Iranian election ‘doesn’t have the power’ to change nuclear ambitions, Netanyahu says
(JNS.org) Iran president-elect Hassan Rohani, who is considered a relative moderate, “doesn’t call the shots” when it comes to Iran’s nuclear program, but rather, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sdoes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Monday.
“The Iranian election clearly reflects deep disaffection of the Iranian people with its regime, but unfortunately it doesn’t have the power to change Iran’s nuclear ambitions,” Netanyahu told Reuters.
Rohani was Iran’s nuclear negotiator from 2003 to 2005. He said at a press conference Monday that Iran would “take the path towards increased transparency” regarding its nuclear program.
“Of course our nuclear programs are totally transparent in nature. But we are ready to show more transparency and to show the world that Iran’s nuclear work complies fully with the international framework,” Rohani said.
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Hamas calls on Hezbollah to leave Syria
(JNS.org) In a rare public rebuke, the Palestinian terror organization Hamas has called on its Lebanese counterpart, Hezbollah, to end its engagement in the Syrian civil war and fight Israel instead.
“We demand of Hezbollah to withdraw its forces from Syria and call on it to leave its weapons directed only at the Zionist enemy,” read a statement by Hamas, posted on the Facebook page of its deputy political leader Moussa Abu Marzouq, the Times of Israel reported. “The entry of [Hezbollah] forces to Syria has contributed to increasing the sectarian mobilization in the region.”
The statement by Hamas represents an ongoing shift within both Hamas as well as the geopolitical situation in the Middle East. Despite hailing from different Islamic sects, Hamas, along with Hezbollah, have traditionally aligned themselves with Iran and Syria against their common enemy, Israel.
But in 2012, Hamas closed its offices in Syria over its displeasure with the government of President Bashar al-Assad, who has been fighting the mainly Sunni Muslim rebel forces with Iran and Hezbollah’s support.
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The Pet Shop Boys defends Israel concert
(JNS.org) The British electric pop duo The Pet Shop Boys are the latest celebrities to voice their support for Israel and reject the ongoing pressure from anti-Israel BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) movement to shun the Jewish state.
A group of BDS activists plan on protesting an event attended by the Pet Shop Boys this week to persuade the musicians to cancel their Tel Aviv concert.
“Open your eyes to the ugly reality of apartheid Israel,” reads a poster prepared for the protest, according to Ynet.
But Neil Tennant, the group’s main vocalist, struck back by attacking the comparison between Israel and apartheid-era South Africa, which is frequently used by anti-Israel advocates.
“I don’t agree with this comparison of Israel to apartheid-era South Africa,” Tennant wrote on the group’s official website, explaining that Israel has “universal suffrage and equality of rights for all its citizens, both Jewish and Arab.”
“In apartheid-era South Africa, artists could only play to segregated audiences; in Israel anyone who buys a ticket can attend a concert,” Tennant added.
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Preceding provided by JNS.org