WarSclerotic

Israel strikes Gaza after overnight mortar attack – Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News.

Kibbutz security chief is the first casualty of rocket fire from Gaza since March.

By Reuters

The IDF launched air strikes on the Gaza Strip early Thursday morning, hours after a mortar shell fired by militants wounded a man at an agricultural community close to the border, IDF officials said.

A military spokeswoman said the strikes were aimed at three separate targets in the Gaza Strip, two of which militants confirmed were sites they used for training. No casualties were reported.

	A rocket that landed in a Jewish community in the region bordering Gaza.
	Photo by: Limor Edri

The IDF strike was apparently in retaliation for a rocket attack from Gaza on Wednesday night. Gaza militants fired about five mortar rounds late on Wednesday and fragments from one of them wounded one man.

The man, the head of security in one of the kibbutzim in the Eshkol region, which borders the Gaza Strip, was reportedly hit in the neck by a piece of shrapnel outside his home. He was taken by helicopter to hospital in Beersheba, but his wounds were not life-threatening, the IDF spokeswoman said.

He was the first casualty from shells fired by Gaza militants into Israel since March when an agricultural laborer from Thailand was killed when he was hit by a mortar shell.

Residents of surrounding towns were ordered by the Israel Defense Forces to stay in their shelters until further notice.

Earlier this month Israel Defense Forces soldiers killed two armed Palestinian militants suspected to trying to infiltrate through the Gaza Strip border.

Does truth endanger world peace? – Israel Opinion, Ynetnews.

Op-ed: WikiLeaks showed that main threat to world peace today is Iran, not the truth

Melody Sucharewicz

Until few decades ago, the world order was regulated by traditional mechanisms: politics, diplomacy and military. Today, there is a fourth, no less powerful instrument: the media, and at its front, the Internet. The extent of its power is shown by the most recent WikiLeaks wave, which catapulted a number of states, and especially the United States, into a whole spectrum of political emotions – ranging from diplomatic embarrassment to fear of political damage, to mischievousness and outrage. 

Is the fear justified? Yes. WikiLeaks is shaking the foundations of discretion, without which diplomatic relations can hardly function. Without discretion, there is no trust, and without trust, there can be no cooperation. And that is the premise for pursuing joint national interests and for fending off joint threats.

Indeed, WikiLeaks once more exposed itself as a selective warden of the truth. Yes, the documents are obviously real, and they are really embarrassing. However, what would the publication of Russian, Chinese, Arab, Iranian or European embassy correspondence most likely reveal? We would likely see embarrassing/rude comments, especially among the four former actors, as well as proof of intense espionage activities in the political, military and economic realms. On another note, the nuclear armament of the Iranian Mullah regime, as well as the justified fear by its Arab neighbours and their demand to stop Ahmadinejad were pulled out from diplomatic anonymity – serving as a powerful signal for Europe’s political elites to act politically instead of focussing on economic trade with Iran.

WikiLeaks, contrary to founder Julian Assange’s declared intention, became a litmus test for international relations, yet with a happy end: just like in private life, relationships between states that are based on shared values like democracy and freedom (to which freedom of expression belongs) can cope with serious strains; especially, when these strains had been produced with dubious intentions.Julian Assange now deserves our gratitude, for having “outed” the collectively hidden fear of Ahmadinejad’s radical-Islamist imperialism, thus forcing the international community to act with more determination and effectiveness against the Mullah regime.

In other words, today it is not the truth that endangers world peace, but rather, the fanatics who strive for the bomb.

‘EU seeks to okay Iran nuclear program in exchange for UN supervision’ – Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News.

The European Union is advancing an offer according to which Iran would be allowed to continue its uranium enrichment if it allowed tight UN supervision, sources told Haaretz on Wednesday.

	Technicians measuring parts of Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant in this undated photo.
	Photo by: AP

The issue was reportedly discussed during the recent P5+1 talks concerning Iran’s contentious nuclear program, which concluded earlier this week in Geneva.

According to the offer, Tehran would be able to continue enriching uranium if it agreed to close supervision by the International Atomic Energy Agency supervisors, which would include surprise checkups.

At the two-day talks, the powers sought to put concerted pressure on Iran to agree to discuss its nuclear work, which the West suspects is aimed at making bombs.

Sources speaking with Haaretz Wednesday indicated that the offer would be discussed in further detail in the next round of talks, which is scheduled to take place in Istanbul at the beginning of next year.

The initiative, which had been discussed in general terms in past nuclear talks, is led by High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton during the recent two-day round of talks.

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Ashton failed to mention the planned offer, yet indicated that the EU recognized Iran’s rights, but that it insisted that Tehran fulfill its obligations.

The EU’s Foreign Minister added that practical ideas and methods of reaching a mutual solution to the nuclear issue would be discussed in Istanbul.

According to sources speaking with Haaretz, the U.S. administration wasn’t’  “thrilled” that the EU and Ashton situated themselves at the forefront of the global effort to tackle Iran’s nuclear program.

However, the sources claimed, the United States was willing to let the EU take a central role in order to make Iran give up its nuclear ambitions.

The Geneva round of talks did not do much to change the pessimism as to the possibility of any deal with Iran, as most UN diplomats estimating that Iran was only trying to buy more time.

Earlier this week, Iran’s chief negotiator to nuclear talks said that Tehran would not consider relenting on its right for uranium enrichment.

“I am announcing openly and clearly that Iran will not discuss a uranium enrichment halt in the next meeting in Istanbul with major powers,” Saeed Jalili told a news conference after the talks.

Underlining how far apart the two sides remain, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said negotiations with the West could work if sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear activities were scrapped — a likely non-starter for major powers.

Intelligence Corps: Hezbollah is Getting Stronger and Could Overturn the Government.

According to an official in the Intelligence Corp’s Research Division, sanctions on Iran are not stopping the development of its nuclear plans and Hezbollah continues to get stronger

Jonatan Urich

“The sanctions placed on Iran have not prevented it from continuing to development its nuclear program, though they are absolutely damaging the country’s economy,” said Col. Yossi Adler, Deputy Head of the IDF Intelligence Corp’s Research Division, in a discussion of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday (Dec. 7).

During the discussion, Col. Adler said that the financial situation in Iran is forcing the government in Tehran to cancel subsidies for its citizens, this in the context of renewing negotiations between Iranian officials and the great powers regarding the continuation of Iran’s nuclear program.

According to Col. Adler, Hezbollah is continually becoming more powerful and receiving arms from Syria which, “threatens central Israel the most.” During the discussion, he added that “the chances of tension from this trickling down to Israel are low.”

Furthermore, the Deputy Head of the IDF Intelligence Corp’s Research Division said there is fear that Hezbollah will take over Lebanese government institutions following publications by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which is investigating the murder of Lebanon’s former Prime Minister Rafik Al-Hariri. Two weeks ago, the Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, said he assumed the chances of a Hezbollah attack on Israel are low according to the aforementioned publications. “As long as the report is in favor of Hezbollah, stability in the area will remain,” he said.

WikiLeaks cables reveal that Israel-Iran conflict is ideological – Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News.

The leaked cables reveal that the Israeli-Iranian conflict is about more than the nuclear issue. It is a sweeping ideological conflict. And history teaches that such conflicts end only when one side has been knocked out.

By Aluf Benn

‘Syria refused to join war against Israel’ – Israel News, Ynetnews.

According to diplomatic cable, Iranian officials asked Damascus to help them fight Jewish state in case of war but were turned down

Syria refused to fight on Iran’s side in case of a military stand-off between Tehran and Israel following an attack on its nuclear facilities, an American document published by WikiLeaks revealed on Wednesday.

The statements in the document, dated December 20, 2009, were probably made by a diplomatic source who spoke with American Embassy officials in Damascus.

The source said Syria refused Iranian demands to join them in case a war breaks between Israel and the Islamic Republic or Hezbollah. According to the report, official Iranian sources visited Syria at the beginning of the same month in order to solidify alliances ahead of a possible Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. The quoted diplomatic source claimed the Iranians told their Syrian counterparts that it was not a question of will Israel attack, but rather a question of when it will attack.

Damascus told the Iranians in response not to expect Syria, Hezbollah or Hamas to take part in this war.According to the source, Syrian officials replied by saying that Iran was strong enough to develop its own nuclear program and fight against Israel. The Iranians, on their part, were not so pleased with the response.

WikiLeaks: Saudis proposed plan to destroy Hizbullah.

During a May 2008 meeting between US Ambassador to Iraq David Satterfield and Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal, the latter said a “security response” was needed to confront the “military challenge” posed to Lebanon by the Iranian-backed militants.

The cable stated that “Saud argued for an ‘Arab force’ to create and maintain order in and around Beirut.”

“The US and NATO would need to provide transport and logistical support, as well as ‘naval and air cover.’ Saud said that a Hizbullah victory in Beirut would mean the end of the Siniora government and the ‘Iranian takeover’ of Lebanon.”

The meeting between the two official came a few days after Hizbullah and other pro-Syrian groups in Lebanon took over Beirut, after months of street riots, and threatened the pro-western government of then-prime minister Fouad Siniora.

According to the WikiLeaks document, Saud argued that a Hizbullah victory against the government “combined with Iranian actions in Iraq and on the Palestinian front would be a disaster for the US and the entire region.”

The Saudi foreign minister further argued that the current situation in Beirut was “entirely military” and so the response should be a military one as well.

Faisal said the threat by Hizbullah required an “Arab force drawn from Arab ‘periphery’ states to deploy to Beirut under the ‘cover of the UN’,” according to the cable.

He noted that Siniora strongly supported the plan but the only Arab countries informed of it were Egypt and Jordan, and the secretary general of the Arab League, Amr Moussa.

The US official responded with skepticism about the military viability of the plan, and said the UN’s agreement on the issue was questionable, but the US would look into the decision.

DEBKAfile, Political Analysis, Espionage, Terrorism, Security.

Turkey

Effusive Kremlin welcome for Lebanese PM Hariri

With his sharp instincts for chances in the field of energy, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was stirred into discreet action by Israeli entrepreneurs’ discovery in the past year of a gas bonanza – three fields, dubbed Tamar, Dalit and Leviathan, off Israel’s Mediterranean coast, debkafile‘s Moscow sources report. Their currently estimated reserves of 25 trillion cubic feet would more than cover Israel’s energy needs and enable it to become a gas exporter, revolutionizing an economy which has developed despite a paucity of natural resources.
Neither did Putin miss Beirut’s claim that Israel was “looting” Lebanese gas resources, or that Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri had encountered a polite rejection when travelled to Nicosia on Oct. 21 to ask Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias for help in mapping the borders of oil and gas fields in the Mediterranean.

Moscow accordingly went into action by inviting Hariri for a visit, which took place Nov. 16-17.

With his back to the wall in a life-and-death struggle to save his government from falling into the hands of Hizballah, the Lebanese prime minister was granted the rare honor of an elaborate welcome by both Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev. The Russian prime minister then pitched into his spiel: Moscow could help Lebanon place itself on the map of oil and gas fields and pipelines in the eastern Mediterranean. But to exploit its oil and gas wealth under the sea, Lebanon needed Russia as energy partner and provider of funds, equipment and skilled labor.

Russia would reciprocate with heavy investments in the Lebanese economy that would restore Beirut to its former prestige as financial capital of the Middle East and an assured supply of advanced weapons at token prices to secure those investments.

None of this prevented the Russian prime minister from sending a delegation to Tel Aviv last week to sound out Israel’s gas new tycoons for opportunities. On offer were Russian investments in funds and equipment and a Russian-Israeli partnership in laying the gas pipeline which Israel and Greece are planning as part of their evolving strategic alliance

The Lebanese prime minister left Moscow with an understanding in his pocket on three points. As a mark of Russian goodwill, he was promised the gift of six MI 24 helicopters 31 T-72 tanks, 36 130 mm cannons complete with half a million shells and thirty thousand artillery shells – an unprecedented donation to a country outside Moscow’s sphere of influence.
Their understanding extended to three key areas:

1. They would discuss big Russian firms building a number of gas-powered electricity plants in Lebanon, backed by Kremlin guarantees and financing – against a Lebanese guarantee to purchase their output over a 30-year period.

2.  The Russian-built Arab Gas Pipeline Project Phase II, designed to bring gas from Egypt and run through Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Turkey, would grow a Lebanese branch. On Dec. 5, a Kremlin official said: “We want to study a possibility of gas shipment from Syria to Lebanon, for example, by using the Arab Gas Pipeline capacity.”

3.  Moscow offered to build three nuclear power plants in Turkey.

The second understanding was the real reason for Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Beirut Wednesday, Nov. 24 and his talks with Hariri. Erdogan now has a new interest in defusing the tensions in Lebanon and keeping Hariri in power.

debkafile‘s military sources say that, in addition to his abiding interest in energy, Vladimir Putin keeps his eye on the big Russian naval base going up in Tartous, Syria. As headquarters of the Russian Black Sea and Mediterranean fleets, this base will also guard Moscow’s investments and holdings in gas and oil fields in the Mediterranean.

Did Mossad try to kill Ahmadinejad? – Israel News, Ynetnews.

(I do not believe the Mossad would want to kill Ahmadinejad.  He’s the best PR Israel has going for it. – Joseph Wouk)

Iranian source says Tehran uncovered Mossad attempts to arrange assassination operation during Ahmadinejad’s Lebanon visit; those involved in plot ‘sold their soul to Zionists,’ he says

Roee Nahmias

Did Mossad try to assassinate Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during his visit to Lebanon six weeks ago? This claim was made by an Iranian source in an interview with the London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat.

The report was not confirmed by any other source.

According to the Iranian source, Iran “uncovered Mossad attempts to assassinate Ahmadinejad during the visit using Iranian opposition elements, some of whom reside in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.” The source added that Tehran is aware of the activity of Iranian opposition elements who he said “had sold their souls to the forces of imperialism and Zionism.”The source further stated that Iran is not interested in discussing the opposition activists directly “so as not to give them more weight than they have.”

“We do not call them opposition elements as one would call the political opposition which ran against Ahmadinejad in the elections; rather, we call them ‘hypocrites’ because they cooperate with outside forces and the Zionists against the Islamic revolution and the Iranian people.”

According to the report, Iranian security forces cooperated not just with Lebanon’s official security forces but also with Hezbollah’s special security units to guard Ahmadinejad.

The source said that Iranian representatives visited the northern border two weeks ago and went as far as the Fatma Gate.

He refused to say whether they were military, security or political officials but noted that the delegation observed the IDF soldiers stationed at the other side of the border.

Peres, PM express gratitude to nations that helped in fire.

Israel has frequently sent medical and rescue teams to disaster areas, but last week was the first time that Israel found itself in the position of having to ask for help.

Both President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu made this point when expressing appreciation on Tuesday to delegations and to diplomatic representatives and defense attaches of countries that responded with alacrity to the catastrophe that confronted Israel with the outbreak of the Mount Carmel inferno.

The special ceremony, for which plans were hatched only on Monday afternoon, was in itself a massive operation that involved the President’s office, the Prime Minister’s Office, the IDF, the Police, the Air Force, the National Fire and Rescue Services, the Foreign Ministry, the embassies of all the countries that sent planes, other equipment and manpower to help fight the blaze, caterers, et al.

For some 90 minutes before the start of the ceremony, the grounds of Beit Hanassi resembled a hybrid between a UNIFIL base and the Tower of Babel, as scores of firefighters, pilots, operations personnel and others, wearing various uniforms in different colors – such as bright orange, navy, khaki, light olive, red and green and brown camouflage – and speaking different languages, mingled with television crews, radio and newspaper reporters and barely managed to take advantage of the Beit Hanassi repast as they answered questions.

They seemed to enjoy the fresh Hanukka doughnuts more than anything else, and the trays were replenished again and again.

Later they crowded into the main reception area, literally taking up wall-to-wall space.

Peres recalled that Netanyahu had been at another ceremony at Beit Hanassi on the day on which the fires had broken out and had excused himself to rush to Mount Carmel, making some phone calls to world leaders along the way.

The combined effort of all the firefighting and rescue teams who had come to Israel was the “highest expression of human responsibility” said Peres, adding that Israel was overwhelmed by the response.

He was particularly moved by the fact that so many firemen leaped into the flames in order to save lives, and termed the whole operation an “outstanding, courageous performance.”

Commenting on the fact that all those who fought the blaze were fighting to make the world a more humane place, Peres was convinced that if hostilities could be put aside in the face of human need, this could bring about change and lead to peace.

Netanyahu, quoting from the second book of Samuel, in which David, in mourning the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, described them as swifter than eagles and bolder the lions, used the Biblical text to describe the bravery of all those who came to help Israel in her hour of crisis.

In expressing his profound gratitude to the teams and the governments they represent, Netanyahu said: “You came, you saw, you acted and you put out the fire.”

He spoke of how he had called Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou to ask for firefighting planes such as the ones he had seen in Greece, and the answer was “they’re on the way.” Seven hours later they were in Israel. Similar responses came from other world leaders.

“If they didn’t have planes they sent firemen,” said Netanyahu adding that others had offered to help.

In the past, he said, Israel had sent some of its bravest sons and daughters to disaster areas around the world to rescue people trapped in earthquakes, to feed the hungry, to set up field hospitals to heal the sick and to deliver babies.

“Time after time Israel was there to help others. This time it was Israel’s turn to ask for help. You stood shoulder to shoulder, you flew shoulder to shoulder with us, and because of your help thousands of lives and hundreds of homes were saved.

“Aircraft from more than a dozen countries were flying in close formation and cooperating as a grand, international fire brigade.”

In Netanyahu’s perception, this cooperation was a model for the future of the region.

He believed that a regional force could be created to address crises in a united and systematic way, “because nature will not leave us alone.”

He discussed this with Papandreou, who was receptive to the idea and is convening a meeting in Athens with representatives of all the countries in the region, said Netanyahu, commending the Greek Prime Minister’s initiative.

What had been witnessed in recent days, he continued, should give hope to those who seek peace as nations put differences aside.

Praising the courage, dedication and friendship of all those who participated in the firefighting effort, Netanyahu said, “The people of Israel is an ancient people with a long memory. We will never forget what you’ve done for us.”

Special citations signed by Peres and Netanyahu were distributed to the heads of contingents or to representatives of diplomatic missions representing the countries from which the assistance had come.

One by one, they went up to the stage in alphabetical order, posing with the two Israeli leaders to have a memento for posterity. The representatives from Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Jordan, the Netherlands, the Palestinian Authority, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States were each loudly applauded by everyone else in the room, including the jaded members of the fourth estate.

The applause was a little louder for Bulgaria’s Hebrew speaking Deputy Foreign Minister Dimiter Tzantschev, who is a former ambassador to Israel; and Brigadier General Ahmad Rezeq, the Palestinian National Authority’s Director General of Civil Defense.

Brigadier General Papageorgiou Vasilios, the leader of the Greek Fire Corps, speaking on behalf of all the rescue teams, expressed sorrow at the tragic loss of human life and conveyed sympathy to the families of the dead, but declared that at the same time there was deep satisfaction in being able to help Israeli colleagues to contain the fire.

Real friends speak with their feet, he said. “We are your friends. If the need ever arises again, you can count us.”

At the close of the ceremony Andreas Schiess of the Swiss Assistance team told The Jerusalem Post that he has been to many countries to render assistance, “but never did we have a welcome like the one we received in Israel.”

Meanwhile Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is due to arrive in Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, today to personally convey Israel’s thanks to President Georgi Parvanov, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and other Bulgarian officials.