'War on Iran spells disaster for Israel'

Israel's Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/159937.html


Israel's Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi has reportedly suggested that a military action against Iran's nuclear facilities would have irreparable consequences for Tel Aviv.

"A military strike is not the right way to foil it [Iran's nuclear program]," Ashkenazi said. "Initiating a war will only bring disaster upon Israel."

According to a Wednesday article in the prominent Israeli daily Ha'aretz, there are two fronts within the Tel Aviv regime over launching an offensive against Iran.

The first warmonger group includes hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak; and the second group, who is worried about the aftermath of a strike, includes Ashkenazi himself, Head of Israel's Mossad spy agency Meir Dagan, Military Intelligence Chief Amos Yadlin and Head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence body Yuval Diskin.

Last spring, Ashkenazi was assured by Netanyahu that his views would be heard over a military confrontation, according to the article.

However, the Israeli defense minister appointed Major General Yoav Galant as Ashkenazi's successor. Ashkenazi will retire next month.

Meanwhile, Tamir Pardo, who favors a military action against Iran, was appointed as the new chief of Israeli spy agency, replacing Dagan.

Earlier on Tuesday, Netanyahu called for "a credible military option against Iran," insisting that the military effort should be taken by the 'international community' and led by the United States.

The fresh rhetoric comes a week after Tehran invited envoys representing "geographical and political groups" in the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to visit Iran's nuclear sites.

In addition to Iran's recent invitation, the IAEA continues to conduct its regular inspections and camera surveillance of Iran's nuclear facilities.

Iranian officials and lawmakers have hailed the invitation as a major step toward proving Iran's policy of "nuclear transparency" to the international community.

As an IAEA member state and a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran has repeatedly refuted repeated Western accusations that it has a hidden military agenda.

US House against Palestinian State

The US House of Representatives has approved a resolution opposing the declaration of a Palestinian state.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/155697.html


The US House of Representatives has declared its opposition to the recognition of an independent Palestinian state, urging Palestinians to stop their efforts to push for such a move.

The House unanimously approved a resolution opposing unilateral declaration of Palestinian state on Thursday, Ha'aretz reported.

Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Rep. Howard Berman, who introduced the resolution, criticized Palestinian efforts to push the international community to recognize a Palestinian state.

The remarks came after Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay recognized the Palestinian state to support the rights of Palestinian people, whose land has been occupied by Israel.

The Latin American states announced that they recognize a free and independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.

On Monday, the European Union also said in a statement that it "reiterates its readiness, when appropriate, to recognize a Palestinian state."

The resolution also urged the White House to "deny recognition to any unilaterally declared Palestinian state and veto any resolution by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to establish or recognize a Palestinian state outside of an agreement negotiated by the two parties."

According to the resolution, Palestinian leaders should cease all efforts to gain recognition of a Palestinian state from other nations, within the United Nations. It also called upon foreign governments not to extend such recognitions.

Washington, which brought the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel to the negotiation table once again in September, failed to persuade Tel Aviv to extend its partial settlement slowdown, which expired late September.

The ongoing Israeli settlement projects stalled the US-sponsored direct talks.

The United States agreed to provide fighter jets to Israel and veto any anti-Israeli resolutions in the UNSC instead of an extended three-month freeze, but last week the Obama administration said it would not continue to ask Israel for the move.

Acting PA Chief Mahmoud Abbas has said he would not return to the negotiations as long as Tel Aviv continues its illegal settlement projects, adding that he would push for recognition of Palestine in the United Nations should Israel not cooperate over its settlement activities.

Palestinians say that the settlement activities are being carried out to prevent the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The international community backs Palestinian demands for a state in most of the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East al-Quds (Jerusalem), all territories occupied by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War.

Rabbi slammed for promoting 'genocide'

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef (C) surrounded by members of his staff during a rally of his Shas party


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/140519.html


The chief Palestinian negotiator has urged worldwide condemnation of Israel's genocidal figures after a top Israeli clergyman wished all Palestinians dead.

Referring to the Palestinians, the founder and spiritual leader of Israel's ultra-orthodox Shas party, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef said on Saturday, "All these evil people should perish from this world," Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz reported.

He especially desired the demise of acting Palestinian Authority (PA) Chief Mahmoud Abbas, referring to him by name.

The remarks raised eyebrows partially as it came from a party partnering with Premier Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud in the ruling coalition. They also preceded upcoming direct peace talks between Israel and the PA.

The Palestinian official, Saeb Erekat, called on the international community "to condemn incitement to genocide by public figures in Israel," AFP reported.

Yosef "is literally calling for a genocide against Palestinians, and there seems to be no response from the Israeli government," he said in a statement.

"He is particularly calling for the assassination of…Abbas who within a few days will be sitting face to face with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Is this how the Israeli government prepares its public for a peace agreement?" Erekat pointed out.

He said Tel Aviv had "to do more about peace and stop spreading hatred."

The Shas spiritual leader made similar comments in April 2001, calling for the annihilation of Arabs.

Israel orders destruction of 2 mosques

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/139907.html


Israel has ordered the destruction of two newly built Palestinian mosques in the West Bank amid plans of resuming peace talks next month.

The civil administration issued the orders under the pretext of lack of construction permits, Israeli daily Haaretz reported on Monday.

One of the mosques is located near Burin village and the other one near Jalazoun village.

The order comes at the time the Muslim people of the Palestinian territories are in the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Acting Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepted to revive direct talks in Washington on September 2.

Israel's latest order to destroy the mosques and carrying out settlement activities in the occupied territories, especially in East al-Quds (Jerusalem), may hinder the peace talks.

The Palestinian Authority says that Israel's ongoing settlement activities, home demolitions, evictions, land confiscations and ID revocations would undermine talks.

'Butcher of Gaza' annoys Arabs

Yoav Galant (The Butcher of Gaza), Israeli Defense Minister
Ehud Barak's choice for the future chief of general staff


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/139845.html


Many Arab outlets wail at Israel's choice of next military chief, Yoav Galant, who is known as the 'butcher of Gaza' for commanding a deadly war on the strip.

Pending approval by Tel Aviv, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has appointed Major General Yoav Galant to succeed the current holder of the position, Gabi Ashkenazi. The move was also welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Galant oversaw the January 2008-December 2009 Israeli offensives on the Gaza Strip, which killed more than 1,400 Palestinians, inflicting a damage of above $1.6 billion on the impoverished enclave's economy.

On Monday, media outlets in the Arab world either expressed disapproval of the nomination or greeted it with derision, the Palestinian Ma'an news agency reported.

The agency said the Lebanese broadcaster al-Manar TV had referred to Galant as a "war criminal."

The military leader's enlistment with the Israel Defense Forces began in 1977, the Israeli website Ynetnews said.

He, however, left Israel for Alaska to work as lumberjack, it said. Several websites seized upon the matter, calling Galant "woodcutter."

Israeli forces covering al-Aqsa Mosque

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=138504§ionid=351020202


Israeli police have strengthened their presence in East al-Quds (Jerusalem) ahead of the first Friday prayers of the holy month of Ramadan.

More than 2,000 policemen were deployed in and around the al-Aqsa Mosque to restrict the entry of Palestinian worshipers, who are expected to turn out in large numbers for the prayers.

A Press TV correspondent reported that the Israeli military limits the Palestinians every Ramadan to put pressure on them.

The police said in a statement that men aged between 15 and 50 need to have special permission to enter the holy city.

Israel has also set up extra checkpoints near the segregation wall in the occupied West Bank. It has generally kept East al-Quds off limits to Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza for years.

Israeli restrictions in the last few years have led to confrontations between thousands of worshipers and Israeli forces.

UN wants Hezbollah intel. on Hariri case

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=138342§ionid=351020203


The UN tribunal probing the murder of former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri has called on Hezbollah to submit all information it has in a bid to assist the inquiry.

The request came after Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah presented new indications of Israeli involvement in the killing of Hariri in a massive car bomb explosion in 2005.

The evidence included footage from Israeli spy drones of routes used by Hariri and recorded confessions by Israeli spies substantiating that the assassination of Hariri was carried out on orders from Tel Aviv.

Nasrallah says the Lebanese Defense Ministry reports also show Israeli surveillance planes and warplanes flew over the area where Hariri was assassinated on the day of his murder.

"In line with its mandate, the Office of the Prosecutor has requested the Lebanese authorities to provide all the information in possession of (Hezbollah) Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah," the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon said in a statement on Wednesday.

"This request includes the video material that was shown on television during the press conference, as well any other material that would be of assistance to the Office of the Prosecutor in unveiling the truth," the statement added.

Chief prosecutor Daniel Bellemare has promised the court will assess the information thoroughly.

Israel to deport 400 children

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=137073&sectionid=351020202


The Israeli Parliament (Knesset) approves the deportation of 400 children and their families whom Tel Aviv considers a "tangible threat" to Israel.

Those affected by the new measure fail to meet the regime's criteria of speaking Hebrew and having lived in Israel for more than five years, AFP reported on Sunday.

They have been given only 21 days to return to their homelands.

The motion passed 13 to 10 after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to table an earlier proposal, which he said "is much more harsh and dramatic," Ynetnews reported.

The Israeli Children organization warned that the decision targets kindergarten kids and other children, who "will fail to meet impossible bureaucratic demands."

The premier, however, said "illegal" immigration was a "tangible threat to the Jewish and democratic character" of Israel, the agency added.