1. ISLAMIC JIHAD VOWS VENGEANCE…The Palestinian terrorist organization Islamic Jihad says it will strike against Israelis following the targeted killing of at least two of its members by Israeli aircraft overnight. Eyewitnesses in Gaza say three civilians were also killed in the attack. Islamic Jihad’s northern Gaza field commander and his aide were the targets. The Israeli operation followed Wednesday’s suicide bombing carried out by Islamic Jihad in the Israeli coastal city Hadera. At least five civilians were killed in the bombing.
2. U.S., ISRAEL IN FINAL BIDDING FOR AWACS CONTRACT…South Korea has announced that Boeing of the United States and two Israeli defense companies, Israel Aircraft Industries and Elta, are in the running to win a $2 billion contract to build four AWACS airborne early-warning and control systems. Seoul says it has rejected a third bid from SVC, comprising U.S., Swedish and Brazilian firms, according to The Korea Times. The winning bid will be announced in December, with the systems being operational in 2012.
3. IRAN RENEWS VERBAL ATTACK ON UK…Hours after London condemned Iran’s suggestion that Israel should be wiped off the map, Tehran has launched another verbal attack on the United Kingdom and its role in Iraq. This is the latest salvo in a war of words that began early in October when the UK suggested Iran was behind some of the violence in Iraq. The latest edition of The Muslim News raises the idea that London is seeking a scapegoat because of its own failures in Iraq.