 | ||
 |         |  |
 | ||
| MP3 Radio | Website News Briefs: | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
 |  |
1. Israelis Sue North Korea
by Zalmen Nelson and Hana Levi Julian
Thirty Israelis have filed suit against North Korea for injuries they received during the 2006 Second Lebanon War.
The lawsuit, which totals more than $100 million, was filed in Washington and lists North Korea along with the Hizbullah terrorist organization.
All of the plaintiffs hold United States citizenship.
The suit charges that North Korea trained senior Hizbullah terrorists and built arms storage bunkers and other infrastructure which the group used against Israel in the 2006 war.
It also alleges that North Korea trained senior Hizbullah operatives and helped the terrorists evade Israeli fighter jets, thereby allowing them to continue firing rockets at Israeli civilian areas.
One of the structures built by North Korea was a 25-kilometer underground tunnel that Hizbullah used for the passage of terrorists, according to the report in Myanmar News.
Comment on this story
by Zalmen Nelson and Hana Levi Julian
Thirty Israelis have filed suit against North Korea for injuries they received during the 2006 Second Lebanon War.
The lawsuit, which totals more than $100 million, was filed in Washington and lists North Korea along with the Hizbullah terrorist organization.
All of the plaintiffs hold United States citizenship.
The suit charges that North Korea trained senior Hizbullah terrorists and built arms storage bunkers and other infrastructure which the group used against Israel in the 2006 war.
It also alleges that North Korea trained senior Hizbullah operatives and helped the terrorists evade Israeli fighter jets, thereby allowing them to continue firing rockets at Israeli civilian areas.
One of the structures built by North Korea was a 25-kilometer underground tunnel that Hizbullah used for the passage of terrorists, according to the report in Myanmar News.
Comment on this story
2. Hizbullah Admits Agents in Egypt
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah has admitted that Sami Hani Shehab who was arrested in Egypt was a Hizbullah agent and was involved in a large weapons smuggling cell that was helping to arm Hamas in Gaza. An Egyptian prosecutor charged that Nasrallah ordered the cell to stage terrorist attacks in Egypt.
Nasrallah stated, "If aiding the Palestinians is a crime, then I am guilty and proud of it," but he denied that the terrorist network has a branch in Egypt or elsewhere. The London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper on Saturday quoted an unnamed Cairo official that "Nasrallah wants to turn Egypt into a playground like Lebanon." Nasrallah encouraged Egyptians last December to protest against their government and force it to open the border at Gaza.
The source added that Nasrallah's admission indicates he is "satisfying the Iranian interest to occupy the world, as [Ira develops its nuclear program."
The Egyptian weekly al-Ahram revealed that several of the 49 suspects arrived in Egypt illegally from four different countries. It added that several of them infiltrated through tunnels from Gaza and that the real ringleader, Mohammed Kabalan, escaped the Egyptian roundup.
On Thursday, media reports said that Shehab was suspected of heading a Hezbollah unit responsible for neighboring states, and that Palestinian Authority Arabs and Sudanese were among those arrested. The Lebanese Al-Mustaqbal daily reported that several members of the cell admitted that they sent "detailed information" about the towns on the Egyptian-Palestinian borders to Hizbullah headquarters in Lebanon
The Egyptian public prosecutor's office also charged that Hizbullah, closely allied with Iran, was trying to monitor the Suez Canal.
The charges that the terrorist ring was trying to monitor the Suez Canal prompted speculation that Nasrallah's real aim was to bolder naval patrols in order to help Iran. The DEBKA website, whose reports usually are published without named sources and often are speculation, stated that Nasrallah's admission that a Hizbullah agent was involved in smuggling arms from Egypt to Gaza was a cover-up.
The website's sources said the cell's mission was to plant "an Iranian logistical-intelligence infrastructure as stealthily and inconspicuously as possible along the shores of the Suez Canal. This chain was to eventually hook up with the clandestine Iranian cells operating out of Somalia and Sudan opposite the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean and provide Iran with an outer safety belt as a counterweight to the U.S. naval presence in those waters."
The arrests of Shehab in November and the rest of the cell several weeks ago help explain the timing of the Israeli attack on a weapons convoy in Sudan that was headed for Gaza via Egypt with Iranian weapons for Hamas. American naval forces also reportedly intercepted Iranian ships last January with arms for Hamas.
Egypt in turn often has foiled smuggling by Hamas as a response to criticism of turnging a blind eye to the terrroist group's activities. Cairo reported Saturday that its police forces last week arrested a man who was trying to smuggling $2 million in cash in to Gaza.
Comment on this story
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah has admitted that Sami Hani Shehab who was arrested in Egypt was a Hizbullah agent and was involved in a large weapons smuggling cell that was helping to arm Hamas in Gaza. An Egyptian prosecutor charged that Nasrallah ordered the cell to stage terrorist attacks in Egypt.
Nasrallah stated, "If aiding the Palestinians is a crime, then I am guilty and proud of it," but he denied that the terrorist network has a branch in Egypt or elsewhere. The London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper on Saturday quoted an unnamed Cairo official that "Nasrallah wants to turn Egypt into a playground like Lebanon." Nasrallah encouraged Egyptians last December to protest against their government and force it to open the border at Gaza.
The source added that Nasrallah's admission indicates he is "satisfying the Iranian interest to occupy the world, as [Ira develops its nuclear program."
The Egyptian weekly al-Ahram revealed that several of the 49 suspects arrived in Egypt illegally from four different countries. It added that several of them infiltrated through tunnels from Gaza and that the real ringleader, Mohammed Kabalan, escaped the Egyptian roundup.
On Thursday, media reports said that Shehab was suspected of heading a Hezbollah unit responsible for neighboring states, and that Palestinian Authority Arabs and Sudanese were among those arrested. The Lebanese Al-Mustaqbal daily reported that several members of the cell admitted that they sent "detailed information" about the towns on the Egyptian-Palestinian borders to Hizbullah headquarters in Lebanon
The Egyptian public prosecutor's office also charged that Hizbullah, closely allied with Iran, was trying to monitor the Suez Canal.
The charges that the terrorist ring was trying to monitor the Suez Canal prompted speculation that Nasrallah's real aim was to bolder naval patrols in order to help Iran. The DEBKA website, whose reports usually are published without named sources and often are speculation, stated that Nasrallah's admission that a Hizbullah agent was involved in smuggling arms from Egypt to Gaza was a cover-up.
The website's sources said the cell's mission was to plant "an Iranian logistical-intelligence infrastructure as stealthily and inconspicuously as possible along the shores of the Suez Canal. This chain was to eventually hook up with the clandestine Iranian cells operating out of Somalia and Sudan opposite the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean and provide Iran with an outer safety belt as a counterweight to the U.S. naval presence in those waters."
The arrests of Shehab in November and the rest of the cell several weeks ago help explain the timing of the Israeli attack on a weapons convoy in Sudan that was headed for Gaza via Egypt with Iranian weapons for Hamas. American naval forces also reportedly intercepted Iranian ships last January with arms for Hamas.
Egypt in turn often has foiled smuggling by Hamas as a response to criticism of turnging a blind eye to the terrroist group's activities. Cairo reported Saturday that its police forces last week arrested a man who was trying to smuggling $2 million in cash in to Gaza.
Comment on this story
3. Iran Closer to Nuclear Bomb
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Iran has taken a giant step towards the capability to produce a nuclear bomb, according to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who announced Saturday that the country now has a complete cycle for producing and processing nuclear fuel. Ahmadinejad's statement was reported by the Iranian Fars news agency.
The United States State Department discounted the claim. "I think we certainly could view it with skepticism," State Department spokesman Robert Wood said. "Iran has in the past (declared) it was running a certain number of centrifuges that didn't really pan out with regard to the International Atomic Energy Agency's own estimate. So it's not clear."
Ahmadinejad claimed that his country "is moving towards advancements very speedily and its progress in different fields is stunning." He has stated that Iran's intentions are to use nuclear fuel only for peaceful purposes, but Western nations strongly doubt the statements in view of Tehran's refusal to allow international inspectors full access to its nuclear reactors under development.
Ahmadinejad also said that his country is prepared for talks with the West if they are based on "justice, law and (mutual) respect," according to the Tehran Times.
Six major Western powers met in London on Wednesday and asked European Union (EU) policy advisor Javier Solana to invite Iran's chief nuclear negotiator for talks. The six countries include China and Russia, which have a huge investment in Iran's nuclear development program and have blocked previous attempts by the U.S. to empower the United Nations to place stiff sanctions against Iran for lack of cooperation with international inspectors.
President Barack Obama has said that his government, unlike the Bush administration, is prepared to talk directly with Iran without preconditions.
Comment on this story
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Iran has taken a giant step towards the capability to produce a nuclear bomb, according to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who announced Saturday that the country now has a complete cycle for producing and processing nuclear fuel. Ahmadinejad's statement was reported by the Iranian Fars news agency.
The United States State Department discounted the claim. "I think we certainly could view it with skepticism," State Department spokesman Robert Wood said. "Iran has in the past (declared) it was running a certain number of centrifuges that didn't really pan out with regard to the International Atomic Energy Agency's own estimate. So it's not clear."
Ahmadinejad claimed that his country "is moving towards advancements very speedily and its progress in different fields is stunning." He has stated that Iran's intentions are to use nuclear fuel only for peaceful purposes, but Western nations strongly doubt the statements in view of Tehran's refusal to allow international inspectors full access to its nuclear reactors under development.
Ahmadinejad also said that his country is prepared for talks with the West if they are based on "justice, law and (mutual) respect," according to the Tehran Times.
Six major Western powers met in London on Wednesday and asked European Union (EU) policy advisor Javier Solana to invite Iran's chief nuclear negotiator for talks. The six countries include China and Russia, which have a huge investment in Iran's nuclear development program and have blocked previous attempts by the U.S. to empower the United Nations to place stiff sanctions against Iran for lack of cooperation with international inspectors.
President Barack Obama has said that his government, unlike the Bush administration, is prepared to talk directly with Iran without preconditions.
Comment on this story
4. Photo Essay: Masada Sun Blessing
by Hana Levi Julian
Nearly two hundred men, women and children managed to make it to the top of the Judean desert fortress of Masada last week in time to bless the rising sun in a rare ceremony that takes place only once in every 28 years.
From the dawn of time, the sun has never failed to rise
Photo: Hana Levi Julian
Jews around the world recited the blessing from a variety of locations, each in different time zones. The ceremony conducted by Rabbi Shimon Elharar, director of Chabad-Lubavitch of the Dead Sea, began with Shacharit, the Morning Service, as the first pink streaks of light raced across the sky.
Photographer readies for the shot
Photo: Hana Levi Julian
Worshippers scattered throughout the ruins to offer private prayers prior to the Blessing of the Sun
Photo: Hana Levi Julian
The sun makes its first appearance through the ruins of Masada
Photo: Hana Levi Julian
Birkat HaChama is a special time for prayers
Photo: Hana Levi Julian
A worshipper prays the morning service in the new morning light
Photo: Hana Levi Julian
Each drew inspiration from the event in his own way
Photo: Hana Levi Julian
Click here to see the complete photo essay.
Comment on this story
by Hana Levi Julian
Nearly two hundred men, women and children managed to make it to the top of the Judean desert fortress of Masada last week in time to bless the rising sun in a rare ceremony that takes place only once in every 28 years.
From the dawn of time, the sun has never failed to rise
Photo: Hana Levi Julian
Jews around the world recited the blessing from a variety of locations, each in different time zones. The ceremony conducted by Rabbi Shimon Elharar, director of Chabad-Lubavitch of the Dead Sea, began with Shacharit, the Morning Service, as the first pink streaks of light raced across the sky.
Photographer readies for the shot
Photo: Hana Levi Julian
Worshippers scattered throughout the ruins to offer private prayers prior to the Blessing of the Sun
Photo: Hana Levi Julian
The sun makes its first appearance through the ruins of Masada
Photo: Hana Levi Julian
Birkat HaChama is a special time for prayers
Photo: Hana Levi Julian
A worshipper prays the morning service in the new morning light
Photo: Hana Levi Julian
Each drew inspiration from the event in his own way
Photo: Hana Levi Julian
Click here to see the complete photo essay.
Comment on this story
5. Petition for Papal Visit to Gaza
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Graduate theological students at the predominantly left-wing and pro-Arab University of Berkeley in California are spearheading a petition to Pope Benedict that he visit Gaza during his visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority next month. The Vatican has not commented.
Church Times, a British-based Anglican Church weekly newspaper, said that most of the signatories are Roman Catholics but that Muslims, Buddhists, humanists and atheists also have signed the petition.
The move is the latest leftist initiative to boost the image of Hamas as a legitimate party to negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The petition claims that "the people of Gaza have been suffering under unjust social systems" while Israelis are living in “fear, distrust, and uncertainty."
Approximately 2,000 Catholics live in Gaza, who often have been attacked under the Hamas regime that seized full control of the region two years ago. In June 2007, a Catholic convent and school were ransacked and religious articles and books were desecrated.
Three months later, pipe bombs struck a Greek Orthodox Church following Pope Benedict's comments that were interpreted as in insult to the Muslim religion.
The Jerusalem branch of the Roman Catholic Caritas charity organization has been promoting the Berkeley initiative, and the Church Times reported that senior Catholic officials have asked Israel to allow Gaza Christians to leave Gaza for a mass led by the Pope in Bethlehem.
The international Caritas group campaigned against Israel during the Operation Cast Lead counterterror campaign in Gaza, blaming the IDF for endangering the lives of medical personnel and civilians in Gaza. It also called for an end to rocket attacks on Israel by Hamas terrorists.
The petition to Pope Benedict XVI states, "When we ask, 'Whose equal dignity is most unequally ignored?' or 'Whose equal rights are most unequally threatened?' the faces of the people in Gaza clearly arise....
"... we need to be willing to risk our lives without the protection of arms, and thus, to live by the loving wisdom of the cross and the divine hope of the resurrection. Such witness by Church leadership will inspire the Catholic faithful, particularly the young, to embrace their Church.... Such witness will also encourage other religious leaders to practice nonviolent peacemaking."
Comment on this story
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Graduate theological students at the predominantly left-wing and pro-Arab University of Berkeley in California are spearheading a petition to Pope Benedict that he visit Gaza during his visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority next month. The Vatican has not commented.
Church Times, a British-based Anglican Church weekly newspaper, said that most of the signatories are Roman Catholics but that Muslims, Buddhists, humanists and atheists also have signed the petition.
The move is the latest leftist initiative to boost the image of Hamas as a legitimate party to negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The petition claims that "the people of Gaza have been suffering under unjust social systems" while Israelis are living in “fear, distrust, and uncertainty."
Approximately 2,000 Catholics live in Gaza, who often have been attacked under the Hamas regime that seized full control of the region two years ago. In June 2007, a Catholic convent and school were ransacked and religious articles and books were desecrated.
Three months later, pipe bombs struck a Greek Orthodox Church following Pope Benedict's comments that were interpreted as in insult to the Muslim religion.
The Jerusalem branch of the Roman Catholic Caritas charity organization has been promoting the Berkeley initiative, and the Church Times reported that senior Catholic officials have asked Israel to allow Gaza Christians to leave Gaza for a mass led by the Pope in Bethlehem.
The international Caritas group campaigned against Israel during the Operation Cast Lead counterterror campaign in Gaza, blaming the IDF for endangering the lives of medical personnel and civilians in Gaza. It also called for an end to rocket attacks on Israel by Hamas terrorists.
The petition to Pope Benedict XVI states, "When we ask, 'Whose equal dignity is most unequally ignored?' or 'Whose equal rights are most unequally threatened?' the faces of the people in Gaza clearly arise....
"... we need to be willing to risk our lives without the protection of arms, and thus, to live by the loving wisdom of the cross and the divine hope of the resurrection. Such witness by Church leadership will inspire the Catholic faithful, particularly the young, to embrace their Church.... Such witness will also encourage other religious leaders to practice nonviolent peacemaking."
Comment on this story
6. PA vs. Dead Sea Scrolls Display
by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz
The Palestinian Authority is objecting to a planned exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls in Canada on the grounds that the ancient manuscripts were illegally obtained "from the Palestinian territories" by Israel. A Canadian museum official said Wednesday that he's "quite certain" the PA claims are false.
The scrolls - including Biblical texts and documentation of Jewish sects from the Second Temple period - were found in caves near the Dead Sea beginning in 1947. The Rockefeller Museum in eastern Jerusalem, whose experts helped excavate the scrolls, held on to the artifacts until 1967, when Israel took full control of the city from Jordan in the Six Day War. The artifacts are now in the possession of the Israel Antiquities Authority.
The exhibition is to be at the Royal Ontario Museum from June 27, 2009 to January 3, 2010. Scrolls to be displayed will include passages from Genesis, Deuteronomy, Psalms, Isaiah, the War Scroll, the Community Rule and the Messianic Apocalypse. In addition to the scrolls themselves, the ROM will host a lecture series on their significance with Israeli and Canadian specialists.
Kelvin Browne, the ROM's Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Communications called the planned exhibition "the biggest show the ROM has put on since its exhibition of Egyptian art from the British Museum in 2004."
PA officials, however, are pushing to cancel the project. In a letter to the museum and to the Canadian Prime Minister, the PA claimed that displaying the scrolls would violate at least four international conventions or protocols on the treatment of cultural relics.
"The exhibition would entail exhibiting or displaying artifacts removed from the Palestinian territories," wrote PA officials, including the PA's legislative leader Salam Fayyad. "I think it is important that Canadian institutions would be responsible and act in accordance with Canada's obligations."
The PA claimed that Israel is illegally in possession of millions of artifacts that originate in "Palestinian territories".
In reaction to the PA letter, the Israel Antiquities Authority's Penina Shor said, "We are the custodians of the Dead Sea Scrolls. As such, we have a right to exhibit them and to conserve them." The scrolls have already been displayed under IAA auspices in many other countries.
For his part, ROM CEO William Thorsell said, "I do understand the Palestinians are making an issue of the ownership. But I'm quite certain the scrolls fall within the parameters of the law." He noted that this is the first time such an objection has been raised.
Comment on this story
by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz
The Palestinian Authority is objecting to a planned exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls in Canada on the grounds that the ancient manuscripts were illegally obtained "from the Palestinian territories" by Israel. A Canadian museum official said Wednesday that he's "quite certain" the PA claims are false.
The scrolls - including Biblical texts and documentation of Jewish sects from the Second Temple period - were found in caves near the Dead Sea beginning in 1947. The Rockefeller Museum in eastern Jerusalem, whose experts helped excavate the scrolls, held on to the artifacts until 1967, when Israel took full control of the city from Jordan in the Six Day War. The artifacts are now in the possession of the Israel Antiquities Authority.
The exhibition is to be at the Royal Ontario Museum from June 27, 2009 to January 3, 2010. Scrolls to be displayed will include passages from Genesis, Deuteronomy, Psalms, Isaiah, the War Scroll, the Community Rule and the Messianic Apocalypse. In addition to the scrolls themselves, the ROM will host a lecture series on their significance with Israeli and Canadian specialists.
Kelvin Browne, the ROM's Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Communications called the planned exhibition "the biggest show the ROM has put on since its exhibition of Egyptian art from the British Museum in 2004."
PA officials, however, are pushing to cancel the project. In a letter to the museum and to the Canadian Prime Minister, the PA claimed that displaying the scrolls would violate at least four international conventions or protocols on the treatment of cultural relics.
"The exhibition would entail exhibiting or displaying artifacts removed from the Palestinian territories," wrote PA officials, including the PA's legislative leader Salam Fayyad. "I think it is important that Canadian institutions would be responsible and act in accordance with Canada's obligations."
The PA claimed that Israel is illegally in possession of millions of artifacts that originate in "Palestinian territories".
In reaction to the PA letter, the Israel Antiquities Authority's Penina Shor said, "We are the custodians of the Dead Sea Scrolls. As such, we have a right to exhibit them and to conserve them." The scrolls have already been displayed under IAA auspices in many other countries.
For his part, ROM CEO William Thorsell said, "I do understand the Palestinians are making an issue of the ownership. But I'm quite certain the scrolls fall within the parameters of the law." He noted that this is the first time such an objection has been raised.
Comment on this story
7. Israeli Diamonds Sparkle in Feb.
by Hana Levi Julian and Zalmen Nelson
Israel turned in a sparkling performance in the month of February, becoming the world's leading supplier of polished diamonds for that period.
Despite the sharp decline in the polished diamond trade that began in January, the Jewish State shipped a net worth of $119.6 million in diamonds in February, the highest volume in the world.
Israel was followed by India, ($106.4 million), Belgium ($74.1 million) and South Africa ($65.2 million) in polished diamond trade.
The United States imported a total of 644,721 carats in polished diamonds, worth $774 million, with an average value of $1,200.57 per carat.
Although the statistics for Israel are postive, when considered in relation to the worldwide trade a year earlier, the economic drop, especially in the United States, becomes more obvious.
The February 2009 U.S. import figures represent a 45.6 percent drop in volume and 53 percent in value compared to February 2008. The average value of imports declined 13.6 percent.
The U.S. continued to export polished goods, but these exports were slashed by half as well. Exports of 1,595,658 carats worth $597.96 million totaled a respective 46.2 percent and 45.4 percent year-over-year decline. The exports carried a comparatively lower average value of $374.74 per carat.
Comment on this story
by Hana Levi Julian and Zalmen Nelson
Israel turned in a sparkling performance in the month of February, becoming the world's leading supplier of polished diamonds for that period.
Despite the sharp decline in the polished diamond trade that began in January, the Jewish State shipped a net worth of $119.6 million in diamonds in February, the highest volume in the world.
Israel was followed by India, ($106.4 million), Belgium ($74.1 million) and South Africa ($65.2 million) in polished diamond trade.
The United States imported a total of 644,721 carats in polished diamonds, worth $774 million, with an average value of $1,200.57 per carat.
Although the statistics for Israel are postive, when considered in relation to the worldwide trade a year earlier, the economic drop, especially in the United States, becomes more obvious.
The February 2009 U.S. import figures represent a 45.6 percent drop in volume and 53 percent in value compared to February 2008. The average value of imports declined 13.6 percent.
The U.S. continued to export polished goods, but these exports were slashed by half as well. Exports of 1,595,658 carats worth $597.96 million totaled a respective 46.2 percent and 45.4 percent year-over-year decline. The exports carried a comparatively lower average value of $374.74 per carat.
Comment on this story
Posts
