From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
U.S. approves sale of $1.8 billion in advanced munitions to Israel
WASHINGTON (JTA) — The Obama administration approved the sale of $1.8 billion worth of munitions to Israel, including precision guidance devices and bunker-busting bombs.
The sale announced Wednesday by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency includes 14,500 JDAMs — GPS-guided precision kits that attach to bombs. Also included are 50 BLU-113 bunker-busting bombs, which are capable of penetrating 20 feet of concrete.
President Barack Obama first authorized the sale of the bombs in 2009, when Israeli concerns about Iran’s nuclear capability began to intensify.
The package also includes 3,000 Hellfire missiles. The Obama administration suspended the sale of the missiles last summer during Israel’s operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, reportedly out of concern for the mounting civilian casualties in the war.
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From Russia Today
ISIS fighters enter ruins of ancient Palmyra after taking full control of city – reports
Islamic State militants have entered Syria’s historic city of Palmyra, a UNESCO landmark, after gaining full control over the city, a monitoring group said Thursday. The extremists now control more than 50 percent of Syrian territory, it adds.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told AFP that overnight IS seized most of the city, including an army intelligence outpost, a military airport and a prison.
“IS fighters are in all parts of Tadmur [Arabic name for Palmyra], including near the archaeological site,”Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said.
From Russia Today
‘Like Hiroshima, Nagasaki’: Iran urges UN to condemn Israel for alleged nuke threats
Israel has drawn fire from Iran for alleged threats of a nuclear strike. Tehran told the UN Security Council that recent comments by the Israeli Defense Minister bore reference to “what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.”
Gholam Ali Khoshrou, Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations, urged the UNSC to condemn the“irresponsible remarks” made by the Moshe Ya’alon earlier this month in Jerusalem.
“Ya’alon’s recent remarks and the Zionist official’s implied reference to the possibility of using nuclear weapons against the Islamic Republic like what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and also his threats against the Lebanese civilians, including the women and children, shows more than ever the regime’s aggressive nature,” Khoshrou stated in a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Lithuanian Ambassador Raimonda Murmokaite.
According to Khoshrou, the Israeli minister’s “impudent remarks have challenged the primary principles ruling the armed conflicts and the international humanitarian rights and weaken the international peace and security,” the semi-official Fars news agency reported.
The Iranian ambassador has called on the UNSC to censure the “clear threats of using nuclear bomb and massacre of civilians.”
The Israeli defense minister made his comments when answering a question “whether dealing with a threat like Iran is something democracies are not structured well to do.”
Ya’alon told the conference, hosted by the Shurat HaDin Israel Law Center, “Those who claim that this battle is not fair because democracy can’t fight back [at a] tyrannical regime — not talking about terror organizations – I don’t agree with it.”
The minister has further stated that “in certain cases we might take certain steps that we believe…should be taken in order to defend ourselves.
He acknowledged that he was reminded of the US President Harry Truman, who “was asked, ‘How do you feel after deciding to launch the nuclear bombs, Nagasaki and Hiroshima, causing at the end the fatalities of 200,000, casualties?’ And he said, ‘When I heard from my officers that the alternative is a long war with Japan, with potential fatalities of a couple of millions, I thought it is a moral decision.’”
“We are not there yet,” Ya’alon said.
Although Israel has never publicly admitted to having a nuclear arsenal, maintaining the so-called policy of ‘nuclear ambiguity’ regarding its alleged stocks of nuclear weapons, it is widely believed to be the only power in the region to possess the atomic bomb.
Meanwhile, a top military adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Wednesday that should Israel attack the Islamic Republic “over 80,000 [Iranian] missiles are ready to rain down on Tel Aviv and Haifa.”
“The Zionists and the US are aware of the power of Iran and Hezbollah,” Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi stated, referring to Ya’alon’s comments, adding that “Iran is a powerful country which will give a crushing response to them.”
The top military advisor said that similar remarks made by the US and Israeli officials are only meant to serve as a ploy, Fars reported.
“We have displayed part of our military capabilities while we have kept many of our achievements and capabilities hidden to outsiders; our response will be crushing not just to the Zionist regime, but to any other aggressor who intends to take action against us,” he hit back.
Last month Iran and international powers reached “solutions on key parameters” of Tehran’s controversial nuclear program. During the media conference in Switzerland, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the deal created the basis of a future comprehensive nuclear agreement between Iran and six powers to be concluded by a June 30 deadline.
The group of countries known as ‘P5+1’ (the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany) have been trying hammer out an accord with Iran to restrict the country’s nuclear program in return for a lifting the economic blockade imposed by the UN for nearly 18 months.
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From The Times of Israel
Legion of foreign fighters battles for Islamic State
Men and women from all walks of life across 90 countries have left everything behind to join jihad
PANKISI GORGE, Georgia (AP) — One day this April, instead of coming home from school, two teenagers left their valley high in the Caucasus, and went off to war.
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, a 20-year-old stole her friend’s passport to make the same hazardous journey.
From New Zealand, came a former security guard; from Canada, a hockey fan who loved to fish and hunt.
And there have been many, many more: between 16,000 and 17,000, according to one independent Western estimate, men and a small number of women from 90 countries or more who have streamed to Syria and Iraq to wage Muslim holy war for the Islamic State.
Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, the group’s leader, has appealed to Muslims throughout the world to move to lands under its control — to fight, but also to work as administrators, doctors, judges, engineers and scholars, and to marry, put down roots and start families.
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From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Liberman calls two-state supporters ‘autistic’
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Avigdor Liberman, Israel’s former foreign minister, called supporters of a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict “autistic.”
Liberman, who heads the right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party, made his remarks Thursday in an interview with Israel Radio.
“Anyone who thinks going back to the 1967 lines will solve the conflict is autistic,” Liberman said.
Liberman, who declined to join the new government coalition after serving in the previous coalition with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party, accused the prime minister of waffling on the two-state issue – now saying he supports it after indicating during the election that it was no longer in the offing.
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From PressTV
Israel to construct 90 new settlement units in E al-Quds
Israel has approved the construction of 90 new illegal settlement units in East al-Quds (Jerusalem) in defiance of international calls on the regime to stop its expansionist policies in the occupied Palestinian lands.
According to Israel’s Channel 7, the Jerusalem District Planning and Construction Committee authorized the building of new units in Jabal Abu Ghneim (Har Homa) neighborhood in the south of East al-Quds.
Reports added that the municipality in al-Quds will continue its illegal settlement activities in other parts of the region as well.
Earlier in the month, the committee also approved the construction of 900 of 1,800 settlement units in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood of East al-Quds.
The Ramat Shlomo construction plan garnered harsh criticism from Palestinian officials and international bodies.
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From The Times of Israel
House panel subpoenas Hillary Clinton confidant
Sydney Blumenthal to be questioned over 2012 deaths of four Americans at the US diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya
WASHINGTON (AP) — A longtime confidant of Hillary Rodham Clinton has been subpoenaed to testify before a special House panel investigating the deaths of four Americans at the US diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, according to an official familiar with the probe.
This official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said the subpoena was issued by the panel headed by Rep. Trey Gowdy. The official declined to be identified publicly because he wasn’t authorized to discuss by name an investigation still in progress.
The panel has “a number of questions” for Sydney Blumenthal, the official said, including whether he had any business arrangements that led him to send emails to Clinton and other officials concerning Libya while Clinton was secretary of state. Blumenthal was not an employee of the State Department at the time.
Clinton had initially been expected to testify this week on the September 2012 attacks that killed four Americans, including US ambassador Christopher Stevens, but her testimony was put off after Gowdy complained that he lacked the necessary State Department documents to thoroughly question her. Clinton, who is seeking the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, was in Iowa Tuesday for a campaign appearance.
Rep. Elijah Cummings, ranking Democrat on the panel, issued a statement Wednesday assailing the committee’s GOP leadership for its handling of the subpoena.
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From The Telegraph (UK)
Revealed: the British Pakistani brigadier at the centre of new Bin Laden death conspiracy
Family tells the Telegraph of anger as UK-based retired brigadier is identified by Pakistan officials as “supergrass” accused of tipping off US about Bin Laden’s whereabouts
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A UK-based former senior officer in the Pakistan Army has been accused of being a supergrass who sold the secret location of Osama bin Laden to the CIA.
Retired Brigadier Usman Khalid, a British citizen, has been named as the informant whose tip-off led to the assassination of the world’s most wanted man in 2011.
His family have told The Telegraph of their anger that their father – who died a year ago after living in London for 35 years – has been publicly identified as the source of the leak.
And they have denied that Brigadier Khalid was the man responsible.
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Israeli baby born to surrogate in Nepal dies in hospital tent
JERUSALEM (JTA) — An Israeli baby born to a surrogate mother in a Nepal field hospital died less than a day after his birth.
The baby boy, a twin, died Wednesday night in Kathmandu in a tent in a field hospital set up following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake on April 25 that has killed thousands.
Following the earthquake, Israel evacuated 25 Israeli babies born to surrogate mothers in Nepal, as well as some late-term surrogate mothers. Four more babies born after the earthquake were later airlifted out of Nepal as well.
One of the parents was identified as Yossef Levy, Israel’s ambassador to Serbia.
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From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Chuck Todd to moderate presidential candidates’ forum at Reform biennial
WASHINGTON (JTA) — The Union for Reform Judaism will host a forum for presidential candidates at its biennial moderated by “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd.
Todd will interview candidates one on one at the Nov. 7 event in Orlando, Florida, URJ said in a release Thursday. The candidates will also respond to questions from the 5,000 delegates and the movement’s leadership.
Participating candidates will be announced closer to the event.
A presidential forum at an event organized by a Jewish religious stream is unusual. The party’s Jewish affiliates typically organize such forums.
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
German anti-Semitism panel adds Jewish members after outcry
BERLIN (JTA) — Two Jewish experts have been appointed belatedly to a government panel in Germany on anti-Semitism following protests by Jewish groups.
On Wednesday, Germany’s Interior Ministry announced that it had named psychologist Marina Chernivsky and historian Andreas Nachama to the panel, whose mandate is to report regularly on anti-Semitism and efforts to combat it in Germany. It will also make recommendations based on best practices and consultations with other experts.
The panel was established in 2009, with rotating membership.
Chernivsky is the director of Change Your Outlook, an educational initiative against intolerance and anti-Semitism for the Frankfurt-based Central Welfare Council of Jews in Germany.
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From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Osama bin Laden’s reading list included book by Holocaust denier
(JTA) — Osama bin Laden had books by conspiracy theorists and one by a Holocaust denier in his Pakistan compound raided by Navy SEALs four years ago.
They were among the details on hundreds of letters, books, magazine articles, reports and other materials found in the al-Qaeda founder’s secret compound that were declassified and released Wednesday by the Obama administration.
Bin Laden, who was shot dead in the compound in May 2011, also had two books by the Jewish philosopher-political commentator Noam Chomsky. Among his collection were books by Holocaust denier Eustace Mullins and conspiracy theorists Fritz Springmeier, David Ray Griffin and John Coleman.
In the documents released was an application for joining al-Qaeda, as well as personal correspondence among bin Laden family members. “The 9/11 Commission Report” about the terror attacks in 2001 by al-Qaeda members also was part of the collection, according to reports.
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From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Netanyahu tells EU’s chief diplomat he is committed to two-state solution
(JTA) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the European Union’s top diplomat that he was committed to finding a two-state solution with the Palestinians, as long as they recognize the Jewish state.
“I don’t support a one-state solution – I don’t believe that’s a solution at all,” Netanyahu said at a joint news conference with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini before meeting privately with her on Wednesday in Jerusalem. “I support the vision of two states for two peoples – a demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes the Jewish state – and I look forward to discussing with you how we can advance that vision in a practical, secure and responsible way.”
In response, Mogherini said that the EU supports the establishment of a Palestinian state.
“I believe your recommitment tonight to work on peace and security,” Mogherini said.
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From PressTV
Palestinians not back down at Israel suspension proposal
Israel could face suspension at FIFA due to discrimination against Palestinian footballers.
On Wednesday, a meeting was held between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and FIFA President Sepp Blatter in the West Bank city of Ramallah over the issue.
The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) says the Israeli regime imposes restriction on the footballers’ free movement.
It also protests against the existence of five teams in the Israeli league that are based in illegal settlements built on occupied Palestinian land.
The PFA also argues that the Israeli federation connives at racial profiling of the Palestinians.
Blatter moved to settle down the dispute by initially meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and subsequently Abbas following a proposal by PFA demanding the suspension of Israel.
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From The Times of Israel
Treasury says it won’t pay $1.1 billion judgment to Iran
Israel rejects Swiss court’s demand to transfer money to Tehran over pipeline deal that soured when ties were severed in 1979
Israel has refused a Swiss court order to pay compensation to Iran in an arbitration case, it emerged Wednesday. The court ordered the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company to transfer $1.1 billion to the Islamic Republic in a ruling over oil supply agreements dating back to before Tehran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
“Under the laws of trade we cannot transfer funds to an enemy country,” a statement issued by the Finance Minister said Wednesday.
A judicial official quoted by Iranian state news agency IRNA said Tao, an Israeli firm registered in Panama, was ordered earlier this month to pay the compensation to the National Iranian Oil Company, in a legal tussle dating back to 1989.
In 1968, the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company was established as a joint Israeli-Iranian venture to carry Asian oil from Eilat to Europe via a network of pipelines that reach from Eilat to Ashkelon and up the length of Israel’s coast to Haifa.
According to the EAPC website, the company currently operates 750 kilometers of pipeline in Israel.
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