Sunday, December 20, 2009

”Iran can now produce nuclear bomb”, The Jerusalem Post.

By Rebecca Anna Stoil (08/12/2009)

"In the last year, two things have happened: Iran has advanced its military nuclear program, and Iran has lost its legitimacy in the eyes of the international community," Netanyahu told the committee, adding that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear capabilities was Israel's "central problem."

"Our highest interest is in preventing Iran's [nuclear] armament," he said.

To that end, Netanyahu added, "there is coordination with America regarding Iran - information and intensive assessment - and diplomatic coordination cannot be ruled out." He did, however note that "it is not clear if cooperation by Russia and China against Iran will continue, but at this time, we do have an agreement."

"The use of the Internet and Twitter against the Iranian regime is a great thing," said Netanyahu. "In past years, Iran was portrayed as an unpleasant regime, but today there is deep hatred on the part of part of the Iranian nation against the regime. It is trickling out and constitutes a very important resource for the State of Israel."

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”IAEA should avoid double standards: general”, Tehran Times (20/12/2009)

TEHRAN – Brigadier General Seyyed Massoud Jazayeri, the deputy head of Iran’s armed forces headquarters, criticized harshly the performance of the former chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei on Iran’s nuclear dossier. ElBaradei stepped down as the head of the IAEA on November 30, 2009 and IAEA chose Japanese diplomat Yukiya Amano, who took over the office on December 1. The senior military official also urged the new director to change the IAEA’s suspicious actions and double standards towards Iran. “It is better that ElBaradei avoids meddling in the Iran’s internal affairs, and tries to resolve problems created for some countries during his term in office,” he said. IAEA officials know that Iran nuclear program is completely legal and peaceful, but hegemonic powers have always made attempts to negatively influence the world public opinion over Iran’s nuclear plans by depicting the truth reversely, he stated. Undoubtedly the former director of the IAEA played a major role in line with the hegemonic powers’ policies to thwart Iran nuclear plans, he added. Jazayeri went on to say that ElBaradei should apologize to Iranian nation on his stances towards Iran nuclear issue, saying, “Iranian nation will never forget ElBaradei’s suspicious and equivocal remarks. View Full Article

” Understanding Iran's Defiant Nuclear Policy ”, Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty. By Hossein Aryan (01/12/2009)

By Hossein Aryan (01/12/2009)

The diplomatic standoff over Iran's nuclear ambitions has grown more intense since President Mahmud Ahmadinejad announced publicly on November 29 that his government intends to build 10 new sites to enrich uranium to supply nuclear power plants that will increase the country's annual generating capacity by 20,000 megawatts over the next 20 years. He explained that in order to achieve this, Iran will need to install 500,000 centrifuges at the planned facilities to produce 250 to 300 tons of nuclear fuel annually.

'Yes, No, Maybe'

Although a majority of Iranian lawmakers have asked the government to scale back its cooperation with the IAEA, Iranian officials have made it clear that the country has no intention of leaving the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, and that the door remains open for further negotiations. Parliament speaker Ali Larijani too, in spite of an earlier intemperate statement about the IAEA for criticizing Iran, later said that notwithstanding the latest tension, Iran is still open to diplomacy. He added that if the major powers "adopt other policies, Iran would adopt other policies, as well." This is not the first time that top Iranian officials have sent such mixed signals, alternating blustery statements with conciliatory gestures. The recent rejection of the P5+1 (Britain, China, France, Russia, United States, plus Germany) proposal to send Iran's low-enriched uranium (LEU) to Russia in exchange for nuclear fuel for Tehran's research reactor is another example. The Iranian leadership initially accepted the proposal in principle, triggering a host of arguments

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”Nuclear rights and human rights in Iran Office”, Asia Times

By Kaveth L Afrasiabi (10/12/2009) There is now a direct linkage between the Iranian government's defense of the country's "inalienable nuclear rights" in the international arena and the country's contentious domestic politics that, in turn, has raised the international community's alarm over rights violations in Iran, reflected in a United Nations General Assembly resolution last month. In a vote of 74 in favor, 48 against and 59 abstentions, the assembly committee responsible for social, humanitarian and cultural affairs - known as the Third Committee - adopted a resolution condemning human-rights violations in Iran, particularly those that have occurred since June's presidential election, when many opposition supporters were arrested and detained. Without doubt, the vote, backed by many of Iran's non-aligned friends who support Iran's nuclear rights, is a political setback for Tehran that cannot be ignored; rather, it requires concerted efforts by the government to push the arch of reconciliation, tolerance and respect for the constitutional rights of the political opposition. This is especially so, given fresh unrest in the capital, Tehran. Security forces on Tuesday clashed with thousands of university students protesting for a second day, as the top prosecutor warned of "no mercy toward anyone who acts against national security". About 200 people were detained on Monday. The students have revitalized the June protests. … One thing is clear, however; namely, there are definite costs to Iran's national security interests due to the political rifts at home and the exploitation of those rifts by Iran's opponents who seek to deprive the country of its nuclear rights. This is starkly illustrated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking to members of the Knesset (parliament's) Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday. "The use of the Internet and Twitter against the Iranian regime is a great thing," he said. "In past years, Iran was portrayed as an unpleasant regime, but today there is deep hatred on the part of part of the Iranian nation against the regime. It is trickling out and constitutes a very important resource for the state of Israel." View Full Article

” Iraq, Iran play cat-and-mouse game over oil well”, The Montreal Gazette

By Steven Edwards (18/12/2009)

Iranian snipers in full camouflage march during an annual military parade which marks Iran's eight-year war with Iraq, Sept. 22, 2009. Iranian soldiers reportedly crossed into Iraqi territory on Friday.

Photograph by: Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images

Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, called an emergency meeting of the Iraqi National Security Council, which ruled Iran had violated Iraq's "territorial integrity" and issued the demand for withdrawal.

But it stopped short of saying what Iraq would do if the Iranian soldiers stayed put.

The U.S. military in Iraq said "no violence" had taken place as it confirmed the presence of the Iranian soldiers.

"Iranian forces come to this well periodically, and then at daybreak they withdraw," a senior engineer of Maysan oil Company told Reuters. "They are provoking us . . . I don't know why this is a big deal this time."

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"The only realistic use of this is in a nuclear weapon," said David Albright, the president of the Institute for Science and Intl Security, CNN.com

”Source: 'Alarming' secret document details Iran's nuclear goals”, CNN World. By (14/12/2009) London, England (CNN) -- A secret document that appears to show that Iran was working on building nuclear weapons as recently as 2007 is "alarming" and "part of a body of evidence backing up deep concerns over Iran's nuclear program," a Western diplomatic source with knowledge of the papers told CNN on Monday. The International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, has a copy of the secret papers, which were also obtained by the Times of London, the source said. IAEA officials confirm they are investigating the document but said they have not formally asked Iran for more information about it. A top international nuclear expert said it seemed to point to Iranian efforts to build a bomb. "The only realistic use of this is in a nuclear weapon," said David Albright, the president of the Institute for Science and International Security. The fact that the document comes out at this time makes it very difficult for Russia and China not to go along with more sanctions. --Mehrdad Khonsari, former Iranian diplomat "It shows that either Iran is developing the capability [to build nuclear weapons] or it is moving to implement a bomb program -- and either one is bad," said Albright, who reviewed the document for the Times before the newspaper published its report Sunday. View Full Article

”WATCH: Dramatic footage of IDF rescue of sailors lost at sea”, Haaretz

”WATCH: Dramatic footage of IDF rescue of sailors lost at sea”, Haaretz. By Fadi Eyadat and Anshel Pfeffer (12/12/2009)

The five Ukrainian sailors who were rescued at sea off the coast of the Lebanese town of Tyre were released on Sunday from Rambam Hospital in Haifa. The crewmen were extricated from the water by the elite rescue unit 669 after their freighter ship, the Sala II, sank on its way to Israel. A video clip released by the Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson's Unit provides a glimpse into how the dramatic developments unfolded. The footage, which was shot by a military patrol helicopter which hovered above, depicts how one of the rescued sailors was spotted as he was floating in the choppy waters.

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” Lieberman: Anti-Israel views are anti-Semitism”, Israel Today

Lieberman: Anti-Israel views are anti-Semitism”, Israel Today (17/12/2009)

"Modern anti-Semitism has taken on the form of being anti-Israel... Instead of saying 'throw the Jews into the sea,' they talk of a world without Zionism, and without Israel," Lieberman said at the Foreign Ministry's third annual Global Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism.

This new form of anti-Semitism is actually far more dangerous, suggested Lieberman. Instead of lowest elements lashing out at Jews in vile hatred, anti-Israelism is spearheaded by society's elite academics, power brokers and human rights groups that are viewed as inherently good and is couched in eloquent language.

But the goal is the same, warned Lieberman. These people "seek to destroy Israel piece by piece."

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” Leaked IDF memo details tactics to enforce settlement freeze” Haaretz

” Leaked IDF memo details tactics to enforce settlement freeze” Haaretz. By Chaim Levinson (20/12/2009) IDF troops would be called in to evict settlers "only in extreme instances whichi will be decided upon individually," the document says in reference to this sensitive issue. There have been acts of disobedience by troops who refused to carry out orders on ideological grounds. The eviction itself is supposed to be carried out be police officers. ...The Human Rights for Yesh organization said the doumcent was a "military operation against the settler public" and would trample on their human rights. It added that as much as the freeze is menat to please the Americans, "the government needs to be reminded that the United States does not take such actions against citizens in its territory." The IDF Spokesman's Office said that leaving the army out of any political discussion was a "national responsibility" View Full Article

”Abbas Assails Hamas, Israel in Effort to Extend Term in Office”, Bloomberg

Abbas Assails Hamas, Israel in Effort to Extend Term in Office”, Bloomberg. By Jonathan Ferziger and Gwen Ackerman (15/12/2009)

“There is a need to hold elections and Hamas should not be allowed to disrupt democratic life,” Abbas told the PLO leadership during a 75-minute speech at his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah. “We believe in democracy. Hamas does not.”

“...When Israel stops settlement activity for a specific period and when it recognizes the borders we are calling for, and these are the legal borders, there would be nothing to prevent us from going to negotiations,” Abbas said, sitting at a table beneath a banner with his picture and that of PLO founder Yasser Arafat.

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”Mosque attack in West Bank draws condemnation from Israeli leaders”, The Washington Post

”Mosque attack in West Bank draws condemnation from Israeli leaders”, The Washington Post. By Howard Schneider (20/12/2009) Those who burned the mosque "are extremists and Arab-haters, fundamentalists," said Adbul Fathi Madi, head of realigious affairs for the West Bank area that includes Yasuf. View Full Article

”Americans support action on Iran - if needed”, The Jerusalem Post

”Americans support action on Iran - if needed”, The Jerusalem Post. By Hilary Krieger (19/12/2009)

Just over half of Americans support a military attack on Iran by the United States and its allies if Teheran doesn't halt its nuclear program, according to a new poll by The Israel Project.

In such a scenario, 51% of Americans would support targeted military strikes and 44% would oppose them. Fewer of those polled, however, would support Israel taking such action on its own, by a split of 42% to 49%.

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”Israel, EU's new FM start off poorly”, The Jerusalem Post

”Israel, EU's new FM start off poorly”, The Jerusalem Post. By Herb Keinon (20/12/2009) "East Jerusalem is occupied territory together with the West Bank. The EU is opposed to the destruction of homes, the eviction of Arab residents and the construction of the separation barrier," EU Foreign Minister Catherine Ashton. View Full Article

”UK is committed to Israel's security”, The Jerusalem Post

UK is committed to Israel's security”, The Jerusalem Post. By Jonny Paul (19/12/2009)

"The unchanging fundamental is first, a very strong belief in Israel's legitimacy and its right to exist. Secondly, the strong desire for Israel to live in security based on peace. And thirdly, the desire to have the best possible relationship between Israel and Britain.”

Matthew Gould, Incoming British Ambassador.

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