It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Arab League chief Amr Mussa said on Thursday that Arab countries would stand by Lebanon if it were attacked by Israel, adding that the situation between the two countries is tense.
Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah recently delivered an odd but deeply important political message to his followers: Heed traffic signs and pay your electric bills.
The call may not seem particularly significant, but it was widely seen as the latest sign that Hizbullah— is reinventing itself as a more conventional political movement in Lebanon.
11:00 Peres: Israel must build coalition to block Iran`s nuclear aspirations (Israel Radio)
12:01 Iran launches first locally built naval destroyer (AP)
12:10 Lieberman to Brussels in bid to boost EU ties (Israel Radio)
12:51 Germany: Iran`s defiance merits fresh sanctions (Reuters)
13:28 Khamenei: Iran not seeking nuclear weapons (Reuters)
15:17 Swedish FM: Difficult to know if Iran is operating nuclear weapons program or not (DPA)
19:16 MK Katz: Bil`in protests prove Israel`s problem is its domestic enemies (Israel Radio)
23:45 Assad: Peace requires a genuine intention, something Israel doesn`t have (Ch. 10)
02:53 French FM: The need for a Palestinian state is immediate (Reuters)
10:54 Arab League chief: Israel might try to attack Lebanon again (Israel Radio)
11:28 Report: Credit cards implicate Mossad in Dubai hit (Haaretz)
12:23 Syrian President meets with French Prime Minister Francois Fillon (DPA)
12:51 Deputy FM Ayalon: Dubai hit won`t harm Israeli-European ties (Haaretz)
13:03 Deputy FM Ayalon: There is no proof that Israel was tied to Dubai hit (Haaretz)
14:11 Syrian PM warns Israel new war would be catastrophic (AP)
14:32 French PM: New Iran measures needed if no progress in talks (Reuters)
17:53 Syria dismisses IAEA call for more access for inspectors (Reuters)
19:15 Report: German passport used by one of Dubai hit men wasn`t forged (Haaretz)
21:15 New Israel Fund`s Chazan: There is a war against rights groups in Israel (Haaretz)
21:25 Peace Now holds rally in Tel Aviv to protest government policies (Israel Radio)
00:50 France, Spain push bid to recognize Palestinian state within 2 years (Haaretz)
02:58 Iran sanctions to top agenda at upcoming Israel-China talks in Beijing (Haaretz)
The sounds of explosions heard along the Lebanese-Syrian border in recent days were caused by the blasting of big rocks in the area to make a parking lot for Syrian army tanks, according to the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Siyasa. The paper cited a Lebanese army source which said the blasts were conducted by the men of terrorist Ahmed Jibril Rajoub's pro-Syrian Popular Front terror organization.
The tanks are expected to arrive in the area soon to protect Lebanon for fear of an Israeli attack.
Russia's Foreign Ministry has announced that Moscow is against imposing "crippling sanctions" on Iran over its nuclear energy program.
04:20 Sunday Times: Mossad chief briefed Netanyahu on Dubai hit in early January (Haaretz)
04:27 Sunday Times: Mossad agents trained for Dubai assassination in Tel Aviv hotel (Haaretz)
10:12 Report: U.K. passports tied to Dubai hit copied at Ben-Gurion airport (Haaretz)
12:32 Lebanon PM: Israel talks peace but does nothing to achieve it (Haaretz)
16:56 Iran official: West raises human rights to pressure independent nations like us (Haaretz)
18:11 Senior EU diplomat: Dubai killing may harm EU-Israel ties (AP)
21:23 Rightist Itamar Ben-Gvir: Jericho is part of Israel, the Arabs must be evacuated (Haaretz)
An anonymous diplomatic source told Syrian newspaper Al-Watan in an interview published on Monday that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will head to Damascus on Thursday on a one-day visit to meet with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad.
02:47 Gallup poll: 67 percent of Americans hold favorable view of Israel (Haaretz)
09:50 Iran earmarks sites for 10 uranium enrichment plants (Reuters)
10:08 Netanyahu: World must impose more Iran sanctions, with or without UN (Haaretz)
12:29 Turkey detains 14 military leaders over coup plot (AP)
13:30 Turkey PM: We won`t let Iran have nuclear weapons (News Agencies)
Originally posted by Vitchilo
More news...
Al-Watan: Ahmadinejad to visit Syria
An anonymous diplomatic source told Syrian newspaper Al-Watan in an interview published on Monday that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will head to Damascus on Thursday on a one-day visit to meet with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad.
Trying to keep Syria from a deal with the US and Israel?
Mossad should try to do their thing in Syria thursday against Ahmadinejad...
02:47 Gallup poll: 67 percent of Americans hold favorable view of Israel (Haaretz)
That much?
09:50 Iran earmarks sites for 10 uranium enrichment plants (Reuters)
Reason for Israel to go to war +10
The Turkish IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation announced that a fleet of 20 ships would be sent to break Israel’s embargo on Hamas-run Gaza two months from now.
MACDILL AFB, Fla. (Feb. 21, 2010) — As part of the CENTCOM headquarters training program, the United States Central Command is conducting a periodic command and control shift exercise. Beginning this weekend, the first of approximately 500 people will begin deployment from its Tampa headquarters to its forward headquarters located in Doha, Qatar. This is a regularly scheduled and long-planned training event.
The primary purpose of the deployment is to exercise the CENTCOM staff's ability to seamlessly transition command and control and operate from its forward headquarters in Qatar, and is not in response to any recent or ongoing operations.
The CENTCOM staff last deployed to it forward headquarters in October 2009 when the staff exercised its continuity of operations plan.
Turkey's army has warned of a "serious" situation after 40 senior military figures were arrested over an alleged plot to topple the government.
00:20 U.S. plans to withdraw 46,000 troops from Iraq by end of August (Reuters)
02:52 Barak off to U.S. to discuss Iran, negotiations with Palestinians (Haaretz)
09:20 China repeats call for diplomatic resolution on Iran (Reuters)
10:38 Report: Ahmadinejad, Nasrallah and Meshal to meet in Syria (Haaretz)
23:08 U.S.: We are losing patience with Iran (Army Radio)
www.timesonline.co.uk...
The son of one of Hamas’s founding members was a spy in the service of Israel for more than a decade, helping prevent dozens of Islamist suicide bombers from finding their targets, it emerged today.
Codenamed the Green Prince by Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef, supplied key intelligence on an almost daily basis from 1996 onwards and tracked down suicide bombers and their handlers from his father’s organization, the daily Haaretz said.
Information he supplied led to the arrests of some of the most wanted men by Israeli forces, including Marwan Barghouti, a Fatah leader often tipped as a potential president who was convicted of masterminding terrorist attacks, and one of Hamas’ top bomb-makers Abdullah Barghouti, who is no relation of the jailed Fatah chief.
Mr Yousef, a 32-year-old convert to Christianity who now lives in California, has revealed the intrigues of his years as a spy in a new book called “Son of Hamas”
[…]
Mr Yousef had harsh words for the movement that his father helped form, and which now rules the Gaza Strip after a bloody takeover in summer 2007. “Hamas cannot make peace with the Israelis,” he told the daily. “That is against what their God tells them. It is impossible to make peace with infidels, only a cease-fire, and no one knows that better than I. The Hamas leadership is responsible for the killing of Palestinians, not Israelis."
Syrian President Bashar Assad said Thursday that support for the resistance was a 'moral and legal' duty and expressed 'surprise' at U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's call for Syria to distance itself from Iran.
"Hizbullah has changed from a religious movement into a military wing. It has changed from a Lebanese organization into an Iranian agent," he said.
03:33 U.S. slams Israel over designating heritage sites (AP)
09:20 Clinton: U.S. diplomacy moved China closer to American stance on Iran sanctions (AP)
10:47 Ahmadinejad: Zionist regime rapidly approaching a dead-end (Haaretz)
11:41 Ahmadinejad: Arab nations to usher in new Middle East without Zionists (AP)
12:18 Assad to Ahmadinejad: We are prepared in case of Israeli attack (Ch. 10)
12:42 Peres: I don`t foresee a war on Israel`s northern border in near future (Haaretz)
13:06 Assad says America`s stance toward Iran is new situation of colonialism in region (AP)
13:31 Ayalon: Strategic dialogue between U.S., Israel reflects close ties (Ch. 10)
AIPAC works to maintain a strong U.S.-Israeli relationship ,and the AIPAC policy conference in the largest gathering of pro-Israel people outside of Israel, said Erik Baker, psychology and history junior.
“Two-thirds of Congress will be there,” Baker said. “Tony Blair is the keynote speaker.”
15:39 Peres: Assad must choose if he`s part of the axis of evil, or if he wants peace (Haaretz)
17:48 Jordan parliament says Israel move over West Bank shrines goes against int`l law (DPA)
18:25 IDF wraps up Northern Command drill simulating war with Hezbollah, Syria (Ch. 10)
18:26 Netanyahu: Move to add W. Bank sites to heritage list won`t disrupt status quo (Ch. 10)
02:14 Palestinians threaten to adopt one-state solution (Haaretz)
02:49 U.S. officials: New Iran sanctions by late March, early April (Haaretz)
03:10 U.S.: Syria`s ties to Iran are self-isolating (DPA)
09:10 Israel planning 600 more homes in East Jerusalem (Haaretz)
09:52 Arab source: Obama`s envoy Mitchell has threatened to quit (Israel Radio)
It has never been more popular in Israel, with stores selling out of Mossad memorabilia and its official website reporting a soaring number of visitors interested in applying to become agents. “Mossad has been restored to its glory days,” said Ilan Mizrahi, a former deputy director of the agency, which is located in the affluent beach town of Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv.
NYT said the move baffled the IAEA, as an above-ground plant is exposed to aerial attacks. It was as if a bull’s-eye had been painted on it, one official was quoted as saying, while military officials said this is a tempting moment for the Israelis, according to the American newspaper.
00:28 U.S. Christian TV: Ahmadinejad is modern-day Haman, plans to wipe out Israel (Ch. 10)
01:01 U.S. Secretary of State Clinton urges Barak to ease blockade of Gaza Strip (Reuters)
01:47 Barak: Even if Iran sanctions are imposed, it may not adhere to world norms (DPA)
04:18 IAEA governing board prepares to lay groundwork for new sanctions on Iran (DPA)
08:17 Report: Israel pressing U.S. not to send new envoy to Syria (Israel Radio)
10:52 Report: Dubai police chief urges Mossad head to `be a man,` admit Hamas hit (Haaretz)
17:47 Russia axes Lebanon combat plane deal, offers Mi-24 helicopters instead (Israel Radio)
22:54 IDF to begin nationwide distribution of gas masks Sunday (Ch. 10)
01:15 DNA study: Dozens of living Austrians are related to Hitler (Haaretz)
03:34 U.S. pushes Syria to stem arms flow to Hezbollah (Haaretz)
The U.S. and Israel were almost alone at the United Nations today in their opposition to renewed pressure on Israel for a new investigation of alleged war crimes during its military offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Barak: If Hizballah attacks, Israel will go after its sponsors
Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak warned that Hizballah and its 45,000 rockets - including "some which many sovereign countries do not have" - are directed by Iranian and Syrian civilian and military officials already present in Lebanon. He termed the differentiation between Hizballah terrorists, the state of Lebanon and their sponsors artificial. Iran's nuclear program aims at jumping straight into the second- or second-and-a-half generation of nuclear warheads."
03:34 U.S. pushes Syria to stem arms flow to Hezbollah (Haaretz)
5:30pm Hizbullah MP Ali Fayyad: If Israel should attack Lebanon, it will be confronted with something it has never seen before.
Fayyad said developments and stances should be well monitored.
"What is happening these days reflects a whole new phase," he warned.
Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun said Sunday Israel will end up a "biggest loser" in any new war on Lebanon.
In an interview with France 24 TV channel, Aoun said the United States will "not be the only player in the world."
08:34 Police breaks into Temple Mount compound (Army Radio)
13:05 UN chief: Israel`s Lebanon flyovers could raise regional tensions (Israel Radio)
13:28 Hamas seeks to extend arrest of U.K. journalist in Gaza (AP)
14:45 Iran Supreme Leader Khamenei: Our nuclear program is peaceful (Reuters)
15:42 Senior Iranian military official: We can cut energy to Europe, hit enemies (Reuters)
16:12 Iran Supreme Leader: UN nuclear watchdog lacks independence (AP)
16:34 Barak to world powers: Don`t take any option off the table regarding Iran (Ch.10)
19:18 Israel files complaint about anti-Semitism in Spanish schools (Haaretz)
19:56 Israel begins distributing gas masks to citizens (Haaretz)
22:08 Islamic nations criticize Israeli police entering Jerusalem`s Temple Mount (Israel Radio)
22:13 Jordan`s Abdullah, Abbas urge protection for holy sites (DPA)
22:18 Abbas: Israel`s latest steps could ignite a religious war (DPA)
22:38 Ancient Judaica books stolen from Tel Aviv library (Ch. 10)
01:52 Jordan`s king calls on world to step in and protect Jerusalem holy sites (Ch. 10)
03:20 Israeli Holocaust claims lawyers under fire for raking in millions (Haaretz)
04:09 China `giving serious consideration` to Israel`s request for Iran sanctions (Haaretz)
And "it's not just about hegemonic, nuclear capabilities, I don't think the Iranians, even if they got the bomb are going to drop it immediately on some neighbor. They understand what may follow. They are radical but not total meshuganas."
We do not seek conflict, but if attacked, "we will not chase the individual terrorists who are building and digging in among urban concentrations inside civilian populations, but take both the Lebanese government and its infrastructure and other sources of sponsorship," he stressed.
"Israel is taking Hizbullah's participating in the government as a pretext to justify its aggression. Hizbullah has been a part of the government since 2005, while Israel attacked us in 2006 and is still threatening Lebanon," Hariri said, adding: "Do those who threaten to wage war want peace?"
17:46 Lieberman: U.S. should use `Cuba embargo model` on Iran (Haaretz)
5:09pm Aoun: If Israel decides to wage war, it will lose because it doesn't have much ability to bear the expenses. The best thing for them is to halt their threats because the Arab world is vigilant.
Month after month, the Obama administration was able to hold Israel back from attacking its nuclear facilities only by a guarantee of tough sanctions, first promised for the end of last year and latterly by the end of March. Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu believed he was in tune with Washington when he visited Moscow two weeks ago to discuss sanctions in the immediate term and arms sales to Tehran, and sent minister for strategy affairs Moshe Yaalon to Beijing to persuade the Chinese not to stall urgent sanctions at the Security Council.
Israeli government officials now feel they have been strung along and, moreover, that their diplomatic efforts in Moscow and Beijing were irrelevant.
11:26 Netanyahu: International community isn`t moving fast enough on Iran (Haaretz)
Syria is transferring weapons to Hezbollah that it did not dare to hand over before, Senior IDF intelligence official tells Knesset committee Tuesday; PM Netanyahu: Iran creating false impression, we're not seeking confrontation with Syria
Syria is crossing previous red lines in supplying Hezbollah with weapons, handing over arms that it never before dared transfer to the Lebanese terror group, the head of the IDF's research division of Military Intelligence says.
"Syria is handing over to Hezbollah components that it would not dare hand over before," Yossi Baidatz told the Knesset Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee Tuesday.
Addressing the Hezbollah threat, the senior IDF official said the group was facing a dilemma between its Jihadist identity and commitment to Iran on the one hand and Lebanon's domestic arena on the other hand.
"For that reason, although it has maintained the quiet and is uninterested in a clash, it attempts to carry out a revenge attack for Mugniyah's death, especially against Israeli targets abroad," Baidatz said. "Simultaneously, it continues to build up its strength for a confrontation against Israel, deploys its members broadly throughout south Lebanon but also deeper, and accumulates advanced weapons – long-range missiles, anti-aircraft missiles, and anti-tank missiles, with Iran's and Syria's assistance."
'Iranian regime won't collapse soon'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the issue, noting that "there is a process of military buildup and very methodical provocation by Iran."
"We are not seeking any kind of confrontation with Syria. The talk about us preparing for an offensive against Syria is unfounded," the PM said. "This false impression is being created by Iran."
Baidatz added that "Iran continues to tighten its ties with the radical axis."
"Just look at the three-way meeting held in Syria," he said. "It included the commander of Iran's revolutionary forces, who are responsible on behalf of Iran for supplying weapons to all terror groups at all regions."
Also in respect to Iran, Baidatz said that hopes for an imminent collapse of the Ayatollah regime are premature.
"The potential for something taking place within the Iranian population exists, but there's a great distance between the riots we saw and the regime's collapse," he said. "The Iranian regime is not about to collapse, and those who expect that Iran will soon collapse will be gravely disappointed."
22:06 Canada to use G8 chairmanship to push for Iran sanctions (Reuters)
22:40 UN security council may take up Iran nuclear issue in March, says council president (AP)
04:24 Assad: U.S.`s misguided Mideast policy empowered Iran (Haaretz)