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.

Latest Israeli offensive into Gaza kills 4

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=121731§ionid=351020202


The number of Palestinians killed in the latest Israeli offensive into Gaza strip has reached to four.

Violence erupted again after Israeli forces supported by tanks invaded the southern town of Khan Younis on Friday.

Earlier reports said the incursion resulted in the death of two Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers.

Two Israeli soldiers, including a high-ranking officer, were killed by Gazan resistance fighters during the incursion.

Hamas' military wing, al-Qassam Brigades, has claimed responsibility for the Israeli fatalities.

"We take the responsibility for the killing of the Israeli soldiers in southern Gaza. What happened shows that the al-Qassam Brigades are fully prepared to confront an Israeli aggression," Press TV correspondent in Gaza quoted Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Ubaidah as saying on Saturday.

"We also want to dedicate this operation to the soul of our late commander Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh who was assassinated by Israel's Mossad agents in Dubai," he added.

The violence added to the strain on Israel, which is already under pressure from the international community over the expansion of its settlements in occupied Palestinian land.

European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said she was "extremely concerned" by the latest violence and called on both sides to exercise restraint.

"Such actions undermine current efforts to facilitate a resumption of the peace process," AFP quoted Ashton as saying in Brussels.

Israeli forces raid Al-Aqsa Mosque compound

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=120101§ionid=351020202


Israeli forces have stormed the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied East Jerusalem Al-Quds and cordoned off its premises where dozens of Palestinian protesters had gathered.

Eyewitnesses said that Israeli policemen had encircled the Al-Aqsa Mosque since the early morning hours and clashes erupted in the holy complex after the Israeli forces raided the area to push out the Palestinians.

The protesters responded to the attack by throwing stones. Several people were injured and dozens more detained in the unrest.

Muslims consider the frequent Israeli attacks on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound as part of a Judaization campaign that targets the holy city of Jerusalem Al-Quds and a provocation of Muslim feelings.

Israel occupied Al-Quds during a 1967 aggression and later annexed it. The status of the city is among the thorniest issues of the so-called peace process with the Palestinians, underscoring the reality that any Palestinian state should include the city as its capital.

Romania approves US missile deployment

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=117880§ionid=351020606


Romania has given the go-ahead to a revamped Washington plan to deploy medium-range ballistic missile interceptors in the Black Sea state.

Romania's President Traian Basescu announced on Thursday that the country's Supreme Defense Council has approved a Washington proposal to include Romania in a defense system against "potential attacks with ballistic missiles or medium-range rockets."

"Terrestrial interceptors will be located inside the national territory," he said, according to Reuters, adding that the US facilities were expected to become operational in 2015.

Basescu said that the missile project is merely aimed at protecting Europe and Romania, reiterating that the anti-missile system is not a threat against Russia.

"The new system is not against Russia. I want to categorically stress this, Romania does not host a system against Russia, but against other threats," he said.

US President Barack Obama scrapped a Bush-era missile project to place interceptors in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic, introducing the new plan which involves Romania.

The new plan, however, still needs the backing of Romania's parliament, before it can be implemented.

Obama warns Iran of 'growing consequences'

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=117267§ionid=351020104


In his first State of Union address to Congress, US President Barack Obama warned Iran that it will face "growing consequences" over its nuclear work if ignores its “obligations.”

He used his address to Congress on Wednesday to show how he intends to govern in the next three years. He also delivered a warning to Iran.

President Obama claimed diplomatic efforts had "strengthened" the US position in dealing with countries that he said are violating international agreements, referring to Iran and North Korea.

"That is why the international community is more united, and the Islamic Republic of Iran is more isolated. And as Iran's leaders continue to ignore their obligations, there should be no doubt: they, too, will face growing consequences," he said.

He also accused Iran of "violating international agreements in pursuit of" nuclear weapons.

Iran says its nuclear program is directed at the civilian applications of the technology and is in line with the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, to which it is a signatory.

On Wednesday, a senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would seek support for new UN Security Council sanctions against Iran during her stay in London this week.

According to the official, the former first lady will hold private meetings with the foreign ministers of Russia, China, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to garner support for new Iran sanctions.

Earlier this month, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (P5+1) met in New York and failed to agree on a new round of sanctions.

During the meeting, Russia and China called for patience and restraint in dealing with Iran over its nuclear program.