The Iranian Gambit in Gaza

The Israeli incursion into the Gaza Strip that began in late December has focused the world’s attention on the conflict between the Jewish state and the armed cadres of the Palestinian terror faction Hamas. Yet the media coverage has, for the most part, failed to provide an accurate picture of the larger geopolitical confrontation in Gaza. The conflict is viewed as simply another battle in the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinians. But in fact, the Israelis found it necessary to move against Hamas in part due to the machinations of an outside player that has long fomented discord and civil war within the Palestinian population for its own ends. That outside actor is Iran.

Filed under: Think Tank, Arab, Arab Media, E.U, Egypt, European Union, Gaza, Gaza raids, Gaza strip, Hamas, IAF, IDF, International, Iran, Islam, Israel, Israel Air Force, Kassam Rockets, Lebanon, Middle East, MidEast, Muslim, Operation Cast Lead, Palestine, Qassam Rockets, Syria, Terror, Terrorism, Terrorists, The Terror Journal, War, West Bank, World

Israel responds to Lebanon rocket

A rocket fired from Lebanon has lightly wounded three people in northern Israel, the Israeli army says.

Lebanese security sources said that three rockets had been fired from southern Lebanon but two had landed inside Lebanese territory.

Lebanese sources say that Israel then fired at least six artillery shells.

Filed under: MidEast, Arab, Gaza, Gaza raids, Gaza strip, Hamas, IAF, IDF, International, Islam, Israel, Israel Air Force, Kassam Rockets, Lebanon, Middle East, MidEast, Muslim, Operation Cast Lead, Palestine, Palestinian Authority, Qassam Rockets, Terror, Terrorism, The Terror Journal, U.N, War, West Bank, World

Rocket from Lebanon hit Israel

At least one rocket fired from Lebanon landed in northern Israel on Saturday, lightly wounding three people and prompting Israel to respond with a barrage of artillery shells, the Israeli army said.

In Beirut, a security source, asking not to be identified, said three rockets had been fired from the area of Mansouri, south of Tire, and that Israel had responded by firing at least six artillery shells into southern Lebanon. No one was wounded.

Filed under: MidEast, Arab, Gaza, Gaza raids, Gaza strip, Hamas, IAF, IDF, International, Islam, Israel, Israel Air Force, Kassam Rockets, Lebanon, Middle East, MidEast, Muslim, Operation Cast Lead, Palestine, Palestinian Authority, Qassam Rockets, Terror, Terrorism, The Terror Journal, U.N, War, West Bank, World

Egypt seeks Gaza truce and prisoner deal

An Egyptian proposal to stabilize post-war Gaza calls for an extended truce between Israel and Hamas, a prisoner exchange and the initial opening of at least two of the enclave’s border crossings, diplomats said.

Ahead of an Israeli election on Tuesday, negotiations in Cairo have grown increasingly intense and complex. Western diplomats briefed on the talks said it was unclear whether all of the details could be worked out.

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Israel strikes at Gazan tunnels

The Israeli military fired missiles at four smuggling tunnels and a weapons depot in Gaza late on Friday, it said.

The attacks came after two rockets were fired from Gaza into southern Israel, the military said.

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Empower the Muslims to stand up against extremists

Although President Barack Obama and all of us in Congress are understandably focused on the economic crisis, we also face multiple crises in the rest of the world — beginning with the war in Afghanistan. Security there has been deteriorating as the insurgents have grown in strength, size and sophistication, expanding their influence over an increasing swath of territory.

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Doctor’s dilemma in Gaza

Twenty-year-old Yahya Abu Saif lies in his hospital bed looking wide-eyed, gaunt and scared.

He was lucky to survive an Israeli air strike. But, like so many others in Gaza, his life was transformed in an instant.

He lost his right leg in the explosion. The left side of his body is paralysed.

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UNRWA suspends humanitarian aid in Gaza

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) on Friday said it is suspending humanitarian aid in Gaza until further notice, after Hamas seized control of its warehouses and stole 200 tons of food and supplies.

The agency said it made the decision after Hamas personnel seized an aid shipment on Thursday. Earlier this week, Hamas police took thousands of blankets and food parcels meant for needy residents.

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Israel expels Gaza aid ship team

Israel has expelled activists and journalists on a Lebanese ship carrying aid for Gaza, who were held on Thursday after Israel’s navy seized the ship.

Israeli forces beat and kicked some those on board, said an al-Jazeera reporter on the ship, although Israel said no “acts of violence” occurred.

Israel also denied claims its gunboats had fired on the ship, the latest to try to break the blockade on Gaza.

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America’s long Afghan war

Twenty years ago this month, the last Soviet soldier left Afghanistan after a disastrous war that lasted nine years, seven weeks and three days. Barring military and political miracles, the United States will stay longer in Afghanistan than the Soviets did. Considerably longer.

Present U.S. plans to reinforce troops fighting a war that is, by most accounts, going badly, provide for up to 30,000 additional soldiers to be deployed over the next 12 to 18 months.

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