Netanyahu Talking Iran, Israeli ‘Freedom of Action’ in Syria with World Leaders

Israel and Russia are taking Syria. Russian President Vladimir Putin. Illustrative. Photo courtesy of the office of the President of Russia.

Just days after a discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be leaving on Monday for Europe to meet with the leaders of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. On the docket for all these conversations: Iran, including Iranian forces in Syria.

“While I will discuss with [the European leaders] developments in the region, the emphasis will be on Iran, first of all on continuing to block Iran’s nuclear program,” said Netanyahu on Sunday in comments released by his office. Secondarily, the Israeli leader said he would discuss “the blocking of Iran’s plans for expansion and aggression throughout the Middle East, especially in Syria.”

To that end, Israel has reportedly struck multiple Iranian targets in Syria, in addition to a variety of reported strikes to prevent the transfer of advanced weaponry to Hezbollah terrorists. Netanyahu highlighted that Israel will continue to operate militarily in Syria. Said the Israeli Prime Minister, “I will also insist on a basic principle: Israel retains—and will continue to retain—freedom of action against the establishment of an Iranian military presence anywhere in Syria.” … Continue Reading

Gaza Rocket Attacks Resume after UN Fails to Condemn Hamas

Explosives can kill. Spent Palestinian rocket. Illustrative. By Joshua Spurlock

Gaza terrorists again launched rockets at Israel this weekend—shaking a fragile ceasefire that had been established between the sides—just one day after the United Nations Security Council failed twice on Friday to condemn Hamas actions in Gaza. An initial resolution on the recent Gaza border riots vetoed by the United States made “no mention of Hamas. None at all,” noted US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley in comments released by her office. Said Haley, “Instead, the resolution places all the blame on Israel… It is resolutions like this one that undermine the UN’s credibility in dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

The resolution, according to the UN News website, was brought by Kuwait and called for the powerful Security Council to contemplate steps to “guarantee the safety and protection” of Palestinians, including a report on a potential “international protection mechanism” from the UN Secretary-General. The US, meanwhile, brought their own resolution calling upon Hamas and Islamic Jihad to “cease all violent activity and provocative actions, including along the boundary fence.”

Ahead of the votes, Haley told the Council “you either support Hamas or not. This vote will tell the story.” In the end, 10 of the 15 nations on the Council voted for the anti-Israel Kuwaiti resolution, while 11 abstained on the US measure. The next day after the UN votes effectively ignored Hamas terrorism, Gaza rocket fire against Israel resumed. Over the weekend, the Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted multiple Gaza rockets while the Israeli Air Force hit over a dozen Hamas terror targets according to the IDF Spokesperson’s Twitter feed. … Continue Reading

Israel Hits Dozens of Terror Targets after Soldiers Injured as Over 70 Mortars, Rockets Fired from Gaza; World Powers Condemn Palestinian Violence

Hamas has fired thousands of rockets at Israel over the years, among other acts of terror. Illustrative photo of spent Rockets fired from Gaza. By Joshua Spurlock.

Terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip unleashed a massive rocket and mortar assault on Israel on Tuesday—the IDF Spokesperson’s Twitter feed had counted more than 70 projectiles by late that evening with sirens indicating additional ones coming—and Israel responded by striking dozens of Hamas targets. Three Israeli soldiers were wounded in the fierce fighting, which called into question the possibility of a new Gaza war.

Meanwhile, multiple world powers expressed their dismay at the Hamas assault and the United States called for the attacks to be discussed by the powerful United Nations Security Council. The stunning escalation follows weeks of Hamas-led riots near the Gaza border and efforts to breach the Israeli security fence there.

Tweeted the IDF Spokesperson, “The Hamas terror organization again chooses to act against the interest of the residents of the Gaza Strip. After it failed during the violent riots along the security fence, it now chooses to conduct and allow a wide-scale attack against Israeli civilians.” … Continue Reading

Another Gaza Bomb Attack Foiled; Hundreds of Fire Kites Launched at Israel in Last Month

Is war brewing with Gaza? Israeli tank. Illustrative. By Joshua Spurlock

The Gaza terrorist attacks on the border fence with Israel continued over the weekend, including the planting of a booby-trapped pair of wire cutters armed with an explosive device. The Israelis detonated the bomb on Sunday without any injuries to IDF soldiers, according to a Twitter post from the IDF Spokesperson. The tweet noted that an Israeli tank fired at a military observation post in Gaza in response.

Israeli Prime Minister’s Office spokesman Ofir Gendelman, in his Twitter post on the incident, clarified that the targeted observation post belongs to the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization. Gendelman also highlighted the intent of the planted explosive device. “This booby-trapped wire cutter was placed by Palestinian terrorists on the Gaza-Israel border fence, in order to kill IDF soldiers on patrol,” he tweeted.

That isn’t the only anti-Israel violence around the Gaza border lately. One of the latest methods of attack have been kites set on fire with the intent to start wildfires in Israel. The Times of Israel, citing a report from Hadashot TV on Saturday, said that over the last month, 300 such kites have been launched at Israel. 100 fires have been started as a result. … Continue Reading

Iranian Foreign Minister Filmed Saying ‘Death to America’ and Britain

Iran’s top diplomat chants “Death to America”. American flag. Illustrative. By Joshua Spurlock

Iran’s top diplomat, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, has been filmed joining in with a crowd chanting, “Death to America” and “Death to Britain.” The video, which was originally published by the Young Journalists Club news group in Iran but does not indicate the date of the event, also shows the crowd chanting “Death to Israel” and “Death to Muslims who do not support us!”

The clip with English subtitles was posted to Twitter last week by Israeli Prime Minister’s Office spokesman Ofir Gendelman. In the tweet, Gendelman noted, “Here is Iran’s ‘moderate’ Foreign Minister @JZarif CAUGHT chanting ‘Death to America, death to Britain.’ Iran calls daily to annihilate other countries and sponsors terrorism worldwide. As Iran’s nuclear archives proved, it worked on developing nukes. Don’t let Iran do that.”

Zarif has repeatedly opposed the United States for backing out of the international nuclear deal between Iran and the major world powers, so his anti-American sentiments are already known. The British, however, were also a recipient of a Zarif “death” chant, and they remain a partner to the Iran nuclear deal. … Continue Reading

Inciting Palestinians Bring War Crimes Charges against Israel at Int’l Court

Peaceful Palestinians? Illustrative Palestinian banner of gunmen and Dome of the Rock. By Joshua Spurlock

The Palestinians officially submitted a request to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday alleging war crimes charges against Israel, even as their own people continue incitement and acts of terror against Israel. Ofir Gendelman, spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, noted this dichotomy in a series of Twitter posts responding to the ICC submission.

“It is absurd that the Palestinian actions vis-à-vis the Court come at a time when the Palestinians continue to incite to acts of terrorism, while exploiting women and children as human shields for violent attacks against the security of Israel’s citizens,” tweeted Gendelman. In a separate post he noted the Palestinians “continue to exploit the Court for political purposes, rather than work towards resuming the peace process with Israel.”

As an example of that ongoing incitement, Gendelman later posted an photo of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas published by Abbas’ office showing him reading a newspaper with a vicious cartoon on the back depicting an Israeli soldier feeding poison to a Palestinian baby.

Commenting on the image, Gendelman tweeted, “Zoom in on the racist cartoon on the backpage of the PA’s OFFICIAL paper, reminiscent of Nazi cartoons. The ‘moderate’ leader made sure that anti-Semitism is alive & well in the PA.” … Continue Reading