Israel eases restrictions on Gaza fishing (note : still not according to Oslo agreement)

Published on Nov 25, 2012 by AlJazeeraEnglish : Israel has eased restrictions on Gaza fishermen, further implementing a three-day-old truce brokered by Egypt after a week of fierce fighting, Palestinian officials said.

Israel to test-fire new missile system after Iron Dome failure.

The Israeli regime is set to test-fire a new missile shield developed by US company Raytheon after its Iron Dome missile system failed to intercept hundreds of rockets and missiles fired from Gaza.

Israel has turned to engineers from the American company to help the regime develop the next-generation missile shield called the Stunner.

According to Boston Globe newspaper, the new missile interceptor is scheduled to be test-fired in “Negev Desert in coming days.”

If the system proves viable, Tel Aviv will add the system to its missile shield, known as David’s Sling, which is designed to complement Iron Dome.

“They are working hard to get David’s Sling operational. The hope is it will be able to knock out a variety of targets,” said Theodore A. Postol, professor of science, technology, and national security policy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and former adviser to the US Navy.

Israel developed the Iron Dome with a 200-million-dollar fund from the United States. The US plans to give Tel Aviv another $600 million for additional batteries and replacement missiles.

The US will also help finance the Stunner project if it proves viable. The Israeli firm Rafael has spent a total of $130 million over the past three years to complete the system.

The new interceptor missile system “is designed to intercept a variety of short-range ballistic missiles, large caliber rockets and cruise missiles,” Raytheon said in a statement.

The report added that Tel Aviv is also working with the giant American aerospace corporation, Boeing, on another missile shield known as Arrow 3, designed to intercept missiles that can travel hundreds, even thousands of miles.

The landing of Hamas rockets in Israeli cities has raised serious questions on how the Israeli regime would protect itself in case of other retaliatory strikes.

An Egypt-mediated ceasefire agreement on Wednesday ended eight days of Israeli attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip that killed more than 160 Palestinians and injured about 1,200 others.

The Iron Dome missile shield intercepted about 420 out of some 1,500 rockets fired by the Palestinian resistance fighters into the Israeli cities.

The resistance fighters incessantly fired rockets and missiles into the occupied lands during the eight-day Israeli war on Gaza, killing at least five Israelis, in retaliation for the fatal attacks on the besieged Palestinian territory. 

original news here  >>>

Iron Dome interceptor missile deviates, lands in Ashdod: Israeli media

Israeli missile being launched from the Iron Dome missile shield.

Israeli media say an Iron Dome missile fired to intercept Palestinian Grad rockets missed its target and landed near one of the busiest highways in the Israeli city of Ashdod on November 21.

The Iron Dome missile shield marked another failure as its missile went in a wrong direction toward a busy highway instead of heading upwards to the Palestinian rockets, and caused an explosion only 30 meters from the road, the media stated.

An Egypt-mediated ceasefire agreement on Wednesday ended eight days of Israeli attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip that killed more than 160 Palestinians and injured about 1,200 others.

However, Israeli Minister for Military Affairs Ehud Barak threatened on Thursday that the Tel Aviv regime was prepared to resume deadly attacks on Gaza if the ceasefire failed to hold.

The Iron Dome missile shield intercepted about 420 out of some 1,500 rockets fired by the Palestinian resistance fighters into the Israeli cities.

The resistance fighters incessantly fired rockets and missiles into the occupied lands during the eight-day Israeli war on Gaza, killing at least five Israelis, in retaliation for the fatal attacks on the besieged Palestinian territory.

original news here   >>>

Israeli Activist Maya Yechieli Wind Speaks Out.

Published on Nov 21, 2012 by breakingtheset : Abby Martin interviewed Maya Yechieli Wind, an Israeli activist and dissenter, who advocates against Israeli aggression toward occupied Palestine.

Netanyahu agreed to ceasefire after Obama promised US troops in Sinai next week?

Israel and Palestine are momentarily at a ceasefire, but the potential reasoning behind the recess could have some real international implications. Israel’s Debka reports that the pause in fighting comes after the US promised to send troops to Sinai.

According to Debka, US troops will soon be en route to the Sinai peninsula, Egyptian territory in North Africa that’s framed by the Suez Canal on the West and Israel on the East. In its northeast most point, Sinai is but a stone’s throw from Palestinian-controlled Gaza, and according to Debka, Hamas fighters there have been relying on Iranian arms smugglers to supply them with weaponry by way of Egypt.

Debka reports this week that Sinai will soon be occupied by US troops, who were promised by President Barack Obama (pic above) to Israel’s leaders as a condition that a ceasefire be called. Once deployed, the Americans will intervene with the rumored arms trade orchestrated by Iranians, ideally cutting off supplies for Hamas while at the same time serving as a thorn in the side of Iran.

“Once the missile and arms consignments depart Iranian ports or Libyan arms bazaars, Tehran has no direct control of their transit from point to point through Egypt until they reach Sinai and their Gaza destination,” Debka reports. “All the same, a US special forces operation against the Sinai segment of the Iranian smuggling route would count as the first overt American military strike against an Iranian military interest.”

The decision to send US troops to Sinai in exchange for a ceasefire was reportedly arranged early Wednesday morning after Pres. Obama  made a deal over the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In the days prior, Israel was relentless in targeting Gaza, killing more than 100 persons — including civilians — during a renewed assault on Hamas. A ceasefire has since been called after a week of fight, but more military action could soon occur, claims Israel, if the flow of weapons to Gaza is not stopped. Netanyahu has been adamant with his pleas for the United States to strike Iran in an effort to disrupt its nuclear enrichment facilities, a demand which up until now has been brushed aside by Pres. Obama. The White House has up until now insisted on diplomatic measures in order to make an impact on any Iranian output, but Debka’s sources suggest that US troops may now have to intervene in Sinai if any smugglers should attempt to move weapons into Gaza.

“By opening the Sinai door to an American troop deployment for Israel’s defense, recognizes that the US force also insures Israel against Cairo revoking or failing to honor the peace treaty Egypt signed with Israel in 1979,” adds Debka.

According to their sources, US troops are expected in Egypt early next week. Meanwhile, American forces have all but surrounded Iran and are stationed in countless bases across the Middle East.

original news here >>

Russia urges united action against Israeli aggression.

Moscow has called on the Arab League and the Middle East Quartet comprising Russia, the European Union (EU), UN, and US, to work together to end frequent Israeli aggressions against the Palestinians.

"The Quartet needs...to work together with the Arab League representatives and work out solutions together...to restart Israeli-Palestinian talks," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (pic above) said on Friday.

Lavrov made the remarks after at least one Palestinian was killed and seven others were injured by Israeli fire in the southern Gaza Strip despite an Egypt-mediated ceasefire agreement between the two sides on Wednesday.

Over 160 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed and about 1,200 others were injured in the Israeli attacks on Gaza that were carried out during the eight-day period starting November 14.

In retaliation, the Palestinian resistance fighters fired rockets and missiles into Israeli cities, killing at least five Israelis.

The Russian minister had also on November 15 lashed out at the Middle East Quartet for its failure to establish peace in the region.

Israel frequently carries out airstrikes and other attacks on the Gaza Strip, saying the acts of aggression are being conducted for defensive purposes. However, in violation of international law, disproportionate force is always used and civilians are often killed and injured.

The attacks rage on while Israel keeps up its crippling blockade on Gaza, which it imposed on the enclave in 2007.

Original news here >>>

WMD-free Middle East conference cancelled for Israeli worries

Nuclear warheads (file photo)

A major conference aimed at banning nuclear weapons in the Middle East has been cancelled over concerns that criticism at Israel would further isolate the Tel Aviv regime.

The major event has reportedly been scrubbed on US worries that its long-time ally in the region, the Israeli regime, would come under fire as the only possessor of nuclear weapons in the Middle East.

"We would not support a conference in which any regional state would be subject to pressure or isolation," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said, alluding to the Israeli regime.

Israel is widely known to possess between 200 and 400 nuclear warheads.

Nuland, however, mentioned on Friday the current conditions in the Middle East as the reason why the conference, slated to be held in Helsinki, Finland, probably in mid-December, has been cancelled.

"As a co-sponsor of the proposed conference ... the United States regrets to announce that the conference cannot be convened because of present conditions in the Middle East and the fact that states in the region have not reached agreement on acceptable conditions for a conference," Nuland said in a statement.

She added, "The United States believes that a deep conceptual gap persists in the region on approaches toward regional security and arms control arrangements.

"These differences can only be bridged through direct engagement and agreement among the states in the region. Outside states cannot impose a process on the region any more than they can dictate an outcome.”

Britain and Russia, as other sponsors of the major conference, had insisted that all regional countries, in particular Israel, attend the meeting and it appears that Tel Aviv’s refusal has, according to reports, led to the cancellation of the major event.

The Israeli regime rejects all the regulatory international nuclear agreements - the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in particular - and refuses to allow its nuclear facilities to come under international regulatory inspections.

Original here  >>>

Syria : Kurds take up arms against rebels.

Turkey’s support for rebels is also viewed with suspicion by Syria's Kurdish population, the majority of which lives in the northern border region. On Friday, two of the main Kurdish groups in Syria agreed to join forces to fight against anti-Assad Islamist militants, which attacked Kurdish areas this month.

The Democratic Union Party, known by its Kurdish initials PYD, and the Kurdish National Council (KNC) came to an agreement after a meeting in Arbil, the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region. The two factions vowed to jointly defend the predominantly Kurdish towns in Syria and administer them together until an election can be held to form a local government.

An officer of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) stands guard near 

the Syrian-Iraq border October 31, 2012.(Reuters / Thaier Al-Sudani)

More here  >>>

Karbala & current war against Islam.

Published on Nov 23, 2012 by PressTVGlobalNews : The battle of Karbala took place over 1400 years ago and is still commemorated on a yearly basis.The battle took place between the tyrannical army of Yazid and the Grandson of the Prophet and Imam of that time, Imam Hussain, along with 72 members of his family.

This historical event can be compared to tragedies around the world today and should be taken as a precedent to overcome injustice. Lines can be drawn between the state of today's Muslims; a minority in the world who are being oppressed on different levels by a larger majority.

This week's Islam and Life asks: What parallels can be drawn from the battle of Karbala and the current war against Islam?

How Long will the siege on Gaza goes on before America says NO!?

US Money and Policy Makes Israeli Attack on Gaza Possible

Published on Nov 21, 2012 by TheRealNews - Phylis Bennis: President Obama's unconditional support for Israeli campaign emboldens PM Netanyahu

The Roots of Israeli Attack on Gaza.

Published on Nov 17, 2012 by TheRealNews : Phyllis Bennis: The current conflict did not begin with rockets fired at Israel.

Netanyahu : Kill the messengers & Occupy the grounds

Despite pounding from the air using fighters ,drones & from the sea Bibi Netanyahu fails to soften Hamas and Gazans!

Published on Nov 18, 2012 by aston79suara : Hamas stick to their demands although Bibi Netanyahu threatened to send in ground troops and invade Gaza after attacking the 'Israeli non-friendly' reporters.

Thousands in London occupy outside Israeli Embassy against war on Gaza

Published on Nov 17, 2012 by PressTVGlobalNews : In the UK, Londoners hold a fourth day of protests against Israel's latest military offensive against the Gaza Strip. Thousands have gathered outside the Israeli embassy in support of Palestinians.

Among the speakers was Palestinian ambassador to London Manuel Hassassian who gave an impassioned speech.

The government in Britain has backed israel's violence saying it has a right to defend itself But even the foreign minister has admitted a ground invasion would lose Israel international support.

Protesters say that whatever changes or stays the same they will be here day after day attack after attack standing with the Palestinians and making their voices heard.

SNC a new & different acronym SYRIAN NATIONAL COALITION.

The SNC, dominated by the Qatar-backed Brotherhood, agreed under intense U.S. and Qatari pressure on Sunday to become a minority player in a wider body, the Syrian National Coalition.

Opp

osition to the SNC being subsumed in the new coalition appeared to come largely from secular figures such as its new leader, Christian activist George Sabra.

The coalition's first elected head is Mouaz Alkhatib, a popular Islamist preacher from Damascus. Khatib, 50, has been a regular guest on Qatar's Al Jazeera satellite channel...

[Malaysian may have this question Ulama' TV or Selebriti?]

original : http://goo.gl/Viys4

Mali Crisis: UN expected to approve military plan before 2013.

Published on Nov 12, 2012 by france24english : Mali Crisis: West African bloc pledges 3.300 troops to help recapture north; UN expected to approve military plan before 2013. West African troops will back 5.000 Mali military forces.

The meaning of Democratic & Jewish state

Published on Nov 11, 2012 by aston79suara : An attempt to highlight apartheid policies and practices in Israel.

Iran issues warning after targeting U.S. drone

DUBAI | Fri Nov 9, 2012 8:05am EST

(Reuters) - Iran said it would deal decisively with any foreign encroachment into its airspace, an apparent warning to the United States after one of its surveillance drones was targeted by Iranian warplanes last week.

On Thursday U.S. officials said the unarmed Predator drone was in international airspace when Iranian warplanes opened fire on it on November 1. The aircraft was not hit.

The intercept was the first time Tehran had fired at an unmanned U.S. aircraft in their 33 year stand-off.

"The defenders of the Islamic Republic will respond decisively to any form of encroachment by air, sea or on the ground," Fars news agency quoted General Massoud Jazayeri, a senior armed forces commander, as saying on Friday.

"If any foreign aircraft attempts to enter our airspace our armed forces will deal with them," he said. Jazayeri did not mention the drone incident specifically.

more from original report here >>>

WHY? WEST RELUCTANCE TO ATTACK IRAN:

The Islamic Republic of Iran has two types of armed forces: the regular forces Islamic Republic of Iran Army, Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, Islamic Republic of Iran Navy and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), totaling about 545,000 active troops.

Iran also has around 350,000 Reserve Force totaling around 900,000 trained troops.Iran has a paramilitary, volunteer militia force within the IRGC, called the Basij, which includes about 90,000 full-time, active-duty uniformed members. Up to 11 million men and women are members of the Basij who could potentially be called up for service; GlobalSecurity.org estimates Iran could mobilize "up to one million men".

This would be among the largest troop mobilizations in the world.In 2007, Iran's military spending represented 2.6% of the GDP or $102 per capita, the lowest figure of the Persian Gulf nations.Iran's military doctrine is based on deterrence.

Since the Iranian Revolution, to overcome foreign embargo, Iran has developed its own military industry, produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, guided missiles, submarines, military vessels, guided missile destroyer, radar systems, helicopters and fighter planes. In recent years, official announcements have highlighted the development of weapons such as the Hoot, Kowsar, Zelzal, Fateh-110, Shahab-3 and Sajjil missiles, and a variety of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The Fajr-3 (MIRV) is currently Iran's most advanced ballistic missile, it is a liquid fuel missile with an undisclosed range which was developed and produced domestically.

An MI5 Whistle Blower's Stories

From MI6 Al Qaeda Plot to Kill Gaddafi to Spying on Domestic Dissent:

Published on Oct 30, 2012 by TheRealNews : Annie Machon: British intelligence agencies considered themselves above the law.

Spies, Lies and Whistle Blowers

Published on Oct 31, 2012 by TheRealNews : Annie Machon (MI5 whistle blower): The culture of MI5 and MI6 is even worse since 9/11