Wednesday, 17 December 2008

HAPPY CHANUKAH!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
==========================

 
TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior Iranian military officer said the government is set
to upgrade its missile production division in an effort to boost the
country's defense capabilities.
Head of the Aerospace Organization in the Defense Ministry, Brigadier
General Mehdi Farahi, said Monday that the entire structure of the
organization along with the company's policies will be renewed.
"The reforms are intended to promote efficiency and help fulfill the
requirements of the country's Armed Forces," Brigadier General Farahi told
FNA.
The organization has been actively manufacturing rocket artillery systems to
help Iran's military self-sufficiency campaign directed at enhancing the
country's defense capabilities in the face of war threats.
The AO has been responsible for developing Iran's surface-to-surface Sejjil
missile, the long-range Shahab-3 ballistic missile which has a range of up
to 2,000 km, and Zelzal and Fateh missiles.
The Shahab-3 reportedly has a range of up to 1,250 miles (2000 kilometers)
and is capable of carrying a 1,000-760 kilogram warhead.
This is while the solid-fuel, two-stage Sejjil missile with two engines, is
capable of reaching a very high altitude and therefore has a longer range
than that of the Shahab 3 model.
The move follows intensified threats by the US and Israeli regime of
military action against Tehran.
US forces attacked a Syrian village near the borders with Iraq on October
26, and the raid on Sukkariyah, which took place almost simultaneously with
an air raid on a Pakistani village, has raised speculation about the
likelihood of similar unilateral strikes by the US troops on other regional
states, including the Islamic Republic.
Speculation that Israel could also bomb Iran mounted after a big Israeli air
drill in June. In the first week of June, 100 Israeli F-16 and F-15 fighters
reportedly took part in an exercise over the eastern Mediterranean and
Greece, which was interpreted as a dress rehearsal for a possible attack on
Iran's nuclear installations.
Israel and its close ally the United States accuse Iran of seeking a nuclear
weapon, while they have never presented any corroborative document to
substantiate their allegations. Both Washington and Tel Aviv possess
advanced weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear warheads.
Iran vehemently denies the charges, insisting that its nuclear program is
for peaceful purposes only. Tehran stresses that the country has always
pursued a civilian path to provide power to the growing number of Iranian
population, whose fossil fuel would eventually run dry.
Iran has warned that it would target Israel and its worldwide interests in
case it comes under attack by the Tel Aviv.
The United States has always stressed that military action is a main option
for the White House to deter Iran's progress in the field of nuclear
technology.
Iran has warned that in case of an attack by either the US or Israel, it
will target 32 American bases in the Middle East and close the strategic
Strait of Hormoz.
An estimated 40 percent of the world's oil supply passes through the
waterway.
Meantime, a recent study by the Institute for Science and International
Security (ISIS), a prestigious American think tank, has found that a
military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities "is unlikely" to delay the
country's program.
In a Sep. 11 report, the Washington Institute for the Near East Policy also
said that in the two decades since the Iran-Iraq War, the Islamic Republic
has excelled in naval capabilities and is able to wage unique asymmetric
warfare against larger naval forces.
According to the report, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy (IRGCN)
has been transformed into a highly motivated, well-equipped, and
well-financed force and is effectively in control of the world's oil
lifeline, the Strait of Hormuz.
The study says that if Washington takes military action against the Islamic
Republic, the scale of Iran's response would likely be proportional to the
scale of the damage inflicted on Iranian assets.
Intensified threats by Tel Aviv and Washington of military action against
Iran contradict a recent report by 16 US intelligence bodies which endorsed
the civilian nature of Iran's nuclear plans and activities.
Following the US National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) and similar reports by
the IAEA head - one in November and the other one in February - which
praised Iran's truthfulness about key aspects of its past nuclear activities
and announced settlement of outstanding issues with Tehran, any effort to
impose further sanctions or launch military attack on Iran seems to be
completely irrational.
The February report by the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic
Energy Agency, praised Iran's cooperation in clearing up all of the past
questions over its nuclear program, vindicating Iran's nuclear program and
leaving no justification for any new UN sanctions.
The UN nuclear watchdog has also carried out at least 14 surprise
inspections of Iran's nuclear sites so far, but found nothing to support
West's allegations.
Following the said reports by the US and international bodies, many world
states have called the UN Security Council pressure against Tehran
unjustified, demanding that Iran's case be normalized and returned from the
UNSC to the IAEA.
====================
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Iran Succeeds in Building Micro Drones (UAV's)
 
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran manufactured a new generation of "spy drones" capable of
providing almost real time access to aerial intelligence.
Head of the Aerospace Faculty at Iran's Amir Kabir University of Technology
Mahmoud Mani made public on Sunday the successful production of "micro
drones" by Iranian aerospace experts.
Known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the systems prowl over enemy
terrain and transmit real-time images of the area of concern to their ground
operators, who guide them with joysticks from a distance.
"Iran's domestically-manufactured micro unmanned aerial vehicle would be
used in research projects," Mani told FNA.
The robotic aircraft are generally designed for surveillance, reconnaissance
and covert missions.
The new development comes at a time that Iran is pursuing a military
self-sufficiency campaign directed at improving its defense capabilities
after years of sanctions and facing military threats.
Israel accuses Iran, a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
(NPT), of making efforts to "build a nuclear weapon."
Under the allegation, Israeli officials argue that a military attack is a
legitimate option for destroying Iran's nuclear infrastructure.
Tel Aviv's rising rhetoric against Iran has fueled speculation about an
imminent unilateral Israeli strike. However, analysts maintain that an
Israeli attack on Iran would not be possible without a US green light.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in November that Tel Aviv had
received a green light from Washington to take any action it deems
"necessary" against Iran over its nuclear program.
Iran insists its activities are directed at the civilian applications of the
technology and are in line with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT),
which grants all signatories the right to enrich uranium for peaceful
purposes.
==========

Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Iran President Ahmadinejad: Iran will never recognize Israel
Iran will never recognize Israel: President
Tehran, Dec 16, 2008 IRNA - Iran news agency
www2.irna.com/en/news/view/menu-234/0812161199145433.htm
 
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday that Iran will never recognize
Israel and is ready to hold talks with those urging an end to Israeli
crimes, occupation, aggression, ideology and Zionism.
"Whoever who is to talk with the Iranian nation should know that Iranians
would never recognize the Zionist regime," the president said addressing a
large crowd in the city of Ahvaz, capital of Khuzestan province.
He arrived in the province with his cabinet members on the second round of
his provincial tours to follow up implementation of the projects that had
been approved during the first round of his visit.
Addressing "those who are to hold talk with Iran," the president stressed,
"Iranian nation is neither in favor of suppression, nor in favor of hegemony
and it would never give up its absolute rights." Commenting on the recent
remarks made by one of the European leaders, the president said, "This
respectful man who tries to mimic superpowers, speaks like Pharaoh when he
stands behind the podium.
"He is for a while keeping to say that he would not shake hand or hold talks
with those who say the Zionist regime should be disappeared.
"I would tell this man that you are making conditions for talks while no
Iranian has ever asked or will ever ask to shake hand or hold talks with
you.
"All who are to talk with Iranian nation should notice that Iranians would
never recognize Israel.
"They should also notice that they would talk to a people who call for an
end to Israeli crimes, aggression, occupation, ideology and the basic of
Zionism."
Referring to the current global financial crisis, the president said the
crisis would soon "turn into a great political and social problem and would
collapse their palace of tyranny."
===================
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
'Iran influence over Hamas is growing'
Yaakov Katz , THE JERUSALEM POST Dec. 15, 2008
www.jpost.com
/servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728211432&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
 
Iran's influence over Hamas has increased in recent months and Teheran is
playing a key role in the terror group's decision-making process regarding
whether to extend the cease-fire with Israel that will expire on Friday,
defense officials said Monday.
According to the officials, Egypt - which for years was the main address for
dealings with Hamas - has lost its authority over the terror group and is
being replaced in part by Iran. The Gaza issue has been a source of
contention between Teheran and Cairo in recent weeks.
As an example of Egypt's decline, the official noted that in November, Hamas
rejected an Egyptian request to come to Cairo for talks with Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas.
"Egyptian influence over Hamas has dropped," a senior defense official said
Monday. "Iran's influence, on the other hand, is on the rise."
On Monday, some 80 trucks carrying fuel and basic humanitarian supplies were
allowed into the Gaza Strip via the Kerem Shalom and Nahal Oz Crossings.
Defense officials said that the crossings were specially opened to allow the
transfer of the supplies, which Israel is obligated to allow into Gaza even
when the crossings are officially closed.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Monday that he would not be deterred from
launching a military operation in Gaza.
"I am not deterred from an operation in Gaza but am also not running into
Gaza," Barak said, during a meeting with visiting Austrian President Heinz
Fischer. "If there will be quiet it will be met by quiet. If the truce will
be breached and there is no choice, we will operate in the right way and at
the right time."
Although the truce began on June 19, "it was agreed explicitly that there is
no expiration date" in the agreement, head of the Defense Ministry's
Diplomatic-Security Bureau Maj.-Gen. (res.) Amos Gilad said Monday, a day
after returning from talks with Egyptian officials in Cairo.
"In the end, the test is the calm and the benefit the residents have had for
long months, even though it is relative calm," he added.
Exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal however, said on Sunday that the truce
would not be renewed when it expires on Friday. Other Hamas officials said
that the group had not yet made a decision on whether or not they would seek
to renew the agreement.
Asked whether any progress had been made on the issue of captured soldier
Gilad Schalit during the talks in Egypt that he had on Sunday, Gilad said
the only real test was "whether he's [in Israel] or not."
He said that the issue of the cease-fire with Hamas was crucial to freeing
the captured soldier, and expressed hope that Schalit "would return alive
and well."
Meanwhile, Israel released 224 Palestinian prisoners Monday in a gesture to
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Jubilant detainees waving Palestinian flags jumped on the roof of one of the
buses carrying them to freedom.
The buses headed from an IDF checkpoint to Abbas's headquarters in nearby
Ramallah, where he hugged and kissed each former detainee.
Initially, Israel was to free 227 prisoners. However, Israeli Prison Service
spokesman Yaron Zamir said only 224 were freed, and the release of three
others was still under review.
Eighteen of the prisoners were released to Gaza.
Abbas told the detainees in Ramallah that he would work to win the release
of all the remaining prisoners in Israeli jails.
"Our happiness will not be complete until all of the 11,000 prisoners are
freed," Abbas said.
One of the prisoners, Abdel Nasser Hussein, 28, had been arrested at dawn on
his wedding day 30 months ago. His fiancee, Alaa Issa, showed up smartly
dressed in a matching coat and head scarf Monday, bearing a bouquet of red
roses. They hugged and kissed.
"It's indescribable happiness," said Hussein, a former member of the
Palestinian security forces. "You can't put a price on freedom, and my hope
that is that the president will keep working for my colleagues to be
released."
After exchanging rings, they walked arm-in-arm, their friends and family
clapping and singing a traditional wedding song. They plan to marry in two
weeks.
AP contributed to this report.
===========

Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Assad wants Syrian access to Kinneret
jpost.com staff and herb keinon , THE JERUSALEM POST Dec. 16, 2008
www.jpost.com
/servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728216692&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
 
Damascus has drafted a document defining the boundaries of the Golan Heights
and which puts Syria on the northeastern Kinneret shore, Reuters reported
Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the talks.
The sources said that Damascus was waiting for an Israeli reply through
Turkish mediators.
"The president was clear that Syria wants to know the Israeli view about
what constitutes occupied Syrian territory before progress can be made," one
of the sources said.
"According to Syrian thinking, Israeli agreement on the six (geographical)
points could help seal a peace deal next year. But Israel may not be able to
provide a response any time soon, when it is in such political turmoil," a
second source said.
A Syrian official said that the paper sent to Turkey includes reference to
geographical points on the present northeastern shore of the Kinneret. "The
document puts us on the water," the official said.
Israel said it could neither confirm nor deny the report.
It follows a Jerusalem Post report of December 5, which quoted London-based
Al-Hayat newspaper as saying that Syria was refraining from engaging in
direct peace negotiations with Israel until it received answers to six
questions sent to Jerusalem regarding the future of the Golan Heights.
According to the report, Turkey presented both sides with an offer to
advance the negotiations, and during the diplomatic activity that followed,
both countries exchanged six questions. Israel asked about security
guarantees, and Syria asked about the Golan and future borders.
The paper reported that Syria had submitted its responses to the Turks, but
had asked that they not be shown to Jerusalem officials until the Israelis
submitted their own answers.
Israel has never acknowledged that it received any document from the
Syrians, and an official in the Prime Minister's Office refused to comment
on the Al-Hayat story.
Another Israeli diplomatic official, however, said the Syrian government had
said publicly it wasn't interested in beginning direct negotiations with
Israel until a new US administration was in place.
The Syrians are very keen on intensive US involvement, something the Bush
administration was hesitant to offer, but something to which the Obama
administration may be more amenable.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Ehud Barak attended an IDF Armored Corps drill
in the Golan on Tuesday and said that the exercise "instills confidence in
the might and capabilities of the IDF."

Tuesday, December 16, 2008
IDF kills senior Islamic Jihad terrorist in Jenin arrest op
IDF kills senior Islamic Jihad terrorist in Jenin arrest op
JPost.com Staff , THE JERUSALEM POST Dec. 16, 2008
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728212690&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
IDF soldiers killed a senior Islamic Jihad commander overnight Monday in a
joint IDF-Border Police-Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) arrest operation.
According to Palestinian reports, IDF troops first tried to arrest
23-year-old Jihad Nwada, commander of the Islamic Jihad's Quds Brigades, and
one of the organization's senior commanders in the northern West Bank, at an
internet-café in a village near Jenin. Nwada tried to escape and was killed
in the ensuing exchange of fire, they said.
The IDF confirmed Nwada had tried to escape, and said that the troops aimed
to shoot him in the lower part of the body. After he was wounded, the troops
began evacuating him to a nearby hospital, but Nwada died on the way, said
the army. His body was transferred to the Red Cross.
Security forces said Nwada was active in a terror cell that intended to
commit a terror attack in the near future and was wanted by the IDF several
months.
Nwada was arrested by the Palestinian Authority in 2008 and released in the
September. According to security sources, after his release, he returned to
activity in the terror organization.

Monday, December 15, 2008
Abbas: no deal unless get Ramat Eshkol, French Hill, Jewish Quarter of Old City
Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA:
President Abbas added that the Palestinians would not accept any peace
agreement with Israel, which will not give back all the Occupied Palestinian
Territory.
Abbas: We Will See Many More Prisoners Released Date : 15/12/2008 Time :
17:21
http://english.wafa.ps/?action=detail&id=12421
RAMALLAH, December 15, 2008 (WAFA - PLO news agency)- 227 Palestinian
Prisoners were released, Monday, from Israeli Prisons in honor of Eid
Al-Adha, the Muslim Festival of Sacrifice.
'Our joy will be complete only when all 11,000 Palestinian imprisoned in
Israel will be released,' said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, as he
greeted the hundreds of released Palestinian prisoners crossing over to the
West Bank.
The majority of the prisoners arrived in the West Bank city of Ramallah,
where they were received with grand festivities. 19 of the prisoners were
transferred to the Gaza Strip, where Hamas disallowed any celebrations,
since none of its operatives were among the prisoners released.
President Abbas added that the Palestinians would not accept any peace
agreement with Israel, which will not give back all the Occupied Palestinian
Territory.
He told the released Palestinian prisoners at Al-Muqata'a, the headquarters
of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), 'I promise you that the refugee
issue will remain one of our priorities until their suffering ends.'
President Abbas stressed that any future peace treaty reached with Israel
should include a solution to all the permanent status key issues, mainly
Jerusalem, the refugees, the borders of the future Palestinian state, and
the Jewish colonization.
 
=========
 An IAF Searcher UAV at...
An IAF Searcher UAV at Palmahim IAF base near Ashdod [illustrative].
 
The Jerusalem Post Internet Edition

Russia mulls buying batch of Israeli drones

Dec. 16, 2008
Associated Press , THE JERUSALEM POST
Russia is negotiating with Israel to buy a batch of spy drones, the head of the Russian armed forces said Tuesday, in what would be its first ever purchase of military hardware from the Jewish state.
Israel sparked concern in Moscow after it previously sold drones to Georgia that were used successfully before and during its August war with Russia.
Russia's weapons industries have failed to supply the military with drones, developing only experimental models that experts have described as outdated.
Gen. Nikolai Makarov, the chief of the general staff of the Russian armed forces, said that Russia would like to buy an unspecified number of drones from Israel, the Interfax news agency reported.
"We are working on this issue. We are talking about a test batch of Israeli drone planes," it quoted Makarov as saying.
If finalized, the deal would mark an unprecedented delivery of Israeli military technology to the Russian military.
During the Cold War years, Moscow supplied weapons worth billions of dollars to the Arab nations which fought Israel, and barred Jews from leaving the Soviet Union.
Israel Aerospace Industries' spokesman Doron Suslik would not comment on Tuesday's report.
But Israeli defense officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of Russia-Israel ties, confirmed the Russians had asked to buy the drones and said that Israel is considering the request.
Defense Ministry envoy, Amos Gilad, will head to Russia Wednesday to try to persuade Russia not to sell advanced air defense missiles to Iran, the defense officials said.
Gilad will also discuss the drone sale in his talks with Russian officials, they said.
Russia's relations with Israel have improved steadily since the Soviet collapse, but some tensions remain.
Israel has been concerned that Russia could sell its enemies, Iran and Syria, advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems. That would make any potential strike at Iran's first nuclear power plant - which Russia is helping to build - more difficult.
This article can also be read at http://www.jpost.com /servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728221976&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
============
 
The Jerusalem Post Internet Edition

IDF launches new, outsourced classification system for recruits

Dec. 16, 2008
Yaakov Katz , THE JERUSALEM POST
Public lecturing, group discussions and other live simulations are some of the trials teenagers going through the IDF induction process will be subjected to under a new classification system the Human Resources Department launched on Tuesday.
Called Me'ah - a Hebrew acronym for "Classification, Identification and Compatibility" - the new program is being outsourced and run by Adam Milo, one of Israel's leading human resources companies.
"We want to maximize our most valuable resources, which is our soldiers," OC Human Resources Maj.-Gen. Avi Zamir said during a press conference in Tel Aviv. "Our only advantage in the Middle East is our human resource."
Since the 1980s, new draftees have gone through a series of tests that set what is called in Israel the "Kaba." The Kaba is a number that ranges from 40 to 56 and combines a draftee's psychological evaluation, knowledge of Hebrew, socio-economic background and other criteria.
Under the new program, draftees - who have a low medical profile and therefore cannot serve in combat units - will, after their interview at IDF Induction Centers, be summoned for a day-long of additional tests and simulations that will set another grade, called "Zafat," a Hebrew acronym for "Occupation Profile Score." (Religious Zionist get a lower profile for political reasons)
"During the day, the draftees will go through six stations that will test various skills that are not brought out in the standardized exams," explained Lt.-Col. Rami Ben-Haim, head of the Me'ah project. "This gives 40 percent of draftees the chance to get to jobs in the military that before they never would have been assigned to."
This article can also be read at http://www.jpost.com /servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728223393&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Mortar and missiles attacks pass 10,000 mark
Mortar and missiles attacks pass 10,000 mark

Missile and Mortar Attacks on Israel Pass 10,000 Mark

Kislev 19, 5769, 16 December 08 06:55
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
(IsraelNN.com) Gaza terrorists escalated attacks on the western Negev Tuesday, pushing to 10,046 the number of mortar and rocket attacks the past eight years. The IDF spotted and hit one rocket-launching cell.
One Israeli suffered shock in the latest barrage, which included five Kassam rockets and a mortar shell. One rocket exploded in a soccer field next to the Sapir College, located adjacent to Sderot, and the other rockets landed in open areas outside the city.
 
The IDF identified and hit a Kassam launcher in northern Gaza, and Defense Minister Ehud Barak announced that he would continue diplomatic non-military retaliation by keeping Gaza crossings closed and preventing trucks from bringing goods into the region.
The Islamic Jihad took responsibility for the latest barrage, which it said was a response to the IDF's eliminating one of its leaders near Jenin, in Samaria, early Tuesday morning.
 
Media outlets have been emphasizing December 19 as the end of six months since outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert agreed to the June 19 ceasefire, although no expiry date was set in the unsigned agreement.
 
Hamas has adopted the date as the end of the pact and has threatened to consider the agreement void even thought it already does not exist in practice. Terrorists from Hamas and allied organizations attached the western Negev and as far north as Ashkelon with more than 50 rockets and mortars between June 19 and November 4, when the IDF carried out a counterterrorist operation against a cell planning to kidnap IDF soldiers.
More than 225 attacks were registered in the past six weeks, and the Sderot Media Center reported that 7,000 mortars and rockets have been fired since Israel executed the "Disengagement" program in the summer of 2005. The government expelled more than 7,000 Jewish residents of Gush Katif and northern Gaza, withdrew all military personnel and surrendered control of the Philadelphi Route, which includes the Rafiah area used to smuggle explosives and weapons into Gaza.
Israel political leaders Tuesday continued to threaten military retaliation "at the proper time." Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who is campaigning in the Knesset elections as chairman of the Labor party, told visiting Austrian President Heinz Fischer, "If the lull is violated and the situation requires it, we will act in the proper manner."
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