Defense/Middle East

Obama Demands Mubarak Halt Violence, Introduce Reforms

Obama tells Mubarak to halt violence, less than two years after he delivered his “reaching out to Muslims” speech. Anti-US protests in Jordan.

Mubarak Succumbs to Pressure, Appoints First-Ever Vice President

Mubarak appoints intelligence chief Omar Suleiman as his first-ever vice president in a bid to stave off a possible revolution against his regime.

Egypt Kills 100 Protesters; Israel Evacuates Diplomats

Egypt copies Iranian tactics and uses brute force against Egyptian protesters, killing 100. Israel evacuates diplomats and their families.

Rabbi Yosef vs. Hareidi Ashkenazi Rabbis on IDF Conversions

Hareidi Lithuanian and some Chabad rabbis come out against IDF conversions, but the Rabbi of Kfar Chabad dissents.

US Wastes Chance to Support Mubarak

Second consecutive day of protests: Thousands of Egyptians defy gov't ban on protests, angrily calling on President Mubarak to resign. Six dead.

Report: Mubarak’s Wife and Son Flee to London amid Protests

Mubarak’s wife and their son Gamal, a successor to his father as president, have fled to London amid massive protests, an Arab website reported.

Terror Supporter in US Case Appeals 'Harsh' Sentence

Mohammed Hammoud, convicted in the U.S. for theft, fraud, and supporting terrorism, thinks his 155 year sentence was too harsh.

Police Arrest Arab Terrorists Who Killed US Christian Tourist

Police have arrested three Arab terrorists for a number of attacks, including the murder of U.S. tourist Christine Logan late last year.

Source: U.S. Plans No Military Response to Lebanon Developments

The United States expressed its concern Hizbullah's takeover of the country – but is apparently not ready to intervene militarily.

IDF Dedicates Torah Scroll to Missing Soldiers

Torah scroll at IDF Tel Aviv base dedicated to kidnapped and missing soldiers. Ashkenazi: IDF will always take care of missing soldiers.

Leaked Document: Israel Asked PA to Kill Terrorist

Document leaked to Al-Jazeera says: Israel and Palestinian Authority may have planned the 2005 killing of a Fatah terrorist in Gaza together.

Clinton Warns Lebanon against Hizbullah Control

Clinton warned that a Hizbullah-controlled government would have a “serious impact” on US relations, but its coup signals diminishing US influence.

Video - U.S. State Department: Turkel Conclusions Are Credible

U.S. State Dept. spokesman related to the Turkel Commission conclusions: "Independent report, credible, impartial and transparent investigation"

Ireland Jumps on Bandwagon to Give PA Embassy Status

Ireland jumps on the bandwagon to grant the Palestinian Authority embassy status. Israel says it is not surprised. Scandinavia expected to be next.

Egyptian Police Fire Tear Gas in Unprecedented Street Protests

Riots north and south of Israel spread as the “Tunisia effect” hits Egypt, where police used tear gas on thousands of anti-Mubarak protesters.

Major Police Crackdown on Illegal Arab Weapons

Police confiscate illegal weapons and conduct arrests in nine Israeli Arab cities, ending a major undercover investigation.

Israel’s New Neighbor: Hizbullah

Hizbullah scores a bloodless coup to become Israel’s new political neighbor to the north, but the shadows of civil war stalk Beirut’s streets.

Yad Vashem Presents: Holocaust Videos for the Iranian Audience

Yad Vashem launches new YouTube channel in the Farsi language, aims at educating Iranians about what happened during the Holocaust.

Commandos’ Testimony on IHH Clash: ‘I Thought I Would Die’

Warning: Graphic matter. Testimony of Navy soldiers attacked by terrorists reveals a crueler scene than once known. “I thought I was going to die."

WikiLeaks Reveals Bush Administration Orders to Spy on Israel

WikiLeaks has revealed a secret American cable exposing espionage efforts by the Bush White House against the State of Israel.

Netanyahu: Commandos Upheld Israel’s Right to Self-Defense

Critics of IDF actions against flotilla and other terrorists deny Israel’s right of self-defense, Netanyahu said in response to the Turkel report.

Deficiencies Found in American F-35 Fighter Jets

The United States Department of Defense has acknowledged deficiencies and technical shortcomings in the coveted F-35 fighter jets.

PA Calls Leaked ‘Peace Talks’ Documents a ‘Pack of Lies’

Who is lying, Al Jazeera, PA? Saeb Erekat calls the leaked documents on”peace talks” a “pack of lies.” Either way, it may be water over the dam.

Man Charged for Trying to Kill Terrorist who Stabbed his Wife

A man who ran over a terrorist who had stabbed his wife just minutes earlier has been charged with attempted murder.

US Think Tank: 'The Impossible is Achievable' in Negotiations

A US think tank proposes Israel-PA land swaps to create a new Arab state, ceding Hevron; analysts say Obama may make a similar suggestion.

9/11 Mastermind Named as Daniel Pearl's Killer

The al-Qaeda terrorist who beheaded journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002 has been identified as the mastermind of the 9/11 attack on New York.

Egypt Blames Shalit Kidnapper Terrorists for Murder of Copts

Egypt has accused the Al-Qaeda-linked Army of Islam, which helped kidnap Gilad Shalit, with the recent attack outside a Coptic church, killing 23.

Only in Sweden? Stockholm Justifies Expelling Asylum-Seekers

Would Sweden apply a double standard to Israel? Stockholm justifies its expulsion of asylum-seekers from Iraq. What about Sudanese in Israel?

Hamas’s False Charges of IDF Attack Fail to Convince Media

Media may finally be fed up with constant Hamas charges of IDF attacks that never happened. Hamas claims “artillery fire” killed one man.

PA Urges Arabs to Build Illegally in Jerusalem

Fatah officials are urging Arabs to build illegally in the eastern section of the capital in order to establish new facts on the ground.

Activism Works: 'Zionism as Racism' Encyclopedia Entry Changed

Activists' campaign to remove an extremist definition of Zionism as racism from an encyclopedia has succeeded.

Long-time Israel Activist Herb Zweibon Passes Away

Herb Zweibon has passed away after decades of activity on behalf of the land of Israel and the safety of the Jewish people.

Army Radio Presenters Show Bias, Slam Jewish Jerusalem Building

Left-wing Army Radio presenters upset listeners by opposing a construction project for Jews in Israel's capital.

'Rabbis for Human Rights' Accused of Inciting Violence

Protesters accuse the far-left “Rabbis for Human Rights” of inciting violence between Jews and Arabs in Samaria.

5,000th IDF Soldier to Convert to Judaism

The IDF remains a major impetus to conversion to Judaism, with the 5,000th conversion to take place soon.

Hizbullah ‘Practicing to Take Over Beirut’

Hizbullah is training its terrorist militia to take over access to Beirut, a Kuwaiti paper reports. Saudi Arabia gives up: Lebanon is dangerous.

Should IDF Service be Mandatory for All – or for None?

As protesters gather to demand that IDF service be mandatory for all, a rival gathering demands that service be made voluntary.

ISA Head Diskin: Some Jerusalem Arab Areas Are De Facto PA

Terrorism rises within 1949 demarcation lines of Israel, while falling in Judea and Samaria.Jerusalem Arab areas are lawless, says Shin Bet head.

Russian President in First-Ever Visit to PA

Russian President Medvedev reassures Abbas of recognition of PA as a state during his first-ever visit. A strike barred him from Israel.

US-Born Wanted Terrorist Sentenced In Absentia by Yemen

Yemen sentences in absentia US-born terrorist Al-Awalki to 10 years in jail while he issues a new edict for Al-Qaeda: It’s okay to steal for jihad.

Jordan: Terrorists Charged for Taliban Plot

Four PA-born terrorists are on trial in Jordan for recruiting for the Taliban.

Israel Crosses into Gaza after Bombing Attempt

Israeli tanks and bulldozers crossed into Gaza and killed one terrorist after a bomb exploded. Israeli forces were not injured

Jews Pray at Joseph's Tomb with PA Help

Breslov chassidim manage to reach Joseph's Tomb despite limited visiting hours by bribing PA police.

Knesset Taskforce: Dump Tal Law, Enlist Hareidi Jews

A Knesset committee says the Tal Law for hareidi-religious enlistment has failed, and calls for full enlistment by 2016.

Romney Tests US Presidential Race Prospects in Jerusalem

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, old Netanyahu acquaintance, first potential presidential candidate to arrive in Israel on the campaign

Dozens of Doves Over the Sky of Jerusalem

Dozens of doves released on the roof of Beit Yonatan in Jerusalem as an act of solidarity with Pollard, Gilad Shalit and residents of Beit Yonatan.

IDF Giving Hamas a Chance? IDF Holds Fire Despite Rocket Attack

Israel may be giving Hamas a chance to show it can protect Israelis from terror. Despite a new rocket attack Friday, the IDF did not retaliate.

Israel Tested Stuxnet Worm with US Cooperation, Says NY Times

Israel reconstructed Iran’s centrifuges to test the Stuxnet worm that set back Iran’s nuclear program at least five years, the NY Times reported.

Israel to Join UN Women's Group

The Cabinet is expected this Sunday to approve Israel's acceptance of membership in the United Nations Women's Equality and Empowerment group.

Draft-Dodging Not a Religious Problem

While secular politicians tend to accuse religious Israelis of draft-dodging, a new study shows that over 20% of secular Jews avoid service.

Min. Landau Calls to Revisit Israel-PA Agreements

Following PA calls to boycott Israel, Israel should reconsider its past economic agreements with the PA, says Min. Uzi Landau.

US Aid to Israel Not Worth the ’Real Cost,’ Researcher Says

Israel is paying through the nose for US aid and would better off without it, says a researcher for the Jerusalem Institute for Market Studies.

Hizbullah May Resign, Topple Lebanon Unity Gov't

Hizbullah is planning to announce the resignation of 11 allied ministers from the Lebanese national unity Cabinet, thereby toppling the government.

CNN Links Gaza ‘Tensions’ with Halt in ‘Peace Process’

CNN reports on the IDF elimination of a “ticking bomb" terrorist in Gaza, claims “tension” on Gaza border is stalling “peace talks” with the PA.

Hamas Blames PA for Gaza Shortages

Hamas has blamed the PA for an alleged shortage of medicine.

IDF Eliminates 'Ticking Bomb' Terrorist in Gaza

The IDF killed an Islamic Jihad "ticking bomb" terrorist and wounded another. Two others, buried on Tuesday may have been from Al-Qaeda.

Iran to Sue Israel over ‘Crimes’ against Nuke Scientists

Iran plans to sue Israel in international bodies for “crimes” against its nuclear scientists as it claims the arrest of a Zionist spy ring.

Video: Singing and Dancing Counter Anti-Israel Protest

An anti-Israel demonstration in San Diego turned into a pro-Israel event as a large group came to loudly and joyously counter the protest

Melanie Phillips: Israeli Public Diplomacy is a Joke

British writer says Israel's public diplomacy is 'completely outclassed and outmaneuvered on a battleground it doesn't even understand it is on.'

Sderot: The Calm Before the Storm

Sderot residents, battered by thousands of rocket and mortar shell attacks since 2000, are bracing for new escalation from Hamas-controlled Gaza.