libya by suspending economic, commercial and
financial relations with the country.
The request came in response to the brutal crackdown by Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi's on the anti-regime protesters in his country.
According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, French President
Nicholas Sarkozy asked his foreign minister to propose that EU member
states quickly approve concrete sanctions against those responsible for
the violence in Libya. These sanctions could include prohibiting their
entry into the EU and tracking their financial transactions.
The French president urged Libya's leaders in a statement to start
dialogue immediately so as to end the “tragedy” in the country. “The
international community cannot remain a spectator facing those massive
violations of human rights,” he said.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said that sanctions are
unavoidable if the bloodshed in Libya continues. The Wall Street Journal
quoted a German government spokesman, who said that Germany is
consulting with other European governments on possibilities for
sanctions.
On Wednesday, a European committee on security and defense met in
Brussels to discuss options for action against Libya. A German foreign
ministry spokesman told The Wall Street Journal that no decisions have
been met but that European leaders were considering their options,
including those suggested by France.
The EU's foreign affairs chief, Catherine Ashton, issued a statement
following the meeting saying that the European Union stood ready to do
whatever was necessary to bring Qaddafi to account for his brutal
actions against protesters.
“The EU stresses that those responsible for the brutal aggression and
violence against civilians will be held to account,” Ashton said. “The
EU is ready ... to take further measures.”
Obama condemns Libya violence
Meanwhile on Wednesday, U.S. President Barack Obama ended his silence
and expressed condemnation of the events in Libya, using the sharpest
terms Washington has yet used, The Associated Press reported.
According to the report, Obama directed his administration to prepare a
full range of options, including possible sanctions against Libya, that
could freeze assets and ban travel to the U.S. by Libyan officials.
Obama added that he would send Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to
Geneva for talks with international diplomats aimed at stopping the
bloodshed and formulating a unified global message to Qaddafi.
“The suffering and bloodshed is outrageous and it is unacceptable,” The
Associated Press quoted Obama as saying to reporters after his meeting
with Clinton at the White House. “So are threats and orders to shoot
peaceful protesters and further punish the people of Libya. These
actions violate international norms and every standard of common
decency. This violence must stop.”
This was Obama’s sharpest condemnation of the violence in Libya, but in
sharp contrast to his treatment of US ally Mubarak, he once again
failed to call on Qaddafi to step down, despite heavy pressure exerted on him
by critics to do so. In his message on Wednesday, Obama also did not
lay out specific measures that he would take if Qaddafi did not respond
to the appeals to stop the violence. For INN's expert's analysis of
Obama's reaction, click here.
Obama also urged the entire region to embrace reforms. “Even as we are
focused on the urgent situation in Libya, our efforts continue to
address the events taking place elsewhere, including how the
international community can most effectively support the peaceful
transition to democracy in both Tunisia and in Egypt,” he said.
7. PA Institutions Boycott U.S.
by Elad Benari
Organizations associated with the Palestinian Authority in east
Jerusalem announced on Wednesday that they are boycotting the local U.S.
consulate.
The reason for the boycott is to protest last Friday’s U.S. veto at the United Nations Security Council meeting that torpedoed an anti-Israeli resolution.
PA and Arab leaders had submitted a request to the Security Council to
vote to condemn Israel for allowing Jews to build homes within Jewish
cities in Judea and Samaria. President Barack Obama had attempted to
prevent the PA from submitting the resolution to the Security Council in
a phone call to PA head Mahmoud Abbas in which he reportedly offered a
benefits package, but all the suggestions for a compromise were
rejected. This lead to the U.S. placing a veto on the resolution, which
would have otherwise passed as all the other 14 members voted in favor
of it.
The resolution condemns construction for Judea and Samaria Jews as
“illegal” and “a major obstacle to peace.” In addition, it would state
that the UN is prepared to send envoys to the region “to examine the
realities on the ground.”
Senior Fatah official Hatem Abdel Kader, who holds the Jerusalem
portfolio for the PA, told AFP on Wednesday that the newly announced
boycott against the U.S. would see the 28 Arab local councils in
Jerusalem cutting ties with the consulate.
“The Palestinian institutions in Jerusalem have decided to boycott the
U.S. consulate in Jerusalem in protest against the U.S. veto,” Kader
told AFP. “We will cut our relationship with all American institutions,
including with USAID and we will not take any help or money from them.”
According to AFP, approximately 28 local councils have agreed to join
in the boycott, which would include political meetings and contact with
U.S. officials.
Kader said that “The boycott will continue until the U.S.
administration changes its stance on the Palestinian issue, especially
towards the settlements [the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria –
ed.].”
Kader added that the PA also expects an apology by the Obama administration for using the veto.
8. PM Allows 300 Libyan Arabs to 'Return' to Judea, Samaria
by Maayana Miskin
Due to the ongoing violence in Libya, 300 “Palestinian refugees” from
the north African country will be allowed to seek refuge "temporarily"
in Judea and Samaria. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who approved
the move, said the 300 would be allowed in as a humanitarian gesture.
As far as is known, this will be the first time an Israeli leader has
allowed foreign-born Arab “refugees” to live in PA-controlled regions.
Palestinian Authority officials have told Israel that the refugees are
in mortal danger as long as they remain in Libya. The north African
country has been wracked by violence in recent days as dictator Muammar
Qaddafi battles demonstrators who are calling for an ouster similar to
those in Tunisia and Egypt.
Qaddafi has vowed to “die as a martyr” rather than giving in to protesters' demands.
The hundreds of Arabs who will enter Judea and Samaria are the
descendants of Arabs who fled pre-state Israel during the War of
Independence. The Arab world defines any descendant of Arabs who fled
Israel as a “Palestinian refugee” regardless of their place of birth.
Netanyahu assured the public that the gesture was not a sign of Israeli
acceptance of the so-called “right of return” - the Arab demand that
millions of “refugees” be allowed to live in Israel, Judea, and Samaria.
The Libyan-born Arabs will remain in Samaria and Judea only
temporarily, he said..
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