Archive for December 29, 2013

White House gives Iran the green light

December 29, 2013

Israel Hayom | White House gives Iran the green light.

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Boaz Bismuth

The Iranians are behaving in an ungentlemanly fashion: Instead of keeping things quiet, at least for a few months, as thanks to the world powers and especially to the American government for the interim deal signed last month in Geneva, the head of their nuclear program declared that his country is building a new generation of centrifuges for uranium enrichment. How could they embarrass U.S. President Barack Obama like this? Is this any way to thank the president responsible for easing sanctions? Is this the way to reward the one blocking new sanctions on Iran in the Senate? Is this what you do to the man Iranian President Hassan Rouhani wanted to honor?

You need a lot of nerve or excessive self-confidence or simply very strong adherence to a goal — or perhaps all three combined — to do what the Iranians are now doing. The way they are acting after signing the interim agreement is extremely defiant.

Those opposed to the agreement brought up two important points: The Geneva deal does not prevent Iran from enriching uranium, and it does not commit Iran to destroying any of the 19,000 centrifuges currently spinning to serve the nuclear program. And then Iran announces that it is not only refraining from decreasing the number of centrifuges, but it is actually adding to it — and these will be new-generation centrifuges.

American columnist Charles Krauthammer criticized the U.S. handling of the Iranian nuclear issue, saying that Obama is “simply not serious.” I don’t know if many congressmen share this opinion, but what is clear is that many on Capitol Hill don’t believe the Iranians either. Just as Krauthammer claims, Obama — instead of using the senators as the “bad cop” to deter Iran — joined the Iranian side against the members of Congress.

How many more times can we say that the way the Iranian issue is being dealt with is one big farce?

But, between you and I, we can’t complain to the Iranians. They have a goal. And what’s more, Iran is being given the chance to build more centrifuges. Would it really give that opportunity away?

IDF fires artillery rounds at Lebanon in response to Katyusha rockets

December 29, 2013

IDF fires artillery rounds at Lebanon in response to Katyusha rockets | JPost | Israel News.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN, REUTERS

12/29/2013 07:46

Nissim Malka, mayor of Kiryat Shmona, told Channel 2 News, “We woke up to the sounds of rockets this morning. At the moment residents are going to work as normal. We will notify them of changes if necessary.”

IDF soldiers patrol near the Israel-Lebanon border.

IDF soldiers patrol near the Israel-Lebanon border. Photo: REUTERS/Ali Hashisho

The IDF responded with intense artillery fire toward the location from which four rockets were launched in southern Lebanon just minutes after residents of the border town of Kiryat Shmona heard loud explosions.

Army sources say that the source of the fire has been identified but that it was too soon to say which organization is responsible for the attack.

Two Katyusha rockets exploded near Kiryat Shmona, where residents reported seeing smoke rising from a fire sparked by one of the projectiles which landed on a hill overlooking the city. Two other rockets landed in Lebanese territory. No injuries or damage was reported.

Nissim Malka, Mayor of Kiryat Shmona, told Channel 2 News, “We woke up to the sounds of rockets this morning. At the moment residents are going to work as normal. We will notify them of changes if necessary.”

Schools are functioning as they would on any normal day, and no delays were reported in the busing of children to class.

A Reuters witness in the Lebanon frontier area said more than 20 Israeli shells hit near two southern border towns.

The Israeli-Lebanese border has been largely quiet since Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia fought a 34-day war in 2006.

But tension spiked this month when a Lebanese soldier killed an Israeli soldier across the border fence, after which a UN peacekeeping force met both sides to restore calm.

Officials suggested at the time that the shooting had been the isolated action of an individual.

Last August, four rockets fired from southern Lebanon targeted northern Israel, setting off air-raid sirens in Acre, Nahariya and additional areas in the Western Galilee and sending frightened local residents fleeing for cover.

Two of the Katyushas crossed the border and landed in Israel, causing no casualties but some damage.

Two Katyusha rockets fired at Kiryat Shmona

December 29, 2013

Two Katyusha rockets fired at Kiryat Shmona | JPost | Israel News.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN

12/29/2013 07:46

Nissim Malka, mayor of Kiryat Shmona, told Channel 2 News, “We woke up to the sounds of rockets this morning. At the moment residents are going to work as normal. We will notify them of changes if necessary.”

IDF soldiers patrol near the Israel-Lebanon border.

IDF soldiers patrol near the Israel-Lebanon border. Photo: REUTERS/Ali Hashisho

Two Katyusha rockets exploded near Kiryat Shmona, near the Lebanese border on Sunday morning. Residents have reported seeing smoke rising from a fire sparked by one of the projectiles which landed on a hill overlooking the city.

Nissim Malka, Mayor of Kiryat Shmona, told Channel 2 News, “We woke up to the sounds of rockets this morning. At the moment residents are going to work as normal. We will notify them of changes if necessary.”

Last August, four rockets fired from southern Lebanon targeted northern Israel, setting off air-raid sirens in Acre, Nahariya and additional areas in the Western Galilee and sending frightened local residents fleeing for cover.

Two of the Katyushas crossed the border and landed in Israel, causing no casualties but some damage.