Author: Zohan

Turkish President Abduallah Gul skipped a lunch attended by Israel’s Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Saturday at an international conference held in Vienna, Austria. Officials at Gul’s office said that the president found out that Barak would be attending the event, held as part of the Fourth Edition of the World Policy Conference, and decided…

U.S. Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich thrust himself into controversy on Friday by declaring that the Palestinians are an “invented” people who want to destroy Israel. The former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives predictably sided with Israel in its decades-old dispute with the Palestinians but took it a step further in an interview…

Three rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning, yet landed in open spaces and caused no injuries or damage. On Friday, a Qassam landed in an open area in Hof Ashkelon, following IAF strikes in Gaza on Thursday. Earlier Friday morning, a rocket also fell in the Negev area of southern Israel.…

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta urged Israel on Friday to “reach out and mend fences” with Turkey, Egypt and other security partners in the Middle East, saying he is troubled by the Jewish state’s growing isolation in the volatile region. He also pressed Israeli leaders to do more to restart peace talks with the Palestinians…

The collapse of the 40-year-old Assad regime in Syria would radically change the politics of the Middle East, reducing the influence of Iran and its Islamist proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon, the main Syrian opposition leader in exile has said. Syria would align itself with the Arab League and the Gulf, Syrian National Council leader Burhan…

Lebanese media reported on Friday that two people were wounded in a blast that occurred in the south of the country, between the towns of Srifa and Deir Kifa. According to some of the reports, the blast targeted espionage devices which were destroyed by Israel after being exposed by Hezbollah. However, a different report suggested…

The Palestinian Authority must return to Mideast peace talks with Israel, Opposition Leader Tzipi Livni told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday, adding that Palestinians should not allow themselves to be swept up by extreme Islamic forces. Livni’s comments were made during a meeting with Abbas in the Jordanian capital of Amman, which was also…

An Iranian general on Saturday threatened retaliation against Israel if any of its nuclear or security sites are attacked. “If Israeli missiles hit one of our nuclear facilities or other vital centers, then they should know that any part of Israeli territory would be target of our missiles, including their nuclear sites,” General Yadollah Javani…

The U.S. Treasury will send its top national security official to the United Arab Emirates and Israel this weekend to brief government officials on new U.S. actions to increase financial pressure on Iran. The Treasury said David Cohen, undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, will discuss the Obama administration’s decision to declare Iran a jurisdiction…

French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for lunch on Thursday with leaders of the French Jewish community, and said that his description of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a liar “was taken out of context.” The meeting was held at the the Élysée Palace in Paris. Sarkozy made the comment during a private conversation with…

U.S. national security adviser says that U.S., Russia and China are united in their opposition to Iran getting a nuclear weapon; sources say U.S. plans to sanction Iran’s petrochemical industry. The White House said on Saturday that Iran is facing an unprecedented degree of isolation, with major world powers united in their opposition to Iran…

Hamas PM adviser states that Hamas will support Palestinian efforts to receive UN recognition; says goal of all Palestinian factions is a state on 1967 borders with capital in Jerusalem. Fatah and Hamas have agreed that the next Palestinian government will be located in the Gaza Strip, and hence the next head of the Palestinian…

Government newspaper in Iran quotes brother of dead Revolutionary Guard commander saying accidental explosion took place during missile test; Iranian officials have denied press speculation on Israeli involvement. The brother of an Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander killed in an explosion at an ammunition depot west of Tehran last week has been quoted by a government…

Explosion occurs in the village of Bidganeh where the Fifth Raad Missile Brigade, responsible for launching Shahab 3 and 4 missiles, is stationed; satellite images of the site reveal two large military bases near the village. At least one massive explosion at a military weapons depot near the Iranian capital Tehran on Saturday killed several…

U.S. Secretary of State says at a Pacific Rim summit that Islamic Republic has ‘long history of deception’ regarding its nuclear program. Iran must respond soon to a report by the UN atomic agency alleging that it is working secretly on developing a nuclear weapon, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday while attending…

Speaking to reporters in Tunisia, Palestinian President rules out the possibility of dissolving the Palestinian Authority if UN efforts fail. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his officials stressed Saturday that they will continue efforts to seek full United Nations membership in spite of the latest setbacks at the UN Security Council. A Palestinian application for…

Iranian army general: Dimona nuclear site could be targeted in response if Israel attacks Iran. By Interfax News Russia will not support new, tougher sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, Interfax news agency quoted a senior Russian diplomat as saying on Wednesday. “Any additional sanctions against Iran will be seen in the international community…

Foreign Secretary William Hague tells House of Commons that decision to abstain made after consultations with fellow Security Council member France and other European countries. By The Associated Press Foreign Secretary William Hague says Britain will abstain when the United Nations Security Council votes on the Palestinian bid for statehood. Hague told the House of…

IAEA plans to share satellite imagery of a large steel container believed to be used for nuclear arms-related high explosives tests, diplomats say. By The Associated Press The UN atomic agency plans to reveal intelligence next week suggesting Iran made computer models of a nuclear warhead and other previously undisclosed details on alleged secret work…

Senior U.S. military official tells CNN U.S. ‘increasingly vigilant’ over military developments in Iran and Israel, says ‘absolutely’ concerned Israel may attack Iran nuclear facilities. By Haaretz U.S. officials are concerned that Israel will not warn them before taking military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities, a senior U.S. military official said Friday. The official, who…

Israel Navy intercepted two vessels with 27 activists, medical supplies sailing from Turkey to Gaza on Friday; one Israeli citizen released, two Greek citizens flown home Saturday, two journalists flying Sunday. By Reuters, Jack Khoury and Anshel Pfeffer Israeli authorities on Saturday began deporting pro-Palestinian activists who tried to breach the naval blockade of the…

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says in interview with Channel 2, ‘it was our mistake, it was an Arab mistake as a whole,but do they (the Israelis) punish us for this mistake for 64 years?’ By The Associated Press Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Friday in an interview with Channel 2 that the Arab world…

According to IDF sources, strike targeted an Islamic Jihad cell responsible for launching a Grad rocket that exploded in southern Israel earlier this week. By Avi Issacharoff and Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz The IAF struck an Islamic Jihad training camp Saturday in southern Gaza Strip, killing five, including one of the organization’s senior members. According to…

Foreign Ministry spokesman says security agencies in the country will determine the number and names of Egyptian prisoners to be released in return for Israeli Ilan Grapel. By Jack Khoury and DPA Egypt was finalizing a deal for a prisoners’ swap with Israel, in which an Israeli national detained in Cairo would be exchanged for…