http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/ Breaking news and events from Israel and the Middle East. en Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:11:53 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/images/misc/rss.png http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/ http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39973-happy-new-year-our-jewish-friends.html Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:05:45 GMT In a few minutes, Rosh Hashana, in which Jewish tradition tells us the world -- and all who inhabit it -- are judged, will begin. In a few minutes, Rosh Hashana, in which Jewish tradition tells us the world -- and all who inhabit it -- are judged, will begin. ]]> GlennO http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39973-happy-new-year-our-jewish-friends.html http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39966-beirut-official-talks-may-raise-tensions.html Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:27:07 GMT Beirut official: Talks may raise tensions
Lebanon's parliament speaker warns Mideast peace talks might spark tension on northern border, clashes in Palestinian refugee camps
AFP
Published: 09.08.10, 23:28 / Israel News

Lebanon's parliament speaker warned on Wednesday that the relaunched Middle East peace talks could raise tensions on the border with Israel and ignite clashes in Palestinian refugee camps. "These talks will no doubt cover (Palestinian) refugees, water and oil in the region," speaker Nabih Berri said in a statement. "All of this may... ignite clashes inside Lebanon's refugee camps and affect security in the south," said Berri, an ally of Lebanon's Islamic militant Hezbollah movement that opposes the peace negotiations.

Lebanon has not issued an official reaction to relaunched peace talks in Washington last week that marked the first direct negotiations in 20 months between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas. They are due to meet again on September 14 in Egypt in a series of meetings to be held every two weeks that negotiators hope will lead to a final peace agreement within a year.

more..................Beirut official: Talks may raise tensions - Israel News, Ynetnews ]]> Chris http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39966-beirut-official-talks-may-raise-tensions.html http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39965-iran-israel-meet-lebanons-border.html Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:23:25 GMT Iran, Israel Meet at Lebanon's Border
Elizabeth Arrott | Along the Blue Line, Lebanon 08 September 2010
An Iranian flag flies above a hilltop park overlooking Israel, 02 Sep 2010. The garden was a gift from Tehran to the people of South Lebanon.
Photo: VOA - E. Arrott

The revived Middle East Peace talks are focused exclusively on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But there are other key actors in the search for an overall peace between Israel and its neighbors. There is a pretty park on a hillside overlooking Israeli farmland. Children climb atop a playground equipment here, while adults sit at a picnic table nearby. There would be nothing remarkable about the scene, except the park is in Lebanon and the flag flying above it is Iran's. The Islamic Republic, whose leaders say the Israeli state must disappear from the map, gave the garden to the people of southern Lebanon after the 2006 conflict between Israel and Iran's proxy in Lebanon, the militant Shi'ite group Hezbollah.

more................Iran, Israel Meet at Lebanon's Border | News | English ]]> Chris http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39965-iran-israel-meet-lebanons-border.html http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39964-obama-defends-abbas-us-rabbis.html Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:20:29 GMT News Briefs - Israel National News (http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/193852) *Obama Defends Abbas to US Rabbis* Reported: 10:45... News Briefs - Israel National News

Obama Defends Abbas to US Rabbis
Reported: 10:45 AM - Sep/08/10

According to American rabbis on a White House conference call Tuesday, United States President Barack Obama indicated that he understood recent statements from the American-backed Palestinian Authority threatening to quit negotiations with Israel as political posturing. Obama, who spoke with rabbis of various denominations in a call marking Rosh HaShanah, was asked by a participant about comments from PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas perceived in Israel as hostile to the negotiating process he launched with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu just last week in Washington. ]]> Chris http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39964-obama-defends-abbas-us-rabbis.html http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39963-netanyahu-arabs-must-accept-jewish-state.html Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:17:44 GMT Netanyahu: Arabs Must Accept Jewish State - Jewish World - Israel News - Israel National News... Netanyahu: Arabs Must Accept Jewish State - Jewish World - Israel News - Israel National News

Netanyahu: Arabs Must Accept Jewish State
by Gil Ronen

“Last year was one of the safest years in two decades,” Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told Israelis in a message for the Jewish New Year. “But last week's brutal murder of four Israelis, including a mother of six and a pregnant woman, remind us that we must never take our security for granted.” "We must continue a firm policy that makes clear that terror and missile attacks on our citizens will not be tolerated," the Prime Minister stated. "The past year has also seen a resurgence in the Israeli economy. Israel has weathered the financial crisis better than nearly any industrialized country.” The crisis is not over, however, he said.

"The last few days have also seen a renewal of the process," said Netanyahu. "I've been calling for direct talks with the Palestinians for a year and a half and I'm pleased that President Abbas joined me in those talks without preconditions. I believe that we should make every effort to reach an historic compromise for peace over the coming year.” "Lasting peace must be anchored in security. And it must be anchored in the recognition of the Jewish State's permanence in this region. Not merely as a fact but as something that our neighbors accept by right.”
(IsraelNationalNews.com) ]]> Chris http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39963-netanyahu-arabs-must-accept-jewish-state.html http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39962-hamas-warns-pa-stop-arresting-our-people-well-strike.html Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:15:08 GMT Hamas warns PA: Stop arresting our people or we'll strike
Announcement comes after PA security officials arrest 6 Hamas-linked operatives suspected of two shooting attacks against Israelis last week.
By Haaretz Service and Avi Issacharoff

Hamas on Wednesday warned that it would harm the Palestinian Authority if security forces continued to arrest its operatives in the West Bank. In a harshly worded announcement, the Islamist group declared that "our patience will soon run out" and that they would not remain silent for long, Israel Radio reported. "You know that the hands that have reached the heart of the occupier can reach you too," Hamas warned, referring to its recent attacks against Israelis in the West Bank, adding that Hamas cannot be stopped, and will strike anywhere, at any time it wishes.

more.................Hamas warns PA: Stop arresting our people or we'll strike - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News ]]> Chris http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39962-hamas-warns-pa-stop-arresting-our-people-well-strike.html http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39961-clinton-latest-effort-could-last-chance-mideast-peace.html Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:11:50 GMT Clinton: Latest effort could be last chance for Mideast peace - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News... Clinton: Latest effort could be last chance for Mideast peace - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

Clinton: Latest effort could be last chance for Mideast peace
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says that those who doubt the prospects for success of Israel-Palestinian peace talks are 'wrong'.
By DPA and Natasha Mozgovaya

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday the direct talks launched between the Israelis and Palestinians could be the last chance to secure a peace settlement in the long-running conflict. Clinton expressed confidence that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are committed to negotiating a peace agreement.

"Both sides and both leaders recognize that there may not ever be another chance," Clinton said at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington. Clinton hosted Netanyahu and Abbas at the State Department last week for the first direct negotiations between the two sides in nearly two years. Clinton plans to attend a second round of talks on September 14 and 15 in Egypt.

Clinton cast aside those who doubt the prospects for success as "wrong" and said the process has gained momentum with backing from Arab states willing to accept a two-state solution. "There's a certain momentum," she said. "You know, we have some challenges in the early going that we have to get over, but I think that we have a real shot here." ]]> Chris http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39961-clinton-latest-effort-could-last-chance-mideast-peace.html http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39960-pa-we-wont-recognize-israel-jewish-state.html Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:10:03 GMT PA: We won't recognize Israel as Jewish state

PA: We won't recognize Israel as Jewish state
By JPOST.COM STAFF
09/08/2010 17:42

The Palestinian Authority does not intend to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, a member of the Palestinian negotiating team participating in the direct peace talks said in Ramallah on Wednesday. "The Palestinian Authority will never recognize Israel as the Jewish state because such a declaration will negate the right of the Palestinian refugees to return to their home," said Nabil Sha'ath. Sha'ath clarified that "the PA is not opposed to the fact that there will be a Jewish majority in Israel," but that the PA had rejected Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's request to discuss the recognition of Israel as the Jewish state at the talks schedule to occur in Sharm e-Sheikh. ]]> Chris http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39960-pa-we-wont-recognize-israel-jewish-state.html http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39959-clinton-peace-talks-have-certain-momentum.html Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:06:07 GMT Clinton: Peace talks have 'a certain momentum'
By JPOST.COM STAFF
09/08/2010 21:41
US Secretary of State says Obama's foreign policy succeeding hours after Palestinian negotiator Nabil Sha'ath says PA won't recognize Jewish character of Israel.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was confident of the prospects for Palestinians and Israels to achieve a final peace agreement during a speech covering a wide range of foreign policy issues at gathering at the Council on Foreign Relations held in Washington on Wednesday. "Both sides and both leaders recognize that there may not ever be another chance," said Clinton. She added, "There's a certain momentum. You know, we have some challenges in the early going that we have to get over, but I think that we have a real shot here."

Clinton asserted at the meeting that the Obama administration's approach to foreign policy was beginning to pay important dividends. "We are advancing America's interests and making progress on some of our most pressing challenges." "Today we can say with confidence that this model of American leadership works, and that it offers our best hope in a dangerous world." Despite Clinton's optimistic remarks on Wednesday, progress in the area of American-guided Israeli-Palestinian peace talks seemed to be in question. Earlier in the day, a member of the Palestinian Authority negotiating team participating in the peace talks announced that the PA does not intend to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.

more..................Clinton: Peace talks have 'a certain momentum' ]]> Chris http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39959-clinton-peace-talks-have-certain-momentum.html http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39958-france-calls-syria-cooperate-iaea-inspectors.html Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:04:29 GMT *France calls on Syria to cooperate with IAEA inspectors* By JPOST.COM STAFF 09/08/2010 22:18 Western officials bother by nagging suspicions... France calls on Syria to cooperate with IAEA inspectors
By JPOST.COM STAFF
09/08/2010 22:18
Western officials bother by nagging suspicions regarding possible covert activities at alleged Syrian nuclear reactor site bombed by Israel in 2007.

France on Wednesday called on Syria to show more transparency in its dealings with the International Atomic Energy Agency concerning its the site of a suspected nuclear reactor it was allegedly building before it was destroyed in an Israeli air strike. The IAEA issued a report earlier this week claiming that Syria had refused to allow agency inspectors to visit the site. "[The IAEA report] tackles the recent IAEA-Syria developments according to the general warranty agreement concluded by Syria. However, there are still some pending issues, namely regarding the nature of the Dair Alzour site," said a French foreign ministry spokesperson. "France backs all IAEA check-up activities and calls on Syria to show the concrete cooperation and transparency needed to shed light on its past and current nuclear activities."

On Tuesday, the US representative to the IAEA said that the organization may consider a special inspection of Syria to answer nagging questions over its nuclear activities. Glyn Davies said a number of countries on the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors support plans to invoke the rarely used sanction. Like Iran, Syria is suspected of hiding weapons-related nuclear activities and has blocked access to a suspected nuclear site destroyed by Israeli warplanes in September 2007.

more.....................France calls on Syria to cooperate with IAEA inspectors ]]> Chris http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39958-france-calls-syria-cooperate-iaea-inspectors.html http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39951-israel-worried-jones-proposal-int-l-force-w-bank.html Wed, 08 Sep 2010 04:47:49 GMT *Israel worried by Jones proposal for int’l force in W. Bank* By YAAKOV KATZ 09/08/2010 05:43 American proposal to establish a multi-national... Israel worried by Jones proposal for int’l force in W. Bank
By YAAKOV KATZ
09/08/2010 05:43
American proposal to establish a multi-national force in the West Bank could be way to expedite a withdrawal following any peace deal with Palestinian Authority.

Israel is concerned about an American proposal to establish a multi-national force in the West Bank as one of the ways to expedite an Israeli withdrawal following any peace deal with the Palestinian Authority. The idea is being promoted by US National Security Advisor James Jones, who served as security coordinator to the West Bank under former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice. He also served as the top NATO commander in Europe, and therefore is believed to be a proponent of using multinational forces to solve conflicts. Last week, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak endorsed the concept of an international force in the West Bank in an op-ed piece in The New York Times. The IDF, with the backing of Defense Minister Ehud Barak, is opposed to the idea and believes that before the Palestinians receive control over the West Bank, they need to be able to independently prevent the creation of a terrorist state.

more....................Israel worried by Jones proposal for int ]]> Chris http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39951-israel-worried-jones-proposal-int-l-force-w-bank.html http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39943-iran-claims-right-reject-nuclear-inspectors.html Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:03:17 GMT Iran Claims Right to Reject Nuclear Inspectors | Middle East | English... Iran Claims Right to Reject Nuclear Inspectors | Middle East | English

Iran Claims Right to Reject Nuclear Inspectors
Elizabeth Arrott | Cairo 07 September 2010
Head of the Iran Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, right, speaks with media during a press conference with cleric Gholamali Safaei Bushehri, representative of the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran
Photo: AP

The Iranian government says it has the right to decide which international inspectors will be allowed to monitor its nuclear facilities. A spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry said Tehran could reject the inspectors on the basis of their previous activities. The official, Ramin Mahmanparast, was echoing comments by the nation's nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi, who noted Iran had accepted alternate inspectors provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Salehi was quoted as saying that two inspectors rejected by Iran had filed false reports on Iran's nuclear program. A report released Monday by the IAEA said Iran's objections to certain inspectors are complicating efforts to investigate its nuclear program. The program is at the core of an international dispute over whether the activities have a military component. ]]> Chris http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39943-iran-claims-right-reject-nuclear-inspectors.html http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39942-white-house-burning-koran-would-endanger-us-troops.html Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:57:52 GMT News Briefs - Israel National News (http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/193817) *White House: Burning Koran Would Endanger US... News Briefs - Israel National News

White House: Burning Koran Would Endanger US Troops
Reported: 20:44 PM - Sep/07/10

In a statement Tuesday, the White House expressed concern over the plan of a Florida church to burn copies of the Koran on September 11. White House spokesperson Robert Gibbs said that the move would endanger U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. General David Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said earlier that the event “s precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems ... Not just here, but everywhere in the world we are engaged with the Islamic community." According to reports, The Dove World Outreach Center, a 50-member evangelical Christian church in Gainesville, Fla., plans to burn the Koran on Saturday, the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorists attacks, as a form of protest against the Islamist terrorists. ]]> Chris http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39942-white-house-burning-koran-would-endanger-us-troops.html http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39941-fidel-castro-tells-ahmadinejad-stop-bashing-jews.html Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:52:37 GMT Fidel Castro tells Ahmadinejad: Stop bashing the Jews
"The Jews have lived an existence that is much harder than ours. There is nothing that compares to the Holocaust," ageing revolutionary tell U.S. journal The Atlantic.
By Natasha Mozgovaya and Haaretz Service

Cuba's former leader Fidel Castro has urged Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to stop slandering the Jews, according to an article published on the U.S. website The Atlantic on Tuesday. The ageing revolutionary devoted much of a five-hour conversation to the issue of anti-Semitism, wrote Jeffrey Goldberg, who interviewed Castro in the Cuban capital Havana.

Castro told The Atlantic that the Iranian government should understand the consequences anti-Semitism. "This went on for maybe two thousand years," he said. "I don't think anyone has been slandered more than the Jews. I would say much more than the Muslims. They have been slandered much more than the Muslims because they are blamed and slandered for everything. No one blames the Muslims for anything."

more..................Fidel Castro tells Ahmadinejad: Stop bashing the Jews - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News ]]> Chris http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39941-fidel-castro-tells-ahmadinejad-stop-bashing-jews.html http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39940-abbas-urges-u-s-step-into-settlement-dispute.html Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:50:31 GMT Abbas urges U.S. to step into settlement dispute
Palestinian president calls for help to save peace talks as clock ticks toward end of Israel's West bank settlement freeze on Sept. 26,
By The Associated Press

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he has asked the U.S. to settle a dispute with Israel over settlement expansion that is threatening to derail Mideast peace talks. Israel's 10-month partial freeze on new construction in West Bank settlements ends Sept. 26, and Israeli officials have indicated they will not extend the freeze as is. Abbas has said he'll quit peace talks with Israel unless the restrictions remain in place.

Abbas said late Monday that he has asked the U.S. "to intervene in the settlement issue." The Obama administration has promised an active role in the talks, Abbas told reporters accompanying him on his way back from Washington, where direct negotiations were launched last week after a hiatus of nearly two years.

more..............Abbas urges U.S. to step into settlement dispute - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News ]]> Chris http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/israel-middle-east-news/39940-abbas-urges-u-s-step-into-settlement-dispute.html