Pentagon: Iran has improved cyber abilities and ballistic missiles since nuke deal
(JNS.org) Iran has gradually improved both its cyber abilities and developed more advanced ballistic missiles since the signing of the nuclear deal with world powers in July 2015, a new report from the U.S. Defense Department said.
The Islamic Republic now has a “substantial inventory of missiles capable of reaching targets throughout the region, including U.S. military bases and Israel,” the Pentagon said in an unclassified summary, Bloomberg News reported.
The report issued by the Pentagon is part an annual review mandated by Congress from the defense agency as a result of the nuclear deal being approved last years.
In addition to boosting its cyber and missile technology, the Pentagon report also said that Iran seeks to continue to control strategic regions in the Middle East such as the Strait of Hormuz between the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea. The report noted that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards are also trying “support and carry out” terror attacks to advance their strategic interests.
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‘Palestine’ never appeared on our maps, Google tells protesters
(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Internet giant Google on Thursday clarified that, contrary to recent reports by a Palestinian group, it had not removed the “Palestine” label from its maps application.
A statement by the Forum of Palestinian Journalists, posted on its website on Aug. 3, condemned “the crime carried out by Google in deleting the name of Palestine. We call on Google to rescind its decision and apologize to the Palestinian people.”
The statement, posted on the group’s website, stated, “The move is designed to falsify history, geography as well as the Palestinian people’s right to their homeland, and [is] a failed attempt to tamper with the memory of Palestinians and Arabs as well as the world.”
As Google Maps is one of the world’s largest sources of geographic data, more than 200,000 people heeded the organization’s call and signed a petition demanding Google reintroduce the label. The protest sprouted a popular Twitter hashtag as well: “#palestineishere.”
However, Google maintains it never had a “Palestine” label on its maps to begin with and the allegations are baseless.
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Netanyahu: ‘I care more about Palestinians than their own leaders do’
(JNS.org) In a video address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the Palestinian terror group Hamas for stealing millions of dollars in international aid slated for the people of Gaza.
“I, the Prime Minister of Israel, care more about Palestinians than their own leaders do,” Netanyahu said in a video address posted on his Facebook page on Thursday.
“Israel cares more about Palestinians than their own leaders do,” Netanyahu added.
Netanyahu’s remarks focused on the recent reports of Hamas operatives who worked inside the Gaza humanitarian aid organizations World Vision and the United Nations Development Program to funnel millions of dollars in aid money to the terror group over the last several years.
“A few days ago, the world learned that Hamas, the terrorist organization that rules Gaza, stole millions of dollars from humanitarian organizations like World Vision and the United Nations,” Netanyahu said. “Innocent and impoverished Palestinians were denied vital aid supplied from nations around the world. Hamas used this stolen money to build a war machine to murder Jews.”
“I want you to think about that. Let that sink in,” the Israeli leader said.
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Young yeshiva student stabbed in terror attack in Jerusalem
(JNS.org) A young Israeli man was wounded in a stabbing terror attack on Thursday in A-Tur, a neighborhood in eastern Jerusalem.
An Arab terrorist stabbed an 18-year-old yeshiva student in the neck with a screwdriver while the victim was on his way to the Mount of Olives cemetery.
The man was treated by Magen David Adom paramedics at the scene and then transferred to the Hadassah Medical Center. He remains in moderate condition.
The assailant fled the scene and Israeli police are still searching the area.
A volunteer from United Hatzalah who was also on the scene to help treat the victim said the young student was visiting the grave of the Rebbe Slonim.
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