By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Obama administration has announced that it will not cut the U.S. troop deployment in Afghanistan to 5,000 as planned, but will leave 8,400 soldiers to support the Afghan government in its fight against the Taliban. President Obama said, “Compared to the 100,000 troops we once had there, today, fewer
What is rationale for U.S. troops now abroad? Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USAIsraeli forces find weapons cache near Nablus, arrest suspects (JNS.org) Israeli forces have arrested four Palestinians who were allegedly involved in illicit arms dealing and manufacturing. The arrest raid, in the town of Urif near Nablus, took place overnight Sunday and was carried out by the Israel Defense Forces’s elite Duvdevan unit and Nahal Brigade,
Middle East Roundup: July 11, 2016 Read More »
Middle EastSaudi Prince Turki al-Faisal, who in the past served as Saudi Arabia’s intelligence chief, said at a conference of the Iranian opposition over the weekend that the Iranian regime supports Hamas and Islamic Jihad in “Palestine” in order to cause instability in the region. Hamas condemned the remarks, saying they were “baseless.” “Everyone knows that
Saudi official: Iran uses Hamas to cause regional instability Read More »
Middle EastThe legendary Grammy-award winning guitarist Carlos Santana is scheduled to appear in Park Hayarkon is Tel Aviv on July 30, Yediot Aharonot reported. When asked what his stance is regarding the anti-Israel BDS movement, that encourages the boycott of Israeli businesses and often pressures artists not to perform in Israel, Santana stated that “I prefer
Santana thumbs nose at BDS to appear in Tel Aviv Read More »
Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsA new report put out by the German domestic intelligence agency indicates a significant increase in the number of Hamas and Hezbollah members living within Germany’s borders. Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), put out its annual report last week, in which it indicated that there are
Germany sees increase in Hamas and Hezbollah members Read More »
International, Middle EastHamas leader Khaled Mashaal is praising the steadfastness of the people of Gaza for surviving several wars and dealing with the consequences of the “Israeli siege”. Mashaal made the comments in a recorded speech which was played at a Hamas gathering in Gaza on Saturday. He pledged that Hamas will continue to work day and
Mashaal to residents of Gaza: The ‘siege’ will end soon Read More »
Middle EastChannel 10 has reported that the famous penthouse in the Neve Avivim neighborhood in Tel Aviv formerly owned by late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and his wife, Leah, is being offered for sale for NIS 20 million by the Sotheby’s Israel agency, which does not own the property. The apartment, which has great sentimental value,
Sotheby’s selling Rabin’s former penthouse – report Read More »
Middle EastEgypt wants to host direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians in Cairo with the participation of senior Egyptian and Jordanian officials, officials told Haaretz late Sunday, following the visit of Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry to Israel. The goal of the talks will be to develop a package of confidence-building measures that would lead
Officials: Egypt wants to host direct Israel-PA talks Read More »
Middle EastBy Ira Sharkansksy JERUSALEM — Pity our American friends. And–given the importance of the US–pity the rest of us. Friends and family have to choose between Hillary and Donald, both of whom should be in retirement homes, neither close to anything important. If someone less well connected had fiddled with the email in the manner
Neither Trump nor Clinton deserving of the White House Read More »
International, Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA(AFP) The Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad targeted and killed US reporter Marie Colvin in February 2012 to stop her from covering government atrocities, according to a lawsuit filed in US court on Saturday. The Syrian military intercepted Colvin’s communications and unleashed a barrage of rocket fire on her in the besieged city of Homs,
US reporter killed in Syria deliberately targeted by regime Read More »
Middle East, USAA 21 minute audio file has surfaced online, in which the Hamza Bin Laden, the son of Al Qaeda founder Osama Bin Laden, threatened the U.S. for assassinating his father. According to Reuters, the file, entitled “We are All Osama,” features Hamza Bin Laden in a 21-minute speech threatening attacks on the U.S. and its
Bin Laden’s son threatens revenge on America Read More »
International, Middle East, USASome one thousand Israelis marched in defiance Sunday, at a protest rally from the site of the deadly drive-by shooting which claimed the life of Rabbi Michael Mark 10 days ago, to his hometown of Otniel in Har Hevron. The demonstrators called on the government to act decisively to end the ongoing wave of Arab
Watch: March of defiance from site of deadly terror shooting Read More »
Middle EastThe Israel Prisons Service parole board is to meet next Wednesday to discuss a request for early release by disgraced former president Moshe Katsav, who is serving time for rape and other sexual abuses. Three months after his last parole bid was rejected, the president was scheduled to appear before the board on July 20
Ex-president Katsav wins fresh parole hearing for next week Read More »
Middle EastTel Aviv (dpa) – Israel is to host Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced, in the first such visit in nearly a decade. Netanyahu said he would meet Shoukry twice, in the afternoon and evening. “I am pleased to announce that Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry will arrive today
Egyptian foreign minister in Israel for first such visit in a decade Read More »
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