09/18/12

* Iran Tensions Loom Over Israelis on Jewish New Year Jews around the world are observing Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. In Israel, the mood is sober.

* Gulf states see Obama’s hand in rise of Muslim Brotherhood Gulf Arab states have detected a U.S. role in the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in the region.

* Al-Qaeda urges Muslims to purge their countries of Americans as revenge for anti-Islam film Al-Qaida’s branch in North Africa on Tuesday called for attacks on U.S. diplomats.

* Nasrallah: We’ll sacrifice our blood for Mohammed Hezbollah’s leader left his bunker and made a rare public appearance at a rally in Beirut denouncing an anti-Islam film.

* Indyk: Without an agreement, Iran war in 2013 likely Without a negotiated solution over the Iranian nuclear program, 2013 will likely see a military confrontation with Iran.

* EU’s Catherine Ashton to meet Iran nuclear negotiator EU foreign affairs representative Catherine Ashton is to hold talks with Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili.

* Chinese General: Prepare for Combat China’s most powerful military leader, in an unusual public statement, last week ordered military forces to prepare for combat.

* Obama’s Security Breach In Libya Is Ignored By American Media Throngs of foreign press and few American outlets tell the real story involved with the White House’s role in the incidents that we now know could have been prevented.

* Iran deploys submarine in Gulf as Western nations hold large naval exercise nearby Tehran has deployed one of its Russian-made submarines in the Persian Gulf.

* Ministers call for stronger EU foreign policy chief A brainstorming group of 11 EU foreign ministers has called for a more powerful EU foreign policy chief and less power in general for EU countries.

09/17/12

Anti-Islam film: Thousands protest around Muslim world Fresh protests are taking place around the Muslim world over an amateur anti-Islam video produced in the US.

Days of Awe Begin Sunday Evening with the New Year Holiday “Repentance, prayer and charity will avert evil decrees” and bring each of us closer to what G-d intended for man to be. Shana Tova to all.

Armada of international naval power massing in the Gulf as Israel prepares an Iran strike An armada of US and British naval power is massing in the Persian Gulf in the belief that Israel is considering a pre-emptive strike against Iran’s suspected nuclear weapons programme.

Israeli Foreign Ministry: U.S. ignored Arab radicalization Foreign Ministry official on signs of ‘radicalization’ in Arab world: “We knew what was happening, but the Americans preferred to find excuses.”

No demonstration before attack on US Consulate, source says An intelligence source on the ground in Libya told Fox News that there was no demonstration outside the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi prior to last week’s attack — challenging the Obama administration’s claims that the assault grew out of a “spontaneous” protest against an anti-Islam film.

Making the shofar: a family tradition The BarSheshet and Ribak families of shofar producers quickly went from competitors to partners.

Rosh Hashana, the sweet way Peach glaze on chicken, prunes and carrot tzimmes make for delectable dishes.

Istanbul Aims to Outshine Dubai With $2.6 Billion Bank Center It’s now little more than a dusty patch of land in the modern suburb of Atasehir on the Asian side of Istanbul.

Egypt’s Islamic TV talks with iron Salafist A Muslim cleric hosting an Egyptian television show recently outlined his version of Islamic instructions for wife-beating.

Iran: Saboteurs cut power lines to nuclear bunker Explosives used to cut power to Fordow plant last month, Iranian nuke chief claims; says “terrorists” have infiltrated IAEA.

09/15/12

* Al Qaeda in Yemen urges Muslims to kill U.S. diplomats over film The Yemen-based branch of al Qaeda urged Muslims to step up protests and kill more U.S. diplomats in Muslim countries.

* US scrambles to rush spies, drones to Libya The U.S. is sending more spies, Marines and drones to Libya.

* The Video Didn’t Do It It was bad enough, two years ago, that Defense Secretary Robert Gates called fringe Florida pastor Terry Jones to ask him not to burn copies of the Koran.

* State Department sets up 24-hour monitoring team for embassy crisis The State Department has gone into full-blown crisis mode.

* Al-Qaeda claims responsibility for killing US ambassador in attack on US consulate in Libya Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility on Saturday for Tuesday’s attack on the US consulate in Benghazi.

* Pope says religious freedom is ‘fundamental’ for Mideast stability Pope Benedict XVI appealed Saturday for religious freedom in the Middle East.

* Muslim worshippers clash with police in East Jerusalem Hundreds of Muslim worshippers clashed with police after Friday prayers in East Jerusalem.

* Israel’s window for action against Iran ‘is getting much smaller,’ says Ambassador Oren It’s not easy being an ambassador in a high-profile posting when your home country and your host country are in the midst of a very public row over an acutely sensitive issue.

* Egypt’s Christians anxious, anticipate strife Christians gathered Friday in front of a Cairo cathedral holding signs denouncing a film that mocked the Prophet Muhammad.

* Panetta: ‘Little red lines’ on Iran a political ploy Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is attempting to pin US President Barack Obama into a corner.

09/14/12

* Libya attack may have been planned, sources say Armed men at the US Consulate in Benghazi killed US Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens and three embassy staff late Tuesday following a protest by people upset over an American-made film that bashes the prophet Muhammad.

* Five dead as anti-Islam film protests widen In Tunisia, three people were killed after crowds breached the US embassy compound in the capital Tunis.

* Revealed: inside story of US envoy’s assassination The killings of the US ambassador to Libya and three of his staff were likely to have been the result of a serious and continuing security breach.

* Bomb threats evacuate Texas, N. Dakota campuses Thousands of people streamed off university campuses in Texas and North Dakota on Friday after phoned-in bomb threats.

* Hezbollah will ‘easily’ defend Iran against Israel An aide to Iran’s supreme leader said Israel’s military threats had “put Israeli citizens one step away from the cemetery”.

* ‘Obama’s Middle East Policy Is in Ruins’ After days of protests over an anti-Islam film, American diplomatic missions in the Middle East and North Africa were braced for further violence after Friday prayers.

* Soldiers Equipped with Apples, Honey for New Year The IDF prepares for the new year with 2.4 metric tons of honey and 30 tons of apples.

* Egypt’s Islamo-diplomacy comes to EU capital Egyptian leader Mohamed Morsi invoked the Koran while promising to protect visitors to Egypt after the killing of US officials in Libya.

* War game simulates response to Eilat rocket attack In a “war game simulation” held at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya on Thursday, players representing Israel’s security cabinet decided to respond swiftly to an attack from Sinai.

* Lebanon Christians feel besieged ahead of Pope visit In 1510, Pope Leo X thanked Divine Providence for having preserved the Maronite Christians through the hardest of times.

09/13/12

* Israeli Arab Official Warns Of ‘Armageddon’ Over Anti-Islam Film Israeli Arabs protest outside the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv Thursday following the attacks on U.S. compounds in Libya, Egypt and Yemen.

* Anti-Islam film protests spread across Middle East Protests against an anti-Islam film made in the US are spreading across the Middle East and North Africa.

* Iraqi militia threatens U.S. interests over film An Iraqi militia that carried out some of the most prominent attacks on foreigners during the Iraq war on Thursday threatened U.S. interests in the country over a film that has triggered protests in Libya, Egypt and Yemen.

* Israel hints it will keep pressing US on Iran Israel’s leader suggested in an interview Thursday that he’ll keep publicly pressing the United States to get tougher on Iran.

* After attack, Obama says Egypt neither friend nor foe The United States does not consider Egypt’s Islamist-led government an ally or an enemy.

* Film at heart of Libya attack may be fake Details casting doubt on the authenticity of the controversial film Innocence of Muslims, which sparked protests in Cairo and spurred the Libya attack that killed US Ambassador Christopher Stevens, mounted on Wednesday.

* Barroso envisages ‘federation of nation states’ European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso used his third annual state of the union speech on Wednesday (12 September) to call for a “federation of nation states.”

* New monkey species identified in Democratic Republic of Congo A new species of monkey has been identified in Africa, only the second time such a discovery has been made on the continent in 28 years.

* Does the West Nile outbreak signal an epidemic of viral epidemics? Yes and no. We are swimming in a sea of viruses. A hundred times smaller than bacteria.

* US says Iran ‘demolishing’ facility at Parchin site A US envoy accused Iran on Thursday of “systematically demolishing” a facility at the Parchin military site.

09/12/12

* US ambassador to Libya killed in Benghazi attack Gunmen attacked and set fire to the U.S. consulate in the eastern city of Benghazi.

* Are W. Bank riots the start of ‘Palestinian Spring’? Thousands of young Palestinians out on the streets – chanting slogans, throwing rocks, burning tires.

* The Cairo-Tehran Express U.S. intelligence agencies recently monitored a secret meeting between Egypt’s intelligence chief and a senior Iranian spy.

* PM to continue pressing for red lines on Iran Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will continue to push the world to set benchmarks for the Islamic Republic.

* Libyan Guards Led Mob to Stevens Reports and pictures from Benghazi indicate that Libyan security men may have been complicit in the murder of U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens.

* Population nears 8 million ahead of Rosh Hashana Israel’s population approached the eight million mark nearing Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year.

* Russia, China join West in Iran rebuke at IAEA meet Russia and China backed four Western powers on Wednesday to step up diplomatic pressure on Iran.

* Israeli Filmmaker in Hiding After Film Sparks Deadly Protests An Israeli-American filmmaker went into hiding Tuesday after his movie.

* Sighs of relief as German court approves bailout fund Markets and EU politicians breathed sighs of relief as Germany’s top court rejected challenges brought against the eurozone’s upcoming bailout fund.

* Gulf states anticipate record oil revenues for 2012 Gulf Arab states are preparing for a record year in oil revenues.

09/11/12

* US ambassador to Libya killed in Benghazi attack Gunmen attacked and set fire to the U.S. consulate in the eastern city of Benghazi.

* 9/11 attacks: Obama marks 11th anniversary President Barack Obama has marked the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, saying the US emerged “even stronger” from that day’s death and horror.

* Report of New Iranian Nuclear Work Backs Up Israel’s Claims An Associated Press report that new intelligence reveals Iran is moving closer to nuclear capability strengthens Israel’s position and could not come at a worse time for United States President Barack Obama.

* Dichter Warns Against Muslim Brotherhood Takeover Home Front Defense Minister Avi Dichter warned on Monday against a Muslim Brotherhood takeover of Arab countries in the Middle East.

* Murdoch: King David Was Right, Jerusalem is the Capital Media mogul and investor Rudolph Murdoch, who is not Jewish, told an “Innovate, Invest Israel” conference in New York City, “What was right for King David is right for me. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.”

* Intelligence Warns of Attacks Against Israeli and US Embassies The Egyptian General Intelligence Service warned that a radical jihadi group is planning to launch terrorist attacks against the US and Israeli embassies in Cairo.

* 9/11 ‘Miracle Survivor’ Reveals His 22-Story Fall Pasquale Buzzelli was silent for 11 years and now reveals how he fell 22 floors after the 9/11 attack on New York City’s World Trade Center’s Twin Towers – and survived.

* Israeli Jewish Population Set to Pass 6 Million The Jewish population in Israel numbers about 5,978,600 – just 21,400 short of the symbolic six million mark, which it is expected to pass by the end of 2012.

* The euro crisis should not stop enlargement Wrecked by the euro crisis and a loss of the confidence that helped it expand to the current 27 members, the European Union might be expected to shrink rather than grow in the coming few years.

* Israeli leader ratchets up feud with US over Iran Israel’s prime minister, ratcheting up a public feud with the U.S. over Iran, made it clear Tuesday that he was dissatisfied with Washington’s refusal to spell out what would provoke a U.S.-led military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities.

* Intelligence Committee chairman: Israel doesn’t believe Obama and ‘neither do the Iranians’ A senior member of Congress says Israel has lost patience with the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama.

09/10/12

‘Hezbollah aiming 60-70 thousand rockets at Israel’ Amos Gilad says next war will be against the home front; Meridor: Arabs questioning congruence between Western, Islamic values.

Abbas: We Won’t Accept Israeli Presence in Jordan Valley PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas reiterates his determination to turn to the UN, says ‘Palestinians’ will never give up their rights.

WTC memorial magnificent, but at a steep price With its huge reflecting pools, ringed by waterfalls and skyscrapers, and a cavernous underground museum still under construction, the National Sept. 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center is an awesome spectacle that moved and inspired some 4.5 million visitors in its first year.

Israeli EMP Attack Could Throw Iran ‘Back to Stone Age’ Israel might attack Iran by using electromagnetic pulses (EMP) which could send the Islamic Republic ‘back to the Stone Age.’

PM: Terrorists will pay a price for rocket fire PM vows retribution against Gaza terrorists during meeting with German FM following night of rocket attacks on South.

Global Jewish population grows by 88,000 over past year One of 514 people on Earth is Jewish; at 0.65%, population growth rate is well below world average.

Syria transferred chemical weapons to port city last month, raising alarm bells, report says Russian and US warnings came after news that embattled regime had moved weapons.

1,000 years of rivalry ~ and a little bit of harmony ~ at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher One chilly November morning in 1847, Catholic clergy entered Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity to pray. As was their custom, they continued into the grotto that had once held a stable. Imagine their dismay when they discovered that the silver star on the floor, which marked the spot of Jesus’ birth, had disappeared.

Homeland Security Alerts: ‘Zombies Are Coming!’ Homeland Security has warned that ‘zombies are coming’ and has urged citizens to prepare for apocalyptic disasters.

Expose on How Israel Knew It had to Bomb Syria Reactor The Israeli bombing of a Syrian nuclear strike began with intelligence gathered six months earlier in a daring raid on Austrian home.

09/08/12

* Chemical threat is back. Hizballah, Israel close to clash The first US-Turkish backed steps for creating safe havens in Syria and possible strategic bombardment of the Syrian army have brought the Middle East close to two dangerous junctures.

* Israelis optimistic despite Iran threat, IDI finds srael Democracy Institute: 85% of Jews say Israel can defend itself militarily, 22% believe peace deal will be signed soon.

* Abbas to submit UN bid on September 27 Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday announced his intention to request an upgrade for the PA’s United Nations status on September 27th.

* Former commandos dominate Israeli politics When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had to fill a sensitive Cabinet post recently, he turned to an old army buddy from his days in an elite commando unit.

* Iran says it may retaliate for Canada ties downgrade Iran accused Canada on Saturday of “hostile behavior” under Israeli and British influence after Ottawa cut diplomatic relations, and it raised the prospect of swift retaliation.

* Saudis fear terror will target royal family The memories of terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia between 2003 and 2006 have hardly faded and already the kingdom is preparing itself for the threat of a new round of violence.

* Egypt, Israel coordinating on Sinai security sweep Egypt and Israel are coordinating on Cairo’s biggest security sweep in decades against militants in Sinai.

* Behind the Lines: Military councils in Syria Syrian rebels in the embattled city of Homs this week announced the formation of a joint revolutionary military council in the city.

* Vatican official says Israel fostering intolerance of Christianity Police inaction and an educational culture that encourages Jewish children to treat Christians with “contempt” has made life increasingly “intolerable” for many.

* UK, France and Germany call for tighter Iran sanctions Germany Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Iran had showed no “constructive will” in talks and that urgent action was needed.

09/07/12

* Barak: Israel may reoccupy parts of Gaza Strip Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that Israel may reoccupy parts of the Gaza strip in the future.

* Chief of Staff: War will Knock Lebanon Back by Decades IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz voiced hope in an interview published Thursday that Iranian leaders will decide to scrap their nuclear arms program of their own accord.

* Canada closes Iran embassy, set to oust diplomats Canada has closed its embassy in Iran and will expel all remaining Iranian diplomats in Canada within five days.

* US Claims Iran Resupplying Syria With Arms Using Iraqi Airspace Retiring Senator Joe Lieberman, together with Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain, are touring the Middle East.

* Israeli leader urges EU to blacklist Hezbollah Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told Italy’s foreign minister the EU should designate Hezbollah as a terrorist entity.

* Under protection, Europe’s Jewish gems try to shine Under the gaze of a dozen police officers, a single file of Belgians forms outside the Great Synagogue of Europe.

* Language of reconciliation In the 20 months since Egyptians took to Cairo streets to sweep away the old corrupt regime, and with it the guardians of the Camp David peace treaty, pro-Israel sentiment has been hard to come by in Egypt.

* Lebanese Christian Leader to Ask Pope to Recognize ‘Palestine’ The Melkite Greek Catholic Church leader will ask the pope to recognize the Palestinian state when he arrives next week for his first visit to Lebanon.

* ‘Next 50 Days Most Fateful Since Yom Kippur War’ – Hanegbi “We now stand, in my opinion, before the 50 most fateful days in Israel’s history, since perhaps the Yom Kippur War”.

* Russia looks east in push to catch up with rampant China Jealousy is a very Russian trait, and the green eyes of Russia are fixed firmly on the runaway economic success of its neighbour, China.