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.