Morning News Roundup
Israelis: Lebanon situation 'explosive'
AP
Israel's foreign minister on Wednesday called the situation in Lebanon "explosive" and urged the international community to work quickly to deploy peacekeeping troops there.
U.S. presence causing instability in the region - Iran military chief
Iran Focus
Tehran, Iran, Aug. 23 – The Supreme Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps accused the United States of destabilising the Middle East region.
“The current era is one of distrust. Our region is going through a period of instability and increased feelings of insecurity on a regional and international scale, and this is due to the presence of the occupiers in Afghanistan and Iraq”, Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi was quoted as saying by the government-run news agency ILNA on Tuesday.
He described the circumstances of the region as “sensitive, complicated, and fate-determining”.
EU struggles to hammer out troop contributions for Lebanon force
AFP
EU members were to try to shed light on who is to play what role in an enlarged UN force in southern Lebanon, ahead of a special meeting of foreign ministers and the United Nations.
Former president of Iran invited to speak in D.C.
Tue. 22 Aug 2006
Washington Post
Despite a looming diplomatic showdown with Iran over its nuclear program, the Bush administration has agreed to issue a visa to former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami to give a public address at the Washington National Cathedral next month, according to the Rev. Canon John L. Peterson, director of the Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation.
Lebanon wants US to help lift Israel blockade
Reuters
Lebanon urged the United States on Wednesday to make Israel remove a sea and air blockade it imposed at the start of its 34-day war with Hizbollah fighters.
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora also called on Washington to boost its financial aid to help Lebanon recover from war-related economic damage running into billions of dollars.
Analysis: New Middle East realities
Wed. 23 Aug 2006
United Press International
Aug. 23 (UPI) -- There may well be a new Middle East taking shape in the horizon, but it looks nothing like the one envisioned by President Bush. Instead of democracy being the order of the day, there is a real threat of Islamist theocracies, led by Iran, imposing their rule.
Belgian foreign minister: Belgium weighing to send large force to Middle East
Published: 08.23.06, 12:58
Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht said during his meeting with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in Paris that "Belgium is weighing sending a force to the multinational force that will be stationed in Lebanon." (Ronny Sofer)
Bomb narrowly misses Iraqi minister
By QAIS AL-BASHIR, Associated Press Writer 29 minutes ago
A roadside bomb exploded Wednesday in Baghdad and narrowly missed the interior minister's convoy, killing two civilians and wounding several traffic policemen, officials said.
Amir Peretz Convenes Faction Meeting on Coalition Crisis
11:06 Aug 23, '06 / 29 Av 5766
(IsraelNN.com) Labor party chairman Amir Peretz and faction leader Efraim Sneh have decided to convene a meeting of the faction to discuss the current coalition crisis surrounding party members’ opposition to voting in favor of widespread budget cuts.
A senior party source stated that the meeting is expected to be turbulent due to opposition to Peretz among faction members.
PM appoints Sheetrit justice minister
gil hoffman and jpost staff, THE JERUSALEM POST Aug. 23, 2006
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert appointed Housing and Construction Minister Meir Sheetrit as interim justice minister on Wednesday morning.
Sheetrit will replace Haim Ramon for a three-month period while Ramon fights charges of sexual harassment. Olmert has said he hoped Ramon would be exonerated by then.
Fox kidnappers set 72-hour deadline
associated press, THE JERUSALEM POST Aug. 23, 2006
A previously unheard-of Palestinian group released video footage on Wednesday showing two kidnapped Fox News journalists, and demanded that Muslim prisoners in US jails be released within 72 hours in exchange for the men, the Palestinian news agency Ramattan reported.
New Rules of Engagement for UNIFIL
Wednesday, August 23, 2006 / 29 Av 5766
(IsraelNN.com) New rules of engagement for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have been published in a document containing 21 pages of guidelines and restrictions for the troops operating in southern Lebanon. The document specifies that the use of force is allowed in order to protect civilians, to resist armed attempts to interfere with carrying out the UNIFIL mandates and for the purpose of self-defense. It does not permit the international peacekeeping force to disarm Hizbullah, even in the security buffer zone along the border with Israel. European countries have been reluctant to fulfill earlier pledges to send thousands of troops to expand the current UNIFIL contingent from 2,000 soldiers up to a new force of 15,000 by October. The foot-dragging was attributed by international leaders to the lack of clarity regarding the UNIFIL rules of engagement.
Report: US indirectly strengthened Iran
Report by team of UK researchers claims that bringing down Iraq, Afghanistan regimes created political vacuum filled by Iran. Researchers add that Israeli-Palestinian conflict contributes to instability in region
Turkish Officials Negotiating with Meshaal for Shalit Release
Wednesday, August 23, 2006 / 29 Av 5766
(IsraelNN.com) Iranian news agency Irna has reported that negotiations by Turkish officials with Damascus-based Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal over the release of an IDF hostage are reaching the final stages.
An advisor to Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul met Tuesday with Meshaal to discuss the release of Cpl. Gilad Shalit. The captive soldier kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in a raid on an IDF army base at the Kerem Shalom border crossing with Gaza and Egypt on June 25th
Dutch F-16s escort US plane to Amsterdam airport
Associated Press, THE JERUSALEM POST Aug. 23, 2006
Dutch F-16s escorted a Northwest Airlines flight bound for India back to Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport Wednesday, and authorities detained several passengers for questioning, an airport spokeswoman said. The pilot requested permission to return as the aircraft was flying over Germany shortly after leaving Amsterdam, and asked for a military escort, spokeswoman Pamela Kuypers said. Customs police were investigating the security alert, and airport authorities had no further information on what caused the alarm, she said. The Dutch National Terrorism Coordinator's Office was informed, but said there was no cause to raise the nation's terror threat level, said spokeswoman Judith Sluiter.
France says Iran must suspend uranium enrichment
Associated Press, THE JERUSALEM POST Aug. 23, 2006
France's foreign minister said Wednesday that Iran must suspend uranium enrichment if it wants to return to the negotiating table and try to end the international dispute over its contested nuclear program.
At a news conference, Philippe Douste-Blazy declined to make any specific comments about Iran's counterproposal to a Western nuclear incentives package, saying the document was extremely complicated and merited further study. "I want to point out again that France is available to negotiate, and to recall that, as we have always said ... a return to the negotiating table is linked to the suspension of uranium enrichment," he said.
Denmark willing to send 3 navy vessels to Lebanon
associated press, THE JERUSALEM POST Aug. 23, 2006
Denmark has offered to send three navy ships to help patrol Lebanon's coastline but is not prepared to contribute troops to the UN peacekeeping force, the defense minister said Wednesday.
"I have no ambitions to send troops to Lebanon because we simply do not have them," Soeren Gade said. Presently, Denmark has a maximum of 1,200 soldiers assigned to international operations, including Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo.
Report: New group responsible for Fox kidnappings
A previously unheard-of Palestinian group, the Holy Jihad Brigades, claimed responsibility on Wednesday for kidnapping a Fox News cameraman and correspondent, Al-Jazeera satellite TV reported.
American correspondent Steve Centanni, 60, and cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36, of New Zealand were kidnapped August 14 from their TV van near the Palestinian security services headquarters in Gaza City.
Although Palestinian terrorist groups have often seized foreigners, including members of the media, this is the longest any have been held.
Minister to PM: Form national emergency government
Published: 08.23.06, 11:50
Minister Jacob Edery (Kadima), who is in charge of the coordination between the government and the Knesset, called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to form a national emergency government.
In a letter to the PM, Edery wrote: "Rebuilding and strengthening the IDF, tending to the social gaps and a forming a united front in face of the Iranian threat – these goals require an emergency government that includes all the Zionist parties." (Ronny Sofer)
AP
Israel's foreign minister on Wednesday called the situation in Lebanon "explosive" and urged the international community to work quickly to deploy peacekeeping troops there.
U.S. presence causing instability in the region - Iran military chief
Iran Focus
Tehran, Iran, Aug. 23 – The Supreme Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps accused the United States of destabilising the Middle East region.
“The current era is one of distrust. Our region is going through a period of instability and increased feelings of insecurity on a regional and international scale, and this is due to the presence of the occupiers in Afghanistan and Iraq”, Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi was quoted as saying by the government-run news agency ILNA on Tuesday.
He described the circumstances of the region as “sensitive, complicated, and fate-determining”.
EU struggles to hammer out troop contributions for Lebanon force
AFP
EU members were to try to shed light on who is to play what role in an enlarged UN force in southern Lebanon, ahead of a special meeting of foreign ministers and the United Nations.
Former president of Iran invited to speak in D.C.
Tue. 22 Aug 2006
Washington Post
Despite a looming diplomatic showdown with Iran over its nuclear program, the Bush administration has agreed to issue a visa to former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami to give a public address at the Washington National Cathedral next month, according to the Rev. Canon John L. Peterson, director of the Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation.
Lebanon wants US to help lift Israel blockade
Reuters
Lebanon urged the United States on Wednesday to make Israel remove a sea and air blockade it imposed at the start of its 34-day war with Hizbollah fighters.
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora also called on Washington to boost its financial aid to help Lebanon recover from war-related economic damage running into billions of dollars.
Analysis: New Middle East realities
Wed. 23 Aug 2006
United Press International
Aug. 23 (UPI) -- There may well be a new Middle East taking shape in the horizon, but it looks nothing like the one envisioned by President Bush. Instead of democracy being the order of the day, there is a real threat of Islamist theocracies, led by Iran, imposing their rule.
Belgian foreign minister: Belgium weighing to send large force to Middle East
Published: 08.23.06, 12:58
Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht said during his meeting with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in Paris that "Belgium is weighing sending a force to the multinational force that will be stationed in Lebanon." (Ronny Sofer)
Bomb narrowly misses Iraqi minister
By QAIS AL-BASHIR, Associated Press Writer 29 minutes ago
A roadside bomb exploded Wednesday in Baghdad and narrowly missed the interior minister's convoy, killing two civilians and wounding several traffic policemen, officials said.
Amir Peretz Convenes Faction Meeting on Coalition Crisis
11:06 Aug 23, '06 / 29 Av 5766
(IsraelNN.com) Labor party chairman Amir Peretz and faction leader Efraim Sneh have decided to convene a meeting of the faction to discuss the current coalition crisis surrounding party members’ opposition to voting in favor of widespread budget cuts.
A senior party source stated that the meeting is expected to be turbulent due to opposition to Peretz among faction members.
PM appoints Sheetrit justice minister
gil hoffman and jpost staff, THE JERUSALEM POST Aug. 23, 2006
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert appointed Housing and Construction Minister Meir Sheetrit as interim justice minister on Wednesday morning.
Sheetrit will replace Haim Ramon for a three-month period while Ramon fights charges of sexual harassment. Olmert has said he hoped Ramon would be exonerated by then.
Fox kidnappers set 72-hour deadline
associated press, THE JERUSALEM POST Aug. 23, 2006
A previously unheard-of Palestinian group released video footage on Wednesday showing two kidnapped Fox News journalists, and demanded that Muslim prisoners in US jails be released within 72 hours in exchange for the men, the Palestinian news agency Ramattan reported.
New Rules of Engagement for UNIFIL
Wednesday, August 23, 2006 / 29 Av 5766
(IsraelNN.com) New rules of engagement for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have been published in a document containing 21 pages of guidelines and restrictions for the troops operating in southern Lebanon. The document specifies that the use of force is allowed in order to protect civilians, to resist armed attempts to interfere with carrying out the UNIFIL mandates and for the purpose of self-defense. It does not permit the international peacekeeping force to disarm Hizbullah, even in the security buffer zone along the border with Israel. European countries have been reluctant to fulfill earlier pledges to send thousands of troops to expand the current UNIFIL contingent from 2,000 soldiers up to a new force of 15,000 by October. The foot-dragging was attributed by international leaders to the lack of clarity regarding the UNIFIL rules of engagement.
Report: US indirectly strengthened Iran
Report by team of UK researchers claims that bringing down Iraq, Afghanistan regimes created political vacuum filled by Iran. Researchers add that Israeli-Palestinian conflict contributes to instability in region
Turkish Officials Negotiating with Meshaal for Shalit Release
Wednesday, August 23, 2006 / 29 Av 5766
(IsraelNN.com) Iranian news agency Irna has reported that negotiations by Turkish officials with Damascus-based Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal over the release of an IDF hostage are reaching the final stages.
An advisor to Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul met Tuesday with Meshaal to discuss the release of Cpl. Gilad Shalit. The captive soldier kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in a raid on an IDF army base at the Kerem Shalom border crossing with Gaza and Egypt on June 25th
Dutch F-16s escort US plane to Amsterdam airport
Associated Press, THE JERUSALEM POST Aug. 23, 2006
Dutch F-16s escorted a Northwest Airlines flight bound for India back to Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport Wednesday, and authorities detained several passengers for questioning, an airport spokeswoman said. The pilot requested permission to return as the aircraft was flying over Germany shortly after leaving Amsterdam, and asked for a military escort, spokeswoman Pamela Kuypers said. Customs police were investigating the security alert, and airport authorities had no further information on what caused the alarm, she said. The Dutch National Terrorism Coordinator's Office was informed, but said there was no cause to raise the nation's terror threat level, said spokeswoman Judith Sluiter.
France says Iran must suspend uranium enrichment
Associated Press, THE JERUSALEM POST Aug. 23, 2006
France's foreign minister said Wednesday that Iran must suspend uranium enrichment if it wants to return to the negotiating table and try to end the international dispute over its contested nuclear program.
At a news conference, Philippe Douste-Blazy declined to make any specific comments about Iran's counterproposal to a Western nuclear incentives package, saying the document was extremely complicated and merited further study. "I want to point out again that France is available to negotiate, and to recall that, as we have always said ... a return to the negotiating table is linked to the suspension of uranium enrichment," he said.
Denmark willing to send 3 navy vessels to Lebanon
associated press, THE JERUSALEM POST Aug. 23, 2006
Denmark has offered to send three navy ships to help patrol Lebanon's coastline but is not prepared to contribute troops to the UN peacekeeping force, the defense minister said Wednesday.
"I have no ambitions to send troops to Lebanon because we simply do not have them," Soeren Gade said. Presently, Denmark has a maximum of 1,200 soldiers assigned to international operations, including Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo.
Report: New group responsible for Fox kidnappings
A previously unheard-of Palestinian group, the Holy Jihad Brigades, claimed responsibility on Wednesday for kidnapping a Fox News cameraman and correspondent, Al-Jazeera satellite TV reported.
American correspondent Steve Centanni, 60, and cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36, of New Zealand were kidnapped August 14 from their TV van near the Palestinian security services headquarters in Gaza City.
Although Palestinian terrorist groups have often seized foreigners, including members of the media, this is the longest any have been held.
Minister to PM: Form national emergency government
Published: 08.23.06, 11:50
Minister Jacob Edery (Kadima), who is in charge of the coordination between the government and the Knesset, called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to form a national emergency government.
In a letter to the PM, Edery wrote: "Rebuilding and strengthening the IDF, tending to the social gaps and a forming a united front in face of the Iranian threat – these goals require an emergency government that includes all the Zionist parties." (Ronny Sofer)
posted by Knitting a Conundrum at
7:52 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home