Livni blocks unity government on pro-Palestinian pretext, Abbas frees Hamas terroristsDEBKAfile Exclusive Report and Analysis February 23, 2009, 12:19 PM (GMT+02:00)  Tzipi Livni twists Netanyahu's arm for two-state solution DEBKAfile's military sources report that Sunday, Feb. 22, the Palestinian Authority on orders from chairman Mahmoud Abbas began releasing Hamas terrorists detained as part of his commitment to join forces with Israel to combat Palestinian terror. Abbas did not consult Israel. While Israel's unity talks stumble forward, the rival Palestinian Fatah and Hamas are on a fast-moving secret track towards a power-sharing accord that will force Israel to accept Hamas. | ||
Iran's first nuclear reactor starts "pilot stage" at Bushehr WednesdayDEBKAfile Special Report February 22, 2009, 8:57 PM (GMT+02:00)  Iran's first nuclear reactor at Bushehr - ready to go by August The preliminary phase of Iran's first reactor, built with Russian help at the southern town of Bushehr, will be marked by a ceremony Wednesday, Feb. 25. Our sources report that Iranian nuclear teams will first activate the 1,000-MW reactor's sections in sequence with the help of advanced Russian computers flown in to monitor their progress. Barring hitches, it will be ready for full operation by August 2009. | ||
Livni and Barak agree to meet Netanyahu again after spurning his unity offer
DEBKAfile Special Report
February 23, 2009, 1:37 PM (GMT+02:00)
While Labor is solidly behind Ehud Barak's decision to go into opposition, Tzipi Livni could not afford to shut the door because her Kadima party is on the point of revolt. They are eager to take up the top jobs on offer rather than joining her "fighting opposition."
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Three arrested after Cairo bomb attack kills French girl, wounds 21
February 23, 2009, 6:44 PM (GMT+02:00)
The explosion in the Khan El-Khalili Bazaar near Hussein Mosque in Cairo Sunday, Feb. 22 killed a 17-year old French girl. Among the 21 injured was a large group of visiting French teenagers as well as Germans, Saudis and Egyptians. Egyptian police are playing down the attack saying it was caused by a small explosive device, such as a hand grenade, thrown from a balcony. However, witnesses reported a huge explosion and police found and defused a second device at the scene.
New Saudi-funded terrorist group suspected of Katyusha attack from Lebanon
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
February 21, 2009, 9:51 PM (GMT+02:00)
Lebanese soldier examines rocket launcher
The rocket attack which slightly injured three Israelis in the Arab Christian village of Mailiyeh early Saturday, Feb. 21 is attributed byDEBKAfile's counter-terror sources to the "Jihad Movement for Gaza" – a new terrorist organization operating out of the Ain Hilwa refugee camp near Sidon. No organization has taken responsibility for the attack.
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Barack Obama concludes secret pact with Saudi King
DEBKA-Net-Weekly Exclusive Report
February 20, 2009, 12:24 PM (GMT+02:00)
DEBKA-Net-Weeklyreveals the terms of the accord US president Barack Obama has secretly forged with Saudi King Abdullah and the ways in which they plan to work together in the Muslim world, the Persian Gulf and the Middle East.
Moscow in contrast is deepening its ties with Tehran.
The implications of this widening divergence are examined in the latest issue of DEBKA-Net-Weekly out Friday. Also details of Saudi king's sweeping modernizing reforms and new appointments.
To subscribe to DEBKA-Net-Weeklyclick HERE .
Iran stocks enough enriched uranium for first nuclear bomb
DEBKAfile Special Report
February 20, 2009, 10:53 PM (GMT+02:00)
Iran's heavy water reactor at Arak before covered by a dome
The White House expressed concern Friday, Feb. 20, about a new International Atomic Energy Agency report that said Iran recently understated how much uranium it had enriched. The nuclear watchdog reported Thursday, Feb. 19, that Iran had stocked more than one tonne of low enriched uranium hexafluoride at Natanz alone. If enriched, it could produce more than 20 kilos of fissile material – enough for a bomb.
DEBKAfile reported on Nov. 28, 2008, that by February, Iran would have enough enriched uranium to approach production of its first nuclear bomb. This crosses a “red line” that for years Israel has said it would not accept.
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