Mid-East Conflict

Sinai terror group swears allegiance to Islamic State

Nov. 6, 2014 - Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group that occupies the Sinai penninsula and threatens both Israel and Egypt, has sworn allegience to the Islamic State.

“After entrusting God we decided to swear allegiance to the emir of the faithful Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, caliph of the Muslims in Syria and Iraq and in other countries.”

Source: Times of Israel

Prophetic Significance of Mid-EastConflict

Israel's Iron Dome Rocket System Heading to Seas

Oct. 31, 2014 - Israel has a new version of its highly successful Iron Dome defense system named "C Dome" that will help protect naval vessels, offshore aoil fields and the coastline.

Source: Fox

Temple-rebuilding activist shot in Jerusalem

Oct. 30, 2014 - Rabbi Yehuda Glick, chairman of the Temple Mount Heritage Foundation, was shot multiple times in the chest in Jerusalem by an unknown assailant on a motorcycle. Glick was putting up posters for a conference titled “Israel Returns to the Temple Mount.”

Source: WND

Prominent Temple Mount Activist Shot by Islamic Jihad Terrorist in Assassination Attempt, Shooter Killed - Breaking Israel News

Jerusalem's Temple Mount closes to all visitors after shooting of Yehuda Glick - Jerusalem Post

Abbas: Closing of Temple Mount tantamount to declaration of war - Jerusalem Post

Clashes Erupt as Israeli Police Kill Palestinian Suspected of Shooting Jewish Far-rightist - Newsweek

Update 10/31/14 - Police on high alert in Jerusalem after Fatah calls for 'day of rage' - Jerusalem Post

Security official: Jerusalem rioting could persist for weeks, even months - Jerusalem Post

Jordan warns that Jewish settlements may 'imperil' peace treaty with Israel

Oct. 27, 2014 - Visiting Tel Aviv on the 20th anniversary of the Israel-Jordan peace treaty, Jordan's ambassador to Israel, Walid Obeidat, warned that continued building of Jewish settlements or any effort to change the religious status of the Temple Mount could invalidate their treaty. He said,

"All such acts are incompatible with international law and international humanitarian law and if allowed to continue will ultimately imperil the treaty."

Source: Jerusalem Post

Egypt cancels Hamas-Israel talks following Sinai attack

Oct. 26, 2014 - Egypt closed its borders to a high-ranking Hamas delegation because the Palestinians are thought to have been involved in a terror attack that took place Friday in the Sinai.

The Hamas delegation had been set to resume indirect talks between the Palestinians and Israel over a long-term Gaza ceasefire on Monday, but those talks were canceled.

Source: Times of Israel

British Parliament votes on Palestine state recognition is part of growing international trend

Oct. 14, 2014 - A non-binding vote by the British Parliament to recognize the state of Palestine illustrates the world tensions on the issue.

The case for the motion is that Britain should follow 135 of the UN’s 193 member states and recognize Palestinian statehood. The case against is that doing so unilaterally would prejudice the outcome of future negotiations between the two parties.

Source: The Guardian - UK

Israel says UK Palestine vote undermines peace prospects - Times of Israel

'Deadly fire' at Iran military explosives facility

Oct. 7, 2014 - A fire and an explosion occurred at Iran's Parchin military site near Tehran. This explosives experimentation site has been linked to Iran's nuclear program.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not been given access to the complex since 2005.
Analysts say the IAEA suspects Iran of experimenting with explosives capable of triggering a nuclear weapon at Parchin.

Six world powers are still trying to negotiate a permanent agreement with Iran over its nuclear ambitions. According to the IAEA, there has been an increase of activity at the Parchin facility, and Iran missed a missed a deadline to answer further questions about its nuclear plans.

Source: BBC

Iranian opposition activists claim sabotage was responsible - Honest Reporting

Iran explosion: An accident or a reminder ? - ". . .reminder that Israel . . . has the will and capacity to do real damage to Iran’s program, then maybe, just maybe the U.S. negotiators will use that to their advantage. You think so? Me neither, but one can hope." - Jennifer Rubin - Washington Post

Netanyahu to Ban: UN is biased against Israel

Oct. 2, 2014 - At a meeting with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the UN holds Israel to a different standard of behavior than other nations - like Syria. He argued that Israel did not direct attacks against civilians the way Syria did. He also complained that the UN Human Rights Council was failing to focus its attention on the crimes perpetrated by Hamas.

Netanyahu argued that Hamas was guilty of perpetrating a double war crime by using Gazan civilians as human shields and for firing rockets targeting civilians in Israel, and compared Hamas to the Islamic State group.

Source: Times of Israel

US in bind as Palestinians push UN resolution demanding broad Israeli withdrawal - The new resolution calls for Israel to return all territory seized since the 1967 Six-Day War, a condition that Israel has not agreed to in any of the recent U.S.-backed peace negotiations with the Palestinian Authority - Fox

Netanyahu at UN warns “militant Islam is on the march,” from Hamas to ISIS, but greatest threat is a nuclear armed Iran.

Oct. 1, 2014 - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the United Nations General Assembly that ISIS and Hamas are serious problems, but the greatest threat to his country and the world is an Iranian regime that that could rapidly produce nuclear warheads.

Source: Joel Rosenberg

Transcript of Netanyahu's message

Video of Netanyahu's message

Netanyahu: Iranian Nukes Too High a Price for Their Help Against IS

Sept. 29, 2014 -

The Islamic Republic of Iran presents as big a danger, or even bigger, than the terrorists of the Islamic State (also known as ISIS), Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the UN General Assembly Monday.

Source: Newsweek

Palestinian leader accuses Israel of 'genocide' at UN

Sept. 28, 2014 - Speaking to the UN General Assembly, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called the recent conflict between Israel and Gaza a a "war of genocide." He claimed that Israeli "war crimes" in Gaza should be punished, but he did not indicate that he would take the issue to the International Criminal Court.

The UN says that most of the Palestinian dead were civilians. Israel says the high civilian death toll was because of Hamas fighters launching attacks from residential areas, including schools and mosques, drawing return fire.

Source: BBC

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4575261,00.html - YNet News

Hassan Rouhani UN Speech: Iranian President Blames West For Middle East Extremism During United Nations Assembly - International Business Times

Ya’alon: Turkey is openly supporting terrorism

Sept. 9, 2014 -

[Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon] expressed outrage that the international community would allow nations to back terrorism while remaining full members of respected international organizations such as the UN and, in Turkey’s case, NATO.

He complained that Saleh al-Arouri, the senior Hamas official, alleged by Israel to have played a key role in orchestrating the abduction and killing of three Israeli teens in June, is allowed to operate from the command center of Hamas’s overseas operations, which is located in Istanbul.

Source: Times of Israel

Abbas threatens to break partnership with Hamas

Sept. 7, 2014 - The recent destruction in Gaza during the war between Israel and the Palestinians was caused mostly by the decisions of Hamas' underground military wing. This resulted in a rift between Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas told Egyptian reporters that he may break their current partnership if Hamas doesn't accept a Palestinian State with one government, one law, and one control of weapons.

"We will only be talking to Hamas if they meet our requirements. The partnership with Hamas depends on arms being under the control of the Palestinian State."

Source: YNet

Israel preparing for ‘very violent’ war against Hezbollah, TV report says

Sept. 6, 2014 - On the heels of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, a report from the Israeli army warns that it is “making plans and training” for “a very violent war” with Iran-backed Hezbollah in south Lebanon. The report did not specify when this war might break out, but Hezbolla has 100,000 rockets --

— and that its 5,000 long-range missiles, located in Beirut and other areas deep inside Lebanon, are capable of carrying large warheads (of up to 1 ton and more), with precision guidance systems, covering all of Israel.

Israeli Colonel Dan Goldfus, commander of the 769th Hiram Infantry Brigade, said that Israel will have to use "considerable force” to quickly prevail over Hezbollah.

Source: Times of Israel

Gaza Strip: ISIS Intent on Palestine and Murder of Jews

Aug. 31, 2014 -

ISIS said it will first “do everything within its means to continue striking down every apostate who stands as an obstacle on its path towards Palestine.” This area is composed of the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, as well as other places.

Source: Guardian

Ted Cruz: Bomb ISIS 'Back to the Stone Age' - NewsMax

Gaza conflict: Israeli PM Netanyahu says war was 'victory'

July 28, 2014 -

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the seven-week conflict in Gaza ended in "victory".
The Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement was "hit hard and got none of its demands," Mr. Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu also warned that there would be an even tougher response should there be so much as a "sprinkle" of rocket fire from Gaza.

Of course Hamas also claimed that the truce was a victory for them.

Source: BBC

Analysis: How Israel made Hamas crawl to a cease-fire in Gaza - Jerusalem Post

Gaza conflict: Israel and Palestinians agree long-term truce

Aug. 27, 2014 - A long-term ceasefire has begun between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. It calls for opening of borders for humanitarian aid and building materials and an extension of the Palestinian's Mediterranean fishing zone.

Indirect talks on more contentious issues, including Israel's call for militant groups in Gaza to disarm, will begin in Cairo within a month.

The US and the UN supported the truce, but UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern that its failure to "tackle the root causes of the crisis will do little more than set the stage for the next cycle of violence."

Source: BBC

Rocket from Lebanon hits northern Israel after Gaza rockets rain on south

Aug. 25, 2014 -

[A] rocket fired from Lebanon into Israel fell near Kiryat Shmona in the north Monday night, after more than 130 rockets were launched from Gaza at Israel throughout the day, wounding one man and damaging an Ashdod shopping mall.

Meanwhile, Egypt continued to broker a durable truce between the two sides.

Source: YNet

Netanyahu: Hamas is ISIS, ISIS is Hamas

Aug. 23, 2014 - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Congressman Darrell Issa that the US and Israel must unite in their fight against terrorism. He said:

“Hamas is ISIS, ISIS is Hamas. You saw the gruesome beheading of James Foley. We see the gruesome murder and execution of three teenagers which Hamas has just admitted that they did."

Source: Israel National News

Live Blog: Over 100 rockets fired into Israel since midnight

Aug. 20, 2014 - On the 44th day of Operation Protective Edge...

Hamas breached a truce on Tuesday afternoon with a rocket salvo at Beersheba, prompting Israel to quit the Cairo negotiations on a long-term ceasefire. Rocket fire and IDF counter-strikes intensified later Tuesday and into Wednesday.

While Hamas fired more than 100 rockets into Israel, breaking the latest cease-fire, Israeli Defense Forces targeted Gaza's Hamas commander Muhammad Deif. His wife and son were killed, but it is unclear if he was hit.

Source: Times of Israel

Gaza conflict: Israel 'targets Hamas leader Deif' - BBC

Live Updates: Israeli Cabinet convenes; over 140 rockets and mortars fired at Israel since truce collapsed -Haaretz

Gaza conflict: Israel PM Netanyahu vows further campaign - BBC

Gaza rocket fire hits new heights: 168 launched in one day - YNet

Israel, militants trade rocket fire as Gaza truce broken

Aug. 19, 2014 - During a 24-hour extension of the Israeli/Gaza peace talks in Cairo, three rockets were fired from Gaza City at Israel.

In a statement Tuesday, Israel’s military accused Palestinian militants of violating a cease-fire and said it maintains "both defense and striking capabilities in order to address the renewed aggression."

Indirect talks in Cairo continue to explore major differences between the two sides. Israel continues to blockade Gaza and calls for disarmament of Hamas. Palestinians demand a seaport and an airport.

Source: Fox

Hamas Vows to Open ‘Gates of Hell’ After Possible Attempt to Assassinate Rocket Chief - Algemeiner

Dennis Prager video explains Middle East in a nutshell - WND

Israel pessimistic agreement will be reached by expiration of cease-fire at midnight

Aug. 18, 2014 - A five-day ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians is about to expire. An immediate agreement is not expected, but it is possible that the ceasefire will be extended.

But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet ministers at the opening of the weekly Sunday cabinet meeting that Hamas is mistaken if it thinks it can cover its military defeat over the last month with a diplomatic achievement.

Netanyahu said it is clear that Hamas knows Israel's strength, but perhaps they think Israel does not have the determination and patience to keep punishing them for their rocket attacks. He said that would be a big mistake for Hamas.

Source: Jerusalem Post

Hamas Rejects 'Final' Ceasefire Proposal: 'Death for Allah is Our Most Exalted Wish' - Breitbart

Netanyahu says Israel will respond forcefully even to a ‘drizzle’ of rockets

Aug. 15, 2014 - During the current five-day truce Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the residents of the southern part of the country near Gaza that Israel will not tolerate even "a drizzle" of mortar or rocket attacks.

Netanyahu pointed out that the IDF struck some 160 terrorist targets after Hamas renewed the fighting last weekend and fired mortar shells at the communities near the Gaza border.

Source:Jerusalem Post

- Fox

Israeli official confirms US nixed arms shipment; pols argue over who’s to blame

Aug. 14, 2014 - The US has suspended a shippment of arms to Israel because of a disagreement between the leaders of the two countries.

The report claimed that US-Israeli tensions are at a record high, with US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said to hold a “particularly combative phone call on Wednesday” and officials on both sides resorting to name-calling.

Source: Times of Israel

Fresh strikes follow five-day Gaza truce extension

Aug. 13, 2014 - A five-day ceasefire extension was agreed to by Israel and Palestinians, but as soon as it was to begin at least five rockets were fired from Gaza and Israel retaliated by targeting "terror sites" in Gaza.

It is not yet clear if either side sees the latest strikes as a major breach of the ceasefire, correspondents say.

Source: BBC

Egypt wants Palestinian Authority to supplant Hamas in Gaza - YNet News

Israel and Hamas Continue Talks, But Lasting Peace Remains Distant

Aug. 12, 2014 -

Israel said Tuesday it was prepared to ease its economic blockade on the Gaza Strip as part of a long-term cease-fire with Hamas, but both sides said there had been scant progress toward . . . ending the Gaza war.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Israel says it refuses to negotiate while rockets fall

Aug. 9,, 2014 -

The US had said Friday it hoped for a renewed truce in the ‘coming hours’ after Hamas ended a 72-hour ceasefire Friday morning and fired some 60 rockets into Israel in the course of the day.

Israel responded by resuming attacks in Gaza, and the Israeli delegation left the ceasefire talks in Cairo, saying that they would not negotiate under fire.

Source: Times of Israel

Update: 8/10/14 - Netanyahu: Gaza operation continues, Israel will not negotiate under fire - Jerusalem Post

Israel resumes strikes on targets after rocket fire from Gaza

Aug. 8, 2014

Israel resumed strikes on targets in Gaza in response to rocket fire from the area shortly after the expiration of a cease-fire between Israel and the terror group Hamas, Israeli military officials said Friday.

Source: Fox

Gaza war could lead to Abbas’s return and new hopes for Palestinian-Israeli peace - Washington Post

Mortars fired at Israel, hours before end of cease-fire

Aug. 7, 2014 -

Israel to declare Gaza 'enemy territory' to avoid payouts to Gazans; Egypt seeking to soften Hamas demands; Defense min.: Hamas forced Israel into ground op; Israel refusing to budge on Gaza demilitarization, sources say.

Source: Haaretz

Gaza: Israeli-Palestinian indirect talks begin in Cairo

July 6, 2014 -

Indirect talks between Israeli and Palestinian representatives are taking place in the Egyptian capital Cairo. . . Egyptian mediators are shuttling between the two delegations, relaying each side's demands.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said that talks during the 72-hour cease-fire could stimulate the emergence of a two-state solution.

Source: BBC

Iran pledges 'unlimited' aid to 'Palestinian resistance' - WND

Captured Hamas manual encourages human shields - WND

Saudi king publicly blames Hamas for Gaza war - WND

Netanyahu makes case for morality of Gaza campaign - WND

Israel says ground troops out of Gaza as cease-fire takes effect

Aug. 5, 2014 - Israel has withdrawn all of its ground forces from Gaza after destroying 32 tunnels built by Hamas.

The Times of Israel, citing an Israel Defense Forces source, reported that approximately 900 Hamas operatives have been killed during the fighting. By contrast, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry has repeatedly claimed that 1,900 Palestinians have been killed, mostly civilians.

Some 3,500 rockets had been fired into Israel during the conflict. Israel had called up 86,000 reservists to assist the operation.

Source: Fox

Israel, Palestinian factions reportedly agree to 72-hour cease-fire

Aug. 4, 2014 -A 72-hour cease fire between Hamas and Israel has been accepted by both sides. It will begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

Egypt has called on Israel to send a delegation to Cairo, where officials from Palestinian factions including Hamas and the Palestinian Authority gathered on Sunday night. Israel refused to attend the talks because of the collapse of previous cease-fire attempts.

Source: JTA

Israel Withdraws Some Troops in Tactical Move; School Strike Draws Outrage

Aug. 8, 2014 - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reacted to an Israeli airstrike in Gaza that killed 10 people (of the 3,000 displaced civilians that are supposedly sheltered there). He called it a "gross violation of international humanitarian law." The Israeli Defense Force did not comment on the air strike, but did say it was preparing for a "new phase" of their activities aimed at stopping rocket fire toward Israel and destroying Hamas underground tunnels.

"We have indeed scaled down some of the presence and indeed urged Palestinians in certain neighborhoods to come back to their homes," said Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a military spokesman.

Source: NewsMax

Iron Dome Operator: God Moved Missile We Couldn't Hit - Israel Today

Israel Miracle! Gaza Strip Hamas Complains “Their God Changes Path of our Rockets in Midair - Hebrew Nation Online

Analysis: Israel's victorious withdrawal from Gaza - Newly forged special relationship with Egypt, weakening of Hamas are two of Israel's achievements in Gaza op - i24 News

IDF withdraws majority of ground forces from Gaza - YNew News

US says 'appalled' by latest Israeli shelling of UN facility - Jerusalem Post

Obama’s Brother joins Hamas, says ‘Jerusalem is ours; We are Coming’ - (From 2010 conference) - Shoebat

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Israeli forces begin regrouping near Gaza border after Netanyahu issues new warning to Hamas

Aug;. 3, 2014 - According to the Wall Street Journal Israeli tanks have begun to return from Gaza to Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a new warning to Hamas Saturday and promised that Israel would fight "as long as it will take" to prevent further rocket attacks against Israeli civilians.

In northern Gaza residents were given the all-clear to return to their homes.

Source: Fox

Israel’s military declares dead a soldier believed captured by Hamas militants - The Globe and Mail

Netanyahu to U.S.: Don't second-guess me on Hamas - Politico

UN Blasts Israel for Not Sharing Iron Dome with Hamas - Israel National News

Gaza crisis: Deadly strike 'at UN school in Rafah' - BBC

As Israel withdraws troops from Gaza, a dilemma for Hamas - Times of Israel

Missing Soldier Provokes Anguish in Israel

Aug. 2, 2014 - 2nd Lt. Hadar Goldin might have been taken captive by Hamas.

The prospect of another agonizing ordeal over the fate of an Israeli soldier ratchets up pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to escalate the military offensive in the Gaza Strip to rescue him, despite pleas from abroad for a cease-fire.

Source: Wall Street Journal