Congressmen: Obama 'Reckless' to Arm Egypt with F-16 Fighter Jets

Congressmen: Obama 'Reckless' to Arm Egypt with F-16 Fighter Jets: On Thursday Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX) criticized the Obama administration for sending twenty F-16 fighter jets to the new Muslim Brotherhood-dominated Egyptian government.

HRW Confirms Gaza Jihadists Killed Gaza Boy Shown in Iconic Photo of Egypt’s PM and Hamas’s Haniyeh - Atlas Shrugs

HRW Confirms Gaza Jihadists Killed Gaza Boy Shown in Iconic Photo of Egypt’s PM and Hamas’s Haniyeh - Atlas Shrugs: HRW Confirms Gaza Jihadists Killed Gaza Boy Shown in Iconic Photo of Egypt’s PM and Hamas’s Haniyeh

Israel reportedly fears Hamas making move for control of West Bank | The Times of Israel

Israel reportedly fears Hamas making move for control of West Bank | The Times of Israel: Senior officials in Jerusalem reportedly believe a Gaza-style takeover of the West Bank by Hamas may be in the offing, citing intelligence estimates that show the Iran-backed terror group making a move for control of the Palestinian-ruled territory.

Military Intelligence and the Shin Bet security service both have information that Hamas political chief Khaled Mashaal has ordered his supporters to prepare for a battle for control of the West Bank, the Sunday Times reported on Sunday.

Bailed-out GM owns stake in French car company profiting in Iran | Washington Free Beacon

Bailed-out GM owns stake in French car company profiting in Iran | Washington Free Beacon: GM owns a seven percent stake in PSA Peugeot Citro�n, which has faced intense scrutiny for its business relationship with Iran.

Peugeot has long been one of Iran’s central auto partners, providing parts and technology to Iran’s leading car manufacturer, Khodro Company. Khodro is believed to have economic ties to the regime’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The Hermit Kingdom and the Brotherhood | Washington Free Beacon

The Hermit Kingdom and the Brotherhood | Washington Free Beacon: United States intelligence agencies recently uncovered a covert deal between North Korea and Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood government to ship Scud missile parts from North Korea through China to Egypt.

IDF says 'shalom' to the M-16 | The Times of Israel

IDF says 'shalom' to the M-16 | The Times of Israel: The Tavor — featuring a very different design than the M-16, developed for the IDF’s needs by Israel Military Industries during the 1990s — was introduced into service with regular infantry troops in the early 2000s, and slowly integrated to increasingly larger numbers of units throughout the decade. During that period, some M-16s, designed in the Vietnam era, were altered to better meet the IDF’s needs, while others were removed from service; the M-16 increasingly became a weapon for reservists.

Don’t Criticize the Taliban! | Power Line

Don’t Criticize the Taliban! | Power Line: Some of the manual’s recommendations are ludicrous:

The draft handbook offers a list of “taboo conversation topics” that soldiers should avoid, including “making derogatory comments about the Taliban,” “advocating women’s rights,” “any criticism of pedophilia,” “directing any criticism towards Afghans,” “mentioning homosexuality and homosexual conduct” or “anything related to Islam.”

Weekend Photo Essay | Power Line

Weekend Photo Essay | Power Line

Outrageous! Swedish artist causes uproar by using ashes of Holocaust victims to make painting� - NY Daily News

Outrageous! Swedish artist causes uproar by using ashes of Holocaust victims to make painting� - NY Daily News: A Swedish artist caused an uproar when he unveiled a painting filled with barbarous brushstrokes made from the ashes of incinerated Nazi death camp victims.

Carl Michael von Hausswolff claimed he stole the ashes while touring the Majdanek camp in 1989, mixed them with water, and used the concoction to paint a series of gray streaks on the painting.

Eight men out: Why did the Czechs, Palau and half-a-dozen others stand with Israel in the vote on 'Palestine'? | The Times of Israel

Eight men out: Why did the Czechs, Palau and half-a-dozen others stand with Israel in the vote on 'Palestine'? | The Times of Israel: The Czech Republic’s vote delighted and surprised Israeli officials: It was the only European country to vote against the Palestinian statehood bid. “They have been consistently one of our best friends in the EU,” the official told The Times of Israel.

Berlin actually tried to pressure Prague to at least abstain in Thursday’s vote, to present a more-or-less unified European position. “But they don’t care what anyone else says; they’re ballsy,” the official said.

Israeli Mother Fights Off Terrorist, Saves Two Young Children

Israeli Mother Fights Off Terrorist, Saves Two Young Children: Remember the brutal slaughter of the Fogel family in Itamar, Israel in 2011 when Palestinian terrorists murdered the family of five, including one infant, while they were sleeping in their beds, stabbing them to death, and Gazans celebrated by passing out sweets?

Round two came on Monday, but this time there was a different outcome. In the community of Sdei Avraham, close to the Gaza border, a young Israeli mother, Yael Matzpun, was sleeping with her four-year-old daughter and two-year-old son but awoke when she heard heavy footsteps in the hall. Her husband, an IDF officer, was not at home.

After UN Vote, Israel Plans J’lem Housing � Commentary Magazine

After UN Vote, Israel Plans J’lem Housing � Commentary Magazine: As the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to upgrade the Palestinians’ status Thursday night, Israel took steps toward building housing in a controversial area of East Jerusalem known as E1, where Jewish settlements have long been seen as the death knell for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

A senior Israeli official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said on Friday that the decision was made late Thursday night to move forward on “preliminary zoning and planning preparations” for housing units in E1, which would connect the large settlement of Maale Adumim to Jerusalem and therefore make it impossible to connect the Palestinian cities of Ramallah and Bethlehem to Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem. Israel also authorized the construction of 3,000 housing units in other parts of East Jerusalem and the West Bank, the official said.

Germany backtracks on Palestinian bid; Israeli official: 'We lost Europe' - Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper

Germany backtracks on Palestinian bid; Israeli official: 'We lost Europe' - Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper: This, in effect, leaves Israel without any European country supporting it at the international forum. Officials in Israel said that Germany's decision was influenced by Britain. "Britain's dramatic reversal prompted the Germans to change their mind," a Foreign Ministry official said. "We lost Europe. More than half of its countries will vote with the Palestinians, and the rest will abstain.

Jpost | Print Article

Jpost | Print Article: Israel has only two options for dealing with the ever-escalating threat from Gaza. It can try to coexist with Hamas. This option is doomed to failure since Hamas seeks the annihilation of the Jewish people and the eradication of Israel. Recognizing this state of affairs, in a public opinion survey taken on Wednesday for Channel 2, 88% of Israelis said that a cease-fire with Hamas will either not hold at all or hold for only a short time.

74% of Israelis opposed accepting a cease-fire.

The other choice is to destroy Hamas. To accomplish this Israel will need to invade Gaza and remain in place. It will have to kill or imprison thousands of terrorists, send thousands more packing for Sinai, and then spend years patrolling the streets of Gaza and arresting terrorists just as it does today in Judea and Samaria.

Whereas the first option is impossible, the latter option is not currently viable. It isn’t viable because not enough people making the argument have the opportunity to publish their thoughts in leading publications. Most of those who might have the courage to voice this view fear that if they do, they will be denied an audience, or discredited as warmongers or extremists.

'Israel set to test David's Sling's intercepto... JPost - Defense

'Israel set to test David's Sling's intercepto... JPost - Defense: David's Sling will operate within Israel's multi-tiered missile defense system, protecting the country from medium-range threats. The Iron Dome system aims to intercept short-range missiles and rockets, while the country's Arrow and eventually Arrow 3 seek to intercept long-range missiles and ICBMs

'Satellites show Iran moving quickly to rearm ... JPost - Defense

'Satellites show Iran moving quickly to rearm ... JPost - Defense: The Times report also cited Israeli officials speculating that Iran could be moving longer-range ballistic missiles into Sudan, which could be aimed at Israel from the African country.

The official added that Tehran would act to re-arm Hamas and other Gaza groups quickly, as it sees them as a necessary part of its response to a possible Israeli attack against Iran.

IDF unit twice received order to enter Gaza before being told to stand down | The Times of Israel

IDF unit twice received order to enter Gaza before being told to stand down | The Times of Israel: A group of infantry troops stationed on the Gaza border during Operation Pillar of Defense was twice given the order to enter the Strip, but was called back at the last moment in both instances, Maariv reported on Thursday.

The report cited soldiers in the Nahal Brigade who said that on Monday night they were told to move into the Hamas-controlled enclave, and had even gotten as far as opening the border gates, when a counter-order was issued, halting the incursion for a further 24 hours.

“Since Saturday we were twice ordered to gear up and told that we are going in, and then we were called back to Israel,” one of the soldiers said, adding that the tension was almost unbearable.

“It’s like crying ‘wolf,’” he said. “After a few of those you no longer believe it. They have to decide already — will they send us in or release us?”

Spain speeds up naturalization for Sephardi Jews | The Times of Israel

Spain speeds up naturalization for Sephardi Jews | The Times of Israel: MADRID (AP) — Spain has announced measures to speed up the naturalization of Jews of Sephardic descent whose ancestors fled the Iberian peninsula more than five centuries ago when they were told to convert to Christianity or go into exile.

Sephardi Jews have had the option of seeking Spanish naturalization for decades. The change announced Thursday gives them special status and sets up a process for their ancestry to be vetted by the Spanish Federation of Jewish Communities and forwarded to authorities for approval.

The federation says thousands of Sephardi Jews around the world could benefit, particularly those living in Latin America and Turkey.

Many Sephardi Jews fled to places like Istanbul, London and Cairo after the 1492 decree. Others who didn’t convert were killed during the Inquisition.

TV report: Warnings that peace deals with Egypt, Jordan could collapse led Israel to end Hamas assault with no ground offensive | The Times of Israel

TV report: Warnings that peace deals with Egypt, Jordan could collapse led Israel to end Hamas assault with no ground offensive | The Times of Israel: Israel received warnings from Washington and Cairo that its peace treaties with both Egypt and Jordan would be “endangered” if it sent ground forces into Gaza to confront Hamas this week, Israel’s Channel 2 reported Thursday.

The warnings played “a central role” in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to agree to a ceasefire on Wednesday without having ordered a much-anticipated ground incursion. The warnings were conveyed to Mossad chief Tamir Pardo, who played a key behind-the-scenes role in the ceasefire talks, the report said.

Obama Legitimizes Morsi’s Protection Racket

Obama Legitimizes Morsi’s Protection Racket: Hamas fires 275 rockets at Israel and is rewarded with de facto acceptance as a legitimate negotiating partner in the Middle East peace process, as well as with a relaxation of the Israeli blockade of the Gaza coast. Israel is prevented from exacting a price for Hamas’ actions sufficient to deter future attacks or degrade Hamas’ capabilities. In one stroke, the Obama administration has overturned thirty years of American policy, which rejected negotiations with Hamas and other terrorist organizations.

Bleak Friday: Israeli Reservists Return Home Disappointed; Bibi Drops in Polls

Bleak Friday: Israeli Reservists Return Home Disappointed; Bibi Drops in Polls
Much of the Israeli public agrees that a ground war would have been preferable to no war at all, given the continued threat of attacks from Gaza--and given that Hamas is declaring victory. A new poll suggests that support for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fallen sharply, by as much as 25 percent, since he accepted the cease-fire, likely after intense pressure from the Obama administration. A poll prior to the cease-fire indicated that 70% of Israelis opposed it, and wanted to fight to remove Hamas from Gaza altogether.

Once a lock for re-election early next year, Netanyahu is now considered politically vulnerable. He is at pains to convince his own voters that Israel came out of the conflict as a winner by destroying much of Hamas's rocket infrastructure--perhaps because Hamas was able to replenish and improve its arsenal with help from Iran since the end of Operation Cast Lead in January 2009. He may draw some comfort from the fact that his left-wing opponents are split with the imminent return of former opposition leader Tzipi Livni to the scene.

Hamas Fires Rockets Without Warheads to Increase Range

Hamas Fires Rockets Without Warheads to Increase Range: Reports indicate that in some situations Hamas is trading the opportunity to do actual damage for the opportunity to create more havoc and mental anguish for Israelis.

Report: Rockets Fired from Egypt Hit Israel | The Weekly Standard

Report: Rockets Fired from Egypt Hit Israel | The Weekly Standard: Two major Israeli newspapers are reporting that rockets fired from Egypt have hit Israel.

"Terrorists in the Sinai Peninsula launched rockets into Israel Friday night," reports the Jerusalem Post. "The rockets fell near an Israeli village on the southern border, causing some damage, but no injuries."

The Israeli daily Haaretz reports, "Rockets fired from direction of Egypt toward Eshkol Regional Council."

Iron Dome intercepts missiles aimed at Tel Avi... JPost - Defense

Iron Dome intercepts missiles aimed at Tel Avi... JPost - Defense: The Iron Dome intercepted two Iranian-made Fajr-5 missiles aimed at Tel Aviv on Saturday. The missiles marked the third attack on the heavily populated central city in as many days, after Palestinian terrorists from Gaza fired four missiles toward the financial capital on Thursday and Friday, prompting red alert air raid sirens to sound in the city.

Obama Re-Election Prompts Middle East War

Obama Re-Election Prompts Middle East War: Conflict in the Middle East is nothing new. But this multipronged conflict is truly the first transnational effort against Israel since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. It’s been brought on by Barack Obama’s embrace of the Arab Spring, his gap with Israel, and his failure to stand up to Islamism. Israel’s enemies believe that Israel stands alone, no matter what words the State Department mouths. And so the rockets will continue falling.

Critics Struggle to Undermine IDF’s Social Media Blitz � Commentary Magazine

Critics Struggle to Undermine IDF’s Social Media Blitz � Commentary Magazine: That attempt to censor the video — as well as the IDF’s Twitter account and websites — is a sign of panic. Israel has finally found a way to circumvent the pernicious media bias that has always favored anti-Israel groups, and it has these groups terrified and scrambling.

So far, the Israeli military’s public relations department hasn’t been fazed. They’ve rolled out a new Tumblr page, where they’ve been posting videos of IDF dropping thousands warning leaflets from the air above Palestinian neighborhoods and succinctly explaining the Hamas rocket attacks that sparked Operation Pillar of Defense. They’ve also launched a Pinterest, a Flikr page, an Instagram, and a GooglePlus account that they’ve been updating by the minute.

Israeli Company Trains Mice To Sniff Out Bombs � CBS DC

Israeli Company Trains Mice To Sniff Out Bombs � CBS DC: BioExplorers have developed a system where a person is hit by a small blast of air that is immediately pushed into a chamber where eight mice are waiting. The mice then smell the air for potentially hazardous or incendiary materials. They can even detect money.

If the person is a threat, the mice reportedly know to gather in a separate compartment as a means of alerting humans, AFP News learned.

Israel Calls Up 30,000 Soldiers As Army Announces 'Expanding The Campaign'

Israel Calls Up 30,000 Soldiers As Army Announces 'Expanding The Campaign': As rockets bombarded Israel from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, and as sirens wailed in Tel Aviv, Israel massed troops on the borders of the Gaza Strip in anticipation of a large-scale military action. The rocket aimed at Tel Aviv has been reported to have hit a suburb of Tel Aviv; Home Front Defense Minister Avi Dichter said, however, that the rocket landed in the sea.

Now for a Public Service Announcement from the IDF � Commentary Magazine

Now for a Public Service Announcement from the IDF � Commentary Magazine: In response to months of sustained Hamas rocket attacks, the IDF kicked off its Gaza military operation this morning by dropping a missile onto Hamas military chief Ahmed Jabari’s car. From the Israel Defense Forces Twitter feed, a fair warning to any of the late Jabari’s comrades who may have been thinking about taking a drive later today:

We recommend that no Hamas operatives, whether low level or senior leaders, show their faces above ground in the days ahead.

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) November 14, 2012

Gaza: First of Three Fronts Against Iran?

Gaza: First of Three Fronts Against Iran?: With its strike on Hamas military chief Ahmed Jabari today, Israel may have opened the first of what could soon be three fronts against Iran.

The Israel Defense Force described the strike as the first of many in a campaign against terrorist targets in Gaza--and took care to note that Hamas as a “forward Iranian base.” The other two likely battlefields are the Iranian-controlled Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon, and the Iranian nuclear sites.

Why Our Forces Were Told to ‘Stand Down’ in Benghazi

Why Our Forces Were Told to ‘Stand Down’ in Benghazi: The reason that the Navy SEALS were denied the support of a Spectre C-130U gunship was the same reason that the consulate had been left nearly unguarded. And it was the same reason that so many soldiers had died in Afghanistan because they had been denied air and artillery support or even the permission to open fire.

What happened in Benghazi was only extraordinary because it caught the attention of the public, but American soldiers in Afghanistan had been suffering under the same conditions ever since it was decided that winning the hearts and minds of Afghan civilians was more important than the lives of American soldiers.

The four Americans killed in Benghazi lived and died by the same code as thousands of Americans in Afghanistan. And that code overrode loyalty to one’s own people in favor of appeasing Muslims. The two former SEALS broke that code, violating orders by going to protect the consulate and were abandoned in the field by an administration that prioritized Muslim opinions over American lives.

From the post-American diplomatic perspective, the lives of a few Americans, who knew what they were getting into, was a small sacrifice to make when weighed against the potential of turning the entire Muslim world around. A Spectre gunship blasting away at an Islamist militia in the streets of Benghazi would have ended the fiction of a successful war in Libya and infuriated most of the Islamist militias. Worst of all, it would have made Americans seem like imperialists, instead of helpful aides to the Islamist transition of the Arab Spring. It would have ruined everything and so it was shut down.

The rise -- and fall? -- of Ehud Barak | The Times of Israel

The rise -- and fall? -- of Ehud Barak | The Times of Israel: ERUSALEM (AP) — He’s been Israel’s prime minister, military chief, the country’s most decorated soldier and, for the past five years, its defense minister and moderate face to the West.

Now Ehud Barak’s long and distinguished career might be coming to an end. He is unpopular with the public, and polls predict his Independence Party will barely make it into parliament in the Jan. 22 election, if at all. Most commentators predict his days in politics are numbered, but others say it may be too early to count the wily general out.

Israel used Sudan bombing as 'dry run' for attack on Iran, British newspaper claims | The Times of Israel

Israel used Sudan bombing as 'dry run' for attack on Iran, British newspaper claims | The Times of Israel: An Israel airstrike was behind the explosion last Wednesday at a Sudanese weapons factory, and that attack was a “dry run for a forthcoming attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities,” according to a weekend report in the Sunday Times of London, which also implied the seeds of the attack were planted in the 2010 alleged Mossad assassination of Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai.

More Jews praying on site also sacred to Muslims - latimes.com

More Jews praying on site also sacred to Muslims - latimes.com: On most days, dozens — sometimes hundreds — of Jewish worshipers ascend to the disputed 36-acre platform that Muslims venerate as Al Aqsa mosque and Jews revere as the Temple Mount with an Israeli police escort to protect them and a Muslim security guard to monitor their movements.

Then, they recite a quick prayer, sometimes quietly to themselves, other times out loud.

US tests Israeli-made weapons on pioneering drone ship | The Times of Israel

US tests Israeli-made weapons on pioneering drone ship | The Times of Israel: The US Navy tested an 11-foot naval drone capable of firing missiles at enemy vessels off the Maryland coast last week. The missile system and launcher were supplied by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.

Southern residents: We're living on borrowed time - Israel News, Ynetnews

Southern residents: We're living on borrowed time - Israel News, Ynetnews: "We're just waiting for the next 'Color Red' alert to sound," Mickey, a local resident, told Ynet. "We know it's coming, we just don't know when or where it will hit. We have 15 seconds to get to a bomb shelter but the chances of making it are slim, so we just take the kids to a room with no windows and use it as a protected space. It's a bit like Russian roulette."

CBS releases data about Israel's Muslim population - Israel News, Ynetnews

CBS releases data about Israel's Muslim population - Israel News, Ynetnews: The number of Muslims residing in Israel is currently 1,354,000, the Central Bureau of Statistics reported Thursday, ahead of the holiday of Eid al-Adha. The percentage of Muslims compared to the general population has dropped from 3.8% in 2000 to 2.5% in 2011.

Petraeus on Benghazi: It Wasn't Me

Petraeus on Benghazi: It Wasn't Me: Also today, the State Department shut down questions from reporters about Libya at a press briefing in Washington. The administration, as a whole, seems to have decided to say nothing further about Benghazi until after election--except for Petraeus, who was directly implicated by charges that the CIA failed to help, and who was thereby compelled to provide a response that points, inexorably, to the man in the Oval Office.

A Whiff of Weimar: The Greek Crisis Gets Worse | World Affairs Journal

A Whiff of Weimar: The Greek Crisis Gets Worse | World Affairs Journal: Last month, the Greek prime minister, Antonis Samaras, warned Europe that his country was on the edge of a Weimar Germany-style social collapse. What I have seen on the streets of Athens convinces me this is not rhetoric. There is a violent far-right party, its MPs committing and inciting violence with impunity; a police force that cannot or will not prevent Golden Dawn from projecting uniformed force on the streets. And a middle class that feels increasingly powerless to turn the situation round.

The PJ Tatler � AC-130U Gunship was On-Scene in Benghazi, Obama Admin Refused to Let It Fire (Updated)

The PJ Tatler � AC-130U Gunship was On-Scene in Benghazi, Obama Admin Refused to Let It Fire (Updated): It was purpose-built for a select number of specific mission types, including point-defense against enemy attack. It was literally built for the kind of mission it could have engaged in over Benghazi, if the administration had let it fire. As the excerpt above clearly shows, we had assets on the ground “painting” the targets with the laser.

'Protocols of the Elders of Zion' read aloud in Greek parliament | The Times of Israel

'Protocols of the Elders of Zion' read aloud in Greek parliament | The Times of Israel: JTA — A lawmaker for Greece’s neo-Nazi Golden Dawn Party has read out in parliament a passage from the anti-Semitic forgery The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

EXCLUSIVE: CIA operators were denied request for help during Benghazi attack, sources say | Fox News

EXCLUSIVE: CIA operators were denied request for help during Benghazi attack, sources say | Fox News: Fox News has learned from sources who were on the ground in Benghazi that an urgent request from the CIA annex for military back-up during the attack on the U.S. consulate and subsequent attack several hours later on the annex itself was denied by the CIA chain of command -- who also told the CIA operators twice to "stand down" rather than help the ambassador's team when shots were heard at approximately 9:40 p.m. in Benghazi on Sept. 11.

Detroit Jewish News Ad for Romney

Detroit Jewish News Ad for Romney 
Over 800 prominent Detroit Jews took out an ad in the Detroit Jewish News endorsing Mitt Romney for president.

U.S. Tests Missiles Over Pacific | Washington Free Beacon

U.S. Tests Missiles Over Pacific | Washington Free Beacon: In the “first ever integrated ballistic missile defense system test,” the United States’ military successfully tested three missile-defense systems over the Pacific Ocean, Lockheed Martin announced in a press release.

The test demonstrates “the integrated capabilities of today’s U.S. regional missile defense systems,” the press release said.

The three systems, made by Lockheed Martin, were the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System, Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile, and Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Weapon System.

U.N.'s war on Israel puts American economy in crosshairs | Washington Free Beacon

U.N.'s war on Israel puts American economy in crosshairs | Washington Free Beacon: The Washington Free Beacon has obtained a report soon to be released by the United Nations that calls for an international campaign of legal attacks and economic warfare on a group of American companies that do business in Israel, including Hewlett-Packard, Caterpillar Inc., and Motorola Solutions Inc.

The Human Rights Council (HRC), a body dominated by Islamic countries and known for its hostility to, and heavy focus on, the Jewish State, issued the report. The George W. Bush administration refused to participate in the HRC, but President Barack Obama joined it soon after taking office. Members of the HRC include infamous human rights abusers such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Libya, China, and Cuba.

Netanyahu, Liberman announce merger, pledge strong leadership | The Times of Israel

Netanyahu, Liberman announce merger, pledge strong leadership | The Times of Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman on Thursday night made official the news of a merger between their respective Knesset factions, Likud and Yisrael Beytenu, saying the new right-wing super-faction would improve governability in Israel and allow them to tackle burgeoning internal and external challenges facing the country.

Sudan: a front for Israel's proxy war on Sinai jihadis? | Reuters

Sudan: a front for Israel's proxy war on Sinai jihadis? | Reuters: If Israel bombed a Sudanese munitions factory, as Khartoum alleges, the raid was part of its widening proxy war against Islamist militants in neighboring Egypt which the Jewish state is reluctant to confront directly.

A huge explosion ripped through the factory near the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Tuesday, killing two people, with Sudan swiftly accusing Israel of sending four military planes to take out the complex.

Saving Sergeant Netanyahu | The Times of Israel

Saving Sergeant Netanyahu | The Times of Israel: Netanyahu left 12th grade at Cheltenham High School in Pennsylvania several days before graduation and returned to Israel in June 1967. Ben, as he was known to his American friends, wanted to one-up his older brother, Yoni, and join not just the Paratroops but Sayeret Matkal (the General Staff Reconnaissance Unit), a commando unit whose name, like God’s, was not to be spoken. The Unit, then still making a name for itself as Israel’s top outfit and forever seared into the public consciousness for the daring raid on Entebbe that cost Yoni Netanyahu his life, was at the time a Skull and Bones-type society: you had to be tapped by someone else in the unit in order to be accepted.

Boeing's Counter-Electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project - Business Insider

Boeing's Counter-Electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project - Business Insider: The Counter-Electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project (CHAMP), led by Boeing's Phantom works, promised to change the face of contemporary warfare, and its test was a complete success.

CHAMP flew over the Utah Test and Training Range last Tuesday, discharging a burst of High Power Microwaves onto the test site and brought down the compound's entire spectrum of electronic systems, apparently without producing any other damage at all. Even the camera recording the test was shut down.

Struggling to contain his enthusiasm, Boeing's Keith Coleman says, "We hit every target we wanted to. Today we made science fiction into science fact."

Escalation in Gaza

Escalation in Gaza
On Wednesday evening it was reported that on Tuesday night, an arms factory in Sudan’s capital of Khartoum was bombed by four planes. Sources in Sudan claimed the factory belonged to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard—confirming earlier statements to that effect in Arab media.

Reports on Israeli TV also claimed the factory was Iranian and stressed the fact that Khartoum is slightly more distant from Israel than Natanz and Fordo, Iran’s nuclear-enrichment plants.

Did Israel have a way to retaliate against the Gaza escalation and give Iran a message without attacking Gaza itself? Israeli officials including Defense Minister Ehud Barak stayed mum, neither confirming nor denying that was the case.

GAFFNEY: The real reason behind Benghazigate - Washington Times

GAFFNEY: The real reason behind Benghazigate - Washington Times: The evidence suggests that the Obama administration has not simply been engaging, legitimating, enriching and emboldening Islamists who have taken over or are ascendant in much of the Middle East. Starting in March 2011, when American diplomat J. Christopher Stevens was designated the liaison to the “opposition” in Libya, the Obama administration has been arming them, including jihadists like Abdelhakim Belhadj, leader of the al Qaeda franchise known as the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group.

‘It’s not rudeness, it’s chutzpah’ – an insider’s take on Israel’s startup success | VentureBeat

‘It’s not rudeness, it’s chutzpah’ – an insider’s take on Israel’s startup success | VentureBeat: But chutzpah is more than just being direct or honest – it also means daring to want what others can’t dream of or going after “impossible goals.” I have no idea what made Israelis think they can achieve anything to begin with, but it is clear that this is a mindset that is now handed from generation to generation.

80 rockets, shells fired from Gaza Wednesday; Israeli leaders warn of 'more extensive' military response | The Times of Israel

80 rockets, shells fired from Gaza Wednesday; Israeli leaders warn of 'more extensive' military response | The Times of Israel: Israeli leaders warned of a much intensified military response if the attacks continued. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of “a more extensive” response. Education Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the army was ready for “a far, far greater and wider response.” Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman said Israel would not maintain its restraint for many more days, and that Israel was “facing a serious escalation.”

Report: Islamist radicals find warm welcome in Obama White House | The Daily Caller

Report: Islamist radicals find warm welcome in Obama White House | The Daily Caller: White House visitor records show that administration officials have hosted numerous White House meetings with a series of U.S.-based Muslim political groups that have close ties to jihadi groups and push to reduce anti-terrorism investigations.

The visits were discovered by the Investigative Project on Terrorism, which compared the Obama White House’s visitor records with its database of Islamist advocacy groups.

First day of disaster drill shows Israel unprepared for catastrophe | The Times of Israel

First day of disaster drill shows Israel unprepared for catastrophe | The Times of Israel: At the end of the first day of Turning Point 6, military and government sources reported that Israel is inadequately prepared to handle earthquake emergencies, citing a lack of coordination between the army, the police and emergency services which, in turn, delayed the evacuation and medical-treatment services.

Did Obama Give Gloria Allred's Game Away?

Did Obama Give Gloria Allred's Game Away?: For several days, reports have circulated that attorney Gloria Allred--who always seems to surface when a Democrat is in trouble--is about to drop an “October surprise” on the Romney campaign.

Speculation has surrounded a story published last week by the left-wing website AlterNet, purporting to tell the story of women who claimed Mitt Romney advised them in the 1980s, in his capacity as a church leader, against having abortions.

Israel 'rattled' as country drills for massive earthquake, attack from the air | The Times of Israel

Israel 'rattled' as country drills for massive earthquake, attack from the air | The Times of Israel: Israel’s security forces are being tested rigorously in the upcoming days as they take part in two major drills aimed to test their ability to face both natural disasters and war.

The largest-ever joint Israeli and American military drill began on Sunday at the same time that the country’s emergency services were participating in their first earthquake preparedness drill.

New poll: Egyptians turning toward Iran, want nuclear weapons | The Cable

New poll: Egyptians turning toward Iran, want nuclear weapons | The Cable: A poll of Egyptians conducted last month shows that they have increasingly positive views of Iran, believe that both Iran and Egypt should obtain nuclear weapons, and still trust their own military more than any other institution in Egypt.

Iran's deputy defense minister said recently that the Iranian regime is seeking more military cooperation with Egypt. "We are ready to help Egypt to build nuclear reactors and satellites," he said on the occasion or Egyptian President Mohammed Morsy's meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad last month. Morsy's office has said the two didn't discuss military cooperation. 

Israeli Navy boards Gaza-bound ship 'Estelle' - JPost - Defense

Israeli Navy boards Gaza-bound ship 'Estelle' - JPost - Defense: The ship, sailing under a Finnish flag, set sail in June and has stopped at numerous European ports trying to drum up support and publicity. The vessel, carrying over a dozen passengers, took on additional food and passengers off the coast of Crete earlier this week.

Among the new passengers are five European parliamentarians: Ricardo Sixto Iglesias from Spain, Sven Britton from Sweden, Aksel Hagen from Norway, and Vangelis Diamandopoulos and Dimitris Kodelas from Greece.

Preparing for war, Israel's North looks to lessons from 2006 | The Times of Israel

Preparing for war, Israel's North looks to lessons from 2006 | The Times of Israel: Caught off-guard by missiles’ reach during Second Lebanon War, officials now expect the unexpected

US, Israel to begin major air defense drill - Israel News, Ynetnews

US, Israel to begin major air defense drill - Israel News, Ynetnews: The US and Israel are embarking on the largest exercise in their long military relationship, against a backdrop of tension with Iran and sharp rhetoric in the American presidential election.


An air defense drill planned for late this month will involve more than 3,500 Americans and 1,000 Israelis, practicing their ability to work together against a range of threats facing the main US ally in the Mideast. Officials briefing reporters on Wednesday would not specify the exact date for security reasons.

Computer Viruses Are "Rampant" on Medical Devices in Hospitals - Technology Review

Computer Viruses Are "Rampant" on Medical Devices in Hospitals - Technology Review: Computerized hospital equipment is increasingly vulnerable to malware infections, according to participants in a recent government panel. These infections can clog patient-monitoring equipment and other software systems, at times rendering the devices temporarily inoperable.

While no injuries have been reported, the malware problem at hospitals is clearly rising nationwide, says Kevin Fu, a leading expert on medical-device security and a computer scientist at the University of Michigan and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, who took part in the panel discussion.

Palestinians fired anti-aircraft missile at IDF helicopter, Israel says | The Times of Israel

Palestinians fired anti-aircraft missile at IDF helicopter, Israel says | The Times of Israel: JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli defense officials say that Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip have for the first time fired an anti-aircraft missile at Israeli aircraft.

The officials say the militants fired the Strela shoulder-fired missile at an Israeli helicopter operating over Gaza last week, but missed their target.

'Drone beamed images of plans for joint Israel-US drill' - Israel News, Ynetnews

'Drone beamed images of plans for joint Israel-US drill' - Israel News, Ynetnews: The Iranian-made Hezbollah drone shot down over the Negev last week beamed back "images of secret Israeli military sites" and images of the preparations of the joint Israel-US military exercise, the Sunday Times reported.



The British publication's Tel Aviv-based correspondent Uzi Mahnaimi said that the drone was airborne for three hours before it was intercepted, and was able to relay "images of ballistic missile sites, main airfields and possibly the Dimona reactor."

Dozens of mayors push for BG Airport's relocation - Israel News, Ynetnews

Dozens of mayors push for BG Airport's relocation - Israel News, Ynetnews: "We are all asking for one thing: Let us sleep in peace. It doesn’t' make sense that flight paths are disturbing so many people. In any other part of the world, airports are located in outskirts of cities. The airport should be relocated to the Negev and connected by express train to the center."



The petition, signed by some 30 mayors, aims to promote the notion that a relocation plan will release an area of approximately 7,413 acres, which will enable urban development projects worth more than NIS 50 billion (roughly $13.4 billion).

Iran may induce 'environmental disaster' in Strait of Hormuz, Der Spiegel reports | The Times of Israel

Iran may induce 'environmental disaster' in Strait of Hormuz, Der Spiegel reports | The Times of Israel: Iran is considering the option of artificially producing an enormous environmental disaster that would affect the entire region, in order to punish its enemies and force the West to decrease the sanctions against the regime, Der Spiegel reported on Sunday.

According to Western intelligence agencies quoted by the the German news weekly, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have developed a secret plan to intentionally cause an oil tanker to contaminate the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

Hezbollah’s CFO flees to Israel carrying stolen money, classified documents

Hezbollah’s CFO flees to Israel carrying stolen money, classified documents: The news website, Now Lebanon, cited Hezbollah officials saying that the 29-year old telecommunication engineer, Hussein Fahs, has crossed to Israel carrying with him $5 million in embezzled money from the group. Fahs is also head of Hezbollah’s operational communications network.

Unnerved by attacks, Swedish Jews refuse to lower their profile | The Times of Israel

Unnerved by attacks, Swedish Jews refuse to lower their profile | The Times of Israel: The rallies against anti-Semitism in Sweden — at least 10 so far — began last December, when a few Malmo synagogue-goers decided to keep wearing their kippas after services and, in violation of security protocol, marched with them through town. Several more “kippa walks” followed, all organized by members of the community through Facebook.

Anti-Semitic attacks in France rise 45 percent this year | The Times of Israel

Anti-Semitic attacks in France rise 45 percent this year | The Times of Israel: Of the incidents this year,101 were “violent actions,” SPCJ said, including the slaying of four people at a school in Toulouse on March 19 by Mohamed Merah, a Muslim extremist. The attack triggered “an explosion” of anti-Semitic attacks, SPCJ said. Most other incidents documented were cases of intimidation, the report said.

Israeli Leftists Ditching Labor for Olmert? � Commentary Magazine

Israeli Leftists Ditching Labor for Olmert? � Commentary Magazine: Those polls show Netanyahu’s Likud and current coalition partners, which include Shas and Israel Beiteinu, holding together about 62 to 68 seats, which means they could potentially strengthen their current coalition without having to expand it to other parties. Again, it’s still early, but the left has two fresh faces in Yachimovich and Lapid who are poised to make a serious run in the next election. For the leftist commentariat, putting their hope in Olmert instead is a strange gamble. It may pay off, but it also may very well backfire in spectacular fashion.

Iran's proxy Hezbollah takes responsibility for downed drone, confirms it was manufactured by Iran - Atlas Shrugs

Iran's proxy Hezbollah takes responsibility for downed drone, confirms it was manufactured by Iran - Atlas Shrugs: The leader of the Lebanese
terrorist group Hezbollah on Thursday claimed responsibility for
launching a drone aircraft that was shot down over Israel earlier this
week, saying the UAV had been assembled by Hezbollah men using parts
provided by Iran. The rare admission by Hassan Nasrallah raises regional
tensions at a sensitive time when the group’s backers, Syria and Iran,
are under pressure.

Dreamliner lands in Israel for first time - Israel Travel, Ynetnews

Dreamliner lands in Israel for first time - Israel Travel, Ynetnews: A Boeing 787 (Dreamliner) aircraft landed at Ben-Gurion Airport for the first time Tuesday with a commercial Ethiopian Airlines' flight from Addis Ababa.

FSA threatens to take fight to Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut | News , Politics | THE DAILY STAR

FSA threatens to take fight to Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut | News , Politics | THE DAILY STAR: BEIRUT: Syrian rebels said they have detained 13 Hezbollah members and threatened to take the fight to Hezbollah’s stronghold in Beirut’s southern suburbs unless the party ends its support for President Bashar Assad’s regime.

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Bidendebateprep.jpg (JPEG Image, 500�נ358 pixels)

Germany Debates Proposal To Protect Circumcision – Forward.com

Germany Debates Proposal To Protect Circumcision – Forward.com: Berlin — A proposal to enshrine circumcision of male children as a protected procedure that Jews and Muslims could continue without fear of sanction faces an uncertain fate in Germany’s Bundestag, say close observers of German politics.

The proposal heading to the parliament aims to calm a storm that erupted last May after a Cologne court ruled that a botched circumcision violated the child’s rights because it constituted “illegal bodily harm” even with parental consent. Though strictly local in its jurisdiction, the ruling’s novel application of child rights law set off a furor of concern about the future legal status of circumcision nationwide.

Barack Obama, debate moderator wedding guest | The Daily Caller

Barack Obama, debate moderator wedding guest | The Daily Caller: President Barack Obama was a guest at the 1991 wedding of ABC senior foreign correspondent and vice presidential debate moderator Martha Raddatz, The Daily Caller has learned. Obama and groom Julius Genachowski, whom Obama would later tap to head the Federal Communications Commission, were Harvard Law School classmates at the time and members of the Harvard Law Review.

With eye on Syria, US deploys forces to Jordan | The Times of Israel

With eye on Syria, US deploys forces to Jordan | The Times of Israel: Speaking at a NATO conference of defense ministers in Brussels, Panetta said the US has been working with Jordan to monitor chemical and biological weapons sites in Syria and also to help Jordan deal with refugees pouring over the border from Syria.

But the revelation of US military personnel so close to the 19-month-old Syrian conflict suggests an escalation in the US military involvement in the conflict, even as Washington pushes back on any suggestion of a direct intervention in Syria.

Obama’s ring: ‘There is no god but Allah’

Obama’s ring: ‘There is no god but Allah’: Now, newly published photographs of Obama from the 1980s show that the ring Obama wore on his wedding-ring finger as an unmarried student is the same ring Michelle Robinson put on his finger at the couple’s wedding ceremony in 1992.

Moreover, according to Arabic-language and Islamic experts, the ring Obama has been wearing for more than 30 years is adorned with the first part of the Islamic declaration of faith, the Shahada: “There is no god except Allah.”

Israeli army deploys Patriot missile days after its warplanes shot down unidentified drone that flew into its airspace | Mail Online

Israeli army deploys Patriot missile days after its warplanes shot down unidentified drone that flew into its airspace | Mail Online: The Israeli army has deployed a missile defence system near the Lebanese border, just days after its warplanes shot down an unidentified unmanned aircraft.

The Patriot surface-to-air missile was deployed from Israel's northern city of Haifa, an army spokesman said today.

He refused to say if the battery's deployment came in response to Saturday's drone, which was widely believed to have originated in Lebanon.

Angela Merkel Athens: Protestors dress as Nazis, burn swastikas and throw rocks at police | Mail Online

Angela Merkel Athens: Protestors dress as Nazis, burn swastikas and throw rocks at police | Mail Online: Greek police fired teargas and stun grenades at protesters in central Athens on Tuesday when they tried to break through a barrier and reach visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Around 50,000 demonstrators defied a ban on protests, gathering in Syntagma square to voice their displeasure with the German leader. Some wore Nazi uniforms and others burned swastika flags, while one left police dumbstruck by running through the city naked.

Police were pelted with rocks, bottles and sticks as demonstrators tried to break through a barricade set up to protect Merkel and her delegation, who were meeting with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras at his office several hundred metres away.

Before dissolving, Knesset to reconvene next week - Israel News, Ynetnews

Before dissolving, Knesset to reconvene next week - Israel News, Ynetnews: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to move up the elections for the 19th Knesset has turned the parliament's schedule upside down. The lawmakers, who were expected to convene for a lengthy, action-packed winter session on October 15 will now report only for a few hours before breaking for the campaign season.

Afterlife exists says top brain surgeon - Telegraph

Afterlife exists says top brain surgeon - Telegraph: Dr Alexander says he had heard stories from patients who spoke of outer body experiences but had disregarded them as "wishful thinking" but has reconsidered his opinion following his own experience.

He added: "I know full well how extraordinary, how frankly unbelievable, all this sounds. Had someone even a doctor told me a story like this in the old days, I would have been quite certain that they were under the spell of some delusion.

US-Israel reportedly discussing joint 'surgical strike' on Iran | The Times of Israel

US-Israel reportedly discussing joint 'surgical strike' on Iran | The Times of Israel: Israel and the US are reportedly working on a limited joint attack on Iran aimed at setting the country’s nuclear program back several years without inflaming the region, a source close to talks between the nations said.

National Geographic denies politics influenced release of pro-Obama film before election | The Daily Caller

National Geographic denies politics influenced release of pro-Obama film before election | The Daily Caller: National Geographic Channel President Howard Owens denied Thursday that the network’s decision to air a pro-Obama video just two days before the November election was motivated in any way by political considerations.

“Harvey obviously doesn’t schedule our network,” Owens said, referring to The Weinstein Co. Co-chairman Harvey Weinstein, whose company is producing “Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama bin Laden,” a thriller based on President Barack Obama’s decision to kill al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. “[We're] not political. We are opportunistic, from a programming perspective.”

Congress to probe security flaws for Libya diplomats | KTVQ.com | Q2 | Billings, Montana

Congress to probe security flaws for Libya diplomats | KTVQ.com | Q2 | Billings, Montana: Lt. Col. Wood has told CBS News and congressional investigators that his 16-member team and a six-member State Department elite force called a Mobile Security Deployment team left Libya in August, just one month before the Benghazi assault. Wood says that's despite the fact that US officials in Libya wanted security increased, not decreased.

Study: Omega-3 Supplements May Actually Affect Aging - Lindsay Abrams - The Atlantic

Study: Omega-3 Supplements May Actually Affect Aging - Lindsay Abrams - The Atlantic: CONCLUSION: Getting enough omega-3 fatty acid to change the balance of oils in your system may help preserve the length of your telomeres, with the potential to reduce the risk of age-related diseases.

Soldiers ordered not to shoot Taliban mine planters.... 'because it WAKES UP the locals' | Mail Online

Soldiers ordered not to shoot Taliban mine planters.... 'because it WAKES UP the locals' | Mail Online: Soldiers were ordered not to open fire on Taliban fighters planting mines in case they disturb local people, it has been claimed.

U.S. military chiefs ordered troops to exercise 'courageous constraint' and even warned them they could be charged with murder if they shot any Taliban without permission from above.

The claims were made by a former Royal Marine who spoke out following the inquest into the death of Sergeant Peter Rayner last week.

BH Interview: Dennis Prager Wants Carolla's 'Luck' to Rub Off on University Students

BH Interview: Dennis Prager Wants Carolla's 'Luck' to Rub Off on University Students: Carolla has been listening to Prager’s radio show for years, but the conservative talker wasn’t up on Carolla’s shtick until recently. When someone suggested Carolla appear on Prager’s radio show, the veteran talk show host admits he wasn’t sure what to expect.

“I was smitten immediately with both his remarkable wit and the speed of his mind and his values,” Prager says. The two quickly slipped into a performance groove, something to which those who see their joint act can attest. Their live act isn't what some may expect, brushing past their individual personas to reveal new, unexpected shadings.

The Dementia Plague - Technology Review

The Dementia Plague - Technology Review: The latest global demographic analysis, from a World Health Organization report issued earlier this year, paints the dimensions of that slow-motion catastrophe in quick strokes. An estimated 36 million people worldwide currently suffer from dementia; experts predict the number will double, to approximately 70 million, by 2030 and triple by 2050. (China, India, and Latin America in particular face daunting medico-economic crises.) Since the prevalence of the disease doubles with every five-year age increment after 65, projections for 2050 put the total global population at risk for dementia (people 65 or older) at two billion.

France's Hollande vows more security to allay Jewish fears | Reuters

France's Hollande vows more security to allay Jewish fears | Reuters: French President Francois Hollande pledged on Sunday to increase security around synagogues and introduce tougher anti-terrorism measures, a day after a series of police raids dismantled a radical Islamist network that targeted Jews.

Barak, Netanyahu 'agree on all Iran-related issues' - Israel News, Ynetnews

Barak, Netanyahu 'agree on all Iran-related issues' - Israel News, Ynetnews: After accusing defense minister of stoking feud with Obama, Netanyahu summons Barak to reprimand him over 'uncoordinated meeting' with Rahm Emanuel. After meeting, Barak says 'we see eye-to-eye on every aspect of Iranian threat and US ties'

Israel checking: Was drone headed to Dimona? - Israel News, Ynetnews

Israel checking: Was drone headed to Dimona? - Israel News, Ynetnews: The IDF is working to improve its aerial detection and interception capabilities in light of the changes in the Middle East and due to the fact that Israel's enemies have upgraded their military capabilities. The army is placing an emphasis on detecting drones, fearing that they may be used as a missile to target Israeli strategic sites.


"In the next war Syrian and Iranian drones will also be sent on 'suicide' missions," a senior Air Force official recently told Ynet.

IDF shoots down drone that penetrated deep into Israel | The Times of Israel

IDF shoots down drone that penetrated deep into Israel | The Times of Israel: The IDF shot down a foreign drone that had penetrated deep into Israeli airspace on Saturday afternoon, flying for half an hour before it was intercepted.

After an initial investigation, military officials said the unmanned aerial vehicle, which was taken down north of Beersheba, did not come from the Gaza Strip, leading the army to consider the possibility that it originated in Lebanon. Hezbollah has flown drones into Israeli airspace a few times in the past, though not for several years.

IDF Spokesperson Yoav Mordechai said that the Israeli Air Force was able to identify the unmanned aerial vehicle while it was flying over the Mediterranean, and that the IAF stayed close to the drone throughout its flight over Israel until the decision was made to shoot it down in the northern Negev desert.

Drink don't drive

Red Bull's Stratos Mission To Attempt World Record Skydive | Popular Science

Red Bull's Stratos Mission To Attempt World Record Skydive | Popular Science: But a few things are certain. For a short time inside his pressurized spacesuit, Baumgartner will be the fastest man alive. Thirty seconds after leaping from a small capsule, in fact, he'll exceed the speed of sound in the thin upper atmosphere by traveling 690 mph. And if he safely parachutes to the ground between 12 and 15 minutes later, he'll walk away with at least four new world records: the highest skydive, the longest free fall, the first to reach supersonic speeds in free fall, and the highest manned balloon ride.

Bypassing Israel, French capital endorses unprecedented agreement with 'East Jerusalem' | The Times of Israel

Bypassing Israel, French capital endorses unprecedented agreement with 'East Jerusalem' | The Times of Israel: France’s most populous administrative zone, encompassing the capital Paris, has signed a cooperation agreement with the Palestinian district of Jerusalem, a move organizers say is designed to send a “political message” of solidarity with the Palestinians and their aspirations for a future capital in the city.

The French region described the agreement as the “first of its kind.”

The decision is a blow to Israel’s claim that the eastern sector is part of its united capital. A spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry said east Jerusalem “does not exist” as a separate entity and that the French council was “living in a make-believe world.”

Min. Edelstein: Netanyahu, Fire Barak - Inside Israel - News - Israel National News

Min. Edelstein: Netanyahu, Fire Barak - Inside Israel - News - Israel National News: Minister of Public Information and Diaspora, Yuli Edelstein (Likud), called on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Thursday to fire Defense Minister Ehud Barak (Independence).

Following Ehud Barak's latest meetings in the United States, Edelstein told IDF Radio: "As early as three years ago, I warned that the Defense Minister's frequent trips to the U.S. usually ended badly for the state of Israel.

Exclusive: Former CIA Official: Obama 'October Surprise' Airstrike in Libya 'Would Be Criminal'

Exclusive: Former CIA Official: Obama 'October Surprise' Airstrike in Libya 'Would Be Criminal': Two days ago, the New York Times reported that the administration was preparing an operation inside Libya, including the possibility of drone strikes. Breitbart News reported yesterday that a senior Department of Defense official said that the administration was advance planning for a “substantial air package” that could include manned flights.

Union's Anti-Romney Ad Chock Full of Garbage

Union's Anti-Romney Ad Chock Full of Garbage: In an attempt to paint Mitt Romney as an uncaring extremist, many accusations have been hurled against him, but a new video put out by the AFSCME has taken this rhetorical technique to new extreme. The union literally accuses the Republican presidential candidate of not caring about garbageman in La Jolla, California because he has not given them Gatorade or hugged them.

Fetishizing Holocaust Tattoos � Commentary Magazine

Fetishizing Holocaust Tattoos � Commentary Magazine: For some grandchildren of survivors and others who care about the subject, that has led to a bizarre fad in which they have taken to having the numbers that the Nazis branded on the survivors tattooed on their own arms. As a New York Times feature published on Monday shows, this phenomenon has grown from isolated instances to what must considered a trend with large numbers of youths in Israel. While the motives behind this seem pure, one cannot help but wonder at anyone embracing a practice whose purpose was to dehumanize captive Jews. While survivors who lived long enough eventually saw that most considered those numbers to be a badge of honor rather than a mark of shame, the act of fetishizing this evidence of the Nazis’ crimes seems like something that says more about the current generation than it does about the experience of the survivors.

Egyptian-Iranian intelligence meeting prompts fears of a new Middle East terror axis | Washington Free Beacon

Egyptian-Iranian intelligence meeting prompts fears of a new Middle East terror axis | Washington Free Beacon: U.S. intelligence agencies recently monitored a secret meeting between Egypt’s intelligence chief and a senior Iranian spy that is raising new fears the Muslim Brotherhood government in Cairo could begin covertly supporting global terrorism.

China unveils new stealth jet photos during Panetta visit | Washington Free Beacon

China unveils new stealth jet photos during Panetta visit | Washington Free Beacon: China’s military for the second time in two years upstaged a visiting U.S. defense secretary by disclosing the first photographs of its second stealth jet under development.

Obama slandered America as racist using dishonest claims about the response to Hurricane Katrina | Power Line

Obama slandered America as racist using dishonest claims about the response to Hurricane Katrina | Power Line  
The Daily Caller has obtained and posted video of a 2007 speech by Barack Obama in Hampton, Virginia. Speaking to an audience of black ministers, and using a black dialect only marginally more authentic than Joe Biden’s, Obama claims that the U.S. government shortchanged Hurricane Katrina victims because of racism. As the Daily Caller says, “the effect is closer to an Al Sharpton rally than a conventional campaign event.”

France Kosher Store Bomb Explosion Injures 4

France Kosher Store Bomb Explosion Injures 4: PARIS — A small package bomb exploded inside a kosher grocery store in a Paris suburb Wednesday, wounding at least one person, according to an agency that tracks anti-Semitic attacks in France.

Ikea deleted women from Saudi version of catalogue - Yahoo! News

Ikea deleted women from Saudi version of catalogue - Yahoo! News: Ikea is being criticized for deleting images of women from the Saudi version of its furniture catalogue, a move the company says it regrets.

Comparing the Swedish and Saudi versions of the catalogue, free newspaper Metro on Monday showed that women had been airbrushed out of otherwise identical pictures showcasing the company's home furnishings.

Obama’s People Walk Out on Netanyahu, Stay for Ahmadinejad (VIDEO) | FrontPage Magazine

Obama’s People Walk Out on Netanyahu, Stay for Ahmadinejad (VIDEO) | FrontPage Magazine: Susan Rice, Obama’s UN Ambassador, skipped out on Netanyahu’s speech due to that whole awkward, “Iran Nukes” thing, which her boss doesn’t care to hear about either, but the UN delegation earlier had stayed for Ahmadinejad’s rantings.

World Leaders Speak at UN General Assembly | C-SPAN

World Leaders Speak at UN General Assembly | C-SPAN: Israeli P.M. Benjamin Netanyahu Address UN General Assembly (right-click to copy direct link)

Morsi Advisor: We’re Planning to Amend Camp David � Commentary Magazine

Morsi Advisor: We’re Planning to Amend Camp David � Commentary Magazine: The Egyptian government is looking to scrap parts of its peace treaty with Israel, according to an advisor to President Morsi, claiming a “strategic and security need.” As Jonathan noted yesterday, Morsi has let the Sinai disintegrate into lawlessness, paving the way for incidents like last week’s terrorist attack on Israel. Now Morsi advisors appear to be using the lack of security in the Sinai as a justification for amending the treaty:

Obama Refers to Israel Concern Over Iran as 'Noise' | The Weekly Standard

Obama Refers to Israel Concern Over Iran as 'Noise' | The Weekly Standard: In an interview to air tonight on CBS's 60 Minutes, President Barack Obama will refer to Israel's concern over Iran's march toward a nuclear program as "noise."

"When it comes to our national security decisions -- any pressure that I feel is simply to do what's right for the American people. And I am going to block out -- any noise that's out there," Obama says, according to AFP.

Israel stages largest snap exercise in years - Telegraph

Israel stages largest snap exercise in years - Telegraph: The Israeli army staged its largest snap exercise in recent years, deploying troops in the occupied Golan Heights as contingency planning for possible conflicts with Iran and Syria.

Iran on brink of nuclear bomb in six-seven months: Netanyahu | Reuters

Iran on brink of nuclear bomb in six-seven months: Netanyahu | Reuters: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday that Iran was just six to seven months away from the brink of being able to build a nuclear bomb, adding urgency to his demand that President Barack Obama set a "red line" for Tehran in what could deepen the worst U.S.-Israeli rift in decades.

Armada of British naval power massing in the Gulf as Israel prepares an Iran strike - Telegraph

Armada of British naval power massing in the Gulf as Israel prepares an Iran strike - Telegraph: An armada of US and British naval power is massing in the Persian Gulf in the belief that Israel is considering a pre-emptive strike against Iran’s covert nuclear weapons program.

Presidential Polls, Israel, and Iran's Nuclear Ambition

Presidential Polls, Israel, and Iran's Nuclear Ambition: An article in the Israeli National News in early August suggested that the Israeli political and military leadership, in order to put Tehran’s experiments with atomic playthings out of business, is prepared to unleash a nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMP) against Iran sometime this fall by exploding a nuclear device high above the Iranian desert. Such a strike would send intense electromagnetic radiation over as much as 1,000 square miles, frying Iran’s electrical grid and bring its oil business, transportation, defense capabilities and most everything else that operates electronically to a grinding halt.

Obama's Jewish Problem

Obama's Jewish Problem: When Mitt Romney said in his speech at the Republican National Convention that, “Obama has thrown Israel under the bus,” Mitt obviously knew more than the rest of us. Within days of that speech, the picture of Obama's betrayal of Israel became clear. The story is shocking, as much for the betrayal of one of our strongest allies as for the timing

Democratic Party’s New Pro-Hamas Platform | FrontPage Magazine

Democratic Party’s New Pro-Hamas Platform | FrontPage Magazine: How bad would a second Obama term be for Israel? Really, really bad.

The campaign is generally not the time that crucial voting groups get thrown under the bus, but the Democratic Party’s new platform gives us a peek at what the next four years will be like if Israel’s best friend in the White House since Jimmy Carter gets another four years.

Palestinian Stimulus: Terrorists Get a Raise � Commentary Magazine

Palestinian Stimulus: Terrorists Get a Raise � Commentary Magazine: As of May 2011, the [Palestinian Authority] spent NIS 18 million ($4.5 million) per month on compensating Palestinian inmates in Israeli prisons and a further NIS 26 million ($6.5 million) on payments to families of suicide bombers. In all, such payments cost the PA some 6 percent of its overall budget, Israel’s Channel 2 news reported on Monday night, citing documentation signed by Fayyad.

A prisoner sentenced up to three years in prison now receives a base salary of NIS 1,400 per month, and for 3-5 years that rate increases to NIS 2,000, the report said. A NIS 300 bonus is added for a wife, and NIS 50 per child.

Israel: Coping with Its Gas Bonanza | Via Meadia

Israel: Coping with Its Gas Bonanza | Via Meadia
Experts are convinced that Tamar and Leviathan will not be the last big Israeli discoveries. They point to the US Geological Survey, which estimates that the subsea area that runs from Egypt all the way north to Turkey, also known as the Levantine Basin, contains more than 120 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Israeli waters account for some 40 per cent of the total. Should these estimates be confirmed through discoveries in the years ahead, Israel’s natural gas reserves would count among the 25 largest in the world, on a par with the proven reserves of Libya and ahead of those of India and The Netherlands. For decades a barren energy island, forced to import every drop of fuel, Israel today stands on the cusp of an economic revolution, fuelled by the vast riches that lie below its waters.

Report: Israeli PM Shouts at Obama's Ambassador - 'Time Has Run Out!'

Report: Israeli PM Shouts at Obama's Ambassador - 'Time Has Run Out!': Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly shouted "Time has run out!" at U.S. Ambassador Dan Shapiro, as the two met in Israel earlier this week and discussed the Obama administration's position on Iran.

The Israeli George Zimmerman and the Muslim Trayvon Martin | FrontPage Magazine

The Israeli George Zimmerman and the Muslim Trayvon Martin | FrontPage Magazine
Israel has its own No-Go Zones and in those territories, having an available firearm can mean the difference between life and death… as you are about to see in this video.

Netanyahu 'determined to attack Iran' before US elections, claims Israel's Channel 10 | The Times of Israel

Netanyahu 'determined to attack Iran' before US elections, claims Israel's Channel 10 | The Times of Israel: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “is determined to attack Iran before the US elections,” Israel’s Channel 10 News claimed on Monday night, and Israel is now “closer than ever” to a strike designed to thwart Iran’s nuclear drive.

Is Bibi Bluffing on Iran Strike? � Commentary Magazine

Is Bibi Bluffing on Iran Strike? � Commentary Magazine: In Israel this week, people are lining up for gas masks, a new Homeland Defense has been set to work to deal with the task of readying the country for the possibility of attacks from Iran, Lebanon and Gaza, and pundits are working overtime trying to figure out whether the nation’s political leadership is serious about launching a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities sometime this fall.

'Netanyahu, Barak mulling fall strike on Iran' - Israel News, Ynetnews

'Netanyahu, Barak mulling fall strike on Iran' - Israel News, Ynetnews: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak advocate an attack of Iran's nuclear facilities in the upcoming fall, Yedioth Ahronoth's senior commentators Nahum Barnea and Shimon Shiffer reported Friday.

Screw U: The Next Bubble May Be Higher Education | San Diego Reader

Screw U: The Next Bubble May Be Higher Education | San Diego Reader: In economics, a bubble is something that trades at prices far beyond its intrinsic value. Fasten your seat belt: the next bubble may be higher education.

Israel on Alert as Syria Moves Chemical Weapons to Border Positions

Israel on Alert as Syria Moves Chemical Weapons to Border Positions: In no uncertain terms Israel made things clear: "The moment we see that the Syrians transfer chemical and biological weapons to Hezbollah, this is a red line for us and from our point of view it's a clear cause for war."

Growing U.S. Military Presence in the Gulf Leaves Obama with Fewer Options | Via Meadia

Growing U.S. Military Presence in the Gulf Leaves Obama with Fewer Options | Via Meadia: The sabre rattling in the Persian Gulf continues with the deployment of the USS Ponce. Up until recently, the vessel was simply an aging transport ship destined for the scrap heap, but it appears that the Navy has retrofitted the ship, turning it into a command and control station for a variety of missions designed to put pressure on the Iranian regime. The New York Times reports:

A Comprehensive Supply List for Economic Collapse

A Comprehensive Supply List for Economic Collapse: The article M.D. posted in last week’s Friday Miscellany on living conditions in Greece really hit home with me. I did a bit more research. There are food shortages. There are shortages of life-saving medications. There are concerns about the power grid. And if the electric grid goes down, clean water may not flow from the tap. In an economic collapse, debit cards may not work; cash will be king. Once awareness of the situation sets in, rioting, looting and violent crime will be the new norm.

If Europe collapses, the United States is sure to follow. This makes me nervous. And when I get nervous, I make lists. This is my best shot at formulating a comprehensive supply list for prepping. Sure, there are other lists on the Internet that claim to be comprehensive. And I have learned much from the lists that I have read. But I wanted to come up with my own list and present it to the Pack. And now for the 50 million dollar question: what have I missed?

Is Israel the Last Jewish Ghetto? | FrontPage Magazine

Is Israel the Last Jewish Ghetto? | FrontPage Magazine: By the end of 2012, all of Israel’s borders, over a thousand kilometers, will be protected by walls, fences and barriers.

Aim High: 10 of the World's Most Impressive Paper Planes | Wired Design | Wired.com

Aim High: 10 of the World's Most Impressive Paper Planes | Wired Design | Wired.com: Back in elementary school, paper planes were the class clown’s preferred weapon and the bane of teachers everywhere. A few of those fold-and-fly amateurs have taken their school-time shenanigans to the pro level, becoming aeronautical engineers and origami artists who create record-setting gliders. From the biggest to the trickiest to the most intricately designed, here are 10 of the most impressive paper planes on the planet.

Russia, China & Israel against Islamism? :: Daniel Pipes

Russia, China & Israel against Islamism? :: Daniel Pipes: Israel and China today signed historic cooperation agreements to build the Eilat railway and future projects, including the inland canal port north of Eilat. … The main project on the agenda is construction of a cargo rail line that will link Israel's Mediterranean ports in Ashdod and Haifa with the Eilat Port. There are also plans to extend the line to Jordan's Aqaba Port. … [Israeli sources indicate that the Chinese] consider the project to be important, as it fits in with China's global strategy to strengthen critical trade routes. … Tonight, the Israeli delegation will be guests at a special dinner given by the Chinese government. The food will be kosher lemehadrin.

Bolivia in turmoil with police on sixth day of strike and indigenous people preparing to march on the capital | Mail Online

Bolivia in turmoil with police on sixth day of strike and indigenous people preparing to march on the capital | Mail Online: Bolivia is in turmoil with hundreds of police now on the sixth day of a strike and 1,000 indigenous protesters preparing to march on the capital.

The government is struggling to reach a deal with the police and has portrayed the action as a budding 'coup d'etat'.

Uniformed officers today continued to demonstrate in front of the gates of the heavily-guarded palace, while public workers showed their support for president Evo Morales at a rally in a square on the outskirts of La Paz.

Mirror, mirror... everywhere! How the world's biggest salt flat turns into giant reflective surface | Mail Online

Mirror, mirror... everywhere! How the world's biggest salt flat turns into giant reflective surface | Mail Online: A spot of reflection is always good for the soul. And judging by these pictures, there's plenty of room for that.

For this is the world's largest natural mirror, created when a thin film of water gathers on a vast plain of salt deposits.

So magnificent is the dream-like sight that the salt pans in the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia have been dubbed 'heaven on earth'.

Photographer Takaki Watanabe captured a series of pictures of spellbound travellers as they took in natural wonder and played around with their reflections.

Soak Fish in Milk for Odor-Free Cooking

Soak Fish in Milk for Odor-Free Cooking: When you're buying fish, it's important to make sure your fish smells like the sea, and not, well, like fish. That's one indicator of freshness. However, after the fish has come home, gone into the fridge, or been frozen and thawed, even your freshly bought fish may start to take on a fishy smell. The solution is easy: A quick soak in a bowl of milk, and that fishy smell is all gone.

Is Turkey Going Rogue? :: Daniel Pipes

Is Turkey Going Rogue? :: Daniel Pipes: In a Middle East wracked by coups d'�tat and civil insurrections, the Republic of Turkey credibly offers itself as a model thanks to its impressive economic growth, democratic system, political control of the military, and secular order.

But, in reality, Turkey may be, along with Iran, the most dangerous state of the region.

German Court Declares Judaism A Crime | Via Meadia

German Court Declares Judaism A Crime | Via Meadia: Hard to believe, but that’s what the decision handed down by the regional court in Cologne, Germany means: circumcising a child under the age of consent is a crime, notwithstanding the religious beliefs of the parents.

The Last Days of Jews in the Islamicized Europe | FrontPage Magazine

The Last Days of Jews in the Islamicized Europe | FrontPage Magazine: Anti-Semitism raises again its head in estern Europe. During the Holocaust, Europe dispatched its Jews to the gas chambers. Seventy years later, in the welfarist, multicultural and semi-Islamicized Europe, Jews have again come under attack. Enclaves of ultra-Orthodox Jews will likely survive in the main cities, but Jewish life as such has no future in Europe.

Oh No You Didn't: Mossad Agents Claim Obama Lying About Stuxnet

Oh No You Didn't: Mossad Agents Claim Obama Lying About Stuxnet: Israeli officials who were placed at risk by the Obama administration's leaks about the Stuxnet virus are disputing American claims that the cyber-weapon was jointly developed by the U.S. and Israel. Rather, they say, Israeli intelligence first started developing cyberspace warfare against Iran, only convincing the U.S.--with some difficulty--to join in. The Israelis allege that President Barack Obama claimed credit for Stuxnet to boost his re-election campaign.

Obama: ‘I Probably Know About Judaism More Than Any Other President’ - By Daniel Foster - The Corner - National Review Online

Obama: ‘I Probably Know About Judaism More Than Any Other President’ - By Daniel Foster - The Corner - National Review Online: In this story we get a twofer of POTUS rhetorical tics: Blaming every failure of his presidency on his last name, Republicans, and/or racism, and casually inserting himself into the pantheon of great presidents. If he had only pled with the Jewish leaders to let him be clear, I would have hit my Trifecta box.

Israel Can’t Solve Africa’s Problems � Commentary Magazine

Israel Can’t Solve Africa’s Problems � Commentary Magazine  
It is no small irony that a country like the United States that was built by and prospered because of immigration would come to regard the influx of foreigners to our shores as a problem. That is also true of the State of Israel which, much to its surprise, has found itself being swamped by unwelcome African migrants who have poured over the border with Egypt and presented the Israeli government with a ticklish dilemma. Anger about the influx bubbled over yesterday in a Tel Aviv protest that turned violent and where both demonstrators and some politicians in attendance uttered statements that could only be characterized as racist. Prime Minister Netanyahu was quick to condemn the tone of the protest as well as members of his own party for behavior that he rightly said “had no place” in the country.

Remembering Valerie Plame | Power Line

Remembering Valerie Plame | Power Line

Just a week ago the establishment media was aflutter with news that a CIA double-agent had thwarted a new type of underwear bomb attack targeting U.S. flights in a plot devised by al-Qaeda of the Arabian Peninsula.

But as the week progressed, a developing bombshell story got buried under President Obama’s gay marriage announcement. Not only is the supposed CIA asset not a CIA asset at all, but the entire operation was exposed prematurely and the double-agent’s life was immediately threatened by an intelligence leak that very well may have come out of the White House for political gain. …

The double-agent hadn’t been recruited and placed by the CIA, but by British intelligence, who also managed the operation. In fact, the Americans had only recently been made aware of the joint British-Saudi effort.

The leaks about the operation from the American side have infuriated British intelligence officials, who had hoped to continue the operation. The leaks not only scuttled the mission but put the life of the asset in jeopardy. Even CIA officials, joining their MI5 and MI6 counterparts, were describing the leaks as “despicable,” attributing them to the Obama administration.

We Are Swimming In Oil | Power Line

We Are Swimming In Oil | Power Line: America has more fossil fuel resources than any other nation. Russia is second, Saudi Arabia is third. On Thursday, a representative of the Government Accountability Office testified before the House Science Subcommittee on Energy and Environment that the Green River Formation alone–it is located at the intersection of the states of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, and mostly underlies federal lands–contains as much oil as the entire proven reserves of the rest of the world combined. America is uniquely blessed in its energy resources. Two questions remain: 1) will Obama finally abandon his moronic two percent claim, and 2) will Obama, in a possible second term, block the development of the resources that can assure America’s economic supremacy for generations?

Israel vs. Iran: 'Any Given Moment'

Israel vs. Iran: 'Any Given Moment': Israel's channel 10 is reporting that U.S. officials are working frantically to prevent a pre-emptive Israeli attack on Iran, which the new unity government could carry out at "any given moment," according to Israel National News:

Greece Melts | Via Meadia

Greece Melts | Via Meadia: The one policy option that Greece has now is to avoid a rupture with Europe but to go back to Brussels and try to get a better deal. This is the policy that Antonis Samaras, the leader of the party with the most seats in the new parliament advocated during the election campaign. Under the Greek constitution, he now has five days to form a government that will command a majority in parliament; if he fails, the anti-bailout “Coalition of the Radical Left” party which came in second gets a chance. And if they fail, the third place, pro-bailout Pasok (moderately leftist) gets a chance.

 If as now seems likely, nobody can get a majority, Greece votes again in in a few weeks. The trouble is that by that time, Greece could well be out of money to pay pensions and civil service salaries. Some think this would force Greece out of the eurozone; possibly the government would just pay employees and pensioners in scrip — a promise to pay later that could be used to pay certain bills or traded at a discount for cash.

Israel begins building wall on Lebanese border | Reuters

Israel begins building wall on Lebanese border | Reuters: Israel began building a wall on Monday along a 1-km (0.6 mile) -stretch of its border with Lebanon, saying the barrier was necessary to boost security for an Israeli frontier town across from a Lebanese village.

Israel is also building a security fence in its south, along the border with Egypt's Sinai desert, citing concerns over militant activity and smuggli

US Deploys World’s Most Advanced Fighter Jet 200 Miles From Iranian Border | The Gateway Pundit

US Deploys World’s Most Advanced Fighter Jet 200 Miles From Iranian Border | The Gateway Pundit: The U.S. is deploying F-22 Raptor fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates… Iran’s neighbor. Does the Obama administration know something and they’re not telling us? Are they guessing at Israel’s behavior and making sure they’re not blindsided? Or, are they actually assisting an ally against the Iranian threat?

Wendell Cox: California Declares War on Suburbia - WSJ.com

Wendell Cox: California Declares War on Suburbia - WSJ.com: Metropolitan area governments are adopting plans that would require most new housing to be built at 20 or more to the acre, which is at least five times the traditional quarter acre per house. State and regional planners also seek to radically restructure urban areas, forcing much of the new hyperdensity development into narrowly confined corridors.

Richard Branson launches journeys to the centre of the Earth through Virgin Volcanic - News - Virgin.com

Richard Branson launches journeys to the centre of the Earth through Virgin Volcanic - News - Virgin.com: Only 500 people have been to space, only three people have been to the bottom of the ocean, but no one has ever attempted to journey to the core of an active volcano. Until now.

Using patented carbon-carbon materials pioneered for deep space exploration, Virgin is proud to announce a revolutionary new vehicle, VVS1, which will be capable of plunging three people into the molten lava core of an active volcano.

California: Where You Need A Lobbyist To Build A House | Via Meadia

California: Where You Need A Lobbyist To Build A House | Via Meadia: Romney’s house sounds tacky and extravagant, but it’s not some kind of public safety hazard in urgent need of regulation. You shouldn’t need dedicated lobbyists to get permission to build buildings on property you legitimately own. At the end of the day, Romney is going to be able to hire the lobbyist and get his mansion built. But these same hurdles afflict people who might be interested in affordable housing for low-income people or simply regular old market rate structures for the middle class.

Azeris Strengthen Israel’s Hand on Iran � Commentary Magazine

Azeris Strengthen Israel’s Hand on Iran � Commentary Magazine: The potential for an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities may be a lot greater than skeptics may have thought. That’s the upshot of a story published yesterday in Foreign Policy that alleges Azerbaijan has granted the Israelis access to airbases in that country. If true, Israel’s ability to launch a strike from bases on Iran’s northern border would make the Jewish state’s military challenge in seeking to knock out Iran’s nuclear plants a lot simpler. The assistance of the Azeris would enable the Israelis to make repeated attacks and would eliminate the need to refuel their planes in midair in order to make the long flight from Israel to Iran.