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Kuwaiti Newspaper Quotes Israeli Intelligence on Syrian Arms to Hizbullah
A Kuwaiti newspaper is quoting Israeli intelligence as its source for reporting that Syria is supplying Hizbullah with medium and long-range missiles. The newspaper Al Jarida wrote on Thursday that Syria’s strategy is to use Hizbullah as its proxy in order to avoid a direct military engagement with Israel. The newspaper reports that Iranian and Syrian advisers are training Hizbullah terrorists in the use of the missile systems and early-warning radar stations that are positioned in Lebanese territory.
Fatah Signs Egyptian-brokered Reconciliation Deal; Hamas Expected to Follow The Fatah Palestinian faction on Tuesday signed the Egyptian-brokered reconciliation agreement intended to end its ongoing conflict with Hamas. Officials hope Hamas will sign on Thursday. The two factions ruled out a joint signing ceremony, causing some to fear that the reticence to appear together is a harbinger of the fragility of the truce. The rancor came to a head in June 2007 when Hamas battled Fatah fighters in the streets of Gaza, emerging victorious and in control of the Gaza Strip. Since that time, the Palestinian nation has been bifurcated, with each half being ruled by a different faction. The reconciliation agreement is meant to create a system of unified government to rule until elections are held, slated for June 2010. The issue of international recognition of a unity government remains problematic because Hamas refuses to agree to the conditions set forth by the Quartet (which includes the U.S., U.N., European Union and Russia): renouncing violence; recognizing Israel; and accepting agreements made by previous governments.
Israel Urged by Allies to Conduct Investigation into Gaza War While rejecting the U.N. Human Rights Council’s Goldstone report on Israel’s January military incursion into the Gaza Strip as “unbalanced”, the United States, France and Britain have all called for Israel to conduct its own investigation into its operation. The issue came up at a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday. Although the Council rejected a Libyan call for a full debate on the Goldstone report, the issue was addressed at Wednesday’s session. Western nations took the American lead, expressed by Deputy Ambassador Alejandro Wolff, who said, "We take the allegations in the report seriously. Israel has the institutions and the ability to carry out serious investigations of these allegations and we encourage it to do so." U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has also called for Israel to conduct “credible domestic investigations”. Israel’s Ambassador Shalev reiterated the key point made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, and largely overlooked in media coverage, when she said Israel “cannot resume the peace process as long as this (report) is on the table." The U.N. Human Rights Council begins deliberations on the Goldstone report on Thursday.
Israelis to Receive New Gas Masks Israel will begin a three-year project to distribute gas masks to all of its citizens in January. More than 4.5 million kits will be provided, distributed first to residents of the north and central sections of the country – the areas most vulnerable to missiles fired from Lebanon. A concerted effort to improve defense facilities in civilian residences is being mounted during the coming year.
House Republicans Target CAIR; Claim Interns Spy for Group Several Republican members of the House of Representatives are charging that the pro-Muslim lobbying group, the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) has been trying to place interns on key Congressional committees in order to “spy” for it and shape legislative policy, according to The Hill newspaper. The legislators bringing the charges are members of the Congressional Anti-Terrorism Caucus and include Reps. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.), John Shadegg (R-Ariz.), Paul Broun (R-Ga.) and Trent Franks (R-Ariz.). The representatives have asked the Sergeant at Arms to determine whether CAIR has managed to place interns on the House Homeland Security Committee, Intelligence Committee and Judiciary Committee. According to The Hill, the House sergeant at arms has denied such a request has been filed as of yet. CAIR head Ibrahim Cooper was quoted as saying that, “If these people weren’t so hate-filled, it would be laughable.”
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