Category Archives: Uncategorized

03/01/11

Posted on by
* Gaddafi deploys forces as world raises Libya pressure Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi dispatched forces to a western border area on Tuesday in defiance of Western military and economic pressure.

* US and EU states consider military option against Gaddafi Fighter jets, aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean, a no-fly zone over Libya and arming the rebels are all options being weighed up by the US and its EU allies.

* Deputy FM warns Islamist regimes could take over Arab world Democratic uprisings that have already unseated long-standing autocrats in Tunisia and Egypt and are threatening to topple Moammar Gadhafi in Libya may be taken over by Islamist groups.

* Iran Arrests and Jails Opposition Leaders Iran has arrested opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi and has taken them.

* With Russia’s $650 billion rearmament plan, the bear sharpens its teeth The graying bear is getting a make-over. Russia’s military is launching its biggest rearmament effort since Soviet times.

* EU considering special summit on Libya EU Council chief Herman Van Rompuy is holding talks with member states on a French idea to hold an extraordinary EU summit about Libya and north Africa.

* Iran Threatens Olympics Boycott over ‘Zion’ Logo Iran has threatened to boycott the 2012 Olympics in London over the logo for the event.

* Americans still favorable towards Israel Nearly 17% of Americans favor the Palestinians and 20% are impartial – supporting both sides equally or indifferently.

* Top rabbi demands dialogue before West Bank outposts are demolished A top rabbi in the Religious-Zionist movement urged the prime minister on Tuesday to open dialogue before dismantling West Bank settlements.

* Iran: We Have the Right to be in the Mediterranean Iran contends that its military vessels are legally entitled to sail in the Mediterranean Sea under international law.

02/28/2011

Posted on by

* Libya unrest: Foreign ministers urge end to violence Governments around the world have condemned attacks on Libyan civilians.

* Americans: War is Coming, Cut Off Aid to Arabs Most Americans think that the political upheaval spreading throughout the Arab world may wind up drawing the United States into a new large-scale war, a Rasmussen Reports poll found.

* Obama Should Embrace Islam, Says Muslim Cleric The British radical Muslim cleric Anjem Choudary said on Sunday that US President Barack Obama must embrace Islam as a way of life or face the consequences of a trial under the Shariah Islamic court system.

* Blair in Jerusalem ahead of upcoming Quartet meeting Netanyahu tells visiting US senators that West should support anti-regime protesters in Iran, as it does in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.

* False Rumor that Saudi King Will Buy Facebook to Stop Protests Arab and Iranian media are reporting a rumor – now officially rendered false – that Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah has offered $150 billion to buy out Facebook in order to thwart a planned Day of Rage protest.

* Farrakhan: Mideast uprisings will come to US Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan predicted on Sunday that America faces imminent uprisings that mirror those in the Middle East.

* PA’s Hevron Demand: Full Access for Arabs, None for Jews Palestinian Authority Arabs in Hevron are demanding full access to the city’s only majority-Jewish street, while Jews remain confined to a mere 3% of the city.

* Bad weekend for EU-Turkey relations Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused German society of “xenophobia” and the German government of “discrimination” ahead of a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

* Egyptian prosecutor places travel ban on Mubarak, family Order will stay in place while investigations against Mubarak are carried out; move follows decision to freeze Mubarak family assets.

* EU approves wide sanctions against Libya The European Union slapped its own arms embargo, visa ban and other sanctions Monday on Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s regime, part of an escalating global effort to halt a bloody crackdown on his critics in the North African nation.

02/26/11

Posted on by
* Libya revolt: Tripoli braced as Gaddafi arms supporters People in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, are braced for further battles after the country’s leader, Col Muammar Gaddafi, said he would open weapons depots to arm his supporters.

* World powers struggle to find way to stop Gaddafi World powers struggled to find a way to stop Libyan leader Muammer Gaddafi lashing out at his people as he clings to power in Tripoli.

* Cairo: Army violently disperses protesters Egyptian military police beat protesters Saturday to clear them from outside the Cabinet office.

* UN Security Council targets Gaddafi and his family UN Security Council members were mulling ways to punish Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

* Iran and Syria agree on military training cooperation Iran and Syria have agreed to cooperate on naval training, Iran’s official news agency reported.

* UN concern over ‘military angle to Iran nuclear plan’ The UN’s nuclear watchdog says it has received new information on “possible military dimensions” to Iran’s nuclear development program.

* Protesters killed in Iraqi ‘day of rage’ At least nine people have been killed in anti-government protests in Iraq as thousands take to the streets in cities across the country for a “day of rage”.

* Turkey to confront Sarkozy on opposition to EU bid Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan says he will confront French President Nicolas Sarkozy over his negative stance towards Muslim Turkey’s bid to join the European Union.

* Foreign Ministry to Send Ambassadors to Cave of Patriarchs Israel’s Foreign Ministry is taking steps that must be bringing some ‘naches’ (Yiddish for parental pleasure) to the Foremothers and Forefathers buried in the Cave of Patriarchs.

* Quartet to Push New Negotiations Diplomats from the international Quartet – the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations – announced this week that they plan a new effort to push negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

02/25/11

Posted on by
* ‘Gadhafi may use chemical, biological weapons against Libya unrest’ Libyan Leader Muammar Gadhafi may resort to using biological and chemical weapons as a last resort.

* Quartet attempts to revive peace talks Envoys from the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia are hoping to hold separate meetings with Israeli and Palestinian negotiators to try to revive peace talks.

* 4 nuclear sites found in Syria Syria established four additional nuclear facilities aside from the one bombed by Israel in 2007.

* China Rattled by Middle Eastern Events Coverage of the tumultuous events in the Middle East in the official Chinese press has gone through a few iterations.

* Africa shock to cause ‘sea change’ in EU foreign policy The European Commission has promised a “sea change” to the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).

* Arab Revolutions May Yet Yield Positive Results One of the things that Israelis fear most about the recent uprisings in the Arab world is the possibility that Islamist radicals or other violent militant groups could step into the vacuum.

* Egypt Mediating between ‘Twin Terrors’ Hamas and Fatah The Egyptian effort to mediate between Hamas and Fatah has resumed.

* U.S. Trying to Pick Winners in New Mideast As the Obama administration grapples with a cascade of uprisings in the Middle East, it has come to a stark recognition: the region’s monarchs are likely to survive; its presidents are more likely to fall.

* Libya’s Crisis: Bad News for Oil Prices, Economic Recovery Even before its outcome is known, Libya’s uprising could leave an indelible mark on the world economy: oil prices have rocketed since Tuesday and could rise even further.

* 6 killed as Iraqis protest in ‘Day of Rage’ Thousands marched on government buildings and clashed with security forces in cities across Iraq on Friday.

02/24/11

Posted on by
* Battles rage as rebels seize Libyan towns Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi launched a counter-attack on Thursday.

* Barak: Iranian ships crossing Suez part of ‘wider scheme’ The two Iranian naval vessels crossing the Suez Canal was a show of power and part of a “wider scheme” to exert influence in the Middle East.

* Iranian naval ships arrive in Syria Two Iranian naval ships arrived Wednesday afternoon at the Port of Lattakia in Syria, after crossing the Suez Canal Tuesday.

* Satellite Photos: More Nuclear Sites in Syria Western intelligence agencies have detected another nuclear plant in Syria – in a Damascus suburb.

* Arab Unrest Propels Iran as Saudi Influence Declines The popular revolts shaking the Arab world have begun to shift the balance of power in the region.

* ‘Days of Rage’ Spreading to Africa? The government of Zimbabwe has arrested dozens of political activists in an attempt to stop protesters from igniting a “Day of Rage.”

* EU wary of imposing sanctions on Libyan dictator The EU has refrained from imposing immediate sanctions against Libyan dictator Moammar Gaddafi.

* ‘Fatah-Hamas unity gov’t will be led by Salam Fayyad’ Palestinian sources familiar with the details of a unity government deal being discussed by Hamas and Fatah representatives, said that the proposed government would be headed by Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.

* Gaza militants fire missile at Be’er Sheva for first time since Gaza war Grad rockets were fired at the southern Israeli city of Be’er Sheva on Wednesday, several hours after the Israel Defense Forces fired at a group of militants on the Gaza border.

* Qaddafi Ordered the Lockerbie Bombing A Libyan minister who has rebelled against dictator Muammar Qaddafi over the latter’s brutal assault on protesters has alleged that Qaddafi personally ordered the Lockerbie bombing.

02/23/11

Posted on by
* Libya protests: Pressure mounts on isolated Gaddafi Pressure has mounted on isolated Libyan ruler Col Muammar Gaddafi after a chorus of international condemnation and resignations by top officials.

* Iranian warships sail through Suez Canal for the first time since 1979 amid accusations of ‘provocation’ from Israel Two Iranian ships travelled through the Suez Canal on Tuesday and were heading towards Syria.

* Gadhafi ordered sabotage of oil pipelines in Libya Time magazine’s intelligence columnist reported on Tuesday that Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi has ordered his security forces to sabotage the country’s oil facilities.

* Iran’s president: Mideast upheaval will reach US Iran’s president said Wednesday he is certain the wave of unrest in the Middle East will spread to Europe and North America.

* Oil prices push higher on Libya supply concerns Oil prices have risen further on worries that supplies could be disrupted if unrest continues in Libya and spreads across the Middle East.

* Libyan military units defecting; Gadhafi left with ex-Soviet special forces Units of Libya’s military were said to be defecting to the opposition in the war to oust the regime of Col. Moammar Gadhafi.

* Palestinian FM: Statehood by September Dr. Riyad Al-Malki, the foreign minister of the Palestinian Authority, spoke to The Media Line about Iranian backing for Hamas.

* Arab League suspends Libya; minister defects US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday Libya must end violence against protesters seeking to end Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s 41-year rule.

* Building Boom and Prosperity in Golan Heights The Golan Heights, demanded by Syria, is enjoying an unprecedented building boom.

* Peres: Iranian warships a provocation, not a threat The Iranian Navy warships that crossed the Suez Canal are more of a provocation than a threat, President Shimon Peres told a gathering of close to 400 editors.

02/22/11

Posted on by
* Defiant Gaddafi refuses to quit amid Libya protests Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi has refused to stand down amid widespread anti-government protests which he said had tarnished the image of the country.

* Top Sunni cleric says army should kill Kadhafi Influential Muslim cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi issued a fatwa on Monday that any Libyan soldier who can shoot dead embattled leader Moamer Kadhafi should do so “to rid Libya of him.”

* Iran warships sail via Suez Canal amid Israeli concern Two Iranian warships have sailed through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean Sea.

* Libya replete with EU arms as Gaddafi massacres protesters As dead bodies pile up on the streets of Tripoli and blocked phone lines hamper the EU evacuation effort, the latest EU figures show that EU countries just two years ago granted over €160 million of export licences to Libya.

* Israel and EU clash over handling of Arab-Israeli conflict Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman has said there is “no link” between the Arab uprisings and the Arab-Israeli conflict.

* Revolts Will Topple Ahmadinejad and Nasrallah, Peres Says The people of Iran and Lebanon will overthrow Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hassan Nasrallah, President Shimon Peres told Spanish Jews.

* PA is using US veto to bolster its image Pro-Abbas demonstrations organized to showcase PA president’s stand against Obama, show that PA president has support of Arab street.

* Egypt swears in new cabinet, retains Mubarak-era ministers Egypt’s key portfolios of defense interior, foreign, finance and justice were unchanged in a cabinet reshuffle.

* The internet and the revolution of Homo Globalis In the last two decades, a new species has been born: Homo globalis is defined by its intimate connection to the global infotainment network.

* Israel and U.S. successfully test anti-missile system Israel and the United States successfully carried out a test of Israel’s Arrow anti-missile system off the coast of California on Tuesday morning.

02/20/11

Posted on by

* Libya protests: Col Gaddafi under mounting pressure Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s regime is under huge pressure after a night of protests in the Libyan capital Tripoli.

* CoS Mullen in Turbulent Middle East, Stunned by Upheavals US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen, on a pre-planned visit to the Middle East, says he is stunned by the pace of upheavals in region.

* US must be removed from Islamic world: Khamenei Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday called on Muslims to “remove” the US from the Islamic world.

* Italy and Czech Republic back Gaddafi despite bloodbath The EU is struggling to speak with one voice following a massive loss of life in Libya over the weekend and the regime’s vow to fight protesters to the “to the last bullet”.

* China’s security tsar warns over ‘jasmine revolution’ China’s official in charge of the state security apparatus has warned of the need to find new ways to defuse unrest.

* Suez Canal says Iran navy ships passage delayed Egypt postpones passage of Iranian vessels through Suez Canal en route to Syria by 48 hours. US says closely monitoring situation

* Why Arab Spring could be al Qaeda’s fall The burgeoning democracy movement across the Middle East appears to have caught al Qaeda off guard and threatens to reduce the terrorist group to irrelevance.

* Wash. Post: Intransigent Abbas Unwilling to Make Peace The Washington Post says the recent US veto in the UN might have one positive effect: The prompting of a reevaluation of “weak and intransigent” PA chief Mahmoud Abbas.

* Saudi Arabia chides US for vetoing UN resolution on Israeli settlements In rare show of criticism of its ally, Saudi Arabia expresses regret over US vote regarding resolution that described settlements as illegal.

02/19/11

Posted on by
* Palestinians plan ‘Day of Rage’ to protest U.S. veto on UN settlement resolution Palestinians are planning their own “Day of Rage” to protest the American veto on a United Nations resolution condemning Israeli settlements.

* Suez Canal Authority: No military approval yet for Iran warships Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority has not yet received military approval to allow two Iranian navy ships to pass north into the Mediterranean.

* As Army Pulls Back, Bahrain Protesters Retake Square Thousands of jubilant protesters surged back into the symbolic heart of Bahrain on Saturday.

* ‘Process of democracy in Egypt not dangerous for Israel’ Former head of Military Intelligence, Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin, said Saturday that “the process of democratization in Egypt is not necessarily dangerous for Israel.”

* Rice: UN resolution veto not endorsement of settlements US Ambassador Susan E. Rice said Saturday that the US vetoed a UN resolution which condemned settlements and called for a freeze on construction should not be “seen as an endorsement of Israel’s settlement policies”.

* Ashton to host global conference on north Africa European foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is to hold a high-level international conference in Brussels next week.

* Abbas: Ties with U.S. won’t be severed over veto of UN settlement resolution Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Saturday that he does not expect to cut ties with the United States.

* Arab League sees grave situation and wants summit The Arab League said on Saturday it was important that a March summit goes ahead in Baghdad.

* Libya: Snipers shoot mourners, killing 15 Moammar Gadhafi’s forces fired on mourners leaving a funeral for protesters Saturday in the eastern city of Benghazi.

* Jordan’s king gets warning letter from leaders of his own Bedouin base King Abdullah was said to have been alarmed by unrest within his traditional Bedouin tribal base.

02/18/11

Posted on by
* Security Forces in Bahrain Open Fire on Mourners Government forces opened fire on hundreds of mourners marching toward Pearl Square Friday.

* Egypt approves passage of Iranian warships Egypt has approved the passage of two Iranian warships through the Suez Canal.

* Fatalities mount as Arab unrest continues Clashes broke out Friday in Jordan’s capital between government supporters and opponents at a protest calling for more freedom and lower food prices, injuring eight.

* Brotherhood: Decision on peace up to ‘entire people’ The Muslim Brotherhood said on Friday that any decision on Egpt’s peace treaty with Israel was up to the Egyptian people and it would not impose its view on them.

* PA Ignores Obama, Seeks UN Condemnation of Israel The Palestinian Authority is seeking international condemnation of Israel, despite the Obama administration’s attempts to discourage the move.

* EU calls for dialogue as Bahrain, Yemen, Libya kill protesters The European Union has called for restraint and dialogue after Bahrain’s absolutist monarchy launched a military crackdown on protesters.

* Syria to EU: tackle Israel, not Egypt for Middle East peace The EU should take firm action against Israeli settlement-building and human rights abuses instead of playing politics in Egypt if it wants to calm tension in the Middle East.

* Revered Islamic preacher rallies Egyptians in Tahrir, signaling larger role for Islam Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a leading Egyptian Islamic theologian popularized by Al Jazeera, returned to Cairo today to deliver a stirring but overtly political sermon.

* Arab World: The bad news from Egypt What does the Egyptian revolution mean for Israel? A great deal and, unfortunately, none of it is particularly good.

* Ahmadinejad: Obama can’t spell his own name Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attacked Barack Obama on Friday, saying the American president “doesn’t even know how to spell his own name properly.”