Tuesday, 28 May 2013
Israel, US finalize $10 billion arms deal
Israel, US finalize $10 billion arms deal(PIC) US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel (L) with Israeli Minister of Defense Moshe Yaalon during a joint press conference in Tel Aviv on April 22, 2013.
Minister Yaalon and I agreed that the United States will make available to Israel a set of advanced new military capabilities ... including anti-radiation missiles and advanced radars for fighter jets, KC135 refueling aircraft, and most significantly the V-22 Osprey…."
US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel
US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Israeli Minister of Military Affairs Moshe Yaalon have finalized a new arms deal worth USD 10 billion.
"Minister Yaalon and I agreed that the United States will make available to Israel a set of advanced new military capabilities ... including anti-radiation missiles and advanced radars for fighter jets, KC135 refueling aircraft, and most significantly the V-22 Osprey…," Hagel said in a joint press conference in Tel Aviv on Monday.
Hagel arrived in Israel on Sunday at the start of a six-day regional tour, his first since taking over as the Pentagon chief two months ago.
Meanwhile, Israel admitted to attacking a scientific research facility in Syria back in January, claiming the airstrike destroyed a convoy of advanced weapons that was bound for Lebanon's Hezbollah movement.
Hagel is set to visit Cairo, then Riyadh and Abu Dhabi to finalize details of a USD 10 billion arms deal that will also provide sophisticated missiles to Saudi Arabia and US F-16 fighter jets to the UAE.
The Pentagon chief’s trip comes a month after US President Barack Obama visited Israel and reaffirmed Washington’s backing of Tel Aviv while promoting fresh attempts to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
http://www.presstv.ir/
UN to distribute food in Gaza
UN to distribute food in Gaza on Wednesday 13AZA CITY (Ma'an) -- UNRWA will start distributing food aid to refugees in Gaza on Wednesday, a spokesman for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said Monday.
UNRWA has started moving food to its 12 distribution centers across Gaza, Adnan Abu Hasnah told Ma'an.
The agency had suspended food aid after protesters stormed a UN depot on April 4 demanding reinstatement of a monthly cash allowance to poor families which was halted from April 1 due to budget cuts.
http://www.maannews.net/
Think before you “take part in occupation and war,” says jailed Israeli refusenik
Think before you “take part in occupation and war,” says jailed Israeli refusenikNatan Blanc walks into Tel Ha’Shomer military base near Tel Aviv, where he refused once again to serve in the Israeli army, 2 April.
(Oren Ziv / ActiveStills)
Natan Blanc, a 19-year-old from Haifa, has spent more than 120 days in prison for refusing to serve in the Israeli military.
He began thinking about resisting conscription during Operation Cast Lead, Israel’s three-week offensive against Gaza in late 2008 and early 2009.
Israel’s Defense Service Law — introduced in 1949 — gave the Israeli military the authority to enroll any Israeli citizen who turns 18. After finishing a mandatory service of one year, Israelis remain in a reserve unit in the army. This requires Israelis to spend one month in the army each year until the age of 40.
Conscientious objection to military service is considered a felony in Israel. It is usually punished by imprisonment for a few weeks — during which pressure is put on an objector to change his or her mind. Following that spell in jail, the objector is summoned again to a military recruitment committee. Continued refusal to serve can lead to further imprisonment.
In total, Blanc has been summoned to a recruitment committee eight times. On each occasion, he has been sent to jail. He is scheduled for release in three weeks’ time.
http://
'3 children detained' by Israeli police in Jerusalem
JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli police detained three children on Thursday morning during a raid in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Issawiyeh, a local committee member said.
The three children, aged 13, were arrested by Israeli police who were accompanied by intelligence agents, Follow-Up Committee member Muhammad Abul Humus told Ma'an.
A spokesman for Israel's police was not immediately available for comment.
The detentions follow a raid on Wednesday in the area during a wedding party, where one Palestinian was injured by Israeli fire. Three detentions were also made during the raid.
Issawiya is the hometown of Samer Issawi, who ended a 266-day hunger strike on Wednesday after Israel agreed to release him in eight months.
Israeli forces have repeatedly raided the neighborhood amid frequent protests over Issawi's detention, dismantling a solidarity tent in the town over 30 times.
Israeli forces uproot 700 olive trees near Jenin
NABLUS (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces on Thursday uprooted over 700 olive trees near Arraba village in the northern West Bank, Palestinian Legislative Council member Najah Abu Bakr said.
The trees belonged to Palestinians in Arraba, south of Jenin, close to the Israeli settlement Mevo Dotan, the MP said in a statement.
On Tuesday, Israeli forces destroyed over 1,300 olive trees in the south Hebron hills of the southern West Bank.
http://www.maannews.net/
palestin
The Israeli occupation detains a 14 years child, accused of throwing a stone on an Israeli van.Africa to Gaza Aid Convoy
https://www.facebook.com/
Via : Let's Save Palestine
Defying all odds, the first Palestinian Circus School flourishes
Roll up, roll up - ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, friends and foes – please put your hands together and give your warm welcome to the unparalleled, the outstanding, the one and only Palestinian Circus School.
This could perfectly be the opening line of one of the shows of the Palestinian Circus School. Currently submerged in an ambience of red noses, big shoes, squeaky flowers, stilts and many other props, the Palestinian Circus School (PCS) began as a small circus group in August 2006 thanks to the determination of Shadi Zmorrod and Jessika Devlieghere, who initiated the pathway to introduce circus arts from Palestinians for Palestinians, amidst Israeli checkpoints and M-16 rifles.
The whole idea of creating the first circus school in Palestine was to provide an effective alternative to the massive effects that the Israeli military occupation has had over the lives of young Palestinians, particularly since 2000.
Read more ...
http://
Israel preparing to launch another war against Gaza: Report
The Israeli army is reportedly preparing to launch another all-out war against the besieged Gaza Strip in a bid to eliminate Hamas resistance movement.
According to Israeli Walla website, the Israeli army is preparing to launch the Operation Pillar of Defense II against Gaza to stop rocket attacks from the Palestinian territory despite a significant decrease in their number.
The Israeli website said since the Israeli regime does not have confidence in the current peace in the southern part of Israel, it wants to launch another military offensive in Gaza to destroy Hamas military infrastructure.
It also added that the Israeli army will deploy more troops in the future war to prevent Hamas response.
Walla said Israel is determined to attack Gaza again since the democratically-elected government of Gaza has not changed its anti-Israeli stance and refuses to end resistance against Israeli occupation of the Palestinian lands.
Israel launched the so-called "Operation Pillar of Defense I" against Gaza in November 2012. Over 160 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed and about 1,200 others were injured and more than 1,500 targets were hit across the Palestinian enclave during the eight-day war.
In retaliation, Palestinian resistance fighters fired rockets and missiles into Israeli cities, killing at least five Israelis. The offensive ended after Egypt brokered a truce between Hamas and Israel.
According to a Hamas spokesman, Israel's eight-day aggression against the Gaza Strip caused more than USD1.2 billion in direct and indirect damages.
http://www.presstv.ir/
palestin
By : Younes ArarMarking Nakba - march of return in Ramalla
Africa to Gaza Aid Convoy
https://www.facebook.com/
Photos: Shadi hatem
palestin
CAIRO (Ma'an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Cairo on Wednesday for talks with his Egyptian counterpart Muhammad Mursi, the PA ambassador to Egypt said.Barakat al-Farra told Ma'an the presidents would meet on Thursday and discuss the Arab League's recent visit to Washington, the peace process and Palestinian reconciliation.
Hamas and Fatah held talks in Cairo on Tuesday and agreed to form a unity government within three months, Hamas' deputy politburo chief Moussa Abu Marzouq told Ma'an.
The ambassador said Abbas and Mursi would also discuss Israeli violations in Jerusalem, including attacks on the Al-Aqsa mosque compound and against Christians.
Israel apologized to Cairo after police violence against Egyptian diplomats during the Holy Fire ceremony at Jerusalem's Holy Sepulcher church on Orthodox Easter.
According to public radio, three Egyptian diplomats and a Coptic priest were hit by Israeli police during the Holy Fire ceremony, a centuries-old sacred rite which takes place in the church on the night of Orthodox Easter.
Footage posted on the Internet show a group of police manhandling a Coptic priest in Jerusalem's Old City, with one officer locking the priest's head in his arm.
http://www.maannews.net/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)