Wednesday, 11 March 2009

The first US-Saudi co-production is unveiled in Riyadh

DEBKA-Net-Weekly Exclusive Analysis

March 10, 2009, 10:06 PM (GMT+02:00)

The Arab mini-summit springs from Barack Obama's first venture into Middle East diplomacy.

Bashar Assad has made certain anti-Iranian gestures to prove himself worthy of admission to the pro-Western club led by Saudi King Abdullah and Egypt's Hosni Mubarak,.

But is he willing to go all the way and cut Syria's strategic ties with Iran?

The next DEBKA-Net-Weekly – out Friday – provides some answers and insights.

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US Intel does not rule out Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapon from abroad

DEBKAfile Special Report

March 10, 2009, 7:26 PM (GMT+02:00)

US intelligence chief Dennis Blair sounds alarm

US intelligence chief Dennis Blair sounds alarm

In testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee, US intelligence chief Dennis Blair warned that it would be difficult to convince Iran to give up its quest for nuclear weapons by diplomatic means. By 2010, he estimated, Tehran would have enough fissile material for a weapon.

A few hours earlier, in Tel Aviv, military and intelligence chiefs briefed designated prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu on the options open to Israel with regard to Iran's suspect nuclear projects. 
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Saudi-Egyptian-Syrian summit in Riyadh Wednesday - first Obama ME breakthrough

DEBKAfile Exclusive Report

March 9, 2009, 6:57 PM (GMT+02:00)

Saudi King Abdullah anxious to heal rift with Syria's Assad

Saudi King Abdullah anxious to heal rift with Syria's Assad

The summit conference planned in Riyadh for Wednesday, March 11, between the rulers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria - and possibly Qatar - may be the Obama administration's first Middle East breakthrough, according to DEBKAfile's Washington and Middle East sources.

They hope it will usher in a parting of the ways between Syria and Iran as a result of their overtures to Damascus and signal Syrian ruler Bashar Assad's reacceptance by the moderate Arab camp. 
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Bank of Israel stimulus plan focuses on falling job market

DEBKAfile Special Report

March 10, 2009, 2:58 PM (GMT+02:00)

The central bank governor, Stanley Fischer, recommended a very modest $1 bn budget deficit (6 percent) as first aid for Israel's deepening recession. His plan, published Tuesday, March 10, would spread the extra outlay on stimulating the job market and exports and investing in new infrastructure projects.

Estimating that unemployment will rise to 8 percent this year in all fields, Fischer proposes raising unemployment benefits and extending the period of entitlement. 
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Egypt opens Rafah to far-left UK MP Galloway to Gaza, but routes his aid convoy through Nitzana

March 9, 2009, 9:32 PM (GMT+02:00)

The aid-for-Gaza convoy from London led by far-left British lawmaker George Galloway started out on the wrong foot in mid-February. Sunday, March 8, it was stranded at the northern Sinai town of El-Arish by 1,000 Egyptian police who refused to grant them entry to Gaza. Clashes left 24 members of his pro-Palestinian group injured.

Monday, the Egyptians finally gave the fiercely anti-Israeli British MP and his activists permission to enter Gaza. 
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Obama's outreach to Taliban backed by intensive Saudi-brokered contacts

DEBKA-Net-Weekly Exclusive 385 Updated by DEBKAfile

March 9, 2009, 6:58 PM (GMT+02:00)

Taliban in Afghanistan: Talking and fighting

Taliban in Afghanistan: Talking and fighting

On Feb. 20,DEBKA-Net-Weekly385 disclosed that from late December, agents of Saudi intelligence chief Prince Mogrin Abdul Aziz paved the way for Richard Holbrooke's mission to Afghanistan and Pakistan as Barack Obama's special envoy.

This initiative also laid the groundwork for US president Barack Obama's hint at possible talks with moderate Taliban elements to The New York Times Sunday, March 8, a month after he approved another 17,000 troops for Afghanistan.

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Israeli Passover travelers risk kidnap or terror in 30 countries

March 9, 2009, 9:34 PM (GMT+02:00)

The anti-terror center in Jerusalem has published a list of countries which Israelis planning Passover trips next month are cautioned to avoid for fear of kidnap or terrorist attack. In others they are advised to exercise special vigilance. The center warns that the Lebanese Hizballah has not given up its plans to avenge the death of its military leader Imad Mughniyeh more than a year ago for which it holds Israel responsible. 
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