IDF Spokesperson 10 March 2010 , 13:15
Jonathan Urich

On Tuesday evening, the Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi,
during his visit to the United States, spoke at the annual dinner hosted by
the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF). "I am telling you from this
stage: We will triumph over those who seek to destroy us. We will win thanks
to the courage of our soldiers and their moral compass," said Chief of the
General Staff in his speech, at an event held at New York's Waldorf Astoria
Hotel.

In his speech, Lt. Gen Gabi Ashkenazi emphasized that "Iran was the main
threat to world peace, and gradually attempting to harvest regional
instability through its proxies: Hezbollah, Hamas and other terrorist
organizations. Therefore the international community must stop the Iranian
nuclear program for its own sake.
"All options should remain on the table. We are developing advanced weapons
and technologies and increasing the number of military exercises and
training, while raising reserve troops' readiness for war. We are doing this
to be ready for any threat - from near and far," he added.

Close cooperation between the IDF and the U.S.

On Tuesday morning (Mar. 9), the Chief of the General Staff attended several
short work meetings in Washington, during which he met with senior officials
at the White House, Senate and Pentagon including a meeting with National
Security Advisor Jim Jones. In addition, he met with U.S. Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, who recently visited Israel.
The meeting lasted about an hour and a half, and focused on the Iranian
threat.

During his speech at the FIDF dinner in New York, Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi
referred to the close cooperation between the IDF and the U.S. army and
noted that one
example of our successful cooperation was the Juniper Cobra 10 - an exercise
which tested the missile defense system collaboration. He continued by
stating that "these steps reflect significant progress in expanding the
dialogue, cooperation and readiness of the two armies."

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 01:48 PM | Permalink

IDF Spokesperson March 9th, 2010

The IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, has authorized
a United Nations sapper unit to enter the Gaza Strip tomorrow, March 10th,
2010, in order to neutralize unexploded ordinance that remained following
Operation Cast Lead.

The team will enter the Gaza Strip through the Erez crossing under the
Coordination and authorization of the Coordinator of Government Activities
in the Territories, Maj. Gen. Eitan Dangot.

The activity's main goal is to prevent harm to Gaza's residents. It is
scheduled to last a few months, during which explosions may be heard in the
area of the Gaza Strip.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 02:40 AM | Permalink

Decision to construct 1,600 housing units in east Jerusalem liable to undermine negotiations, destroy US efforts to renew talks, PA presidential spokesman says

Ali Waked
Published: 03.09.10, 20:10 / Israel News

Palestinian Presidential Spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeina said Tuesday evening that the District Committee for Planning and Construction's decision to approve construction of 1,600 housing units in east Jerusalem's Ramat Shlomo neighborhood torpedoes negotiations.

In a special notice, Abu Rudeina said, "The decision to build 1,600 units – settlement units in occupied Jerusalem – is a dangerous decision, liable to torpedo negotiations and make US efforts (to renew talks) fail before they have even started."

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 11:05 AM | Permalink

Israel pardons 77 former Fatah fighters
Published today 09:55 9 March 2010
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=267204

Nablus - Ma'an - Israel has agreed to remove 77 former Palestinian fighters
from its list of "wanted" men, as a continuation of its amnesty program,
Palestinian sources said.

Officials in the Palestinian Authority were handed a list on Monday night,
naming the men who received a pardon, nearly all of them former fighters in
the Fatah-affiliated Al-Aqsa Brigades in the West Bank.

All of the men on the list are "wanted" by Israel. At some point in the past
five years they signed a pledge renouncing the use of violence and turned in
their weapons. At that point the men signed themselves into PA police
custody and lived for the most part in a Nablus-area jail until their
amnesty agreements were finalized by Israel.

Without the deal, the men feared for their own and their families' safety;
they were the target of night raids and incursions. The three men executed
by Israeli forces in Nablus on 26 December were also former Fatah fighters,
but had been granted amnesty by Israel three to six months before their
homes were invaded and they were shot point-blank range in front of family
members.

Only ten of the 77 men received a total pardon, allowing them to live at
home and travel freely throughout the West Bank and outside of the country.
Nineteen were given a minimal pardon, allowed to move freely in the West
Bank during the day but required to sleep in the prison. Forty-six were
granted a partial pardon, and will be able to move freely in the West Bank,
but not pass its borders, are permitted to sleep at home, but will be
required to check in at the detention center periodically.

Their names are as follows:

Totally pardoned:

1. Muhammad Al-Khalili - Nablus
2. Thafer Eran - Nablus
3. Bassam Abu Shallal - Nablus
4. Ragheb Al-Qaddoumi - Nablus
5. Karim Abu Issa - Nablus
6. Nidal Ahmed - Ramallah
7. Rebhi Al-Asmar - Ramallah
8. Jamal Shaniatah - Bethlehem
9. Ali Ibrahim Sabah - Tulkarem
10. Ahmad Nazzal - Jenin

Minimal pardon:

11. Ramzi Marqa - Nablus
12. Ashraf Zureiq - Nablus
13. Ammar Ahmad Akob - Nablus
14. Hani Adel Ahmad Mahmud - Nablus
15. Thiab Samih Hajja - Nablus
16. Said Shaker Masha - Nablus
17. Amjad Anabtawi - Nablus
18. Thaer Nadeem - Nablus
19. Khalid Hantash - Ramallah
20. Fadi Jawabra - Ramallah
21. Tareq Abu Wazna - Ramallah
22. Ibrahim Abu Thahir - Ramallah
23. Ahmed Obaid - Ramallah
24. Luay Ghosheh - Ramallah
25. Mahmud Abu Labdeh - Qalqiliya
26. Tahseen Swedan - Qalqiliya
27. Mahdi Abdul-Rahman Mansour - Kafr Qallil (Nablus)
28. Ammar Abu Al-Hayyat - Nablus
29. Mo'taz At-Taryaqi - Nablus
30. Mohammad Melhem - Far'a (Nablus)

Partial pardon

31. Jabri Al-Kurdi - Nablus
32. Yousef Hajjaj - Nablus
33. Wazir Issa - Nablus
34. Sanad Mansour - Nablus
35. Mahdi Abu As-S'oud - Nablus
36. Yacoub Shaqqura - Nablus
37. Kayed Al-Masri - Nablus
38. Abbas Al-Azizi - Nablus
39. Akram Abu Leil - Nablus
40. Azmi At-Taqtouq - Nablus
41. Dia At-Titi - Nablus
42. Mohammad An-Nadi - Nablus
43. Mu'tasim Abdel-Gawad - Nablus
44. Khalid Darwish - Nablus
45. Tareq Adas - Tulkarem
46. Samer Al-Ashqar - Tulkarem
47. Osama Abu Seif - Qalqiliya
48. Ahmad Awad - Nablus
49. Taha Ahmad Faraj - Jenin
50. Rabi As'os - Jenin
51. Mahmud Tzaza'ah - Jenin
52. Fuad Atiq - Jenin
53. Khalid Njas - Ramallah
54. Suleiman Howari - Ramallah
55. Walid Ali Dar Abed - Al-Bireh
56. Bilal Al-Ahmar - Bethlehem
57. Shadi Abu Jeries - Bethlehem
58. Ahmad Al-Mansi - Bethlehem
59. Mahmud Jibran - Bethlehem
60. Mahmud Al-Halabi - Ramallah
61. Nasser Radwan - Qalqiliya
62. Khalid Mater - Qalandiya
63. Anas Qarayrah - Ramallah
64. Zaher Sabeh - Bethlehem
65. Mohammad Hamdan - Jericho
66. Monis Ar-Rimawi - Ramallah
67. Mohamad Salem - Bethlehem
68. Mohammad Groof - Jericho
69. Bashar Ghanem - Tulkarem
70. Jehad Suleiman - Qalqiliya
71. Odeh Mubarak - Tulkarem
72. Mahmud Metwally - Qalqiliya
73. Mohammad Asos - Jenin
74. Samir Tubasi - Jenin
75. Ibrahim Shqiran - Jenin
76. Samer Farhat - Jenin
77. Ramzi Abid - Kafr Than (Nablus)

Tough guy only in his fantasy.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 04:30 AM | Permalink

By Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harel

Israel has conveyed messages to the Palestinian Authority over the past few days that it must contain the popular protests that have recently erupted in the West Bank, stop PA officials from participating in them and keep them from turning violent, Palestinian sources told Haaretz.

They said Israel also told the PA it must reduce incitement regarding the Temple Mount and Jerusalem and curtail its campaign against the use of Israeli products.

Israeli officials said that if the PA does not cut down on the incitement and keep the protests and boycott campaign in check, Israel will reduce cooperation with the PA and increase its arrests in Palestinian-controlled areas, the Palestinian sources said.

Over the past few months, arrests by Israel in PA areas have declined, and the Israel Defense Forces has been limiting the entry of troops into those areas.

The messages to the PA were delivered during several conversations between senior Israeli security officials and their Palestinian counterparts, as well as by political figures. The Palestinian sources said Shin Bet security service chief Yuval Diskin had discussed the matter with the PA official responsible for civil matters in the West Bank, Hussein al-Sheikh.

The PA has sponsored several rallies in the villages of Bil'in and Na'alin, west of Ramallah, some of which have been attended by PA officials. In recent weeks, the PA has also backed protests in the village of Nebi Salah, north of Ramallah, and in Umm Salamuna in the Bethlehem region. Palestine Liberation Organization officials are prominently involved in clashes in the Jerusalem area and have come out against what the PA describes as the Judaization of Jerusalem.

In addition, PA President Mahmoud Abbas has spoken out sharply against the inclusion of Hebron's Tomb of the Patriarchs and Rachel's Tomb, near Bethlehem, in a list of Jewish heritage sites.

The PA has so far done nothing to curtail the protests and as of Sunday, had conveyed no message to its grassroots activists to maintain a lower profile at upcoming rallies.

Sources in the Israeli security establishment say they sense that the PA is taking an active part in organizing popular protests in the West Bank. Security sources say that at this point a third intifada does not appear imminent. However, the sources say, the PA could lose control if it gives the protesters too much leeway.

Mitchell to meet Abbas on Monday

The PLO executive committee on Sunday announced its support for indirect talks with Israel on a final-status agreement, mediated by U.S. special envoy George Mitchell, for a four-month period.

Mitchell is to meet in Ramallah on Monday with Abbas and the chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat.

On Tuesday, Mitchell will meet with Abbas and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.

Palestinians are pessimistic about the chances for the success of renewed talks in light of Israel's harsh stands on several issues.

Posted by Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harel on March 8, 2010

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 05:29 AM | Permalink

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
08/03/2010

Israel authorized the construction of 112 new apartments in the West Bank despite a pledge to slowdown settlement building, the government disclosed Monday — a decision that enraged the Palestinians a day after they reluctantly agreed to resume peace talks.

Word of the new construction in Beitar Illit came amid a flurry of activity by the US to try to salvage peacemaking.

US Vice President Joseph Biden is due to land later Monday on the highest-level visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories by an Obama administration official. Washington's special envoy to the Mideast, George Mitchell, is also meeting with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

Jewish construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem is a particularly sore point with the Palestinians because it challenges their claims to lands they want for a future state.

Under heavy US pressure, Israel agreed in November to restrict building in the West Bank to some 3,000 apartments whose construction was already underway. But it rejected any curbs in east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want for their future capital.

The government said at the time that exceptions to the slowdown could be allowed, and on Monday, the Ministry of Defense said an exception was made in the case of the ultra-Orthodox Beitar Illit because of what it termed safety issues.

On Sunday, Palestinian leaders agreed to hold US-brokered peace talks with Israel for four months, ending a 14-month breakdown. In so doing, they backed off from a demand that Israel freeze all building in the West Bank and east Jerusalem before they would return to the negotiating table.

On Monday, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat accused Israel of trying to undermine the talks even before they began.

"If the Israeli government wants to sabotage Mitchell's efforts by taking such steps, let's talk to Mitchell about maybe not doing this (indirect talks) if the price is so high," Erekat said.

Israeli anti-settlement watchdog Peace Now also questioned Israel's motives. "The Israeli government is welcoming the (US) vice president by demonstrating, to our regret, that it has no genuine intention to advance the peace process," said the group's settlement expert, Hagit Ofran.

Israel accepted the indirect talks last week. It is not clear when the talks will officially begin.

The Palestinians broke off the talks after Israel launched Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip in December 2008, aimed at stopping years of rocket attacks on Israeli towns.

I don't care what security blanket the Israeli government needs to give the go ahead for building in Judea and Samaria.

I will admit that I would find it refreshing if the government had said very simply this is Jewish land and we are going to build on it. But since people of character and conviction are absent in any number in the Knesset. I will take what I can get.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 04:51 AM | Permalink

Turkish prime minister says Rachel's Tomb, Cave of Patriarchs will forever be Islamic sites
Roee Nahmias

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined the Palestinians and various Arab states in criticizing Israel for its heritage plan, which includes sites located in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

"Al-Aqsa mosque, the Cave of Patriarchs, and Rachel's Tomb will never be Jewish sites, but rather Islamic ones," Erdogan told Palestinian reporters Sunday.

It is too bad the general were arrested before they could over throw this government. I am afraid that Turkey will move away from being a friend and end up as an enemy.

Which is too bad as I like Turkey and the Turkish people.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 08:42 AM | Permalink

By JPOST.COM STAFF 05/03/2010 14:01
www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=170314

Police restore order after Arab youths hurl rocks at Kotel worshipers.

Fifteen policemen were lightly wounded in their attempt to restore order on
the Temple Mount after Arab youths emerging from Friday prayers started
hurling rocks down onto those worshiping at the Western Wall.

Having restored calm with the use of stun grenades, police left the Temple
Mount compound in cooperation with the waqf to allow older worshipers to
leave.

Last Sunday, Jerusalem's Old City erupted in violence as clashes between
Arab rioters and security forces broke out on the Temple Mount and spread
into the alleyways of the Muslim Quarter and the east Jerusalem neighborhood
of Ras el-Amud. Four policemen were wounded and upwards of a dozen Muslim
protesters were reportedly hurt during the clashes.

The repeated clashes in Jerusalem follow Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's
announcement incorporating the Cave of the Patriarch's in Hebron and
Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem onto Israel's list of national heritage sites.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 02:08 PM | Permalink

For those who would like to hear me on the radio, I am very pleased to announce that I will be having a weekly appearance on the Middle East Radio Forum, the show is hosted By William Wolf.

You can listen to the show by going to the MERF web page
http://www.middleeastradioforum.org/

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 10:23 AM | Permalink

Syria is transferring weapons to Hezbollah that it did not dare to hand over
before, Senior IDF intelligence official tells Knesset committee Tuesday; PM
Netanyahu: Iran creating false impression, we're not seeking confrontation
with Syria
Amnon Meranda Published: 03.02.10, 17:16 / Israel News
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3856875,00.html

Syria is crossing previous red lines in supplying Hezbollah with weapons,
handing over arms that it never before dared transfer to the Lebanese terror
group, the head of the IDF's research division of Military Intelligence
says.

"Syria is handing over to Hezbollah components that it would not dare hand
over before," Yossi Baidatz told the Knesset Defense and Foreign Affairs
Committee Tuesday.

Addressing the Hezbollah threat, the senior IDF official said the group was
facing a dilemma between its Jihadist identity and commitment to Iran on the
one hand and Lebanon's domestic arena on the other hand.

"For that reason, although it has maintained the quiet and is uninterested
in a clash, it attempts to carry out a revenge attack for Mugniyah's death,
especially against Israeli targets abroad," Baidatz said. "Simultaneously,
it continues to build up its strength for a confrontation against Israel,
deploys its members broadly throughout south Lebanon but also deeper, and
accumulates advanced weapons - long-range missiles, anti-aircraft missiles,
and anti-tank missiles, with Iran's and Syria's assistance."

'Iranian regime won't collapse soon'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the issue, noting that
"there is a process of military buildup and very methodical provocation by
Iran."

"We are not seeking any kind of confrontation with Syria. The talk about us
preparing for an offensive against Syria is unfounded," the PM said. "This
false impression is being created by Iran."

Baidatz added that "Iran continues to tighten its ties with the radical
axis."

"Just look at the three-way meeting held in Syria," he said. "It included
the commander of Iran's revolutionary forces, who are responsible on behalf
of Iran for supplying weapons to all terror groups at all regions."

Also in respect to Iran, Baidatz said that hopes for an imminent collapse of
the Ayatollah regime are premature.

"The potential for something taking place within the Iranian population
exists, but there's a great distance between the riots we saw and the
regime's collapse," he said. "The Iranian regime is not about to collapse,
and those who expect that Iran will soon collapse will be gravely
disappointed."

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 11:30 PM | Permalink