Thursday, January 22, 2009

Uproar in Lebanon over rosaries bearing photo of Hezbollah chief


Was I the first one to mention this a few days ago? (Link)



BEIRUT-22 Jan. 2009 (AFP) – Rosaries bearing a picture of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah have created an uproar within Lebanon's Christian community with some saying the depiction is an insult to Christianity.
"The rosaries are an insult to our Christian beliefs," an official with the Christian Lebanese Forces party told AFP on Thursday. She spoke on condition of anonymity.
"They are an attempt to influence public opinion within the Christian community so that people get used to seeing a photo of Nasrallah next to the Virgin Mary or saints," she added.
She said the Lebanese Forces was not pointing an accusatory finger at Hezbollah but felt that the Shiite Muslim party backed by Iran and Syria needed to take action to prevent the distribution of the rosaries.
Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir, head of the powerful Maronite Church in Lebanon, which counts no less than 18 communities and where power is divided along religious lines, has also jumped into the fray saying that one should not mix politics and religion.
A Hezbollah official told AFP that the party had nothing to do with the rosaries and accused the rival Western-backed Lebanese Forces of trying to create dissension among the religious communities.
"Why is Nasrallah guilty if people decide to put his picture on rosaries?" said the official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity. "This issue is dangerous."
Last November a photo exhibition by Lebanese filmmaker Jocelyne Saab was ordered to remove pictures deemed controversial, notably one of Nasrallah alongside Christ on a crucifix.
And in 2006, riots erupted in Beirut over a Lebanese comedy program that mocked Nasrallah.
(Source)

Monday, January 19, 2009

Hizbullah propaganda: Nasrallah portrayed as the Saviour of Christianity

This video is freaky. It should be carefully examined and studied in all its facets.

To portray Nasrallah as the savior of Christianity in Lebanon and maybe in the world is a daring move by Hizbullah.

In southern Lebanon, some people are starting to believe he's the Mahdi...

Other people have recently seen the face of Moghnieh on the moon.

Unless the Mossad is spraying something in the air of Southern Lebanon, I'd start to make some enquiries.


(Video released on 17 Jan. 2009)



Sunday, January 18, 2009

Iranian publisher plans book of caricatures, satire of Holocaust


Reuters

TEHRAN - January 18, 2009-
A student-linked Iranian publisher plans to launch English- and Arabic-language versions of a book of caricatures and satirical writings about the Holocaust, a semi-official news agency reported on Sunday.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad caused outrage in the West and Israel for saying in 2005 the state of Israel should be wiped off the map and for a Tehran conference in 2006 that sought to cast doubt on the Holocaust, in which 6 million Jews were killed by the Nazis.

The book deals with the "big historical distortion" of the Holocaust and the English and Arabic editions would be published at a ceremony in Tehran later this month when a message from Ahmadinejad would be read out, Fars News Agency said.

It appeared to be translations of a book which official media in September said had been published about the "fiction" of the Holocaust. Details could not immediately be confirmed.

"The presentation ceremony will be held on Jan. 27 ... with the attendance of a number of government officials," said Mohammad-Mehdi Hemmati, who is involved in the project.

The Islamic Republic does not recognise Israel's right to exist and refers to it as the "Zionist regime". It has condemned Israel's recent attacks in Gaza, which Ahmadinejad has described as "genocide".

Iran's IRNA news agency said in September the book had 52 caricatures plus satirical writings over 108 pages. It was published by Martyr Shahbazi Publications and the Islamic student movement of the Science and Industry University.

Iran staged an international competition and exhibition of cartoons about the Holocaust in 2006. That contest was held in response to cartoons published in Denmark that were deemed anti-Islamic, officials have said.

Israeli President Shimon Peres has called Iran's nuclear programme an "existential threat" to the Jewish state.

In September, Peres called Ahmadinejad a danger and a disgrace at the United Nations, after the Iranian president blamed "Zionist murderers" for everything from the Wall Street crisis to Russia's invasion of Georgia.

Israel, believed to have the Middle East's only atomic arsenal, and the West say Iran has a covert programme to build nuclear weapons. Iran, the world's fourth largest oil producer, denies this, saying it wants technology to generate electricity. (Source)

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Italians fully behind Israel


From Fiamma Nirenstein's blog

Dear friends, we didn’t expect what you see now in the picture. This is the square of the Italian Parliament in Rome, Piazza Montecitorio: you can see the Palace on top of the square, and in front a lot of Israeli flags.That was Wednesday night, January 14, from 6,30 to 9,30 pm. What you cannot see here, is the extraordinary number and variety of members of the Parliament, about 100 from all political sides, that took the stage during our marathon: for about three hours we have been speaking about the role of Israel, its right to self defense, its moral height, its fight in name of all of us, of our civilization and values, against the wild hate of the Islamic jihad represented by Hamas. It seems to me that for the first time in the too long history of the arab Israeli conflict, apart from a minority of crazy leftists and fascists that took the street on anti-Semitic slogans, we have obtained a huge consensus about one critical point: this is not an episode of a local conflict, there is nothing in it that reminds the land for peace theme that has characterized the Palestinian issue. This is an episode of the attack agains the western world, and Iran has a lot to do with it. The change of attitude is great: the dictatorial religious nature of Hamas and the democratic, civilized nature of Israel are seen face to face for what they are al least by the European elite at large, dead and wounded notwithstanding, and there rises an identification with Israel against a regime that uses human shields and promises slaughters of Jews in its Chart.What happens today, at least in Italy, is the defeat and fall of the leftist ideologies: ideology has been the fig leaf that has allowed to justify all the most violent crimes and most disgusting verbal attacks. If Arafat launched the terrorist Intifada, if he promoted the martyrdom of children in public speeches, the ideologists were ready to justify him with the issues of occupation, the Palestinian misery and loss of any hope. Not the same with Hamas. History, in Italy, has brought to a profound crisis the ideology of revolution and the justification of any cruel attack against a pretended unjust imperialist order. That time is in good part over, nobody will see Hamas as the resolution of the problem and not as the problem itself. I also think that the word “peace” has lost that healing meaning that it had until yesterday. The new non-ideological point of view sees that there is no peace when one of the contenders doesn’t want it, and that even if the world in the short run asks for a truce, in the long run requests a defeat of Hamas. Well, yesterday night many people, Ministers and Members of Parliament, composed a very new, interesting puzzle of opinions. I think that when you are not overwhelmed by exotic thirdworldism, the images of children educated as hate machines, the speeches of jihad leaders, from Ahmadinejad to Nasrallah, to Hanje, that deny the holocaust and promise death to Jewish and Christians too, have on us a result of great disgust. Westerners, thanks God, can still be disgusted by an uncivilized level of political speech. But most of all, in the Parliament square, many of the Parliament Members said: “I love Israel”. You can’t imagine how many.


giovedì 15 gennaio 2009

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Today's catch in Gaza: weapons inside mosque (video)



Video taken by IDF forces in the Gaza Strip, reveals how Hamas militants were using a mosque, traditionally a place of worship, as a weapons depot and an area of operation.

Monday, January 12, 2009

France: three antisemitic attacks during the night

12.01.2009
In Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis), two petrol bombs have been hurled at the Beth Habad Ohr Menahem synagogue.
A Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis), deux cocktails Molotov ont été lancés dimanche soir contre la synagogue Beth Habad Ohr Menahem

In Schiltigheim (Bas-Rhin), in the outskirts of Strabourg, petrol bombs have been hurled at a house being used as a place of worship by the local jewish community

A Schiltigheim (Bas-Rhin), dans la banlieue de Strasbourg, des cocktails Molotov ont été lancés dans la nuit de dimanche à lundi contre une maison servant de lieu de culte à la communauté israélite.

In Puy-en-Velay (Haute Loire), a dozen antisemitic inscriptions ("We must kill the Jews" and "Free Gaza" among others) have been discovered this morning on the wall of a social centre.

Au Puy-en-Velay (Haute Loire), une dizaine d'inscriptions antisémites et pro-palestiniennes ont été découvertes lundi matin sur le mur d'un centre social situé dans la banlieue de la ville. Ces graffitis, parmi lesquels deux étoiles de David, ainsi que les slogans «Il faut tuer les juifs», «Vive la Palestine» et «Libérez Gaza»...

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Israel says shots fired from Syria at Golan troops

11 Jan 2009 16:07:22 GMT
Source: Reuters

JERUSALEM, Jan 11 (Reuters) - The Israeli army said troops in the Golan Heights came under small arms fire from Syria on Sunday and that, although no one was hurt, it had complained to the United Nations force that monitors the frontier area.

"There were a number of bullets fired from Syria at an Israeli army force doing engineering work near the fence," an army spokesman said of the incident, which came amid an Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip that has outraged many Arabs.

"No one was hurt but a vehicle was damaged," the spokesman added. "Forces in the field are examining the incident and a complaint was sent to UNDOF which sent a team there. The circumstances of the incident are still unclear."

There was no immediate comment from Syria or from UNDOF, the U.N. force which monitors a usually quiet ceasefire line between Israeli forces on the Golan Heights and Syrian troops.

Israel captured the plateau from Syria in a war in 1967 and later annexed it in a move not recognised internationally.

Syria wants the land back and had begun Turkish-mediated indirect peace talks with Israel last year, the closest contact the two sides had had since 2000. Syria said it broke off the talks after Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip on Dec. 27.

Israel says it has stepped up security along its borders since the Gaza offensive began. Three rockets fired from Lebanon hit the north of Israel on Friday, although Israeli and Lebanese officials called this an isolated incident which they attributed to Palestinian refugee groups rather than Hezbollah guerrillas. (Writing by Alastair Macdonald; Editing by Louise Ireland)

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Rome: swastikas on Jewish shops



This is going too far!

Signor Alemanno, Mayor of Rome and friend of Israel, must stamp out the blossoming anti-semitism from the Eternal City asap.

Read: Svastiche sui negozi ebrei di Roma (Corriere della Sera)


Pictures from Here

Friday, January 09, 2009

Israel says map shows Hamas puts Gaza civilians at risk


On Thursday (Jan. 8), the Intelligence Corps Officer-in-Chief, Brigadier General Yuval Halmish, found a sketch by Hamas that details on the deployment of explosives and Hamas forces in the Al-Attara neighborhood in the northern Gaza Strip. The map was found during Paratrooper Brigade forces operating in the northern Gaza Strip and was translated from Arabic during the operation. It describes, among other things, the location of explosive devices and firing positions in the middle of the civilian population in the dense neighborhood, which endanger the life of the civilians. “That’s what Hamas has been doing throughout the entirety of the operation – perversely using civilians as human shields,” says Brig. Gen. Halmish.

The map shows that snipers are positioned at the entrance of the A-Tawil mosque and in the mosques next to it and describes the directions the snipers are aiming. It indicates that explosives are planted in the entrances of civilian homes. Hamas operatives are divided into three fighting areas throughout the neighborhood, colored blue, red and green. Throughout these area IEDs, (improvised explosive devices), barrel explosives, explosives, explosives against humans and anti tank explosives are planted. In addition to that, the map also shows an explosive device planted next to a gas station – the detonation of the device would significantly damage the surrounding area. “The important point is the disregard for human life in using entrances civilian homes,” explains Brig. Gen. Halmish. “They booby-trapped the entrances of civilian houses with explosives put close to them; the objective is of course to hit our forces but a local explosion also damages the houses of the civilians and causes great damage, and likely killing civilians.” Brig. Gen. Halmish also adds that Hamas prevents the distribution of the IDFs cautionary leaflets that ask the civilian population to leave their houses, saying, “Although IDF forces make every possible effort not to harm civilians and only target Hamas members and terror operatives, Hamas prevents these things.”

The forces also discovered a booby-trapped doll at the entrance of a building, which, upon detonation, pulls the surrounding people into an underground tunnel. This, in other words, is an attempt to hit or kidnap soldiers. “This is done all the time,” explains Brig. Gen. Halmish. According to him these findings testify to Hamas’s military development, notably their network of underground tunnels that IDF forces constantly uncover. The results of the operation are good nevertheless, says Brig. Gen. Halmish. “There are a lot of casualties on the Hamas’s side, and great damage in their infrastructure. Because of Hamas, a number of uninvolved people were hit; for instance at UNRWA school Hamas was firing rockets from – the terrorist organization keeps using the civilian population in the manner.” IDF

Syria urges UN not to accept Israeli gifts made in Golan

How sad, Assad!

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 9 (KUNA) -- Syria on Friday urged the UN to order its staff not to accept Israeli holiday gifts of wine made from grapes harvested and bottled in the occupied Syrian Golan.
"I strongly condemn this provocative and irresponsible behaviour by the Permanent Mission of Israel. The action demonstrates contempt for international legitimacy at UN Headquarters," Syrian UN Ambassador Bashar Al-Ja'afari said in a letter to the UN Secretary-General and President of the General Assembly. He recalled a Security Council resolution which called upon Israel to protect private and public land, property, and water resources and that any action taken to the contrary has "no legal validity."

French teens charged for taunting Jewish girl

Villiers Le Bel/ FRANCE (AFP)
Four teenagers from the Paris suburbs have been charged with beating a Jewish schoolgirl and taunting her over the Israeli offensive in Gaza, officials said Friday. The 14-year-old victim told investigators she was called a "dirty Jew," kicked in the legs and forced to eat snow by a group of youths outside her high school in the rough suburb of Villiers le Bel. One of her attackers allegedly told her: "We don't like what your brothers are doing in Gaza," lawyers said.

A special judge for minors charged the three youths late Thursday with acts of violence linked to a person's religion, and a fourth for failing to prevent a crime, the state prosecutor's office said. According to defense lawyers, the judge suggested the youths, aged between 13 and 15, could be sent on a course on the subject of racism and anti-Semitism. All four have been suspended from school and are set to face disciplinary action. France, home to Europe's biggest Arab and Jewish populations, has been on alert for an increase in anti-Semitic violence as the conflict in Gaza stirred communal tensions. On Monday, unidentified attackers rammed a burning car into a gate outside a synagogue in southern France, while French Jewish groups have recorded a spike in anti-Semitic taunts and attacks. Al-Arabiya

Thursday, January 08, 2009

In defense of Israel's 'disproportionate' response in Gaza

It's war. Victory requires a superior military advantage.

Kannamachi, Japan - January 9, 2009

It seems that whenever Israel responds to violent overtures from groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas, leaders of the international community are quick to assign equal condemnation to Israelis and Palestinians regardless of whether one is legitimately acting in self-defense.
Whether it is due to a latent anti-Semitism, the desire to avoid inflaming fundamentalist Arab passions, or simply an unrealistic belief in equality, world leaders are focusing too much on buzzwords.
In the case of Israel, the buzzwords are the "disproportionate" and "excessive" use of force – terms used in the 2006 Lebanon war and most recently spoken by French President Nikolas Sarkozy and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in response to Israel's Gaza offensive.
This is a particularly puzzling criticism of Israel. Would the international community truly prefer a proportionate or equal response? If Hamas launches three crudely-fashioned rockets into Israel, should the Israeli government respond with three equally-crude rockets? If three Israeli Defense Forces are kidnapped by Hezbollah, should the IDF respond by kidnapping an equal number of Hezbollah foot-soldiers?
The notion of "proportional" response lacks both merit and logical support for several reasons. In war, there are winners and losers, and the only palatable means of victory come from a disproportionate use of force. Victors are inherently more skilled in combat, tactics, and in the effective deployment of (generally superior) technology.
It does not make sense to demand one technologically or militarily superior belligerent to refrain from fighting to their full potential, simply because they are able to enact "disproportionate" damage on a weaker foe.
Should the United States have refrained from using the atomic bomb because Japan did not yet possess one? Would it have been better to extend Lend-Lease to Nazi Germany as well as Britain so that neither side would gain the advantage? Simply put, a militarily superior force should not limit itself due to the international community's desire to root for the underdog.
The notion of "proportional" responses is further baffling in that such occurrences actually prolong conflicts.
One need only look to the warfare in World War I. Equally-manned belligerents, using the same tactics, the same weapons, and the same defenses resulted in both sides being bogged down in interminable trench-warfare. No side could gain the upper hand and thus the conflict continued in an endless back-and-forth.
The cold war is another example of a proportional conflict. Both Russia and the United States maintained near-parity in regard to weapons, manpower, and political influence, and neither could emerge as sole superpower. As a result of its drawn-out nature, the conflict spread beyond America and Russia to encompass the entire Eastern and Western worlds. For an international community so concerned with peace, condemning "disproportionate" response, thereby accepting endless symmetrical warfare, appears hypocritical.
To be sure, discretion is the better part of valor, and that makes genocide a line that is unacceptable to cross. The use of retaliatory military force must not be reflexive. If peaceful solutions fail, however, the use of force is a viable option that may have to be employed.
Certainly, an indiscriminate carpet-bombing or use of nuclear weapons on Gaza would be an unacceptable and excessive use of force, but if care is taken to minimize the loss of civilian life, then states should be able to respond as they see fit.
In the 2006 Lebanon war, as well as the current Gaza offensive, this proportionality argument has no place. In neither case did Israel decide to launch unprovoked, unnecessary air and ground assaults on a whim as a way of boasting its military might. In both cases, Israel's actions came as a response to provocations from groups bent on its destruction.
Hamas should garner no international sympathy simply because it made the poor decision of engaging an enemy of far-superior military might. The international community must further realize that both belligerents do not always need equal blame placed upon them.
Israel's superior military power comes with responsibility, however. In the wake of the Gaza offensive, Israel should be active in supplying humanitarian aid to affected civilians, and to help moderates such as Mahmoud Abbas regain influence in the area.
Hamas is owed nothing, of course. But in order to further peace negotiations, civilians and moderates must be given any support necessary from Israel.
With the latest Gaza offensive, world leaders must condemn Hamas for abandoning its truce with Israel and recklessly endangering Palestinian citizens, while supporting Israel's right to defend itself, not offering platitudes condemning a "disproportionate" or "excessive" use of force.
• Allan Richarz is is a writer and teacher currently working near Tokyo. (Source)

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

The long-range 120 mm mortars raining down on Israel are Iranian


"Just 25 minutes after the "humanitarian pause" declared by the IDF came to an end Wednesday afternoon, Hamas fired two Grad rockets towards southern Israel. One landed inside Beersheba; no injuries or damage have been reported." Ynet

The long-range 120 mm mortars raining down on Israel are Iranian.

The press calls the rockets "Grads" or "Katyushas," the Russian name given several generations ago to the original Soviet-made surface-to-surface missiles. Today, it would be more correct to label some of the missiles by their real name, the "Arash," the name given to them by their Iranian manufacturers. The long-range 120 mm mortars raining down on Israel are also Iranian in origin. The mortars are equipped with auxiliary motors to increase their range from six to ten kilometers. Those 40 km missiles Hamas is unleashing against Israeli cities are certainly not "amateur rockets… nagging the residents" of Israeli cities, as a Palestinian journalist recently wrote in a Washington Post op-ed.
The longest range "Grads" were manufactured in China and many of these were smuggled to Hamas via Iran. Visitors to Sderot's rocket heap museum of spent missiles can view Iranian-made weapons for themselves. Throughout 2008, the Iranian Arashes and mortars were fired from Gaza with deadly results. In February 2008 the mortars were fired at Kibbutz Sa’ad. In June the mortars were used against Kibbutz Nirim, killing one and wounding four. In November, eight soldiers were wounded by such a mortar at Nahal Oz. The Arash missiles were fired against Ashkelon on several occasions during 2008.

Continues HERE

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Venezuela Expels Israeli Ambassador -Official

CARACAS (AFP)--The Venezuelan government Tuesday expelled Israel's ambassador to Caracas, to protest the Israeli military's operation in the Gaza Strip, the Venezuelan foreign ministry said.
"Venezuela has decided to expel Israel's Ambassador and some of the staff at the Israeli Embassy, restating its call for peace and respect for international law," the ministry said in a statement.
-Dow Jones Newswires, 201-938-5500

Mortar bombs shot from UN school in Gaza


I am not trying to justify the killing of 30 civilians in today's bombing of the UN school in Gaza, but what happened today brought back memories...

Mortar bombs shot from UN school in Gaza 29 Oct 2007


Turkey holds suspicious Iran-Venezuela shipment


ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey was holding a suspicious shipment bound for Venezuela from Iran because it contained lab equipment capable of producing explosives, a customs official said Tuesday.

Suleyman Tosun, a customs official at the Mediterranean port of Mersin, said military experts were asked to examine the material, which was seized last month, and decide whether to let the shipment to go to Venezuela.

Authorities detected the equipment during a search of 22 containers labeled "tractor parts," Tosun said. They were brought to Mersin by trucks from neighboring Iran, he said. Turkey's Interior Ministry said an investigation was under way.

"Experts from Turkey's Atomic Institute determined there were no traces of radioactive material, but said the equipment was enough to set up an explosives lab," Tosun said. "We have asked the military to send experts to determine whether to resume the shipment."

Some barrels, labeled with "danger" signs, contained chemicals. Tosun said details were still unclear.

An Iranian embassy official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the shipment contained "nothing important."

Iran and Venezuela operate various joint ventures in Venezuela, including plants to assemble tractors and cars. The two countries also have agreed to team up on petrochemical projects. (Source)

Ontario's largest university workers union calls for ban on Israeli professors


Ontario's largest university workers union is proposing a ban on Israeli academics teaching in the province's universities, in a move that echoes previous attempts to boycott goods and services from the Jewish state.

"In response to an appeal from the Palestinian Federation of Unions of University Professors and Employees, we are ready to say Israeli academics should not be on our campuses unless they explicitly condemn the university bombing and the assault on Gaza in general," said Sid Ryan, president of CUPE Ontario.

Len Rudner, regional director of the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) in Ontario, called the resolution "unbalanced, unfair and unhelpful."
"Once again Sid Ryan is jumping before thinking," Mr. Rudner said. "I think it's ironic individuals who speak about freedom of speech jump to the opportunity to take that freedom away from other individuals."

Read it all HERE

London Jews under attack

(My pic)

By News Editor Declan Wilkes

Jews across London are facing a surge of anti-Semitic attacks following the continued violence in Gaza.
On Sunday night, three youths tried to torch Brondesbury Park Synagogue in Willesden - earlier that day Israeli troops entered the Palestinian territory.
On New Year's Eve, a man was pulled from his car just as he was about to drive off and assaulted by three men whom he described as being of Arab appearance. The victim did not suffer any serious injury.
A gang of youths chanting anti-Semitic slogans, waving flags and intimidating locals tried to enter restaurants and shops in Golders Green.
There are also reports from charities of anti-Semetic graffiti going up across the city, slogans include: "Kill Jews" and "Jews are scumbags."

Violent embassy protests

Meanwhile pro-Palestinian protesters continue to mass outside the Israeli embassy in a demo they vow will last all week despite the plunging temperatures.
A wave of anti-Israeli feeling spread over the city this weekend when large rallies were held across the city culminating in angry exchanges and clashes with the police as they fought to protect the Kensington embassy from attack.
Hundreds of demonstrators ripped up and hurled barriers threw sticks and missiles and attempted to rush the building.
Roads were closed and police in riot gear had to contain the 5,000 strong crowds on Kensington High Street. Protesters burned the Israeli flag and labeled the country a terrorist state.
Police say they are working with Muslims to insure protests pass off peacefully with non confrontational stewarding methods. (Source)

Monday, January 05, 2009

Iran to set up a field hospital on the nearest point to Gaza

05/01/2009
Iran has told Egypt it is ready to treat people wounded in the Israeli offensive on Gaza and is seeking permission to set up a field hospital nearby, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said Monday.

Iranian officials have condemned Israel for its attacks and expressed support for the Palestinian Resistance group Hamas, criticizing what they say is the silence of some Arab states.

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki wrote to his Egyptian counterpart Sunday outlining Iran's offer to treat wounded people from Gaza, ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi told a news conference in Tehran. He said the letter expressed "Iran's readiness for receiving and treating the wounded at hospitals."

Qashqavi said the letter also "asked for the cooperation of Egypt for setting up an Islamic Republic field hospital and its medical team on the nearest point to Gaza at the recommendation of the Egyptian government."
"We are awaiting response to this demand," he said. (Al-Manar)

Yemeni Jews Attacked Over IDF Operations in Gaza


January 4, 2009


The children of Yemeni Jews in Raida district of Amran province were assaulted on Sunday by Yemeni Muslim students due to the Israeli attacks on Gaza.
Some Jewish children were injured, one seriously, when Muslim students threw stones at them in “solidarity with the Palestinian kids in Gaza”.
Zaher Kafra, Jewish, was seriously wounded and immediately taken to the Raida Hospital for treatment. (His age is unknown at this time)
This incident took place one day after the authorities announced that preparations for relocating the Jewish Community in Amran to live in the capital Sana’a following of threats members of the community have recently received.
R’ Moshe Yaish HY”D was killed early last month by a former Yemeni pilot, who is now on trial.
(Source: News Yemen)

Lebanon's Hariri Says Hezbollah Will Stay Out Of Fight


Thank you very much, Hassan! Viva la vida!

PARIS (AFP)--Leading Lebanese politician Saad Hariri Monday dismissed concerns that Hezbollah guerrillas might seize upon the fighting in Gaza to renew attacks on Israel's northern border.
"Yesterday, Hezbollah said that they would do nothing. I think that's a good thing for Lebanon," said Hariri, who is leader of the biggest parliamentary bloc in Lebanon's ruling anti-Syrian coalition.
"Lebanon's political parties know well what would be the consequences of a war with Israel today. We can see what is happening in Gaza and I'm sure that Hezbollah will make no bad mistake this time," he said.
Hariri was speaking in Paris, after having lunch with Prime Minister Francois Fillon at a time when France is engaged in a diplomatic campaign to rally international support for a renewed ceasefire in Gaza.

Sunday, January 04, 2009

Israel/Gaza: two pictures that tell a different story


Gazans being treated in Ashkelon

(YNET) Michael Bloomberg, NYC mayor, visited the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon and went down to the children's ward that has been relocated to the bomb shelter.
The mayor met with two Palestinian women from Gaza who were staying at the hospital. One of the women, from Gaza's Rimal neighborhood, arrived with her grandson that was born some three weeks ago and suffered medical problems. The boy's mother was left behind in Gaza and could not leave.
The other Palestinian woman Bloomberg met with was pregnant and waiting to give birth.


Israelis live in bomb shelters in Ashkelon

Israelis sit in a bomb shelter in the southern city of Ashkelon. (REUTERS/Amir Cohen (ISRAEL)