JERUSALEM — Israel has been providing Washington with intelligence about potential Iranian attacks. Its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has made Iran’s strategic ambitions an obsession. And as recently as February he floated the idea of war with Iran. But analysts and former Israeli military and intelligence officials say the Israeli government is not angling for a full-blown war between the United States and Iran. Such a war, Israeli officials fear, could plunge Israel into a mutually destructive conflagration with Iran’s ally in Lebanon, Hezbollah. The insistent pressure on Iran, analysts said, is instead aimed at either forcing Iran to agree to a nuclear deal far stricter than the existing one, or creating conditions dire enough for fed-up Iranians to overthrow their government. [In the Middle East, fears that the Trump administration is building a flawed case for conflict.] “Nobody thinks about regime change militarily, but to weaken the regime, to weaken the Iranian economy, and to make the people of Iran change the regime — this is, I think, the ultimate goal,” said Amos Yadlin, a retired head of Israeli military intelligence who runs the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv. “Another very positive result is a better agreement.”
In the wake of the beheading of Ayatullah Baqir al-Nimr, the Middle East has quickly reshaped its political landscape. In response to the execution, Iranian protesters stormed Saudi embassies in Tehran and Mashhad, setting ablaze the office in its capital. While Iran arrested sixty individuals involved and even sacked its Tehran commander of special forces[1], Foreign Ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council met in Riyadh to issue a joint statement condemning the attacks as “terrorism” and accused Iran of “blatant interventions in the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” Saudi Arabia immediately announced the severing of diplomatic ties giving Iranian staff 48 hours to leave. Five days later, a Saudi airstrike struck Iran’s embassy in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa injuring several staff.[2] Whilst the violence and rhetoric between Riyadh and Tehran may have been a predictable outcome, what has been surprising is the response from countries without direct involvement in the latest Saudi-Iranian confrontation. First came the announcement from Bahrain, expeditious in following their closest Gulf ally by cutting diplomatic relations. This was swiftly followed by the UAE in downgrading its diplomatic representation. While Qatar and Kuwait recalled their ambassadors, Jordan summoned Iran’s ambassador to condemn the attack and “Iranian interference.” Even more curious, however, was the reaction of several African states. Sudan, Somalia and the tiny Horn of Africa nation, Djibouti, also cut ties with Iran citing “solidarity with Saudi Arabia.” This unprecedented trans-continental “solidarity” has drawn distinctly little attention from political commentators, almost establishing its normalcy in the political world. Few questions have been raised such as ‘what reason do these countries have to involve themselves in the Saudi-Iranian dispute’ or ‘why was there no such reprimand against the Saudis after airstrikes on the Iranian embassy?’ The silence is deafening. And it’s not the first time in recent weeks a trans-continental alliance with Saudi Arabia as its pivot has been formed. Full Story
New evidence has emerged that the Turkish government under President Erdogan is covertly providing direct military, financial and logistical support to ISIS, even while claiming to fight the terror network.
The evidence comes in the form of testimony from an ISIS terrorist captured by Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, widely recognised as the most effective force confronting ISIS on the ground.
The testimony has been reported by two Kurdish news agencies, the Syrian-Kurdish Harwar News Agency (ANHA) based in Rojava, and the Turkish-Kurdish Ajansa Nûçeyan a Firatê (Firat News Agency or ANF News). The latter’s head office is based in Amsterdam.
Websites of both news agencies are blocked in Turkey.
Interviews with the ISIS fighter, captured by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), reveal that Turkish military and security forces are facilitating ISIS operations within Syria, as well as ISIS terrorist attacks inside Turkey.
The new testimony corroborates similar claims made by other former and active ISIS members, as well as Western and Middle East intelligence sources.
Yet Turkey is a leading member of the NATO alliance. And while the Western members of NATO have gathered mounting intelligence confirming Turkey’s sponsorship of ISIS, they have refused to act on this intelligence. Read Full Story
Kenya Human Rights Commissioner, Hassan Omar Hassan
Former commissioner of the Kenya Human Rights Commission, Hassan Omar Hassan, reacting to the news in some Kenyan newspapers planted by the Israelis which reported that two Iranians wanted to bomb thirty places in Kenya!".
He wrote: "I hardly believe what Israel says. I add spoonfuls of salt to everything it says. They still live in the ‘invincibility’ syndrome and mentality. Thinking and believing that they can manipulate international public opinion. They perpetuate a myth of their ‘unparallel’ capacity in matters of security. So you live in fear of Israel and its designs. You are concerned that they can spook your drink or engineer a fatal road crush through an ‘innocent’ tyre burst. That they have ‘dirt’ against you should you raise an issue against them! Your feeble soul is sworn to criminal silence and inaction. The Palestinian quest for self-determination becomes a ‘terrorist’ resistance. Murder and international crimes are justified under the guise of Israel’s security. Our ‘third world’ psyches are imbibed in the make-belief that their surveillance is ‘omnipresent’ and their intelligence concrete and irrefutable. And with the compliment of stooge intelligence organisations and pseudo security officers like the ones we have in Kenya, the myth is complete. When we have the under-schooled ethnic zealots as managers of our security against the flambouyance and resources of ‘revered’ foreign intelligence organisations, you are an underdog. Our security then becomes the preserve of foreign dictates. When the US wills it, you are published on some list. Terrorist sponsoring nation, terrorist this or terrorist that, suspect this or suspect that. Through foreign-sponsored intelligence outfits and units, Kenyans are subjected to an unending spate of violation. Public accolade for these violations is spurned through conditions of fear and threat at times drummed by the uncritical media. That’s why I was relatively impressed by part of the coverage by our local media on the alleged plot by Iran on Israeli targets or interests in Kenya. The world is no longer foolish. Kenyans reacted in the various opinion pages on taking Israel’s assertions with a pinch of salt. In my travels while at the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, I witnessed a frustration of the US/Israel ‘movie’ tactics to stage manage and influence events to avert accountability for violations of the Palestinian people. To shift focus from the real issues! Nations and governments that stood firm with the Palestinian struggle were rogue, ‘terrorist’ sponsoring nations. The narrative was and is that these countries desire the destruction of Israel and possess of have ambition in “weapons of mass destruction” or nuclear weapons. On these allegations countries were bombed, towns and cities destroyed, hundred of thousands of its citizens killed and maimed, families shattered while others were embargoed and demonised." Source
An economist who conducted an audit for the Army War College found that as of 2003 Israel had cost Americans $3 trillion dollars because of the many associated and hidden costs of this money.
For example, Israel receives this massive aid in a lump sum at the very beginning of the fiscal year – unlike aid to any other country.
Since our government is operating at a deficit, this means that we borrow the money, deposit it in an Israeli account at a Federal Reserve Bank, and then taxpayers pay interest on this money long after it has been given away – while Israel makes interest on it.
It is failed policy that hurts everyone – both abroad and here at home.
This expenditure, unlike other governmental give-ways, is never openly discussed, due to the power of the Israel Lobby – the most powerful lobby on behalf of a foreign nation in our country.
A thorough, public discussion would show that it is a failed policy that prevents peace, perpetuates tragedy and injustice, finances discrimination against Christians and Muslims, drags Americans into endless Middle Eastern conflicts, and has caused damage to Americans for decades.
The demonstrators chanted “The people demand the expulsion of the infiltrators,” “We have come to expunge the darkness,” and “Tel Aviv is for Jews, Sudan is for Sudanese.” Ben Ari criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu for allowing African migrants to remain in the county after they had already entered in recent years. He called Netanyahu’s cabinet “the blackest government ever for Tel Aviv.” click for full story
In the Middle East, Israel has set up a cyber command to secure the country against hacking attacks on its key networks.
Israel's immediate neighbourhood is the place where it puts into use much of its technical know-how. Along its northern border with Lebanon, Israel deploys a large network of electronic eyes and ears.
And in the ongoing intelligence war between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, increasingly sophisticated electronic equipment is being used.
In February 2010, Lebanon arrested a man who reportedly confessed to being a Mossad agent. It was claimed that he had used sophisticated surveillance equipment that sent signals to his Israeli handlers via a mobile phone and computer located in a hidden compartment inside his car.
It may all sound like science fiction, but a global spying network does exist that can eavesdrop on every single phone call and email on the planet.
Eavesdropping on phone calls and text messages has become increasing easy for those with the right equipment, especially with the development of GSM networks - the technology used on the vast majority of mobile phone networks around the world. Read Full
Thousands of Israelis are set to stage a demonstration in Israel to protest at the high cost of living and social inequality in the occupied lands.
Fresh rallies are planned for Saturday in several Israeli cities including Tel Aviv against the economic policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
There have already been weeks of anti-regime demonstrations in Israel with many people arrested during the protests. The demonstrators say they can no longer afford the sky-rocketing housing prices, which have jumped by 50 percent in recent years.
They are also calling on the regime to curb the high costs of fuel, food and healthcare. The protests have exposed a deep middle-class frustration over the economy, presenting Netanyahu with his biggest domestic challenge yet.
On Friday, hundreds of people also held a demonstration in Tel Aviv, warning that they would block roads all over Israel on August 1 if the cabinet of Netanyahu fails to meet their demands. Read Full
About 40% of the country's electricity production is from natural gas, and about half of the gas comes from Egypt, via exporter EMG.
"The first, most important thing that needs to enter the public discourse is energy security. This is something that is starting to concern many countries around the world, and it should concern us, too," Zemach told the Herzliya conference. full story
I asked what is the future, which they want to lead them and what future holds for them?
The answer was simple, let us choose what we want, we don’t want America or Israel to affect who leads us or who we elect. We are adults, intelligent enough to decide what is right and what is wrong for us. While Gamal was uttering these words the shining in his eyes made me think with youth like him they can never choose wrong, provided they are given a chance to elect. We ended the debate and decided to move. Get regular update
There was a huge participation outside Shia Jaame' Masjid, Dongri in Mumbai South after the Friday prayers protesting the occupation of Israel of the First Qibla in Jerusalem. The last Friday of the month of Ramadhan is observed as the protest of al-Quds day.
Looking at the currents events involving Zionist government's atrocities towards Palestinians and the siege of Gazza has made the Muslims angry towards America and its partners in occupation in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The protesters shouted slogans against the US and the Israel. They were also angry on the hypocrisy of the France and the United Kingdom. One of the protester who has taken off from his office today to be the part of the rally said, "On the atrocities to the Palestinians, the wealthy Arabs are to be blamed as well." Sadiq Abbas an IT professional shouted that the First Qibla is occupied by the Yahudis and the Second one by the Saudis.
While elsewhere in the world there huge rallies in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey and other Muslim countries. As per the news agencies thousands of Palestinians have poured into the streets of Gazaa, marking the International Quds Day.
Chanting anti-Israeli slogans, the angry demonstrators said they will gladly sacrifice all they have to end the Israeli occupation of al-Quds (Jerusalem).
Palestinians have repeatedly said that they insist on East al-Quds, which Israel occupied in 1967 and annexed in 1981, as the capital of their future state. Under international law the area is an occupied territory.
Angry Palestinians also condemned the so-called reconciliation talks between Israeli Prime Minister and acting Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas. The talks were held in Washington on Thursday.
Millions of people around the world have marked the international Quds Day by participating in rallies denouncing Israel's atrocities against Palestinians. The rallies were held to show solidarity with the Palestinians, demanding an end to Israel's occupation of their territories.
Michel Collon, a Belgian journalist and author, in his book "Israel, let's talk about it," has slammed European media over decades of "lying" to people in order to support Israel.
Collon, in his book, has recounted "10 big lies" spread by Western media in order to "justify the existence and actions of Israel", which are concisely presented.... CLICKto know it.......
Did you know that non-Jewish Israelis, cannot buy or lease land in the Zionist entity?
Did you know that Palestinian license plates in Zionist entity are color coded
to distinguish Jews from non-Jews?
Did you know that Israel allots 85 per cent of the water resources for Jews and
the remaining 15 percent is divided among all Palestinians in the territories?
For example in Hebron, 85 per cent of the water is given to about 400 settlers,
while 15 per cent is divided among Hebron’s 1,20,000 Palestinians?
Did you know the United States awards Israel $5 billion in aid each year?
Did you know that yearly US aid to Israel exceeds the aid the US grants
to the whole African continent?
Did you know that the Israel is the only country in the Middle East that has nuclear weapons?
Did you know that the Israel is the only country in the Middle East that refuses to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and bars international inspections from its sites?
Did you know that Israel currently occupies territories of two sovereign nations (Lebanon and Syria) in defiance of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions?
For the Jews who claim that according to the Bible the land is theirs:
God said to Abraham,
"Unto thy SEED, I will give thy land." Abraham had two sons and two seeds.
Ishmael - the Arab son, and Isaac - the Jewish son.
The Bible even identifies Ishmael (the Arab son) as Abraham’s son and seed: "And Hagar bore Abram a son: and Abraham called his son’s name, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael" (Holy Bible:Genesis 16:15). There’s more in Genesis 17:23, 17:25, 17:26, 25:9, 25:12. So even if one wants to go to the Bible, the land would belong to both seeds of Abraham.
Did you know that Israel has for decades routinely sent assassins into other countries to kill its political enemies?
Did you know that high-ranking military officers in the Israeli Defense Forces have admitted publicly that unarmed prisoners of war were executed by the IDF?
Did you know that Israel refuses to prosecute its soldiers who have acknowledged executing prisoners of war?
Did you knowthat Israel routinely confiscates bank accounts, businesses, and land and refuses to pay compensation to those who suffer the confiscation?
Did you know that Israel blew up an American diplomatic facility in Egypt and attacked a US ship in international waters, killing 33 and wounding 177 American sailors?
Did you know that the second most powerful lobby in the United States, according to a recent Fortune magazine survey of Washington insiders, is the Jewish AIPAC?
Did you know that Israel stands in defiance of 69 United Nations Security Council Resolutions?
Did you know that today’s Israel sits on the former sites of
more than 400 now-vanished Palestinian villages,
and that the Israelis renamed almost every physical site in the country to cover up the traces?
Did you know that it was not until 1988 that Israelis were barred from running
"Jews Only" job ads?
Did you know that four prime ministers of Israel (Begin, Shamir, Rabin, and Sharon)
have taken part in either bomb attacks on civilians, massacres of civilians,
or forced expulsions of civilians from their villages?
Did you know that Sharon’s coalition government includes a party Molodet,
which advocates expelling all Palestinians from the occupied territories?
Did you know that Israel’s settlement building increased in the last nine years since Oslo?
Did you know that settlement building under Barak
doubled compared to settlement building under Netanyahu?
Did you know that Israel once dedicated a postage stamp to a man
who attacked a civilian bus and killed several people?
Did you know that recently declassified documents indicate that
David Ben-Gurion in at least some instances approved of the expulsion of Palestinians in 1948?
Did you know that despite a ban on torture by Israel’s High Court of Justice,
torture is still continued by Shin Bet interrogators on Palestinian prisoners?
Did you know that Palestinian refugees make up the largest portion
