From PressTV
Press TV photos show Israel treating Syria militants
Press TV has managed to obtain new photographs that show the Israeli regime providing treatment for Takfiri terrorists operating in Syria.
In the controversial photos which are indicative of Israel’s support for al-Qaeda-linked militants of the al-Nusra Front extremist group, Israeli soldiers could be seen transferring a wounded terrorist in the occupied Golan Heights to a hospital.
A number of militant commanders, who have sustained injuries in Syrian government attacks, have reportedly been hospitalized in the occupied territories as Tel Aviv is known to have been providing medical, intelligence and military support for terrorists operating in Syria.
From Russia Today
Nuclear deal with Iran ‘reached on all key aspects’ – Lavrov
Published time: March 31, 2015 16:47
Iran and six major world powers have managed to reach a preliminary agreement on ‘all the key aspects’ of a deal over Tehran’s controversial nuclear program, Russia’s FM has announced, adding that the sides have begun drafting the text.
Experts from Iran and P5+1 have started drafting a preliminary deal and the document could be expected either within the next few hours or later on Wednesday, Sergey Lavrov hopes. However, clearing the “technical details” of a final deal may take until June, he added.
“We can quite certainly say that on all the key aspects of the final settlement of this problem, the ministers have reached principal consent that will be, hopefully in the next hours, maybe a day, put on paper. The experts were tasked with this,” Lavrov told reporters Wednesday.
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From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
4 senators urge Obama not to impose peace conditions on Israel
WASHINGTON (JTA) – Four senators sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him not to bypass direct negotiations and impose conditions on Israel in an effort to create a two-state solution.
The senators — Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) — wrote in a letter Monday that while they are committed to a two-state solution that would keep Israel secure and ensure economic opportunity for the Palestinians, they are against efforts to let the United Nations and other international bodies impose the terms.
“The United States has been a stalwart defender of Israel against discriminatory actions at the United Nations,” the senators wrote. “We must remain firm in opposing actions that are designed to circumvent direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Using the United Nations to push Israel and the Palestinians to accept terms defined by others will only ensure that the parties themselves are not committed to observing these provisions,” they wrote.
“Our longstanding commitment to Israel transcends any one leader or government,” the senators added, alluding to the cool relationship between Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. “We must make clear our willingness to use our veto power to block such efforts at the UN Security Council and our continuing defense of Israel at the United Nations Human Rights Council and other agencies where Israel is under constant assault.”
From PressTV
EU suggests imposition of sanctions on Israel over settlements
The European Union has recommended that sanctions be imposed on the Israeli regime over its settlement expansion policies in the occupied Palestinian territories and its strict security measures in East al-Quds (Jerusalem).
In a recently-released report prepared by heads of diplomatic missions of EU member states in the Palestinian Authority, the 28-nation bloc described al-Quds as a city gripped by the worst “polarization and violence” since the second Intifada (uprising) against the Zionist regime a decade ago.
The report noted that the Israeli regime’s construction of settler units is further compounding the problem in the occupied Palestinian lands.
The document also lashed out at Israel for its “heavy-handed policing and punitive measures” against Palestinian people, “including evictions and home demolitions.”
The EU report further warned businesses of the dangers of engaging in trade with Israeli firms that are located in the occupied territories.
Israel, however, has rejected the report, with a regime spokesman saying, “This is so extremely one-sided a report that it distorts reality beyond comprehension.”
From PressTV
Human rights body submits report of Israeli war crimes to ICC
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) has submitted a detailed report to the International Criminal Court (ICC) slamming Israel for war crimes and crimes against humanity during its devastating military onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip last summer.
The report by the Paris-based rights body was presented just days before Palestine is to be officially ratified as an ICC member.
The ICC prosecutor opened a file on the Israeli atrocities in Gaza at the request of Palestinians in January.
In the report, entitled “Trapped and Punished: The Gaza Civilian Population under Operation Protective Edge” and published on Friday, the FIDH pointed to the examples of indiscriminate and direct attacks against civilians and civilian objects, the disproportionate use of force as well as deliberate attacks targeting medical services during the Israeli war on Gaza, which was codenamed by the Israeli regime as “Operation Protective Edge.”
The nongovernmental rights body, which was the first organization that gained access to the Gaza Strip following a ceasefire in August last year, also presents testimonies collected from victims of the 50-day Israeli war on the coastal enclave.
From PressTV
Israel forces abduct 20+ Palestinians in West Bank
Israeli forces have stormed several villages in the occupied West Bank, kidnapping at least 21 Palestinians.
Israeli sources confirmed that 11 Palestinians were arrested in the village of Abwein in Ramallah and six others in Salwan near al-Quds (Jerusalem). The other Palestinians were nabbed in other locations.
Israeli forces have been carrying out similar raids in the occupied territories on an almost daily basis. The raids have intensified since the deadly war on the Gaza Strip last year.
Israel heavily pounded the blockaded coastal sliver in a recent war that started on July 8 and ended on August 26 with an Egyptian-brokered truce. Over 2,140 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, were killed in the 50 days of the Israeli onslaught on Gaza. Around 11,000 others were injured.
Israel holds more than 7,000 Palestinians in its jails. Most of the prisoners are being held with no indictment.
Human rights groups have criticized Israel for rampant rights abuses in jails and reports of mysterious deaths of inmates.
From Russia Today
Romania will host NATO heavy arms if asked, as they support ‘every venture’ – bloc chief
Published time: April 01, 2015 02:17
A decision on whether Romania will host NATO’s heavy military equipment will soon be made public, General Philip Breedlove announced on his visit to Bucharest as the alliance’s armed armada parades through E. Europe as a “message of reassurance.”
“This decision will be announced very soon – how this all will be accomplished – and my expectation is that if Romania is asked to participate, they will do so as they have done in every NATO venture so far, and have been a great host and great allies,” NATO Commander, US European Command, General Breedlove said.
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From Russia Today
Ukraine Interior Ministry was ‘uncooperative and obstructive’ in Maidan crimes probe – EU report
Published time: March 31, 2015 15:21
The investigation into Maidan violence during Ukraine’s coup didn’t satisfy the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights, says a report from the European Council, adding that Ukraine’s Interior Ministry was “uncooperative and obstructive.”
The report specifically concentrated on the investigation of violent acts during the three months of Maidan demonstrations: Violent dispersal of the protest by Berkut riot police on November 30, 2013, clashes on January 22, 2014, which resulted in the first deaths of protesters, and February 18-21, 2014, the deadliest days of the Kiev protests.
Before the February 2014 coup, “there was no genuine attempt to pursue investigations,” said a document by the International Advisory Panel. The panel was established by the Council of Europe to review investigations into the violent incidents during the Maidan demonstrations.
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From Ynet News
US says Iran nuclear talks to continue past deadline
World powers and Iran will keep negotiating over outline accord into Wednesday, while officials caution that any agreement would probably be fragile and incomplete.
The United States said on Tuesday that world powers and Iran would keep negotiating over an outline accord on curbing Tehran’s nuclear program beyond a midnight deadline, even although tough questions remain.
As Iran affirmed its “nuclear rights”, the talks in the Swiss city of Lausanne had appeared to be bogged down while officials cautioned that any agreement would probably be fragile and incomplete.
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
War crimes complaint filed against Hamas in U.S.
JERUSALEM (JTA) — A Tel Aviv-based NGO filed a war crimes complaint in the United States against Hamas leaders over the group’s firing of rockets at Ben Gurion Airport last summer.
The Shurat HaDin-Israel Law Center filed the complaint with the Department of Justice on Tuesday on behalf of 26 U.S. citizens who were at the airport near Tel Aviv at the time of the attack on July 22. The attack, for which Hamas has claimed responsibility, took place during Israel’s Operation Protective Edge against Hamas in Gaza.
The complainants, who come from several U.S. states as well as Israel, said they were forced to take cover in bomb shelters at the airport during and after the attack. Several U.S. planes also were on the ground at the airport at the time.
Several Hamas leaders are named in the lawsuit, including its head, Khaled Meshal. The complaint, addressed to the U.S. attorney general, details why each of the Hamas leaders named is liable for prosecution.
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Tweets by ‘Daily Show’ pick Trevor Noah concern ADL, B’nai B’rith
(JTA) — Two Jewish groups expressed their concerns overpast social media posts by Trevor Noah, the choice to succeed Jon Stewart as host of “The Daily Show.”
The Anti-Defamation League and B’nai B’rith issued statements urging Noah, a South African standup comedian, to avoid making distasteful jokes about Jewish stereotypes on “The Daily Show.”
Since his appointment was announced Monday by Comedy Central, Noah has come under fire for past tweets about Jews and Israel, including one from 2010 that read “South Africans know how to recycle like Israel knows how to be peaceful.”
In 2012, he tweeted that “Messi gets the ball and the real players try foul him [sic], but Messi doesn’t go down easy, just like jewish[sic] chicks.”
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
New research shows Anne Frank died earlier than believed
(JTA) — Anne Frank died earlier than previously believed, according to new research.
Researchers from the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam looking into the last months of the teenage diarist and her sister Margot concluded that they died in February 1945, according to a statement from the Anne Frank House published Tuesday — the 70th anniversary of the official date of the sisters’ deaths set by Dutch authorities after the war.
Their deaths had been marked as sometime during March 1945, the Red Cross concluded at the end of World War II.
The researchers used the archives of the Red Cross, the International Tracing Service in Bad Arolsen and the Bergen-Belsen Memorial, in addition to as many eyewitness testimonies of survivors as possible, the statement said.
From Ynet News
Israel to start offering African asylum seekers departure to third country
Africans refusing to take part in ‘willing departure’ program will face a hearing; ‘This move will encourage infiltrators to leave the borders of Israel in a safe and dignified manner,’ says Interior Minister Erdan. The Interior Ministry will start offering African migrants to “willingly” leave Israel to a third country starting this week, the ministry announced Tuesday.
Interior Minister Gilad Erdan formulated a plan to increase the “willing departures” of migrants and asylum seekers to a different country – something which has so far only been initiated by the migrants themselves.
Starting this week, the Interior Ministry will take the initiative to offer the African migrants interned at the Holot detention facility in the Negev to leave to a third country destination.
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