Category Archives: Top 10 News Stories

04/28/12

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* US deploys F-22s to base near Iran The U.S. military has deployed several F-22s, the nation’s most advanced fighter jets, to an allied base less than 200 miles from Iran.

* Muslims revive old pilgrimage route via Jerusalem After decades of shying away from an ancient pilgrimage route, Muslims are visiting Jerusalem to pray at Islam’s third-holiest site, the revered Al-Aqsa mosque.

* Syria rebels ‘launch sea raid’ as Lebanon seizes weapons Syrian rebel gunmen in inflatable dinghies have attacked a military unit on the Mediterranean coast, with deaths on both sides.

* Iraq leaders call for solution to political crisis Leaders from nearly all of Iraq’s top political blocs called Saturday for a solution to a crisis pitting the Shiite-led government against Sunnis and Kurds.

* Iranian nukes a key issue among young Americans, poll finds Harvard published a survey this week that shows broad support for stopping Iran from acquiring the bomb.

* Islamic Jihad: Abduct more Israelis Islamic leaders in the Gaza Strip called on Friday to kidnap Israelis and use them as bargaining chips.

* Veteran peacekeeper takes helm of UN Syria mission A veteran Norwegian peacekeeper was heading to Damascus on Saturday to take charge of a UN mission overseeing a troubled truce.

* Libya ‘must clarify’ status of Kadhafi-era supporters Libya must clarify the rules under which it disqualifies from public office individuals who stood by the regime of former leader Moamer Kadhafi.

* In Egypt president race, Muslim clerics seek voice Egypt’s presidential contenders have been going through a new campaign rite of passage.

* Ministers ponder creation of EU super-president Ideas kicking around in a reflection group of select EU foreign ministers include merging the roles of the EU Council and European Commission presidents.

04/27/12

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* Syrian women risk lives to smuggle aid to dissidents When the aspirin and alcohol swabs fell from under her clothes at a Syrian army checkpoint, Rania stood petrified, looking first down at her fallen contraband and then up at the soldier who stared straight back at her.

* Sadr ‘against’ fall of current Iraqi government Powerful Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr opposes toppling the Iraqi government.

* Israel is backing Assad, claims Syrian Muslim Brotherhood official in scathing interview Breaking his movement’s policy against speaking to representatives of the Israeli media, a senior member of Syria’s Muslim Brotherhood, exiled for 30 years, met this week with The Times of Israel.

* EU police warn of new-model jihad threat The EU’s joint police body, Europol has noted there were no successful Islamist attacks in Europe last year, while warning about future Toulouse-type ‘lone wolves.’

* Gazan leaders call for abduction of Israelis Islamic leaders in the Gaza Strip called on Friday for militants to kidnap Israelis and use them as bargaining chips to secure the freedom of thousands of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

* German Jews Welcome Publication of ‘Mein Kampf’ The German Jewish community welcomed Bavaria’s decision to republish an annotated version of Adolph Hitler’s “Main Kampf” for the first time since World War II.

* Nakba march: We can free ourselves of brutal regime “The Jews’ independence day is our day of mourning,” thousands of Arab Israelis chanted Thursday during a march commemorating the “Nakba,” or the “catastrophe” of the establishment of the State of Israel.

* Saudi activists demand permission to visit Jerusalem A day after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas renewed his call on Arabs and Muslims to visit Jerusalem, a group of Saudi activists are demanding permission to do exactly that.

* Netanyahu Planning Election in the Coming Months Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has recently held discussions with the leaders of some of the factions of the coalition.

* Syria’s Grand Mufti Blames Arab Spring on West, Israel The Grand Mufti of Syria, Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, has described the battle that is currently taking place in Syria as a “battle against our roots”.

04/26/12

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* Israel marks 64th Independence Day Celebrations of 64 years of Israeli independence kicked off on Wednesday night with the lighting of beacons at the official ceremony at Mount Herzl national cemetery in Jerusalem.

* Independence Day celebrations brought to halt by rocket fire While Independence Day celebrations are continuing throughout the country, residents of Hof Ashkelon Regional Council once again found themselves running for shelter.

* Israel at 64: Population of 7,881,000 Israel’s population numbered 7,881,000 people on the eve of its 64th anniversary.

* Syria: Massive explosion in Hama ‘kills 70’ They said several houses in the Masha at-Tayyar district in southern Hama were destroyed by a big explosion.

* Abbas: Arab visits to al-Aksa mosque not forbidden High-level Arab visits to Jerusalem to pray privately at the third holiest site in Islam should not be seen as acceptance of Israel control over the eastern half of the city, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said.

* New IDF Rifle has Double Barrel A new Israeli assault rifle features a twin barrel – the first such gun to be made in Israel, writes Israel Defense.

* Palestinian UN observer calls for Security Council action against Israel over outposts Riyad Mansour labels legalization of three West Bank sites ‘glaring proof’ of Israeli expansionist aims.

* Photos from IAF Flyby The IAF released a short clip Thursday with a pilot’s-eye view of the President’s Residence from the Independence Day flyby.

* Missions around the world celebrate Israel’s independence Israeli missions around the world found creative ways to celebrate Israel’s 64th Independence Day.

* Gantz says ‘other forces’ could strike Iran IDF chief Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz hinted on Thursday that other countries could also strike Iran’s nuclear sites.

04/25/12

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* Israel kicks of 64th Independence Day celebrations An annual torch-lighting ceremony was being held at Israel’s capital on Wednesday, marking the end of Remembrance Day.

* Gantz: We won’t agree to be under constant threat The State of Israel will not agree to live under constant threats like those emerging from the ongoing upheaval in the Middle East.

* Israelis observe Remembrance Day Israelis paid tribute to fallen soldiers and terror victims during Remembrance Day ceremonies in Jerusalem.

* Syria crisis: France raises use of force France says the Security Council should consider the use of force in Syria if a UN-backed peace plan fails to stop violence in the country.

* EU slams Israeli legalization of 3 outposts The European Union on Wednesday stated that it is “extremely concerned” about a government panel’s Monday decision to recognize three West Bank outposts as legal settlements.

* Hitler’s ‘Mein Kampf’ may return to Bavarian schools The German state of Bavaria is considering publishing a book with excerpts from Hitler’s Mein Kampf for use in schools after its legal power to ban the book expires in 2016.

* ‘Best Buy’: Electronics and Hamas On April 19, Marc J. Fink at Islamist Watch broke the story that the retail electronics superstore Best Buy was a “Platinum Sponsor” for a fundraising banquet for the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

* Iran Hopes New Talks Will Mark ‘End of Nuclear Issue’ Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi expressed hope on Tuesday that Tehran’s next round of talks with the six powers will mark “the beginning of the end of the nuclear issue.”

* Van Rompuy: ‘Winds of populism’ threaten free movement EU Council chief Herman Van Rompuy has spoken out against the “winds of populism” threatening freedom of movement in the Union.

* US and Philippines stage South China Sea military drill Annual joint military exercises involving thousands of US and Philippine troops are taking place in the South China Sea.

04/24/12

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* Memorial Day: Israel Prepares to Remember As Israel prepares to begin its Yom Hazikaron [Memorial Day] observance on Tuesday evening many bereaved families are reminded their lives contain a vacuum.

* Netanyahu: Our Comfort – the Building of Zion Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu quoted a passage from the Prophet Isaiah – “be comforted, be comforted, my people” (Isaiah 40:1)” in a message for Remembrance Day for the IDF’s Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror.

* Hitler? There’s an App for That! Tablet Magazine’s Lea Zeltserman examines the fine line between propaganda and history as it relates to the dissemination of knowledge through technology and “the smartphone world.”

* ‘Reclaiming Land of Israel Continues on Yom HaAtzmaut’ The struggle for reclaiming all of the Land of Israel continues even on “Independence Day,” Yom HaAtzmaut, say Women in Green.

* Supreme Court Rejects Mughrabi Bridge Petition Supreme Court justices Eliakim Rubinstein, Uzi Fogelman and Tzvi Zylbertal on Tuesday rejected the appeal from “The Temple Mount Faithful” calling for the reconstruction of the Mughrabi Bridge.

* At Tehran University Occupy Wall Street Conference, U.S. Professors, Activists Speak Out Against U.S. U.S. academics participated in an Occupy Wall Street (OWS) conference held this month at Tehran University.

* South Sudan’s Salva Kiir says Sudan has declared war South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir says Sudan has “declared war” on his country, following weeks of fighting along their common border.

* Exclusive: North Korea’s nuclear test ready “soon” North Korea has almost completed preparations for a third nuclear test.

* Is there a drone in your neighborhood? Rise of spy planes exposed after FAA is forced to reveal 63 launch sites across U.S. There are at least 63 active drone sites around the U.S, federal authorities have been forced to reveal following a landmark Freedom of Information lawsuit.

* Arabs in Hebrew U in Pro-Terror Event on Memorial Day The Arab student cells on the Mount Scopus campus of Hebrew University are holding a gathering in support for terrorist administrative prisoners.

04/23/12

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* Israel’s ‘right’ to hit Iran goes viral YouTube clips, viewed by over 2 million people, compare Iranian threat to the Holocaust

* Syrian security forces ‘shell city of Hama’ Shells fired by Syrian security forces have killed at least 20 people in the central city of Hama, activists say.

* Lieberman Warns Netanyahu Egypt More Dangerous than Iran Foreign Minister Lieberman has warned Prime Minister Netanyahu that Egypt presents more of a security danger than Iran.

* Egypt’s military leader responds to Lieberman with threat of violence Cairo seeks clarification after foreign minister reportedly branded Egypt more dangerous than Iran

* Army chief: IDF prepared for Iran strike IDF ready to attack Tehran’s nuclear facilities if needed, Chief of Staff Benny Gantz says; military constantly engaged in covert, high-risk operations beyond Israel’s borders, he says

* Iran: We reverse-engineered downed U.S. drone, making copy Comment by chief of the Revolutionary Guards’ aerospace division comes after Iran official claims Tehran received requests from Russia, China for info on the RQ-170 Sentinel.

* North Korea vows ‘unprecedented’ action against South North Korea has warned of “unprecedented” action against South Korea’s ruling establishment, amid tough rhetoric between the two sides.

* Pentagon releases results of 13,000-mph test flight over Pacific The results are in from last summer’s attempt to test new technology that would provide the Pentagon with a lightning-fast vehicle, capable of delivering a military strike anywhere in the world in less than an hour.

* Sudan Muslims Torch Catholic Church in Khartoum Sudanese Muslims torched a Catholic church in Khartoum, part of clashes between Sudan and South Sudan over control of an oil town.

* Turkey says Israel not welcome at NATO summit Turkish official says Ankara still seeking an official apology and compensation for the victims of the ‘Mavi Marmara’ raid.

04/21/12

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* UN team visits Syria’s battered Baba Amr UN monitors visited the restive province of Homs on Saturday ahead of an expected Security Council vote.

* Egypt grand mufti: Muslims must protect J’lem The Egyptian grand mufti – who has come under heat in Egypt for a visit to Jerusalem – defended his pilgrimage in front of an Islamic council in Cairo.

* Ministers ponder creation of EU super-president Ideas kicking around in a reflection group of select EU foreign ministers include merging the roles of the EU Council and European Commission presidents.

* Hamas Won’t Honor Peace Accords With Israel A senior Hamas leader on Thursday said that if the terror group came to power in a future ‘Palestinian state,’ it would not abide by any previous peace agreements with Israel.

* China says India is a ‘partner, not rival’ after missile launch China downplayed India’s successful missile launch this week, saying that the two sides are not rivals but cooperating partners.

* A Quixotic Quest to Mine Asteroids A new company backed by two Google Inc. GOOG -0.54% billionaires, film director James Cameron and other space exploration proponents is aiming high in the hunt for natural resources.

* Israelis advised to leave Sinai amid terror threat The National Security Council’s counterterrorism bureau issued a travel advisory on Saturday.

* Tens of thousands in Egypt demand military rulers retreat from power Tens of thousands of Egyptians demanded on Friday that their military rulers stick to a pledge to hand over power by mid-year.

* Iran seeks support to censor Internet, disconnect from global network Iran’s Information Ministry has recently released a “Request for Information”, geared at fetching outside aid for the creation of a more regulated and restricted web.

* In a bronze inscription, a remnant of Roman might We do not know the name of the Roman war veteran who owned this bronze certificate, which marked his discharge from active service 1,922 years ago.

04/20/12

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* Ministers ponder creation of EU super-president Ideas kicking around in a reflection group of select EU foreign ministers include merging the roles of the EU Council and European Commission presidents.

* Barak Doesn’t ‘Buy’ Khamenei’s Anti-Nuke Fatwa Defense Minister Ehud Barak – in Washington to meet with American officials ahead of the next round of nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 – said Iranian supreme leader Ayatolla Ali Khamenei could not be trusted to halt Tehran’s controversial nuclear program.

* Iraq’s second Gulf oil terminal comes online Iraq’s second of five floating Gulf oil terminals came online on Friday.

* Tens of thousands protest military’s rule in Egypt’s Tahrir Square The protests were aimed at stepping up pressure on the generals to hand over power to civilians.

* Egypt grand mufti: Muslims must protect J’lem The Egyptian grand mufti – who has come under heat in Egypt for a visit to Jerusalem – defended his pilgrimage in front of an Islamic council in Cairo.

* Security and Defense: Meet the ‘Cyber Defenders’ August 2013. IDF tanks and armored personnel carriers are taking up positions throughout southern Lebanon following a series of Scud missile attacks on Tel Aviv.

* South Sudan ‘to withdraw troops’ from Heglig oil field South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has ordered the withdrawal of his troops from the Heglig oil field across the border in Sudan.

* ‘Fed up’ French Muslims mobilize to unseat Sarkozy France’s Muslim community is mobilizing voters to reject President Nicolas Sarkozy in Sunday’s election.

* ‘PA Terrorists Continue Nazis’ Work’ “There is no difference between the Nazis and those who stabbed and try to kill a Jew tonight near the Tomb of Simon the Righteous.”

* Brussels to breathe sigh of relief after French vote The first round of France’s presidential elections on Sunday (22 April) will bring Brussels a step closer to resumption of normal business.

04/19/12

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* Knesset marks Holocaust: Every man has a name Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres, Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, ministers, MKs and other government officials read names of those who perished in the Holocaust during the Knesset’s memorial ceremony on Thursday.

* NATO Renews Commitment to Afghanistan At a meeting in Brussels Thursday, the foreign ministers from the NATO-led coalition in Afghanistan renewed their commitments to continue supporting the country’s government.

* Iraq attacks kill at least 38 A wave of apparently coordinated bombing and shooting attacks in seven different provinces across Iraq killed at least 38 people.

* Merkel ally: Islam does not belong in Germany A leading conservative politician said on Thursday that Islam did not belong in Germany.

* Grand Mufti’s Al-Aksa Visit Raises Islamist Ire Al-Azhar students and political activists in Egypt are calling for a protest Friday.

* Israel stands in silence to remember the six million Siren is sounded throughout the country on Holocaust Remembrance Day.

* UN’s Ban says situation in Syria is ‘highly precarious’ The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said the situation in Syria remains “highly precarious”.

* Thousands attend March of the Living in Auschwitz to honor Holocaust victims Thousands of youth from Israel, the United States and other countries marched Thursday between Auschwitz and Birkenau.

* IMF: eurozone at centre of coming storm International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde on Thursday (19 April) warned of “dark clouds” hanging over the global recovery.

* How austerity measures may kill states – and the EU “Discipline must be accompanied by convergence and responsibility must be matched by solidarity”, European Commission President Barroso said.

04/18/12

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* Netanyahu at Holocaust Remembrance Day: Jewish people still face existential threat Holocaust Remembrance Day began Wednesday night at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem.

* Anti-Semitic Incitement and Harassment Up in 2011 The Kantor Center’s Program for Study of Anti-Semitism and Racism at Tel Aviv University released their 2011 Anti-Semitism Report on Wednesday.

* Bashir threatens to oust South Sudan government Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir threatened Wednesday to overthrow South Sudan’s “insect” government.

* No fans of Assad, Syria’s Kurds distrust uprising Syria’s Kurds, who have long complained of discrimination under President Bashar Assad, would seem a natural fit to join the revolt against his rule.

* Jordan’s king moves toward banning Muslim Brotherhood King Abdullah is moving to thwart a similar process in Jordan.

* ‘Netanyahu among world’s most influential people’ Time Magazine named Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to its list of the 100 most influential people in the world for the second year in a row.

* Settlers, Palestinians clash in Hebron Palestinians threw stones at two Israeli teenage girls who were walking towards Givat Ha’avot neighborhood in the West Bank city of Hebron.

* Egypt’s grand mufti visits Al-Aqsa mosque Egypt’s Grand Mufti, the country’s top Islamic cleric, paid a rare visit to Jerusalem Wednesday.

* European Jewish group warns of attacks on Jews if Israel hits Iran he head of a major European Jewish group warned Wednesday of a “dramatic increase” in anti-Semitic violence across the continent.

* Saudi Arabia Bars ‘Gays and Tom-Boys’ from Government Schools Saudi Arabia has decided to bar “gays and tom-boys” from government schools and universities.