Syria warns of Israeli ethnic cleansing

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=123148§ionid=351020202


Syria calls on the international community to unite in the face of Tel Aviv's intentions to purge the occupied West Bank of its Palestinian residents.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Monday the world had to take up "a clear stance on Israeli attempts to adopt a policy of ethnic cleansing in the West Bank and to expel Palestinians from their homeland," reported the Syrian Arab News Agency, quoted by AFP.

The Israeli military recently announced a mass expulsion measure against Palestinians from the West Bank, insisting that anyone caught there without an Israeli permit of entry or residency is an "infiltrator."

Visiting Arab League chief Amr Moussa also said after a meeting with President Assad on the issue that the Israeli regime "places itself above international law" by announcing such plans.

The regime's forces captured the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (al-Quds) in 1967 before proceeding to implement what has been denounced as an insidious policy of annexation.

Meanwhile, Tel Aviv has recently also announced plans to build a 1,600-unit settlement in East al-Quds

Israel must denuclearize, Erdogan says

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=123061§ionid=351020204


The Turkish premier says the international community should take action to disarm Israel as part of the efforts to make the Middle East a nuclear weapons-free zone.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday before leaving for the nuclear security summit in Washington, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the international community has turned a blind eye to Israel's nuclear program.

Pointing out that Israel is believed to be the sole possessor of nuclear weapons in the Middle East and is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Erdogan said, "Until now, we haven't seen any request or intent from the international community with regards to Israel's (armament). We are going to ask the international community: why haven't you addressed this issue?"

The Turkish premier announced that he would raise the issue at the Washington summit and call on all 47 countries attending the forum to pressure Tel Aviv to relinquish its nuclear arsenal.

Erdogan said Iran's nuclear program has come under scrutiny as a result of its membership in the International Atomic Energy Agency whereas Israel, which has not signed the NPT, is "free to do what it wants."

Israel reportedly possesses 250 to 300 nuclear warheads.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to cancel plans to attend the Washington summit after learning that Cairo and Ankara would demand that Tel Aviv sign the NPT at the meeting.