Dr. Patrick Slattery’s News Roundup
A service of DavidDuke.com
From The Times of Israel
Islamic State destroys Palmyra’s triumphal arch
Jihadist group blows up 2,000-year-old iconic Arch of Triumph at Syrian archaeological site; prepares to destroy other treasures
Islamic State extremists have blown up the famous Arch of Triumph in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, the country’s head of antiquities said Monday, as the jihadists press their campaign to tear down the treasured heritage site.
“We have received news from the site that the Arch of Triumph was destroyed yesterday (Sunday). IS bobby-trapped it several weeks ago,” antiquities director Maamun Abdulkarim told AFP.
IS has carried out a sustained campaign of destruction against heritage sites in areas under its control in Syria and Iraq, and in mid-August beheaded the ancient city’s 82-year-old former antiquities chief.
The jihadists have already destroyed the shrine of Baal Shamin and the 2,000-year-old Temple of Bel, regarded as Palmyra’s masterpiece, since overrunning the citadel in May.
The Arch of Triumph, situated at the entrance of the ancient ruins’ historic colonnaded street and dating from the same period, was an “icon of Palmyra,” Abdulkarim said, warning that IS fighters have already laid explosives in other monuments.
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From Ynet News
13- year-old Palestinian killed in clashes with security forces
Palestinians claim Abdel Rahman Abdullah shot in chest during intense clashes between security forces and Palestinian rioters, marking the second Palestinian death in clashes since Sunday night.
A 13-year-old Palestinian was killed in clashes with security forces Monday at the Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem, marking the second Palestinian death in 24 hours of intense clashes.
According to Palestinian sources Abdel Rahman Abdullah suffered a gunshot wound to the chest, and died soon thereafter at the nearby Beit Jala hospital.
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From The Times of Israel
Abbas asks UN for international protection as violence rages
PA blames Israel, Hamas for escalation in West Bank as Red Crescent says 450 Palestinians hurt in past day; Israel does not confirm figures
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called on the UN to provide international protection to the Palestinians in the face of escalating violence in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
According to a report in the official Palestinian Wafa news agency, Abbas spoke with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the phone on Sunday, and urged him to act to stop what he called Israeli provocations, “before things get out of control.”
Ban reportedly promised that he would speak soon with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to find a way to calm tensions.
Netanyahu has partly blamed Abbas for inciting the escalated hostilities, which have seen four Israelis killed by Palestinian terrorists in the past four days. Abbas has alleged — including in a speech to the UN last Wednesday — that Israel is allowing “extremists” into Al-Aqsa Mosque on Temple Mount and that Israel plans to change the status quo regarding access to the contest holy site. Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected these claims.
The UN chief said Sunday he was “deeply concerned” by recent regional events and urged both sides to “condemn violence and incitement, maintain calm and to do everything they can to avoid further escalation.”
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From The Times of Israel
Islamic State destroys Palmyra’s triumphal arch
Jihadist group blows up 2,000-year-old iconic Arch of Triumph at Syrian archaeological site; prepares to destroy other treasures
Islamic State extremists have blown up the famous Arch of Triumph in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, the country’s head of antiquities said Monday, as the jihadists press their campaign to tear down the treasured heritage site.
“We have received news from the site that the Arch of Triumph was destroyed yesterday (Sunday). IS bobby-trapped it several weeks ago,” antiquities director Maamun Abdulkarim told AFP.
IS has carried out a sustained campaign of destruction against heritage sites in areas under its control in Syria and Iraq, and in mid-August beheaded the ancient city’s 82-year-old former antiquities chief.
The jihadists have already destroyed the shrine of Baal Shamin and the 2,000-year-old Temple of Bel, regarded as Palmyra’s masterpiece, since overrunning the citadel in May.
The Arch of Triumph, situated at the entrance of the ancient ruins’ historic colonnaded street and dating from the same period, was an “icon of Palmyra,” Abdulkarim said, warning that IS fighters have already laid explosives in other monuments.
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From The Times of Israel
Utah lawmaker muddles race for speaker of the House
Jason Chaffetz, who was raised Jewish but converted to Mormonism, throws hat in ring to succeed Boehner, but faces long odds
An up-and-coming House committee chairman announced his long-shot candidacy Sunday for speaker of the House, adding a new dose of turmoil for reeling House Republicans.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah presented himself as a new face who can unite the House in the wake of Speaker John Boehner’s sudden resignation last month. Boehner’s deputy, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California, remains the favorite, but Chaffetz’s candidacy ensures there will be no coronation.
Chaffetz, according to a 2010 profile in The Forward, was born to a Jewish father and raised Jewish, but converted to Mormonism while an undergraduate at Brigham Young University.
House Republican lawmakers will vote by secret ballot on Thursday, followed by a floor vote in the full House later in the month.
“I can bridge that divide between our more centrist members and some of the more far-right-wing members. That’s why I’ve entered this race,” Chaffetz told “Fox News Sunday.”
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From The Times of Israel
Palestinian teen killed by IDF in clashes near Tulkarem
Israeli security forces face off with protesters across West Bank and East Jerusalem following string of deadly Palestinian terror attacks
An 18-year-old Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli forces in clashes near the West Bank city of Tulkarem Sunday, as unrest rocked the Palestinian territories and Jerusalem following a series of Palestinian terror attacks and Israeli operations to crack down on the violence.
The man was identified by Palestinian sources as Huzeifa Othman Suleiman, a resident of a nearby town who was injured in a skirmish with IDF troops near Tulkarem and died after being taken to a local hospital.
The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement that during “a violent riot of hundreds of Palestinians affiliated with Hamas,” protesters threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at Israeli soldiers stationed at the Tulkarem crossing. The soldiers responded with riot dispersal methods, and when the rioters did not desist, the force fired at three rioters throwing fire bombs. The IDF said hits were confirmed and that it was aware of reports of a Palestinian killed in the fighting.
The clashes near Tulkarem were just one point in a constellation of altercations between Palestinians and Israeli forces across the West Bank and Jerusalem following two stabbing attacks on Israelis on Saturday and early Sunday; two Israelis were killed and three injured, including a baby. The rising violence has stoked fears that Israel may be facing a third major Palestinian uprising, prompted in part by tensions over the status of the disputed Temple Mount holy site.
In separate incidents Sunday, three Palestinians were arrested during protests in East Jerusalem neighborhoods. In the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Issawiya, next to Mount Scopus, a young Palestinian protester who was poised to throw a Molotov cocktail at Border Police forces was shot in the foot by officers before he was able to hurl the firebomb. The suspect managed to escape with the help of other protesters nearby; security forces were attempting to locate him.
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From The Times of Israel
Netanyahu in Berlin next week for talks with Merkel
Prime minister to meet with German chancellor ahead of joint government session with ministers from both countries
BERLIN — German Chancellor Angela Merkel will host Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next Thursday for talks, as part of a regular annual meeting of the two countries’ cabinets.
The two leaders will hold bilateral talks before joining a plenary with ministers from both sides, in what would be the sixth such meeting.
Such “government consultations” is a format Germany has with only a handful of countries, including India and China.
Germany is widely seen as Israel’s strongest European ally, but their ties have been strained in recent years. Merkel has frequently joined Western leaders in criticizing Israel’s settlements in the West Bank.
Netanyahu strongly opposes a deal hammered out between six world powers, including Germany, and Iran ending a 13-year standoff over the Islamic republic’s nuclear program.
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From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Why Israelis are fearing a third intifada
TEL AVIV (JTA) — First it was clashes on the Temple Mount. Then a mother and father were shot before the eyes of their four children. Then two men were killed in a stabbing attack in Jerusalem’s Old City.
Now Israelis fear the wave of conflict will only rise. Here’s why the violence began, how it’s escalated and what might be next.
Four Israelis have died in two terror attacks over three days.
The slow-burning Israeli-Palestinian conflict has flamed up in the past week with a series of terrorist attacks. On Thursday night, militants from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades — the armed wing of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party — shot and killed a young Jewish-Israeli husband and wife, Rabbi Eitam and Naama Henkin.
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From Ynet News
Why PM stays quiet on Russian policy
Netanyahu tells CNN Israel does not support Russian policies, but stays silent to avoid unnecessary conflicts; Bibi, Putin share ‘mutual respect’.
WASHINGTON – Israel has purposefully remained silent while Russia amasses forces near its northern border and works intensively to help Bashar Assad’s regime, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained in a recent interview with CNN.
When asked why Israel hasn’t condemned the Russian invasion to Crimea, Netanyahu replied that Israel has enough problems and it wasn’t interested in opening up another front.
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From The Times of Israel
Children’s bodies washed up in Kos in latest migrant crisis tragedy
EU border chief calls for ‘more integrated management’ to help address crisis after remains of two kids found on Greek island
The badly decomposed bodies of two children were found washed up on the Greek island of Kos on Sunday, the latest victims of a crisis that has seen 630,000 people enter the EU illegally this year.
A dead baby boy, thought to be less than a year old, was discovered on a hotel beach early Sunday, dressed in green trousers and a white t-shirt.
The decomposed body of an older child, wearing blue trousers and a pink t-shirt, believed to be three- to five-years old, was found hours later at the same spot.
Authorities believe the children were from migrant families that had been trying to reach Kos by dinghy, Greek media reported. Both bodies have been transferred to hospital for an autopsy and DNA testing.
Greece has been struggling to cope with a wave of migrants making the dangerous crossing from Turkey.
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From The Times of Israel
Pu-ching! Trump defends gun rights
GOP presidential hopeful says shooting at Oregon college could have been mitigated if teachers, students were armed
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Saturday channeled 1970s action star Charles Bronson in defending Second Amendment rights in the aftermath of the shooting at an Oregon community college that left nine dead.
Trump said in a rally in suburban Nashville that he has a handgun carry permit in New York. He added that any attacker will be “shocked” if he tries to assault him, and that he would emulate Bronson in the vigilante film “Death Wish.”
“Can you imagine with Trump, somebody says, ‘Ohhh, all these big monsters aren’t around, he’s easy pickins, and then … pu-ching!” Trump said to laughter and applause. “So this is about self-defense, plain and simple.”
Trump criticized “gun-free zones,” saying that the Oregon shootings could have been limited if instructors or students had been armed. He said better mental health care would help curb future shootings.
“Many states and many cities are closing their mental health facilities and closing them down, and they’re closing them because they don’t have the funding,” he said. “And we have to start looking much stronger into mental health.”
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From The Times of Israel
Rocket fired from Gaza lands in southern Israel
Second projectile fails to launch; sirens heard in Nahal Oz, Alumim; no immediate reports of injuries or damage
A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip Sunday night landed in open territory in the Eshkol Regional Council in southern Israel, causing neither injury or damage.
Earlier, air raid sirens warning of incoming rocket fire were heard in Nahal Oz and Alumim.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
Security forces were searching the area for a possible site of impact.
A second rocket launch reportedly failed and did not trigger alarms.
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