Category Archives: Top 10 News Stories

07/09/12

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* Babylon – was it so awful? We rightly mourn the terrible destructions of Jerusalem perpetrated by the Babylonians and the Romans, but the Babylonian Exile was the crucible in which our future was forged.

* As death toll hits 17,000, Russia suspends new arms sales to Syria Military official says only spare parts for existing equipment will be provided to Assad until calm returns.

* Video: Hizbullah Collecting Intelligence Along Lebanese Border The IDF has released a video documenting the way Hizbullah is collecting information along the Lebanese border.

* Video: Taliban shoot woman 9 times in public execution as men cheer A shot rings out, but the burqa-clad woman sitting on the rocky ground does not respond.

* Egypt court challenges Mursi’s reopening of parliament Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi’s order to reconvene parliament has been rejected by the highest court, which says its ruling that led to the assembly’s dissolution is binding.

* ‘The next best thing to being there’: NASA releases the most spectacular picture of Mars ever taken… in all its 360-degree glory We might not be able to get there yet, but as NASA says, ‘this is the next best thing’.

* Archaeologists Uncover Gold Treasure Near Herzliya One of the largest gold treasures ever to be discovered in Israel was uncovered last week at an archaeological dig near Herzliya.

* South China Sea tension tops Asean regional agenda Tension in the South China Sea is expected to top the agenda for Asean’s regional forum this week.

* Obama invites Egypt’s Islamist leader to U.S. President Barack Obama has invited Egypt’s newly elected Islamist president, Mohamed Mursi, to visit the United States in September, an Egyptian official said on Sunday, reflecting the new ties Washington is cultivating with the region’s Islamists.

* Magnitude-5.6 quake hits Israel Haifa, Tel Aviv and Beer Sheba residents report feeling temblor, which originated south of Turkey

07/07/12

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* Abbas: We’ll open new Arafat probe ‘if necessary’ The PA will open a new investigation into the death of former PLO chairman Yasser Arafat “if necessary.”

* Moscow may hand Iran S-300, breach arms embargo if Assad ousted Moscow has removed the gloves in its defense of Syrian ruler Bashar Assad.

* WRAPUP 2-Syria’s fighting spills into Lebanon, five killed Syria’s conflict spilled further into Lebanon on Saturday when mortar fire from President Bashar al-Assad’s forces hit villages in the north.

* Iran’s military chief: We have a plan for Hormuz closure, but will only use it if threatened Iran has prepared a plan for closing the Strait of Hormuz but will only use it if threatened.

* Turmoil returns to stock markets and euro Spain’s borrowing costs soared back to crisis levels on Friday.

* Joyful Libyans brave violence to grasp free vote Crowds of joyful Libyans, some with tears in their eyes, parted with the legacy of Muammar Gaddafi’s dictatorship on Saturday.

* Israeli draft pits secular Jews vs. ultra-Orthodox Deep in the heart of Mea Shearim, a Jerusalem bastion of hardline ultra-Orthodox Jews, hundreds of bearded young men in black suits have their noses burrowed into books.

* Egypt’s Morsi to Saudi on first trip as president President Mohamed Morsi will head to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday on his first foreign visit as Egypt’s head of state.

* UN rights body to probe Israel settlements The UN Human Rights Council has set up a panel to probe Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

* Higgs Boson: Physicists See Best Proof Yet of ‘The God Particle’ After decades of careful experiment, physicists say they have found the “strongest indication to date” to prove the existence of the Higgs boson.

07/06/12

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* Saudis are buying nuclear-capable missiles from China debkafile’s military sources report that Saudi Arabia has set its feet on the path to a nuclear weapon capability.

* With toxic Arafat revelations, the PA is looking to embarrass Israel Gradually losing legitimacy on the street and with limited political prospects, the PA is already moving to use the allegations to embarrass Israel.

* IDF will ‘destroy’ any Lebanese village that fires rockets if war breaks out again Israel will launch a brutal war against Lebanon if provoked by Hezbollah.

* Israel to refuse UNHCR probe cooperation Israel reiterated Friday that it would refuse cooperation with a a UN Human Rights Council fact finding mission to probe Israeli Wast Bank settlement activity and Jewish building in east Jerusalem.

* Libya elections: Muslim Brotherhood set to lead government While the elections for a 200-member National Congress is unlikely to grant a majority to any one faction, the Muslim Brotherhood and its Islamist allies are confident they can join their counterparts in Tunisia and Egypt at the helm of leadership.

* Ahmadinejad invites Egypt’s Morsi to Tehran summit Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has invited his newly elected Egyptian counterpart, Mohamed Morsi, to a summit of Non-Aligned Movement nations.

* Egyptian Copts Declare Creation of ‘Christian Brotherhood’ A group of Coptic activists in Egypt announced the establishment of the Christian Brotherhood to counter the growing influence of the Muslim Brotherhood.

* Growing Number of Young German Muslims Becoming Jihadi Fighters There is a growing trend among young Muslim German men to become jihadi fighters.

* UN council appoints panel to probe Israeli settlements in West Bank The UN’s top human rights body has appointed three independent experts to conduct a fact-finding mission on how Israel’s West Bank settlements affect Palestinians.

* Indonesia to informally upgrade its relations with Israel via ambassador-ranked diplomat in Ramallah Indonesia is to open a consulate in Ramallah, headed by a diplomat with the rank of ambassador.

07/05/12

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* Iran: We Can Destroy US Bases ‘In Minutes’ Iran on Wednesday claimed it has the capability to destroy US bases “within minutes.”.

* Iraq says al-Qaida fighters flowing into Syria Iraq’s foreign minister says the government has “solid information and intelligence” about al-Qaida militants infiltrating Syria from Iraq to carry out attacks.

* Hamas PM to meet Islamist president of Egypt A Palestinian official says Gaza’s prime minister will head to Cairo within the next two weeks to meet with Egypt’s new Islamist president.

* Oil and politics are ancient Babylon’s new curse Nowadays it seems that Babylon just can’t catch a break.

* Iran: EU sanctions won’t affect progress of nuclear program Newly ratified European Union sanctions targeting Iran’s oil industry won’t affect the progress of Tehran’s nuclear program.

* As PA prepares to exhume body, Israel calls Arafat poisoning claim ‘baseless’ As the Palestinian Authority prepared to exhume the body of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Israeli government officials on Wednesday rejected suggestions that Israel may have poisoned him.

* Somalia facing ‘fresh hunger emergency’ Poor rains and continuing conflict in Somalia are threatening the recovery from last year’s famine, the charity Save the Children has warned.

* ‘Jordan rejecting Palestinian refugees from Syria’ Jordanian authorities have been turning away Syrian refugees of Palestinian heritage or threatening to deport those who have arrived in Jordan from Syria over the past year.

* Ahmadinejad Calls Morsi, Invites Him to Tehran Egypt’s newly elected Muslim Brotherhood president, Mohammed Morsi, received a phone call from his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

* Israelis rejoice over discovery of ‘God particle’ Theoretical and experimental physicists see the groundbreaking discovery of a new subatomic particle – announced Wednesday in Geneva.

07/04/12

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* Annan Spokesman: Syria Ceasefire ‘Imperative’ The death toll in the 16-month uprising against the Syrian regime tops 16,500 in President Bashar al-Assad’s ‘torture archipelago.’

* Assad accuses Turkey of helping Syrian ‘terrorists’ Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad accused Turkey in an interview published Wednesday of giving logistical backing to Syrian “terrorists” and told Ankara to stop meddling in his country’s affairs.

* Higgs boson-like particle discovery claimed at LHC Cern scientists reporting from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) have claimed the discovery of a new particle consistent with the Higgs boson.

* Iran: We can destroy US bases ‘minutes after attack’ Following ballistic missile tests, Revolutionary Guards commander says Israel, all US regional bases are within its range.

* Where is Iran’s Sajil missile? Iran’s missile tests display old systems, raising questions about fate of the regime’s most-impressive missile.

* PM skeptical democracy will take hold in ME soon Marking July 4, Netanyahu says “short term” democratic prospects in region doubtful but he is hopeful about long term.

* US Flexes Muscles against Iran in Gulf Iran will finds its boats “on the bottom of the Gulf” if it tries to mine the Persian Gulf to prevent oil and gas tankers from sailing.

* PA to Seek UNESCO Recognition for More Sites Following its success with the Church of the Nativity, PA will seek to have additional religious sites recognized by UNESCO.

* Peres: America Remains Israel’s Greatest Ally President Shimon Peres congratulates the U.S. on its Independence Day during a reception at the home of Ambassador Daniel Shapiro.

* What the EU agreed last week, what it did not and what happens next At long last the European Council (28-29 June) has taken some very significant decisions on addressing the short term crisis.

07/03/12

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* Report describes brutal torture in Syria “Basat al reeh.” “Dulab.” “Falaqa.” They are Arabic names for torture techniques that send chills through the hearts of Syrians.

* Iran Claims ‘War Games’ Test Missile Attack on Israel Iran claims it tested “tens” of short, medium and large-range missiles at a hypothetical enemy base, presumably Israeli and American.

* Iran lobs missiles in day 2 of ‘Great Prophet’ drill Iran on Tuesday successfully tested dozens of short-, medium- and long-range missiles on the second of a three-day military exercise.

* ‘US quietly bolstering presence in Persian Gulf’ The United States has quietly increased its military presence in the Persian Gulf to deter Tehran from attempting to shut the Strait of Hormuz.

* US sees stronger hints of Higgs Hints of the Higgs boson detected last year by a US “atom smasher” have become even stronger, scientists have said.

* Assad: I wish downed Turkish jet had been Israeli Syrian President Bashar Assad has told a Turkish newspaper he wished the Turkish plane that Syrian forces downed last month had been Israeli.

* Israelis, Palestinians: 2 states in 5 years unlikely Most Israelis and Palestinians view the chances of establishing an independent Palestinian state within the next five years as low or nonexistent.

* Iraq: ‘Many killed’ in series of bombings At least 25 people have been killed and 40 wounded in a truck bombing at a market in the Iraqi city of Diwaniya.

* Kenya Arrests Iranian Terrorists who Targeted Israelis Officials in Nairobi reported on Monday that two Iranian terrorists who were arrested in Kenya last week were planning to attack Israeli, American, British and Saudi targets in the country.

* Morsi to visit Iran next month, fueling hopes in Tehran for warmer ties Newly elected Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi is to travel to Iran next month.

07/02/12

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* Russia to hold talks with Syrian opposition, Annan Russia will hold talks with two Syrian opposition groups and with U.N. envoy Kofi Annan later this month, a Russian news agency reported after a weekend of stalled efforts to stop the bloodshed in Syria.

* Iran to test-fire long-range missiles in desert war game Revolutionary Guards chief announces start of three-day maneuver, warns that if Israel plans any attack on Iran, it ‘will provide us a reason to remove Israel from the earth.’

* Syria Rebels Gaining Ground Rebel forces in Syria have enjoyed meaningful success in fighting against the regime of Bashar Assad in the last few weeks. 

* Turkey scrambles F-16 jets on Syria border Turkey has scrambled six F-16 fighter jets near its border with Syria after Syrian helicopters came close to the border, the country’s army says.

* Iran threatens Israel; new EU sanctions take force Iran announced missile tests on Sunday and threatened to wipe Israel “off the face of the earth” if the Jewish state attacked it, brandishing some of its starkest threats on the day Europe began enforcing an oil embargo and harsh new sanctions.

* From the underground to the political spotlight Former prime minister Yitzhak Shamir never compromised on his belief in an Israel whose borders would include Jewish sovereignty over all of Judea and Samaria.

* PLO to ask UNSC for meeting on settlements Palestinians working to pass a resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity; protests against talks with Israel continue.

* Expert: Anti-Zionism, Anti-Semitism Now the Same Experts debate the relationship between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism. Some say the two are now one and the same.

* Islamic hackers post hundreds of Israeli email addresses and passwords It is yet unclear what website was hacked to obtain the information published on the website of Anonymous Arab.

* Are we heading for a ‘half-Europe’? Crisis rescue programs as well as the negotiations of the next seven-year EU budget must be viewed in a context broader than a purely economic one. 

06/30/12

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* Brotherhood’s Mursi sworn in as Egyptian president Mohammed Mursi has been sworn in as Egypt’s first civilian, democratically elected president at a historic ceremony in Cairo.

* Russia, West lock horns at Syria peace talks Russia and Western powers locked horns over a peace plan for Syria on Saturday.

* Morsi vows support for Palestinian people to regain their ‘legitimate rights’ Egypt’s newly elected president sent an implicit message of reassurance to Israel in his first major address after taking office.

* Officer: ‘We are Preparing for Possibility of War’ “We are in preparations for the possibility of war and in the midst of deployment with the situation in Syria in mind,” a top IDF officer said.

* UNSC publishes report on Iran arms trade with Syria A UN Security Council committee has published a report on Iranian sanctions violations.

* Dempsey: US-Israel drill to take place in fall The United States and Israel are expected to hold a joint military exercise sometime around October.

* Timbuktu shrines damaged by Mali Ansar Dine Islamists Islamist fighters in Mali have damaged the shrines of Muslim saints in the city of Timbuktu, witnesses say.

* Egypt Seizes Libyan Weapons Headed for Gaza Egyptian security forces on Friday seized a large stash of weapons, including rockets and automatic machine-guns.

* EU summit deal leaves many questions open The EU summit has failed to produce a big step towards a political and economic union, say analysts.

* Beit El Resident: Netanyahu, Obama – You Won’t Move Us Alex Traiman was among those expelled from their homes in Beit El this week.

06/29/12

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* Syrian Tanks Gather on Turkish Border The Syrian army has gathered roughly 170 tanks near the Turkish border.

* Hamas Man Assassinated – but Who Did It? Senior Hamas terrorist Kamal Ghanaja, second-in-command to Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, was killed in Damascus this week.

* Officer: ‘We are Preparing for Possibility of War’ “We are in preparations for the possibility of war and in the midst of deployment with the situation in Syria in mind.”

* Mursi to address Tahrir ahead of swearing-in Egypt’s Islamist President-elect Mohamed Mursi will give a speech to crowds in Tahrir Square on Friday.

* Merkel defends compromise deal on eurozone banks Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel says she is satisfied with a deal to help finance debt-laden eurozone countries.

* UNESCO: Nativity Church heritage site in ‘Palestine’ The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on Friday became the first World Heritage Site to be listed under the name of Palestine.

* Arab World: Staying on the sidelines Syria’s Kurds are sitting out the civil war, which they see as a clash between Assad’s regime and Turkish-backed Sunni Arabs.

* Top Iran official: U.S. threats of military attack against nuclear program are empty U.S. warnings of the possibility of a military strike against Iran are void, and only meant to undermine the stability of other nations.

* Clinton arrives in Russia for Syria showdown US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov were heading for a face-to-face showdown over Syria on Friday.

* Israel stages Holocaust survivor beauty pageant A beauty pageant for Holocaust survivors has been held in Israel for the first time, stirring controversy.

06/28/12

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* Russia won’t call for Syrian president to step down Russia on Thursday said it would not endorse a call for Syrian President Bashar Assad to give up power.

* Turkey sends anti-aircraft guns to Syrian border Columns of military vehicles have been seen moving from military bases to the border, close to where the jet crashed.

* Islamist Rebels Seize Northern Mali, 20 Dead Islamist rebel separatists have seized northern Mali, killing 20 as they clashed with a second rebel force.

* Strong explosion rocks Syria’s capital A strong explosion rocked the Syrian capital Thursday near a busy market and the country’s highest court.

* IDF bolstering defenses along Syrian border The IDF is bolstering defenses along the Syrian border and beefing up its forces due to concern that terrorist groups are planning a cross-border attack in the Golan Heights.

* Tantawi to Remain as Egyptian Defense Minister Field Marshal Hussein Mohamed Tantawi is to remain at his post as Egypt’s Defense Minister in the new government cabinet.

* Divided EU leaders meeting for ‘big leap’ summit A stormy two-day summit kicks off on Thursday (28 June), with EU leaders still at odds over ceding core national powers to Brussels.

* The EU and Turkey: Stronger together At a time when the EU faces economic challenges and continuing instability in the Middle East, our relationship with Turkey matters more than ever.

* Arab Rage: Putin Recognized Jerusalem’s Jewish Past Arab Muslims are enraged by remarks made by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kotel.

* Fatah to Israel: Do What We Want, or Face Intifada If Israel does not surrender all the lands liberated in the Six Day War of 1967, set up an Arab state with Jerusalem as its capital, and make significant concessions in accepting as citizens descendants of Arabs who fled Israel in 1948, a third intifada should, and must, be conducted.