Category Archives: Top 10 News Stories

10/16/11

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* Thousands Answer “Amen” at the Priestly Blessing in Jerusalem Arutz Sheva brings you video and photos of the annual priestly blessing at the Western Wall.

* Israelis, Palestinians ready for historic prisoner swap Israel is preparing to release 477 Palestinian security prisoners in order to secure the freedom of captive soldier Gilad Shalit following a landmark deal with Hamas.

* Libya oil fields face guerrilla war threat Pro-Gaddafi fighters may resort to hit-and-run guerilla attacks against Libyan politicians, foreign workers and oil installations in the remote southwestern Fezzan district if they are driven from their last bastions.

* UN chief Ban sends Iran plot case to Security Council Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon passes correspondence from US, Iran and Saudi Arabia to Security Council, declines to comment on sanctions.

* Kenya sends troops into Somalia to hit al-Shabab Kenya’s foreign minister has told the BBC his country has sent troops into neighbouring Somalia to target the Islamist militant group al-Shabab.

* Rabbi: Next Time, Just Shoot to Kill Terrorists should be given the death penalty, whether formally or quietly, says former chief IDF rabbi.

* Arab League to Debate Suspending Syria Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies want Syria suspended from the Arab League as unrest in the country spirals towards civil war.

* Tensions Flare as G.I.’s Take Fire Out of Pakistan American and Afghan soldiers near the border with Pakistan have faced a sharply increased volume of rocket fire from Pakistani territory.

* EU treaty change needed to impose decisions on states The outgoing head of the European Central Bank (ECB) has called for a change to the European Union treaty to allow for the outside imposition of economic policy on a member state.

* At Turkish resort, Arabs fill Israeli rooms While upheavals in the Middle East have increased Turkey’s popularity as a holiday destination for Arabs, Israeli tourists have vanished.

10/15/11

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* Haniyeh: ‘Today we’re freeing prisoners, tomorrow Al-Aksa’ Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, praising the prisoner exchange deal struck with Israel last week, said that “today we are freeing the prisoners and tomorrow, Al-Aksa.”

* ‘Occupy’ protests at financial crisis go worldwide Protests at financial mismanagement and government cutbacks have been held in cities around the world.

* Egypt’s Military Expands Power, Raising Alarms Egypt’s military rulers are moving to assert and extend their own power.

* U.S. Sending More Contractors to Secure Libya’s Weapons Stockpile The State Department is sending dozens of American contractors to Libya to help that country’s fledgling efforts to track down and destroy heat-seeking antiaircraft missiles.

* Iranian assassins tied to notorious Quds force US Federal authorities accuse Manssor Arbabsiar and Gholam Shakuri, who officials describe as a “case officer” for the Quds Force, with plotting to assassinate the Saudi ambassador.

* Hamas planning huge Gaza celebrations for prisoners Hamas is planning huge celebrations in the Gaza Strip to welcome Palestinian prisoners .

* EU summit ‘will be decisive’ on eurozone crisis A European Union summit later this month will agree “decisive” measures to tackle the eurozone debt crisis, the French finance minister has said.

* U.N. rights chief: Syria risks ‘full-blown civil war’ The United Nations’ top human-rights official assailed the Syrian government Friday for a campaign of “ruthless repression and killings”.

* Come Sukkot, many Israelis build a home away from home One evening last week, three kids from Mea She’arim wandered along a street that leads to the busiest ultra-Orthodox shopping district in Jerusalem.

* Next WEEK in the European Union EU leaders on Sunday (23 October) will at a summit in Brussels once again scramble for a solution to the eurozone crisis.

10/14/11

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* On Release List: Kidnappers, Killers of IDF Soldiers Hamas has published a partial list of terrorists who are expected to be released in exchange for kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.

* ‘Egypt intercepts Libyan surface-to-air missiles in Sinai’ Egypt security officers said they intercepted surface-to-air missiles smuggled from Libya through the Sinai peninsula.

* Saudi officials warned of Iran plot to attack Israel embassy in Argentina Saudi officials advised Argentina four months ago of an alleged Iran-backed plot to kill the Saudi ambassador to Washington.

* G20 finance ministers gather as time runs out Top of France’s agenda when it took the presidency of the G20 last November was the arcane subject, “reducing imbalances”.

* Syria uprising: UN says protest death toll hits 3,000 The United Nations says 3,000 people have been killed in Syria in the seven months of protests against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad.

* Come Sukkot, many Israelis build a home away from home One evening last week, three kids from Mea She’arim wandered along a street that leads to the busiest ultra-Orthodox shopping district in Jerusalem.

* Cost of ‘Arab Spring’ more than $55 billion The uprisings that swept the Middle East this year have cost the most affected countries more than $55 billion.

* Shalit Transferred to Egypt Egyptian daily Al-Masri Al-Youm reported late Wednesday that Hamas moved captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit into Egypt.

* ‘Hamas refuses to abandon policy of IDF kidnappings’ Hamas did not agree to an Israeli request to abandon a policy of future IDF kidnappings.

* Egypt: Planes patrol Sinai without Israel’s consent Egypt’s air force chief said on Thursday that Egyptian warplanes are patrolling Sinai without Israel’s consent.

10/13/11

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* Saudi Arabia weighs response to alleged Iran plot Saudi Arabia said on Thursday it was weighing its response to an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate its ambassador in Washington.

* Hezbollah praises prisoner deal as victory for ‘resistance’ Hezbollah on Wednesday said that the deal to release over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for the kidnapped solider Gilad Schalit was a victory for the resistance.

* Explaining the Iran-Saudi rivalry Yesterday afternoon, the U.S. government charged Mansoor Arbabsiar, a dual U.S. Iranian citizen, and Gholam Shakuri, an alleged member of the Iranian Quds Force (a division of the Revolutionary Guards), with conspiracy to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States.

* Smuggled Libyan weapons flood into Egypt Large caches of weapons from Libya are making their way across the Egyptian border.

* Nato success against Taliban in Afghanistan ‘may be exaggerated’ The success of one of Nato’s principal tactics against the Taliban targeted night raids aimed at killing or capturing leaders of the insurgency may have been exaggerated.

* Barroso outlines plan to resolve eurozone debt crisis The president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, has set out a plan designed to bring an end to the eurozone debt crisis.

* Iran: Wall Street protests to topple capitalism Iran’s top leader said Wednesday that the wave of protests spreading from New York’s Wall Street to other U.S. cities reflects a serious crisis that will ultimately topple capitalism in America.

* Saud to ink accord for dialogue center with Austria, Spain A tripartite accord between Saudi Arabia, Austria and Spain will be signed in Vienna on Thursday.

* EU struggling to fight cyber crime Faced with increasing cyber attacks, the EU is looking at a new law criminalising the use of ‘zombie’ computers and is setting up a ‘cybercrime’ centre and special teams of IT firefighters to prevent further attacks .

* U.S. Talks Tough to Iran, but Holds Off on Harsher Moves Despite issuing harsh calls for Tehran to be held to account, the Obama administration does not plan to shift its policy of pressure on the Iranian government.

10/12/11

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* US to pressure Iran over ‘plot to kill Saudi envoy’ The US secretary of state has called for a “very strong message” to be sent to Iran, after allegations of a plot to kill the Saudi ambassador to the US.

* Israel Prepares to Welcome Sukkot The week-long Jewish festival of Sukkot, commemorating G-d’s protection of the Jews during their 40-year sojourn prior to entering the Promised Land.

* Egypt’s army appeals for unity after Christian clash In the worst violence since Hosni Mubarak was ousted in February, armored vehicles sped into a crowd on Sunday.

* Gilad Shalit: Israel and Palestinians welcome deal Israelis and Palestinians have welcomed the announcement of a deal to free captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

* Hamas’s Mashaal: Prisoner deal is ‘historic victory’ Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal on Tuesday night called the deal to exchange Gilad Schalit for over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners a “great achievement.”

* Our World: The forgotten Christians of the East On Sunday night, Egyptian Copts staged what was supposed to be a peaceful vigil at Egypt’s state television headquarters in Cairo.

* This Week in History: Hebrew goes conversational On October 13, 1881, a short time before moving to Palestine, Eliezer Ben Yehuda held what is thought to be the first modern conversation in Hebrew.

* IDF Security for 50,000 Jews to Visit Hevron The IDF has deployed throughout the holy city of Hevron to protect nearly 50,000 Jews expected to visit during Sukkot and to keep life routine for Arabs.

* Tens of thousands rally in support of Assad in Syria capital Tens of thousands of Syrians demonstrated in central Damascus on Wednesday in show of support for President Bashar Assad.

* 25 killed in slew of attacks targeting Iraq police A slew of bombings targeted Iraqi police in Baghdad on Wednesday morning, including blasts by two suicide bombers.

10/11/11

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* Top Syria cleric threatens suicide attacks on US and EU Syria’s top Sunni Muslim cleric has warned Western countries against military intervention in Syria.

* Syria opposition gains regional backers International powers put more heat on Syria’s government Tuesday.

* Hello? Is anyone noticing that the world’s leaders are behaving irrationally? Could more conspiratorial environmentalistas’ interpretations of our times be correct?

* The Heinous Crime Against Egyptian Coptic Christians The Military Egyptian authorities with no mercy and in cold blood committed a heinous and barbaric massacre.

* PA Using US as Platform for Diplomatic War against Israel Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s upcoming speech to a top US-Arab group may be a move to use the United States as a stage against Israel.

* NATO Commander Says Resilience of Qaddafi Loyalists Is Surprising The commander of NATO’s air campaign in Libya has said that hundreds of organized fighters loyal to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi pose a “resilient and fierce” threat.

* Not a Single Christian Church Left in Afghanistan, Says State Department There is not a single, public Christian church left in Afghanistan, according to the U.S. State Department.

* Pakistani Taliban Considering Peace Talks Pakistan’s Taliban movement intimated Monday it would consider peace talks with the US-backed Islamabad government.

* How To Build an Airport Overnight? Ask the IDF A special IDF unit, complete with old-fashioned hoes and high-tech equipment, can build an improvised airfield overnight.

* What Putin wants from China Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin hailed “unprecedented levels of cooperation” with China.

10/10/11

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* EU summit on Arab Spring overshadowed by deadly Egypt violence European Union Foreign Ministers express concern over overnight clashes between Coptic Christian protesters and the army in Cairo, which left 24 dead.

* Egypt clashes: Copts mourn victims of Cairo unrest Thousands of Egyptian Coptic Christians have gathered for the funerals of protesters killed during clashes with security forces in Cairo on Sunday.

* “US is #1 Palestinian enemy as it backs Israeli oppression” Senior official Tawfik Tirawi says Fatah hasn’t abandoned armed struggle option against Israel; Erekat: PA not opposed to negotiations.

* Iran tells Turkey: Change tack or face trouble Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s military adviser attacks Erdogan’s behavior towards Syria, Iran as “in line with the goals of America.”

* Window for strike on Iran nuke facilities growing slimmer Israeli-American scholar on nuclear proliferation says that Iranian advances limiting Israeli ability to launch effective attack.

* Sectarian rifts erupt again in Saudi Arabia Shi’ite rioting sends warning that Riyadh’s financial largesse doesn’t address grievances.

* Analysis: Egypt’s floundering revolution The Muslim Brotherhood and the liberal Wafd party say they will boycott the November 28 election unless emergency laws are repealed.

* Syria threatens tough measures against any state that recognizes opposition council Syrian FM Walid Mualem says all opposition groups are invited to dialogue with Assad regime, discounting, however, outside recognition of opposition as illegitimate.

* PA Plan: Use UN to Cement Claims to Jewish Holy Sites The PA plans to use anticipated membership in UN committee to make claims on Jewish holy sites in Judea, Samaria.

* Islamist Winds in Egypt? No Jews Allowed at Holy Site Arab Winter: Egypt has completely barred Jews from visiting the tomb of Rabbi Abuhatzeira, grandfather of the “Baba Sali”.

10/08/11

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* An entire system of global trade is at risk Sir Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England, this week called the current financial crisis “the most serious… since the 1930s, if ever”.

* Gadhafi’s legacy in Africa: ‘Madman or god?’ Not too long ago, the African stage belonged to Moammar Gadhafi.

* Deadly gunfire at funeral of Syrian opposition leader Anti-government protests across Syria — one propelled by the funeral of an assassinated Kurdish opposition leader — turned deadly again Saturday as security forces cracked down.

* 10 Years Into Afghan War, a Thunderous Duel The sun had been up less than a half-hour on the 10th anniversary of the start of the American-led war in Afghanistan when the first rocket struck.

* Gantz: Israel must always be war-ready IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Benny Gantz was 14-years-old when the Yom Kippur War broke out.

* Yom Kippur: Israel Stops and Reflects The highest of the High Holidays – Yom Kippur – is to begin on Friday night.

* Yom Kippur War Redux / How Israeli and U.S. leaders ignored the Arab drums of war in 1973 If only they had listened to Sharon, maybe the 1973 War would have been averted.

* World facing worst financial crisis in history, Bank of England Governor says The world is facing the worst financial crisis since at least the 1930s “if not ever”, the Governor of the Bank of England said last night.

* Libya’s rebels launch the final push for Sirte and their crowning victory Libyan rebel forces launched a furious ‘final offensive’ on the loyalist stronghold Sirte on Friday.

* Perry Ally Calls Mormonism ‘a Cult’ A Baptist pastor from Dallas who has endorsed Rick Perry introduced the Texas governor at a conservative forum on Friday in Washington.

10/07/11

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* Security forces on high alert as Israelis mark Yom Kippur Security and rescue forces were on high alert and deployed in large numbers in Jerusalem and throughout the West Bank for Yom Kippur.

* Yom Kippur: Israel Stops and Reflects The highest of the High Holidays – Yom Kippur – is to begin on Friday night.

* Gantz: Israel must always be war-ready IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Benny Gantz was 14-years-old when the Yom Kippur War broke out.

* US warns against European ‘gridlock’ In the latest round of public pressure mounted on European leaders to move swiftly to contain the worsening debt crisis.

* Settlers vow to resist future evictions The second disengagement? The State is gearing to launch a series of West Bank settlements and outpost evictions after the High Holidays.

* Attacks Punctuate 10th Year of U.S. Afghan Fight Insurgents attacked four American outposts simultaneously near the border with Pakistan on Friday.

* The Deutsche Mark Is Coming, And Germany Will Still Lead The European Super-State Ever since the dawn of the European Union, it was clear that there was a power of three- France, Belelux and West Germany.

* World facing worst financial crisis in history, Bank of England Governor says The world is facing the worst financial crisis since at least the 1930s “if not ever”, the Governor of the Bank of England said last night.

* Jews Shout Out to G-d at the Western Wall During the Ten Days of Repentance, the period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, thousands of Jews traditionally visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

* This Week in History: Deadly riots on the Temple Mount On October 8, 1990, members of the “Temple Mount Faithful” fringe Jewish group set out to the Temple Mount.

10/06/11

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* NATO allies debate when to end to Libya air war NATO allies on Thursday grappled with how quickly they could end their bombing campaign in Libya.

* Tributes for Apple ‘visionary’ Steve Jobs World and business leaders have been paying tribute to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who has died at the age of 56 from pancreatic cancer.

* Egypt’s ruler says country in a critical phase Egypt’s military ruler said Thursday the country is going through a critical period.

* Israel’s ‘House Divided’ Unites on Yom Kippur Divided though Israel’s population may be during the rest of the year, on Yom Kippur, Jews in the Holy Land are united as One.

* Secret panel can put Americans on “kill list’ There is no public record of the operations or decisions of the panel, which is a subset of the White House’s National Security Council.

* Syria protests: More than 2,900 killed overall, says UN The UN had previously put the death toll at 2,700.

* ‘Silent majority’ backs economic government of Europe The European Commission believes it is backed by a “silent majority” in favour of its push for further EU integration.

* Ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel begin atonement ahead of Yom Kippur Ahead of Yom Kippur, ultra-Orthodox Jews slaughter white chickens as part of a ritual to cleanse themselves of sins from the past year.

* Mideast Quartet to Meet Sunday Envoys from the Middle East Quartet — the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States — will meet in Brussels on Sunday.

* Israeli history photo of the week: The Golden Gate The Library of Congress has recently digitalized a collection of over 10,000 photographs, taken by the “American Colony” in Jerusalem.