Headlines for 08-03-08

Israel seeks Hercules planes in deal worth up to $1.9 billion


For Jerusalem Palestinians, home not always home For Jerusalem Palestinians, home not always home


Israel to return Gazans who fled internal fighting


Candidate who wants Olmert's job once 'sought deaths of 70 Palestinians a day'


Iran Heads Toward Nuclear 'Breakthrough,' Israel Says Mofaz is heading the Israeli team taking part in a strategic dialogue with the U.S. this week in Washington, a forum in which the sides meet every few months to discuss regional threats.


India-US deal 'legitimizes' Israel arsenal "There is serious concern that the United States has taken this step with the intention to create a precedent and pave the way for Israel to continue its clandestine weapons activities,"


Time to end CUFI?s free ride Groups like CUFI are not, in the end, as important as the interlocking web of think tanks, neoconservative agitprop mills, and AIPAC alligned political action committees, but they play an indispensable role in enabling the former, helping the neocons present themselves as representing a much broader slice of American opinion than they do. Would that CMEP?s shot at John Hagee?s group foreshadows a more forceful and comprehensive criticism of Christian Zionism from America?s mainstream Christian churches.


Neocon Flap Highlights Jewish Divide Time columnist Joe Klein's accusations that Jewish neoconservatives, who played a particularly visible role in the drive to war in Iraq and have since pushed for military confrontation in Iran, sacrificed "US lives and money...to make the world safe for Israel," have spurred angry charges of anti-Semitism and personal attacks from critics at such neoconservative strongholds as the Weekly Standard, National Review, and Commentary.


Second Palestinian teenager shot by Israeli army within hours Israel's army shot an 18-year-old Palestinian in the head in the West Bank town of Ni'ilin, just hours after the village buried a 10-year-old who had also been shot in the head by a soldier.


Audio: U.S. Intel: Iran Plans Nuclear Strike on U.S. Newsmax.com?s Kenneth Timmerman, author of ?Countdown to Crisis: The Coming Nuclear Showdown with Iran,? reveals that Iran has carried out missile tests for what could be a plan for a nuclear strike on the United States. A crock of BS if I've ever heard one. Note the ties to Israel all over the page.


Israeli Soldiers Rarely Indicted For Abuses Only six percent of probes into offences allegedly committed by Israeli soldiers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank yield indictments, an Israeli rights group said on Wednesday. The report came as the armed forces vowed to investigate the death of a 12-year-old boy Palestinian allegedly shot by Israeli troops during a protest on Tuesday against Israel?s separation barrier in the West Bank.



Palestinian Boy, 10, Shot Dead As Israeli Troops Fire On Demonstration


Palestinians Capture Violence of Israeli Occupation On Video They are shocking images. There is footage of beatings, their aftermath, and the indifference of Israel?s security forces to serious human rights abuses. There is footage too of those same security forces humiliating Palestinians - and most seriously - committing abuses themselves.




'SS Liberty' Sails to Challenge Israel Forty-one years after the American surveillance ship USS Liberty was napalmed, torpedoed and strafed by Israeli naval and air forces during the Six-Day War, another "Liberty" will be setting out from a Cyprus port in August to try to break through the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip.


Strike on Iran still possible, U.S. tells Israel Bush administration officials reassured Israel's defense minister this week that the United States has not abandoned all possibility of a military attack on Iran, despite widespread Israeli concern that Washington has begun softening its position toward Tehran.


U.S. says settlements are 'problem' as Israel-PA talks shift to Washington The State Department voiced displeasure at Israel's latest plans to build new settlements after Rice met Barak for wide-ranging discussions that also covered Iran and its suspected pursuit of nuclear arms.


US Set to Deploy Radar Systems in Israel Senior U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, say the systems will give Israel an extra layer of protection in case of an attack by Iran.....Officials say the systems will be set up in Israel before a new U.S. president takes office in January. Why the rush?


Acts of War By Scott Ritter Iran, we are told, is not just a nation pursuing nuclear weapons, but is the largest state sponsor of terror in the world today. Much of the information behind this is being promulgated by Israel, which has a vested interest in seeing Iran neutralized as a potential threat....We are at war with Iran right now. We just don?t have the moral courage to admit it.



Israeli, US defense chiefs meet Barak also was expected to meet with Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and members of Congress, according to Israeli officials.


Bush must be stopped before starting war with Iran The American people must act to stop this madness. We must raise our voices in protest. We must demand that Congress exercise its constitutional authority and block a war on Iran. We cannot allow the Bush neocons to act out their final bloody fantasy and destroy all hopes for peace in the Middle East


Israel fears European ship may sail to Gaza to 'break siege' The organizers have reportedly raised almost $300,000 to finance the operation and recruited 60 people to sail on the ship. These include activists from several countries as well as journalists.


A Mysterious Explosion by Philip Giraldi There are a number of possibilities. The story itself could be a complete fabrication intended only to substantiate US and Israeli claims that Tehran is supplying weapons to Hezbollah in contravention of UN agreements.


Officials: US talks to Iran to legitimize attack "This way they will be able to say they tried everything," one official speculated. "This increases America's chances of gaining more public support domestically as well as the support of European nations which are today opposed to military action."


Are You Ready to Face the Facts About Israel? Sixty years of efforts by good and humane people to hold Israel accountable have so far failed, but they are more important today than ever before. Israel has its captive American nation on the verge of attacking Iran, the consequences of which could be catastrophic for all concerned. The alleged purpose of the attack is to eliminate nonexistent Iranian nuclear weapons. The real reason is to eliminate all support for Hamas and Hezbollah so that Israel can seize the entire West Bank and southern Lebanon. The Bush regime is eager to do Israel's bidding, and the media and evangelical "Christian" churches have been preparing the American people for the event.


IDF vets train NY Jewish paramilitaries On Friday, the third session of the group's training camp will begin in the Catskills woodlands of upstate New York, on land belonging to a Jewish supporter of the organization. With tuition at $400, the group expects 15 participants and five instructors for the 10 days of training. Participation has doubled since the group began three years ago.




If Iran is Attacking It Might Really be Israel by Philip Giraldi Israel is willing to behave with complete ruthlessness towards the US if they feel that the stakes are high enough, witness the attack on the USS Liberty and the bombing of the US Consulate in Alexandria in the 1950s. If they now believe that Iran is a threat that must be eliminated it is not implausible to assume that they will stop at nothing to get the the United States to do it for them, particularly as their air force is only able to damage the Iranian nuclear program, not destroy it.



Ashkenazi in U.S.: All options are on the table regarding Iran


Israel plans new West Bank settlement Controversial plans for the first new settlement to be built in the occupied West Bank in almost a decade have been revived by Israel's defence ministry, despite calls by the international community for a freeze on construction, which is illegal under international law.


Neocons Lash Out at White House for Diplomatic Overtures to Iran The Bush administration?s recent diplomatic overtures toward Iran have unleashed a torrent of criticism from neoconservatives and have fueled concerns in Israel that Washington is shelving the option of using military force against Tehran?s nuclear facilities.


Palestinians allege settlers attacked village More than 20 Jewish settlers attacked a Palestinian village in the West Bank on Thursday, smashing cars and windows and cutting electricity wires, Palestinian police said.


UN's Ban "deeply concerned" about new W.Bank plan


Bolton: U.S. should help Israel hit Iran


Obama tells Israel he's committed to its security


Israel Fears Scathing US Report On Its West Bank Policies According to both Israeli and American sources, the envoy?s conclusions about Israel are scathing. Israelis who met with Jones on his most recent visit here a few weeks ago, including Israel Defense Forces officers, said their impression was that the report would be "very harsh, and make Israel look very bad."

Oh dear. We can't have that.


Israeli official: U.S. intervention in minor Palestinian issues could damage ties Senior officials in the U.S. State Department, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, have repeatedly complained to Israel recently over relatively minor Palestinian issues that it would have ignored until a few months ago, Israeli officials say.


McCain to Israeli TV: Sanctions might stop Iran, but US will not allow 2nd Holocaust American presidential candidate John McCain told an Israeli TV station that stiffer sanctions might stop Iran's threats against Israel. In an interview broadcast Monday, the Republican candidate said that in any event, the U.S. would not allow Iran to try to destroy Israel.


Gaza on Brink of Humanitarian Catastrophe This August, a group of 40 international human rights activists from 15 countries, including Palestinians and Israelis, will attempt to sail directly from the island of Cyprus into the besieged Palestinian territory of Gaza. I will participate as the ship?s doctor. Two ships, provided by an organization called the Free Gaza Movement, will challenge Israel?s policy of imprisoning 1.4 million Palestinians within the Gaza Strip.


Inquiry Launched After Film Shows Israeli Soldier Firing Rubber Bullet at Palestinian at Close Range An Israeli human rights group released video footage last night showing an Israeli soldier firing a rubber-coated bullet at close range at a Palestinian man who had already been detained, blindfolded and cuffed.


Gordon Brown demands end to Israel settlements


Israeli marine attacks Palestinian fishing boats off Gaza water


Jewish guerrillas told British: quit Palestine or die It adds: ?Most of you have been in this country for quite a long time. You have learned what the word ?terrorist? means, some of you may even have come into direct contact with them (and heartily desire not to repeat the experience). But what do you know about them? Why does a young man go underground?? Irony.


Israel Planning a September/October Surprise? The point is that the growing danger that the Israelis perceive will probably prompt them to find a way to get the US involved in hostilities with Iran. Cheney and Bush have pretty much given them that license, with the president regularly pledging to defend "our ally" if Israel is attacked.
All Israel has to do is to arrange to be attacked. Not a problem


Kucinich Denounces Bush Policy on Gaza To make the resumption of such goods contingent on Hamas?s behavior is to endorse the collective punishment of Gaza?s 1.5 million population in contravention of Article 33 of the FGC. Moreover, by supporting Israel?s practice of collective punishment in response to Hamas?s abominable attacks, the U.S. State Department effectively abdicates its diplomatic principles and its role as a ?honest broker?.


Turning the Tables on the Israel-Firsters by Michael Scheuer The reality and power of this anti-American, pro-Israel triangle ? Israel-first politicians, civil servants, and pundits; AIPAC's corrupting influence; and the warmongering of major evangelical Protestant preachers ? is so obvious and palpable that the only way its members can blur reality is to deny the triangle's existence and identify their critics as anti-Semites. Michael Scheuer is former CIA head of the Bin Laden unit.


A phony crisis ? and a real one by Patrick J. Buchanan Last week, Mossad's chief, Meir Dagan, was here to make the case for war on Iran. This week, Defense Minister Ehud Barak visits Dick Cheney and maybe Bush. Next week, it is the head of Israel's armed forces. Israel and its Fifth Column in this city seek to stampede us into war with Iran. Bush should rebuff them, and the American people should tell their congressmen: You vote for 362, we don't vote for you.



Amber Alert! - Get ready for war The Israelis, in concert with their amen corner in the U.S., have been engaged in a propaganda blitz targeting Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program, the whole point of which is not to pressure the Iranians into backing down, but to force the U.S. to take action in lieu of the Israelis going it alone. Why fight if your big brother is willing to wage the battle? To that end, the Israelis are taking aim at Washington, rather than Tehran, in a full-scale political assault that shows every sign of succeeding where it counts ? in the Oval Office


India warns against any attack on Iran


Iran Shows Its Cards By Scott Ritter Until the U.S. Congress segregates legitimate national security concerns from narrow Israeli-only issues, the pro-Israel lobby will have considerable control over American national security policy. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee?s continued push for congressional action concerning the implementation of what is tantamount to a naval blockade of Iran (and as such, an act of war) by pushing House Resolution 362 and Senate Resolution 580 is mind-boggling given the reality of the situation. Congress must stop talking blockade, and start discussing stability and confidence-building measures.


Iran to target heart of Israel, 32 U.S. bases if attacked "In case the United States and Israel dare to shoot a bullet, Iran will target the heart of Israel and 32 U.S. bases in the region imminently," said Mojtaba Zolnoor, vice representative of Khamenei to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the semi-official Fars News Agency reported.


President George W Bush backs Israeli plan for strike on Iran Despite the opposition of his own generals and widespread scepticism that America is ready to risk the military, political and economic consequences of an airborne strike on Iran, the president has given an "amber light" to an Israeli plan to attack Iran's main nuclear sites with long-range bombing sorties, the official told The Sunday Times.


Book: Iraq was invaded to help secure Israel Former U.S. Rep. John Hostettler argues in a new, little-noticed, self-published book that the United States invaded Iraq to avenge an assassination attempt on then-President George H.W. Bush and to help Israel.


Cameras change picture of West Bank violence


Iraq denies reports of IAF using its airspace Iraq denied on Friday reports claiming the Israeli Air Force has been practicing for a possible attack against Iran in its airspace.


Israel hints at pre-emptive attack on Iran In Jerusalem, a corruption scandal could bring down the Mr Omert's government in September. This is another reason for Israel, if it is determined to go ahead, to act sooner rather than later, even alone and without the explicit collaboration of the US.


No More Blank Checks for War by Patrick J. Buchanan Ehud Olmert returned from a June meeting with Bush to tell Israelis, "George Bush understands the severity of the Iranian threat and the need to vanquish it, and intends to act on the matter before the end of his term." .....If Bush believes war with Iran is vital to U.S. security, he should make that case to Congress. To allow Israel to start a war we do not want would be an abdication of his duty as president.


'This is like apartheid': ANC veterans visit West Bank Veterans of the anti-apartheid struggle said last night that the restrictions endured by Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied territories was in some respects worse than that imposed on the black majority under white rule in South Africa.


Barak to head to US for talks at the Pentagon In a series of consultations apparently aimed at coordinating policies against the Iranian nuclear threat, Defense Minister Ehud Barak will head to the US on Monday for talks at the Pentagon, days after Mossad chief Meir Dagan was in Washington for meetings with key intelligence officials. Sources say Israel is urgently trying to convince the US that Iran is closer to passing the nuclear threshold than Washington believes.....A week after Barak's visit, IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi will head to Washington for his own round of talks with American defense chiefs, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen, who was in Israel two weeks ago....The source added that the visits of the Israeli officials came as an intense debate continued to rage inside the US administration between those who favored military action, led by Cheney, and those opposed, led by Gates. Whose war is this?


UN criticises West Bank barrier The West Bank barrier Israel is building will be devastating for Palestinians if completed along its proposed route, the UN says.

In a report, the UN said thousands of Palestinians had already been cut off from their jobs, land or key services.
If you want a fence, build it on your OWN LAND - not such that it confiscates large swaths of your neighbors property.


Iran tests more missiles as U.S. vows to defend allies


Iran Red Lines The Israelis allegedly presented the US with Iranian weaponization evidence that they consider very credible, which the US intelligence community allegedly did not consider credible. Analysts also say Israel and the US are drawing different definitions and redlines about what they consider would be Iran's nuclear "breakout" capability.


Iran missile test sends message to US, Israel


Israel Believes Obama Will 'Deprive' It of Political Support for Iran Attack Only Ron Paul has repeatedly attacked the plans to attack Iran and, appropriately, laid them at AIPAC's doorstep. Obama himself has had nothing to say except hawkish statements.


Iran test fires missile - Pat Buchanan weighs in


West Bank taps run dry due to drought and Israeli controls


AIPAC's Hirelings Rush to Resolution America's Knesset, servile hirelings of Israel's lobby, rush to pass yet another resolution conceived by AIPAC and authored and co-signed by its most slavish puppets, Ackerman and Ros-Lehtinen in the House and Lieberman and Bayh in the Senate, Resolutions H. Con. 362 and S. 580, the "Iran War Resolution."


Iranian president says no war with US, Israel The Israelis "are a complex political group, but you should know this regime will be eventually destroyed and there is no need of any measure by Iranian people," he said when asked to comment on whether he has called for the destruction of Israel.


Americans Don?t Know: There?s a Plan on the Table to Resolve the Nuclear Standoff With Iran Unfortunately, most Americans don?t read the New York Review of Books or the Boston Globe. So, while polls consistently show most Americans want negotiations with Iran to resolve the nuclear dispute, most Americans don?t know that there?s an offer on the table right now to resolve the nuclear dispute that the US government is walking away from.


Analyze This: Disquiet on the 'third front' between the US and Israel Mullen has already gone on record as among those top American officials not only opposed to a US military response to the Iranian threat, but expressing concern over a unilateral Israeli response, telling the press last week he was concerned that the repercussions could open up a "third front" for US forces already strained by their missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. A boo-hoo article by a writer for the Jerusalem Post.


Officials say Israel could not attack Iran without U.S. support Israeli defense officials have told local media they are concerned that Israel is being used as a pawn by rival factions in the White House. That's odd, because there are some of us Americans that feel that the White House is being used as a pawn by factions of Israel. Go figure.


Commentary: Guns of August spiked? With three former U.S. CENTCOM commanders on record against the military option, it was hard to see how Israel could strike on its own -- without shutting the Persian Gulf down. Never underestimate the power of the Israeli lobby. Witness the 2003 invasion of Iraq.


U.S. admiral: Iran strike on Israel 'likely' One of Mullen's hosts noted at the end of the visit that even though Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi and the other senior officers did not discuss operational coordination, it was mentioned during discussions that both sides would like to avoid mistaken confrontations, of the sort that led to the IDF attack against the U.S. Navy ship, Liberty, in June 1967.


US concerned Israeli strike in Iran 'doomed to fail' "The Israelis have better information. But the Americans left the meetings unconvinced that the Israelis have enough intelligence on where to strike, and with little confidence that they will be able to destroy the nuclear program." 'the Israelis have better information'.. BAHAHAHAHA.


U.S. and Israeli militaries discuss attack on Liberty


Talk to Iran For each day that passes without dialogue, the world is brought closer to another war in the Middle East ? paid first by Americans at the gas pumps, and eventually, American lives and treasure.


A disastrous attack on Iran? MILITARY ACTION will incur costs for the US, but far from being "disastrous," or even heavy, they will probably be limited. This is somebody writing for the Jerusalem Post telling us that an attack on Iran won't be so bad. No conflict of interest there.


AP interview: Iran envoy dismisses attack threat AP interview: Iran envoy dismisses attack threatIran's top diplomat predicted Wednesday that the United States and Israel would not risk the "craziness" of attacking his country and possibly provoking a wider Middle East war or driving oil prices into uncharted heights.


Congress Delivers Promised Israel Aid Bump Despite Budget Deadlock While almost all federally financed programs were denied any funding increase for the coming year, aid to Israel from the United States will increase thanks to a legislative loophole and some deft maneuvering by pro-Israel lobbyists.
Right from the horse's mouth, folks.


The Right?s Game-Playing With ?Dual Loyalty? and ?Anti-Semitism? Accusations As our political establishment takes new and disturbing steps towards a more confrontational approach with Iran, the effort to stomp out any discussion of the role Israel plays in that policy has once again intensified. Last week, Joe Klein ? basically out of the blue ? observed that while many advocates of an attack on Iraq (which once included Klein) were motivated by ?neocolonial? fantasies or ensuring access to Iraq?s oil, many other war proponents were motivated by their allegiance to Israel


Pentagon Official Warns of Israeli Attack on Iran Senior Pentagon officials are concerned that Israel could carry out an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities before the end of the year, an action that would have enormous security and economic repercussions for the United States and the rest of the world.


Looking Into the Lobby Yet before you get out your handkerchief, reflect that AIPAC has for more than 30 years promoted the colonization process. In 1975, when President Ford wanted to reassess Mideast policy over Israeli intransigence, he was cut off at the knees by an AIPAC letter signed by 76 senators. Then in 1989, when James Baker went before AIPAC and told them to give up their idea of a Greater Israel including the West Bank, George H.W. Bush received a letter of anger signed by 94 senators. In both instances, AIPAC was hewing to the Israeli government line and nullifying American policymaking.




Report: Iran preparing to fire missiles at Dimona The sources said Iran was preparing to retaliate for any onslaught by firing missiles at Dimona, where Israel's nuclear reactor is located


America Is the Rogue Nation by Charlie Reese


Are Congressional Democrats Leading Us to War With Iran? According to a recent story on CBS News, the answer seems to be a "full-court press" by the government of Israel and the American-Israeli lobby AIPAC. CBS ran the story Tuesday as Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen was on his way to the Middle East to confer with Israeli government officials. "Israelis are uncertain about what would be the policies of the next [U.S.] administration vis-à-vis Iran," CBS consultant Michael Oren says in the report.




'Dutch Jimmy Carter' accuses Israel of terrorism in new book


UN: Israel violated truce 7 times in one week UN records 7 incidents of IDF soldiers attempting to drive Palestinian farmers away from border fence by shooting at them. Only one offence marked against Palestinians for firing on Sderot; report does not include most recent rocket fire


Israel gives UN watchdog secret briefing on Iran


Another side to the Jewish story Many Jews left Arab countries because they wanted to live in Israel, not because their lives back home were miserable


US Congress approves Israel aid increase America's pro-Israel lobby, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, welcomed the congressional action, saying it would increase US aid to Israel to 2.55 billion dollars in fiscal year 2009, up from 2.38 billion dollars this year.


Who's planning our next war? by Patrick J. Buchanan Moving through Congress, powered by the Israeli lobby, is House Resolution 362, which demands that President Bush impose a U.S. blockade of Iran, an act of war. Is it not time the American people were consulted on the next war that is being planned for us?



Chicago Museum Closes Contentious Exhibit One video piece that raised eyebrows featured a woman asking Israelis in Jerusalem for directions to Ramallah. The Israelis all give her different directions and think that Ramallah is far away, despite its close proximity to Jerusalem. "The Israelis come across as unfeeling," said Michael Kotzin, executive vice president of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. "It was seen by some as part of a pattern of sympathetic treatment of Palestinians and a less sympathetic treatment of Israelis." Indeed, many Jewish viewers complained that the multimedia show -which was part of a larger citywide celebration of maps - expressed an anti-Israel bias.
oh the horror.


Ex Weapons Inspector: Iran Not Pursuing Nukes, But U.S. Will Attack Before '09 He said one of the reasons he believes Democratic lawmakers have been reluctant to address the issue is the powerful Israeli lobby, such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). AIPAC has been pressuring the Bush administration to be even tougher on Iran. The lobby is largely responsible for drafting a resolution calling for stricter inspections and harsher economic sanctions against the country, which is expected to be voted on by the House next week.


Israel Prodding U.S. To Attack Iran "Keep in mind that Israel does not have strategic bombers," Oren said. "The Israeli Air Force is not the American Air Force. Israel can not eliminate Iran's nuclear program."
The U.S. with its stealth bombers and cruise missiles has a much greater capability. Vice President Cheney is said to favor a strike, but both Mullen and Defense Secretary Gates are opposed to an attack which could touch off a third war in the region.



The Bolton-Telegraph Scare the Telegraph has offered a soapbox to John Bolton who, consistent with his views of the past four or five months, still believes that George W. Bush will not order an attack on Iran before he leaves office, but also now argues that Israel will do so between the November elections and the inaugural of the new president, particularly if that president is Sen. Obama


Israeli troops accused of abuse An Israeli human rights group has accused Israeli soldiers of routinely abusing bound Palestinian prisoners.


Bomb Iran? What?s to Stop Us? by Ray McGovern


In Espionage Trial of Ex-Aipac Employees, Appeals Court Sets High Bar for Prosecution


Israel Endorses McCain Campaign it's most likely that Israel is hoping to push the post-Bush president of the United States into taking a more confrontational stance toward Iran. That's called blackmail. It's the "Samson complex": do what we want or we will bring the whole temple crashing down. For Obama, it's a bluff worth calling--because, ultimately, like Iran, Israel is not a suicide nation. And bombing Iran would be suicidal for Israel.


It's time to declassify Liberty records