Wednesday’s “News in Review” Round-Up

Media-ocrities of the Week

 

“[There is] no consensus among the EU member states for putting Hezbollah on the terrorist list.… Should there be tangible evidence of Hezbollah engaging in acts of terrorism, the EU would consider listing the organization.”—Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, the foreign minister of Cyprus, which currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, in a joint press conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman. Liberman, who is in Europe for meetings with various foreign ministers, released the following statement prior to leaving on his trip: “Solid evidence points to Hizbullah as the perpetrator of the terrorist attack in Burgas, Bulgaria last week, which is only the latest crime in a long series of terrorist acts for which Hizbullah has been responsible over the years. Th[is] fact…obligates European states to act…in the appropriate manner.” (Jerusalem Post, July 24 & Independent Media Review and Analysis, July 23.)

 

“[Jerusalem is] the seat of [Israel’s] government…though most foreign embassies are in Tel Aviv.”—The British Broadcasting Corporation, refusing to refer to Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on its 2012 Summer Olympics’ website. In response, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat issued the following statement: “Irrespective of the BBC’s political agenda, Jerusalem was, is, and will always be the capital of Israel and the spiritual, political, and physical center of the Jewish people. Throughout the history of Jerusalem…only the Jewish people have called the Holy City…its capital. Jerusalem today, under Israeli sovereignty, has returned to the role it played 2000-3000 years ago.… We will not accept those who deny our history, our sovereignty, and our right to determine our own capital.” (Independent Media Review and Analysis, July 23.)

 

Weekly Quotes

 

“We stand before these five caskets and our heart[s are] broken.”—Israeli Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov, presiding over an official ceremony for the five Israeli victims of last week’s terror attack in Bulgaria, and describing their “only crime [as] being Israeli, being Jewish.” The victims were Maor Harush, 26; Elior Priess, 26; Amir Menashe, 27; Itzik Kolengi, 27; and Kochava Shriki, 42. May their memories be for a blessing. (Times of Israel, July 20.)

 

“There is nothing that reveals the true face of our enemies more than despicable terror attacks against us. They attacked and killed innocent civilians—families, youth, children.… I believe the time has come for all the countries of the world who know the truth—not just Israel—to clearly state the truth. Iran is responsible for this wave of terrorism. Iran is the No. 1 exporter of terrorism in the world. It is forbidden for a terrorist state to have nuclear weapons. It is forbidden for the world’s most dangerous country to get the world’s most dangerous weapons.”—Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, claiming Israel has “absolutely rock solid intelligence” that Hezbollah carried out last week’s terror attack in Burgas “at the behest and coordination of Iran.” (Jerusalem Post, July 20 & 22.)

 

“The bitter enemies of the Iranian people and the Islamic Revolution have recruited most of their forces in order to harm us. They have indeed succeeded in inflicting blows upon us more than once, but have been rewarded with a far stronger response.”—Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, publicly hinting Iran’s involvement in the terror attack in Bulgaria by suggesting it was “a response” to purported Israeli “blows against Iran.” (Times of Israel, July 20.)

 

“The country will pass over the current economic pressures against the Islamic system.… Not only will we not reconsider our calculations, moreover with even more resolution we will continue on the path of the people.”—Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei, reiterating that sanctions will not deter Tehran’s nuclear progress. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who appeared alongside Khamenei, confirmed that Iran currently has “11,000 centrifuges active in [its uranium] enrichment facilities,” 10% more than the International Atomic Energy Agency said were operating in a May 25 report. (Jerusalem Post, July 25.)

 

“They do not dare to damage our nuclear centers and know very well that any move against the Islamic Republic will make them regret.”—Senior Iranian cleric Hojjatoleslam Seyed Reza Taqavi, claiming Iran will “attack the heart of Tel Aviv” if Israel targets the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities. (Jerusalem Post, July 21.)

 

“I have absolutely no doubt that it is within our power to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear weapons country. The question is not whether we can stop them, but whether we will choose to stop them.”—US Senator Joseph Lieberman, warning that the US will soon face a choice between allowing Iran to acquire nuclear weapons or taking military action to stop it. To that end, Lieberman pointed to a bipartisan Senate resolution with 78 cosponsors declaring that when it comes to Iran, “all options are on the table except one, and that one is containment of a nuclear Iran.” (Jerusalem Post, July 19.)

 

“The United States is fully prepared for all contingencies. We’ve invested in capabilities to ensure that the Iranian attempt to close down shipping in the Gulf is something that we are going to be able to defeat, if they make a decision to do that.”—US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, affirming the US has the military capacity to defeat any Iranian attempt to disrupt sea commerce in the oil-rich Gulf region. Panetta’s comments followed renewed threats by Iran to close the vital Strait of Hormuz unless international sanctions are  revoked. (Reuters, July 18.)

 

“The world arrogance and colonist [the US and Israel] are influencing Iran’s climate conditions using technology. The drought is an acute issue and soft war is completely evident.… This level of drought is not normal.”—Hassan Mousavi, head of Iran’s cultural heritage and tourism organization, claiming the West and Israel are manipulating the climate in Iran, causing the ongoing drought in the southern part of the country. (Daily Mail, July 17.)

“They are on the wrong side of the Syrian people, the wrong side of hope for peace and stability in the region. It was a highly regrettable decision.”—White House spokesman Jay Carney, criticizing last week’s veto by Russia and China of a UN Security Council resolution authorizing wide-ranging action against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. (Reuters, July 19.)

 

“We are…closely tracking the possibility that Hezbollah will try to move advanced military platforms or chemical weapons from Syria to Lebanon.”—Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak. The New York Times reported last week that Israel and the US are in discussion over whether Israel should pre-emptively destroy Syria’s chemical weapons facilities as the Assad regime falters. According to Barak, Israel’s military has been “instructed to increase its intelligence preparations so that…[it] will be able to consider carrying out an operation.” US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is scheduled to visit Israel this month. (Jerusalem Post, July 19 & 20.)

 

“These weapons are stored and secured by Syrian military forces and under its direct supervision and will never be used unless Syria faces external aggression.”—Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi, announcing the country’s willingness to use “chemical or bacterial” weapons in response to any “external aggression.” His comments mark the first time that Syria has acknowledged its possession of non-conventional weapons. (Reuters, July 23.)

 

“Syria was an aid to the resistance and gave [us] weapons that we used in the July War. Not only in Lebanon, but also in the Gaza Strip.”—Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, confirming Syria has in the past provided arms to Hezbollah and other terrorist groups. (Jerusalem Post, July 19.)

 

“The conditions in Damascus are normal and the Iranian nationals in Syria are facing no problem.”—Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, describing the conditions in Syria as “normal.” (Independent Media Review and Analysis, July 22.)

 

“If Israel was the bloodthirsty monster that its enemies like to portray it as, it could bite off a chunk of Syria from a country that is in such chaos that it could hardly mount a defense.… Of course no one seriously thinks that Israel will do that. Even Syria doesn’t think it which is why it’s pulling away troops from the border with its greatest enemy.… But if the shoe was on the other foot, if Israel was tied up in a devastating civil war, Syrian, Egyptian and Jordanian troops would be headed right across the border, regardless of whatever understandings and peace treaties existed. That’s the fundamental difference between Israel and the Muslim world. It is why no peace can exist.”—Daniel Greenfield. (Daniel Greenfield Blog, July 20.)

 

“We have entered a new era in Palestine’s relationship with Egypt.… We were happy with what we heard from President Mohamed Mursi and his vision to handle issues.”—Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, after meeting for the first time in Cairo with new Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi. A day earlier Morsi met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, reportedly to discuss reconciliation between Abbas’ Fatah party and Hamas, an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. (Reuters, July 19.)

 

“Tourism Minister Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour has modified the rules for tourist facilities, such as restaurants, nightclubs and hotels, by banning the sale of alcohol beverages to Egyptians on all religious occasions and not just during Ramadan.… Facilities violating that decision would be suspended.” (Egypt Independent, July 22.)

 

“There is the potential of jihadists and terrorists taking up an operational base in Sinai. We think this is a dangerous situation for both Egypt and Israel.…”—US Secretary of state Hillary Clinton, expressing concern over the deteriorating security situation in Egypt, particularly in the Sinai Peninsula. (CNN, July 16.)

 

“Prison is like university for the terrorists—anyone who goes in comes out upgraded. It doesn’t matter whether they were released to Gaza, the West Bank or abroad—we see a return to terrorism.”—Outgoing commander of the IDF’s Binyamin division, Col. Saar Tzur, confirming the sharp increase in the number of attempted terror attacks against Israeli targets since last October’s release of more than 1000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Gilad Shalit. (Israel Hayom, July 12.)

 

“This was a crime committed in France by France. A total of 75,500 Jews were deported from France to Nazi death camps during the war.”—French President Francois Hollande, acknowledging his country’s culpability in rounding up thousands of Jews to be sent to Nazi death camps during World War II. (Independent Media Review and Analysis, July 23.)

 

“There is concern in Israel and the Jewish world over a resurgence of anti-Semitism in Hungary. Such a dangerous phenomenon must be uprooted before it can spread.”—Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, to visiting Hungarian President Janos Ader, calling on the Eastern European leader to “cut off the weed” of anti-Semitism in Hungary, which he described as a “disease.” In response, Ader called antisemites “lunatics,” and said there was no room for them in his country. (Jerusalem Post, July 18.)

 

“We feel that the opening ceremony is an atmosphere that is not fit to remember such a tragic incident.”—International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, once again officially rejecting calls to commemorate, at Friday’s opening ceremony of the London Olympics, the 11 Israelis killed by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Munich Games. (Reuters, July 22.)

 

“We can expect him to visit Israel in a second term, should he be re-elected.”—Colin Kahl, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East who is now a campaign spokesman for Barack Obama. (JTA, July 23.)

 

“The people of Israel deserve better than what they have received from the leader of the free world.”—Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, ahead of his trip to Israel next week, denouncing US President Barack Obama’s “shabby treatment” of Israel. Romney also slammed Obama’s Iran policy, asserting, “There is no greater danger in the world today than the prospect of the ayatollahs in Tehran possessing nuclear weapons capability. Yet for all the talks and conferences, all of the extensions and assurances, can anyone say we are farther from this danger now than four years ago?” (Jerusalem Post, July 24.)

 

Short Takes

 

MAN HELD IN CYPRUS FOR PLANNING ATTACK ON ISRAELIS—(New York) A man suspected of planning to attack Israelis in Cyprus has been ordered held by a local court. The man, 24, a Swedish citizen of Lebanese origin, was arrested earlier this month and accused of tracking the movements of Jewish tourists. The court ordered the man detained after noting the similarities between his actions and that of the Bulgarian suicide bomber who killed five Israelis in Bulgaria last week. Cypriot Justice Minister Loucas Louca said the investigation will continue through Friday. (JTA, July 24.)

 

U.S. SAYS IRAN PLANS TO DISRUPT OIL TRADE—(Washington) U.S. government officials, citing new intelligence, believe Iran has developed plans to disrupt international oil trade, including attacks on oil platforms and tankers. The Pentagon repeatedly has warned Tehran over its threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining that Iran blockading the shipping lane would provoke a U.S. attack. However, U.S. officials now claim that the growing consensus in Iran is that the country could escape a direct counterattack by US forces by striking at targets using elite forces or external proxies. Defense officials, cautioning that there is no evidence that Tehran has of yet moved assets into position to disrupt tankers or attack other sites, stressed that Iran’s intent appears clear. (Wall Street Journal, July 19.)

 

MORE THAN HALF OF IRAN’S PARLIAMENT BACKS HORMUZ CLOSURE BILL—(Dubai) More than half of Iran’s parliament has backed a draft law to block the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to close the Gulf to oil tankers. Lawmaker Javad Karimi Qodoosi said 150 of parliament’s 290 members had signed the bill, describing the strait as “the world’s lock” to which Iran holds the key. “If the sanctions continue, the countries that have imposed sanctions have no right to cross the Strait of Hormuz without harm,” Qodoosi said. (Reuters, July 20.)

 

P5+1, IRAN RESUME LOW-LEVEL NUCLEAR TALKS—(Jerusalem) Low-level talks between Iran and the P5+1—comprising six world powers—have resumed in Istanbul. Helga Schmid, the deputy secretary-general of the European External Action Service, reportedly met earlier this week with Ali Bagheri, the deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. According to a statement from EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, an additional meeting is scheduled to take place soon between Ashton and Saeed Jalili, the secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, regarding “the prospects for a future meeting at the political level.” Given the failure of three previous rounds of talks, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said in an interview on Fox News over the weekend that talks with Tehran “haven’t stopped the regime one bit, not an inch.” According to Netanyahu, the Iranians are “basically thumbing their nose [at the international community].” (Jerusalem Post, July 24.)

 

LITTLE-KNOWN HESHAM KANDIL NAMED EGYPT’S PRIME MINISTER—(Cairo) Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi has appointed Hesham Kandil, 50, as Egypt’s new Prime Minister. A U.S.-educated technocrat currently serving as water and irrigation minister, Kandil will be tasked with forming a new government. News of the appointment was met with bafflement on the streets of Cairo due to Kandil’s relative obscurity, and by disappointment in financial markets, where investors were hoping for an experienced economist who could stave off the threat of impending budget and balance-of-payments crises. That Kandil is bearded is being viewed as a sign of Islamist social and political leanings. (Washington Post, July 24.)

 

MORE THAN 100 KILLED IN ONGOING IRAQ ATTACKS—(Baghdad) More than 120 people have been killed and many more injured this week in multiple attacks across Iraq, following the declaration of a new al Qaeda offensive. Monday, with 115 killed, was Iraq’s deadliest day in two years. On Tuesday, at least nine others were murdered. Al Qaeda’s new leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, announced last week that the terror group was planning attacks in an effort to rebuild tribal alliances and strengthen itself in Sunni areas from which it retreated in 2007-2008. (Wall Street Journal, July 24.)

 

ISRAEL ADVANCES PA NIS 180M. TO EASE FINANCE CRISIS—(Jerusalem) Israel has given the Palestinian Authority a 180 million (NIS) advance on tax money it collects on behalf of Ramallah, to partially alleviate the PA’s severe financial crisis. Israeli PM Binyamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz reportedly made the decision, one of a number of “good-will” gestures made since the beginning of the year in an attempt to improve relations with the PA and encourage President Mahmoud Abbas to renew dialogue with Israel. Israel generally transfers some NIS 100m. to the PA each month in tax revenues that Jerusalem collects on the PA’s behalf. The last goodwill gesture Israel made to the PA was in May, when it handed over the bodies of more than 90 terrorists. (Jerusalem Post, July 23.)

 

GERMAN PARLIAMENT DEFENDS CIRCUMCISION AFTER BAN—(Jerusalem) Germany’s lower house of parliament has passed a resolution to protect religious circumcision after a Cologne court in a recent ruling banned the practice. The resolution, jointly filed by Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives, their liberal coalition ally FDP, and the opposition Social Democrats (SPD), demanded that “the government present a draft law …that guarantees that the circumcision of boys…is permitted”. The new law would overrule the court decision. Approximately 120,000 Jews and 4,000,000 Muslims are registered as living in Germany. (Jerusalem Post, July 19.)