DEBKA-Net-Weekly Exclusive Report
October 5, 2009, 12:41 PM (GMT+02:00)
Under cover of the Geneva encounter with Iran, US president Barack Obama has enlisted Russia, France and Israel for launching an ambitious new initiative designed to isolate Iran, deter Israel from a military strike and turn the big power order in the Middle East on its head.
Our next issue out this coming Friday carries an exclusive review of this broad, still unfolding strategy and its chances.
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US, French, Israeli army chiefs rendezvous secretly in Normandy
DEBKAfile Special Report
October 4, 2009, 9:51 AM (GMT+02:00)
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the joint US chiefs of staff, French chief of staff Gen. Jean-Louis Georgelin and Israel's armed forces chief, Lt. Gen. Gaby Ashkenazi met secretly in Normandy, northern France Sunday, Oct. 4.
The three army leaders met to review the new military conditions emerging in the Middle East following the understanding reached between Washington and Moscow.
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Tehran opens Qom enrichment plant to inspection Oct 25 - but hides other facilities
DEBKAfile Special Report
October 4, 2009, 11:29 PM (GMT+02:00)
ElBaradei in Tehran
On Oct. 1, US president Barack Obama gave Tehran two weeks to provide International Atom Energy Agency inspectors with "unfettered access" to its second enrichment facility near Qom as the precondition for a second round of six-power talks with Iran. The IAEA director Mohamed ElBaradei announced Sunday, Oct. 4, that the visit would take place on Oct. 25. He did not use the term "unfettered" or a synonym for good reason: As DEBKAfile has reported, Iran has buried additional secret plants at the Qom underground site.
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Gilead Shalit's video-tape from Hamas prison is broadcast
DEBKAfile Special Report
October 2, 2009, 1:24 PM (GMT+02:00)
First sight of captive Gilead Shalilt in more than three years
The video-tape of Sgt. Gilead Shalit handed Israel Friday Oct. 2 in a trade for 20 Palestinian female prisoners was given to his family, who were able to view his image for the first time since he was kidnapped in June, 2006, 1,200 days ago, aged 19. Running two minutes, 42 seconds, the soldier is recorded reading a Hamas daily newspaper dated Sept. 14 as proof that the tape is recent.
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Muslim Arab disruptions spread to western Jerusalem and beyondDEBKAfile Special Report October 6, 2009, 11:30 AM (GMT+02:00)  Rampaging Muslim youths detained in Jerusalem The Jerusalem police were on high alert Tuesday, Oct. 6, for another day of Muslim violence which Monday spread out substantially from Temple Mount to other parts of Jerusalem including Jewish districts. As the 51st "Jerusalem March" began Monday (in West Jerusalem only), military units were called in to reinforce security at sensitive points, especially the Old City alleys and its throngs of visitors. TV preacher Yusuf Qardawi, spiritual leader of the international Muslim Brotherhood movement, has urged all Muslims everywhere to mark Oct. 9 as Al Aqsa Day. | ||
Iran wins six-power legitimacy for uranium enrichment - contrary to UN resolutionsDEBKAfile Special Report October 5, 2009, 5:41 PM (GMT+02:00)  Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov If Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov is to be believed, Iran came out of its first diplomatic engagement with the big powers flushed with success. Not only has Tehran gained international legitimacy for its enriched uranium program - contrary to UN Security Council resolutions - but third-nation help is on tap for reaching a higher grade of enrichment. Experts will meet in Vienna on Oct. 19 to finalize the plan for the transfer of Iran's stock of uranium enriched to 3-5 percent to Russia where it would be further reprocessed to 19.75 percent. | ||
Taliban under NATO-Afghan counter-attack after killing 8 US troops
DEBKAfile Special Report
October 5, 2009, 5:35 PM (GMT+02:00)
Israeli Dolphin subs upgraded for missiles, larger fuel capacity
DEBKAfile Special Report
October 4, 2009, 1:27 PM (GMT+02:00)
Upgraded Dolphin submarine
Western naval sources report that Israel's German-made Dolphin submarines have been heavily modified: its torpedo tubes enlarged to accommodate missiles, new electronics installed and its fuel capacity expanded to keep the vessel at sea for 50 days without refueling. Eight years after receiving the first three Dolphin subs from Germany and two more last month, naval sources rate them the most modern non-nuclear subs in any world navy.
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Tehran, Damascus stir up Hamas-Israeli Muslim riots on Temple Mount
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
October 4, 2009, 11:12 PM (GMT+02:00)
Jerusalem police disperse Muslim rioters on Temple Mount
Hundreds of radical Muslims, Palestinian and Israeli, rioted on Jerusalem's Temple Mount Sunday, Oct. 4, for the third day in a row, forcing Israeli police, battling flying bottles and rocks, to shut the shrine down. Temple Mount remains sealed off Monday to prevent Muslims hurling rocks on the Jewish Priests Blessing ceremony taking place below at the Western Wall.
Incoming intelligence is reported byDEBKAfile's counter-terror sources as fingering Iran and Syria as the hands behind the troubles and their likely escalation.
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The Geneva encounter and Shalit tape leave Israel with more loss than gain
DEBKAfile Exclusive Analysis
October 3, 2009, 12:49 PM (GMT+02:00)
Hamas PM Haniyah now dresses like an imam
The Obama administration abandoned an Iranian enrichment freeze as the precondition for talks and sanctions are no longer brandished, leaving Israel taking stock of its decision to count on US-led international determination for halting Iran's nuclear progress.
The videotape showing Gilead fit and well does not guarantee his early release. Hamas still holds the whip hand.
Read DEBKAfile's Exclusive Analysis below on the current state of play after the two events.
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