Biblical countries, in the news.

[Shammu]

Shin Bet: Prepare for mini-Lebanon in Gaza

General Security Service Chief Yuval Diskin tells cabinet ‘if we don’t make significant change in Gaza, such as block arms smuggling routes and stifle Hamas’ attempts at improving its capabilities, situation in Gaza will be similar to that in Lebanon’; IDF Intelligence chief: Palestinians deeply influenced by Israel’s reaction to Hizbullah rocket attacks
Ronny Sofer

Shin Bet Chief Yuval Diskin told cabinet ministers Sunday that “a very problematic situation is being created in Gaza. Within the next two to three years, barring any major changes, we may find ourselves in a Hizbullah-type situation, meaning bunkers, underground tunnels, infrastructure and dangerous weapons.”

Diskin added: If we don’t make a significant change, such as block the arms smuggling routes, including Philadelphi, stifle Hamas’ attempts at improving its capabilities via an alternative Palestinian government, the situation in Gaza will be similar to that in Lebanon.”

Diskin’s comments came apparently in the wake of the recent criticism directed against the security establishment for not warning on Hizbullah’s rocket arsenal in time.

Diskin said that extreme pressure is being exerted on terror group leaders, including Hamas’ political leader Khaled Mashal, to carry out attacks in Israel. He said that prisoners in Israel and their relatives are also being pressured into carrying out attacks as acts of protest against Israel’s operation in Lebanon, adding that the Palestinian security services have been highly weakened as of late.

IDF Intelligence Chief Major General Amos Yadlin told government ministers that the Palestinians are deeply influenced by Israel’s reaction to the Hizbullah rocket attacks, and warned that the Lebanese group and Hamas will do everything in their power to carry out a major terror attack in Israel from Lebanon, Gaza or the West Bank.”

Shin Bet: Prepare for mini-Lebanon in Gaza

[Shammu]

Ariel Sharon's condition worsens

Sheba medical center says 'past two days have seen worsening in former PM's condition'
Meital Yasur Beit-Or

The condition of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has deteriorated, doctors from the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer reported Sunday.

In a statement doctors said that "in the past two days there has been a deterioration in the condition of the former prime minister. Doctors treating him have reported a worsening of organ functions and of the collection of fluids in his body."

Checks carried out on Sharon indicate changes which began in the brain tissue area.

Sheba hospital doctors are continuing to run tests to find what has caused the changes to his condition.

The doctors are updating Sharon's family continuously.

The former prime minister was hospitalized on January 4 following a severe stroke and has since been in a coma.

The first signs of a medical crisis were apparent last December, when Sharon suffered a light stroke and was rushed to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem.

After being in a coma for over a month, Sharon's condition deteriorated again in February following the discovery of gangrene in his intestines.

He underwent a four-hour surgery and some of the intestine causing the gangrene was removed.

Ariel Sharon's condition worsens

[Rookieupgrade1]

Thanks for keeping us "in the loop" DW, so much faster for me to follow up on the weekends (no CNN at home.......no TV come to think of it ) and keep an eye on this situation through your posts.

Keep em comeing.

[Shammu]

Israel not ruling out European force in Lebanon

Olmert tells German foreign minister he would consider permitting deployment of experienced European military force in Lebanon, adding that such a force would have to assist Lebanese government in implementing UN Resolution 1559, which calls for Hizbullah’s disarmament
Ronny Sofer

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Sunday that Israel would consider permitting the deployment of an experienced European military force in Lebanon.

The prime minister added that such a force would have to control passages between Syria and Lebanon, deploy along the Lebanese-Israel border and assist the Lebanese army, especially in case it implements UN Resolution 1559 and works to disarm Hizbullah.

Israel is not ruling out the possibility that Lebanon, headed by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, will serve as a mediator in negotiations with Hizbullah. Officials in Jerusalem are looking into this possibility to enhance talks on the release of kidnapped soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.

Sources in the Prime Minister's Office didn't pin their hopes on a possible Lebanese channel. "We heard comments by the Lebanese parliament speaker, were heard their foreign minister who reported that the kidnapped are well. But a political process is far away. If there is a process it is not ripe yet. These are Lebanese declarations. We didn't hear that Hizbullah is responsible for these things," they said.

Livni: Crisis is test for international community

Speaking to reporters, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni spoke of the diplomatic efforts: "Today the French and German foreign ministers and the British minister for Middle East affairs visited and the Congress Intelligence Committee was here and a support group from Europe was here. Tomorrow Condoleezza Rice is here, and next week the Finnish foreign minister, the European Union's Foreign Affairs Commissioner, and the deputy Russian foreign minister are expected to visit and therefore we will have a week of dynamic diplomacy."

Livni said that the military operation and the diplomatic process do not contradict one another: "It is important to say – since I hear discussion about whether it is time for diplomacy – that there is no tension between the two processes, the political and the military, and it is worth it to change some of the terms from the past or process we were used to from the past. In the past they used to see the diplomatic process as gaining time for the army. Or alternatively a kind of negotiations between two sides at the end of which there a ceasefire and that's it. I see things differently, and therefore I though it is good to start these processes while the military operation is being carried out."

The foreign minister said that "in the day after, my job is to make sure that this territory is clean for a long time. I see it my responsibility to make sure that Hizbullah will not be armed again in the past. Talks aim at preserving the achievements of the army."

She added that Israel wants to see a strong government in Lebanon. "When a terror organization is working beside the government, the situation is intolerable. Claims by the Lebanese government that it cannot implement resolution 1559 are weak because it is unable to impose its sovereignty. And therefore we not only facing a test for Lebanon and Israel but a test for the international community." 

Israel not ruling out European force in Lebanon

[Shammu]

Rocket Barrages Continue to Rake the North
19:20 Jul 23, '06 / 27 Tammuz 5766
by Hana Levi Julian

More than 20 rockets were fired in a mid-afternoon barrage on Sunday that sent residents in the north racing for shelters and safe rooms across the Galilee.


Sirens continued to blare in northern communities from the Mediterranean Coast to the interior as Hizbullah terrorists fired rockets at numerous areas south of the Lebanese border, specifically targeting Akko, Tzfat, Tiberias and Kiryat Shemona.

In Akko one person was seriously injured in the Katyusha attack and another was treated for shock. Both were taken to Nahariya Hospital. A rocket fell between two houses in Kiryat Shemona, lightly injuring one person there.

Two rockets fell in open areas near Rosh Pina. No one was injured and no damage was reported. Two rockets also fell in Tiberius and several more in Tzfat. No injuries or damage was reported.

At least two people were killed and tens more injured in attacks in the Haifa area. In the morning and 12 were injured, one critically, in a massive Hizbullah terrorist attack on the area. Five separate areas were targeted in the attack, including Haifa, the Krayiot suburbs and Carmiel. Ten explosions were heard in the area one minute after the air raid siren sounded.

The attack began just minutes after French Foreign Minister Phillipe Douste-Blazy left the area. Douste-Blazy was in Haifa for talks with the mayor and other city officials before meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in Jerusalem.

Police said one rocket struck a car and hurled it into the opposite lane, killing the driver with severe shrapnel wounds to his upper body and injuring two passengers. A second person was killed when he was hit by a missile while running to the shelter at the Kiryat Ata carpentry shop where he worked. His three co-workers made it to safety.

Other missiles hit Carmiel, with a child lightly injured in the attack. Rosh Pina also suffered a barrage of rockets in the early morning, with no reports of injuries or damage from the city.

For the first time, sirens also blared in Zichron Yaakov and Binyamina, but rockets did not land in either of the towns.

Rocket Barrages Continue to Rake the North

[Shammu]

 IDF Conquers Hizbullah Strongholds, Continues Onward
16:20 Jul 23, '06 / 27 Tammuz 5766
by Ezra HaLevi

IDF forces conquered Hizbullah strongholds, destroyed missiles batteries and located missile caches inside a mosque over the weekend and early Sunday.

IDF forces took a ridge overlooking the Hizbullah stronghold of Bint J’bail Sunday. The village is northwest of Maroun A-Ras, the site of heavy battles, which was conquered over the Sabbath.

Maroun A-Ras was taken by IDF ground troops Saturday after days of fierce battles in the area. The Hizbullah bunkers in, around and below the village have all been raided and the IDF has now stationed troops in the village. Security forces in the area report they found scores of Katyusha shells, missile storage rooms and missile-launchers concealed in the village's mosque.

In addition to all residents of Lebanon living south of the Litani Rover, members of ten additional villages from which rockets have been fired were warned to evacuate their homes by 7 PM Saturday, ahead of IAF air strikes.

The Sayed al-Zahra facility in Sidon, run by a Hizbullah associated Islamic leader, was directly hit. This was the first time a target was hit in Sidon. Beirut was also hit early Sunday morning, with Hizbullah’s strongholds south of the city bearing the brunt of IAF bombs. A Hizbullah compound in Baal Beck was also struck, and the nearby Nabi Sheet.

Over the weekend, air strikes in Lebanon destroyed a building described as “Hizbullah Headquarters,” a half-dozen missile launchers, communications lines and a cache of long-range missiles, anti-tank missiles and guns. Several television broadcast facilities were also hit, presumably due to their complicity in broadcasting Hizbullah's Al-Manar television channel.

More than 1,800 targets have been hit by Israel's Air Force since the beginning of the Reengagement War.

Chief of Staff Dan Halutz said the air strikes will continue as long as they have to. "It takes time to hit at terrorism," he told reporters Friday. "We will fight terror wherever it is, because if we do not fight it, it will fight us - if we don't reach it, it will reach us."

Halutz added that Hizbullah has made a practice of using mosques to hide their Katyusha missile launchers.

Thousands of Israelis received their Tzav Shmoneh emergency call-up orders Thursday evening. Most will be taking the place of members of the standing army who will be headed into Lebanon in what the IDF brass is calling a limited ground invasion. As a result, in addition to the two million Israelis who spent this past Sabbath away from their northern homes or in bomb shelters, thousands more made due without their fathers and sons.

Responding to the extensive coverage of recent IDF casualities in both the print and televised media, IDF Commander of the North Maj.-Gen. Udi Adam urged Israelis to refrain from shedding tears for the fallen until the war is won.

"We have to change our way of thinking," he said. "Human life is important but we are at war and it costs human lives. We won't count the dead at present, only at the end. We'll cry for the dead and will encourage their brothers in arms. There are more places like Meron A-Ras, and unfortunately we'll have to reach them."

Asked the common question voiced by Israel's media - whether the IDF will become "bogged down in the Lebanese mud" - Maj.-Gen. Adam urged Israelis to exercise patience. "This is not a short story," he warned, "but it will not be never-ending either."

Meanwhile, in his weekly radio address, US President George W. Bush reassured those concerned that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's upcoming visit is intended to pressure Israel that Rice would "make it clear that resolving the crisis demands confronting the terrorist group that launched the attacks and the nations that support it."

Bush, referring to Syria and Iran, added: "Their actions threaten the entire Middle East and stand in the way of resolving the current crisis and bringing lasting peace to this troubled region."

MK Zahava Gal-On (Meretz), who is advocating immediate negotiations with Hizbullah, responded to Bush's statements that forcing an early cease-fire would not be prudent, saying, "We must not turn the IDF soldiers into Bush's cannon fodder."

IDF Conquers Hizbullah Strongholds, Continues Onward

[Shammu]

 Thousands of Soldiers to Join Counter-Terror Offensive
21:41 Jul 23, '06 / 27 Tammuz 5766
by Yechiel Spira

Thousands of IDF soldiers have been called to active reserve duty, thereby freeing up compulsory service soldiers for redeployment to the north.

Defense Minister Amir Peretz has authorized the continuation of the ground forces incursion into southern Lebanon, as elite units continue to operate on the ground, near Israel’s northern border, seeking to push Hizbullah back while destroying the terror organizations infrastructure.

Five Egoz Soldiers Killed in Fighting
In heavy fighting in the Maroun a-Ras area near Moshav Avivim last Thursday (20 July), five IDF soldiers fell in the line of duty. It was originally reported that four soldiers were killed but early Sunday morning; the IDF Spokesperson’s Office confirmed the body of a fifth member of the elite Sayeret Egoz was located, officially raising the death toll to five. Also operating in southern Lebanon are paratroopers, tanks and other specialized forces.

Some 5,000 reservists were activated with tzav-8 emergency call-up orders on Friday. The reservists will be deployed in areas throughout Judea and Samaria, freeing younger compulsory duty soldiers to join the effort against Hizbullah in the north.

Hizbullah is a Formidable Enemy
The battle will be a difficult one since Hizbullah has had six years to prepare, since then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak ordered the unilateral Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. The area is mined and there are bombs powerful enough to destroy the underbellies of Israel’s tanks, as was seen ten days ago when the crew of a Merkavah-3 tank was burned alive when a 200kg (440 lb) bomb was detonated near Israel’s northern border.

It is also known that Russian-built Kornet missiles were sold to Syria. The laser-guided missiles manufactured in the 1990s are equipped with a thermal sight. They pose a threat to even the most advanced tank.

A Sabbath of Heavy Rocket Attacks
The Sabbath brought another heavy day of rocket attacks, with over 160 rockets striking northern cities between 10:00am-7:00pm. Property damage was extensive, and dozens of people were injured, including two who were listed in serious condition on Saturday night.

Thousands of Israelis have fled their homes in Haifa and other cities, explaining the relatively low number of people killed and wounded in rocket attacks. Israel Police beginning Sunday will be increasing the number of personnel deployed in northern cities, primarily to prevent looting and break-ins.

Magen David Adom emergency medical service officials reported on Saturday night that since the start of the current Hizbullah warfare, on 12 July, 28 Israeli civilians and security personnel have been killed and 674 wounded in rocket attacks.

14 victims were seriously wounded, 31 moderate, 204 light and the remainder treated for varying levels of anxiety and hysteria

Ground Forces Deployment a Must
Military experts agree that while the air forces continues to dismantle the Hizbullah infrastructure from the air, ground forces must be brought into the picture if the terror organization is to be brought to it knees. Last week’s emergency call-up of thousands of soldiers signals this stage may be beginning, with members of the General Staff warning fighting will be difficult against Hizbullah but there is no alternative.

Having carried out some 3,000 sorties and striking over 1,800 targets, the air force continues to strike at Hizbullah in all areas of Lebanon, in many cases successfully wiping out longer-range rockets and launchers on the ground, eliminating potential strikes by the terror organization against the Greater Tel Aviv area.

Hizbullah Continues Using Civilians as Shields
IDF Chief of Staff Lt-General Dan Halutz last week stated Operation Change of Direction was moving ahead, warning the process will take some time. The military commander stated once again that Hizbullah continues to base itself in civilian population areas, making Israel’s job increasingly more difficult as the IDF takes measures to avoid collateral damage to civilians. Halutz added that the terror organization frequently places Katyusha rockets and launchers inside mosques, another technique aimed at enlisting the support of the international community against Israel.

US Remains Firmly Behind Israel
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected in Israel to begin steps towards a ceasefire, but media reports are signaling US President George W. Bush is not planning to pressure Jerusalem to halt the operation at present. Rice will focus on Lebanon following the Israeli offensive, traveling from Israel to Rome where she will meet with United Nations officials and representatives of Arab states to discuss the rehabilitation of Lebanon.

President Bush in his remarks blames Iran and Syria for standing in the way of a ceasefire, stating it is they who threaten the stability of the entire Middle East. American lawmakers have come out in support of Israel’s operation, seeing the destruction of Hizbullah as a major step in combating global Islamic terror.

Israel Seeks to Minimize Civilian Casualities
For the past days, Israel has used taped telephone messages, leaflets and radio broadcasts to persuade southern Lebanese area residents to head north before the fighting increases, signaling Jerusalem’s plan to cleanse southern Lebanon of Hizbullah. Israeli officials are indicating heavier air force bombardments are to be expected since Hizbullah’s arsenal is well placed within civilian communities, which will be targeted as Israel seeks to eliminate thousands of rockets on the ground.

While analysts and military experts agree Hizbullah will not be totally eliminated, the direct threat along Israel’s border can be removed and the terror organization can be weakened enough to permit the Government of Lebanon to deploy its forces along Israel’s border in compliance with United Nations Resolution 1559.

Thousands of Soldiers to Join Counter-Terror Offensive

[Shammu]

 Europe's "Salonistas" Embrace Terror
by Fundamentally Freund
Jul 20, '06 / 24 Tammuz 5766


Even when the moral calculus is clear-cut and simple, Europe still just doesn't get it.

Israel may be fighting a war of self-defense against Hizbullah and Hamas terrorists, who resort to kidnappings, rocket attacks and suicide bombings against innocent civilians, but that hasn't stopped the "salonistas" of Europe from coming down hard against the Jewish state.

But in what can only be described as a new low - even by European standards - Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero yesterday openly identified with Israel's enemies, even as Katyusha rockets were raining down on Haifa, Tiberias and Nazareth.

Speaking at something called the Festival of Soci***t Youth (didn't the Soviet Union disappear over 15 years ago?), Zapatero denounced Israel and accused it of using "abusive force" before draping a keffiyeh decorated with a Palestinian flag around his neck.

Europe's "Salonistas" Embrace Terror

[Shammu]

 Syria will react to any Israel military moves near its borders
Damascus, July 23, IRNA

Syria-Lebanon-Israel
Damascus threatened to wage war against the Zionist regime if its military forces continue massive strikes on Lebanon and areas close to the Syrian borders.

'Syria News' electronic magazine reported this on Sunday quoting Syrian Information Minister Mohsen Bilal.

Lebanese Islamic resistance forces in recent days have repeatedly foiled Zionist army attacks to penetrate Lebanese territories.

Lebanon Hizbollah forces also have stopped the Zionist army from advancing into Lebanese soil and inflicted heavy human and material losses on the aggressors.

In the past 12 days, the Zionist regime has targeted innocent civilians, infrastructural installations and even humanitarian and medical assistance to the war-ravaged people of Lebanon by conducting heavy bombardments.

Syria will react to any Israel military moves near its borders

[Shammu]

 Hizbollah missiles force 250,000 Israelis flee northern Israel
Beirut, July 23, IRNA

ME-Israel-Media
Katyusha missiles, fired on northern Israeli settlements, have forced 250,000 Israelis to flee the region in the past 11 days, according to the media of the Qods-occupying regime.

The media said on Sunday that Israeli military and political officials have admitted mass exodus of thousands of Israelis from nearby settlements.

The media quoted mayor of one of the settlements as saying that thus far, half of the 500,000 population of northern Israeli regions have left the area for safety out of fear of Hizbollah missiles.

The source said hundreds of tourists too have left northern Israel and Haifa port, returning the countries of origin.

In a retaliatory move, Lebanese Hizbollah has fired more than 1,000 missiles on the Jewish settlements north of the occupied Palestine, killing at least 40 Zionists and injuring hundreds of others.

Hizbollah in a fresh move on Sunday fired several missiles on Haifa, killing at least two Zionists and injuring 14 others.

Zionist regime's extensive raids on different parts of Lebanon over the past 11 days resulted in the martyrdom of more than 340 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and injury of more than 1,000 more.

A UN official in Beirut condemned Zionist regime's incursion on civilians and the residential areas in Lebanon, calling it violation of international principles, norms and regulations.

The Zionist regime has been defying demands of the UN and certain countries to stop war and establish ceasefire, insisting on continuation of war. The Zionist entity has also built up forces in southern Lebanon.

Hizbollah missiles force 250,000 Israelis flee northern Israel

[Shammu]

 Iran can become regional hub for electricity swap
Tehran, July 23, IRNA

Iran-Electricity
Iran could turn into a hub for regional electricity exchanges by rearranging its power transmission networks, said the head of Electricity Market, Alireza Khojasteh.

"Given the country's suitable geographical location we could easily link up with central Asian and ME countries and necessary planning to implement this task is underway," English-language newspaper `Tehran Times' quoted Khojasteh as saying.

Khojasteh recalled that Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq are among the places that are in need of energy.

"At the moment, connection to Jordan, Syria, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan is a matter of improving the existing network links via Iraq," added Khojasteh.

Given the current electricity situation, Iran's imports are slightly higher than its exports.

Much of the electricity required for the nation's growing industries comes from Armenia and Turkmenistan.

Iran can become regional hub for electricity swap

[Shammu]

 Islamic human rights group expresses abhorrence over Israeli war crimes
Tehran, July 23, IRNA

Lebanon-Human Rights
Islamic Human Rights Commission on Sunday expressed abhorrence at war crimes being systematically perpetrated by occupying regime of Israel against civilians of Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Lebanon since the past four weeks.

Forwarding letters to Tehran-based diplomatic corps, the human rights advocates called on European states to stop Israel from further trampling on the values upheld by humanity in the international community.

The letters were addressed to ambassadors of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom calling for an end to Israeli violence against humanity.

"Iranian human rights activists are questioning that when the occupying regime will be forced to respect international law and how the big powers are viewing the extensive human plight and the deaths and casualties being committed by the occupying regime?" it asked.

Islamic human rights group expresses abhorrence over Israeli war crimes

[Shammu]

 Iran's Ahmadinejad: Israel's Destruction at Hand
20:12 Jul 23, '06 / 27 Tammuz 5766
by Ezra HaLevi

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced Sunday that Israel has begun the process of its annihilation at the hands of the Islamic nation. Both Hamas and Hizbullah take orders from the regime.

“Israel has pushed the button of its own destruction,” said the Iranian president, who pulls the strings of its terrorist proxies on both of Israel’s fronts. “The Zionists made their worst decision and triggered their extinction by attacking Lebanon."

Ahmadinejad, addressing the 23rd Iranian Islamic Republic’s nationwide meeting of the heads of educational bureaus, advised Jewish Israelis “to pack up and move out of the region before being caught in the fire they have started in Lebanon.”

Last week, Ahmadinejad was shown on Iranian television saying Israelis “Should know that the volcano of rage of the peoples of the region is boiling…I’m telling you…If this volcano erupts - and we are on the brink of eruption... and if this ocean rages, its waves will not be limited to the region.

Ahmadinejad, seemingly responding to the first two planeloads of American Jews making Aliyah (immigrating to Israel) this summer, accused Israel of deceiving the olim. "They are even lying to the misfortunate people whom they have imported into occupied Palestine,” he said. “They are using them as a shield to achieve their own goals.”

On Saturday, Ahmadinejad compared Israel to Hitler, saying “Just like Hitler, the Zionist regime is just looking for a pretext to launch military attacks.” Israel has pointed out that due to the two-front proxy war orchestrated by Iran, the issues of Iran’s dash toward nuclear capability has been pushed out of the spotlight, despite the regime’s refusal to cooperate with international efforts to find a solution.

The Iranian leader’s statements about the Holocaust have made headlines several times over the past year. Last week, he sent a letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, which German officials said asks her to assist Iran in “dealing with” Zionism.

In May Ahmadinejad wrote US President George W. Bush a lengthy letter containing an invitation to become a Muslim and veiled threats regarding continued alliance with Israel.

The Iranian president, whose previous positions included acting as a trainer for child suicide soldiers sent to blow up mines in his country’s war against Iraq, issued several statements implying that a battle to annihilate the Jewish State is at hand. “The day of joy for the regional nations is approaching and the world is on the verge of new developments,” he said in a speech in northwest Iran Tuesday.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, US President George W. Bush and even Lebanese politician Walid Jumblatt have blamed Iran explicitly for deploying Hamas and Hizbullah against the Jewish State.

The Iranian government has placed billboards of Hizbullah chief Hassan Nasrallah around the country, with boldface slogans reminding Muslims of their duty to wipe out Israel. Meanwhile, members of the tiny Jewish community of Shiraz were seemingly compelled to attend a rally in the town’s square, calling for Israel’s destruction and praising Hizbullah.

Meanwhile, Syria has also issued a threat to become directly involved in the war. Syrian Information Minister Mohsen Bilal said Sunday, "If Israel invades Lebanon over ground and comes near to us, Syria will not sit tight. She will join the conflict.”

During his weekly radio address Saturday, US President Bush warned Syria to stay away. “For many years, Syria has been a primary sponsor of Hizbullah and it has helped provide Hizbullah with shipments of Iranian-made weapons,’’ he said. “Iran’s regime has also repeatedly defied the international community with its ambition for nuclear weapons and aid to terrorist groups. Their actions threaten the entire Middle East and stand in the way of resolving the current crisis and bringing lasting peace to this troubled region.”

Iran's Ahmadinejad: Israel's Destruction at Hand

[Shammu]

 No Arab, Muslim will support Tel Aviv: Arab ambassador
Tehran, July 23, IRNA

Iran-Arab-Israel
No Arab or Muslim leader would ever support Tel Aviv in its aggression on Lebanon and massacring children, women and innocent civilians in Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Lebanon, a Tehran-based Arab ambassador said on Sunday.

Speaking to IRNA, Ambassador Abdullah who was reacting to a recent claim by Zionists that leader of an Arab state voiced support for the Tel Aviv authorities, said no Arab or Muslim leader would commit such a big treason.

"No Arab or Muslim leader has ever committed or will commit such a big and historic treason and the public opinion will not allow him to do so as well," said the ambassador.

The diplomat added that all Muslim nations took Israel as "an infected tumor which should undoubtedly be removed."
The Zionist regime never believe that the revolutionary movement of Lebanese Hizbollah could resist so strongly against its massive aggressions against mostly civilian targets and infrastructure of Lebanon.

"That was why the Zionist resorted to sheer lies in order to calm down their confused and disturbed public opinion," Ambassador Abdullah said.

According to the diplomat, from a military point of view, Israel would be the loser in its aggression on Lebanon as Hizbollah has successfully pounded Tel Aviv's major military and political targets deep inside the occupied territories, a task that had never been done by any of the Arab states throughout the history.

"Israel's behavior in its current invasion of Lebanon is a clear sign of its weakness," said the ambassador.

He added Israel had to accept that it lost the war to "not an army but just to a Muslim revolutionary group."
"No matter what would be the apparent result of this war, Hizbollah is and will be the only winner," stressed Ambassador Abdullah.

He added that Tel Aviv authorities and their Western allies, US, in particular, should be brought to justice as "war criminals" for targeting innocent civilians including women and children, and civilian infrastructure of Lebanon.

No Arab, Muslim will support Tel Aviv: Arab ambassador

[Shammu]

 Asefi: Ahmadinejad's letter to Chirac different from 2 previous ones
Tehran, July 23, IRNA

Iran-Asefi-Chirac
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi here Sunday confirmed that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has sent a letter to the French President Jacques Chirac, adding that its content is different from his letters to the US president and German chancellor.

Speaking to domestic and foreign reporters in this week's briefing session, he said that Ahmadinejad's letter was submitted to Chirac by Iran's new Ambassador to Paris Ali Ahani on the sidelines of a meeting in which he presented his credentials.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman said that Ahmadinejad's letter deals with issues of significance.

In response to a question about the aim of such letters, he said that Iran intends to convey its views on world problems to the heads of other states in a documented and tangible way.

Concerning Iran's nuclear stance and whether it will accept the suspension of enrichment, on which a reporter asked him to be transparent, Asefi said, "I believe that everything depends on the relevant talks."
About the US support for the crimes of Zionist regime, he said that such support is against humanity rather than the people of Lebanon.

The spokesman said that the US and Israel's plots target not only Lebanon, but the entire Middle East as well as Arab and Islamic states.

Responding to another question about sympathizing with Lebanese nation, he said, "They do not need any sympathy, rather they need the courage of international bodies to mediate on the issue and stop the Zionists crimes."
Replying to a question about Iran-Turkey border cooperation, he said that what is brought up under the framework of border control and safeguard is related to collaboration between the two countries on border issues.

A Turkish daily, quoting the Iranian ambassador to Turkey, had recently claimed that Iran will support any possible trans-border operations by Turkish Armed Forces against PKK forces in northern Iraq.

"The remarks of our ambassador in Ankara have not been reflected accurately. What he meant was support for the measures taken by Turkish troops in the soil of that country," he added.

Asefi: Ahmadinejad's letter to Chirac different from 2 previous ones