Avec notre bureau de Bruxelles
Les premiers à répondre au projet de compromis d’Elio Di Rupo, avec 24 heures d’avance sur les autres, auront été les libéraux flamands et leurs homologues francophones, c’est-à-dire la famille politique quelque peu marginalisée depuis un an. Pour eux, c’est oui à la note d’Elio Di Rupo.
Jeudi, les autres partis francophones ont à leur tour dit oui à des degrés différents d’enthousiasme certes, mais oui quand même.
Dans la soirée, les derniers à se prononcer, les Verts flamands ont rejoint sans surprise le camp de ceux qui estiment que la note du chargé de mission royale constitue bien une base utile de négociations tant pour ce qui est de la formation du futur gouvernement fédéral que s’agissant de la réforme institutionnelle et l’orientation économique et sociale du pays.
Mais à 14 heures est tombé le non, sans nuance, ni ouverture, du désormais premier parti de Flandres, la N-VA (le mouvement national populiste). Dans la foulée, les démocrates-chrétiens flamands, dans un élan proche du suicide collectif, ont fait savoir qu’ils n’avaient pas trop d’opinion personnelle quant à la note de Di Rupo, mais qu’en toute hypothèse, il fallait que la N-VA participe à tout futur gouvernement.
Quels scénarios possibles ?
Après ce refus il y a plusieurs pistes envisagées. La première option, c’est l’autodissolution du Parlement fédéral dont le vote n’est pas acquis d’avance et dont chacun sait et dit que les élections législatives, que le processus déclencherait, ne déboucheraient que sur une confirmation des forces en présence : la N-VA en tête en Flandres, les socialistes numéro un en Wallonie et les libéraux à Bruxelles. Une voie sans issue donc.
Autre option, le bricolage d’un gouvernement minoritaire avec la N-VA dans l’opposition, mais bien évidemment en embuscade permanente. Une hypothèse peu viable par conséquent.
Dernière possibilité, le maintien du gouvernement démissionnaire actuel dont les pouvoirs seraient temporairement élargis dans le cadre d’un accord interpartis, en attendant que la poussière retombe et que quelqu’un fasse redémarrer la négociation qui depuis jeudi est à nouveau au point mort.
Les premiers à répondre au projet de compromis d’Elio Di Rupo, avec 24 heures d’avance sur les autres, auront été les libéraux flamands et leurs homologues francophones, c’est-à-dire la famille politique quelque peu marginalisée depuis un an. Pour eux, c’est oui à la note d’Elio Di Rupo.
Jeudi, les autres partis francophones ont à leur tour dit oui à des degrés différents d’enthousiasme certes, mais oui quand même.
Dans la soirée, les derniers à se prononcer, les Verts flamands ont rejoint sans surprise le camp de ceux qui estiment que la note du chargé de mission royale constitue bien une base utile de négociations tant pour ce qui est de la formation du futur gouvernement fédéral que s’agissant de la réforme institutionnelle et l’orientation économique et sociale du pays.
Mais à 14 heures est tombé le non, sans nuance, ni ouverture, du désormais premier parti de Flandres, la N-VA (le mouvement national populiste). Dans la foulée, les démocrates-chrétiens flamands, dans un élan proche du suicide collectif, ont fait savoir qu’ils n’avaient pas trop d’opinion personnelle quant à la note de Di Rupo, mais qu’en toute hypothèse, il fallait que la N-VA participe à tout futur gouvernement.
Quels scénarios possibles ?
Après ce refus il y a plusieurs pistes envisagées. La première option, c’est l’autodissolution du Parlement fédéral dont le vote n’est pas acquis d’avance et dont chacun sait et dit que les élections législatives, que le processus déclencherait, ne déboucheraient que sur une confirmation des forces en présence : la N-VA en tête en Flandres, les socialistes numéro un en Wallonie et les libéraux à Bruxelles. Une voie sans issue donc.
Autre option, le bricolage d’un gouvernement minoritaire avec la N-VA dans l’opposition, mais bien évidemment en embuscade permanente. Une hypothèse peu viable par conséquent.
Dernière possibilité, le maintien du gouvernement démissionnaire actuel dont les pouvoirs seraient temporairement élargis dans le cadre d’un accord interpartis, en attendant que la poussière retombe et que quelqu’un fasse redémarrer la négociation qui depuis jeudi est à nouveau au point mort.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ DEMOCRATIZATION CAN'T SAVE EUROPE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Need for a Centralization of Power Despite the myriad problems currently facing the European Union, democratization is not the answer. Rather, the EU's elites need to improve -- and power has to be taken away from the periphery. http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,773071,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SINS OF THE FLESH ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Church Shaken by Sexual Abuse Allegations in Africa Following a series of abuse cases in Europe and North America, revelations have emerged of sexual abuse by priests in a number of African countries. The case of Father Renato Kizito, who is accused of raping young men in Kenya, shows how local power structures work in favor of the clerics. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,773255,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 'UNBELIEVABLY POETIC' ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dragging a Boat over the Alps in the Name of Art Two Munich-based artists hauled a red boat over a mountain in the Alps as part of their contribution to the Venice Biennale this year. At times harrowing, their epic journey evokes scenes from German filmmaker Werner Herzog's "Fitzcarraldo". http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,773065,00.html#ref=nlint -------------------- Photo Gallery: Artists Haul Boat over the Alps http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-70192.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ANTI-TANK BRIGADE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Merkel Weapons Deal Under Fire from All Sides A plan to sell some 200 battle tanks to Saudi Arabia has led to quarreling in Berlin -- and also within Chancellor Angela Merkel's governing coalition. Merkel insists that weapons deals are ultimately transparent, but the opposition has demanded that the sale be revoked. http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,773268,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GERMANY APPROVES CARBON CAPTURE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Parliament Gives Green Light for Emissions-Friendly Technology The German parliament has granted its approval for testing carbon capture and storage technology, which enables coal-fired power plants to liquify their pollutants and store them underground. Critics claim the potential dangers of the technology have been inadequately addressed. http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,773196,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE WORLD FROM BERLIN ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 'British Journalists Bend the Truth, Plagiarize Competitors and Break Laws' News International has decided to close the 168-year-old tabloid News of the World in response to a phone-hacking scandal at the newspaper. German commentators say the affair reveals just how murky the world of British journalism is. http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,773214,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ AID FLOTILLA DEBATE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ What the Gaza Strip Really Needs An aid flotilla laden with supplies has been trying to reach the Gaza Strip for weeks. But residents can only laugh at some of the ships' contents. They have enough cement. What they need is the chance to make a living, they say. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,773264,00.html#ref=nlint -------------------- Photo Gallery: What the Gaza Strip Really Needs http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-70214.html#ref=nlint SPIEGEL 360: Our Full Middle East Coverage http://www.spiegel.de/international/topic/middle_east/#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE ANTHROPOCENE DEBATE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Do Humans Deserve Their Own Geological Era? With climate change, concrete deserts and agriculture, human beings have fundamentally altered the face of the Earth. But have we really ushered in a new geological era, the so-called Anthropocene? http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,773233,00.html#ref=nlint ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PICTURE THIS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The End of an Era http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,773257,00.html#ref=nlint
- EURUSD breaks below the 1.4273-77 support.
- Forex Wrap up webinar TODAY at 12:30pm Greg Michalowski & Shawn Powell
- EURO and USD can battle it out for the ugliest currency
- USDCHF becomes safe haven again
- US Wholesale Inventories Improve
- GBPUSD moves above topside resistance
- Shocking!. Dollar sells off.
- Draghi Says Italian Banks Will Pass Stress Tests
- Nonfarm Payrolls Drop
- Very weak data…USDJPY falls. EURUSD tests 100 day MA at 1.4269
- EURUSD levels to watch
- US Nonfarm Payrolls Due 8:30AM
- The NY Morning Forex Commentary is available for viewing-US Employment Preview
- Canadian net change in employment was 28.4K vs. 15.0K.
- EU document says most EU governments are ready to support banks accordingly after stress-tests.
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Pakistani Scientist Says N. Korea Paid for Nuclear Technology
The founder of Pakistan's nuclear program says North Korea paid top Pakistani military officers in exchange for nuclear technology.
The founder of Pakistan's nuclear program says North Korea paid top Pakistani military officers in exchange for nuclear technology.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization Opposes US Missile Defense Plan
Russia continues to oppose U.S. plans for a ballistic missile defense system.
Russia continues to oppose U.S. plans for a ballistic missile defense system.
President Calls for Balanced Defense Spending Cuts
President Obama is committed to cutting the Defense Department budget as part of the overall reduction in the federal deficit.
President Obama is committed to cutting the Defense Department budget as part of the overall reduction in the federal deficit.
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The migration to Windows 7 prompts for lockdown with Privilege Management. |
NATO Admits Afghan Civilian Deaths, Probes Claims
The NATO-led force in Afghanistan says it accidentally killed civilians in an air strike earlier this week and is investigating separate allegations that a coalition air raid killed two more civilians. ...
The NATO-led force in Afghanistan says it accidentally killed civilians in an air strike earlier this week and is investigating separate allegations that a coalition air raid killed two more civilians. ...
Canada Set to End Combat Mission in Afghanistan
Canada is set to end its combat mission in Afghanistan after nine years of fighting as part of the U.S.-led NATO coalition.
Canada is set to end its combat mission in Afghanistan after nine years of fighting as part of the U.S.-led NATO coalition.
Netherlands Sends Reduced Afghanistan Mission, As Canada Ends Combat Role
The Dutch military is sending 160 soldiers to Afghanistan as part of its new, scaled-down mission to the country.
The Dutch military is sending 160 soldiers to Afghanistan as part of its new, scaled-down mission to the country.
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US: South Sudan Separation a 'Fragile Moment'US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice says Saturday’s ceremonies marking the independence of South Sudan are historic events, but also a fragile moment. ...
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South Sudan needs strong partnerships to tackle ‘daunting’ challenges ahead – Ban
South Sudan will need to develop a broad set of partnerships to tackle the "daunting" challenges it faces.
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SCUDETTO 2006
«Lo scudetto all'Inter? Decise Guido Rossi»
SPORTParla Aigner uno dei tre saggi a cui fu commissionato il celebre parere consultivo
Lo sconcerto quotidiano: il caso Gazzetta di Mario Sconcerti
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1. Six Expelled at Airport; 200 Stopped Abroad
by Maayana Miskin
The “fly-in flotilla” planned for Friday has fizzled as foreign authorities ban most anti-Israel activists from boarding flights. Police are still on alert at Ben Gurion International Airport, but so far have encountered only six protesters.
Far-left foreign activists had planned a mass event for Friday in support of the Arab world's demand that millions of descendents of Arabs who fled pre-state Israel be allowed to “return” as citizens. While some activists said they planned to enter Israel quietly and travel to Palestinian Authority-controlled regions to protest, others were planning to riot at the airport to draw attention to their cause.
Israel responded by issuing a list of 347 pro-PA activists believed to be planning disruptions, and asked airports to prohibit them from boarding flights to Israel. Airlines were given an explanation from Israel's security apparatus as to why the “fly-in” protest is seen as a threat, and were warned that passengers from the list who succeeded in reaching Israel would not be allowed to enter the country.
Fifty activists were kept off a Lufthansa flight to Israel at Charles de Gaulle Airport and in protest refused to leave the terminal, Israel Radio reported. “Charles de Gaulle Airport is under Israeli occupation,” one accused.
Another 30 were barred from a flight in Geneva.
While most on the list will not be arriving in Israel, security professionals believe that hundreds more whose names are not on the list are still planning to arrive. Officials have warned that anyone who disrupts the peace at the airport will be denied entrance to Israel and deported as quickly as possible.
Two American women were deported overnight on Thursday after arriving in the country and stating that they were participants in the “fly in” protest who had originally planned to arrive in Gaza by sea in defiance of Israel's naval blockade on Hamas.
Another four would-be protesters were turned back later in the morning.
Police warned that the main “fly-in” wave may not yet have hit. “Anything could happen,” said Police Chief Yochanan Danino.
<
Comment on this story
by Maayana Miskin
The “fly-in flotilla” planned for Friday has fizzled as foreign authorities ban most anti-Israel activists from boarding flights. Police are still on alert at Ben Gurion International Airport, but so far have encountered only six protesters.
Far-left foreign activists had planned a mass event for Friday in support of the Arab world's demand that millions of descendents of Arabs who fled pre-state Israel be allowed to “return” as citizens. While some activists said they planned to enter Israel quietly and travel to Palestinian Authority-controlled regions to protest, others were planning to riot at the airport to draw attention to their cause.
Israel responded by issuing a list of 347 pro-PA activists believed to be planning disruptions, and asked airports to prohibit them from boarding flights to Israel. Airlines were given an explanation from Israel's security apparatus as to why the “fly-in” protest is seen as a threat, and were warned that passengers from the list who succeeded in reaching Israel would not be allowed to enter the country.
Fifty activists were kept off a Lufthansa flight to Israel at Charles de Gaulle Airport and in protest refused to leave the terminal, Israel Radio reported. “Charles de Gaulle Airport is under Israeli occupation,” one accused.
Another 30 were barred from a flight in Geneva.
While most on the list will not be arriving in Israel, security professionals believe that hundreds more whose names are not on the list are still planning to arrive. Officials have warned that anyone who disrupts the peace at the airport will be denied entrance to Israel and deported as quickly as possible.
Two American women were deported overnight on Thursday after arriving in the country and stating that they were participants in the “fly in” protest who had originally planned to arrive in Gaza by sea in defiance of Israel's naval blockade on Hamas.
Another four would-be protesters were turned back later in the morning.
Police warned that the main “fly-in” wave may not yet have hit. “Anything could happen,” said Police Chief Yochanan Danino.
<
Comment on this story
2. US Congress Opposes PA Statehood Bid
by Gavriel Queenann
The US House of Representatives voted 407-6 to pass a non-binding resolution backing the suspension of funds to the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority should it pursue its bid for a unilateral declaration of statehood by the United Nations in September.
The resolution comes a week after the US Senate unanimously approved a similar resolution.
The House resolution also calls for the Obama administration to consider suspending aid the the PA in light of its unity deal with Hamas terror organization. The resolution is non-binding because, constitutionally, foreign policy is the purview of the President of the United States.
The House initially debated the resolution on Wednesday, but postponed the vote to ensure lawmakers had a chance to vote. Republicans and Democrats signaled their strong support for Israel and a resumption of direct negotiations that collapsed last fall.
"We stand by Israel as our most valued ally. It is time for the Palestinian Authority to accept a peaceful solution to this conflict," said House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va.
Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 Democrat in the House, said he strongly believed that to ensure "the long-term viability of the Jewish democratic state, peace must be negotiated. It cannot and will not be imposed from outside."
The administration has said the PA push for a UN vote on its statehood this fall has not helped the peace process, a point echoed by lawmakers. The US has signaled to the PA it will exercise its security council veto at the UN should the matter be brought to a vote.
That renders the PA move in the General Assembly largely symbolic and led Israeli officials to seek a "moral minority" of sixty key states to oppose the move as a means of negating the propaganda effect of the PA receiving the support of its traditional 'automatic majority' in the General Assembly.
"What, exactly, would UN General Assembly recognition of a Palestinian state do for the Palestinians? Absolutely nothing," said Rep. Howard Berman of California, the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee. "It would be seen by Israel and many others as an act of bad faith, creating yet another obstacle to successful talks."
The House resolution says the goal is two states "a democratic, Jewish state of Israel and a viable, democratic Palestinian state, living side-by-side in peace, security and mutual recognition."
But many question the viability of a PA state when the organization, riddled with corruption, cannot make ends meet and survives solely at the charitable largesse of donor nations.
Comment on this story
by Gavriel Queenann
The US House of Representatives voted 407-6 to pass a non-binding resolution backing the suspension of funds to the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority should it pursue its bid for a unilateral declaration of statehood by the United Nations in September.
The resolution comes a week after the US Senate unanimously approved a similar resolution.
The House resolution also calls for the Obama administration to consider suspending aid the the PA in light of its unity deal with Hamas terror organization. The resolution is non-binding because, constitutionally, foreign policy is the purview of the President of the United States.
The House initially debated the resolution on Wednesday, but postponed the vote to ensure lawmakers had a chance to vote. Republicans and Democrats signaled their strong support for Israel and a resumption of direct negotiations that collapsed last fall.
"We stand by Israel as our most valued ally. It is time for the Palestinian Authority to accept a peaceful solution to this conflict," said House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va.
Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 Democrat in the House, said he strongly believed that to ensure "the long-term viability of the Jewish democratic state, peace must be negotiated. It cannot and will not be imposed from outside."
The administration has said the PA push for a UN vote on its statehood this fall has not helped the peace process, a point echoed by lawmakers. The US has signaled to the PA it will exercise its security council veto at the UN should the matter be brought to a vote.
That renders the PA move in the General Assembly largely symbolic and led Israeli officials to seek a "moral minority" of sixty key states to oppose the move as a means of negating the propaganda effect of the PA receiving the support of its traditional 'automatic majority' in the General Assembly.
"What, exactly, would UN General Assembly recognition of a Palestinian state do for the Palestinians? Absolutely nothing," said Rep. Howard Berman of California, the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee. "It would be seen by Israel and many others as an act of bad faith, creating yet another obstacle to successful talks."
The House resolution says the goal is two states "a democratic, Jewish state of Israel and a viable, democratic Palestinian state, living side-by-side in peace, security and mutual recognition."
But many question the viability of a PA state when the organization, riddled with corruption, cannot make ends meet and survives solely at the charitable largesse of donor nations.
Comment on this story
3. San Francisco Weighs In On Circumcision Ban
by Gavriel Queenann
The city of San Francisco finally weighed in on a local ballot measure that asks voters to ban the circumcision of male children, saying its attorney claim the proposed law would be unconstitutional if applied to Jewish mohels.
The city attorney's office made the argument in response to a lawsuit by a coalition of Jews and Muslims that has asked a California court to remove the initiative from this year's November 8 ballot. The lawsuit, which names both the city and the anti-circumcision activist who qualified the measure, argues that state law bars local governments from restricting medical procedures.
If a judge accepts that reasoning and only excludes physicians from the ban, the measure would target only religious faiths that practice circumcision, thereby runing afoul of the First Amendment to the Constituion which guarantees religious freedom, lawyers for the city wrote.
"San Franciscans cannot be asked to vote on whether to prohibit religious minorities from engaging in a particular religious practice, when the same practice may be performed under nonreligious auspices," the city's brief said.
"If the court concludes that the measure is pre-empted as applied to medical professionals, then the remaining application is unconstitutional and the court should remove the measure from the ballot entirely," the city attornies concluded.
The suggested measure would prohibit circumcision of males under the age of 18, making it a misdemeanor punishable by a fine or jail time. It does not carry any religious exemptions.
In their brief, the city's attorneys noted it was unusual for them to take any position on a pending initiative and do so "only if a measure is clearly invalid," which they argue the circumcision ban would be if it is allowed to reach voters with an exemption for doctors.
As evidence that the proposed ban "specifically targets the centuries-old Jewish religious practice known as brit milah," the city's attorneys cited virulently anti-semitic comic books and cards distributed by the measure's proponents that "portray the battle against circumcision as one between good, represented by a blonde, blue-eyed superhero and his fair-skinned female friend, and evil, represented by four dark-haired, dark-skinned menacing Jewish characters with prominent noses, sinister expressions and sadistic tendencies."
At the same time, the lawyers said they were not taking a stand on the larger question of whether the measure would survive legal scrutiny if left intact - meaning if it applied to doctors and mohels equally.
The judge has not issued a ruling on the matter.
Comment on this story
by Gavriel Queenann
The city of San Francisco finally weighed in on a local ballot measure that asks voters to ban the circumcision of male children, saying its attorney claim the proposed law would be unconstitutional if applied to Jewish mohels.
The city attorney's office made the argument in response to a lawsuit by a coalition of Jews and Muslims that has asked a California court to remove the initiative from this year's November 8 ballot. The lawsuit, which names both the city and the anti-circumcision activist who qualified the measure, argues that state law bars local governments from restricting medical procedures.
If a judge accepts that reasoning and only excludes physicians from the ban, the measure would target only religious faiths that practice circumcision, thereby runing afoul of the First Amendment to the Constituion which guarantees religious freedom, lawyers for the city wrote.
"San Franciscans cannot be asked to vote on whether to prohibit religious minorities from engaging in a particular religious practice, when the same practice may be performed under nonreligious auspices," the city's brief said.
"If the court concludes that the measure is pre-empted as applied to medical professionals, then the remaining application is unconstitutional and the court should remove the measure from the ballot entirely," the city attornies concluded.
The suggested measure would prohibit circumcision of males under the age of 18, making it a misdemeanor punishable by a fine or jail time. It does not carry any religious exemptions.
In their brief, the city's attorneys noted it was unusual for them to take any position on a pending initiative and do so "only if a measure is clearly invalid," which they argue the circumcision ban would be if it is allowed to reach voters with an exemption for doctors.
As evidence that the proposed ban "specifically targets the centuries-old Jewish religious practice known as brit milah," the city's attorneys cited virulently anti-semitic comic books and cards distributed by the measure's proponents that "portray the battle against circumcision as one between good, represented by a blonde, blue-eyed superhero and his fair-skinned female friend, and evil, represented by four dark-haired, dark-skinned menacing Jewish characters with prominent noses, sinister expressions and sadistic tendencies."
At the same time, the lawyers said they were not taking a stand on the larger question of whether the measure would survive legal scrutiny if left intact - meaning if it applied to doctors and mohels equally.
The judge has not issued a ruling on the matter.
Comment on this story
4. Shalom: Jewish Communities Must Remain in Israeli Hands
by Elad Benari & Yoni Kempinski
Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom visited on Thursday the Jewish community of Karnei Shomron. During the visit, Shalom planted a tree in the community, saying that planting symbolizes the Jewish people’s roots in the land of Israel.
Email readers: click HERE to view video.
“I believe that Karnei Shomron is very important for the safety and security of the State of Israel and should be kept in our hands in any future settlement or peace treaty with the Palestinians,” Shalom told IsraelNationalNews during the visit.
Referring to the Palestinian Authority’s plan to seek a unilateral declaration of a state at the United Nations, Shalom said that such unilateral moves “will never bring any kind of solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. If we want to make progress we should negotiate with one another.”
He added that “during the last two and a half years, [the Palestinian Authority has] been making every effort to prevent resumption of negotiations. Unfortunately they’ve succeeded until recently, but now we’re trying to make sure that most Western countries vote against that idea (of a Palestinian state –ed.). If they do so, I think even if there’s a majority, it won’t bring any Palestinian state.”
The Vice Prime Minister also addressed the issue of the ‘settlement blocs’, saying he is against the idea that some Judea and Samaria communities will not remain in Israeli hands as part of a peace agreement. He emphasized that “this is not the attitude or ideology of the Likud party.”
Finally, Shalom spoke of the Freedom Flotilla II, saying “it doesn’t come here for humanitarian reasons.
“The economic standard of living in Gaza is very high,” he emphasized. “The growth last year was 16%, and every day more than 200 trucks come into Gaza from the Israeli side. We are able to give them much more but they are not willing to take it, because they would like to keep the smuggling industry that will enable them to continue to smuggle all kinds of weapons which will be used in the future against innocent Israeli civilians.”
Comment on this story
by Elad Benari & Yoni Kempinski
Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom visited on Thursday the Jewish community of Karnei Shomron. During the visit, Shalom planted a tree in the community, saying that planting symbolizes the Jewish people’s roots in the land of Israel.
Email readers: click HERE to view video.
“I believe that Karnei Shomron is very important for the safety and security of the State of Israel and should be kept in our hands in any future settlement or peace treaty with the Palestinians,” Shalom told IsraelNationalNews during the visit.
Referring to the Palestinian Authority’s plan to seek a unilateral declaration of a state at the United Nations, Shalom said that such unilateral moves “will never bring any kind of solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. If we want to make progress we should negotiate with one another.”
He added that “during the last two and a half years, [the Palestinian Authority has] been making every effort to prevent resumption of negotiations. Unfortunately they’ve succeeded until recently, but now we’re trying to make sure that most Western countries vote against that idea (of a Palestinian state –ed.). If they do so, I think even if there’s a majority, it won’t bring any Palestinian state.”
The Vice Prime Minister also addressed the issue of the ‘settlement blocs’, saying he is against the idea that some Judea and Samaria communities will not remain in Israeli hands as part of a peace agreement. He emphasized that “this is not the attitude or ideology of the Likud party.”
Finally, Shalom spoke of the Freedom Flotilla II, saying “it doesn’t come here for humanitarian reasons.
“The economic standard of living in Gaza is very high,” he emphasized. “The growth last year was 16%, and every day more than 200 trucks come into Gaza from the Israeli side. We are able to give them much more but they are not willing to take it, because they would like to keep the smuggling industry that will enable them to continue to smuggle all kinds of weapons which will be used in the future against innocent Israeli civilians.”
Comment on this story
5. Iranian Submarine Departs Red Sea
by Gavriel Queenann
The Iranian submarine Yunis returned to Tehran after a 66-day mission in international waters - mostly in the Red Sea.
The Yunis accompanied Iran's 14th Fleet, comprised of the Naqdi destroyer and Bandar Abbas warship, on a mission that took it to the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
Iranian naval official Ahmad Reza Baqeri told reporters the presence of the Yunis submarine along with the 14th fleet, "has demonstrated the Iranian Navy’s military power and astonished extra-regional powers."
Once the Iranian military studies and assesses the results of the recent voyage, he added, it will consider deploying submarines in the far seas again, if necessary.
The Yunis commander, Hussein Hariri, said the submarine traveled some 3,800 nautical miles and that "it was successful in registering a large number of underwater vessels."
Iranian Navy Commander Habibollah Sayyari meanwhile, said that Iran’s military capabilities do not pose any threat to any country, adding that Iran’s Navy is ready to hold joint maneuvers with other countries.
The submarine's official mission was to ward off Somali pirates who threaten Iranian merchant ships, but security analysts say the Yunis was likely tracking Israeli movements and testing ability to approach shore undetected.
The 14th fleet's presence, analysts say, may also be intended to hint to Iran's allies – Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas – that it can provide them with assistance if needed.
Israeli defense officials refused to comment on the Yunis' mission.
Comment on this story
by Gavriel Queenann
The Iranian submarine Yunis returned to Tehran after a 66-day mission in international waters - mostly in the Red Sea.
The Yunis accompanied Iran's 14th Fleet, comprised of the Naqdi destroyer and Bandar Abbas warship, on a mission that took it to the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
Iranian naval official Ahmad Reza Baqeri told reporters the presence of the Yunis submarine along with the 14th fleet, "has demonstrated the Iranian Navy’s military power and astonished extra-regional powers."
Once the Iranian military studies and assesses the results of the recent voyage, he added, it will consider deploying submarines in the far seas again, if necessary.
The Yunis commander, Hussein Hariri, said the submarine traveled some 3,800 nautical miles and that "it was successful in registering a large number of underwater vessels."
Iranian Navy Commander Habibollah Sayyari meanwhile, said that Iran’s military capabilities do not pose any threat to any country, adding that Iran’s Navy is ready to hold joint maneuvers with other countries.
The submarine's official mission was to ward off Somali pirates who threaten Iranian merchant ships, but security analysts say the Yunis was likely tracking Israeli movements and testing ability to approach shore undetected.
The 14th fleet's presence, analysts say, may also be intended to hint to Iran's allies – Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas – that it can provide them with assistance if needed.
Israeli defense officials refused to comment on the Yunis' mission.
Comment on this story
6. Report: Corruption in the Stillborn Palestinian State
by Gavriel Queenann
The investigation of a number Palestinian Authority ministers in Salam Fayyad's current caretaker administration over allegations of fiscal malfeasance and moral corruption puts the lie to claims a PA state would be viable.
On Thursday, the Maan news service reported the PA anti-corruption commission was seeking to have parliamentary immunity lifted on a number of ministers it wants to question pursuant to administrative mismanagement, unfair hiring practices, and pilfering ministerial budgets for their own use.
Rafik Al Natsha, who heads the commission, told Voice of Palestine radio the investigations would be transparent and fair.
The names and number of officials being investigated by the commission have not been released, but the commission said in January it was investigating 80 cases of corruption and had already recovered $5 million from former officials. International observers say $5 million is likely just a drop in the bucket.
Reports of corruption and the plundering of PA coffers under Mahmoud Abbas have pervaded the Israeli media for years - with Channel 10 running a report last year that Abbas himself had withdrawn millions from PA accounts in Amman and Cairo.
Abbas, however, is not under investigation.
Although not officially released, a source close to Fayyad says the Health, Agriculture, and Justice Ministries are facing investigation. The source added two other ministries may also be investigated.
If found guilty of corruption, the ministers face time in prison.
The broadly focused corruption probe comes as Fayyad argues the PA's latest financial crisis - and its dependence on charitable donations for survival – is not a valid argument against it being considered viable for statehood.
But the problem is pervasive on an institutional level and dates back to the earliest days of the PA's existence when PLO chairman Yasser Arafat funneled the billions in donations received by the PA through his personal accounts.
So widespread was corruption in the PA regime that, after seeing an anti-corruption report in 1997 citing mass pilfering from his inner circle - many of whom are still in power today - Arafat ordered all future reports to be kept secret.
In 2002 investors demanded Arafat hand over all funds to the Palestine Investment Fund, which Fayyad hailed as "the most successful financial reform in the Arab world."
Auditors then discovered that Arafat was guilty of skimming $2 million a month from the gasoline trade in the territories. At the time of his death some $1billion in funds donated to the PA went missing from his accounts.
Arab donors have been slow to fulfill their pledges as the PA charges headlong into the UN demanding statehood while Fayyad's $331 million out of $970 million promised is pouring through his fingers like sand.
The West's refusal to underwite Fayyad's statehood plans to the tune of $5 billion is also no surprise.
Comment on this story
by Gavriel Queenann
The investigation of a number Palestinian Authority ministers in Salam Fayyad's current caretaker administration over allegations of fiscal malfeasance and moral corruption puts the lie to claims a PA state would be viable.
On Thursday, the Maan news service reported the PA anti-corruption commission was seeking to have parliamentary immunity lifted on a number of ministers it wants to question pursuant to administrative mismanagement, unfair hiring practices, and pilfering ministerial budgets for their own use.
Rafik Al Natsha, who heads the commission, told Voice of Palestine radio the investigations would be transparent and fair.
The names and number of officials being investigated by the commission have not been released, but the commission said in January it was investigating 80 cases of corruption and had already recovered $5 million from former officials. International observers say $5 million is likely just a drop in the bucket.
Reports of corruption and the plundering of PA coffers under Mahmoud Abbas have pervaded the Israeli media for years - with Channel 10 running a report last year that Abbas himself had withdrawn millions from PA accounts in Amman and Cairo.
Abbas, however, is not under investigation.
Although not officially released, a source close to Fayyad says the Health, Agriculture, and Justice Ministries are facing investigation. The source added two other ministries may also be investigated.
If found guilty of corruption, the ministers face time in prison.
The broadly focused corruption probe comes as Fayyad argues the PA's latest financial crisis - and its dependence on charitable donations for survival – is not a valid argument against it being considered viable for statehood.
But the problem is pervasive on an institutional level and dates back to the earliest days of the PA's existence when PLO chairman Yasser Arafat funneled the billions in donations received by the PA through his personal accounts.
So widespread was corruption in the PA regime that, after seeing an anti-corruption report in 1997 citing mass pilfering from his inner circle - many of whom are still in power today - Arafat ordered all future reports to be kept secret.
In 2002 investors demanded Arafat hand over all funds to the Palestine Investment Fund, which Fayyad hailed as "the most successful financial reform in the Arab world."
Auditors then discovered that Arafat was guilty of skimming $2 million a month from the gasoline trade in the territories. At the time of his death some $1billion in funds donated to the PA went missing from his accounts.
Arab donors have been slow to fulfill their pledges as the PA charges headlong into the UN demanding statehood while Fayyad's $331 million out of $970 million promised is pouring through his fingers like sand.
The West's refusal to underwite Fayyad's statehood plans to the tune of $5 billion is also no surprise.
Comment on this story
7. IDF Admits Mistakes in Joseph’s Tomb Incident
by Elad Benari
The IDF has admitted that it made mistakes in the way it prepared for a massive prayer rally in May, Arutz Sheva’s Hebrew-language news service has learned.
The May 30 rally was attended by an unprecedented number of more than 1,500 Jews. The rally, which took place several weeks after Ben Yosef Livnat was deliberately shot and killed at the tomb site by Palestinian Authority police officers, was approved and supervised by the IDF.
At the conclusion of the rally, fifty Jews had tried to remain in the tomb against IDF orders. They clashed with security forces and attacked Judea and Samaria Commander Brig.-Gen. Nitzan Alon. Security forces had difficulties controlling the activists and order was only restored to the area late at night.
In a secret document obtained by Arutz Sheva and which outlines the results of the IDF’s probe into the incident, Commander Nimrod Aloni of the IDF’s Samaria Brigade admits the deployment of forces to prevent unauthorized entry to Joseph’s Tomb was a mistake. He also says that police forces acted too late and in fact disrupted the soldiers.
“The police deployment in the area was not good,” says the report, adding, “even after police forces arrived late, their activity was not effective and disrupted the IDF forces.”
Aloni also indicates that there is an ideological perception that infiltration to Joseph’s Tomb would force the IDF and the Israeli government to take control of the site.
The report points at two groups as being behind the illegal entries into the complex: The Shuvu Banim yeshiva of Breslov Hasidim, led by Rabbi Eliezer Berland, and the Gar’in Shechem which consists of residents of Judea and Samaria who identify with the national-religious stream.
At the end of the report, the IDF comes to several conclusions, among them that a closer monitoring is required of the selling of tickets to Joseph’s Tomb. The report notes that tickets should be sold on the Internet or by telephone only, and not at the entrance to the site. The report also suggests that the Samaria Regional Council be the body to oversee the organization of visits to the tomb and coordinate the various modes of transportation during these visit, while fully cooperating with army officials.
The report suggests that the total number of people entering the tomb not exceed 300 worshippers at one time, and that the entrance to the tomb should be from midnight until 4:30am. It recommends that violent individuals be documented so that they may be prosecuted in court.
Comment on this story
by Elad Benari
The IDF has admitted that it made mistakes in the way it prepared for a massive prayer rally in May, Arutz Sheva’s Hebrew-language news service has learned.
The May 30 rally was attended by an unprecedented number of more than 1,500 Jews. The rally, which took place several weeks after Ben Yosef Livnat was deliberately shot and killed at the tomb site by Palestinian Authority police officers, was approved and supervised by the IDF.
At the conclusion of the rally, fifty Jews had tried to remain in the tomb against IDF orders. They clashed with security forces and attacked Judea and Samaria Commander Brig.-Gen. Nitzan Alon. Security forces had difficulties controlling the activists and order was only restored to the area late at night.
In a secret document obtained by Arutz Sheva and which outlines the results of the IDF’s probe into the incident, Commander Nimrod Aloni of the IDF’s Samaria Brigade admits the deployment of forces to prevent unauthorized entry to Joseph’s Tomb was a mistake. He also says that police forces acted too late and in fact disrupted the soldiers.
“The police deployment in the area was not good,” says the report, adding, “even after police forces arrived late, their activity was not effective and disrupted the IDF forces.”
Aloni also indicates that there is an ideological perception that infiltration to Joseph’s Tomb would force the IDF and the Israeli government to take control of the site.
The report points at two groups as being behind the illegal entries into the complex: The Shuvu Banim yeshiva of Breslov Hasidim, led by Rabbi Eliezer Berland, and the Gar’in Shechem which consists of residents of Judea and Samaria who identify with the national-religious stream.
At the end of the report, the IDF comes to several conclusions, among them that a closer monitoring is required of the selling of tickets to Joseph’s Tomb. The report notes that tickets should be sold on the Internet or by telephone only, and not at the entrance to the site. The report also suggests that the Samaria Regional Council be the body to oversee the organization of visits to the tomb and coordinate the various modes of transportation during these visit, while fully cooperating with army officials.
The report suggests that the total number of people entering the tomb not exceed 300 worshippers at one time, and that the entrance to the tomb should be from midnight until 4:30am. It recommends that violent individuals be documented so that they may be prosecuted in court.
Comment on this story
8. Bulgaria Rebuffs Israel, Won’t Commit to Voting Against PA State
by Elad Benari
Bulgaria, usually considered an ally of Israel, rebuffed it on Thursday when it would not commit to voting against the planned unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state.
AFP reported that Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, who was widely expected to back Israel, remained noncommittal after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
The report quoted Borisov as saying during a joint press conference with Netanyahu, “You will see when the vote comes,” when asked how Bulgaria would vote on the bid for a Palestinian state at the UN’s General Assembly in September.
He added that “there’s still time,” noting the PA had not yet tabled its statehood bid, and would only say Bulgaria was still “conducting final talks within the EU on our position.”
“We have always favored peace talks and understanding,” Borisov was quoted as saying. “Our categorical stance is that all sides should go back to the negotiating table to reach the necessary agreements for establishing peace. This will also be our position in the UN.”
Earlier, said the report, Netanyahu praised the “spirit of great familiarity and friendship” between Borisov and himself and the historical bond between their two countries.
Bulgaria is known for having refused to surrender the 50,000 Jews who were living in the country to the Nazi army during World War II, despite heavy pressure from Adolf Hitler. King Boris III of Bulgaria received a posthumous award for this last year.
The visits and bilateral meetings between Bulgaria and Israel have increased greatly over the past two years. Ten years ago, the two countries signed a free trade agreement.
But Bulgaria has also come under fire for its stance during World War II. While the country refused to hand Bulgaria’s Jews to Hitler’s army, it did allow the deportation of Jews from Thrace and Macedonia, which at that time were under Bulgarian rule.
Bulgaria has traditionally not spoken about this part of its history, and members of the Sephardic Jewish community have called on its government to reveal the truth of Bulgaria’s interaction with the Jews during the Holocaust.
Netanyahu’s visit to Bulgaria is part of a tour the Prime Minister has been making around European capitals to drum up support against the PA’s bid. On Wednesday, Netanyahu visited Romania, where Prime Minister Emil Boc said his country opposes the bid.
Comment on this story
by Elad Benari
Bulgaria, usually considered an ally of Israel, rebuffed it on Thursday when it would not commit to voting against the planned unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state.
AFP reported that Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, who was widely expected to back Israel, remained noncommittal after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
The report quoted Borisov as saying during a joint press conference with Netanyahu, “You will see when the vote comes,” when asked how Bulgaria would vote on the bid for a Palestinian state at the UN’s General Assembly in September.
He added that “there’s still time,” noting the PA had not yet tabled its statehood bid, and would only say Bulgaria was still “conducting final talks within the EU on our position.”
“We have always favored peace talks and understanding,” Borisov was quoted as saying. “Our categorical stance is that all sides should go back to the negotiating table to reach the necessary agreements for establishing peace. This will also be our position in the UN.”
Earlier, said the report, Netanyahu praised the “spirit of great familiarity and friendship” between Borisov and himself and the historical bond between their two countries.
Bulgaria is known for having refused to surrender the 50,000 Jews who were living in the country to the Nazi army during World War II, despite heavy pressure from Adolf Hitler. King Boris III of Bulgaria received a posthumous award for this last year.
The visits and bilateral meetings between Bulgaria and Israel have increased greatly over the past two years. Ten years ago, the two countries signed a free trade agreement.
But Bulgaria has also come under fire for its stance during World War II. While the country refused to hand Bulgaria’s Jews to Hitler’s army, it did allow the deportation of Jews from Thrace and Macedonia, which at that time were under Bulgarian rule.
Bulgaria has traditionally not spoken about this part of its history, and members of the Sephardic Jewish community have called on its government to reveal the truth of Bulgaria’s interaction with the Jews during the Holocaust.
Netanyahu’s visit to Bulgaria is part of a tour the Prime Minister has been making around European capitals to drum up support against the PA’s bid. On Wednesday, Netanyahu visited Romania, where Prime Minister Emil Boc said his country opposes the bid.
Comment on this story
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RIFIUTINAPOLI, AUMENTANO I CUMULI NELLE STRADE
Le giacenze ammontano a 1580 tonnellate, Situazione critica a Fuorigrotta, roghi in provincia
RFE/RL Caucasus Report
7/8/2011 6:29:41 PM
A review of RFE/RL reporting and analysis about the countries of the South Caucasus and Russia's North Caucasus region.
For more stories on the Caucasus, please visit and bookmark our Caucasus page . |
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'Stop The Dictatorship' -- An Interview With Georgian Opposition Figure Nino Burjanadze
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Azeri Activist Denied Bail
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Azerbaijan's Kurds Fear Loss Of National Identity
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Summary of DEBKA Exclusives in the Week Ending July 8, 2011
Turkey renews strategic ties with Israel ahead of showdown with Syria
DEBKAfile Special Report
June 25.
As Turkey heads for a military showdown with Syria, Ankara and
Jerusalem have agreed to restore military and intelligence
collaboration in the eastern Mediterranean, DEBKAfile reports. The deal
worked out between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister
Binyamin Netanyahu also returns Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan
to a role in Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy and gives him a chance to
try and bring Hamas aboard. Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon
finalized the details in secret talks in Ankara.
DEBKAfile Special Report
June 25.
As Turkey heads for a military showdown with Syria, Ankara and
Jerusalem have agreed to restore military and intelligence
collaboration in the eastern Mediterranean, DEBKAfile reports. The deal
worked out between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister
Binyamin Netanyahu also returns Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan
to a role in Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy and gives him a chance to
try and bring Hamas aboard. Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon
finalized the details in secret talks in Ankara.
June 27, 2011 Briefs:
- Two people injured Beersheba when attacked by an Arab with a pickaxe. He is sought by the police.
- Radical Palestinian Popular Front network smashed in Ramallah, West Bank in joint Shin Bet, Police, IDF counter-terror operation. Jerusalem residents with Israeli IDs were among cell members - some in contact with Damascus and Tehran. They were plotting to abduct an Israeli soldier, shooting attacks on West Bank highways and Jerusalem.
- Qaddafi offers UN-supervised elections to decide if he stays in power.
Iran poised to hit back for US-Turkish attack on Syria. Iron Dome battery moved to Haifa
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
27 June.
Iran's big war game was launched Monday, June 27 ahead of a Turkish
operation against Syria's Assad regime anticipated by its military and
Revolutionary Guards chiefs, with the unveiling of its first
underground missile silo. DEBKAfile reports Tehran expects the Turkish
army to have US air and naval support in case of Iranian reprisals
against them both.
Israel has responded to Iran's military preparations by positioning an Iron Dome rocket interceptor battery in the northern city of Haifa.
Last week, Iranian warships and submarines deployed in the Red Sea tracked the movements of two big US aircraft carriers, the USS Enterprise and USS George H. W Bush, which crossed each other in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on June 21 heading in opposite directions through this strategic chokepoint between the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean.
The USS Enterprise was on its way from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean via the Red Sea and Suez Canal, while the USS George H.W. Bush headed in the opposite direction for the Persian Gulf with a crew of 9,000 and 70 fighter bombers. The Los Angeles-class USS Bremerton nuclear-powered attack submarine took up position off Bahrain opposite Iran.
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
27 June.
Iran's big war game was launched Monday, June 27 ahead of a Turkish
operation against Syria's Assad regime anticipated by its military and
Revolutionary Guards chiefs, with the unveiling of its first
underground missile silo. DEBKAfile reports Tehran expects the Turkish
army to have US air and naval support in case of Iranian reprisals
against them both. Israel has responded to Iran's military preparations by positioning an Iron Dome rocket interceptor battery in the northern city of Haifa.
Last week, Iranian warships and submarines deployed in the Red Sea tracked the movements of two big US aircraft carriers, the USS Enterprise and USS George H. W Bush, which crossed each other in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on June 21 heading in opposite directions through this strategic chokepoint between the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean.
The USS Enterprise was on its way from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean via the Red Sea and Suez Canal, while the USS George H.W. Bush headed in the opposite direction for the Persian Gulf with a crew of 9,000 and 70 fighter bombers. The Los Angeles-class USS Bremerton nuclear-powered attack submarine took up position off Bahrain opposite Iran.
June 28, 2011 Briefs:
- A NATO helicopter fired on and killed three terrorists ending Taliban's 6-hour siege on Kabul Intercontinental Hotel.
- Assad receives US Congressman Dennis Kucinich (Dem.) and delegation visiting Syria and Lebanon.
- Fourteen long-range missiles tested simultaneously on second day of Iran's war games.
Commander: Their range designed to strike Israel and American bases. - Israel arrests four Hamas members, including an MP, in West Bank Nablus region Tuesday, say Palestinian security sources.
Iran tests missiles for hitting Israel, US bases, will launch monkey into space
28 June.
Tuesday, June 28, Day Two of its war games, Iran flexed muscle in the
direction of the US and Israel. After simultaneously test-firing 14
2,000-kilometer-range missiles at a single target, Com. Amir Ali
Hajizadeh, head of the Revolutionary Guards' aerospace division,
emphasized: "Iranian missiles can target US bases in Afghanistan and
any part of Israeli territory."
DEBKAfile: Iran is working at top speed on missiles capable of reaching West Europe and North America: They are Shahab-4, for targets at a distance of 3,200-4,000 kilometers; the Sejjil (2,500 kilometers) and the Ashura-Ghadr 110A (3,000 kilometers).
Shahab-4 and Ashura/Ghadr 110A are quite capable of hitting central and western Europe. Iran is furthermore developing intercontinental ballistic missiles - Shahab-5 (5,000 kilometers) and Shahab-6 (10,000 kilometers) - which put North America within range. In July, Tehran plans to put a monkey in space.
28 June.
Tuesday, June 28, Day Two of its war games, Iran flexed muscle in the
direction of the US and Israel. After simultaneously test-firing 14
2,000-kilometer-range missiles at a single target, Com. Amir Ali
Hajizadeh, head of the Revolutionary Guards' aerospace division,
emphasized: "Iranian missiles can target US bases in Afghanistan and
any part of Israeli territory." DEBKAfile: Iran is working at top speed on missiles capable of reaching West Europe and North America: They are Shahab-4, for targets at a distance of 3,200-4,000 kilometers; the Sejjil (2,500 kilometers) and the Ashura-Ghadr 110A (3,000 kilometers).
Shahab-4 and Ashura/Ghadr 110A are quite capable of hitting central and western Europe. Iran is furthermore developing intercontinental ballistic missiles - Shahab-5 (5,000 kilometers) and Shahab-6 (10,000 kilometers) - which put North America within range. In July, Tehran plans to put a monkey in space.
June 29, 2011 Briefs:
- Tehran launches new radar system for detecting cruise and ballistic missiles.
- A NATO helicopter fired on and killed three terrorists so ending Taliban's 6-hour siege on Kabul Intercontinental Hotel.
- Israeli Islamic Movement leader Sheikh Raad Salah detained in London. He entered UK against Home Office ban of entry over anti-Semitic rhetoric. The British Home Secretary orders Salah's illegal entry thoroughly investigated.
June 30, 2011 Briefs:
- Senior Saudi Prince Turki: "If Iran develops a nuclear weapon, that will be unacceptable to us and we will have to follow suit".
- NATO blamed Pakistani extremist Haqqani network for suicide-shooting attack on Kabul five-start hotel this week. Top network leader Ismail Jan killed later by NATO targeted air strike near Afghan-Pakistani border.
- Pakistan has ended US drone flights out of Shamis base in Baluchistan – Financial Times.
- More than 1,000 injured in Tahrir Square clashes between police and demonstrators calling for speedier reforms.
Another ticking bomb for Assad: UN Hariri tribunal
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
30 June.
The Lebanese capital was only the first stop for a delegation of the
UN-backed Special Tribal for Lebanon investigating the 2005
assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri. Thursday,
June 30, the group arrived in Beirut and presented four arrest
warrants against top Hizballah officers. Its next destination is
Damascus with a second batch of warrants against Syrian officials
suspected of controlling the Hizballah hit-team in the commission of
the murder.
The three wanted Hizballah operatives are Sami Issa and Salim Ayyash, top officers of Hizballah's security apparatus and Mustafa Badreddine, a relative of its late commander, Imad Moughniyeh who died in a bombing attack in Damascus. The fourth is unknown. The Lebanese authorities were given 30 days to execute the arrest warrants.
DEBKAfile reports the Syrian officials most often mentioned as wanted by the tribunal are Gen. Asif Showqat, brother-in-law of President Bashar Assad, former chief of Syrian military intelligence and currently Syrian chief of staff; and Rostom Ghazale, the Syrian strongman behind the Lebanese government at the time of the murder. Today, he is Assad's personal arm in suppressing the uprising against his regime in southern and eastern Syria.
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
30 June.
The Lebanese capital was only the first stop for a delegation of the
UN-backed Special Tribal for Lebanon investigating the 2005
assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri. Thursday,
June 30, the group arrived in Beirut and presented four arrest
warrants against top Hizballah officers. Its next destination is
Damascus with a second batch of warrants against Syrian officials
suspected of controlling the Hizballah hit-team in the commission of
the murder. The three wanted Hizballah operatives are Sami Issa and Salim Ayyash, top officers of Hizballah's security apparatus and Mustafa Badreddine, a relative of its late commander, Imad Moughniyeh who died in a bombing attack in Damascus. The fourth is unknown. The Lebanese authorities were given 30 days to execute the arrest warrants.
DEBKAfile reports the Syrian officials most often mentioned as wanted by the tribunal are Gen. Asif Showqat, brother-in-law of President Bashar Assad, former chief of Syrian military intelligence and currently Syrian chief of staff; and Rostom Ghazale, the Syrian strongman behind the Lebanese government at the time of the murder. Today, he is Assad's personal arm in suppressing the uprising against his regime in southern and eastern Syria.
Iran has conducted 4 nuclear-missile tests – 3 successful
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
30 June.
DEBKAfile offers exclusive details on the British Foreign Secretary
William Hague's allegation Wednesday, June 29, that Iran has carried
out secret tests of missiles capable of delivering a nuclear payload in
breach of UN resolution 1929: Three of those tests, four in all, were
carried out between October 2010 and February 2011and the fourth on
Tuesday, June 28, in the course of the Prophet Mohammed war games
currently in progress. Three tests by Sejjil and Shahab-3 Kadar were
successful.
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
30 June.
DEBKAfile offers exclusive details on the British Foreign Secretary
William Hague's allegation Wednesday, June 29, that Iran has carried
out secret tests of missiles capable of delivering a nuclear payload in
breach of UN resolution 1929: Three of those tests, four in all, were
carried out between October 2010 and February 2011and the fourth on
Tuesday, June 28, in the course of the Prophet Mohammed war games
currently in progress. Three tests by Sejjil and Shahab-3 Kadar were
successful.
July 2, 2011 Briefs:
- Libyan rebels now say Qaddafi can retire on Libyan soil under international supervision.
- Iran has smuggled new munitions to militia allies in Iraq and Afghan Taliban. Rocket-assisted exploding missiles have already killed US troops in Iraq. Long-range rockets will help Taliban hit US targets from a safe distance.
- Israel's transport minister Israel Katz warns hundreds of Hamas supporters heading for Israel on July 8 for anti-Israel riot at airport. They plan to arrive separately from several countries.
- Assad sacks Hama governor for failing to break up demonstration of half a million Friday.
At least 28 killed by Syrian security forces and troops across country.
US and NATO prepare end game for Qaddafi. He threatens terror
DEBKAfile's Exclusive Report
02 July.
Libyan Ruler Muammar Qaddafi's threat to "throw ourselves on Europe
like swarms of locusts or bees to attack "your homes, your offices,
your families" may be meant to scare NATO off its coming all-out
military offensive to kill or oust him – or may be for real. If forced
to quit, DEBKAfile reports he could seek asylum with friendly African
Sahel tribes like the al Qaeda-linked Tuareg, which also provide him
with mercenaries. From there, he could orchestrate a campaign of terror.
But the threat he relayed by audio to a huge pro-government rally in Tripoli Friday, July 1may be his last warning for NATO as its all-out military bid to kill or oust him reaches its last stage of planning. US forces will take part despite US President Barack Obama's denials of direct military intervention in the Libya war.
DEBKAfile's Exclusive Report
02 July.
Libyan Ruler Muammar Qaddafi's threat to "throw ourselves on Europe
like swarms of locusts or bees to attack "your homes, your offices,
your families" may be meant to scare NATO off its coming all-out
military offensive to kill or oust him – or may be for real. If forced
to quit, DEBKAfile reports he could seek asylum with friendly African
Sahel tribes like the al Qaeda-linked Tuareg, which also provide him
with mercenaries. From there, he could orchestrate a campaign of terror.But the threat he relayed by audio to a huge pro-government rally in Tripoli Friday, July 1may be his last warning for NATO as its all-out military bid to kill or oust him reaches its last stage of planning. US forces will take part despite US President Barack Obama's denials of direct military intervention in the Libya war.
Israel, Greece, Turkey join hands to stall Gaza flotilla
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
02 July
The organizers of Freedom Flotilla II against Israel's naval blockade
on Gaza – among them Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal's son-in-law Hamoud
Tareq - never dreamed the stalling of their expedition would be served
up as the founding step of the nascent pro-US Israel-Greek-Turkish
alliance. The organizers discovered their mistake Friday, July 1, when
fast Greek coastguard commando boats escorted the American "Audacity of
Hope" back to port and Athens announced any vessels departing for Gaza
would be stopped.
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou though fighting for his life against furious domestic protest found time to scotch the anti-Israel flotilla. He was not alone: The Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan withheld permission from the Mavi Marmara, the Turkish vessel which led the first pro-Palestinian flotilla last year, to sail for Gaza. Flotilla vessels were mysteriously sabotaged in Greek and Turkish ports.
DEBKAfile explains their cooperation with Israel by the US President Barack Obama's close understanding with the Turkish prime minister and their decision to establish a new Turkish-Israeli-Greek bloc in the eastern Mediterranean.
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
02 July
The organizers of Freedom Flotilla II against Israel's naval blockade
on Gaza – among them Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal's son-in-law Hamoud
Tareq - never dreamed the stalling of their expedition would be served
up as the founding step of the nascent pro-US Israel-Greek-Turkish
alliance. The organizers discovered their mistake Friday, July 1, when
fast Greek coastguard commando boats escorted the American "Audacity of
Hope" back to port and Athens announced any vessels departing for Gaza
would be stopped. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou though fighting for his life against furious domestic protest found time to scotch the anti-Israel flotilla. He was not alone: The Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan withheld permission from the Mavi Marmara, the Turkish vessel which led the first pro-Palestinian flotilla last year, to sail for Gaza. Flotilla vessels were mysteriously sabotaged in Greek and Turkish ports.
DEBKAfile explains their cooperation with Israel by the US President Barack Obama's close understanding with the Turkish prime minister and their decision to establish a new Turkish-Israeli-Greek bloc in the eastern Mediterranean.
July 4, 2011 Briefs:
- Missing British soldier found dead Monday in S. Afghanistan hours after UK PM Cameron arrived In Kabul. Taliban claimed to have snatched him.
- Turkey freezes Libyan bank assets Monday after recognizing Libya's rebel administration, quietly removing ambassador from Tripoli.
- Second day of gunfire and mass arrests in Hama after half a million protesters turned out against Assad Friday • Tanks move out and advance on Idlib •
- At least 20 arrested in small demonstration outside Saudi interior ministry for release of political detainees.
- Heads-up on violent
pro-Hamas outbreak this month prompts extraordinary security measures
at Ben Gurion for arrivals from Europe.
Passport checks carried out before passengers reach terminal passport control. - Lebanese source say UN-backed Tribunal to release another 14-17 indictments and arrest warrants against Hariri murder suspects this month. Four Hizballah leaders already named.
- Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood splits into five parties to run separately in September general election.
- Last-ditch bid to
avert NATO's final attack on Qaddafi takes place at Sochi where Russian
FM Medvedev met with NATO chief Rasmussen and African Union President
Zuma Monday.
Qaddafi's son Saif a-Islam repeated warning of reprisals against Europe for NATO war.
Hamas blows up gas pipeline in revenge for flotilla failure
DEBKAfile Special Report
04 July.
The pipeline carrying Egyptian natural gas to Israel and Jordan via
Sinai was blown up early Monday, July 4, for the third time in six
months. All three attacks were carried out according to DEBKAfile's
military sources, by a special Hamas pipeline sabotage unit working
with al Qaeda-allied Bedouin smugglers in Sinai. This time, the Hamas
retaliated for the stoppage of the international flotilla before it
could set out to break the Israeli naval blockade on the Gaza Strip.
Israel and Egypt again failed to guard the vital gas line against attack any more than Hamas has been prevented from seizing control of much of northern Sinai since Hosni Mubarak's overthrow. For Monday's attack, the terrorists parked a bomb car near the pipeline in the Bir al-Abd area and activated it remotely before driving off in another vehicle.
DEBKAfile Special Report
04 July.
The pipeline carrying Egyptian natural gas to Israel and Jordan via
Sinai was blown up early Monday, July 4, for the third time in six
months. All three attacks were carried out according to DEBKAfile's
military sources, by a special Hamas pipeline sabotage unit working
with al Qaeda-allied Bedouin smugglers in Sinai. This time, the Hamas
retaliated for the stoppage of the international flotilla before it
could set out to break the Israeli naval blockade on the Gaza Strip. Israel and Egypt again failed to guard the vital gas line against attack any more than Hamas has been prevented from seizing control of much of northern Sinai since Hosni Mubarak's overthrow. For Monday's attack, the terrorists parked a bomb car near the pipeline in the Bir al-Abd area and activated it remotely before driving off in another vehicle.
Palestinian financial crisis puts squeeze on Abbas to drop UN initiative
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
04 July.
The Palestinian Authority is broke. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad
appealed to "donors and our Arab brothers" Sunday, June 3, for urgent
assistance after being forced to halve civil servants' July wages. PA
finances are suffering from the backlash of recession in the West and
the Arab revolts. The US, Turkey and Saudi Arabia could save the PA
from bankruptcy – in theory. But, DEBKAfile reports, the Saudis prefer
to channel cash to Jordan and Washington's bailout is conditional on
Mahmoud Abbas dropping his unilateral UN initiative and going back to
negotiations with Israel.
To obtain even crumbs of Saudi largesse, the Ramallah-based Palestinian government would have to follow Jordan's lead and break away from America's Middle East orientation. This PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas is deeply reluctant to do.
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
04 July.
The Palestinian Authority is broke. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad
appealed to "donors and our Arab brothers" Sunday, June 3, for urgent
assistance after being forced to halve civil servants' July wages. PA
finances are suffering from the backlash of recession in the West and
the Arab revolts. The US, Turkey and Saudi Arabia could save the PA
from bankruptcy – in theory. But, DEBKAfile reports, the Saudis prefer
to channel cash to Jordan and Washington's bailout is conditional on
Mahmoud Abbas dropping his unilateral UN initiative and going back to
negotiations with Israel. To obtain even crumbs of Saudi largesse, the Ramallah-based Palestinian government would have to follow Jordan's lead and break away from America's Middle East orientation. This PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas is deeply reluctant to do.
July 5, 2011 Briefs:
- Home Front Minister Vilnai predicts thousands of missiles will hit Israeli towns in next war.
- AMAN chief Brig. Kochavi: Iran is running 5,000 active centrifuges aiming for 8,000 and capable of building a nuclear warhead within a short time.
- In briefing to
Knesset security and foreign affairs panel, the intel chief confirmed
Iran and Hizballah were actively aiding Syrian crackdown on protest.
They were exploiting unrest to influence the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and meddling in Lebanon, Bahrain, Yemen and other places. - Israel air force kills at least two members of Qassam missile team in Khan Younes, S. Gaza. Gunfire from Gaza injures an Israeli army civilian employee.
- Barack says the bodies of Hamas and Gazan terrorists will not be handed to the Palestinian Authority. He earlier countermanded the prime minister's approval of the transfer of 84 bodies.
US-Turkish plan for Assad's survival
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
05 July.
The United States, Britain, France and Turkey are spearheading a
plan to preserve Bashar Assad as Syrian president while cutting away
his support system of relatives and political and military chiefs and
replacing them with "moderate opposition" figures, DEBKAfile reports
exclusively. But the process is marred by profound mutual mistrust: The
West suspects he has no intention of abandoning his savage crackdown
on protest, while Assad suspects he is being set up for a Turkish
invasion.
Meanwhile, Assad is lending the move qualified cooperation. The enterprise will be shot down if Hama continues to hold out against the regime. Its resistance to the Syrian army would precipitate a bloodbath and refugee exodus on a scale that might precipitate Turkish military intervention and seriously rock Assad's regime. Turkish troops are on standby on the Syrian border ready to cross at a moment's notice.
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
05 July.
The United States, Britain, France and Turkey are spearheading a
plan to preserve Bashar Assad as Syrian president while cutting away
his support system of relatives and political and military chiefs and
replacing them with "moderate opposition" figures, DEBKAfile reports
exclusively. But the process is marred by profound mutual mistrust: The
West suspects he has no intention of abandoning his savage crackdown
on protest, while Assad suspects he is being set up for a Turkish
invasion. Meanwhile, Assad is lending the move qualified cooperation. The enterprise will be shot down if Hama continues to hold out against the regime. Its resistance to the Syrian army would precipitate a bloodbath and refugee exodus on a scale that might precipitate Turkish military intervention and seriously rock Assad's regime. Turkish troops are on standby on the Syrian border ready to cross at a moment's notice.
July 6, 2011 Briefs:
- New US Transport Security Administration warning Wednesday of terrorist interest in surgically implanting bombs in people to blow up planes. This would circumvent current detection procedures. Foreign airports and airlines asked to cooperate in adding random screening measures for passengers flying to the US.
- Police on high alert at Ben Gurion airport for fly-in of pro-Palestinian activists from Europe. A handful admitted under surveillance. Another group was turned back. Many more expected before Saturday.
- At least 22 Syrians died in Hama when security forces opened fire on protesters Wednesday. London rights group reports of scores round up in Talkalakh, 9 died of torture.
- Egypt's secular Wafd Party leader says 9/11 was "made in USA," Holocaust is a lie and Anne Frank's memoir a fake. Ahmed Ezz El-Arab spoke to Washington Times ahead of Egyptian elections in September.
US-French plan: Israeli-Palestinian Paris peace summit Sept. 2 after ending Libya war
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
06 July.
The summit would also be attended by Presidents Obama and Sarkozy.
They plan for it take to place shortly after the Libyan war ends –
either in a power-sharing accord, failing which NATO proposes to deal
Muammar Qaddafi a knockout blow. Meanwhile, Washington has pre-empted a
Palestinian attempt to convene the UN Security Council next week to
approve their application for membership of the world body as an
independent state.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu sent back Barack Obama revised formula for the starting-point of negotiations: Israel's acceptance of 1967 borders with territorial swaps in exchange for Palestinian recognition of Israel as the national state of the Jewish people. Netanyahu replied he accepted provided Obama affixed his signature to the Bush letter affirming UN Resolution 242 (defensible borders) and demographic changes since 1967.
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
06 July.
The summit would also be attended by Presidents Obama and Sarkozy.
They plan for it take to place shortly after the Libyan war ends –
either in a power-sharing accord, failing which NATO proposes to deal
Muammar Qaddafi a knockout blow. Meanwhile, Washington has pre-empted a
Palestinian attempt to convene the UN Security Council next week to
approve their application for membership of the world body as an
independent state. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu sent back Barack Obama revised formula for the starting-point of negotiations: Israel's acceptance of 1967 borders with territorial swaps in exchange for Palestinian recognition of Israel as the national state of the Jewish people. Netanyahu replied he accepted provided Obama affixed his signature to the Bush letter affirming UN Resolution 242 (defensible borders) and demographic changes since 1967.
Erdogan shuts the door on Israel when UN confirms legality of Gaza blockade
DEBKAfile Special Report
06 July.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan applied the brakes to
fence-mending with Israel when he learned Wednesday, July 6, that the
UN inquiry commission into last year's Turkish-led flotilla had ruled
Israel's naval blockade on Gaza legal. Eight Turks and a
Turkish-American were killed in a clash with Israeli commandos who
boarded the Mavi Marmora. The UN ruling meant that Israel was within
its rights and the Turkish vessel's attempt to break the blockade was
illegal. Israel says it has nothing to apologize for. The talks between Israeli and Turkish delegations this week prior to the publication of the UN's Palmer report broke for lack of agreement and its release was delayed indefinitely.
DEBKAfile's sources report the conviction of Middle East observers that the Turkish prime minister will get back to restoring ties with Israel after the flotilla report storm blows over. As US ambassador to Turkey Francis J. Ricciardone put it Wednesday: "We believe that the two countries will work together again…"
RFE/RL Headlines
7/8/2011 8:47:05 PM
A daily digest of the English-language news and analysis written by the staff of Radio Free Europe/Radio LibertyRFE/RL is looking for guest bloggers, preferably writing from and about our broadcast region. If you're interested, drop us a line at webteam@rferl.org. |
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