Clinton says U.S. is not setting deadlines for Iran
(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) The U.S. is “not setting deadlines” for Iran and still considers negotiations to be “by far the best approach” to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Bloomberg in an interview published Monday.
Speaking to Bloomberg Radio on Sunday after the conclusion of meetings at an Asia-Pacific forum in Vladivostok, Russia, Clinton said that economic sanctions are affecting Iran and the U.S. is “watching very carefully about what [the Iranians] do, because it’s always been more about their actions than their words.”
Clinton’s comments were published just hours after Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney slammed President Barack Obama’s policy on Iran on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” dubbing it his “greatest failure.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently said that the international community was not doing enough to slow Iran’s nuclear progress. “This is a brutal regime that is racing ahead with its nuclear program because it doesn’t see a clear red line from the international community and it doesn’t see the necessary resolve and determination from the international community,” Netanyahu said.
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French doctor: Islamists surging the ranks of Syrian rebels, seek Islamic state
(JNS.org) After returning from treating patients in Aleppo, Syria, Jacques Beres, co-founder of the medical charity group Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), said that at least half the people he treated were foreign fighters who are intent on waging holy war and establishing an Islamist state.
“It’s really something strange to see. They are directly saying that they aren’t interested in Bashar al-Assad’s fall, but are thinking about how to take power afterwards and set up an Islamic state with sharia law to become part of the world Emirate,” the doctor said, according to Reuters.
Additionally, according to the doctor, some of the fighters included French citizens who said they were inspired by Mohammed Merah—the al Qaida-linked terrorist who carried out the attack on the Ozar HaTorah Jewish Day School in Toulouse in March, killing a rabbi and three Jewish children.
“Some of them were French and completely fanatical about the future,” Beres said. “They didn’t trust me, but for instance they told me that Mohammed Merah was an example to follow.”
Many Western analysts have begun to suspect that jihadist fighters, including Iraq war veterans, are playing an increasing role in the Syrian conflict.
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Canada breaks ties with Iran, expels diplomats
(JNS.org) The Canadian Foreign Affairs Ministry announced on Sept. 7 that it has suspended diplomatic ties with Iran and is expelling Iranian diplomats from Canada, CBC News reported.
Canada also added Iran, and later Syria, to the state sponsors of terrorism list under the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act, which allows Canadians affected by terrorism to sue the offending states.
“Canada views the government of Iran as the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today,” Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said.
Speaking later on the issue, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canadian diplomats were recalled because of Iran’s “capacity for increasingly bad behavior.”
Commenting on Canada’s actions, Israeli President Shimon Peres said the country “has proven once again that morals come before pragmatism.”
Canada’s move comes after more than three decades of strained relations with Iran. Canada closed its embassy in the country following the 1979 Islamic Revolution since it feared retribution for helping six American diplomats escape. While relations resumed with Iran in 1988, Canada’s concerns for Iranian human rights abuses, nuclear non-proliferation and threats against Israel have limited Canadian diplomatic engagement with Islamic Republic.
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Chabad makes historic real estate move in Manhattan
(JNS.org) Chabad-Lubavitch made one of the largest real estate moves in its history last week when it purchased a 12-story, 60,000-square-foot building in Midtown Manhattan for $42 million, the organization said.
“We thank G-d for this special blessing,” said Rabbi Joshua Metzger on Chabad’s website. “This presents enormous opportunities and an awesome responsibility to ensure that the multitudes in the heart of the city are cared for and inspired,” he said.
Chabad has occupied the second floor of the building located on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street for 16 years. It has served as the headquarters of Chabad’s rapidly growing operations in Manhattan. Chabad said it plans to fill the building’s vacant space quickly.
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Preceding provided by JNS.org and reprinted with permission