Headlines for 01-15-08

19 Palestinians killed in raid on Gaza In Damascus, the exiled leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshal, accused the US of encouraging Israel to take a tougher line with Gaza. "This crime is the ugly fruit of Bush's visit to the region," he said. "He has incited the Zionists and has exerted pressure on the Palestinian side to become more hardline against Palestinian dialogue."


Israelis kill Hamas leader's son in Gaza raid The killing of Mahmoud Zahar's 24-year-old son, Hussam, will inflame hostilities. Hamas has so far sanctioned daily attacks on Israeli forces, but has refrained from carrying them out itself.


US, Iran One Misstep From the Edge by Philip Giraldi ** President Bush still apparently dreams of confronting Iran, even if the imploding situation in Pakistan makes it unlikely that he will risk doing so. Israel makes no secret of the fact that it would like Washington to act, and Israel's wishes are seldom denied in Washington. And then there are the hotheads on the Iranian side. The U.S. national interest in the Middle East would be best served by marginalizing those who want war and beginning to negotiate seriously. As Winston Churchill put it, "To jaw jaw is better than to war war."


Abbas condemns Israeli offensive on Gaza


US using 1994 Argentine bombing investigation to pressure Iran US diplomats, working with their counterparts from Israel and Argentina, convinced the international police agency Interpol to issue "red notices" against five former and current Iranian officials. The most-wanted orders, which were issued last November, will prevent the Iranians from leaving their home country, but neither the US nor Interpol can force Tehran to hand them over, report Solomon and Perez.




Hebron UPDATE: Hebron Update: 31 December 2007 - 05 January 2008 earlier in the evening, a soldier came to their home to detain the boy because he was playing with stones on the roof. The father, who has a disability resulting from a previous encounter with Israeli soldiers during which both of his legs were broken, came to the roof to see why the soldier had come. The soldier started throwing stones at the father and the boy; the father started throwing stones back. The soldier called in more soldiers who beat the father on his hands and legs. When the father cried out, ?My legs are broken!? a soldier retorted, ?OK. I will break them more.?


Report: Israel planning to assassinate Haniyeh Israel is planning to assassinate exiled Hamas leader Khalid Mashaal, deposed Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, and former PA Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar, but is waiting to give the green light on the operation until after US President George W. Bush leaves the region, the London-based newspaper, Al-Hayat reported on Sunday.




Report: PA seizes rocket in Nablus


First round of Israeli-Palestinian talks on final status issues ends fruitlessly The first round of Israeli-Palestinian talks on final status issues ended on Monday afternoon without any announced result, Palestinian sources close to the negotiations said.


Hamas accuses Palestinian forces of arresting six members


Israeli Settlers burn a Palestinian house and the Army up-root trees in Hebron


4 hurt in Sderot rocket barrage


Qureia: Talks absurd if Israel does not stop massacres


Arab League denounces Israeli incursion into Gaza


Army attack villages near Nablus and kidnaps three civilians Palestinian sources reported that the Israeli army attacked the villages of Awarta and Houwara located in the northern West Bank city of Nablus on Monday morning and kidnapped three civilians there.


Bush wraps up Middle East visit on peace, Iran, oil


Israel reports Iranian-made rocket hit A rocket fired at Israel by Palestinians earlier this month was made in Iran, an Israeli lawmaker and security officials said Tuesday. Thus does the BS begin anew..


Israel building new homes in east Jerusalem settlement


Fertilizer, frustration fuel Gaza's rockets He also makes a far more extravagant claim: He says the rocket that landed in Ashkelon was his own production, and that he made it at a cost of $900 for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a communist group that claimed responsibility for that attack. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad also separately claimed the attack as its own. "I laughed when they said it was from Iran



Hamas arrests senior Fatah official in Gaza


Israeli army issues demolition order for Palestinian water well On Monday the Israeli army issued demolition orders against a water reservoir that belongs to Palestinian farmers from the Bedouin village of Al Hathalen, located near the city of Hebron in the southern part of the West Bank.



Ms. magazine's rejection of ad elicits strong Jewish response She, along with authors Francine Klagsbrun and Phyllis Chesler suggested at the news conference on Tuesday that the magazine's refusal to run the ad was indicative of a pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel sentiment that is rampant within the feminist movement.


Netanyahu urges Shas, Yisrael Beiteinu to quit government Opposition chairman Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday urged Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu to leave the government in wake of the first meeting between Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qureia over the core issues.


Olmert: Hizbullah not interested in using its missiles Prime minister lauds achievements of Second Lebanon War, says Shiite group 'not inclined' to use its weapons against Israel. Olmert recommends against wide-scale incursion in Gaza that may cost Israel more than it's willing to pay


Olmert faces right-wing rebellion


Four killed in Beirut explosion


Rice expresses US outrage over Lebanon bombing Three people were killed in a remote-controlled bomb blast that targeted a United States embassy car in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, the latest in a string of attacks in the troubled country.


Effort to block Saudi arms deal is doomed With Congress having 30 days to reject the sale, its foes must run their opposition through a committee. Lantos, perhaps Israel's best friend among committee chairmen, was their best chance.



Efforts to block Saudi arms deal likely to be unsuccessful Top Israelis, including Defense Minister Ehud Barak, gave the sale their blessing after representations by U.S. officials. Reported sweeteners included guarantees that the JDAMs would be programmed not to include Israel as a target.


Walesa: World needs to combat Iranian threat "It seems we understand each other so very well and are doing so well together that we could establish the United States of Poland and Israel," Walesa quipped.


Ex-Jewish liaison for Clinton, Kerry plays Jewish card in Congress run Among a class of single-issue pro-Israel political donors, many believe that unseating Kirk is bad for the Jews -- especially since he could someday be in line for the secretary of defense job, according to Norpac?s president, Dr. Ben Chouake.....It is likely that few congressional candidates have as many deep personal ties to Israel as the 42-year-old Footlik.
His wife, Grace, is an Israeli he met while living in Tel Aviv and working for a think tank started by current Israeli President Shimon Peres. His business partner is Yuval Rabin, the son of the slain prime minister Yitzhak Rabin.





Rudy voices praise, skepticism on peace push as key Fla. vote nears Some right-leaning Israelis and American Jews who generally share Giuliani's hawkish views on the Middle East have been increasingly critical of President Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's willingness to negotiate with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.


Gaza's Christian population wanes


Top British journalists to visit Israel A UK-based pro-Israel lobby will bring a delegation of senior journalists from major media outlets to Israel on Sunday. Britain beware - you're next.


Adviser: Bush has 'great respect' for Jews Katz indicated to the institute staff that the president "is very appreciative about the Jewish contributions to America: to American culture, American economics and American planning," Bar-Yosef said. "This is why he feels so committed to the future of Israel as a Jewish state."