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 host radio program web page http://kknt960.townhall.com/

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 01:34 PM | Permalink

Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Olmert allows activist boat to dock in Gaza -apparently concerned about the negative publicity

Herb Keinon , THE JERUSALEM POST Oct. 29, 2008
www.jpost.com
/servlet/Satellite?cid=1225199593525&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

A boat carrying 27 far-left protesters docked in Gaza Wednesday morning,
after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reversed course and decided against barring
the vessel's entrance.

This was the third small boat chartered by the US-based Free Gaza movement
that has sailed from Cyprus to Gaza to draw attention to the Israeli
blockade of the Strip.

Two other boats that set sail together in August were also let in by the
Israeli authorities, who wanted to deny the protesters publicity.

Government officials said that a decision was taken "at the highest
governmental levels" a number of days ago to stop this new boat and arrest
the protesters.

But Olmert - after consultations with Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Chief
of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi - changed the decision at the last
moment, apparently concerned about the negative publicity.

Representatives of the National Information Directorate, as well as the
media specialists at the Foreign Ministry, who were preparing for the boat
to be intercepted at sea, were not involved in the consultations.

One senior government official said Israel's decision to let the boat pass
was made after it became clear exactly who and what were on the boat.

He also said Israel "wants to keep these agitators guessing, and not play
into their hands."

The official said that the decision to let the boat in Wednesday was made on
a one-time basis, and did not represent a blanket policy. He added that no
decision has been made whether Israel would allow the boat to sail back, as
it did in August.

The boat carried 27 crew and passengers, including Mairead Corrigan Maguire,
who won the 1976 Nobel Peace Prize for her work with Catholics and
Protestants in Northern Ireland.

Maguire has been involved in the often violent demonstrations against the
construction of the security fence at Ni'ilin, and was hit there last year
by a rubber bullet.

One of the organizers of the sailing, Huwaida Arraf, said in a
statement,"Once again we've been able to defy an unjust and illegal policy
while the rest of the world is too intimidated to do anything. Our small
boat is a huge cry to the international community to follow in our footsteps
and open a lifeline to the people of Gaza."

Olmert's spokesman Mark Regev, meanwhile, said that the protesters and
organizers of the boat were not the only ones who wanted a "free Gaza."

"We are also interested in freeing Gaza," Regev said. "We want to free the
civilian population of the Gaza Strip from the authoritative, totalitarian,
Taliban-type regime that is oppressing it."

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 01:20 PM | Permalink

Boat arrives in Gaza to protest Israeli blockade

Free Gaza group boat carrying 27 passengers including Nobel Peace Prize winner to remain in Strip for four days in protest of blockade
Yael Levy and AP

A boat loaded with international protesters has arrived in the Gaza Strip to bring attention to Israel's blockade of the Hamas-controlled territory.

The 27 passengers, coming together from 13 different countries include Irish Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead McGuire, Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti, and Israeli leftist Gideon Spiro. Israeli MK Jamal Zahalka (Balad) who was reportedly supposed to join the voyage, was not present on the boat.

They are scheduled to remain in Gaza for four days.

The boat chartered by the US-based Free Gaza group sailed from the nearby island of Cyprus on Tuesday and arrived in Gaza in pouring rain early Wednesday.

Israel announced on Tuesday that it would block the boat, but navy ships did not interfere and the Foreign Ministry reported on Wednesday that the decision to allow the boat to arrive was made in overnight talks.

Angela Godfrey Goldstein of the Free Gaza group told Ynet, "We are very pleased, and I believe people in Gaza are pleased as well and hope that Gaza's sea border remains open from now on."

Godfrey Goldstein said the passengers on the boat were surprised to find no resistance by the Israeli Navy and were able to anchor without any problems.

"I think the navy understands very well that they are not operating in Israel's territorial water, and therefore cannot get involved," Godfrey Goldstein said.

According to Godfrey Goldstein, during Free Gaza's last voyage in August, the group received many requests from Palestinians who asked to get on their boats to get out of the Strip.

"The time has come to really open Gaza's sea border," she said, "We, as people of peace, are working towards this goal."

Israel imposed a blockade of Gaza after the Islamic group Hamas violently seized control of the territory in June 2006. Israel tightened the sanctions because of rocket fire at Israeli towns.

The sides are currently observing a truce and the flow of goods into Gaza has slightly increased.

What a bunch of wimps

I stand by what I said and would add that I would send our agents after the money people behind these boats and they would pay for their crimes against Israel just as all hands on deck would when we sink the boat out from under them on the high seas.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 02:32 PM | Permalink

Last update - 23:28 28/10/2008
General elections to be held in Israel by middle of February
By Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondent, and AP

A spokeswoman for the Knesset said Tuesday that national elections
will be held in mid-February.

Spokeswoman Hila Mizrachi said elections have been tentatively set for February 10. But she said Tuesday there remains a possibility that lawmakers will pass legislation moving the date a week later, to February 17.

The announcement came after members of the ruling Kadima party moved to shorten the time frame for the upcoming general elections, bringing the election date closer.

Party MKs opted to forego a three-week interim period before the 90-day countdown to a nation-wide vote. The 21-day period gives parties the chance to propose a new prime ministerial candidate to form a government.

The elections were announced by President Shimon Peres after newly elected Kadima leader Tzipi Livni informed him that she had been unable to form a government. Livni was elected last month to replace outgoing prime minister Ehud Olmert, who is stepping down amid multiple allegations of corruption.

Peres formally notified Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik on Monday that Livni had been unable to form a government.

Livni was charged with forming a new government by Peres on September 22, but announced to the president on Sunday that she was unable to put together a coalition, after a key potential partner, the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, said it would not join.

Olmert has since his resignation on September 21 continued to rule the country at the head of a transitional government that will be in place until a new one is formed after the elections.

The prime minister has so far resisted pressure to step aside as interim premier and allow Livni, his deputy, to take over as acting premier.

Several Kadima legislators have urged him to do so, arguing that entering the elections as an acting premier would give her an edge over her main adversary, former premier Benjamin Netanyahu of the hardline Likud party.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 06:33 PM | Permalink

Boat will be stopped from reaching Gaza Oct. 27, 2008 Herb Keinon , THE JERUSALEM POST

Israel plans to interdict a boatfull of far-left wing protesters if it crosses into Israeli territorial waters on its way to Gaza to "break" Israel's blockade, senior government officials said Monday.

The Free Gaza movement is planning to set sail Tuesday from Cyprus to Gaza, for the second such demonstration since August. Israel, eager to avoid a well-publicized incident on the high seas and believing the protesters were just seeking a provocation, allowed the protesters in two boats to make their way to Gaza then, but has no plans to tolerate a repeat performance this time, the officials said.

The officials said the decision to stop the boat was made last month at the "highest governmental levels," just prior to plans by the protesters to set sail on what would have been their second protest voyage. That trip was scuttled at the last minute.

Among the 26 passengers expected on board the boat this time are five physicians, 1976 Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire, who has been involved in the protests at Nil'in, MK Jamal Zahalka (Balad) and Palestinian Legislative Council member Mustafa Barghouti.

"This second trip is just one of many we intend to organize over the next year," said American volunteer Greta Berlin. "We have lawyers, members of parliament and other professionals already on our passenger lists for upcoming voyages." The group said it would be carrying medicines.

Israeli officials said the decision to interdict the ship was taken because in August the group "exploited" the fact it was not barred from Gaza and demonstrated in Gaza on behalf of Hamas and were used by Hamas for propaganda purposes.

The source said if the group was going to create a provocation against Israel regardless of whether they are stopped on the high seas or allowed into Gaza, Israel might as well stop them before they can reach shore.

Israel made clear in August, when it did allow in the first two boats, that this was not a blanket policy, but rather that it would evaluate each incident separately.

Tovah Lazaroff contributed to this report

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 07:45 PM | Permalink

Qureia: Jerusalem the key to resolving conflict

Chief Palestinian negotiator says 'if Israelis elect Netanyahu, we will accept it, but there will not be peace without Jerusalem.' Adds: People tend to say one thing when they are in the opposition and something else when they're in office

The top negotiator for the Palestinian Authority, Ahmed Qureia, said on Monday that he "has great respect for the way (Kadima Chairwoman) Tzipi Livni works."

Speaking at a conference organized by the Council for Peace and Security, Qureia said that Livni "is trustworthy enough to say yes or no – 'this you can have and this you can't.' She didn't say she would give Jerusalem, but she said it would be on the table. And why shouldn't it be? How will the Palestinians agree on a deal without Jerusalem? No one can imagine this happening. Jerusalem is the key to peace."

After deciding earlier this week to halt the negotiations on the formation of a coalition under her leadership, Livni told Ynet that she had refused to guarantee Shas that Jerusalem's future would not be discussed during the talks with the Palestinians.

"They want to stifle the peace negotiations, and I won't allow it," Livni said.

'Peace initiative strategic change'

Qureia added that he did not believe a peace agreement was attainable by the end of the year. "In any case, the efforts will continue during the talks with Livni and (Prime Minister Ehud) Olmert. It is vital that we carry on with the process," he said.

Responding to Opposition Leader Benjamin Netanyahu's speech Sunday at the opening of the Knesset's winter session, in which he said that "we will not return to the 1967 borders" and that the issue of Jerusalem and the return of Palestinian refugees was "nonnegotiable", Qureia said "people tend to say one thing when they are in the opposition and something else when they're in office."

"If the Israeli nation elects Netanyahu, we will accept it," the Palestinian negotiator said. "There will not be peace without Jerusalem. Those who strive for peace must put Jerusalem on the table."

Listen to the voices of Am Israel, then we don't want your peace Jerusalem means more to us than your so called peace.

Israel must go to war and hit you with the full force of the IDF and the goal must be victory .

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 05:10 PM | Permalink

The Jerusalem Post Internet Edition

'Israeli strike against Iran won't work'
Oct. 26, 2008
JPost.com Staff , THE JERUSALEM POST

Israel may not be able to stop Iran's nuclear ambitions with a military strike, should the option prove necessary, given the level of fortification employed by the Islamic Republic to protect its nuclear facilities, Western intelligence experts said in a Newsweek report.

The report was published online Saturday, and will appear in the November 3, 2008 issue of the magazine.

According to the report, in order for an Israeli strike to slow or destroy the nuclear program, four key sites would need to be hit. However, the effectiveness of the attack would be hampered by the fact that Iran has built these sites deep underground, and surrounded them with barriers more than 60 feet thick. Such fortifications could only be penetrated by several bunker-buster bombs striking exactly the same spot, the experts told the magazine.

While the sources said that more damage could be achieved by employing nuclear weapons, they told Newsweek that it was unlikely Israel would use such weapons.

The magazine also reported about another incident which could have implications for Western efforts to block Iranian nuclear proliferation. According to two Western counter-proliferation officials who talked to Newsweek, a top Iranian-Canadian informant for the German intelligence agency, BND was recently arrested by German Customs officers on suspicion that he was illegally shipping missile-technology to Iran. The man, who was code-named "Sinbad," had worked for the BND for 10 years, and supplied the agency with high-quality Iranian government documents while providing Teheran with technology. However, the arrangement did not include the activities for which Sinbad was arrested, and therefore hampered BND efforts to stop the investigation.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 12:30 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 host radio program web page http://kknt960.townhall.com/

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 02:17 PM | Permalink

By Amos Harel Last update - 07:23 23/10/2008
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1030558.html

The Chief Military Rabbinate has recently expanded its educational
activities in IDF combat units, and in doing so has entered areas previously
served only by the Education Corps. Many commanders accept offers of such
programs since the rabbinate pays for these activities, while the units must
foot the bill for events run by the Education Corps.

The Chief Military Rabbinate's behavior "harms the delicate fabric of
relations between the nonreligious and religious in the IDF," a senior
officer told Haaretz. "In a number of cases it is religious brainwashing
and, indirectly, also political [brainwashing]," said the officer.

IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, ordered an investigation of the
matter this week and requested to redraw the "borders" between the rabbinate
and Education Corps.

The Military Rabbinate has been conducting such programs for years but has
greatly stepped up its activities during the past year. One of the main
reasons is economic: Non-profit organizations and religious citizens have
been contributing money via Libi - The Fund for Strengthening Israel's
Defense. The contributions are earmarked for specific purposes, in this case
the rabbinate's educational activities. The sums are significant, and give
the rabbinate an advantage over the Education Corps.

Most of the controversial activities are organized by the "Jewish Awareness
Department" in the Military Rabbinate, headed by Lt. Col. Zadok (Duki)
Ben-Artzi, a former Air Force navigator who became religiously observant.
The unit was established in the days of former IDF Chief Rabbi, Brig. Gen.
Yisrael Weiss, and was called the "Combat Values branch." However, after
Haaretz reported on the activities of the unit in 2001, its name was changed
to Jewish Awareness and the IDF announced it would supervise the unit's
activities more closely.

Now, it turns out, that its programs have expanded greatly under the command
of the present IDF Chief Rabbi, Brig. Gen. Rabbi Avichai Ronski, who assumed
his position in 2006. The slogan for the programs is "Jewish awareness for a
victorious IDF." Ben-Artzi describes his goal as "strengthening the combat
spirit and [sense of] mission in military service."

Ben-Artzi operates a telephone call center for units and offers services
that are clearly under the purview of the Education Corps, such as programs
and information on historic battles of the IDF and learning about the land
of Israel. The unit offers to organize activities and programs "based on
biblical sources, appropriate for all soldiers and commanders, also for
those who do not come from a religious background," states one of its
brochures. "The Jewish Awareness unit specializes in organizing the
activities from start to finish," it states.

The unit circulates a number of publications, including a booklet for
"commanders from a Jewish viewpoint," and one for combat soldiers "to
strengthen their spirit before battle." The unit also offers advice and help
in writing and updating materials for courses, including integrating
programs and materials on Jewish awareness in the courses. It also offers
seminars and conferences all over the country.

In particular, it hosts IDF units weekends and, the jewel in the crown, a
Shabbat in Jerusalem. The free weekend is something which the Education
Corps cannot compete with.

It operates these weekends in close coordination with the right wing Elad
non-profit organization, which works to expand Jewish settlement in East
Jerusalem and, in particular, in the village of Silwan.

A senior officer told Haaretz: "The temptation on the part of a battalion
commander is great. From his point of view, he is getting a weekend for
forging group spirit for the battalion, at the price of only a few hours of
discussion with the rabbi. Every commander wants to strengthen values, and
some of the commanders are religious and, in any case, agree with the Chief
Military Rabbi. Few are aware of the nuances, or are aware that religious
and nationalistic preaching is entering through the backdoor. This is a
gross invasion of the Education Corps area, which does not approve the
content and the exploitation of soldiers, who are a captive audience, coming
for the Sabbath under orders. Ronski and his subordinates are breaking the
status quo operating in the IDF from the days of Ben-Gurion," said the
officer.

At the beginning of the year, after numerous reports from his officers, the
Chief Education officer, Brig. Gen. Eli Shermeister, asked the former head
of the Human Resources Branch, Maj. Gen. Elazar Stern, to hold an urgent
meeting on the matter. Stern ruled the Rabbinate was not allowed to invade
the Education Corps' areas of operation without coordination. However,
Ben-Artzi was heard to say to his soldiers immediately afterward: "We are
continuing as usual."

The IDF Spokesman responded to a request from Haaretz on the matter saying,
"The Chief of Staff recently gave the head of the Manpower Branch, Maj. Gen.
Avi Samir, an order to hold orderly discussions and present him with his
recommendations as to the coordination and borders between the Education
Corps and the Military Rabbinate. In principle, the responsibility for
education in the IDF belongs to the Education Corps, including writing and
distributing various course materials, educational seminars, weekends, etc."

The IDF Spokesman added that the rabbinate receives donations from the two
bodies legally authorized to do so. However, other military sources said the
supervision on such donations is minimal and the IDF has only limited
knowledge of the contributions the Rabbinate receives.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 02:16 PM | Permalink

Friday, October 24, 2008 Torah Sages Council rules Shas won't join government

Torah Sages Council rules Shas won't join government
Council members vote in telephone survey against joining Livni-led
coalition. Statement released by ultra-Orthodox party says, 'Difficulties
and hardship of disadvantaged population cannot be ignored'
Attila Somfalvi YNET Published: 10.24.08, 10:42 / Israel News
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3612518,00.html

The Shas party has officially announced that its Council of Torah Sages
decided not to join a new government led by Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni.

The party said in a statement that Shas had demanded real aid for the
disadvantaged population and sought to protect Jerusalem.

"We cannot ignore the difficulties and hardship on days when the developed
countries report is being published, and Israel is first in poverty. We
suggested solutions for the poverty issues and Jerusalem, but our opinion
was not accepted and thus we will not be able to join the government," the
statement said.

This is great news and just might mean elections in Israel.

Livni can barley get to 61 seats in the Knesset that will back her government , so rather than have a weak narrow government she just may go for elections.

We then have a chance to get the far left out of office to be replaced by the left of center Likud.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 02:10 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 host radio program web page http://kknt960.townhall.com/

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 02:55 PM | Permalink

18 Tishrei 5769, 17 October 08 11:49 by Hana Levi Julian

(IsraelNN.com) U.S. President George W. Bush offered Syrian President Bashar Assad a secret deal to pull Israel out of the Golan Heights in exchange for Damascus breaking off ties with Tehran, according to a report published Friday in the Kuwaiti newspaper al-Jarida.

A Palestinian Authority (PA) source quoted in the report said Bush reportedly proposed "a quick and satisfactory solution" to Syria's dispute with Israel over the Golan Heights. The "solution" was to be finalized "within several weeks, before the U.S. presidential elections, in order to push the Middle East peace process, an achievement the president will be able to proudly present before leaving the White House in January," according to Cairo-based journalist Abdel-Wahab Al-Nasser.

The offer allegedly came in a letter sent via PA Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas, who arrived in Damascus for meetings with Assad and other Syrian officials beginning last Saturday.

Abbas's visit was billed at the time as an attempt by Abbas to shore up his political position within the PA due to the fact that his current term in office ends on January 9, 2009, and as part of his effort to reconcile his Fatah faction with the rival Hamas terrorist organization that took over complete control of Gaza in June 2007.

According to the PA source, the real purpose of Abbas's visit, however, was to deliver the secret letter, the knowledge of which was kept secret from the American Ambassador in Damascus and the members of Abbas's entourage. It was delivered personally by Abbas to Assad, said the source, who added that "the United States stressed the importance of this confidential letter outside the usual official channels."

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's spokesman David Baker said in response to a call from Israel National News, "We have nothing to comment regarding that report."

If Israel would be stupid enough to do this then what can I say, we would get what we deserve.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 11:47 AM | Permalink

(IsraelNN.com) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents have arrested and brought charges against 14 people who allegedly traded in stolen goods and sent profits to Arab groups in Judea, Samaria and Gaza. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force was involved in the investigation and arrests, but officials did not say if the money was funneled to terrorists.

The gang, led by Bassam Hamed, managed at least five convenience stores that sold contraband cigarettes and other merchandise. An attorney for several of those who were arrested maintained that the men sent money to help family members in Israel. "They're hardworking guys. They're family guys," said attorney Rob Lutfiyya.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 01:32 PM | Permalink

The Jerusalem Post Internet Edition

Yishai wishes to bridge gaps with Livni
Oct. 16, 2008
Gil Hoffman and jpost.com staff , THE JERUSALEM POST

Shas chairman Eli Yishai expressed optimism Thursday following coalition talks with Foreign Minister and new Kadima leader Tzipi Livni.

"Gaps still remain, but there is a willingness to bridge them," he said, stressing the need for a government focusing on socioeconomic issues. "We want a big portion of the money for family grants to be allocated in the 2009 budget," he added.

Livni and Yishai agreed to move the negotiations up a gear and the Shas and Kadima negotiating teams were scheduled to meet on Thursday evening.

Earlier Thursday, the Meretz and Kadima negotiating teams met at Livni's office in Tel Aviv.

A Kadima spokesman said that the meeting was "positive" and that Meretz chairman Haim Oron and the party's faction head Zehava Gal-On presented their demands that are to be advanced further in a continuation of talks on Saturday night.

A Meretz spokesman said that diplomatic and socioeconomic issues, and matters of the rule of law were discussed in detail.

Earlier, Zehava Gal-On told Israel Radio that Oron would consider the party a coalition partner if its socioeconomic and peace process demands were met.

Gal-On said that Meretz had no interest in joining a government that did not seek to advance an agreement on the core issues in peace talks with the Palestinians, including Jerusalem. She also said Meretz would find it difficult to join the coalition if Daniel Friedmann remains justice minister.

But cold hard cash, that is what drives Shas today, they would give up everything for a little more money.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 01:27 PM | Permalink

YNET Published: 10.12.08, 22:59 / Israel News
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3608333,00.html

Female soldier prevents attack: The IDF nabbed three Palestinians carrying
nine pipe bombs at a roadblock west of Nablus Sunday evening, apparently
averting a planned terror attack in Israel.

The attack was foiled as a result of the alertness and insistence of a
female soldier at the checkpoint. No injuries were reported in the incident.

The three Palestinians arrived at the roadblock from the direction of
Nablus. The female soldier asked one of them for an identification
card, but remained suspicious even after he showed her his ID.

At that point, the soldier asked the suspect to open his bag, yet he
refused. The soldier insisted, prompting the Palestinian to remove a shirt
and pants from the bag before closing it again. However, the soldier was not
satisfied, opened the bag herself, and found three pipe bombs inside it.

At that point, troops at the checkpoint activated a special emergency
procedure. The Palestinians suspect's two friends were also searched and
were found to carry three pipe bombs in each of their bags.

Sappers dispatched to the scene blew up the explosive devices in a
controlled detonation. Meanwhile, the three detainees were taken in for
interrogation.

A similar attack was thwarted at a different roadblock near Nablus last
week. A Palestinian who arrived at the checkpoint with a plastic bag aroused
the suspicions of Golani troops and members of the IDF's crossings' unit.
The soldiers dispatched a sapper, who discovered two small pipe bombs in the
bag and blew them up.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 11:06 AM | Permalink

13 Tishrei 5769, 12 October 08 10:09
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

(IsraelNN.com) Anti-Semites had a field day Sunday, blaming Israel's Mossad intelligence agency for the traffic accident in which Austria's Nazi sympathizer leader Joerg Haider was killed on Saturday.

Austrian police said he was driving his car at breakneck speed when it veered off a road and overturned several times, causing fatal chest and head injuries. His Future of Austria party won 30 percent support in elections last month after a campaign in which he promoted his anti-immigration policies. His past speeches have included praise for the Third Reich and comments that Nazi concentration camps were actually "disciplinary camps."

However, anti-Semitic bloggers immediately spread the word that Israel actually engineered the accident. Blogs based their claim on a Times of London article three years ago, under the headline "Mossad spied on far-right Austrian." Times journalist Roger Boyes told readers that Peter Sichrovksy said he was a Mossad informant while serving as secretary-general of the Freedom Party, which Haider formerly headed.

The "Jewishconspiracyexposed" website claimed, "This was [a] Zionist Jew job to prevent Haider’s success in politics after big stock market scam that Jews are now pulling." The website insisted that "Haider was driving in 30 mph in [a] quiet country town" and that it was not possible that his car was as badly damaged as pictures showed and that he suffered fatal injuries.

"Would [a] car be in this condition if it was driven in speed of 30 mph?" the site asked. "Austrian government cars are made extra strong, but oddly this time physic laws [sic] didn’t apply." It added, "An initial investigation of Jewish detectives uncovered no signs of foul play" and then tacked on the comment, "Jewish detectives found no evidence of foul’s [sic] play?

"If Jews had spy [sic] as Haider's aide, then why couldn’t they kill him just before second Great Depression that is caused by Jewish bankers?"

Another anti-Semitic site dug out previous articles to build a case for a Mossad plot against Haider and concluded, "Tragic as it may seem about the fate of the politicians who end up being murdered for daring to challenge Zionist power elite with 'politically incorrect views', one thing is certain: the Zionist regime of Israel will perish when the time is right."

Of course how stupid can these neo Nazi's idiots be blaming Jewish detectives for a cover up, come on how many Jews are their in the police in Austria?

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 09:12 PM | Permalink

14 Tishrei 5769, 13 October 08 12:08
by Ernie Singer

(IsraelNN.com) Kadima party leader Tzipi Livni sent a partial draft coalition agreement to Labor party leader Ehud Barak on Sunday afternoon, with an eye to concluding coalition talks by Monday. A deal with Labor is seen as a prerequisite to talks with the hareidi-religious Shas and United Torah Judaism parties, the left wing Meretz party and the Gil Pensioners' party. Livni told several cabinet ministers, "It's not healthy that these negotiations are taking so long."

Under the agreement, Barak would be named a senior deputy prime minister in a Kadima-led coalition and play a significant role in negotiations with Syria. According to Channel 10 television, Livni has denied Barak's demand to personally oversee those negotiations. Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann's initiative to limit Supreme Court powers would also be curbed and an agreement would be reached on supplemental benefits to pensioners and college students without expanding the budget.

Sources in Kadima said Sunday morning that a deal between the two parties was expected shortly, despite Barak's having canceled a meeting scheduled with Livni. Following the cancellation, Kadima central committee chairman Tzachi Hanegbi approached him and the two agreed to continue working on the draft.

Barak told Labor ministers on Sunday that he was acting "with an open mind to complete the conditions for a new government." A Barak associate said that ordered Labor negotiators "to complete the negotiations tonight."

Transportation and Road Safety Minister Shaul Mofaz, who announced Saturday night that he was not leaving politics, told a meeting of the Kadima party governing committee Sunday night "My place is in public service. It's where I've always been happiest and where I will stay." Following a narrow loss to Livni in last month's race for leadership of Kadima, Mofaz had said he was taking a break from politics and that he would not continue as a minister in the new government that Livni is trying to build. On Sunday night he said, "After much deliberation, I have come to the conclusion that this is the place from which I can continue to contribute." He received thunderous applause when he said, "As one with a central role in the movement, I will help as much as I am asked."

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 09:10 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 host radio program web page http://kknt960.townhall.com/

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 01:46 PM | Permalink

Oct. 10, 2008
Jpost.com staff and Yaakov Lappin , THE JERUSALEM POST

In the third consecutive evening of clashes between Jewish and Arab residents of Acre, police were yet again forced to respond to riots taking place in the northern city's eastern neighborhood early Friday night. At least four Jewish residents were arrested while police subdued the crowds.

Police closed off the eastern entrance and special forces and Border Police forces armed with crowd control gear were preparing to enter the area if called.

On Friday afternoon, the clashes which ensued over Yom Kippur were renewed after dozens of Jewish residents hurled rocks at Arabs living in the northern city's eastern neighborhood. Police forces arriving at the scene managed to disperse the crowds and several arrests were made.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister and Kadima leader Tzipi Livni said that Israel would not allow citizens to take the law into their own hands.

"It doesn't matter how angry they were, every citizen must respect Yom Kippur, the holy day, outside of the home," she said on a visit to the city.

The new Kadima chairman added that the incident was a watershed line which would determine "if we remain with yesterday's anger, or whether we can move on from this and improve Jewish-Arab relations."

Livni met with Acre Mayor Shimon Lancry to discuss Wednesday night and Thursday's riots.

Earlier Friday, Public Security Minister Avi Dichter vowed to put the "perpetrators and inciters" of the Acre violence "behind lock and key."

Following a meeting with Lancry, Dichter said police had no prior intelligence of the violence and that the riots did not appear to have been planned.

He stressed that restoring calm to the city was not only the job of police, but also of community leaders.

"We are planning ahead for the scenario of, God forbid, violence spreading to other places. I call on leaders, both in the Jewish community and Arab community, to act sensibly," he said.

Prior to the meeting, Dichter was greeted with shouts of "No one is protecting us," from an angry crowd.

Meanwhile, some 700 police officers were deployed in Acre Friday morning to help restore calm to the city following the clashes.

Israel Police Commissioner Ch.-Insp. Dudi Cohen held a special situation assessment with other senior police officials and it was decided that police reinforcements would remain in the city until full calm was restored.

Nevertheless, Dichter ordered police to refrain from using live ammunition and stun grenades should clashes resume.

In addition, the local municipality provided Acre's schools with increased security.

Police were also on high alert in other cities with mixed Jewish and Arab populations including Jerusalem, Haifa, Jaffa, Ramle and Lod, as well as the Wadi Ara region.

Jerusalem Police chief Cmdr. Aharon Franco decided to increase police presence in the Old City and east Jerusalem.

During the violence, which broke out on Wednesday night, hundreds of the city's Arab residents vandalized Jewish-owned shops and vehicles and clashed with police.

On Thursday evening, tensions boiled over again during a demonstration held by Jews against the previous evening's occurrences. Both Jews and Arabs clashed with police in various parts of the racially divided city, leading to 10 arrests. In total, at least eight people were lightly wounded in the successive nights of violence.

For part of Thursday evening, the city was in lockdown, its entrances temporarily closed off, as hundreds of riot and border police armed with water cannons and tear gas worked to restore calm to Acre's streets.

At the end of a meeting Thursday night with senior representatives from both sides, Cohen called on Jews and Arabs to ensure that tensions subside and to prevent the violence from spreading to other nearby neighborhoods.

"What happened on Yom Kippur was very severe, and both the city's Jewish and Arab leaders, as well as the police, will learn lessons from it," he said, stressing, "This was a local incident only."

"I call on both sides, Jews and Arabs, to continue coexisting as they have done for years and to respect one another," added Cohen, calling on public figures and local leaders not to fan the flames of violence.

Lancry told Army Radio that only in two or three days time would it be possible to determine whether tensions had subsided. Lancry blamed Acre's Arab residents for the outbreak of violence.

"The incidents over Yom Kippur were very severe, all red lines were crossed," he added. "The Israel Police must use the investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice."

MK Uri Ariel (NU-NRP) accused MK Abbas Zakour (United Arab List) of inciting the Arab rioters during the clashes.

Ariel claimed that the Arab-Israel MK didn't turn to police, but "conducted events" from a nearby house.

Meanwhile, Zakour urged Public Security Minister Avi Dichter to prevent Ariel and Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman from touring Acre's Old City, saying such a visit would hinder efforts to restore calm, Army Radio reported.

Speaking to Israel Radio, Lieberman termed the incidents a pogrom carried out by Arabs and compared it to Kristallnacht.

MK Arieh Eldad (NRP-NU) also called the Acre riots a pogrom and said police "shouldn't be surprised when Jews take up arms to protect themselves."

AP contributed to this report

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 01:45 PM | Permalink

I want to wish all of Am Israel an easy fast on Yom Kippur.

Also if I have wronged any of you please forgive me and may you all be written in the Book Of Life for the coming year.

Yoni

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 02:53 PM | Permalink

Forces to deploy in cities ahead of holiday, report 11 specific alerts currently being investigated, police to block all entry of vehicles from east Jerusalem. Security also beefed up around Israeli and Jewish targets abroad
Efrat Weiss

Security forces have been placed on high alert ahead of Yom Kippur. The defense establishment has confirmed it is currently investigating 11 specific terror alerts – including threats of kidnappings, rocket attacks and bombings. In addition to this there are dozens of general alerts on the radar.

Police will deploy large forces as of Wednesday morning in markets, cemeteries (due to memorial services at military cemeteries for casualties of the Yom Kippur War) and synagogues throughout the country.

Troops will also beef up their presence along the Seam Line and the Jerusalem 'envelope.'

The changes in Jerusalem will mostly be felt in the roads surrounding the Western Wall on the eve of Yom Kippur and with the breaking of the fast. Police will also block the entry of all vehicles from east Jerusalem.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 07:31 PM | Permalink

8 Tishrei 5769, 07 October 08 11:03
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

(IsraelNN.com) Hevron Jewish community leaders have pleaded with Defense Minister Ehud Barak in a letter to scrap plans to allow the Palestinian Authority (PA) to deploy its American-trained and armed security forces in the city. More than 150 PA policemen are undergoing training at an American base in Jordan before being transferred to Hevron, home to the Cave of the Patriarchs, and the PA also plans to deploy several hundred others.

The letter pointed out that a PA policeman murdered two Jews from the area a year ago.

"We were astounded and stunned to learn of plans to transfer security of the city of Hevron to the Fatah and Tanzim terrorists, a.k.a. 'the Palestinian Authority,'" the leaders wrote Defense Minister Barak. Among the signatories were American-born Rabbi Shlomo Riskin of Efrat, Kiryat Arab-Hevron Rabbi Dov Lior and reserve IDF Colonels Moshe Hagar and Ron Shechner.

They warned the government that "similar actions in the past always led to terrible bloodshed" and reminded the Defense Minster of the murder of infant Shalhavet Pass by an Arab who was trained by a PA-aligned terrorist.

The letter also recalled the multiple terrorist attacks on a Friday night that killed 12 IDF soldiers and civilian rescue team members on the Worshippers' Path to the Cave.

"Transfer of security responsibility into the hands of Fatah terrorists will endanger the lives of thousands in the Hevron region, of hundreds of thousands who arrive to visit the holy sites in the city of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs and the lives of all the citizens of Israel wherever they are," they stated in the letter.

The PA has claimed that it needs armed police in the city to stop Hamas's growing influence.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 02:48 PM | Permalink

Kuntar victim's family outraged by his return to terror

Notorious terrorist released in exchange for soldiers' bodies filmed training with rocket launcher, family of policeman he killed lament realization of their worst fears: 'We feel sorry for the next family'
Yael Levy

Eliyahu Shahar's family were perturbed, but not in any way surprised by the images displayed to the world this week of Samir Kuntar engaging in weapons training.

Shahar was killed by a terror cell led by Kuntar into the northern coastal town of Nahariya in 1979. It was during that raid that Kuntar also murdered Danny Haran and his four-year-old daughter Einat.

An appeal filed by the Shahar family to prevent Kuntar's release was rejected by the High Court of Justice. He was repatriated to Lebanon along with several other terrorists and the bodies of hundreds of Lebanese fighters in return for the remains of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.

"The Kuntar deal was despicable, we said from the onset that it's something we would grow to regret," Yoram Shahar on Tuesday after watching the video of Kuntar training with live gunfire and shells.

“What we saw in this movie is just the tip of the iceberg. Kuntar will carry out a major attack against Israel, which has placed its fate squarely in the hands of murderers,” said an irate Shahar.

“I opposed Kuntar's release not because I was against having the captives returned. I was opposed to watching the government throw sand in the eyes of the public to prevent them from seeing the full picture, who it was that they were setting free.

“This is a man who tried to carry out a terror attack against Israel at the age of 14, and was arrested by the Jordanians. It must be understood – once a terrorist, always a terrorist."

Shahar asserts Kuntar was released out of political considerations: “It pains me that Ehud Olmert wanted to create a media spin, and so let him go.

“If people in Israel had the full picture, everyone would have been against his release. You have to understand, this person sat in jail for 30 years and spent that time priming himself for a major attack. He now knows exactly where our weaknesses are,” said Shahar.

Eliyahu's second brother, Haim, says the video proves the family was right to appeal the deal. “I want the High Court of Justice, which twice rejected our case, to sit down and watch these images…As someone who has served this country, and who continues to volunteer even today, I am very upset. This is how they (the court) pay us back."

Shahar stressed that his family was not out to avenge his brother's death, only to prevent future attacks. “I wish I could go to Lebanon on my own," says Haim, "I would go destroy him. This is not a vendetta. My brother will not rise from his grave if Kuntar dies.

Haim said that his family members paid a heavy personal price following Eliyahu’s death. “My mother died from the grief. Yet after everything we endured, Kuntar was let go and now he's back to his old habits. This ruined us, and he's just continued with his life."

Yoram said he laments the feeling of national helplessness: "We are the strongest nation in the world. I
ask Olmert - why don't we get (Hamas leader) Ismail Haniyeh and trade him for (kidnapped soldier) Gilad Shalit, just like they snatched Mustafa Dirani from his bed. That's the kind of country I want to live in,” he said.

“We just give and give, and the world's terrorists see this and understand that hey, they really should carry out more kidnappings. We need to understand that we are fighting for our existence, and I feel sorry for the next family in line,” added Shahar.

I hope the families that pushed to get their loved ones bodies back in exchange for releasing this live terrorist can live with themselves, what are they going to say to the Jews that loose loved ones to this animal in the future?

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 02:41 PM | Permalink

Monday, October 6, 2008
A trip through Gaza tunnels; how they work, how much they cost, what they bring in

The cost of each package of goods dragged through the tunnels was initially
500 US dollars, but when the industry exploded the price went down to 300,
then 200 US dollars when the Gaza markets became saturated with Egyptian
goods.

A trip through Gaza tunnels; how they work, how much they cost, what they
bring in
Date: 06 / 10 / 2008 Time: 20:59
www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=32369

Gaza - Ma'an - Every time a Gazan enters one of the tunnels snaking beneath
the no-man's-land of the Gaza-Egypt border, he knows that his fate will be
one of the following:

Death by suffocation, whether by sand, gas fumes or water;

Death under a collapsing or demolished passage;

Death or injury by electrocution from faulty or wet wiring;

Exit to the far side of the tunnel.

The current death toll of Gazans in the tunnels is nearing 50, meaning the
chances that any one of the hundreds of Gazans will perish in the grave-like
passages seem increasingly likely.

The tunnel story began when Palestinian resistance fighters needed arms in
the struggle against Israel, and dug the first tunnels to secure weapons.
The trade soon expanded to include drugs and then a "precious items" black
market trade.

Now, one and a half years after the Hamas take over in Gaza and a year after
the Israeli blockade, the 'weapons' being brought in to Gaza are basic foods
and "luxury goods" like sprite and chocolate, to fight off hunger and
sadness.

The tunnels have become a public phenomenon with their own laws, regulations
and tax rates; they are even the subject at Hamas bloc cabinet meeting
sessions.

Those who work daily in the tunnels describe their work as trying and
dangerous, but add that there is no other alternative, and they must somehow
make a living. Despite the risks some say they are lucky, compared to the
thousands of unemployed, and add that at least the tunnels are a source of
commercial revenue for the stifled Strip.

Merchants made use of lands on the borders with Egypt and dug their tunnels
there. Digging starts near a home, or secluded piece of land, and the owners
might help diggers or find equipment to help in the beginning stages.
Workers are recruited by word of mouth, and when the 2 or 3 kilometer
tunnels are finished, about 20 meters below the earth, ten workers remain
and begin pulling goods through the passages with long lengths of rope.

Wives are the latest "luxury" item smuggled in

As the trouble in the Gaza Strip began, many a family member travelled
abroad to escape the siege or infighting between Fatah and Hamas. Mothers
went to live with family in Egypt or overseas, and many have not been
allowed back into the area due to strict Israeli and Egyptian control over
crossing points.

Brides from Egypt or other countries, engaged to Gazan men and unable to
enter the Strip to marry, turn to the tunnels along with the exiled wives ,
after giving up on legal ways of entering the area.

One tunnel worker estimated that ten workers were brought in each month
through the network of tunnels. The desperate women must crawl into open
containers that are then dragged through the tunnels, their bodies covered
to protect them from the rough ground.

Mechanics of the Tunnels

Air pumps are used to ensure an adequate supply of oxygen through the
underground networks. Pumps are turned on every hour for 15 minutes when
diggers or smugglers are below the earth.

Phones are installed every 500 meters to kilometer so problems or needs can
be communicated to those manning the entrances to the tunnels.

The cost of each package of goods dragged through the tunnels was initially
500 US dollars, but when the industry exploded the price went down to 300,
then 200 US dollars when the Gaza markets became saturated with Egyptian
goods.

Gazans have begun referring to goods from Egypt, smugglers, and indeed much
of the Gazan economy by the now well known phrase "tunnel commerce." Most
say they never dreamed that they would be able to find many of the goods
they have been deprived of as a result of the Israeli blockade. Supply, many
add, is still below demand, and the Gaza tunnel industry has room to grow.

Workers get a discount of 10 US dollars for packages they drag themselves
through the tunnels.

The cost of building a tunnel is 80-90 thousand US dollars for a short one
(500 meters) and double to triple that cost for the one or two kilometer
tunnels.

One worker estimated that there are currently 270 tunnels with a single
entrance each from the Palestinian side, and added that the Egyptian tunnels
often have two entrances, since authorities routinely demolish tunnel
openings.

Accusing Egyptian authorities of murder

Families of tunnel victims ask only that the Rafah crossings be opened so
they can obtain goods legally and without the threat of death. Several have
accused Egyptian authorities of murdering civilians with their political
policies of keeping Rafah closed, as well as their continued efforts and
destroying many of the tunnels.

Tens of tunnel entrances have been imploded, and it was recently revealed
that American undercover agents with specialized equipment were working to
locate and shut down the tunnels from the Gaza side.

Rafah the richest governorate in Gaza

The town of Rafah, which actually straddles the Egypt-Gaza border, and its
surrounding areas, has become a large commercial center due to the local
profits from the smuggling.

Many Gazans in other districts say they would never use their money to fund
tunnels that have cost many Gazans their lives, and have made illegal
smuggling status quo in Gaza.

The de facto government and Hamas say they are waiting for confirmation that
the official Rafah crossing will be permanently opened by Egyptian
authorities before they crack down on the smuggling. They have also started
forcing tunnel owners to pay up to 50 thousand Jordanian Dinars (70,600 US
dollars) to each family who loses a son or father in the tunnels.

De facto government authorities have also said that they are working to
ensure that only goods prevented from coming into the Strip by Israel are
being allowed through the tunnels. Items like weapons and drugs are strictly
prohibited and are confiscated when found.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 01:41 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 host radio program web page http://kknt960.townhall.com/

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 02:13 PM | Permalink

(IsraelNN.com) A U.S. judge in the Southern District of New York has dismissed a claim by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) against the legality of a $3 billion lawsuit by terror victims and their families.

District Judge George Daniels ruled that the shootings and bombings of American citizens in Jerusalem between 2001 and 2004 were acts of terrorism and not acts of war, as the PA and PLO claimed.

At least one judge has the intelligence to understand that terrorism is just that terrorism, unprovoked attacks against civilians.

The time has long past for talk the time is past due for us to shoot.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 02:55 PM | Permalink

3 Tishrei 5769, 02 October 08 04:34

(IsraelNN.com) Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpe, head of the Task Force to Save the People and the Land (HaMateh L'Hatzalat Ha'Am VehaAretz) organization, has asked Attorney General Menachem Mazuz to investigate the Shabak (General Security Service).

Rabbi Wolpe asked if "the Jewish Department" of the Shabak is still employing agent provocateurs such as Avishai Raviv, in order to slander the right in general and Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria in particular. Raviv's mission was to encourage acts of right wing extremism. Raviv's work preceeeded the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995. Raviv had befriended convicted Rabin assassin Yigal Amir and alledgedly encouraged him to be an extremist.

According to the OMedia website, Wolpe's request follows the finding of written announcements near the site where a pipe bomb wounded Professor Ze'ev Sternhell. The professor is a vehement opponent to a Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria, which led police to say they suspected members of the right in the attack.

Wolpe also asked the attorney-general to give his opinion on Sternhell's remarks, saying Sternhell "incited Arabs to attack residents of the settlements, and we have not heard to this day that he is being investigated for his words."
www.IsraelNationalNews.com
© Copyright IsraelNationalNews.com

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 02:54 PM | Permalink

Wednesday, October 1, 2008 Israel buys superior Israeli cluster bombs, reducing purchases of inferior US bombs

Israel Buys Self-Destruct Cluster Bombs: Radio
By agence france-presse
Published: 30 Sep 14:41 EDT (18:41 GMT)
www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3750224&c=MID&s=AIR

JERUSALEM - The Israeli army is equipping itself with self-destruct cluster
bombs in order to lower the number of civilian victims of this type of
weapon, used in the 2006 war in Lebanon, military radio said.

The army has reduced its purchases of U.S. made cluster bombs, instead
buying Israel-made M-85 cluster bombs, which contain a mechanism to destroy
themselves if they fail to explode immediately on impact, according to the
report.

Cluster munitions spread bomblets over a wide area from a single container.

The United Nations estimates that a million cluster bombs were dropped on
Lebanon by Israel between July 12 and August 14 in 2006 in the conflict with
Hezbollah.

About 40 percent of these did not explode on impact and are spread among
villages and orchards in the south of Lebanon.

According to a U.N. report in June, at least 38 people have been killed and
217 wounded by bomblets exploding since the end of the fighting.

The Israeli government's Winograd Commission of enquiry into the mistakes of
the Lebanon war recommended the army use fewer cluster bombs in future to
reduce civilian injuries.

In May, delegates from 111 countries agreed a landmark treaty in Dublin to
ban the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions by
its signatories.
However, the agreement lacked the backing of major producers and stockpilers
including Israel, China, India, Pakistan, Russia and the United States.

This is a good thing the IAF will provide jobs for Israelis and have a supply close at hand.

Now we just need to use them in Gaza until Gilad Shalit is returned to Israel.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 02:48 PM | Permalink

Thursday, October 2, 2008

[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA:
Below is a Google translation of the original story.
It should be noted that most commentators (including Arab observers) have
noted that the messy nature of the Damascus bombing is inconsistent with the
typically careful Israeli operations that avoid collateral damage.
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.asharqalawsat.com%2Fdetails.asp%3Fsection%3D4%26article%3D489176%26issueno%3D10901&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=ar&tl=en

"...Israeli military...circles said, in remarks to a group of journalists
yesterday that after the nuclear reactor was destroyed in Deir Al-Zour in
the past year, Syria returned to the start of activity to build several new
reactors. And it is on its way to Iran, where it is building in several
areas at the same time.

The sources said North Korea was behind the project, with a delegation of
experts Koreans working visit to Syria last month and began to work on
planning the project.

...
In addition, Israeli sources said in Tel Aviv that he believed that among
the dead in Damascus bombing Syria a great officer brigadier general in
charge of the nuclear project and a number of state employees and military
personnel working in this project.

The conflicting accounts about the identity of Brigadier General who was
killed in the bombing of Damascus, the Syrian sources said that among the
dead bombing in the Syrian army Brigadier General George Ibrahim al-Gharbi,
saying he was killed with his son and a lieutenant and a soldier with the
passage of the car they were traveling near the place where all the bombing.

He pointed out that a relative of Brigadier General George Ibrahim Al-west
was working in production management of the Syrian army.

However, the news agency «AKI» Italian quoted Syrian opposition sources as
saying «The explosion led to the killing of Brigadier Abdul-Karim Abbas,
Vice-Chairman of the Palestine Branch of Syrian intelligence, a staunch
Syrian security branches and most notorious» Syria did not respond to these
reports, nor Announce the names of the dead so far.
According to Italian news agency, Brigadier Abbas is the one who had been
investigated in the case of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime
Minister Rafik al-Hariri, son died in the process as well"]

===============
'Syria restarted its nuclear program'
JPost.com Staff , THE JERUSALEM POST Oct. 2, 2008
www.jpost.com
/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017434086&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
One year after Israel allegedly bombed a partially constructed nuclear
reactor deep in the heart of Syria, the nuclear aspirations of Syrian
President Bashar Assad have not subsided, with the country redoubling its
efforts to develop a nuclear program, Asharq Alawsat reported on Thursday.

According to the report, Israeli military sources told the London-based
paper that following the reported airstrike against the nuclear reactor at
Al-Kibar on September 6, Syria changed course and began a nuclear program
based on the Iranian model of simultaneously building multiple facilities in
various sites throughout the country.

The Jerusalem Post could not confirm the report.

The newspaper quoted the sources as saying that like the bombed nuclear
reactor, the newest facilities were being built with the backing of North
Korea. Furthermore, last month, a group of Iranian experts arrived in Syria
and also joined the project, the sources told the paper.

The sources emphasized that Israel would not sit idly by and allow such
activity to proceed unhindered, adding that in the past year, three separate
events have proved that a "nuclear armed Syria is a red line which can't be
crossed." The three events, the Israeli sources said, were the reported
destruction of the first nuclear reactor, the assassination of top Syrian
adviser Brig.-Gen. Muhammad Suleiman in early August and the car bomb
explosion in Damascus last weekend which killed 17 people.

According to the report, the sources claimed that Suleiman's death and the
car bombing were directly connected to the nuclear issue. The Syrian
adviser, they said, was responsible for the nuclear project in the country,
and among the fatalities in car bomb was another high-ranking Syrian
official involved in the nuclear program.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 02:47 PM | Permalink