Category Archives: Top 10 News Stories

09/23/11

Posted on by
* Abbas confirms he’ll ask for full membership at UN Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas made it clear Friday that despite heavy international pressure, he is determined to present a request to the UN.

* Nasa refines satellite crash time The US space agency (Nasa) says that its out-of-control climate satellite is expected to crash to Earth sometime on Friday evening (GMT).

* Which New Middle East? Regardless of whether democratization in the “new Middle East” succeeds or authoritarian forms of government prevail once again, one fundamental change has already become clear: no one will be able to govern without taking into account domestic public opinion.

* PM readies for verbal duel with Abbas at UNGA Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spent Thursday in New York behind closed doors preparing his much-touted public verbal duel.

* IAEA Adopts Anti-Nuke Resolution for Mideast The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted a resolution on Friday calling on all countries in the Middle East to join a regional anti-nuclear arms treaty.

* East J’lem, West Bank mostly quiet ahead of Abbas speech East Jerusalem and the West Bank were mostly quiet on Friday afternoon following what police believed would be a tense Friday.

* Sparks fly as U.S., Pakistan spar over Afghan bloodshed The top U.S. military officer accused Pakistani intelligence on Thursday of backing violence against U.S. targets including the American Embassy in Afghanistan.

* Shiite cleric slams Bahrain for ‘fake democracy’ The Sunni rulers in Bahrain are practicing “fake democracy,” the Gulf kingdom’s leading Shiite cleric said Friday.

* ‘US budget cuts won’t affect military aid to Israel’ Senior US officials clarified during a series of meetings with Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz Washington has no intention of downsizing military aid to Israel.

* Tourism in Israel, PA thrives on eve of UN vote While the international stage is awash with demonstrations and wrangling over the vote in the United Nations this week for Palestinian statehood, tourism in Israel and the Palestinian territories seems to be continuing.

09/22/11

Posted on by
* PA: Obama will be responsible for failure of peace process US President Barack Obama will be held responsible for the failure of the Middle East peace process.

* NATO says Gadhafi fighters continue to be threat The general commanding NATO’s mission in Libya said Thursday that isolated groups of forces loyal to ousted strongman Moammar Gadhafi continue to be a threat to local people.

* PLO’s UN Logo Reveals the Truth: Wipe Israel Off the Map! The Palestine Liberation Organization’s mission to the United Nations has, on its logo, wiped Israel off the map.

* Judean Women Look Through the Crosshairs As the Arabs in Judea and Samaria threaten to storm Jewish communities, the women at Pnei Kedem in Gush Etzion, in the Judean hills, are learning to shoot firearms.

* Ahmadinejad: ‘Palestine will one day be liberated’ Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he believes “Palestine will one day be liberated.”

* Lukewarm declaration to mark EU summit in Warsaw Next week’s EU summit in Warsaw will “acknowledge” the “European aspirations” of six post-Soviet countries.

* Turkey ‘undermining U.S. objectives’ in Mediterranean Turkey is challenging U.S. policy in the Mediterranean Sea.

* Pope Benedict making first official visit to Germany The Pope was greeted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Christian Wulff.

* Falling NASA Satellite Could Spark Stunning Light Show A NASA satellite the size of a school bus is just days away from taking a fiery plunge into Earth’s atmosphere and could set off a dazzling display when it does.

* Palestinians blast Obama’s UN speech at West Bank rally Dozens of Palestinians gathered outside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ office in Ramallah on Thursday, protesting U.S. President Barack Obama’s opposition to their bid.

09/21/11

Posted on by
* PM to meet Obama amid effort to avert UN ‘train wreck’ Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu departed early Wednesday morning to do battle against recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN.

* Thousands rally in Ramallah to back Palestinian statehood bid Thousands of Palestinians flocked to Yasser Arafat Square in central Ramallah on Wednesday for a rally in support of the Palestinian bid for full United Nations membership.

* Scientists Discover New Life in the Dead Sea Deep beneath the sea bed of a body of water long believed incapable of sustaining life, scientists have discovered new micro-organisms.

* Explaining as national strategy Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s critics, and they are legion – both here and abroad – charge he has no strategy.

* Obama, Ergodan seek common ground on Middle East US President Barack Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan sought common ground on counter-terrorism and Middle East policy.

* Somali kids win weapons in Koran contest An Islamist insurgent-run radio station in Somalia says it is awarding guns, bombs and books to three children in a Koran recital contest.

* The euro crisis as the revenge of neofunctionalism The current euro crisis has led to many calls for a European fiscal union.

* IDF Developing Cannon with 25-Mile Range The IDF’s Artillery Corps is considering a new cannon system with the ability to shoot six shells a minute with a range of 25 miles.

* Hamas quietly hoping for failure of UN bid Gaza’s Hamas rulers are quietly hoping that the Palestinian bid for UN membership fails.

* Libyan government to be named in days Libya’s first formal government since the fall of Moamer Kadhafi will be named within 10 days.

09/20/11

Posted on by
* Washington Post: Abbas Not Serious for PA State The influential Washington Post accuses Abbas of not being serious about wanting to establish the Palestinian Authority as a country.

* Former leaders urge EU to recognise Palestine Senior EU personalities have called for member states to recognise Palestinian independence.

* PA Media’s Statehood Campaign: We Won’t be Deterred PA media does its utmost to promise the Arab population that the PA leadership will follow through with its unilateral statehood bid.

* Saudi Funding May Make PA a Proxy State Saudi Arabia is forking over $200 million to bail out the Palestinian Authority.

* Israel and US to Lose in UN Showdown, Warns King Abdullah Jordan’s King Abdullah II warned on Tuesday that Israel is isolating itself.

* Japan defence firm Mitsubishi Heavy in cyber attack Japan’s top weapons maker has confirmed it was the victim of a cyber attack reportedly targeting data on missiles, submarines and nuclear power plants.

* ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ ban on gays in US military ends A policy banning open homosexuality in the US military has been repealed after nearly two decades.

* US scientists testing earthquake early warning Elizabeth Cochran was sitting in her office when her computer suddenly sounded an alarm.

* Gadhafi spotted as rebels capture parts of south Libya town Fugitive Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi was spotted in the southern city of Sabha a few days ago.

* US official: Quartet talks have been productive Talks among the Quartet of Middle East peace mediators to find a path to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have been productive and should continue.

09/19/11

Posted on by

* Conference Emphasizes Yearning for the Holy Temple The Holy Temple Conferences, held in Jerusalem on Sunday, worked towards achieving Jewish presence on the Temple Mount.

* Iran to finish off Kurd rebels in days Tehran’s forces will finish off armed Kurdish rebels who are based in Iraq in the “coming days”, a top commander said Monday, while the separatist group claimed it was now located in Iranian territory.

* Netanyahu invites Abbas to open peace talks in New York Israeli officials say Israel will not give up on Palestinian recognition of the Jewish state; Quartet envoys set to meet for second time in two days to formulate plan to restart peace process.

* Abbas presses Palestinian U.N. bid despite warnings President Mahmoud Abbas told the United Nations’ top official on Monday he would seek full U.N. membership for a Palestinian state, a move the United States and Israel warn could lead to disaster and shatter chances for resuming peace negotiations.

* Turkey Predicts Alliance With Egypt as Regional Anchors A newly assertive Turkey offered on Sunday a vision of a starkly realigned Middle East, where the country’s former allies in Syria and Israel fall into deeper isolation, and a burgeoning alliance with Egypt underpins a new order in a region roiled by revolt and revolution.

* French FM: Status quo between Israel and Palestinians risks explosion of violence In remarks before the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Alain Juppe also says scheduled to meet Palestinian President Abbas later on Monday.

* Yemen unrest: Death toll from Sanaa clashes tops 50 Security forces in Yemen have killed more than 50 people in two days of violence against anti-government protesters, activists say, in the country’s bloodiest clashes for months.

* In Arab world, support for UN gambit close to unanimous Poll shows 8 of 10 Palestinians support unilateral statehood declaration

* Libya war: Anti-Gaddafi troops take key Sabha positions Anti-Gaddafi forces have captured two key positions close to the southern city of Sabha, says a spokesman for Libya’s transitional authorities.

* The Famous State of Palestine What would Arab state number 23 / Muslim state number 58 be like? Have a good look.

09/17/11

Posted on by
* The Turkey-Iran Pact A hot war has been raging in northern Iraq since mid-July.

* Obama to meet with Turkey’s Erdogan, Netanyahu in NY US President Barack Obama will meet with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan during the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week.

* Palestinians Set Bid for U.N. Seat, Clashing With U.S. The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, announced Friday that he would seek membership for a state of Palestine from the United Nations Security Council next week.

* Israel ups West Bank forces before Palestinian UN bid Israel has boosted its army presence in the West Bank ahead of a Palestinian recourse to the UN.

* Hamas Against PA Statehood Bid: It’s a Step Towards Negotiations The Hamas terror group, which rules the Gaza Strip, was quick to condemn on Friday the speech by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas .

* Huge Defunct Satellite Falling to Earth Faster Than Expected, NASA Says NASA space junk experts have refined the forecast for the anticipated death plunge of a giant satellite.

* Mideast Quartet envoys to meet in New York Envoys from the quartet of Middle East negotiators will meet on Sunday in a last-ditch push to relaunch Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

* Syrian opposition meet in Damascus to support protests More than 200 Syrian opposition figures have met near Damascus in an effort to unite anti-government groups.

* Libyans divided between reconciliation and revenge – A cheering crowd welcomed Mustafa Abdel Jaleel, chief of the Libya’s ruling National Transitional Council (NTC).

* Geithner warns EU against infighting over Greece US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has warned European leaders to stop the “loose talk” about divisions over how to solve the eurozone debt crisis.

09/16/11

Posted on by
* ‘Abbas working on deal with EU, US to avoid statehood bid’ London based Arabic daily Al Hayat on Friday reported that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was meeting with European Union and American officials to try and come to an agreement.

* Israel summons Egypt ambassador over conflicting peace treaty remarks The Foreign Ministry summoned Egypt’s ambassador to Israel to a meeting on Friday morning.

* Sadrists take to Iraq’s streets in demos Thousands of supporters of radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr rallied in Baghdad and south Iraq on Friday.

* Libyan fighters press attacks on Gadhafi hometown Revolutionary fighters are trying to fight their way into the center of Moammar Gadhafi’s hometown of Sirte.

* Egypt PM: Israel Treaty ‘Not Sacred’ Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf on Thursday said the 1979 Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty is not sacred and is subject to change.

* Paris ban on Muslim street prayers comes into effect Interior Minister Claude Gueant has offered believers the use of a disused fire brigade barracks instead.

* Former IDF chief reveals new details of Israel’s nuclear program In the tense period at the end of May and the beginning of June 1967, with Israel feeling choked in a tightening siege, Lt. Gen. Dov Tamari was summoned urgently to a meeting with a senior figure from the General Staff.

* Turkey plans possible ground invasion of N. Iraq before winter Turkey may be preparing for an imminent invasion of Iraq.

* IDF Calling Up Reserves Ahead of PA Statehood Bid The IDF Central Command raised its alert level in in Judea and Samaria ahead of next week’s expected Palestinian Authority statehood bid at the United Nations.

* It’s time to eat insects for the good of the planet, say experts “The European consumer has some difficulties in crunching a whole insect”, says Professor Arnold Van Huis.

09/15/11

Posted on by
* ‘Warships could be in e. Mediterranean at any moment’ Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday Israel could not do whatever it wanted in the Eastern Mediterranean.

* Netanyahu says he’ll address UN ahead of PA state vote In press conference with Czech counterpart, PM calls on Abbas – who will address plenum on September 23 – to return to direct negotiations.

* Islamists’ Growing Sway Raises Questions for Libya In the emerging post-Qaddafi Libya, the most influential politician may well be Ali Sallabi.

* Libya conflict: Cameron and Sarkozy visit Tripoli British PM David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy are in Libya, the most senior Western leaders to visit since Muammar Gaddafi was ousted.

* Tensions between Israel, Egypt steadily mounting Tensions are rising between Egypt and Israel as attacks continue from the Sinai Peninsula.

* IDF Prepares to Call Up Reserves The Israel Defense Forces are preparing for the possibility of Palestinian Authority Arab riots beginning September 20.

* MK Eldad: Iran using Arab Spring to make nuclear bomb National Union MK Arye Eldad said that Iran is using the Arab Spring to distract Western attention from its nuclear program.

* As Iraq pullback nears, US still at war in south Soldiers at this base sleep with their shoes on so they don’t cut their feet running under rocket fire.

* Netanyahu orders evacuation of Israel embassy in Jordan, fearing violent protests Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman ordered the early evacuation of Israel’s embassy in Jordan.

* Syrian protesters mark six months of revolt Protesters vowed to hit the streets of Syria en masse on Thursday to mark six months since the start of an anti-regime uprising.

09/14/11

Posted on by
* Eurozone crisis could rip EU apart: officials The eurozone crisis could wreck the European Union, top EU officials warned on Wednesday.

* Israeli officials: Jordan hanging by a thread As the US steps up its effort to prevent a Palestinian unilateral bid to declare statehood, Israeli officials fear a new eastern front in the form of Jordan.

* PA ‘Offers’ Israel: Accept Demands or Face the UN The Palestinian Authority tried to climb off a high diplomatic limb Wednesday.

* Egypt’s Islamists warn Erdogan: Don’t seek Middle East domination Egypt’s most powerful Islamist group warned Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday that his country should not seek to dominate the Middle East.

* Palestinian ambassador to US wants Jew-free state The Palestinian Ambassador to the United States Maen Rashid Areikat said on Tuesday in Washington that the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)opposes the immediate presence of Jews and gays in an independent Palestinian state.

* Survey shows US losing interest in EU People in the US and in Turkey have told a major pollster that relations with Asian countries are more important for their future than relations with the EU.

* Iran tests new smart bombs Iran’s fleet of fighter jets has been equipped with new anti-missile capability.

* Poland warns of war ‘in 10 years’ as EU leaders scramble to contain panic Germany, France and the European Commission are scrambling to contain panic and “quash rumours” about a eurozone break-up.

* Iraq unrest: Shooting and bombs hit security forces A car bomb detonated at about 08:00 (05:00 GMT) close to a restaurant used by security forces near the central city of Hilla, killing at least 15.

* Diplomatic flurry ahead of Palestinian UN bid A high-level U.S. team kicked off a new round of shuttle diplomacy on Wednesday in a last-ditch effort to contain the diplomatic fallout from the Palestinian statehood push.

09/13/11

Posted on by
* Erdogan: Israel’s mentality is a barrier to Mideast peace Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo on Tuesday that the mentality of the Israeli government serves as an obstacle to peace in the Middle East.

* ‘Hamas weighing a resumption of suicide bombings’ Hamas is weighing a resumption of suicide bomb attacks against Israeli civilians.

* Hamas calls for overthrow of Israeli-Palestinian Oslo peace accords The Islamist Hamas movement called Tuesday for the overthrow of the Israeli-Palestinian Oslo interim peace accords.

* US Envoys Returning For ‘More Talks’ Two senior US envoys will return to Israel this week in hopes of averting the Palestinian Authority statehood bid at the United Nations.

* PM: First priority on Egypt border is now stopping terror Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Tuesday helicoptered down to an area some 60 kilometers north of Eilat.

* Sex abuse victims urge Hague court to investigate Pope Lawyers for victims of sexual abuse by the clergy have asked the International Criminal Court to investigate Pope Benedict XVI and three top Vatican officials for crimes against humanity for allowing rape and child sex crimes.

* Afghan gunfight: Kabul police battle insurgents Afghan and international security forces are battling an ongoing multi-pronged attack by insurgents targeting the US embassy, Nato headquarters and police buildings in Kabul.

* Libya could fall into hands of extremists, Nato warns Libya is in danger of falling into the hands of Islamic extremists if a stable government is not rapidly established.

* Hamas Alive and Well Under PA in Judea and Samaria Israel has arrested 13 Hamas cells in the last six months in Judea and Samaria, where the Palestinian Authority is supposed to stop terror.

* Turkish warplanes now able to fire at Israeli targets Turkey has developed a new radar system for its US-made F-16 fighter jets that will allow them to fire at Israeli targets.